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The primary aim of this study was to conduct a methodical examination and assessment of the prognostic efficacy exhibited by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-derived radiomic models concerning the preoperative prediction of lymph-vascular space infiltration (LVSI) in cervical cancer cases. A comprehensive and thorough exploration of pertinent academic literature was undertaken by two investigators, employing the resources of the Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases. The scope of this research was bounded by a publication cutoff date of May 15, 2023. The inclusion criteria encompassed studies that utilized radiomic models based on MRI to prognosticate the accuracy of preoperative LVSI estimation in instances of cervical cancer. The Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 framework and the Radiomic Quality Score metric were employed. This investigation included nine distinct research studies, enrolling a total of 1,406 patients. The diagnostic performance metrics of MRI-based radiomic models in the prediction of preoperative LVSI among cervical cancer patients were determined as follows: sensitivity of 83% (95% confidence interval [CI]=77%-87%), specificity of 74% (95% CI=69%-79%), and a corresponding AUC of summary receiver operating characteristic measuring 0.86 (95% CI=0.82-0.88). The results of the synthesized meta-analysis did not reveal substantial heterogeneity.This meta-analysis suggests the robust diagnostic proficiency of the MRI-based radiomic model in the prognostication of preoperative LVSI within the cohort of cervical cancer patients. In the future, radiomics holds the potential to emerge as a widely applicable noninvasive modality for the early detection of LVSI in the context of cervical cancer., Competing Interests: No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported., (© 2025. Asian Society of Gynecologic Oncology, Korean Society of Gynecologic Oncology, and Japan Society of Gynecologic Oncology.)

The direct discharge of boron mud poses significant environmental hazards to soil and groundwater. Despite extensive research efforts, the reprocessing of boron mud has not yielded significant advancements. Recently, the development of magnesium cement has spurred interest in the reutilization of boron mud. However, the direct treatment of boron mud remains challenging, necessitating pre-treatment in most studies to achieve substantial results. Consequently, research on the direct incorporation of untreated boron mud is scarce. This study explores the feasibility of using uncalcined boron mud as a base material in basic magnesium sulfate cement (BMSC), composed of lightly calcined magnesia and magnesium sulfate heptahydrate. The effects of varying boron mud content on the compressive strength of the BMSC system were investigated. The results indicate that the 5·1·7 phase is the primary strength phase of BMSC. When the boron mud content is 30%, the uncalcined boron mud has a minimal impact on the formation of the 5·1·7 phase. Additionally, the 28 days compressive strength of BMSC-B30 showed a slight difference compared to the control group BMSC-C, registering at 66.7 MPa. TG-DSC analysis revealed that the presence of a small amount of boron mud inhibits the micro-expansion trend of the BMSC structure. Furthermore, XRD and SEM analyses confirmed that the addition of uncalcined boron mud does not significantly alter the phase structure of the 5·1·7 phase in BMSC. This study provides a foundational basis for the long-term development of direct boron mud treatment.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is often considered one of the most aggressive subtypes of breast cancer, characterized by a high recurrence rate and low overall survival (OS). It is notorious for posing challenges related to drug resistance. While there has been progress in TNBC research, the mechanisms underlying chemotherapy resistance in TNBC remain largely elusive. We collect single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from five TNBC patients susceptible to chemotherapy and five resistant cases. Comprehensive analyses involving copy number variation (CNV), pseudotime trajectory, cell-cell interactions, pseudospace analysis, as well as transcription factor and functional enrichment are conducted specifically on macrophages and malignant cells. Furthermore, we performed validation experiments on clinical samples using multiplex immunofluorescence. We identified a subset of SPP1 + macrophages that secrete SPP1 signals interacting with CD44 on malignant cell surfaces, potentially activating the PDE3B pathway within malignant cells via the integrin pathway, leading to chemotherapy resistance. The abnormally enhanced SPP1 signal between macrophages and malignant cells may serve as a factor promoting chemotherapy resistance in TNBC patients. Therefore, SPP1 + macrophages could potentially serve as a therapeutic target to reduce chemotherapy resistance., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine published by Foundation for Cellular and Molecular Medicine and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Photon management strategies are crucial to improve the efficiency of perovskite thin film (PTF) solar cell. In this work, a nano-cone (NC) based 2D photonic nanostructure is designed and simulated aiming at achieve superior light trapping performance by introducing strong light scattering and interferences within perovskite active layer. Compared to the planar PTF solar cell, the NC nanostructured device with 45 degrees half apex angle obtains highest short-circuit current density, which improved over 20% from 15.00 mA/cm 2 to 18.09 mA/cm 2 . This work offers an alternative design towards effective light trapping performance using 2D photonic nanostructure for PTF solar cell and could potentially be adopted as the nano-structuring strategy for the future perovskite solar cell industry., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Few studies have shown that radial artery (RA), which is used as a secondary arterial graft, offers superior results compared with right internal thoracic artery (RIMA) in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). In a meta-analysis of observational studies starting in 2023, we looked at the effect of re-operation on postoperative infection and haemorrhage in CABG with RA vs. RIMA. The electronic database up to October 2023 was examined in the course of the research. Analysis was carried out on the clinical trials of postoperative wound infections and haemorrhage re-surgery. Among 912 trials associated with CABG, we selected 8 trials to be included in the final data analysis. The main results were secondary wound infection and re-operation after surgery. The odds ratios (OR) and confidence intervals (CIs) were computed on the basis of a randomized or fixed-effect model of wound infection and re-operation. Seven trials showed a significant reduction in the risk of wound infection in RA treated as a secondary artery transplant compared with RIMA (OR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.03, 2.47 p = 0.04); Four trials showed that RIMA was not significantly different from RA in the rate of re-operation for postoperative bleeding (OR, 1.31; 95% CI, 0.60, 2.88 p = 0.50). In CABG, RA is used as a secondary arterial conduit graft to lower the risk of wound infection in CABG patients., (© 2024 The Authors. International Wound Journal published by Medicalhelplines.com Inc and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Solid waste management is a critical issue worldwide. Effectively utilizing these solid waste resources presents a viable solution. This study focuses on Iron ore tailings (IOTs), a solid waste generated during iron ore processing, which can be used as supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) but have low reactivity, hindering their large-scale application in concrete production. To address this, ternary SCMs were prepared using ceramic powder (CP) and steel slag (SS) to enhance the performance of concrete incorporating IOTs. The study found that the synergistic effect of CP and SS significantly improved the compressive strength of concrete, with a notable increase of up to 21% compared to concrete with IOTs alone. Mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) and backscattering electron (BSE) analyses revealed that the ternary SCMs significantly optimized the characteristics of the interfacial transition zone (ITZ), which in turn enhanced the compressive properties of the concrete. This contributed to maintaining the structural integrity of the concrete, even amidst variations in the pore structure. Importantly, the incorporation of ternary SCMs led to a 23% reduction in carbon emissions, from 400.01 kg CO 2 /m 3 to 307.48 kg CO 2 /m 3 , and elevated eco-strength efficiency from 0.1 to 0.14. The study highlights the role of multi-material synergy in developing composite SCMs systems, fostering the sustainable advancement of green building materials., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: The occurrence and progression of lung cancer are correlated with telomeres and telomerase. Telomere length is reduced in the majority of tumors, including lung cancers. Telomere length variations have been associated with lung cancer risk and may serve as therapeutic targets as well as predictive biomarkers for lung cancer. Nevertheless, the effects of telomere-associated genes on lung cancer prognosis have not been thoroughly studied. We aim to investigate the relationship between telomere-associated genes and lung cancer prognosis., Methods: The Cancer Genome Atlas and Genotype-Tissue Expression databases were used as training sets to build a predictive model. Three integrated Gene Expression Omnibus datasets served as validation sets. Using cluster consistency analysis and regression with the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, we developed a telomere-related gene risk signature (TMGsig) based on 11 overall survival-related genes ( RBBP8 , PLK1 , DSG2 , HOXA7 , ANAPC4 , CSNK1E , SYAP1 , ALDOA , PHF1 , MUTYH , and PGS1 )., Results: The results indicated a negative outcome for the high-risk score group. Immunological microenvironment and somatic mutations differed between the high- and low-risk groups. A statistically significant difference existed between the low-risk and high-risk groups in terms of the expression levels of B cells and CD4 cells, and the risk score was essentially inversely linked with immune cell expression., Conclusions: TMGsig can predict outcomes in patients with lung adenocarcinoma., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2023 The Author(s). Published by IMR Press.)

