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The continuous development of smart industrial parks has imposed increasingly stringent requirements on safety helmet detection in environments such as factories, construction sites, rail transit, and fire protection. Current models often suffer from issues like false alarms or missed detections, especially when dealing with small and densely packed targets. This study aims to enhance the YOLOv5 target detection method to provide real-time alerts for individuals not wearing safety helmets in complex scenarios. Our approach involves incorporating the ECA channel attention mechanism into the YOLOv5 backbone network, allowing for efficient feature extraction while reducing computational load. We adopt a weighted bi-directional feature pyramid network structure (BiFPN) to facilitate effective feature fusion and cross-scale information transmission. Additionally, the introduction of a decoupling head in YOLOv5 improves detection performance and convergence rate. The experimental results demonstrate a substantial improvement in the YOLOv5 model's performance. The enhanced YOLOv5 model achieved an average accuracy of 95.9% on a custom-made helmet dataset, a 3.0 percentage point increase compared to the original YOLOv5 model. This study holds significant implications for enhancing the accuracy and robustness of helmet-wearing detection in various settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high-pathogenicity island (HPI) was initially identified in Yersinia and can be horizontally transferred to Escherichia coli to produce yersiniabactin (Ybt), which enhances the pathogenicity of E. coli by competing with the host for Fe3+. Pyroptosis is gasdermin-induced necrotic cell death. It involves the permeabilization of the cell membrane and is accompanied by an inflammatory response. It is still unclear whether Ybt HPI can cause intestinal epithelial cells to undergo pyroptosis and contribute to gut inflammation during E. coli infection. In this study, we infected intestinal epithelial cells of mice with E. coli ZB-1 and the Ybt-deficient strain ZB-1Δirp2. Our findings demonstrate that Ybt-producing E. coli is more toxic and exacerbates gut inflammation during systemic infection. Mechanistically, our results suggest the involvement of the NLRP3/caspase-1/GSDMD pathway in E. coli infection. Ybt promotes the assembly and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, leading to GSDMD cleavage into GSDMD-N and promoting the pyroptosis of intestinal epithelial cells, ultimately aggravating gut inflammation. Notably, NLRP3 knockdown alleviated these phenomena, and the binding of free Ybt to NLRP3 may be the trigger. Overall, our results show that Ybt HPI enhances the pathogenicity of E. coli and induces pyroptosis via the NLRP3 pathway, which is a new mechanism through which E. coli promotes gut inflammation. Furthermore, we screened drugs targeting NLRP3 from an existing drug library, providing a list of potential drug candidates for the treatment of gut injury caused by E. coli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post‐translational modifications in histones play important roles in regulating chromatin structure and gene expression programs, and the modified histones can be passed on to subsequent generations as an epigenetic memory. The fission yeast has been a great model organism for studying histone modifications in heterochromatin assembly and epigenetic inheritance. Here, we review findings in this organism that cemented the idea of chromatin‐based inheritance and highlight recent studies that reveal the role of histone turnover in regulating this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In wireless blockchain network (WBN), it is necessary to study the impact of delay performance on blockchain technology with different data rates, because the throughput performance is not the only goal. We propose an analysis model to evaluate network performance based on both delay performance and network performance. Firstly, we separate the communication process from business process in WBN, and package the business data into the payload in a frame. Secondly, we define throughput-time S V as a ratio of throughput to data transmission rate and propose a ratio model of S V to network delay. Then, we analyze the ratio model with the parameter of payload transmission time, which is defined as a ratio of payload in a frame to data transmission rate. Using the DATA/ACK type in IEEE 802.11, we learn that the optimal payload transmission time is independent of node number and only determined by some interframe space of access mechanism and propagation time. Finally, we analyze the performance of network delay and throughput between DATA/ACK type and RTS/CTS/DATA/ACK type based on payload transmission time. The simulation data verify the validity and accuracy of the proposed model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Integrating training on health equity of sexual and gender minorities (SGM) in medical education has been challenging globally despite emphasis on the need for medical students to develop competence to provide adequate care for diverse patient groups. This study elicits Taiwanese medical students' perceptions of their values and preparedness to care for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Transgender (LGBT) patients using a qualitative approach that considers broader societal changes, and more focused topics such as the provision of relevant training in medical education. Methods: Eighty-nine medical students/trainees from two southern Taiwanese medical schools (one public and one private) participated in focus groups (n = 70) and individual interviews (n = 19). Qualitative analysis was conducted using inductive thematic analysis. Results: Participants (i) expressed wide social acceptance and openness toward LGBT individuals, but were unsure of ways to communicate with LGBT patients; (ii) confirmed that stigmatization and biases might be developed during their training; (iii) recognized gender stereotypes could have negative impacts on clinical reasoning; (iv) considered themselves prepared to care for LGBT patients, yet equated non-discriminatory attitudes to preparedness; (v) acknowledged a lack of relevant professional skills; (vi) implicated curriculum did not address LGBT issues systematically and explicitly. Conclusion: This study has identified the insufficiencies of current medical training and inadequate preparedness of medical students/trainees to provide better care for LGBT patients. It provides insights for medical educators to design and implement effective medical curriculum and training, and faculty development programs to equip medical students/trainees with self-awareness and competencies to more readily provide holistic care for SGM, in keeping up with social progress, and promote health equity for a more diverse patient population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The epigenetic landscape of a cell frequently changes in response to fluctuations in nutrient levels, but the mechanistic link is not well understood. In fission yeast, the JmjC domain protein Epe1 is critical for maintaining the heterochromatin landscape. While loss of Epe1 results in heterochromatin expansion, overexpression of Epe1 leads to defective heterochromatin. Through a genetic screen, we found that mutations in genes of the cAMP signaling pathway suppress the heterochromatin defects associated with Epe1 overexpression. We further demonstrated that the activation of Pka1, the downstream effector of cAMP signaling, is required for the efficient translation of epe1+ mRNA to maintain Epe1 overexpression. Moreover, inactivation of the cAMP-signaling pathway, either through genetic mutations or glucose deprivation, leads to the reduction of endogenous Epe1 and corresponding heterochromatin changes. These results reveal the mechanism by which the cAMP signaling pathway regulates heterochromatin landscape in fission yeast. Author summary: Genomic DNA is folded with histones into chromatin and posttranslational modifications on histones separate chromatin into active euchromatin and repressive heterochromatin. These chromatin domains often change in response to environmental cues, such as nutrient levels. How environmental changes affect histone modifications is not well understood. Here, we found that in fission yeast, the cAMP signaling pathway is required for the function of Epe1, an enzyme that removes histone modifications associated with heterochromatin. Moreover, we found that active cAMP signaling ensures the efficient translation of epe1+ mRNA and therefore maintains high Epe1 protein levels. Finally, we show that changing glucose levels, which modulate cAMP signaling, also affect heterochromatin in a way consistent with cAMP signaling-mediated Epe1 protein level changes. As histone-modifying enzymes often require cofactors that are metabolic