Search

Optoelectronic functional materials with flexible and in-plane anisotropic properties has been a significant development direction of nanotechnology due to wearable and polarized optoelectronic applications. Herein, the elasticity, global band dispersion, optical dielectric properties of environmentally friendly IVB-VIA layered transition metal trichalcogenides (MX3, M = Zr, Hf; X = S, Se) are investigated systematically by density functional theory with different kinds of van der Waals correction and hybrid functional. The low elastic modulus suggests that they are appropriate for the design of flexible optoelectronic devices. Originating from the effect of d states of chalcogens and s states of transition metals, the dispersion of the valence band edge of monolayer MX3 shows that the effective mass of carriers along the wave vector kx is much heavier than that of carriers along the wave vector ky. This means that the mobility of carriers exhibits obvious in-plane anisotropy. Meanwhile, the optical dielectric properties of monolayer MX3 as well as absorbed photon flux (Jabs) of the related heterostructures display noteworthy in-plane anisotropy in the visible-IR region. The ratio of Jabs from different direction reaches up to 1.7. This work could not only promote understanding of rich photophyiscal properties of transition metal trichalcogenides, but also provide a theoretical reference for the invention of high-performance optoelectronic devices with high flexibility and anisotropy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silacycles have exhibited significant potential for application in the fields of medicinal chemistry, agrochemistry, and materials science. Accordingly, the development of effective methods for synthesizing these compounds has attracted increasing attention. Here, we report an efficient Cu‐catalyzed enantioselective hydrosilylation of arylmethylenecyclopropanes with hydrosilanes, that allows the rapid assembly of various enantioenriched carbon‐ and silicon‐stereogenic silacyclopentanes in good yields with excellent enantioselectivities and diastereoselectivities under mild conditions. Further stereospecific transformation of the Si−H bond on the chiral silicon center expands the diversity of these C‐ and Si‐stereogenic silacyclopentanes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silacycles have exhibited significant potential for application in the fields of medicinal chemistry, agrochemistry, and materials science. Accordingly, the development of effective methods for synthesizing these compounds has attracted increasing attention. Here, we report an efficient Cu‐catalyzed enantioselective hydrosilylation of arylmethylenecyclopropanes with hydrosilanes, that allows the rapid assembly of various enantioenriched carbon‐ and silicon‐stereogenic silacyclopentanes in good yields with excellent enantioselectivities and diastereoselectivities under mild conditions. Further stereospecific transformation of the Si−H bond on the chiral silicon center expands the diversity of these C‐ and Si‐stereogenic silacyclopentanes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant chemical modification in mRNA and plays important roles in human and mouse embryonic stem cell pluripotency, maintenance, and differentiation. We have recently reported that m6A is involved in the postnatal control of β-cell function in physiological states and in type 1 and 2 diabetes. However, the precise mechanisms by which m6A acts to regulate the development of human and mouse pancreas are unexplored. Here, we show that the m6A landscape is dynamic during human pancreas development, and that METTL14, one of the m6A writer complex proteins, is essential for the early differentiation of both human and mouse pancreatic cells. Synopsis: Whether N6-methyladenosine (m6A) post-transcriptional modification of mRNA regulates pancreas development and systemic glucose homeostasis remains unclear. This study reports a dynamic m6A landscape during human pancreas development and importance of the m6A writer, METTL14, for early differentiation of both human and mouse pancreatic cells. METTL14 levels increase temporally in developing human pancreatic β-cells. The m6A landscape is dynamic during in vitro human pancreas development. METTL14-mediated m6A modifications regulate genes involved in pancreas and β-cell development. METTL14 is important for development of non-β and ductal cells. The timing of Mettl14 deletion during pancreas development determines phenotype severity in Mettl14 KO mice. The m6A landscape during early differentiation of pancreatic cells is dynamic, and depends on the m6A writer complex component METTL14. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biothiols, characterized by their unique sulfhydryl (-SH) groups, possess excellent antioxidant properties, effectively neutralizing the damage to cellular structures caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) in living organisms. Additionally, lysosomes play a crucial role in decomposing damaged biomolecules through the action of their internal enzymes, regulating the cellular redox state, and mitigating oxidative stress. To facilitate rapid monitoring of intracellular biothiols, particularly within lysosomes, we constructed a lysosome-targeted biothiol fluorescent probe, PHL-DNP, in this study. PHL-DNP exhibited excellent photophysical properties in an aqueous test system, including strong fluorescence enhancement response, excellent selectivity, and low detection limits (Cys 16.5 nM, Hcy 16.8 nM, GSH 21.3 nM, Cap 26.6 nM). These attributes enabled easy and efficient qualification of Cys on test strips and accurate determination of the effective content of captopril tablets. Notably, PHL-DNP demonstrated low cytotoxicity and precise lysosomal targeting. Through bioimaging, PHL-DNP not only monitored changes in biothiol levels under oxidative stress but also assessed biothiols in complex biological systems such as live HeLa cells, zebrafish, tumor tissue sections, and radish roots. This provides a promising tool for quantitative analysis of biothiols, disease marker detection, and drug testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The traditional approach of statistical process control is to estimate the in-control parameters from reference samples obtained in Phase I and then apply them to Phase II monitoring, which affects the performance of the monitoring scheme. We analyzed the effect of parameter estimation on three multivariate time between events control charts for monitoring the Gumbel's bivariate exponential distribution, namely the joint multivariate exponentially weighted moving average and multivariate rate, the joint multivariate cumulative sum and multivariate rate, and the joint paired individual exponentially weighted moving average and multivariate rate control charts. The simulation results show that the performance of the control charts is severely affected if control limits with known parameters are used, especially when only a few historical sample data are available. Mainly, the steady-state average time to signal was used as an evaluation index to analyze the affected degree of the three control charts, and the control limits were corrected. In addition, we evaluate the effect of model misspecification on the control charts. Finally, an example is given to illustrate the application of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many large-scale regularized inverse problems in imaging such as image restoration and reconstruction can be modeled as a generic objective function involves sum of nonsmooth but proximable terms, which are usually linear-operator-coupled. For the solution of these problems, a parallel linearized alternating direction method of multipliers (PLADMM) is proposed in this paper. At each step of the proposed algorithm, the proximity operators of the nondifferential terms are called individually. This leads to a highly parallel algorithm structure, where most sub-steps can be simultaneously solved. Profiting from the linearization step, the linear inverse operation is excluded. The convergence property of the proposed method is analyzed. The image deblurring, inpainting, and pMRI reconstruction experiments show that the proposed method has vast applicable vistas. Compared with the state-of-the-art methods, such as PADMM [21], FTVD-v4 [22], PPDS [33], FUSL [8], LADM [36], and ALADMM [27], it gains competitive results both in terms of quantitative indicators, such as PSNR or SSIM, and in terms of visual impression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many large-scale regularized inverse problems in imaging such as image restoration and reconstruction can be modeled as a generic objective function