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Abstract Background Anterior pelvic ring injuries have gradually become common. Using a minimally invasive technique to treat this injury may be feasible if the reduction and stability can be effectively achieved. We describe a percutaneous technique, minimally invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis (MIPPO), to fixate the anterior pelvis via establishing a subperiosteal tunnel between two limited incisions over the iliac crest(s) and pubic ramus in this research. Methods A retrospective cohort study comparing the MIPPO technique (n = 60) versus the modified Stoppa approach (n = 53) for anterior pelvic ring injuries with posterior ring instability was performed from September 2016 to January 2023. The relative surgery variables, follow-up function evaluation, and complications were compared in two groups. The reduction quality of fracture was assessed according to the Matta criterion, and the functional score was evaluated using the Majeed score. Results All patients completed follow-up, with an average interval of 39.90 ± 17.53 months (range 12–78). In the MIPPO technique group, the surgery interval and blood losses were lower compared to the modified Stoppa approach group (P

Abstract Magnetically actuated miniature origami crawlers are capable of robust locomotion in confined environments but are limited to passive functionalities. Here, we propose a bistable origami crawler that can shape-morph to access two separate regimes of folding degrees of freedom that are separated by an energy barrier. Using the modified bistable V-fold origami crease pattern as the fundamental unit of the crawler, we incorporated internal permanent magnets to enable untethered shape-morphing. By modulating the orientation of the external magnetic field, the crawler can reconfigure between an undeployed locomotion state and a deployed load-bearing state. In the undeployed state, the crawler can deform to enable out-of-plane crawling for robust bi-directional locomotion and navigation in confined environments based on friction anisotropy. In the deployed state, the crawler can execute microneedle insertion in confined environments. Through this work, we demonstrated the advantage of incorporating bistability into origami mechanisms to expand their capabilities in space-constraint applications.

Abstract Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with glutamatergic neuron hyperactivation in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) brain area, while GABAergic interneurons in the BLA modulate glutamatergic neuron excitability. Studies have shown that propofol exerts its effects through potentiation of the inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid. The neuronal mechanism by which propofol anesthesia modulates fear memory is currently unknown. Here, we used optogenetics and chemogenetics to suppress glutamatergic neurons or activate GABAergic interneurons in the BLA to assess alterations in neuronal excitation-inhibition balance and investigate fear memory. The excitability of glutamatergic neurons in the BLA was significantly reduced by the suppression of glutamatergic neurons or activation of GABAergic interneurons, while propofol-mediated enhancement of fear memory was attenuated. We suggest that propofol anesthesia could reduce the excitability of GABAergic neurons through activation of GABAA receptors, subsequently increasing the excitability of glutamatergic neurons in the mice BLA; the effect of propofol on enhancing mice fear memory might be mediated by strengthening glutamatergic neuronal excitability and decreasing the excitability of GABAergic neurons in the BLA; neuronal excitation-inhibition imbalance in the BLA might be important in mediating the enhancement of fear memory induced by propofol.

Abstract Oral corticosteroids represents the most prevalent treatment for idiopathic granulomatous mastitis. Ductal lavage with triamcinolone acetonide and antibiotics followed by observation (DL-OBS) has emerged as a novel strategy, but a comparison of them remains lacking. Here in this multicenter, open-label, non-inferiority, randomized trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03724903), we assigned 140 patients to oral corticosteroids (N = 71) and DL-OBS (N = 69), stratified by baseline M-score. The primary outcome is complete Clinical Response rate at 1 year. The non-inferiority margin is −15%. The primary outcome is 85.5% in DL-OBS and 87.3% in oral corticosteroids (difference: −1.8%; 95%CI, 13.2 to 9.5; Pnon-inferiority = .01) in intention-to-treat population, and 92.6% vs 98.2% (difference −5.6%; 95%CI −13.4 to 2.2; Pnon-inferiority = .01) in per-protocol population, respectively. The most common (>15%) adverse events were Cushingoid, epigastric pain and arthralgia in oral corticosteroids, and irregular menstruation in DL-OBS, respectively. Here, we report that DL-OBS shows similar efficacy to oral corticosteroids but with better safety profile.

Scientific and technological revolutions and industrial transformations have accelerated the rate of innovation in environmental engineering technologies. However, few researchers have evaluated the current status and future trends of technologies. This paper summarizes the current research status in eight major subfields of environmental engineering—water treatment, air pollution control, soil/solid waste management, environmental biotechnology, environmental engineering equipment, emerging contaminants, synergistic reduction of pollution and carbon emissions, and environmental risk and intelligent management—based on bibliometric analysis and future trends in greenization, low carbonization, and intelligentization. Disruptive technologies are further identified based on discontinuous transformation, and ten such technologies are proposed, covering general and specific fields, technical links, and value sources. Additionally, the background and key innovations in disruptive technologies are elucidated in detail. This study not only provides a scientific basis for strategic decision-making, planning, and implementation in the environmental engineering field but also offers methodological guidance for the research and determination of breakthrough technologies in other areas.

Abstract The high non-radiative energy loss is a bottleneck issue that impedes the improvement of organic solar cells. The formation of triplet exciton is thought to be the main source of the large non-radiative energy loss. Decreasing the rate of back charge transfer is considered as an effective approach to alleviate the relaxation of the charge-transfer state and the triplet exciton generation. Herein, we develops an efficient ternary system based on D18:N3-BO:F-BTA3 by regulating the charge-transfer state disorder and the rate of back charge transfer of the blend. With the addition of F-BTA3, a well-defined morphology with a more condensed molecular packing is obtained. Moreover, a reduced charge-transfer state disorder is demonstrated in the ternary blend, which decreases the rate of back charge transfer as well as the triplet exciton formation, and therefore hinders the non-radiative recombination pathways. Consequently, D18:N3-BO:F-BTA3-based device produces a low non-radiative energy loss of 0.183 eV and a record-high efficiency of 20.25%. This work not only points towards the significant role of the charge-transfer state disorder on the suppression of triplet exciton formation and the non-radiative energy loss, but also provides a valuable insight for enhancing the performance of OSCs.

