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Instant delivery is an intermediary bridge for same-city O2O services and an important part of urban short-distance logistics. The route planning and scheduling of instant delivery need to balance cost and customer satisfaction and consider the impact of traffic conditions on the distribution process. In this paper, we propose a vehicle routing problem model considering two types of customer time windows under time-dependent road networks and design a memetic algorithm combined with genetic algorithm and variable neighborhood search to solve the problem. By comparing the results of the different time periods and conducting sensitivity analysis for the two types of customer time windows, the effectiveness of the model and algorithm is verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the moderator role of multidimensional wisdom (i.e. individuals' positive personality traits) on the association between caregiver burden and depressive symptoms among family caregivers of disabled older adults in China. A quota sampling was used to recruit 789 pairs of disabled older adults and their primary family caregivers in Shanghai, China, in 2013. Multiple-group path analysis was used to test the proposed model. Cognitive, reflective, and affective wisdom were found to moderate the association between burden and depressive symptoms. The association was statistically significant among those with relatively low levels of cognitive, reflective, and affective wisdom. These associations, however, were found to be statistically nonsignificant among those with relatively high levels of cognitive, reflective, and affective wisdom. The findings highlight the important role of multidimensional wisdom in the underlying mechanisms of family caregiving from the perspective of the stress process model. Policy and intervention implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lung cancer (LC) is one of the most common cancers and a leading cause of cancer‐related deaths worldwide. In many pathological conditions, particularly in the tumor microenvironment, cells and tissues frequently exist in a hypoxic state. Here, we evaluated Itchy E3 ubiquitin protein ligase (ITCH) expression in LC cells following hypoxia treatment. Methods: LC cell lines were treated with hypoxic condition. Cell migration, invasion, inflammation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and apoptosis of LC cells were determined by wound healing assay, Transwell invasive assay, ELISA, DCFH‐DA staining, and flow cytometry, respectively. qPCR and WB were used to determine the expression of ITCH and TXNIP. Co‐IP was performed to assess the interaction between ITCH and TXNIP. Results: ITCH expression was downregulated in LC cells under hypoxic conditions. Next, LC cells were subjected to hypoxic conditions and changes in cell viability and metastasis were determined. Hypoxic conditions resulted in increased migration and invasion abilities of LC cells. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, inflammation, and apoptosis were also promoted by hypoxia. We found that ITCH overexpression led to the proteasomal degradation of thioredoxin‐interacting protein (TXNIP), whereas the expression of the ITCH C830A mutant did not affect TXNIP levels in LC cells. The gain‐of‐function experiment demonstrated that migration, invasion, ROS generation, inflammation, and apoptosis of hypoxia‐conditioned LC cells were ameliorated by ITCH overexpression, whereas the ITCH C830A mutant did not cause any changes in these phenotypes. Furthermore, the contribution of TXNIP knockdown and ITCH overexpression to the hypoxia‐induced features in LC cells with ITCH C830A was found to be similar. Conclusion: Our results suggest a novel mechanism underlying the changes in ITCH‐mediated malignant phenotypes of hypoxia‐conditioned LC cells via TXNIP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• VN/Mo 2 C heterointerfaces nanoparticles are monodispersed on N-doped carbon nanosheets. • Mo 2 C and VN synergistically promote the diffusion and conversion of polysulfides. • The functional separator also has excellent protective effect on the lithium anode. • The modified separator exhibits superb electrochemical performance in Li-S batteries. Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery is deemed as one of the optimal next-generation energy storage devices due to its low cost and high energy density. However, the shuttle effect of lithium polysulfide (LiPS), sluggish reaction kinetics, and fatal Li-dendrite growth hinder its practical applications. In this work, a bifunctional nitrogen-doped carbon nanosheet conductive framework embedded with VN-Mo 2 C heterointerfaces (VN/Mo 2 C@CNS) is reported as a separator modifier for both sulfur cathode and lithium anode. The VN/Mo 2 C@CNS can offer a synergistic effect of strong surface affinity, good catalytic activity, and small diffusion barrier to accelerate the conversion of polysulfides, which was confirmed by in-situ Raman and theoretical calculation. Moreover, the composite has good lithiophilicity, thus inhibiting the formation of dendrites and achieving uniform lithium deposition. Benefiting from the above merits, the Li-S cells with VN/Mo 2 C@CNS separator obtain desirable rate performance (687 mAh g−1 at 4 C), long cycle life of 1000 cycles (0.042 % capacity attenuation per cycle at 1 C), high areal capacity of 4.2 mAh cm−2 (under a high sulfur loading of 5.6 mg cm−2), and stable performance in protecting the Li anode (at 5 mA cm−2 for 1000 h). This work highlights a novel strategy for facilely designing heterostructures, offering valuable insights to tackle sulfur cathode and lithium anode challenges simultaneously for longevous Li-S batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Screening for fentanyl has been adopted by many clinical laboratories to detect illicit drug use and monitor medication adherence. However, compared to other urine drug testing, fentanyl screening assays are relatively new and therefore their clinical performances are largely unknown. This study extensively evaluated the clinical performance, positive cutoff, and interference profile of SEFRIA fentanyl immunoassay in real patient settings. The FDA-cleared cutoff of 1.0 was verified with 21 urine samples with low or undetectable levels of fentanyl. After assay implementation, all screened-positive samples were confirmed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. A new cutoff was derived from the numeric values of the false positive (FP) screening results. The FP rates before and after implementing the new cutoff were compared. Interferences were identified by an untargeted drug analysis and confirmed by spiking experiments. A total of 3951 screening results were reviewed in the first two months of the assay utilization, 410 were screened-positive, and 157 (38 %) were FP. After a new cutoff of 1.3 was implemented, the FP rate was reduced to 17 % based on 11119 screening results. Trazodone, labetalol, and haloperidol were identified as major interferents, accounting for 56 % of the FP results using the cutoff of 1.3. By applying the new cutoff and including an interference comment to positive screening results, the FP rate was reduced from initial 38 % to 7.5 % (17 % times 56 %). • A false positive rate of 38 % was observed with the FDA-cleared cutoff of 1.0. • A new cutoff of 1.3 was implemented, and the false positive rate dropped to 17 %. • Interferences were identified by an untargeted drug analysis and spiking studies. • Trazodone, labetalol, and haloperidol accounted for 56 % of the false positives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early prostatic cancer (PCa) diagnosis significantly improves the chances of successful treatment and enhances patient survival rates. Traditional enzyme cascade-based early cancer detection methods offer efficiency and signal amplification but are limited by cost, complexity, and enzyme dependency, affecting stability and practicality. Meanwhile, sarcosine (Sar) is commonly considered a biomarker for PCa development. It is essential to develop a Sar detection method based on cascade reactions, which should be efficient, low skill requirement, and suitable for on-site testing. To address this, our study introduces the synthesis of organic-inorganic self-assembled nanoflowers to optimize existing detection methods. The Sar oxidase (SOX)-inorganic hybrid nanoflowers (Cu 3 (PO 4) 2 :Ce@SOX) possess inherent fluorescent properties and excellent peroxidase activity, coupled with efficient enzyme loading. Based on this, we have developed a dual-mode multi-enzyme cascade nanoplatform combining fluorescence and colorimetric methods for the detection of Sar. The encapsulation yield of Cu 3 (PO 4) 2 :Ce@SOX reaches 84.5 %, exhibiting a remarkable enhancement in catalytic activity by 1.26–1.29 fold compared to free SOX. The present study employing a dual-signal mechanism encompasses 'turn-off' fluorescence signals ranging from 0.5 μM to 60 μM, with a detection limit of 0.226 μM, and 'turn-on' colorimetric signals ranging from 0.18 μM to 60 μM, with a detection limit of 0.120 μM. Furthermore, our study developed an intelligent smartphone sensor system utilizing cotton swabs for real-time analysis of Sar without additional instruments. The nano-platform exhibits exceptional repeatability and stability, rendering it well-suited for detecting Sar in authentic human urine samples. This innovation allows for immediate analysis, offering valuable insights for portable and efficient biosensors applicable to Sar and other analytes. A