Objective: The objective of this research was to analyze the prognostic significance of the minimum count of lymphocytes (LY) and the corresponding ratio of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (NLR) in cervical cancer (CC) patients receiving radiotherapy., Methods: We retrospectively collected data from 202 CC patients who received concurrent chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy alone at our hospital. Statistical methods including the Kaplan-Meier method, log-rank test and the Cox proportional hazards model were included to examine survival differences and identify independent factors that may affect overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS)., Results: The research enrolled a total of 202 patients. Patients with higher LY levels and lower NLR values during radiotherapy had significantly better survival prognosis than those with lower LY levels and higher NLR values. Multivariate COX regression analysis revealed that FIGO stage I, pathological types of SqCC, absence of lymph node metastasis, concurrent chemoradiotherapy, higher LY levels during radiotherapy, and lower NLR values before radiotherapy were independently associated with poorer PFS. Similarly, FIGO stage I, absence of lymph node metastasis and lower NLR values during and before radiotherapy were independently linked with poorer OS., Conclusion: Minimum LY value and its corresponding NLR during radiotherapy serve as prognostic factors for CC., (© 2023 The Authors. Cancer Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: The aim of our study was to investigate the roles and the underlying mechanisms of orthodenticle homolog 1 (OTX1) in ovarian cancer., Methods: OTX1 expression was obtained from TCGA database. OTX1 expression in ovarian cancer cells was detected using qRT-PCR and western blot assay. The cell viability and proliferation was detected by CCK-8 and EdU assays. Cell invasion and migration were detected by transwell assay. Flow cytometry was utilized to determine cell apoptosis and cycle. In addition, western blot assay was used to detect the expression of cell cycle related protein (Cyclin D1 and p21), epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) related protein (E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Vimentin, and Snail), apoptosis related protein (Bcl-2, Bax, and cleaved caspase-3), and JAK/STAT pathway related protein (p-JAK2, JAK2, STAT3, and p-STAT3)., Results: OTX1 was highly expressed in ovarian cancer tissues and cells. OTX1 silencing blocked the cell cycle and repressed cell viability, proliferation, invasion, and migration, while OTX1 silencing facilitated the apoptosis of OVCAR3 and Caov3 cells. OTX1 silencing increased the protein levels of p21, E-cadherin, Bax, and cleaved caspase-3, while the protein levels of Cyclin D1, Bcl-2, N-cadherin, Vimentin, and Snail were decreased by OTX1 silencing. Furthermore, OTX1 silencing suppressed the protein levels of p-JAK2/JAK2 and p-STAT3/STAT3 in OVCAR3 and Caov3 cells. Moreover, overexpression of OTX1 promoted cell proliferation and invasion and inhibited apoptosis in Caov3 cells, but AG490 (an inhibitor of JAK/STAT pathway) reversed the influences on cell biological behavior induced by overexpression of OTX1., Conclusions: OTX1 silencing repressed ovarian cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and migration and induced cell apoptosis, which might be involved in JAK/STAT signaling pathway. OTX1 may be considered as a novel therapeutic target for ovarian cancer., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

