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Abstract The surface states of three-dimensional topological insulators possess the unique property of spin-momentum interlocking. This property gives rise to the interesting inverse Edelstein effect (IEE), in which an applied spin bias μ is converted to a measurable charge voltage difference V. We develop a semiclassical theory for the IEE of the surface states of Bi2Se3 thin films, which is applicable from the ballistic regime to diffusive regime. We find that the efficiency of the spin-charge conversion, defined as γ = V/μ, exhibits a universal dependence on the ratio between sample size and electron mean free path. The efficiency increases from γ = π/4 in the ballistic limit to γ = π in the diffusive limit, suggesting that sufficient strength of impurity scattering is favorable for the IEE.

Lightweight porous structural materials have excellent energy absorption performance, and their application are gradually appeared. This paper takes the shock-absorbing material of nuclear equipment transportation casks as the starting point, and manufactures an orthogonal trapezoidal aluminum honeycomb by welding (WOTAH). The mechanical properties with different cell thicknesses and cell size ratios under different impact loads are studied through experimental and simulation methods, and the deformation process and energy absorption performance of the materials are obtained. The energy absorption performance of materials under quasi-static loading was investigated using plastic deformation theory and compared with experimental results. Based on the experimental results, the least squares method was used for data fitting to obtain the C-S dynamic constitutive relationship of the material. The equivalent structure was used to replace the honeycomb structure for simulation, and the influence of strain rate effect and structural size on material properties was further studied. Through the above mechanical performance analysis and comparison with wood, it is shown that WOTHA has feasible for the application of nuclear equipment impact limiter., Competing Interests: Declarations Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests. Replication of results The detailed information of the proposed methods and the corresponding software employed in this paper can be found in respective sections. A detailed discussion about the implementation can also be found at the end of Sect. 4. The dates can be obtained from the corresponding author on reasonable request., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Understanding and controlling the ground stress in deep coalfield mining is crucial for ensuring mine safety and efficiency. This study aims to address two unresolved scientific issues in ground stress research: the selection of optimal excavation plans and the large-scale rapid acquisition of ground stress data. A novel computational model is proposed for key rock layer control under different crustal stress conditions. The model considers the complexity and uncertainty of ground stress distribution by simplifying the key rock strata into a fixed-fixed beam model and calculating their safety through mechanical methods. Introducing an innovative approach for acquiring large-scale stress fields using GPS data. By inverting large-scale strain fields in the coalfield area, combined with World Stress Map (WSM) and measured data, accurate stress fields are obtained. The proposed optimal excavation plan can be applied to various coalfield locations worldwide, providing a scientific basis for safe and efficient mining operations. Additionally, the innovative use of GPS data in obtaining large-scale stress fields offers a valuable tool for assessing ground stress variation., Competing Interests: Declarations Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The controlled synthesis of recyclable hematite in the leaching solution of secondary zinc oxide powder is an urgent problem in the chemical industry and metallurgy fields. In this paper, the effects of the temperature, agitation speed, and seed addition on the contents of iron, sulfur, potassium, sodium, and zinc in the iron removal residues, as well as the iron concentration in the supernatant after iron removal were systematically studied. In addition to the temperature control already reported, we found that the agitation speed can also control the transformation between jarosite and hematite phases. The content of jarosite in the residues can be effectively controlled by adjusting the agitation speed, thereby significantly improving the quality of hematite product, as indicated by SEM-EDS and XRD results. Under temperature of 185 °C, an agitation speed of 500 rpm, and a seed addition of 15 g/L, the iron, sulfur and zinc contents in the filter residues and the iron concentration in the supernatant were 59%, 3.22%, 0.92%, and 4.182 g/L, respectively. Kinetic studies show that the rapid oxidation kinetics is not conducive to the formation of high-quality hematite products. These results can directly guide the process of transformation of harmful jarosite into recyclable hematite from the leaching solution of secondary zinc oxide powder, which is of great practical significance for the controlled and waste-free removal of iron from aqueous solutions in the chemical industry and metallurgy fields., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

