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Background: Ferroptosis, a non-apoptotic form of regulated cell death, plays a critical role in the suppression of various tumor types, including ovarian cancer. Artesunate (ART), a derivative of artemisinin, exhibits extensive antitumor effects and is associated with ferroptosis. This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms through which ART induces ferroptosis to inhibit ovarian cancer. Methods: RNA sequencing was conducted to identify differentially expressed genes associated with ART-induced ferroptosis. Dual-luciferase reporter assays and electrophoretic mobility shift assays were performed to confirm the interaction between Homeobox C11 (HOXC11) and the Prominin 2 (PROM2) promoter. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assays, flow cytometry, and wound healing assays were used to analyze the antitumor effects of ART. Western blot, biochemical assays and transmission electron microscope were utilized to further characterize ART-induced ferroptosis. In vivo, the effects of ART on ferroptosis were examined using a xenograft mouse model. Results: RNA sequencing analysis revealed that the HOXC11, PROM2 and Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/ Protein Kinase B (PI3K/AKT) pathways were downregulated by ART. HOXC11 was found to regulate PROM2 expression by binding to its promoter directly. HOXC11 overexpression reversed ART-induced effects on ovarian cancer cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis and ferroptosis by activating the PROM2/PI3K/AKT signaling axis. Conversely, silencing PROM2 in HOXC11-overexpressing cells restored ART-induced ferroptosis and its associated antitumor effects by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT pathway. Consistently, in vivo studies using a xenograft mouse model confirmed that ART-induced tumor inhibition was mediated by ferroptosis through the suppression of the HOXC11/PROM2/PI3K/AKT pathway. Conclusion: This study identifies the HOXC11/PROM2/PI3K/AKT axis as a novel regulatory mechanism underlying ART-induced ferroptosis in ovarian cancer. Targeting the HOXC11/PROM2 axis may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for enhancing ferroptosis, offering new insights for the treatment of ovarian cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Design. Basic science study using a hemisection spinal cord injury (SCI) model. Objective. We sought to assess the effect of blocking osteopontin (OPN) upregulation on motor function recovery and pain behavior after SCI and to further investigate the possible downstream target of OPN in the injured spinal cord. Summary of Background Data. OPN is a noncollagenous extracellular matrix protein widely expressed across different tissues. Its expression substantially increases following SCI. A previous study suggested that this protein might contribute to locomotor function recovery after SCI. However, its neuroprotective potential was not fully explored, nor were the underlying mechanisms. Materials and Methods. We constructed a SCI mouse model and analyzed the expression of OPN at different time points and the particular cell distribution in the injured spinal cord. Then, we blocked OPN upregulation with lentivirus-delivering siRNA targeting OPN specifically and examined its effect on motor function impairment and neuropathic pain after SCI. The underlying mechanisms were explored in the OPN-knockdown mice model and cultured vascular endothelial cells. Results. The proteome study revealed that OPN was the most dramatically increased protein following SCI. OPN in the spinal cord was significantly increased three weeks after SCI. Suppressing OPN upregulation through siRNA exacerbated motor function impairment and neuropathic pain. In addition, SCI resulted in an increase in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), AKT phosphorylation, and angiogenesis within the spinal cord, all of which were curbed by OPN reduction. Similarly, OPN knockdown suppressed VEGF expression, AKT phosphorylation, cell migration, invasion, and angiogenesis in cultured vascular endothelial cells. Conclusion. OPN demonstrates a protective influence against motor function impairment and neuropathic pain following SCI. This phenomenon may result from the proangiogenetic effect of OPN, possibly due to activation of the VEGF and/or AKT pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient and stable palladium species catalyst immobilized on functionalized hyper–cross-linked polymers (HCPs-Pd) has been successfully developed and applied in the Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction of diverse types of aromatic halides with aryl boronic acid in this work. The results demonstrated that HCPs-Pd exhibited high catalytic activity, which benefited from the microporous structure of the catalyst guaranteed high dispersibility of active palladium, and high specific surface area, large pore volume, good chemical stability. Under optimal reaction conditions, 93.0% of biphenyl yield in the Suzuki–Miyaura reaction with bromobenzene (C6H5Br) and phenylboronic acid (C6H7BO2) as raw material was obtained. The good stability of the HCPs-II-Pd catalyst was verified by five cycles experiments. Perhaps this work provides new insights into the high-yield preparation of aromatic biphenyl compounds employing HCPs-Pd as an efficient and stable catalyst in the Suzuki–Miyaura reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we proposed a novel method that integrates density functional theory (DFT) with the finite field method to accurately estimate the polarizability and dielectric constant of polymers. Our approach effectively accounts for the influence of electronic and geometric conformation changed on the dielectric constant. We validated our method using polyethylene (PE) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) as benchmark materials, and found that it reliably predicted their dielectric constants. Furthermore, we explored the impact of conformation variations in poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) on its dielectric constant and polarizability. The resulting dielectric constants of α- and γ-PVDF (3.0) showed excellent agreement with crystalline PVDF in experiments. Our findings illuminate the relationship between PVDF's structural properties and its electrical behavior, offering valuable insights for material design and applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we consider a combined technique for a fractal modification of the attachment oscillator arising from nanotechnology. This technique is called as TSFT-GRHBM by coupling the two-scale fractal transformation and the global residue harmonic balance method. The approximations and frequencies of this fractal attachment oscillator are given without linearization. Numerical results are provided to confirm its efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regulation of host interferon (IFN) production is a crucial strategy for viral immune escape. We propose that the LxIS motif language, a marker for exogenous viral proteins, interacts with host retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I)-like receptor (RLR) factors. In this study, the viral proteins containing the LxIS motif of grass carp reovirus (GCRV), and cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (CyHV-3), which belong to the fish RNA and DNA viruses, were found to interact with RLRs, and the general functions of these proteins were negative regulation of IFN activation. Terrestrial animal viruses with this motif language, such as SARS-CoV-2 and so on, are also examined. Several viral proteins that were not reported previously were found to be associated with the RLR pathway. Taken together, the LxIS motif language elucidates a straightforward and efficient method for identifying viral proteins that target host RLRs to regulate IFN expression, and is conserved in both lower and higher vertebrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The durability of bridges plays a vital role in their regular operation and transportation, particularly as service life increases. The ability of a bridge to reach its expected service life is closely linked to its durability. In cold regions, the deterioration of bridge concrete durability due to freeze-thaw damage is a common cause of failure, posing a threat to structural safety. In this study, a highway bridge over a sluice that was built 63 years ago was selected for coring and freeze-thaw testing. Two nondestructive testing methods were employed: three-dimensional optical scanning and X-ray computed tomography (X-CT). The former was used to observe and analyze the external surface of the concrete, while the latter was used to analyze its internal structure. The surface morphology was characterized using height, spatial, hybrid parameters, and