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The gut bacteria can provide nutrition for the host, and regulate host physiological functions and host behavior. In this study, we specifically examined the important roles of free amino acids in the gut microbiota-host interaction. Bumblebees were treated with different concentrations of antibiotics (ampicillin combined with low/high concentrations of tetracycline). Then the effect of antibiotic treatments on the host body weight, gut microbiota, and the free amino acid profiles in the hindgut, hemolymph and brain of bees was evaluated. The results showed that antibiotic treatments resulted in a significant decrease in the host body weight at 11 days of age, the total bacterial load and the abundance of Bifidobacterium bohemicum and Gilliamella apicola in the bumblebee's hindgut. Additionally, the higher the concentration of antibiotics (tetracycline), the greater their impact on the body weight and intestinal microbiota of bumblebees. Further, we found that antibiotic treatments caused changes of free amino acids in different tissues, especially in the hindgut and hemolymph, including particularly the decrease of several types of essential amino acids and branched-chain amino acids. Our results suggest that the gut microbiota may modulate the host growth via specific essential amino acids and branched-chain amino acids, which further reveals the crucial roles of free amino acids in the gut microbiota-host interplay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the pre-existing immunity against SARS-CoV-2 has been postulated as one possible cause of asymptomatic infections. Later, various works reported that pre-existing immune response against the two structural conserved antigens: S2 subunit and the nucleocapsid protein, were associated to some level of asymptomatic profile in infected individuals. To explore the Ab background against these two antigens, in the context of vaccine-elicited and hybrid (natural infection plus vaccination induced) immunity of SARS-CoV-2, in this work, we tested sera from inactivated vaccine-immunized donors and from vaccinated and subsequent natural infected donors upon the Omicron variant wave in Guangdong province, China. Serum samples were collected from 27 COVID-19 convalescent, 25 SARS-CoV-2 vaccinated, and 10 negative donors. The IgG cross-reactivity response against these two antigens from another relevant human coronavirus (HCoV) was also evaluated. The findings indicate that IgG response against S2 and N protein was particularly higher in sera with hybrid immunity. The cross-reactive Abs were more significant against SARS-CoV-1, while a wide cross-reactivity was detected for N antigen for one human Alpha coronavirus HCoV-229E even in the negative control samples. The presence of cross-reactive Abs against the two conserved antigens N and S2, particularly in the context of hybrid immunity, could pave the way for future boosted vaccines carrying these conserved regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electron spin qubits in silicon quantum dots are an attractive candidate for large-scalable quantum computation. An essential step for quantum information processing based on spin qubits is to realize the spatially separated two-qubit gate and entanglement with high fidelity. Here, we consider two spin qubits coupled to a common superconducting resonator in circuit quantum electrodynamics. We investigate the long-range two-qubit iSWAP gate mediated by virtual microwave photons using a Gaussian smoothing pulse. We show that the entangling gate fidelity can reach 9 1. 0 % under realistic experimental conditions and analyze the factors limiting gate fidelity. Moreover, we numerically demonstrate the generation of remote Bell entangled states of spin qubits with high fidelity. In addition, this spin–resonator architecture can be used to implement quantum algorithms using our scheme. These results pave the way for quantum information processing with spin qubits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic musculoskeletal disease affecting approximately 500 million people worldwide. Globally, OA is one of the most common and leading causes of disability. Several genetic factors are involved in OA, including inherited genes, genetic susceptibility, and genetic predisposition. As the pathogenesis of OA is unknown, there are almost no effective treatments available to prevent the onset or progression of the disease. In recent years, many researchers focused on bioinformatics analysis to explore new biomarkers for the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of human diseases. In this work, we obtain the traditional RNA sequencing data of OA patients from the GEO database. By performing the differentially expressed analysis, we successfully obtain the genes that are closely associated with the OA. In addition, the Venn diagram was applied to evaluate the genes that are involved in OA and immune-related genes. The protein-protein interaction analysis was further conducted to explore the hub genes. The single-cell RNA sequencing analysis was used to evaluate the expression distribution of the MMP, VEGFA, SPI1, and IRF8 in synovial tissues of patients with osteoarthritis. Finally, the GSVA enrichment analysis discovered the potential pathways involved in OA patients. Our analysis provides a new direction for the exploration of the process of OA patients. In addition, VEGFA may be considered a promising biomarker in OA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many massive data sets are assembled through collections of information of a large number of individuals in a population. The analysis of such data, especially in the aspect of individualized inferences and solutions, has the potential to create significant value for practical applications. Traditionally, inference for an individual in the dataset is either solely relying on the information of the individual or from summarizing the information about the whole population. However, with the availability of big data, we have the opportunity, as well as a unique challenge, to make a more effective individualized inference that takes into consideration of both the population information and the individual discrepancy. To deal with the possible heterogeneity within the population while providing effective and credible inferences for individuals in a dataset, this article develops a new approach called the individualized group learning (iGroup). The iGroup approach uses local nonparametric techniques to generate an individualized group by pooling other entities in the population which share similar characteristics with the target individual, even when individual estimates are biased due to limited number of observations. Three general cases of iGroup are discussed, and their asymptotic performances are investigated. Both theoretical results and empirical simulations reveal that, by applying iGroup, the performance of statistical inference on the individual level are ensured and can be substantially improved from inference based on either solely individual information or entire population information. The method has a broad range of applications. An example in financial statistics is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The co-adsorption models of H2O and CO2 molecules on the CaCl2(110) surface are established by the first-principles method based on the density functional theory. The adsorption structures, electron distribution, density of states, and reaction pathways are calculated and analyzed to reveal the reaction mechanism of H2O and CO2 molecules on the CaCl2(110) surface. The results indicate that the adsorption site of the Ca5c atom is more active than that of Ca6c when H2O is adsorbed on the CaCl2(110) surface. The chemical co-adsorption processes of H2O and CO2 on the CaCl2(110) surface are described via the Langmuir–Hinshelwood mechanism. Their adsorption energies are −0.903 eV and −1.284 eV, which were lower than that of a single H2O molecule. The H2O molecule loses electrons during the adsorption process and the Ca5c atom bonded acts as the acceptor and transmitter of electrons. The energy required for the dissociation of H2O is significantly reduced in the presence of co-adsorbed CO2. Moreover, the dissociation of H2O is promoted, and then the HCl molecule is formed by the OH− bonded with the H atom on the CaCl2(110) surface, and the reaction pathway requires only 1.03 eV when H2O is bonded with chemisorbed CO2 to form an HCO3− complex. In particular, this adsorption process follows a Langmuir–Rideal mechanism. The findings can lay a theoretical foundation for the chlorine liberation mechanism from CaCl2 and also provides technical support for the pyro-hydrolysis of CaCl2-containing solid wastes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There will be an increasing number of retired batteries in the foreseeable future. Retired batteries can reduce pollution and be used to construct a battery cycle ecosystem. To use retired batteries more efficiently, it is critical to be able to determine their State of Health (SOH) precisely and speedily. SOH can be estimated accurately through a comprehensive and