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Abstract Bloodstream infections are globally occurring life-threatening diseases that impose significant societal and economic burdens. This study explored the red cell distribution width (RDW) to albumin ratio (RAR), a novel index derived from RDW, to investigate its relationship with prognosis of bacteremia using propensity score matching (PSM). This retrospective observational cohort study included patients with bacteremia admitted to Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital’s intensive care units from June 2019 to December 2022. PSM was performed to adjust for confounding factors. The relationship between RAR and mortality was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curves, multivariate, and Kaplan–Meier analyses. A total of 411 patients were included. The RAR threshold of 5.824% /g/dL was determined by maximizing the Youden index; the study population was divided into two groups based on this cutoff value. After PSM, 125 pairs of score-matched patients were generated. Using logistic regression analysis, patients with RAR ≥ 5.824% /g/dL exhibited significantly higher mortality than did those with RAR ＜ 5.824% /g/dL in the entire cohort (OR = 3.926, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.408–6.400, p

Abstract Roof breaking is the root cause of rock burst and mine earthquake. However, the classical “thin plate theory” and “thick plate theory” cannot fully reveal the mechanical mechanism of the influence of roof thickness-span ratio on the fracture mode. In this paper, based on the cohesive element technology, the mechanical behavior of cohesive element failure was studied according to the maximum nominal stress criterion and BK fracture criterion, and the fracture mechanical behavior of roofs with different thicknesses fixed on four sides under uniform load was numerically simulated. The fracture pattern and the maximum principal stress evolution laws of roofs with different thicknesses were obtained. The results show that there are three fracture modes of the plates with different thickness: pure tensile fracture mode at the bottom surface, mixed fracture mode around the “X” shape crack, and pure shear fracture mode along the long edge boundary. The crack morphology of thin plate is the transverse “O−X” type, and the crack morphology of thick plate is the “O−❋” type. With the increase of thickness, the tensile-shear mixed failure mode gradually changes from the tensile dominant to the shear dominant.

Abstract Wild species of crops serve as a valuable germplasm resource for breeding of modern cultivars. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a vital global staple food. However, research on genome evolution and diversity of wild rice species remains limited. Here, we present nearly complete genomes of 13 representative wild rice species. By integrating with four previously published genomes for pangenome analysis, a total of 101,723 gene families are identified across the genus, including 9834 (9.67%) core gene families. Additionally, 63,881 gene families absent in cultivated rice species but present in wild rice species are discovered. Extensive structural rearrangements, sub-genomes exchanges, widespread allelic variations, and regulatory sequence variations are observed in wild rice species. Interestingly, expanded but less diverse disease resistance genes in the genomes of cultivated rice, likely due to the loss of some resistance genes and the fixing and amplification of genes encoding resistance genes to specific diseases during domestication and artificial selection. This study not only reveals natural variations valuable for gene-level studies and breeding selection but also enhances our understanding on rice evolution and domestication.

Abstract Background For older adults with subjective cognitive decline (SCD), physical activity is now recognized as an effective means to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. However, this population often exhibits lower levels of physical activity. This study aimed to establish physical activity promoting indicators system for older adults with SCD, providing comprehensive targets for interventions and promoting relevant policies. Method A modified Delphi technique was used to seek opinions from experts about what should be used and prioritised as indicators of promoting physical activity in older adults with SCD. Expert consultations were conducted from January to March 2024. Data were analyzed using SPSS 27.0 and Excel software. Descriptive statistics were used for expert demographics, while coefficients were calculated to assess expert authority (Cr), and coordination (Kendall’s W). Weights for indicators were determined through the order diagram. Results Based on a literature review and the Wuli-Shili-Renli system framework, we initially identified 59 indicators, comprising primary (3 dimensions), secondary (11 items), and tertiary (45 items) indicators. Fifteen expert panelists were invited to participate in the study. Of these, 11 out of 18 completed round 1 (61.1% response rate), all 11 completed round 2 (100.0% response rate), and all 11 completed the third and final round (100.0% response rate). Ultimately, consensus was reached on 3 primary, 9 secondary, and 44 tertiary indicators. The order diagram determined weights for primary indicators as follows: foundational system (0.4242), operational system (0.2879), and personnel system (0.2879). Conclusion The system of 56 physical activity-promoting indicators constructed for older adults with SCD through the Delphi method provides theoretical support for policy formulation and allocation of funds to comprehensively promote physical activity behaviors among this population.

Permanent magnetic material Ce magnets are a sufficiently attractive energy material due to its cost-effective and environmental friendliness. Grain boundary diffusion processing of Ce magnets with high Ce content presents a challenge: a limited diffusion depth of heavy rare earths. We proposed a strategy for efficient utilization of heavy rare earth Tb in Ce magnets with high Ce content. Consequently, a rather encouraging coercivity of 16.37 kOe and a maximum energy product of 38.77 MGOe are reached by Tb diffusion in Ce magnets where Ce accounts for 40% of total rare earths. Diffusion source alloys containing Pr are designed using first-principles calculations. The Pr synergistic diffusion on the diffusion detail of elemental Tb is analyzed. The ability of Tb to enter the main phase is reduced due to the addition of Pr combined with the significant diffusion coefficient of Pr, which contributes to the enhancement of coercivity and thermal stability for diffused Ce magnet. Ce magnets remain cost-effective after diffusion of heavy rare earth Tb, which will shed light on the broadened application for Ce magnets in wind power generation, industrial motors, and medical robots.

Abstract A large scale of distributed photovoltaics is accessed through a low voltage distribution network in a single‐phase or two‐phase, which causes three‐phase unbalance and over‐voltage problems. These problems can be solved by using a voltage source converter to realize AC/DC interconnection and flexible power transfer between lines. How to utilize the characteristics of voltage source converters to optimize the power qualities, and fully promote distributed PV systems consumption in low voltage distribution network is an important research point. This paper proposes a power regulation model of VSC. The goal of this model is to adjust and optimize over‐voltage and three‐phase unbalance problems. By constructing a voltage‐power sensitivity calculation model for a three‐phase four‐wire system and integrating different control modes and adjustment capabilities of voltage source converters, a control strategy based on voltage source converters is proposed to address three‐phase unbalance and over‐voltage issues. Finally, the simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy.

Abstract Objective The single‐center retrospective cohort study investigated underlying pathogenic mechanisms and clinical significance of patients with temporal lobe epilepsy and hippocampal sclerosis (TLE‐HS), in the presence/absence of gray–white matter abnormalities (usually called “blurring”; GMB) in ipsilateral temporopolar region (TPR) on MRI. Methods The study involved 105 patients with unilateral TLE‐HS (60 GMB+ and 45 GMB−) who underwent standard anterior temporal lobectomy, along with 61 healthy controls. Resected specimens were examined under light microscope. With combined T1‐weighted and DTI data, we quantitatively compared large‐scale morphometric features and exacted diffusion parameters of ipsilateral TPR‐related superficial and deep white matter (WM) by atlas‐based segmentation. Along‐tract analysis was added to detect heterogeneous microstructural alterations at various points along deep WM tracts, which were categorized into inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF), uncinate fasciculus (UF), and temporal cingulum. Results Comparable seizure semiology and postoperative seizure outcome were found, while the GMB+ group had significantly higher rate of HS Type 1 and history of febrile seizures, contrasting with significantly lower proportion of interictal contralateral epileptiform discharges, HS Type 2, and increased wasteosomes in hippocampal specimens. Similar morphometric features but greater WM atrophy with more diffusion abnormalities of superficial WM was observed adjacent to ipsilateral TPR in the GMB+ group. Moreover, microstructural alterations resulting from temporopolar GMB were more localized in temporal cingulum while evenly and widely distributed along ILF and UF. Interpretation Temporopolar GMB could signify more severe and widespread microstructural damage of white matter rather than a focal cortical lesion in TLE‐HS, affecting selection of surgical procedures.

