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Abstract This paper uses the data from the Chinese capital market to study the relationship between cost stickiness, earnings forecast accuracy and stock price information content. The empirical results show that: (1) Cost stickiness significantly affects the earnings response coefficient of stock prices. Lower cost stickiness improves the ability of current returns to reflect future earnings, which is manifested in higher future earnings response coefficient (FERC). (2) Cost stickiness significantly reduces the future earnings response coefficient of non-state-owned enterprises, but does not reduce the future earnings response coefficient of state-owned enterprises. It can be seen that investors have different attitudes towards cost stickiness of listed companies with different property rights in the process of investment decision-making. (3) Cost stickiness significantly increases stock prices synchronicity and decreases the number of company-specific information reflected in stock prices. Further analysis shows that cost stickiness increases earnings forecast accuracy, which is the partial intermediary mechanism for cost stickiness to improve FERC and reduce stock price synchronicity. This paper not only enriches the relevant literature of cost stickiness and earnings response coefficient, but also shows that cost stickiness is an important factor affecting the information efficiency of capital market.

The small Extracellular vesicles (sEV) has been recognized to be significant for intercellular communication due to their ability to transfer important cellular cargoes like miRNAs through circulation. The pituitary gland has not been clearly known about the role of its secreted sEV under normal physiological conditions. And Liver disease is a global public health burden. The present study is the first to investigate the effect of pituitary sEV on the liver. Sequencing and qRT-PCR revealed miR-143-3p is one of the richest in the pituitary sEV. MiR-143 Knockout (KO) mice resulted in a remarkable decrease in insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels and a significant increase in insulin-like growth factor binding protein 5 (IGFBP5) levels along with a reduction in liver primary cell growth. More importantly, compared with miR-143-KO-sEV, WT-sEV possesses a more robust capacity to improve miR-143 KO mice liver repair through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway after an acute injury caused by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Our results indicate that pituitary-derived sEV promotes hepatocyte proliferation and liver repair by its cargo miR-143-3p and provides new insight into the regulation mechanism of the pituitary-liver axis, and open a new window for endocrine regulation by using sEV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A smartphone-based electrochemical aptasensing platform was developed for the point-of-care testing (POCT) of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) based on the ferrocene (Fc) and PdPt@PCN-224 dual-signal labeled strategy. The prepared PdPt@PCN-224 nanocomposite showed a strong catalytic property for the reduction of H2O2. Phosphate group-labeled aptamer could capture PdPt@PCN-224 by Zr–O–P bonds to form PdPt@PCN-224-P-Apt. Therefore, a dual signal labeled probe was formed by the hybridization between Fc-DNA and PdPt@PCN-224-P-Apt. The presence of CEA forced PdPt@PCN-224-P-Apt to leave the electrode surface due to the specific affinity, leading to the decrease of the reduction current of H2O2. At the same time, the Fc-DNA strand changed to hairpin structure, which made Fc closer to the electrode and resulted in the increase of the oxidation current of Fc. Thus, CEA can be accurately determined through both signals: the decrease of H2O2 reduction current and the increase of Fc oxidation current, which could avoid the false positive signal. Under the optimal conditions, the prepared aptasensor exhibited a wide linear range from 1 pg·mL−1 to 100 ng·mL−1 and low detection limits of 0.98 pg·mL−1 and 0.27 pg·mL−1 with Fc and PdPt@PCN-224 as signal labels, respectively. The aptasensor developed in this study has successfully demonstrated its capability to detect CEA in real human serum samples. These findings suggest that the proposed sensing platform will hold great potential for clinical tumor diagnosis and monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melatonin (Mel) is highly conserved and stress regulator molecule in plants and regulates several key physiological mechanisms relating to growth and development under abiotic stress conditions. Given that, abiotic stress conditions significantly reduce plant growth, thus it is imperative to improve abiotic stress tolerance in plants. This mini-review specifically dissects the role of genes relating to Mel-biosynthesis and metabolism in regulating abiotic stress adaptive responses. Literature analysis showed that the overexpression of different genes relating to Mel-biosynthesis or Mel metabolism regulate abiotic stress tolerance by regulating ROS production and activation of antioxidant, ionic homeostasis, hormonal regulation, and activation of stress responsive genes. Nonetheless, the regulation of such stress adaptive responses is highly plant species-specific, abiotic stress type, and Mel-related genes. The role of phytomelatonin receptor 1-Mel receptor in plants, in regulating abiotic stress tolerance has also been briefly discussed. Therefore, we entrusted that this article improved our understanding the molecular role of Mel in regulating abiotic stress adaptive responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nb–Si-based alloys show great potential to surpass the widely used Ni-based superalloys. The element Sr is widely applied in aluminum and magnesium alloys, but reports about the effects of Sr on Nb–Si-based alloys are quite rare. So, Nb–Si-based alloys with nominal compositions of Nb–15Si–24Ti–4Cr–2Al–2Hf–0/0.05/0.15Sr (at%) were prepared by directional solidification and heat treatment. The microstructural characterization and room temperature fracture toughness of Nb–Si-based alloy were systematically investigated. Results show that all these alloys consist of Nb5Si3 phase embedded within Nb solid solution (Nbss) matrix. The Nb5Si3 phase becomes refined and more discontinuous after adding minor Sr. As for the fracture toughness, 0.05 at% and 0.15 at% Sr additions do not cause significant change. The discontinuous and refining mechanism of Sr element was studied, and the analysis of toughness decreasing with Sr addition reveals that the size of Nbss phase plays a crucial role in determining the fracture toughness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the characteristics and preliminary causes of tropical cyclone remote precipitation (TRP) over China during the period from 1979 to 2020 are investigated. Results indicated that approximately 72.42% of tropical cyclones (TCs) in the Western Pacific produce TRP over China. The peak months for TRP are July and August. The four key regions of TRP are the adjacent areas between the Sichuan and Shaanxi Provinces, the northern coast of the Bohai Sea, the coast of the Yellow Sea, and the southern coast area. The typical distance between the station with TRP and the TC center ranges from 1500 to 2500 km. Most of these stations are situated north to 60° west of north of the TC. The south–west water vapor transportation on the west side of the TC is crucial to TRP. TRP has a decreasing trend because of the decrease in the number of TCs that generate TRP. From the perspective of large-scale environmental conditions, a decrease in the integrated horizontal water vapor transport in Mainland China, the weakening of upward motion at approximately 25°–35°N, which is inconducive to convection, and an increase in low-level vertical wind shear, which is unfavorable for the development of TC in areas with high frequencies of TRP-related TCs, are the factors that result in the decreasing trend of TRP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radioactive nuclides cesium (Cs) and strontium (Sr) possess long half-lives, with 135Cs at approximately 2.3 million years and 87Sr at about 49 billion years. Their persistent accumulation can result in long-lasting radioactive contamination of soil ecosystems. This study employed geo-accumulation index (Igeo), pollution load index (PLI), potential ecological risk index (PEPI), health risk assessment model (HRA), and Monte Carlo simulation to evaluate the pollution and health risks of Cs and Sr in the surface soil of different functional areas in a typical mining city in China. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) model was used to elucidate the potential sources of Cs and Sr and the respective contribution rates of natural and anthropogenic sources. The findings indicate that soils in the mining area exhibited significantly higher levels of Cs and Sr pollution compared to smelting factory area, agricultural area, and urban residential area. Strontium did not pose a potential ecological risk in any studied functional area. The non-carcinogenic health risk of Sr to the human body in the study area was relatively low. Because of the lack of parameters for Cs, the potential ecological and human health risks of Cs was not calculated. The primary source of Cs in the soil was identified as the parent material from which the soil developed, while Sr mainly originated from associated contamination caused by mining activities. This research provides data for the control of Cs and Sr pollution in the surface soil of mining city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural killer (NK) cells play essential roles in the tumor development, diagnosis, and prognosis of tumors. In this study, we aimed to establish a reliable signature based on marker genes in NK cells, thus providing a new perspective for assessing immunotherapy and the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer (GC). We analyzed a total of 1560 samples retrieved from the public database. We performed a comprehensive analysis of single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) data of gastric cancer and identified 377 marker genes for NK cells. By performing Cox regression analysis, we established a 12-gene NK cell-associated signature (NKCAS) for the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohort, that assigned GC patients into a low-risk group (LRG) or a high-risk group (HRG). In the TCGA cohort, the areas under curve (AUC) value were 0.73, 0.81, and 0.80 at 1, 3, and 5 years. External validation of the predictive ability for the signature was then validated in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) cohorts (GSE84437). The expression levels of signature genes were measured and validated in GC cell lines by real-time PCR. Moreover, NKCAS was identified as an independent prognostic factor by multivariate analysis. We combined this with a variety of clinicopathological characteristics (age, M stage, and tumor grade) to construct a nomogram to predict the survival outcomes of patients. Moreover, the LRG showed higher immune cell infiltration, especially CD8+ T cells and NK cells. The risk score was negatively associated with inflammatory activities. Importantly, analysis of the independent immunotherapy cohort showed that the LRG had a better prognosis and immunotherapy response when compared with the HRG. The identification of NK cell marker genes in this study suggests potential therapeutic targets. Additionally, the developed predictive signatures and nomograms may aid in the clinical management of GC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydraulic fracturing (HF) is a widely used reservoir reconstruction technology in unconventional oil and gas development. Quantitative characterization of hydraulic fracturing fracture (HFF) is an important way to explore the mechanism of HFF extension and evaluate the stimulation effect of HF. In this study, based on development of HF physical simulation experiments and establishment of mathematical calculation models, the quantitative characterization of fractures induced by HF was systematically explored. The HFF communication area, reservoir reconstruction volume, fractal dimension, and other overall fracture geometry parameters were established. The local geometric characterization parameters of HF such as fracture aperture and fracture occurrence were created. To solve the problem that the calculation of the diameter of the central axis ball was tedious and cannot completely describe the fracture opening, a method to estimate the fracture opening using the shape diameter function was established, and its systematic error was corrected. The mathematical calculation model of HFF seepage properties was established, which is applicable to any complex planar fracture network and provides a new numerical calculation tool for simulating the flow in the fracture. The characteristics of HFF under different compression and shear loads were compared. Highlights: A systematic quantitative characterization method of HFF was presented. The error of estimating fracture aperture by shape diameter function was corrected. The mathematical calculation model of seepage properties was established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cupric oxide (CuO) nanosheet-based chemical fluorescence sensor was developed to realize the detection of acetone in aqueous solutions. CuO is an oxidase mimic and can catalyze the oxidation of o-phenylenediamine (OPD) to form 2,3-diaminophenazine (oxOPD). Interestingly, acetone was found to possess the scavenging ability for superoxide anions generated in the CuO-catalyzed oxidation system, hence weakening the OPD oxidation and leading to a reduction in the fluorescence intensity of the catalyzing system at 574 nm under excitation at 425 nm. Based on this property of acetone, a fluorescent sensor was constructed to detect acetone. The sensor exhibits a linear range of 1.35 to 2 × 105 µmol L–1 and a detection limit of 1.08 µmol L–1. Additionally, a smartphone-free portable device was constructed to realize on-the-spot and rapid detection of acetone in cauliflower, mineral water, tap water, and lake water samples. The recoveries by the portable device are 93.2 to 108% for actual samples, with relative standard deviations of less than 4.3%, indicating a potential application prospect of the device in on-site detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dissemination of bismuth (Bi) into the environment has become a significant concern due to its wide application. The low-cost orange peel was used as a bio-sorbent to remove Bi from water. Influence of pH (4 ~ 12), biochar dosage (5 ~ 12.5 g L–1), temperature (25 ~ 55 °C), and coexisting ions (Mg2+ and Zn2+) on Bi adsorption were investigated. The removal rate was 91.90% when 10 g L–1 adsorbent was added at 25 °C in 40 mL Bi solution with an initial concentration of 50 mg L–1. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model could better describe the adsorption process than pseudo-first-order model, demonstrating that the adsorption of Bi by the orange peel biochar was predominantly chemisorption. Analytical techniques such as SEM, FTIR, XRD, and XPS indicated that the adsorption mechanism concerned electrostatic attraction, ion exchange, π-π electron donor–acceptor interaction, – OH and – COOH complexation, and pore filling. Orange peel biochar demonstrated a sustained performance, maintaining over 65% removal efficiency for Bi after three regeneration cycles. Orange peel biochar has a good application prospect as a cost-effective bio-sorbent for the treatment of Bi removal from water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Eight selected hotspots related to ear traits were identified from two maize–teosinte populations. Throughout the history of maize cultivation, ear-related traits have been selected. However, little is known about the specific genes involved in shaping these traits from their origins in the wild progenitor, teosinte, to the characteristics observed in modern maize. In this study, five ear traits (kernel row number [KRN], ear length [EL], kernel number per row [KNR], cob diameter [CD], and ear diameter [ED]) were investigated, and eight quantitative trait loci (QTL) hotspots were identified in two maize–teosinte populations. Notably, our findings revealed a significant enrichment of genes showing a selection signature and expressed in the ear in qbdCD1.1, qbdCD5.1, qbpCD2.1, qbdED1.1, qbpEL1.1, qbpEL5.1, qbdKNR1.1, and qbdKNR10.1, suggesting that these eight QTL are selected hotspots involved in shaping the maize ear. By combining the results of the QTL analysis with data from previous genome-wide association study (GWAS) involving two natural panels, we identified eight candidate selected genes related to KRN, KNR, CD, and ED. Among these, considering their expression pattern and sequence variation, Zm00001d025111, encoding a WD40/YVTN protein, was proposed as a positive regulator of KNR. This study presents a framework for understanding the genomic distribution of selected loci crucial in determining ear-related traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the form factors of B (s) to light D-wave tensor mesons with J PC = 2 - - ( ρ 2 , ω 2 , K 2 and ϕ 2 ) are calculated via the light cone sum rules (LCSR) in the framework of heavy quark effective eld theory (HQEFT). Firstly, the expressions of form factors in terms of the light cone distribution amplitudes (LCDAs) of tensor mesons are derived via the LCSR at the leading order of heavy quark expansion. Similar to the case of 2 + + tensor mesons, the penguin type form factors can be obtained directly from the corresponding semileptonic ones. Considering the light tensor meson LCDAs to twist-3 and quark mass corrections, we give the numerical results of form factors systematically. Based on the form factors given here, we investigate the branching ratios, longitudinal polarization fractions and forward-backward asymmetries of relevant charged current induced semileptonic decays. Our results may be tested by more precise experiments in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elongin B (ELOB), a pivotal element in the ELOB/c-Cullin2/5-SOCS-box E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase complex, plays a significant role in catalyzing the ubiquitination and subsequent degradation of a broad spectrum of target proteins. Notably, it is documented to facilitate these processes. However, the regulatory role of ELOB in breast cancer remains ambiguous. In this study, through bio-informatic analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas and Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center database, we demonstrated that ELOB was over-expressed in breast cancer tissues and was related to unfavorable prognosis. Additionally, pathway enrichment analysis illustrated that high expression of ELOB was associated with multiple cancer promoting pathways, like cell cycle, DNA replication, proteasome and PI3K − Akt signaling pathway, indicating ELOB as a potential anticancer target. Then, we confirmed that both in vivo and in vitro, the proliferation of breast cancer cells could be significantly suppressed by the down-regulation of ELOB. Mechanically, immunoprecipitation and in vivo ubiquitination assays prompted that, as the core element of Cullin2-RBX1-ELOB E3 ligase (CRL2) complex, ELOB regulated the ubiquitination and the subsequent degradation of oncoprotein p14/ARF. Moreover, the anticancer efficacy of erasing ELOB could be rescued by simultaneous knockdown of p14/ARF. Finally, through analyzing breast cancer tissue microarrays and western blot of patient samples, we demonstrated that the expression of ELOB in tumor tissues was elevated in compared to adjacent normal tissues. In conclusion, ELOB is identified to be a promising innovative target for the drug development of breast cancer by promoting the ubiquitination and degradation of oncoprotein p14/ARF. Graphical headlights: ELOB is highly expressed in breast cancer. High ELOB levels were positively associated with poor prognosis. ELOB promotes p14/ARF degradation as part of the Cullin2-RBX1-ELOB E3 ligase complex. ELOB is a promising biomarker for breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advancement of micro machining technology, the high-heat-flux removal from miniature electronic devices and components has become an attractive topic. Flow boiling in micro-channels is an optimal form of heat transfer and has been widely employed in high-heat-flux cooling applications. This comprehensively-reviewed article focused on the available recent literatures of experimental investigation regarding the flow boiling heat transfer and unstable behaviors of the fluid with lower boiling point in micro-channels. The thermal-fluid characteristics and potential heat transfer mechanisms of low-boiling-point fluids flow boiling in different narrow passages were summarized and discussed. The literatures regarding the pressure drop and occurrence of the unstable phenomena existing in two-phase flow boiling process were also discussed. The emphasis was given to the heat transfer enhancement methods as well as instability elimination, and various methods such as modification of surface and channel flow geometries were considered. Some future researches in the field of micro-scale flow boiling were suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loose spoil soil (LSS) is a kind of granular material with unstable structure, for which the deformation and even failure should be induced by changing of water conditions. This research was conducted based on an engineering spoil dump, and considered the relative density (Dr) and existed stress environment of LSS, the authors designed detail experimental plans and improved experimental equipment, a comprehensive study focused on adverse factor of water in shear failure mechanism of LSS has been achieved, conclusions were obtained as follows: 1. Under the three selected Dr0 (0.35/0.40/0.45), LSS showed strain hardening during whole shear process, shear deformation mechanism could be summarized as the big friction deformation of unstable granular materials; 2. the adverse effect of water on LSS was significant, as the increase of main shear strain εs0, volume strain εv under wet and saturated states showed continuously shrinkage in whole process, while under dry state, εv showed an evolution characteristics of contractancy–stable–dilatancy, and based on specific εs0–εv curves, the concept of critical equilibrium normal stress (CENS) was proposed; 3. The shear strength of LSS could be considered to fully follow a linear relationship, and it is greatly affected by dry/wet states, for three determined Dr0 (0.35/0.40/0.45), their internal friction angles φ were 33.1°–38.0°, 22.9°–27.7° and 20.9°–27.3°, respectively, under dry, wet and saturated states, and it showed that strength deterioration of LSS had been basically released in wetting process; 4. LSS showed characteristics of relatively uniform friction deformation under dry state, while under wet and saturated states, thickness of shear zone narrowed significantly, and when shear stress level exceeded 0.70, local strain increment of shear zone increased sharply, localized strain should be the main reason in strength attenuation; 5. 