In order to clarify the microscopic dynamics mechanism of CH 4 , CO 2 and H 2 O adsorption and diffusion in coal, and to reveal the mechanism of the influence of different temperatures and pressures on the adsorption and diffusion characteristics of coal adsorbed CH 4 , CO 2 and H 2 O molecules. In this paper, the macromolecular structure model of Jixi gas-fat coal was constructed, based on the Giant Canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) and Molecular Dynamics (MD) methods. The adsorption-diffusion characteristics of CH 4 ,CO 2 and H 2 O single-component gases in the gas-fat coal macromolecule model at temperatures ranging from 273.15 K to 313.15 K and pressures ranging from 0.01 MPa to 15 MPa were investigated by using Material Studio software. The research results indicated that: The adsorption of three gases, CH 4 , CO 2 and H 2 O, increased with the increase of equilibrium pressure, and the adsorption isotherms conformed to Langmuir type I isotherms. The amount of saturated adsorption of CH 4 ranged from 11.18 to 14.37 ml/g, the saturated adsorption of CO 2 ranged from 20.40 to 24.70 ml/g, and the saturated adsorption of H 2 O ranged from 66.61 to 84.21 ml/g. With the increase of temperature, the saturated adsorption of CH 4 and CO 2 both decreased, and the saturated adsorption of H 2 O firstly increased and then decreased, and the adsorption of H 2 O by low temperature and high temperature had both an inhibitory effect on the adsorption of H 2 O. The potential energy distributions of CH 4 , CO 2 and H 2 O molecules are poisson distributed. The absolute values of the most available interaction energies are, from highest to lowest: H 2 O > CO 2  > CH 4 ; the activation energies for diffusion of CH 4 , CO 2 and H 2 O are 12.20 kJ/mol, 3.36 kJ/mol, and 8.47 kJ/mol, respectively, and the diffusion of CO 2 is the more likely to occur. The adsorption of CH 4 and CO 2 in coal is physical adsorption, while the adsorption process of H 2 O molecules is beyond the scope of physical adsorption. The absolute value of the interaction energy is H 2 O > CO 2  > CH 4 in descending order., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Unlike the space targets such as satellites whose observation distance is about the order of 100 km, the measurement distance of long baseline (LBL) underwater positioning system is much shorter. If the noncoincidence between the multiple beacons and the target center is not considered, this systematic error will cause a little larger positioning error. Therefore, aiming at the situation that multiple beacons are installed outside the target and the distance between the beacons and the target center is significant, a multi-beacon positioning model of the LBL underwater system is constructed in this paper. Furthermore, for the sound speed systematic error and the time of arrival (TOA) systematic error in the multi-beacon LBL system positioning measurement data, three identification models of systematic error are constructed. According to the positioning process of the LBL underwater system, the expression of the optimal test statistic D is derived based on the TOA residual. Finally, the optimal selection criterion is given, and the underwater target position and systematic error can be accurately estimated. Both of the numerical simulation and the underwater positioning test show that the appropriate identification model of systematic error in the measurement data can be selected according to the optimal selection criterion, and the underwater target positioning accuracy of the LBL system can be improved., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Redtory was transformed from an old industrial site into a creative park in Guangzhou. Unfortunately, it was demolished in May 2019. It holds a dual significance, representing both Guangzhou's old industrial era and its first creative park (Art and Design). The objective of this study was to utilize Virtual Reality (VR) technologies to design an immersive environment with a narrative experience and restore the historical memory of Redtory. The project designs the interactive storytelling tour based on Bartle's taxonomy theory. The VR project includes four primary scenes to tell the Redtory's story: Starting Scene, Factory Buildings, Historical Square, and Creative Corridor. The study designs various interactive elements to engage tourists during exploration. The study conducted user tests to evaluate the system. A comparative experiment (N = 40) is conducted to evaluate the overall performance of the VR platform. The results indicate that the platform provides a smooth storytelling experience during the virtual tour with minimal bugs or disruptions. The project provides valuable user data and a design flow as a case study reference to contribute to the field of VR historical education., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a significant pathogen causing infectious diseases, including pneumonia, otitis media, septicemia, and meningitis. The introduction of multivalent vaccines has coincided with a remarkable decrease in the number of pneumococcal-related deaths. Despite this, pneumococcal infection remains a significant cause of death among children under 5 years old and adults aged 65 or older at a global level. Therefore, early detection of S. pneumoniae infection is crucial for prognosis of pneumococcal infection patients. In this study, we evaluated the utility of a real-time multienzyme isothermal rapid amplification (MIRA) assay for detecting S. pneumoniae and other non-S. pneumoniae bacterial species. A primer-probe set targeting the S. pneumoniae lytA gene was designed, followed by optimization of parameters for the MIRA assay. At the same time, we validated the real-time MIRA assay for detecting S. pneumoniae using 79 clinical isolates identified by VITEK MS. The results showed a detection sensitivity and specificity of 100%. These results demonstrate that the designed real-time MIRA assay is a promising, rapid, simple, and reliable method for detecting S. pneumoniae infection in resource-limited areas. It has great potential for application in detecting not only S. pneumoniae but also other non-S. pneumoniae bacterial species., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Iron in the leaching solution with high K + and Na + concentrations was usually precipitated as the typical hazardous and toxic jarosite residues. However, this method of treatment has been greatly restricted by increasingly strict environmental regulations. Here we propose that iron can be precipitated from the solution with high K + and Na + concentrations as recyclable hematite products by adjusting the concentration ratio of sodium and potassium ions in the solution. The transformation behavior of jarosite into hematite in high concentration potassium ion and sodium ion solution was explained based on collision theory. The results indicated that in instances where the concentration ratio of Na + /K + is ≥ 4:1, the iron present in the solution can be effectively precipitated as a recyclable hematite product, as opposed to forming the conventional hazardous jarosite residue, even under conditions where the potassium ion concentration reaches levels as high as 4 g/L. On the other hand, thermodynamic and molecular dynamics simulations indicate that at a temperature of 185 °C, the decomposition transformation of Na-jarosite (32.64 kJ and 7.25 eV) is more energetically advantageous compared to that of K-jarosite (61.07 kJ and 15.31 eV). The results were verified by the leaching solution from smelting industry. The iron content in the residues is above 58%, the sulfur content is below 4%, the zinc content is below 1%, and the total iron concentration in the supernatant is about 4 g/L, reaching the production index of the smelting industry. The green, environmentally friendly, and recyclable separation of iron in a solution with high concentrations of potassium and sodium ions is achieved, which is of great significance for the treatment of iron-containing solution and wastewater in the chemical industry and metallurgy fields., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignancy with poor survival and requires long-term follow-up. Hence, we collected information on patients with Primary Hepatocellular Carcinoma in the United States from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and EndResults (SEER) database. We used this information to establish a deep learning with a multilayer neural network (the NMTLR model) for predicting the survival rate of patients with Primary Hepatocellular Carcinoma. HCC patients pathologically diagnosed between January 2011 and December 2015 in the SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) database of the National Cancer Institute of the United States were selected as study subjects. We utilized two deep learning-based algorithms (DeepSurv and Neural Multi-Task Logistic Regression [NMTLR]) and a machine learning-based algorithm (Random Survival Forest [RSF]) for model training. A multivariable Cox Proportional Hazards (CoxPH) model was also constructed for comparison. The dataset was randomly divided into a training set and a test set in a 7:3 ratio. The training dataset underwent hyperparameter tuning through 1000 iterations of random search and fivefold cross-validation. Model performance was assessed using the concordance index (C-index), Brier score, and Integrated Brier Score (IBS). The accuracy of predicting 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year survival rates was evaluated using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration plots, and Area Under the Curve (AUC). The primary outcomes were the 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year overall survival rates. Models were developed using DeepSurv, NMTLR, RSF, and Cox Proportional Hazards regression. Model differentiation was evaluated using the C-index, calibration with concordance plots, and risk stratification capability with the log-rank test. The study included 2197 HCC patients, randomly divided into a training cohort (70%, n = 1537) and a testing cohort (30%, n = 660). Clinical characteristics between the two cohorts showed no significant statistical difference (p > 0.05). The deep learning models outperformed both RSF and CoxPH models, with C-indices of 0.735 (NMTLR) and 0.731 (DeepSurv) in the test dataset. The NMTLR model demonstrated enhanced accuracy and well-calibrated survival estimates, achieving an Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.824 for 1-year survival predictions, 0.813 for 3-year, and 0.803 for 5-year survival rates. This model's superior calibration and discriminative ability enhance its utility for clinical prognostication in Primary Hepatocellular Carcinoma. We deployed the NMTLR model as a web application for clinical practice. The NMTLR model have potential advantages over traditional linear models in prognostic assessment and treatment recommendations. This novel analytical approach may provide reliable information on individual survival and treatment recommendations for patients with primary liver cancer., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Femoral head necrosis (FHN) is a serious complication after femoral neck fractures (FNF), often linked to sclerosis around screw paths. Our study aimed to uncover the proteomic and metabolomic underpinnings of FHN and sclerosis using integrated proteomics and metabolomics analyses. We identified differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) and metabolites (DEMs) among three groups: patients with FNF (Group A), sclerosis (Group B), and FHN (Group C). Using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and Gene Ontology enrichment analyses, we examined the roles of these proteins and metabolites. Our findings highlight the significant differences across the groups, with 218 DEPs and 44 DEMs identified between the sclerosis and FNF groups, 247 DEPs and 31 DEMs between the FHN and sclerosis groups, and a stark 682 DEPs and 94 DEMs between the FHN and FNF groups. Activities related to carbonate dehydratase and hydrolase were similar in the FHN and sclerosis groups, whereas extracellular region and lysosome were prevalent in the FHN and FNF groups. Our study also emphasized the involvement of the PI3K-Akt pathway in sclerosis and FHN. Moreover, the key metabolic pathways were implicated in glycerophospholipid metabolism and retrograde endocannabinoid signaling. Using western blotting, we confirmed the pivotal role of specific genes/proteins such as ITGB5, TNXB, CA II, and CA III in sclerosis and acid phosphatase 5 and cathepsin K in FHN. This comprehensive analyses elucidates the molecular mechanisms behind sclerosis and FHN and suggests potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets, paving the way for improved treatment strategies. Further validation of the findings is necessary to strengthen the robustness and reliability of the results., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

