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Perfect light transmission in metamaterials typically experiences a frequency shift as the incident angle of the wave increases, limiting their applicability across wide angles. One-dimensional photonic crystal heterostructures, with elliptic-shaped equi-frequency contours, exhibit angle-in sensitive properties. However, an inevitable blue shift in the optical response still occurs as the incident angle increases. In this work, we present two photonic crystal heterostructures, one of which incorporates the optical phase-change material Sb2S3. By joining two heterostructures with distinct Zak phases, we achieve perfect light transmission. Specifically, as incident angle of wave increases, the transmission peak can be strictly maintained without a frequency shift by tuning the phase (refractive index) of Sb2S3. Moreover, by combining the heterostructures with a thin silver film, we demonstrate a Tamm plasmon polariton mode with angle-insensitive properties, facilitating angle-tolerant light absorption. Our work offers an innovative approach to designing highly angle-tolerant and tunable devices, which could be applied in various fields such as telecommunications, sensing, and imaging systems, where maintaining performance across a wide range of incident angles is crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: We aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pioglitazone/metformin fixed-dose combination (FDC) versus uptitrated metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) without adequate glycemic control. Methods: A total of 304 patients were recruited from 15 hospitals in China and randomly assigned (1:1) to the test group (pioglitazone/metformin FDC, 15/500 mg) or the control group (uptitrated metformin, 2000–2500 mg/day). The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) ≤ 6.5% and ≤ 7.0% at week 16. The secondary outcomes included the change from baseline in glucose, serum lipids, and liver function. Full analysis set (FAS) and per-protocol set (PPS) were used for analyses. Results: In the test group, 103 (69.59%) patients reached HbA1c ≤ 7.0% (FAS, P = 0.009), with 68 (45.95%) patients achieved HbA1c ≤ 6.5 (FAS, P = 0.043). More reduction in HbA1c, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance, and diastolic pressure was found. Bodyweight, body mass index, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased markedly. The changes of triglycerides, alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein decreased noticeably. There were no significant differences in rates of adverse events between the two groups. Conclusions: Pioglitazone/metformin FDC was superior to uptitrated metformin among patients with T2DM without adequate glycemic control. Trial Registration Number: This trial is registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR1900028606). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Light and brassinosteroids (BR) are indispensable for plant growth and control cell division in the apical meristem. However, how external light signals cooperate with internal brassinosteroids to program root meristem development remains elusive.We reveal that the photoreceptor phytochrome B (phyB) guides the scaffold protein RACK1 to coordinate BR signaling for maintaining root meristematic activity. phyB and RACK1 promote early root meristem development.Mechanistically, RACK1 could reinforce the phyB–SPA1 association by interacting with both phyB and SPA1, which indirectly affects COP1‐dependent RACK1 degradation, resulting in the accumulation of RACK1 in roots. Subsequently, RACK1 interacts with BES1 to repress its DNA‐binding activity toward the target gene CYCD3;1, leading to the release of BES1‐mediated inhibition of CYCD3;1 transcription, and hence the promotion of root meristem development.Our study provides mechanistic insights into the regulation of root meristem development by combination of light and phytohormones signals through the photoreceptors and scaffold proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: With the proliferation of ideas submitted by users in firm-built online user innovation communities, community managers are faced with the problem of user idea overload. The purpose of this paper is to explore the influencing factors on the idea adoption to identify high quality ideas, and then propose a method to quickly filter high value ideas. Design/methodology/approach: The authors collected more than 110,000 data submitted by Xiaomi community users and analyzed the factors affecting idea adoption using a multinomial logistic regression model. In addition, the authors also used BP neural network to predict the idea adoption process. Findings: The empirical results show that idea semantics, number of likes, number of comments, number of related posts, the existence of pictures and self-presentation have positive impact on idea adoption, while idea length and idea timeliness had negative impact on idea adoption. In addition, this paper calculates the idea evaluation value through the idea adoption process predicted by neural network and the mean value of idea term frequency inverse document frequency (TF-IDF). Originality/value: This empirical study expands the theoretical perspective of idea adoption research by using dual-process theory and enriches the research methods in the field of idea adoption research through the multinomial logistic regression method. Based on our findings, firms can quickly identify valuable ideas and effectively alleviate the information overload problem of online user innovation communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past three decades, there has been increasing interest in miniaturized percutaneous nephrolithotomy (mPCNL) techniques featuring smaller tracts as they offer potential solutions to mitigate complications associated with standard PCNL (sPCNL). However, despite this growing acceptance and recognition of its benefits, unresolved controversies and acknowledged limitations continue to impede widespread adoption due to a lack of consensus on optimal perioperative management strategies and procedural tips and tricks. In response to these challenges, an international panel comprising experts from the International Alliance of Urolithiasis (IAU) took on the task of compiling an expert consensus document on mPCNL procedures aimed at providing urologists with a comprehensive clinical framework for practice. This endeavor involved conducting a systematic literature review to identify research gaps (RGs), which formed the foundation for developing a structured questionnaire survey. Subsequently, a two-round modified Delphi survey was implemented, culminating in a group meeting to generate final evidence-based comments. All 64 experts completed the second-round survey, resulting in a response rate of 100.0%. Fifty-eight key questions were raised focusing on mPCNLs within 4 main domains, including general information (13 questions), preoperative work-up (13 questions), procedural tips and tricks (19 questions), and postoperative evaluation and follow-up (13 questions). Additionally, 9 questions evaluated the experts' experience with PCNLs. Consensus was reached on 30 questions after the second-round survey, while professional statements for the remaining 28 key questions were provided after discussion in an online panel meeting. mPCNL, characterized by a tract smaller than 18 Fr and an innovative lithotripsy technique, has firmly established itself as a viable and effective approach for managing upper urinary tract stones in both adults and pediatrics. It offers several advantages over sPCNL including reduced bleeding, fewer requirements for nephrostomy tubes, decreased pain, and shorter hospital stays. The series of detailed techniques presented here serve as a comprehensive guide for urologists, aiming to improve their procedural understanding and optimize patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fusarium head blight (FHB), a devastating disease of wheat production, is predominantly elicited by Fusarium graminearum (Fg). The tetraploid Thinopyrum elongatum is a tertiary gene resource of common wheat that possesses high affinity and displays high resistance traits against multiple biotic and abiotic stress. We aim to employ and utilize the novel FHB resistance resources from the wild germplasm of common wheat for breeding. Results: Durum wheat-tetraploid Th. elongatum amphiploid 8801 was hybridized with common wheat cultivars SM482 and SM51, and the F5 generation was generated. We conducted cytogenetically in situ hybridization (ISH) technologies to select and confirm a genetically stable 7E(7D) substitution line K17-1069-5, which showed FHB expansion resistance in both field and greenhouse infection experiments and displayed no significant disadvantage in agronomic traits compared to their common wheat parents in the field. The F2 segregation populations (K17-1069-5 × SM830) showed that the 7E chromosome conferred dominant FHB resistance with dosage effect. We developed 19 SSR