Search

Shell and tube heat exchangers (STHE) are essential thermal equipment and widely used in daily life. A novel thermosyphon system called falling-film thermosyphon (FFTS) is introduced and integrated into STHE system, resulting in a better thermal performance. In this study, a rectangular solid tube bank of FFTS bundles with a baffle design is studied. The numerical simulation for heat and mass transfer of the FFTS heat exchanger is developed to predict the condensation rate of the vapor in the flue gas, and a lab-scale prototype is also built up in COMSOL. The prediction is validated with the experimental data from references, and the model's accuracy is verified within 10%-12% error. Also, the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm, version 2 (NSGA-II) is implemented to improve the thermal performance of rectangular tube banks in this paper. Several parameters, e.g., baffle number, tube number, and tube space, are optimized. As a result, compact configurations with more baffles are preferred to enhance the performance associated with a high-pressure drop correspondingly. The optimized layout for the lab-scale prototype can increase by 18 to 32% condensation with a pressure loss of less than 200 Pa.

A study on Platydracus species of Hainan Province, China is presented. Platydracus hainanensis sp. nov., Platydracus aureolus sp. nov. and Platydracus zhouchenglini sp. nov. are described as new species. Platydracus marmorellus Fauvel, 1895 and Platydracus subirideus Kraatz, 1859 are recorded from China for the first time. Habitus and diagnostic characters of all species are photographed, and a key to Platydracus species of Hainan is provided.

Five species of Apatetica Westwood, 1848 from China are recorded and illustrated: Apatetica angusticollis sp. nov. from Sichuan, A. confusa Assing, 2018 from Yunnan, A. intermedia Cameron, 1930 from Sichuan, A. laevicollis Fauvel, 1904 from Guangdong and Guangxi, and A. sikkimi Fauvel, 1895 from Xizang. The last four are new to China. The new species is described, and a photograph of a living specimen is presented. Apatetica intermedia and A. sikkimi are redescribed and diagnosed. A key to Chinese species of the genus is provided.

Abstract As the primary variable load of bridges, vehicle load is an important parameter for bridge health monitoring. However, traditional Weigh-in-Motion (WIM) systems and the commonly used method of placing sensors on the bridge are challenging to apply in load monitoring for many small and medium-sized bridges. Therefore, this paper proposes a bridge vehicle load identification method based on traffic surveillance video data. Leveraging the surveillance video data on the bridge, without introducing additional hardware devices, the displacement of target points is detected through sub-pixel level image detection algorithms, enabling non-contact measurement of bridge structural response through imaging. A spatiotemporal relationship model of structural displacement, vehicle load, and load distribution is established to solve for vehicle load. Finally, model bridge tests under various loading conditions and engineering practice experiments are conducted to validate the feasibility of the method. The results of the model bridge tests show that the structural displacement measured using traffic video measurement has a deviation of less than 10% compared to the measurements obtained using contact displacement sensors (LVDT), and it can accurately reflect the displacement characteristics of the structure. The results of the field tests demonstrate that the average estimation deviation for heavy vehicle loads ranging from 12 to 18 tons is approximately 18%, meeting the engineering requirements. The proposed method can provide load statistical information for the extensive health monitoring of small and medium-sized bridges and offer a new technical pathway for obtaining bridge load information.

Abstract Objective This study seeks to explore the impact of fast track surgery (FTS) with three-port in patients treated with laparoscopic radical cystectomy and ileal conduit on postoperative recovery, hospital stay and the complications. Methods This retrospective study analyzed 230 patients with invasive bladder cancer who underwent laparoscopic radical cystectomy at the Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University between December 2011 to January 2023. 50 patients received conventional surgery (CS) and 180 patients received FTS with three-port. Patients were assessed for time to normal diet consumption, time to passing first flatus, number of postoperative recovery days and complications. Trends of serum C-reactive protein levels were monitored preoperatively and on postoperative days 1, 3 and 7. Results Patients who underwent FTS with three-port had a shorter duration to first flatus (P

Abstract Stimulated by the recent experimental results on the fully-charm tetraquark states, we systematically calculate the mass spectra of the fully-charm tetraquark states in $$8_{[c\bar{c}]}\otimes 8_{[c\bar{c}]}$$ 8 [ c c ¯ ] ⊗ 8 [ c c ¯ ] color configuration via QCD sum rules. By constructing nine $$8_{[c\bar{c}]}\otimes 8_{[c\bar{c}]}$$ 8 [ c c ¯ ] ⊗ 8 [ c c ¯ ] type currents with quantum numbers $$J^{PC}=0^{-+},0^{--},1^{-+},1^{+-},1^{--}$$ J PC = 0 - + , 0 - - , 1 - + , 1 + - , 1 - - and $$2^{++}$$ 2 + + , we perform analytic calculation up to dimension six in the operator product expansion (OPE). We find the fully-charm tetraquark states with $$J^{PC}=1^{+-},2^{++}$$ J PC = 1 + - , 2 + + lie around 6.48 $$\sim $$ ∼ 6.62 GeV while the fully-charm tetraquark states with $$J^{PC}=0^{-+},0^{--},1^{--},1^{-+}$$ J PC = 0 - + , 0 - - , 1 - - , 1 - + are about 6.85 $$\sim $$ ∼ 7.02 GeV. Notably, the mass predictions for the $$c\bar{c}c\bar{c}$$ c c ¯ c c ¯ tetraquarks, specifically those with $$J^{PC}=2^{++}$$ J PC = 2 + + , align with the broad structure identified by LHCb. Moreover, the masses of fully-charm tetraquarks with $$J^{PC}=0^{-+}$$ J PC = 0 - + and $$1^{-+}$$ 1 - + are anticipated to match closely with the mass of X(6900), considering the margin of error. Such findings hint at the presence of some $$8_{[c\bar{c}]}\otimes 8_{[c\bar{c}]}$$ 8 [ c c ¯ ] ⊗ 8 [ c c ¯ ] components within the di- $$J/\psi $$ J / ψ structures observed by LHCb. The predictions for tetraquark states with $$J^{PC}=0^{--},1^{+-},1^{--}$$ J PC = 0 - - , 1 + - , 1 - - may be accessible in the future BelleII, Super-B, PANDA, and LHCb experiments.

Abstract Calcium oxalate (CaOx) kidney stones are common and recurrent, lacking pharmacological prevention. Randall's plaques (RPs), calcium deposits in renal papillae, serve as niduses for some CaOx stones. This study explores the role of osteogenic‐like cells in RP formation resembling ossification. CaP crystals deposit around renal tubules, interstitium, and blood vessels in RP tissues. Human renal interstitial fibroblasts (hRIFs) exhibit the highest osteogenic‐like differentiation potential compared to chloride voltage‐gated channel Ka positive tubular epithelial cells, aquaporin 2 positive collecting duct cells, and vascular endothelial cells, echoing the upregulated osteogenic markers primarily in hRIFs within RP tissues. Utilizing RNA‐seq, osteomodulin (OMD) is found to be upregulated in hRIFs within RP tissues and hRIFs following osteogenic induction. Furthermore, OMD colocalizes with CaP crystals and calcium vesicles within RP tissues. OMD can enhance osteogenic‐like differentiation of hRIFs in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, crystal deposits are attenuated in mice with Omd deletion in renal interstitial fibroblasts following CaOx nephrocalcinosis induction. Mechanically, a positive feedback loop of OMD/BMP2/BMPR1A/RUNX2/OMD drives hRIFs to adopt osteogenic‐like fates, by which OMD induces osteogenic‐like microenvironment of renal interstitium to participate in RP formation. We identify OMD upregulation as a pathological feature of RP, paving the way for preventing CaOx stones.