With its high energy consumption and pollutant emissions, the iron and steel industry is a significant source of air pollution and carbon emissions in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region. To improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, a series of policies involving ultra-low emission, synergistic reduction of pollution, and carbon application have been implemented in the region. This study has assessed air pollutant and CO 2 emission patterns in the iron and steel industry of the region by employing co-control effects coordinate system, marginal abatement cost curve, and numerical modeling, along with the synergistic benefits of typical technologies. The results have demonstrated that: (1) the intensive production activities pertinent to iron and steel enterprises has contributed greatly to the emission in Tangshan and Handan, where the sintering process is the main source of SO 2 , NOx, PM 2.5 , and CO, accounting for 64.86%, 55.15%, 29.98%, and 46.43% of the total emissions, respectively. (2) Among the typical pollution control and reduction measures, industrial restructuring and adjustment of the energy-resource structure have led to the greatest effects on emission reduction. Technologies exhibiting great potential in emission reduction and high-cost efficiency such as Blast Furnace Top Gas Recovery Turbine Unit (TRT) need to be promoted. (3) In Tangshan city with the highest level of steel production, the iron and steel production activities contributed to the concentration of 30.51% of PM 2.5 , 50.67% of SO 2 , and 42.54% of NO 2 during the non-heating period. During the heating period, pollutants pertinent to the combustion of fossil energy for heating have increased, while iron and steel induced emissions have decreased to 23.7%, 34.32%, and 29.13%, respectively. By 2030, it is speculated that the contribution of the iron and steel industry to air quality will be significantly decreased as result of successful implementation of ultra-low emission policies and typical synergistic reduction technologies., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Phosphorus (P) is a crucial macronutrient for plant growth and development. Basic metabolic processes regulate growth; however, the molecular detail of these pathways under low phosphorous (LP) in wheat is still unclear. This study aims to elucidate the varied regulatory pathways responses to LP stress in wheat genotypes. Phenotypic, physiological, and transcriptome analyses were conducted on Fielder (P efficient) and Ardito (P inefficient) wheat genotypes after four days of normal phosphorous (NP) and LP stress. In response to LP, Fielder outperformed Ardito, displaying higher chlorophyll content-SPAD values (13%), plant height (45%), stem diameter (12%), shoot dry weight (42%), and root biomass (75%). Root structure analysis revealed that Fielder had greater total root length (50%), surface area (56%), volume (15%), and diameter (4%) than Ardito under LP. These findings highlight Fielder's superior performance and adaptation to LP stress. Transcriptome analysis of wheat genotype roots identified 3029 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in Fielder and 1430 in Ardito, highlighting LP-induced changes. Key DEGs include acid phosphatases (PAPs), phosphate transporters (PHT1 and PHO1), SPX, and transcription factors (MYB, bHLH, and WRKY). KEGG enrichment analysis revealed key pathways like plant hormones signal transduction, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, and carbohydrate biosynthesis metabolism. This study unveils crucial genes and the intricate regulatory process in wheat's response to LP stress, offering genetic insights for enhancing plant P utilization efficiency., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) contribute to the pathogenesis of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) by regulating gene expression through alternative splicing events (ASEs). However, the RBPs differentially expressed in PDR and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Thus, this study aimed to identify the differentially expressed genes in the neovascular membranes (NVM) and retinas of patients with PDR. The public transcriptome dataset GSE102485 was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, and samples of PDR and normal retinas were analyzed. A mouse model of oxygen-induced retinopathy was used to confirm the results. The top 20 RBPs were screened for co-expression with alternative splicing genes (ASGs). A total of 403 RBPs were abnormally expressed in the NVM and retina samples. Functional analysis demonstrated that the ASGs were enriched in cell cycle pathways. Cell cycle-associated ASEs and an RBP-AS regulatory network, including 15 RBPs and their regulated ASGs, were extracted. Splicing factor proline/glutamine rich (SFPQ), microtubule-associated protein 1 B (MAP1B), heat-shock protein 90-alpha (HSP90AA1), microtubule-actin crosslinking factor 1 (MACF1), and CyclinH (CCNH) expression remarkably differed in the mouse model. This study provides novel insights into the RBP-AS interaction network in PDR and for developing screening and treatment options to prevent diabetic retinopathy-related blindness., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Wireless traffic prediction is vital for intelligent cellular network operations, such as load-aware resource management and predictive control. Traditional centralized training addresses this but poses issues like excessive data transmission, disregarding delays, and user privacy. Traditional federated learning methods can meet the requirement of jointly training models while protecting the privacy of all parties' data. However, challenges arise when the local data features among participating parties exhibit inconsistency, making the training process difficult to sustain. Our study introduces an innovative framework for wireless traffic prediction based on split learning (SL) and vertical federated learning. Multiple edge clients collaboratively train high-quality prediction models by utilizing diverse traffic data while maintaining the confidentiality of raw data locally. Each participant individually trains dimension-specific prediction models with their respective data, and the outcomes are aggregated through collaboration. A partially global model is formed and shared among clients to address statistical heterogeneity in distributed machine learning. Extensive experiments on real-world datasets demonstrate our method's superiority over current approaches, showcasing its potential for network traffic prediction and accurate forecasting., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Action recognition has been applied in fields such as smart homes, gaming, traffic management, and security monitoring. Motion recognition is helpful for biomechanical analysis, auxiliary training systems, table tennis robots, motion-sensing games, virtual reality and other fields. In our study, we collected data on table tennis skill motion, created the TTMD6 dataset, and analyzed the characteristics of table tennis paddle trajectories. We propose a motion recognition algorithm to recognize paddle trajectories. Other research has used multijoint data to identify actions, while we use only the paddle trajectory to recognize table tennis skill motions, accelerating the speed of motion recognition. Therefore, it is feasible to use paddle trajectories to recognize table tennis skill motions., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Type 2 diabetic kidney disease (T2DKD) is a common microvascular complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and its incidence is significantly increasing. Microinflammation plays an important role in the development of T2DKD. Based on this, this study investigated the value of inflammatory markers including neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in the prediction of T2DKD. This was a cross-sectional survey study. A total of 90 patients with T2DM, who were hospitalized in the nephrology and endocrinology departments of the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from June 2021 to January 2022, were included and divided into three groups (A1, A2, A3) according to the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR). Observe and compare the basic information, clinical and laboratory data, and the inflammatory markers NLR, hs-CRP, MCP-1. Results revealed that high levels of NLR (OR = 6.562, 95% CI 2.060-20.902, P = 0.001) and MCP-1 (OR = 1.060, 95% CI 1.026-1.095, P < 0.001) were risk factors in the development of T2DKD. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the area under curve of NLR and MCP-1 in diagnosing T2DKD were 0.760 (95% CI 0.6577-0.863, P < 0.001) and 0.862 (95% CI 0.7787-0.937, P < 0.001). Therefore, the inflammatory markers NLR and MCP-1 are risk factors affecting the development of T2DKD, which of clinical value may be used as novel markers of T2DKD., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The invasive capacity of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is an important factor influencing patients' metastatic status and survival outcomes. However, there is still a lack of suitable biomarkers to evaluate tumor invasiveness. LUAD molecular subtypes were identified by unsupervised consistent clustering of LUAD. The differences in prognosis, tumor microenvironment (TME), and mutation were assessed among different subtypes. After that, the invasion-related gene score (IRGS) was constructed by genetic differential analysis, WGCNA analysis, and LASSO analysis, then we evaluated the relationship between IRGS and invasive characteristics, TME, and prognosis. The predictive ability of the IRGS was verified by in vitro experiments. Next, the "oncoPredict" R package and CMap were used to assess the potential value of IRGS in drug therapy. The results showed that LUAD was clustered into two molecular subtypes. And the C1 subtype exhibited a worse prognosis, higher stemness enrichment activity, less immune infiltration, and higher mutation frequency. Subsequently, IRGS developed based on molecular subtypes demonstrated a strong association with malignant characteristics such as invasive features, higher stemness scores, less immune infiltration, and worse survival. In vitro experiments showed that the higher IRGS LUAD cell had a stronger invasive capacity than the lower IRGS LUAD cell. Predictive analysis based on the "oncoPredict" R package showed that the high IRGS group was more sensitive to docetaxel, erlotinib, paclitaxel, and gefitinib. Among them, in vitro experiments verified the greater killing effect of paclitaxel on high IRGS cell lines. In addition, CMap showed that purvalanol-a, angiogenesis-inhibitor, and masitinib have potential therapeutic effects in the high IRGS group. In summary we identified and analyzed the molecular subtypes associated with the invasiveness of LUAD and developed IRGS that can efficiently predict the prognosis and invasive ability of the tumor. IRGS may be able to facilitate the precision treatment of LUAD to some extent., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The fintech (financial technology) employment market presents significant barriers to entry, including rigorous selection criteria based on factors such as profitability, risk, security, and confidentiality, which limit students' opportunities to enter the industry. The negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated the challenges faced by the fintech employment market in China. Consequently, it is crucial to assist fintech students in enhancing their professional abilities to navigate the job market successfully. Virtual reality is gaining increasing importance in educational fields due to its immersive virtual simulation capabilities. In this study, a hybrid fintech course was designed based on the principles of outcome-based education theory and the flipped classroom model. The project objective was to provide students with virtual training and project-based assessments that facilitate a seamless transition from theoretical knowledge to practical application in the industry. To evaluate the effectiveness of hybrid education, a comparative user experiment was conducted involving 60 participants (students) from Guangdong University of Finance. The study used median data, average data, and the entropy weight method for analysis. The results indicated that hybrid education has a positive impact on individual-level critical thinking, communication, and teamwork skills. We believe that our study can provide critical data references for global online/hybrid education researchers and contribute to the education field., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