molecular markers specific to chromosome 7E, which could be conducted for genetic mapping and large breeding populations marker-assisted selection (MAS) during selection procedures in the future. We isolated a novel Fhb7 allele from the tetraploid Th. elongatum chromosome 7E (Chr7E) using homology-based cloning, which was designated as TTE7E-Fhb7. Conclusions: In summary, our study developed a novel wheat-tetraploid Thinopyrum elongatum 7E(7D) K17-1069-5 substitution line which contains stable FHB resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, Ti/PbO2‐MWCNTs anodes modified with different amount with different amount of Tween 80 (0.0–2.0 g/L) were prepared by the direct current electrodeposition method used as anode materials for Zinc electrowinning. The MWCNTs were dispersed in a lead nitrate solution with Tween 80, and the effects of the amount of added Tween 80 on the morphology, phase composition and electrocatalytical performance of lead dioxide coating were investigated. Physical characterizations show that with the increase of the amount of Tween 80, both grain size of PbO2 and carbon content in PbO2 layer firstly increased and then decreased, the preferential orientation and crystallinity of the PbO2 grain growth in the deposition process changed. Electrochemical tests demonstrate that the optimal modified electrode achieved the minimum Eo value and maximum j0 of 2.038 V and 3.781×10−4 A, respectively, an increase of capacitance to 368.8 μF cm−2, and a decrease of charge transfer resistance to 92.74 Ω cm2, which is mainly attributed to the PbO2 electrode modified with Tween 80, coupled with the synergistic effects of MWCNTs doping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yiwei decoction (YWD) is a classic prescription with the function of nourishing stomach yin. In this study, the effective components of antioxidant activity of YWD and its possible mechanism were discussed from the point of view of spectral effect relationship and network pharmacology. Firstly, the fingerprints of 10 batches of YWD were established by UPLC‐PDA technique, and the 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picryl‐hydrazyl radical (DPPH) scavenging rate and total antioxidant capacity (T‐AOC) were used as the indicators for antioxidant activity in vitro. Then, the spectral effect relationship between the fingerprint profiles and antioxidant capacity was analyzed through grey relational analysis (GRA) and orthogonal projections to latent structures (OPLS). In addition, network pharmacology was employed to predict the potential mechanisms of YWD in the treatment of antioxidant‐related diseases. The spectrum‐effect relationship indicated that three common peaks were likely to be the most decisive active components, identified as verbascoside, psoralen, and vitexin, respectively. Based on network pharmacology analysis, a total of 83 target genes shared by the active components and antioxidant‐related diseases were collected. AKT1, HSP90AA1, SRC, CASP3, and MTOR were closely related to antioxidant therapy and considered as core therapeutic targets. The potential mechanisms of YWD were obtained through gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). Finally, molecular docking simulations were conducted to evaluate the binding activities between the core therapeutic targets and corresponding compounds. The excellent core protein‐compound complexes obtained by molecular docking were simulated by molecular dynamics simulation. The results showed that the active compounds had good binding ability with the selected targets. This study successfully identified the effective components of YWD and predicted the potential targets and pathways, which provided a new idea for the application of YWD in the treatment of antioxidant stress in the future. In addition, the potential active components provide valuable implications for drug screening of related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oncolytic virotherapy is emerging as a promising therapeutic avenue for cancer treatment, harnessing both innate and tumor-specific immune responses for targeted tumor elimination. In this study, we present a novel oncolytic virus (oHSV1-IL15B) derived from herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1), armed with IL-15/IL-15Rα complex, with a focus on treating colon cancer combined with oncolytic HSV-1 expressing anti-PD-1 antibody (oHSV1-aPD1). Results from our study reveal that recombinant oHSV-1 virus equipped with IL-15/IL-15Rα complex exhibited significant anti-tumor effects in a murine CT26 colon adenocarcinoma model. Notably, oHSV1-IL15B combined with oHSV-1-aPD1 demonstrates superior tumor inhibition and prolonged overall survival compared to oHSV1-mock and monotherapy groups. Further exploration highlights the impact of oHSV1-IL15B, oHSV-1-aPD1 and combined group on antitumor capacity, revealing a substantial increase in CD8+ T and CD4+ T cell proportions of CT26-bearing BALB/c mice and promoting apoptosis in tumor tissue. The study emphasizes the pivotal role of cytotoxic CD8+T cells in oncolytic virotherapy, demonstrating that recombinant oHSV1-IL15B combined with oncolytic HSV-1-aPD1 induces a robust tumor-specific T cell response. RNA sequence analysis highlighted oHSV1-IL15B combined with oHSV1-aPD1 improved tumors immune microenvironment on immune response, antiviral response-related genes and apoptosis-related genes, which contributed to anti-tumor immunotherapy. The findings underscore the promising antitumor activity achieved through the combination of IL-15/IL-15Rα complex and anti-PD-1 antibody with oHSV-1. This research opens avenues for diverse therapeutic strategies, suggesting the potential of synergistically utilizing cytokines and anti-PD-1 antibody with oncolytic viruses to enhance immunotherapy for cancer management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous studies have primarily focused on the links between fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and bone health among the general population instead of PM2.5 components and the specific population. We aimed to investigate the associations between PM2.5 components and bone health among middle-aged and elderly women. Methods: A total of 748 middle-aged and elderly women were randomly sampled from 32 streets/villages in Hubei Province. The concentrations of ambient PM2.5 and its components were extracted across various residential areas from the Tracking Air Pollution in China (TAP) dataset. Bone mineral density measurements were obtained from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans of study participants. Multivariable logistic and linear models were employed to assess the relationship between PM2.5 and its components and bone loss. Results: Per interquartile range (IQR) increase in nitrate (NO3−) and ammonium (NH4+) concentrations were associated with 1.65 [95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.13, 2.30] and 1.77 (95% CI: 1.26, 2.49) times higher odds of osteoporosis, respectively. Long-term exposure to sulfate (SO42−), NO3−, and NH4+ was negatively associated with T-scores and bone mineral density in L1-L4 lumbar vertebrae. In addition, the elderly, women who have experienced menarche after the age of 14, and postmenopausal women were more susceptible to the water-soluble inorganic salts of PM2.5. Conclusion: The study emphasizes the need for comprehensive policies addressing air quality, with a specific focus on vulnerable populations such as middle-aged and elderly women. Public health interventions aimed at reducing ambient PM2.5 concentrations and minimizing exposure to its harmful components are crucial in mitigating the adverse impact on skeletal health and improving the overall well-being of communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a scoping review of China's academic resource databases, relevant official websites, news reports and public accounts spanning a period from the end of 2019 to the end of 2022, to investigate the challenges in scientific integrity and ethical soundness of research conducted during and immediately after the COVID-19 pandemic in China. By conducting the scoping review with keywords related to the research questions in Chinese, relevant data were extracted and classified into four categories: challenges in research, challenges in ethics review, challenges in publishing academic work, and research ethics guidelines during and after the pandemic. The paper points out that problematic studies and findings increased with the escalation in medical research projects during the pandemic in China. The situation faced by researchers was more difficult than before the pandemic. The mode of informed consent, and ethics review and oversight systems also underwent changes. In addition, Traditional Chinese Medicine as an alternative medical treatment for COVID-19, attracted attention from the research community and became a topic of discussion. We conclude that the various challenges and concerns identified indicate a need for a proper and timely response system be formulated in preparation