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In this paper, we synthesize the differences in grayscale and texture information of phosphorite X-ray images and extract a total of six feature quantities under their grayscale and texture features, respectively. After feature fusion, a fuzzy support vector machine classifier with a normal plane-type affiliation function is used to optimize the binary classification method of traditional support vector machines, which improves the accuracy of classification. To improve the sorting model’s division of the optimal classification hyperplane, the centroid position of the two types of samples is considered comprehensively. In order to give full play to the classification performance of the sorting model, the particle swarm algorithm is further used to optimize the core parameters of the fuzzy support vector machine, the penalty factor, and the kernel parameters to complete the construction of the classifier model. In the face of the mixed colloidal phosphorite that can not be exploited, based on the PSO-NP-FSVM photoelectric sorting operation, the concentrate yield rate, operation recovery rate, and optical sorting waste rate are 56.52%, 20.87%, and 71.17%, respectively. After photoelectric sorting, the grade of concentrate P2 O5 can be increased to 20.98%, which can meet the requirements for the grade of the processing plant. Therefore, the photoelectric sorting process combined with a fuzzy algorithm is capable of meeting the actual production requirements.

Objective: Relapses are frequent and difficult to predict in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody–associated vasculitis (AAV), resulting in long‐term use of immunosuppression. Although sinonasal disease is associated with relapse of AAV, detailed characterization of sinonasal symptoms is lacking. Using a patient‐reported outcome, the 22‐item SinoNasal Outcome Test (SNOT‐22), we investigated the relationship between sinonasal symptoms and disease activity in AAV. Methods: This was a prospective, longitudinal study of individual with AAV and healthy individuals. Relapse was defined as a Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score for Wegner's Granulomatosis score >0. Higher SNOT‐22 scores indicate worse symptoms. Generalized estimating equation and Cox proportional hazard models evaluated the association between SNOT‐22 and relapse. Results: There were 773 visits (106 active disease visits) from 168 patients with AAV and 51 controls. Median SNOT‐22 at remission was higher in AAV versus controls (20 vs 5; P < 0.001) and higher during active disease versus remission (P < 0.001). In all AAV, and particularly within granulomatosis with polyangiitis, higher SNOT‐22 scores were observed months to years before relapse and were associated with increased risk of relapse (hazard ratio 2.7, 95% confidence interval 1.2–6.2; P = 0.02). Similar findings were seen when examining patients with versus without sinonasal disease and after removing relapses limited to the ear, nose, and throat. Conclusion: A patient‐reported outcome measure of sinonasal disease, the SNOT‐22, not only changes with disease activity in AAV, but also is associated with a higher risk of relapse within two years. These findings support the possibility that the SNOT‐22 score may enhance prediction of relapse and that persistent sinonasal disease may be important in the pathophysiology of relapse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transient ischemic attack (TIA) is an early warning sign of stroke and death, necessitating suitable animal models due to the associated clinical diagnostic challenges. In this study, we developed a TIA model using flexible spatially targeted photothrombosis combined with real-time blood flow imaging feedback. By modulating the excitation light using wavefront technology, we precisely created a square light spot (50 × 250 µm), targeted at the distal middle cerebral artery (dMCA). The use of laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) provided real-time feedback on the ischemia, while the excitation light was ceased upon reaching complete occlusion. Our results demonstrated that the photothrombus formed in the dMCA and spontaneously recanalized within 10 min (416.8 ± 96.4 s), with no sensorimotor deficits or infarction 24 h post-TIA. During the acute phase, ischemic spreading depression occurred in the ipsilateral dorsal cortex, leading to more severe ischemia and collateral circulation establishment synchronized with the onset of dMCA narrowing. Post-reperfusion, the thrombi were primarily in the sensorimotor and visual cortex, disappearing within 24 h. The blood flow changes in the dMCA were more indicative of cortical ischemic conditions than diameter changes. Our method successfully establishes a photochemical TIA model based on the dMCA, allowing for the dynamic observation and control of thrombus formation and recanalization and enabling real-time monitoring of the impacts on cerebral blood flow during the acute phase of TIA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The acid–base surface properties of vivianite crystals highly affect the adsorption capacity of vivianite for heavy metals and organic matters in aqueous solution. Therefore, the aim of the study was to innovatively explore and quantify the acid–base surface characterization of vivianite crystals in aqueous solution. It was found that the two surface active adsorption sites (≡POH and ≡FeOH) and five surface species thereof (i.e., ≡PO, ≡POH, ≡FeOH, ≡FeO−, and ≡FeOH2+) underwent surface reaction on vivianite crystals. Moreover, the active surface site and point of zero charge of vivianite crystals were 18 sites/nm2 and pH 5.9. Importantly, constant capacitance model was successfully employed to model the titration data, from which the distribution of surface species as function of pH and surface reaction constants were also accurately derived. The finding herein can be applied for plausible modeling molecular‐scale adsorption of the impurities on vivianite surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We reveal the intrinsic pseudocapacitive center of graphene-oxide-based aerogels by investigating different modified graphene skeletons from various approaches. A high proportion of carbonyl groups in carbon networks is shown to optimize the construction of rational pseudocapacitive sites by triggering reversible proton-induced surface reactions, leading to satisfactory electrochemical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

