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The aim of this study was to develop a simple but effective nomogram to predict risk of septic cardiomyopathy (SCM) in the intensive care unit (ICU). We analyzed data from patients who were first admitted to the ICU for sepsis between 2008 and 2019 in the MIMIC-IV database, with no history of heart disease, and divided them into a training cohort and an internal validation cohort at a 7:3 ratio. SCM is defined as sepsis diagnosed in the absence of other cardiac diseases, with echocardiographic evidence of left (or right) ventricular systolic or diastolic dysfunction and a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of less than 50%. Variables were selected from the training cohort using the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression to develop an early predictive model for septic cardiomyopathy. A nomogram was constructed using logistic regression analysis and its receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and calibration were evaluated in two cohorts. A total of 1562 patients participated in this study, with 1094 in the training cohort and 468 in the internal validation cohort. SCM occurred in 13.4% (147 individuals) in the training cohort, 16.0% (75 individuals) in the internal validation cohort. After adjusting for various confounding factors, we constructed a nomogram that includes SAPS II, Troponin T, CK-MB index, white blood cell count, and presence of atrial fibrillation. The area under the curve (AUC) for the training cohort was 0.804 (95% CI 0.764–0.844), and the Hosmer–Lemeshow test showed good calibration of the nomogram (P = 0.288). Our nomogram also exhibited good discriminative ability and calibration in the internal validation cohort. Our nomogram demonstrated good potential in identifying patients at increased risk of SCM in the ICU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we perform a numerical investigation on the polarization of a terahertz wave transmitting through a dust acoustic wave. Assuming a triangular waveform of the particle number density in the dust acoustic wave, the transmission characteristics are calculated using the finite-difference time-domain method. It is shown that dust acoustic waves can function as a polarizer to control the polarization states of the terahertz wave, and the conversion efficiency depends on the parameters of the dust acoustic wave, such as the particle number density and the thickness of particle cloud. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is the most dominant interannual signal of climate variability and profoundly affects river flooding globally, especially in East Asia. However, ENSO also has ∼2,000 and ∼1,000‐year cycles, but due to the lack of flood records with sufficient length, little is known about the ENSO's impact on floods at these millennial timescales. Here we test this in the middle‐lower Yangtze River by reconstructing the first Holocene flood record with optically stimulated luminescence and 14C ages of flood deposits. We find the periods with high flooding probability generally correspond with intervals of weakened solar activity. Importantly, the flood record displays 2,000 and 1,000‐year cycles similar to the ENSO record, and band‐pass filter results show the two records are synchronous at these bands. Our results reveal a persistent control of ENSO on millennial‐scale hydroclimatic variability in the Yangtze basin and likely other basins. Plain Language Summary: El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is the prominent pattern of interannual climate variability, profoundly affecting the river flow and flooding at the global scale. However, the ENSO's interannual cycle was strongly damped or even non‐existent in most of the Holocene, compared with a more robust millennial periodicity. It remains unclear whether a link exists between the flood and ENSO at millennial timescales due to the lack of sufficiently long flood series. Here we test this in the Yangtze River (YR) because ENSO has the most significant impact on this drainage area. We compiled the most detailed flood ages over the middle and lower YR to reconstruct the Holocene flood record. We found that the flood variations have prominent 2,000 and 1,000‐year cycles, and they exhibit in‐phase relationship with ENSO at these cycles, suggesting a persistent modulation of ENSO on the flooding at millennial timescales in the middle and lower Yangtze basin. This study contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the driving forces of floods in the Yangtze catchment at millennial timescales, thereby aiding to accurately assess flood hazards and flooding prediction in hydroclimatic modeling for the densely populated Yangtze basin. Key Points: We reconstructed the Holocene flood record for the middle and lower Yangtze River by compiling optically stimulated luminescence and 14C ages of flood depositsThe flood record displays clear 2,000 and 1,000‐year cyclesThe flood record is synchronous with El Niño‐Southern Oscillation at 2,000 and 1,000‐year cycles [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clarifying the relationship between the man–machine environment and its impact on the tunnel wall drilling task performance (TWDTP) is crucial for enhancing the task performance. Based on a questionnaire survey, indicators of the man–machine environment that affect the TWDTP were proposed in this study, and exploratory factor analysis and a structural equation model were employed to examine the potential factors influencing the task performance and their degrees of influence. By comparing the discrepancy between the perceived performance and importance, the satisfaction of potential factors was evaluated, and the priority order for optimizing these factors was determined by considering the degree of influence and dissatisfaction. The results of survey data analysis based on actual tunnel drilling operation scenarios indicated that tools had the greatest impact on the TWDTP, followed by the quality of the physical environment, while human factors had the least influence on the task performance. Convenient functional maintenance is the key to improving the TWDTP, along with enhancing the quality of the working environment. Once these main aspects are optimized, it is important to consider additional factors such as availability of spare tools, efficient personnel organization, man–tool matching, and safety and health assurance. This research approach provides significant guidance in understanding the relationships between the man–machine environmental factors affecting the performance of complex engineering tasks and identifying key influencing factors, thus providing essential insights for optimizing the TWDTP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the common properties of elements a and b satisfying a b n = b n + 1 and b a n = a n + 1 in the settings of Banach algebras, rings and operator algebras from the viewpoint of generalized inverses and spectral theory, where n is a positive integer. As applications, we show that if M 0 = T 0 0 N 0 , M 1 = T S 0 N 1 and M 2 = T 0 W N 2 are triangular operator matrices acting on the Banach space X ⊕ X such that N 0 , N 1 and N 2 are nilpotent, then many subsets of the spectrum of M 0 are the same with those of M 1 and M 2. Moreover, we improve some recent extensions of Jacobson’s lemma and Cline’s formula for the Drazin inverse, generalized Drazin inverse and generalized Drazin–Riesz inverse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shale gas is an important supplement to the supply of natural gas resources and plays an important role on the world's energy stage. The efficient implementation of hydraulic fracturing is the key issue in the exploration and exploitation of shale gas. The existence of bedding structure results in a distinct anisotropy of shale rock formation. The anisotropic behaviors of shale rock have important impacts on wellbore stability, hydraulic fracture propagation, and the formation of complex fracture networks. This paper briefly reviews previous work on the anisotropic mechanical properties of shale rock and their relation to hydraulic fracturing in shale reservoirs. In this paper, the research status of work addressing the lithological characteristics of shale rock is summarized first, particularly work considering the mineral constituent, which determines its physical and mechanical behavior in essence. Then the anisotropic physical and mechanical properties of shale specimens, including ultrasonic anisotropy, mechanical behavior under uniaxial and triaxial compression tests, and tensile property under the Brazilian test, are summarized, and the state of the literature on fracture toughness anisotropy is discussed. The concerns of anisotropic mechanical behavior under laboratory tests are emphasized in this paper, particularly the evaluation of shale brittleness based on mechanical characteristics, which is discussed in detail. Finally, further concerns such as the effects of bedding plane on hydraulic fracturing failure strength, crack propagation, and failure pattern are also drawn out. This review study will provide a better understanding of current research findings on the anisotropic mechanical properties of shale rock, which can provide insight into the shale anisotropy related to the fracture propagation of hydraulic fracturing in shale reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is one of the most common adverse events following orthognathic