Abstract Various digital therapeutic products have been validated and approved since 2017. They have demonstrated efficacy and safety as a new therapeutic modality in various disorders or conditions. Hypertension is a common but serious condition that can be prevented or controlled with lifestyle changes and medicines. Although a digital therapeutic in hypertension is validated and approved in Japan, whether digital therapeutics (DTx) can significantly improve sustainable lifestyle changes is still a controversial topic. Most studies did not discuss the long‐term gain challenges. In this review, the authors discuss the definition of DTx, and analyze the motivation, engagement and adherence challenges of DTx in hypertension. Some ongoing artificial intelligence (AI)‐enabled or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)‐based digital interventions and behavioral strategies for implementing sustainable lifestyle changes are identified and analyzed. With AI‐enabled interventions and behavioral strategies, DTx might be one of the effective approaches to make sustainable lifestyle changes.

Abstract The deep learning (DL)-based prediction of accurate lymph node (LN) clinical target volumes (CTVs) for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) radiotherapy (RT) remains challenging. One of the main reasons is the variability of contours despite standardization processes by expert guidelines in combination with scarce data sharing in the community. Therefore, we retrospectively generated a 262-subjects dataset from four centers to develop the DL models for LN CTVs delineation. This dataset included 440 computed tomography images from different scanning phases, disease stages and treatment strategies. Three clinical expert boards, each comprising two experts (totalling six experts), manually delineated six basic LN CTVs on separate cohorts as the ground truth according to LN involvement and clinical requirements. Several state-of-the-art segmentation algorithms were evaluated on this benchmark, showing promising results for LN CTV segmentation. In conclusion, this work built a multicenter LN CTV segmentation dataset, which may be the first dataset for automatic LN CTV delineation development and evaluation, serving as a benchmark for future research.

AIM: To examine the disparities in macular retinal vascular density between individuals with connective tissue disease-related interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD) and healthy controls (HCs) by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and to investigate the changes in microvascular density in abnormal eyes. METHODS: For a retrospective case-control study, a total of 16 patients (32 eyes) diagnosed with CTD-ILD were selected as the ILD group. The 16 healthy volunteers with 32 eyes, matched in terms of age and sex with the patients, were recruited as control group. The macular retina's superficial retinal layer (SRL) and deep retinal layer (DRL) were examined and scanned using OCTA in each individual eye. The densities of retinal microvascular (MIR), macrovascular (MAR), and total microvascular (TMI) were calculated and compared. Changes in retinal vascular density in the macular region were analyzed using three different segmentation methods: central annuli segmentation method (C1-C6), hemispheric segmentation method [uperior right (SR), superior left (SL), inferior left (IL), and inferior right (IR)], and Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) methods [superior (S), inferior (I), left (L), and right (R)]. The data were analyzed using Version 9.0 of GraphPad prism and Pearson analysis. RESULTS: The OCTA data demonstrated a statistically significant difference (P

Abstract Aim To explore nurses’ perceptions of evidence-based nursing courses for undergraduates through academic-practice partnerships. Design A deductive thematic analysis based on the practice-academic logic model. Methods Fifteen academic and clinical nurses were interviewed between November and December 2023, either online or through face-to-face meetings. Each interview lasted 20–30 min. The interview outline was constructed based on the practice-academic partnership logic model, which was followed during the process of recorded, analyzed, and checked. Results Themes identified include inputs (e.g., stakeholder commitment), activities (e.g., communication), outputs (e.g., nursing projects), and outcomes (e.g., improved competence). These themes highlight the various aspects and outcomes of academic-practice partnerships in evidence-based nursing courses. Conclusion Effective academic-practice partnerships are crucial for developing evidence-based nursing courses, leading to positive educational and professional outcomes. Impact Nurses’ perceptions provide valuable guidelines for developing effective evidence-based nursing courses. Patient or public contribution No patient or public users participated in this study.

Abstract Background and objective Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) has proven highly effective in improving quality of life for patients with severe knee conditions. Despite advancements, surgical complications such as periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) pose risks. The potential predictive value of pre- and post-operative inflammatory markers like neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), D-dimer, and albumin levels on surgical outcomes is garnering attention. There is a growing interest in leveraging these markers to enhance patient selection and outcome prediction in the context of TKA.Focusing on the natural course of these markers, and the incidence of PJIs and to refine perioperative care strategies, improve patient outcomes, and identify high-risk patients for targeted intervention. Methods The study included 94 patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty (TKA) between 2019 and 2023. Blood tests were conducted before surgery and at 1, 3, 7, and 15 days after surgery to assess various parameters including white blood cell count, neutrophils, lymphocytes, platelets, hemoglobin, C-reactive protein, D-dimers, total protein, albumin, and total cholesterol values and ratios. Results Following total knee arthroplasty (TKA), key observations in blood markers included a sharp rise in white blood cell (WBC) counts from 5.81 to 10.22 (*10^9/L) on the first day post-surgery, with levels returning close to preoperative values by day-15. Neutrophil counts similarly increased from 3.46 to 8.50 (*10^9/L) on day-1, decreasing to 4.01 by day-15. Hemoglobin levels significantly decreased from 115.70 g/L to 90.62 by day-3 before improving to 100.30 by day-15. C-reactive protein (CRP) levels also saw a significant rise from 6.15 mg/L to a peak of 47.07 on day-3, then reducing to 10.55 by day-15, indicating a response to inflammation. Conclusion Following total knee arthroplasty (TKA), a significant initial postoperative increase in white blood cell count, neutrophils, and C-reactive protein levels, indicative of an acute inflammatory response, before returning towards baseline values by day 15. Hemoglobin levels displayed a notable dip post-surgery, gradually improving by the study’s end. These patterns emphasize the dynamic nature of inflammatory and hematological responses after TKA, highlighting their potential role in predicting surgical outcomes and guiding postoperative care.

Abstract Multi-functional cysteine-targeting covalent warheads possess significant therapeutic potential in medicinal chemistry and chemical biology. Herein, we present novel unsaturated and asymmetric ketone (oxazolinosene) scaffolds that selectively conjugate cysteine residues of peptides and bovine serum albumin under normal physiological conditions. This unsaturated saccharide depletes GSH in NCI-H1299 cells, leading to anti-tumor effects in vitro. The acetyl group of the ketal moiety on the saccharide ring can be converted to other carboxylic acids in a one-pot synthesis. In this way, the loaded acid can be click-released during cysteine conjugation, making the oxazolinosene a potential multifunctional therapeutic agent. The reaction kinetic model for oxazolinosene conjugation to GSH is well established and was used to evaluate oxazolinosene reactivity. The aforementioned oxazolinosenes were stereoselectively synthesized via a one-step reaction of nitriles with saccharides and conveniently converted into a series of α, β-unsaturated ketone N-glycosides as prevalent synthetic building blocks. The reaction mechanisms of oxazolinosene synthesis were investigated through calculations and validated with control experiments. Overall, these oxazolinosenes can be easily synthesized and developed as cysteine-targeted covalent warheads carrying useful click-releasing groups.