New satellite remote sensing and machine learning techniques offer untapped possibilities to monitor global biodiversity with unprecedented speed and precision. These efficiencies promise to reveal novel ecological insights at spatial scales which are germane to the management of populations and entire ecosystems. Here, we present a robust transferable deep learning pipeline to automatically locate and count large herds of migratory ungulates (wildebeest and zebra) in the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem using fine-resolution (38-50 cm) satellite imagery. The results achieve accurate detection of nearly 500,000 individuals across thousands of square kilometers and multiple habitat types, with an overall F1-score of 84.75% (Precision: 87.85%, Recall: 81.86%). This research demonstrates the capability of satellite remote sensing and machine learning techniques to automatically and accurately count very large populations of terrestrial mammals across a highly heterogeneous landscape. We also discuss the potential for satellite-derived species detections to advance basic understanding of animal behavior and ecology., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Exposure of concrete to acidic environments can cause the degradation of concrete elements and seriously affect the durability of concrete. As solid wastes are produced during industrial activity, ITP (iron tailing powder), FA (fly ash), and LS (lithium slag) can be used as admixtures to produce concrete and improve its workability. This paper focuses on the preparation of concrete using a ternary mineral admixture system consisting of ITP, FA, and LS to investigate the acid erosion resistance of concrete in acetic acid solution at different cement replacement rates and different water-binder ratios. The tests were performed by compressive strength analysis, mass analysis, apparent deterioration analysis, and microstructure analysis by mercury intrusion porosimetry and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that when the water-binder ratio is certain and the cement replacement rate is greater than 16%; especially at 20%, the concrete shows strong resistance to acid erosion; when the cement replacement rate is certain and the water-binder ratio is less than 0.47; especially at 0.42, the concrete shows strong resistance to acid erosion. Microstructural analysis shows that the ternary mineral admixture system composed of ITP, FA, and LS promotes the formation of hydration products such as C-S-H and AFt, improves the compactness and compressive strength of concrete, and reduces the connected porosity of concrete, which can obtain good overall performance. In general, concrete prepared with a ternary mineral admixture system consisting of ITP, FA, and LS has better acid erosion resistance than ordinary concrete. The use of different kinds of solid waste powder to replace cement can effectively reduce carbon emissions and protect the environment.

A growing body of evidence demonstrates that fetal-derived tissue-resident macrophages have developmental functions. It has been proposed that macrophages promote testicular functions, but which macrophage populations are involved is unclear. Previous studies showed that macrophages play critical roles in fetal testis morphogenesis and described two adult testicular macrophage populations, interstitial and peritubular. There has been debate regarding the hematopoietic origins of testicular macrophages and whether distinct macrophage populations promote specific testicular functions. Here our hematopoietic lineage-tracing studies in mice show that yolk-sac-derived macrophages comprise the earliest testicular macrophages, while fetal hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) generate monocytes that colonize the gonad during a narrow time window in a Sertoli-cell-dependent manner and differentiate into adult testicular macrophages. Finally, we show that yolk-sac-derived versus HSC-derived macrophages have distinct functions during testis morphogenesis, while interstitial macrophages specifically promote adult Leydig cell steroidogenesis. Our findings provide insight into testicular macrophage origins and their tissue-specific roles., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

The research was aimed at discussing the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided polymer nanocarriers in the clinical treatment of tumors by chemoradiotherapy and oxidation treatment. Twenty female Balb/cAnN (BALB/C) mice were selected as the research objects in the experiment. These mice were set up as tumor-bearing mice, and then ultrasound-guided polymers with different doses, including polyethylene glycol-poly 2-bromoethyl methacrylate (PEG-PBEMA) (Micelle group), free small molecules called l-ascorbyl palmitate (PA) (PA group), PA-micelle micellar particles (PA-Micelle group) prepared in the research, and phosphate buffer solution (PBS) (PBS group) were adopted. Besides, the growth of mice was recorded and compared after each operation. Meanwhile, different concentrations of PA-Micelle micellar particles and free small molecules of PA were added to the breast cancer cells of mice, and the concentration changes of glutathione (GSH) were detected to test the oxidation treatment ability of this method. According to the results of the experiment, the tumor volume of mice in the PA-Micelle group prepared in the research was the smallest followed by the PA group, and the tumor volume of mice in the Micelle group was the third smallest. The mice in the PBS group had the largest tumors among mice in all four groups. In oxidation treatment, the GSH concentration of mice in the PA-Micelle group was the lowest, while the GSH concentration of mice in the PA group was almost unchanged. The results of this experiment proved that the therapeutic effect of polymer nanocarriers in tumor chemotherapy and oxidation treatment was more significant than in traditional drug treatment.

