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Soil contamination by antibiotics is a worldwide environmental issue, and it is essential to develop suspect screening methods of antibiotics in soil for their comprehensive risk assessment. In this study, a novel metabolomics approach by seeking 'marker compounds' on behalf of 36 antibiotics in the forest topsoil was developed based on the results of high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. About 10 µg/kg antibiotic concentration in soil was designed for metabolomics analysis. Principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis support the existence of variables with evident inter-group differences, which were further discerned by S-plot plots, permutation tests and variable importance in projection to pick eligible variables as 'marker compound' candidates. Pairwise t-test and fold change of concentration were employed to validate these candidates. The results indicate that 36 'marker compounds' were all correctly screened out, together with the good practicability test in the rural greenhouse soils, proving the feasibility of this novel metabolomics method, which was expected to present great superiority and wide application future in suspect screening of pollutants. The limits of detection for 36 antibiotics in soil were calculated to be 0.6–2.6 µg/kg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the acute effects of static stretching (SS) and dynamic stretching (DS) on neuromuscular function and balance in recreationally active men. Method: Sixty participants were randomly assigned to SS, DS, or no stretching (NS) groups. Before and after their respective stretching protocols, participants were assessed using the stork balance test (SBT), Y-balance test (YBT), T-change of direction test (CoD T-test), countermovement jump test (CMJT), squat jump test (SJT), and five-time jump test (FJT). Results: Significant main effects of time were observed for the SBT, YBT, and CoD T-test. Significant interactions between time and group were found for the SBT, YBT, CoD T-test, and CMJT (P < 0.05). Compared to the NS group, the SS group showed significant improvement in the SBT (P < 0.05), while the DS group demonstrated significant improvements in the SBT, YBT (all directions), CoD T-test, CMJT, and SJT (P < 0.05). Post-training, the DS group showed greater improvements than the SS group in the YBT, CoD T-test, CMJT, and SJT (P < 0.05), with no significant differences in the SBT. Conclusion: SS acutely improves static balance, while DS has a broader impact, enhancing both neuromuscular function and balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of deep learning technology, great progress has been made in the field of coverless steganography based on deep learning technology, including some selection-based steganography methods that use deep learning technology and all generation-based steganography methods, however both of which have their limitations. The former is difficult to meet actual communication requirements in terms of communication capacity and completeness due to the limit of the algorithm. Due to the irreversibility of the process of generating secret images from message codeword, the recovery accuracy of the latter is very poor. To this end, this paper designs a robust joint coverless image steganography scheme called Joint Coverless Image Steganography (JoCS). Firstly, this paper proposes the Semantic Factorization Fitting module (SeFF) and the Transform Domain Steganography module (TrDS). The former adds the secret message to the input vector of the low resolution layer in the StyleGAN generator network, which establishs a mapping rule between message codeword and the coarse feature of the generated image, and then the extractor is used to fit the above mapping rule, which has excellent robustness and completeness; the latter encodes the main content area of the image based on the encoder in VQGAN, and then adds secret message to the latent vector of the encoded image, which achieves the steganography in the latent domain of the image. Secondly, we demonstrate the independence between two modules and the advantages of connecting two modules. By using the image generated in the SeFF module as the cover image in the TrDS module, secondary steganography of a single image is achieved, based on which we design the JoCS scheme. The results show that our scheme breaks through the communication capacity limit in the selection-based coverless methods while guaranteeing 100% completeness, excellent image quality and outstanding robustness against various image attacks. Moreover, our scheme exhibits strong security against detection by multiple steganalysis tools and excellent practicality in practical communication. Finally, this paper also discusses the following three points as further elaboration of the scheme: (1) the advantages of the mapping rule in the SeFF module (2) the verification of the independence between the two modules (3) the flexibility of the joint steganography scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a dual-band fully integrated high linearity CMOS power amplifier (PA). The PA employs a reconfigurable transformer in the input matching network to achieve low reflection coefficient across both bands, demonstrating significant flexibility in the design of dual-band power amplifiers with high output powers. Additionally, a detailed design methodology for the dual-band matching network is introduced. By utilizing this methodology, the PA has been designed using 55 nm CMOS technology. For continuous-wave operation, the PA achieves a saturated power ( P s a t ) of 28.03 dBm and 27.5–28.2 dBm, with power-added efficiency (PAE) of 33.2% and 24.6–31.1%, in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WLAN bands, respectively. Concurrently, the PA power cells, which employ multi-gate transistor (MGTR) technology, achieve an intermodulation distortion (IMD3) of below 30 dBc at an output power of 15 dBm in both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WLAN bands. The proposed PA outperforms other dual-band or multi-band PAs in terms of output power and exhibits great potential for WLAN applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phacoemulsification combined with intraocular lens implantation is the primary treatment for cataract. Although this treatment strategy benefits patients with cataracts, posterior capsule opacification (PCO) remains a common complication that impairs vision and affects treatment outcomes. The pathogenesis of PCO is associated with the proliferation, migration, and fibrogenesis activity of residual lens epithelial cells, with epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) serving as a key mechanism underlying the condition. Transforming growth factor‐beta 2 (TGF‐β2) is a major promotor of EMT, thereby driving PCO development. Most studies have shown that drugs and miRNAs mitigate EMT by inhibiting, clearing, or eliminating LECs. In addition, targeting EMT–related signaling pathways in TGF‐β2–stimulated LECs has garnered attention as a research focus. This review highlights potential treatments for PCO and details the mechanisms by which drugs and miRNAs counter EMT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The capacity of a linearly homomorphic signature (LHS) to facilitate linear computations on signed data is a frequently employed feature to safeguard network coding-based applications against pollution attacks. The security of LHS wholly depends on the security of secret signing keys; once a secret key is compromised, the application system's security will be broken. However, as relatively insecure mobile devices are increasingly used in network-coding application systems, the key exposure issue is becoming more prevalent. In order to mitigate the harm of key exposure to LHS deployed in network coding systems, we integrate forward security into LHS and use the fixed-dimension lattice basis delegation technique and the additive homomorphic hash function family to propose a forward-secure identity-based LHS scheme, which achieves post-quantum security while ensuring the validity of signatures from previous time periods even if the current secret key is compromised. The proposed scheme supports performing linearly homomorphic operations over the binary field so that the calculation of messages is a simple XOR operation. In this way, the decoding of the target node is equivalent to solving a linear system on F 2 , making it very suitable for deployment in network coding systems. We then define the first security model on the forward security of LHS and prove that the proposed scheme can resist adaptively chosen identity and dataset attacks under lattice assumptions. Moreover, compared with previous related works, the performance analysis shows that our scheme enjoys a comparable computation cost, has a lower communication cost, and provides higher security and stronger functionality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the characterization of