fluorescence and smartphone colorimetric sensing dual-mode multienzyme cascade based on oxidation-induced self-assembled nanoflowers for sarcosine's sensitive and selective detection. [Display omitted] • The simple synthesis method includes SOX as part of the enzyme-like catalyst. • The fluorescence was quenched by the SOX + Sar system, with activating nanozyme activity. • The generated H 2 O 2 has the effect of killing two birds with one stone for the cascade reaction system. • A chromogenic cotton swabs-based smartphone sensing system was developed for sarcosine analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The learning and memory abilities of GHP offspring rats were significantly lower than those of normal rat offspring. • Sal treatment can significantly increase the expression of Wnt1 and Skp2 protein, and decrease the expression of P27kiwf and P21waf1protein. • Sal significantly promoted the proliferation and differentiation on neural stem cell, while Wnt1 knockdown could reverse these promotions by Sal. • Sal treatment significantly increased the expression of Tuj1, SOX2, Ki67 and DCX protein. Salidroside (Sal) has been found to protect against multiple impairments caused by diabetes, and we designed this study to investigate the effect of Sal on gestational hypertension (GHP)-induced impairment of offspring learning and memory. We established a GHP rat model by intraperitoneal injection of NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), and treated with Sal by daily gavage. We used Morris Water Maze test to evaluate the learning and memory ability of offspring rats. HE staining was used to measured the pathological changes in hippocampus of offspring. Immunohistochemistry, cellular immunofluorescence and western blot were used to detect the protein expression. The learning and memory abilities of GHP offspring rats were significantly lower than those of normal rat offspring, while Sal treatment could significantly improve the learning and memory abilities of GHP offspring rats. HE staining did not reveal pathological differences in the hippocampus of normal rats, GHP rats and Sal-treated GHP offspring rats. However, Sal treatment can significantly increase the expression of Wnt1 and Skp2 protein, and decrease the expression of P27kiwf and P21waf1 protein in the hippocampus of GHP offspring rats. In vitro, Sal significantly promoted the proliferation and differentiation on neural stem cell, while Wnt1 knockdown could reverse these promotions by Sal. In the hippocampus of GHP offspring rats, Sal treatment significantly increased the expression of Tuj1, SOX2, Ki67 and DCX protein. Salidroside significantly improves the learning and memory impairment of offspring caused by GHP, and its mechanism may be related to the fact that Salidroside promotes the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells by activating the Wnt1/Skp2 signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The published funding statement is inaccurate. The correct funding statement is as follows: This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China General Program (72373037), Social Science Foundation of Hunan Province Key Program (22ZDB080), Provincial Natural Science Foundation of Hunan (2022JJ30116).By Qian Sun; Sohail Ahmad Javeed; Yong Tang and Yan FengReported by Author; Author; Author; Author [Extracted from the article]

• The proposed model can be used for IFTs and MMPs prediction in nanopores. • Critical properties shift dominates IFT and MMP reduction over capillary pressure. • IFTs and MMPs become less sensitive to pore size when the pore radius exceeds 15 nm. • Mixing rule is more reasonable for MMP prediction in a real reservoir. CO 2 miscible flooding is considered to be a cost-effective and efficient method for improving shale oil recovery. The minimum miscibility pressure (MMP) between CO 2 and shale oil in nanopores is a crucial parameter for assessing the viability of miscible flooding. Experimental methods are often inadequate for capturing phase transition behaviors at the nanoscale. Therefore, it is essential to establish a comprehensive theoretical model to explore the phase behavior and miscibility of fluids confined in nanopores. Besides, the real shale formations have highly heterogeneous pore spaces, where the effect of pore size distribution on the MMP prediction should be properly addressed. In this research, a thermodynamic model that accounts for the nano-confinement effect is proposed to describe the interfacial tensions (IFTs) and MMPs profiles based on the vanishing interfacial tension (VIT) method. Firstly, a modified Peng-Robinson equation of state (PR-EOS) was employed for the vapor–liquid equilibrium (VLE) calculations at the nanopores by considering the capillary pressure effect and critical properties shift. Secondly, the model validation and the effect of temperature, pore radius, alkane type, and injected gas components on IFTs and MMPs were launched to analyze the nano-confinement effect. Finally, the model was applied to real shale oil to explore how pore size distribution affected the MMP in nanopores. The simulation results show that IFTs and MMPs calculated by the proposed model match very well with the experimental and molecular dynamic simulation (MD) results. The critical properties shift is the main cause for IFT and MMP reduction compared with capillary pressure. The MMPs of CO 2 -alkanes initially increase and then decrease with increasing temperature in nanopores. The IFTs and MMPs increase with pore radius, carbon number of alkanes. However, the IFTs and MMPs become less sensitive to pore size when the pore radius exceeds 15 nm. Higher C 2 H 6 & C 3 H 8 mole fractions decrease the MMP of confined fluids, while higher CH 4 mole fraction increases MMP. The MMPs calculated by considering the pore size distribution are lower than those calculated using the average pore radius. Therefore, the mixing rule should be considered when the pore size distribution is provided. We hope this model can give a more precise depiction of fluid phase behaviors in shale reservoirs, thereby facilitating the development of shale oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A mild pressure-assisted hydrothermal pretreatment was developed to facilitate PHK. • Air pressure of 3 MPa improved hemicelluloses removal more than heating up 10 °C. • Pressurised PHK facilitated the reduction of active alkali content in Kraft process. • This strategy could provide superior cellulose properties and purity. The efficient removal of hemicelluloses while preventing cellulose hydrolysis is crucial in Kraft pulping yet remains challenging. Herein, a mild pressure-assisted hydrothermal pretreatment strategy was developed in this study prior to Kraft pulping. Research indicated that pretreatment at 155 °C under 3 MPa pressure significantly enhances hemicelluloses removal (to 70.63 %), surpassing even that at 165 °C under ambient pressure. Moreover, during pre-hydrolysis Kraft pulping, pressure-assisted hydrothermal pretreatment could reduce the concentration of active alkali used in the subsequent pulping process. The cellulose properties (viscosity = 491 ml/g) and purity (R10 = 94.60 %) of bleached pulp obtained from pressure-assisted hydrothermal pretreatment outperform those obtained from conventional hydrolysis. Furthermore, the removed hemicelluloses were converted into monosaccharides and polysaccharides to produce high-value chemicals in downstream processes. Therefore, pressure-assisted hydrothermal pretreatment not only enhanced hemicelluloses removal and pulp properties but also reduced alkali concentration in the subsequent pulping process, promoting sustainable development in pulp production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Respiratory sensor based on two segments of plastic optical fibers and a clamp based on the 3D printing technology is proposed. • The experiment demonstrates the scheme's capability to detect a broad range of stable respiratory frequencies and weak signals. • An automatic multi-scale peak detection algorithm is utilized to achieve real-time display of transient respiratory rate, which enables the timely feedback of apnea and abnormal signals. A respiratory signal sensing scheme based on plastic optical fiber and smartphone is proposed. Respiratory signals are achieved by detecting the changes in abdominal circumference caused by the inhalation and exhalation of air from the lungs during breathing. A flexible clamp is prepared based on the 3D printing technology and the changes in abdominal circumference are leading to the lateral distance variation between the end face of the two plastic optical fibers in the clamp. The experiment demonstrates the scheme's capability to detect a broad range of stable respiratory frequencies and weak signals. Finally, an automatic multi-scale peak detection algorithm is utilized to achieve real-time display of transient respiratory rate, which enables the timely feedback of apnea and abnormal signals. The proposed respiratory sensing system provides an efficient, accurate, convenient and low-cost solution for human physiological signal monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance of data-driven complex ship-motion attitude prediction models not only depends on the structure and algorithm design of the model but is also affected by the quantity and quality of training samples. Insufficient available data, resulting from factors such as low sampling rates and high costs, could inhibit the achievement of optimal prediction accuracy. This limitation in turn increases the model's expected