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The construction of hypernym taxonomic trees, a critical task in the field of natural language processing, involves extracting lexical relationships, specifically creating a tree structure that represents hypernym relationships among a given set of words within the same domain. In this work, we present a method for constructing hypernym taxonomy trees in the Chinese language domain, and we named it CHRRM (Chinese Hypernym Relationship Reasoning Model). Our method consists of two main steps: First, we utilize pre-trained models to predict hypernym relationships between pairs of words; second, we regard these relationships as edges to form a maximum spanning tree in the word graph. Our method enhances the effectiveness of constructing hypernym taxonomic trees based on pre-trained models through two key improvements: (1) We optimize the hyperparameter configuration for this task using pre-trained models from the Bert family and provide explanations for the configuration of these hyperparameters. (2) By employing generative large language models such as ChatGPT and ChatGLM to annotate words, we improve the accuracy of hypernym relationship identification and analyze the feasibility of applying generative large language models to the task of constructing taxonomy trees. We trained our model on subtrees of WORDNET and evaluated its performance on non-overlapping subtrees of WORDNET, demonstrating that our enhancements led to a significant relative improvement of 15.67%, achieving an F1 score of 67.9 on the Chinese WORDNET validation dataset compared to the previous score of 58.7. In conclusion, our study reveals the following key findings: (1) The Roberta-wwm-ext-large model consistently delivers outstanding results in constructing taxonomic trees. (2) Generative large language models, while capable of aiding pre-trained models in improving hypernym recognition accuracy, have limitations related to generation quality and computational resources. (3) Generative large language models can serve various NLP tasks either directly or indirectly; it is feasible to improve the downstream NLU task’s performance through the generative content.

Abstract Proper pericarp thickness protects the maize kernel against pests and diseases, moreover, thinner pericarp improves the eating quality in fresh corn. In this study, we aimed to investigate the dynamic changes in maize pericarp during kernel development and identified the major quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for maize pericarp thickness. It was observed that maize pericarp thickness first increased and then decreased. During the growth and formation stages, the pericarp thickness gradually increased and reached the maximum, after which it gradually decreased and reached the minimum during maturity. To identify the QTLs for pericarp thickness, a BC4F4 population was constructed using maize inbred lines B73 (recurrent parent with thick pericarp) and Baimaya (donor parent with thin pericarp). In addition, a high-density genetic map was constructed using maize 10 K SNP microarray. A total of 17 QTLs related to pericarp thickness were identified in combination with the phenotypic data. The results revealed that the heritability of the thickness of upper germinal side of pericarp (UG) was 0.63. The major QTL controlling UG was qPT1-1, which was located on chromosome 1 (212,215,145–212,948,882). The heritability of the thickness of upper abgerminal side of pericarp (UA) was 0.70. The major QTL controlling UA was qPT2-1, which was located on chromosome 2 (2,550,197–14,732,993). In addition, a combination of functional annotation, DNA sequencing analysis and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) screened two candidate genes, Zm00001d001964 and Zm00001d002283, that could potentially control maize pericarp thickness. This study provides valuable insights into the improvement of maize pericarp thickness during breeding.

Abstract Zero-shot learning represents a formidable paradigm in machine learning, wherein the crux lies in distilling and generalizing knowledge from observed classes to novel ones. The objective is to identify unfamiliar objects that were not included in the model’s training, leveraging learned patterns and knowledge from previously encountered categories. As a crucial subtask of open-world object detection, zero-shot classification can also provide insights and solutions for this field. Despite its potential, current zero-shot classification models often suffer from a performance gap due to limited transfer ability and discriminative capability of learned representations. In pursuit of advancing the subpar state of zero-shot object classification, this paper introduces a novel model for image classification which can be applied to object detection, namely, self-distillation and k-nearest neighbor-based zero-shot classification method. First, we employ a diffusion detector to identify potential objects in images. Then, self-distillation and distance-based classifiers are used for distinguishing unseen objects from seen classes. The k-nearest neighbor-based cluster heads are designed to cluster the unseen objects. Extensive experiments and visualizations were conducted on publicly available datasets on the efficacy of the proposed approach. Precisely, our model demonstrates performance improvement of over 20% compared to contrastive clustering. Moreover, it achieves a precision of 0.910 and a recall of 0.842 on CIFAR-10 datasets, a precision of 0.737, and a recall of 0.688 on CIFAR-100 datasets for the macro average. Compared to a more recent model (SGFR), our model realized improvements of 10.9%, 13.3%, and 7.8% in Sacc, Uacc, and H metrics, respectively. This study aims to introduce fresh ideas into the domain of zero-shot image classification, and it can be applied to open-world object detection tasks. Our code is available at https://www.github.com/CmosWolf1/Code_implementation_for_paper_SKZC .

Cloud is a serious problem that affects the quality of remote-sensing (RS) images. Existing cloud removal techniques suffer from notable limitations, such as being specific to certain data types, cloud conditions, and spatial extents, as well as requiring auxiliary data, which hampers their generalizability and flexibility. To address the issue, we propose a maximum-value compositing approach by generating cloud masks. We acquired 432 daily MOD09GA L2 MODIS imageries covering a vast region with persistent cloud cover and various climates and land-cover types. Labeled datasets for cloud, land, and no-data were collected from selected daily imageries. Subsequently, we trained and evaluated RF, SVM, and U-Net models to choose the best models. Accordingly, SVM and U-Net were chosen and employed to classify all the daily imageries. Then, the classified imageries were converted to two sets of mask layers to mask clouds and no-data pixels in the corresponding daily images by setting the masked pixels’ values to −0.999999. After masking, we employed the maximum-value technique to generate two sets of 16-day composite products, MaxComp-1 and MaxComp-2, corresponding to SVM and U-Net-derived cloud masks, respectively. Finally, we assessed the quality of our composite products by comparing them with the reference MOD13A1 16-day composite product. Based on the land-cover classification accuracy, our products yielded a significantly higher accuracy (5–28%) than the reference MODIS product across three classifiers (RF, SVM, and U-Net), indicating the quality of our products and the effectiveness of our techniques. In particular, MaxComp-1 yielded the best results, which further implies the superiority of SVM for cloud masking. In addition, our products appear to be more radiometrically and spectrally consistent and less noisy than MOD13A1, implying that our approach is more efficient in removing shadows and noises/artifacts. Our method yields high-quality products that are vital for investigating large regions with persistent clouds and studies requiring time-series data. Moreover, the proposed techniques can be adopted for higher-resolution RS imageries, regardless of the spatial extent, data volume, and type of clouds.