3D particle flow method was considered to make a simple shear numerical test of LSS with a rapid shear process, it was found that under lower normal stress condition, LSS exhibited semi-fluid characteristics, which could help us to reveal the phase transition of LSS from a mechanistic perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let Γ be a connected cubic graph admitting a vertex-transitive almost simple group G of automorphisms. In this paper, we study the normality of the socle T of G in the full automorphism group Aut (Γ) of Γ . It is proved that if T is not normal in Aut (Γ) , then T = A 47 , A 23 , A 2 f - 1 with f ≥ 3 , or a simple group of Lie type of even characteristic with some exceptions. In particular, if Γ is arc-transitive and T is not normal in Aut (Γ) , then Γ is a Cayley graph on G, and (Aut (Γ) , G) = (A 48 , A 47) or (S 24 , S 23) . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the potential molecular mechanism of tetrahydropalmatine (THP) on acute myocardial ischemia (AMI). Methods: First, the target genes of THP and AMI were collected from SymMap Database, Traditional Chinese Medicine Database and Analysis Platform, and Swiss Target Prediction, respectively. Then, the overlapping target genes between THP and AMI were evaluated for Grene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis and protein-protein interaction network analysis. The binding affinity between the protein and THP was assessed by molecular docking. Finally, the protective effects of THP on AMI model and oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) model of H9C2 cardiomyocyte were explored and the expression levels of target genes were detected by RT-qPCR in vivo and in vitro. Results: MMP9, PPARG, PTGS2, SLC6A4, ESR1, JAK2, GSK3B, NOS2 and AR were recognized as hub genes. The KEGG enrichment analysis results revealed that the potential target genes of THP were involved in the regulation of PPAR and hormone pathways. THP improved the cardiac function, as well as alleviated myocardial cell damage. Furthermore, THP significantly decreased the RNA expression levels of MMP9, PTGS2, SLC6A4, GSK3B and ESR1 (P<0.05, P<0.01) after AMI. In vitro, THP significantly increased H9C2 cardiomyocyte viability (P<0.05, P<0.01) and inhibited the RNA expression levels of PPARG, ESR1 and AR (P<0.05, P<0.01) in OGD model. Conclusions: THP could improve cardiac function and alleviate myocardial injury in AMI. The underlying mechanism may be inhibition of inflammation, the improvement of energy metabolism and the regulation of hormones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mastitis is the most economically important disease affecting the dairy industry worldwide. Lactobacillus plantarum, an important probiotic with a wide range of applications, has potential anti-inflammatory properties and has become a currently strong candidate for mastitis therapies. In the current study, we evaluated the prevention effect of Lactobacillus plantarum 17–5 on Escherichia coli-induced mastitis in mice. The results showed that pretreatment with L. plantarum 17–5 maintained the integrity of tight junctions; improved inflammatory injury; decreased MPO activity and the mRNA expression levels of IL1β, IL6, and TNFα; and inhibited the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways in mice mammary tissue. The results indicated that Lactobacillus plantarum 17–5 had excellent anti-inflammatory activities and could be developed into microecological preparation for clinical use to prevent mastitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the quest to enhance the performance of conventional high-temperature alloys, the limitations of existing materials have become apparent. Refractory high entropy alloys (RHEAs) have emerged as promising candidates, exhibiting exceptional high-temperature properties and offering a novel perspective on advanced materials for extreme environments. This study systematically determined optimal process parameters via single-channel laser cladding (LC), resulting in the development of multi-channel TaNbZrTi RHEA coatings. The investigation encompassed an in-depth analysis of microstructure and oxidation behavior across a temperature range spanning from 800 to 1200 °C. The findings elucidated the complex composition of the coating, characterized by the interplay of BCC1, BCC2, and Fe2Nb phases. The theoretical yield strength of the coating was calculated at 1816.1 MPa, with contributions from solution strengthening, precipitation strengthening, fine crystal strengthening, and alloy foundation strength, standing at 41.1%, 41.5%, 5.5%, and 11.9%, respectively. At 800, 1000 and 1200 °C, the oxide thickness of the coating is 1.4, 2.9, and 34.5 μm, respectively. The transition of BCC2 phase at elevated temperatures and the diffusion of Fe from the substrate emerged as pivotal factors contributing to catastrophic oxidation observed at 1200 °C. Importantly, the diffusion of substrate elements facilitated the formation of Fe2Nb phase, which exhibited robust precipitation strengthening effects, further enhancing the coating overall strength. However, the protective role of Fe oxides proved inadequate, leading to the vulnerability of the oxidation layer and its propensity to fracture, thereby compromising the high-temperature oxidation resistance of the coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) solution treating the acute severe dermatitis in patients receiving radiotherapy. This phase I research enrolled patients with thoracic cancer receiving radiotherapy at Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute in Shandong, China. EGCG solution was sprayed to the radiation field when grade III radiation-induced dermatitis (RID) first appearance. EGCG concentration escalated from 660 to 2574 μmol/L using modified-Fibonacci dose-escalation. RID and related symptoms were followed up every day. Between March 2021 and November 2021, 19 patients were enrolled in this phase I research. The median dose of grade III RID first observation was 44 Gy (30.6–52 Gy). As the EGCG treatment was performed continuously, all these grade III RID reactions were significantly decreased to grade I or grade II RID at three days after use of EGCG (p < 0.001). Significant relief can be observed in burning sensation (p < 0.001), tractive sensation (p < 0.001), tenderness (p < 0.001), erythema (p < 0.001), itching (p < 0.001) and pain (p < 0.001) after 15 days of EGCG treatment. No radiation therapy delay or interruption for all 19 patients. No adverse events were observed and reported associated with EGCG. The highest dose of this Phase I trial (2574 μmol/L) was recommended for continuous Phase II trial for further evaluation. In this phase I clinical research, use of EGCG solution is safe and can significantly relief grade III RID in patients receiving radiotherapy. Thus, EGCG might be a new choice for acute sever RID. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02580279 (Full date of first registration: 12/2014). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental plastic wastes are continuously degraded into microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs); the latter are more potentially harmful to organisms and human health as their smaller size and higher surface-to-volume ratio. Previous reviews on NPs mainly concentrate on specific aspects, such as sources, environmental behavior, and toxicological effects, but few focused on NPs-related scientific publications from a global point of view. Therefore, this bibliometric study aims to summarize the research themes and trends on NPs and also propose potential directions for future inquiry. Related papers were downloaded from the Web of Science Core Collection database on NPs published from 2008 to 2021, and then retrieved information was analyzed using CiteSpace 6.1 R2 and VOSviewer (version 1.6.). Research on NPs mainly involved environmental behaviors, toxicological effects, identification and extraction of NPs, whereas aquatic environments, especially marine systems, attracted more attentions from these scientists compare to terrestrial environments. Furthermore, the adsorption behavior of pollutants by NPs and the toxicological effects of organisms exposed to NPs are the present hotspots, while the regulation of humic acid (HA) on NPs behaviors and the