generalization error of the model and causes overfitting in regression models. Nevertheless, by artificially expanding the training dataset, data-augmentation methods enhance the resistance of the model to overfitting, thereby improving the prediction performance. This study introduces a novel data-driven model for ship-motion prediction based on the principles of Slim Generative Adversarial Imputation Networks (SGAINs). The model not only increases the amount of data but also considers temporal correlation features in the enhancement process, thus uniquely addressing the issue of poor accuracy of prediction models caused by insufficient training datasets. The simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed model for short-term ship-motion attitude data augmentation. • The autocorrelation from state variable sequences sets the sliding window length and ensures inputs' relevance. • A robust framework is effectively constructed for data expansion for ship-motion attitude. • The model's accuracy ties to training length and balances complexity and precision. Bayesian optimization boosts prediction accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyzes the difficulties associated with the preservation and transmission of religious cultural resources and the difficulties encountered in the new development environment and background. It does so in light of the current state of religious, cultural resources. The protection, growth, and use of religious and cultural resources against the backdrop of the digital era are elaborated upon and critically analyzed in this article. Based on the foregoing discussion, this article conducts a thorough analysis of the development of a digital platform for religious and cultural resources and its big data analysis, and it also suggests an image feature extraction algorithm based on DL. This article develops a clustering CNN based on the network with PCA vector as convolution kernel, which clusters small images and computes principal component vectors according to categories, generating multiple groups of convolution kernels to extract more features so that the input image can select feature extractors adaptively. Simulation and comparative analysis are used in this article to confirm the algorithm's effectiveness. Compared to the conventional NN algorithm, simulation results indicate that this algorithm is more accurate, with a maximum accuracy of about 95.14 percent. It has some reference value for the research that will be done in relation to the creation of the next digital platform for religious and cultural resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The turn of contemporary visual culture has led to the expansion of the connotation and scope of visual communication design (VCD) education, the generation of new artistic concepts and forms, and the great changes in the subject education system. VCD instruction now has an enhanced teaching environment and operational platform because of the rapid advancement of digital technology. Digital technology is expected to break through traditional learning methods in the future and will be more widely integrated into VCD courses. A topic that must be addressed and explored in the reform and growth of VCD education is how to build a fairer and more inclusive college art education subject system. Therefore, it is particularly important to design a complete VCD teaching evaluation system. In this paper, artificial intelligence technology is applied to the teaching quality evaluation (TQE) system, and a scientific and reliable TQE model is obtained. The main works of this paper are as follows: (1) analyze the background and significance of TQE research, and systematically expound the domestic and foreign research status of TQE, genetic algorithm, and neural network. (2) Using an adaptive mutation evolutionary method, this research builds a TQE system for the VCD course and produces a BPNN model. The adaptive mutation genetic algorithm's convergence speed is considerably faster than the regular genetic algorithms, the optimized neural network's performance is also superior, and the model has a faster convergence time and better prediction accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deformation and heat treatment are important means to strengthen aluminum alloys. However, the influence mechanism of pre-strain on aging precipitation kinetics and its effect on mechanical properties are still not clear. In this work, uniaxial isothermal tensile tests with different strains and artificial aging treatments for Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys have been carried out. Then, a model describing the precipitates kinetic behavior has been developed to investigate the effect of thermal pre-strain on subsequent aging precipitation kinetics and peak aging microhardness based on the microstructure characterization by TEM, SAXS and XRD tests. In addition, the role of dislocations on the aging precipitation kinetics is also explored. The experimental results show that the peak aging microhardness of the Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy reveals a tendency to decrease and increase and then the peak aging time firstly decreases and then keeps almost constant with the increase in the strain. The calculations demonstrate that the precipitate average size almost remains unchanged, while the precipitate volume fraction decreases and then increases with the increase in strain, which is consistent with the change in peak aging microhardness. It also indicates that dislocations can promote precipitate nucleation and growth, while the actual effect depends on the dislocation density, which is closely dependent on the pre-deformation condition, especially for the precipitate nucleation. In particular, when the dislocation density after thermal pre-deformation is not enough, it will slightly inhibit precipitate nucleation but promote precipitate growth, which could shorten the peak aging time, with the peak aging strength being guaranteed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The highly regulated proliferation of adipocytes plays a momentous role in fat development and obesity. Hoxa5 is an important member of the Hox family, its encoded protein is an important transcription factor related to development, and its differential expression in different adipose tissues seems to indicate that Hoxa5 may be involved in the regulation of adipocyte proliferation. To evaluate the regulatory mechanism of Hoxa5 on adipocyte proliferation, we constructed a variety of Hoxa5 expression vectors in vivo and in vitro to explore its mechanism on adipocyte proliferation and its potential impact on obesity. We observed that the overexpression of Hoxa5 strongly reduces cell counts and Hoxa5 can inhibit cell proliferation and block cell cycle progression by regulating the expression of genes such as Cyclin E, Cyclin D1, and p53. Most importantly, we demonstrated that Hoxa5 exerts its effect by regulating the signaling pathway of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) signal transduction and transcription 3 (STAT3) activator, as well as binding to the promoter region of Ccne1 and inhibiting the transcription of Ccne1. This study provides an in-depth understanding of the potential molecular mechanism of Hoxa5 inhibiting adipocyte proliferation. Our results suggest the importance of Hoxa5 in the treatment of obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PolyI:C is an immunomodulatory agent that can be used in immunotherapy, but its transportation in the body is hindered. In this study, a chitosan (CS)- graft -polyethyleneimine (PEI) copolymer (C- g -P) is prepared by an N , N ′-carbonyl diimidazole (CDI) coupling method as a drug carrier for PolyI:C and simulated antigen ovalbumin (OVA). The results of FT-IR, 1H NMR, elemental analysis and cytotoxicity studies show that PEI is successfully grafted onto CS, and a low cytotoxicity of C- g -P- x (x = 1, 2, 3) with different PEI grafting rates are obtained. C- g -P- x -PolyI:C/OVA (C- g -P- x -PO) (x = 1, 2, 3) nanoparticles are prepared by combining C- g -P- x (x = 1, 2, 3), PolyI:C and OVA by electrostatic self-assembly. The results of agarose gel electrophoresis show that PolyI:C is well coated by the graft copolymer and protected from nuclease degradation. The results show that C- g -P-1-PO nanoparticles with graft copolymer to PolyI:C (N/P) ratios of 80:1 have the best solution stability, and the OVA encapsulation efficiency is 60.6%. The nanoparticles also have a suitable size and regular shape to be absorbed by cells. In vitro immunoassay results show that PolyI:C and OVA-loaded nanoparticles promote the secretion of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interferon γ (IFN-γ). CS- g -PEI is a reliable drug carrier for the delivery of PolyI:C and OVA, and it also provides the possibility to carry other drugs. A chitosan- graft -polyethyleneimine copolymer (CS- g -PEI) was prepared by an N , N ′-carbonyl diimidazole (CDI) coupling method as a drug carrier for PolyI:C and simulated antigen ovalbumin (OVA). Nanoparticles of CS- g -PEI-PolyI:C/OVA with good solution stability, coating effect, immune characteristics and suitable size were prepared through electrostatic self-assembly. CS- g -PEI protected PolyI:C from nuclease degradation and is a reliable drug carrier for the delivery of PolyI:C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding of the morphological changes at different growth stages and lignin accumulation pattern for pine biomass plays the key role in facilitating the further development of value-added utilization