The spatial gradients of protein and starch in wheat grains affected the grain milling characteristics and flour utilization. The increase in compound heat stress and drought stress (HDS) due to global climate change threatens wheat grain yield and quality parameters, but the impacts of extreme climate events on the gradients of protein and starch in wheat grains remain unclear. In this study, two-year, environment-controlled experiments with four heat stress levels (17/27, 21/31, 25/35, and 29/39°C) and three drought stress levels (30 %, 55 %, and 75 % field capacity) were conducted to investigate the effects of HDS on the gradients of protein and starch concentrations within the five grain layers. The results showed that HDS resulted in significantly greater protein concentrations, while resulting in lower starch concentrations in the wheat grain layers. Among the five layers, the endosperm layers exhibited the greatest increase in protein concentration under HDS, but the starch concentration under HDS decreased in the order of husk > aleurone > endosperm layer. HDS unevenly altered the protein and starch concentrations of the five grain layers. There was significant linear relationship between relative protein and starch concentration with accumulated heat degree days (AHDD). With a 1°C·d increase in AHDD, the protein concentration in the five grain layers increased by 1.17–2.19 %, while the starch concentration decreased by 0.62–0.90 %, depending on the drought stress levels. A significant linear relationship was also observed between the relative protein and starch concentrations and evapotranspiration (ET). A 1 mm increase in ET led to a protein concentration decrease of 0.58–0.76 % in P1-P5, with a corresponding starch concentration increase of 0.28–0.46 %, depending on cultivar and treatment stages. Our results indicate that HDS significantly impacts the grain quality parameters for the flour milling process and human diet and will provide important insights into adapting wheat quality to climate change.

IntroductionHopea hainanensis Merrill & Chun is considered a keystone and indicator species in the tropical lowland rainforests of Hainan Island. Owing to its high-quality timber, H. hainanensis has been heavily exploited, leading to its classification as a first-class national protected plant in China and a plant species with extremely small populations (PSESPs).MethodsThis study analyzed genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms obtained through restriction site-associated DNA sequencing from 78 adult trees across 10 H. hainanensis populations on Hainan Island.Results and discussionThe nucleotide diversity of the sampled populations ranged from 0.00096 to 0.00138, which is lower than that observed in several other PSESPs and endangered tree species. Bayesian unsupervised clustering, principal component analysis, and neighbor-joining tree reconstruction identified three to five genetic clusters in H. hainanensis, most of which were geographically widespread and shared by multiple populations. Demographic history analysis based on pooled samples indicated that the decline in the H. hainanensis population began approximately 20,000 years ago, starting from an ancestral population size of approximately 10,000 individuals. The reduction in population size accelerated approximately 4,000 years ago and has continued to the present, resulting in a severely reduced population on Hainan Island. Intensified genetic drift in small and isolated H. hainanensis populations may contribute to moderate differentiation between some of them, as revealed by pairwise Fst. In conclusion, our conservation genomic study confirms a severe population decline and an extremely low level of nucleotide variation in H. hainanensis on Hainan Island. These findings provide critical insights for the sustainable management and genetic restoration of H. hainanensis on Hainan Island.

Abstract Due to the high degree of automation, automated guided vehicles (AGVs) have been widely used in many scenarios for transportation, and traditional computing power is stretched in large-scale AGV scheduling. In recent years, quantum computing has shown incomparable performance advantages in solving specific problems, especially Combinatorial optimization problem. In this paper, quantum computing technology is introduced into the study of the AGV scheduling problem. Additionally two types of quadratic unconstrained binary optimisation (QUBO) models suitable for different scheduling objectives are constructed, and the scheduling scheme is coded into the ground state of Hamiltonian operator, and the problem is solved by using optical coherent Ising machine (CIM). The experimental results show that compared with the traditional calculation method, the optical quantum computer can save 92% computation time on average. It has great application potential.

The vertically integrated emission rate, centroid altitude, peak emission rate, and peak height of the hydroxyl (OH) airglow were calculated from Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics (TIMED)/Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) observations to study the seasonal and interannual variations in the intensity and location of the OH emission. The emission rate is inversely proportional to the height of the emission, with the semiannual oscillation dominating at low latitudes and the annual oscillation dominating at higher latitudes. The OH emission is modulated by the quasibiennial oscillation at the equator, and the quasibiennial oscillation signal is weak at other latitudes. We represented the vertical transport of atomic oxygen by using atomic oxygen concentrations obtained from a global atmospheric model, the Specified Dynamics Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model with thermosphere and ionosphere eXtension simulations. Compared with the amplitudes of the migrating diurnal tide (DW1) calculated from temperature data observed by TIMED/SABER, we found that both the vertical transport of atomic oxygen and DW1 amplitudes in the equatorial region exhibit semiannual oscillation and quasibiennial oscillation, which have a strong correlation with the variations in the amplitude and phase of semiannual oscillation and quasibiennial oscillation in OH emission. It is likely that the DW1 affects the vertical transport of atomic oxygen that is involved in the reaction to produce O3, thus affecting the OH emission. We analyzed the relationship between OH emission and solar activity by using the solar radio flux at 10.7 cm as a proxy for solar activity. The results showed that the OH emission is well correlated with solar activity, and the modulation of OH emission by solar activity has a significant latitudinal variation. The small correlation between emission height and solar activity indicates that solar activity modulates OH emission mainly through chemical rather than dynamic processes.

Abstract Background Leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly detrimental occurrence associated with severe neurological disorders, lacking effective treatment currently. Proteolysis-targeting chimeric molecules (PROTACs) may provide new therapeutic avenues for treatment of podophyllotoxin derivatives-resistant SCLC with LM, warranting further exploration. Methods The SCLC cell line H128 expressing luciferase were mutated by MNNG to generate H128-Mut cell line. After subcutaneous inoculation of H128-Mut into nude mice, H128-LM and H128-BPM (brain parenchymal metastasis) cell lines were primarily cultured from LM and BPM tissues individually, and employed to in vitro drug testing. The SCLC-LM mouse model was established by inoculating H128-LM into nude mice via carotid artery and subjected to in vivo drug testing. RNA-seq and immunoblotting were conducted to uncover the molecular targets for LM. Results The SCLC-LM mouse model was successfully established, confirmed by in vivo live imaging and histological examination. The upregulated genes included EZH2, SLC44A4, VEGFA, etc. in both BPM and LM cells, while SLC44A4 was particularly upregulated in LM cells. When combined with PROTAC EZH2 degrader-1, the drug sensitivity of cisplatin, etoposide (VP16), and teniposide (VM26) for H128-LM was significantly increased in vitro. The in vivo drug trials with SCLC-LM mouse model demonstrated that PROTAC EZH2 degrader-1 plus VM26 or cisplatin/ VP16 inhibited H128-LM tumour significantly compared to VM26 or cisplatin/ VP16 alone (P

