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The development of technology and the recent Covid-19 has moved a substantial part of education into online environments, and video-based learning has become a common format of online learning. An alternative to enhance the co-learning experience in video-based online learning is to make use of immersive virtual reality (VR) technology. The current study focused on how to build a sense of being together in an immersive VR classroom for video-based learning, when individual learners can schedule and pace their learning on their own. Two alternative in-class interaction mechanisms for video-based learning were proposed (i.e., real-time interaction and timeline-anchored interaction). The impact of in-class interaction design was investigated, together with the impact of different styles of visual embodiment of learners (i.e., realistic and cartoon-styled), through a laboratory experiment involving 48 participants, and the influences on learners' immersion in a VR classroom, identification with the avatars, perceived social presence of peer learners, and learning outcomes were analyzed. The results showed that enabling in-class interaction with peer learners in VR classrooms enhances immersion in the learning environment and their identification of peer avatars, as well as helping learners to develop a stronger co-presence and more intimate perception of peers. Whereas real-time interaction improves perceived social presence the most, the reduced learning outcome suggests that it may distract learners from the video. The timeline-anchored interaction, on the other hand, improves social presence at no cost of learning performance. Appearance style, however, has no significant influence on learning experiences and outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the accuracy and robustness of autonomous vehicle localization in a complex environment, this paper proposes a multi-source fusion localization method that integrates GPS, laser SLAM, and an odometer model. Firstly, fuzzy rules are constructed to accurately analyze the in-vehicle localization deviation and confidence factor to improve the initial fusion localization accuracy. Then, an odometer model for obtaining the projected localization trajectory is constructed. Considering the high accuracy of the odometer's projected trajectory within a short distance, we used the shape of the projected localization trajectory to inhibit the initial fusion localization noise and used trajectory matching to obtain an accurate localization. Finally, the Dual-LSTM network is constructed to predict the localization and build an electronic fence to guarantee the safety of the vehicle while also guaranteeing the updating of short-distance localization information of the vehicle when the above-mentioned fusion localization is unreliable. Under the limited arithmetic condition of the vehicle platform, accurate and reliable localization is realized in a complex environment. The proposed method was verified by long-time operation on the real vehicle platform, and compared with the EKF fusion localization method, the average root mean square error of localization was reduced by 66%, reaching centimeter-level localization accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Human patients often experience an episode of serious seizure activity, such as status epilepticus (SE), prior to the onset of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), suggesting that SE can trigger the development of epilepsy. Yet, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. The low-density lipoprotein receptor related protein (Lrp4), a receptor for proteoglycan-agrin, has been indicated to modulate seizure susceptibility. However, whether agrin-Lrp4 pathway also plays a role in the development of SE-induced TLE is not clear. Methods: Lrp4f/f mice were crossed with hGFAP-Cre and Nex-Cre mice to generate brain conditional Lrp4 knockout mice (hGFAP-Lrp4−/−) and pyramidal neuron specific knockout mice (Nex-Lrp4−/−). Lrp4 was specifically knocked down in hippocampal astrocytes by injecting AAV virus carrying hGFAP-Cre into the hippocampus. The effects of agrin-Lrp4 pathway on the development of SE-induced TLE were evaluated on the chronic seizure model generated by injecting kainic acid (KA) into the amygdala. The spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRS) in mice were video monitored. Results: We found that Lrp4 deletion from the brain but not from the pyramidal neurons elevated the seizure threshold and reduced SRS numbers, with no change in the stage or duration of SRS. More importantly, knockdown of Lrp4 in the hippocampal astrocytes after SE induction decreased SRS numbers. In accord, direct injection of agrin into the lateral ventricle of control mice but not mice with Lrp4 deletion in hippocampal astrocytes also increased the SRS numbers. These results indicate a promoting effect of agrin-Lrp4 signaling in hippocampal astrocytes on the development of SE-induced TLE. Last, we observed that knockdown of Lrp4 in hippocampal astrocytes increased the extracellular adenosine levels in the hippocampus 2 weeks after SE induction. Blockade of adenosine A1 receptor in the hippocampus by DPCPX after SE induction diminished the effects of Lrp4 on the development of SE-induced TLE. Conclusion: These results demonstrate a promoting role of agrin-Lrp4 signaling in hippocampal astrocytes in the development of SE-induced development of epilepsy through elevating adenosine levels. Targeting agrin-Lrp4 signaling may serve as a potential therapeutic intervention strategy to treat TLE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microcellulose materials are increasingly considered multifunctional candidates for emerging energy applications. Microcellulose fibers (MCF) are a kind of bio-based reinforcement in composites, and their hydrophilic character hinders their wide application in industry. Thus, in the present work, MCF was hybrid-modified by amino silicone oil-phosphorylated to fabricate hydrophobic, thermal stability, and flame-retardant microcellulose fibers for potential application in vehicle engineering. The results showed that the amino silicone oil-phosphorylated (ASOP) hybrid modification could transform the surface property of microcellulose from hydrophilic to hydrophobic and improve the compatibility between MCF and resin matrix. Meanwhile, the ASOP treatment led to the formation of an amino silicone oil film layer on the surface of the microcellulose, which improved the thermal stability of the MCF. Furthermore, the ASOP hybrid modification microcellulose fibers paper (100% microcellulose fibers paper) was transformed from flammable to flame-retardant and showed self-extinguishing behavior after burning under flame for 2 s. The flame-retardant mechanism was attributed to the formation of the char layer in the condensed phase and the production of non-combustible gases in the gaseous phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban-rural integration is the critical process of urbanization, while during this process there are various corresponding problems generated, safety is the most important one, especially at urban-rural fringe areas due to mixed traffic flow and complicated land use. This study intended to investigate the injury severity interaction between urban area and urban-rural fringe area, and explore the correlation within injury severity levels and heterogeneity attributed to unobserved factors. To address the correlation and heterogeneity issues, a grouped random parameters seemingly unrelated bivariate (SUB) probit model was proposed, in which the SUB probit model addressed the correlation of residuals, while the random parameters model accommodated the heterogeneity due to unobserved factors. By comparing the pooled with random parameters models, the results showed that random parameters SUB probit model performed better than the pooled one, and the dataset collected from 2013 to 2017 in Chengdu, China was adopted to illustrate the proposed model. It is found that crash location, speed limit and age of person injured are significant for injury severity in urban and urban-rural fringe areas, but crash form plays a significant role in urban area while number of persons involved should be paid more attention due to injury severity in urban-rural fringe area. Some empirical suggestions are presented to improve the safety in urban and urban-rural fringe areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Delirium, a form of acute cerebral dysfunction, is a common complication of postoperative cardiac surgery in children. It is strongly associated with adverse outcomes, including prolonged hospitalization, increased mortality, and cognitive dysfunction. This study aimed to identify risk factors and incidence of delirium after cardiac surgery in children to facilitate early identification of delirium risk and provide a reference for the implementation of effective prevention and management. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus, CNKI, Sinomed, and Wanfang for studies published in English or Chinese from the inception of each database to November 2023. The PRISMA guidelines were followed in all phases of this systematic review. The Risk of Bias Assessment for Nonrandomized Studies tool was used to assess methodological quality. A total of twelve studies were included in the analysis, with four studies classified as overall low risk of bias, seven studies as moderate risk of bias, and one study as high risk of bias. The studies reported 39 possible predictors of delirium, categorized into four broad groups: intrinsic and parent-related factors, disease-related factors, surgery and treatment-related factors, and clinical scores and laboratory parameters. By conducting qualitative synthesis and quantitative meta-analysis, we identified two definite factors, four possible factors, and 32 unclear factors related to delirium. Definite risk factors included age and mechanical ventilation duration. Possible factors included developmental delay, cyanotic heart disease, cardiopulmonary bypass time, and pain score. With only a few high-quality studies currently available, well-designed and more extensive prospective studies are still needed to investigate the risk factors affecting delirium and explore delirium prevention strategies in high-risk children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chimp Optimization Algorithm (ChOA) is a cutting-edge swarm intelligence algorithm that models the social status ties and hunting behavior of chimps to solve complex optimization problems. Although ChOA is known for its simplicity and efficiency, it may encounter challenges such as convergence speed and local optima. This study