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Objective: To investigate the effects and mechanisms of Xuebijing injection (XBJ) on Chimeric antigen receptor-T (CAR-T) cell function and its therapeutic potential against CAR-T therapy-associated cytokine storms (CRS). Methods: Anti-CD19 CAR-T cells were established based on FMC63 antibodies. Different doses of XBJ (1 and 10 mg/mL) were added to the culture system. Untreated anti-CD19 CAR-T cells served as negative controls. After 48-h co-culture, the effects of XBJ on CAR-T cell function were assessed. Carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester staining was used to assess the effect of XBJ on CAR-T cell proliferation. Flow cytometry, luciferase reporter gene assays, and real time cellular analysis were employed to evaluate the effects of XBJ on CAR-T cell cytotoxicity in vitro. RNA-sequencing was performed to analyze the effects of XBJ on CAR-T cell gene expression. Network pharmacology predicted potential XBJ therapeutic targets for CRS, which were verified in a THP-1 macrophage inflammation model. Results: XBJ enhanced both the proliferation and tumor killing capacities of CAR-T cells. Transcriptome analysis showed that XBJ treatment affects multiple genes and pathways in CAR-T cells, with differential gene enrichment in multiple cell proliferation and growth factor pathways. Potential targets for CRS control by XBJ were predicted using network pharmacology, and the inhibitory effect of XBJ on the expression of relevant genes was verified using a macrophage model. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that XBJ can enhance the killing effect of CAR-T cells on tumor cells and that the mechanism is related to the regulation of T cell proliferation and activation. Moreover, XBJ inhibited excessive inflammation associated with CAR-T therapy. However, the current findings remain to be further validated through in vivo experiments.

Abstract Glycerol-based biorefinery can be a highly profitable process by producing highly value-added products such as dihydroxyacetone via combined catalytic strategies. Here, two-enzyme system is adopted for the transformation of glycerol into highly valuable dihydroxyacetone as well as cofactor regeneration at the same time. Glycerol dehydrogenase (GDH) and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) are co-immobilized within magnetically separable and spherical mesocellular silica foam (Mag-S-MCF), to prepare NER-(GDH/ADH). In details, GDH and ADH are adsorbed into the mesopores of Mag-S-MCF, and further crosslinked within the mesopores of Mag-S-MCF. The resulting nanoscale enzyme reactors (NER) of crosslinked GDH and ADH molecules within the bottle-neck structured mesopores can effectively prevent larger sized crosslinked enzyme aggregates from being leached out of smaller mesopores, due to the bottle-neck mesopore structure of Mag-S-MCF, as well as stabilize the activity of GDH and ADH upon chemical crosslinking, effectively preventing the denaturation of enzyme molecules. More importantly, the proximity of GDH and ADH molecules within mesopores of NER improves the efficiency of cofactor-mediated dual-enzymatic reactions by relieving mass-transfer limitations and improving cofactor recycling in an effective way, expediting both glycerol oxidation and dihydroxyacetone generation at the same time. As a result, the DHA concentration of NER-(GDH/ADH) and the simple mixture of NER-GDH and NER-ADH were 410 μM and 336 μM, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this report is the first demonstration of stabilized nanoscale multi-enzyme reactor system, equipped with efficient cofactor regeneration within confined mesopores, for efficient glycerol transformation to high-valued dihydroxyacetone. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Phonon engineering is crucial for thermal management in GaN-based power devices, where phonon-defect interactions limit performance. However, detecting nanoscale phonon transport constrained by III-nitride defects is challenging due to limited spatial resolution. Here, we used advanced scanning transmission electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy to examine vibrational modes in a prismatic stacking fault in GaN. By comparing experimental results with ab initio calculations, we identified three types of defect-derived modes: localized defect modes, a confined bulk mode, and a fully extended mode. Additionally, the PSF exhibits a smaller phonon energy gap and lower acoustic sound speeds than defect-free GaN, suggesting reduced thermal conductivity. Our study elucidates the vibrational behavior of a GaN defect via advanced characterization methods and highlights properties that may affect thermal behavior.

Abstract Background The post COVID-19 health condition of Chinese residents infected with Omicron is not clear after the change of epidemic prevention policies. This study aimed to clarify the epidemiology and associated factors about health status of rehabilitation patients. Methods A quick questionnaire study based on C19-YRSm was conducted in mainland China through internet from May 1, 2023, to May 7, 2023. Chinese native speakers infected with Omicron variant agreed to participate were included. Persisting symptom and living habits were simultaneously inquired. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the associated factors. Results In this study 753 individuals were included. Of whom 57.90% were males, 89.38% did not seek medical service, 99.47% recovered within less than 120 days. Breathlessness (47.68%), cognitive impairment (44.89%), Anxiety/mood changes (33.20%), pain/discomfort (32.94%), fatigue or tiredness not improved by rest (32.27%) and post-exertional malaise (30.01%) were the top reported key symptoms. Less than 10% respondents reported functional limitations. The prevalence of fever was reported greater than that of other symptoms, with dry eyes at 14.87%, appetite change at 14.34%, and hair loss at 12.22%. Middle age (OR: 2.353, 95%CI: 1.171 ~ 4.729), underlying diseases (OR: 2.293, 95%CI: 1.216 ~ 4.324), severe key symptom (OR: 6.168, 95%CI: 1.376 ~ 27.642) and at least one other symptom (OR: 1.847, 95%CI: 1.225 ~ 2.718)during the recovery were the risk factors of poor overall health after infection (current overall health score

Purpose – This study aimed to facilitate a rapid evaluation of track service status and vehicle ride comfort based on car body acceleration. Consequently, a low-cost, data-driven approach was proposed for analyzing speed-related acceleration limits in metro systems. Design/methodology/approach – A portable sensing terminal was developed to realize easy and efficient detection of car body acceleration. Further, field measurements were performed on a 51.95-km metro line. Data from 272 metro sections were tested as a case study, and a quantile regression method was proposed to fit the control limits of the car body acceleration at different speeds using the measured data. Findings – First, the frequency statistics of the measured data in the speed-acceleration dimension indicated that the car body acceleration was primarily concentrated within the constant speed stage, particularly at speeds of 15.4, 18.3, and 20.9 m/s. Second, resampling was performed according to the probability density distribution of car body acceleration for different speed domains to achieve data balance. Finally, combined with the traditional linear relationship between speed and acceleration, the statistical relationships between the speed and car body acceleration under different quantiles were determined. We concluded the lateral/vertical quantiles of 0.8989/0.9895, 0.9942/0.997, and 0.9998/0.993 as being excellent, good, and qualified control limits, respectively, for the lateral and vertical acceleration of the car body. In addition, regression lines for the speed-related acceleration limits at other quantiles (0.5, 0.75, 2s, and 3s) were obtained. Originality/value – The proposed method is expected to serve as a reference for further studies on speed-related acceleration limits in rail transit systems.

