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Friction is a considerable boundary condition in aluminum alloy hot extrusion. In this study, ball-on-disc friction tests at temperatures of 25–500 °C were performed to equivalently simulate the interface tribological behaviors between Al–Mg–Si–Cu alloy and die steel in hot extrusion. The wear tracks and wear debris on disc samples were observed by means of ultradepth 3D microscopy, field-emission scanning microscope and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The change trends of wear depth, width and wear rate of aluminium disc with temperature and wear cycles were investigated. The evolutions of wear mechanism and friction coefficient with temperature were revealed. A mechanical analytical model for identifying adhesion and ploughing friction components during friction was established. The results show that as temperature rises, wear rate of aluminum disc increases gradually, while the average friction coefficient increases first rapidly and then decreases, which is associated with the changes of friction and wear mechanisms. The adhesion friction force constitutes the majority of total friction force, while ploughing friction force accounts for less than 3 %. Compared with the large variation of adhesion friction coefficient during friction, shear friction stress can tend to be stable and is not affected by the change of contact area, which may can better characterize the adhesion frictional behavior of die interface in aluminum alloy hot extrusion. The quantitative relationship between temperature and steady shear friction stress was described by an inverse polynomial peak function.

Electromyography (EMG) based Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) through wearable devices frequently encounter variability in body postures, which can modify the amplitude and frequency features of surface EMG (sEMG) signals. This variability often results in reduced gesture recognition accuracy. To enhance the robustness of sEMG-based gesture interfaces, mitigating the effects of body position variability is essential. In this paper, we proposed a Dynamic Balanced Single-Source Domain Generalization (DBSS-DG) transfer learning framework, which only used sEMG signal data from one posture as source domain for model training but can also generate good performance under different body postures as target domain. Validation was performed on the sEMG dataset from 16 subjects across four postures: standing, sitting, walking, and lying. With standing as the source domain, the model achieved gesture recognition accuracies of 90.79 ± 0.09%, 88.78 ± 0.06%, and 90.87 ± 0.1% for sitting, walking, and lying as the target domains, respectively, producing an average improvement of 4.71% over non-transfer learning approaches. Furthermore, the performance of our model exceeded that of many well-known single-source domain generalization methods, establishing its effectiveness in practical applications.

Abstract Background Central obesity and breast cancer (BC) have been identified as relevant by empirical research. The weight-adjusted-waist index (WWI) is a novel methodology for quantifying central obesity. Inspection of the association between WWI and BC in American adult women was the primary goal of the current investigation. Methods Cross-sectional assessments were conducted on information gathered from 10,193 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) participants from 2011 to 2018. The waist circumference was divided by the square root of the body’s mass to compute WWI. Data were assessed via descriptive statistics to present data distributions according to BC grouping and WWI grouping, receiver operating characteristic curves (ROCs) to evaluate the obesity indicators’ applied value, logistic regression to reflect associations between WWI and BC prevalence, and restricted cubic splines (RCSs) and subgroup analysis forest plots to visualise and complement the relationships. Results This study enrolled 10,193 participants whose WWI ranged from 8.38 to 14.41, 259 of whom were diagnosed with BC, and the results revealed significant differences in baseline characteristics between the groups. With an area under the curve (AUC) value (95% confidence interval) (CI)of 0.611 (0.577–0.644), WWI was a promising indicator of BC with good application value rather than waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), or waist-height ratio (WHtR). WWI and BC laid out a substantial relationship, yielding an odds ratio (OR) of 1.54 and a 95% CI of (1.34, 1.79), which remained at 1.19 (1.00, 1.42) after considerable adjustments were made, according to the logistic regression analysis. Compared with the lowest quartile of WWI, the highest quartile had a 62% greater in the probability of suffering from BC. With the RCS’s inverted U-shape highlighting the importance of considering the nonlinear nature of the relationship and subgroup analyses reflecting variations among populations, all the results demonstrated that WWI was a well-suggestive indicator of BC hazard. Conclusion The current investigation revealed a meaningful association between the prevalence of BC and WWI, which was superior to other obesity indicators, albeit one that was more complex than the positive relationship initially derived. There existed a turning point for BC prevalence at WWI of approximately 12 cm/√kg. Nevertheless, maintaining WWI in the lower range is critical for preventing and administering BC and minimizing disease risk.

Abstract For surface electromyography (sEMG) based human–machine interaction systems, accurately recognizing the users’ gesture intent is crucial. However, due to the existence of subject-specific components in sEMG signals, subject-specific models may deteriorate when applied to new users. In this study, we hypothesize that in addition to subject-specific components, sEMG signals also contain pattern-specific components, which is independent of individuals and solely related to gesture patterns. Based on this hypothesis, we disentangled these two components from sEMG signals with an auto-encoder and applied the pattern-specific components to establish a general gesture recognition model in cross-subject scenarios. Furthermore, we compared the characteristics of the pattern-specific information contained in three categories of EMG measures: signal waveform, time-domain features, and frequency-domain features. Our hypothesis was validated on an open source database. Ultimately, the combination of time- and frequency-domain features achieved the best performance in gesture classification tasks, with a maximum accuracy of 84.3%. For individual feature, frequency-domain features performed the best and were proved most suitable for separating the two components. Additionally, we intuitively visualized the heatmaps of pattern-specific components based on the topological position of electrode arrays and explored their physiological interpretability by examining the correspondence between the heatmaps and muscle activation areas.

Abstract Aims The prognostic significance of N‐terminal pro B‐type natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) has been well established. HFpEF and atrial fibrillation (AF) commonly coexist, and each contributes to poor outcomes independently. Nevertheless, the ability of NT‐proBNP to predict AF in HFpEF patients remains uncertain. Methods and results A total of 367 HFpEF patients without baseline AF from the Treatment of Preserved Cardiac Function Heart Failure with an Aldosterone Antagonist (TOPCAT) trial were included. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to assess the association of NT‐proBNP with the risk of AF. The C‐statistic, categorical net reclassification index (NRI), and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) were used to evaluate the ability of NT‐proBNP in new‐onset AF prediction. During a median follow‐up of 2.91 years, 17 (4.63%) new‐onset AF cases occurred. Every 1000 pg/mL increase in NT‐proBNP was associated with a 16% increase in the risk of AF occurrence after adjustments (hazard ratio, 1.16 [95% CI, 1.02–1.32]). NT‐proBNP showed a moderate performance for new‐onset AF at 3 years (C‐statistic, 0.67). Adding NT‐proBNP to CHADS2/R2CHADS2/CHA2DS2‐VASc/C2HSET scores improved their predictive performance for AF risk (CHADS2: C‐statistic, 0.63, CHADS2+NT: C‐statistic, 0.69, NRI, 47.46%, IDI, 1.18%; R2CHADS2: C‐statistic, 0.65, R2CHADS2+NT: C‐statistic, 0.70, NRI, 48.03%, IDI, 0.51%; CHA2DS2‐VASc: C‐statistic, 0.67, CHA2DS2‐VASc+NT: C‐statistic, 0.72, NRI, 49.41%, IDI, 0.86%; C2HSET: C‐statistic, 0.77, C2HSET+NT: C‐statistic, 0.80, NRI, 50.32%, IDI, 1.58%). Conclusions Among patients with HFpEF, the NT‐proBNP level was positively associated with the incidence of new‐onset AF and may be a promising predictor.

