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Abstract In the cooperative vehicle‐infrastructure system (CVIS), due to its computation limitation, vehicles are difficult to handle computing‐intensive delay‐sensitive tasks, so offload tasks to roadside unit (RSU) become popular. Due to the complexity of vehicles’ tasks and tasks generated by different vehicles have different delay constraints, minimize energy consumption of RSUs under task dependence and delay constraints is challenging. This paper defines the task priority queuing criterion for the task priority division problem, proposes a task scheduling strategy for energy‐packet queue length tradeoff (TSET) in CVIS under RSUs distributed task scheduling problem and establishes the vehicle speed state model, task model, data queue model, task computing model and energy consumption model. After Lyapunov optimization theory transformed the optimization model, a knapsack problem was described. The simulation results verify that TSET reduces the average energy consumption of roadside units and ensures the stability of the data queue under task dependence and deadline conditions.

Abstract Background Elevated interstitial fluid pressure within tumors, resulting from impaired lymphatic drainage, constitutes a critical barrier to effective drug penetration and therapeutic outcomes. Results In this study, based on the photosynthetic characteristics of algae, an active drug carrier (CP@ICG) derived from Chlorella pyrenoidosa (CP) was designed and constructed. Leveraging the hypoxia tropism and phototropism exhibited by CP, we achieved targeted transport of the carrier to tumor sites. Additionally, dual near-infrared (NIR) irradiation at the tumor site facilitated photosynthesis in CP, enabling the breakdown of excessive intratumoral interstitial fluid by generating oxygen from water decomposition. This process effectively reduced the interstitial pressure, thereby promoting enhanced perfusion of blood into the tumor, significantly improving deep-seated penetration of chemotherapeutic agents, and alleviating tumor hypoxia. Conclusions CP@ICG demonstrated a combined effect of photothermal/photodynamic/starvation therapy, exhibiting excellent in vitro/in vivo anti-tumor efficacy and favorable biocompatibility. This work provides a scientific foundation for the application of microbial-enhanced intratumoral drug delivery and tumor therapy. Graphical Abstract

IntroductionIn order to explore the correlation between discharge readiness and Harris score or self-care ability of patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) based on the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) concept. We carried out this single center retrospective study.MethodsWe enrolled 331 patients who underwent THA. These patients were divided into the higher score group and the lower score group according to median discharge readiness score. After the baseline data of these patients were compared, the effect factors of discharge readiness of these patients was analyzed through univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses and mixed effects models.ResultsThe results demonstrated that there was a correlation between discharge readiness and changes in Harris score 30 days after discharge (compared with that before surgery) in these patients. Besides, the Harris score and self-care ability 30 days after discharge were higher than those at the time of discharge. In addition, patients in the higher score group exhibited a higher Harris score compared with those in the lower score group. From the evaluation at different time points after discharge, there was a significant difference in the Harris score between both groups.DiscussionIt can be inferred that the discharge readiness of patients undergoing THA was correlated with the Harris score but not with the self-care ability. These results are expected to provide guidance for the physical and mental recovery of patients undergoing total hip replacement under the ERAS concept. Furthermore, these findings may contribute to higher diagnosis, treatment, and nursing levels of orthopedic medical staff.

Zebrafish is a highly advantageous model animal for drug screening and toxicity evaluation thanks to its amenability to optical imaging (i.e., transparency), possession of organ structures similar to humans, and the ease with which disease models can be established. However, current zebrafish drug screening technologies and devices suffer from limitations such as low level of automation and throughput, and low accuracy caused by the heterogeneity among individual zebrafish specimens. To address these issues, we herein develop a high-throughput zebrafish drug screening system. This system is capable of maintaining optimal culturing conditions and simultaneously monitoring and analyzing the movement of 288 zebrafish larvae under various external conditions, such as drug combinations. Moreover, to eliminate the effect of heterogeneity, locomotion of participating zebrafish is assessed and grouped before experiments. It is demonstrated that in contrast to the experimental results without pre-selection, which shows ∼20 % damaged motor function (i.e., degree of attenuation), the drug-induced variations among zebrafish with equivalent mobility reaches ∼80 %. Overall, our high-throughput zebrafish drug screening system overcomes current limitations by improving automation, throughput, and accuracy, resulting in enhanced detection of drug-induced variations in zebrafish motor function.