Abstract Objectives Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide. Four types of RNA modification writers (m6A, m1A, A-I editing, and APA) are widely involved in tumorigenesis and the TME. We aimed to comprehensively explore the role of the four RNA modification writers in the progression and immune microenvironment of HNSCC. Materials and methods We first obtained transcription profile data and transcriptional variation of the four types of RNA modification writers from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. HNSCC patients in TCGA dataset were divided into different clusters based on the four types of RNA modification writers. Univariate Cox and Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analyses were performed to conduct a Writer-score scoring system, which was successfully verified in the GSE65858 dataset and our clinical sample dataset. Finally, we evaluated the relationship between different RNA modification clusters (Writer-score) and immunological characteristics of HNSCC. Results Two different RNA modification clusters (A and B) were obtained. These RNA modification clusters (Writer-score) were strongly associated with immunological characteristics (immunomodulators, cancer immunity cycles, infiltrating immune cells (TIICs), inhibitory immune checkpoints, and T cell inflamed score (TIS)) of HNSCC. Conclusions This study identified two different RNA modification clusters and explored the potential relationship between RNA modification clusters (Writer-score) and immunological characteristics, offering a new theoretical basis for precision immunotherapy in patients with HNSCC.

Abstract To assess the accuracy of a nomogram for predicting the risk of lower-extremity amputation (LEA) in individuals with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). We retrospectively analyzed data from 144 patients with DFUs at the Department of Orthopedics of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, collected between January 2020 and December 2023. Univariate analysis determined primary predictive factors for amputation, followed by single and multifactor logistic regression analyses to indentify independent factors. These were utilized to develop a prediction model using R4.3.3, and a nomogram was created. Its performance was verified using receiver operating characteristic (ROC), corrected calibration, and clinical decision curves. Twelve primary predictive factors were identified from 20 variables, including age, Wagner grades, peripheral angiopathy of diabetes (PAD), chronic kidney disease(CKD), C-reactive protein(CRP) and the number of blood sugar abnormalities(BSA) etc. Multivariate logical regression analysis illustrated that Wagner grades, PAD, CRP, CKD, and the number of BSA were independent risk factors. The area under the curve (AUC) of the ROC curve was 0.967, and the revised calibration curve of the nomogram demonstrated strong fitting ability. This prediction model is a valuable tool for screening LEA risk and preventing DFU from progressing into amputation.

Abstract Objective To compare the performance of [18F]FDG and [18F]FAPI-04 in PET/CT evaluation for liver cancer lesions, with a further exploration of the associations between PET semiquantitative data and immunohistochemical markers to liver cancer. Methods Patients with suspected malignant liver lesions (MLL) underwent [18F]FDG and [18F]FAPI-04 PET/CT scanning. Liver lesions were visually classified as positive or negative based on their uptake level exceeding that of adjacent normal liver tissue. SUVmax and tumor-to-background ratio (TBR) were recorded for semi-quantitative analysis. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of each tracer were determined using pathological findings as the gold standard. Furthermore, immunohistochemical analysis provided the molecular characteristics of all MLLs. Comprehensive analysis explored correlations between these molecular markers and PET semiquantitative parameters (SUVmax andTBR) to identify potential associations. Results The study enrolled 44 patients, with 39 confirmed cases of MLL, comprising 28 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) and 11 intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas (ICC). For MLL detection, [18F]FAPI-04 and [18F]FDG exhibited sensitivities of 84.6% (33/39) and 76.9% (30/39), specificitiesy of 60% (3/5) and 100%(5/5), and accuracy of 81.8% (36/44) and 79.5%(35/44). Across all liver lesions, [18F]FAPI-04 significantly surpassed [18F]FDG in SUVmax(10.54 ± 6.72 VS. 7.68 ± 6.79) and TBR(4.35 ± 3.78 Vs. 3.17 ± 3.05). Notably, [18F]FAPI-04 displayed markebly elevated SUVmax in benign liver lesions (BLLs) (P = 0.032), HCCs (P = 0.005), and ICCs (P = 0.011). Lesions with hepatocyte negativity (P = 0.023), CD34 negativity(P = 0.044), and high Ki67 expression (> 30%) (P = 0.001) had higher SUVmax on [18F]FAPI-04. Additionally, ARG-1-negative lesions demonstrated higher TBR on [18F]FAPI-04 than ARG-1-positive lesions(P = 0.018). No significant SUVmax/TBR differences were observed with [18F]FDG based on these markers. A linear relationship was identified between Ki67 scores and SUVmax of [18F]FAPI-04 (R = 0.603, P

Abstract Though several anti-PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies approved for monotherapy in microsatellite instability-high or mismatch repair-deficient unresectable/metastatic solid tumors, novel immunotherapy with better anti-tumor activity is needed in clinic. In this single-arm, multicenter, pivotal, phase II study, patients received iparomlimab (a novel humanized anti-PD-1 mAb, 200 mg or 3 mg/kg for patients with body weight

Abstract Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), a stroke subtype associated with high mortality, is closely linked to neuroinflammation. Phloretin, a naturally occurring flavonoid abundant in fruits, possesses anti-inflammatory properties. However, its specific role in SAH remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the potential role of phloretin in SAH. We established in vitro and in vivo SAH models to assess the effects of phloretin. Subsequently, utilizing SAH-related public datasets from the GEO database, we identified key genes associated with SAH and investigated the potential mechanism of action of phloretin. Our findings reveal that phloretin significantly improves prognostic outcomes and mitigates inflammation in SAH mice. Moreover, our results suggest that phloretin mitigates neuroinflammation by inhibiting the TLR2/MYD88/NF-κB pathway.

Abstract Background Utilizing the SEER database, we developed a competing risk model along with a nomogram designed for the early identification of colon cancer-specific mortality (CSM) risk. Methods Clinical and pathological information, along with other significant data, were obtained from the SEER database. Patients were randomly divided into a training set and a validation set. We investigated the independent factors affecting CSM among colon cancer patients using univariate and multivariate analyses within a competing risk framework, ultimately developing a predictive tool for CSM in colon cancer. Results Involving 40,261 individuals diagnosed with colon cancer, our study included 10,397 deaths directly due to the disease and an additional 5,828 from other causes. We used a competing risk model to predict cancer-specific mortality (CSM) in these patients. For the training dataset, the model’s area under the curve (AUC) for predicting 1-, 3-, and 5-year cancer-specific survival (CSS) was 0.835 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.826 to 0.844), 0.849 (95% CI 0.843 to 0.855), and 0.843 (95% CI 0.836 to 0.850), respectively. In the validation group, the AUC values for the same time periods were 0.846 (95% CI 0.833 to 0.860), 0.853 (95% CI 0.843 to 0.862), and 0.846 (95% CI 0.835 to 0.856), respectively. In comparison, traditional survival analysis yielded higher cumulative CSM rates over time than those provided by our competing risk approach. Conclusion We created a competitive risk assessment model along with a predictive tool designed to estimate CSM in patients with colon cancer. This nomogram demonstrates high accuracy and reliability, aiding medical professionals in making clinical decisions and developing patient follow-up plans.

