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The China Railway Express stands as a crucial facilitator of trade across the land routes of Eurasian countries. During its initial developmental phase, the China Railway Express heavily relied on subsidies to establish a market presence. This dependency hindered its independence and sustainability. Hence, there exists a paramount need to regulate the subsidy market and institute more rational operation strategies. This study focuses on the dynamics of the subsidies and operations in the market for the China Railway Express under different types of development models. It uses evolutionary game theory and the Activity-Based Costing (ABC) method to describe the dynamic evolution of four cases between local governments and operating-platform enterprises. Four corresponding lines were selected as instances: from Xiamen, Wuxi, Changsha, and Zhengzhou to Malaszewicze, Poland. The findings conclude that the optimal conditions for the development of the China Railway Express market exist when operating-platform enterprises possess higher assets and the local government's supervision and punishment of the market are relatively weaker. This study offers valuable insights for guiding subsidy and operational decision-making processes for the China Railway Express. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For atmospheric argon RF dielectric barrier discharges, a self-consistent one-dimensional fluid model based on the drift-diffusive approximations of the particles is established to investigate the role of the neutral gas temperature on the discharge process and the plasma characteristics. A finite difference method is used to solve numerically the model, and the numerical results are obtained for the cases that the neutral gas temperature varies from 300 to 600 K. It shows that an increase in the neutral gas temperature causes a decrease in the ionization rate peak and a decrease in the plasma density, but the electric field and the electron temperature do not change very much. Moreover, the discharge mode transition from α mode to α-γ mode occurs because the growing ion flux induces more secondary electron flux, even if the ions entering the sheaths decrease. In addition, the ground state ionization and the ground state excitation are the main collisions in the argon discharges. When metastable atoms are focused on, the three-body quenching is also an important collision progress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a three-dimensional (3D) contact fracture model with different normal stresses is established by using artificial rough fractures. To investigate the influence of fracture void and contact changes caused by stress variation on the nonlinear fluid flow process, smooth and hypothetical fractures with the same mechanical aperture are constructed for comparative analysis. The results show that the direct numerical solution of the 3D Navier–Stokes equation is consistent with the experimental results of stress-seepage flow. Compared with the smooth and hypothetical fractures, the contact rate evolution caused by stress changes enhances the nonlinearity of fluid flow in the 3D fractures. The pressure boundary, high-velocity catastrophe area, and eddy distribution area in the contact area are highly consistent. Eddy appears in the backflow area around the contact area and increases with the contact rate and flow rate increase. The critical Reynolds number increases with the increase in the contact ratio, indicating the presence of local effects in the development of eddy, leading to a lag in the appearance of nonlinear flow state. The multi-vortex system operates in an unclosed “8” shape between two pairs, and there is competition but no exchange between the vortices. Finally, it is proposed that the volume average value of vorticity can effectively characterize the variation trend of vorticity with contact rate in the fractures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The holotype of Sinosaurus triassicus is poorly preserved, and no previous research has focused exclusively on its anatomy. This research reports a new specimen recovered near the locality of the holotype of S. triassicus including a complete skull with mandible and 11 cervical vertebrae. Three newly identified traits are proposed to be unique of the species – (1) a vertical crest developed dorsoventrally from the ventral portion of the maxilla to the nasal crest; (2) ventral border of the antorbital fenestra formed mostly by the anterior process of the jugal; and (3) a fenestra between the nasal, the lacrimal and the prefrontal. This research provides new information on the cranial anatomy of this species as well as the genus Sinosaurus, offering more accessibility for later research concerning the evolution of early deriving neotheropods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the link between the urban network and institutional context has been well established, there has been less work on the effect of shifting political economy on the mechanism of its intercity flows. In this paper, the investment dataset of Chinese publicly listed firms is used to construct corporate‐based urban networks with different ownership structures. Two straightforward but effective comparative analyses are conducted. The first distinguishes between networks formed by state‐controlled and nonstate‐controlled firms, and the second distinguishes between subnetworks formed by central‐ and local‐state power. By surveying the distinctions from the perspectives of state–market relations and central‐local government relations, we argue that the urban network in China is shaped by the varied forms in which the central government, local governments, and the private sector interact. To gain a more proper knowledge of the geographical patterns, this research recommends further field research into enterprise‐based linkages of multiple ownership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study utilized high-speed camera and large eddy simulation methods to explore the cavitating flow mechanisms and turbulence structures of R134a refrigerant inside a Venturi tube under varying cavitation numbers (CNs). Data-driven modal analysis approaches, proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) and dynamic mode decomposition (DMD), were introduced to identify and extract the energy hierarchy and transient characteristics within the cavitating flow. The analysis of grayscale images indicated that the cavitating flow gradually transitioned from quasi-periodic to unsteady flow as the CN decreased, and the severity of cavitation correlates with lower peak frequencies. The POD analysis facilitated the extraction of coherent structures in the cavity's temporal evolution, and the results indicate that the quasi-ordering shedding and collapse of large-scale cavity clouds predominantly occur under low cavitation intensity conditions. As the CN increases, the influence of small-scale cavity shedding becomes more significant. The first 30 most energetic modes occupied over 75% of the entire energy, and they were used to reconstruct the cavitating flow, achieving good consistency with transient flow snapshots. Additionally, the DMD results of the cavitating flow yield three frequency spans, including several prominent characteristic frequencies. These spans are closely linked to the cavity cloud structures of varying scales, unveiling the structural characteristics of unsteady cavitating flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aging is a significant risk factor for various human disorders, and DNA methylation clocks have emerged as powerful tools for estimating biological age and predicting health‐related outcomes. Methylation data from blood DNA has been a focus of more recently developed DNA methylation clocks. However, the impact of immune cell composition on epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) remains unclear as only some clocks incorporate partial cell type composition information when analyzing EAA. We investigated associations of 12 immune cell types measured by cell‐type deconvolution with EAA predicted by six widely‐used DNA methylation clocks in data from >10,000 blood samples. We observed significant associations of immune cell composition with EAA for all six clocks tested. Across the clocks, nine or more of the 12 cell types tested exhibited significant associations with EAA. Higher memory lymphocyte subtype proportions were associated with increased EAA, and naïve lymphocyte subtypes were associated with decreased EAA. To demonstrate the potential confounding of EAA by immune cell composition, we applied EAA in rheumatoid arthritis. Our research maps immune cell type contributions to EAA in human blood and offers opportunities to adjust for immune cell composition in EAA studies to a significantly more granular level. Understanding associations of EAA with immune profiles has implications for the interpretation of epigenetic age and its relevance in aging and disease research. Our detailed map of immune cell type contributions serves as a resource for studies utilizing epigenetic clocks across diverse research fields, including aging‐related diseases, precision medicine, and therapeutic interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alcohol consumption is popular worldwidely and closely associated with cardiovascular diseases. Influences of paternal preconception alcohol consumption on offspring cerebral arteries are largely unknown. Male rats were randomly given alcohol or water before being mated with alcohol‐naive females to produce alcohol‐ and control‐sired offspring. Middle cerebral artery (MCA) was tested with a Danish Myo Technology wire myograph, patch‐clamp, IONOPTIX, immunofluorescence and quantitative PCR. Alcohol consumption enhanced angiotensin II (AngII)‐mediated constriction in male offspring MCA mainly