Abstract Background Myocardial infarction (MI) is the main contributor to most cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), and the available post-treatment clinical therapeutic options are limited. The development of nanoscale drug delivery systems carrying natural small molecules provides biotherapies that could potentially offer new treatments for reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced damage in MI. Considering the stability and reduced toxicity of gold-phenolic core-shell nanoparticles, this study aims to develop ellagic acid-functionalized gold nanoparticles (EA-AuNPs) to overcome these limitations. Results We have successfully synthesized EA-AuNPs with enhanced biocompatibility and bioactivity. These core-shell gold nanoparticles exhibit excellent ROS-scavenging activity and high dispersion. The results from a label-free imaging method on optically transparent zebrafish larvae models and micro-CT imaging in mice indicated that EA-AuNPs enable a favorable excretion-based metabolism without overburdening other organs. EA-AuNPs were subsequently applied in cellular oxidative stress models and MI mouse models. We found that they effectively inhibit the expression of apoptosis-related proteins and the elevation of cardiac enzyme activities, thereby ameliorating oxidative stress injuries in MI mice. Further investigations of oxylipin profiles indicated that EA-AuNPs might alleviate myocardial injury by inhibiting ROS-induced oxylipin level alterations, restoring the perturbed anti-inflammatory oxylipins. Conclusions These findings collectively emphasized the protective role of EA-AuNPs in myocardial injury, which contributes to the development of innovative gold-phenolic nanoparticles and further advances their potential medical applications. Graphical Abstract

Abstract The coupled green energy and chemical production by photocatalysis represents a promising sustainable pathway, which poses great challenges for the multifunction integration of catalytic systems. Here we show a promising green photocatalyst design using Cu-ZnIn2S4 nanosheets and carbon dots as building units, which enables the integration of reaction, mass transfer, and separation functions in the nano-space, mimicking a nanoreactor. This function integration results in great activity promotion for benzyl alcohol oxidation coupled H2 production, with H2/benzaldehyde production rates of 45.95/46.47 mmol g−1 h−1, 36.87 and 36.73 times to pure ZnIn2S4, respectively, owning to the enhanced charge accumulation and mass transfer according to in-situ spectroscopies and computational simulations of the built-in electrical field. Near-unity selectivity of benzaldehyde is achieved via the effective separation enabled by the Cu(II)-mediated conformation flipping of the intermediates and subsequent π-π conjugation. This work demonstrates an inspiring proof-of-concept nanoreactor design of photocatalysts for coupled sustainable systems.

Abstract Sex characteristics exhibit significant disparities in various human diseases, including prevalent cardiovascular diseases, cancers, metabolic disorders, autoimmune diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases. Risk profiles and pathological manifestations of these diseases exhibit notable variations between sexes. The underlying reasons for these sex disparities encompass multifactorial elements, such as physiology, genetics, and environment. Recent studies have shown that human body systems demonstrate sex-specific gene expression during critical developmental stages and gene editing processes. These genes, differentially expressed based on different sex, may be regulated by androgen or estrogen-responsive elements, thereby influencing the incidence and presentation of cardiovascular, oncological, metabolic, immune, and neurological diseases across sexes. However, despite the existence of sex differences in patients with human diseases, treatment guidelines predominantly rely on male data due to the underrepresentation of women in clinical trials. At present, there exists a substantial knowledge gap concerning sex-specific mechanisms and clinical treatments for diverse diseases. Therefore, this review aims to elucidate the advances of sex differences on human diseases by examining epidemiological factors, pathogenesis, and innovative progress of clinical treatments in accordance with the distinctive risk characteristics of each disease and provide a new theoretical and practical basis for further optimizing individualized treatment and improving patient prognosis.

Abstract Rutin is a natural flavonoid compound that is widely found in a variety of plants and has a variety of biological effects, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-tumor effects. Rutin has been shown to have anti-tumor effects in a variety of cancers, but its effects on gastric cancer need to be further explored. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of Rutin on gastric cancer cells and the potential molecular regulatory mechanisms. Gastric cancer cells (AGS and MGC803) were treated with different concentrations of Rutin. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion were determined by MTT, flow cytometry, scratch assay, and Transwell analysis, respectively. Cell epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers and Wnt/β-catenin pathway were analyzed by RT-qPCR and western blot assay. The results showed that Rutin significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion ability of gastric cancer cells, induced apoptosis, and suppressed the EMT process. Further experiments revealed that Rutin achieved the effect of inhibiting the biological behavior of gastric cancer cells by suppressing the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Therefore, Rutin may become a potential therapeutic candidate for gastric cancer.

Abstract Carbon-based metal-free catalysts are promising green catalysts for photocatalysis and electrocatalysis due to their low cost and environmental friendliness. A key challenge in utilizing these catalysts is identifying their active sites, given their poor crystallinity and complex structures. Here we demonstrate the key structure of the double-bonded conjugated carbon group as a metal-free active site, enabling efficient O2 photoreduction to H2O2 through a cascaded water oxidation − O2 reduction process. Using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid as a precursor, we synthesized various carbon-based photocatalysts and analyzed their structural evolution. Under the polymerization conditions of 260 °C to 400 °C, an N-ethyl-2-piperazinone-like structure was formed on the surface of the catalyst, resulting in high photocatalytic H2O2 photoproduction (2884.7 μmol g−1h−1) under visible light. A series of control experiments and theoretical calculations further confirm that the double-bond conjugated carbonyl structure is the key and universal feature of the active site of metal-free photocatalysts.

Upon 98% reduction cold-rolling, a single layer AA3003 foil material of 115 μm thick was intermediately annealed at 300–420 °C/1-8 h, and the preferred temperature and time of the intermediate annealing for the laminated AA4343/AA3003/AA4343 composite foil material were determined. All of these samples were cold rolled by 40% to 70 μm thick and finally annealed at a temperature in the range of 300–550 °C for 1–9 h. Their sagging resistance and microstructure were investigated using simulated brazing treatment, optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). For the single layer AA3003 foil, the sagging distance decreased first and then increased with increasing intermediate annealing temperature, and the lowest sagging distance corresponds to the coarsest grain in the recrystallized sample. After the final annealing for the single layer, the sagging distance decreased monotonously. For the laminated foil subjected to the final annealing, the sagging distance curves decreased first and then increased with increasing annealing temperature and time. The improvement of sagging resistance was attributed to the recovery of two types of materials during annealing process. The deterioration of the sagging resistance in the laminated foils was due to the corrosion in the brazing process, resulted from the Si diffusion from the cladding layer into the core layer. It is the coarse grains, few dislocations and minimal diffusion of Si that are crucial for improving the sagging resistance of the laminated foils.