Supplementary cementitious material (SCM) plays an important role in blended cement, and the effect of the particle size and morphology of siliceous supplementary cementitious material on hydration should not be ignored. In this study, 0.5 h and 1 h of wet grinding was applied to pretreat iron ore tailing powder (TP), and the divergence in pozzolanic behavior and morphology were investigated. Then, the treated TPs were used to replace the 30% cement contents in preparing blended cementitious paste, and the impact mechanism of morphology on performance was studied emphatically. M, the autogenous shrinkages of pastes were tested. Finally, hydration reaction kinetics was carried out to explore the hydration behavior, while X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to characterize the hydration product properties, respectively. Meanwhile, microscopy intrusion porosimetry (MIP) was also carried out to characterize the pore structures of hardened specimens. Results indicated that wet grinding has a dramatic effect on particle size and morphology, but hardly affects the phase assemblages and pozzolanic reactivity of TP, while the particle shape of TP changes from sub-circular to clavate and, finally, back to sub-circular. The results of hydration reaction kinetics, representing the morphology of particles, had a significant effect on hydration rate and total heat, and compared with the sub-circle one, the clavated particle could inhibit the hydration procedure. With the increasing grinding time, the compressive strength of cementitious paste was increased from 17.37% to 55.73%, and the micro-pore structure became denser; however, the autogenous shrinkage increased.

The optimization of open pit mine production scheduling is not only a multistage decision-making problem but also involves space-time dynamic action among multiple factors, which makes it difficult to optimize production capacity, mining sequence, mining life, and other factors simultaneously in optimizing design. In addition, the production capacity is disorderly expanded, the calculation scale is large, and the optimization time is long. Therefore, this article designs a mobile capacity search domain method to improve computing efficiency without omitting the optimal production capacity. At the same time, taking the maximum net present value as the objective function, an enumeration method is used to optimize the possible paths in different capacity domains and calculate the infrastructure investment and facility idle cost required to meet the maximum production capacity on each possible path to control the disorderly expansion and violent fluctuation of production capacity. The research shows that the open pit mine production scheduling optimization algorithm proposed in this article can not only realize the simultaneous optimization of the three elements of production capacity, mining sequence, and mining life but also improve the computing efficiency by 200 times. Furthermore, the production capacity fluctuation is less than 1.4%. The mining life of the mine is extended by 13 years, and the overall economic benefit is increased by 18%., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) technology is difficult to be used for phosphogypsum (PG) treatment because the pH of PG is too low to be suitable for the growth of some bacteria. When acidophilus bacteria are used to treat PG, their low mineralization rate leads to low removal of the impurities. Based on the above problems, this study reports a new method that uses enzyme induced carbonate precipitation (EICP) modified acidophilus bacteria solution to remove phosphorus (P) and fluorine (F) in PG. Five kinds of mixtures of MICP and EICP (ME) were used to leach the PG column, and its mechanism was discussed. The results show that when the ratio of MICP to EICP is 2:1, the removal ratio of P and F is the highest, which reaches 72.87-74.92%. Compared with the single traditional bacillus solution or single acidophilic bacteria solution, the impurity removal ratio of the ME21 (MICP:EICP=2:1) mixture is increased by about 13%. The good acid resistance of the urease enzyme and acidophilic bacteria improves their growth and activity, thus increasing the biomineralization rate by about 22%. Additionally, the ME treatment is 30% cheaper than the traditional binder treatment. Therefore, this new treatment is a low-cost and environmentally friendly method., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Supporting cells of the ovary, termed granulosa cells, are essential for ovarian differentiation and oogenesis by providing a nurturing environment for oocyte maintenance and maturation. Granulosa cells are specified in the fetal and perinatal ovary, and sufficient numbers of granulosa cells are critical for the establishment of follicles and the oocyte reserve. Identifying the cellular source from which granulosa cells and their progenitors are derived is an integral part of efforts to understand basic ovarian biology and the etiology of female infertility. In particular, the contribution of mesenchymal cells, especially perivascular cells, to ovarian development is poorly understood but is likely to be a source of new information regarding ovarian function. Here we have identified a cell population in the fetal ovary, which is a Nestin-expressing perivascular cell type. Using lineage tracing and ex vivo organ culture methods, we determined that perivascular cells are multipotent progenitors that contribute to granulosa, thecal, and pericyte cell lineages in the ovary. Maintenance of these progenitors is dependent on ovarian vasculature, likely reliant on endothelial-mesenchymal Notch signaling interactions. Depletion of Nestin + progenitors resulted in a disruption of granulosa cell specification and in an increased number of germ cell cysts that fail to break down, leading to polyovular ovarian follicles. These findings highlight a cell population in the ovary and uncover a key role for vasculature in ovarian differentiation, which may lead to insights into the origins of female gonad dysgenesis and infertility.

