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A formal [4+3] cycloaddition of 2‐alkylidenetrimethylene carbonates with quinazoline‐derived azomethine imines is described. Under Pd catalysis, the reaction works efficiently under room temperature to afford angular quinazoline‐fused seven‐membered N,N,O‐heterocycles. A variety of cyclic carbonates and azomethine imines were well tolerated under mild reaction conditions. This work demonstrates the synthetic utility of decarboxylative cycloadditions of 2‐alkylidenetrimethylene carbonates for the synthesis of angular polycyclic aromatic molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PurposesMethodsResultsConclusionsTo determine the relationship between carotid artery stenosis (CAS) and the development of open-angle glaucoma (OAG) in the Taiwanese population.This retrospective cohort study was conducted using Chang Gung Research Database. Cox-proportional hazards model was applied to calculate the hazard ratio for OAG between CAS and the control cohort.Among 19,590 CAS patients, 17,238 had mild CAS (<50%), 1,895 had moderate CAS (50–69%), and 457 had severe CAS (≥70%). The CAS cohort had a higher proportion of several comorbidities. After adjusting for comorbidities, no significant difference in OAG development was found between CAS and control cohorts. Matching for key comorbidities, no significant differences in OAG incidence were found between matched cohorts (P = .869). Subdividing the matched CAS cohort by stenosis severity: mild (<50%), moderate (50–69%), and severe (≥70%), a statistically significantly lower OAG risk was observed in patients with mild CAS stenosis (HR: 1.12, 95% CI = 1.03–1.21, P = .006). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed reduced OAG incidence in CAS patients who underwent surgical intervention, compared to the control cohort (P <.001). Subgroup analysis revealed that patients in the mild CAS stenosis group, those who underwent surgical intervention exhibited a reduced OAG risk (HR: 0.29, 95% CI = 0.15–0.58, P = .001).No statistically significant differences in OAG risk were observed between patients with CAS and the control cohort. The severity of CAS appears to influence OAG risk, with surgical intervention potentially offering protective effects, particularly in patients with mild CAS stenosis (<50%), suggesting that enhanced ocular perfusion post-surgery may act as a protective factor against OAG development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) significantly impacts maternal and infant health both immediately and over the long term, yet effective early diagnostic biomarkers are currently lacking. Thus, it is essential to identify early diagnostic biomarkers for GDM risk screening. Extrachromosomal circular DNA (eccDNA), being more stable than linear DNA and involved in disease pathologies, is a viable biomarker candidate for diverse conditions. In this study, eccDNA biomarkers identified for early diagnosis and assessment of GDM risk were explored. Methods: Using Circle-seq, we identified plasma eccDNA profiles in five pregnant women who later developed GDM and five matched healthy controls at 11–13 weeks of gestation. These profiles were subsequently analyzed through bioinformatics and validated through outward PCR combined with Sanger sequencing. Furthermore, candidate eccDNA was validated by quantitative PCR (qPCR) in a larger cohort of 70 women who developed GDM and 70 normal glucose-tolerant (NGT) subjects. A ROC curve assessed the eccDNA's diagnostic potential for GDM. Results: 2217 eccDNAs were differentially detected between future GDM patients and controls, with 1289 increased and 928 decreased in abundance. KEGG analysis linked eccDNA genes mainly to GDM-related pathways such as Rap1, MAPK, and PI3K-Akt, and Insulin resistance, among others. Validation confirmed a significant decrease in eccDNA PRDM16circle in the plasma of 70 women who developed GDM compared to 70 NGT women, consistent with the eccDNA-seq results. PRDM16circle showed significant diagnostic value in 11–13 weeks of gestation (AUC = 0.941, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our study first demonstrats that eccDNAs are aberrantly produced in women who develop GDM, including PRDM16circle, which can predict GDM at an early stage of pregnancy, indicating its potential as a biomarker. Trial registration: ChiCTR2300075971, http://www.chictr.org.cn. Registered 20 September 2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate applications of the ordinary derivative operator, instead of the q-derivative operator, to the theory of q-series. As main results, many new summation and transformation formulas are established which are closely related to some well-known formulas such as the q-binomial theorem, Ramanujan's {}_1\psi _1 formula, the quintuple product identity, Gasper's q-Clausen product formula, and Rogers' {}_6\phi _5 formula, etc. Among these results is a finite form of the Rogers-Ramanujan identity and a short way to Eisenstein's theorem on Lambert series. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Uterine sarcoma is a rare and heterogeneous gynecological malignancy characterized by aggressive progression and poor prognosis. The current study aimed to investigate the relationship between clinicopathological characteristics and the prognosis of uterine sarcoma in Chinese patients. Methods: In this single-center retrospective study, we reviewed the medical records of 75 patients with histologically verified uterine sarcoma treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University between 2011 and 2020. Information on clinical characteristics, treatments, pathology and survival was collected. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were visualized in Kaplan-Meier curves. Prognostic factors were identified using the log-rank test for univariate analysis and Cox-proportional hazards regression models for multivariate analysis. Results: The histopathological types included 36 endometrial stromal sarcomas (ESS,48%), 33 leiomyosarcomas (LMS,44%) and 6 adenosarcomas (8%). The mean age at diagnosis was 50.2 ± 10.7 years. Stage I and low-grade accounted for the majority. There were 26 recurrences and 25 deaths at the last follow-up. The mean PFS and OS were 89.41 (95% CI: 76.07-102.75) and 94.03 (95% CI: 81.67-106.38) months, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that > 50 years, post-menopause, advanced stage, ≥ 1/2 myometrial invasion, lymphovascular space invasion and high grade were associated with shorter survival (P < 0.05). Color Doppler flow imaging positive signals were associated with shorter PFS in the LMS group (P = 0.046). The ESS group had longer PFS than that of the LMS group (99.56 vs. 76.05 months, P = 0.043). The multivariate analysis showed that post-menopause and advanced stage were independent risk factors of both PFS and OS in the total cohort and LMS group. In the ESS group, diagnosis age > 50 years and high-grade were independent risk factors of PFS, while high-grade and lymphovascular space invasion were independent risk factors of OS. Conclusion: In Chinese patients with uterine sarcoma, post-menopause and advanced stage were associated with a significantly poorer prognosis. The prognosis of ESS was better than that of LMS. Color Doppler flow imaging positive signals of the tumor helped to identify LMS, which needs to be further tested in a larger sample in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the entanglement and work statistics in a two-qubit system under periodic driving. The regulation of periodic driving offers greater versatility and universality in contrast to reservoir engineering in static systems. Our research indicates that the external drive can effectively amplify the quasi-steady state entanglement in specific parameter regimes. Furthermore, the drive extends the range of temperatures or temperature differences at which entanglement can emerge. The quasi-steady state is determined by the alteration of inter-qubit coupling and system-bath coupling due to the addition of the driving, as viewed from the effective Hamiltonian. The quasi-periodic nature of the effective Hamiltonian gives rise to the emergence of a revival island in stroboscopic entanglement under certain driving conditions and temperatures. We have also investigated the work statistics of the driven system, which acts as a continuous quantum thermal machine and outputs work continuously and steadily at the quasi-steady state. By changing the driving, there is a distinct operation of modes and corresponding performance. The effective Hamiltonian is changed by the drive, which in turn changes the modes of energy exchange between the system and the baths as well as the work reservoir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information transmission plays a crucial role across various fields, including physics, engineering, biology, and society. The efficiency of this transmission is quantified by mutual information and its associated information capacity. While studies in closed systems have yielded significant progress, understanding the impact of non-equilibrium effects on open systems remains a challenge. These effects, characterized by the exchange of energy, information, and materials with the external environment, can influence both mutual information and information capacity. Here, we delve into this challenge by exploring non-equilibrium effects using the memoryless channel model, a cornerstone of information channel coding theories and methodology development. Our findings reveal that mutual information exhibits a convex relationship