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Abstract The microinjection of Zebrafish embryos is significant to life science and biomedical research. In this article, a novel automated system is developed for cell microinjection. A sophisticated microfluidic chip is designed to transport, hold, and inject cells continuously. For the first time, a microinjector with microforce perception is proposed and integrated within the enclosed microfluidic chip to judge whether cells have been successfully punctured. The deep learning model is employed to detect the yolk center of zebrafish embryos and locate the position of the injection needle within the yolk, which enables enhancing the precision of cell injection. A prototype is fabricated to achieve automatic batch microinjection. Experimental results demonstrated that the injection efficiency is about 20 seconds per cell. Cell puncture success rate and cell survival rate are 100% and 84%, respectively. Compared to manual operation, this proposed system improves cell operation efficiency and cell survival rate. The proposed microinjection system has the potential to greatly reduce the workload of the experimenters and shorten the relevant study period.

Abstract Background Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is a kind of vascular obstruction, that commonly and widely occurs in lower limbs. Due to the lack of obvious symptoms in the early stage, the rate of misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis is high. This study evaluated the expression and significance of lncRNA ASB16-AS1 (ASB16-AS1) in DVT aiming to identify a novel biomarker for its screening and monitoring. Methods There were 77 DVT patients and 62 healthy individuals included in this study. Plasma ASB16-AS1 level was evaluated using PCR and compared between DVT and healthy groups. The diagnostic and prognostic values of ASB16-AS1 were assessed with ROC and Cox analyses. The correlation of ASB16-AS1 with patients’ conditions, inflammation, and oxidative stress was evaluated by Spearman correlation analysis. Results ASB16-AS1 was significantly upregulated in DVT (P

Abstract Background Developing proficiency in ultrasound-guided nerve block (UGNB) demands an intricate understanding of cross-sectional anatomy as well as spatial reasoning, which is a big challenge for beginners. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility of virtual reality (VR)-facilitated anatomy education in the first performance of ultrasound-guided interscalene brachial plexus blockade among novice anesthesiologists. We carried out pilot testing of this hypothesis using a prospective, single blind, randomized controlled trial. Methods Twenty-one anesthesia trainees with no prior ultrasonography or nerve block training were included in this study. All participants underwent a training program encompassing theory and hands-on practice. Trainees were randomized into one of two groups: one received VR-assisted anatomy course while the other did not. Subsequently, both groups completed identical practical modules on ultrasound scanning and needle insertion. The primary end point was defined as the evaluation of trainees’ performance during their initial ultrasound-guided interscalene brachial plexus block, assessed using both the Global Rating Scale (GRS) and a task-specific Checklist. The secondary end point included the improvement in scores for written multiple-choice questions (MCQs). Results In evaluating practical ultrasound-guided nerve block skills, the VR group significantly outperformed the control group on the task-specific Checklist (29.23 ± 3.91 vs. 24.85 ± 5.13; P 0.05). Conclusions Overall, the findings of this pilot study suggest that immersive virtual reality training in anatomy may contribute to improving the proficiency of ultrasound-guided brachial plexus blocks among novice anesthesiologists. Incorporating VR into future anesthesia technique training programs should be considered. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: ChiCTR2300067437. Date of Registration Jan 9, 2023.

Abstract The detection of gravitational waves has ushered in a new era of observing the universe. Quantum resource advantages offer significant enhancements to the sensitivity of gravitational wave observatories. While squeezed states for ground-based gravitational wave detection have received marked attention, the generation of squeezed states suitable for mid-to-low-frequency detection has remained unexplored. To address the gap in squeezed state optical fields at ultra-low frequencies, we report on the first direct observation of a squeezed vacuum field until Fourier frequency of 4 millihertz with the quantum noise reduction of up to 8.0 dB, by the employment of a multiple noise suppression scheme. Our work provides quantum resources for future gravitational wave observatories, facilitating the development of quantum precision measurement.

BackgroundOlder persons comprise most traumatic brain injury (TBI)-related hospitalizations and deaths and are particularly susceptible to fall-induced TBIs. The combination of increased frailty and susceptibility to clinical decline creates a significant ongoing challenge in the management of geriatric TBI. As the population ages and co-existing medical conditions complexify, so does the need to improve the quality of care for this population. Utilizing early hospital admission variables, this study will create and validate a multinomial decision tree that predicts the discharge disposition of older patients with fall-related TBI.MethodsFrom the National Trauma Data Bank, we retrospectively analyzed 11,977 older patients with a fall-related TBI (2017-2021). Clinical variables included Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, intracranial pressure monitor use, venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis, and initial vital signs. Outcomes included hospital discharge disposition re-categorized into home, care facility, or deceased. Data were split into two sets, where 80% developed a decision tree, and 20% tested predictive performance. We employed a conditional inference tree algorithm with bootstrap (B = 100) and grid search options to grow the decision tree and measure discrimination ability using the area under the curve (AUC) and calibration plots.ResultsOur decision tree used seven admission variables to predict the discharge disposition of older TBI patients. Significant non-modifiable variables included total GCS and injury severity scores, while VTE prophylaxis type was the most important interventional variable. Patients who did not receive VTE prophylaxis treatment had a higher probability of death. The predictive performance of the tree in terms of AUC value (95% confidence intervals) in the training cohort for death, care, and home were 0.66 (0.65-0.67), 0.75 (0.73-0.76), and 0.77 (0.76-0.79), respectively. In the test cohort, the values were 0.64 (0.62-0.67), 0.75 (0.72-0.77), and 0.77 (0.73-0.79).ConclusionsWe have developed and internally validated a multinomial decision tree to predict the discharge destination of older patients with TBI. This tree could serve as a decision support tool for caregivers to manage older patients better and inform decision-making. However, the tree must be externally validated using prospective data to ascertain its predictive and clinical importance.

IntroductionUniversity campuses, with their abundant natural resources and sports facilities, are essential in promoting walking activities among students, faculty, and nearby communities. However, the mechanisms through which campus environments influence walking activities remain insufficiently understood. This study examines universities in Wuhan, China, using crowdsourced data and machine learning methods to analyze the nonlinear and interactive effects of campus built environments on exercise walking.MethodsThis study utilized crowdsourced exercise walking data and incorporated diverse campus characteristics to construct a multidimensional variable system. By applying the XGBoost algorithm and SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations), an explainable machine learning framework was established to evaluate the importance of various factors, explore the nonlinear relationships between variables and walking activity, and analyze the interaction effects among these variables.ResultsThe findings underscore the significant impact of several key factors, including the proportion of sports land, proximity to water bodies, and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index NDVI, alongside the notable influence of six distinct campus area types. The analysis of nonlinear effects revealed distinct thresholds and patterns of influence that differ from other urban environments, with some variables exhibiting fluctuated or U-shaped effects. Additionally, strong interactions were identified among variable combinations, highlighting the synergistic impact of elements like sports facilities, green spaces, and waterfront areas when strategically integrated.ConclusionThis research contributes to the understanding of how campus built environments affect walking activities, offering targeted recommendations for campus planning and design. Recommendations include optimizing the spatial configuration of sports facilities, green spaces, and water bodies to maximize their synergistic impacts on walking activity. These insights can foster the development of inclusive, health-promoting, and sustainable campuses.