the blade-coating contact force, this paper established a dissipative contact force model considering plastic deformation based on the principles of energy conservation and momentum conservation. First, the generality of the contact force model for the blade-coating rub-impact system was analyzed. Next, the contact force model was derived by the one-dimensional direct central impact between two spheres, which was divided into the following two phases: compression and restitution. The contact force from the established model and classic contact force model were compared with the sphere-impact experimental results to demonstrate its validity and accuracy. Finally, the proposed model was adapted to deal with the rub-impact problem. Applicability and accuracy were verified by comparing the experimental rub-impact force data. The coating's plastic deformation can be well simulated by using this model. The calculated rub-impact force is feasible in blade-coating rub-impact fault to guide blade design and coating selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synopsis The research problem This study examines the capital market consequences of the voluntary disclosure of individual auditor information. Specifically, we examined whether and how the disclosure of auditor qualification certificates is associated with information asymmetry and investors' responses to earnings. Motivation Regulators have recently started to focus on disclosing auditor information beyond their names such as in China, where it is increasingly important in practice. Although prior studies have demonstrated benefits associated with the mandatory disclosure of partners' names, there is relatively little evidence of the usefulness of additional information about individual auditors that could be provided voluntarily. This study sheds light on the economic consequences of disclosing detailed information about individual auditors and extends the voluntary disclosure literature. The test hypotheses We tested the following hypotheses in this study: (a) voluntary disclosure of auditor qualification certificates is associated with lower information asymmetry and (b) voluntary disclosure of auditor qualification certificates is not associated with investors' reactions to corporate earnings announcements. Target population Stakeholders of listed companies and audit firms, including company managers, investors, and accounting regulators. Adopted methodology Ordinary least squares regressions, archival data, interviews, and machine learning methods to obtain initial data. Analyses We first crawled the annual audit reports of listed companies in China and used machine learning methods to capture voluntary disclosure of auditor qualification certificates. In a sample of more than 14,000 Chinese company-years from 2012 to 2018, we identified 10.5% of the observations voluntarily disclosing auditor qualification certificates. We used the bid-ask spread as the proxy of information asymmetry, and the earnings response coefficient refers to the coefficient on unexpected earnings to the cumulative abnormal returns. Findings We found that the voluntary disclosure of auditor qualification certificates is associated with lower information asymmetry and stronger market reaction to earnings announcements. The main results hold through various robustness tests. Cross-sectional analyses show that this association is less pronounced when a company employs a larger audit firm or has higher analyst coverage. Further, the specific information conveyed by the auditor qualification certificate, such as the auditor's facial trustworthiness, helps explain the economic consequences associated with voluntary auditor qualification certificate disclosure. Moreover, an initial disclosure of auditor qualification certificates is associated with greater effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The abnormal evolution and highly accurate prediction of mining-induced fractures in extra-thick coal play an important role in mine water disaster prevention and ecological environment protection. The evolution mechanism of mining-induced fractures during the mining of extra-thick coal in weakly cemented strata has attracted wide attention. In this paper, the fracture propagation test and PFC numerical simulation are carried out to analyze the evolution rule of overburden fractures in extra-thick coal mining. Based on the elastic foundation beam and fracture damage theory, we derive a trapezoidal fracture model and realize automatic calculation. Finally, taking the 61,605 working face mining of Longwanggou Coal Mine (LWGCM) as an engineering background, the failure characteristics of overburden are studied and verified by microseismic dynamic monitoring. The results show that the overburden failure in mining face is trapezoidal evolution, including shear fractures (93.8%) and tensile fractures (6.2%). The overburden failure height predicted by the trapezoidal fracture model is consistent with the numerical simulation and microseismic monitoring, the relative errors are − 1.1% and − 2.7%. This provide a new method for the accurate prediction of overburden failure height in extra-thick coal mining in weakly cemented strata. Highlights: Fracture propagation mechanism and simulation of weakly cemented rock. Trapezoidal fracture model and fracture evolution rule of mining overburden. A new method for calculating the overburden failure height of extra-thick coal mining in weakly cemented strata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vestibular migraine (VM) is a usual trigger of episodic vertigo. Patients with VM often experience spinning, shaking, or unsteady sensations, which are usually also accompanied by photophobia, phonophobia, motor intolerance, and more. VM is often associated with a number of comorbidities. Recurrent episodes of VM can affect the patient's emotions, sleep, and cognitive functioning to varying degrees. Patients with VM may be accompanied by adverse moods such as anxiety, fear, and depression, which can gradually develop into anxiety disorders or depressive disorders. Sleep disorders are also a common concomitant symptom of VM, which significantly lower patients' quality of life. The influence of anxiety disorders and sleep disorders may reduce cognitive functions of VM, such as visuospatial ability, attention, and memory decline. Clinically, it is also common to see VM comorbid with other vestibular disorders, making the diagnosis more difficult. VM episodes are relieved but lingering, in which case VM may coexist with persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD). Anxiety may be an important bridge between recurrent VM and PPPD. The clinical manifestations of VM and Meniere's disease (MD) overlap considerably, and those who meet the diagnostic criteria for both can be said to have VM/MD comorbidity. VM can also present with positional vertigo, and some patients with VM present with typical benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) nystagmus on positional testing. In this paper, we synthesize and analyze the pathomechanisms of VM comorbidity by reviewing the literature. The results show that it may be related to the extensive connectivity of the vestibular system with different brain regions and the close connection of the trigeminovascular system with the periphery of the vestibule. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to the diagnosis of comorbidities in VM, synthesize its pathogenesis, and give comprehensive treatment to patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the most prevalent cancers globally, is closely associated with tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), including monocyte-derived macrophages and liver-resident Kupffer cells. Understanding TAM heterogeneity at the cellular level is crucial for developing effective HCC prevention and treatment strategies. In this study, we conducted an integrated single-cell analysis of four cohorts (GSE140228, GSE125449, GSE149614 and GSE156625) to elucidate the TAM landscape in HCC. We identified 284 gene markers, termed Panmyeloid markers, that characterize myeloid cells within this context. Our analysis distinguished six clusters of monocyte-derived macrophages (Macro1-Macro6) and four clusters of Kupffer cells (Kupffer1-Kupffer4). Notably, CXCL10 + macrophages and MT1G + Kupffer cells, predominantly located within tumor tissues, exhibited distinct functional characteristics relevant to HCC. We also explored cellular communication between TAMs and T cells, uncovering potential signaling pathways such as the CXCL10/CXCL11-CXCR3 and CXCL12-CXCR4 networks. These findings enhance our understanding of TAMs in HCC and open new avenues for targeted therapeutic interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, based on the weak nonlinear elasticity theory and finite deformation theory, a dynamic equation of guided waves in pre-stressed plates is established. Legendre orthogonal polynomials expansion method is employed to analytically solve wave