inefficient charge-and-discharge procedure. However, the comprehensive charge and discharge is a time-consuming process and will make the SOH assessment for many retired batteries unrealistic. This paper proposes an accurate and efficient SOH Estimation (SOH-E) method using the actual data of retired batteries. A battery data acquisition system is designed to acquire retired batteries' comprehensive discharge and charge data. The acquired discharge data are separated into various time interval-segregated sub-data. Then, the specially designed features for SOH-E are extracted from the sub-data. Neural Networks (NNs) are trained using these sub-data. The retired batteries' SOH levels are then estimated after the NNs' training. The experiments described herein use retired lead–acid batteries. The batteries' rated voltage and capacity are 12 V and 90 Ah, respectively. Different feature value extractions and time intervals that might affect the SOH-E accuracy and are tested. The Backpropagation NN (BPNN) and Long-Short-Term-Memory NN (LSTMNN) are designed to estimate SOH in this paper. The experimental results indicate that SOH can be calculated in 30 min. The Root-Mean-Square Errors (RMSEs) are less than 3%. The proposed SOH-E can help decrease pollution, extend the life cycle of a retired battery, and establish a battery cycle ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common degenerative diseases of the human nervous system and has a wide range of serious impacts on human health and quality of life. Recently, research targeting high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) in PD has emerged, and a variety of laboratory methods for inhibiting HMGB1 have achieved good results to a certain extent. However, given that HMGB1 undergoes a variety of intracellular modifications and three different forms of extracellular redox, the possible roles of these forms in PD are likely to be different. General inhibition of all forms of HMGB1 is obviously not ideal and has become one of the biggest obstacles in the clinical application of targeting HMGB1. In this review, pure mechanistic research of HMGB1 and in vivo research targeting HMGB1 were combined, the effects of HMGB1 on neurons and immune cell responses in PD are discussed in detail, and the problems that need to be focused on in the future are addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a multi-objective optimisation method considering the switch and stock rail profiles in the switch panel. Based on the non-uniform rational B-spline (NURBS) theory, a parameterised model of the measured turnout profile is constructed to determine the variables. This study selects the vehicle dynamic performance and wheel-rail contact damage as the objective function to establish a multi-objective optimisation mathematical model that is solved using NSGA- II. Overall performances of the measured profile and the optimised profile are compared and evaluated for two aspects, dynamic performance and wheel-rail contact damage. The following are the conclusions: The maximum lateral vibration acceleration of the axle box is reduced from 2.64–2.09 m/s2, which has a 20.83% decrease. Concerning wheel-rail contact damage, the maximum wear index is reduced from 13.46–11.47 N, the reduction is 14.78%. At the same time, the cumulative surface rolling contact fatigue (RCF) is reduced from 8.29×10−5–7.38×10−5. This article can provide a profile repair method for worn turnouts, which can maximise the comprehensive performance of the turnout within a limited amount of grinding, and can reduce the wheel-rail contact damage of the turnout while taking into account driving stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The impact of ineffective esophageal motility (IEM) on gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) remains unknown, and abnormal esophageal motility often coexists with abnormal gastric motility. We aimed to investigate the role of IEM in GERD and its relationship with gastric electrical activity. Methods: Patients diagnosed as GERD based on GERD‐questionnaire score ≥8 in our hospital from January 2020 to June 2022 were included. All patients underwent 24‐h multichannel intraluminal impedance‐pH monitoring, high‐resolution manometry, and electrogastrogram and were categorized into the normal esophageal motility (NEM) and IEM groups, respectively. Reflux characteristics and gastric electric activity were compared between the two groups, and the correlation between gastric electric activity and reflux was analyzed. Results: Acid exposure time, total reflux episodes, and DeMeester score in the IEM group were higher than those in the NEM group. Distal mean nocturnal baseline impedance was significantly lower in the IEM group. Compared with the NEM group, the power ratio (PR) of fundus, antrum and pylorus and premeal and postmeal normal wave ratio of antrum were significantly lower in IEM. The total reflux episodes were negatively correlated with the PR of fundus and pylorus, and the DeMeester score was negatively correlated with the PR of corpus and pylorus. Conclusions: IEM may lead to increased reflux, resulting in esophageal mucosal damage. There may be consistency between abnormal esophageal motility and gastric motility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis type 3 (PFIC3) is an autosomal recessive disease caused by pathogenic variants of the gene ABCB4. This study aimed to investigate the ABCB4 genotypic and the clinical phenotypic features of PFIC3 patients. Methods: The clinical and molecular genetic data of 13 new pediatric patients with PFIC3 as well as 82 reported ones in the PubMed and CNKI databases were collected and analyzed. Results: The 13 new PFIC3 patients included six females and seven males, and the main presentations were hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, jaundice, and pruritus, as well as increased levels of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT). Fourteen new ABCB4 variants were detected, including eight diagnosed to be likely-pathogenic and six, pathogenic. Among all the 95 PFIC3 cases, hepatomegaly was observed in 85.3% (81/95), pruritus in 67.4% (64/95), splenomegaly in 52.6% (50/95), jaundice in 48.4% (46/95), portal hypertension in 34.7% (33/95) and GGT elevation in 100% (88/88) of the patients. Positive responses at varied degrees to oral ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) treatment were observed in 66.1% (39/59) of the patients, among whom 38.5% (15/39) fully recovered in terms of the laboratory changes. Although the condition remained stable in 53 patients (58.9%, 53/90), the clinical outcomes were not promising in the rest 37 cases (41.1%, 37/90), including 7 died, 27 having undergone while another 3 waiting for liver transplantation. A total of 96 ABCB4 variants were detected in the 95 patients. PFIC3 patients with biallelic null variants exhibited earlier onset ages [10.5 (2, 18) vs. 19 (8, 60) months, p = 0.007], lower UDCA response rate [18.2% (2/11) vs. 77.1% (37/48), p = 0.001], and more unpromising clinical outcomes [80% (12/15) vs. 33.3% (25/75), p = 0.001], compared with those with non-biallelic null variants. Conclusions: PFIC3 presented with hepatomegaly, pruritus, splenomegaly and jaundice with increased serum GGT level as a biochemistry hallmark. Although varying degrees of improvement in response to UDCA therapy were observed, 41.1% of PFIC3 patients exhibited unfavorable prognosis. ABCB4 genotypes of biallelic null variants were associated with severer PFIC3 phenotypes. Moreover, the 14 novel variants in this study expanded the ABCB4 mutation spectrum, and provided novel molecular biomarkers for diagnosis of PFIC3 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nurse managers play a pivotal role in quality patient care and staff satisfaction and retention. An overwhelming amount of work tasks and responsibilities might result in their sleep problems which are expected to aggravate in the context of the COVID-19, thereby affecting their overall health and work quality. However, little attention has been paid to sleep quality among nurse managers. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of sleep disorders among nurse managers and identify related factors of sleep quality during regular prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic in China. Methods: This cross-sectional online survey was conducted in 14 hospitals on a sample of 327 nurse managers in China. Participants were invited to complete the general demographic questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ). Multiple linear regression analysis was used to explore the influencing factors of sleep quality among nurse managers. Results: In this study, 43.7% of nurse managers suffered from sleep disorders. Active coping style and frequent exercise were positive factors that could influence nurse managers' sleep quality, while passive coping style and age over 41 years old were negative predictors, collectively accounting for 52.0% of the variance of sleep quality. Conclusions: The issue of sleep disorders among nurse managers during regular epidemic prevention and control period is underscored. Coping style and demographic factors including age and frequency of exercise can significantly affect nurse managers' sleep quality. Healthcare administrators should pay more attention to nurse managers' sleep disorders and implement targeted strategies based on influencing factors to ensure their sleep quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most cases of acquired aplastic anemia (AA) arise from autoimmune destruction of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-haploidentical nonmyeloablative hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) plus post-transplantation cyclophosphamide (PTCy) is increasingly applied to salvage AA using bone marrow as graft and anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) in conditioning. Herein, we characterize a cohort of twelve AA patients clinically and molecularly, six who possessed other immunological disorders (including two also carrying germline SAMD9L mutations). Each patient with SAMD9L mutation also carried an AA-related rare BCORL1 variant or CTLA4 p.T17A GG genotype, respectively, and both presented short telomere lengths. Six of the ten patients analyzed harbored AA-risky HLA polymorphisms. All patients recovered upon non-HSCT (n = 4) or HSCT (n = 8) treatments. Six of the eight HSCT-treated patients were subjected to a modified PTCy-based regimen involving freshly prepared peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) as graft and exclusion of ATG. All patients were engrafted between post-transplantation days +13 and +18 and quickly reverted to normal life, displaying a sustained complete hematologic response and an absence of graft-versus-host disease. These outcomes indicate most AA cases, including of the SAMD9L-inherited subtype, are immune-mediated and the modified PTCy-based regimen we present is efficient and safe for salvage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amyloid-β oligomers (AβOs) was the core-biomarker of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and the detection of AβOs is very important for the early diagnosis of AD. However, existing tests for AβOs are majorly suffering from complex process and poor sensitivity. Thus, an adjustable AβOs electrochemiluminescence (ECL) aptasensor based on the synergistic effect of self-enhanced metal-organic gel (AgCNS) and triple-helix DNA system (THS) was successfully constructed. AgCNS was prepared by an extremely simple one-pot method and was an innovative luminophore with excellent ECL performance. The AgCNS-labeled complementary sequence (AgCNS@CP) was interlaced with the unlabeled aptamer (Apt) carrying two short-arms fixed on the gold electrode (GE) to form the THS. Along with the specific-binding of AβOs and Apt, the THS was disrupted and adjusted flexibly between "on" and "off", resulting in significant changes in the ECL signals. Thus, ECL detection of AβOs was sensitively achieved with a detection limit as low as 0.23 fM and the different forms of Aβ can be specifically distinguished. The aptasensor also exhibited satisfactory selectivity, stability and reproducibility. Moreover, when proposed method and ELISA-kit were simultaneously applied to artificial cerebrospinal fluid (A-CSF) samples, the obtained results were completely consistent, reflecting the potential clinical application value of this work. [Display omitted] • The AgCNS was prepared by an extremely simple and environmental one-pot method. • AgCNS was an innovative luminophore with excellent ECL performance. • It is a new attempt of g-C 3 N 4 based MOGs in the field of ECL sensor. • THS was firstly used in the fabrication of ECL aptasensor for AβOs analysis. • The synergistic strategy offers a new opportunity for clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the discussion on transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy vestibular approach (TOETVA) becoming the preferred approach to thyroid surgery. Topics include separating the platysma having the lower margin of the operation space reaching the suprasternal fossa and both sides reached the sternocleidomastoid; and radical thyroidectomy being performed if papillary microcarcinoma present on one side of the thyroid.

The structure of a back propagation neural network was optimized by a particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm, and a back propagation neural network model based on a PSO algorithm was constructed. By comparison with a general back propagation neural network and logistic regression, the fitting performance and prediction performance of the PSO algorithm is discussed. Furthermore, based on the back propagation neural network optimized by the PSO algorithm, the risk factors related to hypertension were further explored through the mean influence value algorithm to construct a risk prediction model. In the evaluation of the fitting effect, the root mean square error and coefficient of determination of the back propagation neural network based on the PSO algorithm were 0.09 and 0.29, respectively. In the comparison of prediction performance, the accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the back propagation neural network based on PSO algorithm were 85.38%, 43.90%, 96.66%, and 0.86, respectively. The results showed that the backpropagation neural network optimized by PSO had the best fitting effect and prediction performance. Meanwhile, the mean impact value algorithm could screen out the risk factors related to hypertension and build a disease prediction model, which can provide clues for exploring the pathogenesis of hypertension and preventing hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The alternative hydrolysis channels for triazophos are systematically investigated by performing the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p), M06-2X/6-311++G(d,p) as well as MP2/6-311G(d) levels. Two possible mechanisms, the P–OR1 and P–OEt disintegration routes, are intensively studied; simultaneously, the concerted and stepwise neutral pathways are discussed at great length. In order to explore the effect of additional water, the hydrolysis channel in the presence of extra water is examined in detail. Moreover, the effect of solvent on water is evaluated by applying PCM model at M06-2X/6-311+G(d,p) method. Our results convincingly suggest that the stepwise processes are more favorable than the concerted ones and the most preferred mechanism seems to be the stepwise of P–OR1 rupture channel for the direct hydrolysis. The water-catalyzed hydrolysis is energetically preferred to the direct hydrolysis. Furthermore, the solvent effect has only a slight effect on the reaction mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To examine the clinical outcomes of a percutaneous lumbar transforaminal endoscopic discectomy (PTED) with intraoperative computed tomography (iCT) navigation for the treatment of L5-S1 far-lateral lumbar disc herniation (LDH). A total of 30 patients with L5-S1 far-lateral LDH who underwent PTED with iCT navigation from September 2016 to October 2020 were enrolled in this study. Outcomes were assessed using the visual analog scale pain score, the Oswestry Disability Index, the Japanese Orthopedic Association score, the EQ-5D-5 L and the modified Macnab criteria. Preoperative and postoperative complications were recorded. The mean visual analog scale score for leg pain improved from 8.1 at baseline to 2.3, 0.9, 0.7 and 0.9 at 1 day, 1 week, 6 months, and 12 months postoperatively, respectively (P < 0.01). The mean Oswestry Disability Index improved from 78.1% at baseline to 45.5%, 21.9%, 12.6%, and 11.7% at 1 week, 1 month, 6 months, and 12 months postoperatively, respectively (P < 0.01); and the mean Japanese Orthopedic Association score improved from 8.6 at baseline to 14.2, 20.2, 24.4, and 25.6 at 1 day, 1 week, 6 months, and 12 months postoperatively, respectively (P < 0.01). At 12 months postoperatively, the EQ-5D-5 L value significantly increased, from −0.061 ± 0.138 to 0.903 ± 0.064. The rate of a good or excellent modified Macnab result was 93% (26/28) at 12 months postoperatively. In the present study, combined L5-S1 foraminal stenosis tended to lead poor outcomes, which required more postsurgical treatments. With iCT navigation, PTED is a feasible and effective minimally invasive surgery for L5-S1 far-lateral LDH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: The causal gene, CaHY5 of a chemical induced green-hypocotyl mutant was identified by molecular mapping. CaHY5 regulates anthocyanin accumulation by directly binding to the promoter of genes in anthocyanin pathway. Morphological markers at seedling stage are useful indicators for F1 hybrid seeds screening. Pepper is a worldwide vegetable with diverse uses, and F1 hybrids are popular in the pepper industry. Hypocotyl color is a useful marker to identify F1 hybrid seeds. However, most pepper accessions have purple hypocotyl caused by anthocyanin accumulation, while green hypocotyl pepper accessions are rare. In this study, we identified a green hypocotyl mutant (e1898) from a pepper ethylmethanesulfonate (EMS) mutant library. By combining bulked segregant RNA-seq (BSR), genome resequencing and recombinant analysis, it was found that CaHY5 is the causal gene of this mutant. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) of CaHY5 resulted in the decrease of anthocyanin accumulation in pepper hypocotyls. RNA-seq data showed that many genes related to anthocyanin biosynthesis and transport decreased significantly in the mutant. Yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) assays showed that CaHY5 can bind to the promoter of CaF3H, CaF3′5'H, CaDFR, CaANS and CaGST, which are important genes in anthocyanin biosynthesis or transport. Our results indicate that CaHY5 directly regulates anthocyanin biosynthesis and transport, thus governing anthocyanin accumulation in pepper hypocotyl. The mutant and gene identified in this work shall be valuable in the purity control of hybrid pepper seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we report a controllable green synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using chlorogenic acid (CGA) as the only reducing and stabilizing agent. The well-dispersed AuNPs are obtained due to the protection of CGA against aggregation. The resulting AuNPs are controllable in size and shape mainly by changing the molar ratio of HAuCl4 to CGA in reductive process. With an increase in CGA concentration, the average size of AuNPs increased, which resulted in different morphologies from spherical to flower-like shapes. The dropping speed of gold precursor is also found to influence the size of AuNPs in different trends. Additionally, the advantages of CGA for synergistic biological activities are demonstrated through the enhanced antioxidant activity of AuNPs with CGA for scavenging of DPPH radicals. The controllable size and shape of nanoparticles are potentially important in nanomedical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A chemiresistive biosensor is described for simple and selective detection of miRNA-21. We developed chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and low-damage plasma treatment (LDPT)-treated bilayer graphene composite of graphene oxide/graphene (GO/GR) for the determination of a reliable biomarker. We have successfully overcome the self-limiting growth mechanism by using CVD method to grow more than one layer of graphene on copper foil. In addition, LDPT can be used to form GO/GR structures for chemiresistive biosensor applications. Due to the direct formation of BLGR (bilayer graphene), the coupling between graphene layers is theoretically superior to that of stacked BLGR, which is also confirmed by the blue shift of the characteristic peak of graphene in Raman spectroscopy. The shift is about double compared with that of stacked BLGR. Based on the results, the limit of detection for the target miRNA-21 was calculated to be 5.20 fM and detection rage is calculated as 100 fM to 10 nM, which is obviously better performance. Compared with previous work, this chemiresistive biosensor has good selectivity, and stability towards detection of miRNA-21. The ability to detect miRNA-21 in different biological fluids was almost identical to that in pH 7.4 phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Thus, the proposed bilayer GO/GR of modified chemiresistive biosensor may potentially be applied to detect cancer cells in clinical examinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mask-wearing is the simplest yet most effective preventive behavior during COVID-19. However, it has sparked great controversy, particularly in America. Little is known about what psychosocial factors predict people's decision to mask. This research challenges three myths about mask-wearing. First, does mask-wearing provide a false sense of security? Second, is knowledge of COVID-19 a more robust predictor than political ideology of mask-wearing behavior? Third, does resistance to masks reflect anti-authoritarianism or a lack of trust in government? With nationally representative samples across two cultures (N = 1,121), findings reveal a significant positive correlation between mask-wearing and other preventive behaviors. Moreover, knowledge of COVID-19 and trust in government significantly predicted mask-wearing. Implications of the results are also discussed in the cross-cultural context. Critically, findings could provide practical implications for public education and policymaking by uncovering how to more effectively promote compliance with recommended preventive behaviors during our ongoing struggle with COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temporal constraints on the closure of the eastern segment of the Palaeo-Asian Ocean along the northern margin of the North China Craton (NCC) remain unclear. As a part of the NCC, the sedimentation and tectonic evolution of the Late Palaeozoic Ordos Basin were closely related to the opening and closing of the Palaeo-Asian Ocean. We use petrology, quantitative mineralogical analysis, U–Pb geochronology and trace element signatures of detrital zircons of the Lower Shihezi Formation from two sections in the eastern north Ordos Basin and two sections in the western north Ordos Basin to reconstruct the sedimentary provenance and tectonic background of the northern Ordos Basin. The results show that the sediments of the western sections were mainly derived from the Yinshan orogenic belt and Alxa block, and that those in the eastern sections only came from the Yinshan orogenic belt. The trace element ratios in detrital zircons from the Late Palaeozoic sandstones indicate that the source areas were mainly subduction-related continental arcs, closely related to the continued subduction of the Palaeo-Asian Ocean in the Late Palaeozoic. Since the main Late Palaeozoic magmatic periods vary on the east and west sides of the northern margin of the Ordos Basin, two main collisions related to Palaeo-Asian Ocean closure are recorded. The collision on the west side occurred significantly earlier than that in the east. This study implies that the Palaeo-Asian Ocean began to subduct beneath the NCC in the Carboniferous and gradually closed from west to east thereafter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Follistatin involves in the regulation of ovarian follicular development in mammals; however, the role of follistatin in goose ovarian follicular development has not been investigated. In this study, following immuno-neutralization of follistatin bioactivity in geese, the number of ovarian pre-ovulatory follicles significantly increased, and mRNA levels of genes involved in ovarian steroidogenesis and yolk deposition were upregulated in the granulosa layer of pre-hierarchical follicles. These results suggest that follistatin plays a limiting role in the development of ovarian pre-hierarchical follicles into pre-ovulatory follicles. These results also expand our understanding of the mechanism of follistatin on ovarian follicular development in geese. In order to explore the role of follistatin (FST) in ovarian follicular development and egg production in Yangzhou geese, sixty-four egg laying geese of the same genetic origin were selected and divided into two groups with equal numbers. One group was immunized against the recombinant goose FST protein by intramuscular injection, whereas the control group received bovine serum albumin (BSA) injection. Immunization against FST significantly increased the number of pre-ovulatory follicles. Furthermore, immunization against FST upregulated Lhr, Star, Vldlr, Smad3, and Smad4 mRNA levels in the granulosa layer of pre-hierarchical follicles. The results suggest that FST plays a limiting role in the development of ovarian pre-hierarchical follicles into pre-ovulatory follicles by decreasing follicular sensitivity to activin in geese. The mechanism may be achieved by regulating the SMAD3 signaling pathway, which affects progesterone synthesis and yolk deposition in pre-hierarchical follicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a method for the optimisation of wheel–rail profiles, and this is based on the relationships between the equivalent conicity, RRD curve and rail profile slope. This method can be used to improve the riding stability of trains when rolling across turnouts, and to optimise the equivalent conicity. The measured profile of a straight switch rail, i.e. a 60D40 rail laid in a high-speed turnout switch area, was taken as a sample for optimisation. The existing curve of equivalent conicity was lowered for reverse-reasoning calculation of the optimised profile. The optimised profile of the 60D40 rail was taken as the optimal design for an in-service straight switch rail. The effectiveness of the optimised design was then evaluated based on static wheel–rail contact and vehicle-turnout coupling dynamics. The conclusions show that, for an in-service straight switch rail, profile optimisation can effectively improve the wheel–rail relationship, thus enhancing the riding stability of trains in turnout switch areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Osteoarthritis (OA) presents cartilage damage in addition to chronic inflammation. However, self-recovery of damaged cartilage in an inflammatory environment is not possible. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the bone marrow are a source of regenerative repair of damaged cartilage. To date, whether intra-luminal administration of the bone marrow can delay the progression of OA is still unknown. This study, therefore, aimed to explore the role of intra-bone marrow injection of Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate (MgIG) in delaying the OA progression and to investigate the underlying mechanism. Methods: Rabbit OA models were established using the anterior cruciate ligament transection method while a catheter was implanted into the bone marrow cavity. 1 week after surgery, MgIG treatment was started once a week for 4 weeks. The cartilage degradation was analyzed using hematoxylin–eosin staining, Masson's trichrome staining and Alcian blue staining. Additionally, the pro-inflammatory factors and cartilage regeneration genes involved in the cartilage degeneration and the underlying mechanisms in OA were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting. Results: The results of histological staining revealed that intra-bone marrow injection of MgIG reduced degeneration and erosion of articular cartilage, substantially reducing the Osteoarthritis Research Society International scores. Furthermore, the productions of inflammatory cytokines in the bone marrow cavity and articular cavity such as interleukin-1β(IL-1β), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were inhibited upon the treatment of MgIG. At the same time, the expression of alkaline phosphate, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-5b (TRAP-5b) and C-telopeptides of type II collagen (CTX-II) in the blood also decreased and was positively correlated. On the contrary, cartilage-related genes in the bone marrow cavity such as type II collagen (Col II), Aggrecan (AGN), and SRY-box 9 (SOX9) were up-regulated, while matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) was down-regulated. Mechanistically, MgIG was found to exert an anti-inflammatory effect and impart protection to the cartilage by inhibiting the NF-κB pathway. Conclusion: Intra-bone marrow injection of MgIG might inhibit the activation of the NF-κB pathway in the progression of OA to exert an anti-inflammatory effect in the bone marrow cavity and articular cavity, thereby promoting cartilage regeneration of MSCs in the bone marrow, making it a potential new therapeutic intervention for the treatment of OA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To investigate the diagnostic value of endoscopic narrow-band imaging technique in early gastric cancer and precancerous lesions. Methods. A total of 100 patients with recurrent upper gastrointestinal symptoms in our hospital from January 2017 to January 2022 were selected and divided into group A and group B according to the random number table method, with 50 cases in each group. Group A received white light endoscopy, and group B received narrow-band imaging technology combined with endoscopy. Narrow-band imaging combined with magnifying endoscopy was used to stain the area with suspicious mucosal lesions with indigo carmine and magnified observation. Results. The endoscopic image clarity of group B was significantly better than that of group A in terms of lesion outline, gastric pit, and microvascular morphology (P < 0.05). There were 10 cases of early gastric cancer, 18 cases of benign lesions, and 9 cases of gastric cancer (nonearly stage); 17 cases of precancerous lesions, 12 cases of early gastric cancer, 13 cases of benign lesions, and 6 cases of gastric cancer (nonearly stage) were diagnosed by ordinary white light endoscopy. Pathological results confirmed that among the 50 patients in group B, there were 15 cases of precancerous lesions, 11 cases of early gastric cancer, 17 cases of benign lesions, and 7 cases of gastric cancer (nonearly stage). Among the 50 patients in group A, 16 were precancerous lesions, 11 were early gastric cancer, 15 were benign lesions, and 8 were gastric cancer (non early stage). In the diagnosis of precancerous lesions and early gastric cancer, the diagnostic consistency, sensitivity, and specificity of group B were better than those of group A (P < 0.05); NBI combined with endoscopy in the diagnosis of precancerous lesions and early gastric cancer (kappa = 0.860 , kappa = 0.883) was more consistent with pathological diagnosis than common white light endoscopy (kappa = 0.433 , kappa = 0.535). Conclusion. The value of narrow-band imaging technology combined with endoscopy in the diagnosis of precancerous lesions and early gastric cancer is better than that of ordinary white light endoscopy, and it can be widely used in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flexible and precise manipulation of droplets on an air–liquid interface with complex functions remains challenging. Herein, we propose a smart strategy for excellently manipulating target droplets by decanol liquid lenses. A moveable surface tension gradient field generated by decanol liquid lenses is responsible for realizing various functions of transportation, launching and splitting of target droplets. With such fascinating features, directional long-distance transportation and on-demand droplet coalescence are enabled. Moreover, paw-like liquid lenses are constructed, which realizes a complex process, including collection, capture, transportation and release of target droplets. Remarkably, this strategy can also be applied to manipulate particles and liquid marbles other than droplets, eliminating the limitation of object properties. This work offers a smart strategy for manipulating micro-objects, which shows great potential in applications such as lab-on-a-chip, diagnostics, analytical chemistry and bioengineering, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Long-term prophylactic therapy is considered the standard of care for hemophilia A patients. This study models the long-term clinical and cost outcomes of two factor VIII (FVIII) products using a pharmacokinetic (PK) simulation model in a Chinese population.Methods: Head-to-head PK profile data of BAY 81-8973 (KOVALTRY®) and antihemophilic factor (recombinant) plasma/albumin-free method (rAHF-PFM, ADVATE®) were applied to a two-state (alive and dead) Markov model to simulate blood FVIII concentrations at a steady state in prophylactically-treated patients with hemophilia A. Worsening of the Pettersson score was simulated and decline was associated with the probability of having orthopaedic surgery. The only difference between the compounds was FVIII concentration at a given time; each subject was treated with 25 IU/kg every 3 days. The model used a lifetime horizon, with cycle lengths of 1 year.Results: Cumulative bleeding events, joint bleeding events, and major bleeding events were reduced by 19.3% for BAY 81-8973 compared to rAHF-PFM. Hospitalizations and hospitalization days were also reduced by 19.3% for BAY 81-8973 compared to rAHF-PFM. BAY 81-8973 resulted in both cost savings and a gain in quality adjusted life years (QALYs) compared to rAHF-PFM.Conclusion: Based on modeled head-to-head comparisons, differences in PK-properties between BAY 81-8973 and rAHF-PFM result in a reduced number of bleeding events, leading to reduced costs and increased quality of life for BAY 81-8973. These results should be used to inform clinical practice in China when caring for patients with severe hemophilia A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the incidence, sites and main pathogens, and risk factors for infectious complications occurring in patients with adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) during the first course of venetoclax combined with decitabine or azacitidine. Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis was performed of 81 patients with AML older than 14 years who received the first cycle of venetoclax combined with a hypomethylating agent (HMA) between March 2018 and March 2021 at our institution. Infectious complications, if any, were documented. Results: Among a total of 81 cases of AML, 59 (72.8%) patients occurred infections, including fever without an identifiable source (28.8%), clinically documented infections (40.7%), and microbiologically documented infections (30.5%). The most commonly isolated organism in culture was Candida albicans, followed by Klebsiella pneumonia, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The 4-week and 8-week mortality rates were 3.7% and 7.4%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, a high proportion of blasts in bone marrow, decreased hemoglobin level, and fever with or without a documented infection at baseline were significant independent risk factors for infectious complications. Conclusion: Compared with conventional chemotherapy, the incidence of infectious complications of venetoclax combined with decitabine or azacitidine significantly decreased. Pretreatment high leukemia burden and fever were independent risk factors for infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Hybrid reservation strategy, including first-reserved-first-served and auction reservation strategies. • Constructing an expected social cost minimization model and deriving the optimal parking quota for parking reservation platform. • Analysis the effects of resident time value, public transport service quality, road service quality, car park service quality, and