Abstract Unleashing the land sector’s potential for climate mitigation requires purpose-driven changes in land management. However, contributions of past management changes to the current global and regional carbon cycles remain unclear. Here, we use vegetation modelling to reveal how a portfolio of ecological restoration policies has impacted China’s terrestrial carbon balance through developing counterfactual ‘no-policy’ scenarios. Pursuing conventional policies and assuming no changes in climate or atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) since 1980 would have led China’s land sector to be a carbon source of 0.11 Pg C yr−1 for 2001–2020, in stark contrast to a sink of 175.9 Tg C yr−1 in reality. About 72.7% of this difference can be attributed to land management changes, including afforestation and reforestation (49.0%), reduced wood extraction (21.8%), fire prevention and suppression (1.6%) and grassland grazing exclusion (0.3%). The remaining 27.3% come from changes in atmospheric CO2 (42.2%) and climate (−14.9%). Our results underscore the potential of active land management in achieving ‘carbon-neutrality’ in China.

Abstract Background Investigate the safety and efficacy of preoperative atomization inhalation of indocyanine green (ICG) solution in precise lesion resection of pediatric thoracoscopic intralobar pulmonary sequestration. Methods A multicenter 1:1 matched case-control study was adopted, to compare the safety and efficacy of the ICG group (preoperative atomization inhalation of 0.5 mg/kg ICG solution) with traditional group (no preoperative atomization inhalation of ICG solution). The baseline, intraoperative, and postoperative recovery conditions of the two groups were observed. Outpatient follow-up visits were conducted 3 to 6 months after surgery, including lung CT scans and pulmonary ventilation function tests. Results 134 patients were included in the study. The ICG group included 67 patients, and the traditional surgery group included 67 patients matched at a ratio of 1:1 according to age and lesion location. There were no reports of deaths or adverse reactions. The postoperative chest drainage tube indwelling time [(53.19 ± 8.15) hours vs. (73.25 ± 15.51) hours, P

Abstract Oncogenic RET alteration is an important, tissue-agnostic therapeutic target across diverse cancers. We conducted a first-in-human phase 1 study on SY-5007, a potent and selective RET inhibitor, in patients with RET-altered solid tumors. Primary endpoints were safety, maximum tolerated dose (MTD), and recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D). Secondary endpoints included pharmacokinetics and preliminary anti-tumor activity. A total of 122 patients were enrolled (17 in dose-escalation phase and 105 in dose-expansion phase), including 91 with non-small cell lung cancer, 23 with medullary thyroid cancer, 7 with papillary thyroid cancer and 1 with gastric cancer. Treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were reported in 96.7% of patients, with the most common grade ≥ 3 TRAEs being hypertension (22.1%), diarrhea (16.4%), hypertriglyceridemia (6.6%), and neutropenia (6.6%). The exposure to SY-5007 was dose proportional. Among the 116 efficacy-evaluable patients, the overall objective response rate (ORR) was 57.8%, with 70.0% in treatment-naïve patients and 51.3% in previously treated patients. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 21.1 months. Efficacy was observed regardless of tumor types and previous therapies. Biomarker analysis of 61 patients with circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)-detectable RET alterations showed an ORR of 57.4% and median PFS of 13.8 months. Rapid ctDNA clearance of RET alteration correlated with faster responses and improved outcomes. In relapsed patients, off-target induced resistance was observed in 57.1% (12/21), with no on-target RET alterations identified. In conclusion, SY-5007 was well-tolerated and showed promising efficacy in patients with RET-altered solid tumors. Serial ctDNA monitoring may unveil treatment response and potential resistance mechanisms (NCT05278364).

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the application value of fractional bolus injection of a contrast agent combined with double-layer detector spectral CT 50 keV virtual monoenergetic imaging (VMI) in combined imaging of computed tomography urography (CTU) and aortic CT angiography (CTA). Methods: The experimental group included 32 patients who underwent spectral CTU with a Philips IQon dual-layer detector at Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, between March and April 2024. Using fractional bolus injection of a contrast agent and bolus tracking technology, the conventional 120 kVp mixed energy image was reconstructed after scanning for group A1; the 50 keV VMI obtained by spectral reconstruction was group A2. The control group included 32 patients who underwent CTU examination between December 2023 and March 2024 using the same equipment, and the contrast agent split bolus and group injection tracking techniques were used. After scanning, the conventional 120 kVp mixed energy image was reconstructed for group B. The objective evaluation included the CT value, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the abdominal aorta and bilateral renal arteries, which were compared among the three groups. The Kruskal–Wallis and Nemenyi tests were used to compare the average CT values of the initial, middle, and lower parts of the ureter. Wilcoxon test was used to compare the effective radiation dose between the experimental and control groups. Subjective evaluation was performed by two senior radiologists on the three groups of CTU and CTA images using the 4- and 3-point methods, respectively. The consistency of the subjective scores of the two radiologists was analyzed using the Kappa test. Results: Among the objective evaluation indices, there were statistically significant differences among groups A2, A1, and B. There was a significant difference in the SNR of the bilateral renal arteries between groups A1 and B. The effective radiation dose of the experimental group was 15.1% lower than that of the control group, which was significantly different. There was no significant difference in the subjective evaluation of the CTA and CTU images among the three groups. The consistency of the CTA and CTU image scoring results between the two physicians was excellent and good, respectively. Conclusion: If CTU examination was performed by fractional injection of a contrast agent, fusion images of the urinary system and aorta were obtained, which not only had a clear anatomical relationship and the same image quality, but also reduced the effective radiation dose. The 50keV virtual monoenergetic image obtained by spectral reconstruction optimizes the image quality of CTU and CTA and has clinical value.

Abstract Background Sepsis-induced myocardial injury (SIMI) is a severe complication of sepsis, contributing significantly to mortality. Mitochondrial dysfunction and dysregulated autophagy are implicated in SIMI pathogenesis. Long non-coding RNA MALAT1 has been associated with various diseases, including sepsis, but its role in SIMI remains unclear. Objective This study aimed to investigate the role of lncRNA MALAT1 in SIMI, specifically in the regulation of mitochondrial autophagy. Methods A sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy model was established in mice, and the cardiac tissues were analyzed. The expression of lncRNA MALAT1 was modulated and its effects on mitochondrial autophagy, myocardial injury, inflammation, and apoptosis were assessed. Furthermore, the interaction between MALAT1 and miR-146a was explored, as well as the involvement of the TLR4/NF-kB/MAPK signaling pathway. Results Activation of mitochondrial autophagy by urolithin A (UA) alleviated SIMI, inflammation, and cardiac dysfunction. Downregulation of MALAT1 enhanced mitochondrial autophagy, stabilized the mitochondrial membrane potential, and inhibited mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, leading to improved cell viability and reduced myocardial injury. Furthermore, MALAT1 interacted with miR-146a, and their modulation influenced mitochondrial autophagy, myocardial injury, and inflammation. The TLR4/NF-kB/MAPK signaling pathway was implicated in these processes. Conclusion Our findings suggest that lncRNA MALAT1 plays a crucial role in SIMI by modulating miR-146a-mediated mitochondrial autophagy and the TLR4/NF-kB/MAPK signaling pathway. These results provide new insights into the pathogenesis of SIMI and potential therapeutic targets.

Abstract Inhaled delivery of messenger RNA (mRNA) using lipid nanoparticle (LNP) holds immense promise for treating pulmonary diseases or serving as a mucosal vaccine. However, the unsatisfactory delivery efficacy caused by the disintegration and aggregation of LNP during nebulization represents a major obstacle. To address this, we develop a charge-assisted stabilization (CAS) strategy aimed at inducing electrostatic repulsions among LNPs to enhance their colloidal stability. By optimizing the surface charges using a peptide-lipid conjugate, the leading CAS-LNP demonstrates exceptional stability during nebulization, resulting in efficient pulmonary mRNA delivery in mouse, dog, and pig. Inhaled CAS-LNP primarily transfect dendritic cells, triggering robust mucosal and systemic immune responses. We demonstrate the efficacy of inhaled CAS-LNP as a vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant and as a cancer vaccine to inhibit lung metastasis. Our findings illustrate the design principles of nebulized LNPs, paving the way of developing inhaled mRNA vaccines and therapeutics.