for possible future occurrences of new pandemics or other critical situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical hydrogen and acetate cogeneration from ethanol is a promising green hydrogen production technique with low hydrogen production energy consumption and high profitability. However, the poor catalytic stability of the anodic ethanol electro‐oxidation reaction (EOR) retards the device application. We adopted a metal support interaction strategy to reinforce small‐sized Au active sites using cuprous sulfide supports. The Au−Cu2–xS/C showed a superior activity of 1055 mA mgAu−1 at 1.1 V vs. RHE and retained the high activity in the chronopotentiometric test, surpassing the Au/C catalyst. It was demonstrated that the Cu2–xS support facilitated the formation of Au−OH and prevented the gold sites from aggregation, leading to high activity and stability for EOR. Finally, an electrochemical cogeneration electrolyzer assembled with the Au−Cu2–xS/C anodic catalyst continuously ran for over 100 hours, suggesting the device's applicability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Erdafitinib, an oral pan‐FGFR inhibitor, is used in locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma for adults with FGFR3 genetic alterations and whose disease progressed following prior systemic therapy. This drug‐drug interaction substudy evaluated the effect of erdafitinib on the pharmacokinetics of midazolam (cytochrome P450 3A4 substrate), and metformin (organic cation transporter 2 substrate). Twenty‐five patients with advanced solid tumors harboring FGFR gene alterations received pretreatment with single doses of midazolam and metformin, followed by a daily dose of erdafitinib. Drug‐drug interaction assessments were performed at erdafitinib steady state following coadministration of single doses of midazolam and metformin, respectively. Geometric mean ratios for maximum plasma concentration and area under the plasma concentration‐time curve (AUC) from time 0 to the last measurable concentration, and AUC from time 0 to infinity were estimated using linear mixed‐effects models (90% confidence interval within 80%‐125% indicated no interaction). The 90% confidence intervals of geometric mean ratios for maximum plasma concentration, AUC from time 0 to the last measurable concentration, and AUC from time 0 to infinity of midazolam (86.3%, 88.5%, and 82.1%), 1‐OH midazolam (99.8%, 97.4%, and 101.5%), and metformin (108.7%, 119.0%, and 113.9%) were either contained or slightly outside the 80%‐125% interval and not considered clinically meaningful. Adverse events were consistent with the known erdafitinib safety profile; no new safety signals emerged. Thus, repeated dosing of erdafitinib had no clinically meaningful effect on the pharmacokinetics of midazolam or metformin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Two small fragment translocation lines (T4DS·4DL-4EL and T5AS·5AL-4EL) showed high resistance to stripe rust and resistance gene Yr4EL was localized to an about 35 Mb region at the end of chr arm 4EL. Stripe rust, caused by the fungus Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici, is a devastating wheat disease worldwide. Deployment of disease resistance (R) genes in wheat cultivars is the most effective way to control the disease. Previously, the all-stage stripe rust R gene Yr4EL from tetraploid Thinopyrum elongatum was introduced into common wheat as 4E(4D) substitution and T4DS·4EL translocation lines. To further map and utilize Yr4EL, Chinese Spring (CS) mutant pairing homoeologous gene ph1b was used in crossing to induce recombination between chromosome (chr) 4EL and wheat chromosomes. Two small fragment translocation lines T4DS·4DL-4EL and T5AS·5AL-4EL with Yr4EL resistance were selected using molecular markers and confirmed by genomic in situ hybridization (GISH), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and Wheat 660 K SNP array analyses. We mapped Yr4EL to an about 35 Mb region at the end of chr 4EL, corresponding to 577.76–612.97 Mb based on the diploid Th. elongatum reference genome. In addition, two competitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) markers co-segregating with Yr4EL were developed to facilitate molecular marker-assisted selection in breeding. The T4DS·4DL-4EL lines were crossed and backcrossed with wheat cultivars SM482 and CM42, and the resulting pre-breeding lines showed high stripe rust resistance and potential for wheat breeding with good agronomic traits. These lines represent new germplasm for wheat stripe rust resistance breeding, as well as providing a solid foundation for Yr4EL fine mapping and cloning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Two small fragment translocation lines (T4DS·4DL-4EL and T5AS·5AL-4EL) showed high resistance to stripe rust and resistance gene Yr4EL was localized to an about 35 Mb region at the end of chr arm 4EL. Stripe rust, caused by the fungus Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici, is a devastating wheat disease worldwide. Deployment of disease resistance (R) genes in wheat cultivars is the most effective way to control the disease. Previously, the all-stage stripe rust R gene Yr4EL from tetraploid Thinopyrum elongatum was introduced into common wheat as 4E(4D) substitution and T4DS·4EL translocation lines. To further map and utilize Yr4EL, Chinese Spring (CS) mutant pairing homoeologous gene ph1b was used in crossing to induce recombination between chromosome (chr) 4EL and wheat chromosomes. Two small fragment translocation lines T4DS·4DL-4EL and T5AS·5AL-4EL with Yr4EL resistance were selected using molecular markers and confirmed by genomic in situ hybridization (GISH), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and Wheat 660 K SNP array analyses. We mapped Yr4EL to an about 35 Mb region at the end of chr 4EL, corresponding to 577.76–612.97 Mb based on the diploid Th. elongatum reference genome. In addition, two competitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) markers co-segregating with Yr4EL were developed to facilitate molecular marker-assisted selection in breeding. The T4DS·4DL-4EL lines were crossed and backcrossed with wheat cultivars SM482 and CM42, and the resulting pre-breeding lines showed high stripe rust resistance and potential for wheat breeding with good agronomic traits. These lines represent new germplasm for wheat stripe rust resistance breeding, as well as providing a solid foundation for Yr4EL fine mapping and cloning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The S saturation and oxidation states of arc magmas are important factors in the formation of porphyry Cu–Au deposits. The Milin juvenile lower crustal cumulates (86.7–84.3 Ma) in the Gangdese provide insights into how sulfide saturation and oxidation states control porphyry mineralization. Zircons from the cumulates have low Ce4+/Ce3+ ratios (21–90) and reduced oxygen fugacities (ΔFMQ–1.8±0.5), which cannot be explained by fractional crystallization or crustal contamination, suggesting inheritance from a mantle source. Partial melting of the mantle under reduced conditions produced a sulfide-saturated primary arc magma with low chalcophile element contents owing to the residual sulfide in the mantle. The Milin lower crustal cumulates contain sulfides, indicating that the magma reached sulfide saturation in the early stages of magmatic differentiation. Based on our model, the primary arc magma before sulfide saturation contained 66.7 ppm Cu and 1.0 ppb Au. The residual magma after sulfide saturation in the lower crust contained 33–66 ppm Cu, 0.13–0.93 ppb Au; i.e., lower contents than those in arc basalts worldwide. Both these factors hindered the formation of Late Cretaceous large porphyry Cu–Au deposits in the Gangdese belt. Remelting of the Milin sulfide-rich cumulates can generate a Cu-rich andesitic magma only under high temperature and high-fO2 conditions, and a melt with low Cu content under low temperature even high-fO2 conditions. Thus, the temperature plays a crucial role in the remelting of the lower crust whether provide enough metals to match the Gangdese Miocene post-collisional porphyry Cu deposit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High prevalence of emotional and behavioral problems among Chinese adolescence has been reported. This study seeks to investigate the mediating effect of alexithymia and dependency on anxiety and emotional-behavioral problems among adolescents. The study population included 519 adolescents. The assessments included the completion of standardized scales such as the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale (MASC), the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire (DEQ), the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Independent-sample t-tests, bivariate correlation, and serial mediation analyses were performed using SPSS23.0. Bivariate analyses revealed that anxiety, emotional-behavioral problem, alexithymia, and dependency were positively correlated. Alexithymia and dependency play a significant role in mediating the effect