Abstract Background The poor targeting delivery efficiency and limited efficacy of single therapeutic approach have consistently posed significant challenges in tumor management. Results In this research, we have conceived and synthesized a dual-targeting nanodrug delivery system denoted as PDA-DEM-Fe3O4@M, which incorporates a polydopamine nanoparticle (PDA) with photothermal properties, diethyl maleate (DEM) as a chemotherapy agent accelerating tumor apoptosis, iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4) eliciting magnetic targeting effects, and tumor cell membranes (M) contributing to homologous targeting capabilities. The synergistic effect of PDA-induced photothermal therapy and DEM-mediated chemotherapy has been demonstrated in this study to exert a robust inhibitory and cytotoxic influence on tumor cells. Additionally, the biocompatibility of this system has also been demonstrated. Conclusions Through the synergistic effects of PDA’s photothermal therapy and DEM’s chemotherapy, this system demonstrated excellent inhibition and killing effects on tumor cells. Furthermore, we established its excellent biological safety profile. This study demonstrated the potential of this nanomaterial for clinical application in tumor therapy.

Abstract This year marks the 20th anniversary of the discovery of LaAlO3/SrTiO3 (LAO/STO) oxide heterointerfaces. Since their discovery, transition metal oxide (TMO) interfaces have emerged as a fascinating and fast‐growing area of research, offering a variety of unique and exotic physical properties which has provided a strong impetus for the rapid advances and actualization of oxide electronics. This review revisits the fundamental mechanisms accounting for the two‐dimensional (2D) conducting interfaces, and how new models proposed to better account for the unique interfacial effects. Recent breakthroughs in the theoretical and experimental domains of oxide interfaces are also discussed including the detection and investigation of 2D quasiparticle. Moving beyond the well‐known LAO/STO interface, this review delves into other systems where unconventional interfacial superconductivity, interfacial magnetism, and spin polarization are dealt with in greater detail. In terms of device applications, this review proceeds with a treatment on the recent developments in domains including field effect transistors and freestanding heterostructure membranes. By emphasizing the opportunities and challenges of integrating oxide interfaces with existing technologies, the review will end off with an outlook projecting the progress and the trajectory of this research domain in the years to come.

Background and aimsFew studies have examined the relationship between daytime napping and risk of kidney diseases. We aimed to investigate the association of daytime napping with the incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). We also examined whether sleep duration modified the association of nap with CKD or ESKD.MethodsWe recruited 460,571 European middle- to older-aged adults without prior CKD or ESKD between March 13, 2006, and October 1, 2010, in the UK Biobank. Sleep behavior data were obtained through questionnaires administered during recruitment. The analysis of the relationship between napping and the occurrence of CKD and ESKD utilized Cox proportional hazards regression models. The modification role of sleep duration on the effect of nap on CKD and ESKD was also examined.ResultsAfter a mean follow-up of 11.1 (standard deviation 2.2) years, we observed 28,330 incident CKD cases and 927 ESKD cases. The daytime napping was associated with incident CKD (P for trend = .004). After fully adjusted, when compared with participants who did not take nap, those in sometimes and usually nap groups had higher risk of CKD. Nevertheless, the available evidence did not support a link between daytime napping and ESKD (P for trend = .06). Simultaneously, there was insufficient evidence suggesting that sleeping duration modified the association of daytime napping with incident CKD or ESKD.ConclusionDaytime napping was associated with an increased risk of CKD. However, the absence of conclusive evidence did not indicate a connection between daytime napping and ESKD.

