Search

Soybean, as an important oil crop, is one of the main sources of high-quality protein and edible oil. Soybean yield and seed quality are closely related to growth-period traits, which are mainly controlled by a series of genes associated with the growth period. In this study, 16 near-isogenic lines (NILs) of E1-E4 were developed using Harosoy as the genetic background and were planted in experimental fields in Shijiazhuang and Hefei. The growth period, seed quality, and yield traits were investigated to understand the adaptability of different combinations of E1-E4 mutants to mid-latitude planting areas. The results showed that the 16 NILs had different photoperiod sensitivities and flowering times. WT and e4 NILs were unsuitable for planting in Shijiazhuang due to late flowering and low yield, while all NILs matured normally when planted in Hefei. Different allelic combinations of E1-E4 also affected plant height, node length, yield per plant, and seed quality. We found that e3 or e4 mutations could lead to early flowering under long-day conditions and simultaneously induce a shading response, resulting in taller plants and longer node lengths. We measured the protein, oil, and sucrose content of the seeds and found that the seeds of WT could not mature normally, exhibiting the lowest oil content and the highest sucrose content. Overall, seeds from the other NILs, when planted in Shijiazhuang, showed higher oil and sucrose content compared to those planted in Hefei but lower protein content. Therefore, to evaluate the latitude adaptability of soybean cultivars, it is necessary to comprehensively examine the effects of growth-period genes on photoperiod sensitivity, seed quality, and yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of statistical distributions in accurately representing real-world scenarios and aiding in educated decision-making is well recognized. Nonetheless, it is also true that the limitations of these distributions can hinder optimal fitting in certain situations. This awareness has led researchers to seek out improved and more optimal probability distributions. Based on factual motivation, this paper introduces a new probability distribution called the weighted sine generalized inverse Weibull (WSGI-Weibull) distribution. This model emerges from the amalgamation of the generalized inverse Weibull distribution and a sine-inspired probabilistic framework. Certain statistical properties, particularly those based on quantiles, of the newly introduced WSGI-Weibull distribution have been derived. An established estimation method is applied to calculate the point estimators of the WSGI-Weibull distribution, and subsequently, a simulation study is conducted. To highlight the benefits of the WSGI-Weibull distribution, two data sets sourced from the reliability and hydrology sectors are analyzed. The empirical fitting of the WSGI-Weibull distribution is evaluated against specific adversarial distributions, utilizing the two data sets as a basis for comparison. Utilizing specific evaluation tools, it has been noted that the WSGI-Weibull distribution delivers the best and most optimal fit for the reliability and hydrological data sets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Web-based, testing for sexually transmitted infections (STI) is becoming increasingly available. However, treatment pathways from web-based services are often not well-coordinated, contributing to treatment delays and access gaps. This study investigated clinician perspectives on building service linkages with a new, web-based, STI testing service in Victoria, Australia. Methods: We interviewed 16 clinicians from regional/outer metropolitan areas who are part of government-funded, primary care programs to strengthen sexual health services in Victoria. Interviews enquired about: clinician attitudes, considerations for managing referrals, compatibility with clinic systems, and broader policy/healthcare system factors. Results: Clinicians were enthusiastic, perceived web-based services as complementary (not competition), and believed local treatment pathways were important for patient choice/access. They felt that administrative aspects of handling referrals from an online service could be managed without problems. To inform treatment, clinicians recommended that referral letters from the web-based service list all tests ordered, dates, and complete results. Tensions were raised regarding the utility and appropriateness of including treatment guidelines and pre-prepared prescriptions in referral letters. Respondents reported that most clinics did not stock injectable antibiotics, raising concerns by clinicians about potential treatment delays and privacy challenges related to patient-led procurement at pharmacies. Conclusions: Our study suggests that clinicians are receptive to local treatment pathways being designed as part of web-based STI testing services, and strengthened service linkages could improve client access, particularly outside urban areas. Capacity-building and additional resourcing of local partner clinics may be needed to support decentralised, patient-centred treatment pathways. For individuals who test positive using web-based, sexually transmitted infection testing services, getting treatment can be challenging. Our study found that primary care providers in outer metro and regional Victoria were willing to treat individuals who used web-based services, but raised concerns about administering online prescriptions and lack of injectable antibiotics available on-site at clinics for free, same-day treatment. Capacity-building and additional resourcing of local, partner clinics may be needed to enable effective, client-centered referrals from online to in-person sexual health services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To prepare a gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel scaffold embedded with adrenomedullin (ADM) and investigate its impact and underlying mechanisms in endogenous pulp regeneration. ADM was evenly distributed within the GelMA hydrogel through a simple and conventional physical mixing technique. The scaffold underwent characterization via scanning electron microscopy, alongside assessments of swelling, degradation, and release properties. Biocompatibility was evaluated using cytoskeletal and live-dead staining techniques. The hydrogel's influence on dental pulp stem cells' proliferation, migration, and differentiation was assessed with CCK-8 assays, Transwell assays, and alizarin red and alkaline phosphatase staining. Transcriptomics