equations. The dispersion curves and particle trajectory are obtained without root-finding algorithm. The solution is validated by comparing with the superposition of partial bulk wave method, and its convergence properties are analyzed. The effects of the pre-stress states on particle trajectory and ellipticity dispersion curves are investigated. Results confirm that the behavior of particle trajectory and ellipticity dispersion depends not only on the pre-stress states but also on frequency and mode. Next, ellipticity dispersion curve of fundamental Lamb modes with various stress state and propagation directions are calculated. Finally, the sensitivity of ellipticity as an indicator of stress is also analyzed. These results provide useful reference for the development of innovative nondestructive testing method for pre-stress states based on Lamb waves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to monolithic simulation methods, integrated simulation methods allow decomposition of a large and complex system into several subsystems whose behavior can either be numerically or experimentally captured considering unique capabilities of existing analysis tools. Therefore, they have been applied to multi-physics problems and analysis of large-scale complex structural systems. However, there is still a lack of a robust integrated simulation method that can be easily implemented in existing analysis tools and also ensure numerical stability. In this study, a novel integrated simulation method is proposed that not only allows seamless data exchange based on standard input and output of subsystem programs but also can achieve unconditional stability by adjusting the time integration coefficients for the interface layers between the decomposed subsystems. The stability of the proposed method is mathematically evaluated through the energy approach. Numerical evaluations of the accuracy and stability limits of the proposed method are also presented. Two application examples are provided to demonstrate potential applications of the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Endothelin receptor antagonists are commonly used in clinical practice, with concerns about their hepatotoxicity. Aim: This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive pharmacovigilance study based on FDA adverse event reporting system data to evaluate the possible association between endothelin receptor antagonists and drug-induced liver injury. Method: Adverse event reports from FDA adverse event reporting system between January 2004 and December 2022 were analyzed. Disproportionality algorithms, including reporting odds ratio and information component, were used to evaluate the association between endothelin receptor antagonists and liver injury. Sex- and age-stratified analyses of drug-induced liver injury events were also conducted in relation to endothelin receptor antagonists. Results: Significant associations between bosentan, macitentan, and liver injury were identified. Bosentan showed a strong link with liver injury, with reporting odds ratios for cholestatic injury at 7.59 (95% confidence interval: 6.90–8.35), hepatocellular injury at 5.63 (5.29–6.00), and serious drug-related hepatic disorders events at 1.33 (1.24–1.43). Drug-induced liver injury signals associated with bosentan were detected in all age groups. Macitentan was associated with liver injury, with reporting odds ratios for hepatic failure at 1.64 (1.39–1.94), cholestatic injury at 1.62 (1.43–1.83), and serious drug-related hepatic disorders events at 1.40 (1.29–1.51). No drug-induced liver injury signal was detected for ambrisentan, and no significant sex differences were observed in drug-induced liver injury events. Conclusion: Both bosentan and macitentan are associated with liver injury. Routine monitoring of serum aminotransferase levels is recommended, especially in patients at higher risk of liver injury. Further research into drug-drug interactions involving endothelin receptor antagonists is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy (NACI) has significant implications for the treatment of esophageal cancer. However, its clinical efficacy varies considerably among patients, necessitating further investigation into the underlying mechanisms. The rapid advancement of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology facilitates the analysis of patient heterogeneity at the cellular level, particularly regarding treatment outcomes. In this study, we first analyzed scRNA-seq data of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) following NACI, obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. After performing dimensionality reduction, clustering, and annotation on the scRNA-seq data, we employed CellChat to investigate differences in cell–cell communication among samples from distinct efficacy groups. The results indicated that macrophages in the non-responder exhibited stronger cell communication intensity compared to those in responders, with SPP1 and GALECTIN signals showing the most significant differences between the two groups. This finding underscores the crucial role of macrophages in the efficacy of NACI. Subsequently, reclustering of macrophages revealed that Mac-SPP1 may be primarily responsible for treatment resistance, while Mac-C1QC appears to promote T cell activation. Finally, we conducted transcriptome sequencing on ESCC tissues obtained from 32 patients who underwent surgery following NACI. Utilizing CIBERSORT, CIBERSORTx, and WGCNA, we analyzed the heterogeneity of tumor microenvironment among different efficacy groups and validated the correlation between SPP1+ macrophages and resistance to NACI in ESCC using publicly available transcriptome sequencing datasets. These findings suggest that SPP1+ macrophages may represent a key factor contributing to resistance against NACI in ESCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy (NACI) has significant implications for the treatment of esophageal cancer. However, its clinical efficacy varies considerably among patients, necessitating further investigation into the underlying mechanisms. The rapid advancement of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology facilitates the analysis of patient heterogeneity at the cellular level, particularly regarding treatment outcomes. In this study, we first analyzed scRNA-seq data of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) following NACI, obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. After performing dimensionality reduction, clustering, and annotation on the scRNA-seq data, we employed CellChat to investigate differences in cell–cell communication among samples from distinct efficacy groups. The results indicated that macrophages in the non-responder exhibited stronger cell communication intensity compared to those in responders, with SPP1 and GALECTIN signals showing the most significant differences between the two groups. This finding underscores the crucial role of macrophages in the efficacy of NACI. Subsequently, reclustering of macrophages revealed that Mac-SPP1 may be primarily responsible for treatment resistance, while Mac-C1QC appears to promote T cell activation. Finally, we conducted transcriptome sequencing on ESCC tissues obtained from 32 patients who underwent surgery following NACI. Utilizing CIBERSORT, CIBERSORTx, and WGCNA, we analyzed the heterogeneity of tumor microenvironment among different efficacy groups and validated the correlation between SPP1+ macrophages and resistance to NACI in ESCC using publicly available transcriptome sequencing datasets. These findings suggest that SPP1+ macrophages may represent a key factor contributing to resistance against NACI in ESCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & aim: Hepatitis B is globally recognized as a major public health problem that imposes a huge economic burden on society. China is a major country with hepatitis B infection; however, an updated overview of the economic burden of hepatitis B and related diseases in China has not been provided. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the economic burden and factors influencing hepatitis B and related diseases by synthesizing the available evidence, with the aim of informing clinical treatment and health decisions. Methods: Two researchers systematically searched relevant literature published in PubMed, Web of Science, China Knowledge Network, Wanfang Database, and Vip Database from 2002 to 2022, and conducted title and abstract reviews according to the PRISMA guidelines for the development of nerfing criteria, as well as quality evaluation of the included literature. Results: Thirty-three studies were included in the literature. The quality of the included literature was average, with the majority being individual studies and a few group studies, which showed that the annual economic burden per capita of hepatitis B-related diseases was 92,978.34 RMB, with a high proportion of direct and hidden costs, and a large disparity in economic burden between related diseases, with the greatest burden for primary hepatocellular carcinoma and the smallest burden for acute hepatitis B. The study found that the main factors affecting the cost of disease were sex, age, occupational classification, place of residence, health insurance conditions, hospital class, length of hospitalization, use of antiviral drugs, comorbidities, and complications. Conclusion: Hepatitis B has caused a huge economic burden on Chinese society, and hidden costs also respond to a great psychological burden on patients and their families. Based on existing studies, there is an urgent need for high-quality, multicenter, population-level studies to inform clinical treatment and health policy decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Active and robust electrocatalysts for acidic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are of crucial importance for efficient proton exchange membrane water electrolyzer (PEM‐WE). Ruthenium (Ru) oxide has attracted considerable attention due to its high activity. However, the unsatisfying stability of Ru oxide in acidic OER environments hinders the application. Here, Ce‐doped RuO2 nanoparticles are designed and supported on Co─N─C material (Ce@RuO2/CoNC) for acidic OER. It is demonstrated that Ce@RuO2/CoNC delivers a super low overpotential of 150 mV and an excellent stability of 1000 h at 10 mA cm−2, outperforming most previously reported Ru‐based catalysts. The mass activity is estimated as 2365.5 AgRu−1 at 1.5 V (vs RHE), representing ≈2× advance compared to the best prior study. Furthermore, applied in a single‐cell PEM‐WE device, it can steadily operate for 1000 h at 200 mA cm−2. The studies show that Ce‐doping and Co─N─C support synergistically enhance the activity and stability of Ru oxide by optimizing the free energies of OER intermediates and suppressing the dissolution of Ru. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the high‐speed video observations obtained at the Tall‐Object Lightning Observatory in Guangzhou (TOLOG), the attachment processes of three lightning flashes seem to belong to the connections between "the lateral surface of negative leader and positive leader tip" which had never been reported before were investigated. The leader connection processes of these flashes were examined in detail, and a mechanism behind connecting behavior between the lateral surface of negative leader and positive leader tip was discussed. Observation shows that negative leaders usually have abundant branches. Although some may extinguish, they still maintain a certain conductivity. When the positive leader tip comes close to the lateral surface of the negative leader (usually a few tens of meters), the previously disappeared short branch can be reactivated. It is easier for the positive leader tip to connect the tips of these branches (whether they have been extinguished or not). Plain Language Summary: In the lightning attachment process, the leader connecting behavior is an interesting topic. In the attachment process of a negative cloud‐to‐ground lightning flash, the "Tip to Tip (negative leader tip to positive leader tip)" and "Tip to the lateral surface (negative leader tip to the lateral surface of positive leader)" connection types have been widely observed, and researchers have carried out a series of studies and discussions on the characteristics and the physical mechanisms of the leader connecting behavior. However, is there an opposite polarity connection type, like "the lateral surface and tip (the lateral surface of negative leader and positive leader tip)" connecting behavior? In this study, the attachment processes of three lightning flashes that seem to belong to the connections between "the lateral surface of negative leader and positive leader tip" were analyzed. The leader connection processes of these flashes were examined in detail. The results allow one to see the details of leader connecting behavior needed for improving our understanding of lightning attachment process mechanisms. Key Points: For the connection between negative and positive leaders, no convincing "lateral surface and tip" type is observedPositive leader tip is easier to connect to the tip of negative leader branch, whether it has been extinguished or notA short gap of a few tens of meters is required for the reactivation of short leader branch on the lateral surface of the negative leader [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction between water molecules and surfaces in porous carbon‐based materials plays a significant role in various fields including but not limited to catalysis, gas sorption, or electrochemical energy storage and conversion. The incorporation of nitrogen enhances the hydrophilicity of typically rather nonpolar carbon‐based materials but the molecular understanding of water chemical configuration in such porous materials remains incomplete. Water adsorption on nitrogen‐containing nanoporous carbon surfaces is governed by a subtle balance between water–water and water–surface hydrogen bonding interactions, which together determine the water structures formed and their stability. In this work, in situ Scanning Transmission X‐ray microscopy performed on individual nanoporous carbon particles under a humid atmosphere is used to elucidate the interactions between nitrogen‐containing carbon surfaces and water molecules. The hydrogen bonding of water is found to be nonuniform within the particles and to depend on the nanopore size and the chemical bonding of nitrogen atoms. The nature of the nitrogen sites interacting with water is further characterized by resonance inelastic X‐ray Scattering and near ambient pressure X‐ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy. This study provides new perspectives on water interaction when confined in nanoporous nitrogen‐rich carbons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer thermally conductive composites have emerged as ideal materials to address the issue of heat accumulation in various electrical devices. However, the practical application of thermally conductive composites often requires low filler content with multifunctional properties to meet the rapid development of electronic technology. Herein, highly oriented carbon nanotubes (O-CNTs) were grown in situ on vertically aligned melem skeletons by ice templating and high-temperature catalytic methods. The ordered CNTs were constructed by a cross-linking network in the matrix of epoxy (EP) for efficient heat transport pathways. The oriented O-CNTs/EP composite exhibits outstanding out-of-plane and in-plane thermal conductivities as 2.36 and 1.20 W/(m·K) with a CNT content of 4 wt %, respectively. The O-CNTs/EP composite also shows an excellent electromagnetic shielding effect of over 30 dB in the range of 8–40 GHz. This work provides a promising strategy for the construction of high-performance composites with advanced heat dissipation in thermal management materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous studies have demonstrated the involvement of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and non-coding RNAs, including long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA), circular RNAs (circRNAs) and microRNA (miRNAs), in gouty arthritis onset; however, the regulatory mechanism has not yet been elucidated. Here, we applied whole-transcriptome sequencing to identify the differentially expressed circRNAs, lncRNAs, miRNAs and mRNAs between the gout patients and normal people, and constructed co-regulated networks of circRNAs and lncRNAs according to the competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) theory for gouty arthritis onset to improve our understanding of the pathogenesis of this disease. The most significant finding of this study is the co-regulated ceRNA network of circRNAs and lncRNAs in gouty arthritis. The circRNA novel_circ_0030384 and the lncRNAs AAMP, TRIM16, PKN1, XLOC_184579 and XLOC_189826 were upstream genes in the co-regulated network. These upstream genes upregulated miR550a-5p and miR550a-3-5p, which downregulated PSME1 and FERMT3 expression. These mRNAs participated in proteasome dynamics, antigen processing and presentation, and platelet activation, which are associated with inflammation in gouty arthritis. In addition, the circRNA and lncRNAs upregulated miR550a-5p, which downregulated GRK2 and OS9 expression. Also, it proved that the down-regulated of PSME1, FERMT3, GRK2 and OS9 can aggravate gouty arthritis in vitro. In summary, these genes mediate inflammation in gouty arthritis through chemokine signaling to regulate neutrophil function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landslide susceptibility assessment has made significant strides in meeting the urgent requirements for disaster prevention and mitigation. However, the inherent imbalance in landslide distributions poses challenges and thus various sampling strategies emerge. Yet, these strategies alter the original dataset distribution, necessitating a deeper understanding of their impact on