involves sum of nonsmooth but proximable terms, which are usually linear-operator-coupled. For the solution of these problems, a parallel linearized alternating direction method of multipliers (PLADMM) is proposed in this paper. At each step of the proposed algorithm, the proximity operators of the nondifferential terms are called individually. This leads to a highly parallel algorithm structure, where most sub-steps can be simultaneously solved. Profiting from the linearization step, the linear inverse operation is excluded. The convergence property of the proposed method is analyzed. The image deblurring, inpainting, and pMRI reconstruction experiments show that the proposed method has vast applicable vistas. Compared with the state-of-the-art methods, such as PADMM [21], FTVD-v4 [22], PPDS [33], FUSL [8], LADM [36], and ALADMM [27], it gains competitive results both in terms of quantitative indicators, such as PSNR or SSIM, and in terms of visual impression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) plays an important role during transbronchial sampling, providing an intraoperative cytopathologic evaluation. However, the shortage of cytopathologists limits its wide application. This study aims to develop a deep learning model to automatically analyze ROSE cytological images. Methods: The hierarchical multi-label lung cancer subtyping (HMLCS) model that combines whole slide images of ROSE slides and serum biological markers was proposed to discriminate between benign and malignant lesions and recognize different subtypes of lung cancer. A dataset of 811 ROSE slides and paired serum biological markers was retrospectively collected between July 2019 and November 2020, and randomly divided to train, validate, and test the HMLCS model. The area under the curve (AUC) and accuracy were calculated to assess the performance of the model, and Cohen's kappa (κ) was calculated to measure the agreement between the model and the annotation. The HMLCS model was also compared with professional staff. Results: The HMLCS model achieved AUC values of 0.9540 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.9257–0.9823) in malignant/benign classification, 0.9126 (95% CI: 0.8756–0.9365) in malignancy subtyping (non-small cell lung cancer [NSCLC], small cell lung cancer [SCLC], or other malignancies), and 0.9297 (95% CI: 0.9026–0.9603) in NSCLC subtyping (lung adenocarcinoma [LUAD], lung squamous cell carcinoma [LUSC], or NSCLC not otherwise specified [NSCLC-NOS]), respectively. In total, the model achieved an AUC of 0.8721 (95% CI: 0.7714–0.9258) and an accuracy of 0.7184 in the six-class classification task (benign, LUAD, LUSC, NSCLC-NOS, SCLC, or other malignancies). In addition, the model demonstrated a κ value of 0.6183 with the annotation, which was comparable to cytopathologists and superior to trained bronchoscopists and technicians. Conclusion: The HMLCS model showed promising performance in the multiclassification of lung lesions or intrathoracic lymphadenopathy, with potential application to provide real-time feedback regarding preliminary diagnoses of specimens during transbronchial sampling procedures. Clinical trial number: Not applicable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mutation of tet methylcytosine dioxygenase 2 (encoded by TET2) drives myeloid malignancy initiation and progression1–3. TET2 deficiency is known to cause a globally opened chromatin state and activation of genes contributing to aberrant haematopoietic stem cell self-renewal4,5. However, the open chromatin observed in TET2-deficient mouse embryonic stem cells, leukaemic cells and haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells5 is inconsistent with the designated role of DNA 5-methylcytosine oxidation of TET2. Here we show that chromatin-associated retrotransposon RNA 5-methylcytosine (m5C) can be recognized by the methyl-CpG-binding-domain protein MBD6, which guides deubiquitination of nearby monoubiquitinated Lys119 of histone H2A (H2AK119ub) to promote an open chromatin state. TET2 oxidizes m5C and antagonizes this MBD6-dependent H2AK119ub deubiquitination. TET2 depletion thereby leads to globally decreased H2AK119ub, more open chromatin and increased transcription in stem cells. TET2-mutant human leukaemia becomes dependent on this gene activation pathway, with MBD6 depletion selectively blocking proliferation of TET2-mutant leukaemic cells and largely reversing the haematopoiesis defects caused by Tet2 loss in mouse models. Together, our findings reveal a chromatin regulation pathway by TET2 through retrotransposon RNA m5C oxidation and identify the downstream MBD6 protein as a feasible target for developing therapies specific against TET2 mutant malignancies.Chromatin-associated retrotransposon RNA 5-methylcytosine can be recognized by the methyl-CpG-binding-domain protein MBD6, which guides deubiquitination of nearby monoubiquitinated Lys119 of histone H2A to promote an open chromatin state in TET2-deficient cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) is most commonly used in vessel disease examinations and treatments. We aimed to develop a novel deep learning-based method to deblur the large focal spot DSA images, so as to obtain a clearer and sharper cerebrovascular DSA image. Methods: The proposed network cascaded several residual dense blocks (RDBs), which contain dense connected layers and local residual learning. Several loss functions for image restoration were investigated. Our training set consisted of 52 paired images of angiography with more than 350,000 cropped patches. The testing set included 10 body phantoms and 80 clinical images of different types of diseases for subjective evaluation. All test images were acquired using a large focal spot, and phantom images were simultaneously acquired using a micro focal spot as ground-truth. Peak-to-noise ratio (PSNR) and structural similarity (SSIM) were determined for quantitative analysis. The deblurring results were compared with the original data, and the image quality was subjectively evaluated and graded by two clinicians. Results: For quantitative analysis of phantom images, the average PSNR/SSIM based on the deep-learning approach (35.34/0.9566) was better than that of large focal spot images (30.64/0.9163). For subjective evaluation of 80 clinical patient images, image quality in all types of cerebrovascular diseases was also improved based on a deep-learning approach (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Deep learning-based focal spot deblur algorithm can efficiently improve DSA image quality for better visualization of blood vessels and lesions in the image. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: The 21st century has witnessed a continuous evolution in the development of boron‐stereogenic chemistry. Since the 1990s, various innovations for the synthesis of tetracoordinate boron‐stereogenic compounds, which exhibited great potential applications, have been demonstrated by synthetic chemists. This paper reviews the significant progress and recent advances towards the assembly of enantioenriched boron‐stereogenic compounds, and hopes to shed light on new perspectives and inspire further research in this emerging field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the molecular mechanisms behind ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in the brain, focusing on neuronal apoptosis. It scrutinizes the role of the Jun proto‐oncogene in apoptosis, involvement of SOCS1 in neural precursor cell accumulation in ischaemic regions, and the upregulation of C‐EBPβ in the hippocampus following I/R. Key to the study is understanding how Jun controls C‐EBPβ degradation via SOCS1, potentially offering new clinical treatment avenues for I/R. Techniques such as mRNA sequencing, KEGG enrichment analysis and protein–protein interaction (PPI) in mouse models have indicated involvement of Jun (AP‐1) in I/R‐induced cerebral damage. The study employs middle cerebral artery occlusion in different mouse models and oxygen–glucose deprivation/reoxygenation in cortical neurons to examine the impacts of Jun and SOCS1 manipulation on cerebral I/R injury and neuronal damage. The findings reveal that I/R reduces Jun expression in the brain, but its restoration lessens cerebral I/R injury and neuron death. Jun activates SOCS1 transcriptionally, leading to C‐EBPβ degradation, thereby diminishing cerebral I/R injury through the SOCS1/C‐EBPβ pathway. These insights provide a deeper understanding of post‐I/R cerebral injury mechanisms and suggest new therapeutic targets for cerebral I/R injury. Key points: Jun and SOCS1 are poorly expressed, and C‐EBPβ is highly expressed in ischaemia/reperfusion mouse brain tissues.Jun transcriptionally activates