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva and progressive osseous heteroplasia are genetic forms of heterotopic ossification (HO). Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva is caused by ACVR1 gene mutations, while progressive osseous heteroplasia is caused by GNAS gene mutations. Nongenetic HO typically occurs after trauma or surgery, with an occurrence rate of 20–60%. It can also be observed in conditions such as diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, spinal ligament ossification, ankylosing spondylitis, and skeletal fluorosis. The exact cause of nongenetic HO is not entirely clear. More than 100 types of miRNAs have been identified as being linked to the development of HO. Some miRNAs are promising potential biomarkers for traumatic HO and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. These findings further emphasize the significant role miRNAs play in the pathogenesis and progression of bone disorders. Repeated investigations into the function of a specific miRNA are infrequent and yield inconsistent results, possibly because of variable experimental conditions. It is hypothesized that miRNAs can enhance osteogenesis for the management of fractures and bone defects. However, further research is required to validate this hypothesis.

Abstract Under the background of global climate change, climate warming has led to an increase in insect herbivory, which significantly affects the growth, survival, and regeneration of forest plants in the warm temperate zone of China. Plants can adopt defense responses to adapt to insect defoliation. Therefore, field experiments were conducted on five common warm temperate species, Quercus acutissima, Quercus serrata, Quercus aliena, Quercus dentata, and Robinia pseudoacacia. We measured the leaf traits of healthy trees and insect defoliated trees, to explore the response strategies of common species in warm temperate zones to insect defoliation. Our results showed that native species stored more carbon in extreme environments for survival rather than growth, while the alien species R. pseudoacacia tended to adopt active resource acquisition strategies and were more inclined towards growth. The content of tannins and flavonoids in the alien species R. pseudoacacia did not significantly increase after leaf damage, while the content of secondary metabolites such as tannins, flavonoids, and total phenols in the native species Q. acutissima, Q. serrata, Q. aliena, Q. dentata increased significantly after leaf damage. This indicated that compared to alien species, native species invested more resources in defense, which might reduce resource allocation for growth. Thus, the native Quercus species have stronger resistance than the alien species R. pseudoacacia after insect defoliation.

In the present study, the interstitial hydrogen (H) atoms were introduced as β-stabilizing element to tailor the microstructure, martensitic phase transition, and functional properties of Ti–V–Al shape memory alloys for biomedical applications. The results revealed that the addition of interstitial H atoms into Ti–V–Al shape memory alloys induced the transition from a single αˊˊ martensite to the coexistence of β parent phase and α phase, regardless of H content. Moreover, the amount of α phase firstly increases and then decreases in the present Ti–V–Al based shape memory alloy with H content increasing. Besides, H addition resulted in larger lattice distortion, further causing the formation of nano-domains in Ti–V–Al based alloys. Besides, no endothermic and exothermic peaks were detected due to the confinement of α-phase, and the emergence of nano-domains. With increasing H atoms content, the mechanical properties such as fracture strength, hardness, recoverable strain for Ti–V–Al based shape memory alloys initially increased and then decreased. (Ti–13V–3Al)99.2H0.8 shape memory alloys exhibited the highest fracture strength of 862 MPa, superior hardness of 307HV, and the fully recoverable strain under 6% pre-strain as well as the moderate elastic modulus, which was mainly attributed to the solution strengthening of interstitial H atoms and the precipitation strengthening of α phase. The best corrosion resistance of Ti–V–Al based shape memory alloys was observed with the 2.0 at. % H, which was due to the formation of TiO2, Ti2O3 oxide films. Moreover, the best wear resistance with the lower wear rate of 0.9347 × 10−6 mm3/N mm was obtained in (Ti–13V–3Al)99·2H0.8 shape memory alloy, due to the integrated effects of higher microhardness, reinforcing effect of α phase and lubrication effect of the hydrogenated film.

Abstract Background Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) represents a critical complications of end-stage liver disease, serving as an independent predictor of mortality among patients with cirrhosis. Despite effective treatment with rifaximin, some patients with HE still progress to recurrent episodes, posing a significant therapeutic challenge. Recurrent HE is defined as experiencing two or more episodes within a 6-month period. Previous research has suggested that FMT may emerge as a promising treatment for recurrent HE. However, there remains a critical need to explore the optimal dosage. This trial aims to abscess the efficacy and safety of two FMT dosages: 800 ml or 400 ml total bacterial count, including mortality and quality of life. Methods This multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled trial will enroll 100 eligible patients from 31 hospitals in China. Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the high-dose group (800 ml total bacterial count) or the low-dose group (400 ml total bacterial count). The primary objective is to assess the efficacy and safety of both dosages on outcomes at 24 and 48 weeks, including mortality and quality of life. Discussion If either or both dosages of FMT demonstrate safe and effective treatment of recurrent HE, leading to improve quality of life and survival at 24 and 48 weeks, this trial would address a significant gap in the management of recurrent HE, carrying innovative and clinically significant implications. Trial registration NCT05669651 on ClinicalTrials.gov. Registered on 29 December 2022. CHiCTR2200067135 on China Registered Clinical Trial Registration Center. Registered on 27 December 2022.

Abstract Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the neurological outcomes of Metastatic epidural spinal cord compression (MESCC) patients who underwent decompressive surgery after experiencing over 48 h of paralysis. Methods This retrospective study hypothesizes that, unlike in cases of trauma and degenerative disorders where delayed decompression surgery often leads to poor outcomes, delayed decompression surgery for MESCC-induced paralysis yields relatively favorable results. This study included MESCC patients who had been paralyzed for more than 48 h and underwent decompressive surgery between January 2012 and December 2020. Data collected mainly included patient demographics, tumor pathologies, neurological function (Frankel grades), ambulatory status, and imaging manifestions. The primary outcome measure was neurological recovery. Results A total of 37 patients were included, with a median preoperative paralysis duration of 9 days. Following decompressive surgery, 30 patients (81.1%) improved by at least one Frankel grade. Specifically, 22 patients (59.5%) regained ambulatory ability. The percentages of patients with Frankel grades A, B, and C who regained ambulation after surgery were 28.6% (2 out of 7), 57.1% (8 out of 14), and 75.0% (12 out of 16), respectively. Conclusions Decompressive surgery is associated with significant neurological recovery in MESCC patients who have been non-ambulatory for more than 48 h. Surgical intervention remains beneficial even in cases of prolonged paralysis.

Al–Mg-Sc-Zr alloys with flat surface, low porosity and excellent mechanical properties were prepared by Laser Metal Deposition (LMD) and annealed (A) using secondary recycled Al–Mg-Sc-Zr powders in an open environment. The optimal LMD parameters are laser power 1800 W, scanning speed 5 mm/s and scanning spacing 3 mm The Al–Mg-Sc-Zr alloy deposited by multi-layer multi-track under optimal parameters and subsequent annealing treatment displays a flat surface, porosity of 2.08%, hardness of 134 HV, ultimate tensile strengthen (UTS) of 348 MPa, yield strength (YS) of 235 MPa and uniform elongation (εu) of 16.71%. The porosity mainly concentrates in the molten pool overlap due to the influence of Marangoni convection. Solute redistribution and compositional subcooling lead to periodic segregation of Sc elements, finally contributing to the appearance of bright and dark spiral stacking features centered in the molten pool. Due to the small G/R value of the molten pool, coarse and fine equiaxed grains are alternately developed during single-track deposition. The in-situ heat treatment induced by the subsequent multi-layer multi-track deposition transformed the alternately distributed coarse and fine equiaxed grain structure into a homogeneous grain structure. This results from the combination influence of the difference in the proportion of large-angle grain boundaries occupied by the coarse/fine grains and the pinning of the Al3(Sc,Zr) grains. The strength of the present alloy is mainly provided by solid solution strengthening, fine grain strengthening and second phase strengthening. The stress concentration is reduced for fine grain size and the intergranular strain transfer is favored because of small internal orientation difference. Meanwhile, the interlayer retention and annealing treatment timely release the thermal stresses during the LMD process, which results in the Al–Mg-Sc-Zr alloys keep good plasticity.