Abstract Intraoperative ingestion of blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and irrigation fluid can lead to an increase in gastric volume, resulting in the potential risk of aspiration in patients after endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery (EETS). In this prospective observational study, we aimed to assess the volume of gastric contents in patients undergoing this neurosurgical procedure using ultrasound, and to determine the factors associated with volume change. Eighty-two patients diagnosed with pituitary adenoma were recruited consecutively. Semi-quantitative (Perlas scores: 0, 1 and 2) and quantitative (cross-sectional area, CSA) ultrasound assessments of the gastric antrum were performed immediately before and after surgery in the semi-recumbent and semi-recumbent right-lateral positions. Seven (8.5%) patients had antrum scores from preoperative grade 0 to postoperative grade 2; nine (11%) patients had antrum scores from preoperative grade 0 to postoperative grade 1. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) of increased gastric volume was 71.0 ± 33.1 mL and 236.5 ± 32.4 mL in postoperative grade 1 and 2 groups, respectively. Subgroup analysis showed that 11 (13.4%) patients (4 in grade 1 and all in grade 2) had postoperative estimated gastric volume > 1.5 mL kg−1 (mean ± SD 3.08 ± 1.67, range 1.51–5.01 mL kg−1). Logistic regression analysis revealed that older age, diabetes mellitus, and long surgical duration were independent risk factors for significant volume change (all P

A method was developed for the determination of 14 anabolic androgenic steroids including trenbolone, boldenone and nandrolone in animal derived foods by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The samples were added to ammonium acetate buffer and enzymatic hydrolyzed by β-glucuronidase and arysulfatase. The hydrolyzates were extracted with 20 mL acetonitrile, and then 10 mL supernatant was degreased by 10 mL acetonitrile saturated hexane, purified with 50 mg C18, 50 mg PSA and 300 mg neutral alumina powder including 300 mg MgSO4. Then the analytes were separated by C18 column with gradient elution using 0.1% formic acid and acetonitrile as the mobile phase, detected in positive multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) and quantified with matrix-matched external standards. The linear regression correlation coefficients for the compounds were all higher than 0.992 in the range from 0.1 to 10 ng/mL. The limits of detection and the limits of quantification were 0.3 and 1.0 μg/kg respectively. The recoveries at the addition levels of 1.0, 2.0 and 10 μg/kg were in the range of 75.7%~104.1%, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 3.60%~12.1%. This method had high effectivity, good reproducibility, simple operation and high efficiency, and could be used for the rapid determination needs of common anabolic androgenic steroids in foodborne stimulants in the Winter Olympic Games.

Manufacturing errors are one of the main causes of vibration and noise of gear transmission system，and the combination of multiple errors seriously affects the meshing performance of gear pairs. The influence degree and law of various manufacturing errors on meshing performance of herringbone gear pairs are mainly studied. Firstly，the manufacturing error model is established，and the actual tooth surface is constructed based on the theory of spatial coordinate transformation. Secondly，the influence law of different errors on the meshing performance of the gear pair is explored through the load distribution on the tooth surface，and the influence degree of different errors is explored based on the orthogonal experiment. Finally，the relationship between the influence of typical error types on the meshing performance of gear pairs and the system load is analyzed. The results show that the influence law of various errors on the meshing performance of gear pair is different，and the positive tilt deviation of helix direction has the most prominent influence on the meshing performance of gear pairs under heavy load.

An accurate calculation method of the maximum grinding wheel diameter for the form grinding of modification herringbone gears is proposed. A modified surface with three-section parabolic tooth profile is established. According to the meshing equation of the grinding wheel and the workpiece，the contact line equation of the grinding wheel is derived. The contact line of the grinding wheel is moved spirally around the axis of the workpiece，and considering the change of the center distance of the grinding wheel，a double modification of the herringbone gear is realized. According to the geometric conditions，when the grinding wheel is grinding the end point of the tooth surface，the maximum diameter of the grinding wheel is calculated，and the influence of the basic parameters，modification parameters and process parameters of the gear on the maximum diameter of the grinding wheel is analyzed. Numerical example simulation shows that tooth surface modification has little effect on the maximum diameter of the grinding wheel，and grinding depths have a greater influence on the maximum diameter of the grinding wheel. Both the number of teeth and the helix angle have an obvious effect on the maximum diameter of the grinding wheel.

Considerable genetic variation exists in maize ear size and kernel number. Here the authors show that variation in a gene encoding an ethylene biosynthetic enzyme impacts ear length, flower fertility and kernel yield suggesting an important role for ethylene signaling during inflorescence development.

Salt stress hinders plant growth and disrupts many physio-biochemical and molecular processes. The present study evaluated the potential role of foliar applied 24-epibrassinolide (EBR) for mitigating the adverse effects of salinity in rice plants. Our findings showed that salt stress reduced several growth and physiological parameters, and substantially increased oxidative stress in rice seedlings. The foliar application of EBR replenished the negative effects of salt stress by improving plant growth and physiological attributes in rice plants. Moreover, application of EBR substantially reduced oxidative injuries by enhancing antioxidant enzymes and phenolic compounds in rice plants during salt stress. Interestingly, the endogenous ABA levels were declined in stressed plants by EBR treatment, also validated by expression analysis of ABA-related genes. In addition, application of EBR upregulated carotenoids and flavonoids pathway genes, thus showing its function to activate secondary metabolism in rice plants during salt stress. The principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that, under salt stress, the response of EBR-treated rice plants was strongly correlated with the accumulation of phenolic compounds and flavonoids. Collectively, this study presents useful insight into the distinct role of EBR by activating underlying enzymatic and non-enzymatic defense mechanisms to mitigate salinity in rice plants.

Abstract Background The objective of this study was to investigate genetic variations and the relationships between these genetic variations and clinicopathological features of high-recurrence risk papillary thyroid carcinoma in a southern Chinese population. Methods One hundred sixty-eight patients of high-recurrence risk papillary thyroid carcinoma were recruited for this study from 2017 to 2018. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue and the data of clinicopathological characteristics were all collected and analyzed from these patients. We used next-generation sequencing technology to investigate the targeted gene mutations and gene fusions of the pathology specimens. Results The frequency of candidate tumor driver gene mutation was 85.1% in 143 patients, including BRAF V600E mutation in 119 patients(70.8%), RET fusion in 13 patients(7.7%), TERT promoter mutations in 11 patients(6.5%), RAS (HRAS, NRAS, KRAS) gene mutations in 10 patients(6.0%), and other mutations involving TP53, PIK3CA, AKT1, PTEN and NTRK1. Concomitant presence of more than two genetic aberrations was seen in 27 patients (16.1%). Our study showed that BRAF V600E mutation is highly correlated with conventional PTC (p 45, p = 0.003) and higher disease stage of III or IV (p = 0.002). RAS gene and BRAF V600E co-mutations were only seen in multifocal PTC (p = 0.015). Conclusion In our high-recurrence risk PTC cohort, most patients had more than one driver gene aberration. Coexistence of BRAF V600E with TERT promoter mutations or with RAS mutations were significantly correlated with worse clinicopathological characteristics.

Selection of kernel number per ear has improved maize yield, but the genetic base is unclear. Here, the authors reveal that a serine/threonine protein kinase KNR6 is a positive regulator of the trait and show in vitro evidences that KNR6 may function through phosphorylating an Arf GTPase-activating protein.