Abstract In robotic-assisted surgery (RAS), traditional surgical instruments without sensing capability cannot perceive accurate operational forces during the task, and such drawbacks can be largely intensified when sophisticated tasks involving flexible and slender arms with small end-effectors, such as in gastrointestinal endoscopic surgery (GES). In this study, we propose a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) piezoresistive 3-axial tactile sensor for GES forceps, which can intuitively provide surgeons with online force feedback during robotic surgery. The MEMS fabrication process facilitates sensor chips with miniaturized dimensions. The fully encapsulated tactile sensors can be effortlessly integrated into miniature GES forceps, which feature a slender diameter of just 3.5 mm and undergo meticulous calibration procedures via the least squares method. Through experiments, the sensor’s ability to accurately measure directional forces up to 1.2 N in the Z axis was validated, demonstrating an average relative error of only 1.18% compared with the full-scale output. The results indicate that this tactile sensor can provide effective 3-axial force sensing during surgical operations, such as grasping and pulling, and in ex vivo testing with a porcine stomach. The compact size, high precision, and integrability of the sensor establish solid foundations for clinical application in the operating theater.

Abstract Evidence regarding the role of chronic low-grade inflammation in the progression of cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) and cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM) is currently limited. This prospective cohort study, utilising data from the UK Biobank, included 273,804 adults aged 40–69 years initially free of CMD at baseline. CMM was defined as the coexistence of two or more CMDs, such as coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension and stroke. The aggregated inflammation score (INFLA-score), incorporating C-reactive protein, white blood cell count, platelet count and granulocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio, quantified chronic low-grade inflammation. Absolute risks (ARs), hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) assessed the association of increased INFLA-score with the risk of CMMs and CMDs. The accelerated failure time model explored the effect of INFLA-score on the time to CMM onset, and a restricted cubic spline characterised the dose-dependent relationship between INFLA-score and CMM risk. After a median follow-up of 166.37 months, 13,755 cases of CMM were identified. In quartiles with increasing INFLA-score levels, CMM ARs were 4.41%, 4.49%, 5.04% and 6.01%, respectively; HR increased by 2%, 15% and 36%, respectively, compared to the lowest quartile. The INFLA-score and CMM risk relationship was nonlinear (P for nonlinear

This study aimed to select suit glutinous rice varieties for the production of sweet rice wine. The wine was prepared by using 25 glutinous rice varieties harvest in Huaiyuan as raw materials. The basic components of glutinous rice, and the physicochemical properties the wine were compared. The sensory characteristics were investigated by using electronic tongue, electronic nose, sensory evaluation, the relationship among the basic components of glutinous rice, physicochemical properties, and sensory qualities of rice wine was established by correlation analysis. The results showed that the total starch content of 25 kinds of glutinous rice was 59.0~81.0 g/100 g, the amylose content was 1.0~3.5 g/100 g, and the protein content was 6.6~8.5 g/100 g. The alcohol content of 25 kinds of sweet rice wine was 0.8%vol~2.8%vol, the reducing sugar content was 15.5~31.8 g/100 g, and the total acid content was 0.29~0.66 g/100 g, which met the requirements of clear-juice type rice wine stipulated by industry standard. All rice wine presented antioxidant activity to some extent, while this made from 'Funuo 628' showed the best antioxidant activity, with DPPH free radical clearance and iron ion reducing ability reaching 71.3% and 15.7 μg VC/mL, respectively. The sensory of 25 kinds of rice wine had significant differences. 13 kinds of rice wine were significantly better than the commercial Xiaogan rice wine among them, while the others were similar to the commercial one. The reducing sugar and total acid contents dominated in determining the sensory scores. 'Funuo 628' exhibited the advantages of both high sensory quality and good antioxidant activity, which therefore was potential to develop sweet rice wine with unique flavors and functional properties.

Abstract Skillful subseasonal forecasts are crucial for various sectors of society but pose a grand scientific challenge. Recently, machine learning-based weather forecasting models outperform the most successful numerical weather predictions generated by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), but have not yet surpassed conventional models at subseasonal timescales. This paper introduces FuXi Subseasonal-to-Seasonal (FuXi-S2S), a machine learning model that provides global daily mean forecasts up to 42 days, encompassing five upper-air atmospheric variables at 13 pressure levels and 11 surface variables. FuXi-S2S, trained on 72 years of daily statistics from ECMWF ERA5 reanalysis data, outperforms the ECMWF’s state-of-the-art Subseasonal-to-Seasonal model in ensemble mean and ensemble forecasts for total precipitation and outgoing longwave radiation, notably enhancing global precipitation forecast. The improved performance of FuXi-S2S can be primarily attributed to its superior capability to capture forecast uncertainty and accurately predict the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO), extending the skillful MJO prediction from 30 days to 36 days. Moreover, FuXi-S2S not only captures realistic teleconnections associated with the MJO but also emerges as a valuable tool for discovering precursor signals, offering researchers insights and potentially establishing a new paradigm in Earth system science research.

Bursting is a crucial form of firing in neurons, laden with substantial information. Studying it can aid in understanding the neural coding to identify human behavioral characteristics conducted by these neurons. However, the high-dimensionality of many neuron models imposes a difficult challenge in studying the generative mechanisms of bursting. On account of the high complexity and nonlinearity characteristic of these models, it becomes nearly impossible to theoretically study and analyze them. Thus, this paper proposed to address these issues by focusing on the midbrain dopamine neurons, serving as the central neuron model for the investigation of the bursting mechanisms and bifurcation behaviors exhibited by the neuron. In this study, we considered the dimensionality reduction of a high-dimensional neuronal model and analyzed the dynamical properties of the reduced system. To begin, for the original thirteen-dimensional model, using the correlation between variables, we reduced its dimensionality and obtained a simplified three-dimensional system. Then, we discussed the changing characteristics of the number of spikes within a burst by simultaneously varying two parameters. Finally, we studied the co-dimension-2 bifurcation in the reduced system and presented the bifurcation behavior near the Bogdanov-Takens bifurcation.

Summary: Kidney tissue injury in renal artery stenosis (RAS) involves inflammation, endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), and mitochondria damage. Tumor necrosis factor-stimulated gene-6 (TSG-6), an endogenous reparative molecule, may decrease ERS and improve renal function. To assess its impact on the stenotic murine kidney, we injected TSG-6 or vehicle for two weeks in mice with RAS. At completion, we assessed stenotic kidney function and oxygenation, inflammation, and expression of ERS-related genes. TSG-6 treatment reduced renal hypoxia, urinary protein and plasma creatinine levels, renal fibrosis, and apoptosis. TSG-6 also exhibited an anti-inflammatory effect, reflected in the downregulated expression of the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) pathway in murine kidneys in vivo and HK-2 cells in vitro. Moreover, ERS-related molecules were downregulated after TSG-6 treatment, while most indicators of mitochondrial unfolded protein response remained unaltered. Therefore, TSG-6 alleviates inflammation, ERS, apoptosis, and fibrosis in the post-stenotic mouse kidney. These observations position TSG-6 as a potential therapeutic tool in RAS.