Abstract Background Clinically important lineages in Klebsiella, especially those expressing multi-drug resistance (MDR), pose severe threats to public health worldwide. They arose from the co-evolution of the vertically inherited core genome and horizontal gene transfers by plasmids, which has not been systematically explored. Methods We designed KleTy, which consists of dedicated typing schemes for both the core genome and plasmids in Klebsiella. We compared the performance of KleTy with many state-of-the-art pipelines using both simulated and real data. Results Employing KleTy, we genotyped 33,272 Klebsiella genomes, categorizing them into 1773 distinct populations and predicting the presence of 87,410 plasmids from 837 clusters (PCs). Notably, Klebsiella is the center of the plasmid-exchange network within Enterobacteriaceae. Our results associated the international emergence of prevalent Klebsiella populations with only four carbapenem-resistance (CR) PCs, two hypervirulent PCs, and two hvCR-PCs encoding both carbapenemase and hypervirulence. Furthermore, we observed the ongoing international emergence of bla NDM, accompanied by the replacement of the previously dominant population, bla KPC-encoding HC1360_8 (CC258), during 2003–2018, with the emerging bla NDM-encoding HC1360_3 (CC147) thereafter. Additionally, expansions of hypervirulent carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvCRKP) were evidenced in both populations, driven by plasmids of MDR-hypervirulence convergences. Conclusions The study illuminates how the global genetic landscape of Klebsiella has been shaped by the co-evolution of both the core genome and the plasmids, underscoring the importance of surveillance and control of the dissemination of plasmids for curtailing the emergence of hvCRKPs.

AZ31 Mg alloy thin walls are prepared using wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) and interlayer ultrasonic impact (UI) techniques with cold metal transition (CMT) serving as the heat source. The microstructure, mechanical and corrosion properties of thin walls prepared by WAAM and WAAM + UI are studied. Results showed that the recrystallization area fraction along traveling direction (TD) increased by 68.6% after UI treatment, and many fine equiaxed crystals were formed, resulting in grain refinement, anisotropy reduction, mechanical and corrosion properties improvement. The average grain size along TD decreased from 66.6 ± 3.5 μm to 32.7 ± 1.6 μm. Through UI treatment, the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and elongation (EL) along TD increased from 205 MPa to 230 MPa and 13.5%–17%, respectively. The anisotropic percentage of UTS and EL were decreased from 10.8% to 4.5%, and 42.1%–9.7%, respectively. Electrochemical experimental results showed that the average corrosion rate along TD decreased from 1.93 mm year−1 to 1.53 mm year−1. Grain refinement, dislocation density variation and texture strength reduction were the main reasons for these results.

Background: Injectable hydrogels are widely used in drug delivery and the repair of irregular tissue defects due to their advantages such as convenient and minimally invasive operation. Although the existing injectable hydrogels have excellent biocompatibility and osteoconduction, they still face clinical challenges such as low osteogenic activity. The key requirements for improved injectable hydrogels as repair materials for non-load bearing bone defects are optimal handling properties, the ability to fill irregular defects and provide osteoinductive stimulation. Methods: We developed an approach to construct injectable hydrogels through a two-step gelation process. In the first step of gelation, the denaturation and rehybridization mechanism of natural biopolymer DNA was utilized to form interconnected structure through hydrogen bonding between complementary base pairs between the DNA strands. In the second step of gelation, the introduction of halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) loaded with osteogenic model drug dexamethasone (Dex) provided additional crosslinking sites through non-covalent interactions with the DNA backbone, including electrostatic interaction and hydrogen bonding interaction. Results: The DNA-based nanocomposite hydrogel material developed in our work can be used as an injectable filling material for the repair of non-load bearing bone defect and can be loaded with osteogenic model drug dexamethasone (Dex) for improved osteoinductivity, promoting new bone regeneration in vivo. Translational potential of this article: This article highlights the potential of using nanocomposite hydrogels to repair non-load bearing bone defects, which are common injuries in the clinic. This study provides a deeper understanding of how to optimize the properties of hydrogels to regulate cell differentiation and tissue formation.

The relentless rise in heart disease incidence, a leading global cause of death, presents a significant public health challenge. Precise prediction of heart disease risk and early interventions are crucial. This study investigates the performance improvement of heart disease prediction models using machine learning and deep learning algorithms. Initially, we utilized the Heart Failure Prediction Dataset from Kaggle. After preprocessing to ensure data quality, three distinct feature engineering techniques were applied: PCA for dimensionality reduction, ET for feature selection, and Pearson's correlation coefficient for feature selection. We assessed their impact on model performance. The dataset was then partitioned into three different data split ratios—1:9, 2:8, and 3:7—to determine their specific effects on model performance. Twelve machine learning classifiers—LGBM, Adaboost, XGB, RF, DT, KNN, LR, GNB, ET, SVC, GB, and Bagging—were trained and evaluated based on five key metrics: accuracy, recall, precision, F1 score, and training time. The influence of different feature engineering methods and data partitioning ratios on model performance were systematically analyzed using paired-sample t-tests. Among the feature engineering methods compared, the Bagging classifier, when combined with feature selection via ET, exhibited superior performance. It achieved an accuracy of 97.48 % and an F1-Score of 97.48 % with a data split ratio of 1:9 between the test and training sets. With a 2:8 split, the accuracy was 94.96 % and the F1-Score was 94.95 %. For a 3:7 split, the accuracy was 94.12 % and the F1-Score was 94.11 %. Paired sample T-test results indicate that feature selection using Pearson correlation coefficient can shorten training duration, but this also leads to a decline in classifier performance. After applying PCA dimensionality reduction, compared with the control group, there was no significant difference in the training efficiency and efficacy of the classifier. However, feature selection through ET significantly reduced the training time for various classifiers while ensuring their performance.

Abstract Background Accurately identifying effective biomarkers and translating them into clinical practice have significant implications for improving clinical outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, our objective is to explore appropriate methods to improve the accuracy of biomarker identification and investigate their clinical value. Methods Concentrating on the N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification regulators, we utilized dozens of multi-omics HCC datasets to analyze the expression patterns and genetic features of m6A regulators. Through the integration of big data analysis with function experiments, we have redefined the biological roles of m6A regulators in HCC. Based on the key regulators, we constructed m6A risk models and explored their clinical value in estimating prognosis and guiding personalized therapy for HCC. Results Most m6A regulators exhibit abnormal expression in HCC, and their expression is influenced by copy number variations (CNV) and DNA methylation. Large-scale data analysis has revealed the biological roles of many key m6A regulators, and these findings are well consistent with experimental results. The m6A risk models offer significant prognostic value. Moreover, they assist in reassessing the therapeutic potential of drugs such as sorafenib, gemcitabine, CTLA4 and PD1 blockers in HCC. Conclusions Our findings suggest that the mutual validation of big data analysis and functional experiments may facilitate the precise identification and definition of biomarkers, and our m6A risk models may have the potential to guide personalized chemotherapy, targeted treatment, and immunotherapy decisions in HCC.