A new dynamic model for a two-input two-path split torque transmission system which considers meshing error, time-varying meshing stiffness, and meshing-in impact is proposed. Time-varying meshing stiffness and meshing-in impact of each gear pair are accurately calculated based on tooth contact analysis and loaded tooth contact analysis. Equivalent displacements of eccentricity error and installation error along the meshing line of second- and third-stages gears are derived. The modified tooth surface of a third-stage double-helical gear is obtained by optimizing the amplitude of static loaded transmission error and meshing-in impact via nondominated sorting genetic algorithm-II (NSGA-II). Influence of modification on load sharing and dynamic load characteristics of split torque transmission system is investigated. The results indicate that the system’s dynamic meshing force increases when meshing-in impact is accounted for, which is unfavorable for the transmission. Following the modification of a double-helical gear, the dynamic load characteristics of the split torque transmission system are significantly improved, while its load sharing characteristics are improved to a certain extent.

Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), such as U-Net, have shown competitive performance in the automatic extraction of buildings from Very High-Resolution (VHR) aerial images. However, due to the unstable multi-scale context aggregation, the insufficient combination of multi-level features and the lack of consideration of the semantic boundary, most existing CNNs produce incomplete segmentation for large-scale buildings and result in predictions with huge uncertainty at building boundaries. This paper presents a novel network with a special boundary-aware loss embedded, called the Boundary-Aware Refined Network (BARNet), to address the gap above. The unique properties of the proposed BARNet are the gated-attention refined fusion unit, the denser atrous spatial pyramid pooling module, and the boundary-aware loss. The performance of the BARNet is tested on two popular data sets that include various urban scenes and diverse patterns of buildings. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms several state-of-the-art approaches in both visual interpretation and quantitative evaluations.

As an inevitable phenomenon in most optical remote-sensing images, the effect of shadows is prominent in urban scenes. Shadow detection is critical for exploiting shadows and recovering the distorted information. Unfortunately, in general, automatic shadow detection methods for urban aerial images cannot achieve satisfactory performance due to the limitation of feature patterns and the lack of consideration of non-local contextual information. To address this challenging problem, the global-spatial-context-attention (GSCA) module was developed to self-adaptively aggregate all global contextual information over the spatial dimension for each pixel in this paper. The GSCA module was embedded into a modified U-shaped encoder–decoder network that was derived from the UNet network to output the final shadow predictions. The network was trained on a newly created shadow detection dataset, and the binary cross-entropy (BCE) loss function was modified to enhance the training procedure. The performance of the proposed method was evaluated on several typical urban aerial images. Experiment results suggested that the proposed method achieved a better trade-off between automaticity and accuracy. The F1-score, overall accuracy, balanced-error-rate, and intersection-over-union metrics of the proposed method were higher than those of other state-of-the-art shadow detection methods.

Vehicle targets in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) images are generally small, so a significant amount of detailed information on targets may be lost after neural computing, which leads to the poor performances of the existing recognition algorithms. Based on convolutional neural networks that utilize the YOLOv3 algorithm, this article focuses on the development of a quick automatic vehicle detection method for UAV images. First, a vehicle dataset for target recognition is constructed. Then, a novel YOLOv3 vehicle detection framework is proposed according to the following characteristics: The vehicle targets in the UAV image are relatively small and dense. The average precision (AP) increased by 5.48%, from 92.01% to 97.49%, which still remains the rather high processing speed of the YOLO network. Finally, the proposed framework is tested using three datasets: COWC, VEDAI, and CAR. The experimental results demonstrate that our method had a better detection capability.

The yield of maize grain is a highly complex quantitative trait that is controlled by multiple quantitative trait loci (QTLs) with small effects, and is frequently influenced by multiple genetic and environmental factors. Thus, it is challenging to clone a QTL for grain yield in the maize genome. Previously, we identified a major QTL, qKNPR6, for kernel number per row (KNPR) across multiple environments, and developed two nearly isogenic lines, SL57-6 and Ye478, which differ only in the allelic constitution at the short segment harboring the QTL. Recently, qKNPR6 was re-evaluated in segregating populations derived from SL57-6×Ye478, and was narrowed down to a 2.8 cM interval, which explained 56.3% of the phenotypic variance of KNPR in 201 F(2∶3) families. The QTL simultaneously affected ear length, kernel weight and grain yield. Furthermore, a large F(2) population with more than 12,800 plants, 191 recombinant chromosomes and 10 overlapping recombinant lines placed qKNPR6 into a 0.91 cM interval corresponding to 198Kb of the B73 reference genome. In this region, six genes with expressed sequence tag (EST) evidence were annotated. The expression pattern and DNA diversity of the six genes were assayed in Ye478 and SL57-6. The possible candidate gene and the pathway involved in inflorescence development were discussed.

Implant-associated Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) osteomyelitis is a severe challenge in orthopedics. While antibiotic-loaded bone cement is a standardized therapeutic approach for S. aureus osteomyelitis, it falls short in eradicating Staphylococcus abscess communities (SACs) and bacteria within osteocyte-lacuna canalicular network (OLCN) and repairing bone defects. To address limitations, we developed a borosilicate bioactive glass (BSG) combined with ferroferric oxide (Fe3O4) magnetic scaffold to enhance antibacterial efficacy and bone repair capabilities. We conducted comprehensive assessments of the osteoinductive, immunomodulatory, antibacterial properties, and thermal response of this scaffold, with or without an alternating magnetic field (AMF). Utilizing a well-established implant-related S. aureus tibial infection rabbit model, we evaluated its antibacterial performance in vivo. RNA transcriptome sequencing demonstrated that BSG + 5%Fe3O4 enhanced the immune response to bacteria and promoted osteogenic differentiation and mineralization of MSCs. Notably, BSG + 5%Fe3O4 upregulated gene expression of NOD-like receptor and TNF pathway in MSCs, alongside increased the expression of osteogenic factors (RUNX2, ALP and OCN) in vitro. Flow cytometry on macrophage exhibited a polarization effect towards M2, accompanied by upregulation of anti-inflammatory genes (TGF-β1 and IL-1Ra) and downregulation of pro-inflammatory genes (IL-6 and IL-1β) among macrophages. In vivo CT imaging revealed the absence of osteolysis and periosteal response in rabbits treated with BSG + 5%Fe3O4 + AMF at 42 days. Histological analysis indicated complete controls of SACs and bacteria within OLCN by day 42, along with new bone formation, signifying effective control of S. aureus osteomyelitis. Further investigations will focus on the in vivo biosafety and biological mechanism of this scaffold within infectious microenvironment.

