Search

Considering the importance of accurate information of full-length (FL) transcripts in functional analysis, researchers prefer to develop new sequencing methods based on third-generation sequencing (TGS) rather than short-read sequencing. Several FL circRNA sequencing strategies have been developed. However, the current methods are inapplicable to low-biomass samples, since a large amount of total RNAs are acquired for circRNA enrichment before library preparation. In this work, we developed an effective method to detect FL circRNAs from a nanogram level (1–100 ng) of total RNAs based on a nanopore platform. Additionally, prior to the library preparation process, we added a series of 24 nt barcodes for each sample to reduce the cost and operating time. Using this method, we profiled circRNA expression in the striatum, hippocampus and cerebral cortex of a Parkinson's disease (PD) mouse model. Over 6% of reads were effective for FL circRNA identification in most datasets. Notably, a reduction in the RNA initial input resulted in a lower correlation between replicates and the detection efficiency for longer circRNA, but the lowest input (1 ng) was able to detect numerous FL circRNAs. Next, we systematically identified over 263 934 circRNAs in PD and healthy mice using the lower-input FL sequencing method, some of which came from 50.52% of PD-associated genes. Moreover, significant changes were observed in the circRNA expression pattern at an isoform level, and high-confidence protein translation evidence was predicted. Overall, we developed an effective method to characterize FL circRNAs from low-input samples and provide a comprehensive insight into the biological function of circRNAs in PD at an isoform level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: We synthesized MgO NPs via sol-gel reaction and investigated them as carriers to deliver Mg2+ to the affected joint for osteoarthritis (OA). Materials & methods: The physicochemical properties of samples were characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and x-ray diffraction (XRD). The release of Mg2+ was monitored by ICP-MS. The potential cytotoxicity was evaluated using MTT assay. The efficacy and biosafety were evaluated in a rabbit OA model. Results: MgO NPs can prolong the Mg2+ release time from 0.5 h to 12 h. No significant cytotoxicity was observed when concentrations below 250 μg/ml. Intra-articular samples could effectively alleviate the degeneration and destruction of the cartilage. Conclusion: this study demonstrates the potential of MgO NPs as a safe and effective treatment of OA. Simultaneously, the size of the particles may play a significant role in influencing the therapeutic outcome. Graphical Abstract Article highlights Magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgO NPs) as the Mg2+ carrier for treatment OA, which not only increases the loading efficiency of Mg2+ but also regulates Mg2+ sustained release. Our investigation not only substantiates the efficacy of MgO NPs in assuaging the pathological manifestations of OA and safeguarding against articular cartilage degradation but also elucidates the correlation between this anti-OA effect and the particle dimensions of MgO NPs per se. Our study not only reinforces the pivotal role of Mg2+ in OA treatment but also underscores the potential of nanoscale strategies in bolstering Mg's therapeutic efficacy. This research lays the foundational groundwork indispensable for the clinical translation of Mg2+ and MgO NPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Resources & Ecology is the property of Journal of Resources & Ecology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Qaidam cattle are a typical Chinese native breed inhabiting northwest China. They bear the characteristics of high cold and roughage tolerance, low‐oxygen adaptability and good meat quality. To analyze the genetic diversity of Qaidam cattle, 60 samples were sequenced using whole‐genome resequencing technology, along with 192 published sets of whole‐genome sequencing data of Indian indicine cattle, Chinese indicine cattle, North Chinese cattle breeds, East Asian taurine cattle, Eurasian taurine cattle and European taurine cattle as controls. It was found that Qaidam cattle have rich genetic diversity in Bos taurus, but the degree of inbreeding is also high, which needs further protection. The phylogenetic analysis, principal component analysis and ancestral component analysis showed that Qaidam cattle mainly originated from East Asian taurine cattle. Qaidam cattle had a closer genetic relationship with the North Chinese cattle breeds and the least differentiation from Mongolian cattle. Annotating the selection signals obtained by composite likelihood ratio, nucleotide diversity analysis, integrated haplotype score, genetic differentiation index, genetic diversity ratio and cross‐population extended haplotype homozygosity methods, several genes associated with immunity, reproduction, meat, milk, growth and adaptation showed strong selection signals. In general, this study provides genetic evidence for understanding the germplasm characteristics of Qaidam cattle. At the same time, it lays a foundation for the scientific and reasonable protection and utilization of genetic resources of Chinese local cattle breeds, which has great theoretical and practical significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrocarbon exploration in the Dongying Sag is constrained by the development of many Cenozoic transtensional structures with complex patterns and dynamic mechanisms. This study uses seismic interpretation and analog modeling to investigate these transtensional structures. Significant results include dividing these transtensional structures into boundary fault, oblique rifting, and deep strike-slip fault controlled structures, according to the relationships between main and secondary faults. They developed in the steep slope zone, the central sag zone, and the slope zone, respectively. In profile, the transtensional structures formed appear to be semi-flower-like, step-like, or negative-flower-like. In plan-view, they appear to be broom-like, soft-linked, or en-echelon structures. Further, these transtensional structures are controlled by the oblique normal slip of boundary faults, by the oblique extension of sub-sags, and by the later extension of deep strike-slip faults. The geometric deformation of these transtensional structures is controlled by the angles between the regional extension direction and the strike of boundary faults, deep faults, or sub-sags, where a larger angle corresponds to less developed transtensional structures. Further, the transtensional structures in the Dongying Sag were created by multiphase and multi-directional extensions in the Cenozoic— which is also controlled by pre-existing structures. The strike of newborn secondary faults was determined by the regional extension direction and pre-existing structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In spite of significant strides in the realm of cancer biology and therapeutic interventions, the clinical prognosis for patients afflicted with glioblastoma (GBM) remains distressingly dismal. The tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), a crucial player in the progression, treatment response, and prognostic trajectory of glioma, warrants thorough exploration. Within this intricate microcosm, the immunosuppressive checkpoint protein PD‐L1 and tumor‐infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) emerge as pivotal constituents, underscoring their potential role in deciphering