Purpose: We evaluated and benchmarked a novel deformable image registration (DIR) software functionality (DirOne, Cosylab d.d., Ljubljana, Slovenia) by comparing it to two commercial systems, MIM and VelocityAI, following AAPM task group 132 (TG-132) guidelines. Methods: Three publicly available datasets were used for evaluation. The first dataset includes primary and deformed phantom images for a male pelvis. The second, from DIR-Lab, contains ten sets of 4D CT thoracic scans. The third dataset, from the DIR Evaluation Project (DIREP), includes ten head and neck CTs. VelocityAI and MIM served as benchmarks to assess DirOne’s performance. Target registration error (TRE), dice similarity coefficient (DSC), and mean distance to agreement (MDA) were the evaluation metrics. Results: For TRE, the average results for DirOne, MIM, and VelocityAI were 3.3 ± 3.1 mm, 2.7 ± 3.7 mm, and 3.4 ± 2.4 mm, respectively. For DSC, DirOne achieved 0.96 ± 0.02, MIM 0.98 ± 0.02, and VelocityAI 0.98 ± 0.01 across the first and second datasets. In the DIREP dataset, DirOne achieved 0.73 ± 0.34 for MDA and 0.91 ± 0.03 for DSC; MIM achieved 0.54 ± 0.36 and 0.93 ± 0.02, and VelocityAI 0.93 ± 0.38 and 0.90 ± 0.03. Conclusion: The novel DIR software demonstrated clinically acceptable accuracy compared to other commercial systems, supporting its potential use in radiotherapy treatment planning applications such as automatic image segmentation, 4D segmentation propagation, and dose warping.

The utilization of Ramsey interferometry via coherent population trapping (CPT), which enables the optical interrogation of microwave transitions without the reliance on microwave cavities, plays a crucial role in the advancement of compact and low-power quantum sensors. Particularly, high-resolution CPT-Ramsey spectroscopy of alkali-metal atoms has found extensive application in constructing miniaturized quantum sensors like atomic magnetometers and atomic clocks. Due to their well-defined environment and extended coherence time, cold atoms offer enhanced sensitivity and precision in CPT-Ramsey interferometry. This review comprehensively examines CPT-Ramsey interferometry with cold atoms, encompassing both conventional and multi-pulse techniques, and explores their potential applications in practical quantum sensors.

Succinylation modification involves in the progression of human cancers. The present study aimed to investigate the role of CPT1A, which is a succinyltransferase in the progression of prostate cancer (PCa). CCK-8 was used to detect the cell viability. Seahorse was performed to evaluate the cell glycolysis. Luciferase assay was used to detect the transcriptional regulation. ChIP was performed to assess the binding between transcriptional factors with the promoters. Co-IP was used to assess the binding between proteins. We found that CPT1A was highly expressed in PCa tissues and cell lines. Silencing of CPT1A inhibited the viability and glycolysis of PCa cells. Mechanistically, CPT1A promoted the succinylation of SP5, which strengthened the binding between SP5 and the promoter of PDPK1. SP5 activated PDPK1 transcription and PDPK1 activated the AKT/mTOR signal pathway. These findings might provide novel targets for the diagnosis or therapy of prostate cancer.

Objective The aim of this study was to determine how the COVID-19 pandemic affected patient demographics, injury mechanisms, interhospital transfers and mortality of patients with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) treated in US emergency departments (EDs).Design This cross-sectional study analysed 2016–2020 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) data.Setting US EDs contained in the NEDS.Participants Participants were patients with moderate and severe TBI who visited the ED.Primary and secondary outcome measures Probability sampling design and survey weights generated nationally representative estimates of ED visits by patient demographics, hospital characteristics and COVID-19 diagnosis and the top four leading TBI causes. To assess COVID-19 impact, we calculated the per cent change of estimated TBI ED visits and disposition outcomes from 2016 to 2019 and 2019 to 2020, and proportion and 95% CI of injury severity groups and admitted/transfer by hospital type and trauma centre level. A multivariable logistic regression model identified the mortality OR by patient demographics, injury severity, hospital characteristics and COVID-19 positive diagnosis.Results In 2020, there were 527 123 ED visits nationally for TBI, 4.3% higher than 2016 but 1.0% lower than 2019. Patients with TBI transferring to short-term hospitals and other facilities increased by 16.0% and 18.2%, respectively, from 2016 to 2019 and were 3.7% and 14.1% higher in 2020 than in 2019. An estimated 3317 patients with TBI died (in ED or later in hospital) in 2020, which is 9.8% higher than 2019. Firearm-related TBI proportion was 15.1% higher in 2020 than in 2019. Patients with TBI with injury severity scores 25–75 were significantly higher at nontrauma (29.4% vs 31.9 %) and level III trauma centres (34.9% vs 38.2%) in 2020 than in 2019. Patients with TBI treated at rural hospitals had significantly higher odds of mortality (OR=1.95, CI=1.58–2.40) than those at urban hospitals.Conclusions TBI patient mortality was higher at all US hospital types and almost all trauma centre levels in 2020 than in 2019. Patients with TBI treated at rural hospitals had a significantly higher mortality risk.

Summary: Background: The influence of the gut microbiota on long-term immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) efficacy and immune-related adverse events (irAEs) is poorly understood, as are the underlying mechanisms. Methods: We performed gut metagenome and metabolome sequencing of gut microbiotas from patients with lung cancer initially treated with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy and explored the underlying mechanisms mediating long-term (median follow-up 1167 days) ICI responses and immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Results were validated in external, publicly-available datasets (Routy, Lee, and McCulloch cohorts). Findings: The ICI benefit group was enriched for propionate (P = 0.01) and butyrate/isobutyrate (P = 0.12) compared with the resistance group, which was validated in the McCulloch cohort (propionate P

Most studies on the genesis of polymetallic nodules suggested that nodules in the South China Sea (SCS) are hydrogenetic; however, the complexity and the heterogeneity in hydrology and geochemistry of the SCS might cause different processes of nodule formation, impacting their application and economic value. Microbial-mediated ferromanganese deposition is an important process in nodule formation, but the related microbial potentials are still unclear in the SCS. In this study, we sampled in three typical regions (A, B, and C) of the SCS enriched with polymetallic nodules. Firstly, we investigated environmental and microbial characteristics of the water columns to determine the heterogeneity of upper seawater that directly influenced deep-sea environments. Then, microbial compositions and structures in sediment cores, overlying waters, and nodules (inside and outside) collected within the same region were analyzed for inferring features of nodule environments. Microbial interactions between nodules and surrounding environments were estimated with collinear network analysis. The microbial evidence indicated that geochemical characteristics in deep sea of the SCS that were key to the polymetallic nodule formation were severely affected by organic matter flux from upper water column. The sediment in region A was sub-oxic due to the large input of terrigenous and phytoplankton-derived organic matter, potentially enhancing the overflow of reduced metals from the porewater. The intense microbial interaction between nodules and surface sediment reinforced the origin of metals for the ferromanganese deposition from the sediment (diagenetic type). Contrarily, the sediments in regions B and C were relatively rich in oxygen, and metal ions could be majorly supplied from seawater (hydrogenetic type). The large discrepancy in microbial communities between nodule inside and remaining samples suggested that nodules experienced a long-term formation process, consistent with the feature of hydrogenetic nodules. Overall, distributions and interactions of microbial communities in nodules and surrounding environments significantly contributed to the nodule formation in the SCS by manipulating biogeochemical processes that eventually determined the source and the fate of metal ions.