Abstract The prognosis of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer is usually poor. In this study, a combined model based on pre-treatment CT radiomics and clinical features was constructed to predict the OS of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer after chemotherapy with immunotherapy.Clinical data of 111 patients with extensive stage small-cell lung cancer who received first-line immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy in our hospital from December 2019 to December 2021 were retrospectively collected. Finally, 93 patients were selected for inclusion in the study, and CT images were obtained through PACS system before treatment. All patients were randomly divided into a training set (n = 66) and a validation set (n = 27). Images were imported into ITK-SNAP to outline areas of interest, and Python software was used to extract radiomics features. A total of 1781 radiomics features were extracted from each patient’s images. The feature dimensions were reduced by MRMR and LASSO methods, and the radiomics features with the greatest predictive value were screened. The weight coefficient of radiomics features was calculated, and the linear combination of the feature parameters and the weight coefficient was used to calculate Radscore. Univariate cox regression analysis was used to screen out the factors significantly associated with prognosis from the radiomics and clinical features, and multivariate cox regression analysis was performed to establish the prognosis prediction model of extensive stage small cell lung cancer. The degree of metastases was selected as a significant clinical prognostic factor by univariate cox regression analysis. Seven radiomics features with significance were selected by LASSO-COX regression analysis, and the Radscore was calculated according to the coefficient of the radiomics features. An alignment diagram survival prediction model was constructed by combining Radscore with the number of metastatic lesions. The study population was stratified into those who survived less than 11 months, and those with a greater than 11 month survival. The C-index was 0.722 (se = 0.044) and 0.68(se = 0.074) in the training and the validation sets, respectively. The Log_rank test results of the combination model were as follows: training set: p

Al–Nb–B refiner has been considered as an alternative to Al–Ti–B refiner for hypoeutectic Al–Si alloys due to Si-poisoning effect. In this paper, the effects of Al–Nb–B and Al–Ti–B refiner on the microstructure and mechanical properties in indirect squeeze casting Al–8Si-0.2Mg-0.5Mn alloy were compared. Results show that the grain sizes in the edge chilling layer, segregation band, and the center region of the Al–Nb–B refined alloys were refined by 13.9%, 12.5%, and 17.6% compared to Al–Ti–B refined alloys, respectively. The yield strength, tensile strength, and elongation of Al–Nb–B inoculated alloys were superior to those of the unrefined alloys and Al–Ti–B inoculated alloys. The coexistence of NbAl3 and NbB2 particles in the Al–Nb–B refiner exhibited excellent anti Si-poisoning capability. They significantly decreased the grain size and uniformly distributed the eutectic Si particles and Fe-rich phases, resulting in an increase in the yield strength of the alloy by 16.1% compared to the Al–Ti–B inoculated alloy. The distribution of iron-rich phases in the segregation band was affected by the inoculation. The size of α-Al15(Fe, Mn)3Si2 phase in Al–Ti–B inoculated alloys was refined, and the number significantly increased, resulting in a decrease in tensile strength of 12.82 MPa. In the Al–Nb–B inoculated alloys, the size and number of α-Al15(Fe, Mn)3Si2 phase decreased, and the δ-Al4FeSi2 phase increased, which effectively improved the fracture toughness and ductility. In addition, with the increase in grain refinement (from unrefined to Al–Ti–B to Al–Nb–B inoculated alloy), the fracture behavior changed from trans-granular fracture to intergranular fracture, improving the fracture toughness.

In order to study the influence of basement inclination on the stability of the dump slope under rainfall conditions, according to the actual situation of Antaibao Open-pit Coal Mine, FLAC3D software was used to simulate the slope of the dump under the same rain intensity and different base inclination angles. The results show that in the early stage of rainfall, the saturation of the surface layer of the dump slope first grows rapidly and tends to the stable value of unsaturation, and when the rainfall infiltrates to the junction of the weak layer and bedrock, the rainwater accumulates at the slope angle under the action of gravity and leads to shear failure at the slope angle. With the increase of the basement inclination, the time lag effect occurred in each monitoring point when it reached saturation or steady state, and the displacement and strain increment were positively correlated with the substrate inclination.

Abstract A graphene field‐effect transistor (GFET) based on chemical vapour deposited (CVD) Ge‐based graphene was reported and the low‐temperature electrical characteristics primarily investigated. The self‐alignment technique was used to fabricate a GFET to reduce parasitic effects and improve transconductance and cut‐off frequency. To further explore the electrical properties, the direct current and radio frequency characteristics of the GFET were studied over a temperature range from 4.2 to 300 K, considering the temperature‐dependent resistivity of intrinsic Ge. The direct current characteristic of the GFET for 110‐nm gate length, particularly the transconductance performance, exhibits a tiny variation of only ∼5% across this temperature range. However, the cut‐off frequency experiences a considerable increase, improving several tens of times when the temperature decreases to 4.2 K, with a maximum value of 3.49 GHz. This work illustrates a meaningful advancement in applying GFETs in the low‐temperature, high‐frequency domain.

Hippocampal neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) are highly vulnerable to different stress stimuli, resulting in adult neurogenesis decline and eventual cognitive defects. Our previous study demonstrated that NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 6 (Nlrp6) highly expressed in NSPCs played a critical role in sustaining hippocampal neurogenesis to resist stress-induced depression, but the underlying mechnistms are still unclear. Here, we found that Nlrp6 depletion led to cognitive defects and hippocampal NSPC loss in mice. RNA-sequencing analysis of the primary NSPCs revealed that Nlrp6 deficiency altered gene expression profiles of mitochondrial energy generation and ferroptotic process. Upon siNlrp6 transfection, as well as corticosterone (CORT) exposure, downregulation of Nlrp6 suppressed retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-1)/mitochondrial antiviral signaling proteins (MAVS)-mediated autophagy, but drove NSPC ferroptotic death. More interesting, short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) upregulated Nlrp6 expression and promoted RIG-1/MAVS-mediated mitophagy, preventing CORT-induced NSPC ferroptosis. Our study further demonstrates that Nlrp6 should be a sensor for RIG-1/MAVS-mediated mitophagy and play a critical role in maintain mitochondrial homeostasis of hippocampal NSPCs. These results suggests that Nlrp6 should be a potential drug target to combat neurodegenerative diseases relative with chronic stress.

Abstract Purpose Radical surgery, the first‐line treatment for patients with hepatocellular cancer (HCC), faces the dilemma of high early recurrence rates and the inability to predict effectively. We aim to develop and validate a multimodal model combining clinical, radiomics, and pathomics features to predict the risk of early recurrence. Materials and Methods We recruited HCC patients who underwent radical surgery and collected their preoperative clinical information, enhanced computed tomography (CT) images, and whole slide images (WSI) of hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) stained biopsy sections. After feature screening analysis, independent clinical, radiomics, and pathomics features closely associated with early recurrence were identified. Next, we built 16 models using four combination data composed of three type features, four machine learning algorithms, and 5‐fold cross‐validation to assess the performance and predictive power of the comparative models. Results Between January 2016 and December 2020, we recruited 107 HCC patients, of whom 45.8% (49/107) experienced early recurrence. After analysis, we identified two clinical features, two radiomics features, and three pathomics features associated with early recurrence. Multimodal machine learning models showed better predictive performance than bimodal models. Moreover, the SVM algorithm showed the best prediction results among the multimodal models. The average area under the curve (AUC), accuracy (ACC), sensitivity, and specificity were 0.863, 0.784, 0.731, and 0.826, respectively. Finally, we constructed a comprehensive nomogram using clinical features, a radiomics score and a pathomics score to provide a reference for predicting the risk of early recurrence. Conclusions The multimodal models can be used as a primary tool for oncologists to predict the risk of early recurrence after radical HCC surgery, which will help optimize and personalize treatment strategies.