glioma biology and informing treatment strategies. However, prognostic models based on the association between PD‐L1 expression and TIL infiltration in the tumor immune microenvironment have not been established. The aim of this study was to explore TIME genes associated with PD‐L1 expression and TIL invasion and to construct a risk score for predicting the overall survival (OS) of GBM patients based on these genes. The samples were separately classified according to the PD‐L1 expression level and TIL score and TIME‐related genes were identified using differential expression and weighted gene co‐expression network analysis. The DEGs were subjected to least absolute contraction and selection operator (LASSO) ‐Cox regression to construct TIME associated risk score (TIMErisk). A TIMErisk was developed based on STEAP3 and CXCL13 genes. The STLEAP3 was demonstrated to be involved in glioma progression. The results showed that the patients in the high TIMErisk group had poor OS compared with subjects in the low TIMErisk group. The biological phenotypes associated with TIMErisk were analyzed in terms of functional enrichment, tumor immune profile, and tumor mutation profile. The results on tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion dysfunction (TIDE) score and immune surface score (IPS) showed that GBM patients with different TIME risks had different responses to immunotherapy. Tumor purity analysis indicated that PD‐L1 and TIL scores were positively correlated with TIMErisk score and negatively correlated with tumor purity. These results show that the TIMErisk‐based prognostic model had high predictive value for the prognosis and immune characteristics of GBM patients. Immunohistochemical staining images of patients in the high and low TIMErisk groups were analyzed, showing that the degree of immune cell infiltration was higher in the high TIMErisk group relative to the low TIMErisk group. The present study provides a basis for understanding glioma tumor microenvironment and a foundation for conducting comprehensive immunogenomic analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transparent bamboo (TB) is a new type of biomass and light transmitting material with potential to serve as substitute for transparent wood. However, the potential of the bamboo structure in preparing transparent composites is underexplored. Inspired by the functional gradient structure of bamboo, a simple and efficient two‐step strategy to prepare TB with different transmittance levels, fiber textures, and colors is used. The performance of single‐ and multilayer TB with various fiber volume contents prepared using different lamination methods is evaluated. It is found that the optical and mechanical properties of TB differ with the fiber volume content and the lamination method used. TB composed of veneers with low fiber volume shows the highest light transmittance (44.6%), whereas TB composed of veneers with high fiber volume has the highest tensile strength (45.7 MPa). In terms of water resistance, cross lamination inhibits expansion in width (water absorption rate, 16.37–21.26%) and thickness (thickness swelling rate, 10.22–21.74%). The lamination structure and fiber volume content in the preparation of TB should be selected according to the specific application scenarios. The graded utilization of bamboo veneer with a fiber gradient can effectively realize the rational allocation of bamboo resources and promote sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fires formed by the high gas protrusion in coal mines are difficult and risky to extinguish during the mine closure process due to the mine's large closed range and underground gas stock. To achieve efficient and safe unsealing, reduce the risk of re-ignition and gas explosion, and accurately determine the fire extinguishing effect, a dual-drive rapid fire extinguishing technology is proposed. This technology involves ground precise positioning of drilling holes, rapid and large flow of liquid nitrogen injection, and curtain grouting to block fires in ultra-large high-gas mines. The practical results demonstrate that the implementation of surface injection of liquid nitrogen for fire extinguishing and cooling, and plugging effectively reduces the concentration of CO in the underground space from 230 PPm to 0 PPm, and decreases the CH4 concentration content from 90% to less than 0.75%. The fire extinguishing and cooling effect is fast and significant. A technical scheme for unsealing the fire area of the whole mine is formulated on a large scale based on the state of pumping and releasing pressure in the closed space of the mine. This scheme has important guiding significance for safety rescue and rescue operations after serious fire accidents occur in similar high-gas prominent mines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extrachromosomal circular DNA (eccDNA) was discovered several decades ago, but little is known about its function. With the development of sequencing technology, several library preparation methods have been developed to elucidate the biogenesis and function of eccDNA. However, different treatment methods have certain biases that can lead to their erroneous interpretation. To address these issues, we compared the performance of different library preparation methods. Our investigation revealed that the utilization of rolling-circle amplification (RCA) and restriction enzyme linearization of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) significantly enhanced the efficiency of enriching extrachromosomal circular DNA (eccDNA). However, it also introduced certain biases, such as an unclear peak in ∼160–200 bp periodicity and the absence of a typical motif pattern. Furthermore, given that RCA can lead to a disproportionate change in copy numbers, eccDNA quantification using split and discordant reads should be avoided. Analysis of the genomic and elements distribution of the overall population of eccDNA molecules revealed a high correlation between the replicates, and provided a possible stability signature for eccDNA, which could potentially reflect different cell lines or cell states. However, we found only a few eccDNA with identical junction sites in each replicate, showing a high degree of heterogeneity of eccDNA. The emergence of different motif patterns flanking junctional sites in eccDNAs of varying sizes suggests the involvement of multiple potential mechanisms in eccDNA generation. This study comprehensively compares and discusses various essential approaches for eccDNA library preparation, offering valuable insights and practical advice to researchers involved in characterizing eccDNA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to develop precise hole placement technology for gas extraction, this paper combines industrial testing, the evolution law of coal rock damage permeability, and the coal double-pore double-permeability model; establishes a coupling model of the coal damage deformation field and matrix-fracture double diffusion seepage field; and determines precise hole placement spacing for a coal seam gas by using the COMSOL Multiphysics 5.6 numerical simulation software. This study shows that the effective radius of gas extraction is 4.8 m after 180 d of extraction, which is a power function of the extraction time. The permeability of the coal body is affected by matrix adsorption, and contraction and effective stress, and the influence range between the boreholes under multi-hole extraction increases with the increase in spacing; at the same time, we took into account the positive effect