ABSTRACT Background In the era of novel agents, the clinical outcomes of induction treatment and the impact of the number of high‐risk cytogenetic abnormalities (HRA) in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) need to be explored. Objective Through this study, we aim to analyze the effectiveness of different induction treatments and explore the survival outcomes of patients with varying numbers of HRA. Methods A total of 734 patients from seven medical centers were included in our study. Results Patients in the CD38 monoclonal antibody or IMiDs plus proteasome inhibitors (PI) groups had significantly superior overall survival (OS) and progression‐free survival (PFS) compared to those receiving IMiDs or PI alone. Additionally, the CD38 monoclonal antibody conferred a PFS advantage over IMiDs plus PI. Patients with ≥ 2 high‐risk cytogenetic abnormalities (HRA) exhibited an extremely poor prognosis and should be considered ultra‐high‐risk individuals in multiple myeloma (MM). The CD38 monoclonal antibody, transplantation, and achieving minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity only partly mitigated the poor prognosis in patients with HRA. Furthermore, patients with 1q21 gain/amplification (1q21+) only had a significantly worse prognosis compared to patients without HRA, and those with 1q21+ plus del17p or t(4;14) exhibited an inferior prognosis compared to those with 1q21+ alone. Conclusion Our results suggested that double‐hit multiple myeloma was associated with extremely poor survival outcomes, and more effective treatments needed to be explored for this particular subtype of MM.

Abstract Chieh-qua (Benincasa hispida Cogn. var. Chieh-qua How.) fruit development starts post pollination. With the continuous expansion of the fruit, the soluble solid content of the fruit decreases. Because there are no reports on the early development of Chieh-qua fruit, this study compared fruit transcriptomes at 0-, 3-, and 7 day post pollination (dpp). 104,747 unigenes were assembled from clean reads and compared using six public databases for similarity searching. Compared with those of 0 dpp (C), there were differences in the expression of 12,982 and 6541 genes in the fruit tissue at 3 dpp and 7 dpp, respectively. Compared with 3 dpp (B), there were 14,314 differentially expressed genes in the fruit at 7 dpp (A). Based on the analysis of transcription factors, 213 nucleotides in the MYB superfamily were identified; among them, 94 unigenes of the MYB superfamily were differentially expressed at the three stages. In the pairwise comparison of differential expression, eight unigenes (Gene_id: TRINITY_DN32880_c1_g2, TRINITY_DN35142_c2_g2, TRINITY_DN32454_c11_g6, TRINITY_DN34105_c2_g7, TRINITY_DN32758_c3_g3, TRINITY_DN33604_c4_g10, TRINITY_DN34466_c3_g1, TRINITY_DN35924_c3_g2) were homologous to those of MYB59, MYB-GT3b, MYB18, MYB4, MYB108, MYB306, MYB340, and MYB-bHLH13. These unigenes differed significantly among the three stages. Furthermore, MYB59 and MYB18 exhibited higher expression at 7 dpp. MYB4, MYB-GT3b, MYB108, and MYB306 showed the highest expression levels in fruits at 3 dpp. In addition, MYB340 and MYB-bHLH13 showed higher expression levels during the unpollinated stage. MYB59, MYB-GT3b, MYB18, MYB4, MYB108, MYB306, MYB340, and MYB-bHLH13 may play crucial roles in Chieh-qua fruit development, defense, and blossoming. This study provides a basis for further investigation of MYB superfamily genes involved in early fruit expansion in chieh-qua.

Abstract Quantum lock-in amplifiers have been proposed to extract an alternating signal from a strong noise background. However, due to the typical target signal has unknown initial phase, it is challenging to extract complete information about the signal’s amplitude, frequency, and initial phase. Here, we present a general protocol for achieving a quantum double lock-in amplifier by employing two quantum mixers operating under orthogonal pulse sequences. To demonstrate the practical implementation, we discuss the experimental feasibility using a five-level double-Λ coherent population trapping system with Rb atoms. Here, each Λ structure acts as a quantum mixer, and two applied dynamical decoupling sequences serve as orthogonal reference signals. Notably, the system significantly reduces the total measurement time by nearly half and mitigates time-dependent systematic errors compared to conventional two-level systems. Furthermore, our quantum double lock-in amplifier is robust against experimental imperfections. This study establishes a pathway to alternating signal measurement, thereby facilitating the development of practical quantum sensing technologies.

It is known that sialyllactose (SL) in mammalians is a major source of sialic acid (Sia), which can further form cytidine monophosphate sialic acid (CMP-Sia), and the final product is polysialic acid (polySia) using polysialyltransferases (polySTs) on the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM). This process is called NCAM polysialylation. The overexpression of polysialylation is strongly related to cancer cell migration, invasion, and metastasis. In order to inhibit the overexpression of polysialylation, in this study, SL was selected as an inhibitor to test whether polysialylation could be inhibited. Our results suggest that the interactions between the polysialyltransferase domain (PSTD) in polyST and CMP-Siaand the PSTD and polySia could be inhibited when the 3′-sialyllactose (3′-SL) or 6′-sialyllactose (6′-SL) concentration is about 0.5 mM or 6′-SL and 3 mM, respectively. The results also show that SLs (particularly for 3′-SL) are the ideal inhibitors compared with another two inhibitors, low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) and cytidine monophosphate (CMP), because 3’-SL can not only be used to inhibit NCAM polysialylation, but is also one of the best supplements for infant formula and the gut health system.

[Introduction] The 3.7 GHz high-power TH2103A klystrons are widely used in the tokamak experimental device. To simplify the HV power supply system (removing the vacuum tetrode in the anode modulation), a power supply mode based on voltage division mode is introduced into the TH2103A klystron of the HL-2A device. To operate the klystron safely in this power supply mode, a system for measuring and protecting the anode current of TH2103A klystron is developed. [Method] According to the analysis of the characteristics of the anode current in this power supply mode, the anode current showed the condition of normal, forward overcurrent, or reverse overcurrent. In the case of forward overcurrent or reverse overcurrent, it meant that many electrons were bombarding or flowing out of the anode. They were very dangerous to the klystron, which usually may cause overcurrent of the klystron titanium pump, or even damage the klystron. Therefore it was important to accurately measure the anode current and cut off the high voltage to protect the klystron in case of overcurrent. The principle and power supply mode and the principle and implementation plan of the anode protection system were described in this paper. [Result] In this paper, the effectiveness and reliability of the anode current measurement and protection system were confirmed. [Conclusion] The power supply mode and the anode current measurement and protection system of this paper are of important reference significance for the operation and maintenance of TH2103A klystron.

This study proposes a computational fluid dynamics and computational structure dynamics (CFD/CSD) coupled method for calculating the buffet response of a variant tail wing. The large-scale separated flow in the buffet is simulated by the detached vortex approach, vibration deformation of the tail wing is solved by the dynamic mesh generation technique, and structural modeling is based on the mode method. The aerodynamic elastic coupling is calculated through the cyclic iteration of aerodynamics and the structural solution in the time domain. We verify the correctness of the proposed method through a typical delta wing calculation case, further simulate the buffet response of a variant tail wing in maneuver state, and finally realize buffet mitigation using an active excitation method. Overall, this study can provide an important reference for the design of variant-tailed aircraft.