fractal dimension, and the Abbott–Firestone curve reflected the profile characteristics of the material surface. Moreover, the internal components of concrete were identified and reconstructed in three dimensions based on threshold segmentation, and the changes in internal porosity, pore fractal dimension, and pore size distribution were calculated. Finally, the evolution of bandwidth in the color heat map was analyzed, combining the gray level cooccurrence matrix (GLCM) to reflect the growth of cracks and defects with freeze-thaw cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neuropathic pain (NP) is a chronic pathological pain that affects the quality of life and is a huge medical burden for affected patients. In this study, we aimed to explore the effects of secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1) on NP. Methods: We established a chronic constriction injury (CCI) rat model, knocked down SPP1 via an intrathecal injection, and/or activated the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway with insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) treatment. Pain behaviors, including paw withdrawal threshold (PWT), paw withdrawal latency (PWL), lifting number, and frequency, were assessed. After sacrificing rats, the L4-L5 dorsal root ganglion was collected. Then, SPP1 levels were determined using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and western blot analysis. The levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL-6, IL-10, epidermal growth factor (EGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β were determined using qPCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The levels of ERK pathway factors were determined via western blot analysis. Results: We found that CCI decreased PWT and PWL, increased the lifting number and frequency, and upregulated SPP1 levels. The loss of SPP1 reversed these CCI-induced effects. Additionally, CCI upregulated IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, EGF, and VEGF levels, downregulated TGF-β levels, and activated the ERK pathway, while silencing of SPP1 abrogated these CCI-induced effects. Moreover, IGF-1 treatment reversed the effects of SPP1 loss. Conclusions: The data indicate that silencing SPP1 attenuates NP via inactivation of the ERK pathway, suggesting that SPP1 may be a promising target for NP treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During our ongoing survey of basidiomycetous yeasts associated with plant leaves in virgin forest, five Colacogloea strains were isolated in the Baotianman Nature Reserve, Henan Province, central China. Phenotypes from cultures and a phylogeny based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions and the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene were employed to characterize and identify these isolates. As a result, two new species, namely Colacogloea celtidis sp. nov. and C. pararetinophila sp. nov., are introduced herein. In the phylogeny of combined ITS and LSU dataset, the new species C. celtidis sp. nov. formed a clade with the unpublished Colacogloea strain (KBP: Y-6832), and together these formed the sister group to C. armeniacae, while C. pararetinophila sp. nov. was retrieved as a sister to C. retinophila. A detailed description and illustration of both new species, as well as the differences between them and their closest relatives in the genus are provided. Results from the present study will add to our knowledge of the biodiversity of Colacogloea in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emerging biomass-based epoxy vitrimers hold great potential to fulfill the requirements for sustainable development of society. Since the existence of dynamic chemical bonds in vitrimers often reduces both the thermal and mechanical properties of epoxy resins, it is challenging to produce recyclable epoxy vitrimers with both excellent mechanical properties and good thermal stability. Herein, a monomer 4-(((5-(hydroxymethyl)furan-2-yl)methylene)amino)phenol (FCN) containing furan ring with potential to form high density of hydrogen bonding among repeating units is designed and copolymerized with glycerol triglycidyl ether to yield epoxy resin (FCN-GTE), which intrinsically has dual hydrogen bond networks, dynamic imine structure and resultant high performance. Importantly, as compared to the BPA-GTE, the FCN-GTE exhibits significantly improved mechanical properties owing to the increased density of hydrogen bond network and physical crosslinking interaction. Furthermore, density functional theory (DFT) calculation and in situ FTIR analysis is conducted to decipher the formation mechanism of hydrogen bond network. In addition, the FCN-GTE possesses superior UV shielding, chemical degradation, and recyclability because of the existence of abundant imine bonds. Notably, the FCN-GTE-based carbon fiber composites could be completely recycled in an amine solution. This study provides a facile strategy for synthesizing recyclable biomass-based high-performance epoxy vitrimers and carbon fiber composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quasi solid-state succinonitrile (SN)-based polymer electrolytes have emerged for lithium-metal batteries due to their excellent ion-conductivity at room temperature, wide electrochemical stability window (ESW, usually >5 V). However, the practical application of these solid SN-based polymer electrolytes is hampered by the flammability and the inherent instability of SN to Li-metal anode. In this work, solid SN-based polymer electrolytes were prepared with succinonitrile, ethoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate (ETPTA), triethyl phosphate (TEP) and fluoroethylene carbonate for Li-metal battery via in situ polymerization method. The SN-based polymer electrolytes with 5 wt% triethyl phosphate and FEC showed good nonflammability, superior ion-conductivity as high as 1.01×10−3 S/cm, and wide ESW of 5.41 V. This SN-based polymer electrolyte also exhibited excellent interfacial compatibility to lithium metal anode. And it also delivered a high specific capacity of 156 mAh/g at 0.2 C at ambient temperature, and presented stable cycling at 1.0 C with a specific capacity retention of 98.4% after 1000 cycles. This work provides an alternative and simple strategy to realize the practical application of the solid-state SN-based polymer electrolyte. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Baiyuerius is a newly erected genus of Coelotinae spiders comprising five species distributed in southern China and northern Vietnam. Two additional new species, B. shenzhen sp. nov. (male and female) and B. yuelu sp. nov. (male and female), are described here. Three new combinations are proposed, namely Baiyuerius acroprocessus (Zhang, Zhu & Wang, 2017) comb. nov., Baiyuerius globasus (Wang, Peng & Kim, 1996) comb. nov. and Baiyuerius rugosus (Wang, Peng & Kim, 1996) comb. nov. Descriptions, photographs, and a distribution map of the known and newly proposed species are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein (MAVS) and stimulator of interferon (IFN) genes (STING) are crucial factors of IFN induction in RNA and DNA viral infections. However, unrestricted IFN was harmful to the host by causing cytokine storm. Here, we report that zebrafish transmembrane protein 47 (TMEM47), an IFN-negative regulator in fish, represses IFN expression stimulated by both spring viremia of carp virus (SVCV) and cyprinid herpesvirus 2, which represent RNA and DNA viruses, respectively. The mRNA level of tmem47 was rapidly upregulated during RNA and DNA virus infection. Overexpression of TMEM47 significantly blocked SVCV- and CyHV-2-mediated IFN induction, whereas knockdown of tmem47 promoted ifn transcription under these viral infections. Furthermore, TMEM47 interacted with MAVS and STING, which are considered as key factors for IFN induction during RNA and DNA viral infection. Mechanistically, both MAVS and STING were degraded by TMEM47 in an autophagy-lysosome-dependent manner, and the autophagy factor autophagy-related gene 5 (ATG5) was essential for this process. Finally, at the cellular level, MAVS- and STING-mediated antiviral capacities were significantly suppressed by TMEM47. Taken together, our results demonstrate that zebrafish TMEM47 acts as a brake to inhibit IFN production in both RNA and DNA viral infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: The circle of Willis (COW) is a circulatory anastomosis located at the base of the brain. Little is known about the association between covert vascular brain injury and COW configurations in the general population. We explored this relationship in a community-based Chinese sample. Methods: A total of 1,055 patients (mean age, 54.8 ± 8.9 years; 36.0% men) without intracranial arterial stenosis were included in the analysis. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed to evaluate the presence of imaging markers of covert vascular brain injury, including white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), lacunes, cerebral microbleeds (CMBs), enlarged perivascular spaces, and brain atrophy. Magnetic resonance angiography was used to classify the COW configurations according to the completeness, symmetry, and presence of the fetal posterior cerebral artery (FTP). The association between vascular lesions and variations in COW was analyzed. Results: Among the 1,055 patients, 104 (9.9%) had a complete COW. Completeness correlated with age (p = 0.001). Incomplete COW was positively associated with WMH severity (OR = 2.071; 95% CI, 1.004–4.270) and CMB presence (OR = 1.542; 95% CI, 1.012–2.348), independent of age and sex. The presence of FTP was associated with lacunes (OR = 1.878; 95% CI, 1.069–3.298), more severe WMHs (OR = 1.739; 95% CI, 1.064–2.842), and less severe enlarged perivascular spaces (OR = 0.562; 95% CI, 0.346–0.915). Conclusions: COW configuration was significantly related to various covert vascular brain injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) with bond uncrossability shows a great potential in studying entangled polymers, however relatively little is known of applicability range of entangled DPD model to be use as a model for ideal chains and properly describe the full dynamics of entangled melts. Therefore, we perform a comprehensive study on structure, dynamics and linear viscoelasticity of a typical DPD entangled model system, semiflexible linear polymer melt. These polymers obey Flory's ideality hypothesis in chain dimensions, but their local structure exhibits nonideal behavior due to weak correlated hole effect. Both monomer motion and viscoelasticity relaxation reproduce the full pictures as predicted by reptation theory. The stronger chain length dependent diffusion coefficient and relaxation time as well as dynamic moduli are in close agreement with predictions of modern tube model that accounts for additional relaxation mechanisms besides chain reptation. However, an anomalous sub-diffusive center of mass motion is observed both before and after the intermediate reptation regime and the cross-correlation between chains is not negligible even these polymers obey stress-optical law, indicating limitations of the reptation theory. Hence semiflexible linear entangled DPD model can correctly describe statics and dynamics of entangled polymer melts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of alloy solid solution models were developed using the SQS modeling method, and the effect of C doping on the phase structure, elastic properties, and electronic structure of the alloys was investigated using a first‐principles approach. The results showed that the CuCrWNi (C), CuCrWMo (C), and CuCrWAl (C) alloys all have a single body‐centered cubic (BCC) structure. The alloys conformed to the mechanical stability criterion before and after incorporating C. The incorporation of C leads to an increase in the bulk modulus B of the CuCrWNi, CuCrWAl alloy, and the Young's modulus E and shear modulus G of the CuCrWMo, CuCrWAl alloy. In comparison, the shear modulus G and Young's modulus E of CuCrWNi alloy and the bulk modulus B of CuCrWMo alloy show a decreasing tendency. The alloy is ductile before and after the addition of C. The addition of C increased the Poisson's ratio, Pugh ratio, and Cauchy pressure of CuCrWNi alloy and decreased the Poisson's ratio, Pugh ratio, and Cauchy pressure of CuCrWMo and CuCrWAl. This shows that adding C improves the ductility of CuCrWNi and the strength of CuCrWMo and CuCrWAl alloys. By analyzing the electronic structure of the alloys, it was found that the doping of C made the alloy less stable. Adding C makes the high‐entropy alloys more conducive and the metallic properties more noticeable. Moreover, the incorporation of C makes the CuCrWNi pseudo‐energy gap decrease and the CuCrWMo, and CuCrWAl pseudo‐energy gap increase, which may be related to the change in the mechanical properties of the alloy. © 2023 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During viral infection, host defensive proteins either enhance the host immune response or antagonize viral components directly. In this study, we report on the following two mechanisms employed by zebrafish mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 7 (MAP2K7) to protect the host during spring viremia of carp virus (SVCV) infection: stabilization of host IRF7 and degradation of SVCV P protein. In vivo, map2k7+/- (map2k7-/- is a lethal mutation) zebrafish showed a higher lethality, more pronounced tissue damage, and more viral proteins in major immune organs than the controls. At the cellular level, overexpression of map2k7 significantly enhanced host cell antiviral capacity, and viral replication and proliferation were significantly suppressed. Additionally, MAP2K7 interacted with the C terminus of IRF7 and stabilized IRF7 by increasing K63-linked polyubiquitination. On the other hand, during MAP2K7 overexpression, SVCV P proteins were significantly decreased. Further analysis demonstrated that SVCV P protein was degraded by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, as the attenuation of K63-linked polyubiquitination was mediated by MAP2K7. Furthermore, the deubiquitinase USP7 was indispensable in P protein degradation. These results confirm the dual functions of MAP2K7 during viral infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the evolution of the microphysical characteristics in different regions (eyewall, inner core, and outer rainbands) and different quadrants [downshear left (DL), downshear right (DR), upshear left (UL), and upshear right (UR)] during the final landfall of Typhoon Ewiniar (2018) is analyzed using two-dimensional video disdrometer and S-band polarimetric radar data collected in Guangdong, China. Due to the different types of underlying surfaces, the periods before landfall (mainly dominated by underlying sea surface) and after landfall (mainly dominated by underlying land surface) are also analyzed. Both before landfall and after landfall, the downshear quadrants had the dominate typhoon precipitation. The outer rainbands had more graupel than the inner core, resulting in a larger radar reflectivity, differential reflectivity, specific differential phase shift, and mass-weighted mean diameter below the melting layer. Compared with other regions, the eyewall region had the smallest mean logarithmic normalized intercept parameter before landfall and the smallest mean mass-weighted mean diameter and the largest mean logarithmic normalized intercept parameter after landfall. The hydrometeor size sorting was obvious in the eyewall and inner core (especially in the eyewall) after landfall. A high concentration of large raindrops fell in the DL quadrant, and more small raindrops fell in the UR quadrant. Although the ice-phase process and warm rain process were both important in the formation of tropical cyclone precipitation, the warm rain process (ice-phase process) contributed more liquid water before landfall (after landfall). This investigation provides a reference for improving the microphysical parameterization scheme in numerical models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing halogen‐functionalized fluorescent dyes with intriguing photophysical properties, including enhanced photostability, is particularly important for bioimaging. In this work, we synthesized two new halogen‐functionalized aggregation‐induced emission (AIE)‐active molecules, DQMF‐OH and DQMCl‐OH, based on the quinoline‐malononitrile chromophore. The halogen effect on the photophysical characteristics was detailedly studied by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy, density functional theory calculations, and crystal structures. Compared with non‐halogen substituted AIE luminogen (AIEgen) DQM‐OH, the halogen substituted DQMF‐OH and DQMCl‐OH exhibited red‐shifted absorptions and emissions in the solution and solid state. In addition, DQMF‐OH and DQMCl‐OH also possessed enhanced fluorescence toward viscosity changes. These AIEgens served as remarkable imaging tools for cell tracking in a wash‐free manner. Furthermore, DQMF‐OH and DQMCl‐OH showed much more excellent photobleaching resistance than DQM‐OH. Our work sheds new light on developing fluorescent halogenated dyes with enhanced photophysical performances for biological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a numerical approach based on the fractional complex transform and the homotopy perturbation method to solving the space-time fractional Benjamin-Bona-Mahony (mBBM) equation with Caputo fractional derivative. Approximated solutions with high accuracy are provided without linearization or complicated computation. Numerical examples are given to illustrate the efficiency of this method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoporosis, a common systematic bone homeostasis disorder related disease, still urgently needs innovative treatment methods. Several natural small molecules were found to be effective therapeutics in osteoporosis. In the present study, quercetin was screened out from a library of natural small molecular compounds by a dual luciferase reporter system. Quercetin was found to upregulate Wnt/β-catenin while inhibiting NF-κB signaling activities, and thereby rescuing osteoporosis-induced tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) impaired BMSCs osteogenesis. Furthermore, a putative functional lncRNA, Malat1, was shown to be a key mediator in quercetin regulated signaling activities and TNFα-impaired BMSCs osteogenesis, as mentioned above. In an ovariectomy (OVX)-induced osteoporosis mouse model, quercetin administration could significantly rescue OVX-induced bone loss and structure deterioration. Serum levels of Malat1 were also obviously rescued in the OVX model after quercetin treatment. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that quercetin could rescue TNFα-impaired BMSCs osteogenesis in vitro and osteoporosis-induced bone loss in vivo, in a Malat1-dependent manner, suggesting that quercetin may serve as a therapeutic candidate for osteoporosis treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the April-June raining season, warm-sector heavy rainfall (WR) and frontal heavy rainfall (FR) often occur in the south of China, causing natural disasters. In this study, the microphysical characteristics of WR and FR events from 2016 to 2022 are analyzed by using 2-dimensional video disdrometer (2DVD) data in the south of China. The microphysical characteristics of WR and FR events are quite different. Compared with FR events, WR events have higher concentration of D < 5.3 mm (especially D < 1 mm), leading to higher rain rates. The mean values of Dm and lgNw of WR events are higher than that of FR events. The microphysical characteristics in different rain rate classes (C1: R ~ 5- 20 mm h-1, C2: R ~ 20-50 mm h-1, C3: R ~ 50-100 mm h-1, and C4: R > 100 mm h-1) for WR and FR events are also different. Raindrops from C3 contribute the most to the precipitation of WR events, and raindrops from C2 contribute the most to the precipitation of FR events. For C2 and C3, compared with FR events, WR events have higher concentration of D < 1 mm and D ~3-4.5 mm. Moreover, the shape and slope (µ-) relationships and the radar reflectivity and rain rate (Z-R) relationships of WR and FR events are quite different in each rain rate class. The investigation of the difference in microphysical characteristics between WR and FR events provide useful information for radar-based quantitative precipitation estimation and numerical prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Broad bean paste is one of the most popular characteristic traditional fermented bean products in China, which is prepared by mixed fermentation of a variety of microorganisms, among which lactic acid bacteria and yeast played an important role in the improvement of the fermented broad bean paste quality. However, the traditional open‐air fermentation of broad bean paste brought some risks of harmful microorganisms. In this study, the safety and fermentation ability of lactic acid bacteria and yeast strains isolated from traditional broad bean paste was evaluated. The results showed that the protease activity of the strain Lactobacillus plantarum DPUL‐J5 (366.73 ± 9.00 U/L) and Pichia kudriavzevii DPUY‐J5 (237.18 ± 10.93 U/L) were the highest. Both strains produced little biogenic amines, and did not exhibit α‐hemolytic activity or antibiotic resistance for some of the antibiotics most used in human medicine. Furthermore, the broad bean paste fermentation involving DPUL‐J5 and DPUY‐J5 was beneficial for accumulating higher total acid (1.69 ± 0.01 g/100 g), amino‐acid nitrogen (0.85 ± 0.03 g/100 g), and more volatile flavor compounds, meanwhile, reducing the levels of biogenic amines and aflatoxin B1. Therefore, this study provided a new strategy to improve the safety and quality of traditional broad bean paste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Control of host autophagy acceleration or attenuation has been confirmed in multiple terrestrial animal viruses. Little is known about such mechanisms in aquatic viruses. Here, we report a selective and ingenious autophagy modulation regulated by kinase-like protein (KLP) of cyprinid herpesvirus 2 (CyHV2) to restrict interferon (IFN) production by degrading IFN regulatory factor (IRF) 3 activation (MITA). First, exogenous DNA and RNAmediated IFN activation were both abrogated by CyHV2 KLP. The common intersection point of MITA with these two signaling pathways was the interaction with KLP. The C terminus of MITA was indispensable for the interaction and was recruited by KLP in subcellular colocalization analysis. Subsequently, we found that KLP degraded MITA in an autophagy-lysosome-dependent manner and, interestingly, individual KLP could not launch host autophagic flow except in the presence of MITA. KLP was also colocalized with the autophagy components Beclin1 and ATG14 and enhanced Beclin1 stability, but not ATG14, through K63-linked polyubiquitination. Finally, KLP significantly decreased the normal state or MITA-enhanced cellular antiviral capacity. These data demonstrated an elaborate autophagic process manipulated by a fish virus only in the presence of the host target, illuminating a mechanism of aquatic viral immune evasion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TA2 titanium alloy was brazed with Ti-Zr-Cu-Ni-V filler metals developed in a laboratory. The melting properties, the microstructures, phase compositions of filler metals and wettability, erosion properties, tensile properties of the brazed joint were studied in detail. The results show that with the increase of V content, the solidus–liquidus temperature of Ti-Zr-Cu-Ni-V filler metals increased, but the temperature difference basically remained unchanged, trace V element had a limited influence on the melting temperature range of Ti-Zr-Cu-Ni filler metals. The microstructure of Ti-Zr-Cu-Ni-1.5V filler metal was composed of Ti, Zr matrix, (Zr, Cu) solid solution and crystal phase. With the addition of V content, these phases containing V such as Ni3VZr2, NiV3, Ni2V in the molten filler metals increased. V was more inclined to combine with Ni to slow down the diffusion of Ni to titanium matrix. The wettability of filler metal with trace (≤0.5 wt.%) V to TA2 titanium alloy became worse, the wettability improved significantly with continuous increase of V content. The thickness of embrittlement layer and intergranular infiltration region decreased significantly by adding V. With the increase of V content, V could regulate the brazing interface reaction, more strengthened phases generated, which resulted the significant increase of the strength (302.72 MPa) and plasticity index (16.3%) of the brazed joint with Ti-Zr-Cu-Ni-1.5V filler metal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Trickle bed reactor achieved up to 96% biomethane using H 2 /CO 2. • Hydrogenotrophic methanogens were enriched using H 2 /CO 2 and nutrients. • Successful colonization from bioaugmentation into the biofilm was observed. • H 2 losses could attribute to species using CO 2 and H 2 via CO 2 reduction pathways. Biomethanation represents a promising approach for biomethane production, with biofilm-based processes like trickle bed reactors (TBRs) being among the most efficient solutions. However, maintaining stable performance can be challenging, and both pure and mixed culture approaches have been applied to address this. In this study, inocula enriched with hydrogenotrophic methanogens were introduced to to TBRs as bioaugmentation strategy to assess their impacts on the process performance and microbial community dynamics. Metagenomic analysis revealed a metagenome-assembled genome belonging to the hydrogenotrophic genus Methanobacterium, which became dominant during enrichment and successfully colonized the TBR biofilm after bioaugmentation. The TBRs achieved a biogas production with > 96 % methane. The bioaugmented reactor consumed additional H 2. This may be due to microbial species utilizing CO 2 and H 2 via various CO 2 reduction pathways. Overall, implementing bioaugmentation in TBRs showed potential for establishing targeted species, although challenges remain in managing H 2 consumption and optimizing microbial interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the fatigue characteristics of self-compacting rubberized concrete (SCRC) pavement, notched slabs with a 10% rubber content were fabricated. Monotonic and fatigue tests were carried out, including incremental amplitude tests controlled by crack mouth opening displacement (CMOD), load, and alternative constant and incremental amplitude loads. Meanwhile, the fracture process was dynamically monitored with acoustic emission (AE), and the failure characteristics were analyzed based on AE parameters. Under monotonic loads, cracks mainly develop along with the interface between aggregates or rubber particles and cement. The cumulative ring counts and damage evolution show a three-stage distribution. The b-value fluctuates dramatically initially and less in the middle and later stages under monotonic tests. Under fatigue loads, brittle fractures are significant and fatigue life increases. Only one inflection point appears in the cumulative ringing counts curve and damage evolution curve, the critical damage is lower. The fluctuation range of the b-value are higher. The cumulative ringing counts, AE signal intensity, damage parameter based on AE energy, and b-value can dynamically reflect the crack growth and damage evolution of SCRC slabs. The fracture mode analysis based on AF-RA manifests cracks are mainly tensile, and the fracture mode is the type I. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Coulomb force between protons and negative charges usually leads to low proton diffusion and poor proton conductivity. Herein, acid–base conjugated MOFs of UiO-66-SO3−-NH3+ were constructed by linking sulfonic acid and amine groups to an organic skeleton. According to the XPS and elemental analysis, the ratio of 2-aminoterephthalic acid/2-sulfoterephthalic acid was ∼1.9 in UiO-66-SO3−-NH3+. After introducing sulphuric acid molecules, the MOF-based electrolyte exhibited a remarkable proton conductivity of 5.40 × 10−1 S cm−1 and low activation energy of 0.15 eV at 100% RH and 90 °C. This remarkable proton conducting behavior was generated by the synergistic system in the MOF, which contained certain synergistic effects such as between –SO3−⋯H+⋯SO42− and NH3+⋯SO42−, therefore possessing a Grotthuss mechanism, which facilitates facile proton transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Impact of slurry removal frequencies on CH 4 emission rate was monitored with one year. • Increased slurry removal frequencies could reduce the in-house methane emission. • CH 4 emission was less dependent on temperature with increased removal frequencies. • Increased removing frequencies decreased the SMAs significantly. Anaerobic digestion of animal slurry to produce biogas is the dominated treatment approach and a storage period is normally applied prior to digestion. Pre-storage, however, contributes to CH 4 emissions and results in loss of biogas potential. Manure management was found to be an efficient approach to reduce not only the on-site CH 4 emission but may also have extended influence on CH 4 emission/losses for storage and subsequent biogas process, while the connection remains unclear. The objective of this study was therefore to evaluate the impact of slurry management (e.g. removal frequency) on CH 4 emission (both on-site and storage process prior to biogas) and biogas yield. An experimental pig house for growing-finishing pigs (30–110 kg) and the relevant CH 4 emission was monitored for one year. In addition, the specific CH 4 activity (SMA) test was conducted and used as an alternative indicator to reflect the impact. Results showed that the manure management affected both on-site and subsequent methane emission; with increased manure removal frequencies, the methane emission became less dependent on variation of temperatures and the specific methanogenesis activity was significantly lower. The highest SMA (100 mL CH 4 gVS-1), for instance, was observed from the slurries with limited emptied times, which was 10 times of that from the slurries being emptied three times a week. These findings could enlighten the development of environmentally friendly strategies for animal slurry management and biogas production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To analyze the efficacy and safety of somatostatin combined with gastroscopic administration of omeprazole in the treatment of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Methods. Eligible 112 patients with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding treated in our hospital from May 2019 to July 2020 were randomized at a ratio of 1 : 1 either to the control group (somatostatin) or observation group (somatostatin combined with omeprazole gastroscope administration). The treatment efficacy, the average hemostasis time, rebleeding rate, average length of hospital stay, and the incidence of adverse reactions were compared. Results. The study group demonstrated significantly higher total effective rate than the control group (96.45% vs. 80.36%, <0.05). The study group demonstrated superior performances compared to the control group with respect to the average hemostasis time ((14.17 ± 2.53 h) vs. (28.84 ± 4.07 h)), rebleeding rate (3.57% vs. 14.28%), and average length of hospital stay ((5.86 ± 1.26 d) vs. (9.74 ± 1.07 d)) (all p < 0.05). The chi-square test revealed a remarkably lower total incidence of adverse reactions in the study group vs. control group which was (4 (7.14%) vs. 12 (21.43%)) (p < 0.05). Conclusion. The combination of somatostatin and gastroscopic administration of omeprazole might be a promising alternative for the treatment of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding. It improves the clinical treatment effect and controls the symptoms of patients, with a good safety profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase in the incidence of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NENs) and refined morphological imaging techniques have led to a rise in the number of patients undergoing surgery. However, there is still a paucity of objective, clinically reliable and personalized tools to evaluate patient prognosis. We identified patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database who underwent surgery for GEP-NEN from 1975 to 2018. The predictors associated with OS were investigated by Multivariate Cox proportional hazards (PHs) regression analysis in the primary cohort; a prognostic nomogram was then built based on the multivariate analysis results. The performance of the nomogram was assessed by Harrell's concordance index (C-index) and calibration curve and compared with the eighth edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system. A total of 45,889 patients were enrolled in our study; 32,321 were included in the primary cohort, and 13,568 were included in the validation cohort. A nomogram incorporating Age, Differentiation, M staging, and AJCC staging was subsequently built based on the multivariate analysis. The C-index (0.833 for the primary cohort and 0.845 for the validation cohort) and calibration curves indicated good discriminative ability and calibration of the nomogram. Further analysis demonstrated that the nomogram had superior discriminatory ability than the AJCC staging system (C-index= 0.706). The proposed nomogram showed excellent prediction with good calibration and discrimination, which can be used to make well-informed and individualized clinical decisions regarding the clinical management of GEP-NENs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To analyze the characteristics of pulse graph parameters in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) varied at different body mass index (BMI) levels and to provide pulse diagnosis basis for syndrome differentiation and treatment of PCOS. Methods. Pulse graph parameters of 152 patients with PCOS (26 lean patients, 63 patients with moderate weight, and 63 overweight patients) were measured by a Z-BOX pulse meter, and the pulse graph parameters of patients with PCOS varied at different BMI levels were analyzed. Results. Fine pulse, slippery pulse, and string-like pulse were the most common pulse conditions in patients with PCOS. The common pulse conditions of patients with PCOS varied at different BMI levels. The order of pulse conditions was as follows: lean group: fine pulse > string-like pulse > slippery pulse; moderate group: fine pulse > slippery pulse > string-like pulse; and overweight group: slippery pulse > fine pulse > sunken pulse. Compared to the overweight group, the pulse graph parameters h1, h3, h4, h5, h4/h1, As, and Ad increased in the moderate group (P < 0.05), and the parameters h1, h3, and Ad increased (P < 0.05) and the parameter t1 decreased (P < 0.05) in the lean group. Conclusion. Pulse graph parameters among patients with PCOS varied at different BMI levels, which can probably provide pulse diagnosis basis for syndrome differentiation and treatment of PCOS by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Frontal asymmetry plays a major role in depression. However, patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) have widespread