via AT1R. PD123,319 only augmented AngII‐induced constriction in control offspring. AngII and Bay K8644 induced stronger intracellular calcium transient in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) from MCA of alcohol offspring. L‐type voltage‐dependent calcium channel (L‐Ca2+) current at baseline and after AngII‐stimulation was higher in VSMCs. Influence of large‐conductance calcium‐activated potassium channel (BKCa) was lower. Caffeine induced stronger constriction and intracellular calcium release in alcohol offspring. Superoxide anion was higher in alcohol MCA than control. Tempol and thenoyltrifluoroacetone alleviated AngII‐mediated contractions, while inhibition was significantly higher in alcohol group. The mitochondria were swollen in alcohol MCA. Despite lower Kcnma1 and Prkce expression, many genes expressions were higher in alcohol group. Hypoxia induced reactive oxygen species production and increased AT1R expression in control MCA and rat aorta smooth muscle cell line. In conclusion, this study firstly demonstrated paternal preconception alcohol potentiated AngII‐mediated vasoconstriction in offspring MCA via ROS‐AT1R. Alcohol consumption increased intracellular calcium via L‐Ca2+ channel and endoplasmic reticulum and decreased BKCa function. The present study provided new information for male reproductive health and developmental origin of cerebrovascular diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on field and laboratory studies of the rock massifs in South Yakutia using remote earth sensing technologies, methods of scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray 3D tomography, lithological‐mineralogical and optical‐petrographic studies, quantitative data on the intensity of cryogenesis of granites and gneisses in this area were obtained. A 16%–20% increase in the fracturing of rocks at the near‐surface part of the rock massif was shown to have occurred over a 10‐year period; during this time, vertical landforms, represented by granites and gneisses, retreated at a rate of 3 mm per year. However, no variations in the chemical and mineral composition of these rock types were identified over the study period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A clear understanding of the dependence of the heat transfer process on the flow field in three‐dimensional (3D) rough fractures is crucial for many underground projects. In this study, 3D rough rock fractures with heterogeneous apertures and mechanical effects are established. Navier‐Stokes flow and local heat balance theory are used to simulate the seepage‐heat transfer coupling process. Five normal stresses and five flow velocities are set to quantify the influence of aperture variability on the flow field and heat transfer behavior of the fractures. The results show that the change in fracture aperture caused by normal stress is the direct cause of the nonlinear distribution of the flow field and temperature fluctuation. A quantitative parameter of temperature fluctuation degree in the fracture is proposed, which decreases exponentially with increasing fracture aperture and increases with greater flow velocity. An empirical model is established to describe the relationship between the heat transfer coefficient and the ratio of hydraulic aperture to mechanical aperture. The correctness of the model is verified by published seepage‐heat transfer coupling test results. The model is extended to establish the relationship between the heat transfer coefficient and the volume fraction of eddy. It is confirmed that the heat transfer coefficient increases with the augmentation of nonlinear flow, and the reason why the results of evaluating the heat transfer coefficient by roughness alone in related experiments are inconsistent is revealed. The results enhance the understanding of convective heat transfer characteristics in 3D rough rock fractures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The annual frequency of ground surface freeze–thaw (AFGSFT) is a crucial indicator of hydrological processes, climate change, and energy balance, as it directly measures the number of times the ground surface freezes and thaws within a year. Unlike other indicators, such as freezing depth and duration, AFGSFT is more closely related to ground surface water heat exchange. However, the mechanism behind the variability of the long-term AFGSFT time series in China remains largely unknown. Based on the observation data from 707 meteorological stations, the AFGSFT in China from 1960 to 2020 was analyzed. The analysis revealed a decreasing trend in AFGSFT from 1960 to 2020, with the highest value observed in the central Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and the rate of change in AFGSFT increasing with elevation. Despite these changes, the spatial distribution of AFGSFT closely aligns with the two regions divided by the Hu Huanyong Line (Hu Line). Elevation was found to be the primary geographic factor explaining the spatial variation of AFGSFT, while the ground surface temperature was the main environmental factor. Using the autoregressive integrated moving average model (ARIMA), the study projected that the downward trend of AFGSFT will slow down in the next decade. The widespread climate warming was identified as the primary cause of AFGSFT changes, and this effect is expected to contribute significantly to the climate warming process in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Among men, prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death. Etiologic factors associated with both prostate carcinogenesis and somatic alterations in tumors are incompletely understood. While genetic variants associated with PCa have been identified, epigenetic alterations in PCa are relatively understudied. To date, DNA methylation (DNAm) and gene expression (GE) in PCa have been investigated; however, these studies did not correct for cell-type proportions of the tumor microenvironment (TME), which could confound results. Methods: The data (GSE183040) consisted of DNAm and GE data from both tumor and adjacent non-tumor prostate tissue of 56 patients who underwent radical prostatectomies prior to any treatment. This study builds upon previous studies that examined methylation patterns and GE in PCa patients by using a novel tumor deconvolution approach to identify and correct for cell-type proportions of the TME in its epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) and differential expression analysis (DEA). Results: The inclusion of cell-type proportions in EWASs and DEAs reduced the scope of significant alterations associated with PCa. We identified 2,093 significantly differentially methylated CpGs (DMC), and 51 genes associated with PCa, including PCA3, SPINK1, and AMACR. Conclusions: This work illustrates the importance of correcting for cell types of the TME when performing EWASs and DEAs on PCa samples, and establishes a more confounding-adverse methodology. We identified a more tumor-cell-specific set of altered genes and epigenetic marks that can be further investigated as potential biomarkers of disease or potential therapeutic targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depression and cancer are both prevalent diseases worldwide. Numerous cancer patients experience psychological illnesses, especially depression, following a malignancy's dismal prognosis. Although some research has suggested that caffeine may be protective against depressive symptoms, it is still unclear how caffeine and cancer patients are related. Thus, we hypothesized that moderate daily caffeine intake may reduce the risk of depression in both the cancer and noncancer populations. Data were extracted and combined from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2007 to 2016. After controlling for potential confounding factors, interaction effects analysis was used to clarify the interaction between caffeine and cancer on depressive symptoms. Linear regression analysis and restricted cubic splines were used to further analyze the relationship between caffeine and depression in cancer and noncancer populations. A total of 24,145 participants were included in the analysis. In the noncancer population, the quartile 3 group of caffeine intake showed a negative association between caffeine intake and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scores (β = –0.23, 95% confidence interval, –0.45 to –0.01; P =.041). No association between caffeine intake and PHQ-9 scores was observed in the cancer population. In both cancer and noncancer populations, restricted cubic splines indicated a nonlinear trend between caffeine and PHQ-9 scores, with the lowest PHQ-9 scores when caffeine intake was 119.52 mg. In the noncancer population, moderate daily caffeine intake (quartile 3 group; range, 119.5-236.5 mg) was associated with reduced depressive symptoms, whereas in the cancer population, no association was found between caffeine intake and depression. Our study included 24,145 participants in NHANES. In the noncancer population, moderate caffeine intake (119.5-236.5 mg) is associated with less severe depressive symptoms. In the cancer population, however, caffeine intake bears no relationship to depression severity. NHANES, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoporosis (OP) is distinguished by a reduction in bone mass and degradation of bone micro-structure, frequently resulting in fractures. As the geriatric demographic expands, the incidence of affected individuals progressively rises, thereby exerting a significant impact on the quality of life experienced by individuals. The flavonoid compound hesperidin has been subject to investigation regarding its effects on skeletal health, albeit the precise mechanisms through which it operates remain ambiguous. This study utilized network pharmacology to predict the core targets and signaling pathways implicated in the anti-OP properties of hesperidin. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were employed to confirm the stability of the interaction between hesperidin and the core targets. The effects of hesperidin on osteoblastic cells MC3T3-E1 were assessed using MTT, ELISA, alkaline phosphatase assay, and RT-qPCR techniques. Furthermore, in vivo experiments were conducted to determine the potential protective effects of hesperidin on zebrafish bone formation and oxidative stress response. The results demonstrate that network pharmacology has identified 10 key target points, significantly enriched in the estrogen signaling pathway. Hesperidin exhibits notable promotion of MC3T3-E1 cell proliferation and significantly enhances ALP activity. ELISA measurements indicate an elevation in NO levels and a reduction in IL-6 and TNF-α. Moreover, RT-qPCR analysis consistently reveals that hesperidin significantly modulates the mRNA levels of ESR1, SRC, AKT1, and NOS3 in MC3T3-E1 cells. Hesperidin promotes osteogenesis and reduces oxidative stress in zebrafish. Additionally, we validate the stable and tight binding of hesperidin with ESR1, SRC, AKT1, and NOS3 through molecular dynamics simulations. In conclusion, our comprehensive analysis provides evidence that hesperidin may exert its effects on alleviating OP through the activation of the estrogen signaling pathway via ESR1. This activation leads to the upregulation of SRC, AKT, and eNOS, resulting in an increase in NO levels. Furthermore, hesperidin promotes osteoblast-mediated bone formation and inhibits pro-inflammatory cytokines, thereby alleviating oxidative stress associated with OP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The bean bug Riptortus pedestris causes a significant decrease in soybean production and economic losses. To understand how these bugs adapt to different parts of the soybean plant, we studied their gut transcriptomic changes when feeding on soybean leaves, beans, and pods. We discovered that when they fed on pods and beans, there was a notable increase in the expression of digestive enzymes like cathepsins, serine proteases, and lipases. On the other hand, when the bugs consumed soybean leaves, detoxification enzymes, such as ABC transporters and 4-coumarate-CoA ligase, showed higher expression levels. These findings suggest that the dynamic regulation of digestive and detoxification enzymes enables bean bugs to successfully feed on various soybean tissues. The bean bug, Riptortus pedestris (Hemiptera: Heteroptera), poses a significant threat to soybean production, resulting in substantial crop losses. Throughout the soybean cultivation period, these insects probe and suck on various parts of plants, including leaves, pods, and beans. However, the specific mechanisms by which they adapt to different food resources remain unknown. In this study, we conducted gut transcriptomic analyses of R. pedestris fed with soybean leaves, pods, and beans. A total of 798, 690, and 548 differently expressed genes (DEGs) were monitored in G—pod vs. G—leaf (comparison of insect feeding on pods and leaves), G—bean vs. G—leaf (comparison of insect feeding on beans and leaves), and G—pod vs. G—bean (comparison of insect feeding on pods and beans), respectively. When fed on pods and beans, there was a significant increase in the expression of digestive enzymes, particularly cathepsins, serine proteases, and lipases. Conversely, when soybean leaves were consumed, detoxification enzymes, such as ABC transporters and 4-coumarate-CoA ligase, exhibited higher expression. Our findings indicate that R. pedestris dynamically regulates different metabolic pathways to cope with varying food resources, which may contribute to the development of effective strategies for managing this pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, an oxidation‐controlled SnS2 gas sensor is reported. Different oxidation levels of SnS2 are constructed by adjusting the dosage ratio of reagents. The sensing response of oxidized SnS2 to NH3 is studied, and the working mechanism is explored. Results demonstrate that the different oxidation levels of SnS2 exhibit significantly improved gas‐sensing properties. In particular, oxidation‐controlled SnS2 (SnS2‐2 sample) shows a high response to NH3 (92 000%) with a fast response recovery time (17/2 s). The novelty of this work lies in the simple synthesis of SnS2 with oxidation regulation and its application as a high‐sensitivity NH3 gas sensor at room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selective laser melting (SLM) of high-temperature alloys involves intricate interdependencies among key process parameters, such as laser power and scanning speed, affecting properties such as density and tensile strength. However, relying solely on experiential knowledge for process parameter design often hampers the precise attainment of target requirements. To address this challenge, we propose an innovative approach that integrates the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and weighted particle swarm optimization (WPSO) to recommend SLM process parameters for high-temperature alloy fabrication. Our proposed AHP–WPSO model consists of three main steps. First, a comprehensive historical database is established, capturing the process parameters and performance metrics of high-temperature alloy SLM parts. Utilizing an AHP framework, we compute the performance similarity between target and historical cases, applying rational thresholds to identify analogous cases. When suitable analogs are elusive, the model seamlessly transitions to the second step. Here, the WPSO model optimizes and recommends process parameters according to target specifications. Lastly, our experimental validation of the GH4169 high-temperature alloy through SLM experiments corroborates the effectiveness of our AHP–WPSO model in making process parameter recommendations. The outcomes underscore the model's high accuracy, attaining a recommendation precision of 99.81% and 96.32% when historical analogs are present and absent, respectively. This innovative approach offers a robust and reliable solution to the challenges posed in SLM process parameter optimization for high-temperature alloy applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, it has been found that changing ambient conditions (CO2/N2, temperature, pH) can trigger a switchable phase transition of deep eutectic solvents, and such solvents are known as responsive deep eutectic solvents. In this work, we present the development history, properties, and preparation of responsive deep eutectic solvents, followed by the application of responsive deep eutectic solvents in the extraction and separation of bioactive compounds are presented. Importantly, the mechanism of responsive deep eutectic solvents in the extraction of bioactive compounds is discussed. Finally, the challenges and prospects of responsive deep eutectic solvents in the extraction and separation of bioactive compounds are proposed. Responsive deep eutectic solvents are considered green and efficient solvents. Some methods for extraction and separation of bioactive compounds by responsive deep eutectic solvents can increase the possibility of recycling the deep eutectic solvents, and provide higher efficiency in the extraction and separation field. It is hoped that this will provide a reference for the green and sustainable extraction and separation of various bioactive compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the progress of industry, people are facing more and more complicated tasks, which cannot be completed by conventional rigid robot. For this, a deployable robot based on spherical linkage parallel mechanism was proposed to satisfy relevant requirements for the degrees of freedom in this study. Based on the design of robot model and its control box, a mathematical model for the robot was established, and the relationship between motion space and drive space was deduced accordingly. Subsequently, a control system consisting of the upper and lower computers was introduced. Two control modes, that is, Joystick control and remote control, were developed. The upper computer control interface for the robot was completed by MATLAB construction. At last, the two control modes as well as autonomous detection were demonstrated by motion test. This achievement will further advance the applications of deployable robot in job aid and intelligent exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