Abstract The spatiotemporal extension/expansion of mine areas is affected by multiple factors. So far, very little has been done to examine the interaction between mine areas and political or economic realities. The (ultra‐)mafic magmatic mines in China played a specific role in supporting national development and providing an ideal research subject for monitoring their interrelationship. In this study, remote sensing and mining‐related GIS data were used to identify and analyze 1233 (ultra‐)mafic magmatic mine area polygons in China, which covered approximately 322.96 km2 of land and included a V–Ti–Fe mine, a copper–nickel mine, a chromite mine, an asbestos mine, and a diamond mine. It was found that (1) the areal expansion of mines is significantly related to the mine types, perimeter, topography, and population density. (2) The mine area variation also reflects market and policy realities. The temporal expansion of the mine area from 2010 to 2020 followed an S‐shaped pattern (with the turning point occurring in 2014), closely related to iron overcapacity and tightened mining policies. (3) The complexity (D) of the mine area may reflect mine design and excavation practices. To be specific, lower D indicates early‐stage or artisanal/small‐scale mining, whereas higher D represents large‐scale mining. This study demonstrates that the detailed mapping of mine land can serve as an indicator to implement mining‐related market and policy changes. The (ultra‐)mafic mines area data set can be accessed at https://zenodo.org/record/7636616#.Y-p0uXaZOa0.

Abstract Background The aim of the study was to investigate whether the expression of CD27−CD38+ in interferon (IFN)-γ+CD4+ T cells stimulated by the specific antigen early secreted antigenic target-6 (ESAT-6)/culture filter protein-10 (CFP-10) could be a potential new therapeutic evaluation indicator for anti-tuberculosis (TB) treatment. Methods Newly diagnosed active pulmonary TB patients, latent TB infection (LTBI) and healthy controls were enrolled from January 2021 to December 2021. PTB patients were treated by standard anti-TB regimen 2HREZ/4HR (2 months of isoniazid (H), rifampin (R), ethambutol (E), and pyrazinamide (Z) followed by 4 months of isoniazid (H) and rifampin (R)). The difference of CD27−CD38+ expression in IFN-γ+CD4+ T cells before treatment, 2 months after treatment, and 6 months after treatment were compared. Results Total 45 PTB patients, 38 LTBI cases and 43 healthy controls were enrolled. The expression of CD27−CD38+ decreased significantly after anti-TB treatment and was comparable with that in LTBI and healthy controls when the 6-month anti-TB treatment course was completed. The decline rate of CD27−CD38+ between 6 months after treatment and baseline was positively correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r = 0.766, P

The critical nitrogen (Nc) dilution curve is considered an effective method for crop nitrogen (N) diagnosis, fertilization decision-making, and crop modeling. The Nc dilution curve is typically described using a power function curve (Nc = A1W−A2). This study established a universal Nc dilution curve and evaluated its potential application in flue-cured tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) N diagnosis, yield, and quality regulation. Field experiments were conducted involving three tobacco varieties (Honghuadajinyuan, Yunyan87, and K326) and four N application rates (0 to > 90 kg N ha−1). The study was conducted in Southwest China from 2021 to 2022. The universal Nc curve obtained across all experimental data was 3.45 W−0.39. The parameter A2 was more susceptible to genotype and environment interactions than parameter A1. The uncertainty first rapidly decreased and then remained at a lower value as biomass increased. The relationship between leaf biomass and days after transplantation and accumulated growth degree was robust. The N nutrition index (NNI) and accumulated N deficiency effectively determined leaf N status and N demand, respectively. There was an inverse correlation between the NNI, leaf yield, and between the superior and medium leaf ratios. The quantitative relationship can be used to adjust the synergistic production of tobacco yield and leaf quality.

Flue-cured tobacco is a main economic crop, and leaves are the direct product of tobacco plant. Monitoring leaf area index (LAI) of tobacco plant is important to field management, yield prediction, and industry regulation. Hyperspectral data have hundreds of narrow spectral bands in continuous spectral ranges, significantly advancing monitoring of LAI. However, considering spectral responses of LAI vary with wavelength, the use of the full spectral range in estimation of LAI is redundant. To reduce spectral redundancy and improve estimation of LAI, spectral subsets were selected based on importance of spectral bands. Variable importance in the projection (VIP) score obtained by partial least squares regression (PLSR) was adopted to measure the importance. The study was conducted in Yunnan Province, China. Canopy reflectance spectra of tobacco plant were measured in two consecutive growth seasons. Genetic algorithm (GA) and PLSR were used for model calibration. The identified important spectral regions for estimation of LAI were red edge, near-infrared (NIR), and green regions. In estimation of LAI of tobacco plant, compared with the estimation using the full spectral range of VNIR reflectance spectra, normalized root mean square error (NRMSE) and coefficient of determination (R2) values were improved from 10.30% and 0.83 to 7.68% and 0.90 and from 18.78% and 0.43 to 7.65% and 0.90 by using the reflectance spectra in identified spectral regions in the growth seasons in 2021 and 2022 separately. In addition to the identified continuous spectral regions, central bands of the identified spectral regions also achieved estimation of LAI, with the highest R2 value reaching 0.72. The selected spectral subsets improved estimation accuracy and reduced model complexity. The results indicate that selected spectral subsets are effective and promising in estimation of LAI, providing an alternative for estimation of LAI using hyperspectral data.

Cemented carbide is often used as the pick-tip material for conical picks. The pick-tip often experiences premature failure due to insufficient toughness. This paper aims to improve the impact toughness of cemented carbide through electromagnetic coupled cryogenic treatment. A theoretical model between process parameters and impact toughness is established. The optimal parameters are determined as follows: a cryogenic temperature of −190 °C, cryogenic time of 24 h, magnetization intensity of 1.5 T, and magnetization time of 15 s. The treatment improves the impact toughness by 11.39% compared with the heat treatment. Microstructure analysis indicates a notable increase in dislocations and grain refinement within the Co phase, attributing to the enhanced toughness.

A vast amount of knowledge has been acquired through human activities such as farming, hunting, and fishing. Throughout history, humans have utilized living creatures for disease treatment, relying on the natural world's healing powers. The special “healers” may be able to treat patients via the power of nature. However, there was no systematic introduction or summary of these treatments. Therefore, we conducted a literature review based on PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scopus, CNKI and WanFang DATA. Here, we defined this unique method as “animal healer” and six common kinds of animal healers were reviewed. These are fish therapy, pet therapy, worm therapy, leech therapy, maggot therapy, and bee therapy. According to the different characteristics of healers, treatment methods mainly included bite, parasitism, contact and communication. With the advantages of green and effectiveness, animal healers have great therapy potential against a variety of refractory diseases. The main purpose of this review is to draw people's attention to animal healer, promote it to become a possible clinical treatment strategy, and make further exploration in species cultivation, mechanism research, animal welfare, standard setting, safety evaluation and other aspects. In the future, animal healers will play an increasingly important role in medicine and hopefully solve more medical problems and dilemmas.