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) have gained increasing attention over the decades, owing to their distinctive properties. Electrodeposition stands out as a cost-effective and convenient method for producing diverse types of HEAs. However, there's little attention paid to fabricating ceramic-enhanced HEA composites. In this study, NiFeCoCu/Si3N4 HEA nanocomposites were electro-co-deposited in an aqueous solution with varying loadings of Si3N4 nanoparticles and current densities. The morphological, elemental, and phase-structure characteristics were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The Vickers-microhardness measurements, reciprocal wear, and electrochemical tests were conducted to evaluate the physical and anti-corrosion performance of the composite coatings. The findings indicate that the incorporation of Si3N4 nanoparticles not only changes the surface morphologies, compositions, and textures of the HEA matrix but also significantly enhances both the wear and anti-corrosion performance in artificial water by refining the microstructures and reducing the defects of the composite coatings. The HEA-3 g/L-Si3N4-40 mA/cm2 and HEA-6 g/L-Si3N4-40 mA/cm2 composite coatings demonstrate the best wear performance and anti-corrosion properties among the samples investigated, respectively. The present study shows a significant improvement in the mechanical and anti-corrosion properties of HEA coatings by incorporation of Si3N4 nanoparticles, which is a very promising approach for the surface protection of engineering materials used in corrosive and frictional-working conditions.

Growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible 45b (GADD45b) was initially discovered to be involved in processes such as cell cycle arrest, differentiation and apoptosis. It is an important signal regulatory molecule in cells, responsible for signal transduction under various physiological or environmental stimuli. The GADD45b gene belongs to the GADD45 gene family. This gene is commonly expressed in human and fetal tissues, but the expression is tissue-specific, with high expression in the liver and bone marrow. The GADD45b protein is a small, evolutionarily conserved acidic protein distributed in both the cytoplasm and nucleus. Research has shown that GADD45b is closely associated with signaling pathways such as p38/MAPK and TGFβ/Smad3, and it has functions including improving tissue fibrosis and inflammation progression, inhibiting cell autophagy, and enhancing neural function recovery. GADD45b plays a significant role in tumors, innate immunity, neurological diseases, and disorders of hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism. The incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing year by year in China and has become a serious public health issue in the country. Disorders in hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism are major causes of NAFLD. Multiple studies have shown that GADD45b gene and protein exhibit abnormal expression in liver diseases with hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism disorders. Previous research has found that GADD45b can increase the stability of the FoxO1 protein in hepatocytes, and enhance the expression of PGC1a, thereby promoting hepatic gluconeogenesis. Additionally, GADD45b can inhibit fatty acid transport in hepatocytes by binding to FABP1 and reduce hepatic steatosis by interacting with HSP72 protein. Therefore, the roles of GADD45b in promoting hepatic gluconeogenesis, inhibiting fatty acid transport, and reducing steatosis may form the basis for research into treatments for hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism disorders and liver diseases. This paper reviews the characteristics and functions of the GADD45b protein, as well as recent advances in the study of hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism and liver diseases, aiming to provide reference for further GADD45b research.

The preparation of dense Si3N4-based ceramics has attracted great attention because of the achievable improvements in their mechanical properties and high-temperature oxidation resistance. In this work, advanced dense boron-containing α/β-Si3N4/Si monoliths were prepared via a high pressure‒high temperature technique in which polymer-derived amorphous SiBN powders were used as raw materials. The crystallization behavior and phase transformation of the polymer-derived amorphous samples were studied in the temperature range from 1400 to 1800 °C. The results demonstrate that the incorporation of boron in the Si3N4 matrix suppresses the phase transformation from α-Si3N4 to β-Si3N4. Furthermore, the mechanical properties of the as-prepared samples were measured, and the maximum hardness and fracture toughness of boron-rich SiBN samples reached 14.8 GPa and 7.96 MPa·m1/2, respectively. The hardness of the obtained boron-rich SiBN samples is stable up to 300 °C. In addition, the oxidation behavior of the samples prepared at 1400 and 1600 °C was investigated at 1400 °C for 50 h. The results show that the incorporation of boron significantly improved the oxidation resistance of the samples because of the formation of borosilicate/cristobalite. This work provides guidance for the synthesis of boron-containing α/β-Si3N4-based ceramics with excellent mechanical properties and oxidation resistance.

LTE-Unlicensed (LTE-U) network is a type of cellular communication network operating the unlicensed spectrum. Offloading cellular traffic to WiFi or Device-to-Device (D2D) network can lead to interference among them. Applying Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) technology in Cellular Base Station (CBS) and WiFi Access Point (WAP) can effectively reduce interference among D2D, WiFi and cellular networks. To our best knowledge, there is still no literature to explicitly study the characteristics of the traffic offloading in the Multiple-User MIMO (MU-MIMO) enabled network coexisting with D2D and WiFi networks. In this article, we thoroughly investigate the impact of D2D communication and MU-MIMO enabled WAP and CBS on the performance of the LTE-U network. More specifically, we derive the expressions of the downlink rates for cellular users, D2D users, and WiFi users with incomplete Channel State Information (CSI) feedback, and we validate our analysis through Monte-Carlo simulation. Numerous results illustrate the following conclusions. (i) Increasing the number of WiFi users, the length of CSI feedback, and the quantity of D2D pairs that reuse the channel with a single cellular user can increase the total throughput of the heterogeneous network. (ii) The total throughput decreases when more than two users are offloaded to D2D pairs, and increases as the number of offloaded users increases when less than six users are offloaded to WiFi network. (iii) Simultaneously offloading traffic to D2D pairs and WiFi network can obtain higher total throughput than offloading traffic to only one of them.

Bladder cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in the urinary system. There are a large number of bladder cancer patients globally, concentrated in the middle-aged and old-aged population, and some of them are first diagnosed with muscle invasive bladder cancer or metastatic bladder cancer, with a poor prognosis. In China, bladder cancer has become one of the most important tumors of the urinary system, with its incidence and mortality increasing year by year. The susceptibility of bladder cancer is affected by a combination of environmental and genetic factors, similar to the global trend. Smoking is considered to be one of the most important environmental risk factors for bladder cancer, which is closely related to the pathogenesis of bladder cancer and is one of the major public health problems in China. In terms of genetics, previous studies have shown that polymorphisms in cell cycle regulatory genes, tumor angiogenesis regulatory genes, DNA damage repair genes, and carcinogen metabolism enzyme regulatory genes can significantly affect the risk of bladder cancer in individuals. In recent years, with the development of environmental genomics research, the joint effect of smoking and gene variants on the susceptibility to bladder cancer has also received widespread attention. Exploring the joint effects will help to identify potential susceptibility biomarkers of bladder cancer and provide an important theoretical basis for its prevention and control. In this review, the joint effects of smoking and gene variants on bladder cancer susceptibility were elaborated.

Abstract A conditional generative adversarial network (CGAN) framework is proposed to address the issue of incomplete circular synthetic aperture radar (CSAR) azimuthal information due to motion errors. Specifically, the authors propose a novel CGAN architecture that can control the azimuth angle for arbitrary angle generation, capable of complementing missing CSAR sub‐aperture information. The network incorporates angular labels for various scenarios and integrates a dynamic region‐aware convolution (DRconv) module. Additionally, to counteract the common challenge of mode collapse in GAN training, a mode seeking regularisation technique is innovativrly introduced into the authors’ loss function. The efficacy of the proposed network is rigorously tested using both the MSTAR dataset and an X‐band SAR dataset. The results demonstrate that the authors’ network can generate high‐fidelity SAR images with controllable azimuths, closely resembling authentic images. Furthermore, the proposed method excels in complementing missing CSAR sub‐aperture information, effectively supplying the lost angular information due to motion errors. A new technical approach for SAR image generation is not only offered but it also has the potential to significantly expand SAR datasets. This advancement is expected to enhance the quality and utility of SAR imagery in applications such as surveillance, reconnaissance, and environmental monitoring.