G-quadruplex (G4) is a four-stranded helical DNA secondary structure formed by guanine-rich sequence folding, and G4 has been computationally predicted to exist in a wide range of species. Substantial evidence has supported the formation of endogenous G4 (eG4) in living cells and revealed its regulatory dynamics and critical roles in several important biological processes, making eG4 a regulator of gene expression perturbation and a promising therapeutic target in disease biology. Here, we reviewed the methods for prediction of potential G4 sequences (PQS) and detection of eG4s. We also highlighted the factors affecting the dynamics of eG4s and the effects of eG4 dynamics. Finally, we discussed the future applications of eG4 dynamics in disease therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focused on analyzing the complexities and risk spillovers that arise among financial institutions due to the development of financial markets. The research employed the conditional value at risk (CoVaR) methodology to quantify the extent of tail risk spillover and constructed a risk spillover network encompassing Chinese financial institutions. The study further investigated the characteristics, transmission paths, and dynamic evolution of this network under different risk conditions. The empirical findings of this research highlighted several important insights. First, financial institutions play distinct roles in the risk spillover process, with the securities and banking sectors as risk exporters and the insurance and diversified financial sectors as risk takers. The closest risk spillover relationships were observed between banking and insurance and between securities and diversified financial sectors. Second, in high-risk scenarios, there is significant intrasectoral risk transmission between banks and the diversified financial sector, as well as dual-sectoral risk contagion between banks and securities, with the most-common transmission occurring between diversified financial and securities sectors. Finally, the securities sector acts as the pivotal node for risk spillovers, being the main transmitter of intersectoral risks. The formation and evolution of risk spillover networks are influenced by endogenous mechanisms, in particular the convergence effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Competition for light from neighboring vegetation can trigger the shade-avoidance response (SAR) in plants, which is detrimental to their yield. The molecular mechanisms regulating SAR are well established in Arabidopsis, and some regulators of skotomorphogenesis have been found to be involved in the regulation of the SAR and plant architecture. However, the role of WRKY transcription factors in this process has rarely been reported, especially in maize (Zea mays). Here, we report that maize Zmwrky28 mutants exhibit shorter mesocotyls in etiolated seedlings. Molecular and biochemical analyses demonstrate that ZmWRKY28 directly binds to the promoter regions of the Small Auxin Up RNA (SAUR) gene ZmSAUR54 and the Phytochrome-Interacting Factor (PIF) gene ZmPIF4.1 to activate their expression. In addition, the maize DELLA protein Dwarf Plant8 (D8) interacts with ZmWRKY28 in the nucleus to inhibit its transcriptional activation activity. We also show that ZmWRKY28 participates in the regulation of the SAR, plant height, and leaf rolling and erectness in maize. Taken together, our results reveal that ZmWRKY28 is involved in GA-mediated skotomorphogenic development and can be used as a potential target to regulate SAR for breeding of high-density-tolerant cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Down syndrome (DS) is a genetic disorder caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21 that presents developmental dysfunction and intellectual disability. To better understand the cellular changes associated with DS, we investigated the cell composition in blood, brain, and buccal swab samples from DS patients and controls using DNA methylation-based cell-type deconvolution. We used genome-scale DNA methylation data from Illumina HumanMethylation450k and HumanMethylationEPIC arrays to profile cell composition and trace fetal lineage cells in blood samples (DS N = 46; control N = 1469), brain samples from various regions (DS N = 71; control N = 101), and buccal swab samples (DS N = 10; control N = 10). In early development, the number of cells from the fetal lineage in the blood is drastically lower in DS patients (Δ = 17.5%), indicating an epigenetically dysregulated maturation process for DS patients. Across sample types, we observed significant alterations in relative cell-type proportions for DS subjects compared with the controls. Cell-type proportion alterations were present in samples from early development and adulthood. Our findings provide insight into DS cellular biology and suggest potential cellular interventional targets for DS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiblock copolymers are envisioned as promising materials with enhanced properties and functionality compared with their diblock/triblock counterparts. However, the current approaches can construct multiblock copolymers with a limited number of blocks but tedious procedures. Here, we report a thioester‐relayed in‐chain cascade copolymerization strategy for the easy preparation of multiblock copolymers with on‐demand blocks, in which thioester groups with on‐demand numbers are built in the polymer backbone by controlled/living polymerizations. These thioester groups further serve as the in‐chain initiating centers to trigger the acyl group transfer ring‐opening polymerization of episulfides independently and concurrently to extend the polymer backbone into multiblock structures. The compositions, number of blocks, and block degree of polymerization can be easily regulated. This strategy can offer easy access to a library of multiblock copolymers with ≈100 blocks in only 2 to 4 steps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiblock copolymers are envisioned as promising materials with enhanced properties and functionality compared with their diblock/triblock counterparts. However, the current approaches can construct multiblock copolymers with a limited number of blocks but tedious procedures. Here, we report a thioester‐relayed in‐chain cascade copolymerization strategy for the easy preparation of multiblock copolymers with on‐demand blocks, in which thioester groups with on‐demand numbers are built in the polymer backbone by controlled/living polymerizations. These thioester groups further serve as the in‐chain initiating centers to trigger the acyl group transfer ring‐opening polymerization of episulfides independently and concurrently to extend the polymer backbone into multiblock structures. The compositions, number of blocks, and block degree of polymerization can be easily regulated. This strategy can offer easy access to a library of multiblock copolymers with ≈100 blocks in only 2 to 4 steps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas spark switches had been applied extensively in the field of pulse power technology on account of the advantages of a simple structure, short breakdown time, and high through-current capability. This paper investigates the streamer breakdown process in a two-electrode switch in a nitrogen environment under atmospheric pressure using a numerical method. First, a two-dimensional fluid simulation was carried out for the streamer generated under the negative and positive trigger voltages, and the difference in the breakdown mechanism in the two modes was analyzed. The study showed that when a negative trigger voltage is applied to the rod electrode, a negative streamer from the cathode to the anode will first be formed, and then a positive streamer from the anode to the cathode will be formed. When a positive trigger voltage is applied to the rod electrode, the streamer propagation mechanism is significantly different from that obtained when a negative voltage is applied. In this case, the breakdown mode is a cathode-directed streamer. Finally, we investigated the effect of circuit parameters on the breakdown process. The time scale of breakdown varies greatly with the capacitance. The significant difference in the breakdown process may come from the charging process of the capacitor. The larger the capacitance is, the slower the charging process will be. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Topological order is a new quantum phase that is beyond Landau's symmetry-breaking paradigm. Its defining features include robust degenerate ground states, long-range entanglement and anyons. It was known that R and F matrices, which characterize the fusion-braiding properties of anyons, can be used to uniquely identify topological order. In this article, we explore an essential question: how can the R and F matrices be experimentally measured? We show that the braidings, i.e. the R matrices, can be completely determined by the half braidings of boundary excitations due to the boundary-bulk duality and the anyon condensation. The F matrices can also be measured by comparing the quantum states involving the fusion of three anyons in two different orders. Thus we provide a model-independent experimental protocol to uniquely identify topological order. By using quantum simulations based on a toric code model with boundaries encoded in three- and four-qubit systems and state-of-the-art technology, we obtain the first experimental measurement of R and F matrices by means of an NMR quantum computer at room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: The recurrence occurs within 5 years in up to 70% of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients who received radical liver resection, and most patients are no longer suitable for repeat surgery. There are limited treatment options for unresectable recurrent HCC. This study aimed to explore the potential efficacy of treatment based on TKIs in combination with PD-1 inhibitors for unresectable recurrent HCC. Methods: Forty-four patients with unresectable recurrent HCC after radical surgery between January 2017 and November 2022 were retrospectively collected and screened. All patients received the combination therapy of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitors, and 18 of these patients received trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE) or TACE combined with radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Two patients who received TKIs in combination with PD-1 inhibitors eventually obtained repeat surgery, with one patient undergoing a repeat hepatectomy and one patient receiving a liver transplant. Results: The median survival for these patients was 27.0 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 21.2, 32.8), with a 1-year overall survival (OS) rate of 83.6% (95% CI 77.9%, 89.3%). Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 15.0 months (95.0% CI 12.1, 17.9), with a 1-year PFS rate of 77.0% (95% CI 70.6%, 83.4%). The two patients who underwent repeat surgery had a survival time of 34 and 37 months after the combined treatment with no recurrence, respectively, as of November 2022. Conclusion: The combination of TKIs and PD-1 inhibitors for unresectable recurrent HCC is effective and can prolong the survival of patients in this group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In previous studies, low-dose dexmedetomidine supplemented opioid analgesia improved sleep architecture but increased sedation level. Herein we tested the hypothesis that mini-dose dexmedetomidine supplemented analgesia improves sleep structure without increasing sedation. In this randomized trial, 118 older patients (≥65 years) following major noncardiac surgery were randomized to receive patient-controlled intravenous analgesia supplemented with either placebo or dexmedetomidine (median 0.02 μg kg−1 h−1) for up to 3 days. Polysomnogram was monitored from 9:00 p.m. on the day of surgery until 6:00 a.m. on the first day after surgery. Our primary outcome was the percentage of non-rapid eye movement stage 2 (N2) sleep. Secondary outcomes included other sleep structure parameters during the night of surgery and the sedation score during the first five postoperative days. All 118 patients completed the study; of these, 85 were included in sleep structure analysis. Dexmedetomidine supplemented analgesia increased the percentage of N2 sleep (median difference, 10%; 95% CI, 1%–20%; P = 0.03). It also prolonged total sleep time (median difference, 78 min; 95% CI, 21 to 143; P = 0.01), increased sleep efficiency (median difference, 14%; 95% CI, 4%–26%; P = 0.01), decreased percentage of N1 sleep (median difference, −10%; 95% CI, −20% to −1%; P = 0.04), and lowered sleep fragmentation index (median difference, −1.6 times⋅h−1; 95% CI, −3.7 to 0.1; P = 0.04). Sedation score within 5 days did not differ between the two groups. Supplementing intravenous analgesia with mini-dose dexmedetomidine improved sleep structure without increasing sedation in older patients recovering from major surgery. www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03117790), registered 2 April 2017. • Supplementing analgesia with mini-dose dexmedetomidine improves sleep structure. • The mini-dose dexmedetomidine regimen does not increase sedation and is safe. • Current results together with previous findings support the sleep-promotion effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Extrachromosomal circular DNA (eccDNA) is a kind of DNA that widely exists in eukaryotic cells. Studies in recent years have shown that eccDNA is often enriched during tumors and aging, and participates in the development of cell physiological activities in a special way, so people have paid more and more attention to the eccDNA, and it has also become a critical new topic in modern biological research. Description: We built a database to collect eccDNA, including animals, plants and fungi, and provide researchers with an eccDNA retrieval platform. The collected eccDNAs were processed in a uniform format and classified according to the species to which it belongs and the chromosome of the source. Each eccDNA record contained sequence length, start and end sites on the corresponding chromosome, order of the bases, genomic elements such as genes and transposons, and other information in the respective sequencing experiment. All the data were stored into the TeCD (The eccDNA Collection Database) and the BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool) sequence alignment function was also added into the database for analyzing the potential eccDNA sequences. Conclusion: We built TeCD, a platform for users to search and obtain eccDNA data, and analyzed the possible potential functions of eccDNA. These findings may provide a basis and direction for researchers to further explore the biological significance of eccDNA in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The narrow composition design space of high‐entropy transition metal diborides (HE TMB2) limits their further development. In this study we designed six quaternary and quinary high‐entropy transition metal and rare‐earth diborides (HE TMREB2) and investigated their phase stability using the energy distribution of the local mixing enthalpy of all possible configurations. The results show that both quaternary and quinary HE TMREB2 have higher enthalpic driving forces, which facilitates the formation of single‐phase AlB2‐type structures between TMB2 and REB2. Calculations of elastic constants show that the TMB2 component has the greatest effect on the c44 elastic constant and shear modulus G, while REB2 significantly influences the bulk modulus B. Furthermore, LuB2 and TmB2 substantially affect the elastic modulus anisotropy of HE TMB2. Rare‐earth atoms in HE TMREB2 can enhance the nonharmonic interactions between phonons, which results in a significant hindrance in the thermal transport of low‐frequency phonons as well as an increase in the volume thermal expansion coefficients. Thus, the incorporation of REB2 into HE TMB2 has a significant impact on the phase stability and properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mio‐Pliocene sedimentary archives of the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) in NE Tibet record a monotonic response to orbital forcing, dominated by eccentricity. By contrast, Pleistocene archives display a more stochastic response that varies regionally and temporally. When and why this response changed is poorly understood. Here, we present a new high‐resolution Rb/Sr ratio data set of EASM intensity from the Sanmenxia Basin, North China, that spans the Plio‐Pleistocene transition. Our results indicate decreased monsoonal rainfall in the late Pliocene, dated at 2.75–2.6 Ma, associated with an intensified response to obliquity and enhanced climate stochasticity. This transition is attributed to the increase of Northern Hemisphere ice volume. Quaternary monsoons display a sensitivity unique to the modern icehouse with large bipolar ice sheets, while pre‐Quaternary monsoons were solely impacted by Antarctic ice sheet dynamics on orbital time‐scales. Plain Language Summary: The late Pliocene‐early Pleistocene transition (LP/EP) is a period of global cooling and the intensification of Northern Hemisphere glaciation. Yet, the evolution of the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) during this time remains a topic of ongoing discussion and debate. Here we present high‐resolution paleoclimate data from a record of lake sediments across the Pliocene‐Pleistocene transition period. We show that there was a reorganization of the East Asian monsoon system 2.75–2.6 million years ago, associated with an increase in climate forcing caused by cyclic changes in Earth's tilt and in climate stochasticity. This transition is attributed to the appearance of new high‐latitude forcing mechanisms on monsoon intensity caused by the growth of ice sheets in the Northern Hemisphere. Key Points: Cyclic patterns in East Asian summer monsoonal intensity during the Pliocene were mainly driven by Antarctic ice sheet variationsA major reorganization of the East Asian climate system occurred at 2.75–2.6 Ma in response to Northern Hemisphere glaciationQuaternary East Asian summer monsoon on orbital scales displays a sensitivity that is unique to the modern icehouse with bipolar ice sheets [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is considerable evidence that epigenetic mechanisms and DNA methylation are critical drivers of immune cell lineage differentiation and activation. However, there has been limited coordinated investigation of common epigenetic pathways among cell lineages. Further, it remains unclear if long-lived memory cell subtypes differentiate distinctly by cell lineages. Results: We used the Illumina EPIC array to investigate the consistency of DNA methylation in B cell, CD4 T, and CD8 T naïve and memory cells states. In the process of naïve to memory activation across the three lineages, we identify considerable shared epigenetic regulation at the DNA level for immune memory generation. Further, in central to effector memory differentiation, our analyses revealed specific CpG dinucleotides and genes in CD4 T and CD8 T cells with DNA methylation changes. Finally, we identified unique DNA methylation patterns in terminally differentiated effector memory (TEMRA) CD8 T cells compared to other CD8 T memory cell subtypes. Conclusions: Our data suggest that epigenetic alterations are widespread and essential in generating human lymphocyte memory. Unique profiles are involved in methylation changes that accompany memory genesis in the three subtypes of lymphocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have found the connections between cognitive reappraisals' creativity and their regulatory efficacy. The present study proposed and tested a novel hypothesis on the function of cognitive reappraisals, especially creative ones. That is, whether they could positively alter negative emotional arousal toward unpleasant stimuli. To this end, two questions were investigated: (a) whether the creative reappraisals were more capable than ordinary ones of transforming the negative stimuli (pictures) to be perceived as positive, and (b) whether these two kinds of reappraisals made the "negative‐to‐positive transformation" through different mechanisms. To answer the first question, we examined the power of the creative and ordinary reappraisals in making the "negative‐to‐positive transformation" using an indirect and delayed "positive‐or‐negative" picture‐sorting task (Exp. 1, n = 41 with a statistical power of 0.877), or using a direct and immediate subjective rating (Exp. 2, n = 31 with a statistical power of 0.768). To answer the second question, we checked how the factor of creativeness (creative vs. ordinary reappraisal) interacted with the factor of "timing" (simultaneous vs. delayed reappraisal delivery, Exp. 1), or with that of "dose" (one vs. three reappraisal applications; Exp. 2), in making the "negative‐to‐positive transformation," respectively, and examined if the variation of "timing" or "dose" factors would exert different effects on the creative and ordinary reappraisals' regulatory function. Our results generally