Background: Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA)-NONMMUT020270.2 is downregulated and co-expressed with inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor type 2 (ITPR2) in the hippocampus of Alzheimer's disease (AD) mice. However, whether the expression of ITPR2 was regulated by lncRNA-NONMMUT020270.2 remains unclear. we aimed to investigate regulating relationship of lncRNA-NONMMUT020270.2 and ITPR2. Methods: HT22 cells were firstly transfected with the pcDNA3.1-lncRNA-NONMMUT020270.2 overexpression plasmid or with the lncRNA-NONMMUT020270.2 smart silencer, and then were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 24h. The mRNA expression levels of lncRNA-NONMMUT020270.2 and ITPR2 were measured by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. Cell viability was assessed using a Cell Counting Kit 8 assay. The expression of Aβ1-42 was detected by ELISA. The expression levels of p-tau, caspase-1, and inositol trisphosphate receptor (IP3R) proteins were detected by western-blotting. Nuclear morphological changes were detected by Hoechst staining. Flow cytometry and Fluo-3/AM were carried out to determine cell apoptosis and the intracellular Ca2+. Results: LPS significantly decreased cell viability, and ITPR2 mRNA and IP3R protein expression levels. While it markedly enhanced the expression levels of p-tau and Aβ1-42, cell apoptosis rate, as well as intracellular Ca2+ concentration (P

Abstract Dipterocarpoideae species form the emergent layer of Asian rainforests. They are the indicator species for Asian rainforest distribution, but they are severely threatened. Here, to understand their adaptation and population decline, we assemble high-quality genomes of seven Dipterocarpoideae species including two autotetraploid species. We estimate the divergence time between Dipterocarpoideae and Malvaceae and within Dipterocarpoideae to be 108.2 (97.8‒118.2) and 88.4 (77.7‒102.9) million years ago, and we identify a whole genome duplication event preceding dipterocarp lineage diversification. We find several genes that showed a signature of selection, likely associated with the adaptation to Asian rainforests. By resequencing of two endangered species, we detect an expansion of effective population size after the last glacial period and a recent sharp decline coinciding with the history of local human activities. Our findings contribute to understanding the diversification and adaptation of dipterocarps and highlight anthropogenic disturbances as a major factor in their endangered status.

Abstract Photoelectrochemical (PEC) systems have emerged as a prominent renewable energy-based technology for wastewater treatment, offering sustainable advantages such as eliminating dependence on fossil fuels or grid electricity compared to traditional electrochemical treatment methods. However, previous PEC systems often overlook the potential of ions present in wastewater as an alternative to externally applied bias voltage for enhancing carrier separation efficiency. Here we report a bias-free driven ion assisted photoelectrochemical (IAPEC) system by integration of an electron-ion acceptor cathode, which leverages its fast ion-electron coupling capability to significantly enhance the separation of electrons and holes at the photoanode. We demonstrate that Prussian blue analogues (PBAs) can serve as robust and reversible electron-ion acceptors that provide reaction sites for photoelectron coupling cations, thus driving the hole oxidation to produce strong oxidant free radicals at photoanode. Our IAPEC system exhibits superior degradation performance in wastewater containing chloride medium. This indicates that, in addition to the cations (e.g., Na+) accelerating the electron transfer rate, the presence of Cl– ions further enhance efficient and sustainable wastewater treatment. This work highlights the potential of utilizing abundant sodium chloride in seawater as a cost-effective additive for wastewater treatment, offering crucial insights into the use of local materials for effective, low-carbon, and sustainable treatment processes.

Controlling the ground settlement and building deformation triggered by shield tunnelling, particularly within water-rich strata, poses a significant engineering challenge. This study conducts a finite element (FE) analysis focusing on the ground settlement and deformation of adjacent structures (with a minimum distance of 2.6 m to the tunnel) due to earth pressure balance (EPB) shield tunnelling. The analysis incorporates the influence of groundwater through a 3D fluid–solid coupling model. This study assesses the effects of tunnelling on the behaviour of nearby buildings and introduces two mitigation strategies: the vertical partition method and the portal partition method. Their effectiveness is compared and evaluated. Our findings reveal that the deformation curves of the stratum and the building are influenced by the accumulation and dissipation of pore pressure. The vertical partition method reduced surface settlement by approximately 70%, while the portal partition method further minimized building deformation but required careful application to avoid issues like uplift. Both methods effectively mitigate the impacts of tunnel construction, with the portal partition method offering superior performance in terms of material use and cost efficiency. This research provides a scientific foundation and technical guidance for similar engineering endeavours, which is vital for ensuring the safety of metro tunnel construction and the stability of adjacent buildings.

Hopea reticulata Tardieu (Dipterocarpaceae) represents a critically endangered tree species primarily confined to the Ganza Ridge of Hainan Island, China, with a couple of additional records of populations in Thailand and Vietnam. Neither the species’ genetic diversity, which is essential for a species’ long-term survival in the face of changing climate and various biotic stresses, nor the demographic history, which directly affects genetic diversity, has been examined. In this study, we employed double-digest restriction site-associated sequencing to investigate the population structure and evolutionary history of H. reticulata on Hainan Island. Our analysis revealed that H. reticulata exhibits the lowest nucleotide diversity (π = 0.00091) when compared to other well-known endangered tree species in China that have been assessed using high-throughput sequencing data. Utilizing the software Stairway Plot 2 for demographic history inference, we identified a significant reduction in effective population size of H. reticulata, a result concordant with the species’ restricted geographic range and likely responsible for its low genetic diversity. Additionally, our research unveiled a weak genetic structure within geographically close H. reticulata populations, probably resulted from limited seed dispersal. These findings offer valuable insights into the conservation and management strategies required for the protection of H. reticulata on Hainan Island.

Background: The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is widely recognized by clinicians and trainers as a valuable tool for the prediction and prevention of training injuries in sports population. However, some studies suggested that FMS may not fully meet the needs of professional athletes. To address this, the Modified Functional Movement Screen (MFMS) has been specifically developed for athletes. Methods: A total of 527 male athletes in active service without prior training injuries 18.5 ± 1.2 years old) underwent the MFMS test, and their training injuries were monitored during a 2-year follow-up period. The ability of the MFMS to predict the risk of training injury was evaluated based on the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of the total MFMS score. Binary logistic analysis was employed to examine the correlation between the 10 MFMS tests and the risk of training injury. Results: The injured group of athletes had significantly lower total MFMS scores compared to the healthy group (P

The seismic damage investigations indicated the high probability for the pile-supported structure to suffer further destruction due to the effects of strong aftershocks, but the seismic fragility assessment of pile-supported structures considering aftershocks rarely attracted notice. In this study, the seismic fragility of a pile-supported structure under the mainshock-aftershock sequence is systematically assessed through the simulation results based on a solid-fluid coupling finite element model. Firstly, the numerical model is validated by the test date got from a centrifuge model in order to check its effectiveness. Then the strong motion records recorded at liquefied sites are selected for synthesizing the seismic sequences through scaling and combination. And the Engineering Demand Parameter (EDP) is dertemined as the residual displacement, representing the cumulative damage caused by seismic sequences. Additionally, the quantitative limit states of EDP corresponding to four damage states considering pile-soil interaction is defined by a push-over analysis. Furthermore, since the choice of optimal Intensity Measures for seismic sequences is beneficial for enhancing the credibility, 24 sets of Intensity Measures are assessed from three sides including efficiency, practicality, and proficiency. Finally, the mainshock-aftershock fragility surfaces with two Intensity Measures are proposed, considering the random uncertainty. And the results indicate that mainshock aftershock sequences could induce higher exceedance probabilities of a limit state when comparing to under the excitation of mainshock only. The research results could offer a basis for the seismic performance evaluation of the kind of pile-supported structure.