of the permeability change on the extraction effect and ultimately determined the optimal spacing of boreholes in Dashucun Mine to be 6 m, which was arranged in the square area. The extraction effect was good after the on-site test, and the results of this study can provide guidance for the optimal arrangement of the spacing of boreholes in the underground areas of coal mines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the non-renewability of coal resources and the effect of excessive resource loss on the economic development of enterprises forming a constraint, breakthroughs in high energy consumption to achieve energy saving and emission reduction in coal mines represent an important way to promote the development of coal enterprises. This paper takes the energy-saving work of the Wuyang coal mine, which is very representative of China's Shanxi Province, as an example, and uses hierarchical analysis to establish an assessment system for energy conservation and emission reduction in coal mines. We adopted on-site research, expert scoring, and project guidance to divide the factors affecting energy conservation and emission reduction in the Wuyang coal mine into 24 categories, and we then used fuzzy mathematical calculations to assess potential, which is of better practicability. The study shows that the grade of energy saving and emission reduction in the Wuyang coal mine is of a medium level, and the potential of energy saving and emission reduction is large. The main influencing factors are improving the recovery rate of refined coal, renovating pressurized filters, eliminating high-energy-consuming equipment, optimizing the parking process, replacing the flotation machine, and ensuring the intelligent management of power metering. According to the relevant factors derived from the energy-saving and emission reduction work at the Wuyang coal mine for implementing the relevant measures, we provide a reference for the work of energy saving and emission reduction in mines in order to promote the sustainable development of the coal mining industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to obtain a reasonable extraction drilling method for coal seam working faces and to carry out targeted as well as cost-effective hole placement optimization, a gas–solid coupled model based on the coal rock deformation field and the matrix–fissure dual seepage–diffusion field was established and numerically solved via the use of COMSOL Multiphysics finite element software to optimize the gas transport parameters of the Dongpang coal mine based on the study of the coal seam gas transport law. This study shows the following: With an increase in the extraction time, the gas content of the coal seam was reduced to a minimum. It shows that, with an increase in the extraction time, the gas pressure and seepage velocity keep decreasing the stable value, the main stress around the borehole redistributes, and the coal permeability keeps decreasing with an increase in the decay coefficient. The extraction radius of the boreholes increases exponentially with the extraction time, and the reasonable extraction hole size is 94 mm; the use of multiple boreholes for pre-drawing gas via the use of the interval between the effective extraction radius and the influence radius results in a blind extraction zone caused by the superposition effect between the boreholes, and the residual gas value of the coal seam increases with an increase in the borehole spacing. The use of an equilateral triangular hole layout can avoid the extraction blind zone, and the pre-sumping effect is good after field application, which ensures the safe production of coal mines as well as the reasonable use of resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The linked voxel model is commonly used to simulate real-time interactive cutting of deformable objects. Previous methods use a single level of voxels and result in tight coupling between collision and rendering. In this paper, a novel method using two levels of voxels is proposed. The object surface mesh is divided into an interface mesh constructed on a fine level voxel grid and a cut surface mesh constructed on a coarse level voxel grid. Collision uses a collision proxy constructed on the coarse level voxel grid and is therefore decoupled from the rendering quality of the interface mesh. The only drawback of our method is that collision is still coupled to the rendering quality of the cut surface mesh. Simulation tests show that simulations using our method have higher frame rates than those using a single level of fine voxels, while achieving comparable rendering qualities for the interface meshes. Although the rendering qualities of the cut surface meshes are only comparable to those using a single level of coarse voxels, the rendering qualities of the boundary lines between different materials on the cut surface and the outer edges of the cut surface are better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rockburst is one of the major problems in rock underground engineering and mechanics. To make a risk assessment of rockburst and improve the mine safety index, some evaluation systems for rockburst propensity have been proposed and applied, and progress has been made in the study of high-value mines and single evaluation systems, but these evaluation systems are still immature for deep low and medium grade phosphate mines with more complex influencing factors. Therefore, to solve this problem, this study takes the phosphate mining area of the Sujiapo phosphate mine as the main research object, and combines the characteristics of the deep rockburst of the phosphate mine and its physical and mechanical properties; the evaluation system combines fuzzy mathematical method and multiple evaluation methods to determine the propensity of rockburst of deep mining of Sujiapo phosphate mine. The JSM-500LV SEM and acoustic emission results are used to analyze the microscopic mechanism of rockburst from the morphology and composition of the rocks, and the rationality of the evaluation system is further demonstrated. The study shows that dolomite and phosphorite in the study area are moderate rockburst, and shale has a weak rockburst tendency; because the roof dolomite and phosphorite crystallization degree are higher, the elastic modulus is large. Under the action of external load, the roof dolomite stored more elastic strain energy. Deformation damage consumes less energy. The energy released to the outside world after the damage is large, more likely to occur brittle damage, and the rockburst tendency is high. Therefore, the evaluation system combining multiple evaluation methods can comprehensively determine rockburst in phosphate mines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: What are the main findings? laminated structure and fiber volume significantly influenced the BLC properties. What is the implication of the main finding? A reference for selecting an appropriate BLC structure and fiber volume based on ap-plication was provided. The realization of rational allocation of bamboo resources. Compared with wood, bamboo has a special fiber gradient structure. Bamboo fibers have attracted attention as reinforced polymer composites. This study investigated the effects of lamination and fiber volume on the physical and mechanical properties of bamboo laminated composites (BLCs). Six types of BLC were derived by parallel and cross laminating bamboo veneers with high, middle, and low fiber volumes. The results indicated that the laminated structure and fiber volume significantly influenced