hypofrontality. We investigated whether patients with TRD have a characteristic frontal activation pattern in functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) findings and how the frontal cortex responds to different levels of cognitive tasks. Methods: We enrolled 27 righthanded patients with TRD, 27 patients without TRD and 27 healthy controls. We used multichannel fNIRS to evaluate activation of the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC) and left motor area in response to 3 tasks: finger tapping, a low cognitive--load motor task; verbal fluency, a moderate cognitive--load task; and a dual task involving simultaneous finger tapping and verbal fluency, a high cognitive--load task. Results: We found significant between-group differences in left DLPFC activation for all 3 tasks. The healthy controls had cortical activation in the left motor area during finger tapping and the bilateral frontal cortex during the dual task. However, patients without TRD had right VLPFC activation during finger tapping and left DLPFC activation during the dual task. Patients with TRD had bilateral DLPFC activation during finger tapping but exhibited increased bilateral VLPFC and left motor area activation during verbal fluency and increased left motor area activation during the dual task. In healthy controls and patients without TRD, we found that the right VLPFC was positively correlated with depression severity. Limitations: Our cohort included only patients with late-onset depression. Conclusion: We found different patterns of abnormal frontal activation between patients with and without TRD. In patients without TRD, the right prefrontal cortex (PFC) was recruited during simple motor tasks. However, in patients with TRD, the bilateral PFC was recruited during simple tasks and motor cortical resources were used compensatorily during PFC-demanding complex cognitive tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The novel phthalein component QBT improved cognitive dysfunction in rats with VaD. • QBT can inhibit ferroptosis and pyroptosis of neurons. • QBT regulated Nrf2/xCT/GPX4 and NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD pathway in neuronal cells. The novel phthalein component QBT, extracted from Ligusticum chuanxiong, shows promising biological activity against cerebrovascular diseases. This study focused on ferroptosis and pyroptosis to explore the effects of QBT on nerve injury, cognitive dysfunction, and related mechanisms in a rat model of vascular dementia (VaD). We established a rat model of VaD and administered QBT as a treatment. Cognitive dysfunction in VaD rats was evaluated using novel object recognition and Morris water maze tests. Neuronal damage and loss in the brain tissues of VaD rats were assessed with Nissl staining and immunofluorescence. Furthermore, we investigated the neuroprotective mechanisms of QBT by modulating the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/cystine-glutamate antiporter (xCT)/glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and Nod-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3)/cysteine-requiring aspartate protease-1 (Caspase-1)/Gasdermin D (GSDMD) pathways to inhibit ferroptosis and pyroptosis both in vivo and in vitro. Our findings indicated that QBT significantly ameliorated neuronal damage and cognitive dysfunction in VaD rats. Additionally, QBT reversed abnormal changes associated with ferroptosis and pyroptosis in the brains of VaD rats, concurrently up-regulating the Nrf2/xCT/GPX4 pathway and down-regulating the NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD pathway to inhibit ferroptosis and pyroptosis in neuronal cells, thereby exerting a neuroprotective role. In summary, QBT effectively mitigated neuronal damage and cognitive dysfunction in VaD rats, demonstrating a neuroprotective effect by inhibiting ferroptosis and pyroptosis in neuronal cells. This study offers a novel perspective and theoretical foundation for the future development of drugs targeting VaD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xinjiang, located in northwestern China, has emerged as the predominant cotton-growing region in China and one of the world's largest cotton producers. Despite its arid climate, limited water and heat resources, and prevalent soil salinity issues, Xinjiang has undergone a remarkable transformation in cotton production over the past three decades. Through continuous advancements in cotton cultivation techniques, there has been a consistent improvement in cotton yields, rising from an average of 1500 kg ha−1 during 1995–2000–1800 kg ha−1 during 2006–2010, and further to 1950 kg ha−1 during 2016–2020, achieving a remarkable "triple jump." This review employed a comprehensive methodology, including literature reviews, statistical data retrieval, consultations with experts and local officials, and interviews with cotton farmers. An analysis of the historical development of cotton cultivation techniques in Xinjiang identified three generations (3Gs) of cultivation technology systems: "close planting, dwarfing and early maturation" system, "drip irrigation-based fertigation" system, and "light, simplified, and high-efficiency" system. A systematic assessment was conducted, evaluating the performance and contributions of these technologies, accompanied by a multidimensional interpretation of the underlying mechanisms. The cultivation technology systems in Xinjiang have progressed over three generations, each focusing on different aspects and building upon the previous one. The first-generation (1 G) system emphasized the effective utilization of light and heat resources, while the second-generation (2 G) system aimed to improve water and fertilizer use efficiency. The third-generation (3 G) system prioritized achieving cost-effective cotton production. These region-specific systems facilitated the integration of agronomic techniques and mechanization, ensuring the efficient utilization of resources. As a result of these advancements, cotton yield and profitability in Xinjiang have consistently increased, making a significant contribution to high-yielding and efficient cotton production in Xinjiang. The adoption of three generations of distinctive Chinese cotton cultivation technology systems has efficiently harnessed resources, propelling Xinjiang's cotton yield to global prominence. This review provides valuable insights into the underlying principles and inevitability of the 3Gs in Xinjiang. Moreover, it serves as a reference and inspiration for other countries aiming to advance their own cotton cultivation techniques. • Xinjiang is now China's top cotton-growing region, boasting the world's highest average yield. • This accomplishment can be credited to the three generations (3Gs) of cotton cultivation systems. • The 3Gs' development, performance, and eco-physiological mechanisms were analyzed in this review. • This review offers targeted insights for optimizing cotton cultivation practices in both Xinjiang and on a global scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of high-frequency communication has accentuated the significance of controlling dielectric properties in polymer media. Traditionally, it has been theorized that rigid molecular chains lead to lower dielectric loss. However, the validity of this proposition at high frequencies remains uncertain. To scrutinize the correlation between chain flexibility and dielectric properties, we synthesized six poly(ester imide)s (PEIs) with systematically varied molecular chain flexibilities by modifying the ester's substitution on the aromatic ring. The introduction of ester bonds bestowed all PEI films with a low dielectric dissipation factor (Df), ranging from 0.0021 to 0.0038 at 10 GHz in dry conditions. The dry Df displayed a pattern consistent with volume polarizability (P/V). Unexpectedly, PI-mmm-T, featuring the most flexible molecular chain, exhibited the lowest dielectric loss under both dry (0.0021 @ 10 GHz) and hygroscopic (0.0029 @ 10 GHz) conditions. Furthermore, the observed increase in Df after humidity absorption suggests that the high dielectric loss of PEI in applications may be attributed to its hygroscopic nature. Molecular simulations and characterization of the aggregation structure revealed that the smaller cavities within flexible molecular chains, after close stacking, impede the entry of water molecules. Despite sacrificing high-temperature resistance, the precursor exhibited enhanced solubility properties and could be processed into high-quality films. Our research unveils new insights into the relationship between flexibility and high-frequency dielectric loss, offering innovative perspectives on synthesizing aromatic polymers with exceptional dielectric properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on solving the time fractional Caudrey-Dodd-Gibbon-Sawada-Kotera