intermediates, previous studies on the impact of nutrient levels on chromatin states have mainly focused on metabolites. Our results suggest that nutrient-sensing signaling pathways also regulate histone-modifying enzymes in response to nutritional conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim-To study the imaging features of leukoaraiosis (LA) and hemorrhage in cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) patients. Methods-The earliest MRI images of probable CAA patients and non-CAA patients were collected. The characteristics of LA in the two groups were analyzed. Cerebral micro bleeding (CMB), superficial siderosis (SS), and intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) were recorded in the follow-up study. The space relationship between CMB or SS and ICH was assessed. Results-We found that 10/21 (47.6%) patients had occipital prominent LA and 14/21 (66.7%) patients had subcortical punctate LA before the ICH, which was higher than that of the ones in the control group (p = 0.015 and 0.038, respectively). The recurrence rate of ICH was 100% (3/3) in patients with diffuse SS and 36.4% (4/11) in patients without. The recurrence rate of ICH was 60% (3/5) in patients with multiple-lobe CMBs and 44.4% (4/9) in those without. The location of the ICH and CMB was inconsistent. ICH occurred in the ipsilateral cerebral hemisphere of SS in three patients with diffuse SS. Conclusion-LA, diffuse SS, and multiple-lobe CMBs are important imaging characteristics of CAA, which may help make early diagnosis and predict the recurrence of ICH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous carbon nanofiber (PCNF) was collaborated with carbon black (CB) to act as composite support (PCNF‐CB) to prepare platinum (Pt) catalyst (Pt/PCNF‐CB) by means of ethylene glycol reduction method. The electrocatalytic activity and stability of Pt/PCNF‐CB and the reference commercial Pt/C catalyst were investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV). Among CB content of 20 wt% to 50 wt%, Pt/PCNF‐CB‐30% shows not only better catalytic activity in terms of onset potential and mass activity (MA), but also more durable than Pt/C. After 2000 accelerated potential cycles, Pt/PCNF‐CB‐30% exhibits 68% retention of electrochemical active surface area (ECSA) and 24 mV loss in half‐wave potential, while Pt/C gives 43% retention of ECSA and 94 mV loss in half‐wave potential. Significantly, the single cell performance confirmed that the MEA composed of Pt/PCNF‐CB‐30% as cathode catalyst reveals almost twice maximum power density than that composed of Pt/C catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a new convenient synthetic route to prepare entecavir on kilogram scale by using low-priced reagents and mild reaction conditions.

[Display omitted] • The V-Mo microalloying design greatly promotes the nanoscale carbide, leading to precipitation hardening of 350 MPa. • The Ti-Mo and Ti-V microalloying design allows a hybrid combination of coarse carbides and nanoscale carbides, leading to an excellent balance between strength and ductility. • Nanoscale carbides retard austenite reversion but coarse carbides accelerate reversion by microstructure refinement. • The strategy to synergistically employ complex carbides enables the development of medium-Mn steels exhibiting superior yield strength without much sacrifice to ductility. This work describes a strategy to employ complex carbides for high-yield microalloyed 4Mn steels processed by quenching and reversion (Q&R). The nano/microstructural details are investigated by using electron microscopy and atom probe. It is found that complex carbides are classified into two types and contribute to yield strength in different ways. First, coarse carbides (MC1), which are retained after austenization and quenching, provide the Zener pinning effect and contribute to strengthening by microstructure refinement and precipitation hardening. Second, nanoscale carbides (MC2), which precipitate in martensite during austenite reversion, provide precipitation hardening. Furthermore, the precipitation of MC1 accelerates austenite reversion due to the finer martensite microstructure. Hence, the strengthening effects and TRIP effect can be tuned by controlling the proportion of the two types of carbide. This concept is validated in Ti-Mo 4Mn steel, which exhibits a high yield strength of about 850 MPa, a high ultimate tensile strength of about 950 MPa, and excellent elongation of over 20%. The complex carbide strategy is able to increase yield strength without sacrificing much ductility for Q&R medium-Mn steels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zr–Si–N coatings with cyclic gradient concentration were fabricated using reactive direct current magnetron cosputtering. The low-Si-content coatings, Zr 60 N 40 and Zr 58 Si 2 N 40 , exhibited a face-centered cubic (f.c.c.) structure, accompanied with a nanohardness of 21.0–23.6 GPa and a Young's modulus of 248–267 GPa, whereas the medium-Si-content coatings, Zr 54 Si 6 N 40 and Zr 52 Si 8 N 40 , exhibited a mixture of f.c.c. and near-amorphous structures, accompanied with a nanohardness of 19.7–18.4 GPa and a Young's modulus of 204–207 GPa. When the Si content ranged from 14 to 19 at.%, the structures of Zr–Si–N coatings were X-ray amorphous; those coatings exhibited lower nanohardness levels of 13.7–10.3 GPa and Young's modulus values of 196–148 GPa. The high-Si-content coatings, Zr 28 Si 24 N 48 and Zr 22 Si 30 N 48 , exhibited an amorphous structure, accompanied with a nanohardness of 13.7–16.2 GPa and a Young's modulus of 196–217 GPa, which were higher than those of the coatings with a Si content of 14–19 at.%. Coatings formed by adding Si into the Zr–N matrix and performing annealing at 600 °C in a 1% O 2 –99% Ar atmosphere showed notably high oxidation resistance because Si–Zr–O oxide scales formed on the surfaces. The mechanical properties of crystalline Zr–Si–N coatings declined after annealing, whereas near-amorphous Zr–Si–N coatings retained high levels of mechanical properties after annealing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The identification of the ultrastructure on the surface of insects serves as the foundation for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying their perception of various environmental cues. In this study, we used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to investigate the morphology, type, and distribution of sensilla on the antennae, mouthparts, and legs of the economically significant pest, Heortia vitessoides, which feeds on the valuable plant Aquilaria sinensis. Furthermore, we conducted a comparative analysis to assess the differences in sensillum characteristics, quantity, and distribution between male and female individuals. Heortia vitessoides Moore, 1885 (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is an economically important lepidopteran pest that caused severe damage to the plantation area of Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Gilg, 1825 (Thymelaeaceae), resulting in extensive defoliation of the trees during an epidemic. In this study, we used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to analyze the external morphology and ultrastructure of sensilla on various body parts of H. vitessoides. Specifically, seven, four, four, and five types of sensilla were found, respectively, on the antennae, proboscis, labial palps, and legs. We described the types, distributions, and sexual dimorphism of these sensilla on antennae, and found that the number and size of sensilla differed significantly between males and females. This study provides crucial information for future investigations into the function of these sensilla in H. vitessoides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute diarrhea with fever can potentially represent a more severe form of the disease compared to non-febrile diarrhea. This study was to investigate the epidemiological characteristics and enteric pathogen composition of febrile-diarrheal patients, and to explore factors including pathogens associated with fever by age group. Methods: A nationwide surveillance study of acute diarrheal patients of all ages was conducted in 217 sentinel hospitals from 31 provinces (autonomous regions or municipalities) in China between 2011 and 2020. Seventeen diarrhea-related pathogens, including seven viruses and ten bacteria, were investigated and their association with occurrence of fever symptoms was assessed using multivariate logistic analysis. Results: A total of 146,296 patients with acute diarrhea (18.6% with fever) were tested. Th diarrheal children below 5 years had the highest frequency of fever (24.2%), and related to significantly higher prevalence of viral enteropathogens (40.2%) as compared with other age groups (P < 0.001). Within each age group, the febrile-diarrheal patients were associated with a significantly higher prevalence of bacterial pathogens than afebrile-diarrheal patients (all P < 0.01). There was discrepancy when each pathogen was compared, i.e., nontyphoidal Salmonella (NTS) was overrepresented in febrile vs non-febrile patients of all age groups, while the febrile vs non-febrile difference for diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) was only significant for adult groups. The multivariate analysis revealed significant association between fever and infection with rotavirus A among children [odds ratio (OR) = 1.60], for DEC in adult groups (OR = 1.64), for NTS in both children (OR = 2.95) and adults (OR = 3.59). Conclusions: There are significant discrepancy of the infected enteric pathogens in patients with acute diarrhea with fever between age groups, and it is valuable for priority detection of NTS and rotavirus A in patients with children < 5 years old and NTS and DEC in adult patients. The results may be useful in identifying dominant pathogen candidates for the application of diagnostic assays and prevention control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have investigated the interactions of the lanthanum cation (La 3 + ) with cucurbit [6]uril (Q [6]) and its alkyl-substituted derivatives (SQ [6]s), including symmetrical tetramethylcucurbit [6]uril (TMeQ [6]), symmetrical dicyclohexanocucurbit [6]uril (1,4-DiCyHQ [6]), and percyclohexanocucurbit [6]uril (CyH 6 Q [6]), as well as the supramolecular assemblies formed with the aid of inorganic anions (NO 3 − and Cl − ) as structure-directing agents. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis has revealed that the interaction results in the formation of three kinds of coordination complexes. The main driving forces may be the ion-dipole interaction of inorganic anions and the electropositive outer surface of Q[ n ]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • We evaluated the genes involved in catechins biosynthesis in C. sinensis. • In total, 47,717 unigenes were obtained from two cultivars of C. sinensis. • KEGG database analysis identified 13 key enzymes involved in catechins biosynthesis. • The structures of LAR and ANR were spatially modeled. • Our findings established a basis for further studies of catechins biosynthesis. Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze is used to produce tea, a beverage consumed worldwide. Catechins are major medically active components of C. sinensis and can be used clinically to treat hyperglycaemia, hypertension, and cancer. In this study, we aimed to identify the genes involved in catechins biosynthesis. To this end, we analysed transcriptome data from two different cultivars of C. sinensis using DNBSEQ technology. In total, 47,717 unigenes were obtained from two cultivars of C. sinensis , of which 9429 were predicted as new unigenes. In our analyses of the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database, 212 unigenes encoding 13 key enzymes involved in catechins biosynthesis were identified; the structures of leucoanthocyanidin reductase and anthocyanidin reductase were spatially modelled. Some of these key enzymes were verified by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and multiple genes encoding plant resistance proteins or transcription factors were identified and analysed. Furthermore, two microRNAs involved in the regulation of catechins biosynthesis were explored. Differentially expressed genes involved in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway were identified from pairwise comparisons of genes from different cultivars of tea plants. Overall, our findings expanded the number of publicly available transcript datasets for this valuable plant species and identified candidate genes related to the biosynthesis of C. sinensis catechins, thereby establishing a foundation for further in-depth studies of catechins biosynthesis in varieties or cultivars of C. sinensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we load TiO 2 on the surface of the tri-pyridine-ruthenium heteropolytungstate [Ru(bipy) 3 ] 2 [SiW 12 O 40 ]·2C 2 H 5 OH·8H 2 O ( 1 ), which is mixed with P25 powder to get photoanode material and then adsorb N719 dyes to assemble a dye-sensitized solar cell. It is important that the performance of the DSSCs with 1 -doped TiO 2 ( 1 @ TiO 2 ) is superior to ones with H 4 SiW 12 O 40 -doped TiO 2 ({SiW 12 } @ TiO 2 ), although their photoelectric conversion efficiencies are both higher than pure P25-based cells. The investigation of the EIS shows that 1 @ TiO 2 can restrain charge recombination and doping the transition metal ruthenium improves the performance of the cell. The photovoltaic performance of the cell is enhanced and the short-circuit photocurrent density ( J sc ) is as high as 16.272 mA cm − 2 , which is 20.4% higher than pure P25-based cells and 4.4% higher than the {SiW 12 } @ TiO 2 -based cells under simulated AM 1.5 irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Control surface is key component of supercavitating vehicle. Its basic function is that provides stable moment and steering moment. This paper based on SST (Shear Stress Transport)turbulence model of bo0model, the numerical simulation of cavititation flows about two dimensions control surface. According to the simulation results of the cavitation flow, the rules between cavitation shape, drag, and lift were obtained. The results showed that the simulation result was consistent with the empirical formulas, and description of the turbulence model and numerical methods to accurately forecast flow cavitation problems, which provided the reference for further investigating the cavitation problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antioxidant defense enzymes are important components in induced defense responses of plants. Activities of the antioxidant defense enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD) in Larix gmelinii Rupr. seedlings stressed by needle cutting or feeding by Dendrolimus superans Butler larvae (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae) were compared. Both cutting needles and larval feeding increased antioxidant defense enzyme activities. The maximum activities of antioxidant defense enzymes induced by the two treatments appeared after similar time lags following cutting or feeding, but the intensity and duration of enzyme activities in needles differed. D. superans feeding caused higher SOD, CAT, and POD activity than did cutting. Elevated CAT activity tended to remain longer while POD activity rapidly declined after reaching peaks induced by larval feeding. The rapid increase of antioxidant defense enzyme began only after the degree of tissue damage exceeded certain threshold levels, and there was a limitation in the amount of enzyme activity supplied when the damage exceeded endurance of seedlings. Changed SOD, CAT, and POD activities in L. gmelinii were probably defensive responses to tissue damage caused by herbivore feeding or cutting of needles. The effects on SOD, CAT, and POD under different treatments on larch plants were more complicated than expected and need further clarification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Coleophora obducta (Meyrick) is an important defoliator of larch in northeast China. To further describe the mechanism of insect-plant chemical communication, we observed the antennae and their sensilla of C. obducta by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. In both sexes, antennae were threadlike, and in total there were eight types of sensilla found on the antennae: Sensilla placodea, Sensilla basiconica, Sensilla coeloconica, Sensilla styloconica, Sensilla trichodea, Sensilla squamiformia, Sensilla furcatea and Böhm bristles, respectively. We described ultrastructures and discussed possible functions. We inferred from their ultrastructures as chemoreceptors that S. placodea, S. basiconica and S. trichodea were innervated by sensory neurons. The neuron of S. styloconica terminated in a tubular structure which suggested gustatory/mechanosensory function, and the terminal sensory pegs might function as contact-chemoreceptors depending on their locations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Ultra-fine particles of protein lysozyme were prepared with a supercritical anti-solvent (SAS) apparatus by using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as solvent and carbon dioxide as anti-solvent. The influences of various experimental factors on the morphology and the mean size of particulate products were investigated. As evidenced from the experimental results, phase behavior of the mixtures in precipitator during the particle formation stage played a crucial role in the SAS processes. Uniform networked nano-particles were obtained when the precipitations were conducted in the supercritical region of carbon dioxide+DMSO mixture. Several different types of morphologies were produced simultaneously as the precipitations were operated near the critical region. Spherical micron-scale clusters were formed in the superheated vapor region, while submicron-particles were aggregated as dense cake when lysozyme precipitated in the vapor–liquid coexistence region. The wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) patterns indicated that both the raw lysozyme and the processed particulate samples were amorphous. The differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) thermograms showed that the dehydration peak was disappeared after SAS treatment. Moreover, the networked primary particles could be disintegrated and dispersed well in water through ultrasonication, which were confirmed by analysis with dynamic laser scattering (DLS). A continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) model was used to calculate the dynamic composition variations of the mixtures in precipitator during the particle formation period. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Ultra-fine particles of α-chymotrypsin were produced with a supercritical anti-solvent (SAS) technique by using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as a solvent and carbon dioxide as an anti-solvent. According to the vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) phase diagram of DMSO+carbon dioxide, the precipitation experiments have been conducted in different phase regions, including supercritical, superheated vapor, and vapor–liquid phase coexistence zones. It was found that the phase behavior of the mixtures during precipitation governed the product''s morphology. Uniform networked nano-particles were obtained as the precipitation was implemented in the supercritical region. The uniformity of the resulting products became worse when the particles were precipitated around the critical region. Irregular micro-scale aggregated particles were formed in the superheated region, while both dense cake and spherical clusters were produced in the vapor–liquid coexistence region. A continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) model was applied to calculate the dynamic composition variations of mixtures in precipitator during the particle formation process. The crystalline and thermal property of the original and the SAS processed samples were analyzed by a wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), respectively. No significant changes were found after SAS treatment. Besides, the biological activity of the SAS processed α-chymotrypsin was retained in a range of 30–75% of the original protein. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Nanoparticles of the metallocene catalyzed cyclic olefin copolymer (mCOC) were prepared with a lab scale continuous supercritical anti-solvent (SAS) apparatus. Several experimental parameters were investigated to explore their influences on the morphology and the mean size of the products. These parameters included the character of carbon dioxide injector, precipitation pressure and temperature, anti-solvent density, the polymer concentration, the flow rate of feed, and the nature of organic solvents. The phase states of the mixtures of solvent+anti-solvent in precipitation stage may govern the mean size of the resulting particles. Nanoparticles of mCOC were obtained in the homogeneous compressed liquid or supercritical region, while sub-micrometric particles were formed in the vapor–liquid coexistence region. The morphology of precipitates was also significantly changed, turning from spherical nanoparticles to microfibrils, as the polymer concentration of feed was increased from 2 to 4wt.%. Under 15MPa and 306.2K, the mean size of the resultant primary mCOC particles as small as 39nm with a standard deviation of about 6nm could be produced. The residual solvent was about 1.6wt.% in the sample after SAS processing by analyzing with a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), and the particle samples exhibited sub-glass transition behavior according to the thermal histograms of differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Circadian rhythm disruptions and heat stress can cause gut microbiota dysbiosis and intestinal barrier damage, increasing the risk of inflammatory bowel disease. However, whether eating according to the circadian rhythm during the day when the ambient temperature is higher or eating against the circadian rhythm at night when the ambient temperature is relatively suitable, is better for the gut health of diurnal animals in summer has not been clarified. In this study, growing pigs were randomly assigned to a daytime‐restricted feeding or nighttime‐restricted feeding (NRF) group and raised for 18 days in summer with mild heat stress. Our results showed that NRF alleviated heat stress in pigs, as reflected by increased feed intake and decreased drinking. Microbiome analysis revealed that NRF increased the diversity of gut microbiota and abundance of short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs)‐producing bacteria and decreased the abundance of gram‐negative and potentially pathogenic bacteria, thereby increasing SCFAs and reducing lipopolysaccharide production in the colon. These changes enhanced colonic barrier function and reduced colitis and systemic inflammation by upregulating tight junction proteins and mucin. Our findings indicate that although nighttime eating does not align with the biological habits of pigs, consuming food at a relatively suitable ambient temperature is more beneficial for gut health and homeostasis during hot seasons. Our research provides a reference for guiding the healthy feeding of farm animals in summer and a basis for developing a lifestyle that promotes gut health for individuals in tropical regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An underwater image enhancement technique based on weighted guided filter image fusion is proposed to address challenges, including optical absorption and scattering, color distortion, and uneven illumination. The method consists of three stages: color correction, local contrast enhancement, and fusion algorithm methods. In terms of color correction, basic correction is achieved through channel compensation and remapping, with saturation adjusted based on histogram distribution to enhance visual richness. For local contrast enhancement, the approach involves box filtering and a variational model to improve image saturation. Finally, the method utilizes weighted guided filter image fusion to achieve high visual quality underwater images. Additionally, our method outperforms eight state-of-the-art algorithms in no-reference metrics, demonstrating its effectiveness and innovation. We also conducted application tests and time comparisons to further validate the practicality of our approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tao Hong Si Wu Decoction (THSWD), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, is widely utilized in clinical settings, either alone or in combination with other medications, for the treatment of breast cancer. Aim of the study : The specific targeting molecule(s) of THSWD and its associated molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This research aims to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms of THSWD in the treatment of breast cancer. The pharmacological properties of THSWD were investigated in breast cancer cells and tumor tissues using a range of methods including Acridine Orange/Ethidium Bromide (AO/EB) staining, Transwell assay, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence assay, and breast cancer mice models. Our findings demonstrate that THSWD induces necrosis and/or apoptosis in breast cancer cells, while significantly inhibiting cell migration. Target proteins of THSWD in anticancer activity include EGFR, RAS, and others. THSWD treatment for breast cancer is associated with the EGFR/ERK1/2 signaling pathway. Our findings offer initial insights into the primary mechanism of action of THSWD in breast cancer treatment, indicating its potential as a complementary therapy deserving further investigation. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Electroacupuncture (EA) has been shown to facilitate brain plasticity‐related functional recovery following ischemic stroke. The functional magnetic resonance imaging technique can be used to determine the range and mode of brain activation. After stroke, EA has been shown to alter brain connectivity, whereas EA's effect on brain network topology properties remains unclear. An evaluation of EA's effects on global and nodal topological properties in rats with ischemia reperfusion was conducted in this study. Methods and results: There were three groups of adult male Sprague‐Dawley rats: sham‐operated group (sham group), middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) group, and MCAO/R plus EA (MCAO/R + EA) group. The differences in global and nodal topological properties, including shortest path length, global efficiency, local efficiency, small‐worldness index, betweenness centrality (BC), and degree centrality (DC) were estimated. Graphical network analyses revealed that, as compared with the sham group, the MCAO/R group demonstrated a decrease in BC value in the right ventral hippocampus and increased BC in the right substantia nigra, accompanied by increased DC in the left nucleus accumbens shell (AcbSh). The BC was increased in the right hippocampus ventral and decreased in the right substantia nigra after EA intervention, and MCAO/R + EA resulted in a decreased DC in left AcbSh compared to MCAO/R. Conclusion: The results of this study provide a potential basis for EA to promote cognitive and motor function recovery after ischemic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The perpetual market demand for polystyrene results in the gradual accumulation of polystyrene waste, placing a serious burden on the environment. This study proposed a promising method to upcycle polystyrene for styrene-derived monomers through catalytic fast pyrolysis. The metals-incorporated biochar catalysts were synthesized from heavy metals-contaminated manure waste for catalytic fast pyrolysis of polystyrene. The experimental results showed that the bimetallic biochar-derived catalyst containing Zn and Cr (Zn-Cr/C) was more conducive to the liquid production, with an extremely high yield of 88.22 wt%. Monometallic Pb-incorporated biochar catalyst (Pb/C) and bimetallic Zn-Cu co-doped on biochar (Zn-Cu/C) were more favorable for the production of pure styrene, with the mass yield of 61.26 wt% and 60.39 wt%, respectively. Additionally, the study elucidated a deep understanding of the reaction mechanisms involved in the catalytic fast pyrolysis of polystyrene. Simply put, this study introduced a new concept to convert heavy metal-contaminated animal manure into metal-incorporated biochar catalysts for catalytic conversion of polystyrene waste in pure styrene-based monomers. [Display omitted] • A new concept of upcycling polystyrene into pure monomers. • Mono-/bi-/tri-metallic Zn, Cu, Pb, Cr-containing biochar catalysts were prepared. • Bimetallic Zn-Cr/C favored the liquid production, with the high yield of 88.22 wt%. • Pb/C was more favorable for pure styrene production, reaching 61.26 wt%. • Trimetallic Zn-Cu-Pb/C had an obviously negative impact on the liquid production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fuzzing is regarded as the most promising method for protocol vulnerabilities discovering in network security of Internet of Things (IoT). However, one fatal drawback of existing fuzzing methods is that a huge number of test files are required to maintain a high test coverage. In this paper, a novel method based on protocol reverse engineering is proposed to reduce the amount of test files for fuzzing. The proposed method uses techniques in the field of protocol reverse engineering to identify message formats of IoT application-layer protocol and create test files by generating messages with error fields according to message formats. The protocol message treated as a sequence of bytes is assumed to obey a statistic process with change-points indicating the boundaries of message fields. Then, a multi-change-point detection procedure is introduced to identify change-points of byte sequences according to their statistic properties and divide them into segments according to their change-points. The message segments are further processed via a position-based occurrence probability test analysis to identify keyword fields, data fields and uncertain fields. Finally, a message generation procedure with mutation operation on message fields is applied to construct test files for fuzzing test. The results show that the proposed method can effectively find out the message fields and significantly reduce the amount of test files for fuzzing test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In situ protein labeling through homologous recombination is a powerful method for studying protein function across various fungal organisms. Traditionally, research on gene function in plant pathogens depends on methods like ectopic or overexpression, which may not always reflect natural protein behavior. Our study successfully implemented in situ labeling of proteins in the fungus Verticillium dahliae, a plant pathogen, by attaching Flag/GFP tags to proteins' C-terminus via homologous recombination. We demonstrated the technique's effectiveness by analyzing the subcellular localization and protein levels, confirming its utility in this organism. This advancement in protein in situ labeling provides a more precise approach to examine protein expression and function in plant pathogens, enhancing our understanding of their biological functions and potentially aiding in the development of disease control strategies. Accurate determination of protein localization, levels, or protein−protein interactions is pivotal for the study of their function, and in situ protein labeling via homologous recombination has emerged as a critical tool in many organisms. While this approach has been refined in various model fungi, the study of protein function in most plant pathogens has predominantly relied on ex situ or overexpression manipulations. To dissect the molecular mechanisms of development and infection for Verticillium dahliae, a formidable plant pathogen responsible for vascular wilt diseases, we have established a robust, homologous recombination-based in situ protein labeling strategy in this organism. Utilizing Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation (ATMT), this methodology facilitates the precise tagging of specific proteins at their C-termini with epitopes, such as GFP and Flag, within the native context of V. dahliae. We demonstrate the efficacy of our approach through the in situ labeling of VdCf2 and VdDMM2, followed by subsequent confirmation via subcellular localization and protein-level analyses. Our findings confirm the applicability of homologous recombination for in situ protein labeling in V. dahliae and suggest its potential utility across a broad spectrum of filamentous fungi. This labeling method stands to significantly advance the field of functional genomics in plant pathogenic fungi, offering a versatile and powerful tool for the elucidation of protein function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) has proven to be an effective treatment for improving cognition, a crucial factor in motor learning. However, current studies are predominantly focused on the motor cortex, and the potential brain mechanisms responsible for the therapeutic effects are still unclear. Given the interconnected nature of motor learning within the brain network, we have proposed a novel approach known as multi-target tACS. This study aims to ascertain whether multi-target tACS is more effective than single-target stimulation in stroke patients and to further explore the potential underlying brain mechanisms by using techniques such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods: This study employs a double-blind, sham-controlled, randomized controlled trial design with a 2-week intervention period. Both participants and outcome assessors will remain unaware of treatment allocation throughout the study. Thirty-nine stroke patients will be recruited and randomized into three distinct groups, including the sham tACS group (SS group), the single-target tACS group (ST group), and the multi-target tACS group (MT group), at a 1:1:1 ratio. The primary outcomes are series reaction time tests (SRTTs) combined with electroencephalograms (EEGs). The secondary outcomes include motor evoked potential (MEP), central motor conduction time (CMCT), short interval intracortical inhibition (SICI), intracortical facilitation (ICF), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Box and Block Test (BBT), and blood sample RNA sequencing. The tACS interventions for all three groups will be administered over a 2-week period, with outcome assessments conducted at baseline (T0) and 1 day (T1), 7 days (T2), and 14 days (T3) of the intervention phase. Discussion: The study's findings will determine the potential of 40-Hz tACS to improve motor learning in stroke patients. Additionally, it will compare the effectiveness of multi-target and single-target approaches, shedding light on their respective improvement effects. Through the utilization of techniques such as TMS and MRI, the study aims to uncover the underlying brain mechanisms responsible for the therapeutic impact. Furthermore, the intervention has the potential to facilitate motor learning efficiency, thereby contributing to the advancement of future stroke rehabilitation treatment. Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2300073465. Registered on 11 July 2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Thermoultrasound was more effective in inactivating enzymes than hot water blanching. • Drying time and energy consumption were significantly reduced by thermoultrasound. • Thermoultrasound at low temperature (65 °C) better preserved microstructure and color. • Thermoultrasound led to higher levels of phytochemicals and antioxidant capacity. Thermoultrasound (USB) as a promising alternative to traditional hot water (HWB) blanching was employed to blanch sweet potatoes and its influence on enzyme activity, drying behavior, energy consumption and physiochemical properties of sweet potatoes were investigated. Results showed that successive increases in blanching temperature and time resulted in significant (p < 0.05) decreases in PPO and POD activities. Compared to HWB, USB led to more effective drying by promoting texture softening, moisture diffusion, microstructure alterations, and microchannels formation, which significantly reduced energy consumption and improved the overall quality of the dried sample. Specifically, USB at 65 °C for 15 min improved water holding capacity and ABTS, while USB at 65 °C for 30 min improved color (more red and yellow), total phenolic content, total carotenoid content, and DPPH. Unfortunately, blanching process showed detrimental effects on the amino acid composition of dried samples. Overall, the development of thermoultrasound assisted blanching for sweet potatoes has the potential to revolutionize the processing and production of high-quality sweet potato products, while also improving the sustainability of food processing operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Histone H3 lysine 36 methylation (H3K36me) is critical for epigenetic regulation and mutations at or near H3K36 are associated with distinct types of cancers. H3K36M dominantly inhibits H3K36me on wild-type histones, whereas H3G34R/V selectively affects H3K36me on the same histone tail. Here we report the crystal structures of SETD2 SET domain in complex with an H3K36M peptide and SAM or SAH. There are large conformational changes in the substrate binding regions of the SET domain, and the K36M residue interacts with the catalytic pocket of SETD2. H3G34 is surrounded by a very narrow tunnel, which excludes larger amino acid side chains. H3P38 is in the trans configuration, and the cis configuration is incompatible with SETD2 binding. Finally, mutations of H3G34 or H3P38 alleviate the inhibitory effects of H3K36M on H3K36me, demonstrating that the stable interaction of H3K36M with SETD2 is critical for its inhibitory effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High fructose intake is a risk of glomerular podocyte dysfunction. Podocyte apoptosis has emerged as a major cause of podocyte loss, exacerbating proteinuria. Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate (MgIG) is usually used as a hepatoprotective agent in clinic. Liver and kidney injury often occurs in human diseases. Recent report shows that MgIG improves kidney function. In this study, we found that MgIG significantly alleviated kidney dysfunction, proteinuria and podocyte injury in fructose-fed rats. It also restored fructose-induced podocyte apoptosis in rat glomeruli and cultured differentiated podocytes. Of note, high-expression of miR-193a, downregulation of Wilms' tumor protein (WT1) and RelA, as well as upregulation of C-Maf inducing protein (C-mip) were observed in these animal and cell models. The data from the transfection of miR-193a mimic, miR-193a inhibitor, WT1 siRNA or LV5-WT1 in cultured differentiated podocytes showed that fructose increased miR-193a to down-regulate WT1, and subsequently activated C-mip to suppress RelA, causing podocyte apoptosis. These disturbances were significantly attenuated by MgIG. Taken together, these results provide the first evidence that MgIG restrains fructose-induced podocyte apoptosis at least partly through inhibiting miR-193a to upregulate WT1, supporting the application of MgIG with a novel mechanism-of-action against podocyte apoptosis associated with fructose-induced kidney dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sensitive olfactory system is necessary for survival of insects. Odorant receptors (ORs) are located on the dendrites of olfactory receptor neurons and play a critical role in odor detection. Insect ORs are functionally analyzed via heterologous expression in a Xenopus oocyte system using a two‐electrode voltage‐clamp (TEVC) electrophysiological recording. Here, we have identified a novel OR in the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, then we cloned and named it ApisOR4. We analyzed the ApisOR4 tissue expression patterns and found expression only in antennae tissues. Further functional analysis using TEVC revealed that ApisOR4 is broadly tuned to eight volatiles, which elicit electrophysiological response in pea aphid antennae. This study provides an initial functional analysis of aphid ORs and identifies candidate volatiles to be used in developing new strategies for aphid control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to investigate the consistency and diversity between metabolic and structural brain networks at individual level constructed with divergence-based method in healthy Chinese population. The 18F-FDG PET and T1-weighted images of brain were collected from 209 healthy participants. The Jensen-Shannon divergence (JSD) was used to calculate metabolic or structural connectivities between any pair of brain regions and then individual brain networks were constructed. The global and regional topological properties of both networks were analyzed with graph theoretical analysis. Regional properties including nodal efficiency, degree, and betweenness centrality were used to define hub regions of networks. Cross-modality similarity of brain connectivity was analyzed with differential power (DP) analysis. The default mode network (DMN) had the largest number of brain connectivities with high DP values. The small-worldness indexes of metabolic and structural networks in all participants were greater than 1. The structural network showed higher assortativity and local efficiency than metabolic network, while hierarchy and global efficiency were greater in the metabolic network (all P < 0.001). Most of hubs in both networks were symmetrically spatial distributed in the regions of the DMN and subcortical nuclei including thalamus and amygdala, etc. The human brain presented small-world architecture both in perspective of individual metabolic and structural networks. There was a structural substrate that supported the brain to globally and efficiently integrate and process metabolic interaction across brain regions. The cross-modality cooperation or specialization in both networks might imply mechanisms of achieving higher-order brain functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Five nucleos(t)ide analogs are used to treat chronic hepatitis B. Ideal nucleos(t)ide analog therapy in chronic hepatitis B patients with kidney transplantation must ensure virological suppression and minimize renal injury. However, resistance to nucleos(t)ide analogs frequently results in virological breakthrough, hepatitis flare, and complicated deterioration of the transplanted kidney. Inappropriate rescue therapy for drug resistance may subsequently cause hepatitis B virus multidrug resistance. Currently, tenofovir is used to treat chronic hepatitis B patients with kidney transplantation. In the field, we first reported combination therapy with tenofovir plus entecavir in a kidney transplant chronic hepatitis B patient with nucleos(t)ide analog multidrug resistance.Case Presentation: A 50-year-old Chinese man with chronic hepatitis B and kidney transplantation received nucleos(t)ide analog therapy with sequential monotherapy and combination therapy. Virological parameters, hepatic enzymology and renal function were monitored. Drug-resistance mutations were detected by sequence analysis. Our patient received sequential nucleos(t)ide analog monotherapy and inappropriate combination therapy during 132 months, which caused multidrug resistance and renal functional injury. Entecavir plus adefovir was administered in month 106, resulting in decreased hepatitis B virus load, normal hepatic function, and stabilized creatinine clearance. As a result of rebounded viral load and significantly declining creatinine clearance, tenofovir plus entecavir was administered in month 133. After eight weeks, undetectable hepatitis B virus DNA, normal hepatic function and improved creatinine clearance were present. Compared with combination therapy with adefovir plus entecavir, tenofovir plus entecavir showed a potent antiviral effect for multidrug resistance and minimized renal injury.Conclusions: In chronic hepatitis B patients with kidney transplantation, sequential monotherapy with antiviral agents with low barriers to resistance should be avoided, and initial therapy with entecavir is a better option. Combination therapy with tenofovir plus entecavir in this setting with multidrug resistance is safe and effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) have developed rapidly in data privacy protection applications such as medical treatment