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Abstract Eye tracking has emerged as a key method for understanding how animals process visual information, identifying crucial elements of perception and attention. Traditional fish eye tracking often alters animal behavior due to invasive techniques, while non-invasive methods are limited to either 2D tracking or restricting animals after training. Our study introduces a non-invasive technique for tracking and reconstructing the retinal view of free-swimming fish in a large 3D arena without behavioral training. Using 3D fish bodymeshes reconstructed by DeepShapeKit, our method integrates multiple camera angles, deep learning for 3D fish posture reconstruction, perspective transformation, and eye tracking. We evaluated our approach using data from two fish swimming in a flow tank, captured from two perpendicular viewpoints, and validated its accuracy using human-labeled and synthesized ground truth data. Our analysis of eye movements and retinal view reconstruction within leader-follower schooling behavior reveals that fish exhibit negatively synchronised eye movements and focus on neighbors centered in the retinal view. These findings are consistent with previous studies on schooling fish, providing a further, indirect, validation of our method. Our approach offers new insights into animal attention in naturalistic settings and potentially has broader implications for studying collective behavior and advancing swarm robotics.

Abstract Blast neurotrauma has been linked to impairments in higher-order cognitive functions, including memory, attention, and mood. Current literature is limited to a single overpressure exposure or repeated exposures at the same level of overpressure. In this study, a rodent model of primary blast neurotrauma was employed to determine the pressure at which acute and chronic neurological alterations occurred. Three pressure magnitudes (low, moderate and high) were used to evaluate injury thresholds. A biology shock tube (BST) was used to simulate shock waves with overpressures of 60 kPa, 90 kPa and 120 kPa respectively. Neurological behavior of the rats was assessed by the Multi-Conditioning System (MCS) at 1 d, 7 d, 28 d and 90 d after shock wave exposure. Serum dopamine (DA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) were measured at the same time points. The proteomic analysis was conducted to identify potentially vulnerable cellular and molecule targets of serum in the immediate post-exposure period. Results revealed that: (1) Anxiety-like behavior increased significantly at 1 d post-exposure in the medium and high overpressure (90 kPa, 120 kPa) groups, returned to baseline at 7 days, and anxiety-like behavior in the high overpressure groups re-emerged at 28 d and 90 d. (2) High overpressure (120 kPa) impaired learning and memory in the immediate post-exposure period. (3) The serum DA levels decreased significantly at 1 d post-exposure in the medium and high overpressure groups; The 5-HT levels decreased significantly at 1 d and 90 d in the high overpressure groups; The BDNF levels decreased significantly at 90 d in the high overpressure groups. (4) Proteomic analysis identified 38, 306, and 57 differentially expressed proteins in serum following low, medium and high overpressure exposures, respectively. Two co-expressed proteins were validated. Functional analysis revealed significant enrichment of 1121, 2096, and 1121 Gene Ontology (GO) items and 33, 47, and 26 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways, indicating extensive molecular responses to overpressure in the early phase. These findings suggest that exposure, even at moderate levels, can induce persistent neurobehavioral and molecular alterations, highlighting the need for further research into the long-term consequences of blast neurotrauma.

Abstract Background Puberty onset signifies the beginning of sexual maturation and reproductive phase in poultry indeed, and plays an essential role in genetics and breeding. Studying gonadal development is one of the important approaches to exploring the genetic mechanism of puberty onset. Result In our study, the phenotype data of the testes and ovaries of the 120-day-old Nonghua duck showed a large coefficient of variation, indicating that their gonads were in different developmental states. The CNV-based GWAS results for 358 Nonghua ducks showed two deleted-type CNVRs were associated with testicular weight (TW) and testicular percentage (TP), namely CNVR492 (Chr2: 59473501–59478500 bp) and CNVR494 (Chr2: 59514001–59517000 bp). Additionally, two both-type CNVRs were associated with ovarian weight (OW) and ovarian percentage (OP), namely CNVR557 (Chr2: 99951001–99956500 bp) and CNVR891 (Chr7: 39115001–39122500 bp). RNA-seq analysis showed 6228 and 1070 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to the TW and OW. These DEGs were mainly enriched in the MAPK signaling pathway, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, and focal adhesion, which were reported to affect gonadal development. Further, by joint analysis of CNV-based GWAS and RNA-seq data, 3 genes, including LOC106019197, CDH19 (LOC101793040), and TYW5 were identified as potential candidate genes for TW and OW. LOC106019197 and CDH19 were down-regulated in the heavier-testes group (> 5 g), while TYW5 was also down-regulated in the heavier-ovaries group (> 3 g). The qRT-PCR revealed that LOC106019197 and CDH19 exhibited higher expression levels in the wild/CN0 and CN0/CN0 genotypes compared to the wild/wild genotype. TYW5 showed the highest expression level in the wild/CN0 genotype and the lowest in the CN2/CN2 genotype. In addition, the expression levels of LOC106019197 and CDH19 were significantly higher at 0w than at 8w and 24w. Conclusion Our results revealed that LOC106019197 and CDH19 may act as inhibitors of duck testicular development. TYW5 may play a role in delaying ovarian development. These findings provide new insights into the mechanism of puberty onset in ducks.

Abstract Background Aneuploidy in plants commonly presents as large variations in morphology, physiology, biochemistry, and genetic effects owing to its karyotypic imbalance. Results In this study, the trait variations of 393 offspring obtained by pollinating Populus alla × Populus glandulosa ‘YXY 7’ (2n = 2x = 38) with Populus ‘Beilinxiongzhu 1#’ (2n = 3x = 57) were explored. The results showed several morphological variations in the cotyledons, including two (69.68%), three (24.07%), and four cotyledons (6.25%). Additionally, the progeny exhibited extensive segregation of ploidy levels, ranging from 38 to 74. Furthermore, seedlings with different chromosome numbers varied in growth traits and physiological activities during growth and development. The backcross progeny with 51–60 chromosomes had a significantly larger basal diameter and seedling height than those with other chromosome numbers. The phenotypic correlations between the traits indicated that the dose effect of the chromosomes significantly affected the basal diameter, petiole length, and leaf length, particularly with stomatal length and stomatal density. Weak and negative estimated correlations were observed between the physiological traits associated with photosynthesis and most of the studied traits. Conclusions This study provides new genetic material with different chromosome compositions, which will contribute to analyzing chromosomal function and integrate the variations in chromosomal dosage into Populus breeding programs.

Abstract Sodium oligomannate (GV-971), an oligosaccharide drug approved in China for treating mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease (AD), was previously found to recondition the gut microbiota and limit altered peripheral Th1 immunity in AD transgenic mice. As a follow-up study, we here made advances by pinpointing a Lactobacillus murinus (L.m.) strain that highly expressed a gene encoding a putative adhesin containing Rib repeats (Ribhigh-L.m.) particularly enriched in 5XFAD transgenic mice. Mechanistically, Ribhigh-L.m. adherence to the gut epithelia upregulated fecal metabolites, among which lactate ranked as the top candidate. Excess lactate stimulated the epithelial production of serum amyloid A (SAA) in the gut via the GPR81-NFκB axis, contributing to peripheral Th1 activation. Moreover, GV-971 disrupted the adherence of Ribhigh-L.m. to gut epithelia via direct binding to Rib, which corrected the excess lactate, reduced SAA, and alleviated Th1-skewed inflammation. Together, we gained further insights into the molecular link between gut bacteria and AD progression and the mechanism of GV-971 in treating AD.

Abstract Background Traditional Chinese exercise (TCE) is used as a therapeutic method in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis. A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the efficacy of TCE and provide reliable clinical evidence. Methods Eight databases, including the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Chinese Science Citation Database, Wanfang, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Chinese Medical Journal full-text databases, were searched for randomized controlled trials. Meta-analysis was performed using the RevMan (version 5.4) software. Results Sixteen studies involving 1,288 patients were included. Compared with conventional treatment alone, TCE improved patients’ bone mineral density, decreased pain, improved balance, improved quality of life, and decreased deoxypyridinoline levels. However, the intervention effects on the biochemical indexes of bone metabolism, including blood calcium, blood phosphorus, osteocalcin, and alkaline phosphatase levels, were not statistically significant. Conclusion TCE has a significant effect on postmenopausal patients with osteoporosis and can be used as a non-pharmacological treatment. The results of this study should be interpreted with caution because of the large heterogeneity for some indicators.