of multidimensional anxiety on emotional-behavioral problems. The effects of the two mediating paths were 69.86% and 7.81% for indirect effect through alexithymia, dependency, and specific indirect effect by alexithymia and dependency was 12.33%. Anxiety and emotional-behavioral problems mediate the relationship between alexithymia and dependency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to examine the expression changes of H2S, IGF-1, and GH in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients and to detect their neuroprotective functions after TBI. In this study, we first collected cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma from TBI patients at different times after injury and evaluated the concentrations of H2S, IGF-1, and GH. In vitro studies were using the scratch-induced injury model and cell–cell interaction model (HT22 hippocampal neurons co-cultured with LPS-induced BV2 microglia cells). In vivo studies were using the controlled cortical impact (CCI) model in mice. Cell viability was assessed by CCK-8 assay. Pro-inflammatory cytokines expression was determined by qRT-PCR, ELISA, and nitric oxide production. Western blot was performed to assess the expression of CBS, CSE, IGF-1, and GHRH. Moreover, the recovery of TBI mice was evaluated for behavioral function by applying the modified Neurological Severity Score (mNSS), the Rotarod test, and the Morris water maze. We discovered that serum H2S, CSF H2S, and serum IGF-1 concentrations were all adversely associated with the severity of the TBI, while the concentrations of IGF-1 and GH in CSF and GH in the serum were all positively related to TBI severity. Experiments in vitro and in vivo indicated that treatment with NaHS (H2S donor), IGF-1, and MR-409 (GHRH agonist) showed protective effects after TBI. This study gives novel information on the functions of H2S, IGF-1, and GH in TBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Shoulder dysfunction is one of the most bothersome questions for breast cancer survivors. Studies show that mirror therapy can improve shoulder function in patients with a limited shoulder range of motion and shoulder pain. Here, this article reports the results of a randomized controlled trial investigating the effects of the mirror therapy on shoulder function in patients with breast cancer following surgical treatments. Methods: Totally, 79 participants were divided to two groups receiving active range-of-motion upper limb exercise based on the mirror therapy or active range-of-motion upper limb exercise respectively for 8 weeks. Shoulder range of motion, Constant-Murley Score, Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire, Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia, Visual analog scale, and grip strength were measured at baseline (T0), 2 weeks (T1), 4 weeks (T2), and 8 weeks (T3). The effects of the intervention on shoulder function were analyzed in generalized estimation equation, from group, time, and the interactions between group and time based on the data from participants who completed at least one post-baseline observation Results: At least one post-baseline observation was performed by 69 participants (n=34 mirror group, n=35 control group). 28(82.35%) participants in the mirror group adhered to the exercise compared to 30(85.71%) in the control group. Generalized estimation equation model showed group had main effects on forward flexion (Waldχ²=6.476, P=0.011), with the Cohen's d=0.54. The effects of the group on abduction, Constant-Murley Score, and Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire were significant when fix the effects of the time. At 8 weeks, participants in the mirror group showed an improvement in abduction compared to the control group (P=0.005), the Cohen's d was 0.70. At 8 weeks, participants in the mirror group had a higher Constant-Murley Score than control group (P=0.009), with Cohen's effect size value of d=0.64. The mirror group showed a greater improvement on the Disability of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire than control group at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks (P≤0.032), but with a weak effect size value of all (r≤0.32). Group had main effects on Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (Waldχ²=6.631, P=0.010), with the Cohen's effect size value of d=0.56. Conclusions: Mirror therapy improved shoulder flexion, abduction, shoulder function in daily life, and arm function and symptom of the affected shoulder in patients with breast cancer following surgical treatment, while decreasing fear of movement/(re)injury. Mirror configuration needs to be improved in further research to increase its feasibility. Implications for Cancer Survivors: Breast cancer survivors can try mirror therapy as a practical and effective method in shoulder rehabilitation for a promotion on effects. Trial registration: ClinicalTrial.gov Identifier: ChiCTR2000033080. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To understand the status quo of children's obesity health literacy among parents of primary school students in Yangzhou City, analyze related influencing factors, and put forward new ideas for optimizing health education of childhood obesity prevention and control. Methods Stratified cluster random sampling was used to randomly select 1 street from each of the 6 counties (cities and districts) in Yangzhou City, and then randomly select 4 primary schools from each street, and randomly select at least 1 class from each grade (grades 1-6) in each primary school. Questionnaire survey was conducted on parents of the students in the whole class. Results A total of 6 097 parents of primary school students were surveyed, among whom 3 615 reached the standard of health literacy, the rate of reaching the standard was 59.29%. The compliance rates of health cognition, health behavior, health knowledge, operation skills and health consciousness were 66.54%, 41.68%, 69.99%, 44.89% and 32.97%, respectively. According to χ² test, there were significant differences in parents' health literacy attainment rates among different places of residence, age, occupation, education level, family income, relationship with children, and student weight status (all P values < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that residence, educational level, occupation and students' weight status were the influencing factors of parents' childhood obesity health literacy. Living in towns and villages (OR = 1.223, 95%CI: 1.092-1.369), profession of production/manufacturing/repair industry (OR = 1.353, 95%CI: 1.059-1.729) and jobless person (OR = 1.514, 95%CI: 1.126-2.036) or others (OR = 1.404, 95%CI: 1.112-1.773), and students' weight status as obesity (OR = 1.203, 95%CI: 1.060-1.366) are risk factors for childhood obesity health literacy of primary school parents, and parents' education of high school or above (OR = 0.265-0.649, 95%CI: 0.133-0.752) are protective factors for childhood obesity health literacy of primary school parents. Conclusion The parents of primary school students in our city have a high level of obesity health literacy, but a low rate of health behavior, operation skills and health awareness. In the process of child obesity prevention and control education, it is necessary to pay attention to the parents of students living in towns and villages, with low education level, unemployment and parents of obese students, and carry out targeted health education activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worldwide, governments imposed non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) during the COVID-19 pandemic to contain the pandemic more effectively. We examined the effectiveness of individual NPIs in the United States during the first wave of the pandemic. Three types of analyses were performed. First, a prototypical Bayesian hierarchical model was employed to gauge the effectiveness of five NPIs and they are gathering restriction, restaurant capacity restriction, business closure, school closure, and stay-at-home order in the 42 states with over 100 deaths by the end of the wave. Second, we examined the effectiveness of the face mask mandate, the sixth and most controversial NPI by counterfactual modeling, which is a variant of the prototypical Bayesian hierarchical model allowing us to answer the question of what if the state had imposed the mandate or not. The third analysis used an advanced Bayesian hierarchical model to evaluate the effectiveness of all six NPIs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, and thereby provide a full-scale estimation of the effectiveness of NPIs and the relative effectiveness of each NPI in the entire United States. Our results have enhanced the collective knowledge on the general effectiveness of NPIs in arresting the spread of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The mechanistic effects of gamma transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) on hippocampal gamma oscillation activity in Alzheimer's Disease (AD) remains unclear. This study aimed to clarify beneficial effects