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Societal Impact Statement Crop wild relatives represent precious genetic resources for crop improvement. Investigating their local adaptation to marginal environments is important for the utilization of wild genetic resources. Oryza officinalis and Oryza granulata are wild relatives of cultivated rice and possess genes that convey resistance to insects, disease, and tolerance to shade and drought. The northern edge for the distribution of these two lies in China where populations are facing habitat destruction. This study found that the northern marginal populations of both species have adapted to local conditions, with specific implications for the conservation and utilization of wild rice. Summary O. officinalis and O. granulata, wild relatives of cultivated rice, represent important gene reservoirs with the potential to improve rice with respect to insect resistance and stress tolerance. However, the northern marginal populations of these two species in China are facing habitat destruction. Here, we investigated the genetic diversity and divergence of northern marginal populations of O. officinalis and O. granulata. The genomic variation of two species was examined by whole‐genome sequencing on 357 individuals. Generalized dissimilarity modeling was applied to investigate the effects of geographic and environmental isolation on population differentiation. Genetic‐environment association analysis and genome‐wide FST outlier scans were used to identify environmentally driven signals of selection. The marginal populations of both species exhibited low genetic diversity and obvious genetic differentiation stemmed from the joint effects of isolation by geographic distance and the environment. Both genomes exhibited specific signals of adaptation to cold environments in the north. Investigation of the divergence and adaptation of marginal populations of O. officinalis and O. granulata will help us to determine how wild rice can adapt to local environments, thus allowing for the development of scientific conservation policies and the identification of new genetic resources for rice with improved resistance.

"Objective To investigate the correlation between cerebral hemodynamics, serum indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) and post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI), and to explore the predictive value of IOD for PSCI. Methods A total of 50 patients with acute ischemic stroke who were diagnosed and the onset being not more than 7 days in the Department of Neurology of the 900th Hospital of PLA Joint logistics Support Force from July 2020 to June 2021 were selected as the case group. According to the presence or absence of PSCI, the patients were divided into PSCI group (n=30) and non-PSCI (PSNCI) group (n=20), and 50 healthy individuals during the same period were selected as the control group (n=50). ELISA was used to detect the serum IDO levels of the enrolled population. Transcranial color Doppler ultrasound (TCCD) breath-holding test was performed and relevant data was recorded, breath holding index (BHI) was calculated as an evaluation index of cerebral hemodynamics. ROC curve was used to analyze the predictive efficacy of IDO level on PSCI. Results There were statistically significant differences in serum levels of D-dimer and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) among the three groups (P＜0.05). The serum IDO levels in the control group, PSNCI group, and PSCI group were (0.23±0.05), (0.25±0.02), and (0.31±0.03) ng/mL, respectively, with statistically significant differences among the three groups (F=41.092, P＜0.01). Compared with the PSNCI group, the PSCI group showed an increase in IDO levels (P＜0.05), while there was no statistically significant difference in D-dimer and NT-proBNP levels (P＞0.05). There was no significant difference in BHI among the three groups (P＞0.05). No significant difference was found in lesion location between the PSCI group and the PSNCI group (χ2=15.478, P=0.113). The predictive efficacy was highest when the IDO level cutoff value was 0.277 ng/mL, with a area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.938, sensitivity of 83.3%, and specificity of 95.0%. Conclusion There is a significant correlation between serum IDO levels and PSCI, but the relationship between hemodynamic indicators and the occurrence of PSCI is still unclear. Early detection of IDO levels after acute ischemic stroke is helpful for the early identification and diagnosis of PSCI."