the BLC properties. Microstructural analysis showed that parallel lamination and low fiber volume were more conducive to resin penetration and enhanced the bonding strength. Both the bending and tensile strengths of the cross lamination were lower than those of the parallel lamination. BLCs made of veneers with high and middle fiber volumes and parallel lamination had the maximum bending and tensile strengths (145.1 and 101.53 MPa, respectively). When tested for water resistance, parallel and cross lamination inhibited expansion in the thickness (TSR, 0.56–2.14%) and width (WSR, 0.07–1.61%) directions, respectively. Laminated structures and veneers with varying fiber volume contents should be chosen according to the specific application scenarios. This study provides a reference for selecting an appropriate BLC structure and fiber volume based on application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) is a common and organ-specific autoimmune disease. Early diagnosis and novel treatments are essential to improve the prognosis of TAO patients. Therefore, the current work was performed to identify the key genes and pathways for the biological and clinical implications of TAO through comprehensive bioinformatics analysis and a series of clinical validations. Methods: GSE105149 and GSE185952 were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database for analysis. The data were normalized to identify the common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the two datasets, and the Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were conducted to assess key pathways in TAO. Protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks and hub genes among the common DEGs were identified. Furthermore, we collected the general information and blood samples from 50 TAO patients and 20 healthy controls (HCs), and the expression levels of the proteins encoded by hub genes in serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Then we further assessed the relationship between the ELISA data and the TAO development. Results: Several common pathways, including neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, the IL-17 signaling pathway, and the TNF signaling pathway, were identified in both datasets. In parallel, 52 common DEGs were identified. The KEGG analysis showed that these common DEGs are mainly enriched in long-term depression, the VEGF signaling pathway, the IL-17 signaling pathway, the TNF signaling pathway, and cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions. The key hub genes PRKCG, OSM, DPP4, LRRTM1, CXCL6, and CSF3R were screened out through the PPI network. As confirmation, the ELISA results indicated that protein expression levels of PRKCG, OSM, CSF3R, and DPP4 were significantly upregulated in TAO patients compared with HCs. In addition, PRKCG and DPP4 were verified to show value in diagnosing TAO, and CSF3R was found to be a valuable diagnostic marker in distinguishing active TAO from inactive TAO. Conclusions: Inflammation- and neuromodulation-related pathways might be closely associated with TAO. Based on the clinical verification, OSM, CSF3R, CXCL6, DPP4, and PRKCG may serve as inflammation- or neuromodulation-related biomarkers for TAO, providing novel insights for the diagnosis and treatment of TAO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The enormous pressures of energy consumption and the severe pollution produced by non-renewable resources have prompted researchers to develop various environmentally friendly energy-saving materials. Transparent bamboo represents an emerging result of biomass material research that has been identified and studied for its many advantages, including light weight, excellent light transmittance, environmental sustainability, superior mechanical properties, and low thermal conductivity. The present review summarizes methods for preparing transparent bamboo, including delignification and resin impregnation. Next, transparent bamboo performance is quantified in terms of optical, mechanical, and thermal conductivity characteristics and compared with other conventional and emerging synthetic materials. Potential applications of transparent bamboo are then discussed using various functionalizations achieved through doping nanomaterials or modified resins to realize advanced energy-efficient building materials, decorative elements, and optoelectronic devices. Finally, challenges associated with the preparation, performance improvement, and production scaling of transparent bamboo are summarized, suggesting opportunities for the future development of this novel, bio-based, and advanced material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analysis of over-parameterized neural networks has drawn significant attention in recent years. It was shown that such systems behave like convex systems under various restricted settings, such as for two-layer neural networks, and when learning is only restricted locally in the so-called neural tangent kernel space around specialized initializations. However, there is a lack of powerful theoretical techniques that can analyze fully trained deep neural networks under general conditions. This paper considers this fundamental problem by investigating such overparameterized deep neural networks when fully trained. Specifically, we characterize a deep neural network by its features’ distributions and propose a metric to intuitively measure the usefulness of feature representations. Under certain regularizers that bounds the metric, we show deep neural networks can be reformulated as a convex optimization and the system can guarantee effective feature representations in terms of the metric. Our new analysis is more consistent with empirical observations that deep neural networks are capable of learning efficient feature representations. Empirical studies confirm that predictions of our theory are consistent with results observed in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Radiodynamic therapy (RDT) holds the potential to overcome the shallow tissue penetration issue associated with conventional photodynamic therapy (PDT). To this end, complex and sometimes toxic scintillator–photosensitizer nanoconjugates are often used, posing barriers for large-scale manufacturing and regulatory approval. Methods: Herein, we report a streamlined RDT strategy based on CsI(Na)@MgO nanoparticles and 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA). 5-ALA is a clinically approved photosensitizer, converted to protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) in cancer cells' mitochondria. CsI(Na)@MgO nanoparticles produce strong ~ 410 nm X-ray luminescence, which matches the Soret band of PpIX. We hypothesize that the CsI(Na)@MgO-and-5-ALA combination can mediate RDT wherein mitochondria-targeted PDT synergizes with DNA-targeted irradiation for efficient cancer cell killing. Because scintillator nanoparticles and photosensitizer are administered separately, the approach forgoes issues such as self-quenching or uncontrolled release of photosensitizers. Results: When tested in vitro with 4T1 cells, the CsI(Na)@MgO and 5-ALA combination elevated radiation-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS), enhancing damages to mitochondria, DNA, and lipids, eventually reducing cell proliferation and clonogenicity. When tested in vivo in 4T1 models, RDT with the CsI(Na)@MgO and 5-ALA combination significantly improved tumor suppression and animal survival relative to radiation therapy (RT) alone. After treatment, the scintillator nanoparticles, made of low-toxic alkali and