The increasing frequency of cervical and lumbar spine disorders, driven by aging and evolving lifestyles, has led to a rise in spinal surgeries using pedicle screws. Robotic spinal surgery systems have emerged as a promising innovation, offering enhanced accuracy in screw placement and improved surgical outcomes. We focused on literature of this field from the past 5 years, and a comprehensive literature search was performed using PubMed and Google Scholar. Robotic spinal surgery systems have significantly impacted spinal procedures by improving pedicle screw placement accuracy and supporting various techniques. These systems facilitate personalized, minimally invasive, and low‐radiation interventions, leading to greater precision, reduced patient risk, and decreased radiation exposure. Despite advantages, challenges such as high costs and a steep learning curve remain. Ongoing advancements are expected to further enhance these systems' role in spinal surgery.

Abstract Quantum networks provide a prospective paradigm to connect separated quantum nodes, which relies on the distribution of long-distance entanglement and active feedforward control of qubits between remote nodes. Such approaches can be utilized to construct nonlocal quantum gates, forming building blocks for distributed quantum computing and other novel quantum applications. However, these gates have only been realized within single nodes or between nodes separated by a few tens of meters, limiting the ability to harness computing resources in large-scale quantum networks. Here, we demonstrate nonlocal photonic quantum gates between two nodes spatially separated by 7.0 km using stationary qubits based on multiplexed quantum memories, flying qubits at telecom wavelengths, and active feedforward control based on field-deployed fibers. Furthermore, we illustrate quantum parallelism by implementing the Deutsch-Jozsa algorithm and the quantum phase estimation algorithm between the two remote nodes. These results represent a proof-of-principle demonstration of quantum gates over metropolitan-scale distances and lay the foundation for the construction of large-scale distributed quantum networks relying on existing fiber channels.

Abstract In this paper, the effect of rotation speed on the grinding process during the high-speed diamond drilling was studied by considering the metal matrix/rock chips interface. The results showed that when the grinding enters the Phase 3 (three-body wear among diamond, matrix, and rock cuttings), the weight-on-bit and frictional force exhibited significant periodicity. The two-body grinding process (Phase 1 and 2) was converted into a three-body grinding process (Phase 3). The results of the microscopic showed that the depth of each revolution became shallower, and the increasing proportion of primary chip was higher than that of the secondary chip as the speed increased at Phase 3. The increasing the rotational speed promotes the generation of primary chips and inhibits brittle fracture.

Abstract Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is one of the most significant swine viral infectious diseases worldwide. Vaccination is a key strategy for the control and prevention of PRRS. At present, the NADC30-like PRRSV strain has become the predominant epidemic strain in China, superseding the HP-PRRSV strain. The existing commercial vaccines offer substantial protection against HP-PRRSV, but their efficacy against NADC30-like PRRSV is limited. The development of a novel vaccine that can provide valuable cross-protection against both NADC30-like PRRSV and HP-PRRSV is highly important. In this study, an infectious clone of a commercial MLV vaccine strain, GD (HP-PRRSV), was first generated (named rGD). A recombinant chimeric PRRSV strain, rGD-SX-5U2, was subsequently constructed by using rGD as a backbone and embedding several dominant immune genes, including the NSP2, ORF5, ORF6, and ORF7 genes, from an NADC30-like PRRSV isolate. In vitro experiments demonstrated that chimeric PRRSV rGD-SX-5U2 exhibited high tropism for MARC-145 cells, which is of paramount importance in the production of PRRSV vaccines. Moreover, subsequent in vivo inoculation and challenge experiments demonstrated that rGD-SX-5U2 confers cross-protection against both HP-PRRSV and NADC30-like PRRSV, including an improvement in ADG levels and a reduction in viremia and lung tissue lesions. In conclusion, our research demonstrated that the chimeric PRRSV strain rGD-SX-5U2 is a novel approach that can provide broad-spectrum protection against both HP-PRRSV and NADC30-like PRRSV. This may be a significant improvement over previous MLV vaccinations.

Abstract Background The Access, Watch, and Reserve (AWaRe) classification of antibiotics was a useful tool to support antibiotic stewardship. However, the AWaRe patterns of antibiotic consumption in Western China were unclear. We aimed to assess the antibiotic consumption patterns using the AWaRe Classification of public hospitals in Sichuan Province Western China. Methods Antibiotic consumption data of year 2020 were obtained from the Sichuan Province Drug Use Monitoring Platform. We measured the antibiotic consumption (DDDs per 1,000 inhabitants per day, DIDs), calculated the proportion of antibiotic use, the ratio of Access to Watch antibiotics and patterns of antibiotic use by using drug utilization 90%. Results This analysis included 4452 public health institutions. The antibiotic consumption rate was 10.39 DIDs (Median 8.50, IQR 7.71–12.96). The proportions of Access antibiotic use and Watch antibiotic use were 46.83% (Median 47.49, IQR 44.16–52.02) and 51.20% (Median 51.43, IQR 45.42–54.61), respectively. The Access-to-Watch index was 0.91 (Median 0.92, IQR 0.81–1.15). Amoxicillin (16.85%), cefuroxime (9.21%), cefixime (8.60%%), levofloxacin (8.11%) and metronidazole (6.16%) were the most consumed antibiotics. Conclusions The proportion of Access antibiotic consumption in Sichuan Western China has not achieved the WHO target of 60%. Overuse of antibiotic is serious in Sichuan. National and regional antibiotics management systems, stewardship programs and surveillance of antibiotic consumption based on AWaRe classification are needed to improve antibiotic consumption patterns, curb antibiotic overuse and combat antimicrobial resistance in Western China.

Abstract Background Determining the optimal timing of surgical intervention for Neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) poses significant challenges. This study develops a predictive model using the long short-term memory network (LSTM) with a focal loss (FL) to identify infants at risk of developing Bell IIB + NEC early and issue timely surgical warnings. Methods Data from 791 neonates diagnosed with NEC are gathered from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), encompassing 35 selected features. Infants are categorized into those requiring surgical intervention (n = 257) and those managed medically (n = 534) based on the Mod-Bell criteria. A fivefold cross-validation approach is employed for training and testing. The LSTM algorithm is utilized to capture and utilize temporal relationships in the dataset, with FL employed as a loss function to address class imbalance. Model performance metrics include precision, recall, F1 score, and average precision (AP). Results The model tested on a real dataset demonstrated high performance. Predicting surgical risk 1 day in advance achieved precision (0.913 ± 0.034), recall (0.841 ± 0.053), F1 score (0.874 ± 0.029), and AP (0.917 ± 0.025). The 2-days-in-advance predictions yielded (0.905 ± 0.036), recall (0.815 ± 0.057), F1 score (0.857 ± 0.035), and AP (0.905 ± 0.029). Conclusion The LSTM model with FL exhibits high precision and recall in forecasting the need for surgical intervention 1 or 2 days ahead. This predictive capability holds promise for enhancing infants’ outcomes by facilitating timely clinical decisions.