Abstract Improvements in analytical technique and data processing lead to a large deposit of detrital zircon U–Pb and Hf isotopic data in published journal articles, thesis and reports. With the support of Deep‐time Digital Earth Big Science Program, OneSediment Project conducted a team‐working effort to assemble the detrital zircon U–Pb and Hf isotopic data for mainland China and adjacent regions. Entity‐relationship diagram was constructed for detrital zircon data to determine what information need to be collected. Researchers and students from 13 institutions were organized together to fulfil this task and generated 13 detrital zircon datasets. The assembled datasets totally include 6635 samples and 560,596 analyses. The samples were checked in terms of lithology and stratigraphy according to the latest stratigraphic framework. Collected detrital zircon U–Pb and Hf isotopic data were recalculated for the best U–Pb age and εHf(t) values. They can be used to track crustal growth, tectonic evolution, provenance analysis and palaeogeographical change in regional and, when combined with other dataset, global scales.

Abstract Developments of detrital zircon geochronology have resulted in an explosion of publications that report or discuss detrital zircon data. Combined detrital zircon U–Pb ages with Hf isotope analyses from modern and Quaternary sediments have been widely carried out with the aim of characterizing continental crustal evolution and tracing sediment provenance. Although several detrital zircon databases have compiled U–Pb and Hf data on global scale, the dataset of detrital zircon with a special focus on modern sediment has rarely been compiled. Here, we publish a new detrital zircon dataset of modern and Quaternary sediments in China with 59,535 U–Pb ages and 4,971 Hf isotope data, with detailed information of isotope ratios, ages, Th/U, etc. Four types of sediments have been classified according to sedimentary environments, including fluvial, marine, aeolian and alluvial sediments. Preliminary analysis is carried out on these compiled data to provide new insights into sedimentary provenance and crustal evolution in China. Eight age populations are identified corresponding to tectonic–thermal or magmatic events, including 2,300–2,700 Ma, 1,800–2,000 Ma, 700–1,000 Ma, 400–500 Ma, 200–300 Ma, 120–200 Ma, 80–120 Ma and

Abstract Remaining useful life (RUL) is a key indicator for assessing the health status of lithium (Li)-ion batteries, and realizing accurate and reliable RUL prediction is crucial for the proper operation of battery systems. As high-capacity Li batteries have more complex chemical properties, most of the current RUL prediction methods rely mainly on a priori knowledge to make judgments. As a result, prediction accuracy is not high. In this study, we developed a health indicator-capacity (HI-C) dual Gaussian process regression (GPR) model based on incremental capacity analysis (ICA) and optimized its kernel function to achieve accurate RUL prediction for 280 Ah high-capacity Li batteries. Validation against the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s four battery test datasets showed that the use of the HI-C dual GPR model resulted in a mean absolute percentage error and root mean square error of less than 0.02 and 0.04, respectively, for the four battery-rated capacity predictions. Additionally, this model achieved an absolute error of less than five battery failure turns. Compared with a single model, the HI-C dual GPR model not only had high accuracy but also solved the problem that the HI was not measurable in the actual battery operation, which made it more suitable for RUL prediction of Li batteries.

Abstract The orbital Hall effect in light materials has attracted considerable attention for developing orbitronic devices. Here we investigate the orbital torque efficiency and demonstrate the switching of the perpendicularly magnetized materials through the orbital Hall material, i.e., Zr. The orbital torque efficiency of approximately 0.78 is achieved in the Zr orbital Hall material with the perpendicularly magnetized [Co/Pt]3 sample, which significantly surpasses that of the perpendicularly magnetized CoFeB/Gd/CoFeB sample (approximately 0.04). Such a notable difference is attributed to the different spin-orbit correlation strength between the [Co/Pt]3 sample and the CoFeB/Gd/CoFeB sample, confirmed through theoretical calculations. Furthermore, the full magnetization switching of the [Co/Pt]3 samples with a switching current density of approximately 2.6×106 A/cm2 has been realized through Zr, which even outperforms that of the W spin Hall material. Our finding provides a guideline to understand orbital torque efficiency and paves the way for developing energy-efficient orbitronic devices.

Abstract. Background:. China is one of the countries with the largest burden of gastrointestinal and liver diseases (GILD) in the world. The GILD constitutes various causes of mortality and disability. The study aimed to investigate the trend of GILD in China using the Global Burden of Diseases Study 2019 (GBD 2019) data resources from 1990 to 2019. Methods:. The data on the age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR) and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for GILD in China from 1990 to 2019 were collected from the GBD 2019 data resources. Furthermore, the ranking of the main causes of deaths and DALYs, as well as the trends of ASMR, DALYs, years of life lost (YLLs), and years of life lost due to disability (YLDs) per 1,000,000 in GILD were reported. Results:. The ASMR and DALYs for stomach cancer, liver cancer, and esophageal cancer, which ranked top three among the GILDs from 1990 to 2019, were gradually decreasing. Significant decreases in the ASMR and DALYs were found in diarrheal diseases and acute hepatitis (A, E, and C). However, noteworthy increases were found in those of colon and rectum cancer (CRC) and pancreatic cancer. Trend of DALYs, mortality, and YLLs rates for most of GILD were decreasing from 1990 to 2019, except the burden of CRC and pancreatic cancer with an increasing trend. The DALYs, mortality and YLLs of most GILD diseases showed decreasing trends from 1990 to 2019, except the burden of CRC and pancreatic cancer with an increasing trends. Conclusions:. The result of the GBD 2019 showed that the rates of most GILDs decreased in China; however, gastrointestinal and liver cancer, such as stomach cancer still held the top ranking. Furthermore, the shift from infectious diseases to non-communicable causes among GILD burden is occurring.

Gastric cancer (GC) ranks fifth in cancer incidence and fourth in cancer-related mortality worldwide. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are highly oxidative oxygen-derived products that have crucial roles in cell signaling regulation and maintaining internal balance. ROS are closely associated with the occurrence, development, and treatment of GC. This review summarizes recent findings on the sources of ROS and the bidirectional regulatory effects on GC and discusses various treatment modalities for GC that are related to ROS induction. In addition, the regulation of ROS by natural small molecule compounds with the highest potential for development and applications in anti-GC research is summarized. The aim of the review is to accelerate the clinical application of modulating ROS levels as a therapeutic strategy for GC.

Abstract Background Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a severe gastrointestinal disease characterized by intestinal inflammation and injury, with high mortality risk. Extracellular cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (eCIRP) is a recently discovered damage-associated molecular pattern that propagates inflammation and tissue injury; however, the role of eCIRP in NEC remains unknown. We hypothesize that eCIRP exacerbates NEC pathogenesis and the novel eCIRP-scavenging peptide, milk fat globule-epidermal growth factor-factor VIII (MFG-E8)-derived oligopeptide 3 (MOP3), attenuates NEC severity, serving as a new therapeutic strategy to treat NEC. Methods Stool samples from premature neonates were collected prospectively and eCIRP levels were measured. Wild-type (WT) and CIRP−/− mouse pups were subjected to NEC utilizing a combination of hypoxia and hypercaloric formula orogastric gavage with lipopolysaccharide supplementation. In parallel, WT pups were treated with MOP3 or vehicle. Endpoints including NEC severity, intestinal injury, barrier dysfunction, lung injury, and overall survival were determined. Results Stool samples from NEC neonates had elevated eCIRP levels compared to healthy age-matched controls (p