Abstract Objective Our research was designed to figure out the influence and mechanism of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor on the improvement of elderly essential hypertension-induced vascular endothelial function impairment based on the JAK/STAT pathway. Methods Eighty-six elderly patients with essential hypertension were randomized into a control group (oral Amlodipine Besylate Tablets) and an observation group (oral Amlodipine Besylate Tablets + HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor atorvastatin calcium). Patients in both groups were treated with the drug for 12 weeks. Blood pressure, serum levels of inflammatory factors, and vascular endothelial function indicators, and levels of blood lipids were measured. The modeled rats were treated with atorvastatin calcium and a JAK/STAT pathway inhibitor (AG490), and the levels of cardiac function-related indices, left ventricular mass index, lipid levels, serum inflammatory factors and vascular endothelial function-related indices were detected in each group. Results HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor improved blood pressure levels, lipid levels, serum inflammatory factor levels and cardiac function in elderly patients with essential hypertension. Both HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor and AG490 improved blood pressure levels, lipid levels, serum inflammatory factor levels and cardiac function in SHR rats. Both HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor and AG490 decreased p-JAK2/JAK2 and p-STAT3/STAT3 expression levels. Conclusion Our study demonstrates that HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor improves elderly essential hypertension-induced vascular endothelial function impairment by blocking the JAK/STAT pathway.

The machining residual stress produced in the cutting process of aluminum alloy parts can easily lead to a scrap of the processed parts. In order to reduce the residual stress of aluminum alloy in the milling process, based on the Taguchi-Grey relational approach, the effects of different milling parameters on the residual stress and surface roughness of 2A12 aluminum alloy were studied. To reduce the residual stress and surface roughness of 2A12 aluminum alloy, optimized milling parameters were obtained. To further reduce the milling residual stress of 2A12 aluminum alloy, the samples processed by the optimized milling parameters were treated by cryogenic treatment and artificial aging. The residual stress of the sample was measured by the blind hole drilling method, and the evolution mechanism of the microstructure to reduce the machining residual stress was revealed. The results show that the combination of deep cooling treatment and oil bath aging can effectively reduce the residual stress on the machined surface of the aluminum alloy and facilitate a more uniform distribution of the residual stress inside the specimen. The effect of the coarse second phase on the residual stress in the microstructure is not significant, and the fine and diffusely distributed precipitation phase is beneficial to the reduction of the residual stress in the aluminum alloy.

Abstract With the increase of marine activities in the Arctic area, the demand for reliable design of marine structures is growing. Numerous publications can be found regarding simulations of ice action on structures using cohesive element models of the ice. However, previous studies have rarely discussed the influence of structural form, that is, the form of ice-structure interaction interface, on the ice load. Thus, a more comprehensive understanding of the ice load on structures with different interface geometries needs to be explored. In the present paper, three-dimensional finite element models with the cohesive element method are developed to investigate the ice load on different structures. The numerical results are validated based on in-situ testing data and the results of the previous numerical model. Parametric studies considering structure widths, inclination angles, ice velocity as well as structure roughness are conducted to explore the horizontal force and failure process of the ice sheet. The process of ice-structure interaction and ice loads on different structural forms were discussed and simplified diagrams of ice load distribution on the interface were developed.

In Northeast China’s black soil rice cropping area, nitrogen (N) application is lower than in the south, yet excessive N fertilizer use persists, particularly in base fertilizers. This study aimed to assess the impact of reduced N and increased planting density on rice yields and photosynthetic matter production. From 2019 to 2020, a field split-plot experiment was conducted with two N rates (conventional N, CN: 120 kg ha−1 and reduced basal N, RN: 108 kg ha−1) and two planting densities (D1: 33.3 × 104 hills ha−1 and D2: 27.8 × 104 hills ha−1) using the rice varieties Kongyu131 (KY131) and Kendao24 (KD24). The results showed that RN increased the effective panicle formation rate but decreased the tiller numbers, dry matter accumulation, stems/sheaths transport capacity, leaf photosynthetic capacity, and yield by 2.67% compared to CN. D1 significantly boosted the dry matter accumulation, stems/sheaths transport, effective panicles, grains per square meter, and yield by 8.26% compared to D2. Interaction analysis revealed that RN under D2 conditions reduced the effective panicle percentage, harvest index, filled grain number, leaf area index (LAI), crop growth rate (CGR), and net assimilation rate (NAR) but increased the seed setting rate and 1000-grain weight. Under D1, RN reduced the LAI, CGR, and NAR at the tillering and heading stages but increased the NAR post-heading. Compared to CND2, RND1 increased the biomass, stems/sheaths transport, LAI, CGR, NAR, seed setting rate, 1000-grain weight, panicle numbers, and filled grains per square meter, compensating for the lower harvest index and effective panicle rate, achieving a 5.36% yield increase. KD24 outperformed KY131 in yield improvement. In summary, using 108 kg ha−1 with a planting density of 33.3 × 104 hills ha−1 promotes tillering, enhances photosynthetic substance production stems/sheaths dry matter transport, and increases rice yields.

As a new type of backfill material, Self-compacting solidified soil (SCSS) takes the abandoned slurry of cast-in-place piles after dewatering and reduction as the main raw material, which brings a problem of coordinating the working performance with the mechanical property under the condition of high mobility. In this paper, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) and metakaolin were introduced as additives to solve this problem. First, the workability and mechanical properties of SCSS were regulated and optimized by means of the water seepage rate test, the flowability test, and the unconfined compressive strength test. Second, this study also used X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to investigate the effects of HPMC and metakaolin on the physical phase and microstructure of SCSS. In this way, the results showed that there was a significant impact on the flowability of SCSS, that is, when the dosage reached 0.3%, the water seepage rate of SCSS was reduced to less than 1%, and the compressive strength at 7 days reached its peak. At the same time, HPMC weakened the strength growth of SCSS in the age period of 7 days to 14 days. However, the addition of metakaolin promoted its compressive strength. XRD analysis showed that the additives had no significant effects on the physical phases. And, from the SEM results, it can be seen that although the water-retaining effect of HPMC makes hydration of cement more exhaustive, more ettringite (AFt) can be observed in the microstructure. In addition, it can be observed that the addition of metakaolin can generate more hydrated calcium silicate (C-S-H) due to the strong surface energy possessed by metakaolin. As a result of the above factors, SCSS filled the voids between particles and improved the interface structure between particles, thus enhanced the compressive strength.

Abstract In this article, we study the mass spectrum of the low-lying triply heavy hybrid baryon, which consists of three valence heavy quarks in a color octet and one valence gluon, with spin-parity $$J^P=(\frac{1}{2})^+$$ J P = ( 1 2 ) + via QCD sum rules. This is the first study on the triply heavy hybrid baryons in the framework of QCD sum rules. After performing the QCD sum rule analysis, we find that the mass of cccg hybrid baryon lies in $$M_{cccg}= $$ M cccg = 5.91–6.13 GeV. As a byproduct, the mass of the triply bottom hybrid baryon state is extracted to be around $$M_{bbbg}=$$ M bbbg = 14.62–14.82 GeV. The contributions up to dimension eight at the leading order of $$\alpha _s$$ α s (LO) in the operator product expansion are taken into account in the calculation. The triply charmed hybrid baryon predicted in this work can decay into one doubly charmed baryon and one charmed meson. Especially, we propose to search for cccg hybrid baryon with $$J^{P}= (1/2)^+$$ J P = ( 1 / 2 ) + in the P-wave decay channels $$\Xi _{cc}^{++} D^0$$ Ξ cc + + D 0 , $$\Xi _{cc}^{+} D^+$$ Ξ cc + D + , and $$\Xi _{ccs}^{+} D_s^+$$ Ξ ccs + D s + , which may be accessible in future BelleII, Super-B, PANDA, and LHCb experiments.