ObjectiveTo analyze the genomic characteristics of the monkeypox virus (MPXV) strains isolated from local cases in Ji′nan city, Shandong province. MethodsBlood serum and vesicular fluid samples from suspected cases of MPXV infection reported in Ji′nan city from June to October 2023 were tested for MPXV nucleic acids. The complete genome sequence of MPXV was obtained using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) technology. Molecular genetic evolution of the MPXV genome sequence was performed using Mega 11 software, Bioedit software, and the Nextclade online comparison website. Systematic phylogenetic trees and nucleotide and amino acid sequence mutation analyses were performed. ResultsIn this study, the complete genome sequences of 7 strains of MPXV isolated from the cases in Ji′nan city were obtained by WGS, with a total genome length of 196 858 bp. The online comparison results uploaded to the Nexttrade website showed that all of them belonged to the IIb branch of the West African branch, and the lineage classification was C.1. The number of nucleotide variations with a depth greater than 50% is 86, and the total number of variations with an effect of ≥ intermediate is 39. ConclusionThe evolutionary distance between the sequences of MPXV strains isolated in Ji′nan city and those in China is relatively close, belonging to the same evolutionary branch, and no new branches have been found.

Abstract Early and accurate diagnosis of focal liver lesions is crucial for effective treatment and prognosis. We developed and validated a fully automated diagnostic system named Liver Artificial Intelligence Diagnosis System (LiAIDS) based on a diverse sample of 12,610 patients from 18 hospitals, both retrospectively and prospectively. In this study, LiAIDS achieved an F1-score of 0.940 for benign and 0.692 for malignant lesions, outperforming junior radiologists (benign: 0.830-0.890, malignant: 0.230-0.360) and being on par with senior radiologists (benign: 0.920-0.950, malignant: 0.550-0.650). Furthermore, with the assistance of LiAIDS, the diagnostic accuracy of all radiologists improved. For benign and malignant lesions, junior radiologists’ F1-scores improved to 0.936-0.946 and 0.667-0.680 respectively, while seniors improved to 0.950-0.961 and 0.679-0.753. Additionally, in a triage study of 13,192 consecutive patients, LiAIDS automatically classified 76.46% of patients as low risk with a high NPV of 99.0%. The evidence suggests that LiAIDS can serve as a routine diagnostic tool and enhance the diagnostic capabilities of radiologists for liver lesions.

Abstract To investigate the boiling characteristics of flow outside the R410A tube under swaying conditions, this article conducts numerical simulation and experimental research on the flow boiling heat transfer of R410A outside a horizontal tube. The results show that when the swing frequency increased from 0.2 to 2 Hz, the sway amplitude is 0.03 m, the heat flux on the inner wall of the runner remains unchanged, and the mass flow rate increases from 85 to 170 kg/(m2·s), which makes the heat transfer coefficient of the working fluid in the annular area increases significantly. Keeping the inlet mass flow rate unchanged, the heat flux on the inner wall of the flow channel increases from 25 to 35 kW/m2, the heat transfer coefficient of the working fluid in the annular area has also improved, but under high heat flux conditions, the working fluid is evaporated and dried, its heat transfer coefficient increases less than in low heat flux conditions. When the sway amplitude increases from 0.02 to 0.07 m, the sway frequency is 0.2 Hz and 2 Hz respectively, and the heat transfer coefficient of the working fluid shows a downward trend as a whole. The studies provide a reference for heat exchanger design suitable for offshore swaying conditions.

Abstract Background In a recent genome-wide association study, novel genetic variations of WNT9A were reported to be involved in the etiopathogenesis of thumb osteoarthritis (TOA) in Caucasians. Our purposes were to replicate the association of WNT9A with the development of TOA in the Chinese population and to further unveil the functional role of the risk variants. Methods SNP rs11588850 of WNT9A were genotyped in 953 TOA patients and 1124 healthy controls. The differences of genotype and allele distributions between the patients and healthy controls were evaluated using the Chi-square test. Luciferase Reporter Assay was performed to investigate the influence of variant on the gene expression. Results There was significantly lower frequency of genotype AA in TOA patients than in the controls 74.9% vs. 81.9%, p

This study was aimed to analyze the effect of procyanidin B2 (PC) and tannin acid (TA) on the activities of cholesterol esterase (CEase) and the inhibitory mechanisms of enzymatic activity. The interaction mechanisms were investigated by enzymatic kinetics, multi-spectroscopy methods, thermodynamics analysis, molecular docking, and dynamic simulations. PC and TA could bind with CEase and inhibit the activity of enzyme in a mixed-competitive manner and non-competitive manner, which was verified by molecular docking simulations and dynamics simulations. Also, PC and TA showed the synergistic inhibition with orlistat. Fluorescence, UV-vis and the thermodynamic analysis revealed that the complexes were formed from CEase and inhibitors by noncovalent interaction. As revealed by the circular dichroism results, both PC and TA decreased enzymatic activities by altering the conformations of CEase. The inhibition of PC and TA on CEase might be one mechanism for its cholesterol-lowering effect.

Abstract Background Malnutrition and subsequent alterations in body composition (BC), particularly sarcopenia, are common but not yet elucidated in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); we aimed to detail the changes in BC and the characteristics of co‐occurrence of malnutrition and sarcopenia in IBD patients and to investigate its effect on quality of life. Methods This study was a multicentre, prospective, observational study involving four tertiary referral hospitals in China. The following data were collected from consecutive IBD inpatients: demographic information, medical history, recent weight change, handgrip strength (HGS) and BC parameters by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Nutritional assessments were performed through stepwise screening (Nutritional Risk Screening 2002) and diagnosis (World Health Organization‐related body mass index [BMI], subjective global assessment, European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism 2015 and Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition [GLIM] criteria). The quality of life was assessed by the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire. IBD patients were compared with 1:1 sex‐, age‐ and BMI‐matched healthy controls (MHC). Results A total of 238 IBD patients (177 Crohn's disease [CD] and 61 ulcerative colitis [UC]), 68.5% male, with a mean age of 38.5 ± 14.0 years and a mean BMI of 19.8 ± 3.5 kg/m2, were recruited. Compared with MHC (n = 122), IBD patients showed significant deterioration in BC and physical function, characterized by muscle depletion (appendicular skeletal muscle mass index [ASMI], 8.0 ± 1.3 vs. 6.7 ± 1.2 kg/m2, Δ% −15.0% [−22.0%, −10.0%], P

The Fe3C/α-Fe interface in pearlite is the main hydrogen trapping site. The first-principles calculation method based on density functional theory was employed to investigate the bonding and hydrogen trapping mechanism of the Fe3C/α-Fe interface with three different orientation relationships, specifically the Bagaryatsky orientation, Isaichev orientation, and Pitsch-Petch orientation. The results showed that by calculating the interface energy and separation work, the theoretical bonding strength and stability of the three interfaces presented the following order: Isaichev orientation > Pitsch-Petch orientation > Bagaryatsky orientation. Hydrogen segregation energy revealed that H atoms were more likely to be trapped at the Fe3C/α-Fe interface region and the hydrogen trap ability of three interfaces was in the following order: Isaichev orientation > Pitsch-Petch orientation > Bagaryatsky orientation. The maximum absolute value of segregation energy was found at the interface with Isaichev orientation, which was 0.38 eV. The differential charge density, density of states, and Mulliken bond population calculations revealed that the formation of the interface was related to the covalent bond between C atoms in cementite and Fe atoms in ferrite, and affected by the spatial distribution of C atoms. The C atoms also repelled the H atoms, so the strength of H–Fe bond was identified as the dominant factor of hydrogen trapping behavior. Overall, these insights can potentially aid in improving the design and performance of materials with pearlite structures.