Abstract Hip fractures significantly affect patients’ health and quality of life. Despite therapeutic treatments, many patients continue to experience poor prognoses that include recurrent fractures and mortality, especially the older ones. Therefore, understanding important factors associated with post-fracture prognoses is critical. This study focuses on patients’ multimorbidity trajectories and examines how the trajectory’s time span, number of coexisting chronic diseases, and sequential disease patterns relate to distinct prognostic outcomes. From the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan, we obtain a sample of 128,822 patients who suffered an initial hip fracture between 1996 and 2011. We use this sample to analyze the relationships between multimorbidity trajectories and prognostic outcomes after an initial hip fracture. The results reveal that a patient’s multimorbidity trajectory’s time span and number of chronic diseases significantly associate with his or her post-fracture prognosis. In addition, essential sequential patterns of chronic diseases relate to post-fracture prognoses too. We then leverage the discovered relationships to develop a cross-attention neural network method for estimating patients’ post-fracture prognoses and demonstrate its predictive utilities relative to several prevalent machine leaning methods. This study underscores the importance of leveraging the time span, number of chronic diseases, and sequential disease patterns in patients’ multimorbidity trajectory profile to estimate their prognoses within three years of an initial hip fracture, which can support physicians’ clinical decisions and patient management.

Abstract The ‘gas‒liquid‒solid’ mechanism annealing method was used to create a superhydrophobic boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) stainless steel mesh in a tube furnace at 1250 °C in an NH3 environment. Fe powder was used as a catalyst, and B:B2O3 = 4:1 was used as the raw material. The water droplets on the surface of the superhydrophobic material had a contact angle of approximately 150° and a slide angle of approximately 3°. By using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation technology, a three-dimensional braided physical model of nanodroplets and superhydrophobic BNNT mesh surfaces with the same contact angle and rolling angle was prepared via the function weaving method. The Weber number (We) was used as the entrance point to establish the relationship between macroscale experimental studies and nanoscale MD simulation analysis on the basis of these efforts. A study was conducted on the dynamic behaviour of droplets impacting a superhydrophobic BNNT filter surface. We suggest that the wettability, substrate structure, and impact velocity are connected to the impact dynamic behaviour of droplets on the basis of the data obtained at various scales. The findings demonstrate that when the droplet impact velocity increases, several droplet phenomena—such as impact–rebound, impact–spread–rebound, and impact–spread–breaking–polymerisation–spatter—appear on the substrate surface sequentially. The mechanism of impact behaviour at various scales is explained in light of these events. Furthermore, a better theoretical model is proposed to assess the droplet wetting transition at the nanoscale. This model accurately predicts the boundary Weber number that starts the wetting transition. Moreover, the connections among the impact velocity, spreading diameter, and contact time (or We) are examined. The tendencies found via MD simulations match the outcomes of the experiments. Our discoveries and outcomes broaden our understanding of how droplet impact affects the dynamic behaviour of superhydrophobic surfaces. A scientific foundation for examining the dynamic behaviour of droplets is provided by combining simulations and experiments.

In this paper, a Hough transform method based on image gradient featured extraction is proposed to eliminate the ring artifacts of CT scanning system. Firstly, we use the gradient featured cluster analysis of the polar coordinate image to preliminary select the reconstructed image data. Then the Hough transform is adopted to detect the lines of the recombined data. When the artifacts in the original image are mapped out, the linear artifacts in the polar coordinate image are eliminated by interpolation. Then we can purposefully eliminate the ring artifacts in the reconstructed image. Simulation and experimental results show that with the image gradient featured cluster analysis, the effective number of detected artifact lines is greatly increased, the ring artifacts, arc artifacts and cluster artifacts in the central area of the reconstructed images are effectively removed, and the erroneous detection of lines by traditional Hough transform method is greatly reduced.

Abstract Accumulating evidence has shown that adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) have the potential to differentiate into hepatic lineages, which are ideal engraftments for tissue-engineered repair. In this study, we investigated the potential of transplanted induced hepatocyte-like cells (iHEPs) in treating hepatic alveolar echinococcosis and describe an efficient three-step protocol for the generation of iHEPs in vitro from ADSCs. The expression of hepatocyte lineage markers was assessed and iHEPs function was evaluated by Periodic acid-Schiff staining. iHEPs were intravenously transplanted into mice infected with Echinococcus multilocularis. Histopathological analysis and liver function tests were used to assess therapeutic effects. The iHEPs exhibit morphological features and a glycogen storage function similar to those of mature hepatocytes and demonstrate an upregulation in hepatic gene programs with increasing induction time. Following transplantation, iHEPs were observed surrounding the metacestode lesions in the liver parenchyma of E. multilocularis-infected mice. iHEPs transplantation effectively restored liver function and improved liver injury in the infected mice. Additionally, we observed significant activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in the livers of infected mice transplanted with iHEPs. Our results provide evidence that iHEPs transplantation can alleviate E. multilocularis-induced liver injury, potentially creating new avenues for treating liver injury in end-stage hepatic alveolar echinococcosis.

Abstract Background Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) are autoimmune conditions that affect the central nervous system. The contribution of peripheral abnormalities to the disease's pathogenesis is not well understood. Methods To investigate this, we employed a multi-omics approach analyzing blood samples from 52 NMOSD patients and 46 healthy controls (HC). This included mass cytometry, cytokine arrays, and targeted metabolomics. We then analyzed the peripheral changes of NMOSD, and features related to NMOSD's disease severity. Furthermore, an integrative analysis was conducted to identify the distinguishing characteristics of NMOSD from HC. Additionally, we unveiled the variations in peripheral features among different clinical subgroups within NMOSD. An independent cohort of 40 individuals with NMOSD was utilized to assess the serum levels of fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAP). Results Our analysis revealed a distinct peripheral immune and metabolic signature in NMOSD patients. This signature is characterized by an increase in monocytes and a decrease in regulatory T cells, dendritic cells, natural killer cells, and various T cell subsets. Additionally, we found elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines and reduced levels of tissue-repair cytokines. Metabolic changes were also evident, with higher levels of bile acids, lactates, triglycerides, and lower levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, homoarginine, octadecadienoic acid (FA[18:2]), and sphingolipids. We identified distinctive biomarkers differentiating NMOSD from HC and found blood factors correlating with disease severity. Among these, fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAP) was a notable marker of disease progression. Conclusions Our comprehensive blood profile analysis offers new insights into NMOSD pathophysiology, revealing significant peripheral immune and metabolic alterations. This work lays the groundwork for future biomarker identification and mechanistic studies in NMOSD, highlighting the potential of FAP as a marker of disease progression.

Abstract Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a prevalent chronic disorder in China, impacting a significant proportion of individuals aged > 40 years. In China, the prevalence of and risk factors for COPD among non-smokers remain largely unexplored. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of COPD in non-smokers within the Chinese population and identify potential risk factors associated with COPD in non-smokers. Methods Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, Chinese WanFang, Chinese China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Weipu databases from inception to August 5, 2024, were searched. Studies reporting the percentage of never-smokers among those diagnosed with COPD and investigations exploring the risk factors associated with COPD in never-smokers in China were examined. Summary proportions and odds ratios (OR), along with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), were measured. Results In total, 112 investigations with 491,812 participants were included. The percentage of never-smokers in people with COPD was 41.1% (95% CI: 37.5–44.6%). The prevalence of never-smokers among males diagnosed with COPD was 22.3% (95% CI: 18.8–25.7%), which differed from that among women (81.3%, 95% CI: 75.3–87.2%). The results showed an association between the utilization of biomass fuel and the occurrence of COPD in never-smokers (OR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.06–1.44). Among never-smokers, the data showed a close association between being underweight (OR: 1.89, 95% CI: 1.78–2.00), tuberculosis history (OR: 1.71, 95% CI: 1.53–1.88) and COPD. Never-smokers living in rural areas or those with low educational status were more susceptible to COPD. Conclusion This review confirmed the highly different proportions of never-smokers among male and female patients with COPD. Trial registration PROSPERO: CRD42023420786.