parking space ratio on the optimal parking quota. • Quantifying vertical equity in parking reservation. Parking reservation, as an on-demand mobility service, can effectively address parking challenges. This paper examines the efficiency and equity of three parking reservation strategies: first-reserved-first-served (FRFS), auction and a hybrid strategy that combines both FRFS and auction. In the hybrid strategy, residents are given priority to make auction reservations initially, while the remaining spaces are allocated through FRFS reservations. Ultimately, a proportional allocation of spaces is achieved for both FRFS and auctions. Expected social cost minimization models are developed to determine the optimal parking quota for these strategies (FRFS, Auction and the hybrid strategy) and the optimal proportion allocated to the FRFS and auction in the hybrid strategy. Based on these works above, the solution properties of the proposed models are analytically explored. In addition, the Gini coefficient is used to investigate the equity of the above three reservation strategies. It is found that the auction strategy is the most efficient, but also the least fair. FRFS is the fairest but also the least efficient, and the hybrid is in the middle. The optimal parking quota increases with the value of time, the quality of road and parking services, but decreases with the quality of public transport services. In the hybrid strategy, increasing the allocation proportion to FRFS may lead to an increased or a decreased expected social cost, depending on the bidding price and FRFS price of parking spaces. The auction strategy is not always the most efficient for allocating parking spaces. In fact, it will become the worst strategy when the parking quota exceeds a certain critical value. Raising the lower bound of residents' incomes would narrow the gap between rich and poor, increase parking quotas, and generate higher parking revenues. The FRFS is more attractive to low-income residents, while the auction strategy favors higher-income residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The Ni-O-Ce interface is the main factor for the enhanced catalytic activity. • Surface oxygen vacancies are produced and consumed during POM process. • CH 4 could react with lattice oxygen on CeO 2 to form formate and carbonate. • The Ni species in Ni/CeO 2 -H 2 could embed into the CeO 2 lattice during POM process. Catalyst interface determines the activity and stability of partial oxidation of methane (POM) toward syngas under high temperatures crucially. Herein, Ni catalysts supported on CeO 2 were prepared under different pretreatment atmospheres to construct an optimal and robust interface. Ni/CeO 2 catalyst pretreated in H 2 (Ni/CeO 2 -H 2) exhibits the higher activity and the better stability than Ni/CeO 2 -Ar and Ni/CeO 2 -air catalysts. The Ni-O-Ce interfacial site in Ni/CeO 2 -H 2 catalyst shows the lower reduction temperature, indicating the enhanced H-spillover effect and enhanced oxidation resistance of Ni under POM conditions. Moreover, the XPS and in situ Raman results show that Ni/CeO 2 -H 2 contains more surface oxygen vacancies for adsorbing and activating oxygen, further contributing to the reaction activity. The in situ DRIFTS results indicate that the CH 4 could react with the lattice oxygen to form formate and carbonate, and further decompose to CO and CO 2. These findings deepen the fundamental understanding of Ni/CeO 2 catalysts for POM reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the efficacy of radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy in treating upper limb spasticity after a stroke.Randomized controlled trial.Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University.This study included 95 people with stroke.The active (n = 47) and sham-placebo (n = 48) radial extracorporeal shockwave therapy groups received three treatment sessions (every third day).The Modified Ashworth Scale, Hmax/Mmax ratio, root mean square, co-contraction ratio, mechanical parameters of the muscle and temperature were measured at baseline and days 2, 5 and 8.Among the 135 potential participants screened, 100 were enrolled and allocated randomly, with 95 participants ultimately being included in the intent-to-treat analysis dataset. The active group showed significantly better improvements in upper limb spasticity and muscle function than did the sham-placebo group. Greater improvements in the Modified Ashworth Scale were observed in the active group than in the sham-placebo group (difference, −0.45; 95% CI, −0.69 to −0.22; P < 0.001). Moreover, significant differences in root mean square, co-contraction ratio and Hmax/Mmax ratio were observed between the two groups (all P < 0.001). The mechanical parameters of the biceps muscle were significantly better in the active group than in the sham-placebo group (P < 0.001). The active group had a higher temperature than the sham-placebo group, although the difference was not significant (P = 0.070).This study revealed that the treatment with extracorporeal shockwave therapy can relieve upper limb spasticity in people with stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Area selective deposition, which streamlines fabrication steps by enhancing precision and reliability, represents a cutting-edge, bottom-up atomic and close-to-atomic scale manufacturing processing. This perspective delves into the essence of area selective atomic layer deposition, exploring the critical mechanisms and additional strategies that enhance the effectiveness of area selective deposition processes. A pivotal emphasis is placed on the thermodynamic and kinetic principles driving nucleation and film growth, coupled with a thorough examination of these underlying processes. Several assisted techniques aiming at improving selectivity and enlarging the selective process window, including surface passivation, activation, deactivation, and defect elimination have been summarized. The introduction of a comprehensive area selective deposition nucleation model illuminates the complex dynamics of area selective deposition, laying a theoretical groundwork for refining deposition processes. The technical and scientific challenges associated with area selective deposition, along with the prospects for its future development and industrial application, form a key part of this perspective. By enabling atomic-level accuracy, area selective deposition paves the way for the fabrication of complex nanostructures, promising significant advancements across the semiconductor industry and a broad spectrum of technological applications, unlocking unparalleled possibilities in precision manufacturing, setting the stage for breakthroughs that will redefine the landscape of modern technology. [Display omitted] • Area selective deposition methods include inherently selective processes and externally assisted strategies. • A comprehensive area selective deposition nucleation model was established to advance predictive selectivity. • Challenges and breakthrough ideas in area selective deposition for both scientific research and industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexibly and precisely manipulating 3D droplet transportation is a fundamental challenge for broad implications in diagnostics, drug delivery, bioengineering, etc. Herein, a light method is developed for manipulating a droplet to make it behave like a submarine. This light method enables flexible 3D transportation, stable suspension, and floating of a droplet, which can be freely altered. It is demonstrated that the localized photothermal effect induced thermocapillary flow in the water droplet/oil phase is responsible for energizing and manipulating the droplet. With such remarkable motility, the light‐fueled submarine‐like droplet successfully realizes various functions such as the acid‐base detection, particle capture and transportation, and target crystal collection, dissolution and transportation. It is demonstrated that the light‐fueled submarine‐like droplet shows promising perspective for long‐sought precise droplet manipulation in various applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To meet the growing demand for the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce and remain competitive in the fields of science and technology over the next decade, the United States is expected to need more than 1 million additional STEM professionals. This would require an annual increase of 34% in undergraduate STEM degrees over the next decade to meet the projected need. Purpose: This study examined the relationship between Advanced Placement (AP) STEM course‐taking in high school and selection of college STEM majors and whether the relationship differs by gender and race/ethnicity. Design/Method: For controlling student and school factors, a binary logistic regression model with the clustered standard error was utilized to determine the relationship between AP STEM course‐taking and STEM major selection. Multinomial logistic regression was conducted to further understand how AP STEM course‐taking was associated with engineering major selection. The analysis included a series of interaction effects tests, examining