SOCS1.SOCS1 promotes the ubiquitination‐dependent C‐EBPβ protein degradation.Jun blunts oxygen–glucose deprivation/reoxygenation‐induced neuron apoptosis and alleviates neuronal injury.This study provides a theoretical basis for the management of post‐I/R brain injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bisulfite sequencing (BS-seq) to detect 5-methylcytosine (5mC) is limited by lengthy reaction times, severe DNA damage, overestimation of 5mC level and incomplete C-to-U conversion of certain DNA sequences. We present ultrafast BS-seq (UBS-seq), which uses highly concentrated bisulfite reagents and high reaction temperatures to accelerate the bisulfite reaction by ~13-fold, resulting in reduced DNA damage and lower background noise. UBS-seq allows library construction from small amounts of purified genomic DNA, such as from cell-free DNA or directly from 1 to 100 mouse embryonic stem cells, with less overestimation of 5mC level and higher genome coverage than conventional BS-seq. Additionally, UBS-seq quantitatively maps RNA 5-methylcytosine (m5C) from low inputs of mRNA and allows the detection of m5C stoichiometry in highly structured RNA sequences. Our UBS-seq results identify NSUN2 as the major 'writer' protein responsible for the deposition of ~90% of m5C sites in HeLa mRNA and reveal enriched m5C sites in 5′-regions of mammalian mRNA, which may have functional roles in mRNA translation regulation. Accelerated bisulfite sequencing detects 5-methylcytosine in low-input DNA and RNA samples [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co-infection with diverse bacteria is commonly seen in patients infected with the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. This type of co-infection significantly impacts the occurrence and development of novel coronavirus infection. Bacterial co-pathogens are typically identified in the respiratory system and blood culture, which complicates the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of COVID-19, and even exacerbates the severity of disease symptoms and increases mortality rates. However, the status and impact of bacterial co-infections during the COVID-19 pandemic have not been properly studied. Recently, the amount of literature on the co-infection of SARS-CoV-2 and bacteria has gradually increased, enabling a comprehensive discussion on this type of co-infection. In this study, we focus on bacterial infections in the respiratory system and blood of patients with COVID-19 because these infection types significantly affect the severity and mortality of COVID-19. Furthermore, the progression of COVID-19 has markedly elevated the antimicrobial resistance among specific bacteria, such as Klebsiella pneumoniae, in clinical settings including intensive care units (ICUs). Grasping these resistance patterns is pivotal for the optimal utilization and stewardship of antibiotics, including fluoroquinolones. Our study offers insights into these aspects and serves as a fundamental basis for devising effective therapeutic strategies. We primarily sourced our articles from PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Google Scholar. We queried these databases using specific search terms related to COVID-19 and its co-infections with bacteria or fungi, and selectively chose relevant articles for inclusion in our review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Electrical stimulation (ES) has been shown to substantially enhance the quality of life by alleviating pain in patients with chronic wounds. This study aimed to observe the effects of low‐frequency pulsed wearable ES at the common peroneal nerve on chronic refractory wounds of the lower limb. Methods: Forty‐eight participants were randomly divided into control group (n = 24) and treatment group (n = 24) in this study. The control group received standard wound care (SWC) exclusively, whereas the treatment group was administered both SWC and the wearable low‐frequency ES targeting the common peroneal nerve. Measurements of wound area, pain intensity, wound status, and quality of life scores were systematically recorded both before and after 4 weeks treatment. Results: After 4 weeks of intervention, the percentage area reduction was significantly higher in the treatment group compared to the control group (Z = −3.9, p < 0.001), and the healing rate of the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group (33% vs. 4%). Moreover, the Visual Analog Scale for Pain score (β = −0.65, p = 0.019), the Bates‐Jensen Wound Assessment Tool score (p < 0.05), and the questionnaire on quality of life with chronic wounds (Wound‐Qol) score (β = −4.23, p = 0.003) were significantly decreased in the patients in the treatment group compared to the control group. Conclusion: The wearable low‐frequency pulsed ES at the common peroneal nerve for the treatment of chronic refractory wounds showed significant improvement and were far superior compared to SWC. Future research should broaden its scope to include a diverse range of wound types and benefit from collaboration across multiple research centers. Key messages: Traditional wound dressings are currently inadequate for addressing chronic wound closure.The wearable electrical stimulation (ES), an economical and noninvasive form of physical therapy, can be beneficial in facilitating the healing process of chronic wounds.The purpose of this study was to observe the effects of wearable low‐frequency pulsed ES at the common peroneal nerve on chronic refractory wounds of the lower limb.The wearable low‐frequency pulsed ES at the common peroneal nerve for the treatment of chronic refractory wounds showed significant improvement and were far superior compared to standard wound care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shield tunnels' structural stability is challenged due to the fact that they are often built under rivers, lakes, and oceans. It is crucial to execute the structural deformation perception of the shield tunnel. Fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensing technology is sensitive to deformation information, making it one of the greatest options for shield tunnels to perceive structural deformation. In this study, a 1:20 scale model test was carried out to investigate the deformation perception of the shield tunnel structure under three different layouts of surface-mounted FBG sensors. The deformation law of the tunnel is discussed, under the condition of two-factor cross fusion and especially under the condition of constant water pressure and soil pressure change. The results indicate that, under the combined action of water and soil pressure, the uniform water pressure of 0.33 MPa has a stabilizing effect on the segment strain under the vertical load of 0.4 MPa. The traditional four-point layout and the 18° uniform layout are more effective in detecting changes in local tunnel curvature and strain, respectively, compared to the 36° uniform layout mode. It is advised that the traditional four-point layout be used to collect information for other sections' monitoring and that the 18° uniform layout is for harsh terrain conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The segment in an underwater shield tunnel is influenced by the change of earth pressure and water pressure. Therefore, the law of segment deformation should be mastered for the safe operation of the tunnel. To obtain the law of segment deformation under varying earth pressure, loading conditions of constant water pressure and without water pressure were considered. In this study, the numerical simulation and scale model experiment were carried to analyze the strain, curvature, and displacement of the segment. The results show that the strain amplitude of segments is reduced by the water pressure under a range of earth pressure. When the earth pressure ranges from 0 MPa to 2.4 MPa and the water pressure 0.33 MPa, the displacement of the vault and arch waist exhibit a decreased rate of 7.916 mm/MPa and an increased rate of 5.416 mm/MPa, respectively. Under the combined effects of constant water pressure and varying earth pressure, the curvature of the segment tends to stabilize after a rapid change with a maximum of 0.004 m−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we prepared a low-cost novel Cu/Cu2O/BC nanocomposite visible-light photocatalyst by the impregnation method using CuSO4·5H2O and rice husk biochar (BC) as raw materials and Na2S2O4 as a single reductant to improve the stability and dispersion of the Cu/Cu2O nanoparticles, in order to solve their aggregation tendency during photocatalysis. The morphology and structure of the Cu/Cu2O/BC were characterized using various analytical and spectroscopic techniques. The photocatalytic effect and cyclic stability