The intricate geological conditions of reservoir banks render them highly susceptible to destabilization and damage from fluctuations in water levels. The study area, the Cheyipin section of the Huangdeng Hydroelectric Station, is characterized by numerous ancient landslides of varying scales and ages. In June 2019, during the reservoir filling process of the Huangdeng Hydroelectric Station, a large-scale reactivation of ancient landslides occurred in this area, posing severe threats to riverside infrastructure and human safety, including ground cracking, house cracking, foundation settlement, and road collapse. The reactivation mechanism of ancient landslides at reservoir banks is highly complex due to fluid dynamics. This study conducted field investigations in the Cheyipin landslide area, monitored surface and subsurface deformations using GNSS and inclinometers, and analyzed the distribution characteristics, destruction features, and reactivation mechanisms of the landslides through correlation analysis and numerical calculations. The results indicate that the instability pattern of the slopes manifests as traction-type sliding failure. The slopes do not slide along the ancient sliding surface but along a newly formed arcuate sliding surface, with the direct impact area mainly concentrated near the waterline. The stability of the slopes in this project is closely related to the reservoir water level. It can be assumed that the lowering of the reservoir water level triggered the reactivation of the ancient landslides in the Cheyipin section, while the influence of rainfall can be ignored. To prevent the reactivation of ancient landslides, attention should be focused on the changes in reservoir water level, avoiding rapid adjustments in water level during the initial lowering and final raising of the water level.

This study focuses on addressing the pollution caused by Ni in water. To enhance the removal efficiency of Ni2+, attapulgite (ATP) from Linze County, Gansu Province, China, was used as a carrier to prepare attapulgite loaded with nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI@ATP) via a liquid-phase reduction. This approach aims to mitigate the aggregation and oxidation tendencies of nZVI, thereby improving its performance in Ni2+ removal. The results revealed that nZVI@ATP exhibited a mesoporous structure with a specific surface area and an average pore size of 51.79 m2/g and 9.22 nm. Notably, nZVI@ATP showed a remarkably reduced agglomeration phenomenon. In addition, nZVI@ATP demonstrated a considerably more excellent adsorption performance for Ni2+ than raw ATP and pure nZVI, as its highest adsorption capacity was 143.20 mg/g when the iron–ATP ratio was 2:1 (initial concentration: 200 mg/L, initial pH: 5, temperature: 298 K, and dosing amount: 1 g/L). The adsorption of Ni2+ by nZVI@ATP followed the quasi-secondary kinetic model, and the removal rate of Ni2+ was inversely proportional to the initial concentration and directly proportional to the dosage. The adsorption capacity tended to increase and then decrease as the pH increased. The removal mechanism of Ni2+ by nZVI@ATP involved adsorption, reduction, and precipitation, with the significant mechanism being the induced Ni(OH)2 precipitation on the nZVI@ATP surface.

Highly magnified stars residing in caustic crossing lensed galaxies at z ≃ 0.7–1.5 in galaxy cluster lensing fields inevitably exhibit recurrent brightening events as they traverse a microcaustic network cast down by foreground intracluster stars. The detectable ones belong to nature’s most massive and luminous class of stars, with evolved blue supergiants being the brightest ones at optical wavelengths. Considering single stars in this work, we study to what extent intrinsic stellar parameters are measurable from multifilter light curves, which can be obtained with optical/near-IR space telescopes during one or multiple caustic crossing events. We adopt a realistic model for the axisymmetric surface brightness profiles of rotating O/B stars and develop a numerical lensing code that treats finite source size effects. With a single microcaustic crossing, the ratio of the surface rotation velocity to the breakup value is measurable to a precision of ∼0.1–0.2 for feasible observation parameters with current space telescopes, with all unknown intrinsic and extrinsic parameters marginalized over and without a degeneracy with inclination. Equatorial radius and bolometric luminosity can be measured to 1/3 and 2/3 of the fractional uncertainty in the microcaustic strength, for which the value is not known at each crossing but an informative prior can be obtained from theory. Parameter inference precision may be further improved if multiple caustic crossing events for the same lensed star are jointly analyzed. Our results imply new opportunities to survey individual massive stars in star formation sites at z ≃ 0.7–1.5 or beyond.