surgery. It's a distressing feeling for patients and continues to be the cause of postoperative complications such as bleeding, delayed healing, and wound infection. This scoping review aims to identify effective PONV prophylaxis strategies during orthognathic surgery that have emerged in the past 15 years. Methods: We searched Pubmed, Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials, and Embase from 2008 to May 2023. Studies meeting the following criteria were eligible for inclusion: (1) recruited patients undergo any orthognathic surgery; (2) evaluated any pharmacologic or non-pharmacologic method to prevent PONV. Studies meeting the following criteria were excluded: (1) case series, review papers, or retrospective studies; (2) did not report our prespecified outcomes. Results: Twenty-one studies were included in this review. Pharmacological methods for PONV prevention include ondansetron and dexamethasone (3 studies), peripheral nerve block technique (4 studies), dexmedetomidine (1 study), pregabalin (2 studies), nefopam (2 studies), remifentanil (1 study), propofol (2 studies), and penehyclidine (1 study). Non-pharmacologic methods include capsicum plaster (1 study), throat packs (2 studies) and gastric aspiration (2 studies). Conclusions: Based on current evidence, we conclude that prophylactic antiemetics like dexamethasone, ondansetron, and penehyclidine are the first defense against PONV. Multimodal analgesia with nerve block techniques and non-opioid analgesics should be considered due to their notable opioid-sparing and PONV preventive effect. For the non-pharmacological methods, throat packs are not recommended for routine use because of their poor effect and serious complications. More prospective RCTs are required to confirm whether gastric aspiration can prevent PONV effectively for patients undergoing orthognathic surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we introduce a novel panoptic segmentation method called the Mask-Pyramid Network. Existing Mask RCNN-based methods first generate a large number of box proposals and then filter them at each feature level, which requires a lot of computational resources, while most of the box proposals are suppressed and discarded in the Non-Maximum Suppression process. Additionally, for panoptic segmentation, it is a problem to properly fuse the semantic segmentation results with the Mask RCNN-produced instance segmentation results. To address these issues, we propose a new mask pyramid mechanism to distinguish objects and generate much fewer proposals by referring to existing segmented masks, so as to reduce computing resource consumption. The Mask-Pyramid Network generates object proposals and predicts masks from larger to smaller sizes. It records the pixel area occupied by the larger object masks, and then only generates proposals on the unoccupied areas. Each object mask is represented as a H × W × 1 logit, which fits well in format with the semantic segmentation logits. By applying SoftMax to the concatenated semantic and instance segmentation logits, it is easy and natural to fuse both segmentation results. We empirically demonstrate that the proposed Mask-Pyramid Network achieves comparable accuracy performance on the Cityscapes and COCO datasets. Furthermore, we demonstrate the computational efficiency of the proposed method and obtain competitive results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a correction notice for an article titled "Circular RNA circMET drives immunosuppression and anti-PD1 therapy resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma via the miR-30-5p/snail/DPP4 axis" published in the journal Molecular Cancer. The correction addresses an error in Figure 7 of the original article, specifically related to CD4 and CD8 staining in Hep1-6-Snail tumors treated by PBS, PD1 abs, and Sitagliptin. The correction does not impact the overall conclusions or discussion of the article. The corrected figures are provided in the notice. [Extracted from the article]

Akkermansia muciniphila is considered the "paradigm for next-generation beneficial microorganisms" and has been reported to help alleviat immunerelated diseases. Evidence shows that herbal medicine can treat disease by regulating the abundance of A. muciniphila. Recent studies have revealed a link between A. muciniphila and immune-related diseases. Here, we systematically reviewed the association between A. muciniphila, herbal medicine, and immune-related diseases (including inflammatory bowel disease, human immunodeficiency virus, cancer immunotherapy, and immune-related liver injury). We also summarize the potential mechanisms of action of A. muciniphila and offer perspectives for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since its initial discovery in the Hunan province of China, genomic DNA of porcine circovirus 4 (PCV4) has been detected in pigs across multiple provinces in China, as well as in South Korea. However, the prevalence of porcine circovirus type 4 in Gansu Province, China, remains unknown. To address this gap, we undertook an extensive study where we gathered 121 clinical samples displaying diverse clinical manifestations from pig farms in Gansu Province between 2022 and 2023. Employing a real-time fluorescence quantification method, we identified the presence of PCV4 genome. Out of the 121 clinical samples analyzed, 13 samples tested positive for PCV4, resulting in a positive rate of 10.74% (13/121). This finding confirms the presence of PCV4 in pig farms within Gansu Province, China. Furthermore, we successfully sequenced and analyzed the complete genomes of two distinct PCV4 strains, comparing them with 60 reference sequences archived in the GenBank database. The results revealed a high nucleotide homology (98.2–98.8%) between the strains obtained in this study and the PCV4 reference strains, indicating a relatively low evolutionary rate of the PCV4 genome. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that two strains in this study belong to PCV4a and PCV4c. As far as we know, this study marks the inaugural report on the molecular identification and genomic attributes of PCV4 in Gansu Province, China, offering valuable insights for devising preventive and control strategies against this emerging virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytochrome P450s are a large family of protein-encoding genes in plant genomes, many of which have not yet been comprehensively characterized. Here, a novel P450 gene, CYP82D47, was isolated and functionally characterized from cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). Quantitative real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that CYP82D47 expression was triggered by salicylic acid (SA) and ethephon (ETH). Expression analysis revealed a correlation between CYP82D47 transcript levels and plant defense responses against powdery mildew (PM) and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum (Foc). Although no significant differences were observed in disease resistance between CYP82D47-RNAi and wild-type cucumber, overexpression (OE) of CYP82D47 enhanced PM and Foc resistance in cucumber. Furthermore, the expression levels of SA-related genes (PR1, PR2, PR4, and PR5) increased in CYP82D47-overexpressing plants 7 days post fungal inoculation. The levels of ETH-related genes (EIN3 and EBF2) were similarly upregulated. The observed enhanced resistance was associated with the upregulation of SA/ETH-signaling-dependent defense genes. These findings indicate the crucial role of CYP82D47 in pathogen defense in cucumber. CYP82D47-overexpressing cucumber plants exhibited heightened susceptibility to both diseases. The study results offer important insights that could aid in the development of disease-resistant cucumber cultivars and elucidate the molecular mechanisms associated with the functions of CYP82D47. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Explosion deflection has recently become an important topic in hazardous asteroid deflection. Changes in asteroid velocity and angular velocity, as well as the degree of structural damage, should be fully considered in the explosion deflection scheme. This study investigates the effect of explosion position on the deflection of the asteroid 25143 Itokawa. First, we propose a mathematical model to quickly determine the changes in the angular velocity of Itokawa with explosions at different positions, and verified its reliability through numerical simulations. Mathematical model indicated a maximum 349-fold difference in Itokawa's angular velocity change under explosions at different positions, and revealed that the decisive factor is the force arm (maximum 850-fold difference), not the moment of inertia (maximum 4.01-fold difference). Then, to demonstrate the effect of porosity on shock wave propagation, we established a mesoscopic model based on the porosities of Itokawa's head and body. We used the single-material arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) and finite element-smoothed particle hydrodynamics (FE-SPH) adaptive methods to simulate the deflection of the asteroid with a 300-kt TNT-equivalent explosion at different positions 10 m underground. The simulated changes in asteroid velocity and angular velocity were consistent with the predictions of the mathematical model. Finally, we investigated the effects of the asteroid geometry and material composition on the shock wave propagation and asteroid damage evolution (material response and structural response). • The