Background: Tongue inspection, an essential diagnostic method in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), has the potential for early-stage disease screening. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of deep learning-based analysis of tongue images for hepatic fibrosis screening. Methods: A total of 1083 tongue images were collected from 741 patients and divided into training, validation, and test sets. DenseNet-201, a convolutional neural network, was employed to train the AI model using these tongue images. The predictive performance of AI was assessed and compared with that of FIB-4, using real-time two-dimensional shear wave elastography as the reference standard. Results: The proposed AI model achieved an accuracy of 0.845 (95% CI: 0.79–0.90) and 0.814 (95% CI: 0.76–0.87) in the validation and test sets, respectively, with negative predictive values (NPVs) exceeding 90% in both sets. The AI model outperformed FIB-4 in all aspects, and when combined with FIB-4, the NPV reached 94.4%. Conclusion: Tongue inspection, with the assistance of AI, could serve as a first-line screening method for hepatic fibrosis.

Over decades of development, the modern drug delivery system continues to grapple with numerous challenges, including drug loading inefficiencies, issues of immunogenicity, and cytotoxicity. These limitations restrict its application across various systems. Microalgae, as a natural resource, are not only abundant in bioactive compounds but also possess multiple biological properties, including active surface, photosynthesis capabilities, and excellent biocompatibility. These attributes make microalgae highly promising as carriers for targeted drug delivery, offering significant potential for the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases. Therefore, leveraging the exceptional properties of microalgae for drug delivery and optimizing their qualities is of paramount importance. This article focuses on elucidating the biological characteristics of microalgae and their applications in drug delivery, with a particular emphasis on emerging strategies for efficient drug loading and precise targeted delivery. Microalgae, as a natural biomaterial, hold immense potential for both commercial and clinical applications.

In recent years, various long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) involved in DNA damage response (DDR) have been identified and studied to deepen our understanding. However, there are rare reports on the association between lncRNAs and base excision repair (BER). Our designed DNA microarray identified dozens of functionally unknown lncRNAs, and their transcription levels significantly increased upon exposure to DNA damage inducers. One of them, named LIP (Long noncoding RNA Interacts with PARP-1), exhibited a significant alteration in transcription in response to methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) and temozolomide (TMZ) treatments. LIP knockdown or knockout cell lines are sensitive to MMS and TMZ, indicating that LIP plays a crucial role in DDR. The loss or insufficiency of LIP significantly influences the efficiency of BER in human cells, and it suggests that LIP participates in the BER pathway. The interaction between LIP and a key factor in BER, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1), has been confirmed. We identified and characterized LIP, a lncRNA, which is involved in DDR, significantly influences BER efficiency, and interacts with the BER key factor PARP-1. This advances our understanding of the connection between lncRNAs and BER, presenting the potential for the discovery of new drug targets.

Drought stress significantly affects crop productivity. Carotenoids are essential photosynthetic pigment for plants, bacteria, and algae, with signaling and antioxidant functions. Lutein is a crucial branch product in the carotenoid synthesis pathway, which effectively improves the stress tolerance of higher plants. lycopene cyclase, a central enzyme for lutein synthesis, holds great significance in regulating lutein production. This research establishes a correlation between lutein content and stress resistance by measuring the drought resistance and lutein content of various cotton materials. To identify which crucial genes are associated with lutein, the lycopene cyclase family (LCYs) was analyzed. The research found that LCYs form a highly conserved family divided into two subfamilies, LCY-ε (lycopene ε-cyclase) and LCY-β (lycopene β-cyclase). Most members of the LCY family contain photoresponsive elements and abscisic acid elements. qRT-PCR demonstrates showed that most genes responded positively to drought stress, and GhLCYε-3 was expressed significantly differently under drought stress. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) assay showed that the content of GhLCYε-3 was significantly increased with MDA and PRO, and the contents of chlorophyll and lutein were significantly decreased in pYL156 plants. The decrease in GhLCYε-3 expression is speculated to lead to reduced lutein content in vivo, resulting in the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decreased drought tolerance. This research enriched the understanding of LCY gene family and lutein function, and provided a new reference for cotton planting in arid areas. Synopsis: Lycopene cyclase plays an important role in enhancing the ability of scavenging ROS and drought resistance of plants.

Abstract Background Sleep disorders have a significant impact on asthma. The aim of this study was to explore the association between nocturnal bedtime and asthma among adults in the United States. Methods This study was a cross-sectional analysis involving 11,475 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) during the period of 2015–2018. Nocturnal bedtime was categorized into three distinct groups: 2100 h or earlier, between 2100 h and 2300 h, and 2300 h or later. The association between night bedtime and asthma was detected using multivariable logistic regression analyses. Additionally, subgroup analyses were conducted to assess the impact of subgroups. Results After adjustment for confounders, a positive association was revealed between later bedtime (after 2300 h) and the prevalence of asthma (OR = 1.20, 95%CI: 1.01–1.43). In the subgroup analysis, the following factors were associated with increased risk: 18–39 years (OR = 1.23, 95%CI: 1.02–1.48); female sex (OR = 1.30, 95%CI: 1.01–1.68); Hispanic patients (OR = 1.66, 95%CI: 1.17–2.37); heavy drinkers (OR = 1.52, 95%CI: 1.17–1.96); Body Mass Index (BMI) (

Abstract Background Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been less deadly since the advent of corticosteroid-sparing medications. SLE patients still have a higher mortality rate than the general population. Infectious disease is reported as one of the major causes of death in patients with SLE. Although bacteria are the most often isolated pathogens from patients with SLE, Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) is more deadly than bacterial infection. Methods We retrospectively enrolled consecutive patients with SLE concurrent with PJP (SLE-PJP) in our center between January 2014 and December 2022. The participants were classified into two groups: survivors and non-survivors. Cox regression models and Kaplan‒Meier survival analyses were conducted to explore prognostic factors for survival. Results There were 57 patients with SLE (42.0 ± 15.8 years old, 78.9% female) complicated with PJP, 22 (38.6%) of whom died. Compared with the survival group, the non-survival group had more patients with hyperglycemia or diabetes mellitus, invasive ventilation (p

Heat-resistant energetic materials refer to a type of energetic materials that possess a high melting point, high stability and operational safety. By studying the structures of these energetic materials has showed that the thermal stability can be enhanced by introducing amino groups to form intra/inter-molecular hydrogen bonds, constructing conjugate systems and designing symmetrical structures. This article aims to review the physical and chemical properties of ultra-high temperature heat-resistant energetic compounds and provide valuable theoretical insights for the preparation of ultra-high temperature heat-resistant energetic materials. We also analyze the selected 20 heat-resistant energetic materials with decomposition temperatures higher than 350 °C, serving as templates for the synthesis of various high-performance heat-resistant energetic materials.