of the synthesized photocatalyst on methyl orange (MO) removal were investigated under visible light radiation and various parameter conditions, including the mass ratio of BC to Cu/Cu2O, initial MO concentration, pH, temperature, and catalyst dosage. The results show that the synthesized Cu/Cu2O/BC nanocomposite composed of Cu/Cu2O spherical particles was loaded on the BC carrier, which has better stability and dispersion. The best adsorption–photocatalytic effect of the Cu/Cu2O/BC is exhibited when the mass ratio of BC to Cu/Cu2O is 0.2. A total of 100 mg of Cu/Cu2O/BC can remove 95% of the MO and 88.26% of the COD in the aqueous solution at pH = 6, T = 25 °C, and an initial MO concentration of 100 mg/L. After five cycles of degradation, the MO degradation rate in the sample can still remain at 78.41%. Both the quasi-secondary kinetic model and the Langmuir isothermal adsorption model describe the adsorption process. Additionally, the thermodynamic analysis demonstrates that the photocatalytic process follows the quasi-primary kinetic model and that the removal process is of spontaneous heat absorption. The photocatalyst described in this paper offers a cost-effective, easily prepared, and visible-light-responsive solution for water pollution treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims at addressing the face failure of earth pressure balance (EPB) shield tunnels in dry dense sand by model tests and discrete element method (DEM) models. The model tests incorporated a miniature EPB shield which could fully reproduce the real tunnel construction of excavation and support. DEM models simulating the model tests were developed to capture the underlying face failure mechanism. Results show that both the limit support pressure obtained at chamber board and tunnel face increase with increasing C/D (C is tunnel cover depth, and D is tunnel diameter). The ratio of the former to the latter approximates 0.60 due to the soil retaining of cutter head panel, and it is independent of C/D. The local face failure initializes around tunnel face and develops directly to the global failure outcropping the ground surface in one phase with C/D ≤ 1.0, while the local failure develops to the global failure in three phases with C/D = 2.0 due to the soil arching evolution. The soil arching gets weaker when it propagates upward, and the horizontal stress concentration in the longitudinal direction is stronger than the transverse direction due to the difference of arch foot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: In the past two decades, the development of asymmetric radical reactions has achieved tremendous progress, which has emerged as a powerful tool for the synthesis of chiral molecules in synthetic chemistry. Among the diverse array of radical processes, the transfer of hydrogen atoms to tertiary carbon radicals offers the potential for constructing chiral tertiary carbon centers in a stereoselective fashion. Notwithstanding the challenges associated with the reactive and evanescent nature of radical species, the use of chiral reagents or mediators has enabled the stereocontrol of the asymmetric hydrogen atom transfer (AHAT), which provides novel avenues for advancing the field of asymmetric synthesis. Key Scientists: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly efficient rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrosilylation of aldehydes, ketones, and α,β-unsaturated ketones with dihydrosilanes is developed, that allows the rapid assembly of a variety of Si-stereogenic alkoxysilanes and silyl enol ethers in good yields and enantioselectivities under mild conditions. The applicability of this methodology was demonstrated by a series of stereospecific transformations to construct diverse Si-stereogenic derivatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we consider finding an approximate second-order stationary point (SOSP) of general nonconvex conic optimization that minimizes a twice differentiable function subject to nonlinear equality constraints and also a convex conic constraint. In particular, we propose a Newton-conjugate gradient (Newton-CG) based barrier-augmented Lagrangian method for finding an approximate SOSP of this problem. Under some mild assumptions, we show that our method enjoys a total inner iteration complexity of O ~ (ϵ - 11 / 2) and an operation complexity of O ~ (ϵ - 11 / 2 min { n , ϵ - 5 / 4 }) for finding an (ϵ , ϵ) -SOSP of general nonconvex conic optimization with high probability. Moreover, under a constraint qualification, these complexity bounds are improved to O ~ (ϵ - 7 / 2) and O ~ (ϵ - 7 / 2 min { n , ϵ - 3 / 4 }) , respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study on the complexity of finding an approximate SOSP of general nonconvex conic optimization. Preliminary numerical results are presented to demonstrate superiority of the proposed method over first-order methods in terms of solution quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: Using the prostate, lung, colorectal, and ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial samples, we identified cell-free DNA (cfDNA) candidate biomarkers bearing the epigenetic mark 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) that detected occult colorectal cancer (CRC) up to 36 months before clinical diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed the 5hmC-seal assay and sequencing on ≤8 ng cfDNA extracted from PLCO study participant plasma samples, including n = 201 cases (diagnosed with CRC within 36 months of blood collection) and n = 401 controls (no cancer diagnosis on follow-up). We conducted association studies and machine learning modeling to analyze the genome-wide 5hmC profiles within training and validation groups that were randomly selected at a 2:1 ratio. RESULTS: We successfully obtained 5hmC profiles from these decades-old samples. A weighted Cox model of 32 5hmC-modified gene bodies showed a predictive detection value for CRC as early as 36 months before overt tumor diagnosis (training set AUC, 77.1% [95% CI, 72.2 to 81.9] and validation set AUC, 72.8% [95% CI, 65.8 to 79.7]). Notably, the 5hmC-based predictive model showed comparable performance regardless of sex and race/ethnicity, and significantly outperformed risk factors such as age and obesity (assessed as BMI). Finally, when splitting cases at median weighted prediction scores, Kaplan-Meier analyses showed significant risk stratification for CRC occurrence in both the training set (hazard ratio, [HR], 3.3 [95% CI, 2.6 to 5.8]) and validation set (HR, 3.1 [95% CI, 1.8 to 5.8]). CONCLUSION: Candidate 5hmC biomarkers and a scoring algorithm have the potential to predict CRC occurrence despite the absence of clinical symptoms and effective predictors. Developing a minimally invasive clinical assay that detects 5hmC-modified biomarkers holds promise for improving early CRC detection and ultimately patient outcomes. 5hmC biomarkers in cfDNA predict colorectal cancer up to 36 months before diagnosis (AUC 77%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor in childhood. We previously showed that circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and tumor biopsy derived 5-hydroxymethylcytosime (5-hmC) profiles identified patients with neuroblastoma who experienced subsequent relapse. Here, we hypothesized that 5-hmC modifications selectively enriched in cfDNA compared with tumor biopsy samples would identify epigenetic changes associated with aggressive tumor behavior and identify novel biomarkers of outcome in patients with high-risk neuroblastoma. METHODS: 5-hmC profiles from cfDNA (n = 64) and tumor biopsies (n = 48) were compared. Two neuroblastoma cell lines underwent chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP-Seq) for H3K27me3, H3K4me3, and H3K27ac; kethoxal-associated single-stranded DNA sequencing; hmC-Seal for 5-hmC; and RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq). Genes enriched for both H3K27me3 and H3K4me3 in the included cell lines were defined as bivalent. Using bivalent genes defined in vitro, a bivalent signature was established in three publicly available cohorts of patients with neuroblastoma through gene set variation analysis. Differences between tumors with high or low bivalent signatures were assessed by the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: In cfDNA compared with tumor biopsy derived 5-hmC profiles, we found increased 5-hmC deposition on Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 target genes, a finding previously described in the context of bivalent genes. We identified 313 genes that bore bivalent chromatin marks, were enriched for mediators of neuronal differentiation, and were transcriptionally repressed across a panel of heterogeneous