Abstract Bridges will inevitably experience structural damage during long-term operation, which will decrease their structural load bearing capacity and durability. The vibration characteristics of bridge structures can be used as evaluation indicators for accurately diagnosing their deterioration. This study aimed at developing a vibration testing method for identifying bridge deck damage that does not affect traffic and is easy to implement. The vibration tests on the in-service bridge revealed it was mainly subjected to vertical vibrations, with the accelerations in the vertical direction about twice those in the horizontal direction. Based on fast Fourier transform analysis, the dominant vertical vibration frequencies were 2.34 Hz, 4.10 Hz, 10.30 Hz, 14.45 Hz and 18.75 Hz. A series of 0.1–0.3 Hz bandpass filters were used with those frequencies at the centers for modal analysis. The experimental results were then compared to the finite element analysis results. This study proposed a vibration-based damage identification method based on the differences between the bridge deck and both main steel girders. The study confirmed the convenience and effectiveness of using underneath maintenance walkways for wireless vibration testing.

Abstract Based on the characteristics of Kummell’s disease (KD) and related anatomical structures of the thoracolumbar spine, a novel bone cement screw system has been designed to effectively avoid the cement loosening and displacement. This experiment aimed to assess the biological effects of the novel bone cement screw system in KD on fresh cadaveric thoracolumbar spine specimens, thereby discussing its potential application value and providing a foundation for clinical implementation. This study employed a total of 50 fresh female adult cadaver specimens. Each specimen underwent extraction of the T12 to L2 segment followed by the creation of an artificial KD model at the L1 segment and subsequent establishment of five distinct types of bone cement repair models. Model A represents the percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) model, Model B combines PVP with unilateral percutaneous pediculoplasty (PPP), Model C combines PVP with bilateral PPP, Model D introduces the novel bone cement screw combined with unilateral PVP, and Model E combines the novel screw with bilateral PVP, each group consists of 10 specimens. Subsequently, the six-axis spine robot was employed to execute cement three-dimensional biomechanical strength tests in six directions, including anterior flexion and posterior extension, left and right lateral bending, as well as left and right rotation. The novel bone cement screw, whether used unilaterally or bilaterally in combination with the PVP model, exhibits significantly reduced bone cement mobility and superior biomechanical stability during anterior flexion, posterior extension, left lateral bending, and right lateral bending (P 0.05).When comparing the novel bone cement screw combined with PVP unilaterally and bilaterally, no statistically significant difference was observed in the stability of bone cement across all six directions of motion (P>0.05). To conclude, this novel bone cement bridging screw system exhibits superior biomechanical stability compared to commonly used treatments. Furthermore, both unilateral and bilateral implementations of the novel bone cement screw system yield without significant differences observed. These findings present a reliable and innovative approach for clinical management of KD.

Abstract Crystals can be found in many shapes but do not usually grow as spirals. Here we show that applying a non-uniform layer of a polymer blend onto slender centimeter-size organic crystals prestrains the crystals into hybrid dynamic elements with spiral shapes that respond reversibly to environmental variations in temperature or humidity by curling. Exposure to humidity results in partial uncurling within several seconds, whereby a logarithmic-type spiral crystal is transformed into an Archimedean one. Conical helices obtained by lateral pulling of the spirals can wind around solid objects similar to plant tendrils or lift suspended objects with a positive correlation between the actuator’s elongation and the cargo mass. The morphological, kinematic, and kinetic attributes turn these hybrid materials into an attractive platform for flexible sensors and soft robots, while they also provide an approach to morph crystalline fibers in non-natural spiral habits inaccessible with the common crystallization approaches.

Abstract Background The metabolic patterns of human placental-derived mesenchymal stem cell (hP-MSC) treatment for primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) remain unclear, and therapeutic effects significantly vary due to individual differences. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate the serological response to hP-MSC transplantation through small molecular metabolites and identify easily detectable markers for efficacy evaluation. Methods Using Mdr2−/− mice as a PSC model and Mdr2+/+ mice as controls, the efficacy of hP-MSC treatment was assessed based on liver pathology, liver enzymes, and inflammatory factors. Serum samples were collected for 12C-/13C-dansylation and DmPA labeling LC–MS analysis to investigate changes in metabolic pathways after hP-MSC treatment. Key metabolites and regulatory enzymes were validated by qRT-PCR and Western blotting. Potential biomarkers of hP-MSC efficacy were identified through correlation analysis and machine learning. Results Collectively, the results of the liver histology, serum liver enzyme levels, and inflammatory factors supported the therapeutic efficacy of hP-MSC treatment. Based on significant differences, 41 differentially expressed metabolites were initially identified; these were enriched in bile acid, lipid, and hydroxyproline metabolism. After treatment, bile acid transport was accelerated, whereas bile acid production was reduced; unsaturated fatty acid synthesis was upregulated overall, with increased FADS2 and elongase expression and enhanced fatty acid β-oxidation; hepatic proline 4-hydroxylase expression was decreased, leading to reduced hydroxyproline production. Correlation analysis of liver enzymes and metabolites, combined with time trends, identified eight potential biomarkers: 2-aminomuconate semialdehyde, l-1-pyrroline-3-hydroxy-5-carboxylic acid, l-isoglutamine, and maleamic acid were more abundant in model mice but decreased after hP-MSC treatment. Conversely, 15-methylpalmitic, eicosenoic, nonadecanoic, and octadecanoic acids were less abundant in model mice but increased after hP-MSC treatment. Conclusions This study revealed metabolic regulatory changes in PSC model mice after hP-MSC treatment and identified eight promising biomarkers, providing preclinical evidence to support therapeutic applications of hP-MSC.

The success of deep supervised learning in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) relies on a large number of labeled samples. However, label noise often exists in large-scale datasets, which highly influence network training. This study proposes loss curve fitting-based label noise uncertainty modeling and a noise uncertainty-based correction method. The loss curve is a discriminative feature to model label noise uncertainty using an unsupervised fuzzy clustering algorithm. Then, according to this uncertainty, the sample set is divided into different subsets: the noisy-label set, clean-label set, and fuzzy-label set, which are further used in training loss with different weights to correct label noise. Experiments on the Moving and Stationary Target Acquisition and Recognition (MSTAR) dataset prove that our method can deal with varying ratios of label noise during network training and correct label noise effectively. When the training dataset contains a small ratio of label noise (40%), the proposed method corrects 98.6% of these labels and trains the network with 98.7% classification accuracy. Even when the proportion of label noise is large (80%), the proposed method corrects 87.8% of label noise and trains the network with 82.3% classification accuracy.

Bistable reeled composite (BRC) booms are suitable candidates for space applications owing to their light weight and high storage efficiency. However, their stiffness and vibration performance affect the dynamics of the space structures. In this study, a simulation-data-driven method was developed to optimize the frequency of a stepwise BRC boom subjected to bending-mode vibration with respect to fiber angles within bistable composite laminates. First, a specified constant coiled diameter and bistability criterion are taken as constraints for classifying the input datasets. A vibration frequency prediction model is constructed using a genetic algorithm and back-propagation neural network trained by finite element simulation values. Then, constricted particle swarm optimization is used to maximize the bending-mode frequency of the BRCs. The optimization results are validated by published values showing that the BRC with a step ratio of 0.55 and a stacking sequence of [±α1 ∕ ±α2 ∕ ±α2 ∕ ±α1] at the fixed end and [±α3 ∕ ±α3] at the free end can be improved by 63.8 % at α1 = 44.8◦, α2 = 35◦, α3= 44◦ in comparison to the uniform-thickness benchmark boom. Additionally, the evaluation and validation indices demonstrate that the simulation-data-driven prediction and optimization approach yields high computational accuracy.