Aging behavior and phase transformation of Al–5Zn–1Mg–1Cu(-Si) alloys under different isothermal temperatures were investigated using transmission electron microscope (TEM) and mechanical tests. The aging temperature and Si addition significantly influenced to the types of precipitated phases and mechanical properties of the Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloys. Adding Si in this alloy changed the precipitated phases from T′ and η′ phases to the dual-sized η and GPB-II phases. With increasing isothermal aging temperature, more GPB-II phases formed in alloys with the same composition, effectively improving the microhardness and mechanical properties. When aging at 150 °C, 0.5 wt%Si-containing alloy reached the highest peak hardness of about 150HV and maintained stable hardness, while an alloy without Si only reached 120HV and later declined by 15HV. The tensile strength and yield strength of the 0.5 wt%Si-containing alloy were higher than those of non-Si alloy by 132 MPa and 165 MPa, increasing 51% and 90%, respectively. This result was due to the presence of fine and dispersed 4–8 nm GPB-II phases in 0.5 wt%Si-containing alloy. The GPB-II phase had a core-shell structure, with the core region mainly enriched in Mg and Si, and the shell region mainly enriched in Cu and Zn. Compared with the stability of T′ and η′ phases, this core-shell structure of GPB-II effectively inhibited its growth and beneficially maintained a smaller-sized GPB-II phase. The strengthening effect of GPB-II phase was better than that of η or T phases when aging at 150 °C or 200 °C. The mechanical properties of high Zn/Mg ratios Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloys can enhanced by adding Si.

Metal inert gas (MIG) welding of a novel Al-5.82Mg-0.61Zn-0.14Er-0.11Zr alloy was performed using ER5E61 and ER5B71 filler wires. The effect of the two filler wires on microstructures and mechanical properties of MIG welded joints was investigated. The study shows that fully penetrated joints are obtained by MIG welding process filled with ER5E61 and ER5B71 wires. Compared with ER5B71, the weld metal (WM) with ER5E61 exhibits a coarse structure and high solid solution of Mg and Mn elements. After the tensile test, the WM with ER5E61 and ER5B71 wires is composed of elongated coarse grains with a higher proportion of low angle grain boundaries (LAGBs). In addition, the lattice rotation occurring within the grains, indicating that single grain has an unevenly plastic deformation after the tensile test. The average microhardness of the WM is 83.4 HV and 82.9 HV for ER5E61 and ER5B71 wire, which is the lowest microhardness in the MIG welded joint. The average ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and elongation index (EI) of the MIG joints are 327.7 MPa and 8.5% for ER5E61 wire, and 314.3 MPa and 8.2% for ER5B71 wire, suggesting the MIG welded joint with ER5E61 wire achieves a good combination of strength and ductility. Quantitative assessments of the effects of different strengthening mechanisms on the strength reveal that dislocation strengthening and solid solute strengthening are the main factors to obtain a higher strength of welded joints with ER5E61.

Abstract Due to the inadequate utilization of data correlation and complementarity in the feature extraction process of multimodal remote sensing images, the paper proposes a deep learning semantic segmentation algorithm based on the Dual Channel Attention Mechanism (DCAM). This algorithm uses U‐Net as the backbone, combining the RGB remote sensing image as one input channel with the Convolutional Block Attention Module to extract colour space features. Simultaneously, it utilizes near‐infrared (NIR) as another input channel with the Self‐Attention Module (SAM) to extract shape space features. Finally, by concatenating the multi‐scale attention features of the RGB remote sensing image channel and the NIR remote sensing image channel, it achieves the correlation and complementarity of contextual features between the two modal remote sensing images. Experimental results on the GID‐15 dataset demonstrate that the DCAM algorithm significantly improves the segmentation accuracy, edge segmentation quality, and object segmentation integrity for various types of targets compared to current mainstream segmentation methods.

Purpose This study aimed to evaluate changes in ultrafast pulse wave velocity (ufPWV) in individuals with arterial stiffness and subclinical atherosclerosis (subAS), and to provide cutoff values. Methods This retrospective study recruited 231 participants, including 67 patients with subAS. The pulse wave velocity was measured at the beginning and end of systole (PWV-BS and PWVES, respectively) using ultrafast ultrasonography to assess arterial stiffness. The right and left common carotid arteries were measured separately, and laboratory metabolic parameters were also collected. Participants were balanced between groups using propensity score matching (PSM) at a 1:1 ratio, adjusting for age, sex, and waist-to-hip ratio as potential confounders. Cutoff values of ufPWV for monitoring subAS were determined via receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results PWV-ES, unlike PWV-BS, was higher in the subAS subgroup than in the subAS-free group after PSM (all P0.05). Conclusion PWV-ES measured using ultrafast ultrasonography was significantly higher in individuals with subAS than in those without. Specific PWV-ES cutoff values showed potential for predicting an increased risk of subAS.

Abstract The gut microbiota is one of the essential contributors of the pathogenesis and progress of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Compared with first-line drug therapy, probiotic supplementation has emerged as a viable and secure therapeutic approach for managing IBD through the regulation of both the immune system and gut microbiota. Nevertheless, the efficacy of oral probiotic supplements is hindered by their susceptibility to the gastrointestinal barrier, leading to diminished bioavailability and restricted intestinal colonization. Here, we developed a bacteria-microalgae symbiosis system (EcN-SP) for targeted intestinal delivery of probiotics and highly effective treatment of colitis. The utilization of mircroalge Spirulina platensis (SP) as a natural carrier for the probiotic Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) demonstrated potential benefits in promoting EcN proliferation, facilitating effective intestinal delivery and colonization. The alterations in the binding affinity of EcN-SP within the gastrointestinal environment, coupled with the distinctive structural properties of the SP carrier, served to overcome gastrointestinal barriers, minimizing transgastric EcN loss and enabling sustained intestinal retention and colonization. The oral administration of EcN-SP could effectively treat IBD by reducing the expression of intestinal inflammatory factors, maintaining the intestinal barrier and regulating the balance of gut microbiota. This probiotic delivery approach is inspired by symbiotic interactions found in nature and offers advantages in terms of feasibility, safety, and efficacy, thus holding significant promise for the management of gastrointestinal disorders.