A Type Ia supernova (SN) at z = 1.78 was discovered in James Webb Space Telescope Near Infrared Camera imaging of the galaxy cluster PLCK G165.7+67.0 (G165; z = 0.35). The SN is situated 1.5–2 kpc from the host-galaxy nucleus and appears in three different locations as a result of gravitational lensing by G165. These data can yield a value for Hubble’s constant using time delays from this multiply imaged SN Ia that we call “SN H0pe.” Over the cluster, we identified 21 image multiplicities, confirmed five of them using the Near-Infrared Spectrograph, and constructed a new lens model that gives a total mass within 600 kpc of (2.6 ± 0.3) × 10 ^14 M _⊙ . The photometry uncovered a galaxy overdensity coincident with the SN host galaxy. NIRSpec confirmed six member galaxies, four of which surround the SN host galaxy with relative velocity ≲900 km s ^−1 and projected physical extent ≲33 kpc. This compact galaxy group is dominated by the SN host galaxy, which has a stellar mass of (5.0 ± 0.1) × 10 ^11 M _⊙ . The group members have specific star formation rates of 2–260 Gyr ^−1 derived from the H α -line fluxes corrected for stellar absorption, dust extinction, and slit losses. Another group centered on a strongly lensed dusty star-forming galaxy is at z = 2.24. The total (unobscured and obscured) SFR of this second galaxy group is estimated to be (≳ 100 M _⊙ yr ^−1 ), which translates to a supernova rate of ∼1 SNe yr ^−1 , suggesting that regular monitoring of this cluster may yield additional SNe.

In Dunaliella tertiolecta, a microalga renowned for its extraordinary tolerance to high salinity levels up to 4.5 M NaCl, the mechanisms underlying its stress response have largely remained a mystery. In a groundbreaking discovery, this study identifies a choline dehydrogenase enzyme, termed DtCHDH, capable of converting choline to betaine aldehyde. Remarkably, this is the first identification of such an enzyme not just in D. tertiolecta but across the entire Chlorophyta. A 3D model of DtCHDH was constructed, and molecular docking with choline was performed, revealing a potential binding site for the substrate. The enzyme was heterologously expressed in E. coli Rosetta (DE3) and subsequently purified, achieving enzyme activity of 672.2 U/mg. To elucidate the role of DtCHDH in the salt tolerance of D. tertiolecta, RNAi was employed to knock down DtCHDH gene expression. The results indicated that the Ri-12 strain exhibited compromised growth under both high and low salt conditions, along with consistent levels of DtCHDH gene expression and betaine content. Additionally, fatty acid analysis indicated that DtCHDH might also be a FAPs enzyme, catalyzing reactions with decarboxylase activity. This study not only illuminates the role of choline metabolism in D. tertiolecta's adaptation to high salinity but also identifies a novel target for enhancing the NaCl tolerance of microalgae in biotechnological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of cooperative vehicle-infrastructure systems (CVIS), vehicles often offload computational tasks to roadside units (RSUs) for execution due to their own constrained computing resources. A novel approach that has garnered increased attention involves the "vehicle-edge-cloud" framework, wherein RSUs decide whether to process tasks locally or to offload them to the cloud. The open and unpredictable nature of the wireless channels on the "edge-cloud" interface necessitates the incorporation of a security mechanism to safeguard the integrity of information transmission. However, integrating such a security mechanism can escalate the energy consumption of RSUs. Addressing the challenge of jointly optimizing roadside energy consumption and information security utility, without compromising task delay constraints, is a complex issue. To tackle this, an energy-packets queue tradeoff of task scheme and encryption strategy (EPTS) was introduced. This approach involved the development of a vehicle speed state model, a task encryption model, a data cache queue model, and a task calculation model, along with the formulation of an optimization objective function. The optimization model was subsequently transformed using Lyapunov optimization theory and was reformulated as a knapsack problem for resolution. The simulation results confirm the EPTS's commendable convergence and effectiveness. The average objective value achieved by the proposed EPTS was found to be 17% superior to that of the Equal Allocation Strategy (EAS) and 21% superior to the queue-weighted strategy (QS).