provided insights into potential mechanisms. The angiogenic effects on umbilical vein endothelial cells were examined using scratch and tube formation assays. In vivo , the composite hydrogel's regenerative capacity was tested in a rat model of pulp regeneration. Statistical analysis involved Student's t -test and one-way analysis of variance, with significance set at P <.05. The ADM-loaded GelMA (GelMA@ADM) hydrogel displayed a porous architecture under electron microscopy conducive to cell adhesion and demonstrated excellent biocompatibility. In vitro experiments showed that GelMA@ADM significantly boosted dental pulp stem cells' migration, proliferation, and differentiation, and enhanced the angiogenic activity of umbilical vein endothelial cells after one week of treatment. Corresponding in vivo experiments revealed that GelMA@ADM facilitated the formation of new vascularized pulp tissue after 2 weeks of treatment. The GelMA@ADM hydrogel effectively promotes dental pulp stem cells' proliferation and differentiation, augments vascularization by umbilical vein endothelial cells, and fosters the creation of new vascularized pulp tissue. These findings underscore the potential of GelMA@ADM hydrogel for endogenous pulp regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four aromatic polyketides (1 - 4) were isolated from the strains of the endophytic Epicoccum nigrum. Their structures were confirmed by comprehensive spectroscopic analysis. Compounds 1–4 possessed two unusual carbon skeletons and were proposed to be dimeric products of pyrogallol analogs. All compounds displayed moderate inhibitory activity against Candida glabrata , with MIC values ranging from 2.50 to 8.20 μg/mL. [Display omitted] • Four aromatic polyketides (1 - 4) were isolated from the strains of the endophytic Epicoccum nigrum. • Compounds 1–4 were of two unusual carbon skeletons and were proposed to be dimeric products of pyrogallol analogs. • Compounds 1–4 displayed moderate inhibitory activity against Candida glabrata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemoperfusion (HIPEC) is a new adjuvant therapy for the treatment of abdominal malignant tumors and metastases, which has shown great potential. The HIPEC technique can effectively kill residual lesions in the abdominal cavity through the synergistic sensitization effect of thermal chemotherapy and the circulating perfusion and washing effect of large volume perfusion fluid, thereby reducing the occurrence of malignant ascites and reducing the risk of postoperative recurrence and metastasis. However, there are still many problems in the practical operation of HIPEC, such as non-uniform distribution of perfusate temperature, inadequate perfusion due to the presence of 'dead space', incomplete cytoreductive surgery (CRS), instances of catheter obstruction during perfusate circulation, the lack of a uniform standard for selecting appropriate HIPEC techniques, occupational exposure of medical personnel during the HIPEC procedure, and the selection of HIPEC chemotherapy regimens for patients with various types of tumors. This article aims to summarize the problems encountered in the clinical practice of HIPEC, explore the problems that can be improved, and put forward some suggestions, so as to promote the further standardization and normalization of HIPEC technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to assess the effectiveness of 5% dextrose (D5W) in comparison to corticosteroids for treating carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). A comprehensive systematic search was conducted across MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials on November 13, 2023. These were supplemented by manual searches using Google Scholar. Two independent authors reviewed the literature, resolving any discrepancies through detailed discussions and consultation with a third author. Data on primary outcomes (pain assessment) and secondary outcomes (symptom severity and functional status using the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire, electrophysiologic measures, cross-sectional area, and adverse effects) were extracted independently by the 2 authors (M.W. and H.H.). The analysis included 4 randomized controlled trials and 1 quasi-experimental study, encompassing a total of 212 patients (220 hands) with mild to moderate CTS. Within 3 months, the D5W injections showed a statistically significant improvement in functional status compared to the corticosteroids with a standard mean difference of −0.34 (95% CI, −0.62 to −0.05). D5W was associated with fewer adverse incidents than corticosteroids (risk ratio, 0.13; 95% CI: 0.03-0.51). No difference was observed between the 2 treatments in other areas. For patients with mild to moderate CTS, D5W injections were more effective than corticosteroid injections in improving functional status and demonstrated fewer adverse effects. D5W injections also paralleled corticosteroids in pain reduction, symptom severity, electrodiagnostic measures, and cross-sectional area of nerve, recommending D5W as a preferred treatment for mild to moderate CTS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel π-π stacking structure of Ag-CDs-PBA was constructed by a facile route. • The toxic MG molecule is detected in real time by Ag-CDs-PBA. • The CT effect of PBA and CDs on the microstructure, and Raman signals of substrates was investigated. • Ag-CDs-PBA substrate has high SERS sensitivity and good uniformity. The long-term overuse of malachite green (MG) has potential carcinogenic, teratogenic, and mutagenic effects. The functional nanocomposite is novel and challenging to construct and implement through surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) strategy to reveal the contributions in application. The novel Ag-CDs (carbon dots)-PBA (phenyl boric acid) nanocomposite was constructed by a facile route to detect toxic MG molecule with high SERS sensitivity and good uniformity. The enhanced substrate used for the detection of MG has been successfully constructed using PBA modulated Ag-CDs on a structured surface with rich binding sites. The fabricated Ag-CDs-PBA substrate can be used to analyze various probe molecules exhibiting high sensitivity, good signal reproducibility, and excellent stability. The mechanism between components has been proved by calculations originating from the plasmonic Ag and active electronic transmission among the bridging CDs and PBA via the close spatial π-π effect. In addition, the accelerated separation of electron-hole pairs was triggered to further improve the