and downstream conversion processes. This work systematically revealed the morphological change and lignin accumulation pattern in Chinese pine branches cell walls via confocal Raman microscopy (CRM) technology. Meanwhile, the structural characteristics of isolated lignin samples from different growth stages were synthetically characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) techniques. The results indicated that the content of pith in adult pine new branch was bigger than juvenile trees. With the increase of physiological age, the branches in adult pine could accumulate more lignin both in overall content and the concentration of cell corner middle layer. Moreover, the significantly increases of molecular weights and the β- O - 4, β-β linkages content revealed that the lignin macromolecule of pine would polymerize faster in the adult stage (14, 35 years). The panorama generated from the structural and chemical features of pine native lignin not only benefited to understand the biosynthetic pathways and lignin macromolecules structural variation in plant cell walls from different growth stages but also contributed to the valorization and deconstruction of biomass. [Display omitted] • The multi-scale structure of Chinese pine branches was systematically characterized. • The new branch pith was increscent during the growth of pine. • The branches from adult pine could accumulate more lignin in xylem CCML. • The lignin macromolecule of pine would polymerize faster at the adult stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trust in automation plays a leading role in human-automation interaction. As there lack of scales measuring trust in automation in China, the purpose of this study was to adapt the trust between People and Automation Scale (TPAS) into Chinese and to demonstrate its psychometric properties among Chinese adults. A total of 310 Chinese adults were randomly selected as sample 1, and 508 Chinese adults as sample 2. Results of the item analysis revealed that each item had a good quality, and the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) suggested that the two-factor model with 12 items was the best fitting model. In addition, the TPAS was positively correlated with Interpersonal Trust Scale (ITS), proving good evidence based on relations to other variables to support the TPAS. In sum, the study suggested that the Chinese version of the TPAS could be used as an effective tool to assess trust in automation in the Chinese context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-renewable-resource consumption and global greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions are critical issues that pose a significant threat to sustainable development. Solar energy is a promising source to generate renewable energy and an appealing alternative electricity source for households. The primary goal of this research is to detect the rooftops that have no solar photovoltaic (PV) system deployed on them but that receive moderate to high solar-energy radiation using the Geographic Information System (GIS) and deep-learning techniques. Although various studies have been conducted on this subject, not many addressed these two issues simultaneously at a residential level. Identifying the installed solar PV systems in a large area can be expensive and time-consuming work if performed manually. Therefore, the deep-learning algorithm is an emerging alternative method to detect objects using aerial images. We employed the Single-Shot-Detector (SSD) model with the backbone of residual neural network 34 (ResNet34) to detect the solar PV systems and used GIS software to compute solar isolation and calculate the electricity production estimate (EPE) of each rooftop. Our results show that the SSD model detected 6010 solar panels on 4150 properties with an accuracy of 78% and observed that there were 176 Statistical Area 1s (SA1s) that had no rooftops with solar PV systems installed. Moreover, the total electricity production from the suitable area was estimated at over 929.8 Giga Watt-hours (GWhs) annually. Finally, the relation between solar-PV-system density and EPE was also identified using the bivariant correlation technique. Detecting the existing solar PV systems is useful in a broad range of applications including electricity-generation prediction, power-plant-production management, uncovering patterns between regions, etc. Examination of the spatial distribution of solar-energy potential in a region and performing an overlay analysis with socio-economic factors can help policymakers to understand the explanation behind the pattern and strategize the incentives accordingly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ferroptosis is an iron dependent cell death closely associated with p53 signaling pathway and is aberrantly regulated in glioblastoma (GBM), yet the underlying mechanism needs more exploration. Identifying new factors which regulate p53 and ferroptosis in GBM is essential for treatment. Methods: Glioma cell growth was evaluated by cell viability assays and colony formation assays. Lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS) assays, lipid peroxidation assays, glutathione assays, and transmission electron microscopy were used to assess the degree of cellular lipid peroxidation of GBM. The mechanisms of RND1 in regulation of p53 signaling were analyzed by RT-PCR, western blot, immunostaining, co-immunoprecipitation, ubiquitination assays and luciferase reporter assays. The GBM‐xenografted animal model was constructed and the tumor was captured by an In Vivo Imaging System (IVIS). Results: From the The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, we summarized that Rho family GTPase 1 (RND1) expression was downregulated in GBM and predicted a better prognosis of patients with GBM. We observed that RND1 influenced the glioma cell growth in a ferroptosis-dependent manner when GBM cell lines U87 and A172 were treated with Ferrostatin-1 or Erastin. Mechanistically, we found that RND1 interacted with p53 and led to the de-ubiquitination of p53 protein. Furthermore, the overexpression of RND1 promoted the activity of p53-SLC7A11 signaling pathway, therefore inducing the lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis of GBM. Conclusions: We found that RND1, a novel controller of p53 protein and a positive regulator of p53 signaling pathway, enhanced the ferroptosis in GBM. This study may shed light on the understanding of ferroptosis in GBM cells and provide new therapeutic ideas for GBM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study examines an age simulation program in Hong Kong concerning the possible integrative impacts of an experiential education approach and contact experience within a natural social network among younger individuals. Method: A sample of 1121 younger individuals participated in this study. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the impact of the age simulation program. Results: The results of structural equation modeling indicated the effective impact of the age-simulation program on promoting positive attitudes toward older adults among the younger participants (β = 0.28, p <.001). The significant results of contact experience highlighted the way in which familial contact experience could bring about more positive attitudes toward the older adults (β = 0.08, p <.01) than peer group contact can (β = −0.08, p <.05). Discussion: The protocol of the presented program could provide an actionable framework for social workers and allied professionals to launch related service plans in the communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimony (Sb) is a recognized priority pollutant with toxicity that is influenced by its migration and transformation processes. Oxidation of Fe(II) to Fe(III) oxides, which is a common phenomenon in the environment, is often accompanied by the formation of Mn(III/IV) and might affect the fate of Sb. In this study, incorporated Mn(III) and sorbed/precipitated Mn(III/IV) associated with lepidocrocite were prepared by adding Mn(II) during and after Fe(II) oxidation, respectively, and the effects of these Mn species on Sb fate were investigated. Our results indicated that the association of these Mn species with lepidocrocite obviously enhanced Sb(III) oxidation to Sb(V), while concomitantly inhibiting Sb sorption due to the lower sorption capacity of lepidocrocite for Sb(V) than Sb(III). Additionally, Mn oxide equivalents increased in the presence of Sb, indicating that Sb oxidation by Mn(III/IV) associated with lepidocrocite was a continuous recycling process in which Mn(II) released from Mn(III/IV) reduction by Sb(III) could be oxidized to Mn(III/IV) again. This recycling process was favorable for effective Sb(III) oxidation. Moreover, Sb(V) generated from Sb(III) oxidation by Mn(III/IV) enhanced Mn(II) sorption at the beginning of the process, and thus favored Mn(III/IV) formation, which could further promote Sb(III) oxidation to Sb(V). Overall, this study elucidated the effects of Mn(III/IV) associated with lepidocrocite arisen from Fe(II) oxidation on Sb migration and transformation and revealed the underlying reaction mechanisms, contributing to a better understanding of the geochemical dynamics of Sb. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Line drawing with colorization is a popular art format and tool for architectural illustration. The goal of this research is toward generating a high-quality and natural-looking colorization based on an architectural line drawing. This paper presents a new Generative Adversarial Network (GAN)-based method, named ArchGANs, including ArchColGAN and ArchShdGAN. ArchColGAN is a GAN-based line-feature-aware network for stylized colorization generation. ArchShdGAN is a lighting effects generation network, from which the building depiction in 3D can benefit. In particular, ArchColGAN is able to maintain the important line features and the correlation property of building parts as well as reduce the uneven colorization caused by sparse lines. Moreover, we proposed a color enhancement method to further improve ArchColGAN. Besides the single line drawing images, we also extend our method to handle line drawing image sequences and achieve rotation animation. Experiments and studies demonstrate the effectiveness and usefulness of our proposed method for colorization prototyping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder with unclear etiology. Some genes may be pleiotropically or potentially causally associated with PCOS. In the present study, the summary data-based Mendelian randomization (SMR) method integrating genome-wide association study (GWAS) for PCOS and expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) data was applied to identify genes that were pleiotropically associated with PCOS. Separate SMR analysis was performed using eQTL data in the ovary and whole blood. Although no genes showed significant pleiotropic association with PCOS after correction for multiple testing, some of the genes exhibited suggestive significance. RPS26 showed the strongest suggestive pleiotropic association with PCOS in both SMR analyses (β[SE]=0.10[0.03], PSMR=1.72×10−4 for ovary; β[SE]=0.11[0.03], PSMR=1.40×10−4 for whole blood). PM20D1 showed the second strongest suggestive pleiotropic association with PCOS in the SMR analysis using eQTL data for the whole blood and was also among the top ten hit genes in the SMR analysis using eQTL data for the ovary. Two other genes, including CTC-457L16.2 and NEIL2, were among the top ten hit genes in both SMR analyses. In conclusion, this study revealed multiple genes that were potentially involved in the pathogenesis of PCOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To identify the optimal method for endometrial preparation in vitrified single-blastocyst transfer (VSBT) cycles. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study for non-PCOS patients who underwent VSBT cycles from March 2015 to November 2019 in an academic reproductive medical center. A total of 6840 VSBT cycles were enrolled and classified into two groups according to different endometrial preparation methods. Results: The non-PCOS patients who underwent VSBT showed a significantly higher clinical pregnancy rate (61.96% vs 56.85%, p < 0.001) and live birth rate (49.09% vs 39.86%, p < 0.001), as well as a statistically lower early miscarriage rate (12.02% vs 18.08%, p < 0.001) in the natural cycle (NC) group compared with the artificial cycle (AC) group. Multivariable analysis further confirmed that NC was associated with an increased likelihood of clinical pregnancy (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.852, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.765–0.949, p = 0.004) and live birth (aOR 0.746, 95% CI 0.669–0.832, p < 0.001), but decreased early miscarriage occurrence (aOR 1.447, 95% CI 1.215–1.724, p < 0.001) compared to AC. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that non-PCOS patients could benefit from NC in vitrified blastocyst transfer. Increased clinical pregnancy rate and decreased early miscarriage rate led to a significantly higher live birth rate in NC patients compared with AC with our present protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the relationship between socio‐economic status (SES) and prosocial practices has been extensively studied, little is known about the role that social capital plays in this relationship. This study examines the mediating effect of different forms of social capital, including informal neighbourhood capital, membership in voluntary associations, and professional connection, on the relationship between SES and prosocial practices. A total of 3,300 urban samples and 2,170 rural samples from the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) 2012 were selected to conduct two‐group structural equation modelling. Our results suggested that (a) all three forms of social capital mediated the effect of SES on donating, but only informal neighbourhood capital and membership mediated the effect of SES on volunteering, and (b) SES had a different relationship with social capital in urban China than in rural China. SES had a weak positive correlation with informal neighbourhood capital in rural areas but a negative one in urban areas. SES also had a stronger relationship with membership in voluntary associations in rural areas. Our analyses support the notion that higher SES promotes prosocial practices through social capital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lodging stress influences the yield, quality, and mechanical harvesting ability of rice (Oryza sativa L.). It is of great significance for the quantitative and objective evaluation of rice yield loss to obtain the rice lodging distribution and grade information rapidly and nondestructively. The purpose of this paper was to establish a remote sensing monitoring method for the grade of rice lodging based on change vector analysis via Sentinel-2A images before and after lodging. Taking the lodging ratio (LR) of rice in the parcel as the characterization index, the changes in spectral reflectance and vegetation index of the rice canopy under different lodging grade stresses were analyzed. A 7-dimensional space vector was composed of a canopy spectral reflectance and vegetation index. A new angle vector was formed by the angle between each vector object and the axis of the canopy spectrum (vegetation index). Based on the difference in feature vectors before and after lodging, a lodging grade monitoring model based on rice parcels was constructed, and the accuracy of the model was verified using field observations. The results showed that the spectral reflectance of the rice canopy after lodging increased with the increase in lodging stress. The difference in vegetation index before and after lodging increased with the increase in lodging severity. Based on the change in the magnitude of the canopy spectral reflectance and its angle vector, and the vegetation index and its angle vector, the R2 of the rice lodging model was 0.66, 0.66, 0.60, and 0.59, respectively, and the RMSE values were 21.03%, 20.37%, 22.13%, and 22.84%, respectively. Therefore, the accuracy of the model constructed using the vegetation index was the highest. The canopy spectral reflectance and difference in the vegetation index of rice changed regularly with lodging grade stress. The model based on the change magnitude of the vegetation index could effectively realize remote sensing monitoring of the grade of rice lodging in Wuchang. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ferroptosis plays a key role in human cancer, but its function and mechanism in glioma is not clear. P62/SQSTM1 was reported to inhibit ferroptosis via the activation of NRF2 signaling pathway. In this study we reveal a dual role of p62 in ferroptosis of glioblastoma (GBM) according to p53 status. Method: Lipid peroxidation analysis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), GSH assay were performed to determine the level of ferroptosis. Western blot and qPCR were obtained to detect the expression of ferroptosis markers. Construction of mutant plasmids, immunoprecipitation, luciferase assay and rescue-experiments were performed to explore the regulatory mechanism. Results: P62 overexpression facilitates ferroptosis and inhibits SLC7A11 expression in p53 mutant GBM, while attenuates ferroptosis and promotes SLC7A11 expression in p53 wild-type GBM. P62 associates with p53 and inhibits its ubiquitination. The p53-NRF2 association and p53-mediated suppression of NRF2 antioxidant activity are diversely regulated by p62 according to p53 status. P53 mutation status is required for the dual regulation of p62 on ferroptosis. In wild-type p53 GBM, the classical p62-mediated NRF2 activation pathway plays a major regulatory role of ferroptosis, leading to increased SLC7A11 expression, resulting in a anti-ferroptosis role. In mutant p53 GBM, stronger interaction of mutant-p53/NRF2 by p62 enhance the inhibitory effect of mutant p53 on NRF2 signaling, which reversing the classical p62-mediated NRF2 activation pathway, together with increased p53's transcriptional suppression on SLC7A11 by p62, leading to a decrease of SLC7A11, resulting in a pro-ferroptosis role. Conclusion: Together, this study shows novel molecular mechanisms of ferroptosis regulated by p62; the mutation status of p53 is an important factor that determines the therapeutic response to p62-mediated ferroptosis-targeted therapies in GBM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to develop a multifunctional wound dressing with enhanced antibacterial properties and wound healing promotion. The synthesis process involved preparing oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC) following a modified procedure, synthesizing chitosan/silver nanoparticles (CS/Ag NPs) via an in-situ reduction method, and subsequently preparing ORC/CS/Lys@Ag NPs hydrogels. Characterization techniques including FTIR, XRD, SEM, and EDS were employed to analyze functional groups, lattice structure, morphology, and elemental composition. Gelation time, swelling behavior, water retention, mechanical properties, viscosity, self-healing