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to analyze the expression patterns of immune cells in renal cancer patients, including myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), regulatory T cells (Tregs), CD3 + /CD4 + T cells, CD3 + / CD8 + T cells, and CD3- CD16 + CD56 + cells. In addition, this study will explore the correlation between these immune markers and the progression of renal cell carcinoma and evaluate their potential application in predicting the therapeutic effect of renal cell carcinoma. Methods In this study, 80 renal cancer patients who received treatment in our hospital from October 2022 to December 2023 were selected as the research object and 50 healthy people who underwent a physical examination at the same time were selected as the control group. All participants had a 3 ml venous blood sample taken in the morning on an empty stomach. All patients with renal cell carcinoma have been confirmed by histopathological diagnosis. Clinicopathological data including age, gender, BMI, clinical stage, tumor size and pathological type were collected.MDSC, Treg, CD3 + /CD4 + T cells, CD3 + /CD8 + T cells, the ratio of CD3 + /CD4 + T cells/CD3 + /CD8 + T cell and the expression level of CD3-CD16 + CD56 + cells were detected by flow cytometry. Results Through the detection of flow cytometry, we observed that there was no significant difference in gender, age, BMI and other baseline characteristics between renal cancer patients and healthy controls, and the P value was greater than 0.05. However, in the analysis of peripheral blood immune cell subsets, including CD3 + /CD4 + , CD3 + /CD8 + , CD3 + /CD4 + /CD3 + /CD8 + ratio, NK cells, regulatory T cells (T-reg), polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells (PMN-MDSC) and mononuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells (M-MDSC) were significantly different between renal cell carcinoma group and normal control group (P 0.05).At the same time, CD3 + /CD8 + T cells, the ratio of CD3 + /CD4 + /CD3 + /CD8 + and the expression level of NK cells were not significantly correlated with tumor size and clinical stage (P > 0.05). However, the expression levels of CD3 + /CD4 + cells, M-MDSC, PMN-MDSC, and T-reg cells were statistically significantly different with tumor size and clinical stage (P

Abstract Objective In order to synthesize available results regarding human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to provide quantitative estimates of associated risk. Methods A systematic search of four scientific databases, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and Scopus, was performed. The overall odds ratio (OR) with the corresponding 95% CI was calculated via a random effects model. Sensitivity analyses and tests for publication bias were then performed. Results Of the 3046 articles retrieved, seven studies with a cumulative sample size greater than 57,000,000 were included in our analysis. A subsequent meta-analysis based on a random effects model (heterogeneity test, I2 = 99.9) revealed an association between HIV infection and IBD: OR = 2.68 (95% CI: 1.17, 6.13). The funnel plot of this meta-analysis was asymmetric (Egger’s test: P = 0.01), and significant publication bias was found. Sensitivity analysis of the 3 dimensions revealed that the results of this meta-analysis were relatively stable. Conclusions A significant correlation may exist between HIV infection and intestinal disease, and more large-scale studies are needed to draw firm conclusions. It is recommended that HIV patients be screened for intestinal diseases.

Abstract Background Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) presents a significant clinical challenge due to its aggressive nature and the need for effective biomarkers for treatment monitoring. This study aimed to compare ProGRP and CEA as serological markers in the monitoring of SCLC treatment. Methods We retrospectively analyzed data from 80 SCLC patients and 80 matched controls. ProGRP and CEA levels were measured, and their associations with clinical parameters, including tumor stage and treatment response, were assessed using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. Multivariate logistic regression models were employed to identify independent predictors of treatment response and disease progression. Results ProGRP and CEA levels were considerably higher in cases than controls, with median ProGRP levels at 198.5 pg/mL versus 48.7 pg/mL and median CEA levels at 5.2 ng/mL versus 2.9 ng/mL (both p

Abstract Zygomycetous fungal infections pose an emerging medical threat among individuals with compromised immunity and metabolic abnormalities. Our pathophysiological understanding of these infections, particularly the role of fungal cell walls in growth and immune response, remains limited. Here we conducted multidimensional solid-state NMR analysis to examine cell walls in five Mucorales species, including key mucormycosis causative agents like Rhizopus and Mucor species. We show that the rigid core of the cell wall primarily comprises highly polymorphic chitin and chitosan, with minimal quantities of β-glucans linked to a specific chitin subtype. Chitosan emerges as a pivotal molecule preserving hydration and dynamics. Some proteins are entrapped within this semi-crystalline chitin/chitosan layer, stabilized by the sidechains of hydrophobic amino acid residues, and situated distantly from β-glucans. The mobile domain contains galactan- and mannan-based polysaccharides, along with polymeric α-fucoses. Treatment with the chitin synthase inhibitor nikkomycin removes the β-glucan-chitin/chitosan complex, leaving the other chitin and chitosan allomorphs untouched while simultaneously thickening and rigidifying the cell wall. These findings shed light on the organization of Mucorales cell walls and emphasize the necessity for a deeper understanding of the diverse families of chitin synthases and deacetylases as potential targets for novel antifungal therapies.

Abstract In the past, manual inspection was often used for equipment inspection in indoor environments such as substation rooms and chemical plant rooms. This way often accompanies high labor intensity, low inspection efficiency, and low safety, which is difficult to meet the increasingly stringent requirements of indoor equipment operation and maintenance management. For dealing with these issues, a VIORB-SLAM2 algorithm based on the integration of IMU and visual information, was proposed by this paper. Firstly, the IMU data and image data were integrated to restore scale information of cameras, and then an error function was established to enhance the algorithm’s robustness. Secondly, in order to improve the accuracy of the algorithm, the random sampling consensus method was used to eliminate the wrong matching points in feature point matching, and the normalized cross-correlation matching was employed to constrain key frame matching conditions. Finally, through the iterative closest point method to stitch the point clouds, a dense map for navigation was constructed. The experimental results show that the algorithm designed by this paper has solved the shortcomings of applying the ORB-SLAM2 algorithm to indoor inspection robots while achieving high positioning accuracy, which can be combined with other algorithms in the field of artificial intelligence for object detection and semantic map construction in the future.

Girth welding is extensively utilized in connecting pipeline structures. Excessive welding deformation may result in a decrease in ultimate bearing capacity and fatigue life. This research explores the characteristics and underlying mechanics of radial deformation in thin-walled girth welded pipes and proposes mitigation measures. Initially, several 304 stainless steel pipes were joined utilizing four distinct welding procedures. Welding deformation and residual stress distribution were measured using a 3D coordinate measuring machine (CMM) and the Cos α X-ray diffraction (XRD) method, respectively. Subsequently, numerical models were developed to simulate the welding process and verify the accuracy of the fusion zone, residual stress field, and radial deformation in the models. The mechanism of radial deformation was further elucidated based on the inherent strain method. The results show that the direction of radial deformation relies substantially on the hoop plastic strain. Hoop tensile plastic strain corresponds to radial outward deformation, while hoop shrinkage plastic strain corresponds to radial inward deformation. In addition, the influence of axial constraint on the formation process and results of hoop plastic strain, as well as the effect of heating zone width on radial deformation, was studied. Through simulation outcomes, the research suggests employing a regulated heat source method to mitigate radial deformation, which could potentially reduce deformation by 92.8%, offering considerable advantages in deformation mitigation and welding efficiency augmentation.