SERS activity of the hybrid via a bidirectional charge transfer (CT) process. Significantly, the Ag-CDs-PBA system shows distinctive selectivity, in which PBA can hinder the interference of other species without specific hydroxyl groups. Based on this deeper insight on plasmon-mediated mechanism, the SERS substrate was successfully practiced for quantitative determination in real water and fish samples. The strategy developed promises to be a new sensor technology and has great potential for environmental and food safety applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • We propose an unsupervised few-shot learning for landslide susceptibility mapping. • The meta-learning approach excels in identifying landslides in data-scarce regions. • The visualization of the proposed susceptibility map identified new landslides. Given the critical need to assess landslide hazards, producing landslide susceptibility map (LSM) in regions with scarce historical landslide inventories poses significant challenges. This study introduces a novel landslide susceptibility assessment framework that combines unsupervised learning strategies with few-shot learning methods to increase the accuracy of LSM in these areas. The framework has been practically validated in a representative geological disaster-prone area along the West-East Gas Pipeline in Shaanxi Province, China. We employed three advanced few-shot learning models: a support vector machine, meta -learning, and transfer learning. These models implement feature representation learning for weakly correlated influencing factors through an unsupervised approach, thereby constructing an effective landslide susceptibility assessment model. We compared traditional learning methods and used the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and SHAP values to quantify the effectiveness of the models. The results indicate that the meta -learning algorithm outperforms both the SVM and transfer learning in areas with limited landslide data. The integration of unsupervised strategies significantly improves performance, achieving area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.9385 and 0.9861, respectively. Compared with using meta -learning alone, incorporating unsupervised learning strategies increased the AUC by 4.76%, enhancing both the predictive power of the model and the interpretability of the features. Meta-learning under unsupervised conditions effectively mitigates the evaluation difficulties caused by insufficient landslide records, providing a viable path and empirical evidence for performance improvement in similar data- scarce regions worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a boxed warning and mandated additional safety measures for all gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) used in clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) due to their prolonged retention in the body and associated adverse health effects. This review explores recent advancements in CAs for MRI, highlighting four innovative probes: ORCAs, CEST CAs, 19F CAs, and HP 13C MRI. ORCAs offer a metal-free alternative that enhances imaging through nitroxides. CEST MRI facilitates the direct detection of specific molecules via proton exchange, aiding in disease diagnosis and metabolic assessment. 19F MRI CAs identify subtle biological changes, enabling earlier detection and tailored treatment approaches. HP 13C MRI improves visualization of metabolic processes, demonstrating potential in cancer diagnosis and monitoring. Finally, this review concludes by addressing the challenges facing the field and outlining future research directions, with a particular focus on leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance diagnostic capabilities and optimize both the performance and safety profiles of these innovative CAs. The review addresses the urgent need for safer MRI contrast agents in light of FDA warnings about GBCAs. It highlights the key factors influencing the stability and functionality of metal-free CAs and recent advancements in designing ORCAs, CEST CAs, 19F CAs, and HP 13C probes and functionalization that enhance MRI contrast. It also explores the potential of these agents for multimodal imaging and targeted diagnostics while outlining future research directions and the integration of artificial intelligence to optimize their clinical application and safety. This contribution is pivotal for driving innovation in MRI technology and improving patient outcomes in disease detection and monitoring. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seismic vibrator baseplate (SVB) is a welded structure. Ignoring welding residual stress (WRS) and only considering cyclic stress can decrease the accuracy of fatigue life assessments. This study aims to investigate the fatigue life prediction and optimization of SVB under the influence of WRS. A welding model of SVB and an SVB-ground excitation model were developed, and the stress distribution of SVB was determined using the finite element method. A fatigue life prediction study that incorporates WRS, based on a modified S-N curve, was conducted. A multi-objective fatigue life optimization analysis was performed using genetic algorithms. The results shows that the backing weld (BW) of the SVB is the most susceptible area to fatigue failure. Under the combined effects of WRS and working stress, the fatigue life of the SVB is 8.14 years. When considering WRS, the prediction results align well with field data, showing an error margin of less than 5 %. WRS is identified as a critical factor influencing the fatigue life of SVB, and optimizing welding parameters can effectively reduce WRS, thus extending the service life. The optimal welding parameters were found to be welding interpass temperature of 105 °C and welding speed of 10.23 mm/s. After optimization, the fatigue life of the SVB increased to 10.23 years, a 25.68 % improvement over the pre-optimization condition. Previous studies did not consider the influence of WRS, whereas this work integrates it into the fatigue analysis, producing a modified S-N curve that enhances the accuracy of life prediction. Furthermore, multi-objective optimization algorithms and fusion decision-making methods were applied to the fatigue life optimization of the SVB, offering novel research approaches and methodologies. This study provides theoretical guidance for the structural design and optimization of the SVB, aligning with practical engineering needs and showing substantial application value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]