In this study, a mixture of ultrasound or microwave pretreated walnut meal protein peptides and CaCl2 was used for the preparation of walnut peptide-calcium chelate. The effects of different pretreatments on the calcium chelating capacity, structural changes and stability of walnut meal protein peptides were analyzed. The results showed that compared with walnut meal protein peptide-calcium chelate (WPP-Ca), the chelation rates of ultrasound-pretreated walnut meal protein peptide-calcium chelate (UP-WPP-Ca) and microwave-pretreated walnut meal protein peptide-calcium chelate (MP-WPP-Ca) were enhanced, which indicated that ultrasound and microwave pretreatments improved the calcium-chelating capacity of the peptides effectively. Using ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, it was found that ultrasound and microwave pretreatments mainly affected the calcium ion binding sites such as amino groups, carbonyl groups, carboxyl groups, amide bonds and carboxylate groups of walnut meal protein peptides. The results of X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed that ultrasound and microwave treatments changed the molecular arrangement of walnut meal protein peptides, thereby making the structure of walnut peptide-calcium chelate more ordered. Fluorescence spectroscopy showed that ultrasonic and microwave treatments promoted the chelation between aromatic amino acids and calcium ions. In addition, UP-WPP-Ca and MP-WPP-Ca showed good stability toward different pH values, temperatures, and gastrointestinal digestion. In short, ultrasonic and microwave pretreatments can improve the calcium-chelating capacity and stability of walnut meal protein peptides, which is of guiding significance for the processing of walnut peptide-calcium chelate and the development of calcium supplements.

Background: Breastfeeding provides several positive health benefits for the newborn child, yet breastfeeding rates remain low in the United States (US). Theory-based approaches have the potential to improve breastfeeding promotion interventions. Hence, the study examined the correlates of intention to breastfeed among US pregnant women based on the multi-theory model (MTM) of health behavior change. Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, a 36-item online survey was administered to a nationally representative sample of 315 pregnant women in the US. The instrument was psychometrically validated for face, content, and construct validity by a panel of six experts over two rounds. Further, construct validation was done by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Hierarchical regression modeling was employed to explain the intention to start breastfeeding and sustain exclusive breastfeeding for up to six months and with complementary foods for up to 24 months. Results: Internal consistency using Cronbach’s alpha was found to be acceptable. It was found that behavioral confidence and changes in the physical environment positively affected the initiation of breastfeeding (P

Energy recovery from low-strength wastewater through anaerobic methanogenesis is constrained by limited substrate availability. The development of efficient methanogenic communities is critical but challenging. Here we develop a strategy to acclimate methanogenic communities using conductive carrier (CC), electrical stress (ES), and Acid Orange 7 (AO7) in a modified biofilter. The synergistic integration of CC, ES, and AO7 precipitated a remarkable 72-fold surge in methane production rate compared to the baseline. This increase was attributed to an altered methanogenic community function, independent of the continuous presence of AO7 and ES. AO7 acted as an external electron acceptor, accelerating acetogenesis from fermentation intermediates, restructuring the bacterial community, and enriching electroactive bacteria (EAB). Meanwhile, CC and ES orchestrated the assembly of the archaeal community and promoted electrotrophic methanogens, enhancing acetotrophic methanogenesis electron flow via a mechanism distinct from direct electrochemical interactions. The collective application of CC, ES, and AO7 effectively mitigated electron flow impediments in low-strength wastewater methanogenesis, achieving an additional 34% electron recovery from the substrate. This study proposes a new method of amending anaerobic digestion systems with conductive materials to advance wastewater treatment, sustainability, and energy self-sufficiency.