environmental behavior of NPs in freshwater, like rivers and lakes, are the frontier areas of research. This study also explored the possible opportunities and challenges that may be faced in NPs research, which provide a valuable summary and outlook for ongoing NPs-related research, which may be of intrigue and noteworthiness for relevant researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on utilizing mixed salts to create a synergistic effect, particularly at lower temperatures. In this study, lithium tetrafluoroborate(LiBF4) and lithium difluoro (oxalic acid) borate (LiODFB) were added to an electrolyte consisting of ethyl carbonate (EC), propylidene carbonate (PC), ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC), and ethyl acetate (EA) using LiCoO2 as cathode material. The electrochemical properties of the obtained electrolyte were evaluated by various analytical techniques. Analysis of electrical conductivity showed that there is a certain relationship between solution conductivity and electrolyte composition and temperature. The capacity and cycle stability of LiCoO2 positive electrode in different electrolyte systems and at different temperatures were studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV), charge–discharge cycle, and impedance test. The surface properties of LiCoO2 cathode after cycling were analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results show that at − 20 °C, the first discharge specific capacity at 0.1C rate is 110.6 mAh/g, and the capacity retention rate of 100th cycle is 89.96%. The results of SEM morphology of the electrode before and after cycling show that too much or more LiODFB can form a thick or sparse CEI film, and the mixed salt 0.7 M LiBF4/0.3 M LiODFB-based electrolyte can form a uniform and dense CEI film that protects the electrode and prevents electrolyte decomposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low abundance and heterogeneity of N-glycosylation at the peptide level poses a great challenge to the structural and functional analysis of glycosylation in the field of glycobiology. Solving this conundrum requires a sufficient and specific method for intact N-glycopeptide enrichment. Using the C18 or HLB desalting column followed by the mixed-mode strong anion exchange (MAX) or hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) glycopeptide enrichment column are commonly applied approaches for sample preparation of intact N-glycopeptides from complex samples. Herein, we compared the effects of different combinations of two desalting columns and two enrichment columns using equal amounts of mouse brain tissues from the same source. The results revealed the C18 column was a bit superior to the HLB column, and the MAX and HILIC columns were complementary on intact N-glycopeptides enrichment. Additionally, the results also demonstrated that enriching glycopeptides using a HILIC column followed by a MAX column from the flow-through solution got a better enrichment performance than the reversed order. Based on these results, the sequential enrichment of glycopeptides using HILIC and then MAX columns could maximize the enrichment performance of intact N-glycopeptides, and therefore is an option for in-depth analysis of site-specific glycoproteome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous serological studies of human bocavirus (HBoV) 1 could not exclude cross-reactivity with the other three HBoVs, particularly HBoV2. Methods: To search for genotype-specific antibodies against HBoV1 and HBoV2, the divergent regions (DRs) located on the major capsid protein VP3 were defined through viral amino acid alignment and structure prediction. DR-deduced peptides were used as antigens to harvest corresponding anti-DR rabbit sera. To determine their genotype specificities for HBoV1 and HBoV2, these sera samples were used as antibodies against the antigens VP3 of HBoV1 and HBoV2 (expressed in Escherichia coli) in western blotting (WB), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and bio-layer interferometry (BLI) assays. Subsequently, the antibodies were evaluated with clinical specimens from pediatric patients with acute respiratory tract infection by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Results: There were four DRs (DR1–4) located on VP3 with different secondary and tertiary structures between HBoV1 and HBoV2. Regarding the reactivity with VP3 of HBoV1 or HBoV2 in WB and ELISA, high intra-genotype cross-reactivity of anti-HBoV1 or HBoV2 DR1, DR3, and DR4, but not anti-DR2, was observed. Genotype-specific binding capacity of anti-DR2 sera was confirmed by BLI and IFA, in which only anti-HBoV1 DR2 antibody reacted with HBoV1-positive respiratory specimens. Conclusion: Antibodies against DR2, located on VP3 of HBoV1 or HBoV2, were genotype specific for HBoV1 and HBoV2, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our previous surveillance revealed that t203-like G9 (tentatively designated subtype G9-VI) rotaviruses re-emerged in 2010 in Beijing and rapidly prevailed over the G9-III subtype (the most common G9 subtype globally) and previously predominant G genotypes over the following two years. G9-VI belongs to the VP7 evolutionary lineage VI, which includes unusual and sporadic human rotaviruses from China (t203) and Japan. To obtain insight into the epidemiology, evolution, and transmission advantages of G9-VI rotavirus, we performed follow-up surveillance (2014-2017) and whole-genome analysis of 12 representative G9 strains. The results showed that the G9 genotype was predominant (77.4%), with a marked increase in prevalence (previously 43.5%). Within the G9 genotype, subtype G9-VI accounted for the majority (98.3%) of cases. The most prevalent P-genotype was P[8] (93.7%), within which subtype P[8]b was rare (0.7%). Phylogenetically, the G9-VI subtype strains in this study clustered closely with contemporary emerging human rotaviruses from many other countries in VP7 lineage VI, indicating that this subtype is capable of spreading globally. These currently emerging G9-VI rotaviruses formed a distinct monophyletic subcluster when compared to early G9-VI rotaviruses. Furthermore, four specific amino acid substitutions and synonymous codon substitutions were observed in the VP7 genes between the current G9-VI and globally common G9-III rotaviruses. The remaining nine genes of all of the analyzed representative G9 strains, whether G9-VI or G9-III, combined with the P[8]a, P[8]b, or P[6] genotype and exhibited the same Wa-like backbone constellation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Outward-bound is of great significance in physical education. How to use the neural network model for the outward-bound evaluation in order to provide trainers and trainees with training parameters that can be referred to for each extension exercise. This not only evaluates the effectiveness of each stretch, but also quantifies various metrics of each stretch, such as safety, efficiency, training intensity, and more. In this paper, we propose an evaluation model for outward-bound based on the neural network which is a computational intelligence method to provide trainers and trainees with training parameters that can be referred to for each extension exercise. First, we analyze and categorize different types of outreach programs. Second, we extract different indicators as feature data according to the learning process of outbound training. Third, we adopt the powerful learning ability of a neural network to make evaluation analysis. Finally, we experimentally verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential drivers of vegetation changes in the Sudano-Sahelian region of Africa remain poorly understood due to complex interactions between climatic and anthropogenic processes. In this study, we analyzed the vegetation greenness trends in relation to rainfall variability that we considered the essence of climatic effects on vegetation in a