The high cost of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) limits the broad usage of cemented paste backfill (CPB). Additionally, improper disposal of arsenic-containing biohydrometallurgy waste (BW) can cause tremendous pollution to the environment. Consequently, BW is used to prepare an alternative cementitious material for CPB in this study. The effect of calcined oil shale residue (COSR) on the binder's characteristics was studied. The reaction kinetics of the binder in the presence of COSR were studied via the isothermal calorimeter test and the Krstulovic-Dabic model; mechanical strength and hydration product modifications due to the addition of COSR were also investigated. The leaching of hazardous elements from the binder was also investigated. The results showed that adding COSR reduced the flowability of fresh slurry and early-age compressive strength; however, adding 20 wt% COSR resulted in the highest later age compressive strength, thereby reaching ∼43.65 MPa after 60 days. The compressive strength of the CPB sample using the COSR20 as a binder may reach ∼87% of the OPC-based CPB sample. Furthermore, the presence of COSR had no significant effect on the phase assembles but changed the amount of ettringite (AFt) and calcium silicate aluminate hydrate (C-A-S-H). The results of this study show that the prepared binder could be used as an alternative to OPC in CPB., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Recently, the increasing of ultrafine-tailings increases the amount of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) in cemented paste backfill (CPB), which leads to the rise of CPB cost and carbon emission. As a result, it is necessary to develop alternative binders. The present work focuses on the preparation of a new binder, which is activated by a mixture of calcined quarry dust (CQD) and NaOH at a mass ratio of 1:1. The results indicated that CQD/NaOH was more effective than using NaOH or CQD alone in activating blast furnace slag (BFS) and also showed better performance than OPC. The compressive strength of the CPB samples using 10% CQD/NaOH was around 3.78 MPa after curing for 90 days, around 42% higher than the OPC-based CPB samples. The reaction products of CQD/NaOH-activated BFS consisted mainly of C-(A)-S-H, hydrotalcite like phases (Ht), and M-S-H. The generation of Ht phases lowered the Al incorporation into the structure of C-S-H, resulting in lower average Al/Si ratio and mean chain length., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

How to treat the iron tailings of mining solid waste with high value is an urgent problem on a global scale. In recent years, the application of iron tailings in the building materials industry has attracted the attention of many scholars. The conversion of iron tailings into green building materials helps achieve carbon neutrality and high-value utilization of solid waste, and promotes sustainable development. Although iron tailings have been extensively studied as supplementary cementitious materials, the performance of concrete is not ideal due to its low activity. In this study, the hybrid supplementary cementitious materials system was prepared by iron tailings, phosphorus slag, and steel slag, and the effects of supplementary cementitious materials type, iron tailings content, iron tailings grinding time, and supplementary cementitious materials content on concrete performance were studied. The compressive properties, iron tailings properties, pore structure, interfacial transition zone, and element distribution of hydration products of concrete were tested by compressive strength tests, X-ray Diffractometer (XRD), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry (MIP), Backscattering Electron Tests (BSE), and Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS). The results show that further grinding improves the iron tailings activity. There is a synergistic mechanism between steel slag and phosphorus slag in the composite supplementary cementitious materials, which overcomes the low activity defect of iron tailings and produces concrete with a compressive strength exceeding 40 MPa. The composite supplementary cementitious materials can optimize the interfacial transition zone of the concrete interface and reduce the calcium-silicon ratio of the hydration products. However, it will deteriorate the pore structure of the concrete matrix, cause part of the concrete matrix to be damaged and lead to a loss of compressive strength, and the loss is acceptable. This work broadens the methods of comprehensive utilization of iron tailings and also provides a reference for a more detailed understanding of the properties of iron tailings-based concrete.

In order to control energy consumption and reduce pollution, the use of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) instead of cement to produce green cementitious materials can save energy, reduce emissions and achieve sustainable development. This study demonstrates the possibility of developing SCMs with iron tailings (IOTs), fly ash (FA) and ceramic powder (CP) ternary system, as well as the optimization and improvement scheme of gelation activation. The effects of activator dosage, mix ratio and substitution rate on mechanical properties of ternary SCMs system were investigated. The formation and evolution of hydration products were analyzed by differential thermogravimetric analysis (DTA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results of the study show that there is synergy in the system. The results show that there is synergy in the system and the hydration reaction is sufficient. At the substitution rate of 30%, the doping ratio of IOTs, CP and FA is 1:2:2 and the Ca(OH) 2 is 0.6%, the strength reaches 39.9 MPa and the activity index is 91.5%, which can provide a basis for the application and more in-depth study of IOTs multi SCMs.

Gonad development is a highly regulated process that coordinates cell specification and morphogenesis to produce sex-specific organ structures that are required for fertility, such as testicular seminiferous tubules and ovarian follicles. While sex determination occurs within specialized gonadal supporting cells, sexual differentiation is evident throughout the entire organ, including within the interstitial compartment, which contains immune cells and vasculature. While immune and vascular cells have been traditionally appreciated for their supporting roles during tissue growth and homeostasis, an increasing body of evidence supports the idea that these cell types are critical drivers of sexually dimorphic morphogenesis of the gonad. Myeloid immune cells, such as macrophages, are essential for multiple aspects of gonadogenesis and fertility, including for forming and maintaining gonadal vasculature in both sexes at varying stages of life. While vasculature is long known for supporting organ growth and serving as an export mechanism for gonadal sex steroids in utero, it is also an important component of fetal testicular morphogenesis and differentiation; additionally, it is vital for ovarian corpus luteal function and maintenance of pregnancy. These findings point toward a new paradigm in which immune cells and blood vessels are integral components of sexual differentiation and organogenesis. In this review, we discuss the state of the field regarding the diverse roles of immune and vascular cells during organogenesis of the testis and ovary and highlight outstanding questions in the field that could stimulate new research into these previously underappreciated constituents of the gonad., (© 2021 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.)