Effect of explosion position on the angular velocity change of Itokawa is investigated. • A mesoscopic model is established to better demonstrate the effect of porosity on shock wave propagation. • The effects of asteroid geometry and material composition on asteroid material and structural responses are explored. • The damage evolution of Itokawa with explosions at different positions is obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-speed permanent magnet motors (HSPMMs) have received attention in direct drive systems from the industry. Modular multilevel converters (MMCs) have become the most practical solution for HSPMMs in industrial applications due to the advantages of their highly modular structure, high-quality output and high reliability. In this article, the symmetrical discrete-time model of the MMC for the HSPMM drive is presented. Based on this symmetrical discrete-time model, the discrete-time current regulator has been designed. Moreover, the submodel (SM) capacitor energy balance models for MMC have been described, and the energy balance control scheme is introduced. Finally, the simulation and experimental results show that the presented discrete-time current regulator has a strong dynamic response at high speed (15 kr/min), and the SM capacitor voltage balance control is also achieved. Compared with the conventional PI current controller, the proposed discrete-time current regulator improves the current loop dynamic performance at high-speed, and the energy balance control scheme can ensure the SM capacitor voltage balance of the MMC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by the infiltration of inflammatory cells and demyelination of nerves. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in the pathogenesis of MS, as studies have shown abnormalities in mitochondrial activities, metabolism, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) levels, and mitochondrial morphology in immune cells of individuals with MS. The presence of mitochondrial dysfunctions in immune cells contributes to immunological dysregulation and neurodegeneration in MS. This review provided a comprehensive overview of mitochondrial dysfunction in immune cells associated with MS, focusing on the potential consequences of mitochondrial metabolic reprogramming on immune function. Current challenges and future directions in the field of immune-metabolic MS and its potential as a therapeutic target were also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared with individuals with hearing loss, tinnitus patients without hearing loss have more psychological or emotional problems. Tinnitus is closely associated to abnormal metabolism and function of the limbic system, a key brain region for emotion experience, but the underlying molecular mechanism remains unknown. Using whole‐brain microvasculature dynamics imaging, the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is identified as a key brain region of limbic system involve in the onset of salicylate‐induced tinnitus in mice. In the tinnitus group, there is enhanced purine metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation, and a distinct pattern of phosphorylation in glutamatergic synaptic pathway according to the metabolome profiles, quantitative proteomic, and phosphoproteomic data of mice ACC tissue. Electroencephalogram in tinnitus patients with normal hearing thresholds show that the functional connectivity between pregenual anterior cingulate cortex and the primary auditory cortex is significantly increased for high‐gamma frequency band, which is positively correlated with the serum glutamate level. These findings indicate that ACC plays an important role in the pathophysiology of tinnitus by interacting with the primary auditory cortex and provide potential molecular targets in the ACC for tinnitus treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many kinds of medicinal ingredients occur in Cirsium lineare that have good clinical efficacy, conferring on this species its high medicinal development value. However, with a rapidly changing global climate, it is increasingly imperative to study the factors affecting the habitat distribution and survival of species. We predicted the current and future distribution areas of suitable habitats for C. lineare, analyzed the importance of environmental variables in influencing habitat shifts, and described the alterations to suitable habitats of C. lineare in different periods (modern, 2050s, and 2070s) and scenarios (RCP2.6, RCP4.5, and RCP8.5). The results show that, under the current climate, the total suitable area of C. lineare is about 2,220,900 km2, of which the highly suitable portion amounts to ca. 292,600 km2. The minimum temperature of the coldest month, annual precipitation, and mean daily temperature range are the chief environmental variables affecting the distribution of habitat for C. lineare. In the same period, with rising greenhouse gas emission concentrations, the total suitable area will increase. In general, under future climate change, the suitable habitat for C. lineare will gradually migrate to the west and north, and its total suitable area will also expand. The results of this experiment can be used for the conservation and management of the wild resources of C. lineare. We can choose suitable growth areas to protect the medicinal resources of C. lineare through in situ conservation and artificial breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) presents significant challenges in diagnosis and treatment. Understanding the role of PANoptosis-related molecules in HCC is crucial for advancing therapeutic strategies. Methods. We conducted a comprehensive analysis using public data from the Cancer Genome Atlas, Human Protein Atlas, Tumor Immune Single Cell Hub, and STRING databases. Techniques included Kaplan–Meier survival curves, Cox regression, LASSO analysis, and various computational methods for understanding the tumor microenvironment. We also employed ClueGO, gene set enrichment analysis, and other algorithms for biological enrichment analysis. Results. CASP8 emerged as a significant molecule in HCC, correlated with poor survival outcomes. Its expression was predominant in the nucleoplasm and cytosol and varied across different cancer types. Biological enrichment analysis revealed CASP8's association with critical cellular activities and immune responses. In the tumor microenvironment, CASP8 showed correlations with various immune cell types. A nomogram plot was developed for better clinical prognostication. Mutation analysis indicated a higher frequency of TP53 mutations in patients with elevated CASP8 expression. In addition, CASP8 was found to regulate YEATS2 in HCC, highlighting a potential pathway in tumor progression. Conclusions. Our study underscores the multifaceted role of CASP8 in HCC, emphasizing its prognostic and therapeutic significance. The regulatory relationship between CASP8 and YEATS2 opens new avenues for understanding HCC pathogenesis and treatment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has historically been exceedingly challenging to create physically and chemically stable lanthanide compounds with strong second harmonic generation (SHG) due to their strong preference to central symmetry. In this work, five new non‐centrosymmetric lanthanide selenites, namely, Ln2F2(OH2)(MoO3)2(SeO3)2 (Ln = Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb and Dy), are achieved by partial fluorination of the lanthanide oxygen polyhedron. An HF corrosion resistant supercritical hydrothermal method is developed, which is a facile and universal method for HF corrosion and high‐temperature high‐pressure environment. The title compounds displayed a novel 3D framework composed of 1D molybdenum selenite chains bridged by Ln2F2O12(OH2) dimers. Their powder SHG responses showed a large difference, ranging from 1.0 to 9.0 × KH2PO4 (KDP) at 1064 nm. The half‐filled Gd compound exhibited very strong SHG efficiency of up to 1.2 × KTP (KTiOPO4) at 2050 nm. Compounds Tb and Gd are the first lanthanide selenites with SHG intensity reaching KTP level, which is very rare in this system. Furthermore, these compounds can also possess excellent physicochemical stability and strong luminescence emission, indicating that they are promising multifunctional nonlinear optical materials. This work offered an effective way for design and synthesis of multifunctional and high‐performant nonlinear optical materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a Boolean network model with high dimensional chaos driving and investigates the synchronization of the chaos‐driven Boolean network with a semi‐tensor product. In order to protect the privacy and ensure the security of image transmission, the synchronization results are utilized in the image cryptosystem to achieve compression and encryption. First, the driving chaos system is coupled with multiple local systems and synchronized with the transmitted encrypted signals. Second, the Boolean network is driven and synchronized with derived chaos signals. Finally, images are encrypted and compressed with chaos‐driven Boolean network signals in the transmitter, and then decrypted and recovered with synchronized chaos and Boolean network signals in the recipient. Because of the complexities of high dimensional chaos and Boolean network, the proposed cryptosystem has good security in the secure communication and image process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer-bonded