well-known water-limited environment by using time series of satellite data in the Sudano-Sahelian region during 2001–2020. We quantified in more detail the relative contributions of rainfall variability (climatic factor), land use/land cover (LULC) change, and fire occurrence change (non-climatic factors) to vegetation greenness trends in selected sub-regions. The results showed that vegetation greening was widespread (26.9% of the total study area), while vegetation browning was more clustered in central West Africa (5% of the total study area). About half of the vegetation greening area can be explained by long-term rainfall variability during 2001–2020, but most of the area characterized by a browning trend was unrelated to rainfall variability. An analysis of the relative importance showed that LULC changes had significant local effects on vegetation greenness and that these changes were characterized by a strong spatial heterogeneity in specific sub-regions. Gains in cropland and natural vegetation related to positive land management were probably the dominant drivers of greening in Senegal and Ethiopia. Also, the combined impacts of rainfall variability and LULC changes contributed to greening trends in the arid zone, particularly in Mali and Sudan. In contrast, vegetation browning in central West Africa appeared to be driven by cropland gain and natural vegetation loss associated with extensive agricultural production activities. Furthermore, we found that repeated fires for agricultural expansion in central West Africa intensified vegetation browning. These results advanced our understanding of vegetation dynamics in response to climatic and non-climatic factors in Sudano-Sahelian drylands characterized by increasing pressures on land resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interstitial cystitis (IC) has severe clinical symptoms with unclear mechanism. The continuous inflammatory response of the bladder is the basis of its pathogenesis. Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) is involved in the regulation and development of various inflammatory diseases. And autophagy plays an important role in IC. In this study, we mainly focus on the therapeutic effect of endoplasmic reticulum stress and autophagy on protamine/lipopolysaccharide-induced interstitial cystitis. Female Sprague–Dawley rats were randomized into three experimental groups as follows: sham controls(N), IC alone, and IC+4-PBA.Rats in group IC received 10 mg/ml PS in the urinary bladder, followed by 2 mg/ml LPS instillation after 30 min, IC+4-PBA group SD rats received 4-PBA solution administered intragastrically once a day for 5 days. ERS biomarker (GRP78), autophagy-related proteins (LC3I/II, and Beclin1), autophagic flux biomarker (P62), inflammatory biomarkers (IL-6, TNF-a, NF-κB), apoptotic biomarkers (Caspase 3, Bax) were highest in the IC group compared to IC+4-PBA group and N group and the biomarkers expression in IC+4-PBA group were lower than in the IC group, anti-apoptotic biomarker (Bcl-2) was highest in the N group compared to the IC group and IC+4-PBA group and lower in the IC group than in the IC+4-PBA group, oxidative stress biomarkers (HO-1, NQO-1) were remarkably lower in the control group than in the IC and IC+4-PBA groups and notably lower in the IC group than in the IC+4-PBA group. The histological score and mast cell count demonstrated most severe in the IC group than those in the IC+4-PBA group. TUNEL assay examined the level of apoptosis in IC group was higher than in the IC+4-PBA group. The bladder micturition function was significantly improved with 4-PBA treatment. 4-PBA inhibits ERS to recover autophagic flux, and then to suppress the bladder oxidative stress, the inflammatory reaction and apoptosis, finally improve the bladder urinary function in Protamine/Lipopolysaccharide (PS/LPS) induced IC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combretastatin A4 phosphate (CA4P) is a potent vascular disrupting agent with good water solubility. However, it is only effective at high doses, which decreases clinical applicability. Herein, we designed stable CA4P polymeric nanoparticles (CA4P NPs) consisting of various cholesterol derivatives, and with a drug loading efficacy of 93%. The nanoparticles released CA4P in a sustained manner and achieved a 72% inhibition rate in the murine H22 liver tumor model, which was about 2.9-fold higher than that of free CA4P (24.6%). Furthermore, the carrier components of CA4P NPs were metabolized to arginine, cholesterol, ethanol and poly(ethylene glycol) in vivo; therefore, the CA4P NPs are safe and have significant potential for clinical translation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this retrospective study is to evaluate the impact on efficacy and safety between epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) alone and in combination with Shenqi Fuzheng injection (SFI) in patients with advanced NSCLC harboring epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activating mutations. Methods: Retrospectively, information of 88 patients receiving EGFR-TKIs as first-line targeted treatment or in combination with SFI in the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical College and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Anhui University of Science and Technology was collected. The primary endpoint was to assess progression-free survival (PFS) and safety of EGFR-TKIs alone or in combination with SFI. Results: Between January 2016 and December 2019, a total of 88 patients were enrolled in this research, including 50 cases in the EGFR-TKIs single agent therapy group and 38 cases in the SFI combined with EGFR-TKIs targeted-therapy group. The median PFS (mPFS) of monotherapy group was 10.50 months (95%CI 9.81–11.19), and 14.30 months (95%CI 10.22–18.38) in the combination therapy group. Compared to the single EGFR-TKIs administration, combinational regimen with SFI exhibited a lower incidence of rash and diarrhea in patients and was even better tolerated. Conclusions: SFI combined with the first-generation EGFR-TKIs are more efficient, can prominently prolong the PFS and attenuate the adverse reactions in patients with advanced NSCLC with EGFR-sensitive mutations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper suggests a multi-layer neural network for deep learning based on fractional differential equations, and parallel computing is used to search an optimal structure. First, the Caputo derivative is approximated by L 1 numerical scheme and an unconstrained discretization minimization problem is presented. Then, parameters are adjusted by use of the Adam algorithm. Analytical approximate solutions of two fractional logistic equations (FLEs) are obtained which demonstrate the method's efficiency. Furthermore, with real-life data, fractional order and other parameters of FLEs are estimated by the gradient descent algorithm meanwhile. The proposed optimal NN method is used in forecasting. Through the comparative study, FLEs have more parameter freedom degrees and perform better than the classical logistic model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cutter ring is a consumable tool used by a tunnel boring machine (TBM) to break rock, affecting the cost and time limit of tunnel engineering. In this paper, based on the working principle of the cutter ring, the failure form of cutter rings, and the mechanical properties of rock, a variable cross-section (VCS) cutter ring is optimized based on the existing constant cross-section (CCS) cutter ring. The finite element method was used to model the Beishan granite, and the mechanical properties of the granite were simulated. The average discrepancy rate of the four key parameters was 1.19% compared with the experimental results. The linear rock cutting experiment of the disc cutter in Beijing University of Technology was simulated, the simulation results of normal force are similar to the