Abstract Background Lung cancer continues to pose a serious risk to human health. With a high mortality rate, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the major type of lung cancer, making up to 85% of all cases of lung cancer. Lung adenocarcinoma (AC), and lung squamous cell carcinoma (SC) are the two primary types of NSCLC. Determining the pathological type of NSCLC is important in establishing the most effective treatment method. Dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) multi-parameter imaging is an imaging technology that provides accurate and reliable disease diagnosis, and its uses are utilized for the combined diagnostic efficacy of AC and SC. The purpose of this study was to investigate the diagnostic value of spectral parameters of DECT in efficacy to AC and SC, and their combined diagnostic efficacy was also analyzed. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of clinical and imaging data for 36 patients diagnosed with SC and 35 patients with AC. These patients underwent preoperative DECT chest scans, encompassing both arterial and venous phases, at our hospital from December 2020 to April 2022. The tumor diameter, water concentration (WC), iodine concentration (IC), normalized iodine concentration (NIC), Z effective (Zeff), and slope of the curve (K) in lesions were evaluated during two scanning phases in the two separate pathological types of lung cancers. The differences in parameters between these two types of lung cancers were statistically analyzed. In addition, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were performed for these parameters to distinguish between SC and AC. Results In a univariate analysis involving 71 lung cancer patients, the results from Zeff, IC, NIC, and K from the AC’s arterial and venous phase images were more elevated than those from the SC (P

Abstract Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a prevalent and fatal malignancy with a significant global impact. Recent advancements have introduced targeted therapies like tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) such as osimertinib, which have improved patient outcomes, particularly in those with EGFR mutations. Despite these advancements, acquired resistance to TKIs remains a significant challenge. Hence, one of the current research priorities is understanding the resistance mechanisms and identifying new therapeutic targets to improve therapeutic efficacy. Herein, we identified high expression of c-Met in osimertinib-resistant NSCLC cells, and depletion of c-Met significantly inhibited the proliferation of osimertinib-resistant cells and prolonged survival in mice, suggesting c-Met as an attractive therapeutic target. To identify effective anti-tumor agents targeting c-Met, we screened a compound library containing 641 natural products and found that only xanthohumol exhibited potent inhibitory effects against osimertinib-resistant NSCLC cells. Moreover, combination treatment with xanthohumol and osimertinib sensitized osimertinib-resistant NSCLC cells to osimertinib both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, xanthohumol disrupted the interaction between USP9X and Ets-1, and inhibited the phosphorylation of Ets-1 at Thr38, promoting its degradation, thereby targeting the Ets-1/c-Met signaling axis and inducing intrinsic apoptosis in osimertinib-resistant NSCLC cells. Overall, the research highlights the critical role of targeting c-Met to address osimertinib resistance in NSCLC. By demonstrating the efficacy of xanthohumol in overcoming resistance and enhancing therapeutic outcomes, this study provides valuable insights and potential new strategies for improving the clinical management of NSCLC.

Abstract Background Observational studies have indicated that breakfast skipping and gut microbiome dysbiosis are associated with a higher risk of major depressive disorder (MDD). However, it remains unknown whether the alteration of gut microbes is implicated in the associations between breakfast skipping and MDD. Methods Leveraging genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on breakfast skipping, gut microbes, and MDD, we conducted a two-step Mendelian randomization (MR) study to determine the causal associations between breakfast skipping (N = 193,860) and MDD (N = 1,815,091), and evaluate the role of gut microbes (N = 18,340). Genetic variants with a P-value less than 5E-08 were selected as instrumental variables (IVs). The false discovery rate (FDR) method was employed to correct the P-values for multiple tests in gut microbes. Results Breakfast skipping was associated with an increased risk of MDD (odds ratio [OR] = 1.36, 95%CI = 1.12–1.65, P = 0.002), but no effect of MDD on breakfast skipping was observed (β per doubling odds of MDD =-0.001, 95%CI=-0.024 to 0.023, P = 0.957). After adjusting for multiple comparisons, the MR analysis provided little evidence for an association between breakfast skipping and the abundance of any gut microbes (PFDR>0.05). Among the 21 gut microbes with IVs available, only the abundance of Class Actinobacteria was causally associated with a reduced risk of MDD (OR = 0.85, 95%CI = 0.75–0.97, PFDR=0.015). Conclusions Our findings demonstrated that breakfast skipping was associated with an increased risk of MDD, but provided little evidence supporting the role of the abundance of gut microbes in it. Further efforts with a large sample size are warranted to clarify the findings.

Abstract Osteoarthritis (OA) is an age-related cartilage-degenerating joint disease. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been reported to promote the development of OA. Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase family member 12 (PARP12) is a key regulator of mitochondrial function, protein translation, and inflammation. However, the role of PARP12 in OA-based cartilage degradation and the underlying mechanisms are relatively unknown. Here, we first demonstrated that PARP12 inhibits mitophagy and promotes OA progression in human OA cartilage and a monosodium iodoacetate-induced rat OA model. Using mass spectrometry and co-immunoprecipitation assay, PARP12 was shown to interact with ISG15, upregulate mitofusin 1 and 2 (MFN1/2) ISGylation, which downregulated MFN1/2 ubiquitination and SUMOylation, thereby inhibiting PINK1/Parkin-dependent chondrocyte mitophagy and promoting cartilage degradation. Moreover, inflammatory cytokine-induced interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1) activation was required for the upregulation of PARP12 expression, and it directly bound to the PARP12 promoter to activate transcription. XAV-939 inhibited PARP12 expression and suppressed OA pathogenesis in vitro and in vivo. Clinically, PARP12 can be used to predict the severity of OA; thus, it represents a new target for the study of mitophagy and OA progression. In brief, the IRF1-mediated upregulation of PARP12 promoted cartilage degradation by inhibiting PINK1/Parkin-dependent mitophagy via ISG15-based attenuation of MFN1/2 ubiquitylation and SUMOylation. Our data provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying PARP12-based regulation of mitophagy and can facilitate the development of therapeutic strategies for the treatment of OA.

Abstract Background Amorphophallus konjac (A. konjac), a perennial tuberous plant, is widely cultivated for its high konjac glucomannan (KGM) content, a heteropolysaccharide with diverse applications. The cellulose synthase-like (CSL) gene family is known to be a group of processive glycan synthases involved in the synthesis of cell-wall polysaccharides and plays an important role in the biological process of KGM. However, in A. konjac the classification, structure, and function of the AkCSLA superfamily have been studied very little. Results Bioinformatics methods were used to identify the 11 AkCSLA genes from the whole genome of Amorphophallus konjac and to systematically analyze their characteristics, phylogenetic evolution, promoter cis-elements, expression patterns, and subcellular locations. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the AkCSLA gene family can be divided into three subfamilies (Groups I- III), which have close relationships with Arabidopsis. The promoters of most AkCSLA family members contain MBS elements and ABA response elements. Analysis of expression patterns in different tissues showed that most AkCSLAs are highly expressed in the corms. Notably, PEG6000 induced down-regulation of the expression of most AkCSLAs, including AkCSLA11. Subcellular localization results showed that AkCSLA11 was localized to the plasma membrane, Golgi apparatus and endoplasmic reticulum. Transgenic Arabidopsis experiments demonstrated that overexpression of AkCSLA11 reduced the plant’s drought tolerance. This overexpression also inhibited the expression of drought response genes and altered the sugar components of the cell wall. These findings provide new insights into the response mechanisms of A. konjac to drought stress and may offer potential genetic resources for improving crop drought resistance. Conclusion In conclusion, the study reveals that the AkCSLA11 gene from A. konjac negatively impacts drought tolerance when overexpressed in Arabidopsis. This discovery provides valuable insights into the mechanisms of plant response to drought stress and may guide future research on crop improvement for enhanced resilience.