Abstract Purpose Uveal melanoma (UM) is adults’ most common primary intraocular malignant tumor. It has been observed that 40% of patients experience distant metastasis during subsequent treatment. While there exist multigene models developed using machine learning methods to assess metastasis and prognosis, the immune microenvironment’s specific mechanisms influencing the tumor microenvironment have not been clarified. Single-cell transcriptome sequencing can accurately identify different types of cells in a tissue for precise analysis. This study aims to develop a model with fewer genes to evaluate metastasis risk in UM patients and provide a theoretical basis for UM immunotherapy. Methods RNA-seq data and clinical information from 79 μm patients from TCGA were used to construct prognostic models. Mechanisms were probed using two single-cell datasets derived from the GEO database. After screening for metastasis-related genes, enrichment analysis was performed using GO and KEGG. Prognostic genes were screened using log-rank test and one-way Cox regression, and prognostic models were established using LASSO regression analysis and multifactor Cox regression analysis. The TCGA-UVM dataset was used as internal validation and dataset GSE22138 as external validation data. A time-dependent subject work characteristic curve (time-ROC) was established to assess the predictive ability of the model. Subsequently, dimensionality reduction, clustering, pseudo-temporal analysis and cellular communication analysis were performed on GSE138665 and GSE139829 to explore the underlying mechanisms involved. Cellular experiments were also used to validate the relevant findings. Results Based on clinical characteristics and RNA-seq transcriptomic data from 79 samples in the TCGA-UVM cohort, 247 metastasis-related genes were identified. Survival models for three genes (SLC25A38, EDNRB, and LURAP1) were then constructed using lasso regression and multifactorial cox regression. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the high-risk group was associated with poorer overall survival (OS) and metastasis-free survival (MFS) in UM patients. Time-dependent ROC curves demonstrated high predictive performance in 6 m, 18 m, and 30 m prognostic models. Cell scratch assay showed that the 24 h and 48 h migration rates of cells with reduced expression of the three genes were significantly higher than those of the si-NC group. CD8 + T cells may play an important role in tumour metastasis as revealed by immune infiltration analysis. An increase in the percentage of cytotoxic CD8 + T cells in the metastatic high-risk group was found in the exploration of single-cell transcriptome data. The communication intensity of cytotoxic CD8 was significantly enhanced. It was also found that the CD8 + T cells in the two groups were in different states, although the number of CD8 + T cells in the high-risk group increased, they were mostly in the exhausted and undifferentiated state, while in the low-risk group, the CD8 + T cells were mostly in the functional state. Conclusions We developed a precise and stable 3-gene model to predict the metastatic risk and prognosis of patients. CD8 + T cells exhaustion in the tumor microenvironment play a crucial role in UM metastasis.

Abstract Vertical field effect transistor (VFET), in which the semiconductor is sandwiched between source/drain electrodes and the channel length is simply determined by the semiconductor thickness, has demonstrated promising potential for short channel devices. However, despite extensive efforts over the past decade, scalable methods to fabricate ultra-short channel VFETs remain challenging. Here, we demonstrate a layer-by-layer transfer process of large-scale indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) semiconductor arrays and metal electrodes, and realize large-scale VFETs with ultra-short channel length and high device performance. Within this process, the oxide semiconductor could be pre-deposited on a sacrificial wafer, and then physically released and sandwiched between metals, maintaining the intrinsic properties of ultra-scaled vertical channel. Based on this lamination process, we realize 2 inch-scale VFETs with channel length down to 4 nm, on-current over 800 A/cm2, and highest on-off ratio up to 2 × 105, which is over two orders of magnitude higher compared to control samples without laminating process. Our study not only represents the optimization of VFETs performance and scalability at the same time, but also offers a method of transfer large-scale oxide arrays, providing interesting implication for ultra-thin vertical devices.

In the present study, the influence of training on the microstructural evolution, martensitic transformation behavior and mechanical/functional properties of Ti–V–Al–Zr shape memory alloy was investigated systematically. With the increasing of training cycling number, the degree of martensite reorientation became larger and larger. Moreover, higher density of dislocations appeared in the interior of martensite variants, upon the excessive training cycling number was applied. The international stress can be brought into the matrix, which not only promoted to the ω→αˊˊ transition, but also made the martensite phase stabilizer and even suppressed the αˊˊ→β martensitic transformation during training process. The superior mechanical properties including maximum fracture stress of 906 MPa and the higher fracture strain of 33.6% can be obtained in Ti–V–Al–Zr shape memory alloy subjected with the training cycles number of 5th, which can be attributed to the matrix strengthening stemmed from work hardening and suppression of ω precipitation. Meanwhile, the lower critical stress for the martensite variant reorientation and enhanced matrix strength synergistically contributed to the superior strain recovery characteristics with total completely recoverable strain of 6% in Ti–V–Al–Zr shape memory alloy by controlling training cycles number of 5th. Meanwhile, the higher micro-hardness can be obtained by training.

Abstract Erythropoietin (EPO), expressed in red blood progenitor cells, primarily regulates erythropoiesis by binding to its receptor. Besides anemia, recent studies have identified new therapeutic indications for EPO that are not connected to red blood cell formation. Elevated EPO levels harm bone homeostasis in adult organisms and are associated with increased osteoclast; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This study demonstrated that EPO enhanced osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption in vitro. We showed that EPO promoted osteoclast formation by up-regulating PPARγ expression through activating the Jak2/ERK signaling pathway. Consistently, PPARγ antagonists rescued the hyperactivation of osteoclasts due to EPO, while PPARγ agonists reversed the EMP9-mediated decrease in osteoclast differentiation. Further, exposing female mice to EPO for two months led to a decrease in bone mass and increased osteoclast numbers. The present results suggested that EPO promotes osteoclastogenesis by regulating the Jak2/ERK/ PPARγ signaling pathway. From a clinical perspective, the risk of compromised bone health should be considered when using EPO to treat anemia in post-operative patients with intertrochanteric fractures of the femur, as it could significantly impact the patient’s recovery and quality of life.

Abstract Device-to-device (D2D) communications allow short-range communication devices to multiplex cellular-licensed spectrum to directly establish local connections for ultra-high number of terminal connections and greater system throughput. However, spectrum sharing also brings serious interference to the network. Therefore, a reliable and efficient resource allocation strategy is important to mitigate the interference and improve the system spectral efficiency. In this paper, we investigated spectrum access and power allocation in D2D communications underlay cellular networks based on deep reinforcement learning with the aim of finding a feasible resource allocation strategy to maximize data rate and system fairness. We proposed a value decomposition network-based resource allocation scheme for D2D communication networks. Our proposed scheme avoids frequent information exchanges among D2D users by centralized training, while allowing D2D users to make distributed joint resource allocation decisions. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme has stable convergence and good scalability, and can effectively improve the system capacity.

Abstract Vitamin C (VC), due to its chemical properties, can provide more oxygen-containing functional groups such as hydroxyl groups for biochar (BC), which promotes the adsorption of tetracycline on biochar. Therefore, in this study, cow dung biochar (CDBC) was modified with VC and VC-modified CDBC (CDBC-VC) was synthesized. The modified biochar was characterized and related factors, adsorption kinetics, isotherms and adsorption mechanisms were investigated. Adsorption kinetics indicate a fast rate of adsorption. The adsorption isotherms showed that the maximum adsorption capacity was 31.72 mg/g (CDBC) and 50.90 mg/g (CDBC-VC), respectively, and the adsorption process was inhomogeneous with multiple molecular layers and the adsorbent has a higher affinity. Mechanistic studies showed that hydrogen bonding interactions, π-π electron donor-acceptor interactions, hydrophobic interactions, and electrostatic interactions were the key to the adsorption process. The analysis of adsorbent regeneration showed that CDBC-VC had good adsorption performance. CDBC and CDBC-VC showed the best performance in simulated industrial wastewater with removal rates of 78.81% and 93.69%. The adsorption mechanism was comprehensively analyzed using six machine learning models. The extreme gradient boosting model gave the best fit. Analysis of the weights of the input variables for predicting adsorption efficiency showed that the ratio of initial TC concentration to BC dosage (29.8%), specific surface area (23%), isoelectric point (8.8%), and ash content (7.7%) had a significant effect on the predicted results.