of gamma tACS on cognitive functioning in AD and to elucidate effects on hippocampal gamma oscillation activity. Methods: This is a double-blind, randomized controlled single-center trial. Participants with mild AD were randomized to tACS group or sham group, and underwent 30 one-hour sessions of either 40 Hz tACS or sham stimulation over consecutive 15 days. Cognitive functioning, structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and simultaneous electroencephalography–functional MRI (EEG-fMRI) were evaluated at baseline, the end of the intervention and at 3-month follow-up from the randomization. Results: A total of 46 patients were enrolled (23 in the tACS group, 23 in the sham group). There were no group differences in the change of the primary outcome, 11-item cognitive subscale of the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS-Cog) score after intervention (group*time, p = 0.449). For secondary outcomes, compared to the control group, the intervention group showed significant improvement in MMSE (group*time, p = 0.041) and MoCA scores (non-parametric test, p = 0.025), which were not sustained at 3-month follow-up. We found an enhancement of theta-gamma coupling in the hippocampus, which was positively correlated with improvements of MMSE score and delayed recall. Additionally, fMRI revealed increase of the local neural activity in the hippocampus. Conclusion: Effects on the enhancement of theta-gamma coupling and neural activity within the hippocampus suggest mechanistic models for potential therapeutic mechanisms of tACS. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT 03920826; Registration Date: 2019-04-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of Zn 1 − x FexO (x = 0 , 0.015, 0.045, 0.075) nanoparticles were synthesized using the solution co-precipitation method, and their structural and property characteristics were investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed that all Zn 1 − x FexO samples exhibited a hexagonal wurtzite crystal structure with the P63mc space group. The introduction of Fe doping led to a slight lattice distortion in the samples. The morphology of the nanoparticles, including polydispersion and agglomeration, as well as the presence of the second phase ZnFe2O4, was examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy demonstrated that the band gap of Zn 1 − x FexO lies between 3.152 and 3.163 eV. With the increase in Fe ion doping, the band gap shows a slight decreasing trend. Mössbauer spectroscopy revealed that iron ions in the nanoparticles existed in a trivalent state and exhibited two different configurations: One involved iron replacing zinc without creating a vacancy, while the other involved iron substituting zinc with a vacancy. The ferromagnetic nature of the Fe-doped samples can be attributed to the exchange interaction between two Fe 3 + ions mediated by the F-center mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reactor pressure vessel (RPV) studs are key components of nuclear reactors, and their connection with flange ensures the sealing of the RPV under high-pressure and high-temperature conditions. In the present work, the external threads of the RPV stud were prepared by triaxial rolling, and the texture evolution of the external thread root material of an RPV stud was predicted by finite element analysis coupled with viscoplastic self-consistent simulations. The microstructure of the external thread root material of RPV stud was characterized by scanning electron microscope and electron back-scattered diffraction. The installation characteristics of the turned and rolled parts of the RPV stud were tested by installation and pretightening tests. It was found that the dynamic recrystallization at the external thread root formed ultrafine tempered sorbite grains, high-angle grain boundaries (47%), and strong {111} <110> and {111} <112> textures. In the installation and pretightening test, the residual elongation of rolled parts was reduced by 6% under the same loading pressure. The triaxial rolling process distributed the microstructure of the external thread root of the RPV stud in a gradient manner, resulting in improved stud installation characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to construct the sixth in a series of guidelines on the treatment of urolithiasis by the International Alliance of Urolithiasis (IAU) that by providing a clinical framework for the management of pediatric patients with urolithiasis based on the best available published literature. All recommendations were summarized following a systematic review and assessment of literature in the PubMed database from January 1952 to December 2023. Each generated recommendation was graded using a modified GRADE methodology. Recommendations are agreed upon by Panel Members following review and discussion of the evidence. Guideline recommendations were developed that addressed the following topics: etiology, risk factors, clinical presentation and symptoms, diagnosis, conservative management, surgical interventions, prevention, and follow-up. Similarities in the treatment of primary stone episodes between children and adults, incorporating conservative management and advancements in technology for less invasive stone removal, are evident. Additionally, preventive strategies aiming to reduce recurrence rates, such as ensuring sufficient fluid intake, establishing well-planned dietary adjustments, and selective use pharmacologic therapies will also result in highly successful outcomes in pediatric stone patients. Depending on the severity of metabolic disorders and also anatomical abnormalities, a careful and close follow-up program should inevitably be planned in each pediatric patient to limit the risk of future recurrence rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parameter estimation is important in data-driven fractional chaotic systems. Less work has been reported due to challenges in discretization of fractional calculus operators. In this paper, several numerical schemes are newly derived for delay fractional difference equations of Caputo and Riemann–Liouville types. Then, loss functions are constructed and unknown parameters of the discrete fractional chaotic system are estimated by a neural network method. Parameter estimation results demonstrate high accuracy compared with real values. Robust analysis is provided under different noise levels. It can be concluded that this paper provides an efficient deep learning method based on fractional discrete-time systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil conditioning is essential for addressing the stratum applicability problem of earth pressure balance (EPB) shields. Under high water pressures, EPB shields spew water and soil when excavating coarse-grained strata. Typically, foam combined with polymers and slurry is used to solve spewing. However, in current techniques, slurry, foam, and the other agents are mixed with soil separately, their synergistic effect is seldom realized. In this study, an anionic surfactant was used to foam in bentonite slurry to form bubble–slurry to maximize the synergy between bubbles and slurry. The slump, volume stability, and permeability test of bubble–slurry-conditioned sand was conducted to examine the conditioning effect, and the stratum applicability of bubble–slurry was determined from the perspective of permeability. It was found that the conditioning effect of bubble–slurry in coarse gravel soil was excellent and could expand the applicability of EPB shields. The main stabilization mechanism of bubble–slurry is that bentonite particles provide a space barrier for bubbles. And three seepage modes of bubble–slurry-conditioned sand were innovatively defined, and the occurrence conditions of the three seepage modes were analyzed according to the permeability coefficient of sand, initial dynamic shear force of bubble–slurry, and hydraulic gradient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of boanmycin, a clinical drug used for head and neck cancers, in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), particularly in venetoclax-resistant AML cells. The cell viability assay was conducted to measure the inhibitory effects of boanmycin on the AML cell lines and patient primary cells using the CCK8 reagent. The colony formation assay was performed to evaluate the colony formation ability of HL60 and venetoclax-resistant HL60 (HL60-res) cells with or without boanmycin treatment. Flow cytometry was performed to detect cell apoptosis level, and Western blot was used to assess changes in apoptosis-related proteins. Our findings reveal that boanmycin significantly inhibits AML cell proliferation and colony formation, and induces apoptosis. Importantly, boanmycin exhibits substantial inhibitory effects on venetoclax-resistant cells, and suppresses the proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) or bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMCs) derived from newly diagnosed and relapsed AML patients. Boanmycin may overcome venetoclax resistance and offer therapeutic benefits for patients with venetoclax-resistant AML. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Earth's ionosphere undergoes regular intra‐annual variations (IAVs) characterized by two peaks and troughs around the equinoxes and solstices. This phenomenon is crucial for analyzing the ionospheric response to geomagnetic storms. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the IAVs contributed by diurnal and semidiurnal migrating tides (DW1 and SW2) using Global Ionospheric Maps (GIMs) data from 2017 to 2021. Through data stacking techniques, the seasonal variability and splitting phenomenon of DW1 and SW2 across different latitudes are examined. The findings indicate that the splitting of these tides can be attributed to their quasi‐periodic variations, predominantly composed of annual oscillation (AO) and semiannual oscillation (SAO). The combination of DW1, SW2, and their side‐band harmonics results in beats with annual and semiannual periodicities, enabling the restoration of the seasonal variations in DW1 and SW2. The ionospheric day‐to‐day variations were reconstructed by superimposing DW1 and SW2, and their IAVs were evaluated using the envelope method. Comparison with IAVs driven by Earth's orbital geometry reveals that tide‐driven IAVs are more significant, and both exhibit solar activity dependence. The results advance the understanding of ionospheric variability, emphasizing the critical role of tidal contributions. Plain Language Summary: The ionosphere, an essential layer of Earth's atmosphere, significantly impacts high‐frequency communication and global satellite navigation systems. It exhibits seasonal variations, characterized by peaks during equinoxes and troughs around solstices. While the underlying physics of these variations still requires further exploration, this study uses global ionosphere maps from 2017 to 2021 to investigate the intra‐annual variations (IAVs) attributed to ionospheric migrating tides. Our findings reveal the "splitting" behavior of DW1 and SW2, where these waves separate into multiple frequency components due to their quasi‐periodic nature. This splitting phenomenon primarily arises from the annual and semiannual variations in the amplitudes of DW1 and SW2, enabling the reconstruction of ionospheric day‐to‐day variations. Interestingly, the IAVs driven by the migrating tides have a more significant impact on seasonal changes than the direct effects of Earth's orbit. The atmospheric tides in the lower atmosphere may influence the composition of the upper atmosphere, subsequently affecting the ionosphere. Overall, this research highlights the intricate interplay of mechanisms shaping the seasonal patterns of the ionosphere. Key Points: Under high‐frequency resolution spectra, the ionospheric diurnal and semidiurnal migrating tides will splitIonospheric intra‐annual variations (IAVs) can be reconstructed by combining migrating tides and their side‐band harmonicsThe IAVs in the ionospheric day‐to‐day variations are more significant than those induced by the geometry of Earth's orbit [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macroautophagy/autophagy is essential for the degradation and recycling of cytoplasmic materials. The initiation of this process is determined by phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PtdIns3K) complex, which is regulated by factor BECN1 (beclin 1). UFMylation is a novel ubiquitin-like modification that has been demonstrated to modulate several cellular activities. However, the role of UFMylation in regulating autophagy has not been fully elucidated. Here, we found that VCP/p97 is UFMylated on K109 by the E3 UFL1 (UFM1 specific ligase 1) and this modification promotes BECN1 stabilization and assembly of the PtdIns3K complex, suggesting a role for VCP/p97 UFMylation in autophagy initiation. Mechanistically, VCP/p97 UFMylation stabilizes BECN1 through ATXN3 (ataxin 3)-mediated deubiquitination. As a key component of the PtdIns3K complex, stabilized BECN1 facilitates assembly of this complex. Re-expression of VCP/p97, but not the UFMylation-defective mutant, rescued the VCP/p97 depletion-induced increase in MAP1LC3B/LC3B protein expression. We also showed that several pathogenic VCP/p97 mutations identified in a variety of neurological disorders and cancers were associated with reduced UFMylation, thus implicating VCP/p97 UFMylation as a potential therapeutic target for these diseases. Abbreviation: ATG14:autophagy related 14; Baf A1:bafilomycin A1;CMT2Y: Charcot-Marie-Toothdisease, axonal, 2Y; CYB5R3: cytochromeb5 reductase 3; DDRGK1: DDRGK domain containing 1; DMEM:Dulbecco'smodified Eagle's medium;ER:endoplasmic reticulum; FBS:fetalbovine serum;FTDALS6:frontotemporaldementia and/or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis 6; IBMPFD1:inclusion bodymyopathy with early-onset Paget disease with or withoutfrontotemporal dementia 1; LC-MS/MS:liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry; MAP1LC3B/LC3B:microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta; MS: massspectrometry; NPLOC4: NPL4 homolog, ubiquitin recognition factor;PIK3C3: phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase catalytic subunit type 3;PIK3R4: phosphoinositide-3-kinase regulatory subunit 4; PtdIns3K:phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase; RPL26: ribosomal protein L26; RPN1:ribophorin I; SQSTM1/p62: sequestosome 1; UBA5: ubiquitin likemodifier activating enzyme 5; UFC1: ubiquitin-fold modifierconjugating enzyme 1; UFD1: ubiquitin recognition factor in ERassociated degradation 1; UFL1: UFM1 specific ligase 1; UFM1:ubiquitin fold modifier 1; UFSP2: UFM1 specific peptidase 2; UVRAG:UV radiation resistance associated; VCP/p97: valosin containingprotein; WT: wild-type [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In order to investigate the desorption effect and mechanism of petroleum from petroleum contaminated soil (PCS) in surfactant solution (SAA-solution). Method: In this study, the desorption effect of SAA-solution cleaning of PCS was systematically analyzed by using orthogonal experiments. In addition, the petroleum mechanism of desorption from the PCS surface was further explored by kinetic and thermodynamic studies. Results: The results indicated that the petroleum removal efficiency (Re) gradually decreased with the increase of PCS particle size and PCS aging time. The highest petroleum Re was 82.13% under optimum conditions. Subsequently, FT-IR and petroleum component analysis showed the petroleum light components were easily removed from PCS, while the petroleum heavy components limited the desorption of petroleum. The kinetic studies revealed that the petroleum desorption was well depicted by the pseudo-first-order kinetic model, and the desorption rate increased with the decrease of PCS particle size. Meanwhile, the petroleum desorption equilibrium was well described by the Langmuir isotherm model and proceeded by a chemical mechanism. The thermodynamic studies demonstrated that the petroleum desorption from PCS was a viable, spontaneous, and endothermic process. Conclusion: The study provided theoretical guidance to apply SAA-solution cleaning industrial PCS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When confronted with high-dimensional data, evolutionary feature selection methods encounter the formidable challenge known as the "curse of dimensionality". To overcome this challenge, our study delves into developing an optimized algorithm, enhanced RIME (ERIME), which ingeniously integrates feature information entropy pruning and the DBSCAN spatial clustering particle evolution method to tackle the intricacies of feature selection. Initially, a dimensionality reduction strategy is introduced based on feature information entropy pruning, effectively limiting the computational burden associated with high-dimensional data. This strategy enhances the algorithm's search speed and substantially boosts its overall efficiency. Hence, a particle deletion strategy is proposed to safeguard the quality of particles within the population, selectively eliminating particles through multidimensional clustering while monitoring individual fitness differences. Additionally, we incorporate a particle generation strategy rooted in the Markov chain Monte Carlo method, strategically sampling and generating new particles from the distribution of superior particles. The efficacy of the ERIME is rigorously evaluated on 26 benchmark datasets, including 14 high-dimensional datasets and 12 low-dimensional datasets. A comprehensive comparison is conducted with seven cutting-edge intelligent algorithms: IMFO, PSO_GWO, MCGSA, BBPS, QBBA, SSA, and WOA. The experimental results demonstrate the algorithm's ability to obtain exceptional feature subsets, notably showcasing its competitive edge in resolving high-dimensional feature selection challenges. Regarding average fitness value, ERIME attains a remarkable 79.54% improvement in convergence accuracy compared to RIME. Regarding the average classification error rate, ERIME achieves an impressive 