In various engineering projects such as mineral extraction, hydropower resource utilization, railway construction, and geological hazard mitigation, rock engineering is often encountered. Furthermore, dynamic loads and moisture content exert notable influence on the energy transformation processes within rocks. Yet, the specific interplay of dynamic loading and water's impact on the energy conversion mechanism within the sandstone remains unexplored. To address this gap, this study conducted impact loading experiments on sandstone, elucidating the rock's mechanical response under these conditions and unraveling the underlying energy conversion mechanisms. It was observed that the strength of sandstone exhibits a direct correlation with impact velocity. Moreover, employing energy calculation principles, we established a connection between moisture content and the sandstone's internal energy conversion properties. The study also delved into the microscopic fracture mechanisms within the sandstone, ultimately concluding that both water content and dynamic loading have a significant impact on these microscopic fracture mechanisms., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common endocrine malignancy with a rapidly increasing incidence. The pathogenesis of PTC is unclear, but metabolic and lipidomic reprogramming may play a role in tumor growth. We applied ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to perform widely targeted metabolomics and lipidomics on plasma samples from 94 patients with PTC and 100 healthy controls. We identified 113 differential metabolites and 236 differential lipids, mainly involved in branched-chain amino acid metabolism, glutamate and glutamine metabolism, tricarboxylic acid cycle, and lipid metabolism. We also screened three potential metabolite biomarkers: sebacic acid, L-glutamine, and indole-3-carboxaldehyde. These biomarkers showed excellent diagnostic performance for PTC in both discovery and validation cohorts, with areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves of 0.994 and 0.925, respectively. Our findings reveal distinct metabolic and lipidomic features of PTC and provide novel targets for diagnosis and treatment., (© 2023. Springer Nature Limited.)