bHLH transcription factors are involved in multiple aspects of plant biology, such as the response to abiotic stress. Erigeron breviscapus is a composite plant, and its rich flavonoids have strong preventive and therapeutic effects on cardio cerebral vascular disease. EbbHLH80, a gene from E. breviscapus that positively regulates flavonoid synthesis, was previously characterized. However, it is unclear whether EbbHLH80 increases flavonoid accumulation, which affects salt tolerance. The function of EbbHLH80 in transgenic tobacco seeds was identified by phylogenetic analysis and metabolome-transcriptome analysis. We investigated the role of EbbHLH80 in salt stress response. Our results showed that the expression of EbbHLH80 increased following salt treatment. Integrating the metabolome and transcriptome analysis of EbbHLH80-OE and Yunyan 87 (WT) seeds, we identified several genes and metabolites related to flavonoid biosynthesis and salt stress. Moreover, EbbHLH80-OE plants displayed higher salt tolerance than wild-type plants during seed germination and seedling growth. After salt treatment, transgenic tobacco had significantly lower levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) than WT, with enhanced levels of antioxidant enzyme expression. Altogether, our results demonstrated that EbbHLH80 might be a positive regulator, promoting salt tolerance by modulating ROS scavenging and increasing stress-responsive genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population growth increases the threat to global food security. Kazakhstan, a major agricultural nation, has made significant contributions to world food security; however, a wide gap exists between its food yield and that of other major crop-producing countries. Increasing food productivity in Kazakhstan through enhancing the utilization of natural endowments under existing cropland conditions would help alleviate global food pressure. Therefore, we elucidated the factors restricting Kazakhstan's food productivity and proposed reasonable countermeasures. We analyzed the food production structure based on yearbooks. Correlation and stepwise regression were conducted on crop yield potential factors. The states of Kazakhstan were classified by hierarchical cluster and agronomic characteristics were evaluated using normalized scores. Wheat (60.3%), barley (14.9%), and potatoes (16%) are the main food crops produced in Kazakhstan. The ideal regional environment-based geographical crop configuration is "Northern—Wheat, Southern—Barley and Wheat, and Western—Potatoes." The key limiting factors of wheat yield are water shortage and soil alkalization, while for barley, it is soil alkalization. The current planting distribution in Kazakhstan is suboptimal. Water-saving irrigation and agricultural runoff, staple crop planting layout optimization, organic fertilizer promotion, drought-resistant crop variety cultivation, and agricultural technology training must be prioritized to overcome crop yield constraints in Kazakhstan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global food production faces immense pressure, much of which can be attributed to climate change. A detailed evaluation of the impact of climate change on the yield of staple crops in Kazakhstan, a major food exporter, is required for more scientific planting management. In this study, the Mann–Kendall test and Theil–Sen Median slope were used to determine climate trends and staple food yields over the past 30 years; random forest was used to analyze the importance of monthly climatic factors; states were classified according to climatic factors through systematic clustering method; and lastly, the influence of climate on yield was analyzed using panel regression models. The upward trend in wind speed and potato yield throughout Kazakhstan was apparent. Furthermore, barley and wheat yields had increased in the southeast. We determined that for wheat, frostbite should be prevented after the warmer winters in the high-latitude areas. Except for July–August in the low-latitude areas, irrigation water should be provided in the other growth periods and regions. As similar effects were reported for barley, the same preventive measures would apply. For potatoes, tuber rot, caused by frost or excessive precipitation in May, should be prevented in high-latitude areas; soil dryness should be alleviated during the germination and seedling stages in low-latitude areas; and irrigation and cooling should be maintained during tuber formation and maturation. Furthermore, hot dry air in March and April could damage the crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China has implemented strict policies for protecting cultivated land, and the Chinese government has focused on the non-grain production (NGP) of cultivated land. This study aimed to analyze the spatial evolution law of grain-producing cultivated land (GPCL) in China between 2000 and 2018, explore the mechanism of GPCL, and simulate the spatial characteristics of GPCL in 2036. We used the Geographic Information System (GIS) and a patch-generating land-use simulation model, a new model that proposes a land expansion analysis strategy by improving previous rule-mining methods. China's grain production rate (GPrate) shows a gradual upward trend between 2000 (36.98%) and 2018 (47.18%). The mutual