Hot salt corrosion behavior of TNM alloy (Ti-44Al-4Nb-1.5Mo-(B, Y) (at.%)) was investigated in cyclic conditions at 750 °C, 850 °C and 950 °C for 100 h in the 75 wt% Na2SO4 + 25 wt% NaCl salt mixture. The hot salt corrosion resistance of γ、α2 and β phase in the alloy was studied by short-term quasi-in-situ hot corrosion experiments. Results show that the hot salt corrosion resistance of the three phases decreases in the following order: γ、α2、β. The weight changes of TNM alloy after hot salt corrosion at 750 °C, 850 °C and 950 °C for 100 h are 13.8 mg/cm2, -19.6 mg/cm2 and -26.7 mg/cm2. Under the condition of hot salt corrosion at 750 °C, the corrosion scales are mainly composed of a mixed corrosion scale of TiO2 and Al2O3, Al2O3 scale, and Al depletion zone, similar to the morphology of a high-temperature oxidation scale. The corrosion scales are seriously peeled off and destructive transverse cracks are generated inside the corrosion scales under the conditions of hot salt corrosion at 850 °C and 950 °C. The acid-base corrosion dissolution of oxides in the corrosive medium and the formation of volatile chlorides are the main causes of cracks in the TiO2 and Al2O3 scales. In addition, the Nb element in the TNM alloy is mainly enriched beneath the corrosion scales to form a NaNbO3 layer, which can inhibit the decomposition and penetration of the corrosive medium. Mo element reacts with the S element to form MoS2, which anchors the S element to a certain extent.

Aiming at the compliant end face gas film seal structure, based on the linearized Boltzmann equation, the Poiseuille flow coefficient is introduced, and the generalized Reynolds equation and the sealing performance parameter solution formula considering the boundary slip flow effect are established. Through Newton–Raphson iterative calculation, the degree of influence of the slip flow effect under different working conditions is analyzed, and the internal relationship between structural parameters and sealing performance is compared. The results show that the slip flow effect can have a large impact on the pressure distribution in the fluid field close to the low-pressure side. Due to the existence of the step phenomenon of boundary velocity, it is not conducive to increasing the gas film opening force and controlling the mass leakage rate, but it can play a positive role in reducing the viscous friction power consumption. In the case of a smaller sealing gas film thickness and lower medium pressure, the slip flow effect is significant, which will have a greater impact on the sealing performance, and at this time, the slip flow effect can not be ignored. In addition, the change in seal structure parameters will also have a large impact on the sealing performance. With an increase in the wave foil thickness, the compliant end face evolves towards the rigid end face, the fluid wedge effect is weakened, and the gas film opening force and mass leakage rate are reduced. The stiffness-to-leakage ratio shows a strong nonlinear decreasing trend with an increase in the wave foil chord length and pitch, which eventually tends to a stable value. The results of this paper provide a theoretical basis for the matching design of the structural parameters of compliant end-face gas film seals under different service conditions.

Abstract Light propagates in various ways depending on environment, including uniform medium, surface/interface and photonic crystals, which appears ubiquitously in daily life and has been exploited for advanced optics technology. We unveiled that a topological photonic crystal exhibits unique electromagnetic (EM) transport properties originating from the Dirac frequency dispersion and multicomponent spinor eigenmodes. Measuring precisely local Poynting vectors in microstrips of honeycomb structure where optics topology emerges upon a band gap opening in the Dirac dispersion and a p-d band inversion induced by a Kekulé-type distortion respecting C 6v symmetry, we showed that a chiral wavelet induces a global EM transportation circulating in the direction counter to the source, which is intimately related to the topological band gap specified by a negative Dirac mass. This brand-new Huygens-Fresnel phenomenon can be considered as the counterpart of negative refraction of EM plane waves associated with upwardly convex dispersions of photonic crystals, and our present finding is expected to open a new window for photonic innovations.

IntroductionColorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignant tumor, and neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy is usually recommended for advanced stage colorectal cancer. Radiotherapy can cause damage to intestinal mucosal barrier, which may be related to perioperative complications. Intestinal microbiota is one of the constituents of the intestinal mucosal biological barrier, and literature reports that patients with CRC have changes in corresponding oral microbiota. This study aims to analyze the levels of immunoglobulin SIgA, inflammatory factors, lymphocyte subsets quantity, and proportion in surgical specimens of intestinal mucosa at different time intervals after radiotherapy, in order to seek investigation for the optimal surgical time after radiotherapy and to provide evidence for finding probiotics or immunomodulators through high-throughput sequencing of bacterial 16s rRNA in patients' saliva microbiota. Ultimately, this may provide new ideas for reducing perioperative complications caused by radiotherapy-induced intestinal damage.MethodsWe selected intestinal mucosal tissue and saliva samples from over 40 patients in our center who did not undergo radiotherapy and underwent surgery at different time intervals after radiotherapy. Detection of SIgA was performed using ELISA assay. Western Blotting was used to detect IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-17 in the intestinal mucosal tissue. Flow cytometry was used to detect CD4 and CD8. And the microbial community changes in saliva samples were detected through 16s rRNA sequencing.ResultsAfter radiotherapy, changes in SIgA, various cytokines, CD4CD8 lymphocyte subsets, and oral microbiota in the intestinal mucosal tissue of rectal cancer patients may occur. Over time, this change may gradually recover.DiscussionIn colorectal cancer, oncological aspects often receive more attention, while studies focusing on the intestinal mucosal barrier are less common. This study aims to understand the repair mechanisms of the intestinal mucosal barrier and reduce complications arising from radiotherapy-induced damage. The relationship between oral microbiota and systemic diseases has gained interest in recent years. However, the literature on the oral microbiota after radiotherapy for rectal cancer remains scarce. This study addresses this gap by analysing changes in the salivary microbiota of rectal cancer patients before and after radiotherapy, shedding light on microbiota changes. It aims to lay the groundwork for identifying suitable probiotics or immunomodulators to alleviate perioperative complications and improve the prognosis of CRC.

The fatigue crack initiation and propagation in Nb–Ti micro-alloyed 500 MPa grade steels that usually be used in the automobile beam were investigated. Reducing the content of C and Mn elements based on the reference steel and adding microalloying elements Nb and Ti to obtain the modified steel. The fatigue strengths of the reference steel and the modified steel are 201 MPa and 225 MPa, respectively. Fatigue cracks in the experimental steel were initiated at surface defects and persistent slip bands (PSBs). The modified steel is more susceptible to initiating cracks at the PSBs than the reference steel. There were three kinds of fracture modes in the experimental steels, which were determined by the competition between carbide and inclusion. As the loading stress and the stress intensity factor (Δk) increase, the fracture mode transforms from cleavage (brittle) to dimple (ductile) fracture. Under the circumstance of low loading stress and low Δk, the fracture mode is dominated by the carbide-induced cleavage fracture mechanism. Under the situation of high loading stress and Δk, the fracture mode is dominated by the inclusion-induced dimple fracture mechanism. In addition, the mixed cleavage-dimple region is formed when the two fracture mechanisms compete in the steel.