Abstract Background Shear Wave Elastography (SWE) offers quantitative insights into the hardness and elasticity characteristics of tissues. The objective of this study is to investigate the correlation between SWE of the menisci and MRI-assessed degenerative changes in the menisci, with the aim of providing novel reference source for improving non-invasive evaluation of meniscal degenerative alterations. Methods The participants in this study were selected from patients who underwent knee joint MRI scans at our hospital from February 2023 to February 2024. The anterior horns of both the medial and lateral menisci were evaluated using SWE technique. The differences in elastic values of meniscus among different MRI grades were compared. The correlation between elastic values and MRI grades, as well as various parameters, was analyzed. Using MRI Grade 3 as the gold standard, the optimal cutoff value for meniscal tear was determined. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was employed to evaluate the reliability of repeated measurements performed by the same observer. Results A total of 104 female participants were enrolled in this study, with 152 lateral menisci (LM) and 144 medial menisci (MM) assessed. For the male group, 83 individuals were included, with 147 LM and 145 MM evaluated. The results demonstrated statistically significant differences in the elasticity values of the menisci at the same anatomical sites across different MRI grades (P 0.79). Conclusions The meniscal elasticity values measured by SWE exhibit a significant positive correlation with the grades of degeneration assessed by MRI. Furthermore, the elasticity values of the meniscus are found to increase with advancing age and elevated BMI.

Abstract Background The accuracy of traditional knee MR imaging in diagnosing anterior cruciate ligament tears, especially partial tears, is relatively low, which may lead to misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic performance of a novel imaging method, high-resolution oblique coronal MRI at an optimal flexed-knee Angle, for ACL tears. Methods 50 healthy volunteers were scanned with a scan-assisted device for the optimal flexion angle of ACL. For 92 knee trauma patients selected strictly according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, conventional extended-knee scans (control group) and high-resolution oblique coronal scans based on the optimal flexed-knee angle (experimental group) were conducted. Two observers rated ACL visibility blindly on a 5-point scale. Arthroscopy-defined outcomes determined diagnostic metrics for each method and sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy were calculated. Results The average optimal flexion angle for healthy volunteers was approximately 30° (30.3° ± 5.0°). Imaging demonstrated complete visualization of the ACL in 96.7% of images in the experimental group versus 12.0% in the control group. The diagnostic indicators of the experimental group surpassed those of the control group: sensitivity (94.9% vs. 76.3%), specificity (97.0% vs. 81.8%), positive predictive value (98.2% vs. 88.2%), negative predictive value(91.4% vs. 65.9%), and accuracy (95.7% vs. 78.3%). ROC analysis indicated superior diagnostic performance in the experimental group, with an AUC of 0.945 compared with 0.776 for the control group (p

To explore the influence of raw materials from different cultivars on the quality of Sichuan dark tea, the raw materials of 4 tea cultivars were used in this study. The main chemicals and aroma components were analyzed by sensory evaluation, chemical analysis and gas chromato graphy-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) . The main components of Sichuan dark teas made from different tea cultivars were significantly different. The contents of water extract, tea polyphenols, catechins and caffeine of Sichuan dark teas from 'Zijuan' were the highest, which were 49.45%, 18.54%, 4.77%, and 4.21%, respectively, followed by Sichuan dark tea processed with 'Huangjinya' cultivar, all of them were significantly (P

Dexamethasone (DEX) is used to treat ocular surface diseases. However, regulating DEX duration in tears while preventing its absorption into the anterior chamber is critical for balancing its therapy effects and the side effects. In this study, a novel magnetic nanoparticle (MNP)-micelle (MC) co-delivery system (MMDS) was developed. The MC moiety in the MMDS served as the carrier for DEX and the MNP part endowed the MMDS with magnetic-responsive properties. To extend its residency, the MMDS was magnetically attracted by an external magnet after instilling, which acted as a precorneal drug-depot enabling a sustainable release of DEX in tears. With combination of magnet treatment, the topical instillation of MMDS@DEX significantly prolonged the DEX-retention in tears and increased the DEX-concentration in the cornea and conjunctiva, as well as concurrently reduced the DEX-level in the aqueous humor, when compared with the commercial DEX eye drop treatment. The combination of MMDS@DEX and magnet treatment exerted significantly better therapeutic effects against DED with smaller side effects than conventional treatments including DEX suspension, commercial DEX eye drops, as well as the MMDS@DEX treatment alone. The present work provided a new method for the effective delivery of DEX to ocular surface tissues while reducing its side effects, which will be beneficial to the treatments of a wide range of ocular surface diseases.

Abstract Background Occult Macular Dystrophy (OMD), primarily caused by retinitis pigmentosa 1-like 1 (RP1L1) variants, is a complex retinal disease characterised by progressive vision loss and a normal fundus appearance. This study aims to investigate the diverse phenotypic expressions and genotypic correlations of OMD in Chinese patients, including a rare case of Vitelliform Macular Dystrophy (VMD) associated with RP1L1. Methods We analysed seven OMD patients and one VMD patient, all with heterozygous pathogenic RP1L1 variants. Clinical assessments included Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA), visual field testing, Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT), multifocal Electroretinograms (mfERGs), and microperimetry. Next-generation sequencing was utilised for genetic analysis. Results The OMD patients displayed a range of phenotypic variability. Most (5 out of 7) had the RP1L1 variant c.133 C > T; p.R45W, associated with central vision loss and specific patterns in SD-OCT and mfERG. Two patients exhibited different RP1L1 variants (c.3599G > T; p.G1200V and c.2880G > C; p.W960C), presenting milder phenotypes. SD-OCT revealed photoreceptor layer changes, with most patients showing decreased mfERG responses in the central rings. Interestingly, a unique case of VMD linked to the RP1L1 variant was observed, distinct from traditional OMD presentations. Conclusions This study highlights the phenotypic diversity within OMD and the broader spectrum of RP1L1-associated macular dystrophies, including a novel association with VMD. The findings emphasise the complexity of RP1L1 variants in determining clinical manifestations, underscoring the need for comprehensive genetic and clinical evaluations in macular dystrophies.

Abstract The rising prevalence of diabetes mellitus has casted a spotlight on one of its significant sequelae: cognitive impairment. Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, originally developed for diabetes management, are increasingly studied for their cognitive benefits. These benefits may include reduction of oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, decrease of amyloid burdens, enhancement of neuronal plasticity, and improved cerebral glucose utilization. The multifaceted effects and the relatively favorable side-effect profile of SGLT2 inhibitors render them a promising therapeutic candidate for cognitive disorders. Nonetheless, the application of SGLT2 inhibitors for cognitive impairment is not without its limitations, necessitating more comprehensive research to fully determine their therapeutic potential for cognitive treatment. In this review, we discuss the role of SGLT2 in neural function, elucidate the diabetes-cognition nexus, and synthesize current knowledge on the cognitive effects of SGLT2 inhibitors based on animal studies and clinical evidence. Research gaps are proposed to spur further investigation.