As a result of global warming, the area of the polar pack ice is diminishing, making merchant travel more practical. Even if Arctic ice thickness reduced in the summer, fractured ice is still presenting operational risks to the future navigation. The intricate process of ship-ice interaction includes stochastic ice loading on the vessel hull. In order to properly construct a vessel, the severe bow forces that arise must be accurately anticipated using statistical extrapolation techniques. This study examines the severe bow forces that an oil tanker encounters when sailing in the Arctic Ocean. Two stages are taken in the analysis. Then, using the FEM program ANSYS/LS-DYNA, the oil tanker bow force distribution is estimated. Second, in order to estimate the bow force levels connected with extended return periods, the average conditional exceedance rate approach is used to anticipate severe bow forces. The vessel's itinerary was planned to take advantage of the weaker ice. As a result, the Arctic Ocean passage took a meandering route rather than a linear one. As a result, the ship route data that was investigated was inaccurate with regard to the ice thickness data encountered by a vessel yet skewed with regard to the ice thickness distribution in the region. This research intends to demonstrate the effective application of an exact reliability approach to an oil tanker with severe bow forces on a particular route., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

In contrast to well-known bivariate statistical approach, which is known to properly forecast extreme response levels for two-dimensional systems, the research validates innovative structural reliability method, which is particularly appropriate for multi-dimensional structural responses. The disadvantage of dealing with large system dimensionality and cross-correlation across multiple dimensions is not a benefit of traditional dependability approaches that deal with time series. Since offshore constructions are built to handle extremely high wind and wave loads, understanding these severe stresses is essential, e.g. wind turbines should be built and operated with the least amount of inconvenience. In the first scenario, the blade root flapwise bending moment is examined, whereas in the second, the tower bottom fore-aft bending moment is examined. The FAST simulation program was utilized to generate the empirical bending moments for this investigation with the load instances activated at under-rated, rated, and above-rated speeds. The novel reliability approach, in contrast to conventional reliability methods, does not call for the study of a multi-dimensional reliability function in the case of numerical simulation. As demonstrated in this work, it is now possible to assess multi-degree-of-freedom nonlinear system failure probability, in the case when only limited system measurements are available., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

It is important to explore the effective approaches to prevent dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In this study, significantly decreased full-field electroretinograms wave amplitudes and disordered retina structures were detected in rat retinas of sodium iodate induced dry AMD model. Six a- and b-wave amplitudes and the antioxidant activities were significantly increased, and the outer nuclear layer thickness was significantly improved in the rat retinas treated with the combination of Lactobacillus fermentum NS9 (LF) and aronia anthocyanidin extract (AAE) compared with the model. The effects were much better than the treatment with AAE alone. The proteomics analysis showed the expressions of α-, β- and γ-crystallins were increased by 3-8 folds in AAE treated alone and by 6-11 folds in AAE + LF treatment compared with the model, which was further confirmed by immuno-blotting analysis. Analysis of gut microbial composition indicated that higher abundance of the genus Parasutterella and species P. excrementihominis was found in the AAE + LF treatment compared with the other groups. The results indicated that the combined treatment of AAE + LF is a potential way to prevent the retina degeneration which is significantly better than the AAE treated alone., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

The purpose of our study was to evaluate the application value of the GOAL questionnaire in screening obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and to compare it with the other three questionnaires in sleep clinics. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 436 patients who had undergone nocturnal polysomnography in the sleep unit of the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University between September 2021 and May 2022, and all patients completed the four questionnaires (GOAL questionnaire, STOP-Bang questionnaire, NoSAS score and No-Apnea score) truthfully, and the patients were divided into 3 groups: AHI ≥ 5 events/h group, AHI ≥ 15 events/h group and AHI ≥ 30 events/h group. The predictive effect of the questionnaire on different AHI cut-off values was calculated, and performance of four questionnaires was assessed by the discriminatory ability. This study ultimately included 410 patients, and there were statistically significant differences in gender, age, BMI, neck circumference, clinical symptoms, hypertension, diabetes, AHI, and minimum oxygen saturation between OSA and non-OSA groups (P < 0.05). The AUC for No-Apnea score was 0.79, the AUC for STOP-Bang questionnaire was 0.86, the AUC for NoSAS score was 0.81, and the AUC for GOAL questionnaire was 0.77. These four questionnaires were effective in screening OSA when AHI ≥ 15 events/h. Similar to No-Apnea score, STOP-Bang score and NoSAS score, GOAL questionnaire has a good predictive value for OSA, which is a questionnaire suitable for primary health-care centers and clinics., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Telocytes (TCs) are a newly discovered type of mesenchymal cell that are closely related to the tissue's internal environment. The study aimed to investigate the morphological identification of TCs in the epididymis of adult yak and their role in the local microenvironment. In this study, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy, immunofluorescence, qRT-PCR, and western blotting were used to analyze the cell morphology of TCs. The results showed that there are two types of TCs in the epididymal stroma of yak by TEM; one type is distributed around the capillaries with full cell bodies, longer TPs, and a large number of secretory vesicles; the other is distributed outside the basement membrane with irregularly long, striped, large nuclei and short telopodes (TPs). In addition, these TCs formed complex TC cell networks through TPs with epididymal interstitial capillaries and basal fibroblasts. TCs often appear near the capillaries and basement membrane by special staining. The surface markers of TCs (CD34, vimentin, and CD117) were positively expressed in the epididymal stroma and epithelium by immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence co-expression of vimentin + CD34 and CD117 + CD34 was observed on the surface of TCs. The trends in the mRNA and protein expression of TCs surface markers revealed expression was highest in the caput epididymis. In summary, this is first report of TCs in the epididymis of yak, and two phenotypes of TCs were observed. The existence and distribution characteristics of TCs in the epididymis of plateau yaks provide important clues for further study of the adaptation to reproductive function in the plateau., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

The Floating Production Storage and Offloading unit (FPSO) is an offshore unit producing and storing crude oil prior to tanker transport. An important design concern is an accurate prediction of risky dynamic hawser tensions during FPSO offloading operations. Bivariate extreme hawser tension contours are important for selecting proper design values. This paper employed the AQWA hydrodynamic software to analyze vessel hydrodynamic wave loads dynamic response, acting on FPSO vessels under realistic sea state conditions. This paper presents an efficient method for estimating FPSO bivariate response statistics based on numerical simulations validated by various experiments. The bivariate Average Conditional Exceedance Rate (ACER2D) method offers an accurate bivariate extreme value probability distribution and return period contours estimation, utilizing available data efficiently. The two-dimensional probability contours, corresponding to low probability return periods, are easily obtained by the ACER2D method. The performance of the presented method has shown that the ACER2D method provides an efficient and accurate prediction of extreme return period contours. The suggested approach may be used for FPSO vessel design, minimizing potential FPSO hawser damage. Bivariate contours yield bivariate design points, as opposed to a pair of uncoupled univariate design points with the same return period as currently adopted in the industry., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