Abstract NOTCH receptor 3 (NOTCH3) is known to regulate the transcription of oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes, thereby playing a crucial role in tumor development, invasion, maintenance, and chemotherapy resistance. However, the specific mechanism of how NOTCH3 drives immune infiltration in gastrointestinal cancer remains uncertain. The expression of NOTCH3 was analyzed through Western blot, PCR, Oncomine database, and the Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) site. Kaplan–Meier plotter, PrognoScan database, and gene expression profile interactive analysis (GEPIA) were used to assess the impact of NOTCH3 on clinical prognosis. The correlation between NOTCH3 expression and immune infiltration gene markers was investigated using TIMER and GEPIA. NOTCH3 was found to be commonly overexpressed in various types of gastrointestinal tumors and was significantly associated with poor prognosis. Furthermore, the expression level of NOTCH3 showed a significant correlation with the tumor purity of gastrointestinal tumors and the extent of immune infiltration by different immune cells. Our findings suggest that NOTCH3 may act as a crucial regulator of tumor immune cell infiltration and can serve as a valuable prognostic biomarker in gastrointestinal cancers.

Abstract Background Digenetic trematodes, including blood flukes, intestinal flukes, liver flukes, lung flukes, and pancreatic flukes, are highly diverse and distributed widely. They affect at least 200 million people worldwide, so better understanding of their global distribution and prevalence are crucial for controlling and preventing human trematodiosis. Hence, this scoping review aims to conduct a comprehensive investigation on the spatio-temporal distribution and epidemiology of some important zoonotic digenetic trematodes. Methods We conducted a scoping review by searching PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang databases for articles, reviews, and case reports of zoonotic digenetic trematodes, without any restrictions on the year of publication. We followed the inclusion and exclusion criteria to identify relevant studies. And relevant information of the identified studies were collected and summarized. Results We identified a total of 470 articles that met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review finally. Our analysis revealed the prevalence and global distribution of species in Schistosoma, Echinostoma, Isthmiophora, Echinochasmus, Paragonimus, Opisthorchiidae, Fasciolidae, Heterophyidae, and Eurytrema. Although some flukes are distributed worldwide, developing countries in Asia and Africa are still the most prevalent areas. Furthermore, there were some overlaps between the distribution of zoonotic digenetic trematodes from the same genus, and the prevalence of some zoonotic digenetic trematodes was not entirely consistent with their global distribution. The temporal disparities in zoonotic digenetic trematodes may attribute to the environmental changes. The gaps in our knowledge of the epidemiology and control of zoonotic digenetic trematodes indicate the need for large cohort studies in most countries. Conclusions This review provides important insights into the prevalence and global distribution of some zoonotic digenetic trematodes, firstly reveals spatio-temporal disparities in these digenetic trematodes. Countries with higher prevalence rate could be potential sources of transmitting diseases to other areas and are threat for possible outbreaks in the future. Therefore, continued global efforts to control and prevent human trematodiosis, and more international collaborations are necessary in the future. Graphical Abstract

Background: Pirfenidone (PFD) is commonly applied for antifibrotic treatment in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis but has rarely been studied in cases with connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung diseases (CTD-ILDs). Objectives: We aimed to examine the efficacy of PFD in patients with CTD-ILD based on real-world data. Design: A retrospective cohort study. Methods: This study assessed the clinical features of CTD-ILD patients with or without a 6-month PFD treatment. A linear mixed effects model was employed to evaluate the effectiveness of PFD in alleviating lung function changes. Differences in response to PFD were analyzed based on CTD subtype, imaging classification, and pattern of pulmonary function at baseline. Results: A total of 289 patients with CTD-ILD were included, with 155 (53.6%) receiving PFD treatment and the remaining constituting the control group. Patients with the usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern were more likely to receive PFD treatment, and a relatively lower proportion of cases in the PFD group received immunosuppressive therapies compared to the control group ( p

BackgroundIFN-γ+CD4+ cells (type 1 helper T cells, Th1) represent a critical component of the inflammatory environment in the lungs of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Identifying influencing factors related to COPD-associated Th1 cells will enhance our understanding of the inflammatory mechanisms involved and facilitate the development of targeted interventions.MethodWe describe T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain containing-3 (Tim3) as a key gene regulating COPD-associated Th1 cells through single-cell sequencing, flow cytometry and knockout mice.ResultsOur findings indicate that Havcr2 expression gradually increases during CD4+ T cell activation in COPD mice, with Tim3 being highly expressed on both CD4+ T cells and Th1 cells. Notably, the knockout of HAVCR2 further promotes the infiltration of CD4+ T cells and the expression of IFN-γ in the lungs, resulting in a more severe emphysema phenotype, although it does not significantly affect TNF-α expression. Additionally, NFIL3, an upstream regulator of Tim3, is also highly expressed in the CD4+ T cells of COPD mice. Mice with NFIL3 knockout exhibit phenotypes similar to those of HAVCR2 knockout mice, along with a significant downregulation of Tim3 expression. In vitro, we simulated the activation process by polarizing primary CD4+ Tn cells from COPD mice and observed that NFIL3/Tim3 expression was significantly upregulated following Th1 polarization.ConclusionOur study demonstrates that the NFIL3/Tim3 axis plays a role in Th1 imbalance in the lungs of COPD by inhibiting Th1 differentiation.

Accurate measurement of CO2 emissions from coal-fired power plants is crucial for achieving China's “carbon neutrality” goal; however, traditional CO2 emission measurement methods have several limitations, and emerging prediction models rarely utilize real-time monitoring data from power plants at the micro level. To address these challenges, this study presents a novel hybrid convolutional neural network with long short-term memory (CNN-LSTM)-Attention model, leveraging real-time monitoring data to enhance the accuracy of CO2 emission predictions. The proposed model employs a hybrid architecture that leverages the strength of CNN, LSTM, and Attention mechanism. To address the challenges of multiple hyperparameters and difficult selection, the Bayesian optimization algorithm is used to optimize the hyperparameters ensuring optimal performance. Using historical operational data from a 660 MW generator set in Hubei province, the proposed model was evaluated and validated horizontally by using three evaluation metrics. Additionally, the vertical evaluation and validation of the proposed model were done using the operational data from other months. The results indicate that the proposed model achieved the highest performance across every evaluation index for predicting CO2 emissions from coalfired power plants, and the prediction accuracy of the CO2 emission in the future months is also guaranteed.