Abstract Astragali radix (AR, namded Huangqi in Chinese) is the dried root of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. var. mongholicus (Bge.) Hsiao or Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. As a widely used ethnomedicine, the biological activities of AR include immunomodulatory, anti-hyperglycemic, anti-oxidant, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-tumor, cardioprotective, and anti-diabetic effects, with minimum side effects. Currently, it is known that polysaccharides, saponins, and flavonoids are the indispensable components of AR. In this review, we will elaborate the research advancements of AR on ethnobotany, ethnopharmacological practices, phytochemicals, pharmacological activities, clinical uses, quality control, production developments, and toxicology. The information is expected to assist clinicians and scientists in developing useful therapeutic medicines with minimal systemic side effects.

Background: Early-onset ischemic heart disease (IHD) is a growing burden associated with high disability and death. Objectives: This study aimed to estimate the burden of incidence, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) of early-onset IHD from 1990 to 2019. Methods: Data on the burden of early-onset IHD (men

The presence of Hg2+ causes substantial stress to plants, adversely affecting growth and health by disrupting cell cycle divisions, photosynthesis, and ionic homeostasis. Accurate visualization of the spatiotemporal distribution of Hg2+ in plant tissues is crucial for the management of Hg pollution; however, the related research is still at its early stage. Herein, a small-molecule amphiphilic fluorescent probe (termed LJTP2) was developed for the specific detection of Hg2+ with a high sensitivity (~16 nM). Fluorescent imaging applications with LJTP2 not only detected the dynamic distribution of Hg2+ within plant cells at the subcellular level but also enabled the understanding of cell membrane health under Hg2+ stress. This study introduces a valuable imaging tool for elucidating the molecular mechanism of Hg2+ stress in plants, demonstrating the potential of the application of small-molecule fluorescent probes in plant science.

In this study, the present status of the public health and wellness sector in China is examined. The main objective is to evaluate the financial risk among publicly listed companies in the sector. Despite the significant expansion of the industry, research in this domain remains limited. Moreover, it frequently lacks depth, especially when it comes to financial studies designed especially for publicly traded companies. Current models for assessing corporate financial risk are frequently applied in diverse industries without necessary adjustments. Therefore, this study examines the financial performance and operational health of five publicly listed anonymized companies between 2020 and 2023. Using an efficient methodology that includes reliable data collection and quality assurance, we analyze key performance indicators such as annual revenues, liquidity ratios, and debt-to-equity ratios to assess financial stability and growth potential. Our findings reveal varied revenue trends shaped by external market shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic. These trends highlight both the resilience of the sector and its vulnerabilities. To evaluate potential financial risks and outliers, the abnormal revenue patterns are also identified using Z-score. Benchmarking is also conducted using industry averages which provides a clearer understanding of competitive positioning. Several suggestions are made in light of the analysis to manage debt, increase liquidity, and leverage digital transformation for long-term growth. Several future directions are also presented to continue research in the domain. Overall, this study offers valuable information for stakeholders navigating the complexities of the public health and wellness industry in China.

ObjectiveTo identify the research status of nurses’ moral distress and predict emerging research hotspots and development trends.MethodsArticles on nurses’ moral distress were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database from the inception of the database to 2024. A bibliometric analysis was conducted using VOSviewer and CiteSpace software to analyze publication distributions by country, institution, journal, author contributions, keyword trends, and reference co-citations.ResultsOur study analyzed 1,781 documents, revealing a notable increase in publications after 2017, with contributions from 88 countries and 2,301 institutions worldwide. The United States and China were prominent contributors, highlighting global interest in this area. Analyses of keywords and cited references reveal emerging research topics such as “COVID-19”, “burnout”, and “moral resilience”.ConclusionThis bibliometric review sheds light on the growing academic interest in nurses’ moral distress, emphasizing key themes and outlining future research directions. By charting the development of this domain, our study provides critical insights, guiding the investigation of complex ethical issues in nursing and enhancing understanding of nurses’ moral distress.

Abstract There is an urgent need for models that can robustly detect past and project future ecosystem changes and risks to the services that they provide to people. The Fisheries and Marine Ecosystem Model Intercomparison Project (FishMIP) was established to develop model ensembles for projecting long‐term impacts of climate change on fisheries and marine ecosystems while informing policy at spatio‐temporal scales relevant to the Inter‐Sectoral Impact Model Intercomparison Project (ISIMIP) framework. While contributing FishMIP models have improved over time, large uncertainties in projections remain, particularly in coastal and shelf seas where most of the world's fisheries occur. Furthermore, previous FishMIP climate impact projections have been limited by a lack of global standardized historical fishing data, low resolution of coastal processes, and uneven capabilities across the FishMIP community to dynamically model fisheries. These features are needed to evaluate how reliably the FishMIP ensemble captures past ecosystem states ‐ a crucial step for building confidence in future projections. To address these issues, we have developed FishMIP 2.0 comprising a two‐track framework for: (a) Model evaluation and attribution of past changes and (b) future climate and socioeconomic scenario projections. Key advances include improved historical climate forcing, which captures oceanographic features not previously resolved, and standardized global fishing forcing to test fishing effects systematically across models. FishMIP 2.0 is a crucial step toward a detection and attribution framework for changing marine ecosystems and toward enhanced policy relevance through increased confidence in future ensemble projections. Our results will help elucidate pathways toward achieving sustainable development goals.

Fusobacterium nucleatum, an anaerobic Gram-negative bacterium primarily residing in the oral cavity, has garnered significant attention for its emerging role in cancer progression and prognosis. While extensive research has revealed mechanistic links between Fusobacterium nucleatum and colorectal cancer, a comprehensive review spanning its presence and metastatic implications in cancers beyond colorectal origin is conspicuously absent. This paper broadens our perspective from colorectal cancer to various malignancies associated with Fusobacterium nucleatum, including oral, pancreatic, esophageal, breast, and gastric cancers. Our central focus is to unravel the mechanisms governing Fusobacterium nucleatum colonization, initiation, and promotion of metastasis across diverse cancer types. Additionally, we explore Fusobacterium nucleatum‘s adverse impacts on cancer therapies, particularly within the domains of immunotherapy and chemotherapy. Furthermore, this paper underscores the clinical research significance of Fusobacterium nucleatum as a potential tumor biomarker and therapeutic target, offering a novel outlook on its applicability in cancer detection and prognostic assessment.

Studies suggest that clonal plants’ ability to select habitats and forage in a heterogeneous environment is influenced by their past environment, with stress legacy potentially playing a crucial role. In this study, we examined parental ramets of Duchesnea indica Focke that were subject to either a control or lead-contaminated environment (past environment), and their newborn offspring were then transplanted into control, homogeneous lead or heterogeneous lead environment (present environment). We analysed how past and present environments affect plant growth and DNA methylation in offspring. The result shown that the DNA methylation loci composition of offspring was affected by the interaction of parental environment and offspring environment, and DNA methylation levels were higher in heterogeneous environments. Moreover, our findings indicate that offspring would thrive in the heterogeneous lead environment if they did not experience lead pollution in the past, their progeny will avoid lead toxicity by reducing underground biomass allocation. However, when the parents experienced lead stress environment, their biomass allocation strategies disappeared, and they prefer to grow in favourable patches to avoid lead-contaminated patches. We concluded that the integration of historical parental exposure to lead-contaminated and current information about their offspring’s environment are impacting plant phenotypes. It is possible that the stress legacy from the parents has been transmitted to their offspring ramets, and the stress legacy is at least partly based on heritable epigenetic variation. The phenotypic variation regulated by the stress legacy affects the growth performance, biomass allocation strategy, and even the behaviour of D. indica.