neuroblastoma cell lines. In three distinct clinical cohorts, low bivalent signature was significantly and independently associated with worse clinical outcome in patients with high-risk neuroblastoma. CONCLUSION: Low expression of bivalent genes is a biomarker of worse outcome in patients with high-risk neuroblastoma. @mohansrinc1 et al develop a bivalent gene signature predictive of outcome in HR neuroblastoma [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, the important problem of Terzaghi's ground arch model in 1946 has not been solved for loads on circular tunnels. This study comprehensively presented a general analytical solution of Terzaghi's ground arch model for loads on circular tunnels by the limit equilibrium method, considering the complete boundary conditions of the loosening zone, the effects of water pressure, and the stiffness of the lining and ground. The proposed solution indicates the relationship between the load on circular tunnels and that on trapdoors, and there is a negative correlation between the lateral and vertical earth pressures in the ultimate state. Model tests and field measurements were used to verify the proposed solution. The results indicated that the proposed solution agrees well with the experimental results of circular tunnels in dense sand, loose sand, saturated sand, and saturated clay; the solution is significantly less than the design load from Terzaghi's formula in good ground conditions. Moreover, the solution demonstrated an interesting rule: the distribution of total loads (including water pressure) on nonrigid circular tunnels is nearly uniform in saturated granular soil. A particular solution was obtained for circular tunnels in saturated granular soil. In addition, the vertical pressure on a circular tunnel in sand increases and the lateral pressure decreases as the groundwater table increases within the tunnel range; the case where the groundwater table is located at the crown is proved to be a critical condition for shield tunnels in sand. Practical Applications: Previous studies indicate that the load on shield tunnels in good ground conditions would be overestimated by Terzaghi's formula, which was proposed in 1943 and is widely adopted in tunnel design nowadays. In this study, a general analytical solution for loads on circular tunnels was established based on Terzaghi's ground arch model, which was improved by Terzaghi in 1946 for arched tunnels but has not been solved. For various overburden depths, the proposed solution agrees well with the experimental results of circular tunnels in dense sand, loose sand, saturated sand, and saturated clay, but Terzaghi's formula based on trapdoors fails to explain the test results of circular tunnels in sand. The proposed solution is significantly less than the design load from Terzaghi's formula in good ground conditions. The solution is applicable for both shallow and deep circular tunnels, and it will be very helpful for the economical and rational design of shield tunnels normally in good ground conditions, such as sandy soil, crushed rock, and stiff or hard clayed soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct copper-to-copper (Cu-Cu) bonding is a promising technology for advanced electronic packaging. Nanocrystalline (NC) Cu receives increasing attention due to its unique ability to promote grain growth across the bonding interface. However, achieving sufficient grain growth still requires a high thermal budget. This study explores how reducing grain size and controlling impurity concentration in NC Cu leads to substantial grain growth at low temperatures. The fabricated NC Cu has a uniform nanograin size of around 50 nm and a low impurity level of 300 ppm. To prevent ungrown NC and void formation caused by impurity aggregation, we propose a double-layer (DL) structure comprising a normal coarse-grained (CG) layer underneath the NC layer. The CG layer, with a grain size of 1 μm and an impurity level of 3 ppm, acts as a sink, facilitating impurity diffusion from the NC layer to the CG layer. Thanks to sufficient grain growth throughout the entire NC layer, cross-interface Cu-Cu bonding becomes possible under a low thermal budget, either at 100 °C for 60 min or at 200 °C for only 5 min. Direct copper-to-copper bonding is crucial for advanced electronic packaging. Here, the authors demonstrate Cu-Cu bonding with low thermal budget using nanocrystalline Cu with a double-layer structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct copper-to-copper (Cu-Cu) bonding is a promising technology for advanced electronic packaging. Nanocrystalline (NC) Cu receives increasing attention due to its unique ability to promote grain growth across the bonding interface. However, achieving sufficient grain growth still requires a high thermal budget. This study explores how reducing grain size and controlling impurity concentration in NC Cu leads to substantial grain growth at low temperatures. The fabricated NC Cu has a uniform nanograin size of around 50 nm and a low impurity level of 300 ppm. To prevent ungrown NC and void formation caused by impurity aggregation, we propose a double-layer (DL) structure comprising a normal coarse-grained (CG) layer underneath the NC layer. The CG layer, with a grain size of 1 μm and an impurity level of 3 ppm, acts as a sink, facilitating impurity diffusion from the NC layer to the CG layer. Thanks to sufficient grain growth throughout the entire NC layer, cross-interface Cu-Cu bonding becomes possible under a low thermal budget, either at 100 °C for 60 min or at 200 °C for only 5 min. Direct copper-to-copper bonding is crucial for advanced electronic packaging. Here, the authors demonstrate Cu-Cu bonding with low thermal budget using nanocrystalline Cu with a double-layer structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The equilibrium state of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a gaseous signaling molecule produced by lysosomal metabolites, in vivo is crucial for cellular function. Abnormal fluctuations in H2S concentration can interfere with the normal function of lysosomes, which has been closely linked to the pathogenesis of a variety of diseases. In view of this, a novel fluorescent probe Lyso-DPP based on 1,3,5-triarylpyrazolines was developed for the precise detection of H2S in lysosomes by using the hydrophilic morpholine moiety as a lysosomal targeting unit, and 2,4-dinitroanisole as a fluorescence-quenching and H2S-responsive unit. The probe cleverly combines the advantages of simple synthesis, sensitive blue fluorescence turn-on with a limit of detection, LOD, of 97.3 nM, good stability, and fast response time (10 min), which makes Lyso-DPP successful in portable monitoring of meat freshness in the form of test strips. Moreover, the excellent biocompatibility and precise targeting capability of the probe Lyso-DPP make it perform well in the monitoring of H2S in lysosomes, living cells, and zebrafish. This work not only provides new technical tools for food quality control but also paves up new ideas for early diagnosis and treatment of H2S-related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluxes in human copper levels recently garnered attention for roles in cellular signaling, including affecting levels of the signaling molecule cyclic adenosine monophosphate. We herein apply an unbiased temporal evaluation of the signaling and whole genome transcriptional activities modulated by copper level fluctuations to identify potential copper sensor proteins responsible for driving these activities. We find that fluctuations in physiologically relevant copper levels modulate EGFR signal transduction and activation of the transcription factor CREB. Both intracellular and extracellular assays support Cu1+ inhibition of the EGFR phosphatase PTPN2 (and potentially PTPN1)–via ligation to the PTPN2 active site cysteine side chain–as the underlying mechanism. We additionally show i) copper supplementation drives weak transcriptional repression of the copper importer CTR1 and ii) CREB activity is inversely correlated with CTR1 expression. In summary, our study reveals PTPN2 as a physiological copper sensor and defines a regulatory mechanism linking feedback control of copper stimulated EGFR/CREB signaling and CTR1 expression. Copper level fluctuations are shown to modulate EGFR signal transduction via inhibition of the phosphatase PTPN2, culminating in CREB transcription factor activity, which is associated with transcriptional repression of the copper importer CTR1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the scale of units within virtual power plants (VPPs) continues to expand, establishing an effective operational game model for these internal units has become