The Ta2AlC material is designed to enhance the performance of Ag-based electrical contact materials as a reinforcement phase. With a work function of 6.7192 eV, Ta2AlC demonstrated significantly higher values than reinforcement phase materials such as SnO2, ZrO2, and the commonly used MAX phase materials. Consequently, the arc erosion performance of an Ag–Ta2AlC composite was investigated under air conditions. Gas breakdown mainly occurred due to electron avalanches, with the observation of a streamer breakdown mechanism in a strongly nonuniform field. The arc exhibited concentrated erosion on the surface of the Ag–20 vol% Ta2AlC material, resulting in a higher arc energy. As the volume fraction of the Ta2AlC material increased to 30% and 40%, the eroded area became more dispersed. In particular, Ag–30 vol% Ta2AlC displayed the lowest arc energy (3.395 kJ) and shortest arcing time (33.26 ms). Among the four tested components, the Ag–30 vol% Ta2AlC composite demonstrated superior arc erosion resistance. Oxides of Ag2O, AgO, Ta2O5, and Al2O3 were formed through the interaction of ionized Ag and Ta2AlC particles. By combining the electromagnetic force and plasma flow force, sputtered particles and bulges were generated on the eroded surface. These research findings contribute to broadening the applications of Ag–MAX materials in the realm of electrical contacts.

Abstract The realm of self-healing materials integrates chemical and physical mechanisms that prevent wear and fracturing and extend the operational lifetime. Unlike the favorable rheology of amorphous soft materials that facilitates efficient contact between fragments, the efficiency of recovery of atomistically ordered materials is restricted by slower interfacial mass transport and the need for ideal physical alignment, which limits their real-world application. We report drastic enhancements in efficiency and recovery time in the self-healing of anilinium bromide, challenging these limitations. Crystals of this material recovered up to 49% within seconds and up to 95% after 100 min via ferroelastic detwinning. The spatial evolution of strain during cracking and healing was measured in real time using digital image correlation. Favorable alignment and strong ionic bonding across the interface of partially fractured crystals facilitate self-healing. This study elevates organic crystals close to the best-in-class self-healing polymers and sets an approach for durable crystal-based optoelectronics.

Abstract Objective To evaluate early bone marrow microvascular changes in alloxan-induced diabetic rabbits using IDEAL-IQ fat quantification, texture analysis based on DCE-MRI Ktrans map, and metabolomics. Materials and methods 24 male Japanese rabbits were randomly divided into diabetic (n = 12) and control (n = 12) groups. All rabbits underwent sagittal MRI of the lumbar vertebrae at the 0th,4th, 8th, 12th, and 16th week, respectively. The fat fraction (FF) ratio and quantitative permeability of the lumbar bone marrow was measured. Texture parameters were extracted from DCE-MRI Ktrans map. At 16th week, lumbar vertebrae 5 and 6 were used for histological analysis. Lumbar vertebra 7 was crushed to obtain bone marrow for metabolomics research. Results The FF ratio and Ktrans of the lumbar bone marrow in diabetic group were increased significantly at 16th week (t = 2.226, P = 0.02; Z = -2.721, P

Abstract Osteoporosis (OP) is a chronic disease characterized by diminished bone mass and structural deterioration, ultimately leading to compromised bone strength and an increased risk of fractures. Diagnosis primarily relies on medical imaging findings and clinical symptoms. This study aims to explore an adjunctive diagnostic technique for OP based on surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Serum SERS spectra from the normal, low bone density, and osteoporosis groups were analyzed to discern OP-related expression profiles. This study utilized partial least squares (PLS) and support vector machine (SVM) algorithms to establish an OP diagnostic model. The combination of Raman peak assignments and spectral difference analysis reflected biochemical changes associated with OP, including amino acids, carbohydrates, and collagen. Using the PLS-SVM approach, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for screening OP were determined to be 77.78%, 100%, and 88.24%, respectively. This study demonstrates the substantial potential of SERS as an adjunctive diagnostic technology for OP.

Abstract Deciphering the composite information within a light field through a single photodetector, without optical and mechanical structures, is challenging. The difficulty lies in extracting multi-dimensional optical information from a single dimension of photocurrent. Emerging photodetectors based on information reconstruction have potential, yet they only extract information contained in the photoresponse current amplitude (responsivity matrix), neglecting the hidden information in response edges driven by carrier dynamics. Herein, by adjusting the thickness of the absorption layer and the interface electric field strength in the perovskite photodiode, we extend the transport and relaxation time of carriers excited by photons of different wavelengths, maximizing the spectrum richness of the edge waveform in the light-dark transition process. For the first time, without the need for extra optical and electrical components, the reconstruction of two-dimensional information of light intensity and wavelength has been achieved. With the integration of machine learning algorithms into waveform data analysis, a wide operation spectrum range of 350–750 nm is available with a 100% accuracy rate. The restoration error has been lowered to less than 0.1% for light intensity. This work offers valuable insights for advancing perovskite applications in areas such as wavelength identification and spectrum imaging.

Abstract Silicate has been proven to be highly-effective at immobilizing soil heavy metals, but the effects of silicate stabilizers on rice grain cadmium (Cd) reduction and rice quality under field conditions are not clear. In this study, a field experiment was conducted over three consecutive years was conducted to examine the Cd reduction in rice grains and to reveal the potential effects of silicate stabilizers on rice grain nutrients, by setting different amounts of bentonite (B), silica‒calcium fertilizer (SC) and zeolite powder (ZP). The results revealed that the application of the B, SC and ZP significantly decreased the soil CaCl2‒Cd concentration (> 39%) and significantly reduced the grain Cd concentration in both early rice (> 70%) and late rice (> 18%) under field conditions; the silicate stabilizers reduced the soil available iron (Fe) but did not limit rice grain Fe nutrition. Additionally, the three silicates promoted rice yield and improved the rice grain Ca and Mg contents; and the application of B increased the amylose concentration of the late rice grains. In conclusion, high amounts of silicate stabilizers did not adversely influence the soil conventional nutrient indices, rice minerals or rice taste, but changes in rice selenium content need attention. Overall, in comparison with lime, silicate stabilizers can improve not only the safety of rice but also the nutritional and taste qualities of rice and are more eco-friendly for long-term use in soil.

Abstract To achieve high power conversion efficiency in perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells, it is necessary to develop a promising wide-bandgap perovskite absorber and processing techniques in relevance. To date, the performance of devices based on wide-bandgap perovskite is still limited mainly by carrier recombination at their electron extraction interface. Here, we demonstrate assembling a binary two-dimensional perovskite by both alternating-cation-interlayer phase and Ruddlesden−Popper phase to passivate perovskite/C60 interface. The binary two-dimensional strategy takes effects not only at the interface but also in the bulk, which enables efficient charge transport in a wide-bandgap perovskite solar cell with a stabilized efficiency of 20.79% (1 cm2). Based on this absorber, a monolithic perovskite/silicon tandem solar cell is fabricated with a steady-state efficiency of 30.65% assessed by a third party. Moreover, the tandem devices retain 96% of their initial efficiency after 527 h of operation under full spectral continuous illumination, and 98% after 1000 h of damp-heat testing (85 °C with 85% relative humidity).