Abstract Background Hepatic progenitor cells serve not only as the origin of combined hepatocellular cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CCA) but are also responsible for malignancy recurrence after surgical resection. Nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1) has been implicated in cancer metastasis and poor prognosis. This study aimed to determine the expression of NPM1 by hepatic progenitor cells in cHCC-CCA and the effects of targeting NPM1 on hepatic progenitor cells and BEL-7402 cells with characteristics of both progenitor cells and cHCC-CCA. Methods First, NPM1 was detected by RT‒PCR, western blotting, and double-immunofluorescence staining in cHCC-CCA tissues. NPM1 expression was subsequently analysed in rat hepatic progenitor cells cultured in vitro and in interleukin 6 (IL6)-treated cells. The effects and mechanism of NPM1 on hepatic progenitor cells were determined by knocking down NPM1 and performing RNA sequencing analysis. Finally, NSC348884, a small-molecule inhibitor that disrupts NPM1 dimer formation, was used to confirm the function of NPM1 in BEL-7402 cells. Results Both human hepatic progenitor cells in cHCC-CCA tissues and rat in vitro cultured hepatic progenitor cells highly expressed NPM1. IL6, a cytokine involved in the malignant transformation of hepatic progenitor cells, dose-dependently increased NPM1 and PCNA expression. Knocking down NPM1 reduced IL6R transcription (P

Abstract Siberian wildrye (Elymus sibiricus) is a xero-mesophytic forage grass with high nutritional quality and stress tolerance. Among its numerous germplasm resources, some possess superior drought resistance. In this study, we firstly investigated the physiological differences between the leaves of drought-tolerant (DT) and drought-sensitive (DS) genotypes under different field water contents (FWC) in soil culture. The results showed that, under drought stress, DT maintained a lower leaf water potential for water absorption, sustained higher photosynthetic efficiency, and reduced oxidative damage in leaves by efficiently maintaining the ascorbic acid-glutathione (ASA-GSH) cycle to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) compared to DS. Secondly, using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), we analyzed the gene expression profiles of DT and DS leaves under osmotic stress of hydroponics induced by PEG-6000. Through differential analysis, we identified 1226 candidate unigenes, from which we subsequently screened out 115/212 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that were more quickly induced/reduced in DT than in DS under osmotic stress. Among them, Unigene0005863 (EsSnRK2), Unigene0053902 (EsLRK10) and Unigene0031985 (EsCIPK5) may be involved in stomatal closure induced by abscisic acid (ABA) signaling pathway. Unigene0047636 (EsCER1) may positively regulates the synthesis of very-long-chain (VLC) alkanes in cuticular wax biosynthesis, influencing plant responses to abiotic stresses. Finally, the contents of wax and cutin were measured by GC–MS under osmotic stress of hydroponics induced by PEG-6000. Corresponding to RNA-seq, contents of wax monomers, especially alkanes and alcohols, showed significant induction by osmotic stress in DT but not in DS. It is suggested that limiting stomatal and cuticle transpiration under drought stress to maintain higher photosynthetic efficiency and water use efficiency (WUE) is one of the critical mechanisms that confer stronger drought resistance to DT. This study provides some insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying drought tolerance in E. sibiricus. The identified genes may provide a foundation for the selection and breeding of drought-tolerant crops.

Abstract To explore the association between serum calcium levels within normal ranges and Diabetic Kidney Disease (DKD) in type 2 diabetes patients. In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed clinical data from type 2 diabetes patients admitted to the Endocrinology Department of the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from January 1, 2021, to December 1, 2022. We measured serum calcium levels, corrected for albumin, and screened for diabetes-related complications, including DKD. The association between corrected serum calcium levels and DKD was evaluated using logistic regression, with adjustments made for potential confounders and a generalized additive model (GAM) to explore non-linear relationships, supplemented by subgroup analyses. Among the 3016 patients (52.55% male, 47.45% female), the mean corrected serum calcium was 2.29 ± 0.08 mmol/L. DKD was present in 38.73% of patients. A 0.1 mmol/L increase in corrected serum calcium was associated with a 44% increased risk of DKD (OR = 1.44, 95% CI 1.28–1.61, p < 0.0001). The GAM indicated a linear relationship between corrected serum calcium and DKD risk, consistent across subgroups. Corrected serum calcium levels were linearly associated with DKD risk in type 2 diabetes patients, underlining its potential role in risk assessment. These findings emphasize the clinical importance of monitoring serum calcium levels. However, the need for further prospective studies to confirm these findings is underscored by the study’s cross-sectional design.

Abstract The relationship between psoriasis and site-specific cancers remains unclear. Here, we aim to investigate whether psoriasis is causally associated with site-specific cancers. We use observational and genetic data from the UK Biobank, obtaining GWAS summary data, eQTL analysis data, TCGA data, and GTEx data from public datasets. We perform PheWAS, polygenic risk score analysis, and one-sample and two-sample Mendelian randomization analyses to investigate the potential causal associations between psoriasis and cancers. In the unselected PheWAS analysis, psoriasis is associated with higher risks of 16 types of cancer. Using one-sample Mendelian randomization analyses, it is found that genetically predicted psoriasis is associated with higher risks of anal canal cancer, breast cancer, follicular non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer in women; and lung cancer and kidney cancer in men. Our two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis indicates that psoriasis is causally associated with breast cancer and lung cancer. Gene annotation shows that psoriasis-related genes, such as ERAP1, are significantly different in lung and breast cancer tissues. Taken together, clinical attention to lung cancer and breast cancer may be warranted among patients with psoriasis.

In order to study the effect of isothermal oxidation and cyclic oxidation on the oxide layer growth process of titanium alloys, high-temperature oxidization tests were conducted on TC11（Ti-6.5Al-3.5Mo-1.5Zr-0.3Si）titanium alloy in air at 650 °C. After 300 h of oxidization, the isothermal oxidation causes the formation of a dense oxide layer, contributing to increased resistance to further oxidization. During cyclic oxidization, the oxide layer exhibits a needle-like feature, containing large pores. The thickness of the oxide layers formed by cyclic oxidation and isothermal oxidation are approximately 8.6 μm and 2.7 μm, respectively. Under specific temperatures and oxidizing times, the isothermal oxidation process is controlled by the diffusion mechanism of oxygen, whereas the cyclic oxidation process is controlled by a combination of the interfacial reaction control and the diffusion mechanism of oxygen. This results in greater diffusion coefficients and faster growth kinetics for cyclic oxidation.

Background: Immunotherapy has emerged as a novel strategy for cancer treatment following surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Immune checkpoint blockade and Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapies have been successful in clinical trials. Cancer cells evade immune surveillance by hijacking inhibitory pathways via overexpression of checkpoint genes. The Cluster of Differentiation 47 (CD47) has emerged as a crucial checkpoint for cancer immunotherapy by working as a “don’t eat me” signal and suppressing innate immune signaling. Furthermore, CD47 is highly expressed in many cancer types to protect cancer cells from phagocytosis via binding to SIRPα on phagocytes. Targeting CD47 by either interrupting the CD47-SIRPα axis or combing with other therapies has been demonstrated as an encouraging therapeutic strategy in cancer immunotherapy. Antibodies and small molecules that target CD47 have been explored in pre- and clinical trials. However, formidable challenges such as the anemia and palate aggregation cannot be avoided because of the wide presentation of CD47 on erythrocytes. Aim of view: This review summarizes the current knowledge on the regulation and function of CD47, and provides a new perspective for immunotherapy targeting CD47. It also highlights the clinical progress of targeting CD47 and discusses challenges and potential strategies. Key scientific concepts of review: This review provides a comprehensive understanding of targeting CD47 in cancer immunotherapy, it also augments the concept of combination immunotherapy strategies by employing both innate and adaptive immune responses.