conversion of GPCL and non-grain-producing cultivated land (NGPCL) are the primary transfer types. The evolution of GPCL is driven by climatic, economic, and social factors, of which population density is the most important factor. GPCL expansion patches are distributed in densely populated, economically developed, and warm and humid plain areas. Further, the simulation results showed that the GPrate in 2036 is estimated to be 41.39%, with GPCL transfer-in significantly exceeding the amount transferred out. Our results further cultivated land evolution-associated research and provide a basis for formulating scientific land-use policies for cultivated land protection for other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contamination by heavy metals is a significant issue worldwide. In recent decades, soil heavy metals pollutants in China had adverse impacts on soil quality and threatened food security and human health. Anthropogenic inputs mainly generate heavy metal contamination in China. In this review, the approaches were used in these investigations, focusing on geochemical strategies and metal isotope methods, particularly useful for determining the pathway of mining and smelting derived pollution in the soil. Our findings indicate that heavy metal distribution substantially impacts topsoils around mining and smelting sites, which release massive amounts of heavy metals into the environment. Furthermore, heavy metal contamination and related hazards posed by Pb, Cd, As, and Hg are more severe to plants, soil organisms, and humans. It's worth observing that kids are particularly vulnerable to Pb toxicity. And this review also provides novel approaches to control and reduce the impacts of heavy metal pollution. Hydrometallurgy offers a potential method for extracting metals and removing potentially harmful heavy metals from waste to reduce pollution. However, environmentally friendly remediation of contaminated sites is a significant challenge. This paper also evaluates current technological advancements in the remediation of polluted soil, such as stabilization/solidification, natural attenuation, electrokinetic remediation, soil washing, and phytoremediation. The ability of biological approaches, especially phytoremediation, is cost-effective and favorable to the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gynecological cancers seriously affect the reproductive system of females; diseases include ovarian tumors, uterine tumors, endometrial cancers, cervical cancers, and vulva and vaginal tumors. At present, the diagnosis methods of gynecological cancer are insufficiently sensitive and specific, leading to failure of early disease detection. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) plays various biological functions in RNA modification and is currently studied extensively. m6A modification controls the fate of transcripts and regulates RNA metabolism and biological processes through the interaction of m6A methyltransferase ("writer") and demethylase ("erasers") and the binding protein decoding m6A methylation ("readers"). In the field of epigenetics, m6A modification is a dynamic process of reversible regulation of target RNA through its regulatory factors. It plays an important role in many diseases, especially cancer. However, its role in gynecologic cancers has not been fully investigated. Thus, we review the regulatory mechanism, biological functions, and therapeutic prospects of m6A RNA methylation regulators in gynecological cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Buxue Tongluo pill (BTP) is a self-made pill with the functions of nourishing blood, promoting blood circulation, dredging collaterals, and relieving pain. It consists of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels, Pheretima aspergillum (E.Perrier), Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F. H. Chen, Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge, and Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. Various clinical practices have confirmed the therapeutic effect of BTP on osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH), but little attention has been paid to the study of its bioactive ingredients and related mechanisms of action. In this study, UPLC/MS-MS combined with GEO data mining was used to construct a bioactive ingredient library of BTP and a differentially expressed gene (DEG) library for ONFH. Subsequently, Cytoscape (3.7.2) software was used to analyze the protein–protein interaction between BTP and DEGs of ONFH to screen the key targets, and functional annotation analysis and pathway enrichment analysis were carried out. Finally, 34 bioactive compounds were screened, which acted on 1,232 targets. A total of 178 DEGs were collected, and 17 key genes were obtained after two screenings. By bioinformatics annotation on these key genes, a total of 354 gene ontology (GO) functional annotation analyses and 42 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways were obtained. The present study found that GO and KEGG enrichment were mainly related to apoptosis, suggesting that BTP may exert an anti-ONFH effect by promoting osteoclast apoptosis. Experiments in vitro demonstrated that BTP could increase the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and induce remarkable apoptosis in osteoclasts. Furthermore, we determined the apoptosis marker of cleaved(C)-caspase-3, bcl-2, and bax and found that BTP could upregulate the C-caspase-3 and bax expression in osteoclasts and decrease the expression of bcl-2, p-Akt, and p-PI3K in a dose-dependent manner, indicating that BTP could induce PI3K/Akt-mediated apoptosis in osteoclasts to treat ONFH. This study explored the pharmacodynamic basis and mechanism of BTP against ONFH from the perspective of systemic pharmacology, laying a foundation for further elucidating the therapeutic effects of BTP against ONFH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]