Abstract Understanding the biological mechanisms underlying racial differences in diseases is crucial to developing targeted prevention and treatment. There is, however, limited knowledge of the impact of race on lipids. To address this, we performed comprehensive lipidomics analyses to evaluate racial differences in lipid species among 506 non-Hispanic White (NHW) and 163 non-Hispanic Black (NHB) women. Plasma lipidomic profiling quantified 982 lipid species. We used multivariable linear regression models, adjusted for confounders, to identify racial differences in lipid species and corrected for multiple testing using a Bonferroni-adjusted p-value

Abstract Background The Chiari network, a remnant of fetal anatomy, consists of a mesh-like structure within the right atrium. With advancements in cardiac interventions, complications associated with the Chiari network have increasingly been reported. However, there are few reports about guidewire or catheter entrapment in the Chiari network during the insertion of a dialysis catheter. Case presentation A 46-year-old male with end-stage renal disease was hospitalized and underwent a digital subtraction angiography-assisted catheterization of the right internal jugular vein tunnel-cuffed dialysis catheter. When the guide wire entered a depth of about 20 cm, it was difficult to advance, manifested as resistance when twisting the guide wire and inability to enter the inferior vena cava. After the peelable sheath was inserted, it was difficult to pull out the guide wire. After repeated attempts to rotate the guide wire, the guide wire was finally pulled out. A fibrous tissue was wrapped around the tip of the guide wire. Its length was 6 cm, with a smooth surface and tough texture. We considered that the tissue we pulled out was most likely a part of a Chiari network. Conclusions This case highlights the potential for the Chiari network to complicate surgical procedures, including difficulty with guidewire and catheter manipulation. Attention should be paid to Chiari networks. Echocardiography can be used to identify the Chiari network. During the surgery, forcefully pulling out a stuck guidewire is not suggested, to avoid the risk of tearing the atrial wall and causing pericardial tamponade. An urgent consultation with ultrasound doctors and cardiac surgeons might be helpful in such cases.

Abstract Dry–wet cycles can cause significant deterioration of compacted loess and thus affect the safety of fill slopes. The discrete element method (DEM) can take into account the non-homogeneous, discontinuous, and anisotropic nature of the geotechnical medium, which is more capable of reflecting the mechanism and process of instability in slope stability analysis. Therefore, this paper proposes to use the DEM to analyze the stability of compacted loess slopes under dry–wet cycles. Firstly, to solve the complex calibration problem between macro and mesoscopic parameters in DEM models, an efficient parameter optimization method was proposed by introducing the chaotic particle swarm optimization with sigmoid-based acceleration coefficients algorithm (CPSOS). Secondly, during the parameter calibration, a new indicator, the bonding ratio (BR), was proposed to characterize the development of pores and cracks in compacted loess during dry–wet cycles, to reflect the impact of dry–wet action on the degradation of bonding between loess aggregates. Finally, according to the results of parameter calibration, the stability analysis model of compacted loess slope under dry–wet cycling was established. The results show that the proposed optimization calibration method can accurately reflect the trend of the stress–strain curve and strength of the actual test results under dry–wet cycles, and the BR also reflects the degradation effect of dry–wet cycles on compacted loess. The slope stability analysis shows that the DEM reflects the negative effect of dry–wet cycles on the safety factor of compacted loess slopes, as well as the trend of gradual stabilization with dry–wet cycles. The comparison with the finite element analysis results verified the accuracy of the discrete element slope stability analysis.

This study aimed to determine the prognostic value and microenvironmental crosstalk of exosome-related signatures in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive breast cancer (HER2+ BC). Transcriptome sequencing and clinicopathological data were downloaded from the Cancer Genome Atlas. The 10X single cell sequencing dataset was downloaded from the National Center for Biotechnology Information Gene Expression Omnibus. Exosomes-Related Genes were extracted from the ExoCarta and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis databases. FGF9, SF3B4, and EPCAM were found and deemed the most accurate predictive signatures. Patients with HER2+ BC were subtyped into three groupings by exosome prognostic gene (EPGs). The expression of SF3B4 was positively linked with the infiltration of macrophages, neutrophils, and CD4+ T cells. The expression characteristics of EPGs were associated with the biological process of “response to xenobiotic stimuli.” Interactions were relatively high between malignant epithelial cells and fibroblasts, endothelial cells, monocytes, and macrophages. Malignant epithelial cells interact more with fibroblasts and endothelial cells. The migration inhibitory factor pathway was the primary outgoing signaling pattern, while the C-C motif chemokine ligand pathway was the primary incoming signaling pattern for communication between malignant epithelial cells and macrophages. This study described the role of exosome signatures in the prognosis and microenvironment of HER2+ BC and provided a basis for future research.

Abstract Background Adverse reactions are prone to occur in the early stage of chemotherapy and can negatively affect the dietary intake and nutritional status of breast cancer (BC) patients. Consequently, they need to participate in health self-management and lifestyle promotion programs. Early multidisciplinary interventions aim to enhance dietary management behavior and quality of life in chemotherapy-treated BC patients. Methods This single-blinded, single-center, randomized controlled trial will include 88 females who have not yet started the early or middle stage of the chemotherapy cycle. A random number table will be used randomly assign females to the intervention group or usual group at a 1:1 ratio. The intervention elements are based on the theoretical guidance of the Integrated Theory of Health Behavior Change (ITHBC). A multidisciplinary team (MDT) comprising oncologists, dietitians, nurses, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners, and psychologists will provide the intervention. Intervention sessions will be conducted once a week for 8 weeks, beginning in the early or middle stage of the chemotherapy cycle and continuing through admission and a home-based interval chemotherapy period. The intervention includes face-to-face discussions, online meetings, WeChat messaging, and telephone calls. The themes target adverse reactions, dietary information and habits, self-care self-efficacy, treatment self-regulation, dietary supplement and TCM use, social support, weight management, and outcome expectations. The primary outcome is dietary management behavior measured by the Dietary Management Behavior Questionnaire (DMBQ). Secondary outcomes are self-care self-efficacy assessed by the Strategies Used by People to Promote Health (SUPPH); quality of life measured by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B); and body mass index (BMI) measured by an electronic meter. All participants will be assessed at baseline and immediately, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after the intervention. Discussion Early dietary intervention is needed, as diet is one of the most common health self-management behaviors influenced by chemotherapy. Early multidisciplinary interventions may provide a foundation for dietary self-management and improve nutritional status in the survival period. Trial registration This intervention protocol was registered with the Chinese Clinical Trials Registry (ChiCTR2300076503, October 10, 2023).

Abstract Background Acute monocytic leukemia-M5 (AML-M5) remains a challenging disease due to its high morbidity and poor prognosis. In addition to the evidence mentioned earlier, several studies have shown that programmed cell death (PCD) serves a critical function in treatment of AML-M5. However, the role and relationship between ferroptosis and necroptosis in AML-M5 remains unclear. Methods THP-1 cells were mainly treated with Erastin and IMP-366. The changes of ferroptosis and necroptosis levels were detected by CCK-8, western blot, quantitative real-time PCR, and electron microscopy. Flow cytometry was applied to detect the ROS and lipid ROS levels. MDA, 4-HNE, GSH and GSSG were assessed by ELISA kits. Intracellular distribution of FSP1 was studied by immunofluorescent staining and western blot. Results The addition of the myristoylation inhibitor IMP-366 to erastin-treated acute monocytic leukemia cell line THP-1 cell not only resulted in greater susceptibility to ferroptosis characterized by lipid peroxidation, glutathione (GSH) depletion and mitochondrial shrinkage, as the FSP1 position on membrane was inhibited, but also increased p-RIPK1 and p-MLKL protein expression, as well as a decrease in caspase-8 expression, and triggered the characteristic necroptosis phenomena, including cytoplasmic translucency, mitochondrial swelling, membranous fractures by FSP1 migration into the nucleus via binding importin α2. It is interesting to note that ferroptosis inhibitor fer-1 reversed necroptosis. Conclusion We demonstrated that inhibition of myristoylation by IMP-366 is capable of switching ferroptosis and ferroptosis-dependent necroptosis in THP-1 cells. In these findings, FSP1-mediated ferroptosis and necroptosis are described as alternative mechanisms of PCD of THP-1 cells, providing potential therapeutic strategies and targets for AML-M5.