Abstract Severe psoriasis has a long course and poor outcome, and it has long been a problem for patients. Understanding the independent risk factors that contribute to patients with severe psoriasis is critical for the development of effective treatment strategies. This large, multicenter study recruited 2,109 plaque psoriasis patients from 12 hospitals across China (October 31, 2019 – May 31, 2022). The logistic regression model underwent internal validation and external validation using two independent cohorts over future time periods (June 1, 2022 – January 31, 2023). The discriminative power of our model was substantiated by a C-index of 0.863 (95% CI: 0.848–0.879) in internal validation, further affirmed through 1,000 bootstrap validation (C-index: 0.860, 95% CI: 0.836–0.885) and external validation cohorts, where the C-index reached up to 0.910 (95% CI: 0.868–0.953) and 0.951 (95% CI: 0.924–0.977) in 2 external validation cohorts. To enhance accessibility for clinicians, the model has been made available as a dynamic nomogram and QR code. Our study identified 10 risk factors (the “DELPHI” consensus dichotomy, the DLQI index, the extent of skin involvement as measured by body surface area, the age of the patient at the time of clinical visit, sex, body weight in kilograms, career, the presence of scalp involvement, facial involvement, and arthropathy) for the overall severity of psoriasis (PASI ≥ 10). “Nomogram-10” provides clinicians with a practical tool to develop personalized intervention strategies based on an individual’s risk profile. Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR1900024852.

Abstract Two correspondences raised concerns or comments about our analyses regarding exaggerated false positives found by differential expression (DE) methods. Here, we discuss the points they raise and explain why we agree or disagree with these points. We add new analysis to confirm that the Wilcoxon rank-sum test remains the most robust method compared to the other five DE methods (DESeq2, edgeR, limma-voom, dearseq, and NOISeq) in two-condition DE analyses after considering normalization and winsorization, the data preprocessing steps discussed in the two correspondences.

Abstract Evolutionary dynamics of inversion and its impact on biochemical traits are a puzzling question. Here, we show abundance of inversions in three Curcuma species (turmeric, hidden ginger and Siam tulip). Genes within inversions display higher long terminal repeat content and lower expression level compared with genomic background, suggesting inversions in Curcuma experience relaxed genetic constraints. It is corroborated by depletion of selected SNPs and enrichment of deleterious mutations in inversions detected among 56 Siam tulip cultivars. Functional verification of tandem duplicated terpene synthase (TPS) genes reveals that genes within inversions become pseudogenes, while genes outside retain catalytic function. Our findings suggest that inversions act as a counteracting force against tandem duplication in balancing birth and death of TPS genes and modulating terpenoid contents in Curcuma. This study provides an empirical example that inversions are likely not adaptive but affect biochemical traits.

Abstract Background Accurate differentiation between malignant and benign pulmonary nodules, especially those measuring 5–10 mm in diameter, continues to pose a significant diagnostic challenge. This study introduces a novel, precise approach by integrating circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) methylation patterns, protein profiling, and computed tomography (CT) imaging features to enhance the classification of pulmonary nodules. Methods Blood samples were collected from 419 participants diagnosed with pulmonary nodules ranging from 5 to 30 mm in size, before any disease-altering procedures such as treatment or surgical intervention. High-throughput bisulfite sequencing was used to conduct DNA methylation profiling, while protein profiling was performed utilizing the Olink proximity extension assay. The dataset was divided into a training set and an independent test set. The training set included 162 matched cases of benign and malignant nodules, balanced for sex and age. In contrast, the test set consisted of 46 benign and 49 malignant nodules. By effectively integrating both molecular (DNA methylation and protein profiling) and CT imaging parameters, a sophisticated deep learning-based classifier was developed to accurately distinguish between benign and malignant pulmonary nodules. Results Our results demonstrate that the integrated model is both accurate and robust in distinguishing between benign and malignant pulmonary nodules. It achieved an AUC score 0.925 (sensitivity = 83.7%, specificity = 82.6%) in classifying test set. The performance of the integrated model was significantly higher than that of individual methylation (AUC = 0.799, P = 0.004), protein (AUC = 0.846, P = 0.009), and imaging models (AUC = 0.866, P = 0.01). Importantly, the integrated model achieved a higher AUC of 0.951 (sensitivity = 83.9%, specificity = 89.7%) in 5–10 mm small nodules. These results collectively confirm the accuracy and robustness of our model in detecting malignant nodules from benign ones. Conclusions Our study presents a promising noninvasive approach to distinguish the malignancy of pulmonary nodules using multiple molecular and imaging features, which has the potential to assist in clinical decision-making. Trial registration: This study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov on 01/01/2020 (NCT05432128). https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05432128 .

Abstract SS18-SSX onco-fusion protein formed through aberrant chromosomal translocation t (X, 18; p11, q11), is the hallmark and plays a critical role in synovial sarcomagenesis. The recent works indicated that both the pathological SS18-SSX tumorigenic fusion and the corresponding intrinsic physiological SS18 protein can form condensates but appear to have disparate properties. The underlying regulatory mechanism and the consequent biological significance remain largely unknown. We show that the physical properties of oncogenic fusion protein SS18-SSX condensates within cells undergo alterations compared to the proto-oncogene protein SS18. By small-molecule screening and mutant assay, we identified the recognition of H2AK119ub histone modification could account for the distinctive properties of SS18-SSX1 condensates. Notably, we show that SS18-SSX1 condensates have impact on SS18 condensates and hijack that in a phase separation manner, resulting in the relocation of protein SS18 to the H2AK119ub modification targeted by SS18-SSX1. Consequently, this leads to the downregulation of tumor suppressor genes occupied by SS18 physiologically, like CAV1 and DAB2. These results reveal the underlying mechanism of genomic disorder and tumorigenesis caused by the remodeling of oncoprotein SS18-SSX1 condensates at the macroscopic level.

Abstract Background Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection has garnered significant attention due to its high prevalence and association with various cancers and other health conditions. Composite lifestyle factors may influence the risk of HPV infection, yet their cumulative impact remains insufficiently explored. This study aims to explore the association between the Life’s Essential 8 (LE8) Score and HPV infection status, highlighting the potential role of lifestyle and health behaviors in HPV infection prevention. Methods Utilizing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning 2005–2016, we analyzed the health and nutritional statuses of 6,773 participants after excluding those with missing HPV infection status, inability to calculate the LE8 Score, and missing covariate data. The LE8 Score was computed based on eight cardiovascular health metrics, encompassing both health factors (BMI, non-HDL cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood glucose) and health behaviors (physical activity, diet, sleep duration, and nicotine exposure). HPV infection status was determined through vaginal swab specimens analyzed using various Roche assays. Multivariate logistic regression, the restricted cubic splines (RCS) analysis and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression were employed to assess the association between LE8 Score and HPV infection risk. Results Our findings indicate a significant inverse association between the LE8 Score and HPV infection risk. Participants with medium and high LE8 Scores exhibited a 21% and 31% lower risk of HPV infection, respectively, compared to those with low LE8 Scores in multivariate logistic regression models. The analysis also revealed that lifestyle factors, particularly nicotine exposure and blood pressure, significantly contributed to the observed association. Conclusion The study underscores the importance of healthy lifestyle behaviors in reducing the risk of HPV infection. Public health strategies promoting such behaviors could complement existing HPV prevention measures, potentially lowering the burden of HPV-related diseases. Future research should further investigate the mechanisms underlying this association and the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions in diverse populations.