presents a comprehensive and competitive multi-strategy-enhanced chimp optimization algorithm (SLDChOA), which comprehensively enhances the optimization performance of the algorithm through four strategies. Firstly, a low-difference Sobol sequence strategy is used to initialize the chimp population to increase the diversity of the initial population. Secondly, different location update strategies are adopted according to different iteration stages. The early iteration stage employs the Lévy flight-based location update strategy to help chimps explore the space more abundantly and improve the global search ability of the algorithm. In contrast, the proposed probability-based elitist operation strategy is used in the late iteration stage to help the chimps obtain higher-quality optimal solutions and improve the convergence accuracy and speed of the algorithm. Finally, the dimension learning-based hunting search strategy is introduced to facilitate information sharing among chimps and enable the algorithm to jump out of the local optimum effectively. To demonstrate its comprehensive performance, SLDChOA is compared with 17 state-of-the-art algorithms on 23 traditional benchmark functions, CEC 2014 and CEC 2019 test sets (totaling 63 test functions). Moreover, its efficacy and excellence are further demonstrated in 4 well-known engineering optimization issues and 2 feature selection problems of multimodal Parkinson's speech datasets. A series of simulations demonstrate that SLDChOA has good comprehensive merit-seeking ability and is extremely competitive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon/phenolic hybrid resins are one of the most commonly used materials for thermal protection. However, the weak ability of SiO 2 generated by silicone during ablation to resist the impact of high-speed hot gas flow hinders further improvement of the performance. Therefore, in this work, the ultrahigh-temperature ceramic elements Zr4+ and Hf4+ were integrated into hyperbranched polysiloxanes in the form of coordination bond and then introduced into phenolic resin (PR), obtaining hybrid resin with excellent ablative resistance. During ablation, Zr4+ and Hf4+ will first undergo ceramization, producing ZrO 2 and HfO 2. Subsequently, they will undergo a solid solution sintering reaction to produce complex-phase ceramic particles (Zr x Hf 1-x)O 2 , which are embedded in the SiO 2 liquid film and provide excellent pinning effect. This gives the hybrid resin excellent ablation resistance, whose linear ablation rate can be as low as 0.038 mm/s, a 58 % decrease compared to pure PR. This work not only provides a new pathway for ceramization through metal ion coordination bonding, but also provides a new way to prepare high-performance TPS materials. [Display omitted] • Zr4+ and Hf4+ were successfully introduced into hyperbranched organosilica through the lone electron pair provided by C=O. • Silicon/phenolic hybrid resin with a unique nano-bicontinuous phase structure was produced. • The coordinated Zr4+ and Hf4+ can undergo in-situ ceramization and solid solution sintering reaction to produce (Zr x Hf 1-x)O 2. • (Zr x Hf 1-x)O 2 can perform an excellent pinning effect and confer excellent ablation resistance to the hybrid resin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Develop a novel pixel-wise calibration method for telecentric structured light systems, offering higher accuracy and distortion-free 3D reconstruction. • Implement a global calibration strategy based on the virtual plane, addressing calibration degeneracy and enhancing robustness. • Introduce an orthographic projection model to essentially eliminate XY fluctuation issues, simplifying the pixel-wise strategy and the 3D reconstruction process. • Design a best stripe selection algorithm for optimizing calibration and improving accuracy in the pixel-wise strategy. • Experimentally demonstrate the calibration framework's versatility for different system setups and its capability to rapidly achieve high precision in experimental results. Micro three-dimensional (3D) imaging technology based on structured light is widely used in industrial applications, as it can obtain high-precision morphology of tiny objects using a camera equipped with a telecentric lens and a distorted pinhole projector. However, the telecentric structured light system suffers from problems caused by stereo-vision degeneracy, and their measurement accuracy is limited due to local distortions in stereo-vision calibration. To overcome these issues, the paper proposed a pixel-wise calibration method based on the virtual plane. In this method, first, the virtual plane is applied to the telecentric structured light system to ensure spatial relationships between the camera and projector, which is achieved easily by the Levenberg-Marquardt-based Perspective-n-Point(PnP) algorithm. Second, a pixel-wise polynomial regression model is introduced for local distortions, which converts phase information into refined 3D coordinates. Third, considering orthogonal stripes have poor sensitivity in one direction, the optimal fringe selection based on a reference plane is used in the calibration process to make the system more sensitive to depth. In addition, the proposed method can be extended to multi-projector systems and allows uncalibrated projectors to be calibrated with unidirectional fringe patterns. The proposed calibration method is flexible and easy to conduct. Experimental results demonstrate that our proposed method can effectively reduce local measurement errors and significantly improve reconstruction speed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A deep multimodal fusion (DMF) model is developed for sand gravel moisture content prediction. • The DMF model effectively extracts and fuses information from image, spectral, and dielectric data. • The DMF model shows superior performance on sand gravel multimodal datasets. • The DMF model maintains good robustness when the dataset was disturbed by general noise. A fast and accurate moisture content (MC) measurement of sand gravel is essential for hydraulic engineering project sites. Most existing measurement methods are unimodal, facing non-robust against external interference. To address this issue, a deep multimodal fusion (DMF) model for measuring the MC of sand gravel using images, near-infrared (NIR) spectra, and dielectric data, is proposed. A modified bottleneck transformer network (BoTNet) added with an extremely efficient spatial pyramid (EESP) block is first proposed to extract image features from different receptive fields. The improved convolutional neural network with attention blocks added (A-CNN) and gated recurrent unit with attention blocks added (A-GRU) networks are then adopted to extract local and sequential features from NIR spectra, respectively. The square root of dielectric data and above multimodal features are effectively fused according to their contribution to the target indicator in the Fusion module. Among other comparative models, the DMF model yielded the best performance (R2 = 0.962, RMSE = 0.645, RPD = 5.124) on the original sand gravel dataset, and still maintained the best accuracy (the average R2 and RPD mostly exceeded 0.85 and 2.5, respectively) when against general external noise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid development of rare-earth fluorescent materials based on the fluorescence intensity ratio method allows the monitoring of internal temperature, stability and service life of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs). In this paper, Eu3+ doped (YSZ) 0.3 -(YTaO 4) 0.7 rare-earth ceramic materials was firstly prepared by chemical co-precipitation technique, and the doping content of Eu3+ was optimized by comparing its effect on morphology, luminescence and temperature sensitive performance of (YSZ) 0.3 -(YTaO 4) 0.7. Then the Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene was subsequently blended into the optimal (YSZ) 0.3 -(YTaO 4) 0.7 : Eu3+ powders by mechanical milling. The influence of Ti 3 C 2 T x MXenes on the structure, morphology, fluorescence properties and temperature sensitivity of (YSZ) 0.3 -(YTaO 4) 0.7 : Eu3+ powders was further investigated systematically. Results showed that (YSZ) 0.3 -(YTaO 4) 0.7 : Eu3+ powders were compound of M′-YTaO 4 and YSZ in tetragonal phase. The optimal doping content of Eu3+ is 1.5 mol%. The adding of Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene did not affect the structure of (YSZ) 0.3 -(YTaO 4) 0.7 :Eu3+ powders. After addition of Ti 3 C 2 T x MXenes, part of (YSZ) 0.3 -(YTaO 4) 0.7 :Eu3+ particles embedded in the middle of the accordion-shaped MXenes sheet, while the other part wrapped around MXenes. Ti 3 C 2 T x MXenes could significantly improve the luminescence intensity, fluorescence lifetime and temperature-sensitive performance of (YSZ) 0.3 -(YTaO 4) 0.7 : Eu3+powders. The optimal addition amount of Ti 3 C 2 T x MXenes is 0.6 wt%. The absolute and relative sensitivities of MXene/(YSZ) 0.3 -(YTaO 4) 0.7 :Eu3+ powders archived 2 times of (YSZ) 0.3 -(YTaO 4) 0.7 : Eu3+ powders. Therefore, MXene/(YSZ) 0.3 -(YTaO 4) 0.7 : Eu3+ could be used as temperature-indicating ceramic materials with highly efficient fluorescent properties for real-time monitoring of internal temperature of TBCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a by-product of the construction and demolition waste (CDW) classification process, the construction and demolition waste residue (CDWR) faces the problem of having nowhere to be stacked and being unable to be handled. Solidifying CDWR by alkali activation technology to make building blocks not only provides a value-added method for recycling CDWR, but also promotes the sustainable development of rural construction. In this study, a new alkali-activated material (NAAM) was proposed for the solidification of CDWR, and the optimal ratio of NAAM at different curing ages was determined by mixture design, and then the micro-mechanism and macro-properties of CDWR solidified with NAAM were investigated. The results show that the compressive strength of the optimized specimen at 14-day meets the requirement of 10 MPa. After solidifying CDWR with NAAM, the products generated are mainly calcium silicate hydrate gels with different morphologies, accompanied by ettringite and CaCO 3. Water content and pH have a significant impact on the compressive strength, and low water content and pH value have a negative impact on the pozzolanic reaction and the generation of products of the specimen. In general, it is feasible to use NAAM mainly composed of waste brick powder proposed in this paper to solidify CDWR. Without using cement and natural aggregates, it still shows good mechanical property and environmental benefits. • A new