proved that creative reappraisal was more capable of making the "negative‐to‐positive transformation" than the ordinary reappraisal, regardless of the direct and indirect emotion evaluation ratings as well as the variations in the timing and dose of reappraisal delivery. Moreover, we found that these two kinds of reappraisals could show dissociable dose‐dependent effects (but not timing‐dependent ones), thus partially implying that creative and ordinary reappraisal might make the "negative‐to‐positive transformation" through fundamentally different processes or mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the influencing factors of magnetic property test of permanent magnetic ring. Firstly, the finite element simulation method is used to analyze the influence of the size and material of center core and back iron on the magnetic property test results of permanent magnet ring. The results show that the size of center core and back iron has a great influence on the test results, and the material (soft magnetic material) has little influence on the test results. Then, center cores and back irons of different materials and sizes are processed for experiments, and the experimental results are consistent with the simulation results. Finally, the formula for critical size of back iron is deduced. This paper has certain reference significance for the selection of permanent magnet ring in motor and the standardization of magnetic property test of permanent magnet ring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LncRNA growth arrest specific 5 (GAS5) has been confirmed to play an essential role in a number of biological processes, such as tumor regulation and gene transcription. GAS5 has been shown to be a tumor suppressor gene in many types of cancer, but its specific mechanism of action in bladder cancer (BC) remains to be elucidated. In this study, we explored the biological properties of GAS5 in BC and its mechanism of action in BC. We analyzed the expression of GAS5 in 50 pairs of BC tissues and found that GAS5 was low expressed in BC tissues compared with normal mucosal tissues. In vitro and in vivo experiments showed that GAS5 could affect the proliferation and migration of BC cells. Nucleoplasmic isolation assays and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assays demonstrated the localization of GAS5 in cell cytoplasm. Chromatin isolation by RNA purification (ChIRP), RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and luciferase assay demonstrated the target binding relationship of GAS5 with miR-18a-5p. Rescue experiments demonstrated that GAS5 promoted the proliferation and migration of BC cells through target binding of miR-18a-5p. Moreover, miR-18a-5p bound to its targets AXIN2 and GSK3β, which in turn affected the expression of Wnt/β-catenin pathway-related proteins. Our findings demonstrate that GAS5 regulates Wnt/β-catenin pathway activity by regulating the miR-18a-5p/AXIN2/GSK3β axis to modulate BC progression, providing a new potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of BC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the advanced all solid-state block copolymer electrolytes (SBCPEs) for lithium-ion batteries with double conductive phases, poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(trimethyl-N-((2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)-7-propyl)-ammonium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide) (PEO-b-PDM-dTFSI)/LiTFSI, were fabricated, in which the charged PDM-dTFSI block contained double quaternary ammonium cations and the PEO block was doped with LiTFSI. The disordered (DIS) and ordered lamellae (LAM) phase structures were achieved by adjusting the composition of the block copolymer and the doping ratio r. In addition, the presence of the hard PDM-dTFSI block and the formation of the LAM phase structure resulted in a good mechanical strength of the solid PEO-b-PDM-dTFSI/LiTFSI electrolyte, and it could maintain a high level of 104 Pa at 100 °C, which was around 10,000 times stronger than that of the PEO/LiTFSI electrolyte. Based on the good mechanical and electrochemical properties, the PEO-b-PDM-dTFSI/LiTFSI SBCPE exhibited excellent long-term galvanostatic cycle performance, indicating the strong ability to suppress lithium dendrites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cellular compositions of solid tumor microenvironments are heterogeneous, varying across patients and tumor types. High-resolution profiling of the tumor microenvironment cell composition is crucial to understanding its biological and clinical implications. Previously, tumor microenvironment gene expression and DNA methylation-based deconvolution approaches have been shown to deconvolve major cell types. However, existing methods lack accuracy and specificity to tumor type and include limited identification of individual cell types.Results: We employed a novel tumor-type-specific hierarchical model using DNA methylation data to deconvolve the tumor microenvironment with high resolution, accuracy, and specificity. The deconvolution algorithm is named HiTIMED. Seventeen cell types from three major tumor microenvironment components can be profiled (tumor, immune, angiogenic) by HiTIMED, and it provides tumor-type-specific models for twenty carcinoma types. We demonstrate the prognostic significance of cell types that other tumor microenvironment deconvolution methods do not capture.Conclusion: We developed HiTIMED, a DNA methylation-based algorithm, to estimate cell proportions in the tumor microenvironment with high resolution and accuracy. HiTIMED deconvolution is amenable to archival biospecimens providing high-resolution profiles enabling to study of clinical and biological implications of variation and composition of the tumor microenvironment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial quality detection is one of the important fields in machine vision. Big data analysis, the Internet of Things, edge computing, and other technologies are widely used in industrial quality detection. Studying an industrial detection algorithm that can be organically combined with the Internet of Things and edge computing is imminent. Deep learning methods in industrial quality detection have been widely proposed recently. However, due to the particularity of industrial scenarios, the existing deep learning-based general object detection methods have shortcomings in industrial applications. This study designs two isomorphic industrial detection models to solve these problems: T-model and S-model. Both proposed models combine swin-transformer with convolution in the backbone and design a residual fusion path. In the neck, this study designs a dual attention module to improve feature fusion. Second, this study presents a knowledge distiller based on the dual attention module to improve the detection accuracy of the lightweight S-model. According to the analysis of the experimental results on four public industrial defect detection datasets, the model in this study is more advantageous in industrial defect detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A creep model based on Kelvin–Voigt fractional-order derivative model (KVFD) with less parameters and clearer physical description is established to obtain viscous-elastic property of frozen soil using spherical indentation tests (SITs), uniaxial creep tests and triaxial creep tests. Mechanical parameters identification principal (MPIP) is presented to verify fractional-order derivative Kelvin, Maxwell, Merchant and Burgers models have unique solution of mechanical parameters. MPIP is utilized to prove cascaded model of more than two fractional-order derivative Kelvin elements and Maxwell elements bring variable solutions of parameters in following conditions: (1) More than two cascaded fractional-order derivative Kelvin elements have same fractional-order and relaxation time; (2) More than two fractional-order derivative Maxwell elements are included in cascaded model. Experimental data of SITs reveal discrepancy of deformation curve also leads to diverse solutions of parameters and discrepancy of relaxation modulus. Discrepancy of relaxation modulus decreases with the decrease in deformation discrepancy. Relaxation modulus predicted by the proposed model is closer to Hertz's solution but higher than those given by Roman's solution after 5 h of loading. Validation of test data in SITs, uniaxial and triaxial creep tests demonstrates that the proposed model agrees well with the available laboratory results of frozen sand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the factors that regulate the functioning of our ecosystems in response to environmental changes can help to maintain the stable provisioning of ecosystem services to mankind. This is especially relevant given the increased variability of environmental conditions due to human activities. In particular, maintaining a stable production and plant biomass during the growing season (intra‐annual stability) despite pervasive and directional changes in temperature and precipitation through time can help to secure food supply to wild animals, livestock, and humans. Here, we conducted a 29‐year field observational study in a temperate grassland to explore how the intra‐annual stability of primary productivity is influenced by biotic and abiotic variables through time. We found that intra‐annual precipitation variability in the growing season indirectly influenced the community intra‐annual biomass stability by its negative effect on intra‐annual species asynchrony. While the intra‐annual temperature variability in the growing season indirectly altered community intra‐annual biomass stability through affecting the intra‐annual species richness. At the same time, although the intra‐annual biomass stability of the dominant species and the dominant functional group were insensitive to climate variability, they also