One of the key properties of the kinetic energy penetrator is self-sharpening ability during penetration. In this work, twisted tungsten-fiber-reinforced Cu–Zn composites with varying volume fraction of twisting fibers are designed to optimize self-sharpening capacity. The high-strain-rate compression and penetration behavior of the composites are systematically investigated. It was shown that the penetrator made of partially twisted-tungsten -fiber has the best penetration properties, which is marked by a 57% increased penetration depth compared with the untwisted penetrator. This is attributed to the excellent self-sharpening capability, rendering the head of remnant acute. The self-sharpening capability of the partially-twisted composite originates from the mismatch of the mechanical behavior between the edge and center part of the material. In specific, the tungsten fibers of the edge part are prone to fracture under shear deformation. The different macro-structure and microstructure between center and edge of the composite is favored for excellent penetration performance.

Maize is one of the most important food crops in the world. With the global warming, waterlogging stress has become an important abiotic stress factor that affects crop growth, including maize. Waterlogging seriously affects 10% of the arable land and can lead to a 15% -80% reduction in crop yield. In this study, 115 inbred line materials commonly used in spring maize planting areas in the Jianghan Plain, Hubei, and maize inbred line B73 with complete genome information, were collected and stressed by waterlogging for two weeks in the seven-leaf and one-heart stage, and the survival rate was statistically compared and analyzed, aiming to screen germplasms with strong waterlogging tolerance for the genetic improvement of waterlogging tolerance of Hubei maize lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aimsMalnutrition is strongly linked to adverse outcomes in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD). In this study, our objective was to validate the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria and develop a fast and accurate diagnostic approach for identifying malnutrition in CD patients.MethodsThis study assessed 177 CD patients from four general hospitals. The efficacy of the GLIM criteria for the diagnosis of CD malnutrition was compared. By analyzing the independent factors, a nomogram model was derived and internally validated to predict the diagnosis of malnutrition in patients with CD. Model performance was assessed using discrimination and calibration, decision curves, and net benefit analyses.ResultsCompared with the SGA criteria, the GLIM criteria was consistent in sensitivity (88.89%) and specificity (78.43%) [AUC = 0.84; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.77–0.89]. The Harvey-Bradshaw index(HBI) score (OR: 1.58; 95% CI: 1.15–2.18), body mass index (OR: 0.41; 95% CI: 0.27–0.64), and mid-upper arm circumference (OR: 0.68; 95% CI: 0.47–0.9) were independent factors associated with malnutrition. The nomogram was developed based on these indicators showing good discrimination in malnutrition diagnosis (AUC = 0.953; 95% CI: 0.922–0.984), with agreement after calibration curve and decision curve analysis.ConclusionThe GLIM criteria are appropriate for diagnosing malnutrition in CD patients. The HBI score may be used to diagnose malnutrition in patients with CD and become a possible selection for the GLIM etiologic criteria of inflammation. The HBM nomogram could be a simple, rapid, and efficient method for diagnosing malnutrition in CD patients.

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to determine the proportion of hidden blood loss (HBL) in patients treated with minimally invasive surgery, and to compare the HBL between patients treated with percutaneous pedicle screw fixation (PPSF) and the mini-open Wiltse approach with pedicle screw fixation (MWPSF). Methods From January 2017 to January 2019, a total of 119 patients with thoracolumbar fractures were included in the analysis, of which 58 cases received PPSF and 61 cases received MWPSF. The clinical information and demographic results were collected and compared. And the HBL of the patients is calculated by the combination formulas of Nadler, Gross and Sehat. Results Compared with the PPSF group, operation time of MWPSF is shorter. The fluoroscopy times are 13.6 ± 3.0 in PPSF group and 5.6 ± 1.6 in MWPSF group (p

The oxidation resistance of TiAl alloys is crucial for their commercial application. In this paper, a cyclic oxidation test with stable air circulation was designed to investigate the cyclic oxidation behavior of the TNM alloy and 4822 alloy at 800 °C and to analyze the phase, morphology, and thermal stress evolution of the oxide layer. The oxidation weight gain curves of both alloys are found to be in parabolic form, and the oxidation reaction orders of the TNM alloy and 4822 alloy are 2.374 and 1.838, respectively. The Nb and Mo elements enhance the antioxidant performance of the TNM alloy by inhibiting the dissolution and diffusion of oxygen, Ti, and Al atoms in the TiAl alloy. The thermal stress evolution of the two alloys during the heating and cooling phases of the cyclic oxidation process are calculated separately, and it is found that the thermal stresses in the TNM alloy are smaller than those in the 4822 alloy, while the maximum thermal stresses appear at the oxide/substrate interface rather than inside the oxide scale, which quantitatively explains the oxidation peeling resistance of the two alloys.

Background: Transplantation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) has a promising therapeutic efficiency for varieties of disorders caused by ischemia or reperfusion impairment. It has been shown that BMSCs can mitigate intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injuries, but the underlying mechanism is still unclear. This study aimed at investigating the efficacy of BMSCs on the immune function of intestinal mucosal microenvironment after I/R injuries. Methods: Twenty adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to a treatment or a control group. All the rats underwent superior mesenteric artery clamping and unclamping. In the treatment group, BMSCs were implanted into the intestine of ten rats by direct submucosal injection whereas the other ten rats in the control group were injected with the same volume of saline. On the fourth and seventh day after BMSCs transplantation, intestinal samples were examined for the CD4 (CD4-positive T-lymphocytes)/CD8 (CD8-positive T-lymphocytes) ratio of the bowel mucosa via flow cytometry, and for the level of Interleukin-2 (IL-2), Interleukin-4 (IL-4) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) via ELISA. Paneth cell counts and Secretory Immunoglobulin A (SIgA) level were examined via immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis. Real time PCR (RT-PCR) was used to detect the expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and trypsinogen (Serine 2) (PRSS2) genes. White blood cell (WBC) count was measured by manual counting under the microscope. Results: The CD4/CD8 ratio in the treatment group was significantly lower compared with that in the control group. The concentration of IL-2 and IL-6 was lower in the treatment group compared with the control group, while the level of IL-4 is the reverse between the two groups. The number of Paneth cells in intestinal mucosa increased significantly, while the level of SIgA in intestinal mucosa decreased significantly, after BMSCs transplantation. The gene expression levels of TNF-α and PRSS2 in intestinal mucosa of treatment group were significantly lower than those of control group. The WBC count in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group. Conclusion: We identified immune-relevant molecular changes that may explain the mechanism of BMSCs transplantation efficacy in alleviating rat intestinal immune-barrier after I/R.