Objective To explore the effects and molecular mechanisms of naringenin (Nar) on the proliferation, migration and collagen synthesis of keloid fibroblasts (KFs). Methods KFs were divided into control group and Nar group treated with Nar at concentrations of 10, 25, 50, 100 and 150 μmol/L, and the effects of Nar on the proliferation of KFs were analyzed using CCK-8 assay. Western blot was performed to detect the effects of Nar on the expression levels of Col-1, FN, α-SMA, and MMP9, and the expression levels of Smad2/3 and p-Smad2/3 in KFs pretreated with TGF-β1. Results Compared with the control group, the proliferation ability of KFs was significantly inhibited by Nar at a concentration of ≥50 μmol/L (P

In recent years, deep learning has been extensively deployed on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), particularly for object detection. As the cornerstone of UAV-based object detection, deep neural networks are susceptible to adversarial attacks, with adversarial patches being a relatively straightforward method to implement. However, current research on adversarial patches, especially those targeting UAV object detection, is limited. This scarcity is notable given the complex and dynamically changing environment inherent in UAV image acquisition, which necessitates the development of more robust adversarial patches to achieve effective attacks. To address the challenge of adversarial attacks in UAV high-altitude reconnaissance, this paper presents a robust adversarial patch generation framework. Firstly, the dataset is reconstructed by considering various environmental factors that UAVs may encounter during image collection, and the influences of reflections and shadows during photography are integrated into patch training. Additionally, a nested optimization method is employed to enhance the continuity of attacks across different altitudes. Experimental results demonstrate that the adversarial patches generated by the proposed method exhibit greater robustness in complex environments and have better transferability among similar models.

Purpose: This study aims to automate the Monte Carlo (MC) workflow utilized for radiotherapy dosimetry, focusing on an Elekta LINAC delivery system. It addresses the challenge of integrating MC simulations into routine clinical practice, making this accurate yet complex method more accessible and efficient for radiotherapy dosimetry. Methods and Materials: We developed a user-friendly software featuring a graphical user interface (GUI) that integrates EGSnrc for MC simulations. The software streamlines the process from retrieving Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) data to executing dose calculations and comparing dose distributions. To validate our proposed tool, we compared its computed doses for IMRT and VMAT plans from the Pinnacle TPS for an Elekta Versa HD linear accelerator against MC simulation results. This comparison utilized our in-house software and GUI as the tool, covering various treatment sites and prescriptions. Results: The automated MC workflow demonstrated high accuracy in dose calculations and streamlined integration with clinical workflows. The comparison between the MC-simulated and TPS-calculated doses revealed excellent agreement, highlighting the reliability of MC for independent dose verification in complex treatment scenarios. Conclusions: The automated MC workflow developed represents a substantial improvement in the practicality and efficiency of MC simulations in radiotherapy. This advancement not only simplifies the dosimetry process but also ensures high accuracy, establishing it as a valuable tool for routine patient-specific quality assurance and the development of specialized treatment procedures.

Background: Preventing postoperative complications and accelerating patient recovery are critical issues in clinical treatment and nursing care. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of oscillatory positive expiratory pressure therapy (OPEPT) in patients undergoing thoracic or abdominal surgery. Methods: We searched PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, EBSCO, SinoMed, Weipu, WanFang, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the role of OPEPT on patients undergoing thoracic and upper abdominal surgeries. Two researchers independently conducted literature screening, quality assessment, and data extraction based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and used the RevMan 5.4 software to perform the meta-analysis. Results: A total of 13 RCTs involving 1166 patients undergoing thoracic or abdominal surgery were included. The meta-analysis results showed that the decreases in FEV1[MD = 0.30, 95%CI (0.22, 0.38), P 0.05). Conclusion: OPEPT, with its promising therapeutic approach, has shown to positively influence the recovery process for patients undergoing thoracic and upper abdominal surgeries. More high-quality, large-sample studies are needed in the future to explore the efficacy and safety of OPEPT.

Ophiuroids, the most diverse group of echinoderms, inhabit a vast array of ecological niches and play vital roles in benthic ecosystems as suspension feeders, scavengers and opportunists. Despite the important ecological roles played by Ophiuroidea, their evolutionary history and phylogenetic relationship is not yet fully understood. In this study, 47 mitochondrial genomes of ophiuroids, including 21 newly sequenced ones, were analyzed. tRNA duplication was firstly discovered in four species and a new start codon was identified for Ophiuroidea. Eighteen phylogenetic trees based on mitochondrial genomes consistently supported two major lineages, Ophintegrida and Euryophiurida. It further confirmed the monophyly of Euryalida and Ophiurida, respectively, as well as families represented by multiple species. Among 18 trees, only the two ML trees based on amino acid sequences using IQtree method supported monophyly of Amphilepidida and Ophiacanthida, consistent with current phylogenetic system of Ophiuroidea. This result highlighted the effect of phylogenetic analysis methods and datasets on tree topology, indicating that amino acid sequence data maybe more suitable for higher taxonomic level phylogenetic analysis of ophiuroids than nucleotide sequences. Four new gene orders of 13 protein-coding genes + two rRNAs and 12 new gene orders of all 37 genes were identified. Mitochondrial gene orders were highly variable in Ophiacanthida, but were extremely conserved in Eurylida. Additionally, both branch lengths and estimated positive selection varied among the four orders, and a positive relationship between branch lengths and mitochondrial gene rearrangement rates was revealed, suggesting distinctly different evolutionary history among the four major clades of Ophiuroidea. Overall, we (1) reconstructed the phylogenetic relationship based on mitochondrial genome, supporting the current phylogenetic system in Ophiuroidea, (2) revealed a high variability in mitochondrial gene rearrangement among the four orders, (3) provided the first evidence to link gene rearrangement and nucleotide substitution in Echinodermata.

IntroductionChitin, abundant in marine environments, presents significant challenges in terms of transformation and utilization. A strain, T22.7.1T, with notable chitin deacetylation capabilities, was isolated from the rhizosphere of Acanthus ebracteatus in the North Sea of China. Comparative 16S rDNA sequence analysis showed that the new isolate had the highest sequence similarity (99.79%) with Rhodococcus indonesiensis CSLK01-03T, followed by R. ruber DSM 43338T, R. electrodiphilus JC435T, and R. aetherivorans 10bc312T (98.97%, 98.81%, and 98.83%, respectively). Subsequent genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis confirmed that strain T22.7.1T belongs to the R. indonesiensis species. However, additional taxonomic characterization identified strain T22.7.1T as a novel type strain of R. indonesiensis distinct from CSLK01-03T.MethodsThis study refines the taxonomic description of R. indonesiensis and investigates its application in converting chitin into chitosan. The chitin deacetylase (RiCDA) activity of strain T22.7.1T was optimized, and the enzyme was isolated and purified from the fermentation products.ResultsThrough optimization, the RiCDA activity of strain T22.7.1T reached 287.02 U/mL, which is 34.88 times greater than the original enzyme’s activity (8.0 U/mL). The natural CDA enzyme was purified with a purification factor of 31.83, and the specific activity of the enzyme solution reached 1200.33 U/mg. RiCDA exhibited good pH and temperature adaptability and stability, along with a wide range of substrate adaptabilities, effectively deacetylating chitin, chitooligosaccharides, N-acetylglucosamine, and other substrates.DiscussionProduct analysis revealed that RiCDA treatment increased the deacetylation degree (DD) of natural chitin to 83%, surpassing that of commercial chitosan. Therefore, RiCDA demonstrates significant potential as an efficient deacetylation tool for natural chitin and chitooligosaccharides, highlighting its applicability in the biorefining of natural polysaccharides.