Plumbagin (PLB), a naphthoquinone compound, has been proven to have anti-cancer properties in different types of cancers. However, the anti-tumor actions as well as molecular processes in osteosarcoma (OS) remain unclear. This study investigates the underlying mechanisms of PLB in human OS cells in vitro. Our study showed that PLB significantly inhibited the proliferation of human OS cells in a time- and dosage-dependent manner. RNA sequencing data revealed that the efficacy of PLB is related to cell cycle, cell death, and p38 MAPK signaling pathway in KHOS-240S cells. Further studies indicated that PLB triggers G2/M phase arrest, mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis, as well as ferroptosis in human OS cells. Mechanistically, PLB treatment increased ROS generation that activates the p38 MAPK signaling pathway. BIRB 796, a p38 MAPK inhibitor, partly reversed PLB-induced phase arrest of G2/M and cell death. Furthermore, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a ROS scavenger, significantly decreased G2/M phase arrest and cell death and reversed p38 MAPK activation caused by PLB. In conclusion, PLB induces arrest G2/M arrest, apoptosis as well as ferroptosis in human OS cells via ROS generation and p38 MAPK activation. There is potential for PLB to be an effective treatment for OS.

Spheroids and organoids have attracted significant attention as innovative models for disease modeling and drug screening. By employing diverse types of spheroids or organoids, it is feasible to establish microphysiological systems that enhance the precision of disease modeling and offer more dependable and comprehensive drug screening. High-throughput microphysiological systems that support optional, parallel testing of multiple drugs have promising applications in personalized medical treatment and drug research. However, establishing such a system is highly challenging and requires a multidisciplinary approach. This study introduces a dynamic Microphysiological System Chip Platform (MSCP) with multiple functional microstructures that encompass the mentioned advantages. We developed a high-throughput lung cancer spheroids model and an intestine-liver-heart-lung cancer microphysiological system for conducting parallel testing on four anti-lung cancer drugs, demonstrating the feasibility of the MSCP. This microphysiological system combines microscale and macroscale biomimetics to enable a comprehensive assessment of drug efficacy and side effects. Moreover, the microphysiological system enables evaluation of the real pharmacological effect of drug molecules reaching the target lesion after absorption by normal organs through fluid-based physiological communication. The MSCP could serves as a valuable platform for microphysiological system research, making significant contributions to disease modeling, drug development, and personalized medical treatment.

Abstract Photo-thermal-coupling ammonia decomposition presents a promising strategy for utilizing the full-spectrum to address the H2 storage and transportation issues. Herein, we exhibit a photo-thermal-catalytic architecture by assembling gallium nitride nanowires-supported ruthenium nanoparticles on a silicon for extracting hydrogen from ammonia aqueous solution in a batch reactor with only sunlight input. The photoexcited charge carriers make a predomination contribution on H2 activity with the assistance of the photothermal effect. Upon concentrated light illumination, the architecture significantly reduces the activation energy barrier from 1.08 to 0.22 eV. As a result, a high turnover number of 3,400,750 is reported during 400 h of continuous light illumination, and the H2 activity per hour is nearly 1000 times higher than that under the pure thermo-catalytic conditions. The reaction mechanism is extensively studied by coordinating experiments, spectroscopic characterizations, and density functional theory calculation. Outdoor tests validate the viability of such a multifunctional architecture for ammonia decomposition toward H2 under natural sunlight.

Abstract Background Cell wall integrity (CWI) is crucial for fungal growth, pathogenesis, and adaptation to extracellular environments. Calcofluor white (CFW) is a cell wall perturbant that inhibits fungal growth, yet little is known about how phytopathogenic fungi respond to the CFW-induced stress. Results In this study, we unveiled a significant discovery that CFW triggered the translocation of the transcription factor CgCrzA from the cytoplasm to the nucleus in Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. This translocation was regulated by an interacting protein, CgMkk1, a mitogen-activated protein kinase involved in the CWI pathway. Further analysis revealed that CgMkk1 facilitated nuclear translocation by phosphorylating CgCrzA at the Ser280 residue. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing, we identified two downstream targets of CgCrzA, namely CgCHS5 and CgCHS6, which are critical for growth, cell wall integrity, and pathogenicity as chitin synthase genes. Conclusions These findings provide a novel insight into the regulatory mechanism of CgMkk1-CgCrzA-CgChs5/6, which enables response of the cell wall inhibitor CFW and facilitates infectious growth for C. gloeosporioides.

Abstract Background Alzheimer’s disease (AD) manifests with a higher rate of occurrence in women. Previous epidemiological studies have suggested a potential association between AD and gynecological cancers, but the causal relationship between them remains unclear. This study aims to explore the causal link between 12 types of gynecological cancers and AD using a bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) approach. Methods We obtained genetic correlation tools for AD using data from the most extensive genome-wide association study. Genetic correlation data for 12 types of gynecological cancers were also sourced from the Finnish Biobank. These cancers include breast cancer (BC), cervical adenocarcinoma (CA), cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC), cervical cancer (CC), endometrial cancer (EC), ovarian endometrioid carcinoma (OEC), ovarian cancer (OC), ovarian serous carcinoma (OSC), breast carcinoma in situ (BCIS), cervical carcinoma in situ (CCIS), endometrial carcinoma in situ (ECIS), and vulvar carcinoma in situ (VCIS). We used the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) model for causal analysis and conducted horizontal pleiotropy tests, heterogeneity tests, MR-PRESSO tests, and leave-one-out analyses to ensure the robustness of our results. We also applied replication analysis and meta-analysis to further validate our experimental results. Results The study found that EC (P _IVW =0.037, OR [95% CI] = 1.032 [1.002, 1.064]) and CCIS (P _IVW = 0.046, OR [95% CI] = 1.032 [1.011, 1.064]) increase the risk of AD, whereas OC was negatively correlated with AD (P _IVW = 0.016, OR [95% CI] = 0.974[0.954, 0.995]). In reverse MR analysis, AD increased the risk of CC (P _IVW = 0.039, OR [95% CI] = 1.395 [1.017, 1.914]) and VCIS (P _IVW = 0.041, OR [95% CI] = 1.761 [1.027, 2.021]), but was negatively correlated with OEC (P _IVW = 0.034, OR [95% CI] = 0.634 [0.417, 0.966]). Sensitivity analysis results demonstrated robustness. These findings were further substantiated through replication and meta-analyses. Conclusions Our MR study supports a causal relationship between AD and gynecological cancers. This encourages further research into the incidence of gynecological cancers in female Alzheimer’s patients and the active prevention of AD.