Abstract Background The effects of traction forces at different angles on impacted central incisors(ICI)with varying inverted angles (IA) may be different. The objective of this study was to analyze the biomechanical effects of different force directions (FD) on developmentally inverted ICI with multi-angle variations and to offer insights and guidance for the treatment of inverted ICI. Methods Three-dimensional finite element method was employed to simulate clinical scenarios of inverted ICI traction. As such, 0.2 N of force (direction: antero-superior angles of 90°, 100°, 110°, 120°, and 130° relative to the long axis of the inverted ICI crown) was applied to the inverted ICI with inverse angles (IA) of 40°, 30°, 20°, 10° and 0°. Inverted ICI apical displacement and Von Mises stress on periodontal ligament (PDL) and alveolar bone were compared. Results IA and FD showed minimal influence on the stress distribution in the PDL, as higher stresses were concentrated in the apical region. The higher stresses in the alveolar bone are focused on the cervical and apical regions of the tooth. In particular, IA exerts a more significant impact on stress distribution in the alveolar bone than FD. The influence of IA on the apical displacement of inverted ICI is larger than that of FD. Conclusions To promote the health of the root and periodontal tissues, it is recommended to use an angle of 100°-110° relative to the long axis of the ICI crown when dealing with a large IA (> 20°) developmentally inverted ICI. Conversely, an angle of 110°-120° can be used.

Abstract Background Oral melanoma (OM) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) are frequently diagnosed in dogs, presenting a challenge in distinguishing them from benign oral tumors (BN). Salivary metabolomic biomarkers offer a practical solution because of saliva's direct contact with tumors and the noninvasive nature of collection. Objective Assess the diversity and abundance of the salivary metabolome in dogs with BN, OM, and OSCC using amine/phenol submetabolome analysis and high‐performance chemical isotope labeling liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (CIL LC‐MS). Animals Study included 11 BN, 24 OM, 10 OSCC, and 20 healthy control dogs. Methods Case‐control cross‐sectional study was conducted to assess salivary submetabolic profiles in dogs with BN, OM, and OSCC and healthy dogs. Samples were labeled with 12C‐dansyl chloride and analyzed using CIL LC‐MS targeted to amine‐ and phenol‐containing metabolites for amine/phenol submetabolome analysis. Results Distinct clusters and significant differences in metabolite concentrations were observed among the oral cancer, BN, and control groups. A total of 154 and 66 metabolites showed significantly altered concentrations, particularly in OM and OSCC, respectively, when compared with BN (Padj < .05). Potential metabolic biomarkers were identified for each cancer, including decreased concentrations of seryl‐arginine and sarcosine in OSCC. Moreover, high‐confidence putative metabolites were identified, including an increase in tryptophyl‐threonine and a decrease in 1,2‐dihydroxynapthalene‐6‐sulfonic acid and hydroxyprolyl‐hydroxyproline for OM. Conclusions and Clinical Importance We identified high coverage of the amine/phenol submetabolome, including seryl‐arginine, and sarcosine, in OSCC. Our findings emphasize the potential of these biomarkers for distinguishing between oral OSCC and BN in dogs.

Abstract Immune evasion is one of the critical hallmarks of malignant tumors, especially non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Emerging findings have illustrated the roles of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) on NSCLC immune evasion. Here, this study investigated the function and underlying mechanism of m6A reader YTH domain family protein 3 (YTHDF3) on NSCLC immune evasion. YTHDF3 was found to be highly expressed in NSCLC tissue and act as an independent prognostic factor for overall survival. Functionally, up-regulation of YTHDF3 impaired the CD8+ T antitumor activity to deteriorate NSCLC immune evasion, while YTHDF3 silencing recovered the CD8+ T antitumor activity to inhibit immune evasion. Besides, YTHDF3 up-regulation reduced the apoptosis of NSCLC cells. Mechanistically, PD-L1 acted as the downstream target for YTHDF3, and YTHDF3 could upregulate the transcription stability of PD-L1 mRNA. Overall, YTHDF3 targeted PD-L1 to promote NSCLC immune evasion partially through escaping effector cell cytotoxicity CD8+ T mediated killing and antitumor immunity. In summary, this study provides an essential insight for m6A modification on CD8+ T cell-mediated antitumor immunity in NSCLC, which might inspire an innovation for lung cancer tumor immunotherapy.

Electromagnetic forming (EMF) is a high-speed forming process with significant potential for manufacturing bipolar plates. However, titanium's low conductivity requires the use of a driver sheet in traditional EMF, limiting its formability improvement. This study proposed a novel electromagnetic forming method with independent loading of the magnetic field and current (EMF-ILMFC), enabling separate application of electromagnetic force and Joule heating. The dynamic deformation behavior of ultra-thin titanium was investigated using three different loading methods: quasi-static (QS), electromagnetic bulging with driver sheets (EMB-DS), and electromagnetic bulging with the new method (EMB-ILMFC). The study revealed that the forming limit under EMB-ILMFC was significantly higher than under EMB-DS and QS, with a maximum improvement of 139.1%. Numerical simulations and experimental analyses were conducted to elucidate the thermal effects on formability during dynamic deformation. The results indicate that thermal effects reduce flow stress, extend the duration of inertia and high strain rates, and thereby improve the formability of titanium.

Abstract Objective The aim of this retrospective study was to explore the indications for three minimally invasive approaches—T-tube external drainage, double J-tube internal drainage, and primary closure—in laparoscopic cholecystectomy combined with common bile duct exploration. Methods Three hundred eighty-nine patients with common bile duct stones who were treated at the Second People's Hospital of Hefei between February 2018 and January 2023 were retrospectively included. Patients were divided into three groups based on the surgical approach used: the T-tube drainage group, the double J-tube internal drainage group, and the primary closure group. General data, including sex, age, and BMI, were compared among the three groups preoperatively. Surgical time, length of hospital stay, pain scores, and other aspects were compared among the three groups. Differences in liver function, inflammatory factors, and postoperative complications were also compared among the three groups. Results There were no significant differences among the three groups in terms of sex, age, BMI, or other general data preoperatively (P > 0.05). There were significant differences between the primary closure group and the T-tube drainage group in terms of surgical time and pain scores (P < 0.05). The primary closure group and double J-tube drainage group differed from the T-tube drainage group in terms of length of hospital stay, hospitalization expenses, and time to passage of gas (P 0.05). However, on the third day after surgery, liver function in all three groups was significantly lower than that before surgery (P

Abstract Background With increasing trend of internet use in all age groups, whether internet use can prevent frailty in middle-aged and older adults remains unclear. Methods Five cohorts, including Health and Retirement Study (HRS), China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), English Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSA), and Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS), were used in this study. Internet use, social isolation, and frailty status was assessed using similar questions. The Generalized estimating equations models, random effects meta-analysis, COX regression, and mediation analysis were utilized. Results In the multicohort study, a total of 155,695 participants were included in main analysis. The proportion of internet use was varied across countries, ranging from 5.56% in China (CHARLS) to 83.46% in Denmark (SHARE). According to the generalized estimating equations models and meta-analysis, internet use was inversely associated with frailty, with the pooled ORs (95%CIs) of 0.72 (0.67,0.79). The COX regression also showed that participants with internet use had a lower risk of frailty incidence. Additionally, the association was partially mediated by social isolation and slightly pronounced in participants aged 65 and over, male, not working for payment, not married or partnered, not smoking, drinking, and not co-residence with children. Conclusions Our findings highlight the important role of internet use in preventing frailty and recommend more engagements in social communication and activities to avoid social isolation among middle-aged and older adults.

We investigated Alongshan virus infection in reindeer in northeastern China. We found that 4.8% of the animals were viral RNA–positive, 33.3% tested positive for IgG, and 19.1% displayed neutralizing antibodies. These findings suggest reindeer could serve as sentinel animal species for the epidemiologic surveillance of Alongshan virus infection.