with non-equilibriumness, quantified by the non-equilibrium strength in transmission probabilities. Notably, channel information capacity is enhanced by non-equilibrium effects. Furthermore, we demonstrate that non-equilibrium thermodynamic cost, characterized by the entropy production rate, can actually improve both mutual information and information channel capacity, leading to a boost in overall information transmission efficiency. Our numerical results support our conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transcription factors (TFs) are crucial in modulating gene expression and sculpting cellular and organismal phenotypes. The identification of TF–target gene interactions is pivotal for comprehending molecular pathways and disease etiologies but has been hindered by the demanding nature of traditional experimental approaches. This paper introduces a novel web application and package utilizing the R program, which predicts TF–target gene relationships and vice versa. Our application integrates the predictive power of various bioinformatic tools, leveraging their combined strengths to provide robust predictions. It merges databases for enhanced precision, incorporates gene expression correlation for accuracy, and employs pan-tissue correlation analysis for context-specific insights. The application also enables the integration of user data with established resources to analyze TF–target gene networks. Despite its current limitation to human data, it provides a platform to explore gene regulatory mechanisms comprehensively. This integrated, systematic approach offers researchers an invaluable tool for dissecting the complexities of gene regulation, with the potential for future expansions to include a broader range of species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Personality has constituted a significant psychological component predicting physical exercise. Prior research mostly focused on how personality domains are associated with exercise behaviour. Yet, focusing more closely on combinations of personality domains may be valuable in the future. The present cross‐sectional study aimed to bridge this gap by investigating the associations between Big Five personality profiles and exercise behaviour based on a person‐centred approach in adults. Data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) were used (N = 28,304), in which participants reported their Big Five personality and exercise behaviour. Latent profile analyses, grounded in young adulthood, middle adulthood, and later adulthood sub‐samples, identified five personality profiles: moderate, reserved, confident, resilient, and vulnerable. Across three age groups, significant differences between the five personality profiles in relation to exercise behaviour were revealed. Individuals with the resilient or confident profiles generally had longer exercise duration while people with the vulnerable profile tended to exercise less. Our findings give greater insight into the relationship between exercise and personality, suggesting that different combinations of personality traits may determine individuals' exercise behaviour. It opens promising avenues for identification of adults at risk of lacking exercise, and for development of personality‐targeted exercise interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: To estimate the influence of temperature on properties of 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro- 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazaisowurtzitane/1,4-dinitroimidazole (CL-20/1,4-DNI) cocrystal explosive, the supercell crystal of CL-20/1,4-DNI cocrystal model was established. The mechanical properties, sensitivity, and stability of cocrystal model under different temperatures (T = 225 K, 250 K, 275 K, 300 K, 325 K, 350 K) were predicted. Results show that mechanical parameters, including bulk modulus, tensile modulus and shear modulus are the lowest when temperature is 300 K, while Cauchy pressure is the highest, indicating that CL-20/1,4-DNI cocrystal model has better mechanical properties at 300 K. Cohesive energy density (CED) and its components energies decrease monotonically with the increase of temperature, illustrating that the CL-20 and 1,4-DNI molecules are activated and the safety of cocrystal explosive is worsened with the increase of temperature. Cocrystal model has relatively higher binding energy when the temperature is 300 K, implying that the CL-20/1,4-DNI cocrystal explosive is more stable under this condition. Methods: The CL-20/1,4-DNI cocrystal model was optimized and the properties were predicted through molecular dynamics (MD) method. The MD simulation was performed with COMPASS force field and the ensemble was set as NPT, external pressure was set as 0.0001 GPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of a controllable vortex anomalous hollow beam (CVAHB) in free space is studied theoretically and numerically. Based on the Collins integral, the analytical formula of its propagation under free space paraxial approximation is derived. The corresponding beams with different parameters are simulated numerically, and the influence of each beam parameter on the beam type and intensity distribution during beam propagation is studied. Through the parameter control, the CVAHB can present a variety of intensity modes, such as hollow, three-segment, boat, etc. It is obvious that the evolution of CVAHB is different from that of the controllable anomalous hollow beam (CAHB). By changing the value of the topological charge (TC), the role of the orbital angular momentum (OAM) in the transverse distribution and propagation of light intensity is studied in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the heavy-ion irradiation responses of MgO-Nd 2 Zr 2 O 7 (M-NZO) composite ceramics used for inert matrix fuel were experimentally investigated. And the micro and macro radiation damage of M-NZO samples was systemically unveiled after 5 MeV Xe20+ irradiation and quantified by two exposure units, displacements per atom (dpa) and phonons per atom (ppa). The newly ppa represent the number of phonon modes available in the radiated material, which are high relative to thermal properties and the resulting morphological fragmentation after irradiation. In detail, MgO phase mostly retains its pristine structure without extensive amorphization irradiated at high dpa values, meanwhile, Nd 2 Zr 2 O 7 phase also presents satisfactory radiation resistance through the distinctive order-disorder structural transformations that alleviate radiation-induced strain. Besides, MgO grains with lower ppa value dissipate ions energy more efficiently than Nd 2 Zr 2 O 7 , and exhibit higher radiation tolerance at macroscopic morphological scale. Overall, M-NZO composite ceramics have good radiation tolerance under heavy-ion bombardment, in which the lower ppa value and higher thermal conductivity of MgO make itself possess superior resistance to irradiation-induced damage than Nd 2 Zr 2 O 7. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is crucial to comprehend the nonlinear vibration behavior of sophisticated engineering constructions to aid in the examination, creation and production procedures. The primary objective of this study, therefore, is to focus on exploring the nonlinear forced vibrational characteristics of two-directional functionally graded (TDFG) cone-shaped shell for the first time. To accomplish this, the motion equations of the TDFG cone-shaped shell are derived based upon the framework of first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT) in conjunction with von Kármán assumption. TDFG cone-shaped shell models have mechanical properties that can change smoothly and continuously across the thickness and length of the shell, following a power law distribution pattern. To discretize the partial differential equations and transform them into ordinary differential equations, the Galerkin approach was used and ultimately, these equations were solved using the multiple time scales method. The accuracy and effectiveness of this analytical model are indicated through comparison with existing solutions. Finally, some comprehensive parametric investigations are carried out to gain insight into the impacts of several factors on the nonlinear behavior of the shell, highlighting the significant influence of transverse and longitudinal gradient indices on the nonlinear frequency response, which is not considered before. The new insights gained from this research could serve as valuable benchmark outcomes as well as contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the nonlinear vibrations in future analysis and design processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractBamboo leaf extract (BLE) is a pale brown powder extracted from bamboo leaves, and it is listed in the Chinese Standard GB-2760 as a legal and safe food additive. The present study aims to identify and characterize the major flavonoids in BLE. The identification of major flavonoids was carried out using ultra performance liquid chromatography combined with electrospray ionization quadruple time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI-QTOF-MS/MS). A total of 31 flavonoid compounds were identified and tentatively characterized base on reference standards and MS dissociation mechanisms. HPLC/ESI-QTOF-MS can serve as an important analytical platform to identification structure of bamboo leaf flavonoids (BLF). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalent RNA alternative splicing (AS) contributes to molecular diversity, which has been demonstrated in cellular function regulation and disease pathogenesis. However, the contribution of AS in pancreatic islets during diabetes progression remains unclear. Here, we reanalyze the full-length single-cell RNA sequencing data from the deposited database to investigate AS regulation across human pancreatic endocrine cell types in non-diabetic (ND) and type 2 diabetic (T2D) individuals. Our analysis demonstrates the significant association between transcriptomic AS profiles and cell-type-specificity, which could be applied to distinguish the clustering of major endocrine cell types. Moreover, AS profiles are enabled to clearly define the mature subset of β-cells in healthy controls, which is completely lost in T2D. Further analysis reveals that RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs) and FXR1 family proteins are predicted to induce the functional impairment of β-cells through regulating AS profiles. Finally, trajectory analysis of endocrine cells suggests the β-cell identity shift through dedifferentiation and transdifferentiation of β-cells during the progression of T2D. Together, our study provides a mechanism for regulating β-cell functions and suggests the significant contribution of AS program during diabetes pathogenesis. Alternative splicing profiles of human pancreatic islets at single-cell resolution define endocrine cell types and reveal the dysregulated splicing programs in β-cell maturation in type 2 diabetes pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Materials that can emit light under optical/mechanical stimulation are usually called photoluminescent/mechanoluminescent (PL/ML) materials. PL materials are used in diverse fields for half a century. While, ML materials have burst out in the last two decades, and now are showing great application potential in the fields of anti‐counterfeiting, information storage, and stress imaging. It is of great significance to explore new luminescent materials with PL and ML dual response. In this study, Tb3+‐doped Ca3Ga4O9 phosphors with color‐tunable PL and non‐pre‐irradiation ML properties are reported. Ca3Ga4O9 exhibits a broadband blue emission centering at 425 nm, which originates from the 4T2‐4A2 transition of electrons in d orbits of Ga3+. Due to the energy transfer from host to Tb3+, color‐tunable emission from blue to cyan, and ultimately to green can be realized by increasing the concentration of Tb3+. Particularly, ML is seen from Ca3Ga4O9:Tb3+ under grinding and from the Ca3Ga4O9:Tb3+/PDMS film under bending or stretching originated from the triboelectric mechanism. The non‐pre‐irradiation ML behavior is evidenced by the contrast thermoluminescence (TL) experiments. This study not only provides a new candidate toward multi‐purpose luminescent applications, but also demonstrates a good case in which the triboelectric effect can efficiently trigger the non‐pre‐irradiation ML behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein adducts are important biological targets for traceability of organophosphorus nerve agents (OPNAs). Currently, the recognized biomarkers that can be used in actual samples in the field of chemical forensics only include Y411 in albumin and the active nonapeptide in butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). To explore stable and reliable protein adducts and increase the accuracy of OPNAs traceability further, we gradually expanded OPNAs–albumin adducts based on single and group adduct collection. Several stable peptides were found via LC–MS/MS analysis in human serum albumin (HSA) exposed to OPNAs in a large exposure range. These adducts were present in HSA samples exposed to OPNAs of each concentration, which provided data support for the reliability and stability of using adducts to trace OPNAs. Meanwhile, the formation mechanism of OPNAs–cysteine adduct was clarified via computer simulations. Then, these active sites found and modified peptides were used as raw materials for progressive expansion of albumin adducts. We constructed an OPNAs–HSA adducts group, in which a specific agent is the exposure source, and three or more active peptides constitute data sets for OPNAs traceability. Compared with single or scattered protein adducts, the OPNAs–HSA adduct group improves OPNAs identification by mutual verification using active peptides or by narrowing the identity range of the exposure source. We also determined the minimum detectable concentration of OPNAs for the adduct group. Two or more peptides can be detected when there is an exposure of 50 times the molar excess of OPNAs in relation to HSA. This improved the accuracy of OPNAs exposure and identity confirmation. A collection of OPNAs–albumin adducts was also examined. The collection was established by collecting, classifying, and integrating the existing albumin adducts according to the species to which each albumin belongs, the types of agents, and protease. This method can serve as a reference for discovering new albumin adducts, characteristic phosphonylated peptides, and potential biomarkers. In addition, to avoid a false negative for OPNAs traceability using albumin adducts, we explored OPNAs–cholinesterase adducts because cholinesterase is more reactive with OPNAs than albumin. Seven active peptides in red blood cell acetylcholinesterase (RBC AChE) and serum BChE can assist in OPNAs exposure and identity confirmation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proteomics offers a robust method for quantifying proteins and elucidating their roles in cellular functions, surpassing the insights provided by transcriptomics. The Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium database, enriched with comprehensive cancer proteomics data including phosphorylation and ubiquitination profiles, alongside transcriptomics data from the Genomic Data Commons, allow for integrative molecular studies of cancer. The ProteoCancer Analysis Suite (PCAS), our newly developed R package and Shinyapp, leverages these resources to facilitate in-depth analyses of proteomics, phosphoproteomics, and transcriptomics, enhancing our understanding of the tumor microenvironment through features like immune infiltration and drug sensitivity analysis. This tool aids in identifying critical signaling pathways and therapeutic targets, particularly through its detailed phosphoproteomic analysis. To demonstrate the functionality of the PCAS, we conducted an analysis of GAPDH across multiple cancer types, revealing a significant upregulation of protein levels, which is consistent with its important biological and clinical significance in tumors, as indicated in our prior research. Further experiments were used to validate the findings performed using the tool. In conclusion, the PCAS is a powerful and valuable tool for conducting comprehensive proteomic analyses, significantly enhancing our ability to uncover oncogenic mechanisms and identify potential therapeutic targets in cancer research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main object of this paper is to study the traveling wave solutions of the fractional coupled Konopelchenko–Dubrovsky model by using the complete discriminant system method of polynomials. Firstly, the fractional coupled Konopelchenko–Dubrovsky model is simplified into nonlinear ordinary differential equations by using the traveling wave transformation. Secondly, the trigonometric function solutions, rational function solutions, solitary wave solutions and the elliptic function solutions of the fractional coupled Konopelchenko–Dubrovsky model are derived by means of the polynomial complete discriminant system method. Moreover, a two-dimensional phase portrait is drawn. Finally, a 3D-diagram and a 2D-diagram of the fractional coupled Konopelchenko–Dubrovsky model are plotted in Maple 2022 software. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the effects of adulteration crystal defect on performances of hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane/octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (CL-20/HMX) cocrystal explosive, the CL-20/HMX cocrystal model was established based on its lattice parameters. Besides, defective CL-20/HMX cocrystal models with adulteration ratios of 1.85%, 3.70%, 5.56%, 7.41%, and 9.26% were also established, respectively. Molecular dynamics (MD) method was selected to optimize the crystal structure and predict performances of each model. The correlated energies and parameters, including binding energy, trigger bond rupture energy, cohesive energy density (CED), and detonation parameters were calculated and compared. Results show that binding energy in defective CL-20/HMX models is decreased by 12.02–307.05 kJ/mol, implying that the intermolecular interaction energy between CL-20 and HMX molecules is decreased and stability is weakened. Adulteration crystal defect makes the trigger bond rupture energy and CED decreased by 1.06–22.04 kJ/mol and 0.003–0.122 kJ/cm3 respectively, indicating that the sensitivity of defective models is increased and safety is worsened. The crystal density of defective cocrystal models is decreased by 0.005–0.142 g/cm3, detonation velocity is decreased by 53–508 m/s, and detonation pressure is decreased by 0.52–5.09 GPa, meaning that defective cocrystal models have lower energy density than that of primitive model. Hence, adulteration crystal defect will bring passive influence on stability, safety and energetic performance of CL-20/HMX cocrystal explosive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of millimeter-scale soft actuators has significantly expanded the potential applications in areas such as search and rescue, drug delivery, and