Highlights Feedback-regulation system is established between single Pt sites and MoS2 supports The Pt1-MoS2-def can expand the electron transfer path from single Pt sites to whole Pt-MoS2 supports in SO2 gas atmosphere. The Pt1-MoS2-def sensors exhibit high SO2 responses and extremely low limit of detection (3.14% to 500 ppb SO2) at room temperature. The Pt1-MoS2-def sensors array can realize real-time monitoring of SO2 for plant growth.

In this study, the effect of rare earth (RE) alloying on the rust formed on N80 steels was investigated with in-situ micro-Raman spectroscopy and optical microscopy. Under potentiostatic tests at potentials representing accelerated conditions, there was formation of goethite phase on N80RE, while this protective and stable rust layer was not found on N80. The presence of goethite might explain the smaller corrosion rate of N80RE than N80 at later stages of corrosion, although the initial corrosion rate of N80RE was greater, which was probably due to RE modified inclusions.

Parkinson's disease is associated with bursting of the thalamic (TC) neuron, which receives the inhibitory synaptic current of the basal ganglia composed of multiple nuclei; deep brain stimulation (DBS) applied to the basal ganglia can eliminate the bursting to recover to the normal state. In this paper, the complex nonlinear dynamics for the appearance and disappearance of the bursting are obtained in a widely used theoretical model of a neuronal network. First, through a bifurcation analysis, isolated TC neurons exhibit paradoxical bursting induced from the resting state by enhanced inhibitory effect, which is different from the common view that the enhanced inhibitory effect should suppress the electrical behaviors. Second, the mechanism for the appearance of bursting is obtained by analyzing the electrical activities of the basal ganglia. The inhibitory synaptic current from the external segment of the globus pallidus (GPe) induces a reduced firing rate of the subthalamic nucleus (STN); then, an excitatory synaptic current from the STN induces the bursting behaviors of the GPe. The excitatory current of STN neurons and the inhibitory current of the GPe cause bursting behaviors of the internal segment of the globus pallidus (GPi), thus resulting in an enhanced inhibition from the GPi to the TC, which can induce the paradoxical bursting similar to the isolated TC neurons. Third, the cause for the disappearance of paradoxical bursting is acquired.The high frequency pulses of DBS induces enhanced firing activity of the STN and GPe neurons and enhanced inhibitory synaptic current from the GPe to the GPi, resulting in a reduced inhibitory effect from the GPi to the TC, which can eliminate the paradoxical bursting. Finally, the fast-slow dynamics of the paradoxical bursting of isolated TC neurons are acquired, which is related to the saddle-node and saddle-homoclinic orbit bifurcations of the fast subsystem of the TC neuron model. The results provide theoretical support for understanding the mechanism of Parkinson's disease and treatment methods such as DBS.

The unique properties of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), such as size, surface charge, and the ability to release silver ions, contribute to DNA damage, inducing of oxidative stress, and apoptosis in cancer cells. Thus, the potential application of AgNPs in the field of biomedicine, and cancer therapy are rapidly increasing day by day. Therefore, in this study, AgNPs were synthesized by extract of Chuanminshen violaceum, and then the synthesized CM-AgNPs were fully characterized. The biological activity of CM-AgNPs was investigated for antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities. The cytotoxic activity of CM-AgNPs was tested for various kinds of cancer cells including MKN45 gastric cancer cells, HCT116 human colon cancer cells, A549 human lung cancer cells, and HepG2 liver cancer cells. Among these cancer cells, the induced apoptosis activity of CM-AgNPs on HCT116 cancer cells was better and was used for further investigation. Besides, the CM-AgNPs exhibited great antioxidant activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) with 50% free radical scavenging activity, and CM-AgNPs also showed a significant antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Thus, our pilot data demonstrated that the green synthesis of CM-AgNPs would be considered a good candidate for the treatment of HCT116 cancer cells, with its strong antioxidant activity and antibacterial effects.

Wind tunnel testing is a crucial method for studying aircraft flutter. Using heavy gas as the wind tunnel medium can mitigate the escalating issue of test models being overweight as advanced aircraft develop. This paper employs an analytical method for numerical calculations of three-dimensional (3D) wing flutter based on fluid–structure interaction (FSI). Flutter calculations for the Goland wing are conducted, and the results in the air medium are consistent with the literature. In contrast, significant differences in flutter behavior are observed in the heavy gas R134a medium. Compared to air, when the model reaches a critical state in R134a, the incoming flow velocity is lower, the incoming flow density is approximately 3 to 5 times air, and the incoming flow dynamic pressure is about 1.1 to 1.2 times that of air. The correction of heavy gas flutter data is crucial for wind tunnel testing. This paper proposes a correction method based on the unsteady transonic flow similarity law proposed by Bendiksen under quasi-steady conditions. Attempts are made to revise relevant published wind tunnel tests and heavy gas flutter calculation results. The transonic flutter similarity law effectively explains the flutter similarity of rigid models in both heavy gas and air media. Still, it fails in cases with highly reduced frequencies and low mass ratios, such as those encountered with flexible wings.

Abstract Cities play a fundamental role in policy decision-making processes, necessitating the availability of city-level population projections to better understand future population dynamics and facilitate research across various domains, including urban planning, shrinking cities, GHG emission projections, GDP projections, disaster risk mitigation, and public health risk assessment. However, the current absence of city-level population projections for China is a significant gap in knowledge. Moreover, aggregating grid-level projections to the city level introduces substantial errors of approximately 30%, leading to discrepancies with actual population trends. The unique circumstances of China, characterized by comprehensive poverty reduction, compulsory education policies, and carbon neutrality goals, render scenarios like SSP4(Shared Socioeconomic Pathways) and SSP5 less applicable. To address the aforementioned limitations, this study made three key enhancements, which significantly refines and augments our previous investigation. Firstly, we refined the model, incorporating granular demographic data at the city level. Secondly, we redesigned the migration module to consider both regional and city-level population attractiveness. Lastly, we explored diverse fertility and migration scenarios.

The amount and distribution of precipitation can determine dengue risk by affecting mosquito breeding; however, previous studies failed to incorporate this bivariate characteristic to examine dengue fever transmission. In the present research, nationwide data on daily dengue cases in China between January 2005 and December 2020 were obtained, and the top 12 cities accounting for 78% of total cases were selected for analysis. Precipitation patterns were quantified by weekly precipitation and precipitation concentration degree (PCD). On the basis of the combinations of both parameters, the exposure-response relationships of precipitation with dengue risk were established using generalised additive models, and the high-dengue-risk thresholds of precipitation patterns were further identified. Dengue burden was assessed by calculating attributable dengue cases. For the same amount of precipitation, the dispersed precipitation in the pre-summer rainy season leads to a higher dengue risk in autumn. The weekly precipitation of 100–150 mm and PCD of 0.2–0.4 constitute the highest risk scenario, and the average frequency of precipitation associated with dengue risk in 2013–2020 is 1.6 times higher than that in 2005–2012. A total of 3093 attributable dengue cases are identified. From 2005 to 2020, the amount of dispersed precipitation increased in southern and southwestern China and posed high dengue risks in central China. This study has improved the understanding of the health impacts of irregular rainfall under climate change. Our approach to identifying thresholds provides information for early warning systems and helps reduce the risk of dengue transmission in the long run.