BackgroundNumerous studies have demonstrated that Akkermansia is closely associated with human health. These bacteria colonize the mucus layer of the gastrointestinal tract and utilize mucin as their sole source of carbon and nitrogen. Akkermansia spp. exhibit potential as probiotics under specific conditions. However, the gene accumulation curve derived from pan-genome analysis suggests that the genome of Akkermansia strains remains open. Consequently, current genome mining efforts are insufficient to fully capture the intraspecific and interspecific characteristics of Akkermansia, necessitating continuous exploration of the genomic and phenotypic diversity of new isolates.MethodsBased on this finding, we sequenced, assembled, and functionally annotated the whole genomes of four new human isolates from our laboratory: AKK-HX001, AKK-HX002, AKK-HX003, and AKK-HX004.ResultsPhylogenetic analysis revealed that all four isolates belonged to the AmII phylogroup, whereas the type strain DSM 22959 is classified within the AmI phylogroup. Moreover, 2,184 shared homologous genes were identified among the four isolates. Functional annotation using the COG, KEGG, and CAZy databases indicated that the functional genes of the four isolates were primarily associated with metabolism. Two antibiotic resistance genes were identified in AKK-HX001 and AKK-HX002, while three resistance genes were detected in AKK-HX003 and AKK-HX004. Additionally, each of the four isolates possessed two virulence genes and three pathogenicity genes, none of which were associated with pathogenicity. The prediction of mobile genetic elements indicated unequal distributions of GIs among the isolates, and a complete CRISPR system was identified in all isolates except AKK-HX003. Two annotated regions of secondary metabolite biosynthesis genes, both belonging to Terpene, were detected using the antiSMASH online tool.ConclusionThese findings indicate that the four Akkermansia isolates, which belong to a phylogroup distinct from the model strain DSM 22959, exhibit lower genetic risk and may serve as potential probiotic resources for future research.

Abstract Breakthroughs brought about by two‐dimensional (2D) materials in the field of photodetection have opened up new possibilities in infrared imaging. However, challenges still exist in fabricating high‐density detector arrays using such materials, which are essential for traditional imaging systems. In this study, we present a state‐of‐the‐art computing imaging system that utilizes a MoTe2/Si self‐powered photodetector coupled with flexible Hadamard modulation algorithms. This system demonstrates remarkable capability to produce high‐quality images in the shortwave infrared (SWIR) band, surpassing the capabilities of devices based on alternative material systems. The exceptional infrared imaging capability primarily stems from the MoTe2/Si photodetector's inherent features, including an ultra‐wide spectral range (265–1550 nm) and extremely high sensitivity (linear dynamic range (LDR) up to 123 dB, responsivity (R) up to 0.33 A W–1, external quantum efficiency (EQE) up to 43% and a specific detectivity (D*) exceeding 2.9 × 1011 Jones). Moreover, the imaging system demonstrates the ability to achieve high‐quality edge imaging of objects in the SWIR band (1550 nm), even in strong scattering environments and under low sampling rate conditions (sampling rate of 25%). We believe that this work will effectively advance the application scope of 2D materials in the field of computational imaging in SWIR bands.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of essential oil (EO) supplementation on insulin sensitivity (IS) and the plasma metabolome in insulin dysregulated (ID) horses. Horses were blocked by degree of IS and assigned randomly to treatment: oral daily bolus (50 mL) of either a plant derived EO supplement or carrier (CON). Mares were housed in dry lots with ad libitum access to grass hay and supplemented individually twice daily with a concentrate to meet nutrient requirements for mature horses. Before and after 6 wks of treatment, mares underwent a combined glucose-insulin tolerance test (CGIT) and an oral sugar test (OST) on separate days. Global metabolome analysis was conducted on plasma samples before and after treatment. Although treatment did not affect (p > 0.4) AUC or glucose clearance during CGIT, there was a treatment*covariate interaction (p ≤ 0.08) for insulin concentrations at 75 min (INS75) and positive phase time (PT) with EO decreasing both INS75 (p ≤ 0.002) and PT (p = 0.05) in horses with more severe initial degree of ID. Similarly, EO treatment reduced (p ≤ 0.006) insulinemic response to the OST in horses exhibiting higher pre-treatment responses (treatment*covariate, p = 0.004). There were 702 metabolites identified that were uniquely changed with EO treatment. Pathway analysis and biomarkers showed EO-mediated changes in amino acid, linoleic acid, mesaconic acid, TCA-cyle intermediates and bile acid metabolism. The directional changes in these pathways or biomarkers are consistent with changes in inulin sensitivity in other models. These data show that EO shifted the plasma metabolome and improved insulin sensitivity in horses.

Summary: Appendage regeneration occurs within the opaque exoskeleton in arthropods, making it challenging to visualize the regenerative processes dynamically. In this protocol, we present a strategy to scan and capture the high-resolution details of microstructural tissues at certain regeneration points through micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). We describe steps for tissue preparation, fixation, critical point drying, micro-CT scanning, and 3D visualization. This approach promises significant utility in the field of regeneration, particularly in studies involving arthropods such as insects and crustaceans.For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Ren et al.1 : Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics.

Summary: Background: Global dissemination of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sublineages has provided a sufficient opportunity for natural selection, thus enabling beneficial mutations to emerge. Characterisation of these mutations uncovers the underlying machinery responsible for the fast transmission of Omicron variants and guides vaccine development for combating the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Through systematic bioinformatics analysis of 496,606 sequences of Omicron variants, we obtained 40 amino acid substitutions that occurred with high frequency in the S protein. Utilising pseudoviruses and a trans-complementation system of SARS-CoV-2, we identified the effect of high-frequency mutations on viral infectivity and elucidated the molecular mechanisms. Finally, we evaluated the impact of a key emerging mutation on the immune protection induced by the SARS-CoV-2 VLP mRNA vaccine in a murine model. Findings: We identified a proline-to-leucine substitution at the 1263rd residue of the Spike protein, and upon investigating the relative frequencies across multiple Omicron sublineages, we found a trend of increasing frequency for P1263L. The substitution significantly enhances the capacity for S-mediated viral entry and improves the immunogenicity of a virus-like particle mRNA vaccine. Mechanistic studies showed that this mutation is located in the FERM binding motif of the cytoplasmic tail and impairs the interaction between the S protein and the Ezrin/Radixin/Moesin proteins. Additionally, this mutation facilitates the incorporation of S proteins into SARS-CoV-2 virions. Interpretation: This study offers mechanistic insight into the constantly increasing transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants and provides a meaningful optimisation strategy for vaccine development against SARS-CoV-2. Funding: This study was supported by grants from the National Key Research and Development Plan of China (2021YFC2302405, 2022YFC2303200, 2021YFC2300200 and 2022YFC2303400), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32188101, 32200772, 82422049, 82241082, 32270182, 82372254, 82271872, 82341046, 32100755 and 82102389), Shenzhen Medical Research Fund (B2404002, A2303036), the Shenzhen Bay Laboratory Startup Fund (21330111), Shenzhen San-Ming Project for Prevention and Research on Vector-borne Diseases (SZSM202211023), Yunnan Provincial Science and Technology Project at Southwest United Graduate School (202302AO370010). The New Cornerstone Science Foundation through the New Cornerstone Investigator Program, and the Xplorer Prize from Tencent Foundation.

ABSTRACT: In avian, follicular selection is a key molecular event that can determine avian egg production. Theca cells (TC) are the main components of follicles, the molecular mechanisms about TCs physiological differences during follicle selection stage are still unclear. This study revealed significant differences in proliferation, apoptosis, lipid synthesis, and steroid secretion levels between prehierarchical theca cells (phTC) and hierarchical theca cells (hTC) of Tianfu meat-type geese. A total of 1,559 differentially expressed genes (DEG) and 71 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEM) were identified between phTCs and hTCs, respectively. Functional enrichment analysis results showed that 143 DEGs were enriched in the pathways related to cell proliferation/apoptosis and lipid/steroid metabolism. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network results indicated the 143 DEGs have functional interactions. Additionally, the predicted target genes of 71 DEMs were jointly analyzed with the above 143 DEGs, and the results showed that 15 DEMs and 17 DEGs with targeted relationships were found. Among them, miR-202-5p was significantly down-regulated both in hTCs and hierarchical theca layers, and target prediction results showed that miR-202-5p may affect TCs proliferation/apoptosis by targeting CHPT1 to regulate the expression levels of CCN1/FOXO3; meanwhile, may affect TCs lipid/steroid metabolism and proliferation/apoptosis by targeting CHPT1 to regulate the expression levels of p53/ABCA1/SREBP-2. This study provides new insights into the regulatory mechanisms of TCs physiological differences during goose follicle selection.