explosives (PBXs) played a critical role in lethality and destruction as a vital military explosive in the world. Unfortunately, the current PBXs exhibit poor properties in safety performance and reliability for the weak interfacial surface, which cannot meet requirements of the high security and high reliability of weapons and ammunition in the harsh environment of modern battlefields. Herein, the neutral polymeric bonding agents (NPBAs) were successfully coated on the surface of 1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetraazacyclooctane (HMX) and proved to enhance the mechanical performance and reliability of PBXs. The scanning electron microscopy images indicated a slight aggregation of NPBAs coated in the HMX surface, the XRD spectra of HMX@NPBAs had an analogous spectrum of HMX, and the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy spectrum confirmed that the NPBAs played a role on the surface of HMX by coating. Furthermore, the HMX coated with NPBAs had more excellent safety performance, thermal stability, and mechanical properties. The strategy is helpful to strengthen the interaction between HMX and binder matrix, which provides a brilliant idea in modifying for the weak interfacial surface of energetic crystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this investigation was to scrutinize the effects of a thermal treatment on the electrostatic complex formed between gum arabic (GA) and ε-polylysine (ε-PL), with the goal of improving the antibacterial properties and reducing the hygroscopicity of ε-PL. The heated complex with a ratio of 1:4 exhibited an encapsulation efficiency of 93.3%. Additionally, it had an average particle size of 350.3 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.255, and a zeta potential of 18.9 mV. The formation of the electrostatic complex between GA and ε-PL was confirmed through multispectral analysis, which demonstrated the participation of hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions, as well as the enhanced effect of heat treatment on these forces within the complex. The complex displayed a core-shell structure, with a regular distribution and a shape that was approximately spherical, as observed in the transmission electron microscopy images. Additionally, the heated GA–ε-PL electrostatic composite exhibited favorable antibacterial effects on Salmonella enterica and Listeria monocytogenes, with reduced minimum inhibitory concentrations (15.6 μg/mL and 62.5 μg/mL, respectively) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (31.3 μg/mL and 156.3 μg/mL, respectively) compared to free ε-PL or the unheated electrostatic composite. Moreover, the moisture absorption of ε-PL reduced from 92.6% to 15.0% in just 48 h after being incorporated with GA and subsequently subjected to heat. This research showed a way to improve the antibacterial efficiency and antihygroscopicity of ε-PL, reducing its application limitations as an antimicrobial substance to some extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shigella dysenteriae is a highly pathogenic microorganism that can cause human bacillary dysentery by contaminating food and drinking water. This study investigated the antibacterial activity of chestnut bur polyphenol extract (CBPE) on S. dysenteriae and the underlying mechanism. The results showed that the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of CBPE for S. dysenteriae was 0.4 mg/mL, and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was 1.6 mg/mL. CBPE treatment irreversibly disrupted cell morphology, decreased cell activity, and increased cell membrane permeability, cell membrane depolarization, and cell content leakage of S. dysenteriae, indicating that CBPE has obvious destructive effects on the cell membrane and cell wall of S. dysenteriae. Combined transcriptomic and metabolomics analysis revealed that CBPE inhibits S. dysenteriae by interfering with ABC protein transport, sulfur metabolism, purine metabolism, amino acid metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and some other pathways. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of S. dysenteriae infection with extract from chestnut burs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We introduce two new search strategies to further improve the performance of vegetation evolution (VEGE) for solving continuous optimization problems. Specifically, the first strategy, named the dynamic maturity strategy, allows individuals with better fitness to have a higher probability of generating more seed individuals. Here, all individuals will first become allocated to generate a fixed number of seeds, and then the remaining number of allocatable seeds will be distributed competitively according to their fitness. Since VEGE performs poorly in getting rid of local optima, we propose the diverse mutation strategy as the second search operator with several different mutation methods to increase the diversity of seed individuals. In other words, each generated seed individual will randomly choose one of the methods to mutate with a lower probability. To evaluate the performances of the two proposed strategies, we run our proposal (VEGE + two strategies), VEGE, and another seven advanced evolutionary algorithms (EAs) on the CEC2013 benchmark functions and seven popular engineering problems. Finally, we analyze the respective contributions of these two strategies to VEGE. The experimental and statistical results confirmed that our proposal can significantly accelerate convergence and improve the convergence accuracy of the conventional VEGE in most optimization problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of nivolumab plus chemotherapy as first-line treatment for patients with advanced gastric, gastroesophageal junction (GEJ), or esophageal adenocarcinoma from the perspective of Chinese and US society. Methods: To conduct the analysis, a state-transitioned Markov model, which included three mutually exclusive health states (progression-free survival (PFS), progressive disease (PD), and death), was developed. Cycle length was set at 3 weeks and lifetime horizon was set at 10 years. Costs, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) were calculated in the analysis. Willingness-to-pay (WTP) thresholds in the model were set at $37,653.00/QALY in China and $100,000.00/QALY in the US, respectively. Meanwhile, one-way sensitivity analyses and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were conducted to investigate the robustness of the model. Results: Over a lifetime horizon, the ICERs of nivolumab plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone were $430,185.04/QALY and $944,089.78/QALY in China and the US, respectively. Cost of nivolumab and utility for the PFS state had the most significant impact on ICERs both in the US and China based on the results of the one-way sensitivity analyses. In the probabilistic sensitivity analyses, the proportions of nivolumab plus chemotherapy being cost-effective compared with chemotherapy alone were 0%. Conclusions: In conclusion, nivolumab plus chemotherapy is unlikely to be a cost-effective treatment option compared with chemotherapy alone in the first-line setting of advanced gastric, GEJ, or esophageal adenocarcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study establishes a UHPLC‒MS/MS method for the detection of zanubrutinib and explores its interaction with fluconazole and isavuconazole in rats. Methods: A protein precipitation method using acetonitrile was used to prepare plasma samples using ibrutinib as an internal standard. Chromatographic separation and mass spectrometric detection of the analytes and internal standards were performed on a Shimadzu 8040 UHPLC‒MS/MS equipped with a Shim-pack velox C18 column (2.1 × 50 mm, 2.7 µm). Methanol and 0.1% formic acid-water were used as mobile phases. Intraday and interday precision and accuracy, extraction recoveries, and matrix effects of this method were determined. The linearity and sample stability of the method were assessed. Eighteen male Sprague‒Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into three groups with zanubrutinib (30 mg/kg) alone, zanubrutinib in combination with fluconazole (20 mg/kg) or zanubrutinib in combination with isavuconazole (20 mg/kg). Blood samples (200 µL) were collected at designated time points (ten evenly distributed time points within 12 h). The concentration of zanubrutinib was determined using the UHPLC‒MS/MS method developed in this study. Results: The typical fragment ions were m/z 472.15 → 290.00 for zanubrutinib and m/z 441.20 → 138.10 for ibrutinib (IS). The range of the standard curve was 1-1000 ng/mL with a regressive coefficient (R2) of 0.999. The recoveries and matrix effects were 91.9-98.2% and 97.5-106.3%, respectively, at different concentration levels. The values for intra- and interday RSD% were lower than 9.8% and 5.8%, respectively. The RSD% value was less than 10.3%, and the RE% value was less than ± 4.0% under different storage conditions. Analysis of pharmacokinetic results suggested that coadministration with isavuconazole or fluconazole significantly increased the area under the curve (1081.67 ± 43.81 vs. 1267.55 ± 79.35 vs. 1721.61 ± 219.36), peak plasma concentration (332.00 ± 52.79 vs. 396.05 ± 37.19 vs. 494.51 ± 130.68), and time to peak (1.83 ± 0.41 vs. 2.00 ± 0.00 vs. 2.17 ± 0.41) compared to zanubrutinib alone. Conclusion: This study provides information to understand the metabolism of zanubrutinib with concurrent use