Abstract Long‐term exposure to moisture leads to a gradual deterioration of performance and reduced service life of glass fibre‐reinforced epoxy resin (GFRP) material in composite insulators. Therefore, it is necessary to analyse the moisture absorption characteristics of GFRP material and the evolution of damage to their internal interface properties. Moisture absorption tests on GFRP rod material used in composite insulators to obtain their three‐dimensional diffusion coefficients are conducted. Atomic force microscopy was then employed to obtain the composite material system's fibre/matrix interfacial phase parameters. Furthermore, a finite element model incorporating representative volume elements with interfacial phases and a mesoscale transient moisture absorption finite element model for the composite material was established. Finally, the moisture absorption characteristics of GFRP material and the evolution of damage to the interfacial phase under thermal‐humidity cycling conditions were investigated. The results showed that the diffusion coefficient along the fibre direction in GFRP material was higher than that in the perpendicular direction. The moisture diffusion finite element model, incorporating an anisotropic interfacial phase, fitted the anisotropic diffusion coefficients of GFRP material more accurately. As moisture invaded the GFRP material, the mismatch stresses continuously increased during the moisture absorption. Moreover, the non‐uniform arrangement of fibres resulted in uneven distribution of moisture‐induced stresses inside the material, leading to higher mismatch stresses in areas with dense fibre arrangements in the matrix. Prolonged high and low humidity cycles led to the development of micro‐cracks, micro‐porosity, and interface debonding along the fibre direction at the GFRP material interfaces, thereby affecting the anisotropic moisture absorption characteristics of the material. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying the deterioration of GFRP material in composite insulator rods due to moisture degradation.

Nowadays, biopolymer stabilization as a promising eco-friendly approach in soft ground improvement has attracted wide attentions. However, the feasibility of using biopolymer as a green additive of cement-stabilized dredged sediment (CDS) with high water content is still unknown. In this study, guar gum (GG) and xanthan gum (XG) were adopted as typical biopolymers, and a series of unconfined compressive strength (UCS), splitting tensile strength (STS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) tests were performed to evaluate the mechanical and microstructural properties of XG- and GG-modified CDSs considering several factors including biopolymer modification, binder–soil ratio and water–solid ratio. Furthermore, the micro-mechanisms revealing the evolutions of mechanical properties of biopolymer-modified CDS were analyzed. The results indicate that the addition of XG can effectively improve the strength of CDS, while the GG has a side effect. The XG content of 9% was recommended, which can improve the 7 d- and 28 d-UCSs by 196% and 51.8%, together with the 7 d- and 28 d-STSs by 118.3% and 42.2%, respectively. Increasing the binder–soil ratio or decreasing the water–solid ratio significantly improved the strength gaining but aggravated the brittleness characteristics of CDS. Adding XG to CDS contributed to the formation of microstructure with more compactness and higher cementation degrees of ordinary Portland cement (OPC)-XG-stabilized DS (CXDS). The micro-mechanism models revealing the interactions of multiple media including OPC cementation, biopolymer film bonding and bridging effects inside CXDS were proposed. The key findings confirm the feasibility of XG modification as a green and high-efficiency mean for improving the mechanical properties of CDS.

Abstract In recent years, A series of environmental problems caused by air pollution have attracted widespread attention. Air quality forecasting has become an indispensable part of people’s daily life. However, the traditional air quality prediction (AQP) model WRF-CMAQ simulation system faces several challenges: (1) the fuzziness of pollutant formation mechanism; (2) the hardness of integrating the features of meteorological conditions; (3) the difficulty of cooperating among monitoring stations. To deal with these challenges, we propose a multi-task station cooperative air quality prediction (MTSC-AQP) system for sustainable development. The MTSC-AQP system contains three modules: air quality analysis, a WRF-LSTM module for initial pollutant prediction, and multi-station cooperative AQP. Through air quality analysis, it can calculate the air quality index (AQI) and analyze the correlation between pollutants and meteorological conditions. Then, the WRF-LSTM module integrates spatio-temporal multi-source data to forecast the initial concentration of pollutants. Finally, the system incorporates the gravity model to predict the final AQI. Extensive experiments conducted on real-world datasets show the effectiveness of forecasting the AQI by using the MTSC-AQP system.

Abstract Background Although recent studies provide mechanistic understanding to the pathogenesis of radiation induced lung injury (RILI), rare therapeutics show definitive promise for treating this disease. Type II alveolar epithelial cells (AECII) injury in various manner results in an inflammation response to initiate RILI. Results Here, we reported that radiation (IR) up-regulated the TNKS1BP1, causing progressive accumulation of the cellular senescence by up-regulating EEF2 in AECII and lung tissue of RILI mice. Senescent AECII induced Senescence-Associated Secretory Phenotype (SASP), consequently activating fibroblasts and macrophages to promote RILI development. In response to IR, elevated TNKS1BP1 interacted with and decreased CNOT4 to suppress EEF2 degradation. Ectopic expression of EEF2 accelerated AECII senescence. Using a model system of TNKS1BP1 knockout (KO) mice, we demonstrated that TNKS1BP1 KO prevents IR-induced lung tissue senescence and RILI. Conclusions Notably, this study suggested that a regulatory mechanism of the TNKS1BP1/CNOT4/EEF2 axis in AECII senescence may be a potential strategy for RILI.

Abstract Background Acute gouty arthritis (AGA) is classified as ‘arthritis’ in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory. Shirebi granules (SGs), derived from the classic prescription SiMiaoWan, exerts satisfying therapeutic efficacy in ameliorating AGA clinically. However, the underlying mechanisms of SGs against AGA remain unclarified. Methods AGA-related biological processes, signal pathways and biomarker genes were mined from the GEO database through bioinformatics. SGs components were systematically recognized using the UPLC-Q-TOF–MS/MS. A correlation network was established based on the biomarker genes and the chemical components, from which the signal pathway used for further study was selected. Finally, we established an AGA model using SD rats injected with monosodium urate (MSU) in the ankle joint for experimental validation. A combination of behavioral tests, H&E, safranin O- fast green, western blotting, and immunofluorescence were employed to reveal the mechanism of action of SGs on AGA. Results The deterioration of AGA was significantly related to the imbalance between immunity and inflammation, neutrophil chemotaxis and inflammatory factor activation. HDAC5, PRKCB, NFκB1, MPO, PRKCA, PIK3CA were identified to be the candidate targets of SGs against AGA, associated with neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) signal pathway. Animal experiments demonstrated that SGs effectively repaired cartilage damage, blocked TLR4 activation, and inhibited the expression of NETs indicators and inflammatory factors. In addition, SGs prominently alleviated joint redness and swelling, improved joint dysfunction, inhibited inflammatory infiltration of AGA rats. Conclusion Our data reveal that SGs may effectively alleviate the disease severity of AGA by suppressing NETs-promoted imbalance between immunity and inflammation.