Abstract Background Among the three NTRK genes, NTRK2 possesses a tremendous structural complexity and involves tumorigenesis of several types of tumors. To date, only STRN and RBPMS are identified in the fusion with NTRK2 in adult soft tissue tumors. More recently, the highly selective Trk tyrosine kinases inhibitors, including larotrectinib and entrectinib, have shown significant efficacy for treating tumors harboring NTRK fusions and were approved by FDA. Case presentation We report a case of sarcoma in a 35-year-old female harboring two STRN-NTRK2 gene fusions, with a good clinical response to first-line larotrectinib treatment. Core biopsy of the 16.5 cm gluteal mass showed a high-grade mesenchymal neoplasm with features reminiscent of a solitary fibrous tumor, but negative for STAT6. In-house next-generation sequencing gene fusion panel showed two in-frame STRN-NTRK2 fusions, which contain the same 5’ partner sequence (exon 1–3) of STRN, and the 3’ fusion partner starting from either the exon 15 or the exon 16 of NTRK2. Due to the large size and location of the tumor, first-line neoadjuvant therapy with larotrectinib was initiated. The patient has an excellent clinical response with an 83% tumor size reduction by imaging. The tumor was subsequently completely resected. After 130 days, larotrectinib was reinitiated for lung metastasis (up to 7 cm), and a complete resolution was achieved. When compared with NTRK1 and NTRK3, NTRK2 fusions are the least common. Of note, the only other report in the literature on NRTK2 fusion-positive sarcoma also showed solitary fibrous tumor (SFT)-like morphology, and the patient responded well to larotrectinib as the second line adjuvant therapy. Conclusions In conclusion, the identification of NTRK2 fusions in patients with soft tissue tumors could significantly improve the clinical outcome through selective NTRK inhibitor therapy, especially in the first-line setting. Prompt RNA-based NGS testing at initial diagnosis may benefit these patients. Our case is among the first few in the literature on NTRK2 fusion sarcoma with first-line larotrectinib therapy in the primary and metastatic setting, with good clinical response and minimal side effects.

Iron is a critical redox-active element in geothermal water, and the presence of nanoparticulate Fe is essential in comprehending the intricate cycling of iron and related elements within the natural geothermal ecosystems. In this study, we investigated the mineral properties of Fe-bearing nanoparticles in a hot spring located in Shanxi Province. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) is utilized for the examination of the morphology, chemical composition, and crystalline structure of Fe-bearing nanoparticles. The findings show that Fe-bearing nanoparticles can exist as single particles measuring 50–200 nm in size, as well as aggregate to form nanoparticle aggregations. The morphology of Fe-bearing nanoparticles mainly includes triangle, axiolitic, and irregular shapes. The selected area electron diffraction patterns reveal the crystal form, amorphous form, and the transition from amorphous to crystalline forms of these nanoparticles. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis indicates that these nanoparticles primarily consist of O and Fe in composition, along with various trace elements including N, Al, Si, Ca, Zn, Cr, Ni, and Mo. These results reveal that goethite and hematite can occur in hot spring. Various in size and modality, tend to cluster into each other, and multiple crystalline states indicate that these iron-bearing nanoparticles are formed through natural processes. In addition, the iron-bearing nanoparticles with biomimetic morphologies (cell-like or microorganism-like shapes) may be produced through microbial activity. The biomimetic properties also imply that these nanoparticles may be readily available for biological processes. Significantly, our findings further validate that the shape of iron oxide nanoparticles can serve as an indicator of pH and temperature of the hot spring.

AIM:To investigate the effect of vision therapy system 4D combined with stereoscopic 3D technology training for the treatment of amblyopia.METHODS: Prospective study. A total of 102 children with amblyopia who attended the clinic from January 2018 to January 2022 were selected, and they were randomly assigned into two groups by computer, with 51 cases in each group. Control group received stereoscopic 3D technology training, while observation group participated in vision therapy system 4D on the basis of control group. Then the overall effective rate, binocular visual function, spherical equivalent(SE), axial length(AL), mean corneal curvature(Km), best corrected visual acuity(BCVA)and visual evoked potential were compared between two groups.RESULTS: The overall efficacy rate was 94.1% in observation group, which was obviously higher than control group(74.5%; P0.05). The latency of two spatial frequencies(1°grid and 15'grid)showed a decline in both groups, and the decline was more notable in observation group than in control group(P

Abstract Background and aims This study aimed to investigate the association between the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) and dyslipidemia, as well as to evaluate the mortality risk associated with DII in participants with dyslipidemia. Methods Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database were divided into dyslipidemia and non-dyslipidemia groups. The association between DII and dyslipidemia was investigated using the weighted chi-square test, weighted t-test, and weighted logistic regression. Weighted Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for all-cause and cardiovascular disease-related mortality within the dyslipidemia group. Results A total of 17,820 participants, including 4,839 without and 12,981 with dyslipidemia were analyzed in this study. The results showed that DII was higher in the dyslipidemia group compared to the non-dyslipidemia group (1.42 ± 0.03 vs. 1.23 ± 0.04, P

Abstract Due to the high solubility, high reversibility, and low cost of iodide, iodine‐based redox flow batteries (RFBs) are considered to have great potential for upscaling energy storage. However, their further development has been limited by the low capacity of I− as one‐third of the I− is used to form I3− (I2I−) during the charging process. Herein, we have demonstrated that the pseudohalide ion, thiocyanate (SCN−), is a promising complexing agent for catholyte of iodine‐based RFBs to free up the I− by forming iodine‐thiocyanate ions ([I2SCN]−) instead of I3−, unlocking the capacity of iodide. Applying this strategy, we have demonstrated iodine‐based RFBs with full utilization of iodide to achieve high capacity and high energy density. Both the zinc/iodine RFB and polysulfide/iodine RFB with SCN− complex agent achieve their theoretical capacity of around 160 A h Lposolyte−1 (6.0 M I− in catholyte). Therefore, the zinc/iodine RFB delivers a high energy density of 221.34 W h Lposolyte−1, and the polysulfide/iodine RFB achieves a highenergy density of 165.62 W h Lposolyte−1. It is believed that this effective catholyte engineering can be further generalized to other iodine‐based RFBs, offering new opportunities to unlock the capacity of iodide and achieve high energy density for energy storage.

Intrinsic bursting neurons represent a common neuronal type that displays bursting patterns upon depolarization stimulation. These neurons can be described by a system of seven-dimensional equations, which pose a challenge for dynamical analysis. To overcome this limitation, we employed the projection reduction method to reduce the dimensionality of the model. Our approach demonstrated that the reduced model retained the inherent bursting characteristics of the original model. Following reduction, we investigated the bi-parameter bifurcation of the equilibrium point in the reduced model. Specifically, we analyzed the Bogdanov-Takens bifurcation that arises in the reduced system. Notably, the topological structure of the neuronal model near the bifurcation point can be effectively revealed with our proposed method. By leveraging the proposed projection reduction method, we could explore the bursting mechanism in the reduced Pospischil model with greater precision. Our approach offers an effective foundation for generating theories and hypotheses that can be tested experimentally. Furthermore, it enables links to be drawn between neuronal morphology and function, thereby facilitating a deeper understanding of the complex dynamical behaviors that underlie intrinsic bursting neurons.