with isavuconazole or fluconazole, and further clinical trials are needed to validate the results in animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shale oil can be extracted from shale by using interconnected pore networks. The migration of hydrocarbon molecules within the shale is controlled by pore connectivity. However, assessing the pore connectivity of shale oil reservoirs is uncommon. To characterize pore connectivity and clarify its controlling factors, this study used spontaneous imbibition (SI) combined with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) T2 and T1-T2 technologies on shale oil reservoirs selected from the Shahejie Formation in the Dongying Sag, Bohai Bay Basin. According to the findings, the SI processes of shales include fast-rising, slow-rising, and stable stages. The fast-rising stage denotes pore connectivity. The shales studied have poor connectivity, with lower imbibition slopes and connected porosity ratios, but large effective tortuosity. During the SI process, micropores have the highest imbibition saturation, followed by mesopores and macropores. Furthermore, n-dodecane ingested into micropores appears primarily as adsorbed, whereas n-dodecane appears primarily as free states in mesopores and macropores during the SI process. The pore connectivity of the shales under study is primarily controlled by inorganic minerals. Quartz and feldspar develop large and regular pores, resulting in better pore connectivity, whereas clay minerals and calcite with plenty of complex intragranular pores do not. Organic matter negatively influences pore connectivity because the dissolution of calcite by organic acid produced during hydrocarbon generation leads to a more complex and heterogeneous pore structure. This study sheds light on the pore connectivity and controlling factors of the shale oil reservoir and aids in the understanding of shale oil mobility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inorganic ferroelectrics have long dominated research and applications, taking advantage of high piezoelectric performance in bulk polycrystalline ceramic forms. Molecular ferroelectrics have attracted growing interest because of their environmental friendliness, easy processing, lightweight, and good biocompatibility, while realizing the considerable piezoelectricity in their bulk polycrystalline forms remains a great challenge. Herein, for the first time, through ring enlargement, a molecular ferroelectric 1‐azabicyclo[3.2.1]octonium perrhenate ([3.2.1‐abco]ReO4) with a large piezoelectric coefficient d33 up to 118 pC/N in the polycrystalline pellet form is designed, which is higher than that of the parent 1‐azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptanium perrhenate ([2.2.1–abch]ReO4, 90 pC/N) and those of most molecular ferroelectrics in polycrystalline or even single crystal forms. The ring enlargement reduces the molecular strain for easier molecular deformation, which contributes to the higher piezoelectric response in [3.2.1‐abco]ReO4. This work opens up a new avenue for exploring high piezoelectric polycrystalline molecular ferroelectrics with great potential in piezoelectric applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previously, we have found that (NbTaZrW)C exhibits a good combination of nanohardness and toughness. In this report, we explore the possibility to further increase the overall properties of this high‐entropy carbide ceramic (HECC) through introducing SiC particle (SiCP). To this end, a series of (NbTaZrW)C–xSiC ceramic composites (x = 0/5/15/30/50 vol.%) were fabricated using spark plasma sintering (SPS), their microstructure and mechanical properties were characterized. Our results reveal a grain refinement effects of SiCP, an agglomeration of SiCP with (1 0 0) plane preferentially perpendicular to the SPS‐pressing direction and the formation of a transition region with various stoichiometric ratio of (NbTaZrW)xC1−x in the (NbTaZrW)C–SiCP vicinity. The elastic modulus, microhardness, and flexural strength of the HECCs show tight positive relations with the SiCP content and the beneficial effect of SiCP to the fracture toughness of (NbTaZrW)C becomes evident once the content of SiCP reaches 30 vol.%. Altogether, (NbTaZrW)C–50%SiC, which has a microhardness of 22 GPa, a flexural strength of 455 MPa, and an indentation fracture toughness of 6.54 MPa m1/2, presents the optimal combination of mechanical properties among the investigated composites. Mechanistically, the strengthening effect of SiCP introduction arises from the intrinsic high hardness of SiCP and the SiCP‐induced grain refinement and the toughening effect is mainly associated with crack bridging mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, high-speed permanent magnet synchronous machines (HSPMSMs) are widely used in high-speed direct-drive applications. Moreover, modular multilevel converters (MMCs) have attracted a lot of attention. In this paper, the mathematical model of the MMC for the HSPMSM was built on high- and low-speed regions, respectively, and the control of each model is completely decoupled. Moreover, energy balance control schemes based on the common mode current injection of the MMC with HSPMSM drive applications have been proposed for high- and low-speed cases, respectively. Based on this model, the controller is proposed for high- and low-speed cases, respectively. Simulation and experiment results indicate that the proposed energy balance control method for an MMC in the high-speed PMSM drive application exhibits significant performance, which can ensure the energy balance of the MMC and eliminate the circulating current of the MMC directly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inverse sandwich clusters composed of a monocyclic boron ring and two capping transition metal atoms are interesting alloy cluster systems, yet their chemical bonding nature has not been sufficiently elucidated to date. We report herein on the theoretical prediction of a new example of boron-based inverse sandwich alloy clusters, V2B7−, through computational global-minimum structure searches and quantum chemical calculations. This alloy cluster has a heptatomic boron ring as well as a perpendicular V2 dimer unit that penetrates through the ring. Chemical bonding analysis suggests that the inverse sandwich cluster is governed by globally delocalized 6π and 6σ frameworks, that is, double 6π/6σ aromaticity following the (4n + 2) Hückel rule. The skeleton B−B σ bonding in the cluster is shown not to be strictly Lewis-type two-center two-electron (2c-2e) σ bonds. Rather, these are quasi-Lewis-type, roof-like 4c-2e V−B2−V σ bonds, which amount to seven in total and cover the whole surface of inverse sandwich in a truly three-dimensional manner. Theoretical evidence is revealed for a 2c-2e Lewis σ single bond within the V2 dimer. Direct metal–metal bonding is scarce in inverse sandwich alloy clusters. The present inverse sandwich alloy cluster also offers a new type of electronic transmutation in physical chemistry, which helps establish an intriguing chemical analogy between inverse sandwich clusters and planar hypercoordinate molecular wheels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the accuracy of the parameters needed in the discrete element method (DEM) simulation process of wet-sticky feed raw materials, the JKR contact model in DEM was used to calibrate and verify the physical parameters of wet-sticky feed raw materials. Firstly, the parameters that have a significant effect on the angle of repose were screened using a Plackett–Burman design, and the screened parameters were: MM rolling friction coefficient, MM static friction coefficient, and JKR surface energy. Then, the three screened parameters were selected as the influencing factors and the accumulation angle of repose was selected as evaluating indicator; thus, the performance optimization experiments were carried out with the quadratic orthogonal rotation design. Taking the experimentally measured angle of repose value of 54.25°as the target value, the significance parameters were optimized, and the optimal combination was obtained : MM rolling friction factor was 0.21, MM static friction factor was 0.51, and JKR surface energy was 0.65. Finally, the angle of repose and SPP tests were compared under the calibrated parameters. The results showed that the relative error of experimental and simulated tests in angle of repose was 0.57%, and the compression displacement and compression ratio of the experimental and simulated tests in SPP were 1.01% and 0.95%, respectively, which improved the reliability of the simulated results. The research findings provide a reference basis for simulation study and optimal design of related equipment for feed raw materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fractional gradient direction replaces additional plastic potential. • The FEM implementation of the fractional elastoplastic constitutive model is presented. • The influence of the fractional order on the strain localization is investigated. • Examples are analyzed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the implementation process. The plastic strain localization phenomenon is of critical importance for rock-like materials when undergoing non-homogeneous deformation. This paper presents a fractional plastic framework which is applied to take into account the plastic strain localization of rock-like materials. The novelty of the presented framework lies in the non-coaxial