equation (FCDGSKE). We propose two analytical methods based on the fractional complex transform, the variational iteration method and the homotopy perturbation method. The approximated solutions to the initial value problems associated with FCDGSKE are provided without linearization and complicated calculation. Numerical results show the main merits of the analytical approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver damage seriously affects human health. Over 35% of cases of acute liver damage are caused by alcohol damage. Thus, finding drugs that can inhibit and effectively treat this disease is necessary. This article mainly focuses on the effect of the metabolome physical activity of active peptides in Camellia vietnamensis active peptide (CMAP) and improving liver protection. DEAE Sepharose FF ion-exchange column chromatography was used in separating and purifying crude peptides from Camellia vietnamensis Two components, A1 and A2, were obtained, and the most active A1 was selected. Sephadex G-100 gel column chromatography was used in A1 separation and purification. Three components, Al-1, Al-2, and Al-3, were obtained. Through antioxidant activity in vitro as an index of inspection, the relatively active component A1-2 was removed. Reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography showed that the purity of component A1-2 was 93.45%. The extracted CMAPs acted on alcoholic liver injury cells. Metabolomics studies revealed that the up-regulated metabolites were ribothymidine and xanthine; the down-regulated metabolites were hydroxyphenyllactic acid, creatinine, stearoylcarnitine, and inosine. This study provides an effective theoretical support for subsequent research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional blind source separation (BSS) methods often want no additional noise effects. But in practice, noise is ubiquitous, and there are even cases with low signal-to-noise ratios (SNR). Unfortunately, these blind source separation methods have a significant impact on system performance in the presence of noise. This study proposes a blind source separation method to eliminate noise and extract signal information to the maximum extent. The method is based on improved complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise (ICEEMDAN) and improved wavelet threshold (IWT) hierarchical decomposition to improve the signal separation effect. First, the signal is decomposed via ICEEMDAN to obtain the noise-dominated and information-dominated intrinsic mode function (IMF) components. Then, the noise-dominated IMF components are again decomposed by ICEEMDAN, and each component's scale function is obtained via detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA). Next, the noise-dominated IMF components generated in the second decomposition round undergo an improved wavelet threshold denoising to obtain useful signal information. Finally, the information-dominated IMF components generated in the two rounds of decomposition and the resulting signal of wavelet denoising yield a reconstructed signal, which is then decomposed using the BSS algorithm to obtain the source signal. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method can accurately extract signal information and can better separate the source signal than the existing algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Thermal ablation (TA) is a minimally invasive treatment method for symptomatic benign thyroid nodules (BTNs). This study aimed to evaluate the value of TA by comparing the efficacy, safety, and patient satisfaction with conventional/open thyroidectomy (ConT) and endoscopic thyroidectomy (ET) for symptomatic BTNs. Methods: Patients with symptomatic BTNs who underwent ConT, ET, or TA therapy between January 2018 and January 2020 were included. Pre-operation data of the two comparisons (TA vs. ConT and TA vs. ET) was balanced using propensity score matching. The technique efficacy (volume reduction ratio 50%), nodule disappearance, and regrowth rate were calculated after ablation. The operation and hospitalization time, medical cost, complications, post-operative symptoms, and cosmetic scores were recorded and compared. Patient satisfaction was evaluated using a telephone survey. Results: After a median 19-month follow-up (range, 12–36 months), the technique efficacy rate, nodule disappearance, and regrowth rate were 93.2% (119/129), 6.8% (10/129), and 0.8% (1/129), respectively. Operation time, hospitalization time, and medical costs were less for patients in the TA group than for patients in the ConT and ET groups (all p < 0.001). The incidence of complications, post-operative symptoms, cosmetic scores, and overall satisfaction were not significantly different among groups (all p > 0.05). Post-operative hypothyroidism was less frequent in the TA group than in the ConT and ET groups (all p < 0.05). Conclusions: Compared to ConT and ET, TA has comparable efficacy, safety, and patient satisfaction and exhibits greater protection of thyroid function for the treatment of symptomatic BTNs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blind source separation is a widely used technique to analyze multichannel data. In most real-world applications, noise is inevitable and will affect the quality of signal separation and even make signal separation failure. In this paper, a new signal processing framework is proposed to separate noisy mixing sources. It is composed of two different stages. The first step is to process the mixing signal by a certain signal transform method to make the expected signals have energy concentration characteristics in the transform domain. The second stage is formed by a certain BSS algorithm estimating the demixing matrix in the transform domain. In the energy concentration segment, the SNR can reach a high level so that the demixing matrix can be estimated accurately. The analysis process of the proposed algorithm framework is analyzed by taking the wavelet transform as an example. Numerical experiments demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed algorithm to estimate the mixing matrix in comparison with well-known algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, diamond coatings were deposited through the hot filament chemical vapor deposition method on cemented carbide under different methane concentrations, ranging from 1% to 5%, to analyze the performance of the diamond coatings under different loads and lubrication conditions. Friction and wear tests were carried out using ball-disk friction and wear tester under different loads and lubrication conditions. Scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution Raman spectrometry, optical microscopy, and a surface profiler were used to observe the surface morphology and quality of the coatings after the wear test. The results revealed that the coating prepared under 3% methane concentration was more stable during the friction test than that prepared under other methane concentrations. In addition, the coating prepared under 5% methane concentration had poor adhesion and experienced failure under excessive load. Furthermore, lubricating the friction surface with water effectively reduced the formation of abrasive wear and the friction coefficient, and thus the sample reached the stable stage faster. In addition, the wear rate of the coating under wet condition was approximately 4-5 times less than that under dry friction conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the passage of Typhoon Nida, the raindrop size distribution parameters, the raindrop spectra, the shape and slope (μ–Λ) relationship, the radar reflectivity factor, and rain rate (Z–R) relationship were investigated based on a two-dimensional (2D) video disdrometer in Guangdong, China, from August 1 to 2, 2016. Due to the underlying surface difference between the ocean and land, this process was divided into two distinct periods (before landfall and after landfall). The characteristics of raindrop size distribution between the period before landfall and the period after landfall were quite distinct. The period after landfall exhibited higher concentrations of each size bin (particularly small drops) and wider raindrop spectral width than the period before landfall. Compared with the period before landfall, the period after landfall had a higher average mass-weighted mean diameter Dm that was smaller than those of other TCs from the same ocean (the Pacific). The μ–Λ relationship and Z–R relationship in this study were also compared with other TCs from the same ocean (the Pacific). This investigation of the microphysical characteristics of Typhoon Nida before landfall and after landfall may improve radar quantitative precipitation estimation (QPE) products and microphysical schemes by providing useful information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The