The surface of hot stamping steel is severely oxidized during heating, holding, and transfer from the heating furnace to the stamping die in the production of traditional automotive parts. Coating-free hot stamping steel with Cr and Si elements exhibits excellent oxidation resistance during hot stamping without the protection of a surface coating. This paper investigates the oxidation behavior of three types of hot stamping steel at 800–1200 °C. The results show that although Cr-Si hot stamping steel performs excellently short-term (≤7.5 min) for oxidation resistance, its long-term (≥15 min) or high-temperature (≥1100 °C) oxidation resistance is much lower than that of the conventional hot stamping steel 22MnB5, affecting the production and surface quality control of the new coating-free Cr-Si hot stamping steel. By analyzing the oxidation kinetics and characterizing the structure of oxide layers in hot stamping steel, it was found that the structural change in the Cr and Si element enrichment layer between the oxide scale and the substrate varied in oxidation performance at different temperatures. When the oxidation temperature was below 1000 °C, the solid Cr and Si enrichment layer acted as a barrier to prevent the diffusion of Fe ions. When the oxidation temperature exceeded 1100 °C, the molten Cr and Si enrichment layer effectively adapted to the substrate and avoided blistering. Meanwhile, Fe2SiO4 penetrated the Fe oxide layer along the grain boundary and became a rapidly diffusing channel of Fe ions, contributing to a significant increase in the oxidation rate.

5G communication technology provides strong support for the power internet of things, and it also introduces new security challenges in the application process of the power industry.Starting from the analysis of the needs of the power 5G business, five 5G networking deployment and construction plans were proposed, and a comparative analysis of them was conducted in security and cost.And then, a hybrid networking architecture of 5G and power communication networks was proposed, and the 5G network slicing architecture was re-segmented according to business scenarios.Finally, from the four parts of terminal access, edge computing, network channel and core network, the security risks introduced by 5G technology were analyzed in detail.

ObjectivesThe combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy has shown great efficacy in stage IV non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and is now widely used in clinical treatment strategy. This study retrospectively analyzed the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant immunotherapy plus chemotherapy for resectable NSCLC in real world.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed patients with NSCLC who received neoadjuvant immunotherapy plus chemotherapy and underwent complete tumor resection in Zhejiang Cancer Hospital between January 2019 and January 2021. Tumor staging was based on the eighth TNM classification system of the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging criteria. The safety and toxicity (including operative and postoperative complications) and the efficacy [including objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), tumor major pathological remission (MPR), and pathological complete response (pCR)] were evaluated.ResultsIn total, 368 patients with NSCLC were administered with neoadjuvant immunotherapy. Of them, 211 patients were included in this retrospective study. Most patients had stage II–III disease, with 75 (35.5%) and 88 (41.7%) patients diagnosed with clinical stages IIB and IIIA, respectively. A total of 206 patients (97.6%) received at least two doses of neoadjuvant immunotherapy plus chemotherapy. In addition, 121 patients (57.3%) have achieved MPR, and 80 patients (37.9%) have achieved pCR, with ORR at 69.2% and DCR at 97.7%. Treatment-related adverse events occurred in 46.4% of patients, and the incidence rate of grade 3 or 4 treatment-related adverse events was 13.3% (13/98). Moreover, adverse events of any grade of surgical complication occurred in 15.6% of patients. One-year disease-free survival was 80.6% (170/211).ConclusionsNeoadjuvant immunotherapy plus chemotherapy has significant efficacy with a high pCR and tolerable adverse effects for patients with resectable stage II–III NSCLC in real world.

Compared with conventional casting process, laser direct metal deposition (LDMD) can effectively reduce component segregation in non-equiatomic high entropy alloys (HEAs). However, the non-equilibrium thermal history imparted by this method has a significant effect on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the HEA. The present work prepared non-equiatomic (FeNiCo)-(AlCrSiTi) HEAs using the LDMD process, after which some samples were subjected to a subsequent vacuum remelting (VRM) treatment. The variations in phase composition, microstructure and hardness between the HEAs processed using the LDMD or VRM methods were investigated. Differences in phase composition increased with increases in the proportion of the Al, Cr, Si and Ti components. Compared with the HEA samples processed using the VRM method, the LDMD specimens possessed much finer and simpler microstructures mainly comprising solid solution phases. At relatively high concentrations of the Al, Cr, Si and Ti components (32 at% and 40 at% in total), the HEAs processed under LDMD conditions had similar grain morphologies, intermetallic phases and microhardness values, while the VRM specimens presented completely different microstructures and properties.

Owing to the easy-to-crack in the weld zones (WZ) of titanium alloy/steel bimetallic sheets, sequentially layered-to-layered welding, by using various filler metals, is widely adopted to join the bimetallic sheets. In this study, multi-principal filler powders of FeCoCrNiMn, as only one type of filler metal, were used to join TA1/Q345 bimetallic sheets by laser deposition welding. Microstructure evolution, microhardness, and tensile properties in the joint of TA1/Q345 bimetallic sheets were studied. The results indicated that TA1/Q345 bimetallic sheets could be joined by using multi-principal filler metal when the groove root was opened in the Q345 base plate. Significant transition zones were found at the TA1/WZ and Q345/WZ interfaces. The structures of α-Fe, β-Ti, β-Ti + TiFe, and α-Fe + TiFe2 were formed in the transition zones. The solidified primary phases of TiFe2 and the eutectic structures of α-Fe + TiFe2 were observed in most regions of the WZ. Various intermetallic compounds (IMCs) of TiFe and TiFe2, as well as the snowflake-like structures of TiC, coexisted in the WZ near the flyer and base layers, which were significantly harmful to the formability of the WZ and caused a crack in the WZ. The markedly high hardness and low tensile strength were presented in the WZ. A sawtooth-like fracture line was observed. The fracture line was extended from the WZ/base metal (BM) interface to the WZ center, in which the minimum hardness (∼523 HV0.2) and many eutectic structures were presented.

The microstructure evolution and microhardness of Q&P980 steel heat-affected zone (HAZ) was investigated systematically using weld thermal simulation technique. The phase transformation temperatures were determined by the dilatometry. Ac1 and Ac3 were observed to be quite constant, 750 and 935 °C, at the heating rates higher than 150 °C/s. The different regions of HAZ were obtained varying the peak heating temperature in the simulation experiments. With the peak temperature increased from 300 to 1350 °C, the microstructure evolved from martensite/ferrite/retained austenite to tempered martensite/carbides/ferrite, then finally turned to single martensite phase with fine lath or coarse lath morphology. The volume percentage of retained austenite reduced dramatically from 13% to 2% due to retained austenite transformation at high temperature. The lowest microhardness of 268 HV was obtained in sub-critical HAZ and the highest microhardness of 485 HV was obtained in fine grained HAZ. The welding continuous cooling transformation (CCT) diagram of Q&P980 steel corresponding coarse grained HAZ was constructed by dilatometric methods. There was ferrite, bainite and martensite transformation regions when the cooling rates ranged from 0.1 to 100 °C/s. The microhardness kept at a high certain level of 450–460 HV at high cooling rates (≥20 °C/s) because of the formation of martensite. By the CCT diagram determined, the effect of cooling rate on microstructure and microhardness can be deduced and utilized for optimizing the welding parameters.