Fuzzy hybrid models are efficient mathematical tools for managing unclear and vague data in real-world scenarios. This research explores the q-rung orthopair fuzzy soft set (q-ROFSS), which presents incomplete and ambiguous details in decision-making problems. The main intention of this study is to describe and evaluate the characteristics of the correlation coefficient (CC) and weighted correlation coefficient (WCC) for q-ROFSS. Also, the technique for order preference should be enhanced by similarity to the ideal solution (TOPSIS) with extended measures in q-ROFSS settings. Furthermore, we integrated mathematical formulations of correlation obstructions to confirm the consistency of the planned technique. It helps handle difficulties involving multi-attribute group decision-making (MAGDM). Moreover, a numerical illustration is presented to clarify how the advocated decision-making methodology can be implemented in evaluating suppliers in green supply chain management (GSCM). As a result, each alternative is assessed using multiple criteria, such as quality and reliability, capacity and scalability, compliance and certifications, and sustainability practices. The technique proposed in this study retains the selected research's specific structure more effectively than current techniques. A comparative analysis further substantiates the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed approach over other decision-making techniques.

Abstract This study investigates the viability of a strong algorithm (PSOGSA) merging particle swarm optimization (PSO) and gravity search algorithm (GSA) in tuning adaptive neuro-fuzzy system (ANFIS) parameters for modeling dimensionless experimental discharge of combined weir–orifices. The results are compared with the standard ANFIS and two hybrid models ANFIS tuned with PSO and GSA. The models are assessed by applying several dimensionless input parameters, consisting h/D (the ratio of upstream water depth to channel diameter), W/D (the ratio of orifice opening height to channel diameter), H/D (the ratio of plate height to channel diameter) and using comparison indices such as root-mean-square error and mean absolute error. The outcomes reveal that the new ANFIS-PSOGSA method provides superior accuracy in modeling dimensionless experimental discharge over the ANFIS-PSO, ANFIS-GSA and standard ANFIS method. Among the input parameters, the h/D was found to be the most effective input on modeling dimensionless experimental discharge while involving the H/D parameter deteriorated the models’ performances. The relative root-mean-square error differences between ANFIS-PSOGSA and ANFIS are found as 50% and 68.29% for pipe A and B, respectively. By implementing the ANFIS-PSOGSA, the accuracy of ANFIS-PSO and ANFIS-GSA is also improved in modeling dimensionless experimental discharge by 45.71% and 29.63% in pipe A and by 63.89% and 45.83% in pipe B with respect to root-mean-square error.

Abstract Background Marfan syndrome (MFS) is a rare genetic disorder caused by mutations in the Fibrillin‐1 gene (FBN1) with significant clinical features in the skeletal, cardiopulmonary, and ocular systems. To gain deeper insights into the contribution of epigenetics in the variability of phenotypes observed in MFS, we undertook the first analysis of integrating DNA methylation and gene expression profiles in whole blood from MFS and healthy controls (HCs). Methods The Illumina 850K (EPIC) DNA methylation array was used to detect DNA methylation changes on peripheral blood samples of seven patients with MFS and five HCs. Associations between methylation levels and clinical features of MFS were analyzed. Subsequently, we conducted an integrated analysis of the outcomes of the transcriptome data to analyze the correlation between differentially methylated positions (DMPs) and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and explore the potential role of methylation‐regulated DEGs (MeDEGs) in MFS scoliosis. The weighted gene co‐expression network analysis was used to find gene modules with the highest correlation coefficient with target MeDEGs to annotate their functions in MFS. Results Our study identified 1253 DMPs annotated to 236 genes that were primarily associated with scoliosis, cardiomyopathy, and vital capacity. These conditions are typically associated with reduced lifespan in untreated MFS. We calculated correlations between DMPs and clinical features, such as cobb angle to evaluate scoliosis and FEV1% to assess pulmonary function. Notably, cg20223687 (PTPRN2) exhibited a positive correlation with cobb angle of scoliosis, potentially playing a role in ERKs inactivation. Conclusions Taken together, our systems‐level approach sheds light on the contribution of epigenetics to MFS and offers a plausible explanation for the complex phenotypes that are linked to reduced lifespan in untreated MFS patients.