halide elements, were efficiently excreted, causing no detectable harm to the hosts. Conclusions: Our studies show that separately administering CsI(Na)@MgO nanoparticles and 5-ALA represents a safe and streamlined RDT approach with potential in clinical translation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silty clay is a kind of clay with more powder group than sand group, and its shear strength is mainly influenced by moisture content, dry density, and particle gradation. In this study, the deformation characteristics of silty clay under different normal pressure conditions were investigated from the perspective of control variables through indoor direct shear experiments. The results of the study show that with the same guaranteed moisture content, it can be seen from the fitted curves that with the increase of dry density, the arrangement of soil particles becomes more compact, the cementation between soil particles is strengthened, the shear strength increases, the occlusal friction increases due to the change of arrangement between soil particles, and the angle of internal friction and cohesion are relatively larger; in addition, when the dry density is the same, with the increase of moisture content, the soil becomes softer, and the form of water in the soil particles changes. In addition, when the dry density is the same, as the moisture content increases, the soil becomes softer, the presence of water between the soil particles changes, resulting in the weakening of the occlusion between the soil particles, the shear strength decreases, and the cohesion and the angle of internal friction relatively decrease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sensitive simultaneous electrochemical sensing of phytohormones indole-3-acetic acid and salicylic acid based on a novel poly(L-Proline) nanoparticles–carbon dots composite consisting of multiwalled carbon nanotubes was reported in this study. The poly(L-Proline) nanoparticles–carbon dots composite was facilely prepared by the hydrothermal method, and L-Proline was used as a monomer and carbon source for the preparation of poly(L-Proline) nanoparticles and carbon dots, respectively. Then, the poly(L-Proline) nanoparticles–carbon dots–multiwalled carbon nanotubes composite was prepared by ultrasonic mixing of poly(L-Proline) nanoparticles–carbon dots composite dispersion and multiwalled carbon nanotubes. Scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet visible spectroscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and linear sweep voltammetry were used to characterize the properties of the composite. poly(L-Proline) nanoparticles were found to significantly enhance the conductivity and sensing performance of the composite. Under optimal conditions, the composite-modified electrode exhibited a wide linear range from 0.05 to 25 μM for indole-3-acetic acid and from 0.2 to 60 μM for salicylic acid with detection limits of 0.007 μM and 0.1 μM (S/N = 3), respectively. In addition, the proposed sensor was also applied to simultaneously test indole-3-acetic acid and salicylic acid in real leaf samples with satisfactory recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanism of separation methods, for example, liquid chromatography, is realized through rapid multiple adsorption‐desorption steps leading to the dynamic equilibrium state in a mixture of molecules with different partition coefficients. Sorting of colloidal particles, including protein complexes, cells, and viruses, is limited due to a high energy barrier, up to millions kT, required to detach particles from the interface, which is in dramatic contrast to a few kT for small molecules. Such a strong interaction renders particle adsorption quasi‐irreversible. The dynamic adsorption‐desorption equilibrium is approached very slowly, if ever attainable. This limitation is alleviated with a local oscillating repulsive mechanical force generated at the microstructured stimuli‐responsive polymer interface to switch between adsorption and mechanical‐force‐facilitated desorption of the particles. Such a dynamic regime enables the separation of colloidal mixtures based on the particle‐polymer interface affinity, and it could find use in research, diagnostics, and industrial‐scale label‐free sorting of highly asymmetric mixtures of colloids and cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanism of separation methods, for example, liquid chromatography, is realized through rapid multiple adsorption‐desorption steps leading to the dynamic equilibrium state in a mixture of molecules with different partition coefficients. Sorting of colloidal particles, including protein complexes, cells, and viruses, is limited due to a high energy barrier, up to millions kT, required to detach particles from the interface, which is in dramatic contrast to a few kT for small molecules. Such a strong interaction renders particle adsorption quasi‐irreversible. The dynamic adsorption‐desorption equilibrium is approached very slowly, if ever attainable. This limitation is alleviated with a local oscillating repulsive mechanical force generated at the microstructured stimuli‐responsive polymer interface to switch between adsorption and mechanical‐force‐facilitated desorption of the particles. Such a dynamic regime enables the separation of colloidal mixtures based on the particle‐polymer interface affinity, and it could find use in research, diagnostics, and industrial‐scale label‐free sorting of highly asymmetric mixtures of colloids and cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) may elicit antitumor immune response in addition to killing cancer cells. However, PDT as a monotherapy often fails to induce a strong immunity. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, which selectively block regulatory axes, may be used in combination with PDT to improve treatment outcomes. Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) is an immunoregulatory enzyme and an important meditator of tumor immune escape. Combination therapy with PDT and IDO-targeted immune checkpoint blockage is promising but has been seldom been explored. Methods: Herein we report a composite nanoparticle that allows for simultaneous delivery of photosensitizer and IDO inhibitor. Briefly, we separately load ZnF16Pc, a photosensitizer, and NLG919, an indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) inhibitor, into ferritin and poly(lactide-co-glycolic)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-PLGA) nanoparticles; we then conjugate these two compartments to form a composite nanoparticle referred to as PPF NPs. We tested combination treatment with PPF NPs first in vitro and then in vivo in B16F10-tumor bearing C57/BL6 mice. Results: Our results showed that PPF NPs can efficiently encapsulate both ZnF16Pc and NLG919. In vivo studies found that the combination treatment led to significantly improved tumor suppression and animal survival. Moreover, the treatment increased tumor infiltration of CD8+ T cells, while reducing frequencies of MDSCs and Tregs. 