human assistance, due to their high flexibility. Despite these advancements, achieving precise control over the intricate movements of soft crawlers poses a significant challenge. In this study, we have developed an all-optical approach that enables manipulation of propulsive forces by simultaneously modifying the magnitude and direction of friction forces, thereby enabling complex motions of soft actuators. Importantly, the approach is not constrained by specific actuator shapes, and theoretically, any elongated photothermal actuator can be employed. The actuator was designed with an isosceles trapezoid shape, featuring a top width of 2 mm, a bottom width of 4 mm, and a length of 8 mm. Through our manipulation approach, we showcase a proof-of-concept for complex soft robotic motions, including crawling (achieving speeds of up to 2.25 body lengths per minute), turning, avoiding obstacles, handling and transferring objects approximately twice its own weight, and navigating narrow spaces along programmed paths. Our results showcase this all-optical manipulation approach as a promising, yet unexplored tool for the precision and wireless control for the development of advanced soft actuators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An offshore installation is exposed to ship collision risk from in-field and passing vessels. Both categories of collision have occurred on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf (UKCS), and both have the potential to result in catastrophic damage to the installation, although to date only significant consequences have been observed in UK waters. World-wide, catastrophic collisions with installations have occurred resulting in severe damage to vessels and installations, leading to loss of life and environmental damage. This led to the authors investigate the occurrence and reporting of ship to platform collisions on the UKCS 1971–2017. It was found that there were periodic fluctuations in the occurrence of collision accidents. This research analyses the accident trends in order to determine the whether the fluctuations were a regular occurrence and, if so, what was the cause. 511 ship to platform collision incidents between 1971 and 2017 were subject to analysis, in terms of damage classification, the vessel type, month of occurrence and a comparison of the release of regulations with the fluctuation of incidents. Subsequently, this analysis has identified a key trend between the reporting of offshore collision incidents and the release and enforcement of offshore Safety Case regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although bitter receptors, known as Tas2Rs, have been identified in the testes and mature sperm, their expression in testicular Sertoli cells (SCs) and their role in recognizing harmful substances to maintain the immune microenvironment remain unknown. To explore their potential function in spermatogenesis, this study utilized TM4 cells and discovered the high expression of the bitter receptor Tas2R143 in the cells. Interestingly, when the Tas2R143 gene was knocked down for 24 and 48 h, there was a significant downregulation (P < 0.05) in the expression of tight junction proteins (occludin and ZO-1) and NF-κB. Additionally, Western blot results demonstrated that the siRNA-133+NF-κB co-treatment group displayed a significant downregulation (P < 0.05) in the expression of occludin and ZO-1 compared to both the siRNA-133 transfection group and the NF-κB inhibitors treatment group. These findings suggest that Tas2R143 likely regulates the expression of occludin and ZO-1 through the NF-κB signaling pathway and provides a theoretical basis for studying the regulatory mechanism of bitter receptors in the reproductive system, aiming to attract attention to the chemical perception mechanism of spermatogenesis. • Tas2R143 affected to varying degrees the expression of BTB tight junction proteins (occludin, ZO-1) and NF-κB. • Tas2R143 likely regulates the expression of occludin and ZO-1 through the NF-κB signaling pathway in vitro. • This study proposes for the first time that the bitter receptor Tas2R143 is expressed in mouse Sertoli cells (TM4). • This study provides a theoretical basis for studying the regulatory mechanism of bitter receptors in the reproductive system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the irregular distribution of point clouds in 3D space, effectively compressing the point cloud is still challenging. Recently, numerous compression methods have been developed with outstanding performance for the compression of geometry information of point clouds. On the contrary, limited explorations have been devoted to point cloud attribute compression (PCAC). Thus, this paper focuses on the study of point cloud attribute compression by applying geometric information as decoded prior information. In this paper, a novel cluster-based two-branch framework for PCAC is proposed. Specifically, the point cloud is first divided into adaptive un-overlapped blocks via K-means according to geometric information, which enables an efficient local representation of the point cloud. Then, we split the point cloud attributes into two components(Block-Mean component and Block-Residual component) and compressed them separately through the designed block-based dual branches. For the Block-Mean component, we design a prediction scheme to remove the inter-block attribute redundancy. The Block-Residual component is further compacted by applying a designed graph Fourier transform generated by geometric prior information. Then, the transform coefficients are encoded using an arithmetic coder. Extensive experimental results demonstrate that the proposed point cloud attribute compression scheme outperforms existing attribute compression schemes in terms of both objective quality and subjective quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the ablation resistance of C/C–SiC composites using the ground simulation internal flow‐field supersonic oxygen‐rich ablation test technology. The microstructure evolution and ablation mechanism of the composites in a supersonic oxygen‐rich environment were explored by examining the macroscopic and microscopic ablation morphologies of the composites before and after the test. The results demonstrate that C/C–SiC composites exhibit excellent ablation resistance, with mass and linear ablation rates of.46 × 10−2 g/s and.42 × 10−2 mm/s, respectively, after 120 s of ablation in a low gas temperature and high oxygen‐rich ablation thermal environment. As the gas temperature increases, the mass and linear ablation rates of C/C–SiC composites gradually increase, even though the oxygen enrichment within the gas components decreases. When the gas temperature reaches 2178–2491 K, the mass and linear ablation rates increase to 1.31 × 10−2 g/s and.84 × 10−2 mm/s, respectively. Furthermore, at high temperatures above 2650 K, the mass and linear ablation rates of the composites exhibit a geometric multiple increase, reaching 4.73 × 10−2 g/s and 1.89 × 10−2 mm/s, respectively. These findings indicate that the ablation resistance of C/C–SiC composites in the supersonic oxygen‐rich ablation environment is more sensitive to gas temperature than oxygen enrichment. The main factors contributing to the increased ablation rate of C/C–SiC composites in the supersonic oxygen‐rich ablation process include the formation of a glass SiO2 oxide film, transition to molten SiO2, erosion of molten SiO2, and high‐temperature sublimation of the SiC matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To alleviate the selenium (Se) stress in fruit trees and improve its accumulation, the effects of exogenous indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) on the growth and Se accumulation of grapevine under Se stress were studied. The application of exogenous IAA increased the biomass of grapevine, and the concentration of exogenous IAA had a regression relationship with the biomass. The root and shoot biomass were the maximum at 60 mg L− 1 IAA, increasing by 15.61% and 23.95%, respectively, compared with the control. Exogenous IAA also increased the photosynthetic pigments and the activities of superoxide dismutase and peroxidase in grapevine. Moreover, exogenous IAA increased the contents of total Se, organic Se, and inorganic Se, and the concentration of exogenous IAA had a regression relationship with the total Se content. The highest contents of root total Se and shoot total Se were accumulated at 90 mg L− 1 IAA, increasing by 29.94% and 55.77% respectively,. In addition, the correlation and path analyses revealed that the carotenoid content and root total Se content were closely associated with the shoot total Se content. Therefore, the application of exogenous IAA can alleviate the stress of Se to grape and promote its uptake and the most effective amount for the uptake of Se is 90 mg L− 1 IAA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium–sulfur (Li−S) battery with a sulfurized polyacrylonitrile cathode is a promising alternative to Li‐ion systems. However, the sluggish charge transfer of cathode and accumulation of inactive Li on anode remain persistent challenges. An advanced electrolyte additive with function towards both cathode and anode holds great promise to address these issues. Herein, we present a new strategy to boost sulfur activity and rejuvenate dead Li simultaneously. In the polar electrolyte containing I2−LiNO3 additives, I3−/IO3− are triggered significantly by the reaction between NO3− and I− ions. The I3−/IO3− are reactive to insulated Li2S product of cathode and inactive Li on anode, thus accelerating