brightness and height of the sodium laser guide star of adaptive optics could vary significantly due to the temporal dynamics of sodium column density and the mean height of the sodium layer. To measure these dynamics, an independent sodium Lidar is a necessity. Without such an instrument, it is almost impossible to discern the cause of the brightness variation of the laser guide star from the sodium layer's dynamics or other factors from the laser itself. For applications such as characterizing the performance of sodium laser for sodium laser guide star generation, minutes scale short term statistics of the sodium layers' abundance and height is extremely helpful for estimating the contribution of sodium layer's variation to the variation of laser guide star's brightness. In this paper, we analyzed our previous measurement of sodium layer dynamics that has been gathered in two winters, and presented the temporal variation statistics of sodium column density and mean height within a minute timescale based on our measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), as a new class of proton conductors, have attracted much attention in the application of proton exchange membranes due to their precisely defined structure and tailorable functionality. However, for most of the MOF materials, their long-term stability is a huge barrier to practical application. Therefore, the structural stability of MOFs is an important prerequisite for the design and development of proton conductors with ultra-high conductivity. In this study, the stable UiO-66-NH2 is optimized as the precursor, and the modified material of DT-UiO-66 is designed and developed by introducing the 3,5-diamino-1,2,4-triazole molecule into the framework of UiO-66-NH2 through a post-synthesis strategy. Satisfactorily, DT-UiO-66 maintains the stability of the original skeleton. The alternating current impedance measurements indicate that a significantly improved proton conductivity of 4.47 × 10−3 S cm−1 is obtained at 100% relative humidity (RH) and 373 K for DT-UiO-66, which is attributed to the increasing number of proton sources and hopping sites. Moreover, DT-UIO-66 shows an outstanding stability under high temperature and high humidity conditions for at least 16 h, suggesting its potential application as a proton exchange membrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chain architecture effect on static and dynamic properties of unentangled polymers is explored by molecular dynamics simulation and Rouse mode analysis based on graph theory. For open chains, although they generally obey ideal scaling in chain dimensions, local structure exhibits nonideal behavior due to the incomplete excluded volume (EV) screening, the reduced mean square internal distance (MSID) can be well described by Wittmer' theory for linear chains and the resulting chain swelling is architecture dependent, i.e., the more branches a bit stronger swelling. For rings, unlike open chains they are compact in term of global sizes. Due to EV effect and nonconcatenated constraints their local structure exhibits a quite different non-Gaussian behavior from open chains, i.e., reduced MSID curves do not collapse to a single master curve and fail to converge to a chain-length-independent constant, which makes the direct application of Wittmer's theory to rings quite questionable. Deviation from ideality is further evidenced by limited applicability of Rouse prediction to mode amplitude and relaxation time at high modes as well as the non-constant and mode-dependent scaled Rouse mode amplitudes, while the latter is architecture-dependent and even molecular weight dependent for rings. The chain relaxation time is architecture-dependent, but the same scaling dependence on chain dimensions does hold for all studied architectures. Despite mode orthogonality at static state, the role of cross-correlation in orientation relaxation increases with time and the time-dependent coupling parameter rises faster for rings than open chains even at short time scales it is lower for rings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one crucial component for the latest generation of adaptive optics, tremendous efforts have been put into the development of high performance 20 W class sodium laser guide star laser system. Two such systems, the continuous wave laser by Toptica, and the quasi-continuous pulse laser by TIPC were extensively studied with simulation and field tests. A new type of 20 W class sodium laser, macro–micro pulse laser, is currently being developed by CIOMP. In this paper, we will study its on-sky performance with simulation based on Monte Carlo rate equation method. The predicted coupling efficiency for this laser in the zenith direction in Changchun is 179.73 photons s−1 W−1/(atoms m−2). The variation of coupling efficiency of this type of laser with pointing direction and the effect of D2b repumping are also studied and reported in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the feasibility of using pilot-scale anaerobic filter to treat by-product liquid (brown juice, BJ) from grass protein extraction in a green biorefinery, and produce biogas via anaerobic digestion without co-digestion substrate. Prior to feed into the un-heated anaerobic filter reactor, the BJ was warmed up to 55−60 °C in order to maintain the digestion temperature. The influence of retention time and feeding frequencies were tested in order to optimize the overall performance. The study demonstrated that anaerobic filter is feasible for converting BJ to biogas. The specific CH production reached 230 mL gCOD−1 d −1 while up to 80 % of influent COD was removed within a hydraulic retention time of 5.5 days. In addition, higher feeding frequencies enhanced the process stability as it narrowed the temperature variation and decreased the instant impact on buffer capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Runtime verification (RV) refers to methods for formal reasoning about all aspects of the dynamic execution of systems, including hardware, software, and cyber-physical systems. RV includes techniques to assess and enforce correctness of a system against systemic bugs or extrinsic uncertainties. These methods are typically considered lightweight as they may not involve exhaustive verification or proofs, but they provide a higher level of rigor and versatility compared to conventional testing methods. This article introduces the extended versions of selected papers from the peer-reviewed proceedings of the 21st International Conference on Runtime Verification (RV 2021). RV 2021 was supposed to be held in Los Angeles, California, USA in November 2021, but was instead held virtually due to the global Covid-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropopause-penetrating convection (or “overshooting convection” [OC]) is defined as a meso-to-microscale stratosphere–troposphere exchange process caused by deep convection. OC plays an important role in stratosphere–troposphere exchange and in producing turbulence. Compared with the tropics, the characteristics of OC in the extratropics are poorly understood. To this end, a high-resolution and objective satellite-based OC identification and classification algorithm was developed. In the algorithm, a machine learning method was utilized to derive tropopause height directly from satellite observations to ensure a high level of consistency between tropopause and cloud top height variations. By studying the climatology of OCs, including geographic distribution, vertical extent, and seasonal and diurnal variation, as well as their linkage with turbulence in the extratropics in 2018 based on Fengyun-4A geostationary meteorological satellite data, it was found that most OCs in the extratropics have relatively shallow vertical extents and are more likely to occur over complex topography within the cyclonic curvature side of subtropical jets near the exit region, with a total frequency lower than 0.2%. They showed significant seasonal and diurnal variation. OCs in the Northern Hemisphere occurred most frequently during spring and summer and peak in the afternoon, while those in the Southern Hemisphere were more likely to occur in winter and spring, and with the highest likelihood in the early morning. Typical synoptic conditions for the occurrence of OCs in the mid–high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere in the summer months included low-level easterly flows, increased moisture symmetric instability, upper cold trough (or cold vortex), and a subtropical westerly jet. Under this large-scale flow pattern, moderate-to-greater turbulence was often found to occur within or about 200 km away from the core convective area. The stronger the penetrating convection, the greater the probability of moderate-to-greater turbulence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]