a pressing issue for enhancing management and operations. This paper integrates photovoltaic generation, wind power, energy storage, and constant-temperature responsive loads, and it also considers micro gas turbines as auxiliary units, collectively forming a typical VPP case study. An operational optimization model was developed for the VPP control center and the micro gas turbines, and the game relationship between them was analyzed. A Stackelberg game model between the VPP control center and the micro gas turbines was proposed. Lastly, an improved D3QN (Dueling Double Deep Q-network) algorithm was employed to compute the VPP's optimal operational strategy based on Stackelberg game theory. The results demonstrate that the proposed model can balance the energy complementarity between the VPP control center and the micro gas turbines, thereby enhancing the overall economic efficiency of operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The creep characteristics of rocks pose significant challenges to the construction and operation of tunnels. Triaxial compression tests were conducted on sandstone using the GCTS rock testing system, revealing the rheological properties of sandstone. A fractional-order creep model considering rock relaxation time was constructed, and the effectiveness and applicability of this model were validated through experimental data. The results indicate that: (1) With increasing confining pressure, the creep rate during the stable creep stage gradually decreases, while the creep rate during the accelerated creep stage gradually increases. The long-term strength of sandstone increases, and the fracture angle gradually decreases, transitioning from intergranular fracture to transgranular fracture. (2) Utilizing experimental data, a nonlinear damage constitutive model considering relaxation time was established to describe the creep characteristics of sandstone. The influence of various parameters in the constitutive equation on sandstone creep characteristics was analyzed. An increase in relaxation time τ results in reduced creep response. The damage parameters β and ζ determine the creep rate during the accelerated creep stage. (3) Comparative analysis between theoretical and experimental curves demonstrates that the proposed model provides a more accurate fit, with simple model parameters that facilitate ease of use and strong applicability. These methods contribute to a better understanding of the creep failure mechanisms and behaviors of sandstone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: After approximately two decades of controlled breeding at the Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences in China, Luchuan (LC) pigs have developed two distinct phenotypes: one with obesity (FLC) and the other with leanness (LLC). Since recent research suggests a link between microorganisms and the development of these different phenotypes, this study investigated the fecal microbiota profiles and serum metabolites of FLC and LLC pigs. We found significant changes in the microbiota and metabolites between the two groups. The correlation studies showed a significant link between the modified microbiota, metabolites, and the observed phenotypic differences in the LC pigs. Notably, Jeotgalicoccus was positively correlated with the body weight and chest circumference, but negatively correlated with certain metabolites like 2-mercaptobenzothiazole and N1-pyrazin-2-yl-4-chlorobenzamide, which were positively associated with Bacteroides. These findings provide strong evidence for a new connection between the gut microbiome, metabolome, and phenotypic variation in LC pigs. Luchuan (LC) pigs are a Chinese breed renowned for their distinctive black and white coloring, superior meat quality and rapid reproduction, but their growth rate is slow. Over the course of approximately two decades of controlled breeding, the LC pigs maintained at the Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences (Shanghai, China) have diverged into two phenotypes: one characterized by obesity (FLC) and the other by leanness (LLC). Recent studies indicate a correlation between microorganisms and the differentiation of host phenotypes. In this study, we examined the fecal microbiota profiles and serum metabolites of FLC and LLC pigs. The body weight, chest circumference, and alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase enzyme activities were increased in the FLC pigs compared to the LLC pigs. Conversely, the levels of the Fusobacterium and Streptococcus genera were lower in the FLC pigs, while the number of Firmicutes, Lactobacillus, Phascolartobacterium, and Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group members were higher. A total of 52 metabolites were altered between the two groups, with many playing crucial roles in prolactin signaling, oocyte meiosis, and aldosterone-regulated sodium reabsorption pathways. The correlation analyses demonstrated a significant association between the modified microbiota and metabolites and the phenotypic variations observed in the LC pigs. Specifically, Jeotgalicoccus was positively correlated with the body weight and chest circumference, but was negatively correlated with metabolites such as 2-mercaptobenzothiazole and N1-pyrazin-2-yl-4-chlorobenzamide, which were positively associated with Bacteroides. These results provide compelling evidence for a novel relationship between the gut microbiome and metabolome in the phenotypic differentiation of LC pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compared the response characteristics of circumferential joints with different bolt types under seismic loading. The variations in the openings under different types of bolt joints were marginal and could be maintained within 10%. The stress experienced by the oblique bolt was twice as high as that of the curved bolt. Under longitudinal and transverse excitation, the maximum concrete tensile stress on the segment surface ranks as follows: oblique bolt joint (2.1; 3.9 MPa) > straight bolt joint (1.7; 2.0 MPa) > curved bolt joint (0.7; 1.2 MPa), with the oblique bolt joint exhibiting the largest stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's highly advanced information technology environment, modern network and communication technologies are widely used in monitoring and controlling power systems. These technologies have evolved significantly. They now form a high-performance digital system known as the cyber–physical power system. However, vulnerabilities in communication networks present growing threats to these systems. This paper seeks to enhance the accurate assessment of the security posture of cyber-physical power systems by inferring attackers' intentions. A threat modeling approach based on Bayesian attack graphs is presented, employing Bayesian networks to define and evaluate potential threats that attackers could pose to different system infrastructures. The paper initially conducts a qualitative analysis of the system's threats, constructing a directed graph structure and establishing conditional probability tables among nodes based on prior knowledge. Subsequently, methods are developed to compute the threat levels at different system nodes using real-time detected attack events. Further analysis methods and security assessment metrics are also developed to identify attack paths and quantify system security. Finally, a Bayesian attack graph is constructed in accordance with the system's structure. In practical scenarios, the attack path analysis method can predict the most vulnerable attack paths, while the absolute values of the security assessment metrics indicate the overall risk level of the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We extracted the spatial characteristics of the health-related behaviors of 1223 older adults of Tujia, Yao, Miao and Dong ethnicity living in 20 villages in western Hunan, considering three dimensions: spontaneously healthy, health-necessary, and mentally healthy behavior. We constructed separate prediction models using logistic regression, support vector machine, categorical boosting, random decision forest, light gradient boosting machine, and extreme gradient boosting. We then combined these models with Shapley additive explanations to complete a global explanatory analysis to explore the correlation between location and the health behaviors of older adults of different ethnicities living in villages. The support vector model and gradient boosting tree models produced the most accurate simulations of the health behaviors of older adults. We found significant differences in the health behaviors of the older adults in the different villages, noting the preferences of the older adults of specific ethnicities. This