The human gut harbors a complex and diverse microbiota essential for maintaining health. Diet is the most significant modifiable factor influencing gut microbiota composition and function, particularly through bioactive compounds like polyphenols, dietary fibers, and carotenoids found in vegetables, fruits, seafood, coffee, and green tea. These compounds regulate the gut microbiota by promoting beneficial bacteria and suppressing harmful ones, leading to the production of key microbiota-derived metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids, bile acid derivatives, and tryptophan metabolites. These metabolites are crucial for gut homeostasis, influencing gut barrier function, immune responses, energy metabolism, anti-inflammatory processes, lipid digestion, and modulation of gut inflammation. This review outlines the regulatory impact of typical bioactive compounds on the gut microbiota and explores the connection between specific microbiota-derived metabolites and overall health. We discuss how dietary interventions can affect disease development and progression through mechanisms involving these metabolites. We examine the roles of bioactive compounds and their metabolites in the prevention and treatment of diseases including inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. This study provides new insights into disease prevention and underscores the potential of dietary modulation of the gut microbiota as a strategy for improving health.

Fibrosing interstitial lung diseases (FILDs) other than idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) can develop into progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) despite initial management. A substantial proportion of patients with non-IPF interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) progress to PPF, including connective tissue disease-associated ILD (such as rheumatoid arthritis-associated ILD, systemic sclerosis-associated ILD, and idiopathic inflammatory myositis-associated ILD), fibrosing hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and fibrosing occupational ILD. The concept of PPF emerged only recently and several studies have confirmed the impact of PPF on mortality. In addition to poor prognosis among patients with PPF, there remains a lack of consensus in the diagnosis and treatment of PPF across different types of ILDs. There is a need to raise awareness of PPF in FILDs and to explore measures to improve PPF diagnosis and treatment, which in turn could potentially reduce the progression from FILD to PPF. This review discusses the disease burden of PPF and recent advances in the management of PPF among patients with ILDs, including antifibrotic medications that have emerged as promising treatment options. Additionally, this review highlights the perspectives of expert Chinese physicians with regard to their experience in managing PPF in clinical practice.

Background: Long-snake moxibustion can improve hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function in patients with kidney-yang deficiency (KYDS). 11β-HSD1 controls the HPA axis by boosting CORT production via reductase activity. However, the interaction and mechanism of long snake moxibustion and 11β-HSD1 remain unknown. This study examined the impact of lengthy snake moxibustion on the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis in KYDS rats. The potential significance of 11β-HSD1 in this process was explored. Methods: Rats were randomly divided into two groups: the blank group and the experimental group. The KYDS model was established with an intramuscular injection of hydrocortisone. Rats were randomly assigned to four groups: model, sham intervention, long snake moxibustion, and long snake moxibustion plus 11β-HSD1 inhibitor. Physical indicators included body weight, toe temperature, rectal temperature, and spontaneous movement. The serum levels of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and CORT were measured. Immunohistochemical examination reveals 11β-HSD1 protein expression in the liver. Western blotting (WB) detected the levels of 11β-HSD1, H6PDH and NADPH/NADP + protein in the liver. Results: The experimental rats' body weight, toe temperature, rectal temperature, time and frequency of spontaneous activity all dropped, as did their serum ACTH, CORT, and CRH levels. The protein expressions of 11β-HSD1, H6PDH, and NADPH/NADP+ in the liver decreased significantly. Long-snake moxibustion improved HPA axis function in rats, boosting expression of 11β-HSD1, H6PDH, and NADPH/NADP+. Adding an 11β-HSD1 inhibitor to Long-snake moxibustion decreased its effect on the HPA axis. Conclusion: Long-snake moxibustion improves KYDS symptoms in rats by increasing 11β-HSD1 expression and reductase activity, which regulates the HPA axis.

Coral reefs are severely threatened by global and local disturbances that can shift reefs from coral to algal dominance. Coral-macroalgae competition is expected to exacerbate coral decline as the interactions increase in frequency. Whereas numerous studies over the last decade have aimed to characterize the interactions and impacts on coral growth and physiology, the underlying mechanisms remain controversial. This study tested the impact of different macroalgal species, densities, and contact status with corals on the physiological response of corals in Sanya Reefs. The results revealed that direct contact with increasing densities of fleshy macroalgae had a negative impact on the photosynthesis, growth rate, and tissue biomass of the two common corals. However, calcified macroalgae did not significantly affect the corals, regardless of whether there was direct contact or not. Under the same conditions, Acropora intermedia appeared to be more susceptible to fleshy macroalgae compared to Porites lutea. This suggested that different corals varied in their susceptibility to various macroalgae. Additionally, the results of the generalized linear mixed model revealed that macroalgal species and contact status with corals were the most important predictors of the impacts of macroalgae on corals, and macroalgal density was another nonnegligible parameter. Overall, macroalgae may have caused a potential functional shift in the composition of coral assemblages on the Sanya reefs by further reducing the already depauperate reef-building coral populations. The negative impacts of macroalgae in Sanya Reefs may serve as an early warning that the persistence of the invaluable ecological functions provided by coral reefs will be increasingly threatened throughout the South China Sea. Our findings could contribute to improving the scientific and effective management practices, fostering sustainable coral reef development in China and beyond.

Abstract Coastal darkening is emerging as a global threat to fringing reefs. While some reef‐building corals exhibit resistance to low‐light environments, the mechanisms behind this resistance, particularly the role of coral hosts, remain inadequately understood. Here, we investigated variations in underwater photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and employed the Bayesian stable isotope mixing model (MixSIAR) to estimate the contributions of autotrophic (i.e., dissolved inorganic matter, DIM) and heterotrophic sources (i.e., particulate organic matter, POM, and dissolved organic matter, DOM) to the nutrition of the reef coral Galaxea fascicularis on the Luhuitou turbid reef in the northern South China Sea. Our findings revealed that the heterotrophic contribution to coral nutrition increased to 58.5% with decreasing PAR and that the heterotrophic contribution was significantly negatively correlated with δ13C difference between host and symbiont (δ13Ch–s). Moreover, we observed significant seasonal variations in the respective contributions of POM and DOM to coral nutrition, linked to the sources of these nutrients, demonstrating that G. fascicularis can selectively ingest POM and DOM based on their bioavailability to enhance its heterotrophic contribution. This heterotrophic plasticity improved the low‐light resistance of G. fascicularis and contributed to its prominence within coral communities. However, with a low‐light threshold of approximately 3.73% of the surface PAR for G. fascicularis, our results underscore the need for effective strategies to mitigate low‐light conditions on nearshore turbid reefs. In summary, our study highlights the critical role of heterotrophic plasticity in coral responses to natural low‐light environments, suggesting that some reef‐building corals with such plasticity could become dominant or resilient species in the context of coastal darkening.