and finance. However, DNNs require high-speed and high-memory computers in terms of computation, otherwise training can be very lengthy. Furthermore, DNNs are often not available in resource-constrained mobile devices. Therefore, training and executing DNNs are increasingly using cloud computing. In the paper, the Power Normalized Cepstrum-based Robust Feature Detector (PNC-RFD), with deep learning in the cloud computing, is proposed for data privacy protection. The proposed PNC-RFD extracts a specified number of signal segments of high robustness used to embed and extract various data. For the sake of embedding and extracting the data, a method of information hiding employing Dual-Tree Complex Wavelet Packet Transform (DT CWPT) is therefore presented. The presented scheme simultaneously embeds multiple data into coefficients of the DT CWPT of signal segments. By embedding the data into the orthogonal spaces, the proposed method ensures the independent extraction of the multiple data. In line with the performance analysis, the superiority of the presented scheme is elaborated through making the comparison with the current state-of-the-art methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The glycosyl-phosphatidyl-inositol (GPI)-anchored urokinase receptor (uPAR) has no intracellular domain, but nevertheless initiates signalling through proximal interactions with other membrane receptors including integrins. The relationships between uPAR and ezrin/radixin/moesin (ERM) proteins, moesin and merlin have never been explored. Moesin and merlin are versatile membrane-actin links and regulators of receptors signalling, respectively. We show that uPAR controls moesin and merlin, which propagate uPAR-initiated signals and modulate integrin functions, thereby regulating uPAR activity. uPAR rapidly de-phosphorylates moesin and phosphorylates merlin inactivating both proteins, and enhancing cell migration and angiogenesis. Moesin behaves as a molecular switch turning either on or off uPAR signalling through cycles of de-activation/activation, or sustained activation, respectively. Furthermore, moesin is at the crossroads of uPAR-initiated outside-in and inside-out signalling promoting integrin-dependent cell adhesion suggesting that uPAR also activates integrins distally through moesin. Knocking down merlin expression enhanced cell migration and adhesion through different regulation of fibronectin- and vitronectin-binding integrins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An GAN-based method for time-dependent cloud workload generation is proposed. • The method does not rely on any prior knowledge to capture the data distribution. • Spectral normalization is used to stabilize the adversarial training. • Achieving better results than state-of-art models. • Enabled conditional workload generation with simple changes on models. To design repeatable and comparable resource management policies for data centers, researchers mainly conduct experiments in the simulation environment, which requires large-scale workload traces to simulate real scenes. However, issues related to data collection, security and privacy hinder the public availability of cloud workload datasets. Though workload generation is a promising solution, due to the unpredictable time dependency, cloud workloads are difficult to model. In light of this, we propose a novel end-to-end model for time-dependent cloud workload generation using Generative Adversarial Networks, which adopts improved Temporal Convolution Networks and Spectral Normalization to capture the time dependency and stabilize the adversarial training. Experimental results on real cloud datasets demonstrate that our model can efficiently generate realistic workloads that fulfill the diversity, fidelity and usefulness. Further, we also propose a conditional GAN which is trained with labeled data and can generate specific kind of workloads according to the input. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coordination of cucurbit[5]uril (Q[5]) with lanthanide cations and their supramolecular assemblies in different media were investigated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. In an acidic solution, Q[5] coordinated with Pr 3+ and formed a molecular bowl-like complex. In an acidic KCl solution, Q[5] formed heterometallic Sm 3+ and K + ions capsules. In a neutral aqueous NiCl 2 solution, an assembly of [Ni(H 2 O) 6 ] 2+ cations and Q[5]/Ln 3+ molecular bowl-like complexes resulted in the formation of a hexagonal framework. In an acidic solution containing an alkali salt and a transition-metal salt, an assembly of [M trans (H 2 O) 6 ] 2+ cations and Q[5]-based heterometallic capsules also resulted in the formation of hexagonal frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamic monitoring of landslides in engineering geology has focused on the correlation among landslide stability, rainwater infiltration, and subsurface hydrogeology. However, the understanding of this complicated correlation is still poor and inadequate. Thus, in this study, we investigated a typical landslide in southwestern China via time-lapse electrical resistivity tomography (TLERT) in November 2013 and August 2014. We studied landslide mechanisms based on the spatiotemporal characteristics of surface water infiltration and flow within the landslide body. Combined with borehole data, inverted resistivity models accurately defined the interface between Quaternary sediments and bedrock. Preferential flow pathways attributed to fracture zones and fissures were also delineated. In addition, we found that surface water permeates through these pathways into the slipping mass and drains away as fissure water in the fractured bedrock, probably causing the weakly weathered layer to gradually soften and erode, eventually leading to a landslide. Clearly, TLERT dynamic monitoring can provide precursory information of critical sliding and can be used in landslide stability analysis and prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we report geochronological, geochemical, and Sr-Nd-Hf isotopic data of a basic intrusion exposed in the Jiacha area within the Tethyan Himalaya, southern Tibet. The Jiacha dikes are composed mainly of mafic rocks (gabbros). In zircon U-Pb dating of Jiacha dikes samples, the weighted mean ages of magma emplacement were determined to be 241.5 ± 4.2 to 245.5 ± 3.3 Ma, showing a Middle Triassic magmatic event in the eastern part of the Tethyan Himalaya. The Jiacha dikes have relatively low MgO and total alkali ( K 2 O + Na 2 O) contents but high TiO2 contents, exhibit weakly fractionated rare earth element (REE) patterns with slight depletions in light REEs and no obvious Eu anomalies, and show enrichment in high field strength elements and depletion in large-ion lithophile elements. Their initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios vary in the range 0.704250–0.704321, with a positive εNd(t = 243 Ma) of +3.07 to +3.67, and their initial 176Hf/177Hf ratios vary in the range 0.282872–0.283044, with a positive εHf(t = 243 Ma) of +8.53 to +14.45. We propose that the Jiacha dikes were derived from spinel lherzolites in the mantle with no crustal contamination and underwent fractional crystallization of clinopyroxene. Considering previous studies, we propose that Jiacha dikes represent oceanic crustal products of the early evolution of the Neo-Tethys, indicating that the ocean had already begun to open in the Middle Triassic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background To combat the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) were implemented worldwide, which impacted a broad spectrum of acute respiratory infections (ARIs). Methods Etiologically diagnostic data from 142 559 cases with ARIs, who were tested for 8 viral pathogens (influenza virus [IFV], respiratory syncytial virus [RSV], human parainfluenza virus [HPIV], human adenovirus [HAdV], human metapneumovirus [HMPV], human coronavirus [HCoV], human bocavirus [HBoV], and human rhinovirus [HRV]) between 2012 and 2021, were analyzed to assess the changes in respiratory infections in China during the first COVID-19 pandemic year compared with pre-pandemic years. Results Test-positive rates of all respiratory viruses decreased during 2020, compared to the average levels during 2012–2019, with changes ranging from −17.2% for RSV to −87.6% for IFV. Sharp decreases mostly occurred between February and August when massive NPIs remained active, although HRV rebounded to the historical level during the summer. While IFV and HMPV were consistently suppressed year-round, RSV, HPIV, HCoV, HRV, and HBoV resurged and went beyond historical levels during September 2020–January 2021, after NPIs were largely relaxed and schools reopened. Resurgence was more prominent among children <18 years and in northern China. These observations remain valid after accounting for seasonality and long-term trend of each virus. Conclusions Activities of respiratory