alkali-activated material based on waste brick powder is proposed. • Recycling of construction and demolition waste residue as recycled aggregate. • The optimal ratio of NAAM at different curing ages is determined by mixture design. • The compressive strength of the optimized specimen at 14-day meets the requirement of 10 MPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: China has the third-largest burden of tuberculosis (TB) cases in the world with great challenges towards ending TB. Primary health care (PHC) sectors play a critical role in TB prevention and control in communities under the Chinese integrated TB control model. However, there is a lack of comprehensive review of research evidence on TB control in PHC sectors under the integrated TB control model in China. Methods: This review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. Articles published from 2012 to January 2022 were searched from four international and three Chinese databases. Studies conducted inside mainland China and relevant with TB control service in PHC sectors under the integrated model were included. After study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment, the meta-analysis was performed with RevMan using a random-effect model.When I2 was more than 50%, subgroup analysis was performed to explore possible reasons for heterogeneity. We also conducted a post hoc sensitivity analysis for outcomes after meta-analysis by exclusion of studies with a high risk of bias or classified as low quality. Results: Forty-three studies from 16 provinces/municipalities in China were included in this review, and most studies included were of medium quality. PHC sectors in East China delivered TB control service better overall than that in West China, especially in tracing of patients and TB case management (TCM). In meta-analyses, both the pooled arrival rate of tracing and pooled TCM rate in East China were higher than those in West China. TB patients had a low degree of willingness to receive TCM provided by healthcare workers in PHC sectors nationwide, especially among migrant TB patients. There were 9 studies reporting factors related to TB control service in PHC sectors, 6 (2 in East and 4 in West China) of which indentified several characteristics of patients as associated factors. The context of PHC sectors was demonstrated to influence delivery of TB control service in PHC sectors in 5 studies (3 in East, 1 in Middle and 1 in West China). Most studies on strategies to promoting TB control services in PHC sectors were conducted in East China and some of these studies identified several online and offline interventions and strategies improving patients' treatment compliance [pooled OR (95% CI): 7.81 (3.08, 19.19] and awareness of TB [pooled OR (95% CI): 6.86 (2.16, 21.72)]. Conclusion: It is of urgent need to improve TB control in PHC sector in China, particularly in West China. Formative and implementation research with rigorous design are necessary to develop comprehensive, context-specific, and patient-centered TB control strategies to promote ending TB in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND RESULTS CONCLUSION Dendrobium officinale flos (DOF), a novel food raw material, is used in Chinese folk medicine to nourish the stomach. However, there is still no available study to evaluate the effects of DOF on animal models of acute gastric injury and its mechanism by modern pharmacological research.Herein, we characterized the major components of an aqueous extract of DOF and assessed its potential ameliorative effects in a rat model of acute gastric mucosal injury. The DOF water extract showed significant protective effects on the gastric mucosa and exhibited excellent antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory activities. Acute gastric injury rat models induced by ethanol (6 mL kg−1) were pretreated with different doses of DOF water extract (50–100 mg kg−1 day−1), and the biological effects of DOF extract in gastric tissues were evaluated. DOF extract alleviated the symptoms of ethanol‐stimulated acute gastric mucosal injury, as evidenced by a significant reduction in gastric injury index and the degree of gastric pathological changes. Additionally, treatment with DOF extract upregulated mucin expression in the gastric mucosa, attenuated oxidative stress, decreased the release of inflammatory mediators (TNF‐α, IL‐6), suppressed the expression of key proinflammatory enzymes (COX‐2 and iNOS), reduced the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and p65 NF‐κB and increased the level of PGE2 in gastric tissues.DOF exerts protective effects against ethanol‐induced acute gastric mucosal injury, mainly by inhibiting inflammation and oxidative stress. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optical encryption technologies based on persistent luminescence material have currently drawn increasing attention due to the distinctive and long‐lived optical properties, which enable multi‐dimensional and dynamic optical information encryption to improve the security level. However, the controlled synthesis of persistent phosphors remains largely unexplored and it is still a great challenge to regulate the structure for optical properties optimization, which inevitably sets significant limitations on the practical application of persistent luminescent materials. Herein, a controlled synthesis method is proposed based on defect structure regulation and a series of porous persistent phosphors is obtained with different luminous intensities, lifetime, and wavelengths. By simply using diverse templates during the sol–gel process, the oxygen vacancy defects structures are successfully regulated to improve the optical properties. Additionally, the obtained series of porous Al2O3 are utilized for multi‐color and dynamic optical information encryption to increase the security level. Overall, the proposed defect regulation strategy in this work is expected to provide a general and facile method for optimizing the optical properties of persistent luminescent materials, paving new ways for broadening their applications in multi‐dimensional and dynamic information encryption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi‐dimensional force sensing that combines intensity, location, area and the like could gather a wealth of information from mechanical stimuli. Developing materials with force‐induced optical and electrical dual responses would provide unique opportunities to multi‐dimensional force sensing, with electrical signals quantifying the force amplitude and the luminescence output providing spatial distribution of force. However, the reliance on external power supply and high‐energy excitation source brings significant challenges to the applicability of multi‐dimensional force sensors. Here we reported the mechanical energy‐driven and sunlight‐activated materials with force‐induced dual responses, and investigated the underlying mechanisms of self‐sustainable force sensing. Theoretical analysis and experimental data unraveled that trap‐controlled luminescence and interfacial electron transfer play a major role in force‐induced optical and electrical output. These materials were manufactured into pressure sensor with renewable dual‐mode output for quantifying and visualization of pressures by electrical and optical output, respectively, without power supply and high‐energy irradiation. The quantification of tactile sensation and stimuli localization of mice highlighted the multi‐dimensional sensing ability of the sensor. Overall, this self‐powered pressure sensor with multimodal output provides more modalities of force sensing, poised to change the way that intelligent devices sense with the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi‐dimensional force sensing that combines intensity, location, area and the like could gather a wealth of information from mechanical stimuli. Developing materials with force‐induced optical and electrical dual responses would provide unique opportunities to multi‐dimensional force sensing, with electrical signals quantifying the force amplitude and the luminescence output providing spatial distribution of force. However, the reliance on external power supply and high‐energy excitation source brings significant challenges to the applicability of multi‐dimensional force sensors. Here we reported the mechanical energy‐driven and sunlight‐activated materials with force‐induced dual responses, and investigated the underlying mechanisms of self‐sustainable force sensing. Theoretical analysis and experimental data unraveled that trap‐controlled luminescence and interfacial electron transfer play a major role in force‐induced optical and electrical output. These materials were manufactured into pressure sensor with renewable dual‐mode output for quantifying and visualization of pressures by electrical and optical output, respectively, without power supply and high‐energy irradiation. The quantification of tactile sensation and stimuli localization of mice highlighted the multi‐dimensional sensing ability of the sensor. Overall, this self‐powered pressure sensor with multimodal output provides more modalities of force sensing, poised to change the way that intelligent devices sense with the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decline of bus ridership is increasingly prevalent in cities in both developed and emerging economies around the world. While researchers have made many efforts to explain why choice riders switch to other transportation modes in single-city cases, why cities vary in the performance of maintaining bus ridership is still largely unknown. This study examines the changes in bus ridership among 175 medium and small-sized cities without urban rail transit from 2010 to 2019 in China and links a few determining factors to such changes by deploying fixed effects panel models and piecewise regression models. Both heterogeneity and nonlinear relationships in the dynamics of bus ridership changes are confirmed. The results demonstrate that cities at different development stages perform diversely in maintaining bus ridership, due to the variations in travel demand and travel choice preferences in those contexts. Increased private car ownership and widening income inequity both contribute to bus ridership decline while an expansion of bus fleet sizes is associated with more bus patronage. These relationships are all displayed as nonlinear formats; the effects can diminish when influencing factors reach a certain level during the growth of cities. The research outcomes may inform policymakers that cities at different development stages need to adopt context-based strategies instead of simply copying from elsewhere. Policies such as controlling private car ownership might not work equally