study provides a reference for the excavation of the health behavior of older adults and the aging design of village spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tailoring the energy release performance of the thermites is crucial for their application in various fields. In this article, dual‐oxidant Al/MnO2/CuO ternary thermites with varying compositions were prepared and systematically evaluated. The ignition delay time, heat of reaction, self‐sustained burning rate, and pressure performance of the thermites were evaluated. As the Al/CuO content increased, the ignition delay time and heat of reaction decreased, while the reaction efficiency, burning rate, pressure peak, and pressurization rate increased. Furthermore, the synergistic addition of the MnO2 and CuO led to enhanced relative flame intensity and maximum flame temperature in the ternary thermite. Our work demonstrates an effective strategy for regulating the energy performance of the thermites by co‐adding of metal oxides. This approach opens avenues for tailoring thermite properties to meet the diverse requirements of various applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) is a heterogeneous group of breast cancer that accounts for 10–30% of breast cancer cases. Despite the ongoing development of current treatment methods, LABC remains a severe and complex public health concern around the world, thus prompting the urgent requirement for innovative diagnosis and treatment strategies. The primary treatment challenges are inoperable clinical status and ineffective local control methods. With the rapid advancement of nanotechnology, inorganic nanoparticles (INPs) exhibit a potential application prospect in diagnosing and treating breast cancer. Due to the unique inherent characteristics of INPs, different functions can be performed via appropriate modifications and constructions, thus making them suitable for different imaging technology strategies and treatment schemes. INPs can improve the efficacy of conventional local radiotherapy treatment. In the face of inoperable LABC, INPs have proposed new local therapeutic methods and fostered the evolution of novel strategies such as photothermal and photodynamic therapy, magnetothermal therapy, sonodynamic therapy, and multifunctional inorganic nanoplatform. This article reviews the advances of INPs in local accurate imaging and breast cancer treatment and offers insights to overcome the existing clinical difficulties in LABC management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about inclusive teachers' belief systems about teaching students with mild, moderate, or severe intellectual disabilities across different subjects (e.g. language arts, math, science, PE, art, and music) in less developed countries. To address this gap, this study aims to understand inclusive teachers' belief systems about teaching students with intellectual disabilities in China. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 32 elementary teachers who taught students with intellectual disabilities. The analysis yielded three categories of Chinese inclusive teachers' beliefs, including beliefs about students with intellectual disabilities, beliefs about themselves, and beliefs about teaching practice, which varied from limiting orientation, representing the medical model, to constructive orientation, representing the social model. Furthermore, these beliefs interacted with each other and formed either nested belief systems, with three beliefs closely connected and coherent in orientation, or divergent belief systems, with three beliefs partially unconnected and conflicting in orientation. Findings highlight the need to move beyond focusing on a particular belief and pay attention to the structural features and orientation coherence within inclusive teachers' belief systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) plays critical roles in regulating mRNA metabolism. However, comprehensive m6A methylomes in different plant tissues with single-base precision have yet to be reported. Here, we present transcriptome-wide m6A maps at single-base resolution in different tissues of rice and Arabidopsis using m6A-SAC-seq. Our analysis uncovers a total of 205,691 m6A sites distributed across 22,574 genes in rice, and 188,282 m6A sites across 19,984 genes in Arabidopsis. The evolutionarily conserved m6A sites in rice and Arabidopsis ortholog gene pairs are involved in controlling tissue development, photosynthesis and stress response. We observe an overall mRNA stabilization effect by 3' UTR m6A sites in certain plant tissues. Like in mammals, a positive correlation between the m6A level and the length of internal exons is also observed in plant mRNA, except for the last exon. Our data suggest an active m6A deposition process occurring near the stop codon in plant mRNA. In addition, the MTA-installed plant mRNA m6A sites correlate with both translation promotion and translation suppression, depicting a more complicated regulatory picture. Our results therefore provide in-depth resources for relating single-base resolution m6A sites with functions in plants and uncover a suppression-activation model controlling m6A biogenesis across species. The authors profile single-base resolution maps at each modified mRNA m6A site in rice and Arabidopsis, and uncover a suppression-activation dual regulation model in shaping m6A distribution patterns in different species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China was the first country in the world to breed goldfish and has generated many unique goldfish varieties, including the most aristocratic Chinese palace goldfish. Due to the lack of scientific research on Chinese palace goldfish, their selection and breeding are mainly carried out through traditional hybridization, leading to serious inbreeding and the degradation of germplasm resources. To this end, whole‐genome resequencing was performed to understand the genetic variation among three different varieties (eggpompons, goosehead, and tigerhead) from nine core conserved populations in China. A total of 15 polymorphic SSRs were developed for population genetics, and all tested populations were considered moderately polymorphic with an average polymorphism information content value of 0.4943. Genetic diversity in different varieties showed that all conserved populations were well protected with the potential for continued exploitation. This study provides reliable molecular tools and a basis for designing conservation and management programs in Chinese palace goldfish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To apply evidence-based medicine for systematically evaluating the risk factors for dysphagia after anterior cervical spine surgeries. Methods: Relevant papers included were retrieved with a time range from the establishment of the databasis to July 1st, 2023 from databases including CNKI, CBM, VIP, Wanfang database, The Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed and collected case-control studies and cohort studies of risk factors for dysphagia after anterior cervical spine surgeries. Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to extracted research data and evaluated the quality of the included literature, then use the Rev-Man5.4 statistical software for meta-analysis evaluation. Results: A total of 29 papers and 7 487 patients were included in this analysis, 1 640 patients of whom developed dysphagia. And the Meta analysis of the data showed that female [OR=2.93, 95% CI (2.45, 3.51), P<0.000 01], age[MD=5.82, 95% CI(3.91, 7.73), P<0.000 01], smoking[OR=2.48, 95% CI(1.89, 3.27), P< 0.000 01], diabetes [OR=2.41, 95% CI(1.41, 4.12), P=0.001], surgical level≥2 level[OR=2.10, 95% CI(1.73, 2.56), P< 0.000 01], surgical segment location [OR=2.21, 95% CI(1.64, 2.98), P<0.000 01], operation time [MD=24.73, 95% CI (14.66, 34.79), P<0.000 01], use of plate [OR=5.93, 95% CI(3.62, 9.71), P<0.000 01], postoperative prevertebral soft tissue swelling [MD=1.77, 95% CI(0.04, 3.50), P=0.04], dC2-7Cobb angle[MD=2.36, 95% CI(1.34, 3.37), P<0.000 01] are risk factors for dysphagia after anterior cervical spine surgeries; preoperative tracheal stretch exercise [OR=0.26, 95% CI(0.17, 0.41), P<0.000 01] are protective factors for dysphagia after anterior cervical spine surgeries; there was no statistically significant association between postoperative 0-C2 angle [MD=-1.65, 95% CI(-5.05, 1.76), P=0.34], postoperative C2-7Cobb angle [MD =3.45, 95% CI(-0.07, 6.98), P=0.05] and dysphagia after anterior cervical spine surgeries.Conclusion; Female, age, smoking, diabetes, surgical level≥2 level, surgical segment location, operation time, use of plate, postoperative prevertebral soft tissue swelling, and dC2-7Cobb angle are