viral infections were reduced substantially in the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, and massive NPIs were likely the main driver. Lifting of NPIs can lead to resurgence of viral infections, particularly in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 6G network is not only faster, but also offers a wider range of services than 5G networks, which will lead to an increased number of participants. However, combined with the Internet of Everything, 6G networks face security issues such as man-in-the-middle hijacking and bypass listening. Because covert transmission is inherently highly concealed and difficult to detect, a 6G network based on information hiding has become a new paradigm to solve such security problems. In this article, we propose a large-capacity local multi-dimensional information hiding method based on orthogonal space and spread transform. By extending the quantization index modulation hiding approach, the proposed method hides the multi-layer information in digital signals' multi-dimensional space using orthogonal space and spread transform. In theory, this method can hide information in multiple layers at the same location while allowing the extraction of information from multiple layers independently. This proposed method offers a much higher hiding capacity than prior work. Through performance analysis and comparison against existing advanced methods, we demonstrate the superiority of the proposed scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evade security detection, hackers always add a deceptive packer outside of the original malicious codes. The coexistence of original unpacked samples and packed samples of same family needs special attention in malware detection. The features of packed malware are changed by the packer, which would disturb the prediction results of malware classifier. The state-of-the-art studies of malware detection mainly focus on whether the malware is packed, or which type of packer is used. However, the ability of detecting the family of packed malware is still insufficient. Motivated by the above challenges, a novel packed malware family classification framework called MaliCage is proposed. The goal of the framework is to classify packed malware accurately. MaliCage consists of three core modules: packer detector, malware classifier, and a packer generative adversarial network (GAN). The packer detector is used as the pre-step of the framework to identify whether malware is packed. After distinguishing the packed samples, the dynamic features extracted from the sandbox are fitted to the malware classifier based on deep neural networks (DNN). The malware classifier can classify unpacked and packed malware simultaneously. Furthermore, the packer GAN generates fake packed samples to alleviate the underfitting of the malware classifiers. We built a single-packer dataset and a multi-packer dataset to evaluate the framework. In the single-packer experiment, 10 classes of malware samples packed by UPX were examined objectively. The accuracy of the malware classifier when using only real packed samples was 91.66%. After introducing fake packed samples generated by packer GAN, the accuracy of the packed malware classifier could reach 97.8%. In the multi-packer scenario, our method can also accurately classify benign programs, unpacked malware and malware packed by several common packers. The validation results show that MaliCage can not only effectively solve the impacts of packed malware on machine learning model, but also improve the detection accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the interactive effect between aging and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on brain glucose metabolism, individual metabolic connectivity, and network properties. Using a 2 × 2 factorial design, 83 patients with T2DM (40 elderly and 43 middle-aged) and 69 sex-matched healthy control subjects (HCs) (34 elderly and 35 middle-aged) underwent 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance scanning. Jensen-Shannon divergence was applied to construct individual metabolic connectivity and networks. The topological properties of the networks were quantified using graph theoretical analysis. The general linear model was used to mainly estimate the interaction effect between aging and T2DM on glucose metabolism, metabolic connectivity, and network. There was an interaction effect between aging and T2DM on glucose metabolism, metabolic connectivity, and regional metabolic network properties (all P < 0.05). The post hoc analyses showed that compared with elderly HCs and middle-aged patients with T2DM, elderly patients with T2DM had decreased glucose metabolism, increased metabolic connectivity, and regional metabolic network properties in cognition-related brain regions (all P < 0.05). Age and fasting plasma glucose had negative correlations with glucose metabolism and positive correlations with metabolic connectivity. Elderly patients with T2DM had glucose hypometabolism, strengthened functional integration, and increased efficiency of information communication mainly located in cognition-related brain regions. Metabolic connectivity pattern changes might be compensatory changes for glucose hypometabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extraordinary adaptability and dispersal abilities have allowed Hyphantria cunea to expand its range, posing a great threat to urban landscapes and natural ecosystems. Searching for safe, efficient, and low-cost control methods may provide new strategies for pest management in H. cunea spread areas. In this study, based on the attraction of insects by preferred hosts, it was found that the response rates of virgin H. cunea female adults to Salix matsudana , Juglans mandshurica and Ulmus pumila were 89.17%, 97.92% and 93.98%, respectively. It was further found that this significant preference was mainly related to the volatiles m -xylene, o -xylene, dodecane and tetradecane found in the three species. Even though all four compounds at 10 μL/mL and 100 μL/mL had significant attractive effects on the virgin H. cunea female adults, m -xylene and dodecane at 100 μL/mL elicited significant EAG responses and tending behaviors by stimulating the olfactory receptor neurons (ORN A) of females, with response rates of 83.13% and 84.17%, while also having significant attractive effects on virgin male adults with rates of 65.74% and 67.51%. Therefore, both m -xylene and dodecane which at concentrations of 100 μL/mL had strong attractions to adults, could be used as the first choice of attractants for both sexes of H. cunea. This has important practical significance in reducing the frequency of H. cunea generations, limiting their population, controlling their spread range, and improving the efficiency of pest management in epidemic areas. [Display omitted] • m -Xylene, o -xylene, dodecane and tetradecane were the main active volatiles. • Four active volatiles stimulated olfactory receptor neurons of female adults. • Four active volatiles had attractive effects on female adults. • m -Xylene and dodecane can be both sexes attractants for integrated management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vaccination is the most effective means of preventing and controlling porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED). Conventional vaccines developed from porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) GI-a subtypes (CV777 and SM98) have played a vital role in preventing classical PED. However, with the emergence of PEDV mutants in 2010, conventional PEDV GI-a subtype-targeting vaccines no longer provide adequate protection against PEDV GII mutants, thereby making novel-type PED vaccine development an urgent concern to be addressed. Novel vaccines, including nucleic acid vaccines, genetically engineered subunit vaccines, and live vector vaccines, are associated with several advantages, such as high safety and stability, clear targeting, high yield, low cost, and convenient usage. These vaccines can be combined with corresponding ELISA kits to differentiate infected from vaccinated animals, which is beneficial for disease confirmation. This review provides a detailed overview of the recent advancements in PED vaccines, emphasizing on the research and application evaluation of novel PED vaccines. It also considers the future directions and challenges in advancing these vaccines to widespread use in clinics. • Current porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) vaccines provide insufficient protection against prevalent PED virus strains. • Construction strategies and efficacy of conventional and novel PED vaccines or vaccine candidates is reviewed. • Spike protein-based mRNA and VLP PED vaccine candidates show great potential in PED prevention and control. • Polygenic fusion and combinatorial strategy offer better platforms for PED vaccine development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]