Flow field design is critical to improving the overall performance of high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Adding baffles in the flow channel has been proven to be effective in enhancing mass transfer. In this study, fuel cells with different baffle numbers, heights, and arrangements are numerically simulated to investigate the effects of reactant velocity, concentration distribution, and pressure drop on mass transfer and output performance. The results show that baffles are beneficial in improving cell performance, especially under high current density. With the increase in baffle number and height, the concentration of the reactant at the outlet decreases and the output power increases with the increase in pressure drop. The net power density growth rate is defined to characterize the cell performance. A lower pressure drop reduces the pumping power loss generated during reactant transfer, resulting in a staggered baffle structure with the highest net power density of 4329.65 W/m2. Compared with the traditional and parallel baffle channels, this value is improved by about 11.74% and 4.83%, respectively. Therefore, the optimized baffle channel can enhance the mass transfer, reduce the pumping power, and further improve the cell performance, providing an effective guide for the optimal design and development direction of the orientated flow channel.

Scientific communication holds a pivotal role within research institutions. This study establishes three distinct categories of indicators, tailored to the unique attributes of these institutions, aiming to assess their performance in scientific communication. Employing a rigorous two-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach, we meticulously calculate output efficiency, feedback efficiency, and overall efficiency. Subsequently, we cluster the efficiency outcomes and delve into the factors that influence them. Drawing from the clustering insights and identified influencing factors, we formulate targeted scientific communication strategies tailored to the needs of these research institutions.

In this paper, we consider a multiperiod, two-location inventory system with unknown demand distributions and perishable products. Products can be transshipped from the location with excess inventory to the other with excess demand to better fulfill customer demand. The demand distributions are assumed to follow a family of parametric distributions and can only be learned on the fly. To address the challenge, we propose a data-driven inventory management algorithm called DD2LI that achieves a good performance in terms of regret. This algorithm, DD2LI, employs maximum likelihood estimation to approximate the unknown parameter and determines the order quantity based on these estimations. In addition, we emphasize a key assumption that tightens regret bound. Finally, we test the effectiveness of our proposed algorithm by conducting numerical experiments for two scenarios.

The elliptical U-tube heat exchanger (EUTHE) is widely used in various cooling systems of nuclear engineering for its simple geometrical structure and small space cost. In this paper, a two-phase flow field model of an EUTHE is constructed to analyze the flow characteristics in the elbow zone under different structures with the influence mechanism of droplet motion and liquid film distribution. The Taguchi method is used to investigate the influence of heat transfer performance by structural parameters, and the fitted model is analyzed by regression analysis as well as ANOVA to ensure the accuracy of the prediction results. The results show that thick tubes have a wider liquid film distribution because they are more difficult to trap droplets, achieving high heat transfer capacity while reducing separation efficiency and pressure drop. In addition, the heat transfer capacity and the pressure drop are mostly improved by the increase of the U-tube cross-section long axis length (L2) at the expense of reduced separation efficiency. The optimal cases for each target were obtained by analyzing the influence mechanism of each structural factor, for example, the largest heating tube section (L1) and the U-tube cross-section long axis length (L2), to determine which will lead to the highest heat transfer capacity, which mainly is due to the fact that an increase in these factors leads to the increment of contact area between the fluid and the wall. This work provides a guideline for the design of EUTHE and brings greater benefits to the development of nuclear engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an epithelial carcinoma arising from the nasopharyngeal mucosal lining. The present study sought to analyze the mechanism by which homeobox A10 (HOXA10) affects NPC cell proliferation. The expression levels of HOXA10/long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) PTPRG antisense RNA 1 (PTPRG‐AS1)/ubiquitin‐specific peptidase 1 (USP1) in NPC tissues and cells were determined. Cell proliferation was evaluated. The enrichment of HOXA10 on the PTPRG‐AS1 promoter was determined. The binding of PTPRG‐AS1, HuR, and USP1 to each other was analyzed via RNA immunoprecipitation. USP1 mRNA stability was determined after