Objective:. To evaluate the correlation between the incidence of delayed gastric emptying (DGE) in pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) and the perioperative possible risk factors. Methods:. We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Medline for studies describing complications related to PD from 2018 to 2022. Statistical analysis was performed using Stata/SE16.0 software. Results:. In 6 retrospective studies, 1 systematic review, and 1 randomized controlled trial (RCT) experiment, 12,419 patients (2174 and 10,245 patients, respectively, in DGE and no delayed gastric emptying [NDGE] groups). The preoperative American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score between DGE and NDGE groups (log odds ratio [OR] = 0.23, 95% credible interval [CI]: 0.11–0.35, P < .01), operation time (mean diff. = 21.87, 95% CI: 15.96–27.78, P < .01), estimated intraoperative blood loss (EIBL; mean diff. = 70.67, 95% CI: 17.75–123.58, P < .05), postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) (log OR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.24–1.46, P < .05) were statistically significant. No significant differences in preoperative body mass index (BMI), preoperative biliary drainage, and pancreatic texture were observed (P > .05). Conclusion:. The incidence of DGE is significantly correlated with the operation time, preoperative ASA score, POPF, and EIBL,which suggests that the surgeon should thoroughly evaluate the patient through adequate preoperative examination before the operation. Finally, standardized practice and perfect technology are undoubtedly necessary to reduce complications.

Quorum sensing inhibitors (QSIs), as a kind of ideal antibiotic substitutes, have been recommended to be used in combination with traditional antibiotics in medical and aquaculture fields. Due to the co-existence of QSIs and antibiotics in environmental media, it is necessary to evaluate their joint risk. However, there is little information about the acute toxicity of mixtures for QSIs and antibiotics. In this study, 10 QSIs and 3 sulfonamides (SAs, as the representatives for traditional antibiotics) were selected as the test chemicals, and their acute toxic effects were determined using the bioluminescence of Aliivibrio fischeri (A. fischeri) as the endpoint. The results indicated that SAs and QSIs all induced S-shaped dose-responses in A. fischeri bioluminescence. Furthermore, SAs possessed greater acute toxicity than QSIs, and luciferase (Luc) might be the target protein of test chemicals. Based on the median effective concentration (EC50) for each test chemical, QSI-SA mixtures were designed according to equitoxic (EC50(QSI):EC50(SA) = 1:1) and non-equitoxic ratios (EC50(QSI):EC50(SA) = 1:10, 1:5, 1:0.2, and 1:0.1). It could be observed that with the increase of QSI proportion, the acute toxicity of QSI-SA mixtures enhanced while the corresponding TU values decreased. Furthermore, QSIs contributed more to the acute toxicity of test binary mixtures. The joint toxic actions of QSIs and SAs were synergism for 23 mixtures, antagonism for 12 mixtures, and addition for 1 mixture. Quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) models for the acute toxicity QSIs, SAs, and their binary mixtures were then constructed based on the lowest CDOCKER interaction energy (Ebind-Luc) between Luc and each chemical and the component proportion in the mixture. These models exhibited good robustness and predictive ability in evaluating the toxicity data and joint toxic actions of QSIs and SAs. This study provides reference data and applicable QSAR models for the environmental risk assessment of QSIs, and gives a new perspective for exploring the joint effects of QSI-antibiotic mixtures.

Ecosystem services and ecological risk prevention are important factors that influence for sustainable socio-economic development. In recent years, fewer studies, and practices have been conducted on the value of ecosystem services and ecological risk management in larger regions, and the mechanisms of their interactions have not been adequately investigated. The central southern region of China is in a stage of high-quality development, and Hunan Province in this region is used as an example to investigate the interaction mechanism between ecosystem service value (ESV) and landscape ecological risk (LER)as well as to generate new ideas for coordinated and sustainable regional socioeconomic development. This study developed an evaluation model of ESV and LER by synthesizing multi-source data of Hunan Province from 1990 to 2020 and further revealed the interaction mechanism between ESV and LER. We found the following: (1) Hunan Province experienced rapid urbanization, and both ESV and LER showed increasing trends. A complex and significant positive correlation was observed between these two variables. (2) The ESV in Hunan Province showed an overall increasing trend from 1990 to 2020, and each level of ESV was distributed from high to low, with the core of the high value area spreading outward. ESV gradually decreased after 2010, when urban expansion was rapid. (3) The LER level in Hunan Province shifted from medium-low risk to high risk, the risk level gradually increased, and the overall distribution pattern of each level was high in the north and south and low in the surroundings. (4) There were four types of spatial correlations at the local scale: high value and high risk, high value and low risk, low value and high risk, and low value and low risk. Based on these results, an ecological risk prevention zoning plan was developed for Hunan Province. This study contributes to understanding of the interactive and synergistic relationship between ESV and LER in Hunan Province, which is critical for optimizing sustainable economic and social development.

Abstract Mining is of major economic, environmental and societal consequence, yet knowledge and understanding of its global footprint is still limited. Here, we produce a global mining land use dataset via remote sensing analysis of high-resolution, publicly available satellite imagery. The dataset comprises 74,548 polygons, covering ~66,000 km2 of features like waste rock dumps, pits, water ponds, tailings dams, heap leach pads and processing/milling infrastructure. Our polygons finely contour the edges of mine features and do not include the space between them. This distinguishes our dataset from others that employ broader definitions of mining lands. Hence, despite our database being the largest to date by number of polygons, comparisons show relatively lower global land use. Our database is made freely available to support future studies of global mining impacts. A series of spatial analyses are also presented that highlight global mine distribution patterns and broader environmental risks.

Abstract Background Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion has been considered standard management for cervical myelopathy and radiculopathy. However, the option of using self-locking stand-alone cages or cage-with-plate in three-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion still remains controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and imaging outcomes of the two procedures in multilevel anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. Methods Sixty-seven patients who underwent three-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion were enrolled in this study, of which 31 patients underwent surgery using self-locking stand-alone cages (group cage) and 36 patients using cage-with-plate (group plate). For the evaluation of clinical outcomes, modified Japanese Orthopedic Association scores, visual analogue scale for neck pain, neck disability index, Odom’s criteria and dysphagia status were measured. Imaging outcomes were evaluated by cervical sagittal angle, fusion segmental Cobb’s angle, fusion segmental height, range of motion, cage subsidence rate, fusion rate and adjacent segment degeneration. Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS software (version 19.0). Results Both groups showed improvement in modified Japanese Orthopedic Association scores, visual analogue scale for neck pain and neck disability index, after surgery, and there was no significant difference between the groups. The occurrence rate of dysphagia is significantly lower in the group cage compared with the group plate (p 0.05). Conclusions The self-locking stand-alone cages are effective, reliable and safe in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for the treatment of cervical myelopathy and radiculopathy. Self-locking stand-alone cages showed a significantly lower rate of dysphagia and adjacent segment degeneration, while anterior cervical cage-with-plate could provide stronger postoperative stability and maintain better cervical spine alignment.