Large-scale (large-area), fine spatial resolution satellite sensor images are valuable data sources for Earth observation while not yet fully exploited by research communities for practical applications. Often, such images exhibit highly complex geometrical structures and spatial patterns, and distinctive characteristics of multiple land-use categories may appear at the same region. Autonomous information extraction from these images is essential in the field of pattern recognition within remote sensing, but this task is extremely challenging due to the spectral and spatial complexity captured in satellite sensor imagery. In this research, a semi-supervised deep rule-based approach for satellite sensor image analysis (SeRBIA) is proposed, where large-scale satellite sensor images are analysed autonomously and classified into detailed land-use categories. Using an ensemble feature descriptor derived from pre-trained AlexNet and VGG-VD-16 models, SeRBIA is capable of learning continuously from both labelled and unlabelled images through self-adaptation without human involvement or intervention. Extensive numerical experiments were conducted on both benchmark datasets and real-world satellite sensor images to comprehensively test the validity and effectiveness of the proposed method. The novel information mining technique developed here can be applied to analyse large-scale satellite sensor images with high accuracy and interpretability, across a wide range of real-world applications.

Steroidogenesis is an essential biological process for embryonic development, reproduction, and adult health. While specific glandular cells, such as Leydig cells in the testis, are traditionally known to be the principal players in steroid hormone production, there are other cell types that contribute to the process of steroidogenesis. In particular, immune cells are often an important component of the cellular niche that is required for the production of steroid hormones. For several decades, studies have reported that testicular macrophages and Leydig cells are intimately associated and exhibit a dependency on the other cell type for their proper development; however, the mechanisms that underlie the functional relationship between macrophages and Leydig cells are unclear. Beyond the testis, in certain instances immune cells themselves, such as certain types of lymphocytes, are capable of steroid hormone production, thus highlighting the complexity and diversity that underlie steroidogenesis. In this review we will describe how immune cells are critical regulators of steroidogenesis in the testis and in extra-glandular locations, as well as discuss how this area of research offers opportunities to uncover new insights into steroid hormone production., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Gu, Li, Matsuyama and DeFalco.)

High-performance fiber-reinforced cement composites (HPFRCCs) have been widely used in structural engineering due to their excellent performance. With the trend of lightweight construction, these materials, which can be used in prefabricated components, are becoming more and more important. This study investigated the influence of the water-cement (w/c) ratio, within the 0.19-0.28 range, on the rheological and mechanical properties of HPFRCCs; the pore structure and microstructure were observed to evaluate its effect. An elastic modulus test showed that a smaller w/c ratio would result in a higher rigidity of the material. Both the yield shear stress and plastic viscosity decreased to significantly different degrees with an increasing w/c ratio; a decrease in the yield shear stress and plastic viscosity was conducive to air discharge from the composite and, hence, reduced the air content. Most of the internal pores had a diameter of 20-100 nm or larger than 200 nm, while the proportion of those with a diameter of 100-200 nm was relatively low. When the w/c ratio was below 0.22, the flexural and compressive strengths barely increased due to an increment in the number of larger pores (i.e., diameter >200 nm). The results showed that the yield shear stress, plastic viscosity, pore uniformity, and the number of pores with a diameter above 200 nm are the dominant factors affecting the HPFRCC performance at a low w/c ratio., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2022 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

The objective of this paper is to investigate the coupling effect of cement and organosilicon hydrophobic agents on the water resistance of phosphogypsum. Different weight ratios of Portland cement were added to adjust the alkalinity of this system and further improve the work efficiency of the organosilicon hydrophobic agents. Some macroscopic performances, such as the water absorption, the compressive strength, the flexural strength, and the softening coefficient, were measured to characterize the water-resistance of phosphogypsum. The microscopic characteristics were analyzed via contact angle tests, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to understand the mechanism of organosilicon hydrophobicity. The results indicated that both the compressive and flexural strengths of phosphogypsum first increased and then decreased with the increase of organosilicon hydrophobic agents. Meanwhile, the surface contact angle continued to increase and the softening coefficient exhibited an obvious increase. When the hydrophobic agent was combined with Portland cement, the softening coefficient of phosphogypsum further increased from 0.80 to 0.99, while the water absorption rate was significantly reduced from 16.0% to 0.8%. Microscopic tests proved that the hydrophobic organic molecules can be polymerized under the high alkalinity, and promote the formation of a hydrophobic film, thus significantly improving the water-resistance of phosphogypsum.

Cemented paste backfill (CPB) favors the sustainable development of mine industry. However, as the primary cementitious binders in CPB, the high cost of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) discourages CPB utilization. In the present work, low-carbon and low-cost binders activated by Na 2 CO 3 supplemented by calcined quarry dust were used in CPB. The binder was prepared using a 'one-part' method. It was found that binders prepared using 8% Na 2 CO 3 and 5% CQD show the best performance. The superior properties of the binders were attributed to the promoted binder hydration and special phase assembles of the hydration products. Cost and carbon emission analysis showed that Na 2 CO 3 activated binder was cheaper and greener. The cost and CO 2 emission of binder B8Q5 were lower than OPC by around 34.16% and 87.76%, respectively. Besides, leaching tests showed that all the toxic metals were stabilized, which posed no environmental risk., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The antecedent and consequent parts of a first-order evolving intelligent system (EIS) determine the validity of the learning results and overall system performance. Nonetheless, the state-of-the-art techniques mostly stress on the novelty from the system identification point of view but pay less attention to the optimality of the learned parameters. Using the recently introduced autonomous learning multiple model (ALMMo) system as the implementation basis, this article introduces a particle swarm-based approach for the EIS optimization. The proposed approach is able to simultaneously optimize the antecedent and consequent parameters of ALMMo and effectively enhance the system performance by iteratively searching for optimal solutions in the problem spaces. In addition, the proposed optimization approach does not adversely influence the "one pass" learning ability of ALMMo. Once the optimization process is complete, ALMMo can continue to learn from new data to incorporate unseen data patterns recursively without full retraining. The experimental studies with a number of real-world benchmark problems validate the proposed concept and general principles. It is also verified that the proposed optimization approach can be applied to other types of EISs with similar operating mechanisms.