plastic flow that is controlled by the RiemannLiouville (RL) fractional derivative without additional plastic potential. The hardening response is described by a function of the generalized plastic shear strain. The capability of the fractional constitutive model to predict the main mechanical behaviors of rock-like materials is assessed by the conventional triaxial compression test data of Vosges sandstones from the literature. With the help of a MATLAB-based finite element method, several numerical examples (i.e., a plate, a plate with a hole, and a plate with a crack) are implemented, compared and analyzed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed framework and the influence of the fractional order on the strain localization. It can be found from the numerical application of the twin-tunnel that the fractional model is promising to flexibly capture the strain localization zone for rock-like materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new and powerful visible-light-induced difunctionalization of the C-C σ-bond of alkylidenecyclopropanes via a ring-opening process was developed. Importantly, acyl chlorides are used as both acyl and Cl sources. This strategy provides an effective route for the difunctionalization of the C-C bond with an acyl radical and Cl− to construct a new C-C bond and a C-Cl bond in one pot. In addition, it has a wide range of substrates and can tolerate various functional groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of RNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification in the regulation of the immune microenvironment in ischaemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) remains largely unclear. This study first identified differential m6A regulators between ICM and healthy samples, and then systematically evaluated the effects of m6A modification on the characteristics of the immune microenvironment in ICM, including the infiltration of immune cells, the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) gene, and HALLMARKS pathways. A total of seven key m6A regulators, including WTAP, ZCH3H13, YTHDC1, FMR1, FTO, RBM15 and YTHDF3, were identified using a random forest classifier. A diagnostic nomogram based on these seven key m6A regulators could effectively distinguish patients with ICM from healthy subjects. We further identified two distinct m6A modification patterns (m6A cluster-A and m6A cluster-B) that are mediated by these seven regulators. Meanwhile, we also noted that one m6A regulator, WTAP, was gradually upregulated, while the others were gradually downregulated in the m6A cluster-A vs. m6A cluster-B vs. healthy subjects. In addition, we observed that the degree of infiltration of the activated dendritic cells, macrophages, natural killer (NK) T cells, and type-17 T helper (Th17) cells gradually increased in m6A cluster-A vs. m6A cluster-B vs. healthy subjects. Furthermore, m6A regulators, including FTO, YTHDC1, YTHDF3, FMR1, ZC3H13, and RBM15 were significantly negatively correlated with the above-mentioned immune cells. Additionally, several differential HLA genes and HALLMARKS signalling pathways between the m6A cluster-A and m6A cluster-B groups were also identified. These results suggest that m6A modification plays a key role in the complexity and diversity of the immune microenvironment in ICM, and seven key m6A regulators, including WTAP, ZCH3H13, YTHDC1, FMR1, FTO, RBM15, and YTHDF3, may be novel biomarkers for the accurate diagnosis of ICM. Immunotyping of patients with ICM will help to develop immunotherapy strategies with a higher level of accuracy for patients with a significant immune response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Doping alkali metals into boron clusters can effectively compensate for the intrinsic electron deficiency of boron and lead to interesting boron-based binary clusters, owing to the small electronegativity of the former elements. We report on the computational design of a three-layered sandwich cluster, Na5B7, on the basis of global-minimum (GM) searches and electronic structure calculations. It is shown that the Na5B7 cluster can be described as a charge-transfer complex: [Na4]2+[B7]3−[Na]+. In this sandwich cluster, the [B7]3− core assumes a molecular wheel in shape and features in-plane hexagonal coordination. The magic 6π/6σ double aromaticity underlies the stability of the [B7]3− molecular wheel, following the (4n + 2) Hückel rule. The tetrahedral Na4 ligand in the sandwich has a [Na4]2+ charge-state, which is the simplest example of three-dimensional aromaticity, spherical aromaticity, or superatom. Its 2σ electron counting renders σ aromaticity for the ligand. Overall, the sandwich cluster has three-fold 6π/6σ/2σ aromaticity. Molecular dynamics simulation shows that the sandwich cluster is dynamically fluxional even at room temperature, with a negligible energy barrier for intramolecular twisting between the B7 wheel and the Na4 ligand. The Na5B7 cluster offers a new example for dynamic structural fluxionality in molecular systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a series of multicomponent alloys (CoCrFeNi, CoCrNi, and CoNiV) were laser welded with 304 stainless steel (304ss), and detailed comparisons on microstructural characteristics and mechanical properties were conducted for dissimilar laser welded joints. It is revealed that all of the dissimilar laser welded samples possessed defect-free joints and the corresponding fusion zone consisting of fcc single-phase showed homogeneous element distribution accompanied by a narrow element gradient in the vicinity of the fusion zone boundary. After laser welding with identical welding parameters, equiaxed grain was observed on the side of multicomponent alloy, while coarse columnar grain was obtained on the side of 304ss. Especially, the columnar grains of the fusion zone on the side of 304ss disclosed preferential <001> growth direction in the CoCrFeNi/304ss and CoCrNi/304ss welded joints. Furthermore, all of the dissimilar laser welded joints were fractured in the fusion zone, attributing to the drastic loss of strength in the fusion zone with coarsened grain. It is worth noting that a special lamellar structure that merged by dimples was found in the fracture surface of the CoNiV/304ss joint, closely related to the existence of the V-enriched region. Finally, a high strength–ductile synergy can be achieved by laser welding CoNiV alloy to 304ss, which showed a yield strength of 338 MPa, ultimate tensile strength of 686 MPa, and total elongation of 28.9%. These excellent mechanical properties prevailed in the potential of a CoNiV/304ss laser welded joint to be applied as a structural material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigated the relationship between cultural distance, classroom silence, and the performance of culturally responsive and inclusive education (CRIE) using a survey of 1051 college students in Shanghai in 2022. We found a significantly positive association between migrant students' cultural distance and their perceived learning gains in class. Students' cultural distance increased their classroom silence as a form of protection but had no significant effect on their classroom silence as a sign of power. The classroom silence as protection decreased students' perceived learning gains. However, classroom silence as power could be used by both local and migrant students as a hold-up strategy to strengthen their influence in class discussions, which could improve their perceived learning gains. Teachers' CRIE played the most important role in migrant students' perceived learning gains, while the effectiveness of CRIE was also actually dependent on the different channels and mechanisms of cultural distance and classroom silence. A cautious identification of classroom silence will improve the effectiveness of CRIE. Suggestions are offered to lighten the practice of educators, administrators, and instructors who face classroom silence from subnational migrant students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fuel consumption differs between the hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) and the conventional vehicle (CV). However, traditional fuel consumption models developed for CVs are commonly applied to HEVs, which leads to uncertainties in the quantitative evaluation of energy consumption for passenger cars in traffic road networks. Considering the internal combustion engine (ICE) operating modes of hybrid vehicles among varying vehicle specific power (VSP) demand, we present a method to incorporate the HEV ICE speed to develop speed-specific VSP distributions for real-world driving conditions. Using vehicle trajectory and fuel consumption data in real traffic conditions, the results of this study show that the application of methods developed for CVs leads to a significant underestimation of fuel consumption for HEVs when the average speed is in the high-speed range (over 50 km/h) and a significant overestimation of fuel consumption when the average speed is in the low-speed range (below 30 km/h). The average relative error of the measured fuel consumption factor in each speed bin is 7.1% compared with real-world observations, which is an unacceptably large error. This paper proposes a method to develop the speed-specific VSP distribution, considering whether the internal combustion engine (ICE) of HEVs is on or off. This approach reduces the average relative error of the obtained fuel consumption compared with real-world observations