Tumor metastasis, the apex of cancer progression, poses a formidable challenge in therapeutic endeavors. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs), resilient entities originating from primary tumors or their metastases, significantly contribute to this process by demonstrating remarkable adaptability. They survive shear stress, resist anoikis, evade immune surveillance, and thwart chemotherapy. This comprehensive review aims to elucidate the intricate landscape of CTC formation, metastatic mechanisms, and the myriad factors influencing their behavior. Integral signaling pathways, such as integrin-related signaling, cellular autophagy, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and interactions with platelets, are examined in detail. Furthermore, we explore the realm of precision nanomedicine design, with a specific emphasis on the anoikis‒platelet interface. This innovative approach strategically targets CTC survival mechanisms, offering promising avenues for combatting metastatic cancer with unprecedented precision and efficacy. The review underscores the indispensable role of the rational design of platelet-based nanomedicine in the pursuit of restraining CTC-driven metastasis.

Abstract Glioma is the most common primary brain tumor, and targeting glioma stem cells (GSCs) has become a key aspect of glioma treatment. In this study, we discovered a molecular network in which circRNA forms an R-loop structure with its parental gene to regulate the biological behavior of GSCs. Genes with abnormal expression in GSCs were screened using RNA-seq and circRNA microarray analyses. The study results showed that high expression of YTHDC1 in GSCs promoted the transportation of N6-methyladenosine (m6A)-modified circPOLR2B from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. Decreased circPOLR2B levels in the nucleus resulted in fewer R-loop structures formed with its parental gene POLR2B. This reduction in R-loop structures relieved the inhibitory effect on POLR2B transcription and upregulated PBX1 expression through alternative polyadenylation (APA) action, thereby promoting the malignant biological behavior of GSCs. Knockdown of YTHDC1, POLR2B, and PBX1 reduced xenograft tumor volume and prolonged the survival of nude mice. The YTHDC1/circPOLR2B/POLR2B/PBX1 axis plays a regulatory role in the biological behavior of GSCs, offering potential targets and novel strategies for the treatment of glioma.

Penaeus vannamei is an important shrimp species that is farmed globally, owing to its fast growth and good environmental adaptability. However, vibriosis outbreaks, such as acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease and translucent post-larva disease, have become a considerable constraint on the development of the shrimp aquaculture industry globally in recent years. Due to the negative consequences associated with the use of antibiotics to control bacterial diseases, alternative technologies, such as improving shrimp immunity, the nutrition level of shrimp diets, and the ecological environment of shrimp ponds by using probiotics, have been developed. Owing to the limitations related to the sourcing and cost of fish meal, a large amount of vegetable protein is often used as a fish meal substitute in shrimp artificial feed, which is not only difficult for the shrimp to digest and absorb but can also lead to nutritional antagonism. In order to improve the health status of aquaculture animals by providing high-quality feed, the development and optimization of fermented feed have received extensive attention. Probiotics in fermented feed can produce exogenous cellulase, protease, amylase, and other digestive enzymes in the digestive tract of farmed animals, which can improve the feed utilization rate, promote growth performance, and enhance the immunity of shrimp.In this study, in order to explore the application effects of shrimp feed fermented by different probiotic bacteria, probiotic strains, including Bacillus subtilis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Lactobacillus acidophilus, were used individually and in combination for the fermentation of commercial feed and fed to shrimp (P. vannamei) for 28 days. The survival, body length growth, specific growth, and feed conversion rates of the shrimp were analyzed, and the density of Vibrio in vitro and in vivo, as well as relevant immune indicators in the serum, were analyzed. Furthermore, ammonia nitrogen and nitrite nitrogen concentrations in the water column were compared between the groups.The results demonstrated that the survival rates of shrimp in the fermented feed groups of B. subtilis, L. acidophilus, and complex bacteria were 8.54%, 8.54%, and 9.76%, respectively, which were significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05). The body length growth rates in the B. subtilis and L. acidophilus groups were significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05), while the feed conversion rate in the L. acidophilus group was significantly decreased compared with that of the control group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the specific growth rate of shrimp between the experimental groups and the control group (P > 0.05). Fermented feed can affect the composition of bacteria in the hepatopancreas of shrimp. The density of Vibrio in the hepatopancreas of shrimp in each experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group on days 14 and 21 of the experiment (P < 0.05). The feeding of different fermented feed in the short term (within 14 days) had no significant effect on reducing the total density of Vibrio in the water. However, feeding B. subtilis and L. acidophilus fermented feed significantly reduced the Vibrio density in the water body on day 21 (P < 0.05). In addition, the serum total protein concentration in each experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The activities of serum peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and phenoloxidase in the L. acidophilus fermented feed group increased significantly compared with those of the other experimental and control groups (P < 0.05). The activities of serum peroxidase and phenoloxidase in the serum of shrimp fed S. cerevisiae fermented feed were significantly higher than those of the control group (P < 0.05). Complex bacteria-fermented feed could significantly increase the activities of serum lysozyme, peroxidase, and phenoloxidase (P < 0.05). However, the activity of the detected immune-related enzymes in the B. subtilis group did not increase significantly compared with that of the control group (P > 0.05), except for the activity of total serum protein, which was higher than that of the control group. The results also revealed that the concentration of ammonia nitrogen and nitrite nitrogen in the water group of each experimental group at the end of the experiment was significantly lower compared to that of the control group. S. cerevisiae and L. acidophilus groups had the best effect in reducing the concentration of ammonia nitrogen and nitrite nitrogen in the water, respectively.In summary, shrimp feed fermented by B. subtilis, S. cerevisiae, and L. acidophilus singly or in combination could improve the survival rate, growth performance, and immunity of shrimp to a degree, and reduce the concentration of ammonia nitrogen and nitrite nitrogen in aquaculture water. Moreover, L. acidophilus shows great potential as a candidate probiotic for shrimp feed fermentation. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for the development of shrimp fermentation feed, which can improve the feed utilization and survival rates of shrimp in aquaculture.

Excessive underground train-induced vibration becomes a serious environmental problem in cities. To investigate the vibration transfer from an underground train to a building nearby, an explicit-integration time-domain, three-dimensional finite element model is developed. The underground train, track, tunnel, soil layers and a typical multi-story building nearby are all fully coupled in this model. The complex geometries involving the track components and the building are all modelled in detail, which makes the simulation of vibration transfer more realistic from the underground train to the building. The model is validated with in-situ tests data and good agreements have been achieved between the numerical results and the experimental results both in time domain and frequency domain. The proposed model is applied to investigate the vibration transfer along the floors in the building and the influences of the soil stiffness on the vibration characteristics of the track-tunnel-soil-building system. It is found that the building vibration induced by an underground train is dominant at the frequency determined by the P2 resonance and influenced by the vibration modes of the building. The vertical vibration in the building decreases in a fluctuant pattern from the foundation to the top floor due to loss of high frequency contents and local modes. The vibration levels in different rooms at a same floor can be different due to the different local stiffness. A room with larger space thus smaller local stiffness usually has higher vibration level. Softer soil layers make the tunnel lining and the building have more low frequency vibration. The influence of the soil stiffness on the amplification scale along the floors of the building is found to be nonlinear and frequency-dependent, which needs to be further investigated.