the variation of gender and racial/ethnic differences in STEM and, more specifically, engineering major selection as a function of AP STEM course‐taking. Results: Findings indicate gender and AP STEM course exposure are significant in predicting STEM major selection. Interaction effects test results further show that the relationship between AP STEM course‐taking and STEM major selection varies significantly by gender. A similar pattern is found in the relationship between AP STEM course‐taking and engineering major selection. Conclusion: This study provides much‐needed empirical evidence to understand the relationships between AP STEM courses course‐taking in high school and the selection of college STEM majors and how such relationships vary by race/ethnicity and gender. Additional research is encouraged to inform future educators and policymakers in promoting equity for students in pursuing paths to STEM and, more specifically, engineering‐related careers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RDF graph has been increasingly used to store and represent information shared over the Web, including social graphs and knowledge bases. With the increasing scale of RDF graphs and the concurrency level of SPARQL queries, current RDF systems are confronted with inefficient concurrent query processing on massive data parallelism. The situation becomes more severe in the face of data-intensive queries (aka heavy query), which usually lead to suboptimal response time (latency) as well as throughput collapse. In this article, we present Wukong+G, the first graph-based distributed RDF query processing system that efficiently exploits the hybrid parallelism of CPU and GPU. Wukong+G is made fast and concurrent with four key designs. First, Wukong+G tames massive random memory accesses in graph exploration by efficiently mapping data between CPU and GPU for latency hiding, including a set of techniques like query-aware prefetching, pattern-aware pipelining and fine-grained swapping. Second, Wukong+G scales up by introducing a GPU-friendly RDF store to support RDF graphs exceeding GPU memory size, by using techniques like predicate-based grouping, pairwise caching and look-ahead replacing to narrow the gap between host and device memory scale. Third, Wukong+G scales out through a communication layer that decouples the transferring process for query metadata and intermediate results, and further leverages both native and GPUDirect RDMA to enable efficient communication on a CPU/GPU cluster. Finally, Wukong+G simultaneously runs multiple queries on a single GPU to improve overall throughput and fully exploits hardware heterogeneity (CPU/GPU) by scheduling a single query on CPU and GPU adaptively. We have implemented Wukong+G by extending a state-of-the-art distributed RDF store (i.e., Wukong) with distributed GPU support. Evaluation on a heterogeneous CPU/GPU cluster with RDMA-capable network shows that Wukong+G outperforms Wukong by up to 9.0× (from 2.3×) and scales well on 10 GPU cards for heavy queries. Wukong+G can also improve both latency and throughput by more than one order of magnitude when facing hybrid workloads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the important research topics is protecting the host from threats by developing a reliable and accurate intrusion detection system. However, since the amount of data has grown fast due to the emergence of big data, the performance of traditional systems designed to identify breaches has suffered several flaws. One of them, for example, is known as single-point failure; low adaptability and a high false alarm rate are also typical. Hadoop is used to detect intrusions to tackle these difficulties. The Java system is used to create a framework with a significant data flow that detects intrusions when a distributed system is built. The proposed solution employs a distributed operating system for data collection, storage, and analysis. The results indicate that external distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks are recognized quickly. The single-point failure issue is overcome, alleviating the bottleneck problem of data processing ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates undergraduate STEM persistence through two-factor theory. Using nationally representative data and multinomial regression, we conceptualize known determinants of persistence as hygiene and motivator factors to test the persistence outcomes among college students who majored in STEM: earning a STEM degree, non-STEM degree, and degree non-completion. We propose that hygiene factors provide a baseline means of persistence in higher education, whereas the motivator factors improve the probability of student persistence in STEM majors. Our findings demonstrated that motivator factors improve the persistence model when added to hygiene factors. Hygiene factors were generally associated with STEM persistence by staying in college, while motivator factors mostly predicted persistence by remaining in the STEM major. Given the importance of motivator factors, we also tested the differential relationship between motivator factors and student persistence in STEM majors by gender and race/ethnicity due to underrepresentation in STEM fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the roles of phenotypic plasticity in adaptive evolution has gained recognition for decades. Studies involving multiple taxa have shown that gene expression plasticity serves as "long-term memory" to facilitate re-adaptations to ancestral environments. Nevertheless, the general pattern and the underlying genetic basis of expression plasticity remain unclear. The transposable elements (TEs) play crucial roles in gene expression regulation and are widely distributed within the genome. Given this, we re-analyzed the transcriptomic data of chicken (Gallus gallus) generated from a reciprocal transplant experiment to examine whether expression shifts of TEs are involved in the re-adaptation process. Similar to the protein-coding genes, the plastic changes of TEs overwhelmingly exceed the genetic changes in the re-adaptation process. Further, the associated TEs co-expressed with diverse genes to perform a regulatory activity. Thus, our study supports the general function of phenotypic plasticity in adaptive evolution, and suggests a regulatory functions of TEs in this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A robust empirical literature suggests that the development of one's political ideology is the product of an "elective affinity" between the discursive, socially constructed elements of ideological belief systems and the psychological constraints, motives, and interests of those who are drawn to those belief systems. However, most studies which support this elective affinity theory have been conducted in the West. In the present study, we tested the theory in China to see whether elective affinities between psychological traits and political ideology are more likely to be universal. Across a nationally representative sample (N = 509), we found initial support for the characterization of the left‐right divide in China, albeit in reverse. Namely, the "liberal Right in China mostly evinces traits of the psychological Left in the West (e.g., lower intolerance of ambiguity), while the "conservative Left" mostly evinces traits of the psychological right in the West (e.g., higher system justification). Epistemic motives were most reliably related to political ideology, while existential and relational motives were more mixed; economic and political aspects of ideology were more closely linked to psychological traits than social/cultural aspects. The present findings provide an extension of existing theory and opportunities for further development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high strain rate dynamic behavior of additively manufactured (AM) 316L stainless steel (SS) is investigated, and a dynamic deformation-induced microstructural evolution is examined in this study. First, the as-built microstructure feature is characterized. The grain morphology is revealed to be location-dependent and driven by the solidification process. A steep rise in the point-to-origin misorientation profile traversing a melt pool boundary is observed, quantitatively describing the influence of process-induced interface on the initial grain orientation state. The static and dynamic mechanical properties are then examined. Compared with conventional wrought 316L SS, AM 316L SS demonstrates an enhanced mechanical strength under quasi-static compression (with a ∼ 95 % increase in yield strength). Under dynamic shearing, strain rate-induced strength enhancement is observed in wrought 316L SS (with a ∼ 47 % increase in dynamic flow stress); AM 316L SS nevertheless demonstrates nearly rate-insensitive responses in its yield stress (with a ∼ 5 % increase in dynamic flow stress). Localized deformation in the form of an adiabatic shear band and the associated structural evolution are analyzed. Radical changes in crystallographic and structural features induced by high strain rate deformation are observed. Grain deformation and rotation lead to a remarkable difference in the grain orientation