susceptibility mapping. This study integrates multi-source information, including morphological, geological, hydrological, and land-use data in the northwest of Oregon State, to train four models—Decision Trees, Random Forest, Adaboost, and Gradient Tree Boosting —using both balanced and imbalanced training sets. Results reveal that models trained on imbalanced datasets generally exhibit superior classification performance. Models using balanced datasets predict more positives (landslides) at higher susceptibility levels, while those applied imbalanced datasets classified more negatives at lower levels. By employing the Shapley Additive Explanations method, the consistency in model decision-making was established and identified the top five most influential factors: distance to roads, slope roughness, geological age, roughness, and elevation. Furthermore, the consequences of FN (False Negatives) and FP (False Positives) were discussed, concluding that FN may lead to loss of life, and FP may result from prediction inaccuracies, dataset incompleteness, and forthcoming landslides, hence allowing for a certain amount. It suggests that models with balanced datasets are preferable for minimizing the quantity of FN and effectively capturing landslides at high and very high susceptibility areas. The findings provide valuable insights into the impact of positives and negatives ratios on landslide susceptibility and offer support for optimizing dataset sampling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postharvest grapes exhibit a limited shelf life due to susceptibility to rot and deterioration, significantly reducing their nutritional and economic value. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is a widely recognized preservative for extending grape storage life. This study performed a detailed analysis of 'Munage' table grapes treated with SO2 fumigation, employing transcriptomic and metabolomic approaches. Results indicate that SO2 fumigation significantly extends the shelf life of grapes, as demonstrated by improved visual quality, reduced decay rates, and increased fruit firmness. We identified 309 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) and 1906 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 135 transcription factors (TFs). Both DEGs and DAMs showed significant enrichment of flavonoid-related metabolism compared with the control, and the relative content of four flavonoid metabolites (Wogonin-7-O-glucuronide, Acacetin-7-O-glucuronide, Apigenin-7-O-glucuronide, and Baicalein 7-O-glucuronide) were significantly increased in grapes upon SO2 treatment, suggesting that SO2 treatment had a substantial regulatory effect on grape flavonoid metabolism. Importantly, we constructed complex regulatory networks by screening key enzyme genes (e.g., PAL, 4CLs, CHS, CHI2, and UGT88F3) related to the metabolism of target flavonoid, as well as potential regulatory transcription factors (TFs). Overall, our findings offer new insights into the regulatory mechanisms by which SO2 maintains the postharvest quality of table grapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc‐doped indium oxide (IZO) thin films were deposited on silicon dioxide substrates by radio‐frequency magnetron sputtering using an IZO ceramic target with In2O3/ZnO weight ratio of 9:1. The effects of power, pressure, and distance between target and substrate on microstructure and photoelectric properties of IZO films were investigated. The results show the performance of IZO films prepared under the conditions of power 80 W, air pressure.5 Pa, and target base distance 80 mm are the best, and the IZO films are amorphous with high transmittance (>86.0%), high mobility (>45.0 cm2/V s), and low resistivity (less than 2.0 × 10−4 Ω cm), which are the best photoelectric performance reported at present. This work provides a feasible research approach for preparing high‐performance IZO thin films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Current photon‐counting computed tomography (CT) systems utilize semiconductor detectors, such as cadmium telluride (CdTe), cadmium zinc telluride (CZT), and silicon (Si), which convert x‐ray photons directly into charge pulses. An alternative approach is indirect detection, which involves Yttrium Orthosilicate (YSO) scintillators coupled with silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs). This presents an attractive and cost‐effective option due to its low cost, high detection efficiency, low dark count rate, and high sensor gain. Objective: This study aims to establish a comprehensive quantitative imaging framework for three‐energy‐bin proof‐of‐concept photon‐counting CT based on YSO/SiPM detectors developed in our group using multi‐voltage threshold (MVT) digitizers and assess the feasibility of this spectral CT for material identification. Methods: We developed a proof‐of‐concept YSO/SiPM‐based benchtop spectral CT system and established a pipeline for three‐energy‐bin photon‐counting CT projection‐domain processing. The empirical A‐table method was employed for basis material decomposition, and the quantitative imaging performance of the spectral CT system was assessed. This evaluation included the synthesis errors of virtual monoenergetic images, electron density images, effective atomic number images, and linear attenuation coefficient curves. The validity of employing A‐table methods for material identification in three‐energy‐bin spectral CT was confirmed through both simulations and experimental studies. Results: In both noise‐free and noisy simulations, the thickness estimation experiments and quantitative imaging results demonstrated high accuracy. In the thickness estimation experiment using the practical spectral CT system, the mean absolute error for the estimated thickness of the decomposed Al basis material was 0.014 ± 0.010 mm, with a mean relative error of 0.66% ± 0.42%. Similarly, for the decomposed polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) basis material, the mean absolute error in thickness estimation was 0.064 ± 0.058 mm, with a mean relative error of 0.70% ± 0.38%. Additionally, employing the equivalent thickness of the basis material allowed for accurate synthesis of 70 keV virtual monoenergetic images (relative error 1.85% ± 1.26%), electron density (relative error 1.81% ± 0.97%), and effective atomic number (relative error 2.64% ± 1.26%) of the tested materials. In addition, the average synthesis error of the linear attenuation coefficient curves in the energy range from 40 to 150 keV was 1.89% ± 1.07%. Conclusions: Both simulation and experimental results demonstrate the accurate generation of 70 keV virtual monoenergetic images, electron density, and effective atomic number images using the A‐table method. Quantitative imaging results indicate that the YSO/SiPM‐based photon‐counting detector is capable of accurately reconstructing virtual monoenergetic images, electron density images, effective atomic number images, and linear attenuation coefficient curves, thereby achieving precise material identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The psychometric properties of the EQ-5D-Y have not been widely tested in severely ill children. The aim of this study was to assess and compare the validity and responsiveness of the EQ-5D-Y-3L and EQ-5D-Y-5L in paediatric inpatients with haematological malignancies and caregivers. Respondents completed the interviewer-administered self-complete or proxy version of the EQ-5D-Y-3L and EQ-5D-Y-5L and an overall health assessment twice on different days. Known-groups validity was assessed by comparing patients who differed in overall health and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance. Responsiveness to worsened health was assessed using standardised effect size (SES) for patients with worsened ECOG grade, self-reported rating, or chemotherapy initiation. Ninety-six dyads completed the baseline questionnaires. A smaller proportion of patients reported "no problems" on the EQ-5D-Y-5L compared to EQ-5D-Y-3L for most of the five dimensions. Patients in poor health reported more problems in all dimensions and had higher EQ-5D-Y-5L level sum score, lower EQ VAS and EQ-5D-Y-3L index scores (Cohen's d ES: 0.32–1.38 for patients; 0.50–2.05 for caregivers). There was a mild to good responsiveness to worsened health condition based on ECOG (SES: 0.14–0.61 for patients; 0.40–0.96 for caregivers), suggesting the proxy version was slightly responsive than the self-complete version of both instruments. The results demonstrated validity and responsiveness for both the self-complete and proxy versions of the EQ-5D-Y-3L and EQ-5D-Y-5L. The proxy and 5-level versions of the instrument were more sensitive than the self-complete and 3-level versions in this patient group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sepsis‐induced acute lung injury (ALI) is characterized by inflammatory damage to pulmonary endothelial and epithelial cells. The aim of this study is to probe the significance and mechanism of tripartite