98.54% reduction compared to RIME. Furthermore, in effectively selecting features, ERIME outperforms RIME by reducing the count by 85%. In conclusion, the enhanced RIME algorithm proposed in this study effectively solves the complex problems of high-dimensional feature selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the production process or environment, most products need to go through multiple production workshops, from raw materials to finished products. For example, a large structural part must go through a blanking workshop and a machining workshop. However, the research on the serial multi-shop cooperative scheduling problem is insufficient. Different from the single shop scheduling problem, the multi-shop scheduling problem can be regarded as a scheduling problem composed of multiple sub-problems. Therefore, optimisation processes between subproblems may be the key to solving this kind of problem. This paper focuses on the optimisation framework for the serial multi-shop cooperative scheduling problem. A specific serial dual-shop collaborative scheduling problem is abstracted from the production, whose first and second shop is the hybrid flow shop and the job shop, respectively. A disjunctive graph model of this specific problem is constructed. After that, four different optimisation frameworks are proposed, and testing instances are designed to compare these frameworks. Under different optimisation frameworks, the same tabu search algorithm with an efficient neighbourhood structure is used to optimize this problem. Finally, the optimisation results of different frameworks are compared and the results of each optimisation framework are analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcium-containing stones represent the most common form of kidney calculi, frequently linked to idiopathic hypercalciuria, though their precise pathogenesis remains elusive. This research aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved by employing urinary exosomal microRNAs as proxies for renal tissue analysis. Elevated miR-148b-5p levels were observed in exosomes derived from patients with kidney stones. Systemic administration of miR-148b-5p in rat models resulted in heightened urinary calcium excretion, whereas its inhibition reduced stone formation. RNA immunoprecipitation combined with deep sequencing identified miR-148b-5p as a suppressor of calcitonin receptor (Calcr) expression, thereby promoting urinary calcium excretion and stone formation. Mice deficient in Calcr in distal epithelial cells demonstrated elevated urinary calcium excretion and renal calcification. Mechanistically, miR-148b-5p regulated Calcr through the circRNA-83536/miR-24-3p signaling pathway. Human kidney tissue samples corroborated these results. In summary, miR-148b-5p regulates the formation of calcium-containing kidney stones via the circRNA-83536/miR-24-3p/Calcr axis, presenting a potential target for novel therapeutic interventions to prevent calcium nephrolithiasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ovarian cancer (OC) becomes a fatal gynecologic malignant cancer in females worldwide. Target therapy is a promising therapeutical choice for patients with OC, and identifying biomarkers and exploring molecular mechanisms are necessary. In this study, the functions and mechanism of long noncoding RNA transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M member 2 antisense RNA (TRPM2-AS) in OC were explored. TRPM2-AS expression in OC cells was analyzed utilizing reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and colony forming assays were carried out to explore the influence of TRPM2-AS on OC cell viability and proliferation. Cell apoptosis was detected using TdT-mediated dUTP Nick-End labeling (TUNEL) and flow cytometry analysis. Protein expression of apoptotic markers was subjected to western blotting. RNA pulldown or luciferase reporter assays were applied to explore the interaction between TRPM2-AS and miR-6764-5p or the binding of miR-6764-5p and TRPM2. The results showed that TRPM2-AS is highly expressed in OC cells and was mainly localized in cytoplasm. TRPM2-AS depletion suppressed OC cell viability and proliferation while increasing cell apoptotic rate. TRPM2 displayed a high level in OC cells and was positively regulated by TRPM2-AS. TRPM2-AS interacted with miR-6764-5p and thereby upregulated TRPM2 expression. In addition, TRPM2 overexpression reversed the repressive impact of TRPM2-AS depletion on malignant OC cellular process. In conclusion, TRPM2-AS promotes OC cell viability and proliferation while enhancing cell apoptosis through interaction with miR-6764-5p to regulate TRPM2 level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the wave of Industry 4.0, traditional pharmaceutical manufacturing enterprises are in urgent need of intelligent manufacturing transformation and upgrading, and exploring the optimal realization path of intelligent manufacturing transformation can help accelerate the transformation process of pharmaceutical manufacturing enterprises. This paper uses grounded theory research methods to conduct a multi-case study to summarize six influencing factors of the intelligent manufacturing transformation of Chinese pharmaceutical manufacturing enterprises; and then analyzes the correlation between the intelligent manufacturing influencing factors based on the DEMATEL method and the NK model, and identifies the key influencing factors according to this, and then draws the fitness landscape map of the intelligent manufacturing transformation, and finally arrives at the optimal path selection of the intelligent manufacturing transformation of pharmaceutical manufacturing enterprises. The study enriches and extends the research paradigm of intelligent manufacturing transformation, and provides lessons for pharmaceutical manufacturing enterprises to realize intelligent manufacturing transformation and upgrading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, fast finite-time time-varying formation tracking control for second-order multi-agent systems with external disturbance and region constraints is investigated. The ubiquitous control input response delay is considered. A predictor-based state transformation is employed to obtain the ideal equivalent systems without control input response delay. Considering the difficulty of measuring external disturbance, a fast finite-time observer with the sliding mode technique is proposed to estimate the disturbance, which positively compensates the system. By adopting the sliding mode control strategy, a novel fast finite-time formation tracking controller is proposed. Sufficient conditions for the formation tracking control with region constraints are obtained. Numerical simulations are employed to validate the feasibility and effectiveness of the theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The low regeneration rate of Co(II) is a major obstacle to the efficient activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) by Co in advanced oxidation technology. Herein, a Co(II)/oxygen-defect monoclinic monazite BiPO4 (Co(II)/BiPO4−x) photocatalyst was prepared. The degradation efficiency of tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in the 25%Co(II)/BiPO4−x/PMS/UV system is up to 99.0% (within 30 min) and 40.4%, which was 1.9 and 6.5 times that of the BiPO4/PMS/UV system, respectively. The loading of Co(II) increases the oxygen defect concentration of BiPO4−x, therefore more photogenerated electrons can involve in the Co cycling to promote PMS activation. Meanwhile, simultaneous illumination X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (SI-XPS) indicates that the electrons are transferred from BiPO4−x to Co, accelerating the regeneration rate of Co(II). DFT calculation reveals that 25%Co(II)/BiPO4−x exhibits much lower reaction energy barrier. This novel work demonstrates a new perspective to modulate the free radical and nonradical dual-pathway for treating refractory contaminants through defect engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-rotor drones, a kind of unmanned equipment which is widely used in the military, commercial consumption and other fields, have been developed very rapidly in recent years. However, their short flight time has hindered the expansion of their application range. This can be addressed by utilizing hydrogen fuel cells, which exhibit high energy density, strong adaptability to ambient temperature, and no pollution emissions, as the power source. Accordingly, the application of hydrogen fuel cells as the power source in multi-rotor drones is a promising technology that has attracted significant research attention. This paper summarizes the development process of hydrogen fuel cell multi-rotor drones and analyzes the key obstacles that need to be addressed for the further development of hydrogen fuel cell multi-rotor drones, including structural light weight, hydrogen storage methods, energy management strategies, thermal management, etc. Additionally, prospects for the future development of hydrogen fuel cell multi-rotor