Piezocatalysis, a heterogeneous catalytic technique, leverages the periodic electric field changes generated by piezoelectric materials under external forces to drive carriers for the advanced oxidation of organic pollutants. Antibiotics, as emerging trace organic pollutants in water sources, pose a potential threat to animals and drinking water safety. Thus, piezoelectric catalysis can be used to degrade trace organic pollutants in water. In this work, BaTiO3 and La-doped BaTiO3 were synthesized using an improved sol–gel–hydrothermal method and used as piezocatalytic materials to degrade sulfadiazine (SDZ) with ultrasound activation. High-crystallinity products with nano cubic and spherical morphologies were successfully synthesized. An initial concentration of SDZ ranging from 1 to 10 mg/L, a catalysis dosage range from 1 to 2.5 mg/mL, pH, and the background ions in the water were considered as influencing factors and tested. The reaction rate constant was 0.0378 min−1 under the optimum working conditions, and the degradation efficiency achieved was 89.06% in 60 min. La-doped BaTiO3 had a better degradation efficiency, at 14.98% on average, compared to undoped BaTiO3. Further investigations into scavengers revealed a partially piezocatalytic process for the degradation of SDZ. In summary, our work provides an idea for green environmental protection in dealing with new types of environmental pollution.

Rice production is threatened by climate change, particularly heat stress (HS). Nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs) remobilization is a key physiological mechanism that allows rice plants to cope with HS. To investigate the impact of short-term HS on the remobilization of nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs) in rice, two cultivars (Huaidao-5 and Wuyunjing-24) were subjected to varying temperature regimes: 32/22/27 °C as the control treatment, alongside 40/30/35 °C and 44/34/39 °C, for durations of 2 and 4 days during the booting, flowering, and combined stages (booting + flowering) within phytotrons across the years 2016 and 2017. The findings revealed that the stem’s NSC concentration increased, while the panicle’s NSCs concentration, the efficiency of NSCs translocation from the stem, and the stem NSC contribution to grain yield exhibited a consistent decline. Additionally, sugar and starch concentrations increased in leaves and stems during late grain filling and maturity stages, while in panicles, the starch concentration decreased and sugar concentration increased. The heat-tolerant cultivar, Wuyunjing-24, exhibited higher panicle NSC accumulation under HS than the heat-sensitive cultivar, Huaidao-5, which had more stem NSC accumulation. The flowering stage was the most vulnerable to HS, followed by the combined and booting stages. Heat degree days (HDDs) were utilized to quantify the effects of HS on NSC accumulation and translocation, revealing that the flowering stage was the most affected. These findings suggest that severe HS makes the stem the primary carbohydrate storage sink, and alleviation under combined HS aids in evaluating NSC accumulation, benefiting breeders in developing heat-tolerant rice varieties.

Background There are limited data on low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) goal achievement per the 2019 European Society of Cardiology/European Atherosclerosis Society dyslipidemia management guidelines and its impact on long‐term outcomes in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). We investigated the association between LDL‐C levels attained 1 year after CABG and the long‐term outcomes. Methods and Results A total of 2072 patients diagnosed with multivessel coronary artery disease and undergoing CABG between 2011 and 2020 were included. Patients were categorized by lipid levels at 1 year after CABG, and the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) was evaluated. The goal of LDL‐C

Background Serine/arginine-rich (SR) proteins regulate pre-mRNA splicing. However, structurally similar proteins often behave differently in splicing regulation and the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. Here, using SMN1/2 minigenes we extensively analyzed four SR proteins, SRSF1/5/6/9. Methods In this study, the effects of these proteins on SMN1/2 exon 7 splicing when tethered at either intron 6 or 7 were evaluated using an MS2-tethering assay. Deletion analysis in four SR proteins and co-overexpression analysis were performed. Results Splicing outcomes varied among all four SR proteins, SRSF1 and SRSF5 function the same at the two sites, acting as repressor and stimulator, respectively; while SRSF6 and SRSF9 promote exon 7 inclusion at only one site. Further, the key domains of each SR proteins were investigated, which identified a potent inhibitory nonapeptide in the C-terminus of SRSF1/9 ribonucleic acid recognition motif-1 (RRM1) and a potent stimulatory heptapeptide at the N-terminus of SRSF5/6 RRM1. Conclusion The insight of the four SR proteins and their domains in affecting SMN gene splicing brings a new perspective on the modes of action of SR proteins; and the functional peptides obtained here offers new ideas for developing splice switching-related therapies.

Microgrid, as a distributed power technology, has deep potential at present. This study deeply researches microgrid and electric vehicles. A grid-connectedmicrogrid power optimization management model is established, and an adaptive crossover multi particle swarm optimization (ACM-PSO) is proposed, which can adjust and operate individually. The proposed algorithm introduces individual adjustment operation and considers the start and stop state of the micro power supply. Besides, it does not need to decompose the unit commitment problem into two levels of optimization problems, which reduces the complexity of the optimization problem. A-PSO algorithm is prone to fall into local optimum. This problem can be avoided and its global search ability can be improved by introducing the crossover operation of ACM-PSO. According to the analysis of examples, the ACM-PSO algorithm has the best economic effect in different operation schemes among experimental methods. The running cost of the algorithm is $\$ $ 3111.17, $\$ $ 2932.62 and $\$ $ 2929.93, respectively, which is $\$ $ 0.3, $\$ $ 13.54 and $\$ $ 15.08 lower than that of A-PSO algorithm. The proposed method has better optimization performance and can effectively reduce the operation cost of microgrid (MG).

Abstract Macrophages in tumors (tumor-associated macrophages, TAMs), a major population within most tumors, play key homeostatic functions by stimulating angiogenesis, enhancing tumor cell growth, and suppressing antitumor immunity. Resetting TAMs by simple, efficacious and safe approach(s) is highly desirable to enhance antitumor immunity and attenuate tumor cell malignancy. Previously, we used tumor cell-derived microparticles to package chemotherapeutic drugs (drug-MPs), which resulted in a significant treatment outcome in human malignant pleural effusions via neutrophil recruitments, implicating that drug-MPs might reset TAMs, considering the inhibitory effects of M2 macrophages on neutrophil recruitment and activation. Here, we show that drug-MPs can function as an antitumor immunomodulator by resetting TAMs with M1 phenotype and IFN-β release. Mechanistically, drug molecules in tumor MPs activate macrophage lysosomal P450 monooxygenases, resulting in superoxide anion formation, which further amplifies lysosomal ROS production and pH value by activating lysosomal NOX2. Consequently, lysosomal Ca2+ signaling is activated, thus polarizing macrophages towards M1. Meanwhile, the drug molecules are delivered from lysosomes into the nucleus where they activate DNA sensor hnRNPA2B1 for IFN-β production. This lysosomal-nuclear machinery fully arouses the antitumor activity of macrophages by targeting both lysosomal pH and the nuclear innate immunity. These findings highlight that drug-MPs can act as a new immunotherapeutic approach by revitalizing antitumor activity of macrophages. This mechanistic elucidation can be translated to treat malignant ascites by drug-MPs combined with PD-1 blockade.