reality. The digital models of the 20-in CCS cutter ring and 30 types of VCS cutter rings are established, and modal, impact response, and cutting rock simulations are conducted. The results demonstrate that the natural frequencies of the two types of cutter rings are very close to 6.72 rad/s, confirming the feasibility of interchange. The impact resistance of most of the 30 VCS rings is higher than that of CCS rings, and the rock-breaking effect of all VCS rings outperforms that of the CCS rings. The VCS ring with the highest crushing adaptability of the rock model in this simulation experiment was obtained by statistical analysis of 3D data. This experimental method of rock adaptability can obtain the optimal design parameters of VCS cutter rings for a particular rock model. VCS cutter rings have the potential to support establishing a tool selection system with rock adaptability based on extensive experimental data in the future. Highlights: According to the working principle, failure mode of TBM disk cutter and rock characteristics, a variable cross-section (VCS) disk cutter is designed. The simulation model of linear rock cutting is established according to the real experiment, and the validity of the simulation model is verified. The impact resistance and damaged rock performance of 30 kinds of VCS cutter rings were ranked using a statistical analysis method with 3D data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To realize the clean and efficient resource utilization of sewage sludge (SS) and coal slime (CS), single-component and coupled fuels were analyzed. The micro-characteristics of combustion products were analyzed using multiple characterization means. The structure–activity relationship between the physicochemical properties and the mercury emission characteristics of SS and CS during the complex and changeable co-combustion process was established. The influence of coupling multiparameter conditions on the mercury emission process was revealed along with the combustion characteristics and evolution process using a distributed activation energy model. The results showed that α-HgS, HgSO4 and HgO with α-type hexagonal structures are the main forms of inorganic mercury compounds contained in SS and CS. The pyrolysis and combustion process of the sample can be divided into three stages. In the SS combustion process, the activation energy increases first and then decreases with increasing conversion rate α, and the activation energy of CS shows a U shaped trend distribution. For the influence of O2 on the combustion and mercury emission process, a critical concentration exists between O2 concentrations of 5% and 7%, which dominates the pyrolysis and heterogeneous combustion of carbonaceous substances and volatiles. When the temperature is above 750 °C, the Boudouard gasification reaction occurs directly between CO2 and the sample in the semicoke state, promoting combustion and mercury emission processes. Due to the strong interaction between the SS and CS, the mercury emission during the co-combustion process of the coupled fuel is inhibited and promoted at 400–500 °C and 500–600 °C, respectively. The iron mineral components and fixed carbon in the sample play a catalytic role during the decomposition process of mercury-containing compounds that are difficult to decompose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This research tackles the challenges Ph.D. students face in academic publishing, which are not fully addressed by existing support systems. It introduces the personal learning environment-based writing for publication (PLE-WfP) platform, created to offer extensive support in academic writing and publication. Developed and tested over ten months with thirteen Year 1 Ph.D. Chinese students at a Thai university, the platform uses a mixed-methods approach encompassing development, intervention, and feedback analysis through reflective diaries. The PLE-WfP platform, structured in individual, group, and submission stages, guides students from beginning writing to collaborative research and final publication, addressing common publishing challenges. Participants expressed a strong preference for the platform’s personalized assistance over conventional methods, highlighting its relevance, adaptability, promptness, and thoroughness. The importance of the academic community in enhancing collaborative writing, confidence, emotional regulation, and resource sharing was also emphasized. This study highlights the need for emotional and financial support in addition to cognitive and technical assistance in academic writing. By providing a novel scaffolding approach, this research contributes valuable insights and solutions to the academic community, demonstrating significant theoretical and practical benefits for global academic discourse.

Fraction Fr SB 6 sb (7.2 g) was also filtrated through Sephadex LH-20 column eluted with methanol and compounds B 1 b , B 3 b , B 8 b , B 10 b , B 12 b , and B 13 b were obtained. Fraction Fr SB 4 sb (0.9 g) was chromatographed over a column of silica gel with gradient elution by petroleum ether-acetone (30:1, 20:1, 9:1, 6:1, 3:1) to isolate compound B 2 b , and filtration through Sephadex LH-20 column eluted with methanol. Fraction Fr SB 10.11 sb was chromatographed over a column of silica gel with gradient elution by CHCl SB 3 sb -CH SB 3 sb OH (500:1, 100:1), whereby two compounds ( B 6 b and B 7 b ) were obtained. Fraction Fr SB 7 sb (13.4 g) was chromatographed over a column of silica gel with gradient elution by chloroform-MeOH (150:1), to isolate compounds B 5 b , B 8 b , B 11 b , and B 14 b , and filtration through Sephadex LH-20 column eluted with methanol. [Extracted from the article]

The decision on which hotel to book is a high-cost process for individuals and even more for groups due to the information explosion on online travel agent platforms. To assist group selecting the optimal hotel that meets the majority affective expectations, this study proposes a group hotel selection frame for booking with Kansei text mining and consensus coordinating. Firstly, to quantify the tourists' affective needs for hotels, a Kansei-related dictionary towards hotel domain is constructed by Kansei text mining. Secondly, the bilattice-based Kansei score of hotels is defined and measured to represent hotel affective information scientifically. Then, a group consensus model with minimum adjustment cost is introduced to coordinate consistency of individual preferences in a tourist group. Moreover, a group hotel ranking based on group affective preference is interactively generated to meet the group personalized demands. Finally, a case study on Trip.com is conducted to demonstrate the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crowdtesting has emerged as an attractive and economical testing paradigm that features testers from different countries, with various backgrounds and working conditions. Recent developments in crowdsourcing testing suggest that it is feasible to manage test populations and processes, but they are often outside the scope of standard testing theory. This paper explores how to allocate service-testing tasks to proper testers in an ever-changing crowdsourcing environment. We formalize it as an optimization problem with the objective to ensure the testing quality of the crowds, while considering influencing factors such as knowledge capability, the rewards, the network connections, and the geography and the skills required. To solve the proposed problem, we design a task assignment algorithm based on the Differential Evolution (DE) algorithm. Extensive experiments are conducted to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm in real and synthetic data, and the results show better performance compared with other heuristic-based algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) have attracted extensive attention due to their excellent mechanical properties, thermodynamic