drones are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance of heat exchangers in the pressurized water test loop is a critical factor in ensuring the achievement of irradiation parameters for fuel assemblies and the safety of experimental operations. The effect of the heat exchange area margin on the heat exchangers in the pressurized water test loop for the fuel assembly during the steady-state irradiation is analyzed. Additionally, optimization methods for determining the margin of heat exchange area and corresponding design strategies are further investigated. It shows that the effect of the heat exchange area margin on the heat exchange power is less affected by the inlet temperature of the primary water and is primarily influenced by the flow rate of the primary water. A decrease in the flow rate of the primary water reduces the compensatory effect of the cooling section on power and enhances the weakening effect of the regeneration section on power. Meanwhile, the correspondence between the margin of the regeneration section and the cooling section, established based on design conditions, can be applicable when there are changes in the inlet temperature of the primary water, but it is not suitable when there are changes in the flow rate of the primary water. When the flow rate of the primary water decreases, the cooling section margin required to compensate for the decrease in power caused by the regeneration section margin will increase significantly. In addition, short-circuiting the heat exchange tubes in the regeneration section can effectively enhance the heat transfer capability. Furthermore, setting the heat exchange area margins of the regeneration and cooling sections to zero can serve as a termination condition for iterative calculations in the verification of regenerative heat exchangers under off-design conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With advancements in sustainable urban development, research on urban functional areas has garnered significant attention. In recent years, Point-of-Interest, with their large volume of information and ease of acquisition, have been widely applied in research on urban functional domains. However, scholars currently focus on the identification of urban functional areas, usually relying on data from a single period, whereas research on the prediction of functional areas has not yet been well validated. Therefore, in this study, we propose a new method based on several years of POI data to predict urban functional areas. Taking Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province, as an example, we first identified the functional area distribution of the old city of Nanjing over several years using POI data and then designed multiple sets of experiments to explore the CA–Markov model's ability to predict functional areas from various aspects, including model overall accuracy, robustness, and comparison analysis between predictions and actual situations. The results show that (1) for mixed or single functional areas, the model's predictions over several years tend to be stable, and the accuracy of the predictions over many years indicates the robustness of the model in predicting urban functional areas. (2) For mixed functional areas in cities, model predictions largely rely on the distribution of the base years used for prediction, leading to inaccurate results; thus, it is still not applicable for simulating and predicting mixed functional areas. (3) For single functional areas in cities or primary functions within an area, the model's predicted degree of change was close to the actual degree of change, making the results referable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the efficacy of local flap for repair of post-tumor surgery on the face. Methods Forty-one patients with facial skin tumors, including basal cell carcinoma (19 cases), squamous cell carcinoma (16 cases), pigmented nevus (5 cases), and 1 case of epidermal cyst with infection, who were surgically treated at the First People's Hospital of Zunyi City from January 2018 to March 2023, were included in this study. According to the site and the size of postoperative facial defects, various types of local flaps were used for one-stage repair of the de-fects, including transposition flaps, advancement flaps, and rotational flaps. Those with malignant tumors were pathologically proven to be free of tumor cells at the margins and base first, and then local flaps were used for repair. All the defects were repaired without too much tension on the incision margins when subcutaneous sutures and skin sutures were performed. The sutures were removed 5 to 7 days after surgery. Results At the time of suture removal, all local flaps in 41 patients survived with normal facial contour and with no distortion of the free edges. At the follow-up of 6 to 12 months, the function, skin color and texture appeared normal without local pulling de-formation or hyperplastic scar in the operated area. Conclusion Local flap repair of facial defects displays good functional and cosmetic outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ischemic stroke involves various pathological processes, among which ferroptosis is crucial. Previous studies by our group have indicated that electroacupuncture (EA) mitigates ferroptosis after ischemic stroke; however, the precise mechanism underlying this effect remains unclear. In the present study, we developed a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion. We chose the main acupoint of the treatment methods of the "Awakening and Opening of the Brain". Rats' neurological function and motor coordination were evaluated by neurological function score and the rotarod test, respectively, and the volume of cerebral infarction was analyzed by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride Staining. The cerebrovascular conditions were visualized by time-of-flight magentic resonance angiography. In addition, we detected changes in lipid peroxidation and endogenous antioxidant activity by measuring the malondialdehyde, glutathione, superoxide dismutase activities, glutathione/oxidized glutathione and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate/oxidized nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate ratios. Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, western blot, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, fluoro-jade B staining, immunofluorescence analysis, and transmission electron microscopy were utilized to examine the influence of EA. The results indicate that EA treatment was effective in reversing neurological impairment, neuronal damage, and protecting mitochondrial morphology and decreasing the cerebral infarct volume in the middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion rat model. EA reduced iron levels, inhibited lipid peroxidation, increased endogenous antioxidant activity, modulated the expression of several ferroptosis-related proteins, and promoted nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) nuclear translocation. However, the protective effect of EA was hindered by the Nrf2 inhibitor ML385. These findings suggest that EA can suppress ferroptosis and decrease damage caused by cerebral ischemia/reperfusion by activating Nrf2 and increasing the protein expression of solute carrier family 7 member 11 and glutathione peroxidase 4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preventing the widespread occurrence of stripe rust in wheat largely depends on the identification of new stripe rust resistance genes and the breeding of cultivars with durable resistance. In previous study, we reported 6E of wheat–tetraploid Thinopyrum elongatum 6E (6D) substitution line contains adult-stage stripe rust resistance genes. In this study, three novel wheat–tetraploid Th. elongatum translocation lines were generated from the offspring of a cross between common wheat and the 6E (6D) substitution line. Genomic in situ hybridization (GISH), fluorescence in situ hybridization chromosome painting (FISH painting), repetitive sequential FISH, and 55 K SNP analyses indicated that K227-48, K242-82, and K246-6 contained 42 chromosomes and were 6DL·6ES, 2DL·6EL, and 6DS·6EL translocation lines, respectively. The assessment of stripe rust resistance revealed that K227-48 was susceptible to a mixture of Pst races, whereas the 6EL lines K242-82 and K246-6 were highly resistance to stripe rust at the adult stage. Thus, this resistance was due to the chromosome arm 6EL of tetraploid Th. elongatum. The improved agronomic performance of 6DS·6EL translocation line may be a useful novel germplasm resource for wheat breeding programs. For the application of marker-assisted selection (MAS), 47 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were developed, showing specific amplification on the chromosome 6E using the whole-genome sequence of diploid Th. elongatum. The 6DS·6EL translocation line and SSR markers have the potential to be deploy for future stripe rust resistance wheat breeding program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]