The microstructure and grain refinement of Al-4.5Er-1Zr-1.5Ti master alloy were analyzed by the refinement experiment, OM, SEM and XRD. The results show that the grain size of pure aluminum is reduced from 14,000μm to 202μm by Al-4.5Er-1Zr-1.5Ti master alloy, which is mainly due to the nucleation promoted by Ti2Al20Er, Al3Er and Al3Ti. Plastic deformation further improves the refining effect of the material by improving the primary phase size, and the Al-4.5Er-1Zr-1.5Ti −2ARB can refine the pure aluminum from 202 mμm to 150μm, and the refinement was increased by 25.7 %. The master alloy showed a better refinement effect in Al-5Cu alloy than pure aluminum, with a grain size of 92μm and a refinement improvement of 97.8 %.

This study explored the effect of raw material morphology on the properties of bamboo–plastic composites produced using hot-pressing. To provide a reference for reducing the production cost and improve the product properties of the composites, polylactic acid (PLA)-based bamboo–plastic composites were prepared using bamboo chips with a shaved morphology (BS) and fiber morphology (BF) and PLA as the matrix material, via hot-pressing. The properties of the bamboo–plastic composites formed with BS and BF chips were studied and compared with those of composites with conventional granular morphology (BM) and powder morphology (BP). The results showed that when the content of the bamboo chips was at 50% (the same below), the mechanical properties of the BF/PLA composites were remarkably better than those of the other PLA-based composites. However, the BF/PLA composites showed a high degree of hydrophilicity, with a water contact angle of 70.0° and a water absorption of 10.8% at 288 h. More holes could be seen in the BF/PLA composites using a scanning electron microscope. Among the four types of PLA-based composites, better melt fluidity was found only in the BF/PLA composites, and the melting index was 65.3 g/min.

This study extracted Bambusa blumeana fiber using alkaline boiling and then applied double-roll pressing in order to develop it, explore the applications of its various parts, and improve its utilization potential. The results showed that the outer bamboo fibers are finer and straighter than the inner and middle fibers, and the fracture mode of the bamboo fibers is brittle. From the inside to the outside, the tensile strength of the fiber bundle gradually increases from the top to the bottom. Moreover, the tensile strength of the outside bamboo fiber is twice that of the inside, reaching a maximum of 982 MPa. The surface of the interior bamboo fiber is relatively smooth and can be used in textile and decorative fields. Compared with internal and central bamboo fiber, the outer fiber has higher thermal stability and higher crystallinity, which makes it more advantageous in the process of strengthening composite materials. Studying the structures of fibers from different parts of Bambusa blumeana can provide substantial scientific support for the differential applications of bamboo fibers.

This study extracted Bambusa blumeana fiber using alkaline boiling and then applied double-roll pressing in order to develop it, explore the applications of its various parts, and improve its utilization potential. The results showed that the outer bamboo fibers are finer and straighter than the inner and middle fibers, and the fracture mode of the bamboo fibers is brittle. From the inside to the outside, the tensile strength of the fiber bundle gradually increases from the top to the bottom. Moreover, the tensile strength of the outside bamboo fiber is twice that of the inside, reaching a maximum of 982 MPa. The surface of the interior bamboo fiber is relatively smooth and can be used in textile and decorative fields. Compared with internal and central bamboo fiber, the outer fiber has higher thermal stability and higher crystallinity, which makes it more advantageous in the process of strengthening composite materials. Studying the structures of fibers from different parts of Bambusa blumeana can provide substantial scientific support for the differential applications of bamboo fibers.

This study explored the effect of raw material morphology on the properties of bamboo–plastic composites produced using hot-pressing. To provide a reference for reducing the production cost and improve the product properties of the composites, polylactic acid (PLA)-based bamboo–plastic composites were prepared using bamboo chips with a shaved morphology (BS) and fiber morphology (BF) and PLA as the matrix material, via hot-pressing. The properties of the bamboo–plastic composites formed with BS and BF chips were studied and compared with those of composites with conventional granular morphology (BM) and powder morphology (BP). The results showed that when the content of the bamboo chips was at 50% (the same below), the mechanical properties of the BF/PLA composites were remarkably better than those of the other PLA-based composites. However, the BF/PLA composites showed a high degree of hydrophilicity, with a water contact angle of 70.0° and a water absorption of 10.8% at 288 h. More holes could be seen in the BF/PLA composites using a scanning electron microscope. Among the four types of PLA-based composites, better melt fluidity was found only in the BF/PLA composites, and the melting index was 65.3 g/min.

Abstract The VIM (belonged to E3 ubiquitin ligase) gene family is crucial for plant growth, development, and stress responses, yet their role in salt stress remains unclear. We analyzed phylogenetic relationships, chromosomal localization, conserved motifs, gene structure, cis-acting elements, and gene expression patterns of the VIM gene family in four cotton varieties. Our findings reveal 29, 29, 17, and 14 members in Gossypium hirsutum (G.hirsutum), Gossypium barbadense (G.barbadense), Gossypium arboreum (G.arboreum), and Gossypium raimondii (G. raimondii), respectively, indicating the maturity and evolution of this gene family. motifs among GhVIMs genes were observed, along with the presence of stress-responsive, hormone-responsive, and growth-related elements in their promoter regions. Gene expression analysis showed varying patterns and tissue specificity of GhVIMs genes under abiotic stress. Silencing GhVIM28 via virus-induced gene silencing revealed its role as a salt-tolerant negative regulator. This work reveals a mechanism by which the VIM gene family in response to salt stress in cotton, identifying a potential negative regulator, GhVIM28, which could be targeted for enhancing salt tolerance in cotton. The objective of this study was to explore the evolutionary relationship of the VIM gene family and its potential function in salt stress tolerance, and provide important genetic resources for salt tolerance breeding of cotton.