Pectoral muscle development is an important economic trait. According to the different essence, muscle development can be divided into 2 processes: embryonic muscle fiber generation and postnatal muscle fiber hypertrophy, and postnatal muscle fiber hypertrophy has a greater impact on muscle development than the number of muscle fibers formed during the embryonic phase in poultry. However, the underlying mechanisms regulating the hypertrophy of goose pectoral muscles have not been elucidated. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to conduct transcriptome sequencing in pectoral muscles of both Landes (LD) and Sichuan White (SW) geese at 6, 10, and 30 weeks of age to reveal the molecular mechanisms regulating pectoral muscle hypertrophy through intra-breed and inter-breed bioinformatics analyses. Phenotypically, the pectoral muscle weight/index of LD and SW geese increased from 6 to 30 weeks of age, and except for the pectoral muscle index at 10 weeks of age (P = 0.962), at the same age, the pectoral muscle weight/index of LD geese were significantly higher than that of SW geese (P < 0.05). In transcriptional regulation, intra-breed bioinformatics analysis identified 3331 genes whose expression levels were opposite to the trend of pectoral muscle hypertrophy both in LD and SW geese, and the 3331 genes were mainly enriched into abundant KEGG pathways related to lipid metabolism, proliferation/apoptosis, and immune response. Moreover, 23 genes (including SLC2A10, TNFRSF1A, PRKAA1, SLC27A4, ITGB2, THY1, RHOA, MYL10, ACTB, PRKCB, PIK3R2, RAC2, DMD, LATS2, YAP1, WWTR1, SMAD7, CTGF, FGF1, AXIN2, GLI2, ID2, and CCND2) who were enriched in 6 crosstalk pathways named viral myocarditis, insulin resistance, sphingolipid signaling pathway, hippo signaling pathway, chemokine signaling pathway, and leukocyte transendothelial migration were identified as the key candidate genes regulating the hypertrophy of goose pectoral muscles. In inter-breed bioinformatics analysis, abundant different expression genes (DEGs) related to lipid metabolism, immune response, and proliferation/apoptosis were identified between LD and SW geese too, and compared with SW geese, the expression level of MYL10 in LD geese was lower, while the expression levels of GLI2/CTGF/SMAD7 in LD geese were higher. These results suggested that the hypertrophy of goose pectoral muscles might be achieved through more lipid deposition and less leukocyte infiltration to promote the proliferation of cells within the muscles, and the low expression of MYL10 and high expressions of GLI2/CTGF/SMAD7 might the keys to induce the pectoral muscle hypertrophy of LD geese from 6 to 30 weeks of age over that of SW geese. All data the present study obtained will provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms regulating the hypertrophy of goose pectoral muscles.

Background: Exercise is a rehabilitation strategy for patients with breast cancer; however, the optimal type of exercise remains uncertain. This study aimed to compare the effects of five exercise types on the quality of life of patients with breast cancer and provide a basis for their exercise rehabilitation. Methods: As of May 2024, we searched four databases: Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, and included randomized controlled trials that analyzed the effect of exercise on the quality of life of patients with breast cancer. A network meta-analysis was performed using a frequency-based framework. Results: Forty-five papers involving 4092 participants were included. The five types of exercises included were all significant in the direct comparison with the control group, except yoga and mind–body exercises. Aerobic, resistance, and combination exercises were associated with quality of life. However, in indirect comparisons, only mind–body exercise versus resistance exercise had a significant effect. The effect of exercise on the quality of life(total health status) of patients with breast cancer was ranked based on surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) values combined with effect sizes as follows: aerobic exercise (SUCRA = 84.1) > combined exercise (SUCRA = 78.8) > resistance exercise (SUCRA = 66.4) > yoga (SUCRA = 39.3) > mind-body exercise (SUCRA = 27.2) > usual care (SUCRA = 4.1). Conclusions: Exercise can rehabilitate the quality of life of patients with breast cancer, and aerobic exercise may be the best type of exercise to improve their quality of life(total health status).

ABSTRACTHuman milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are vital milk carbohydrates that help promote the microbiota-dependent growth and immunity of infants. Sialic acid (SA) is a crucial component of sialylated milk oligosaccharides (S-MOs); however, the effects of SA supplementation in lactating mothers on S-MO biosynthesis and their breastfed infants are unknown. Probiotic intervention during pregnancy or lactation demonstrates promise for modulating the milk glycobiome. Here, we evaluated whether SA and a probiotic (Pro) mixture could increase S-MO synthesis in lactating mothers and promote the microbiota development of their breastfed neonates. The results showed that SA+Pro intervention modulated the gut microbiota and 6’-SL contents in milk of maternal rats more than the SA intervention, which promoted Lactobacillus reuteri colonization in neonates and immune development. Deficient 6’-SL in the maternal rat milk of St6gal1 knockouts (St6gal1−/−) disturbed intestinal microbial structures in their offspring, thereby impeding immune tolerance development. SA+Pro intervention in lactating St6gal1± rats compromised the allergic responses of neonates by promoting 6′-SL synthesis and the neonatal gut microbiota. Our findings from human mammary epithelial cells (MCF-10A) indicated that the GPR41-PI3K-Akt-PPAR pathway helped regulate 6′-SL synthesis in mammary glands after SA+Pro intervention through the gut – breast axis. We further validated our findings using a human-cohort study, confirming that providing SA+Pro to lactating Chinese mothers increased S-MO contents in their breast milk and promoted gut Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. colonization in infants, which may help enhance immune responses. Collectively, our findings may help alter the routine supplementation practices of lactating mothers to modulate milk HMOs and promote the development of early-life gut microbiota and immunity.

Regulatory T (Treg) cells are critical in shaping an immunosuppressive microenvironment to favor tumor progression and resistance to therapies. However, the heterogeneity and function of Treg cells in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remain underexplored. We identified CD177 as a tumor-infiltrating Treg cell marker in ESCC. Interestingly, expression levels of CD177 and PD-1 were mutually exclusive in tumor Treg cells. CD177+ Treg cells expressed high levels of IL35, in association with CD8+ T cell exhaustion, whereas PD-1+ Treg cells expressed high levels of IL10. Pan-cancer analysis revealed that CD177+ Treg cells display increased clonal expansion compared to PD-1+ and double-negative (DN) Treg cells, and CD177+ and PD-1+ Treg cells develop from the same DN Treg cell origin. Importantly, we found CD177+ Treg cell infiltration to be associated with poor overall survival and poor response to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy plus chemotherapy in ESCC patients. Finally, we found that lymphatic endothelial cells are associated with CD177+ Treg cell accumulation in ESCC tumors, which are also decreased after anti-PD-1 immunotherapy plus chemotherapy. Our work identifies CD177+ Treg cell as a tumor-specific Treg cell subset and highlights their potential value as a prognostic marker of survival and response to immunotherapy and a therapeutic target in ESCC.

Due to high power consumption and low energy efficiency of the hydrogenation feed multistage pump, conducting structural optimization design and reducing energy losses for this pump is necessary. In this study, an optimization method based on the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm and least squares support vector regression (LSSVR) surrogate model is proposed. The head and efficiency are taken as the optimization objectives of the multistage pump, and the optimization design of the two impellers is carried out. Through the optimization of the surrogate model, the head and efficiency of the multistage pump are increased by 3.99% and 2.91%, respectively. It is found that the optimized impeller has more stable flow characteristics than original impeller. Further, the entropy production method is introduced to analyze the energy loss of pump. The result shows that the pump optimized by PSO-LSSVR surrogate model can reduce 9% energy consumption under nominal flow rate. It is attributed to the inhibitory effect of the optimization scheme on the horseshoe vortex at leading edge and the wake vortex at trailing edge of impeller. This study provides a new idea for the optimization design of high efficiency and low energy consumption of multistage centrifugal pumps.