to 2.2%, and the measuring accuracy at different average speeds is significantly improved. This method enhances the functionality and applicability of the VSP theory-based traffic energy model for HEVs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute Stanford type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) with sudden onset and high mortality requiries a standard Bentall operation and a accurate prognosis in common, together with alteration of CO2 combining power (CO2CP) and serum sodium rase concern, hence, we evaluated the prognostic value of CO2CP combined with serum sodium in ATAAD patients. This retrospective study included 183 patients who underwent Bentall operation for ATAAD from 2015 to 2021 in the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, subsequently followed grouping by the levels of CO2CP and serum sodium. The study endpoint was 30-day all-cause mortality, and the prognostic value of CO2CP combined with serum sodium levels in ATAAD patients were evaluated with multivariate logistic regression method. The postoperative incidence of in-hospital death and adverse events in patients with ATAAD were 18% and 25.7%, respectively. Combination of CO2CP and serum sodium for predicting ATAAD death and adverse events presented a higher predictive value than each single indicator with ROC curve analysis (the AUC of CO2CP combined with serum sodium was 0.786, 95% CI 0.706–0.869, P < 0.001), along with CO2CP < 22.5 mmol/L + serum sodium > 138.5 mmol/L group had the worst prognostic. Multivariate regression analyse showed that CO2CP < 22.5 mmol/L combined with serum sodium > 138.5 mmol/L preferably predicted the prognosis of ATAAD (OR =6.073, 95% CI 2.557–14.425, P < 0.001). Consistently, the cumulative 30-day survival after surgery in ATAAD patients with the low CO2CP and high serum sodium simultaneously was the worst (log-rank P < 0.05). The combination of CO2CP and serum sodium increases the predictive value of prognosis, which is conducive to risk stratification of patients with ATAAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyrus ussuriensis Maxim (PUM) is a popular fruit among consumers, and also used as medical diet for dissolving phlegm and arresting cough. The present study aims to investigate the potential protective effect of P. ussuriensis Maxim 70% ethanol eluted fraction (PUM70) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced alveolar macrophages and acute lung injury (ALI) in mice. A total of 18 polyphenol compounds were tentatively identified in PUM70 by mass spectrometry (MS) analysis. The results in vivo suggested that PUM70 treatment could effectively alleviate the histological changes, and significantly inhibit the activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and the expression of pro‐inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), and interleukin‐6 (IL‐6)). The cell test results show that PUM70 exerted its protective effect by suppressing the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels (inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) and decreasing nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin 2 (PGE2) contents. In addition, it also inhibited the overproduction of pro‐inflammatory cytokines (TNF‐α, IL‐1β, and IL‐6). Furthermore, PUM70 induced the production of heme oxygenase 1 (HO‐1) protein and nuclear translocation of Nrf2 (nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor 2), indicating that PUM70 could mitigate oxidative injury via the Nrf2/HO‐1 pathway. Moreover, PUM70 inhibited LPS‐induced inflammation by blocking the phosphorylation of mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs). The above results indicate that PUM70 has protective effects on LPS‐induced ALI, possibly be related to the inhibition of MAPK and Nrf2/HO‐1 signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A short-term in situ 15 N labeling experiment was conducted to investigate whether the N uptake and preference for different forms of available soil N for dominant plant species and soil microorganisms relate to the plant community productivity change at the no degradation stage, early stage of degradation, and late stage of degradation in an alpine meadow on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. At the early stage of degradation in the alpine meadow, aboveground net primary productivity decreased, while belowground net primary productivity increased. As a result, the total net primary productivity was unchanged at the early stage of degradation. Both aboveground and belowground net primary productivity significantly decreased at the late stage of degradation compared with the non-degraded meadows. Plants and microorganisms mainly absorbed inorganic N and preferred NH4+ at the non-degraded meadows where available soil N (the total concentration of exchangeable NH4+, NO3−, and dissolved organic N) was maintained at a high level of 60.9 μg N g−1 dry soil, indicating an N-use chemical niche overlap. Plants and microorganisms showed a niche differentiation at the early stage of degradation where available soil N decreased to a medium level of 44.6 μg N g−1 dry soil; plants preferred NO3−, while microorganisms took up more NH4+. In contrast, microorganisms increased their uptake of organic N, while plants assimilated more inorganic N, indicating that plants and microorganisms showed a niche differentiation where available soil N decreased to a low level of 26.6 μg N g−1 dry soil at the late stage of degradation. The higher N uptake (30% increase of N uptake compared with non-degraded meadows) of dominant plant species and niche differentiation in using available soil N between plants and microorganisms are two mechanisms maintaining the total community net primary productivity, even when available soil N decreased at the early stage of degradation. Plants and microorganisms also showed a niche differentiation when available N declined further at the late stage of degradation. However, the N uptake by dominant plant species greatly declined at the late stage of degradation (76% reduction of N uptake compared with non-degraded meadows), which might explain the community net primary productivity reduction (78% lower compared with non-degraded meadows). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Back–electromotive force estimation-based rotor position estimation methods are usually adopted for high-speed surface-mounted permanent magnet synchronous machines (SPMSM) drive to deal with the limitations of position sensors in high-speed applications. Considering inductance mismatch is the main cause of the position estimation error, this article proposes a novel pulsewidth modulation (PWM) current ripple-based online inductance identification method to improve the position estimation accuracy. The proposed method utilizes the inherent PWM current ripple of the voltage source inverter for inductance identification. In addition, the transient circuit equations on the estimated $\gamma \delta$ frame are adopted as the identification model, and the recursive least squares method is used to obtain the estimated inductance. Compared with the traditional parameter identification methods, the proposed method does not need to inject additional signals or fix parameters. During the sensorless drive of high-speed SPMSM, the proposed method can accurately identify the inductance while not affecting the normal operation of PMSM at all, which is the main contribution of this article. With the proposed method, the estimated inductance can rapidly converge to the accurate value, and then the position estimation error will be eliminated. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by simulations and experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Knockout of BnaA08.PPT1 and BnaC08.PPT1 resulted retarded growth of B. napus. • BnaPPT1 is required for membrane lipid synthesis and chloroplast development in leaves. • Overexpression of BnaC08.PPT1 significantly elevated the seed oil content. • BnaPPT1 plays an important role in maintaining plant growth and seed oil accumulation in B. napus. Phosphoenolpyruvate/phosphate translocator (PPT) transports phosphoenolpyruvate from the cytosol into the plastid for fatty acid (FA) and other metabolites biosynthesis. This study investigated PPTs' functions in plant growth and seed oil biosynthesis in oilseed crop Brassica napus. We created over-expression and mutant material of BnaPPT1. The plant development, oil content, lipids, metabolites and ultrastructure of seeds were compared to evaluate the gene function. The plastid membrane localized BnaPPT1 was found to be required for normal growth of B. napus. The plants grew slower with yellowish leaves in BnaA08.PPT1 and BnaC08.PPT1 double mutant plants. The results of chloroplast ultrastructural observation and lipid analysis show that BnaPPT1 plays an essential role in membrane lipid synthesis and chloroplast development in leaves, thereby affecting photosynthesis. Moreover, the analysis of primary metabolites and lipids in developing seeds showed that BnaPPT1 could impact seed glycolytic metabolism and lipid level. Knockout of BnaA08.PPT1 and BnaC08.PPT1 resulted in decreasing of the seed oil content by 2.2 to 9.1%, while overexpression of BnaC08.PPT1 significantly promoted the seed oil content by 2.1 to 3.3%. Our results suggest that BnaPPT1 is necessary for plant chloroplast development, and it plays an important role in maintaining plant growth and promoting seed oil accumulation in