and spatial direction from the starting state driven by the solidification process. Upon dynamic shearing, the transmission of localized plastic deformation across melt pools is revealed, and the indication in grain rotations is discussed. The change in the geometrically necessary dislocation density is examined, hinting at the competition of the dislocation multiplication and annihilation under localized deformation. The current work enriches the understanding of the dynamic mechanical properties of AM materials at high strain rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research mainly involves the oxidation stability and thermal stability tests of commercially available 10W50 engine oil after adding organic sulfide, here hexadecyl mercaptan (C16H34S), as an additive. First, differential scanning calorimetry was applied to evaluate the oxidation induction time (OIT). Second, thermogravimetry was adopted for isothermal thermogravimetric analysis. Then kinematic viscosity was tested to calculate the viscosity index. According to the results, the sample with the optimal addition ratio was selected, and the crude oil was subjected to follow-up experiments. Thermogravimetry was utilized to perform kinematic heating thermogravimetric analysis with the thermokinetic model and to calculate the apparent activation energy. Based on the characteristic analysis of modified engine oil, it was found that hexadecyl mercaptan as a lubricant additive can effectively ameliorate its oxidation stability and obtain extended oxidation time. Among them, the sample added with 3.0 mass% additive was the optimal addition ratio and its OIT was extended to 33 min. Thermal stability was also significantly improved. Ea was increased by ca. 20 kJ mol–1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vibration performance of a tram vehicle running on the curved track is influenced by the speed of the running vehicle, the geometry of the track, the roughness of the wheel and rail, and environmental characteristics. This paper investigates the random vibration analysis of tram-track interaction on a curved track due to the polygonal wheel and track irregularity by the pseudo excitation method (PEM). The dynamic behaviour of tram-track interaction on a curve is modelled using the finite element method (FEM) and multi-body system (MBS). The field tests were carried out to acquire the rail vibration and deformation response, and also measuring the polygonal wheel wear profile to analyse and validate the dynamic behaviour tram-curved track model. The influence of the polygonal wheel on the vibration of tram-curved track coupled system and the wheel-rail contact responses are investigated by considering the wheelset flexibility. The results are illustrated through comparison between with and without the polygonal wheel in terms of time and frequency domain. The numerical results suggest that the wheelset flexibility under the polygonal wheel wear excitation would aggravate the vibration mode of the rail, car-body and axle-box, and also increase the dynamic wheel-rail contact force and creepage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The purpose of this study was to compare surgical outcomes for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) when the procedure was based on the results of drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) vs. the awake Müller's maneuver (MM). Methods Forty-seven patients with OSA who underwent sleep surgery were included. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to their preoperative upper airway evaluation method. Twenty-five patients received only MM for surgical decision making (MM group), and 22 patients received both MM and DISE (DISE group) for surgical decision making. Results The surgical success rate of the DISE group was higher than that of the MM group (59% vs. 36%), but the difference was not significant (p = 0.118). The differences between pre- and postoperative apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) values in both the MM and DISE group were highly significantly different (p < 0.001). Fifteen patients in the DISE group (68.2%) received multi-level surgery, while in the MM group only 7 patients (28%) received multi-level surgery. Patients with more severe OSA (AHI > 22 or lowest O2 saturation < 81%) had better surgical outcomes when their surgical procedures were based on the findings of DISE, rather than those of MM. Conclusion The results indicate that DISE provides no benefits with respect to surgical outcomes for patients with mild to moderate OSA; however, for patients with more severe OSA surgical procedures based on DISE result in better outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this review, the pathological aggregation and propagation of α-Syn and its toxic effects on central nervous system are elaborated, and the effects of various factors on α-Syn aggregation pattern and morphology are discussed. In view of α-Syn as a representative biomarker of Parkinson's disease, this article summarizes the current routine detection methods, and mainly focuses on the application and recent research progress of novel photochemical, electrochemical and crystal biosensors in α-Syn detection. [Display omitted] • The systematic overview of α-Syn pathogenesis in PD is innovatively summarized. • The regular methods and latest biosensors for α-Syn detection is compared and reviewed. • The development trend of α-Syn detection is prospected to offer reference to further research. Parkinson's disease (PD) is a threatening neurodegenerative disorder that seriously affects patients' life quality. Substantial evidence links the overexpression and abnormal aggregation of alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) to PD. α-Syn has been identified as a characteristic biomarker of PD, which indicates its great value of diagnosis and designing effective therapeutic strategy. This article systematically summarizes the pathogenic process of α-Syn based on recent researches, outlines and compares commonly used analysis and detection technologies of α-Syn. Specifically, the detection of α-Syn by new electrochemical, photochemical, and crystal biosensors is mainly examined. Furthermore, the speculation of future study orientation is discussed, which provides reference for the further research and application of α-Syn as biomarker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interactions between multiple bubbles are a feature of many engineering fields and are applied for military, medical, and energy exploration purposes. The difference in generation time between bubbles has a very significant effect on the subsequent formation of jets between bubbles. In this paper, interactions between three bubbles of approximately the same size arranged linearly and at equal distance from each other in a free field with different delay times are explored for the first time. A resistance wire is detonated by a high-voltage power supply with multiple branches to generate bubbles in the water. The discharge time interval between the different branches of the power supply can be precisely controlled. Using high-speed cameras to observe the interactions of the three bubbles under different time delay combinations, we observe jets of different forms and strengths. The interactions between the bubbles are classified according to the properties of the resulting jets. In addition, it is observed that taking the "piercing jet" generated by the interaction of two bubbles as a reference, a third bubble generated under different time delay combinations can enhance or weaken the jet. When the time interval between two bubbles produces an optimal piercing jet with the fastest propagation speed and the longest propagation distance, the third bubble will not affect or weaken the jet. However, when the time interval between the two bubbles does not produce an optimal jet, a third bubble generated at an appropriate time will help to increase the propagation distance and propagation velocity of the jet. Finally, the widths of the piercing jets generated by bubble coupling and the oscillation periods of the three bubbles are statistically analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The keen observation is that, if Graph HT ht , then Graph HT ht has a block structure, with its ( I i i , I j i )-th block in the form of Graph HT ht where I a SB ij sb i is the ( I i i , I j i )-th element of Graph HT ht . In this case, Graph HT ht is in the form of Graph HT ht and we use SVD to estimate the column space of Graph HT ht . [Extracted from the article]

Large tensor (multi-dimensional array) data routinely appear nowadays in a wide range of applications, due to modern data collection capabilities. Often such observations are taken over time, forming tensor time series. In this article we present a factor model approach to the analysis of high-dimensional dynamic tensor time series and multi-category dynamic transport networks. This article presents two estimation procedures along with their theoretical properties and simulation results. We present two applications to illustrate the model and its interpretations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]