well in cities with diversified characteristics. • Shed light on the bus ridership decline challenges faced by 175 medium and small-sized cities in China. • Explore the interaction and nonlinear effect from influencing factors on bus ridership. • Focus on medium and small-sized cities' bus ridership decline phenomenon. • Emphasize the importance of understanding city-specific dynamics to formulate effective transit strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functionally graded materials (FGMs) are a novel class of composite materials that have attracted significant attention in the field of engineering due to their unique mechanical properties. This study aims to explore the dynamic behaviors of an FGM stepped beam with different boundary conditions based on an efficient solving method. Under the assumptions of the Euler-Bernoulli beam theory, the governing differential equations of an individual FGM beam are derived with Hamilton's principle and decoupled via the separation-of-variable approach. Then, the free and forced vibrations of the FGM stepped beam are solved with the transfer matrix method (TMM). Two models, i.e., a three-level FGM stepped beam and a five-level FGM stepped beam, are considered, and their natural frequencies and mode shapes are presented. To demonstrate the validity of the method in this paper, the simulation results by ABAQUS are also given. On this basis, the detailed parametric analyses on the frequencies and dynamic responses of the three-level FGM stepped beam are carried out. The results show the accuracy and efficiency of the TMM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HBV expresses more than 10 spliced RNAs from the viral pregenomic RNA, but their functions remain elusive and controversial. To address the function of HBV spliced RNAs, we generated splicing-deficient HBV mutants and conducted experiments to assess the impact of these mutants on HBV infection. HepG2-NTCP cells, human hepatocyte chimeric FRG mice (hu-FRG mice), and serum from patients with chronic hepatitis B were used for experiments on HBV infection. Additionally, SHifter assays and cryo-electron microscopy were performed. We found the infectivity of splicing-deficient HBV was decreased 100-1,000-fold compared with that of wild-type HBV in hu-FRG mice. Another mutant, A487C, which loses the most abundant spliced RNA (SP1), also exhibits severely impaired infectivity. SP1 hypothetically encodes a novel protein HBcSP1 (HBc-Cys) that lacks the C-terminal cysteine from full-length HBc. In the SHifter assay, HBcSP1 was detected in wild-type viral particles at a ratio of about 20-100% vs. conventional HBc, as well as in the serum of patients with chronic hepatitis B, but not in A487C particles. When infection was conducted with a shorter incubation time of 4-8 h at lower PEG concentrations in HepG2-NTCP cells, the entry of the A487C mutant was significantly slower. SP1 cDNA complementation of the A487C mutant succeeded in rescuing its infectivity in hu-FRG mice and HepG2-NTCP cells. Moreover, cryo-electron microscopy revealed a disulfide bond between HBc cysteine 183 and 48 in the HBc intradimer of the A487C capsid, leading to a locked conformation that disfavored viral entry in contrast to the wild-type capsid. Prior studies unveiled the potential integration of the HBc-Cys protein into the HBV capsid. We confirmed the proposal and validated its identity and function during infection. HBV SP1 RNA encodes a novel HBc protein (HBcSP1) that lacks the C-terminal cysteine from conventional HBc (HBc-Cys). HBcSP1 was detected in cell culture-derived HBV and confirmed in patients with chronic infection by both immunological and chemical modification assays at 10-50% of capsid. The splicing-deficient mutant HBV (A487C) impaired infectivity in human hepatocyte chimeric mice and viral entry in the HepG2-NTCP cell line. Furthermore, these deficiencies of the splicing-deficient mutant could be rescued by complementation with the SP1-encoded protein HBcSP1. We confirmed and validated the identity and function of HBcSP1 during infection, building on the current model of HBV particles. [Display omitted] • The infectivity of splicing-deficient HBV was significantly decreased compared to WT HBV in hu-FRG mice. • SP1 RNA encodes HBcSP1, which is found in 10 to 50% of nucleocapsids in patients with CHB and cell line-derived WT HBV. • The splicing-deficient mutant A487C, lacking HBcSP1, reduces the efficiency of viral entry kinetics. • Disulfide bonds between Cys48 and Cys183 in the A487C capsid led to a locked conformation that disfavored viral entry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All-silicon terahertz absorbers have attracted considerable interest. We present a design and numerical study of an all-silicon polarization-insensitive terahertz metamaterial absorber. The meta-atoms of the metamaterial absorber are square silicon rings which can be viewed as gratings. By properly optimizing the structure of the meta-atom, we achieve a broadband absorptivity that is above 90% ranging from 0.77 THz to 2.53 THz, with a relative bandwidth of 106.7%. Impedance matching reduces the reflection of the terahertz waves and the (0, ±1)-order diffraction induce the strong absorption. The absorption of this absorber is insensitive to the polarization of the terahertz wave and has a large incident angle tolerance of up to 60 degrees. The all-silicon metamaterial absorber proposed here provides an effective way to obtain broadband absorption in the terahertz regime. Metamaterial absorbers have outstanding applications in terahertz communication and imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial species within the Acinetobacter baumannii-calcoaceticus (Acb) complex are very similar and are difficult to discriminate. Misidentification of these species in human infection may lead to severe consequences in clinical settings. Therefore, it is important to accurately discriminate these pathogens within the Acb complex. Raman spectroscopy is a simple method that has been widely studied for bacterial identification with high similarities. In this study, we combined surfaced-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) with a set of machine learning algorithms for identifying species within the Acb complex. According to the results, the support vector machine (SVM) model achieved the best prediction accuracy at 98.33% with a fivefold cross-validation rate of 96.73%. Taken together, this study confirms that the SERS-SVM method provides a convenient way to discriminate between A. baumannii, Acinetobacter pittii, and Acinetobacter nosocomialis in the Acb complex, which shows an application potential for species identification of Acinetobacter baumannii-calcoaceticus complex in clinical settings in near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcareous sand, a foundation material of marine origin, is an indispensable component in marine construction and has found extensive applications in building foundations and airport runways. The complex nature of the marine environment and the unique characteristics of calcareous sand present significant challenges for ensuring the stability and durability of engineering structures. To address these challenges, multistage loading triaxial creep tests were conducted on calcareous sands with different particle gradations to analyze their creep characteristics and underlying mechanisms. The result shows that the amount of ultimate axial creep strain is positively correlated with deviatoric stress but negatively correlated with the coefficient of uniformity (Cu). The creep process demonstrates a significant creep structure effect, characterized by creep rate lag and creep failure lag. The volumetric creep strain-time relationship at different creep stress ratios can be classified into three types. When the creep stress ratio is less than the stress ratio at the dilative point, the sample is first compacted followed by dilatancy; when the creep stress ratio is equal to the stress ratio at the dilative point, only compaction is obtained; as the creep stress ratio becomes larger than the stress ratio at the dilative point, pure dilatancy is found. The particle crushing modes and creep mechanisms of calcareous sand are also examined through meso-observations. It is found that the particle crushing modes can be categorized into three distinct types: grinding, angular breakage, and whole particle breakage. The particle gradation not only impacts the primary particle crushing mode but also governs the movement of particles and fragments, thereby influencing the occurrence of creep deformation. Specifically, a smaller Cu value corresponds to a higher fragmentation rate of the specimen, an increased number of overall crushing and angular fractures, a larger space for fragment migration after crushing, and eventually a greater creep deformation. Finally, a modified Burgers model is proposed based on the test results, which can effectively capture the creep deformation in the presence of creep structure effects and creep failure stages. • The ultimate creep strain is negatively correlated with coefficient of uniformity. • A significant creep structure effect is demonstrated by creep rate and failure lag. • The particle gradation impacts both crushing mode and movements of particles. • A modified Burgers model captured creep structure effect and failure is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel NADH-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas bacterium (Pb ADH) was obtained. • Pb ADH exhibit an excellent tolerance against the high substrate and product concentrations for the asymmetric synthesis of ethyl (S)−4‑chloro-3-hydroxybutyrate from ethyl 4-chloroacetoacetate. • Coexpressing Pb ADH with Bm GDH allows the conversion of COBE at 3.5 M (574 g/L) in a monophasic aqueous media with a single batch charge of substrate. • The constructed coexpressed cells can also catalyze the reduction of another six ketones at high concentrations to prepare the corresponding chiral alcohols. Ethyl (S)-4‑chloro-3-hydroxybutyrate [(S)-CHBE] is attractive as a necessary intermediate for the production of highly valued products in pharmaceutical industries. Nowadays, alcohol dehydrogenases play an increasingly essential role in the asymmetric synthesis of chiral alcohols. In this work, a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH)-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas bacterium (Pb ADH) was obtained by genome mining method and identified to exhibit an excellent tolerance against the high substrate and product concentrations. For the regeneration of NADH, Bacillus megaterium glucose dehydrogenase (Bm GDH) was successfully co-expressed with Pb ADH in E. coli cells. So much as 3.5 M (574 g/L) ethyl 4-chloroacetoacetate (COBE) can be converted to (S)-CHBE completely with a > 99 % ee value under the catalysis by recombinant cells, even in a monophasic aqueous media with a single batch charge of substrate. In addition, in order to verify the substrate scope of Pb ADH, six other α/β-ketone esters and aromatic ketones were also evaluated as substrates at high substrate concentrations (100–650 g/L), and the corresponding chiral alcohols with highly optical purity were also achieved by co-expressed E. coli cells. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remains a major public health concern because of the inefficiency of currently approved therapies in clearing the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Antibody‐based regimens have demonstrated potency regarding virus neutralization and HBsAg clearance. However, high dosages or frequent dosing are required for virologic control. In this study, a dual‐domain‐engineered anti‐hepatitis B virus (HBV) therapeutic antibody 73‐DY is developed that exhibits significantly improved efficacy regarding both serum and intrahepatic viral clearance. In HBV‐tolerant mice, administration of a single dose of 73‐DY at 2 mg kg−1 is sufficient to reduce serum HBsAg by over 3 log10 IU mL−1 and suppress HBsAg to < 100 IU mL−1 for two weeks, demonstrating a dose‐lowering advantage of at least tenfold. Furthermore, 10 mg kg−1 of 73‐DY sustainably suppressed serum viral levels to undetectable levels for ≈ 2 weeks. Molecular analyses indicate that the improved efficacy exhibited by 73‐DY is attributable to the synergy between fragment antigen binding (Fab) and fragment crystallizable (Fc) engineering, which conferred sustained viral suppression and robust viral eradication, respectively. Long‐term immunotherapy with reverse chimeric 73‐DY facilitated the restoration of anti‐HBV immune responses. This study provides a foundation for the development of next‐generation antibody‐based CHB therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lung Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) is a rare, aggressive, high‐grade neuroendocrine carcinoma with a poor prognosis, mainly seen in elderly men. To date, we have found no studies on predictive models for LCNEC. Methods: We extracted data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database of confirmed LCNEC from 2010 to 2018. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional risk regression analyses were used to identify independent risk factors, and then we constructed a novel nomogram and assessed the predictive effectiveness by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA). Results: A total of 2546 patients with LCNEC were included, excluding those diagnosed with autopsy or death certificate, tumor, lymph node, metastasis (TNM) stage, tumor grade deficiency, etc., and finally, a total of 743 cases were included in the study. After univariate and multivariate analyses, we concluded that the independent risk factors were N stage, intrapulmonary metastasis, bone metastasis, brain metastasis, and surgical intervention. The results of ROC curves, calibration curves, and DCA in the training and validation groups confirmed that the nomogram could accurately predict the prognosis. Conclusions: The nomogram obtained from our study is expected to be a useful tool for personalized prognostic prediction of LCNEC patients, which may help in clinical decision‐making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Recombinant humanized type III collagen (rhCol III) is a highly adhesive biomaterial composed of 16 adhesion‐related tandem repeats refined from human type III collagen. Here, we aimed to investigate the effect of rhCol III on oral ulcers and reveal the underlying mechanism. Methods: Acid‐induced oral ulcers were induced on the murine tongue, and rhCol III or saline drops were administered. The effect of rhCol III on oral ulcers was assessed using gross and histological analyses. The effects on the proliferation, migration, and adhesion of human oral keratinocytes were investigated in vitro. The underlying mechanism was explored using RNA sequencing. Results: Administration of rhCol III accelerated the lesion closure of oral ulcers, reduced the release of inflammatory factors, and alleviated pain. rhCol III promoted the proliferation, migration, and adhesion of human oral keratinocytes in vitro. Mechanistically, the enrichment of genes associated with the Notch signaling pathway was upregulated after rhCol III treatment. Conclusion: rhCol III promoted the healing of oral ulcers, showing promising therapeutic potential in oral clinics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viruses rely completely on host translational machinery to produce the proteins encoded by their genes. Controlling translation initiation is important for gaining translational advantage in conflicts between the host and virus. The eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) has been reported to be hijacked by potyviruses for virus multiplication. The role of translation regulation in defence and anti‐defence between plants and viruses is not well understood. We report that the transcript level of eIF6 was markedly increased in turnip mosaic virus (TuMV)‐infected Nicotiana benthamiana. TuMV infection was impaired by overexpression of N. benthamiana eIF6 (NbeIF6) either transiently expressed in leaves or stably expressed in transgenic plants. Polysome profile assays showed that overexpression of NbeIF6 caused the accumulation of 40S and 60S ribosomal subunits, the reduction of polysomes, and also compromised TuMV UTR‐mediated translation, indicating a defence role for upregulated NbeIF6 during TuMV infection. However, the polysome profile in TuMV‐infected leaves was not identical to that in leaves overexpressing NbeIF6. Further analysis showed that TuMV NIb protein, the RNA‐dependent RNA polymerase, interacted with NbeIF6 and interfered with its effect on the ribosomal subunits, suggesting that NIb might have a counterdefence role. The results propose a possible regulatory mechanism at the translation level during plant–virus interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last three years, the pandemic of COVID-19 has had a significant impact on people's lives and the global economy. The incessant emergence of variant strains has compounded the challenges associated with the management of COVID-19. As the predominant variant from late 2021 to the present, Omicron and its sublineages, through continuous evolution, have demonstrated iterative viral fitness. The comprehensive elucidation of the biological implications that catalyzed this evolution remains incomplete. In accordance with extant research evidence, we provide a comprehensive review of subvariants of Omicron, delineating alterations in immune evasion, cellular infectivity, and the cross-species transmission potential. This review seeks to clarify the underpinnings of biology within the evolution of SARS-CoV-2, thereby providing a foundation for strategic considerations in the post-pandemic era of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A neutral organics (5ʹ-CMP) is used as additive to modulate the crystallization of inorganic CsPbI 2 Br film. • The CsPbI 2 Br film with 5ʹ-CMP features improved crystallinity mitigated strain and reduced defects density. • Inverted devices with 5ʹ-CMP deliver an optimal PCE of 33.22% under indoor illumination. • Flexible devices with 5ʹ-CMP deliver an optimal PCE of 13.23% (one-sun) with excellent mechanical stability. Cesium-based all-inorganic perovskites have been of great interest due to their excellent thermal and light stability. However, these inorganic perovskites more often suffer from poor crystallization and unfavorable mechanical flexibility, hence delivering inferior photovoltaic performance and limited device lifetime. In this work, cytidine 5ʹ-monophosphate (5ʹ-CMP), a natural organics with multiple functional groups, is used as an additive to facilitate the crystallization of CsPbI 2 Br film, and meanwhile to mitigate the interfacial defects and residual strain, which could be attributed to the strong interactions between 5ʹ-CMP and PbI 2 precursor as well as perovskite lattice. As a result, the optimal devices with an inverted structure exhibit an enhanced efficiency of 15.94% or 33.22% along with excellent operational stability under one-sun or white light emitting diode (WLED) illumination conditions. In addition, the perovskite film with 5ʹ-CMP exhibits a reduced modulus, hence rendering the flexible devices with improved mechanical stability. This work thus demonstrates a promising strategy to optimize inverted all-inorganic perovskite devices for versatile applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the study, the creep characteristics and meso-mechanism of calcareous sand under different stresses are explored through triaxial creep tests. The influence of particle size on calcareous sand creep is also considered. Furthermore, the particularity of calcareous sand creep is revealed by comparing with the creep behavior of silica sand. The results show that during creep, the calcareous sand is more stable than silica sand due to the interlocking of irregular particles. When creep deviatoric stress is small, the creep of calcareous sand is manifested as nonlinear attenuation creep (primary creep), and the creep deformation is smooth without creep failure. With the increase of creep deviatoric stress, the creep deformation is concentrated, resulting in a strain concentration zone similar to the shear band, and the associated creep rate first decreases and then suddenly increases, finally, creep failure occurs. With increasing particle size of calcareous sand, the particle crushing increases, which induces a higher creep deformation, however, the overall creep failure is not generated. During the graded creep of calcareous sand, an obvious creep structural effect is observed, which is temporary and results in a significantly reduction of creep rate. Only after the previous creep structure effect is destroyed by the continuously creep process, the creep response can restore to its original behavior. The meso-behavior is represented by particle morphology, i.e., the fractal dimension and aspect ratio. It is found that both confining pressure and particle size can influence the evolution of particle morphology during creep. With the increase of confining pressure, the fractal dimension of calcareous sand decreases which means that particle grinding is always existent, while the aspect ratio of small-sized calcareous sand after creep decreases first and then stabilizes (slightly increases), suggesting that the overall particle breakage is the main cause of deformation. However, the aspect ratio