This study aims to dynamically mine the demands of hotel consumers. A total of 378,270 online reviews in the cities of Beijing, Chengdu, and Guangzhou in China were crawled using Python. Natural language processing (e.g., opinion mining and the BERT model) and an improved Kano model (containing One-dimensional, Attractive, Indifferent, and Must-be) were utilised to analyse online hotel reviews. The results indicate that the hotel attributes that consumers care about (e.g., Clean, Breakfast, and Front Desk) are dynamically fluctuating, and the attention and satisfaction of corresponding attributes will also change. This study classified consumer demand into eight types across cities and found that it changes over time. In addition, we also found that hotel attributes, satisfaction and attention, and consumer demands vary among different cities. Existing studies of capturing consumer demand are usually time-consuming and static, and the results are subjective. This study compared and analysed the consumer demands of hotels in different cities via a dynamic perspective, and used hybrid methods to improve the granularity of the analysis, expanding the general applicability of the Kano model. Hotel managers can refer to the results of this article to allocate resources for improvement and create competitive hotel services.

Abstract Antifungal echinocandins inhibit the biosynthesis of β−1,3-glucan, a major and essential polysaccharide component of the fungal cell wall. However, the efficacy of echinocandins against the pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus is limited. Here, we use solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) and other techniques to show that echinocandins induce dynamic changes in the assembly of mobile and rigid polymers within the A. fumigatus cell wall. The reduction of β−1,3-glucan induced by echinocandins is accompanied by a concurrent increase in levels of chitin, chitosan, and highly polymorphic α−1,3-glucans, whose physical association with chitin maintains cell wall integrity and modulates water permeability. The rearrangement of the macromolecular network is dynamic and controls the permeability and circulation of the drug throughout the cell wall. Thus, our results indicate that echinocandin treatment triggers compensatory rearrangements in the cell wall that may help A. fumigatus to tolerate the drugs’ antifungal effects.

Abstract Background Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a serious neurodegenerative disease that brings great stress to the physical and mental health of patients. At the same time, long-term treatment will also bring great economic losses and social burden to the family and society, especially after COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study is to analyze the current status of stress perception and anxiety in patients with PD and explore the influencing factors after the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This study used the convenient sampling method to select the research objects of patients with PD who were outpatients or inpatients in a general public hospital in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, and the survey time was from February 2023 to March 2023. The measurements included the General information questionnaire, The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and The Self Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS). SPSS 21.0 software was used for data statistical analysis. Result 394 out of 420 patients with PD completed the questionnaire. The stress perception score of PD was (16.41 ± 6.435) and the anxiety score was (54.77 ± 10.477). The stress perception scores of patients with PD were significantly different in gender, age, educational, occupation, nature of costs, time of sleep, quality of sleep, duration of disease, way of medical treatment and anxiety level (p

Abstract Hyperbilirubinaemia is a prevalent condition during the neonatal period, and if not promptly and effectively managed, it can lead to severe bilirubin-induced neurotoxicity. Sunflower seeds are a nutrient-rich food source, particularly abundant in linoleic acid. Here, we provide compelling evidence that lactating maternal mice fed a sunflower seed diet experience enhanced neurological outcomes and increased survival rates in hyperbilirubinemic offspring. We assessed histomorphological indices, including cerebellar Nissl staining, and Calbindin staining, and hippocampal hematoxylin and eosin staining. Furthermore, we observed the transmission of linoleic acid, enriched in sunflower seeds, to offspring through lactation. The oral administration of linoleic acid-rich sunflower seed oil by lactating mothers significantly prolonged the survival time of hyperbilirubinemic offspring mice. Mechanistically, linoleic acid counteracts the bilirubin-induced accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins and neuronal cell death by activating autophagy. Collectively, these findings elucidate the novel role of a maternal linoleic acid-supplemented diet in promoting child health.

Abstract The orientation and shape of ceramics grains was always neglected, resulting in a lot of information during sintering has not been excavated. In this study, a modified phase-field model in order to express the anisotropy of grain boundary energy is developed. The effects of the anisotropy of grain boundary energy on the grain orientation and shape evolution are investigated in detail. The ferroelectric ceramic thick films are prepared by tape casting. The comparison of experiment and simulation results shows that the anisotropy of grain boundary energy results in uneven grain orientation and bimodal grain size distribution. The quantitative analysis of grain microstructures helps to establish a relationship with the degree of anisotropy of grain boundary energy. Our findings provide a new way to judge the degree of anisotropy by calculating the relevant parameters in the SEM images of ceramics materials.

Abstract Modern radar systems often face various interference signals in complex and rapidly changing electronic environments. The task of suppressing this interference in the radar echo signal to extract vital information is challenging. A radar interference suppression method is proposed based on a generative adversarial network (GAN). This method effectively recovers the target signal from the echo signal, which contains interference and noise, by leveraging the powerful fitting ability of GAN. Specifically, this method was tested using coherent suppression interference, smart noise interference, and noise frequency modulation suppression interference. We compared the proposed GAN method with recurrent neural network, short‐time Fourier transform time‐varying filtering, short‐time fractional Fourier transform time‐varying filtering algorithms and RNN approach. The results show that the interference suppression algorithm based on GAN is superior to the other three algorithms.

Abstract Background Recently, the application of deep learning (DL) has made great progress in various fields, especially in cancer research. However, to date, the bibliometric analysis of the application of DL in cancer is scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the research status and hotspots of the application of DL in cancer. Methods We retrieved all articles on the application of DL in cancer from the Web of Science database Core Collection database. Biblioshiny, VOSviewer and CiteSpace were used to perform the bibliometric analysis through analyzing the numbers, citations, countries, institutions, authors, journals, references, and keywords. Results We found 6,016 original articles on the application of DL in cancer. The number of annual publications and total citations were uptrend in general. China published the greatest number of articles, USA had the highest total citations, and Saudi Arabia had the highest centrality. Chinese Academy of Sciences was the most productive institution. Tian, Jie published the greatest number of articles, while He Kaiming was the most co-cited author. IEEE Access was the most popular journal. The analysis of references and keywords showed that DL was mainly used for the prediction, detection, classification and diagnosis of breast cancer, lung cancer, and skin cancer. Conclusions Overall, the number of articles on the application of DL in cancer is gradually increasing. In the future, further expanding and improving the application scope and accuracy of DL applications, and integrating DL with protein prediction, genomics and cancer research may be the research trends.

The problem of surface deformation caused by coal mining is acute and usually lasts for a long time. During coal mining, the movement of the overlying strata has a broad range of influences, which may cause surface deformation, surface cracking, and damage to structures (buildings). However, continuous deformation monitoring data are often scarce in practice, making it challenging to predict the surface deformation caused by coal mining. In this context, this paper takes Sichuan’s Guanshan coalfield as the research object and proposes a comprehensive method integrating interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) technology, the FLAC3D finite difference software, and the probability integral method to predict the surface deformation caused by mining a thin seam of coal. The results show that the trend of surface deformation estimated by the numerical simulation agrees well with the results of InSAR data and the probability integral model when using InSAR historical deformation data to invert the parameters of rock mechanics in the numerical simulation, which is beneficial to improving the reliability of the simulation results. The calculations of the probability integral method are close to the predictions of the FLAC3D numerical simulation, and a settlement deformation of 0.68 ​m is expected to occur in the Guanshan coalfield area. The comprehensive prediction method proposed in this paper effectively enhances the accuracy of surface deformation prediction under the action of mining and can provide a reference for predicting the surface subsidence of similar coal mines.