Abstract Background Emerging evidence has shown the crucial roles of pleomorphic adenoma gene (PLAG) family genes in multiple cancers. However, their functions and mechanisms in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) remain poorly understood. Methods We analyzed the expression levels of PLAG family genes in both The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and a Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and confirmed the results in our three independent cohorts of 382 PAAD tissues and 362 adjacent nontumor pancreatic tissues. Integrated analyses were carried out to explore the function, mechanism and prognostic value of the selected PLAG family gene in PAAD patients. Results By analyzing the TCGA and GEO databases, PLAGL1 was identified to be downregulated in PAAD tissues, and its decreasing levels of both mRNA and protein were verified in our three independent PAAD cohorts. PLAGL1 expression was inversely correlated with clinicopathological factors including the Ki67+ cell rate and pathologic stage. Further GSEA of the TCGA-PAAD cohort demonstrated that multiple signaling pathways implicated in cell proliferation were enriched in the lower PLAGL1 expressing PAAD group. Moreover, we demonstrated that PLAGL1 expression was obviously negatively associated with patients’ overall survival outcome in both the TCGA-PAAD cohort and our verification cohorts. Additionally, through MTS and BrdU assays, we further demonstrated in vitro that PLAGL1 had the impact of preventing the proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells. Conclusions Our present study suggested that downregulated PLAGL1 might act as a biomarker in predicts poor prognosis and one of important factors in increasing cell proliferation in PAAD. This study provides us with a novel prognostic marker and therapeutic strategy for PAAD, which deserves further study.

Abstract Background Active tuberculosis (ATB) originates from primary Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection or reactivation of latent tuberculosis. Besides bacteriological examination, MTB-reactive immunocytes detection can be an alternative testing for discrimination of active tuberculosis. The purpose of this study is to investigate the accuracy of peripheral blood CD27−CD38+IFN-γ+CD4+T cells in ATB diagnosis. Methods This prospective diagnostic accuracy study was conducted at Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital between January 2019 and December 2021. Patients with ATB, non-tuberculosis mycobacterium infection (NTM), latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), other respiratory diseases (OD), and healthy individuals (HC) were enrolled. The accuracy of CD27−CD38+IFN-γ+CD4+/CD4+ and other phenotypic markers for ATB diagnosis was assessed. Results A total of 376 patients (237 ATB, 38 LTBI, 8 NTM, 50 OD, and 43 HC) were enrolled. The ratios of CD4+IFN-γ+CD27− and CD4+IFN-γ+CD27−CD38+ profiles in CD4+IFN−γ+ cells and the ratios of CD4+IFN-γ+CD38+, CD4+IFN-γ+CD27−, and CD4+IFN-γ+CD38+CD27− profiles in CD4+ cells in the ATB group were significantly higher than in the other groups. The area under the curve (AUC) of CD27−CD38+IFN-γ+CD4+/CD4+ for the diagnosis of ATB was the highest, with a value of 0.890. With the optimal cutoff value of 1.34 × 10–4, the sensitivity and specificity of CD27−CD38+IFN-γ+CD4+/CD4+ for ATB diagnosis was 0.869 and 0.849, respectively. Conclusion CD27−CD38+IFN-γ+CD4+/CD4+ might be a potential biomarker for active tuberculosis diagnosis.

Species of the genus Thoracostrongylus Bernhauer, 1915 occurring in China are reviewed. Four new species and one new subspecies are described: T. baishanzuensis sp. nov. (Zhejiang), T. bicolor sp. nov. (Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Yunnan), T. brachypterus sp. nov. (Sichuan), T. chrysites sp. nov. (Fujian), and T. formosanus flavipes ssp. nov. (Zhejiang, Fujian, Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan, Guangxi, Guangdong, Anhui, Jiangxi). A new synonymy is proposed: T. baoxingensis Yang, Zhou & Schillhammer, 2011 syn. nov. is in fact T. acerosus Yang, Zhou & Schillhammer, 2011. New provincial records for T. acerosus Yang, Zhou & Schillhammer, 2011 are reported. A key to Chinese species of the genus is provided.

Introduction: Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) senescence in the vasculature results in vascular aging as well as age-related diseases, while metformin improves the inflamm-aging profile by enhancing autophagy. However, metformin’s impact on VSMC senescence is largely undefined. Objectives: To test the hypothesis that metformin exerts an anti-senescence role by restoring autophagic activity in VSMCs and vascular tissues. Methods: Animal models established by angiotensin II (Ang II) induction and physiological aging and senescent primary VSMCs from the aortas of elderly patients were treated with metformin. Cellular and vascular senescence were assessed by measuring the amounts of senescence-associated β-galactosidase and senescence markers, including p21 and p53. Autophagy levels were assessed by autophagy-related protein expression, transmission electron microscope, and autolysosome staining. In order to explore the underlying mechanism of the anti-senescence effects of metformin, 4D label-free quantitative proteomics and bioinformatic analyses were conducted, with subsequent experiments validating these findings. Results: Ang II-dependent senescence was suppressed by metformin in VSMCs and vascular tissues. Metformin also significantly improved arterial stiffness and alleviated structural changes in aged arteries, reduced senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), and improved proliferation and migration of senescent VSMCs. Mechanistically, the proteomic analysis indicated that autophagy might contribute to metformin’s anti-senescence effects. Reduced autophagic flux was observed in Ang II-induced cellular and vascular senescence; this reduction was reversed by metformin. Specifically, metformin enhanced the autophagic flux at the autophagosome-lysosome fusion level, whereas blockade of autophagosome-lysosome fusion inhibited the anti-senescence effects of metformin. Conclusions: Metformin prevents VSMC and vascular senescence by promoting autolysosome formation.

Abstract The cyclic loading frequency (f cyc) effects on the resilient modulus (M r) of freezing–thawing coarse–fine mixtures geomaterials (FTCFG) have always been a research hotspot. A series of long-term cyclic triaxial tests were conducted on FTCFG having different fines content (FC) under different number of freeze–thaw cycles (N FT) to investigate the effect of f cyc and deviator stress amplitude (q cyc) on the M r of FTCFG. The freezing–thawing cyclic was found to improve the M r of FTCFG. Additionally, M r of FTCFG shown an obviously rate-dependent characteristics. Then three kinetic effects (rate effect, piston effect, and fatigue effect) are discussed in systemically which are related to q cyc, f cyc and moisture holding capacity (w h). Finally, a rate dependent model of long-term resilient modulus was developed to predict FTCFG materials’ resilient moduli as a function of q cyc, f cyc and w h. The comparisons between the calculation and experimental results reveal that the present model describes the M r of FTCFG well.

In agricultural production, temperature and moisture are important factors affecting grain yield and quality. Although moderate drought at the grain-filling stage can effectively alleviate the damage caused by high temperature, the specific regulatory mechanism driving the effect of moderate drought at the high temperature on starch synthesis is still unclear. To explore the effects and mechanisms of high temperature and moderate drought on rice starch synthesis at the grain-filling stage, the activities of enzymes and expression levels of the genes involved in starch synthesis under four different treatments involving high temperature and/or water stress (CK, HT, WS, and HT+WS) were investigated in this study. The starch synthesis of a japonica inbred rice was measured under the four treatments during the grain filling. The results show that the effects of high temperature and moderate drought on grain filling mainly occur in the inferior grains of rice. Through the regulation of enzymes involved in starch synthesis and the expression levels of their main genes, the synthesis of rice starch can be affected. Therefore, the high temperature and moderate drought were antagonistic, and moderate drought can alleviate the damage to grain quality at a high temperature by improving the starch synthesis of inferior grains in japonica rice. This study provides a basis for stress-resistance cultivation and breeding strategies of rice with high temperature tolerance.