the conversion reaction of sulfur and recovering Li sources back to battery cycling. The in situ/ex situ spectroscopic and morphologic monitoring reveal the crucial role of iodine in promoting Li2S dissociation and inhibiting dendritic Li growth. With the modified electrolyte, the symmetric Li||Li cells deliver a lifespan of 4000 h with an overpotential less than 12 mV at 0.5 mA cm−2. For Li−S cells, 100 % capacity retention up to thousands of cycles and enhanced rate capability are available. This work demonstrates a feasible strategy on electrolyte engineering for practical applications of Li−S batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium–sulfur (Li−S) battery with a sulfurized polyacrylonitrile cathode is a promising alternative to Li‐ion systems. However, the sluggish charge transfer of cathode and accumulation of inactive Li on anode remain persistent challenges. An advanced electrolyte additive with function towards both cathode and anode holds great promise to address these issues. Herein, we present a new strategy to boost sulfur activity and rejuvenate dead Li simultaneously. In the polar electrolyte containing I2−LiNO3 additives, I3−/IO3− are triggered significantly by the reaction between NO3− and I− ions. The I3−/IO3− are reactive to insulated Li2S product of cathode and inactive Li on anode, thus accelerating the conversion reaction of sulfur and recovering Li sources back to battery cycling. The in situ/ex situ spectroscopic and morphologic monitoring reveal the crucial role of iodine in promoting Li2S dissociation and inhibiting dendritic Li growth. With the modified electrolyte, the symmetric Li||Li cells deliver a lifespan of 4000 h with an overpotential less than 12 mV at 0.5 mA cm−2. For Li−S cells, 100 % capacity retention up to thousands of cycles and enhanced rate capability are available. This work demonstrates a feasible strategy on electrolyte engineering for practical applications of Li−S batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heme biosynthesis is a highly conserved pathway from bacteria to higher animals. Heme, which serves as a prosthetic group for various enzymes involved in multiple biochemical processes, is essential in almost all species, making heme homeostasis vital for life. However, studies on the biological functions of heme in filamentous fungi are scarce. In this study, we investigated the role of heme in Fusarium graminearum. A mutant lacking the rate-limiting enzymes in heme synthesis, coproporphyrinogen III oxidase (Cpo) or ferrochelatase (Fc), was constructed using a homologous recombination strategy. The results showed that the absence of these enzymes was lethal to F. graminearum, but the growth defect could be rescued by the addition of hemin, so we carried out further studies with the help of hemin. The results demonstrated that heme was required for the activity of FgCyp51, and its absence increased the sensitivity to tebuconazole and led to the upregulation of FgCYP51 in F. graminearum. Additionally, heme plays an indispensable role in the life cycle of F. graminearum, which is essential for vegetative growth, conidiation, external stress response (especially oxidative stress), lipid accumulation, fatty acid β-oxidation, autophagy, and virulence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Refractory compositionally complex alloys (CCAs) have been found to exhibit promising high-temperature properties. However, the brittleness of most CCAs at room temperature limits their application. To understand the influence of microstructure on the deformation behavior of these alloys, we conducted micromechanical experiments, including nanoindentation and micropillar compression tests, on a representative NbMoCrTiAl alloy at room temperature. The indentation at the grain boundaries showed increased shear stress and hardness compared to the matrix (ordered B2 crystal structure) due to the presence of local intermetallic precipitates (C14 and A15 phases). Although the NbMoCrTiAl alloy exhibits no ductility at the millimeter scale as shown in previous studies, the micropillars at the grain boundaries, which were decorated with precipitates, demonstrated higher yield strength and significant plastic strain >30% at room temperature. Numerous slip lines were observed, while cracks and fracture occurred at higher levels of deformation. The grain boundaries with precipitates increased the probability of crack initiation and propagation, but they did not necessarily lead to catastrophic failure of the pillars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper mainly studies the least-squares solutions of matrix equation A X B = C under a semi-tensor product. According to the definition of the semi-tensor product, the equation is transformed into an ordinary matrix equation. Then, the least-squares solutions of matrix-vector and matrix equations respectively investigated by applying the derivation of matrix operations. Finally, the specific form of the least-squares solutions is given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a representative model in the investigation into fluid–structure coupling, a flexible film interacting with the wake of a circular cylinder involves intricate patterns of both solid motion and fluid evolution. Recent investigations have found that the interactions could be either periodic or aperiodic in experiments; the latter, however, is often overlooked. In this work, the irregular aperiodic flutter of a flexible film behind a circular cylinder is investigated experimentally. It is determined that the irregular flutter intermittently exhibits transient quasi-periodic mode and aperiodic mode. The former is accompanied by the large-scale vortices alternatively formed against the film surfaces, while the latter is associated with vortices formed downstream of the film's trailing edge, so that the whole film is enveloped by the extended shear layers. In order to separate the data individually pertaining to each of the two modes from the whole dataset, a motion-mode recognition method is proposed, and then conditional statistics of flow fields are achieved. The quasi-periodic mode corresponds to more intense velocity fluctuations in the wake, while in the aperiodic mode, the observed localized instability of shear layers induces an increase in the local streamwise velocity fluctuation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Droughts are increasing in frequency and intensity as the global climate changes. Risk assessment for agricultural drought disasters is an important approach for disaster prevention and mitigation. Based on the formation mechanism of natural disaster risk, the index system model of agricultural drought risk assessment in North China was constructed, and the robustness of the established risk assessment model was tested by using the internal test method. Then based on the characteristics of agricultural drought risk formation in North China, the paper proposes corresponding risk prevention recommendations. The conclusions were as follows: when adjusting the indices and methods in the risk assessment model, the range of changes in the agricultural drought risk ranking for each city was mostly 1-2.5 places, and the model was relatively robust. With the exception of Beijing and Tianjin, which had the highest disaster prevention and mitigation capacity, central and northern China had the highest agricultural drought risk, which was previously linked to the high risk and vulnerability of these regions. The agricultural drought risk in northern Henan and southern Shandong is low, mainly due to the low risk. The 34 cities in North China can be divided into 6 agricultural drought risk clusters, which are not dispersed in space and cross-city distribution, and have good aggregation. Cluster 4, located in the northernmost mountainous areas, has the highest risk of drought, which is associated with high environmental vulnerability and low capacity for disaster prevention and mitigation, so agricultural areas should be reduced and agricultural input should be increased. Clusters 2, 5 and 6, located in the central and southern regions, have higher grain acreage and yields due to drought, so agricultural drought risk can be further reduced by increasing agricultural input and improving irrigation guarantee rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To solve the shuttling effect and transformations of LiPSs in lithium–sulfur batteries, heterostructures have been designed to immobilize LiPSs and boost their reversible conversions. In this paper, we have constructed AlN/InN heterojunctions with AlN with a wide band gap and InN with a narrow band gap. The heterojunctions show metallic properties, which are primarily composed of 2s, 2p N atoms and 5s, 5p In atoms. InN has relatively higher adsorptivity for LiPSs than AlN. Reaction profiles show that on the surface of AlN, there is a lower rate-limiting step than on that of InN, from S8 to Li2S6, and a higher rate-limiting step from Li2S4 to Li2S2, which is more favorable for InN during the reduction from Li2S4 to Li2S2. The heterojunction can realize the synergistic reaction of trapping–diffusion–conversion for LiPSs, in which AlN traps large Li2S8 and Li2S6, the heterojunction causes the diffusion of Li2S4, and InN completes the conversion of Li2S4 to Li2S. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A photoelectrochemical sensor for target detection of hydrogen peroxide was designed based on a new heterojunction nanocomposite which was sulfhydryl-borate ester–modified A1/B1-type pillar[5]arene (BP5)–functionalized Au NPs and multi-walled carbon nanotubes hybridized with bismuth bromide oxide (Au@BP5/MWNTs-BiOBr). The specific sensor was based on the direct induction of oxidation by hydrogen peroxide of the borate ester group of pillar[5]arene. Additionally, the local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of Au NPs enhanced visible light capture, the host–guest complexation of BP5 with H2O2 enhanced photocurrent response, the layer-by-layer stacked nanoflower structure of BiOBr provided large specific surface area with more active sites, and the conductivity of MWNTs enhanced the charge separation efficiency and significantly improves the stability of PEC. Their synthesis effect significantly increased the photocurrent signal and further enhanced the detection result. Under the optimal conditions, the linear concentration range of H2O2 detected by the Au@BP5/MWNTs-BiOBr sensor was from 1 to 60 pmol/L. The limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantification (LOQ) of the method were 0.333 pmol/L and 1 pmol/L, respectively, and the sensitivity was 6.471 pmol/L. Importantly, the PEC sensor has good stability, reproducibility, and interference resistance and can be used for the detection of hydrogen peroxide in real cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: While growing psychological health issues among pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic have been clearly validated, most research was conducted in countries with relatively lax quarantine measures. This study aimed to compare the prevalence of prenatal depression among pre-, peak-, and post-COVID-19 in Beijing, the region with a stringent response policy in China. We also explore predictors of prenatal depression throughout the outbreak. Methods: We investigated prenatal depression among 742 pregnant women who received antenatal checkups in Beijing from March 28, 2019 to May 07, 2021 using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and associative demographic, pregnancy-related, and psychosocial characteristics were measured. The phase was divided into pre-, peak-, and post-COVID-19 in light of the trajectory of COVID-19. Pearson's Chi-square test was used after the examination of confounders homogeneity. The bivariable and multivariable logistic regression was conducted to explore predictors. Results: The pooled prevalence of prenatal depression was 11.9% throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Rates at different phases were 10.6%, 15.2%, and 11.1% respectively and no significant difference was observed. Multivariable logistic regression revealed that history of mental illness, number of boy-preference from both pregnant women and husband's family, social support, occupation, and living space were independent predictors of prenatal depression in Beijing. Conclusion: Our data suggested that the impact of this pandemic on prenatal depression in Beijing appears to be not significant, which will strengthen confidence in adhering to current policy for decision-makers and provide important guidance for the development of major outbreak control and management policies in the future. Our findings may also provide a more efficient measure to identify high-risk pregnant women for professionals and help raise gender equity awareness of pregnant women and their husbands' families. Future studies should focus on the value of targeted care and family relations on the mental health of pregnant women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Severe acute respiratory infection (SARI), a significant global health concern, imposes a substantial disease burden. In China, there is inadequate data concerning the monitoring of respiratory pathogens, particularly bacteria, among patients with SARI. Therefore, this study aims to delineate the demographic, epidemiological, and aetiological characteristics of hospitalised SARI patients in Central China between 2018 and 2020. Methods: Eligible patients with SARI admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2020 were included in this retrospective study. Within the first 24 h of admission, respiratory (including sputum, nasal/throat swabs, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, thoracocentesis fluid, etc.), urine, and peripheral blood specimens were collected for viral and bacterial testing. A multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) diagnostic approach was used to identify human influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza virus, adenovirus, human bocavirus, human coronavirus, human metapneumovirus, and rhinovirus. Bacterial cultures of respiratory specimens were performed with a particular focus on pathogenic microorganisms, including S. pneumoniae, S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, Strep A, H. influenzae, A. baumannii, and E. coli. In cases where bacterial culture results were negative, nucleic acid extraction was performed for PCR to assay for the above-mentioned eight bacteria, as well as L. pneumophila and M. pneumoniae. Additionally, urine specimens were exclusively used to detect Legionella antigens. Furthermore, epidemiological, demographic, and clinical data were obtained from electronic medical records. Results: The study encompassed 1266 patients, with a mean age of 54 years, among whom 61.6% (780/1266) were males, 61.4% (778/1266) were farmers, and 88.8% (1124/1266) sought medical treatment in 2020. Moreover, 80.3% (1017/1266) were housed in general wards. The most common respiratory symptoms included fever (86.8%, 1122/1266) and cough (77.8%, 986/1266). Chest imaging anomalies were detected in 62.6% (792/1266) of cases, and 58.1% (736/1266) exhibited at least one respiratory pathogen, with 28.5% (361/1266) having multiple infections. Additionally, 95.7% (1212/1266) of the patients were from Henan Province, with the highest proportion (38.3%, 486/1266) falling in the 61–80 years age bracket, predominantly (79.8%, 1010/1266) seeking medical aid in summer and autumn. Bacterial detection rate (39.0%, 495/1266) was higher than viral detection rate (36.9%, 468/1266), with the primary pathogens being influenza virus (13.8%, 175/1266), K. pneumoniae (10.0%, 127/1266), S. pneumoniae (10.0%, 127/1266), adenovirus (8.2%, 105/1266), P. aeruginosa (8.2%, 105/1266), M. pneumoniae (7.8%, 100/1266), and respiratory syncytial virus (7.7%, 98/1266). During spring and winter, there was a significant prevalence of influenza virus and human coronavirus, contrasting with the dominance of parainfluenza viruses in summer and autumn. Respiratory syncytial virus and rhinovirus exhibited higher prevalence across spring, summer, and winter. P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, and M. pneumoniae were identified at similar rates throughout all seasons without distinct spikes in prevalence. However, S. pneumoniae showed a distinctive pattern with a prevalence that doubled during summer and winter. Moreover, the positive detection rates of various other viruses and bacteria were lower, displaying a comparatively erratic prevalence trend. Among patients admitted to the intensive care unit, the predominant nosocomial bacteria were K. pneumoniae (17.2%, 43/249), A. baumannii (13.6%, 34/249), and P. aeruginosa (12.4%, 31/249). Conversely, in patients from general wards, predominant pathogens included influenza virus (14.8%, 151/1017), S. pneumoniae (10.4%, 106/1017), and adenovirus (9.3%, 95/1017). Additionally, paediatric patients exhibited significantly higher positive detection rates for influenza virus (23.9%, 11/46) and M. pneumoniae (32.6%, 15/46) compared to adults and the elderly. Furthermore, adenovirus (10.0%, 67/669) and rhinovirus (6.4%, 43/669) were the primary pathogens in adults, while K. pneumoniae (11.8%, 65/551) and A. baumannii (7.1%, 39/551) prevailed among the elderly, indicating significant differences among the three age groups. Discussion: In Central China, among patients with SARI, the prevailing viruses included influenza virus, adenovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus. Among bacteria, K. pneumoniae, S. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, and M. pneumoniae were frequently identified, with multiple infections being very common. Additionally, there were substantial variations in the pathogen spectrum compositions concerning wards and age groups among patients. Consequently, this study holds promise in offering insights to the government for developing strategies aimed at preventing and managing respiratory infectious diseases effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent developments in single‐cell sequencing technology enable the acquisition of entire transcriptome data. Understanding the underlying mechanism and identifying the driving force of transcriptional regulation governing cell function directly from these data remains challenging. This study reconstructs a continuous vector field of the cell cycle based on discrete single‐cell RNA velocity to quantify the single‐cell global nonequilibrium dynamic landscape‐flux. It reveals that large fluctuations disrupt the global landscape and genetic perturbations alter landscape‐flux, thus identifying key genes in maintaining cell cycle dynamics and predicting associated functional effects. Additionally, it quantifies the fundamental energy cost of the cell cycle initiation and unveils that sustaining the cell cycle requires curl flux and dissipation to maintain the oscillatory phase coherence. This study enables the inference of the cell cycle gene regulatory networks directly from the single‐cell transcriptomic data, including the feedback mechanisms and interaction intensity. This