Background Aortic endothelial diastolic dysfunction is an early complication of diabetes and the abnormal differentiation of Th17 cells is involved in the development of diabetes. However, the exact role of exercise on regulating the Th17 cells differentiation and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain to be elucidated in diabetic mice.Methods db/db and db/m+ mice were randomly divided into exercise and sedentary groups. Mice in exercise group were exercised daily, 6 days/week, for 6 weeks and mice in sedentary groups were placed on a nonmoving treadmill for 6 weeks. Vascular endothelial function was measured via wire myograph and the frequencies of Th17 from peripheral blood in mice were assessed via flow cytometry.Results Our data showed that exercise improved insulin resistance and aortic endothelial diastolic function in db/db mice. In addition, the proportion of Th17 cells and IL-17A level in peripheral blood of db/db mice were significantly increased, and exercise could promote Th17 cell differentiation and reduce IL-17A level. More importantly, STAT3 or ROR-γt inhibitors could promote Th17 cell differentiation in db/db mice, while exercise significantly down-regulated p-STAT3/ROR-γt signaling in db/db mice, suggesting that exercise regulated Th17 differentiation through STAT3/ROR-γt signaling.Conclusions This study demonstrated that exercise improved vascular endothelial function in diabetic mice via reducing Th17 cell differentiation through p-STAT3/ROR-γt pathway, suggesting exercise may be an important non-pharmacological intervention strategy for the treatment of diabetes-related vascular complications.

Cellular immunotherapy has shown considerable potential for the treatment of primary liver cancer (PLC), particularly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), although it is in the early stages of development. This study used bibliometric methods to delineate the evolution of research on cellular immunotherapy for PLC. Data were sourced from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) on April 22, 2024. Using the “Bibliometrix” R package, we examined primary bibliometric features, collaboration frequency between countries, and article output of the journals. Furthermore, we employed VOSviewer for coauthorship analysis and visualization and CiteSpace to assess keyword co-occurrence, as well as to spotlight keywords and references with the strongest citation bursts. Our analysis encompassed 492 publications focused on PLC and cellular immunotherapy, and we pinpointed China, Japan, and the USA as the foremost contributing nations and identified “Cancer Immunology Immunotherapy” as the journal with the most contributions in this area. Sun Yat-sen University emerged as the institution with the most significant output, and Li Zonghai authored the greatest number of leading articles. Prominent keywords that displayed a notable citation burst in the later years included “chimeric antigen receptor,” “combination therapy”, “CAR-T cells,” “TCR-T cells,” and “liver transplantation.” This bibliometric study outlined a foundational knowledge framework, surveyed over three decades of research on cellular immunotherapy for PLC, and revealed the key players and trends, thereby offering a thorough understanding of the field, especially in relation to HCC.

This study investigated the impact of Hofstede cultural dimensions on sustainable competitive advantage with the mediating role of entrepreneurial innovativeness among Malays, Malaysian Chinese, and Malaysian Indian entrepreneurs in the retail industry. This study involved a quantitative approach with standardized questionnaires distributed among target respondents through non-probability sampling techniques, including snowball sampling, quota sampling, and convenience sampling. The data were collected in a cross-sectional setting from Malaysian retail ethnic entrepreneurs. AMOS-SEM and SPSS were used to analyze the data. The findings of this study revealed a positive and significant influence of indulgence, long-term orientation, masculinity, and low power distance on sustainable competitive advantage among Chinese, Malay, and Indian entrepreneurs. Furthermore, the direct effect of entrepreneurial innovativeness was also positive and significant in terms of sustainable competitive advantage among Chinese, Malay, and Indian entrepreneurs. Finally, the indirect effects of collectivism, indulgence, low uncertainty avoidance, low power distance, masculinity, and long-term orientation on sustainable competitive advantage through mediator entrepreneurial innovativeness were positive and significant among Malaysian Chinese. However, in Malay (indulgence) and India (collectivism, low uncertainty avoidance, and low power distance), these were not significant. Our results suggest that academics and businesses should consider how cultural norms of masculinity, long-term orientation, and uncertainty avoidance impact sustainable competitive advantage activities. Rewards encouraging sustainable competitive advantage in one subculture may not promote it in another. Subcultural norms influence entrepreneurs' decisions, expectations, and incentives in a culturally diverse community.

ABSTRACT Research on plant functional traits have advanced our understanding of plant investment acquisition strategies. However, it is still unknown how a plant investment acquisition strategy varies or how the relative position of plants on the leaf economic spectrum changes across different habitats. Therefore, we conducted the field experiments at two long‐term ecological research sites in Shandong and Xinjiang, China, in August 2023. Twenty‐two common species in both sites and four endemics in each site were selected for leaf gas exchange traits, leaf growth traits, and leaf nutrient trait measurements. We used two different methods to quantify the leaf economic spectrum, PCA quantification and functional area quantification. We found that the 22 common species had a significantly faster investment acquisition strategy than local endemics on the leaf economic spectrum. Besides, the plasticity of the 22 common species was not coupled with the plasticity of their investment acquisition strategy. According to our results, we quantified and constructed the leaf economic spectrum of the 30 woody plant species in Shandong and Xinjiang and discussed that high plasticity and fast investment acquisition strategy may be an ecological adaptation and distribution strategy for widely distributed species.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant tumor with high morbidity and mortality worldwide, which represents a serious threat to human life, health and quality of life. Blood-based detection is essential for HCC screening, early diagnosis, prognosis evaluation, and surveillance. Current non-invasive detection strategy including serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), ultrasound, computerized tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. The limited specificity of an AFP and the dependence on operator experience and diagnostic personnel for ultrasound have constrained their utility in early HCC diagnosis. In recent years, with the development of various detection technologies, there has been an increasing focus on exploring blood-based detection markers for HCC. The types of markers include protein markers, DNA mutation, DNA epigenetic modification, mRNA, miRNA, and so on. However, numerous methodological and biological factors limit the clinical sensitivity and generalization performance of these new biomarkers. In this review, we describe the state-of-the-art technologies for cfDNA analysis, and discuss outstanding biological and technical challenges that, if addressed, would substantially improve HCC diagnostics and patient care.

Background The association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and cardiovascular disease is firmly established, yet the association between noninvasive liver fibrosis scores and cardiovascular events remains a topic of uncertainty. Our study aimed to explore the association between liver fibrosis and heart failure. Methods and Results The data set was from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011 to 2018. Advanced hepatic fibrosis risk was assessed through 3 noninvasive liver fibrosis scores: Fibrosis‐4 score (FIB‐4), the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score (NFS), and the aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI). We included 19 695 eligible participants. The national prevalence of advanced liver fibrosis risk in the United States was 4.20%, 8.06%, and 0.35% as determined by FIB‐4, NFS, and APRI scores, respectively. Weighted logistic regression analysis revealed significant associations between advanced liver fibrosis risk and the prevalence of heart failure (continuous variables, FIB‐4: odds ratio [OR], 1.15 [95% CI, 1.07–1.23]; NFS: OR, 1.42 [95% CI, 1.23–1.64]; APRI: OR, 1.44 [95% CI, 1.15–1.81]). When the scores were assessed as categorical variables, the results were still significant (FIB‐4 ≥2.67 versus FIB‐4