Iron ore tailings (IOTs) are gradually used as building materials to solve the severe ecological and environmental problems caused by their massive accumulation. However, the bulk density of IOT as aggregate is too large, which seriously affects the concrete properties. Therefore, in this paper, the effect of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) on the workability, mechanical properties, and durability of concrete prepared from IOT recycled aggregate was studied. The action mechanism of HPMC on the workability and the mechanical properties of the IOT concrete was analyzed by mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results show that HPMC can effectively improve the segregation problem caused by the sinking and air entrainment of IOT aggregate and improve the crack resistance of concrete with little effect on its compressive strength and electric flux. These results are due to the air-entraining thickening effect of HPMC, which improves the slurry viscosity, hinders the sinking of aggregate, and improves the workability. At the same time, HPMC film, after concrete hardening, will bridge the slurry and aggregate through physical and chemical effects, hinder the propagation of microcracks, and improve the crack resistance.

Testis differentiation is initiated when Sry in pre-Sertoli cells directs the gonad toward a male-specific fate. Sertoli cells are essential for testis development, but cell types within the interstitial compartment, such as immune and endothelial cells, are also critical for organ formation. Our previous work implicated macrophages in fetal testis morphogenesis, but little is known about genes underlying immune cell development during organogenesis. Here, we examine the role of the immune-associated genes Mafb and Maf in mouse fetal gonad development, and we demonstrate that deletion of these genes leads to aberrant hematopoiesis manifested by supernumerary gonadal monocytes. Mafb; Maf double knockout embryos underwent initial gonadal sex determination normally, but exhibited testicular hypervascularization, testis cord formation defects, Leydig cell deficit, and a reduced number of germ cells. In general, Mafb and Maf alone were dispensable for gonad development; however, when both genes were deleted, we observed significant defects in testicular morphogenesis, indicating that Mafb and Maf work redundantly during testis differentiation. These results demonstrate previously unappreciated roles for Mafb and Maf in immune and vascular development and highlight the importance of interstitial cells in gonadal differentiation., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Society for the Study of Reproduction. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

In this paper iron tailing sand (TS) are used as aggerate to develop ultra high-performance concrete (UHPC). The mix proportion of UHPC is designed and TS were added by 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% (wt.%, i.e., weight percentage) to replace natural river sand. Firstly, the influence of TS on the slurry behavior was carried out. The experimental result indicates that with the continuously increasing content of TS, the workability of slurry decreases, while the air content increases. Considering the workability, the optimal replacing dosage of TS should be less than 50%. Then, tests for the hardened specimens were taken. The compressive behavior and micro-porosity deteriorate with increasing content of TS, and the compressive strength had a positive linear relationship with the workability, which indicated that the decline the compressive behavior is mainly due to the loss of flowability. Finally, autogenous shrinkages of UHPC with different TS dosage were also tested. At the same time, the micro-structure of specimens was discussed, which was deteriorate with the increasing dosage of TS. Therefore, comprehensively considering the compressive behavior, micro-structure and shrinkage behavior, as much as 50% of the aggregate could be replaced by TS when developing UHPC.

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of osimertinib (OSI) versus afatinib (AFA) in patients with T790M-positive, non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and multiple central nervous system (CNS) metastases after failure of initial epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) treatment., Methods: Consecutive patients with T790M-positive NSCLC and multiple CNS metastases after failure of initial EGFR-TKI treatment were retrospectively identified from our medical institution during 2016-2018 and underwent either oral 80 daily OSI or oral 40 daily AFA every 3 weeks for up to 6 cycles, until disease progression, intolerable adverse events (AEs), or death. The co-primary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS)., Results: The cohort consisted of 124 patients (OSI: n = 60, mean age = 64.24 years [SD: 12.33]; AFA: n = 64, mean age = 64.13 years [SD: 13.72]). After a median follow-up of 24 months (range, 3 to 28), a significant improvement in OS was detected (hazard ratio [HR] 0.59, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.39-0.91; p = 0.0160; median, 13.7 months [95% CI, 11.1-14.8] for OSI vs 9.6 months [95% CI, 8.4-10.2] for AFA). The median duration of PFS was significantly longer with OSI than with AFA (HR 0.62; 95% CI, 0.41-0.91; p = 0.014; median, 4.5 months [95% CI, 3.5-5.7] vs 3.9 months [95% CI, 3.1-4.8]). The proportion of grade 3 or higher adverse events (AEs) was lower with OSI (22.4%) than with AFA (39.4%)., Conclusions: In patients with T790M-positive NSCLC and multiple CNS metastases after failure of initial EGFR-TKI treatment, OSI may be associated with significantly improved survival benefit compared with AFA, with a controllable tolerability profile.