provides a golden opportunity to experimentally verify the landscape‐flux theory and also obtain its associated quantifications. It also offers a unique framework for combining the landscape‐flux theory and single‐cell high‐through sequencing experiments for understanding the underlying mechanisms of the cell cycle and can be extended to other nonequilibrium biological processes, such as differentiation development and disease pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deteriorated plasticity arising from the insoluble precipitates may lead to cracks during the rolling of FeCrAl alloys. The microstructure evolution and hot deformation behavior of an FeCrAl alloy were investigated in the temperature range of 750–1200 °C and strain rate range of 0.01–10 s−1. The flow stress of the FeCrAl alloy decreased with an increasing deformation temperature and decreased strain rate during hot working. The thermal deformation activation energy was determined to be 329.49 kJ/mol based on the compression test. Then, the optimal hot working range was given based on the established hot processing maps. The hot processing map revealed four small instability zones. The optimal working range for the material was identified as follows: at a true strain of 0.69, the deformation temperature should be 1050–1200 °C, and the strain rate should be 0.01–0.4 s−1. The observation of key samples of thermally simulated compression showed that discontinuous dynamic recrystallization started to occur with the temperate above 1000 °C, leading to bended grain boundaries. When the temperature was increased to 1150 °C, the dynamic recrystallization resulted in a microstructure composed of fine and equiaxed grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a type of parasitic agent, satellite RNAs (satRNAs) rely on cognate helper viruses to achieve their replication and transmission. During the infection of satRNAs, helper virus RNAs serve as templates for synthesizing viral proteins, including the replication proteins essential for satRNA replication. However, the role of non-template functions of helper virus RNAs in satRNA replication remains unexploited. Here we employed the well-studied model that is composed of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) and its associated satRNA. In the experiments employing the CMV trans-replication system, we observed an unexpected phenomenon the replication proteins of the mild strain LS-CMV exhibited defective in supporting satRNA replication, unlike those of the severe strain Fny-CMV. Independent of translation products, all CMV genomic RNAs could enhance satRNA replication, when combined with the replication proteins of CMV. This enhancement is contingent upon the recruitment and complete replication of helper virus RNAs. Using the method developed for analyzing the satRNA recruitment, we observed a markedly distinct ability of the replication proteins from both CMV strains to recruit the positive-sense satRNA-harboring RNA3 mutant for replication. This is in agreement with the differential ability of both 1a proteins in binding satRNAs in plants. The discrepancies provide a convincing explanation for the variation of the replication proteins of both CMV strains in replicating satRNAs. Taken together, our work provides compelling evidence that the non-template functions of helper virus RNAs create an optimal replication environment to enhance satRNA proliferation. Author summary: Satellite RNAs (satRNAs) are a type of subviral pathogens that encode neither replication protein nor coat protein. Consequently, they must compete with helper virus RNAs for viral proteins and host resources to ensure their survival. The competition relationship has led us to conceptualize that helper virus RNAs might exhibit antagonism with satRNAs during replication. Several studies have highlighted the importance of non-template functions of viral RNAs in viral replication, such as viral replicase-mediated RNA recruitment and participating in the assembly of viral replication complex. However, it remains unknown whether this significance extends to satRNA replication. To address this question, we utilized a well-established model involving cucumber mosaic virus and its associated satRNAs. Our data provides compelling evidence to uncover the biological relevance of the non-template functions of helper virus RNAs in enhancing satRNA replication. Thus, our work prompts a reconsideration of the molecular interplay between helper virus RNAs and satRNAs in their replication, previously thought to be mutually competitive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Virtual machine (VM) consolidation and migration that only consider current workload can result in excessive unnecessary migrations. To address this issue, a VM consolidation algorithm based on resource utilization prediction is proposed. An improved K-nearest neighbor (KNN) classification algorithm weighted by attribute inconsistency is proposed to predict the workload of both the host and the VMs. Firstly, two distributions are partitioned according to the neighboring relationship for comparing consistency. Then, an inconsistency evaluation function based on earth mover's distance (EMD) is designed to measure the inconsistency between the neighboring sample set of each sample under each attribute and the equivalent partition refined by the decision attribute. Finally, the inconsistency level of the neighboring samples is transformed into the importance of the corresponding attribute to implement the attribute weighting KNN classifier. When selecting the source host and target host for VM migration, both current and predicted overloads are considered to avoid unnecessary VM migrations. Simulation tests were performed with random and realistic workloads, and the results show that the proposed method can reduce the overall energy consumption of the host, while also reducing service level agreement (SLA) violations and VM migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of gentamycin irrigation in preventing postoperative surgical site infection (SSI) in emergency neurosurgical procedures. A total of 518 consecutive emergency neurosurgeries, including craniotomies, endoscopic and burr hole procedures were reviewed retrospectively. Patients received either only normal saline (NS) irrigation or NS irrigation with gentamycin added (80 mg/L) during the whole process of surgery. SSIs including wound infection and intracranial infection were the primary outcome. SSI was considered while purulence was observed during wound dressing and confirmed with bacterial culture of wound exudation. In addition, positive result of bacterial growth culture of cerebrospinal fluid was also considered as infection. Infection rates were calculated 28 days after surgery. Statistical analysis was performed using t test or Chi-squared test where appropriate. This study included 444 patients. Gentamycin was used in 179 (40.3%) patients. Only 2 (1.1%) of 179 patients receiving gentamycin irrigation had an infection. However, among the other 265 patients receiving only NS irrigation, the infection rate was 8.3%. With the addition of gentamycin, the infection rate was decreased by 86.7% (P = 0.001). The two infected patients in gentamycin group were compromised postoperatively: one patient had removed his own extraventricular drainage tube accidentally due to restlessness, and the other had severely contaminated his wound with vomitus during the intracranial drainage tube removal process. If these two patients were excluded from analysis, the effective infection rate using gentamycin irrigation is 0%. The gentamycin plus NS irrigation during emergency neurosurgical procedures can lead to a significantly lower rate of postoperative infection than when NS is used alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on a molecular phylogenetic analysis and morphological comparison, a new species of mountain pitviper, Ovophis jenkinsi sp. nov., is described. The new species was collected in Yingjiang County, Yunnan Province, China. It can be distinguished from congeneric species by the following characters: (1) internasals in contact or separated by one small scale; (2) second supralabial entire and bordering the loreal pit; (3) dorsal scales in 23 (25)–21 (23, 25)–19 (17, 21) rows; (4) 134–142 ventrals; (5) 40–52 pairs of subcaudals; (6) third supralabial larger than fourth in all examined specimens of Ovophis jenkinsi sp. nov. ; (7) deep orange-brown or dark brownish-grey markings on dorsal head surface; (8) background color of dorsal surface deep orange-brown or dark brownish-grey; (9) both sides of dorsum display dark brown trapezoidal patches; (10) scattered small white spots on dorsal surface of tail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design and synthesis of a Gd(III) metal–organic framework with the formula [Gd4(BTDI)3(DMF)4]n (JXUST-40, H4BTDI = 5,5′-(benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole-4,7-diyl)diisophthalic acid) are reported hererin. Interestingly, a reversible single-crystal-to-single-crystal transition between JXUST-40 and {[Gd4(BTDI)3(H2O)4]·6H2O}n (JXUST-40a) was achieved under the stimulation of heat and solvents. Both JXUST-40 and JXUST-40a exhibited good stability when soaked in common solvents and aqueous solutions with pH values of 1–12. Magnetic studies showed that JXUST-40a has a larger magnetocaloric effect with –ΔS maxm = 26.65 J kg−1 K−1 at 2 K and 7 T than JXUST-40 due to its larger magnetic density. Structural analyses indicated that the coordinated solvent molecules play a crucial role in the