30% of the animals showed complete tumor eradication, and they successfully rejected a second tumor inoculation. Overall, our studies introduce a unique composite nanoplatform that allows for co-delivery of photosensitizer and IDO inhibitor with minimal inter-species interference, which is ideal for combination therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer‐associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are present in many types of tumors and play a pivotal role in tumor progression and immunosuppression. Fibroblast‐activation protein (FAP), which is overexpressed on CAFs, has been indicated as a universal tumor target. However, FAP expression is not restricted to tumors, and systemic treatment against FAP often causes severe side effects. To solve this problem, a photodynamic therapy (PDT) approach is developed based on ZnF16Pc‐loaded and FAP‐specific single chain variable fragment (scFv)‐conjugated apoferritin nanoparticles, or αFAP‐Z@FRT. αFAP‐Z@FRT PDT efficiently eradicates CAFs in tumors without inducing systemic toxicity. When tested in murine 4T1 models, the treatment elicits anti‐cancer immunity, causing suppression of both primary and distant tumors, that is, the abscopal effect. Treatment efficacy is enhanced when αFAP‐Z@FRT PDT is used in combination with anti‐PD1 antibodies. Interestingly, it is found that the PDT treatment not only elicits a cellular immunity against cancer cells, but also stimulates an anti‐CAFs immunity. This is supported by an adoptive cell transfer study, where T cells taken from 4T1‐tumor‐bearing animals treated with αFAP PDT retard the growth of A549 tumors established on nude mice. Overall, this approach is unique for permitting site‐specific eradication of CAFs and inducing a broad spectrum anti‐cancer immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultivar is one of the key factors to that influences the nutritional and commercial values of walnuts. However, differences in the comprehensive chemical components among walnut cultivars and their internal formation mechanism are rarely reported. In this study, 49 chemical components of 10 main walnut cultivars from Shanxi Province, China were investigated. Polyphenols, flavonoids and vitamin E were especially rich with the contents of 32.20 mg/g, 16.25 mg/g and 42.37 mg/g, respectively. Highly positive correlations existed among amino acids (r > 0.77, p < 0.01), polyphenols-flavonoids (r = 0.85, p < 0.01) and α-Vitamin E - γ-Vitamin E (r = 0.93, p < 0.01). Some microelements (Tl, Ba and Ni) were negatively correlated with most of the essential amino acids (expect for Cys and Lys), α-Vitamin E and γ-Vitamin E. Based on further analysis of the relationships between chemical component groups, there were 13 canonical variate pairs between microelements and other chemical composition groups was up to 13 pairs (r > 0.8, p < 0.01). Then correspondence analysis indicated 17 chemical compositions were typical phytochemical component of these walnut cultivars. Microelements were the major factor that influenced on the comprehensive qualities of walnuts. Finally, walnut cultivars were classified into various industrial developments based on their chemical components. This research demonstrated that differences and relationships of chemical components in walnuts could be efficiently determined and further applied to the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teaching quality evaluation is a complex non-linear system fitting problem under the influence of many factors. The establishment of teaching quality evaluation is to construct a functional relationship between teaching quality evaluation index and teaching effect. In this paper, the authors analyze the fuzzy mathematics and machine learning algorithms application in educational quality evaluation model. Machine learning method has been well applied in complex problems such as classification, fitting, pattern recognition and so on. It can be used to realize a more comprehensive, reasonable and effective evaluation of the classroom teaching quality of university teachers. The simulation results show that the model can well express the complex relationship between the teaching quality evaluation index and the evaluation results. The theoretical values of the evaluation results are in the corresponding confidence interval, which proves that the machine learning algorithm has good reliability for different teaching quality evaluation problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The virtual joint method (VJM) cannot calculate the strain energy stored in each rod. In order to solve the problem, a modeling method of the elastostatic stiffness was investigated for the UP/UPS parallel manipulators (PMs), taking the example of the 6-SPS PM. The modeling method was based on screw theory, Castigliano's theorem, and strain energy (where U, P, and S, respectively, denote universal, prismatic, and spherical joints). First, the actuator and constraint wrenches of the mechanism were obtained by screw theory. Second, compact limb stiffness matrices were obtained in terms of strain energy and Castigliano's second theorem. Finally, analytic expressions for the overall stiffness matrix of the mechanism and the amplitudes of the actuator force were obtained by adopting the virtual work principle and the balance equation for the mobile platform. All relative errors between the results of the analytical model and the finite element model are below 2%, which validates the effectiveness of the elastostatic stiffness model. The virtual work index was adopted to evaluate the stiffness performance of the mechanism, and the results show that the stiffness is not only related to position and orientation but also closely related to the directions of external loads. It is also demonstrated that the method has general adaptability for the stiffness analysis for the US/UPS PMs, laying the foundation for further reasonable dynamic design and optimization of such manipulators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To solve the saliency detection problem in RGB-D images, the depth information plays a critical role in distinguishing salient objects or foregrounds from cluttered backgrounds. As the complementary component to color information, the depth quality directly dictates the subsequent saliency detection performance. However, due to artifacts and the limitation of depth acquisition devices, the quality of the obtained depth varies tremendously across different scenarios. Consequently, conventional selective fusion-based RGB-D saliency detection methods may result in a degraded detection performance in cases containing salient objects with low color contrast coupled with a low depth quality. To solve this problem, we make our initial attempt to estimate additional high-quality depth information, which is denoted by Depth+. Serving as a complement to the original depth, Depth+ will be fed into our newly designed selective fusion network to boost the detection performance. To achieve this aim, we first retrieve a small group of images that are similar to the given input, and then the inter-image, nonlocal correspondences are built accordingly. Thus, by using these inter-image correspondences, the overall depth can be coarsely estimated by utilizing our newly designed depth-transferring strategy. Next, we build fine-grained, object-level correspondences coupled with a saliency prior to further improve the depth quality of the previous estimation. Compared to the original depth, our newly estimated Depth+ is potentially more informative for detection improvement. Finally, we feed both the original depth and the newly estimated Depth+ into our selective deep fusion network, whose key novelty is to achieve an optimal complementary balance to make better decisions toward improving saliency boundaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For deformable objects modeled as a uniform grid of voxels connected by links, an octree for the voxels is constructed. Cutting is performed by disconnecting links swept by the cutting tool and reconstructing cut surface mesh using the dual