actinomycin D treatment. The role of the PTPRG‐AS1/USP1 axis in NPC cell proliferation was analyzed in combined experiments. The role of HOXA10 in vivo was confirmed in xenograft tumor models. The results revealed that HOXA10 was overexpressed in NPC. HOXA10 downregulation reduced NPC cell proliferation. PTPRG‐AS1 and USP1 were upregulated in NPC. HOXA10 bound to the PTPRG‐AS1 promoter to increase PTPRG‐AS1 expression, and the binding of PTPRG‐AS1 to HuR increased USP1 expression. PTPRG‐AS1 or USP1 overexpression attenuated the inhibitory effects of HOXA10 downregulation on NPC cell proliferation. HOXA10 downregulation inhibited in vivo NPC proliferation through the PTPRG‐AS1/USP1 axis. In conclusion, HOXA10 facilitates NPC cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo through the PTPRG‐AS1/USP1 axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High‐performance rechargeable aluminum‐sulfur batteries (RASB) have great potential for various applications owing to their high theoretical capacity, abundant sulfur resources, and good safety. Nevertheless, the practical application of RASB still faces several challenges, including the polysulfide shuttle phenomenon and low sulfur utilization efficiency. Here, we first developed a synergistic copper heterogeneous metal oxide MoO2 derived from polymolybdate‐based metal‐organic framework as an efficient catalyst for mitigating polysulfide diffusion. This composite enhances sulfur utilization and electrical conductivity of the cathode. DFT calculations and experimental results reveal the catalyst Cu/MoO2@C not only effectively anchors aluminum polysulfides (AlPSs) to mitigate the shuttle effect, but also significantly promotes the catalytic conversion of AlPSs on the sulfur cathode side during charging and discharging. The unique nanostructure contains abundant electrocatalytic active sites of oxide nanoparticles and Cu clusters, resulting in excellent electrochemical performance. Consequently, the established RASB exhibits an initial capacity of 875 mAh g−1 at 500 mA g−1 and maintains a capacity of 967 mAh g−1 even at a high temperature of 50 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transverse vibration caused by the mass eccentricity of the whirling arm and the unbalanced magnetic pull of the motor rotor is a critical factor that affects the stability and safety of the rain erosion whirling arm. To investigate the transverse vibration characteristics of the rain erosion whirling arm during operation, a four-degree-of-freedom transverse vibration model of the rotor-rain erosion whirling arm is established using the lumped mass method. The differential equation of motion of the rotor-rain erosion whirling arm, considering the influence of mass eccentricity and unbalanced magnetic pull, is then established based on the Lagrange equation. This equation is numerically solved using the Runge-Kutta algorithm to investigate the axis trajectory and amplitude distribution of the rotor-rain erosion whirling arm. To reduce the fatigue damage caused by vibration, the active disturbance rejection decoupling control method is employed. Furthermore, the parameters of the extended state observer are adjusted using pole assignment and bandwidth. The simulation results reveal that the vibration amplitude of the rotating blade can be reduced to within 0.2 mm, referring to the BSS7393 test standard. Additionally, experimental research is conducted to compare the vibration of the rain erosion whirling arm before and after implementing the active disturbance rejection decoupling control. The results demonstrate that the active disturbance rejection decoupling control method effectively suppresses the vibration of the rain erosion whirling arm, illustrating its feasibility and effectiveness for system vibration control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Upadacitinib is an oral new selective JAK1 inhibitor that has been approved for treating adult patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis. However, a growing number of studies are needed on the effectiveness of upadacitinib in the treatment of acute severe ulcerative colitis. This study was mainly aimed to describe the clinical and endoscopic effectiveness of upadacitinib 45 mg in Chinese acute severe ulcerative colitis patients following eight weeks of treatment. In this study, we examined all patients with acute severe ulcerative colitis from Xijing IBD Center, Xi'an, China, with acute severe ulcerative colitis. All patients were initially given oral upadacitinib 45 mg. Clinical indicators, C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rates were collected. Clinical response and clinical remission were assessed using modified Mayo. Endoscopic evaluation was performed carried out using the Mayo Endoscopic Score and Ulcerative colitis endoscopic index of severity score. A total of 14 patients who received upadacitinib were included in the study period. All patients exhibited a clinical response to 45 mg upadacitinib initially. All patients completed the 8-week induction. The clinical remission rate was 28.6% after eight weeks. Two patients revealed endoscopic remission at 14.3%. The pathology improved in 50.0% of patients. The 