motif‐containing protein 21 (TRIM21) in sepsis‐induced ALI. The sepsis‐induced ALI mouse model was established by cecum ligation and puncture. The mice were infected with lentivirus and treated with proteasome inhibitor MG132. The lung respiratory damage, levels of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), tumour necrosis factor α (TNF‐α), IL‐10 and pathological changes were observed. The expression levels of TRIM21, interferon regulatory factors 1 (IRF1) and triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) were measured and their interactions were analysed. The ubiquitination level of IRF1 was detected. TRIM21 and TREM2 were downregulated and IRF1 was upregulated in sepsis‐induced ALI mice. TRIM21 overexpression eased inflammation and lung injury. TRIM21 promoted IRF1 degradation via ubiquitination modification. IRF1 bonded to the TREM2 promoter to inhibit its transcription. Overexpression of IRF1 or silencing TREM2 reversed the improvement of TRIM21 overexpression on lung injury in mice. In conclusion, TRIM21 reduced IRF1 expression by ubiquitination to improve TREM2 expression and ameliorate sepsis‐induced ALI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tetratoluene has the following three isomers: durene (DR), prehnitene (PR), and isodurene (IR). DR and PR often coexist during the separation of C10 heavy aromatics at different levels. They are both important organic chemical raw materials and their separation is the key to the high-efficiency industrial utilization of C10 heavy aromatics. In this paper, six metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), including ZU-61, MIL-101, UIO-66, UIO-66-NH2, Mg-MOF-74, and MIL-53(Al), were used as the adsorbents of DR and PR. Their skeletons were structurally optimized using VASP software (latest v. 6.4.3). The adsorption capacity and isosteric heats of both pure components and mixtures (the molar ratio was 1:1) in gas were calculated using Grand Canonical Monte Carlo simulation from 10 kPa to 300 kPa at 298 K. The results indicated that all adsorption processes were physical. ZU-61, UIO-66, UIO-66-NH2, and Mg-MOF-74 presented suitable capacity differences for DR and PR at 300 kPa. The selectivity values of these frameworks were all above 1.5. Thus, the four MOFs were prepared using the solvothermal method and characterized by SEM and XRD. Then, the competitive adsorption of DR and PR in liquid on the four MOFs was carried out as well. The results showed good agreement with the simulation in general, with a lower adsorption attained capacity due to the different phase states of both DR and PR. This study can guide the separation of tetratoluene isomers in C10 heavy aromatics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Research investigating the potential link between gingival microvascular blood flow and inflammatory status is scarce. This study aims to assess color doppler flow imaging (CDFI) and micro-flow imaging (MFI) as tools for the assessment of gingival papilla blood flow (GPBF) and to examine their diagnostic utility as a noninvasive means of detecting gingival bleeding. Methods: CDFI and MFI were used to assess the GPBF grade (0–4) of 140 anterior gingival papilla sites in advanced periodontitis patients. Correlations between GPBF grades and periodontal characteristics were examined, and diagnostic performance as a means of predicting bleeding on probing (BOP) was examined using receiver operating characteristic curves. Results: GPBF grades 0 and 1 assessed by the MFI were 14.29% and 15.71% respectively, lower than the 28.57% and 24.29% assessed by the CDFI. In contrast, MFI detected a higher frequency of GPBF grade 2 sites (40.71%) relative to CDFI (22.14%). The CDFI and MFI provided consistent results in 62.14% of the sites, while the MFI demonstrated higher ratings in rest 37.86% of the sites. A significant positive correlation was detected between GPBF grade and the modified gingival index (MGI), bleeding index (BI), BOP, and probing depth (PD). It showed high accuracy for CDFI or MFI to diagnosing BOP with a sensitivity of 80.51% and 96.43% and a specificity of 77.27% and 57.14%, respectively. Area under the receiver operator characteristic curve values when predicting BOP based on the GPBF grade determined using CDFI and MFI approaches 0.887 (95% CI 0.833–0.942) and 0.917 (95% CI 0.862–0.972), respectively, and there were no significant differences between these values (Z = − 1.502, p = 0.133). Conclusions: Both MFI and CDFI can be employed for the evaluation of GPBF, and MFI is better suited to detecting mild inflammation. Trial registration ChiCTR2200066021 (Date of registration: 22/11/2022). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coal-rock reservoir exhibits a dual porous medium characteristic, where fractures are the primary contributor to permeability, while pore structure influences the gas adsorption properties of coal rock. Gas adsorption induces swelling in the coal matrix, leading to a reduction in fracture width and subsequently causing decreased permeability and reduced well production. Investigating the impact of geological characteristics of coal-rock on gas adsorption and desorption properties can enhance our understanding of the patterns governing changes in coal-layer production. This study focused on the 3# coal seam in China's Qinshui Basin as its research subject. It involved an analysis of mineral composition, physical properties, gas content, and pore structure characteristics to explore the adsorption traits of different gases and conduct experimental studies on variations in gas adsorption and desorption capabilities under diverse conditions. The research findings suggest that the coal rock in the study area is primarily characterized by micropores and small pores, with well-developed larger pores and fractures. The pore connectivity is somewhat limited, and the predominant pore size ranges from 100 to 200 nm. The average permeability measures 0.198 × 10–3 µm2, while the mean specific gas content stands at 21.7 m3/t. Analysis of the isothermal adsorption curve reveals a substantial increase in adsorption when pressure falls below 3.5 MPa due to a steep slope; as pressure continues to rise, there is a gradual upward trend in adsorption until reaching 8 MPa, after which point adsorption increases slowly and stabilizes. Results from binary gas adsorption–desorption experiments indicate low desorption levels and rates for CO2 components compared to relatively higher desorption amounts and rates for CH4 components. Furthermore, it was observed that CO2 has a displacement effect on CH4; higher CO2 concentrations are more conducive to CH4 release and CO2 storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assumption of factorization lies at the core of calculations of medium effects on observables computable in perturbative Quantum Chromodynamics. In this work we examine this assumption, for which we propose a setup to study hard processes and bulk nuclear matter in heavy-ion collisions on the same footing using the Glauber modelling of heavy nuclei. To exemplify this approach, we calculate the leading-order corrections to azimuthal decorrelation in Drell-Yan and boson-jet processes due to cold nuclear matter effects, not considering radiation. At leading order in both the hard momentum scale and the nuclear size, the impact-parameter dependent cross section is found to factorize for both processes. The factorization formula involves a convolution of the hard cross section with the medium-modified parton distributions, and, for boson-jet production, the medium-modified jet function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The TIG additive connecting technology has broad application prospects in manufacturing large complex titanium alloy components. The Ti-6.5Al-2Zr-1Mo-1V (TA15) alloy fabricated by HIP and CMT technology were connected by unpulsed and pulsed TIG additive connecting technology. The results showed that the macrostructure of fusion zone was epitaxial growth β columnar grains. The β columnar grains were significantly refined by pulse current. For unpulsed samples, fusion zone was mainly composed of α + β basketweave structure, with a small amount of lamellar α phase and acicular martensite α' phase. The lamellar α phase content in pulsed samples decrease compared with unpulsed samples. The average values of UTS, YS and EL of the pulsed samples were 1038 MPa, 965 MPa and 9.52%, respectively. Compared with the unpulsed samples, it increased by 2.1%, 3.7% and 43.6%, respectively. The fracture mode of the unpulsed and pulsed samples was the combination of ductile fracture and brittle fracture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water quality and aquatic ecosystems along lakeshores are vital for ecological balance and human well-being. However, research has primarily focused on plankton, with benthic niches being largely overlooked. To enhance understanding of benthic microbial communities, we utilized 16S and 18S rRNA sequencing alongside multivariate statistical