This research presents two unique techniques for engineering system reliability analysis of multi-dimensional non-linear dynamic structures. First, the structural reliability technique works best for multi-dimensional structural responses that have been either numerically simulated or measured over a long enough length to produce an ergodic time series. Second, a novel extreme value prediction method that can be used in various engineering applications is proposed. In contrast to those currently used in engineering reliability methodologies, the novel method is easy to use, and even a limited amount of data can still be used to obtain robust system failure estimates. As demonstrated in this work, proposed methods also provide accurate confidence bands for system failure levels in the case of real-life measured structural response. Additionally, traditional reliability approaches that deal with time series do not have the benefit of being able to handle a system's high dimensionality and cross-correlation across several dimensions readily. Container ship that experiences significant deck panel pressures and high roll angles when travelling in bad weather was selected as the example for this study. The main concern for ship transportation is the potential loss of cargo owing to violent movements. Simulating such a situation is difficult since waves and ship motions are non-stationary and complicatedly non-linear. Extreme movements greatly enhance the role of nonlinearities, activating effects of second and higher order. Furthermore, laboratory testing may also be called into doubt due to the scale and the choice of the sea state. Therefore, data collected from actual ships during difficult weather journeys offer a unique perspective on the statistics of ship movements. This work aims to benchmark state-of-the-art methods, making it possible to extract necessary information about the extreme response from available on-board measured time histories. Both suggested methods can be used in combination, making them attractive and ready to use for engineers. Methods proposed in this paper open up possibilities to predict simply yet efficiently system failure probability for non-linear multi-dimensional dynamic structure., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Two novel methods are being outlined that, when combined, can be used for spatiotemporal analysis of wind speeds and wave heights, thus contributing to global climate studies. First, the authors provide a unique reliability approach that is especially suited for multi-dimensional structural and environmental dynamic system responses that have been numerically simulated or observed over a substantial time range, yielding representative ergodic time series. Next, this work introduces a novel deconvolution extrapolation technique applicable to a wide range of environmental and engineering applications. Classical reliability approaches cannot cope with dynamic systems with high dimensionality and responses with complicated cross-correlation. The combined study of wind speed and wave height is notoriously difficult, since they comprise a very complex, multi-dimensional, non-linear environmental system. Additionally, global warming is a significant element influencing ocean waves throughout the years. Furthermore, the environmental system reliability method is crucial for structures working in any particular region of interest and facing actual and often harsh weather conditions. This research demonstrates the effectiveness of our approach by applying it to the concurrent prediction of wind speeds and wave heights from NOAA buoys in the North Pacific. This study aims to evaluate the state-of-the-art approach that extracts essential information about the extreme responses from observed time histories., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Cancer is a worldwide illness that causes significant morbidity and death and imposes an immense cost on global public health. Modelling such a phenomenon is complex because of the non-stationarity and complexity of cancer waves. Apply modern novel statistical methods directly to raw clinical data. To estimate extreme cancer death rate likelihood at any period in any location of interest. Traditional statistical methodologies that deal with temporal observations of multi-regional processes cannot adequately deal with substantial regional dimensionality and cross-correlation of various regional variables. Setting: multicenter, population-based, medical survey data-based biostatistical approach. Due to the non-stationarity and complicated nature of cancer, it is challenging to model such a phenomenon. This paper offers a unique bio-system dependability technique suited for multi-regional environmental and health systems. When monitored over a significant period, it yields a reliable long-term projection of the chance of an exceptional cancer mortality rate. Traditional statistical approaches dealing with temporal observations of multi-regional processes cannot effectively deal with large regional dimensionality and cross-correlation between multiple regional data. The provided approach may be employed in numerous public health applications, depending on their clinical survey data., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

This paper demonstrates the validity of the Naess-Gadai method for extrapolating extreme value statistics of second-order Volterra series processes through application on a representative model of a deep water small size tension leg platform (TLP), with specific focus on wave sum frequency effects affecting restrained modes: heave, roll and pitch. The wave loading was estimated from a second order diffraction code WAMIT, and the stochastic TLP structural response in a random sea state was calculated exactly using Volterra series representation of the TLP corner vertical displacement, chosen as a response process. Although the wave loading was assumed to be a second order (non-linear) process, the dynamic system was modelled as a linear damped mass-spring system. Next, the mean up-crossing rate based extrapolation method (Naess-Gaidai method) was applied to calculate response levels at low probability levels. Since exact solution was available via Volterra series representation, both predictions were compared in this study, namely the exact Volterra and the approximate one. The latter gave a consistent way to estimate efficiency and accuracy of Naess-Gaidai extrapolation method. Therefore the main goal of this study was to validate Naess-Gaidai extrapolation method by available analytical-based exact solution. Moreover, this paper highlights limitations of mean up-crossing rate based extrapolation methods for the case of narrow band effects, such as clustering, typically included in the springing type of response., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

This article provides two unique methodologies that may be coupled to study the dependability of multidimensional nonlinear dynamic systems. First, the structural reliability approach is well suited for multidimensional environmental and structural reactions and is either measured or numerically simulated over sufficient time, yielding lengthy ergodic time series. Second, a unique approach to predicting extreme values has technical and environmental implications. In the event of measurable environmental loads, it is also feasible to calculate the probability of system failure, as shown in this research. In addition, traditional probability approaches for time series cannot cope effectively with the system's high dimensionality and cross-correlation across dimensions. It is common knowledge that wind speeds represent a complex, nonlinear, multidimensional, and cross-correlated dynamic environmental system that is always difficult to analyze. Additionally, global warming is a significant element influencing ocean waves throughout time. This section aims to demonstrate the efficacy of the previously mentioned technique by applying a novel method to the Norwegian offshore data set for the greatest daily wind cast speeds in the vicinity of the Landvik wind station. This study aims to evaluate the state-of-the-art approach for extracting essential information about the extreme reaction from observed time histories. The approach provided in this research enables the simple and efficient prediction of failure probability for the whole nonlinear multidimensional dynamic system., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