capacity, rheological behavior, oxygen permeability, in vitro degradation, release of Ag+, and antibacterial properties were evaluated using various experimental methods. Results indicated that the novel wound dressing has the capability to evenly distribute Ag NPs to effectively counteract bacteria. It can maintain moist conditions for 86 h, resist a sturdy mechanical pressure of 11.3 KPa, and degrade by 11.045 % ± 0.429 within 8 h. Combining its efficient gas exchange abilities, self-repairing function, and biocompatibility, almost full recovery was observed in injured mouse skin within 13 days, highlighting its promising clinical utility. [Display omitted] • Novel ORC/CS/Lys@Ag NPs hydrogel dressing successfully developed. • In situ synthesis yields well-distributed nanosilver, ensuring antibacterial efficacy. • Introduction of lysine significantly promotes comprehensive wound healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A potent ionizable lipid nanoparticle and its lyophilization formulation was developed to efficiently co-delivery of Cas9 mRNA and sgRNA for genome editing. [Display omitted] CRISPR-Cas genome editing technology holds great promise for wide-ranging biomedical applications. However, the development of efficient delivery system for CRISPR-Cas components remains challenging. Herein, we synthesized a series of ionizable lipids by conjugation of alkyl-acrylate to different amine molecules and further assembled ionizable lipid nanoparticles (iLNPs) for co-delivery of Cas9 mRNA and sgRNA. Among all the iLNP candidates, 1A14-iLNP with lipids containing spermine as amine head, demonstrated the highest cellular uptake, endosomal escape and mRNA expression in vitro. Co-delivery of Cas9 mRNA and sgRNA targeting EGFP by 1A14-iLNP achieved the highest EGFP knockout efficiency up to 70% in HeLa-EGFP cells. In addition, 1A14-iLNP displayed passive liver-targeting delivery of Cas9 mRNA in vivo with good biocompatibility. Moreover, we developed a simple method of lyophilization-mediated reverse transfection of CRISPR-Cas9 components for efficient genome editing. Therefore, the developed 1A14-iLNP and the lyophilization formulation, represent a potent solution for CRISPR-Cas9 delivery, which might broaden the future of biomedical applications of both mRNA and CRISPR-based therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The correlation between process and microstructure for laser writing Cu/C composites has been established. • The electrochemical energy storage performance of Cu/C composites has been investigated. • The factors influencing the energy storage performance of the composites have been discussed. One-step laser written copper-carbon (Cu-C) composites are ideal for assembling supercapacitors, but their structuring-performance correlation remains unclear. In this study, the microstructure of written composites has been controlled by varying the laser power. Their electrochemical energy storage performance has been investigated and compared to reveal the contribution of each component. The porous carbon-rich (C-rich) structure, introduced by laser carbonization of the substrate, can provide abundant active sites for the Faraday reaction of the copper-rich (Cu-rich) structure. The continuous sintered Cu-rich structure, obtained by laser reduction of ionic precursor and in-situ joining, can ensure fast transfer of electrons in the composites. Owing to their synergistic effect, our optimal composite exhibits an excellent specific capacity of 107.2 C/cm2 at 1 mA/cm2. This study provides a theoretical reference for the development of high-performance supercapacitors. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Our research demonstrated the significance of SDC2 and NDRG4 methylation in early CRC diagnosis and screening using fast, easy and noninvasive fecal samples. • The two genes showed a high frequency of methylation in stool and could be candidate biomarkers for CRC diagnosis with stool-based approach, especially when combined. Recent studies have identified methylated SDC2 and NDRG4 in colorectal cancer (CRC), however, the diagnostic value of the combined two genes remains undefined. This study aims to investigate the methylation of SDC2 and NDRG4 in stool samples and their application in diagnosis of CRC. Five groups were enrolled in our study which consisted of CRC (n = 138), advanced adenomas (n = 27), polyp (n = 35), intestinal disease control (n = 150), and healthy individuals (n = 28). Methylation status of SDC2 and NDRG4 in fecal samples were tested with appropriate commercial kits. Primary data were collected and statistical analyses were performed. The positive rates of both SDC2 and NDRG4 methylation in stool samples of CRC group were significantly higher (P < 0.001) than those of either group of advanced adenomas, or polyp, or intestinal disease or the healthy control. It was suggested that both methylated SDC2,NDRG4, SDC2/NDRG4 and age were independent risk factors for CRC. The sensitivity of SDC2 and NDRG4 for CRC diagnosis were 73.9 % and 63.0 %, respectively, while SDC2 combined with NDRG4 had a higher sensitivity of 85.5 %. The specificity of SDC2, NDRG4 and SDC2 combined with NDRG4 achieved 91.6 %, 88.3 % and 84.6 %, respectively. The AUC for methylated SDC2 and NDRG4 were 0.828 (95 % CI: 0.780–0.876) and 0.757 (95 % CI: 0.703–0.811), respectively. In contrast, SDC2 combined with NDRG4 improved the AUC to 0.850 (95 % CI: 0.807–0.893). This research confirmed the significance of detection of SDC2 and NDRG4 methylation by using noninvasive samples of stool. More importantly, attributing to their high level and frequency of methylation in stool, SDC2 and NDRG4 could be promising biomarkers for stool-based method for screening and early diagnosis of CRC, especially when combined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sc microalloying and isothermal multidirectional compression (IMC) are important methods to refine grains and improve the mechanical properties of Al–Zn–Mg–Cu–Zr alloys. Herein, EBSD, SAXS and TEM have been carried out to investigate the effect of IMC and minor Sc on the microstructure, especially for grain boundary wetting, and mechanical properties of aged Al–Zn–Mg–Cu–Zr alloys by melting and hot compression process parameter optimization. The results show that the strength and plasticity can be obviously improved simultaneously by minor Sc addition and IMC. Especially, stripy GBs (one kind of typical GB complexion) have been widely observed for alloy samples after microalloying Sc and IMC, which indicates the occurrence of GB wetting for Al–Zn–Mg–Cu–Zr alloy. And the GB wetting degree gradually increases for alloys with only microalloying Sc, only IMC and (microalloying Sc + IMC). Combined with GB wetting, the formation of Al 3 (Sc, Zr) due to Sc addition could inhibit the motion of dislocation and grain boundary, which promotes formation and inhibit growth of recrystallized grains, leading to further grain refinement. Besides, GB wetting degree would affect the precipitate distribution, especially for grain boundary precipitates. Also, GB wetting probably promote grain bridging, which is beneficial to improve the yield strength and ductility of Al–Zn–Mg–Cu–Zr alloys. The concurrent effect of grain refinement, the precipitate including finer Al 3 (Sc, Zr) particles, dislocation strengthening and grain bridging contribute to the simultaneous improvement of the strength and ductility of Al–Zn–Mg–Cu–Zr alloys under IMC and Sc. This study provides a new understanding on microalloying Sc combined with IMC on the microstructure and properties of Al–Zn–Mg–Cu–Zr alloys. [Display omitted] • IMC and minor Sc induce nonlinear GB wetting of Al–Zn–Mg–Cu–Zr alloy. • Sc, IMC and (Sc + IMC) cause gradually increased GB wetting degrees. • Minor Sc promotes formation and inhibits growth of recrystallization grain. • GB complexion transition affecting the mechanical properties of alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose/aim of the study: Posterior circulation stroke (PCS) accounts for 20% of ischemic stroke, and vertebrobasilar stenosis is an important cause of PCS. Notably, not all patients with artery stenosis progress to ischemic stroke, and one of the important reason is that collateral circulation construction plays important protection role in this process. Clinical presentation: Here, we present the case of a 71-year-old male who presented with lightheadedness and three episodes of loss of consciousness after bilateral subclavian artery stenting. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) demonstrated severe stenosis of the left vertebral artery, and the bilateral subclavian artery was kept open. The patient was then given the left vertebral artery stenting in an effort to resolve the vascular stenosis. As expected, he achieved a complete remission after stenting. However, 6 months later the patient suffered from loss of consciousness again. Repeat DSA confirmed restenosis of the left vertebral artery, and revealed a collateral flow to the left vertebral artery which fed by external carotid collateral branches. Then DSA was performed after 12 months, and another collateral circulation involving thyrocervical trunk was also found supplying flow to the left vertebral artery. In this process, the frequency of loss of consciousness gradually decreased as the collateral circulation construction. Conclusion: Through this case, we observe the whole process of the collateral circulation construction. Moreover, this case serves as a testament to the variability and complexity of vertebrobasilar arteriopathies, suggesting promotion of collateral flow offers the opportunity for outcome improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of customized bus (CB) service intends to expand and elevate existing transit service, which offers an efficient and sustainable alternative to serve commuters. A probabilistic model is proposed to optimize CB service with mixed vehicle sizes in an urban setting considering stochastic bus arrival time and spatiotemporal demand, which minimizes total cost subject to bus capacity and time window constraints. The studied optimization problem is combinatorial with many decision variables including vehicle assignment, bus routes, timetables, and fleet size. A heuristic algorithm is developed, which integrates a hybrid genetic algorithm (HGA) and adaptive destroy-and-repair (ADAR) method. The efficiency of HGA-ADAR is demonstrated through numerical comparisons to the solutions obtained by LINGO and HGA. Numerical instances are carried out, and the results suggested that the probabilistic model considering stochastic bus arrival time is valuable and can dramatically reduce the total cost and early and late arrival penalties. A case study is conducted in which the proposed model is applied to optimize a real-world CB service in Xi'an, China. The relationship between decision variables and model parameters is explored. The impacts of time window and variance of bus arrival time, which significantly affect service reliability, are analysed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Serum lipid abnormalities are generally considered as a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, evidence for the effect of long-term serum lipid fluctuations on future T2DM probability remains limited. Methods: A total of 4475 nondiabetic participants who underwent annual health examinations between 2010 and 2013 were followed for the subsequent 5-year risk of T2DM. The Cox proportional hazards model was performed to evaluate the associations of visit-to-visit variabilities and trajectories of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) with T2DM probability. Results: During the five-year follow-up, 223 newly developed T2DM cases were identified. Compared with the "Low" TG trajectory, "Moderate" and "Moderate-High" TG trajectories were significantly associated with T2DM incidence, with adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) of 1.51 (1.12-2.03) and 2.55 (1.62-4.03), respectively. Additionally, participants in the third and fourth quartiles of TG/standard deviation (SD) were associated with increased T2DM probability when compared with those in the lowest quartile. After excluding individuals with prediabetes, participants with "Moderate-High" TG trajectory still had a 2.43-fold greater risk of T2DM compared with those with "Low" TG trajectory (95 % CI: 1.28-4.63). In addition, compared with participants in "Low" HDL-c trajectory, the future T2DM probability was significantly reduced in those with "Moderate" and "High" HDL-c trajectories, with HR (95 % CI) of 0.52 (0.37-0.72) and 0.38 (0.18-0.80), respectively. After excluding individuals with prediabetes, the "Moderate" HDL-c trajectory remained associated with decreased T2DM probability when compared with "Low" HDL-c trajectory (HR: 0.55, 95 % CI: 0.35-0.88). However, the incidence of T2DM was not associated with the long-term fluctuations of TC and LDL-c. Conclusions: Long-term visit-to-visit variability of TG, and the change trajectories of TG and HDL-c were significantly associated with future T2DM probability. Moreover, these associations were not affected after excluding individuals with prediabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To determine the role of sodium butyrate in intestinal inflammation via regulation of high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1), we analyzed the potential mechanism in necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in a neonatal mouse model. Methods. A NEC model was created with hypoxia and cold exposure and artificial overfeeding. C57BL/6 neonatal mice were randomized into three groups: the control, untreated NEC, and sodium butyrate (150 mM)-pretreated NEC groups. Pathological variations in ileocecal intestinal tissue were observed by HE staining and scored in a double-blind manner. The mRNA expression levels of HMGB1, Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), and inflammatory cytokines in intestinal tissues were determined by quantitative real-time PCR. The protein levels of HMGB1 and associated cytokines in intestinal tissues were evaluated using ELISA. The relative protein expression levels of TLR4 and NF-κB in intestinal tissues were quantified by western blot. Results. Sodium butyrate administration improved the body weight and survival rate of NEC mice; relieved intestinal pathological injury; reduced the intestinal expression of HMGB1, TLR4, NF-κB, interleukin- (IL-) 1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α; and increased the intestinal expression of IL-10 (P < 0.05). Treatment with butyrate decreased the proportion of opportunistic Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 and Enterococcus and increased the proportion of beneficial Firmicutes and Lactobacillus in the NEC model. Conclusions. Sodium butyrate intervention relieves intestinal inflammation and partially corrects the disrupted intestinal flora in mice with NEC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: "Teach with Fun After-School Care Service (TWF)" was an educational mentoring program developing character traits among primary school students in the form of school-based mentorship, provisioned under a wider intergenerational project. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of the program on character traits development among primary students. Methods: Two multi-school controlled pretest–posttest trials were conducted in primary one through three across two school years between 2016 and 2018. Among students, 37 (34.6%) were of ethnic minority and with special educational needs. Treatment group of 107 students were compared with 53 in comparison group on traits of self-control, responsibility, cooperation, kindness, and courtesy. Results: Results demonstrated interaction effects between time and group for self-control (p =.026), responsibility (p =.038), and courtesy (p =.042). Discussion: This research provides evidence for TWF's intervention model and offers implications for intergenerational programs. Findings enrich cumulative knowledge about desirable social outcomes in education setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive glioma, and is prone to develop resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy; hence, patients with glioblastoma have a high recurrence rate and a low 1‐year survival rate. In addition, the pathogenesis of glioblastoma is complex and largely unknown, and the available treatments are limited. Here, we uncovered a fundamental role of DYRK1A in regulating NFATC1 in GBMs. We found that DYRK1A was highly expressed in glioma and glioblastoma cells, and its expression was positively correlated with that of NFATC1. Moreover, inhibition of DYRK1A promoted NFATC1 degradation in GBM cells and sharply reduced the transactivation of NFATC1, not only by decreasing the expression of NFATC1‐targeted genes, but also by reducing the luciferase activity, and vice versa. However, DYRK1A had the opposite effect on NFATC2. Most importantly, our data suggest that DYRK1A inhibition reduces glioblastoma migration. Polypeptides derived from the DYRK1A‐targeted motif of NFATC1, by competitively blocking DYRK1A kinase activity on NFATC1, clearly destabilized NFATC1 protein and impaired glioblastoma migration. We propose that the recovery of NFATC1 stability is a key oncogenic event in a large proportion of gliomas, and pharmacological inhibition of DYRK1A by polypeptides could represent a promising therapeutic intervention for GBM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In social insects, the reproductive division of labor is often regulated through communication using cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) that indicate caste identity and reproductive status. In many termites, workers retain reproductive potential and can differentiate into ergatoid reproductives, and this process is mediated by the presence of reproductives in sex- and age-specific patterns. However, little is known about the variation of CHCs profiles during this transition. In this study, we analyzed the CHC profiles of workers in comparison with ergatoids of different age, sex, and mating status in the eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae), one of the most widely distributed termite species in the world. Both female and male ergatoids were characterized by the presence of tricosane and a group of long-chain and methyl-branched hydrocarbons (chain length ≥ 33), which were found in significantly lower quantities from workers. In addition, CHC profiles differed between newly differentiated (3–4 d) and old (20–25 d) ergatoids, but no difference in CHC signatures was found between females and males based on identified compounds. Heneicosane, a previously reported royal recognition pheromone in R. flavipes , was not detected in ergatoids examined in this study. The results of caste- and age-dependent variations suggest that CHCs may act as releaser pheromones that mediate caste recognition and age-related interactions between reproductives, but analytical results of identified compounds in this study do not support CHCs as sex-specific primer pheromones that regulate nestmate fertility. Royal pheromones in termites may involve complex hydrocarbon blends and non-hydrocarbon substances that await further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fatigue is one of the most distressing symptoms in renal transplant patients, causing functional impairment and worsening their quality of life. However, the mechanism by which fatigue affects physical activity is unclear. A cross-sectional study using a convenient sampling approach was utilized to investigate 665 kidney transplant recipients recruited from the transplantation centers of six general hospitals from July and September 2019. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the interaction among fatigue, fear of movement, physical self-efficacy, and physical activity. Our study found fatigue was directly negatively associated with physical activity and had an indirect impact on physical activity through the mediating effects of physical self-efficacy and fear of movement. These variables accounted for 44.4% of the variation in physical activity. Our findings alert healthcare providers for the importance of fatigue management for physical activity and focused attention on fear of movement and physical self-efficacy in renal transplant recipients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the spin-polarized first-principles calculations, we revealed that two-dimensional transition metal nitride MXenes Cr2NX2 (X = O, F, OH) are excellent two-dimensional half-metallic ferromagnetic materials. Their structures and ferromagnetic ground states are stable well above room temperature. In addition, their large half-metal bandgaps are enough to prevent spin reversal and ensure high spin filtering efficiency and large spin mean free paths. The half-metallic property of these functionalized Cr2NX2 systems is robust and can be maintained under tensile strains up to 10%. These predictions suggest that the functionalized Cr2NX2 is of great significance for the development of highly efficient spintronic devices for room temperature applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional transition metal carbide Cr2C is a potential magnetic material with controllable magnetic properties. The structures of MoS2 and Cr2CX2 (X = O, F, OH) are similar, and the lattice constants are about the same. The present work addresses interfaces between the nonmagnetic semiconductor MoS2 and the ferromagnetic metal Cr2C and Cr2CO2, as well as the antiferromagnetic semiconductor Cr2CX2 (X = F and OH), to explore the potential of these new hybrid systems in all-2D electronic and optoelectronic devices. The electronic structure of the van der Waals heterostructures composed of the MoS2 and Cr2CX2 monolayers is studied using first-principles method. Our results show that the electronic structure of the MoS2/Cr2CX2 heterostructures with different functional groups is very different. While MoS2/Cr2C and MoS2/Cr2CO2 are metals, MoS2/Cr2CF2 and MoS2/Cr2C(OH)2 are semiconductors. Biaxial strain applied to the heterostructures of MoS2/Cr2CF2 and MoS2/Cr2C(OH)2 makes their band gap decreasing and even causes a phase transition from semiconductor to metal. The results indicate that the MoS2/Cr2CX2 heterostructures can have tunable electronic and magnetic properties with different functional groups introduced or strain applied, which would have potential applications in designing high-performance electronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new compounds, crotalariapallins A-C (1-3), were isolated from the 95% EtOH extract of the seeds of Crotalaria pallida. Their structures were established based on extensive spectroscopic methods, including HRESIMS, UV, 1D and 2D NMR. All compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory activities to tyrosinase. These compounds showed different degrees of inhibitory activities, among them, compound 3 exhibited the strongest inhibition activity (IC50 = 0.42 mM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Journey to crime describes the spatial patterns of offenders from their residential area to the crime location. When compared to other research topics regarding urban crime, there is still a lack of research on journey to crime, especially in China, as a result of which the behavioural motivation of offenders cannot be comprehensively examined. Four typical types of crimes committed against property (pickpocketing, robbery, theft and burglary) were investigated in the Nanguan District of Changchun from 2010 to 2016. The results showed significant effects of the demographic characteristics of offenders and spatiotemporal factors on the journey to crime. In terms of the place of household registration, offenders from the central urban districts of Changchun tend to commit short‐distance local robbery, whereas those from the suburban counties tend to commit long‐distance non‐local crimes. With increasing population density, the proportion of local plunders increases directly. This study aims to encourage urban managers to rethink the governance of floating populations, and assist police in strengthening social security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Lung cancer (LC) and breast cancer (BC) are the most common causes of brain metastases (BMs). Time from primary diagnosis to BM (TPDBM) refers to the time interval between initial LC or BC diagnosis and development of BM. This research aims to identify clinical, molecular, and therapeutic risk factors associated with shorter TPDBM. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all diagnosed LC and BC patients with BM at Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital from 2016 to 2020. A total of 570 patients with LC brain metastasis (LCBM) and 173 patients with breast cancer brain metastasis (BCBM) patients who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled for further analysis. BM free survival time curves were generated using Kaplan–Meier analyses. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were applied to identify risk factors associated with earlier development of BM in LC and BC, respectively. Results: The median TPDBM was 5.3 months in LC and 44.4 months in BC. In multivariate analysis, clinical stage IV and M1 stage were independent risk factors for early development of LCBM. LC patients who received chemotherapy, targeted therapy, pulmonary radiotherapy, and pulmonary surgery had longer TPDBM. For BC patients, age ≥ 50 years, Ki67 ≥ 0.3, HER2 positive or triple‐negative breast cancer subtype, advanced N stage, and no mastectomy were correlated with shorter TPDBM. Conclusions: This single‐institutional study helps identify patients who have a high risk of developing BM early. For these patients, early detection and intervention could have clinical benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitric oxide (NO) exhibits both pro‐ and anti‐tumor effects. Therefore, real‐time in vivo imaging and quantification of tumor NO dynamics are essential for understanding the conflicting roles of NO played in pathophysiology. The current molecular probes, however, cannot provide high‐resolution imaging in deep tissues, making them unsuitable for these purposes. Herein, we designed a photoacoustic probe with an absorption maximum beyond 1000 nm for high spatial quantitative imaging of in vivo tumor NO dynamics. The probe exhibits remarkable sensitivity, selective ratiometric response behavior, and good tumor‐targeting abilities, facilitating ratiometric imaging of tumor NO throughout tumor progression in a micron‐resolution level. Using the probe as the imaging agent, we successfully quantified NO dynamics in tumor, liver and kidney. We have pinpointed an essential concentration threshold of around 80 nmol/cm3 for NO, which plays a crucial role in the "double‐edged‐sword" function of NO in tumors. Furthermore, we revealed a reciprocal relationship between the NO concentration in tumors and that in the liver, providing initial insights into the possible NO‐mediated communication between tumor and the liver. We believe that the probe will help resolve conflicting aspects of NO biology and guide the design of imaging agents for tumor diagnosis and anti‐cancer drug screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitric oxide (NO) exhibits both pro‐ and anti‐tumor effects. Therefore, real‐time in vivo imaging and quantification of tumor NO dynamics are essential for understanding the conflicting roles of NO played in pathophysiology. The current molecular probes, however, cannot provide high‐resolution imaging in deep tissues, making them unsuitable for these purposes. Herein, we designed a photoacoustic probe with an absorption maximum beyond 1000 nm for high spatial quantitative imaging of in vivo tumor NO dynamics. The probe exhibits remarkable sensitivity, selective ratiometric response behavior, and good tumor‐targeting abilities, facilitating ratiometric imaging of tumor NO throughout tumor progression in a micron‐resolution level. Using the probe as the imaging agent, we successfully quantified NO dynamics in tumor, liver and kidney. We have pinpointed an essential concentration threshold of around 80 nmol/cm3 for NO, which plays a crucial role in the "double‐edged‐sword" function of NO in tumors. Furthermore, we revealed a reciprocal relationship between the NO concentration in tumors and that in the liver, providing initial insights into the possible NO‐mediated communication between tumor and the liver. We believe that the probe will help resolve conflicting aspects of NO biology and guide the design of imaging agents for tumor diagnosis and anti‐cancer drug screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]