methods to analyze samples from the shoreline of Lake Taihu in Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province. Our results reveal a marked difference in species composition between benthic and planktonic microorganisms, with benthic cyanobacteria predominantly comprising filamentous genera like Tychonema, while 95% of planktonic cyanobacteria were Cyanobium. The β-diversity of benthic microorganisms was notably higher than that of planktonic counterparts. The neutral community model indicated that stochastic processes dominated planktonic microbial assembly, while deterministic processes prevailed in benthic communities. Null models showed that homogeneous selection influenced benthic community assembly, whereas planktonic communities were affected by undominated processes and dispersal limitation. Network analysis indicated that planktonic networks were more stable than benthic networks. Importantly, dominant benthic cyanobacterial genera posed potential toxin risks, highlighting the need for enhanced monitoring and ecological risk assessment. Overall, these findings enhance our understanding of benthic and planktonic microbial communities in lakeshores and offer valuable insights for aquatic assessment and management in eutrophicated environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ocean is the largest carbon reservoir on Earth and serves as a significant sink for atmospheric CO2. Of the known mechanisms for ocean CO2 absorption, the biological pump is considered the most important for carbon sequestration due to its economic and efficient advantages. Using microalgae to capture CO2 has several advantages, including a short cultivation period, high carbon sequestration efficiency, and a low investment cost. This article provides an overview of the methods used to screen algae species in microalgal carbon sequestration technology, as well as the expected effects of carbon sequestration. This article analyzes the appropriate cultivation conditions for algae, including the type of photobioreactor, light intensity, CO2 concentration, and nutritional requirements. The article contends that achieving accurate control of multiple environmental factors during microalgal cultivation and optimizing the internal structure of the cultivation device are key components for improving microalgal biomass production and CO2 fixation ability. The results of life-cycle assessments (LCA) indicate that the production of high-value compounds using microalgae is capable of achieving negative carbon emissions. Finally, this paper evaluates the practicality and economic feasibility of microalgae carbon sequestration and also discusses the future challenges and prospects for the development of this technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aims to analyze the differences in mechanical stability of OTA/AO 31A1.3 intertrochanteric fractures under various reduction conditions. Methods: Twenty standard synbone artificial femur test bones were selected for the OTA/AO 31A1.3 intertrochanteric fracture model. The models were divided into five groups according to their reduction state: positive support, neutral support, negative support, varus fixation, and valgus fixation, with four specimens in each group. All models were fixed using PFNA intramedullary fixation and subjected to static axial compression tests. The subsidence displacement of the proximal femur under different loads and the axial stiffness of the model were measured to verify the mechanical stability of the OTA/AO 31A1.3 intertrochanteric fracture under different reduction conditions. Results: After the static axial compression test, the proximal femoral subsidence displacement in the positive support and neutral support groups was lower than that in the negative support, valgus fixation, and varus fixation groups (p < 0.001). The axial stiffness of the model was highest in the positive support group. Significant differences in subsidence displacement and axial stiffness were found between the groups (p < 0.001). The positive support group demonstrated the best mechanical stability, while the varus fixation group showed the poorest performance. Conclusion: Positive support of the medial cortex can be regarded as the best reduction state for OTA/AO 31A1.3 intertrochanteric fractures, suggesting that this approach should be preferred during surgery to enhance mechanical stability and improve clinical outcomes. Conversely, varus fixation should be avoided due to its inferior stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some studies have identified influencing factors of COVID-19 illness in elderly, such as underlying diseases, but research on the effect of nutritional status is still lacking. This study retrospectively examined the influence of nutritional status on the outcome of elderly COVID-19 inpatients. A retrospective analysis of the clinical data of 4241 COVID-19 patients who were admitted to a third-class hospital of Nanchang between November 1, 2022 and January 31, 2023 was conducted. Nutritional status was assessed using the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and controlling nutritional status score (CONUT). The influence of nutritional status on the outcome of COVID-19 patients was determined through multivariate adjustment analysis, restrictive cubic spline, and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). Compared with mild/no malnutrition, severe malnutrition substantially increased the critical outcome of COVID-19. A linear relationship was observed between the odds ratio (OR) and PNI and CONUT (P > 0.05). The area under the ROC curve indicated that PNI was the better predictor. The optimal cutoff value of PNI was 38.04 (95%CI: 0.797 ~ 0.836, AUC = 0.817), with a sensitivity of 70.7% and a specificity of 79.6%. The critical illness of elderly COVID-19 patients shows a linear relationship with malnutrition at admission. The use of PNI to assess the prognosis of COVID-19 eldeely patients is reliable, highlighting the importance for doctors to closely pay attention to the nutritional status of COVID-19 patients. Focusing on nutritional status in clinical practice can effectively reduce the critical illness of elderly COVID-19 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of metacommunity theory has provided a framework for studying the spatial structure of biological communities. To unravel the underlying driving mechanisms of macroinvertebrate metacommunity structure and diversity, this paper evaluates macroinvertebrate data from a water body in eastern China using variance decomposition and stratified partitioning. The results suggest that spatial processes dominate macroinvertebrate metacommunity structure, while the combined effects of spatial processes, aquatic environment, and geoclimatic factors also explain part of the macroinvertebrate community structure. Spatial processes, aquatic environment, and geoclimatic factors significantly influenced macroinvertebrate alpha diversity and indirectly influenced beta diversity through alpha diversity. Therefore, the significant effects of spatial processes and geoclimatic variables cannot be ignored in biological assessments, especially biodiversity assessments. Our findings elucidate the metacommunity dynamics in the region and provide crucial information for conservation planning in riverine ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological composites such as bone, nacre, and teeth show excellent mechanical efficiency because of the incorporation of biominerals into the organic matrix at the nanoscale, leading to hierarchical composite structures. Adding a large volume of ceramic nanoparticles into an organic molecular network uniformly has been a challenge in engineering applications. However, in natural organisms, biominerals grow inside organic fibers, such as chitin and collagen, forming perfect ceramic/polymer composites spontaneously via biomineralization processes. Inspired from these processes, the in situ growth of calcium carbonate nanoparticles inside the chitosan network to form ceramic composites was proposed in the current work. The crystal growth of CaCO3 nanoparticles in the chitosan matrix as a function of time was investigated. A weight percentage of ~35 wt% CaCO3 composite was realized, resembling the high weight percentage of mineral phase in bones. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy indicated the integration of CaCO3 nanocrystals with chitosan macromolecules. By growing CaCO3 minerals inside the chitosan matrix, the elastic modulus and tensile strength increases by ~110% and ~90%, respectively. The in situ crystal growth strategy was also demonstrated in organic frameworks prepared via 3D printing, indicating the potential of fabricating ceramic/polymer composites with complicated structures, and further applications in tissue engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) is a common complication in stroke patients, and the Barthel Index (BI) is a well-established metric for assessing activities of daily living (ADL). However, the association between BI and SAP in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the relationship between BI at admission and SAP, and explore the factors in AIS elderly patients. Method: Retrospective data were collected from ischemic stroke patients hospitalized at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University between January 2018 and July 2021, including their basic demographic and laboratory test results. Restricted cubic spline regression, multivariate logistic regression analysis, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were employed to investigate the relationship between BI and SAP. Additionally, the Shapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) method was used to identify the factors influencing SAP. Results: The study included 7,548 eligible stroke patients with a mean age of 75.1 ± 7.6 years, among which 41.14% were female. The SAP group demonstrated significantly lower BI compared to the non-SAP group (50.86 ± 35.60 vs. 75.27 ± 26.33, P < 0.001). Additionally, a conspicuous trend of decreasing SAP risk across the Q1-4 groups was observed (P < 0.001). The RCS analysis further confirmed a gradual reduction in SAP risk with increasing BI. Based on the clinical model, both the BI (NRI = 0.014, P = 0.005; IDI = 0.04, P < 0.001) and the NIHSS score (NRI = 0.09, P = 0.03; IDI = 0.025, P < 0.001) demonstrated additional predictive value for SAP. Multivariate logistic regression and SHAP analysis identified WBC, CONUT, TG, UA, and RBC levels, as well as the type of health insurance (urban employee basic medical insurance), as important independent predictors of SAP. Conclusion: BI at admission constitutes a risk factor for the onset of SAP in elderly patients with AIS, Compared to the NIHSS and mRS score, BI may be a more reliable and practical predictor of SAP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common malignant tumor of male genitourinary system, ranking second among all male malignant tumors and showing a trend toward younger age. However, for metastatic prostate cancer, commonly used androgen deprivation therapy combined with docetaxel chemotherapy or neoendocrine therapy is prone to complications (incontinence, erectile dysfunction, and rectal damage), resulting in reduced quality of life or serious side effects for patients. Therefore, the designed GO-DAA-Ce6 nanoparticles were constructed to couple graphene oxide and Ce6 via diacylhydrazine adipate (DAA) as a bridge. The combination therapy of PTT and PDT is made possible by the outstanding photothermal conversion ability of GO and the high singlet oxygen generation of Ce6. GO-DAA-Ce6 demonstrated low toxicity and great biocompatibility in cytotoxicity and hemolysis assays. According to the outcomes of in vitro anti-tumor tests, GO-DAA-Ce6 greatly outperformed the photothermal and photodynamic efficacy of GO alone and Ce6 alone in terms of tumor suppression rates. The findings of the anticancer mechanism study point to the possibility that GO-DAA-Ce6 may cause cancer cells to undergo apoptosis and necrosis by initially damaging suborganelles such mitochondria. The straightforward design of the photothermal and photodynamic collaboration platform kills prostate cancer effectively and offers a general method for the treatment of various conditions including inflammation and skin infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The associations of weight change with all-cause and cause-specific mortality stratified by age remains unclear. We evaluated the age-stratified (< 65 vs ≥ 65 years) associations of weight change with all-cause and cause-specific mortality in a large sample of Chinese adults. Methods: Our cohort study included 746,991 adults aged at least 45 years from the Shenzhen Healthcare Big Data Cohort in China. BMI change were categorized as change within 5% (stable), decrease by 5% to 10%, decrease by > 10%, increase by 5% to 10%, and increase by > 10%. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for all-cause, non-communicable disease, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and cancer mortality according to BMI change, with adjustment for potential confounders. Results: During a median follow-up of 2.2 years (2,330,180 person-years), there were 10,197 deaths. A notable interaction emerged between weight change and age. For participants ≥ 65 years, compared with stable BMI, more than a 10% decrease in BMI was associated with higher risk of all-cause mortality (HR: 1.69, 95% CI: 1.54–1.86), non-communicable disease mortality (HR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.52–1.84), CVD mortality (HR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.34–1.80), and cancer mortality (HR: 1.59, 95% CI: 1.33–1.92). Similar patterns of results for 5% to 10% decrease in BMI were observed. More than a 10% increase in BMI was associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality (HR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.04–1.24), non-communicable disease mortality (HR: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.04–1.25), and CVD mortality (HR: 1.27, 95% CI: 1.12–1.44). For participants < 65 years, only more than a 10% decrease in BMI was associated with higher risk of all-cause mortality (HR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.12–1.77), non-communicable disease mortality (HR: 1.43, 95% CI: 1.13–1.81), and cancer mortality (HR: 1.79, 95% CI: 1.29–2.47). Conclusions: Weight loss and excessive weight gain were associated with increased risks of mortality among older adults, while only excessive weight loss was associated with increased risks of mortality among middle-aged adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, titanium or thin doped indium zinc oxide (IZO) ceramic targets, composed of TiO2/SnO2, In2O3 and ZnO were prepared. The preparation of composite powders, microstructure evolution, densification and photoelectric properties of these ceramic targets were systematically in detail. The results indicated that doping of SnO2 was more conducive to the density of IZO targets than the doping of TiO2, while they all were beneficial for optimizing electrical performance of IZO ceramic targets due to the solid solution of TiO2/SnO2 in phases, thus the doped IZO ceramic targets had lower resistivity than nondoped IZO targets. In addition, 1wt% SnO2 doped in IZO ceramic targets performed the best (relative density > 99%, resistivity < 1.1 mΩ·cm, average grain size < 2 µm). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The p-methoxycinnamoyl group contained in the compounds extracted from Scrophularia buergeriana, which is a traditional medicinal herb in China, exhibits a remarkable neuroprotective effect. Based on the p-methoxycinnamoyl group, these two cinnamide derivatives, namely, (E)-3-(4-bromophenyl)-1-(4-(4-chlorobenzyl)piperazin-1-yl)prop-2-en-1-one (6a) and (E)-1-(4-(4-chlorobenzyl)piperazin-1-yl)-3-(4-chlorophenyl)prop-2-en-1-one (6b), were designed and synthesized. The target compounds were represented by High-resolution mass spectra, 1H NMR spectra, 13C NMR spectra, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. According to the results of single-crystal X-ray diffraction, indicating that compound 6a crystallizes in the monoclinic system and compound 6b crystallizes in the triclinic system, and they both have a stacked-layer 3-D structure. Hirshfeld surface indicated that compounds 6a and 6b exist H...H, O...H, C...H, and π...π intermolecular interactions. Furthermore, their neuroprotective effects were further evaluated against glutamate-induced PC12 cell injury. These results indicate that the target compounds exhibit potent activities against glutamine-induced neurotoxicity in PC12 cells. In vivo experiments demonstrated that compounds 6a and 6b have good protective effects in high doses on bilateral common carotid artery ligation. A simple synthesis and structure of two cinnamide derivatives, and biological activity was evaluated by MTT assay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solubility of nicotinohydrazide in two binary solvents were determined by a static weight method from 293.15 to 318.15 K. It found that the solubility of nicotinohydrazide was influenced by temperature, solvent polarity, and solvent composition. Meanwhile, the TG-DSC analysis was used to obtain the weight change and thermal effect of nicotinohydrazide. The XRD analysis indicated that the crystal morphology of nicotinohydrazide was coincident in five different solvents. Furthermore, the models including modified Apelblat equation, Van't Hoff equation, Jouyban-Acree model, and CNIBS/R-K model were used to fit the experimental data. It was concluded that the four models were reliable in fitting the experimental data. Then the dissolution apparent thermodynamic was obtained, which explained well the dissolution of nicotinohydrazide. This study could help optimize and control the industrial crystallization of nicotinohydrazide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]