contour method. The cubes of the voxel octree are not directly used because their edges generally do not remain straight when the objects deform. Instead, the voxel octree is used to mark active voxels and links and is therefore called "pseudo." Voxels and links located in the interiors of voxel octree cubes are deactivated. For collision between the cutting tool and the deformable objects, only active voxels and links are considered. Then, voxel octree cubes with newly cut links on their boundaries are recursively subdivided, and new voxels and links are activated accordingly. These algorithms are implemented with multi-threading techniques. Simulation tests show that when compared to previous methods using a uniform grid of voxels, our voxel octree method can increase cutting tool collision speed by 11–96% and can increase overall simulation speed by 7–43%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Active vision systems with independent eye motion are required to update extrinsic parameters continuously to perform stereo reconstruction. The stereo parameters could be calculated through forward kinematics model plus head-eye parameters of each eye. The head-eye parameters could be calibrated through the traditional head-eye calibration method separately. However, the head-eye calibration method could not reduce the impact of the kinematics model errors, which may cause reconstruction result unacceptable. Instead, we propose an integrated two-pose calibration (ITPC) method to calculate head-eye parameters of both eyes simultaneously to reduce the impact of model error by deriving two new equations from two poses of the robotic bionic eye. The implemented algorithm has been validated on GAZEBO and our robotic bionic eye. The results demonstrate that the head-eye parameters obtained by our method are more accurate and more robust to kinematics model errors. We have also analyzed the reason why the proposed method is better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The samples collected from Banxi coal mine in Chongqing, Southwest China, have been used to study on damage of coal based on permeability change rate (PCR) and load-unload response ratio (LURR) under cyclic loading by using thermal-hydrological-mechanical (THM) coupling experimental equipment. Research results show that (1) the LURR is applied to describe the samples response to cyclic loads based on loading/unloading elastic modulus. The LURR is larger at the initial cyclic, with the cyclic loading and unloading, it decreases sharply first, and then slowly decreases to 1 value, and then slowly rises away from 1 value. The increase of LURR after stabilization can be used as the precursory information to judge the failure and instability of coal and rock. (2) A new damage characterization method based on PCR can well characterize the three stages of coal-rock damage under cyclic loading, that is, first accelerates damage and then remains smooth, at last also accelerates damage. The evolution of damage variable based on PCR is similar to the general trend of damage variable based on LURR. As gas monitoring is a routine monitoring indicator for coal mines, so it is a practical, innovative, and economical method to characterize the damage variables based on PCR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isolation of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from blood provides a minimally-invasive alternative for basic understanding, diagnosis, and prognosis of metastatic cancer. The roles and clinical values of CTCs are under intensive investigation, yet most studies are limited by technical challenges in the comprehensive enrichment of intact and viable CTCs with minimal white blood cell (WBC) contamination. Here, we report a novel method based on contrast of cell magnetization in biocompatible ferrofluids (a colloidal magnetic nanoparticle suspension), termed as integrated ferrohydrodynamic cell separation (iFCS), that enriches CTCs in a tumor antigen-independent and cell size variation-inclusive manner, achieves a high throughput (12 mL h−1), high recovery rate (99.08% at down to ∼10 cells per mL spike ratio), and low WBC contamination (533 cells for every one milliliter blood processed) and is biocompatible. This method will enable large cohort research to define the clinical and diagnostic value of CTC subtypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an systematic dynamic modeling and performance analysis method of an over-constrained 2PUR-PSR parallel manipulator with parasitic motions, where P, U, S, and R represent the prismatic joint, universal joint, spherical joint, and revolute joint, respectively. The process of the deduction of the over-constrained forces/moment is given. The Newton–Euler approach and natural orthogonal complement method are adopted to establish two types of dynamic models with and without constrained forces/moments with the consideration of the over-constrained forces/moments. The dynamic manipulability ellipsoid, which measures the uniformity of changing the position and orientation of the manipulator's moving platform, is adopted to evaluate the dynamic performance of the parallel manipulator. To show the feasibility of the proposed method, numerical simulations are conducted to investigate the dynamic models and performance of the 2PUR-PSR manipulator. The actuation forces, constrained forces/moments, and the compatible deformation are calculated. Distribution of the DME index is also obtained. The proposed modeling approach provides a fundamental basis for the structural optimization and control scheme design of the over-constrained parallel manipulator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genome-wide association study (GWAS) is a popular approach to identify disease-associated genetic factors for Alzhemer's Disease (AD). However, it remains challenging because of the small number of samples, very high feature dimensionality and complex structures. To accurately identify genetic risk factors for AD, we propose a novel method based on an in-depth exploration of the hierarchical structure among the features and the commonality across related tasks. Specifically, we first extract and encode the tree hierarchy among features; then, we integrate the tree structures with multi-task feature learning (MTFL) to learn the shared features—that are predictive of AD—among related tasks simultaneously. Thus, we can unify the strength of both the prior structure information and MTFL to boost the prediction performance. However, due to the highly complex regularizer that encodes the tree structure and the extremely high feature dimensionality, the learning process can be computationally prohibitive. To address this, we further develop a novel safe screening rule to quickly identify and remove the irrelevant features before training. Experiment results demonstrate that the proposed approach significantly outperforms the state-of-the-art in detecting genetic risk factors of AD and the speedup gained by the proposed screening can be several orders of magnitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tumors from the O2-treated P-FRT-RBCs (G1) and P-FRT-RBCs (G2) groups showed extensive cell destruction in tumors. A 671 nm laser was applied to tumors for 30 min at different irradiances. a) H&E and b) TUNEL assay results, conducted on tumor samples taken 24 h after the PDT. Scale bars: 100 µm. gl Figure 4 is hereby corrected with the correct images for the 0 W/cm SP 2 sp H&E staining result and 100 W/cm SP 2 sp TUNEL assay image included. [Extracted from the article]