coordination environment around the Gd(III) ions and the change in the framework, ultimately leading to the changes in the pore size and magnetism between JXUST-40 and JXUST-40a. In addition, both isomorphic [Dy4(BTDI)3(DMF)4]n (JXUST-41) and {[Dy4(BTDI)3(H2O)4]·6H2O}n (JXUST-41a) displayed slow magnetic relaxation behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Designing efficient heterojunction structure is an effective strategy to improve the performance of photocatalysis. The reasonable structure of photocatalyst and good interface contact, especially the two-dimensional/two-dimensional (2D/2D) composite heterojunction is considered as one of the most representative heterojunctions. Herein, a series of the 2D TpPa-COF/2D g-C 3 N 4 composite materials are prepared through the in-situ reaction. A series of characterizations, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) have verified their 2D/2D heterojunction structure. Compared with TpPa-COF and g-C 3 N 4 , the absorption edge of TpPa-COF/g-C 3 N 4 composites was extended to 650 nm. The TpPa-COF/g-C 3 N 4 composite exhibited high photocatalytic H 2 evolution rate of 17600 μmol g−1·h−1 under visible-light (λ ≥ 420 nm) irradiation, which is 2.3 times and 1760 times of TpPa-COF and g-C 3 N 4 , respectively. The apparent quantum yield (AQY) of TpPa-COF/g–C 3 N 4 –20 still maintains 0.4% under 700 nm light irradiation. The TpPa-COF/g-C 3 N 4 composite photocatalyst also exhibited enhanced visible-light activity for overall water splitting with H 2 and O 2 evolution in a stoichiometric ratio of 2:1. This work provides an important strategy for designing efficient heterojunction photocatalysts. [Display omitted] • The TpPa-COF/g-C 3 N 4 Z-Scheme is successfully fabricated for the first time. • The combination of TpPa-COF and g-C 3 N 4 can enhance visible light absorption ability. • This TpPa-COF/g-C 3 N 4 composite exhibits excellent HER performance under visible light. • The intrinsic combination of composite can catalyze the overall water splitting in pure water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractA 100-W radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) is by far the most suitable power supply for long-term deep space exploration where solar power would not be feasible. Understanding the thermal performance and electrical performance of the RTG under operational conditions is paramount for its nominal and safety performance during the space mission. In this paper, modeling and experimental studies on the thermal behavior and electrical performance of the 100-W RTG have been conducted. The RTG uses high conversion efficiency skutterudite-based thermoelectric convertor (TEC) arrays thermally coupled with a radioisotope heat unit (RHU) to generate electricity. A comprehensive finite element model and an electrical heating prototype of the 100-W RTG have been built to assess the performance of the RTG designs. Critical temperature, generated power, and energy conversion efficiency were evaluated. The simulation results show that the maximum output power of the RTG can reach about 120 W(electric); the temperature of the hot end of the TECs is about 853 K, and the temperature of the cold end is about 473 K, making a temperature difference of about 380 K. The RTG prototype with Bi2Te3 TECs generated about 60 W(electric) of electrical power in the first experimental research stage. These research results have significant reference for extension of the RTG prototype to the actual power source of the RHU and allow for future research and development improvements of the 100-W RTG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information spreads in time. For example, correlations dissipate when the correlated system locally couples to a third party, such as the environment. This simple but important fact forms the known quantum data-processing inequality. Here we theoretically uncover the quantum fluctuation theorem behind the quantum informational inequality. The fluctuation theorem quantitatively predicts the statistics of the underlying stochastic quantum process. To fully capture the quantum nature, the fluctuation theorem established here is extended to the quasiprobability regime. We also experimentally apply an interference-based method to measure the amplitudes composing the quasiprobability and verify our established fluctuation theorem by the IBM quantum computer. With the increase of the use of quantum information in everyday life, its dynamics requires deeper understanding. Here, the quantum fluctuation theorem, that accounts for a quantum system interacting with the environment, is established within the framework of quasi-probability, a powerful tool for studying quantum statistics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dissimilar metal welds (DMWs), widely used in many components of nuclear power plants, may cause catastrophic failures because of damages (such as corrosion). Pulsed eddy current testing (PECT) could be used for DMW detection for its advantages of broadband property and high lift-off immunity. However, the research on PECT for DMW detection has seldom been studied because its structure and material are complicated. In this paper, the detection and evaluation of flaws in DMWs are studied based on the transmitter-receiver (Tx-Rx) PECT probe. Simulation and experiment studies show that, for better detection accuracy, the Tx coil of the probe should be located above the pressure vessel, the Rx coil should be located above the weld, and the minimum distance between the Tx and Rx coils is suggested. Moreover, the peak value of the differential signal and the coefficient a1 of the fitted differential signals with a second-order Gaussian function can be used for defect evaluation. The research in this paper is beneficial for DMW detection by using PECT Tx-Rx probes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuronal ferroptosis has been found to contribute to degenerative brain disorders and traumatic and hemorrhagic brain injury, but whether radiation-induced brain injury (RIBI), a critical deleterious effect of cranial radiation therapy for primary and metastatic brain tumors, involves neuronal ferroptosis remains unclear. We have recently discovered that deletion of reprimo (RPRM), a tumor suppressor gene, ameliorates RIBI, in which its protective effect on neurons is one of the underlying mechanisms. In this study, we found that whole brain irradiation (WBI) induced ferroptosis in mouse brain, manifesting as alterations in mitochondrial morphology, iron accumulation, lipid peroxidation and a dramatic reduction in glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) level. Moreover, the hippocampal ferroptosis induced by ionizing irradiation (IR) mainly happened in neurons. Intriguingly, RPRM deletion protected the brain and primary neurons against IR-induced ferroptosis. Mechanistically, RPRM deletion prevented iron accumulation by reversing the significant increase in the expression of iron storage protein ferritin heavy chain (Fth), ferritin light chain (Ftl) and iron importer transferrin receptor 1 (Tfr1), as well as enhancing the expression of iron exporter ferroportin (Fpn) after IR. RPRM deletion also inhibited lipid peroxidation by abolishing the reduction of GPX4 and stearoyl coenzyme A desaturase-1 (SCD1) induced by IR. Importantly, RPRM deletion restored or even increased the expression of nuclear factor, erythroid 2 like 2 (Nrf2) in irradiated neurons. On top of that, compromised cyclic AMP response element (CRE)-binding protein (CREB) signaling was found to be responsible for the down-regulation of Nrf2 and SCD1 after irradiation, specifically, RPRM bound to CREB and promoted its degradation after IR, leading to a reduction of CREB protein level, which in turn down-regulated Nrf2 and SCD1. Thus, RPRM deletion recovered Nrf2 and SCD1 through its impact on CREB. Taken together, neuronal ferroptosis is involved in RIBI, RPRM deletion prevents IR-induced neuronal ferroptosis through restoring CREB-Nrf2/SCD1 pathways. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low‐nitrogen burners and air‐staging system, which would generate a large amount of CO and H2S in the furnace, are frequently adopted in the coal‐fired boilers in China. This is one of the main reasons for the high‐temperature corrosion of the water‐cooled wall, while the other is the high wall temperature. In this study, the influences of boiler load, burner tilt angle and near‐wall air (NWA) nozzles numbers on the high‐temperature corrosion of water‐cooled wall in a 600 MW opposed firing boiler are numerically investigated. The results show that the H2S concentration does not decline monotonously with the decreasing boiler load. The H2S concentration declines from 443 to 396 ppm while the average wall temperature decreases by 146 K dramatically when the load descends from 100% BMCR to 50% BMCR. When the effect on both side walls are considered, it is confirmed that the high‐temperature corrosion of the water‐cooled wall would not be alleviated significantly by adjusting the burner tilt angle in this study. Compared with standard condition, the average temperature drops moderately and the maximum H2S concentration drops dramatically from 434 to 367 ppm in the main combustion zone near the left wall when the angle is set at 5°. The reducing atmosphere could be significantly alleviated when NWA nozzles are put into operation. Moreover, a sharp drop of the average CO concentration from 7.8% to 2.1% occurs when only the lower two layers of NWA nozzles are operating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]