risk factors for dysphagia after anterior cervical spine surgeries, preoperative tracheal stretch exercise is protective factor for dysphagia after anterior cervical spine surgeries. According to these factors, doctors can communicate with patients about the possibility of postoperative dysphagia in advance, prevent postoperative dysphagia and reduce the occurrence of postoperative dysphagia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on 1209 national and provincial intangible cultural heritage items and 1234 traditional Chinese villages within the Dongting Lake Basin. Using kernel density analysis, centroid models, coupling models, and quantitative spatial–structural models, the present research analyzes the spatial–structural characteristics and formation mechanisms of intangible cultural heritage and traditional villages to provide scientific support for their preservation, inheritance, and effective utilization. The results revealed the following: (1) Intangible cultural heritage and traditional villages in the Dongting Lake Basin exhibit a very concentrated spatial distribution, with similar spatial–structural characteristics. (2) High spatial coupling of intangible cultural heritage and traditional villages is observable in the sub-basins of Dongting Lake, such as the Yuanjiang, Zishui, and Lishui basins, whereas the Xiangjiang Basin and Dongting Lake area present relatively lower levels of spatial coupling. In terms of the categories of intangible cultural heritage, four of them—cultural heritage, folk literature, traditional music, traditional dance, and traditional drama—have the smallest deviation distance and index values from traditional villages. The coupling degree was higher than 0.70, and there were some differences in the coupling degree between the other six categories of intangible cultural heritage and traditional villages. (3) The spatial–structural characteristics of intangible cultural heritage and traditional villages in the Dongting Lake Basin emerged from the combined effects of multiple factors, including internal connections between the two, as well as external factors such as the natural environment, socio-economic conditions, and cultural policies, all of which play crucial roles in the formation processes of these characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effectiveness of tunnel monitoring is a challenging task due to the limitations of monitoring gauges and lack of monitoring sections. To address this, a novel theoretical analysis-based monitoring method for tunnel structures was proposed in this study. A theoretical approach was employed to establish the correlation between external loads and structural stress–strain response in tunnel lining during grouting and stability periods. A method has been developed to derive the distribution of external loads and internal forces throughout the entire tunnel using strain monitoring at specific locations on the structure. This method has been further validated through a case study of the Liucun Tunnel, providing insights into the accuracy of the monitoring approach. It is found that during the grouting period, the segment ring is surrounded by grout, resulting in peak external loads and internal forces. As the tunnel lining enters the load stability period, both the external loads and internal forces gradually decrease and stabilize. Comparing the results of the monitored method for deriving tunnel external loads, structural bending moments and axial forces with the on-situ measurements, the new monitoring method yields errors in the response of tunnel external loads and internal forces. The average error in external loads is less than 12%, the average error in bending moments is less than 20%, and the average error in axial forces is less than 8%. The proposed monitoring method effectively addresses the issue of long-term failure of monitoring elements due to its replaceability. Additionally, utilizing theoretical methods for derivation allows obtaining more tunnel structural information based on limited monitoring data from the elements. This provides a new approach for long-term structural health monitoring. To address the existing errors in the monitoring method described in this study, the accuracy can be further improved by optimizing the model, incorporating more advanced monitoring techniques, and implementing standardized and improved construction practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backgrounds: Personal growth initiative (PGI) is regarded as a meaningful concept with potential value at both the individual and organizational levels, but little is known about the factors that contribute to nurses' PGI. This study aimed to explore how proactive personality and hospital work environment affect PGI of clinical nurses. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between September and October 2022 among 4414 nurses from 10 tertiary general hospitals in 10 cities in Sichuan, China, using a two-stage sampling method. Self-reported anonymous online questionnaires, such as sociodemographic information survey, personal growth initiative scale II, the 10-item proactive personality scale, and practice environment scale-nursing work index were used to collect data. Multiple hierarchical regression analyses were performed to examine research hypotheses. Results: Among the control variables in this study, nurses' self-perceptions of general health status and professional title positively predicted PGI (β = 0.462, 95%CI = 0.272–0.653; β = 1.078, 95%CI = 0.508–1.648). After adding control variables, both proactive personality (β = 1.143, 95%CI = 1.096–1.190) and work environment (β = 3.391, 95%CI = 2.904–3.879) positively predicted PGI. The work environment positively moderated the association between proactive personality and PGI (β = 0.108, 95%CI = 0.025–0.191). These predictors jointly explained 50.3% of the variance in PGI. Conclusions: Nurses with a greater tendency to have a typical proactive personality have higher levels of personal growth initiative, and this positive effect will be better highlighted in a healthier work environment. Nursing managers should prioritize the employment of people with proactive personality traits, focus on the development and stimulation of proactive personality traits in nurses, and establish a supportive work environment to maximize the personal growth initiative of nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a malignant tumor originating from epithelial cells of the colon or rectum, and its invasion and metastasis could be regulated by anoikis. However, the key genes and pathways regulating anoikis in CRC are still unclear and require further research. The single cell transcriptome dataset GSE221575 of GEO database was downloaded and applied to cell subpopulation type identification, intercellular communication, pseudo time cell trajectory analysis, and receptor ligand expression analysis of CRC. Meanwhile, the RNA transcriptome dataset of TCGA, the GSE39582, GSE17536, and GSE17537 datasets of GEO were downloaded and merged into one bulk transcriptome dataset. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to anoikis were extracted from these data sets, and key marker genes were obtained after feature selection. A clinical prognosis prediction model was constructed based on the marker genes and the predictive effect was analyzed. Subsequently, gene pathway analysis, immune infiltration analysis, immunosuppressive point analysis, drug sensitivity analysis, and immunotherapy efficacy based on the key marker genes were conducted for the model. In this study, we used single cell datasets to determine the anoikis activity of cells and analyzed the DEGs of cells based on the score to identify the genes involved in anoikis and extracted DEGs related to the disease from the transcriptome dataset. After dimensionality reduction selection, 7 marker genes were obtained, including TIMP1, VEGFA, MYC, MSLN, EPHA2, ABHD2, and CD24. The prognostic risk model scoring system built by these 7 genes, along with patient clinical data (age, tumor stage, grade), were incorporated to create a nomogram, which predicted the 1-, 3-, and 5-years survival of CRC with accuracy of 0.818, 0.821, and 0.824. By using the scoring system, the CRC samples were divided into high/low anoikis-related prognosis risk groups, there are significant differences in immune infiltration, distribution of immune checkpoints, sensitivity to chemotherapy drugs, and efficacy of immunotherapy between these two risk groups. Anoikis genes participate in the differentiation of colorectal cancer tumor cells, promote tumor development, and could predict the prognosis of colorectal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]