The frequent and massive use of pesticides has led to pesticide residues in apricot, threatening food safety and human health. A reliable and simple modified QuEChERS method with ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was developed for the simultaneous determination of 11 pesticides in apricot. Method validation indicated that satisfied linearity (R 2  ≥ 0.9959), accuracy (recoveries of 72-119%), sensitivity (limits of detection, 0.03-0.30 μg/kg; limits of quantification, 0.13-1.00 μg/kg), and precision (relative standard deviations ≤ 11.9%), and matrix effects were 0.89-1.13. Apricot samples from different ecological regions in China were collected and tested using the proposed methods. Monitoring results were used to assess the dietary intake risk of Chinese populations of different ages and genders. Dietary risk assessment revealed that the risk quotients were 0.003-1.184% for different gender and age groups in China, indicating none unacceptable public health risk for general population. This work was thus significant in developing a simpler, more efficient and economical analysis method and food safety risks of the 11 pesticides on apricot and facilitated the establishment of maximum residue limits., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Crocodiles are cultured in large numbers in Asia and other places in order to protect wild resources and meet the needs of human life. In this study, crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis) meat proteins were extracted and hydrolyzed into peptides, their antioxidant peptides were isolated and purified by silica gel chromatography and identified by LC/MS. Crocodile meat proteins were optimally extracted with water and hydrolyzed by papain based on the degree of hydrolysis and antioxidant activity. The hydrolysates were fractionated by ultrafiltration into 3 kDa, 3-30 kDa, and ≥ 30 kDa fractions. The 3 kDa fraction showed most antioxidant activity of the hydrolysates. Its active peptides were separated by silica gel column chromatography and purified by silica gel TLC, based on TLC bio-autographic assays of the activity. Four highly active peptides were identified by LC/MS as SSLTIQFVEGQFVDSYDPTIENTFTK, VPPHIY, VAPEEHPVLLTEAPLNPK, and RNGLPGPIGPAG. The identified peptides were synthesized and showed 50% free radical scavenging activities at 1.0 mg/mL, equal or higher to ascorbic acid at 0.5 mg/mL, in both DPPH and ABTS assays. The results indicated that the 3 kDa hydrolyzed peptides of crocodile meat had high antioxidant activity and the active peptides can be effectively separated and purified by silica gel column chromatography and TLC., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Placenta plays essential role in successful pregnancy, as the most important organ connecting and interplaying between mother and fetus. However, the cellular characteristics and molecular interaction of cell populations within the fetomaternal interface is still poorly understood. Here, we surveyed the single-cell transcriptomic landscape of human full-term placenta and revealed the heterogeneity of cytotrophoblast cell (CTB) and stromal cell (STR) with the fetal/maternal origin consecutively localized from fetal section (FS), middle section (Mid&#95;S) to maternal section (Mat&#95;S) of maternal-fetal interface. Then, we highlighted a subpopulation of CTB, named trophoblast progenitor-like cells (TPLCs) existed in the full-term placenta and mainly distributed in Mid&#95;S, with high expression of a pool of putative cell surface markers. Further, we revealed the putative key transcription factor PRDM6 that might promote the differentiation of endovascular extravillous trophoblast cells (enEVT) by inhibiting cell proliferation, and down-regulation of PRDM6 might lead to an abnormal enEVT differentiation process in PE. Together, our study offers important resources for better understanding of human placenta and stem cell-based therapy, and provides new insights on the study of tissue heterogeneity, the clinical prevention and control of PE as well as the maternal-fetal interface., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

In atrial fibrillation (AF) patients, complex electrograms during sinus rhythm (C-EGMs) could be pathological or not. We aimed to demonstrate whether local pacing was helpful to discern pathological C-EGMs. 126 persistent AF patients and 27 patients with left-side accessory pathway (LAP) underwent left atrial mapping during sinus rhythm. If C-EGMs were detected, local pacing was performed. If the electrograms turned normal, we defined them as non-fixed C-EGMs, otherwise as fixed C-EGMs. No difference was detected in the incidence and proportion of non-fixed C-EGMs between AF patients and LAP patients (101/126 vs. 19/27, P = 0.26; 9.1 ± 6.0% vs. 7.7 ± 5.7%, P = 0.28). However, the incidence and proportion of fixed C-EGMs were higher in persistent AF patients (87/126 vs. 1/27, P < 0.01; 4.3 ± 3.4% vs. 0.1 ± 0.5%, P < 0.01). Compared with non-fixed C-EGMs, fixed C-EGMs had lower amplitudes, longer electrogram durations and longer Stimuli-P wave internals. All AF patients received circumferential pulmonary vein isolation. Among AF patients with fixed C-EGMs, 45 patients received fixed C-EGMs ablation and 42 patients underwent linear ablation. Compared with linear ablation, fixed C-EGMs ablation reduced recurrence (HR: 0.43; 95% CI 0.21-0.81; P = 0.011). Among patients without fixed C-EGMs ablation, the proportion of fixed C-EGMs was an independent predictor of ablation outcomes (HR for per percent: 1.13, 95% CI 1.01-1.28, P = 0.038). C-EGMs could be classified into fixed and non-fixed C-EGMs through local pacing. Fixed rather than non-fixed C-EGMs might indicate abnormal atrial substrates and fixed C-EGMs ablation improve outcomes of persistent AF ablation., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

The aim of this study was to examine the associations of sleep problems with asthma and allergic rhinitis among Chinese preschoolers. This cross-sectional survey was conducted in Guangzhou, China. Children aged 3-6 years were recruited from 32 kindergartens in 7 administrative districts. Asthma, allergic rhinitis and sleep problems were evaluated using a valid questionnaire. Binary logistic regression models were employed to estimate the odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the associations of asthma and allergic rhinitis with short sleep duration, late bedtime and frequent nocturnal awakening. We included 4876 preschool children in the current analysis. Of these, 182 (3.7%) diagnosed as asthma, and 511 (10.5%) diagnosed as allergic rhinitis. Frequent nocturnal awakening was associated with asthma and allergic rhinitis, with adjusted OR were 1.49 (95% CI 1.05-2.13) and 1.59 (95% CI 1.27-1.99), respectively. Subgroup analysis showed the OR for frequent nocturnal awakening with asthma was higher in girls (1.68; 95% CI 1.02-2.78) than in boys (1.35; 95% CI 0.81-2.24), but the OR for frequent nocturnal awakening with allergic rhinitis were similar in girls (1.73; 95% CI 1.15-2.30) and boys (1.57; 95% CI 1.17-2.12). No significant associations of short sleep duration and late bedtime with asthma or allergic rhinitis were identified. Our data suggested that frequent nocturnal awakening was associated with asthma and allergic rhinitis among preschoolers, and the association of frequent nocturnal awakening with asthma differed by gender. Further studies are warranted to address the causal relationship between nocturnal awakening and asthma and allergic rhinitis., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Sclerotium-forming fungi are ecologically diverse and possess notable pathogenic or medicinal properties. The sclerotial generation mechanism is still elusive though Polyporus umbellatus sclerotia are typical Traditional Chinese Medicine with diuretic and antitumor effects. Protein acetylation displays a crucial role in several biological processes, but the functions of acetylation in this valuable fungus are unknown at present. In this study, acetylome of P. umbellatus was studied using nano LC-Triple TOF mass spectrometry system following immune-affinity-based enrichment. Totally, 648 acetylated sites in 342 proteins were identified and nine motifs were found to be conserved in P. umbellatus including K ac Y, K ac A, K ac L, K ac G, M ac S, M ac A, R ac A, R ac L, and R ac G. Acetylated proteins taken part in types of biological processes, particularly to those in biological processes associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism. Inhibitors complement tests were carried out to verify the role of ROS in acetylation modification. It was concluded that oxidative stress regulated sclerotial generation via proteins acetylation in P. umbellatus. The present study presents new insight into the essential roles of acetylation in sclerotial formation, which may also be applicable for other sclerotium-forming fungi., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