Electrolytes can be taken orally or intravenously as supplements or therapeutics. However, their therapeutic window may exceed the serum toxicity threshold, making systemic delivery a poor option. Local injection is also not adequate due to rapid diffusion of electrolytes. Here, we solved this issue with a nanocapsule technology, comprising an electrolyte nanocrystal as the drug filling and a silica sheath to regulate drug release rates. In particular, we prepared LiF@SiO2 nanocapsules and investigated their potential as a delivery system for lithium, which was shown in recent studies to be an effective therapeutic agent for osteoarthritis (OA). We demonstrated that LiF@SiO2 can extend lithium release time from minutes to more than 60 h. After intraarticular (i.a.) injection into a rat OA model, the nanocapsules reduced the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) score by 71% in 8 weeks while inducing no systemic toxicity. Our study opens new doors for improved delivery of electrolyte therapeutics, which have rarely been studied in the past. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is among the deadliest cancers due to its heterogeneity, contributing to chemoresistance and recurrence. Cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) are suggested to play an important role in HCC tumorigenesis. This study investigates the role of Wnt/β-catenin pathway in CSC enrichment and the capabilities of these CSCs in tumor initiation in orthotopic immunocompetent mouse model.Methods: HCC-CSCs were enriched using established serum-free culture method. Wnt/β-catenin pathway activation and its components were analyzed by western blot and qRT-PCR. The role of β-catenin in enrichment of CSC spheroids was confirmed using siRNA interference. Tumorigenic capabilities were confirmed using orthotopic immunocompetent mouse model by injecting 2 × 106 Hepa1-6 CSC spheroids or control cells in upper left liver lobe.Results: The serum-free cultured Hepa1-6 cells demonstrated self-renewal, spheroid formation, higher EpCAM expression, increased Hoechst-33342 efflux, and upregulated Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Wnt/β-catenin pathway upregulation was implicated with the downstream targets, i.e., c-MYC, Cyclin-D1, and LEF1. Also, we found that GSK-3β serine-9 phosphorylation increased in Hepa1-6 spheroids. Silencing β-catenin by siRNA reversed spheroid formation phenotype. Mice injected with Hepa1-6 CSC spheroids showed aggressive tumor initiation and growth compared with mice injected with control cells.Conclusions: Successfully induced Hepa1-6 spheroids were identified with CSC-like properties. Aberrant β-catenin upregulation mediated by GSK-3β was observed in the Hepa1-6 spheroids. The β-catenin mediated CSC enrichment in the induced spheroids possesses the capability of tumor initiation in immunocompetent mice. Our study suggests plausible cell dedifferentiation mediated by β-catenin contributes to CSC-initiated HCC tumor growth in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A software framework taking advantage of parallel processing capabilities of CPUs and GPUs is designed for the real‐time interactive cutting simulation of deformable objects. Deformable objects are modelled as voxels connected by links. The voxels are embedded in an octree mesh used for deformation. Cutting is performed by disconnecting links swept by the cutting tool and then adaptively refining octree elements near the cutting tool trajectory. A surface mesh used for visual display is reconstructed from disconnected links using the dual contour method. Spatial hashing of the octree mesh and topology‐aware interpolation of distance field are used for collision. Our framework uses a novel GPU implementation for inter‐object collision and object self collision, while tool‐object collision, cutting and deformation are assigned to CPU, using multiple threads whenever possible. A novel method that splits cutting operations into four independent tasks running in parallel is designed. Our framework also performs data transfers between CPU and GPU simultaneously with other tasks to reduce their impact on performances. Simulation tests show that when compared to three‐threaded CPU implementations, our GPU accelerated collision is 53–160% faster; and the overall simulation frame rate is 47–98% faster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a compensated positive position feedback strategy for active control of flexible structures with piezoelectric actuators. In the proposed compensated positive position feedback method, a negative feedback compensator is involved to remedy the deficiency of traditional positive position feedback and to introduce roll-off characteristic at low frequencies. Thus, compensated positive position feedback controllers can be developed with minimal influences on lower order modes and cause no steady-state error to the controlled system. For demonstration purpose, the design processes and the effectiveness of the compensated positive position feedback method are illustrated by active control of a cable net structure with integrated piezoelectric stacked actuators. The numerical simulations demonstrate that compared to the conventional positive position feedback method, the proposed compensated positive position feedback approach overcomes the fundamental defects of frequency shift and spillover into lower order modes and achieves the goal of step-tracking with zero steady-state error. These comparative results confirm the efficacy and superiority of the proposed compensated positive position feedback methodology in active control of flexible structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) possess the capacity to differentiate into multiple cell types including retinal neurons. Despite substantial progress in the transcriptional regulation of iPSC differentiation process, the efficiency of generation of retinal neurons from iPSCs is still low. In this study, we investigated the role of transcription factor NeuroD1 in the differentiation of iPSCs into retinal neurons. We observed that retrovirus-mediated NeuroD1 overexpression in iPSCs increased the efficiency of neuronal differentiation. Immunostaining analysis showed that NeuroD1 overexpression increased the expression of retina ganglion cell markers including Islet-1, Math5, Brn3b, and Thy1.2. Retinoid acid (RA) and taurine further improved the differentiation efficiency of iPSCs overexpressing NeuroD1. However, RA and taurine did not promote differentiation in the absence of NeuroD1 overexpression. Together, our study provides new evidence in transcription factor-regulated stem cell differentiation in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Discrete mechanics and optimal control (DMOC) is a methodology that takes advantage of variational structure to solve certain optimal control problems for mechanical systems. This paper proposes to combine a multiphase strategy with the original DMOC method, resulting in a new multiphase DMOC (MDMOC) method and making optimal trajectory generation more efficient. The advantages of the proposed method are demonstrated mathematically, and in addition, a quadrotor, unmanned aerial vehicle, simulation example is presented to show its superiority over the DMOC method. Furthermore, to show its potential application, an arbitrarily chosen controller was used to track the desired trajectory generated by MDMOC. This new MDMOC methodology can also be applied to other mechanical systems such as mobile robots and underwater gliders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]