8-week surgical resection rate was 7.1%, with the 16-week surgical resection rate being 14.3%. Adverse events included herpes simplex virus infection and increased thrombin time. The results of our study support the short-term effectiveness and safety of upadacitinib in acute severe ulcerative colitis, providing new choices for patients' treatment. However, more extended investigation needs to be performed on the long-term effectiveness and safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The digestive enzymes present in the insect gut play a crucial role in digesting food and extracting essential nutrients. The diverse range of digestive enzymes found in the insect gut serves as a valuable source of functional proteins. With a significant population of herbivorous insects, there has been extensive research on cellulase in the insect gut. This study utilized both culture-independent and culture-dependent methods to investigate the protease resources responsible for digesting animal and plant proteins, laying a solid foundation for future research and utilization of proteases derived from insect sources. An insect's gut microbiome is an essential "organ" in their life cycle, playing a crucial role by aiding food digestion and nutrient absorption. This study employed both culture-independent and culture-dependent methods to explore the protease resources present in the gut of the omnivorous insect Gryllotalpa orientalis. The findings revealed that the gut extract of G. orientalis contained a diverse array of proteases, including cysteine proteases, pepsin, serine proteases, and trypsin, as well as some unidentified proteases. Furthermore, the protease gene htpX, derived from gut bacterium Priestia megaterium DX-3, has been cloned and recombinantly expressed. The recombinant DX-3-htpX protease exhibited a 61.9-fold increase in fermentation level compared to the DX-3 protease. This protease was characterized as a neutral, heat-resistant metalloprotease with an M48 peptidase domain, and it was observed that the binding of Ca2+ to the recombinant protease resulted in the formation of the largest active pocket. This study provides technical support for further development and utilization of functional protein resources in insect gut. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) play a pivotal role in immunosuppression and tumor progression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). While various treatments like surgical resection, ablation, and radiotherapy have been studied for their effects on circulating MDSC frequencies in HCC patients, the findings remain inconclusive. Transarterial Chemoembolization (TACE) stands as the standard care for unresectable HCC, with Microparticle TACE (mTACE) gaining prominence for its capacity to induce significant tumor necrosis. However, the immunological ramifications of such pathological outcomes are scarcely reported. Methods and Results: This study aims to elucidate the alterations in MDSC subtypes, specifically monocytic MDSCs (mMDSCs) and early‐stage MDSCs (eMDSCs), post‐mTACE and to investigate their clinical correlations in HCC patients. A cohort comprising 75 HCC patients, 16 liver cirrhosis patients, and 20 healthy controls (HC) was studied. Peripheral blood samples were collected and analyzed for MDSC subtypes. The study also explored the associations between MDSC frequencies and various clinical parameters in HCC patients. The frequency of mMDSCs was significantly elevated in the HCC group compared to liver cirrhosis and HC. Importantly, mMDSC levels were strongly correlated with aggressive clinical features of HCC, including tumor size, vascular invasion, and distant metastasis. Post‐mTACE, a marked reduction in mMDSC frequencies was observed, while eMDSC levels remained stable. Conclusions: Our findings underscore the critical role of mMDSCs in HCC pathogenesis and their potential as a therapeutic target. The study also highlights the efficacy of mTACE in modulating the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, thereby opening new avenues for combinatorial immunotherapeutic strategies in HCC management. Highlights: The study underscores the pivotal role of myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in driving immunosuppression and tumor progression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).It highlights the inconclusive findings regarding the effects of various HCC treatments on MDSC frequencies, including surgical resection, ablation, and radiotherapy.The study delves into the immunological consequences of Microparticle Transarterial Chemoembolization (mTACE), a treatment gaining prominence for inducing significant tumor necrosis in unresectable HCC.It investigates the clinical correlations between MDSC frequencies, specifically monocytic MDSCs (mMDSCs), and aggressive HCC features like tumor size, vascular invasion, and distant metastasis.The research highlights the therapeutic potential of targeting mMDSCs and demonstrates the effectiveness of mTACE in reshaping the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. This offers new avenues for innovative immunotherapeutic approaches in HCC management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]