B. napus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes an improved position sensorless drive method for interior permanent magnet synchronous machines (IPMSM) in medium- and high-speed regions, which relies on the fully discretized extended back-electromotive force (EEMF) model and online inductance identification. First, the fully discretized EEMF model is developed for constructing position observers, which overcomes the accuracy deterioration of the conventional Euler-discretized model with the speed increasing. And then, an online inductance identification method for IPMSM, which utilizes the inherent pulsewidth modulation (PWM) current ripple of the voltage source inverter (VSI), is proposed to improve the position estimation accuracy. Compared with the traditional parameter identification method, the proposed method does not require the additional signal injection, therefore, the undesirable torque fluctuation and additional voltage occupancy due to signal injection are avoided. Benefiting from the fully discretized EEMF model and the estimated inductances, the improved rotor position estimation of IPMSM can be achieved. Finally, the proposed method is verified by simulations and experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is generally assumed that increased dust accumulation rate (DAR) on the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP) is associated with intensified inland Asian aridification. However, the timescales and area that any such association operates over is unclear. In this study, we demonstrate a lack of correlation between the southern CLP loess DAR variations and aridification over the past 130 ka, which does not support a direct link between high DAR and intensified inland Asian aridification over millennial to tens of millennial timescales. Instead, we propose that loess DAR variation is more likely determined by wet‐dry cycles and associated loose sediment production and availability via fluvial and glacial processes. Plain Language Summary: Aridification is a global challenge facing humanity. As such, there is a pressing need to understand changes in aridification over a range of scales, as well as their causes. Arid inland Asia is the largest middle‐latitude arid region, and mineral dust emitted from here is found downwind in the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP) loess, North Pacific Ocean sediments, and even Greenland ice. As a result, North Pacific and CLP sediments are frequently used to infer inland Asian aridification history. Underpinning this is the assumption that faster dust accumulation corresponds to increased inland Asian aridification. By contrast, here we demonstrate that fast dust accumulation during cycles within the Ice Age on the southeastern CLP correspond instead to periods of increased East Asian river erosion associated with intensified dry‐wet climatic contrasts. Thus, dust accumulation is decoupled from inland Asian aridification variations. This challenges one of the most basic foundations in inland Asian aridification research. This study has broad implications for understanding the responses and feedbacks of atmospheric dust in climate systems, dust‐climate modeling assumptions, understanding of inland Asian aridity history and its causes, and interpretations of far field dust accumulation records in, for example, North Pacific sediments and Greenland ice‐cores. Key Points: Sedimentary evidence is utilized to systematically test the role of inland Asian aridification in Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP) dust accumulationInland Asian aridification is not the dominant control on CLP dust deposition at millennial and tens of millennial timescalesThis underscores the important role of fluvial sediments in supplying sediments to the CLP and local impacts on dust deposition [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present meta-analysis was conducted to compare the safety and effectiveness of reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) and hemiarthroplasty (HA) in the treatment of osteoporotic proximal humeral fractures in elderly patients. The Embase, Pubmed Central, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, Cochrane Library and Chinese Biomedical databases were searched between January 2009 and January 2022 to identify relevant studies. According to the search strategy, a total of 210 associated studies were retrieved and 16 were finally included. Review Manager 5.4 software was used for the data analysis. This study indicated that patients in the RSA group had significantly improved treatment outcomes compared with patients in the HA group, as assessed by Constant-Murley Shoulder Outcome Score (95% CI, 1.69-3.76; P<0.001), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score (95% CI, 11.81-24.88; P<0.001) and shoulder range of motion (ROM; 95% CI, 3.41-9.07; P<0.001). However, the HA group was superior to the RSA group in terms of the Oxford Shoulder score (95% CI, 2.89-11.11; P<0.001). There was no significant statistical difference between the two groups in terms of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score and complications. Overall, for the treatment of osteoporotic proximal humeral fractures in the elderly, the RSA group had improved postoperative ROM and functional scores compared with the HA group, without significant difference in the incidence of complications. However, HA remains a safe and reliable treatment option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at degrading the capability of the existing forensic methods in discriminating computer generated and natural facial images, a bidirectional conversion between computer-generated and natural facial images based on generative adversarial network (BDC-GAN) is proposed for anti-forensics in this paper. The generator of BDC-GAN is composed of noise encoding and content encoding. In the noise encoding, three high-pass filters are first utilized to extract the sensor pattern noise of the image, and then the stacked convolution layer is combined to continue encoding. In the content encoding, VGG-19 is truncated and fine-tuned to encode the content of the image. Some stacked convolution layers and adaptive instance normalization layer are used in the decoder. The discriminator uses multi-scale image discriminator. Furthermore, content loss and noise loss are well designed, and hyperparameters are reasonably set to accomplish the bidirectional conversion between two domain images meanwhile retaining the original facial contour. Experimental results and analysis demonstrate that the proposed anti-forensic method can achieve better visual quality and stronger deception ability compared with the existing unidirectional CG facial image anti-forensic methods and bidirectional domain adaptive methods, and its effectiveness is verified by the tests on the existing 9 forensic methods. It reveals that the existing forensic techniques can be bypassed by using adversarial learning, and it will eventually push the performance improvement of the discrimination of computer generated and natural facial images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, three-dimensional numerical simulations were established for a honeycomb ceramic conduit, and the effects of the inlet methane volume fraction, inlet velocity, and the conduit length on the gas temperature and flow resistance in the conduit were investigated. The simulation results indicate that the mean gas temperature first rises rapidly and then slowly, with an increasing inlet methane volume fraction. The mean gas temperature increases slightly with an increasing inlet velocity, and first increases and then decreases with an increasing conduit length. As the inlet methane volume fraction increases, the conduit pressure loss increases, but the increase rate gradually slows down. The conduit pressure loss increases approximately linearly with an increasing inlet velocity and conduit length. A prediction model for the pressure loss in the conduit was obtained by a theoretical analysis. The theoretical results agree well with the simulation results, and the deviations between the theoretical and simulation results were in the range of 3.7% to 12.3%. When the mean gas temperature in the conduit was less than 1000 K, the deviations were less than 6.5%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at resolving the problem of the irreversibility in some common neural networks for secret data extraction, a novel image steganography framework is proposed based on the generator of GAN (Generative Adversarial Networks) and gradient descent approximation. During data embedding, the secret data is first mapped into a stego noise vector by a specific mapping rule, and it is input into the generator of a GAN to produce a stego image. The data extraction is accomplished by iteratively updating the noise vector using the gradient descent with the generator. When the error is declined within the allowable error, the output image of the generator is approximate to the stego image, and the updated noise vector will also approach to the stego noise vector. Finally, the secret data is extracted from the updated noise vector. Experiments and analysis with WGAN-GP (Wasserstein GAN-Gradient Penalty) show that it can achieve good performance in extraction accuracy, capacity and robustness. Furthermore, the discussions also illustrate its good generalization with different GAN models and image datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]