stability, tribological properties, and corrosion resistance. In this paper, the tribological properties of HEAs were reviewed, including definition and preparation method of HEAs, testing and characterization method of tribological properties, influence of HEAs components on tribological properties, and anti-wear effect of process optimization. Firstly, the definition of HEAs and the enhancement of high-entropy effect, lattice distortion effect, delayed diffusion effect, and "cocktail" effect were briefly introduced. The advantages and disadvantages of current smelting and powder metallurgy methods were summarized, and various additive manufacturing techniques were discussed for preparing HEAs coatings. Secondly, the testing techniques and characterization methods of tribological properties of alloys were introduced. According to different wear mechanisms, the wear was classified as abrasive wear, adhesive wear, fatigue wear, corrosion wear, and oxidation wear. The research on reactive wear reduction, a new hotspot, was emphatically discussed. Furthermore, the influence of various metal elements and non-metal elements B, C, N, O, and Si in HEAs on tribological properties was analyzed, as well as the anti-wear mechanisms in the doped hard phases and self-lubricating phases. Meanwhile, the strengthening effects of surface remelting, heat treatment, and surface ceramization on the wear resistance of HEAs were reviewed. Finally, although some achievements have been made so far, there are still many challenges in the development of wear resistance for HEAs, and suggestions for future research directions were presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global soil moisture estimates from current satellite missions are suffering from inherent discontinuous observations and coarse spatial resolution, which limit applications especially at the fine spatial scale. This study developed a dataset of global gap-free surface soil moisture (SSM) at daily 1-km resolution from 2000 to 2020. This is achieved based on the European Space Agency - Climate Change Initiative (ESA-CCI) SSM combined product at 0.25° resolution. Firstly, an operational gap-filling method was developed to fill the missing data in the ESA-CCI SSM product using SSM of the ERA5 reanalysis dataset. Random Forest algorithm was then adopted to disaggregate the coarse-resolution SSM to 1-km, with the help of International Soil Moisture Network in-situ observations and other optical remote sensing datasets. The generated 1-km SSM product had good accuracy, with a high correlation coefficent (0.89) and a low unbiased Root Mean Square Error (0.045 m3/m3) by cross-validation. To the best of our knowledge, this is currently the only long-term global gap-free 1-km soil moisture dataset by far. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface soil moisture (SSM) is an important variable in drought monitoring, floods predicting, weather forecasting, etc. and plays a critical role in water and heat exchanges between land and atmosphere. SSM products from L-band observations, such as the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) Mission, have proven to be optimal global estimations. Although X-band has a lower sensitivity to soil moisture than that of L-band, Chinese FengYun-3 series satellites (FY-3A/B/C/D) have provided sustainable and daily multiple SSM products from X-band since 2008. This research developed a new global SSM product (NNsm-FY) from FY-3B MWRI from 2010 to 2019, transferred high accuracy of SMAP L-band to FY-3B X-band. The NNsm-FY shows good agreement with in-situ observations and SMAP product and has a higher accuracy than that of official FY-3B product. With this new dataset, Chinese FY-3 satellites may play a larger role and provide opportunities of sustainable and longer-term soil moisture data record for hydrological study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intestine represents the largest immune compartment in the human body, yet its development and organisation during human foetal development is largely unknown. Here we show the immune subset composition of this organ during development, by longitudinal spectral flow cytometry analysis of human foetal intestinal samples between 14 and 22 weeks of gestation. At 14 weeks, the foetal intestine is mainly populated by myeloid cells and three distinct CD3–CD7+ ILC, followed by rapid appearance of adaptive CD4+, CD8+ T and B cell subsets. Imaging mass cytometry identifies lymphoid follicles from week 16 onwards in a villus-like structure covered by epithelium and confirms the presence of Ki-67+ cells in situ within all CD3–CD7+ ILC, T, B and myeloid cell subsets. Foetal intestinal lymphoid subsets are capable of spontaneous proliferation in vitro. IL-7 mRNA is detected within both the lamina propria and the epithelium and IL-7 enhances proliferation of several subsets in vitro. Overall, these observations demonstrate the presence of immune subset-committed cells capable of local proliferation in the developing human foetal intestine, likely contributing to the development and growth of organized immune structures throughout most of the 2nd trimester, which might influence microbial colonization upon birth.The intestine is an important immunological organ in embryonic life, preparing the infant for the microbial colonization following birth. Here authors show that between gestational weeks 14 and 22, the human foetal intestine is first populated by myeloid and innate lymphoid cells, followed by the development of lymphoid cells and a wider range of proliferation-capable immune cell types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Endotoxin tolerance (ET) is a protective mechanism in the process of sepsis, septic shock, and their sequelae including uncontrolled inflammation. Accumulating evidence has shown that peripheral T cells contribute to the induction of ET. However, what and how T-cell development contributes to ET inductions remain unclear. Methods: Mice were intraperitoneally injected with LPS at a concentration of 5 mg/kg to establish an LPS tolerance model and were divided into two groups: a group examined 72 h after LPS injection (72-h group) and a group examined 8 days after LPS injection (8-day group). Injection of PBS was used as a control. We performed high-throughput sequencing to analyze the characteristics and changes of CD4+SP TCRβ CDR3 repertoires with respect to V direct to J rearrangement during the ET induction. Moreover, the proportion and proliferation, as well as surface molecules such as CD80 and CD86, of F4/80+ macrophages were analyzed using FCM. Furthermore, ACT assay was designed and administered by the tail vein into murine LPS-induced mouse model to evaluate the role of F4/80+ macrophages on the development of CD4+SP thymocytes in ET condition. Results: We found that the frequency and characteristics of the TCRβ chain CDR3 changed obviously under condition of ET, indicating the occurrence of TCR rearrangement and thymocyte diversification. Moreover, the absolute numbers of F4/80+ macrophages, but not other APCs, were increased in thymic medulla at 72-h group, accompanied by the elevated function-related molecules of F4/80+ macrophages. Furthermore, adoptively transferred OVA332-339 peptide-loaded macrophages into Rag-1−/− mice induced the clone deletion of OVA-specific CD4+SP, thereby ameliorating the pathology in lung tissue in LPS challenge. Conclusions: These data reveal that the frequency and characteristics of the TCRβ chain CDR3 undergo dynamic programming under conditions of LPS tolerance. Furthermore, the peripheral macrophages may be a key factor which carry peripheral antigen to thymic medulla and affect the negative selection of T-cell population, thereby contributing to the formation of ET. These results suggest that the clone selection in thymus in ET may confer protection against microbial sepsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]