Toxic sodium cyanate is always present in cyanide-contaminated waste. A new technology for the efficient decomposition of toxic sodium cyanate by hematite was first proposed in this study. The decomposition of sodium cyanate under various atmospheres has been studied. Studies show that sodium cyanate decomposes above 782 °C in Ar and above 627 °C in air. Sodium cyanate does not decompose even roasted at 400 °C for 120 min in air. Hematite does not promote the decomposition of sodium cyanate in Ar. However, almost all sodium cyanate decomposes efficiently at 400 °C and the mass ration of hematite to sodium cyanate of 1:1 for 30 min in air or oxygen atmosphere. The increased mass ratio of hematite to sodium cyanate and roasting temperature can both favor the efficient decomposition of sodium cyanate. The efficient decomposition of sodium cyanate occurs within 30 min, and it is almost stagnant with the prolongation of roasting time. When roasted in air or oxygen in the presence of hematite, sodium cyanate decomposes to Na 2 CO 3 , CO 2 and N 2 and a small amount of NaNO 3 and NO x . The optimal efficient decomposition of sodium cyanate is to roast above 400 °C for 30 min in air or O 2 at a mass ration of hematite to sodium cyanate greater than 1:1., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Cortical networks are complex systems of a great many interconnected neurons that operate from collective dynamical states. To understand how cortical neural networks function, it is important to identify their common dynamical operating states from the probabilistic viewpoint. Probabilistic characteristics of these operating states often underlie network functions. Here, using multi-electrode data from three separate experiments, we identify and characterize a cortical operating state (the "probability polling" or "p-polling" state), common across mouse and monkey with different behaviors. If the interaction among neurons is weak, the p-polling state provides a quantitative understanding of how the high dimensional probability distribution of firing patterns can be obtained by the low-order maximum entropy formulation, effectively utilizing a low dimensional stimulus-coding structure. These results show evidence for generality of the p-polling state and in certain situations its advantage of providing a mathematical validation for the low-order maximum entropy principle as a coding strategy., (© 2020 Federation of European Neuroscience Societies and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Limited electrode size with high electrochemical performance and reliability of modified materials are two of the main concerns for flexible neural electrodes in recent years. Here, an effective fabrication method of enhanced micro-scale wrinkles based on oil-pretreated hyperelastic substrates (PDMS and Ecoflex) is proposed for the application of microelectrode biosensors. Compared to pre-stretching or compressing methods, this approach has better advantages including compatibility with MEMS processes on wafer and easy replication. Wrinkled gold microelectrodes exhibit superior electrochemical properties than the flat one, and no crack or delamination occurs after electroplating PEDOT:PSS and platinum black on wrinkled microelectrodes. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) scanning for 2500 times is performed to investigate adhesion and stability of modified materials. For the modified microelectrodes, no significant change is observed in charge storage capacity (CSC) and impedance at 1 kHz, whereas PEDOT:PSS coated flat microelectrodes appears delamination. Ultrasonication and cycling forces are also conducted on modified microelectrodes, which demonstrates little influence on the wrinkled ones. Flexible wrinkled microelectrodes are further verified by in-vivo ECoG recordings combined with optogenetics in mice. These results highlight the importance of micro-structure in neural electrode design and tremendous application potentials in flexible electronics., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Investigating the dependence of the catalysis on the size and structure of materials is of great significance for exploiting catalysts with characteristics of high activity, low cost, and new property. Non-precious metal catalysts bear high hope to meet the increasing demands of industrial applications in a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way. In this work, we take size-controlled BiOCl nanosheets as examples, which are synthesized via a hydrothermal method by changing the reaction conditions. The BiOCl nanosheets were characterized in details to understand their size-property relationships, and were found to exhibit a series of thickness-dependent physicochemical properties, including specific surface area, light absorption, and the separation efficiency of photo-generated charge carriers. Moreover, this work demonstrates the first example that BiOCl nanostructures have very high catalytic activity for the reduction of nitrophenols by sodium borohydride, without any light irradiation. The high catalytic activity of BiOCl nanosheets was proved to be due to the metallic Bi 0 clusters that were produced by surface Bi (III) reduction. The catalytic activity increased greatly with a decrease in the average thickness from 106.42nm of BiOCl(H 2 O) to 3.47nm of ultrathin BiOCl, because the increased specific surface area provided more active sites for catalytic reactions. As a result, this work provides evidences for the size-property relationships of nanostructured catalysts as well as some inspirations for exploiting novel heterogeneous catalysis of BiOCl nanomaterials., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Cognitive processes require working memory (WM) that involves a brief period of memory retention known as the delay period. Elevated delay-period activity in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) has been observed, but its functional role in WM tasks remains unclear. We optogenetically suppressed or enhanced activity of pyramidal neurons in mouse mPFC during the delay period. Behavioral performance was impaired during the learning phase but not after the mice were well trained. Delay-period mPFC activity appeared to be more important in memory retention than in inhibitory control, decision-making, or motor selection. Furthermore, endogenous delay-period mPFC activity showed more prominent modulation that correlated with memory retention and behavioral performance. Thus, properly regulated mPFC delay-period activity is critical for information retention during learning of a WM task., (Copyright © 2014, American Association for the Advancement of Science.)