This study intended to explore college students’ cognition and attitudes towards connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) in China. A comprehensive questionnaire was designed and distributed in Mainland China, and after collecting and processing the data, Bayesian multivariate analysis was presented to evaluate the six dimensions of cognition, consciousness, safety, privacy, liability, education and acceptance. By analysing each dimension, the results show that gender and status are significant for consciousness, safety, privacy and education, but location plays a significant role in safety and liability. It is found that each dimension reveals a specific thought of college students, and the potential users’ cognition and attitude should be paid more attention to. Some empirical suggestions are presented to enhance the systematic improvement of CAVs and possible ethics issues.

Small animal PET/MRI is an integrated imaging device that combines the high-performance molecular imaging function of PET with the excellent soft tissue contrast function of MRI，offering unique advantages and significant application value in drug development and evaluation，pharmacology，and mechanistic studies of diseases. To verify the feasibility and accuracy of this device in quantitative analysis，this study evaluated the linear detection range，stability，and quantitative performance of the Bruker BioSpec 94/30 USR + PET insert for 18F. High-resolution MRI images were utilized to remove interference from factors such as the gallbladder and blood vessels，ensuring accurate in vivo quantification in animals. The results demonstrate that the Bruker BioSpec 94/30 USR + PET insert small animal PET/MRI system exhibits excellent linearity (R2=0.9992) within the activity range of 1-1500 μCi，good reproducibility，and accurate in vivo quantitative performance. This provides reliable data for subsequent studies utilizing the Bruker BioSpec 94/30 USR + PET insert for in vivo visualization，distribution，metabolism，and pharmacodynamic evaluation of nuclear tracers.

Abstract The impact force of debris flow is not only an important indicator of the risk assessment of debris flow and the strength impact resistance of buildings against debris flow, but also an important parameter in the design of various debris flow prevention projects (such as the check dam and the drainage channel, etc.). The pressure sensors are arranged at different positions (monitoring points) on the upstream face of the check dam. By changing the slope of the drainage channel, the bulk density of debris flow and the slope gradient of the upstream face of the check dam, the time history curves of the impact force at the monitoring points under different experiment conditions are obtained. The characteristic value of the impact force of debris flow acting on the surface of the sand retaining dam is analyzed, and the evolution law of mean value and maximum value of impact force of debris flow at the same detection location with the above conditions is obtained. The mean value and maximum value of debris flow impact force at different detection locations under the same working condition are analyzed to obtain the evolution law of debris flow impact force at different locations, and then the distribution trend of debris flow impact force on the upstream face of the check dam is obtained. The research results provide scientific and reasonable theoretical basis and technical support for the stability analysis of the check dam, so as to better serve the disaster prevention and reduction of debris flow, which will improve the technical level of the debris flow prevention project to a certain extent.

Abstract Currently, despite the vast amounts of time and money invested in cancer treatment, cancer remains one of the primary threats to human life. The primary factor contributing to the low treatment efficacy is cancer heterogeneity. The unclear molecular mechanisms underlying tumorigenesis, coupled with the complexity of human physiology, and the inability of animal models to accurately replicate the human tumor microenvironment, pose significant hurdles in the development of novel cancer therapies. Tumor-microenvironment-on-chip (TMOC) represents a research platform that integrates three-dimensional cell culture with microfluidic systems, simulating the essential components and physiological traits of the in vivo tumor microenvironment. It offers a dynamic setting within the chip system to study tumor progression, potentially heralding a breakthrough in cancer research. In this review, we will summarize the current advancements in this platform, encompassing various types of TMOCs and their applications in different types of cancer. From our perspective, the TMOC platform necessitates enhanced integration with tissue engineering techniques and microphysiological environments before it can evolve into a more refined preclinical model for cancer research.

Abstract Accumulating evidence supports that glucocorticoid treatment for viral pneumonia (VPA) can shorten the disease course and improve survival. However, currently, the use of glucocorticoids in treating VPA remains controversial. Moreover, a unified standard for the dosage and duration of glucocorticoid therapy has not been presented in published articles. A retrospective analysis was conducted in patients who were hospitalized for severe influenza virus-associated pneumonia, and they received sequential treatment with high-dose glucocorticoids and short-course oral glucocorticoids. Patients were followed up for 3 months. A total of 11 patients were included in the study (average age 56 years). There was no gender difference, but age and underlying diseases could be risk factors for severe influenza virus-associated pneumonia. The types of viruses causing pneumonia included influenza A/B. The main clinical symptoms of patients were fever, cough, sputum production, and dyspnea. Chest computed tomography showed multiple ground-glass shadows in the lobes, and the presence of bacterial and fungal infections was accompanied by consolidation shadows. After glucocorticoid therapy, the symptoms improved. None of the patients underwent tracheal intubation, and all survived. After a 3-month follow-up, lung CT absorption in all patients had reached more than 80%, and lung imaging absorption in 20% patients was complete. No serious complications occurred in any of the patients. Sequential treatment with high-dose steroids and short-course oral glucocorticoids may be helpful for reducing the tracheal intubation rate and mortality rate in patients with severe influenza virus-associated pneumonia. Additionally, short-course oral glucocorticoids may reduce pulmonary fibrosis in patients with severe influenza virus-associated pneumonia without any serious complications.

Abstract Background Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome is a rare neurological syndrome that refers to reversible subcortical vasogenic brain edema disorder in patients with acute neurological symptoms. Case presentation Whether there is a direct causal relationship between pancreatitis and posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome needs further study. We here report a 39-year-old Chinese woman who was diagnosed with pancreatitis followed by vision disturbance. The patient was finally diagnosed with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome. On the basis of this rare case, we analyzed the causes of visual disturbance and proposed diagnostic ideas. Conclusions For posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, early identification and treatment of the primary disease are particularly important. Imaging and clinical characteristics in posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome are usually reversible.

Abstract Landscape fragmentation is statistically correlated with both increases and decreases in wildfire burned area (BA). These different directions-of-impact are not mechanistically understood. Here, road density, a land fragmentation proxy, is implemented in a CMIP6 coupled land-fire model, to represent fragmentation edge effects on fire-relevant environmental variables. Fragmentation caused modelled BA changes of over ±10% in 16% of [0.5°] grid-cells. On average, more fragmentation decreased net BA globally (−1.5%), as estimated empirically. However, in recently-deforested tropical areas, fragmentation drove observationally-consistent BA increases of over 20%. Globally, fragmentation-driven fire BA decreased with increasing population density, but was a hump-shaped function of it in forests. In some areas, fragmentation-driven decreases in BA occurred alongside higher-intensity fires, suggesting the decoupling of fire severity traits. This mechanistic model provides a starting point for quantifying policy-relevant fragmentation-fire impacts, whose results suggest future forest degradation may shift fragmentation from net global fire inhibitor to net fire driver.

In this article, a single-board integrated millimeter-wave (mm-Wave) asymmetric full-digital beamforming (AFDBF) array is developed for beyond-fifth-generation (B5G) and sixth-generation (6G) communications. The proposed integrated array effectively addresses the challenge of arranging a large number of ports in a full-digital array by designing vertical connections in a three-dimensional space and successfully integrating full-digital transmitting (Tx) and receiving (Rx) arrays independently in a single board. Unlike the traditional symmetric array, the proposed asymmetric array is composed of an 8 × 8 Tx array arranged in a square shape and an 8 + 8 Rx array arranged in an L shape. The center-to-center distance between two adjacent elements is 0.54λ0 for both the Tx and Rx arrays, where λ0 is the free-space wavelength at 27 GHz. The proposed AFDBF array possesses a more compact structure and lower system hardware cost and power consumption compared with conventional brick-type full-digital arrays. In addition, the energy efficiency of the proposed AFDBF array outperforms that of a hybrid beamforming array. The measurement results indicate that the operating frequency band of the proposed array is 24.25–29.50 GHz. An eight-element linear array within the Tx array can achieve a scanning angle ranging from −47° to +47° in both the azimuth and the elevation planes, and the measured scanning range of each eight-element Rx array is –45° to +45°. The measured maximum effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) of the eight-element Tx array is 43.2 dBm at 28.0 GHz (considering the saturation point). Furthermore, the measured error vector magnitude (EVM) is less than 3% when 64-quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) waveforms are used.