promoted the stable community biomass to a certain extent. Our results indicate that ongoing intra‐annual climate variability affects community intra‐annual biomass stability in the temperate grassland, which has important theoretical significance for us to take active measures to deal with climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new high-entropy diboride (Hf 0.25 Zr 0.25 Ta 0.25 Sc 0.25)B 2 was designed to investigate the effect of introducing rare-earth metal diboride ScB 2 into high-entropy diborides on its structure and properties. The local mixing enthalpy predicts that (Hf 0.25 Zr 0.25 Ta 0.25 Sc 0.25)B 2 has high enthalpy driving force, which more easily allows the formation of single-phase AlB 2 -type structures between components. The experiments further demonstrate that (Hf 0.25 Zr 0.25 Ta 0.25 Sc 0.25)B 2 possesses excellent phase stability, lattice integrity and nanoscale chemical homogeneity. (Hf 0.25 Zr 0.25 Ta 0.25 Sc 0.25)B 2 showed relatively high hardness (30.7 GPa), elastic modulus (E , G , and B of 522, 231 and 233 GPa, respectively), bending strength (454 MPa), and low thermal conductivity (13.9 W·m−1·K−1). The thermal expansion of (Hf 0.25 Zr 0.25 Ta 0.25 Sc 0.25)B 2 is higher than that of ZrB 2 and HfB 2 due to weakened bonding (M d - B p and M dd bonding) and enhanced anharmonic effects. Thus, incorporating Sc into high-entropy diborides can tailor the properties associated with the bonding, which further expands the compositional space of high-entropy diborides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) worldwide. SGLT2 inhibitors are clinically effective in halting DKD progression. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The serum and kidneys of mice with DKD were analyzed using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based metabolomic and proteomic analyses. Three groups were established: placebo-treated littermate db/m mice, placebo-treated db/db mice and EMPA-treated db/db mice. Empagliflozin (EMPA) and placebo (10 mg/kg/d) were administered for 12 weeks. EMPA treatment decreased Cys-C and urinary albumin excretion compared with placebo by 78.60% and 57.12%, respectively (p < 0.001 in all cases). Renal glomerular area, interstitial fibrosis and glomerulosclerosis were decreased by 16.47%, 68.50% and 62.82%, respectively (p < 0.05 in all cases). Multi-omic analysis revealed that EMPA treatment altered the protein and metabolic profiles in the db/db group, including 32 renal proteins, 51 serum proteins, 94 renal metabolites and 37 serum metabolites. Five EMPA-related metabolic pathways were identified by integrating proteomic and metabolomic analyses, which are involved in renal purine metabolism; pyrimidine metabolism; tryptophan metabolism; nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism, and glycine, serine and threonine metabolism in serum. In conclusion, this study demonstrated metabolic reprogramming in mice with DKD. EMPA treatment improved kidney function and morphology by regulating metabolic reprogramming, including regulation of renal reductive stress, alleviation of mitochondrial dysfunction and reduction in renal oxidative stress reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existing precision grazing technology helps to improve the utilization rate of livestock to pasture, but it is still at the level of "collectivization" and cannot provide more accurate grazing management and control. (1) Background: In recent years, with the rapid development of agent-related technologies such as deep learning, visual navigation and tracking, more and more lightweight edge computing cell target detection algorithms have been proposed. (2) Methods: In this study, the improved YOLOv5 detector combined with the extended dataset realized the accurate identification and location of domestic cattle; with the help of the kernel correlation filter (KCF) automatic tracking framework, the long-term cyclic convolution network (LRCN) was used to analyze the texture characteristics of animal fur and effectively distinguish the individual cattle. (3) Results: The intelligent UAV equipped with an AGX Xavier high-performance computing unit ran the above algorithm through edge computing and effectively realized the individual identification and positioning of cattle during the actual flight. (4) Conclusion: The UAV platform based on airborne depth reasoning is expected to help the development of smart ecological animal husbandry and provide better precision services for herdsmen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene was introduced into C/C–SiC composites via pressureless impregnation to enhance the mechanical and thermal properties of the composites. The effects of various graphene contents on the mechanical and ablative performances of C/C–SiC composites were investigated. The results showed that the ultimate bending stress and compressive stress of the C/C–SiC composites increased by 28.98% and 23.64%, respectively, after adding 7.25% graphene. Moreover, the ablation rates of the composites were vastly decreased after adding a slight graphene content (2.13%). However, the ablation rates increased with increasing of graphene content, indicating that the benefit of introducing graphene on the ablation property decreased, which was mainly ascribed to the relative reduction in the SiC content. As a result, introducing slight graphene into C/C–SiC composites had the greatest benefit on the anti-ablation performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(Hf 0.2 Zr 0.2 Nb 0.2 Ta 0.2 Sc 0.2)B 2 was designed to improve the densification and solid-solution formation of high-entropy transition metal diborides, and its phase stability was predicted using the energy distribution of the local mixing enthalpy of all possible configurations. It was found that (Hf 0.2 Zr 0.2 Nb 0.2 Ta 0.2 Sc 0.2)B 2 are enthalpy-stabilized materials. The two-component metal diborides formed by transition metal diborides (HfB 2 , ZrB 2 , TaB 2 and NbB 2) with ScB 2 are thermodynamically favorable, based on the mixing enthalpy. Therefore, the introduction of ScB 2 in high-entropy metal diborides is beneficial to reduce the mixing Gibbs free energy during the boro/carbothermal reduction process, which enables the formation of single-phase solid solution at low temperatures. Even high-entropy metal diboride powders with large particle sizes, 25–57 µm, can achieve sintered density up to ~97% due to the introduction of ScB 2 in high-entropy metal diborides, owing to its weakening action on the TM d - B p and the TM dd bonding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The efficacy and safety of DEB-TACE and c-TACE in the treatment of patients with ICC remains controversial. • DEB-TACE was more effective than c-TACE with similar adverse effects before and after propensity score matching. • The research provided evidence for the selection of type of TACE in unresectable ICC patients. The efficacy and safety of drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) and conventional TACE (c-TACE) in the treatment of patients with unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) remained controversial. Therefore, we aimed to compare the efficacy and safety between c-TACE and DEB-TACE among patients with ICC. Between June 10, 2016 and November 19, 2022, consecutive patients with pathological diagnoses of ICC were divided into the DEB-TACE group and the c-TACE group based on the type of TACE treatment they received. The Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were used to compare overall survival (OS) between the two groups. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to balance the characteristics between the c-TACE group and the DEB-TACE group. A total of 132 patients were included in this study, with 64 patients in the c-TACE group and 68 patients in the DEB-TACE group. The median OS for c-TACE and DEB-TACE was 5 and 12 months, respectively. The objective response rate (ORR) for c-TACE and DEB-TACE was 0 % and 66.2 %, respectively; the disease control rate (DCR) was 37.5 % and 91.2 %. There were no significant differences between c-TACE and DEB-TACE among adverse effects at 3 months after treatment (P > 0.05). The results remained consistent after PSM. The Cox regression demonstrated that the DEB-TACE was an independent protective factor for OS. Patients in the DEB-TACE group had longer OS and higher ORR and DCR than those in the c-TACE group, but no significant difference was observed between the two groups regarding adverse effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of radiomic characteristics of magnetic resonance images to predict vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients.One hundred and twenty-four patients with HCC who underwent fat-suppressed T2-weighted imaging (FS-T2WI) and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) one week before surgical resection were enrolled in this retrospective study. Immunohistochemical analysis was used to evaluate the expression level of VEGF. Radiomic features were extracted from the axial FS-T2WI, DCE-MRI (arterial phase and portal venous phase) images of axial MRI. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and stepwise regression analyses were performed to select the best radiomic features. Multivariate logistic regression models were constructed and validated using tenfold cross-validation. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, calibration curve analysis and decision curve analysis (DCA) were employed to evaluate these models.Our results show that there were 94 patients with high VEGF expression and 30 patients with low VEGF expression among the 124 HCC patients. The FS-T2WI, DCE-MRI and combined MRI radiomics models had AUCs of 0.8713, 0.7819, and 0.9191, respectively. There was no significant difference in the AUC between the FS-T2WI radiomics model and the DCE-MRI radiomics model (p > 0.05), but the AUC for the combined model was significantly greater than the AUCs for the other two models (p < 0.05) according to the DeLong test. The combined model had the greatest net benefit according to the DCA results.The radiomic model based on multisequence MR images has the potential to predict VEGF expression in HCC patients. The combined model showed the best performance.Methods: The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of radiomic characteristics of magnetic resonance images to predict vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients.One hundred and twenty-four patients with HCC who underwent fat-suppressed T2-weighted imaging (FS-T2WI) and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) one week before surgical resection were enrolled in this retrospective study. Immunohistochemical analysis was used to evaluate the expression level of VEGF. Radiomic features were extracted from the axial FS-T2WI, DCE-MRI (arterial phase and portal venous phase) images of axial MRI. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and stepwise regression analyses were performed to select the best radiomic features. Multivariate logistic regression models were constructed and validated using tenfold cross-validation. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, calibration curve analysis and decision curve analysis (DCA) were employed to evaluate these models.Our results show that there were 94 patients with high VEGF expression and 30 patients with low VEGF expression among the 124 HCC patients. The FS-T2WI, DCE-MRI and combined MRI radiomics models had AUCs of 0.8713, 0.7819, and 0.9191, respectively. There was no significant difference in the AUC between the FS-T2WI radiomics model and the DCE-MRI radiomics model (p > 0.05), but the AUC for the combined model was significantly greater than the AUCs for the other two models (p < 0.05) according to the DeLong test. The combined model had the greatest net benefit according to the DCA results.The radiomic model based on multisequence MR images has the potential to predict VEGF expression in HCC patients. The combined model showed the best performance.Results: The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of radiomic characteristics of magnetic resonance images to predict vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients.One hundred and twenty-four patients with HCC who underwent fat-suppressed T2-weighted imaging (FS-T2WI) and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) one week before surgical resection were enrolled in this retrospective study. Immunohistochemical analysis was used to evaluate the expression level of VEGF. Radiomic features were extracted from the axial FS-T2WI, DCE-MRI (arterial phase and portal venous phase) images of axial MRI. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and stepwise regression analyses were performed to select the best radiomic features. Multivariate logistic regression models were constructed and validated using tenfold cross-validation. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, calibration curve analysis and decision curve analysis (DCA) were employed to evaluate these models.Our results show that there were 94 patients with high VEGF expression and 30 patients with low VEGF expression among the 124 HCC patients. The FS-T2WI, DCE-MRI and combined MRI radiomics models had AUCs of 0.8713, 0.7819, and 0.9191, respectively. There was no significant difference in the AUC between the FS-T2WI radiomics model and the DCE-MRI radiomics model (p > 0.05), but the AUC for the combined model was significantly greater than the AUCs for the other two models (p < 0.05) according to the DeLong test. The combined model had the greatest net benefit according to the DCA results.The radiomic model based on multisequence MR images has the potential to predict VEGF expression in HCC patients. The combined model showed the best performance.Conclusion: The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of radiomic characteristics of magnetic resonance images to predict vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients.One hundred and twenty-four patients with HCC who underwent fat-suppressed T2-weighted imaging (FS-T2WI) and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) one week before surgical resection were enrolled in this retrospective study. Immunohistochemical analysis was used to evaluate the expression level of VEGF. Radiomic features were extracted from the axial FS-T2WI, DCE-MRI (arterial phase and portal venous phase) images of axial MRI. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and stepwise regression analyses were performed to select the best radiomic features. Multivariate logistic regression models were constructed and validated using tenfold cross-validation. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, calibration curve analysis and decision curve analysis (DCA) were employed to evaluate these models.Our results show that there were 94 patients with high VEGF expression and 30 patients with low VEGF expression among the 124 HCC patients. The FS-T2WI, DCE-MRI and combined MRI radiomics models had AUCs of 0.8713, 0.7819, and 0.9191, respectively. There was no significant difference in the AUC between the FS-T2WI radiomics model and the DCE-MRI radiomics model (p > 0.05), but the AUC for the combined model was significantly greater than the AUCs for the other two models (p < 0.05) according to the DeLong test. The combined model had the greatest net benefit according to the DCA results.The radiomic model based on multisequence MR images has the potential to predict VEGF expression in HCC patients. The combined model showed the best performance.Graphical Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of radiomic characteristics of magnetic resonance images to predict vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients.One hundred and twenty-four patients with HCC who underwent fat-suppressed T2-weighted imaging (FS-T2WI) and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) one week before surgical resection were enrolled in this retrospective study. Immunohistochemical analysis was used to evaluate the expression level of VEGF. Radiomic features were extracted from the axial FS-T2WI, DCE-MRI (arterial phase and portal venous phase) images of axial MRI. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and stepwise regression analyses were performed to select the best radiomic features. Multivariate logistic regression models were constructed and validated using tenfold cross-validation. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, calibration curve analysis and decision curve analysis (DCA) were employed to evaluate these models.Our results show that there were 94 patients with high VEGF expression and 30 patients with low VEGF expression among the 124 HCC patients. The FS-T2WI, DCE-MRI and combined MRI radiomics models had AUCs of 0.8713, 0.7819, and 0.9191, respectively. There was no significant difference in the AUC between the FS-T2WI radiomics model and the DCE-MRI radiomics model (p > 0.05), but the AUC for the combined model was significantly greater than the AUCs for the other two models (p < 0.05) according to the DeLong test. The combined model had the greatest net benefit according to the DCA results.The radiomic model based on multisequence MR images has the potential to predict VEGF expression in HCC patients. The combined model showed the best performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In control theory and practical engineering fields, such as the controllability, observability, input–output finite-time stability of the linear systems, it is a significant problem to study the properties of the solution for the Lyapunov matrix differential equation where there are no restrictions on the system matrix. In this paper, by constructing an equivalent form of the Lyapunov matrix differential equation and utilizing some important matrix eigenvalue inequalities, lower and upper bounds for the matrix solution of the Lyapunov matrix differential equation that remove the strict restrictions for the system matrix are proposed. As an application in linear systems, we show that our bounds can be used to discuss the input–output finite-time stability for linear systems. Finally, we give some corresponding numerical examples to illustrate the effectiveness and superiority of our results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sensitivity of electrochemical (EC) sensors has been improved through the development of multiple approaches. However, the majority of EC sensors were limited in their practical application by high costs or tedious procedures. Herein, based on ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)-Pb2+ complexation reaction, a facile and affordable immunosensor was designed. Pb2+-magnesium silicate hydrate was served as the sensing substrate. The immunorecognition process was carried out in the Eppendorf tube, and antibody-functionalized Pb2+-polydopamine was utilized as immunoprobe. In the tube, the quantitative and appropriate excess of EDTA was introduced to complex with Pb2+ on the immunoprobes. The remaining EDTA was added to the sensing substrate surface to coordinate with some Pb2+ in it. This leaded to the reduction of the EC signal of Pb2+, which was related to the antigen concentration. Using prostate-specific antigen as the model analyte, the sensitive detection was realized with a low limit of detection (30.49 fg mL−1). Remarkably, the assay results were available within 24 min, sensibly faster than the most existing EC sensors. [Display omitted] • Pb2+-magnesium silicate hydrate was served as the sensing substrate. • Pb2+-polydopamine was utilized as support for immunoprobe. • EDTA-Pb2+ coordination reaction was applied to improve the sensitivity of the sensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]