The stone walls remaining in the highly urbanized Macao area provide a special habitat for plants, repair the fragmentation of the habitat caused by urbanization, and enhance the urban biodiversity. The main object of this survey are stone wall trees in Macao. The species composition, frequency of occurrence and distribution were ascertained, and the feasibility of establishing stone wall tree landscape trail systems was discussed. The results showed that there were 96 stone wall trees in Macao. Among them, 47.9% of the total in the historical center of Macao. In addition, research and analysis on the species composition, life form, frequency and similarity of the associated plants of stone wall trees were analyzed. The survey found that there were 101 species of companion plants, and herbaceous plants had the greatest growth advantage. Most of the companion species were selective and incidental to the stone wall habitat; the similarity of the companion plants in different habitats was less than 0.25, showing that the stone wall was conducive to species diversity. The results of this research aim to explore planning strategies for holistic conservation of stone wall landscape, and provide a theoretical basis for studying the biodiversity of special habitats in Macao., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Endothelial dysfunction and vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) plasticity are critically involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension and arterial stiffness. MicroRNAs can mediate the cellular communication between vascular endothelial cells (ECs) and neighboring cells. Here, we investigated the role of endothelial-derived extracellular microRNA-92a (miR-92a) in promoting arterial stiffness by regulating EC-VSMC communication. Serum miR-92a level was higher in hypertensive patients than controls. Circulating miR-92a level was positively correlated with pulse wave velocity (PWV), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and serum endothelin-1 (ET-1) level, but inversely with serum nitric oxide (NO) level. In vitro, angiotensin II (Ang II)-increased miR-92a level in ECs mediated a contractile-to-synthetic phenotype change of co-cultured VSMCs. In Ang II-infused mice, locked nucleic acid-modified antisense miR-92a (LNA-miR-92a) ameliorated PWV, SBP, DBP, and impaired vasodilation induced by Ang II. LNA-miR-92a administration also reversed the increased levels of proliferative genes and decreased levels of contractile genes induced by Ang II in mouse aortas. Circulating serum miR-92a level and PWV were correlated in these mice. These findings indicate that EC miR-92a may be transported to VSMCs via extracellular vesicles to regulate phenotype changes of VSMCs, leading to arterial stiffness., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

The gas sensor market is growing fast, driven by many socioeconomic and industrial factors. Mid-infrared (MIR) gas sensors offer excellent performance for an increasing number of sensing applications in healthcare, smart homes, and the automotive sector. Having access to low-cost, miniaturized, energy efficient light sources is of critical importance for the monolithic integration of MIR sensors. Here, we present an on-chip broadband thermal MIR source fabricated by combining a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) micro-hotplate with a dielectric-encapsulated carbon nanotube (CNT) blackbody layer. The micro-hotplate was used during fabrication as a micro-reactor to facilitate high temperature (>700 [Formula: see text]C) growth of the CNT layer and also for post-growth thermal annealing. We demonstrate, for the first time, stable extended operation in air of devices with a dielectric-encapsulated CNT layer at heater temperatures above 600 [Formula: see text]C. The demonstrated devices exhibit almost unitary emissivity across the entire MIR spectrum, offering an ideal solution for low-cost, highly-integrated MIR spectroscopy for the Internet of Things., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

This study aimed to evaluate the scleral spur length (SSL) in response to different accommodation stimuli states, as well as the correlation with Schlemm's canal (SC) and trabecular meshwork (TM). 74 children were recruited for this study. The 0D, - 4D, and - 8.0 D accommodation stimuli state was achieved by looking at a variable distance optotype. The ciliary muscle (CM), scleral spur (SS), SC, and TM were imaged by swept-source optical coherence tomography. The SSL (Method III) increased significantly from 221.56 ± 30.74 μm at base state to 234.99 ± 30.11 μm at - 4D accommodation stimuli state (p = 0.028) and increased to 250.09 ± 29.87 μm at - 8D accommodation stimuli state (p = 0.011). Method III had the largest areas under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves (0.798, 95% CI 0.721-0.875). Moreover, CM 1, SC, and trabecular meshwork length (TML) were significantly correlated with SSL (Method III) (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that the contractile ability and compliance of the SS play an important role in maintaining the morphology of the SC. Moreover, the force of accommodation regulates the SC size by increasing the length of SS., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

In this study, the optimal monochromatic energy level in dual-energy spectral CT required for imaging coronary stents after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was explored. Thirty-five consecutive patients after PCI were examined using the dual-energy spectral CT imaging mode. The original images were reconstructed at 40-140 keV (10-keV interval) monochromatic levels. The in-stent and out-stent CT values at each monochromatic level were measured to calculate the signal-to-noise ratio(SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) for the vessel and the CT value difference between the in-stent and out-stent lumen (dCT (in-out)), which reflects the artificial CT number increase due to the beam hardening effect caused by the stents. The subjective image quality of the stent and in-stent vessel was evaluated by two radiologists using a 5-point scale. With the increase in energy level, the CT value, SNR, CNR, and dCT (in-out) all decreased. At 80 keV, the mean CT value in-stent reached (345.24 ± 93.43) HU and dCT (in-out) started plateauing. In addition, the subjective image quality of the stents and vessels peaked at 80 keV. The 80 keV monochromatic images are optimal for imaging cardiac patients with stents after PCI, balancing the enhancement and SNR and CNR in the vessels while minimizing the beam hardening artifacts caused by the stents., (© 2021. The Author(s).)