of large-sized calcareous sand continually decreases, indicating that the main contribution for its deformation is angular cracking. The meso scopic behavior of silica sand is basically unaffected by creep, and its creep deformation is mainly caused by particle rearrangement. Fig. 1 Creep rate and related evolution of particle morphology for calcareous sand under different creep stresses: (a) Creep rate-time relationship; (b) Photos of samples before and after creep; (c) Variation of fractal dimension D p ; and (d) Variation of fractal dimension of mean aspect ratio. [Display omitted] • Performing triaxial creep tests to explore the creep behavior of calcareous sand. • The creep behavior is influenced by confining pressure, creep deviatoric stress, particle size and particle crushing. • The particle shape before and after creep is characterized by fractal dimension and aspect ratio. • Only sand that can form strain concentration band by creep process can lead to creep failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional atomic force microscope (AFM) spends a lot of time scanning point by point in order to image with high quality. Common compressive sensing-AFM (CS-AFM) speeds up the imaging process, but pays little attention to the prior information from each local areas used for reconstruction. Consequently, important microscopic phenomena are missed probably. The highlights of manuscript were as follow:. • A high-quality and fast scanning strategy for AFM imaging was proposed. • The weight coefficient of regions of interest (ROIs) δ ROI was set to control the distribution of under-sampling points and corresponding measurement matrix adaptively. • For different samples, the under-sampling data required to reconstruct an acceptable reconstruction result are different. We summarized the change law for PSNR and SSIM to δ ROI as guidance for common CS-AFM imaging. • Compared with traditional raster scan, the proposed method reduced the scan time by 0.66 to obtain a 256×256 topography at under-sampling ratio δ =0.2, and the imaging quality of ROIs performed well both in PSNR and SSIM in most instance by the proposed method. Compressive sensing (CS) can reconstruct the rest information almost without distortion by advanced computational algorithm, which significantly simplifies the process of atomic force microscope (AFM) scanning with high imaging quality. In common CS-AFM, the partial measurements randomly come from the whole region to be measured, which easily leads to detail loss and poor image quality in regions of interest (ROIs). Consequently, important microscopic phenomena are missed probably. In this paper, we developed an adaptive under-sampling strategy for CS-AFM to optimize the process of sampling. Under a certain under-sampling ratio, the weight coefficient of ROIs and regions of base (ROBs) were set to control the distribution of under-sampling points and corresponding measurement matrix. A series of simulations were completed to demonstrate the relationship between the weight coefficient of ROIs and image quality. After that, we verified the effectiveness of the method on our homemade AFM. Through a lot of simulations and experiments, we demonstrated how the proposed method optimized the sampling process of CS-AFM, which speeded up the process of AFM imaging with high quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Road transportation significantly contributes to air pollution. However, how different air pollutant concentrations are subject to transportation-related factors and what policymakers can do to address them simultaneously remains controversial. We explore the heterogeneous effects of traffic volumes, traffic flow structure, and road network patterns on air pollutants including CO, NO 2 , PM 2.5 , and PM 10, and introduce policy mixes that synergize transportation management, urban planning, and environmental monitoring based on a spatial differentiation strategy. Results show that road network patterns exhibit stronger effects on NO 2 and PM 10 than CO and PM 2.5. A context-based policy mix is proposed in areas where all pollutants exhibit high concentrations or specific pollutants are highlighted, to address potential conflicts between policy interventions targeting different air pollutants. Such a policy-oriented framework will help in highly diversified urban areas in which a wide range of emission sources, policy authorities, and transportation infrastructure are involved in the dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cystic echinococcosis is a zoonotic disease resulting from infection caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus. This study aimed to assess the specific proteins that are potential candidates for the development of a vaccine against E. granulosus. The data-independent acquisition approach was employed to identify differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in E. granulosus samples. The Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis was employed to identify several noteworthy proteins. Results: The DEPs in E. granulosus samples were identified (245 pericystic wall vs. parasite-free yellowish granuloma (PYG, 1725 PY vs. PYG, 2274 PN vs. PYG). Further examination of these distinct proteins revealed their predominant enrichment in metabolic pathways, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and neurodegeneration-associated pathways. Notably, among these DEPs, SH3BGRL, MST1, TAGLN2, FABP5, UBE2V2, and RARRES2 exhibited significantly higher expression levels in the PYG group compared with the PY group (P < 0.05). The findings may contribute to the understanding of the pathological mechanisms underlying echinococcosis, providing valuable insights into the development of more effective diagnostic tools, treatment modalities, and preventive strategies. CE is a major public health hazard in the western regions of China, Central Asia, South America, the Mediterranean countries, and eastern Africa. Echinococcus granulosus is responsible for zoonotic disease through infection Our analysis focuses on the proteins in various samples by data-dependent acquisition (DIA) for proteomic analysis. The importance of this research is to develop new strategies and targets to protect against E. granulosus infections in humans. [Display omitted] • A considerable number of proteins exhibited differential expression. • SH3BGRL, MST1, TAGLN2, FABP5, UBE2V2, and RARRES2 had higher expression levels in the PYG group than in the PY group. • POSTN might play a defensive role in inflammation reduction and facilitate parasite survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• PVA/CNF@14GO filled honeycomb composites at 30 mm achieve a broadband effective absorption performance of 13.25 GHz. • Honeycomb composites allows for broadband microwave absorption and enhanced structural strength. • The electromagnetic parameters of honeycomb composites can be precisely controlled. • The honeycomb composites were expected to be used for aviation stealth based on the light weight and broadband performance. Lightweight structural/microwave absorption (MA) integrated materials with broadband MA are urgently needed in the aerospace field. In this study, crosslinked PVA/CNF backbone-supported RGO foams were successfully filled into aramid honeycomb structures with significant broadband MA performance and structural enhancement properties through a synergistic strategy of chemical crosslinking, environmental drying and chemical vapor reduction. Flexible tuning of the electromagnetic parameters of the PVA/CNF@GO foam can be achieved by adjusting the number of GO parts. The 30 mm thickness of the PVA/CNF@14GO foam achieves a broadband effective absorption of 13.25 GHz, covering almost all C, X and Ku bands. Microstructural characterization and electromagnetic parameter tests proved that the uniform distribution of RGO was achieved with crosslinked PVA/CNF as the backbone, which resulted in less Debye relaxation and the construction of uniform conductive pathways. Therefore, the PVA/CNF@14GO-filled honeycomb not only enables the composite honeycomb to achieve broadband MA performance, but also achieves a compressive strength of 5.52 MPa, which is an improvement of 262.86 % with respect to that of the pure honeycomb. The obvious overlap of the CST power loss distribution and the electric field distribution region shows that the conductive loss and the 1/4 wavelength interference are the main paths for energy dissipation in the composite of the PVA/CNF@GO-filled honeycomb. The honeycomb-filled PVA/CNF@GO lightweight foams obtained in this chapter have good broadband microwave absorption properties and higher structural strength, which provide important design strategies and practical references for the development of high-performance MA-filled honeycomb structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A curated database is developed to improve ARG detectability. • Sediments identified as key reservoirs for diverse ARGs. • Crucial ARGs, MGEs, and ARG carriers identified. • Rivers are unreliable water sources, human activities damage the water safety. • Establishing drinking water reservoirs is a strategy for ARG control. The exploration of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in drinking water reservoirs is an emerging field. Using a curated database, we enhanced the ARG detection and conducted a comprehensive analysis using 2.2 Tb of deep metagenomic sequencing data to determine the distribution of ARGs across 16 drinking water reservoirs and associated environments. Our findings reveal a greater diversity of ARGs in sediments than in water, underscoring the importance of extensive background surveys. Crucial ARG carriers—specifically Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas , and Mycobacterium were identified in drinking water reservoirs. Extensive analysis of the data uncovered a considerable concern for drinking water safety, particularly in regions reliant on river sources. Mobile genetic elements have been found to contribute markedly to the propagation of ARGs. The results of this research suggest that the establishment of drinking water reservoirs for supplying raw water may be an effective strategy for alleviating the spread of water-mediated ARGs. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• High-resolution satellite imagery, geospatial tabular and crash data are used. • Tweedie Gradient Boosting models are developed to address zero-inflated issues. • Differences in crash determinants are discovered across types of road networks. • Emphasize the need for context-specific interventions to enhance road safety. Freight truck-related crashes in urban contexts have caused significant economic losses and casualties, making it increasingly essential to understand the spatial patterns of such crashes. Limitations regarding data availability have greatly undermined the generalizability and applicability of certain prior research findings. This study explores the potential of emerging geospatial data to delve deeply into the determinants of these incidents with a more generalizable research design. By synergizing high-resolution satellite imagery with refined GIS map data and geospatial tabular data, a rich tapestry of the road environment and freight truck operations emerges. To navigate the challenges of zero-inflated issues of the crash datasets, the Tweedie Gradient Boosting model is adopted. Results reveal a pronounced spatial heterogeneity between highway and urban non-highway road networks in crash determinants. Factors such as freight truck activity, intricate road network patterns, and vehicular densities rise to prominence, albeit with varying degrees of influence across highways and urban non-highway terrains. Results emphasize the need for context-specific interventions for policymakers, encompassing optimized urban planning, infrastructural overhauls, and refined traffic management protocols. This endeavor may not only elevate the academic discourse around freight truck-related crashes but also champion a data-driven approach towards safer road ecosystems for all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • GF/Ni/PDA/Pd-PVP electrode showed excellent dechlorination efficiency for 2,4-D. • PDA and PVP doping on the electrode remarkably promoted the generation of H* ads. • Indirect reduction mechanism of 2,4-D via H ads * plays the dominant role. • The desorption energy of PA was enhanced on the GF/Ni/PDA/Pd-PVP electrode. Reducing the mass transfer barrier for the diffusion of water and pollutants to Pd sites is an important measure to achieve efficient degradation of chlorinated organic compounds. Herein, a simple electroless deposition method for preparing a superhydrophilic nanosized Pd-loaded graphite felt/Ni electrode with the aid of the dispersibility of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and adhesiveness of polydopamine (PDA) is proposed. The GF/Ni/PDA/Pd-PVP electrode exhibited high electrocatalytic activity toward 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) under the optimized conditions, namely degradation and dechlorination efficiencies of 90.5% and 88.53%, respectively, corresponding to 39% higher than that on the GF/Ni/Pd electrode. Experimental results revealed that PDA and PVP doping enhanced the hydrophilicity of the electrode, promoted the dispersibility of Pd nanoparticles (NPs), and the formation of Pd (1 1 1) and Ni (1 1 1) crystal facets. Compared to the electron-deficient PVP, the appropriate electron-donating ability of PDA promoted the formation of a suitable ratio of electro-deficient and electron-rich Pd, thus enhancing the production of H ads * and C-Cl scission. Moreover, theoretical calculation indicated that the doping of PDA and PVP optimized the adsorption energies of 2,4-D, H ads *, and the main dechlorination product PA, which was obtained via 4-electron transfer via H ads *. Therefore, this study provides a simple and feasible way to fabricate an efficient cathode for 2,4-D dechlorination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of optical theranostics has brought new requirements for the diagnostic and therapeutic properties of optical theranostics agents (OTAs) in recent years. Inorganic persistent luminescence materials (IPLMs) have garnered considerable attention owing to their unique persistent luminescence (PersL). IPLMs offer unique advantages in diagnosis and treatment because of this PersL property, making them ideal candidates for optical theranostic applications. For example, using PersL for bioimaging and biosensing can avoid autofluorescence interference and provide extremely high detection sensitivity. PersL can be used as in vivo nanolights to continuously activate the photosensitizer for prolonged treatment. In addition, the theranostic applications of IPLMs have been substantially expanded by combining advanced features such as specific targeting, multimodal imaging, and drug delivery. In this review, we first introduce the current development in OTAs, basic concept of IPLMs, and IPLMs' characteristics as OTAs. Subsequently, we summarize the recent research progress in the design, synthesis, and surface engineering of IPLMs from the perspective of theranostic applications. Next, we describe the research on the application of IPLMs in bioimaging, therapy, and biosensing, and discuss the current status of toxicological studies on IPLMs. Finally, we provide our perspective on the prospects and challenges in this rapidly developing field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Transformer intent recognition model based on multiple attention mechanisms. • Lane Change intent recognition and influencing factors in a two-lane two-way road. • Novel Lane Change initial point labelling method combining driver eye movement parameters and vehicle motion characteristics. • Oncoming traffic has a significant impact on lane change intention recognition on two-lane two-way road. Lane-changing (LC) intention recognition models have seen limited real-world application due to a lack of research on two-lane two-way road environments. This study constructs a high-fidelity simulated two-lane two-way road to develop a Transformer model that accurately recognizes LC intention. We propose a novel LC labelling algorithm combining vehicle dynamics and eye-tracking (VEL) and compare it against traditional time window labelling (TWL). We find the LC recognition accuracy can be further improved when oncoming vehicle features are included in the LC dataset. The Transformer demonstrates state-of-the-art performance recognizing LC 4.59 s in advance with 92.6 % accuracy using the VEL labelling method compared to GRU, LSTM and CNN + LSTM models. To interpret the Transformer's 'black box', we apply LIME model which reveals the model focuses on eye-tracking features and LC vehicle interactions with preceding and oncoming traffic during LC events. This research demonstrates that modelling additional road users and driver gaze in LC intention recognition achieves significant improvements in model performance and time-to-collision warning capabilities on two-lane two-way roads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although equiatomic CoCrFeNi medium-entropy alloys (MEAs) show excellent ductility, their strength is not high enough for the use in various engineering applications. It is necessary for their strength to be improved, while maintaining their great ductility. In this study, the in-situ TiC x N y nanoparticle reinforced equiatomic CoCrFeNi MEA matrix nanocomposites were fabricated by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) technique and the addition of sub-micron TiC particles. Interestingly, the LPBF-fabricated CoCrFeNi MEAs have been found to exhibit both poor ultimate tensile strength (UTS) (∼582 MPa) and uniform elongation (δ u) (∼11.7 %), attributed to the formation of hot cracks. However, the in-situ formation of TiC x N y nanoparticles could eliminate the formation of hot cracks. The near defect-free nanocomposites with substantial sub-grains were fabricated, and their UTS and δ u were increased by 74.4 % (∼1015 MPa) and 92.3 % (∼22.5 %), respectively. The microstructure of as-built nanocomposites was mainly composed of FCC phase and TiC x N y nanoparticles, and a few M 23 C 6 nanoparticles were found. The high strength of as-built nanocomposites was mainly attributed to Orowan and dislocation strengthening mechanisms. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to introduce high strength and great ductility into CoCrFeNi MEAs via the in-situ formation of TiC x N y nanoparticles with the optimized LPBF process. [Display omitted] • It is the first time that hot cracks were found in LPBF-fabricated CoCrFeNi medium entropy alloys. • The in-situ formation of TiC x N y nanoparticles could eliminate the generation of hot cracks. • Well-bonded interfaces were observed between TiC x N y nanoparticles and FCC matrix. • This is the study to introduce high strength and ductility into CoCrFeNi medium entropy alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing evidence confirms associations between glycogen metabolic re-wiring and the development of liver cancer. Previous studies showed that glycogen structure changes abnormally in liver diseases such as cystic fibrosis, diabetes, etc. However, few studies focus on glycogen molecular structural characteristics during liver cancer development, which is worthy of further exploration. In this study, a rat model with carcinogenic liver injury induced by diethylnitrosamine (DEN) was successfully constructed, and hepatic glycogen structure was characterized. Compared with glycogen structure in the healthy rat liver, glycogen chain length distribution (CLD) shifts towards a short region. In contrast, glycogen particles were mainly present in small-sized β particles in DEN-damaged carcinogenic rat liver. Comparative transcriptomic analysis revealed significant expression changes of genes and pathways involved in carcinogenic liver injury. A combination of transcriptomic analysis, RT-qPCR, and western blot showed that the two genes, Gsy1 encoding glycogen synthase and Gbe1 encoding glycogen branching enzyme, were significantly altered and might be responsible for the structural abnormality of hepatic glycogen in carcinogenic liver injury. Taken together, this study confirmed that carcinogenic liver injury led to structural abnormality of hepatic glycogen, which provided clues to the future development of novel drug targets for potential therapeutics of carcinogenic liver injury. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Linezolid has been reported to protect against chronic bone and joint infection. In this study, linezolid was loaded into the 3D printed poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) scaffold with nano-hydroxyapatite (HA) to explore the effect of this composite scaffold on infected bone defect (IBD). PLGA scaffolds were produced using the 3D printing method. Drug release of linezolid was analyzed by elution and high-performance liquid chromatography assay. PLGA, PLGA-HA, and linezolid-loaded PLGA-HA scaffolds, were implanted into the defect site of a rabbit radius defect model. Micro-CT, H&E, and Masson staining, and immunohistochemistry were performed to analyze bone infection and bone healing. Evaluation of viable bacteria was performed. The cytocompatibility of 3D-printed composite scaffolds in vitro was detected using human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Long-term safety of the scaffolds in rabbits was evaluated. The linezolid-loaded PLGA-HA scaffolds exhibited a sustained release of linezolid and showed significant antibacterial effects. In the IBD rabbit models implanted with the scaffolds, the linezolid-loaded PLGA-HA scaffolds promoted bone healing and attenuated bone infection. The PLGA-HA scaffolds carrying linezolid upregulated the expression of osteogenic genes including collagen I, runt-related transcription factor 2, and osteocalcin. The linezolid-loaded PLGA-HA scaffolds promoted the proliferation and osteogenesis of BMSCs in vitro via the PI3K/AKT pathway. Moreover, the rabbits implanted with the linezolid-loaded scaffolds showed normal biochemical profiles and normal histology, which suggested the safety of the linezolid-loaded scaffolds. Overall, the linezolid-loaded PLGA-HA scaffolds fabricated by 3D printing exerts significant bone repair and anti-infection effects. [Display omitted] • Linezolid-loaded PLGA-HA scaffolds exhibited a sustained release of linezolid. • Linezolid-loaded PLGA-HA scaffolds promoted bone healing in rabbit radius defect model. • Linezolid-loaded PLGA-HA scaffolds prevented infection in vivo. • Linezolid-loaded PLGA-HA scaffolds exhibited good biocompatibility and promoted osteogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the effect of Periplaneta americana extract, a traditional Chinese medicine, on hard palate mucosal wound healing and explore the underlying mechanisms. Hard palate mucosal wound model was established and the effects of Periplaneta americana extract on hard palate mucosal wound healing were investigated by stereomicroscopy observation and histological evaluation in vivo. Human oral keratinocytes and human gingival fibroblasts, which play key roles in hard palate mucosal wound healing, were selected as the main research cells in vitro. The effects of Periplaneta americana extract on cell proliferation, migration, and collagen formation were determined by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, Transwell assay, and Van Gieson staining. The underlying mechanism was revealed by RNA sequencing, and results were verified by western blot assay. Stereomicroscopy observation and H&E staining confirmed that Periplaneta americana extract accelerated the healing rate of hard palate mucosal wound (p < 0.001) in vivo. Transwell assay and Van Gieson staining assay showed that Periplaneta americana extract promoted the migration and collagen formation of human oral keratinocytes (p < 0.001) and human gingival fibroblasts (p < 0.001) in vitro. Mechanistically, RNA sequencing and western blot assay demonstrated that Periplaneta americana extract promoted hard palate mucosal wound healing via PI3K/AKT signaling, and the beneficial effects of Periplaneta americana extract were abrogated by the PI3K inhibitor LY294002. Periplaneta americana extract shows promising effects for the promotion of hard palate mucosal wound healing and may be a novel candidate for clinical translation. • Periplaneta americana extract promotes hard palate mucosal wound healing. • Periplaneta americana extract enhances the cell migration and collagen formation. • Periplaneta americana extract activates the PI3K/AKT signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer, a prevalent disease posing significant threats to human health and longevity, necessitates effective therapeutic interventions. Chemotherapy has emerged as a primary strategy following surgical procedures for combating most malignancies. Despite the considerable efficacy of conventional chemotherapeutic agents against cancer cells, their utility is hindered by profound challenges such as multidrug resistance and deleterious toxic side effects, thereby limiting their systemic application. To tackle these challenges, we have devised a promising nanomedicine platform based on a plant virus. Specifically, we have selected the cowpea melanoma mottled virus (CCMV) as our nano-delivery system owing to its monodisperse and homogeneous size, as well as its intrinsic ability for controlled self-assembly. Leveraging the potential of this platform, we have engineered CCMV-based nanoparticles functionalized with elastin-like peptides (ELPs) at their N-terminal region. The target protein, CP-ELP, was expressed via E.coli, enabling encapsulation of the model drug DOX upon structural domain modification of the protein. The resulting nanoparticles exhibit uniform size distribution, facilitating efficient internalization by tumor cells and subsequent intracellular drug release, leading to enhanced antitumor efficacy. In addition, EVLP@DOX nanoparticles were found to activate immune response of tumor microenvironment in vivo , which further inhibiting tumor growth. Our designed nanoparticles have also demonstrated remarkable therapeutic effectiveness and favorable biological safety profiles in both murine melanoma and colorectal cancer models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polygonum perfoliatum L. (PP) is classified as a heat-clearing and detoxifying agent in traditional Chinese medicine, and is believed to possess therapeutic properties for treating eczema, furuncles, and venomous snake bites. Previous studies have demonstrated that PP extract exhibits multiple bioactivities, including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antioxidation, and antiviral properties. However, no existing studies have evaluated the effects of PP on animal models of atopic dermatitis (AD)-like skin symptoms, which are closely associated with traditional ethnic usage. In present study, therefore, we aimed to explore the potential anti-atopic effect of Polygonum perfoliatum L. ethanol extract (PPE) in 2,4-Dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced dermatitis-like skin lesions. For reaching this aim, DNCB-induced mice with AD-like skin inflammation were subjected to topical administration of PPE gels for a period of 21 days, and subsequently, the biological impacts of PPE were evaluated. PPE gels effectively mitigated AD-like skin symptoms induced by DNCB in mice, as demonstrated by a marked reduction in epidermal thickness and dermatitis severity. Moreover, PPE significantly decreased the production of various cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and IgE, in addition to suppressed the production of key inflammation-related enzymes (iNOS and COX-2) and decreased the phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor (NF)-κB in AD-like skin samples. Furthermore, PPE treatment inhibited the abnormally elevated CD4+/CD8+ ratio in DNCB-induced AD mice. The results of the skin irritation test revealed that PPE exhibited no adverse toxicity in mice at dose of 10 mg/day. PPE exhibits potential as a safe therapeutic agent for atopic dermatitis by efficiently mitigating DNCB-induced atopic symptoms and diminishing inflammation, and does not carry the risk of over-immunosuppression or treatment-associated adverse effects. [Display omitted] • Topical administration of PPE effectively alleviated DNCB-induced AD-like skin symptoms in mice. • The anti-atopic effect of PPE can be attributed to its anti-inflammatory and immune-regulating effects. • PPE has promising safety as a topical medicine and does not cause skin irritation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Martensitic stainless steels, fabricated by laser-powder bed fusion (L-PBF) technology, have recently garnered considerable attention owing to their high strength and favorable corrosion resistance for automotive and aerospace applications. However, intricate and inhomogeneous temperature history during the L-PBF process makes it challenging to understand the microstructure evolution and the corresponding mechanical properties. This study aims to explore the potential of this technology in enhancing the mechanical properties of martensitic stainless steels. It specifically focuses on the microstructure resulting from the inherent quenching and tempering heat treatment that occurs during the process. The distinctive microstructure of AISI 410 stainless steel included alternating high-temperature tempered, coarsened grain, and low-temperature tempered zones. Consequently, the as-built stainless steel exhibited the exceptional mechanical properties: an ultimate tensile strength of 1350 ± 55 MPa and an elongation at fracture of 14.3 % ± 1.2 %. Remarkably, these mechanical properties are comparable to those of AISI 410 stainless steel treated with a conventional quenching and partitioning heat treatment. These findings support for the effectiveness of in-situ quenching and tempering during L-PBF, demonstrating its potential to yield high-performance heterogeneous alloys. • Successful fabrication of defect-free AISI 410 martensitic stainless steel parts using L-PBF. • In-situ thermal evolution resulting in a heterogeneous macro-microstructure. • Quenching and partitioning retain residual austenite in the high-temperature tempering zone. • Achievement of a favorable combination of tensile strength and ductility in L-PBF produced samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer, a prevalent disease posing significant threats to human health and longevity, necessitates effective therapeutic interventions. Chemotherapy has emerged as a primary strategy following surgical procedures for combating most malignancies. Despite the considerable efficacy of conventional chemotherapeutic agents against cancer cells, their utility is hindered by profound challenges such as multidrug resistance and deleterious toxic side effects, thereby limiting their systemic application. To tackle these challenges, we have devised a promising nanomedicine platform based on a plant virus. Specifically, we have selected the cowpea melanoma mottled virus (CCMV) as our nano-delivery system owing to its monodisperse and homogeneous size, as well as its intrinsic ability for controlled self-assembly. Leveraging the potential of this platform, we have engineered CCMV-based nanoparticles functionalized with elastin-like peptides (ELPs) at their N-terminal region. The target protein, CP-ELP, was expressed via E.coli, enabling encapsulation of the model drug DOX upon structural domain modification of the protein. The resulting nanoparticles exhibit uniform size distribution, facilitating efficient internalization by tumor cells and subsequent intracellular drug release, leading to enhanced antitumor efficacy. In addition, EVLP@DOX nanoparticles were found to activate immune response of tumor microenvironment in vivo , which further inhibiting tumor growth. Our designed nanoparticles have also demonstrated remarkable therapeutic effectiveness and favorable biological safety profiles in both murine melanoma and colorectal cancer models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]