Abstract Responsible for the most significant part of the world’s burning of marine fossil fuels and shipping emissions, global maritime container shipping is under decarbonization pressure. This paper develops an integrated framework of bottom-up emission estimation and upscaling pathway analysis (BEEPA) to measure global maritime container shipping emissions from 2015 to 2020, and project possible pathways toward carbon neutrality by designing typical decarbonization scenarios. The result shows that global total seaborne container emissions fluctuated from 2015 to 2020 with a maximum value of 264 Mt, and the average annual energy consumption is 77.7 Mt (heavy fuel oil-equivalent). Container traffic to/from Asian ports generate the largest volumes of shipping emissions, accounting for about 55% of the global total. Under the most stringent scenario, container shipping emissions peak in 2025 and then quickly decline to 19.6 Mt in 2050, nearing the International Maritime Organization’s goal of reaching net zero emissions by or around 2050. Energy efficiency improvements contribute to emission reduction in the near term, but the trade growth impact still predominates in the shipping emission increase. With the maturity of infrastructural development and technological innovation, the energy transition would be the largest contributor emission reductions over the medium to long term.

Abstract Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a hematological malignancy characterized by the impaired differentiation and uncontrolled proliferation of myeloid blasts. Tumor suppressor p53 is often downregulated in AML cells via ubiquitination-mediated degradation. While the role of E3 ligase MDM2 in p53 ubiquitination is well-accepted, little is known about the involvement of deubiquitinases (DUBs). Herein, we found that the expression of YOD1, among several DUBs, is substantially reduced in blood cells from AML patients. We identified that YOD1 deubiqutinated and stabilized p53 through interaction via N-terminus of p53 and OTU domain of YOD1. In addition, expression levels of YOD1 were suppressed by elevated miR-221/222 in AML cells through binding to the 3′ untranslated region of YOD1, as verified by reporter gene assays. Treatment of cells with miR-221/222 mimics and inhibitors yielded the expected effects on YOD1 expressions, in agreement with the negative correlation observed between the expression levels of miR-221/222 and YOD1 in AML cells. Finally, overexpression of YOD1 stabilized p53, upregulated pro-apoptotic p53 downstream genes, and increased the sensitivity of AML cells to FLT3 inhibitors remarkably. Collectively, our study identified a pathway connecting miR-221/222, YOD1, and p53 in AML. Targeting miR-221/222 and stimulating YOD1 activity may improve the therapeutic effects of FLT3 inhibitors in patients with AML.

Aiming at the problem of random environment interference in the process of strategy interaction and the behavioral evolution of an aerial attack–defense game, this paper considers the influence of the difference in the performance and value between both game players in terms of strategy evolution; explores the randomness of the complex battlefield environment, the uncertainty of the behavioral state of game players, and the limitations of the emergent situation; constructs a mathematical model of the stochastic evolution of an aerial-coordinated attack–defense game in uncertain environments; and studies the stability of the strategy interaction and behavioral decision-making process of both players of the aerial attack–defense game. Simulation results show that many factors of the performance and value between both game players have a greater impact on the strategy evolution trend in both game players, which not only causes changes in the results of the strategy selection but also affects the rate of strategy evolution for the game players. In addition, random environmental factors cause a certain degree of interference to the strategy evolution process of the game players, which usually accelerates the game players’ strategy evolution rate and greatly affects the evolution process of the game players’ strategy. This study can provide a theoretical basis and feasible reference for improving mission decision-making, response mechanisms, and system modeling of an aerial attack–defense game, which has important theoretical value and practical significance.

The recently introduced Euro 7 emissions standard regulation foresees the addition of abrasion limits for tyres sold in the European Union. The measurement procedures for tyre abrasion are described in the newly introduced Annex 10 of the United Nations (UN) Regulation 117. However, the limits are not yet defined as there is no data available regarding the new procedure. For this reason, a market assessment campaign is ongoing under the auspices of the UN Task Force on Tyre Abrasion (TFTA). Recent reviews on the topic also concluded that there is a lack of studies measuring the abrasion rates of tyres. In this study, we measured the abrasion rate of one tyre model at two different locations (Spain and China) with the aim of deep diving into possible influencing factors. Additionally, wear rates were studied separately for urban, rural, and motorway routes to get more insight into the impact of the route characteristics. The abrasion rates varied from 22 mg/km to 123 mg/km per vehicle, depending on the route (urban, rural, motorway) and ambient temperature. The overall average trip abrasion rates were 75 mg/km and 45 mg/km per vehicle at the two locations, respectively. However, when corrected for the different ambient temperatures, the rates were 63 mg/km and 60 mg/km per vehicle, respectively. The impacts of other parameters, such as driving dynamics and road surface, on the final results are also discussed. The average tread depth reduction was estimated to be 0.8–1.4 mm every 10,000 km.

The deformation and damage to seasonal permafrost roadbeds, as seasons shift, stems from the intricate interplay of temperature, moisture, and stress fields. Fundamentally, the frost heave and thaw-induced settlement of soil represent a multi-physics coupling phenomenon, where various physical processes interact and influence each other. In this investigation, a comprehensive co-coupling numerical simulation of both the temperature and moisture fields was successfully executed, utilizing the secondary development module within the finite element software, COMSOL Multiphysics 6.0. This simulation inverted the classical freezing–thawing experiment involving a soil column under constant temperature conditions, yielding simulation results that were in excellent agreement with the experimental outcomes, with an error of no more than 10%. Accordingly, the temperature, ice content, and liquid water content distributions within the seasonal permafrost region were derived. These parameters were then incorporated into the stress field analysis to explore the intricate coupling between the moisture and temperature fields with the displacement field. Subsequently, the frost heave and thaw settlement deformations of the roadbed were calculated, accounting for seasonal variations, thereby gaining insights into their dynamic behavior. The research results show that during the process of freezing and thawing, water migrates from the frozen zone towards the unfrozen zone, with the maximum migration amount reaching 20% of the water content, culminating in its accumulation at the interface separating the two. Following multiple freeze–thaw cycles, this study reveals that the maximum extent of freezing within the roadbed reaches 2.5 m, while the road shoulder experiences a maximum freezing depth of 2 m. A continuous trend of heightened frost heave and thaw settlement deformation of the roadbed is observed in response to temperature fluctuations, leading to the uneven deformation of the road surface. Specifically, the maximum frost heave measured was 51 mm, while the maximum thaw settlement amounted to 13 mm.

In recent years, with the accelerated development of technology towards automation and intelligence, autonomous decision-making capabilities in unmanned systems are poised to play a crucial role in contemporary aerial two-player zero-sum games (TZSGs). Deep reinforcement learning (DRL) methods enable agents to make autonomous manoeuvring decisions. This paper focuses on current mainstream DRL algorithms based on fundamental tactical manoeuvres, selecting a typical aerial TZSG scenario—within visual range (WVR) combat. We model the key elements influencing the game using a Markov decision process (MDP) and demonstrate the mathematical foundation for implementing DRL. Leveraging high-fidelity simulation software (Warsim v1.0), we design a prototypical close-range aerial combat scenario. Utilizing this environment, we train mainstream DRL algorithms and analyse the training outcomes. The effectiveness of these algorithms in enabling agents to manoeuvre in aerial TZSG autonomously is summarised, providing a foundational basis for further research.