Mpox is a zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV). Diagnosing and treating the disease has become a global health concern requiring close attention to its spread to non-endemic regions. Clinical diagnosis is based on laboratory test results. Conventional detection techniques include real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), genome sequencing, antigen and antibody identification, and virus isolation. Nevertheless, these methods fall short of rapidly and efficiently identifying MPXV, as they require specialized training, specific laboratory environments, and professional-grade equipment. Emerging technologies offer complementary advantages to meet diverse diagnostic needs, including various point-of-care testing (POCT) approaches and integrating biosensors with rapid detection techniques. This review discusses prospective future research avenues for MPXV detection, examining the advances and challenges of various detection techniques which may contribute to the ongoing elimination of mpox human-to-human transmission and serves as a reference for developing effective prevention and control strategies.

While Ginsenoside Re has been shown to protect the central nervous system, reports of its effects on memory in the model of scopolamine-induced memory impairment are rare. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Ginsenoside Re on scopolamine (SCOP)-induced memory damage and the mechanism of action. Male ICR mice were treated with SCOP (3 mg/kg) for 7 days and with or without Ginsenoside Re for 14 days. As evidenced by behavioral studies (escape latency and cross platform position), brain tissue morphology, and oxidative stress indicators after Ginsenoside Re treatment, the memory damage caused by SCOP was significantly ameliorated. Further mechanism research indicated that Ginsenoside Re inhibited cell apoptosis by regulating the PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 pathway, thereby exerting a cognitive impairment improvement effect. This research suggests that Ginsenoside Re could protect against SCOP-induced memory defects possibly through inhibiting oxidative stress and cell apoptosis.

Abstract The rapid advancements in information technology and intelligent systems within urban rail transit (URT) systems have highlighted the need for more personalized route recommendations that consider passengers’ travel habits. This study aims to address this issue by investigating passenger travel routes alongside other passengers who share similar travel preferences, utilizing collaborative filtering (CF) techniques. The approach involves analyzing historical card data to assess passenger travel profiles, including actual travel time under crowded conditions. By considering both individual passenger preferences and the preferences of similar passengers, a CF algorithm is employed to offer personalized route recommendations. The Shenzhen metro is used as a case study to illustrate the proposed method. The results demonstrate that the proposed approach surpasses traditional route recommendation methods by providing tailored suggestions that align more closely with passengers’ travel preferences. These findings emphasize the value of incorporating passenger travel preferences into route recommendation models, thereby enhancing the accuracy and effectiveness of personalized route recommendations within URT systems.

In recent years, the shift toward renewable energy in China’s power industry has been remarkable, with the installed capacity of renewables surpassing that of coal-fired power. Among these, wind power output plays a pivotal role, although it is characterized by its strong randomness and volatility. Traditional prediction methods fall short as they cannot provide comprehensive probability distribution information on the wind power output. To bridge this gap, quantile prediction methods have emerged as superior options for achieving reliable wind power output predictions, which are crucial for the safe and stable operation of power grid systems. To address the inherent unpredictability of wind power, this study introduces a quantile regression method based on Copula (QCopula). The Copula function captures the correlation between the marginal distribution functions of the random variables and their joint distribution function. The process begins with selecting an optimal Copula function using the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC). This function elucidates the relationship between wind power and wind speed, enabling the expression of the conditional probability distribution function of power. By considering different conditional probability values, we obtained wind power prediction results at different quantiles, leading to interval prediction results across different confidence intervals. These results were compared with three traditional quantile regression methods (Quantile Regression (QR), Quantile regression Random Forests (QRF), and Quantile regression Long Short-Term Memory (QLSTM)) using three elevation metrics: Predictive Interval Coverage Probability (PICP), Predictive Interval Normalized Average Width (PINAW), and Corrected Predictive Interval Accuracy (CPIA). This comparison was aimed at evaluating the interval prediction accuracy of the four quantile regression methods. Finally, the crossover of the quantile curves for each method was analyzed. A case study was conducted at a wind power plant in Gansu Province, utilizing wind speed and power data (measured in MW at 15-minute intervals) from September 2022 to June 2023. With 29088 sample points in total, the data were divided into training, validating and testing sets in an 6∶2∶2 ratio. The training set facilitated model development through various quantile regression methods, the validating set was used for model parameterization, whereas the testing was used to evaluate the accuracy of each model. The results showed that the QCopula consistently outperformed the other methods across different confidence intervals, with its modified prediction interval accuracy ranging between 0.701 and 0.773. On average, it exceeded QR, QRF, and QLSTM by 15%, 9%, and 13%, respectively. Notably, the QCopula maintained a consistent increase in the predicted power values for each sample point with probability, without any instances of quantile crossing, a common issue observed in QR, QRF, and QLSTM. In summary, the QCopula offers narrower interval widths and higher interval coverage without the drawback of quantile curve crossing, thereby ensuring higher reliability.

TNM(Ti–43Al–4Nb–1Mo–0.1B) titanium aluminum alloy has low density, excellent mechanical properties at high temperatures, and good deformation ability at high temperatures and is applied as a new-generation aeroengine low-pressure turbine blade material. Its long-term service temperature can reach approximately 750 ℃. In this paper, a TiAl alloy with a nominal composition of Ti–43Al–4Nb–1Mo–0.1B (atom fraction, %) was prepared using the vacuum induction levitation melting method. Oxygenation samples with dimensions of 10 mm×10 mm×5 mm were fabricated using electrical discharge wire cutting. After sandpaper polishing, the surface of the samples was selected for oxidation testing in air at two different temperatures of 700 ℃ and 760 ℃ for nine oxidation time points of 1–200 h using a muffle furnace. A systematic investigation was performed on the oxidation behavior of the TNM alloy at different temperatures and time exposures by characterizing its surface morphology and surface and cross-sectional oxide composition using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Results revealed that at 700 ℃ and 760 ℃, the TNM alloy displays complete oxidation resistance and antioxidation levels and the weight gain rate of the sample at 760 ℃ is 0.1956 g·m−2·h−1, which is much higher than that at 700 ℃. At 700 ℃, the TNM alloy initially forms TiO2 during the early stage of oxidation, followed by a gradual increase in Al2O3 until it covers the entire sample. After 200 h of oxidation, the predominant surface oxides on the alloy were Al2O3 with small amounts of MoO2 and MoO3, which exhibited excellent oxidation resistance. At 760 ℃, the alloy forms unstable oxide compounds of Al and Ti during the initial stage of oxidation, and the growth rate of TiO2 is faster, destroying the continuous and dense Al2O3 layer on the surface and making the matrix more easily oxidized. After 200 h of oxidation, the predominant oxide on the surface is mainly TiO2 with small amounts of MoO2, MoO3, and other molybdenum oxides, with the oxidized surface of the TNM alloy exhibiting a typical multilayer structure of a TiO2 layer (outermost layer) + an Al2O3 layer + a mixed layer (consisting of Ti, O, Nb, Mo) + substrate. Furthermore, the thickness of the oxide layer is significantly greater at 760 ℃ than at 700 ℃.