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Abstract Deep learning enhances earthquake monitoring capabilities by mining seismic waveforms directly. However, current neural networks, trained within specific areas, face challenges in generalizing to diverse regions. Here, we employ a data recombination method to create generalized earthquakes occurring at any location with arbitrary station distributions for neural network training. The trained models can then be applied universally with different monitoring setups for earthquake detection and parameter evaluation from continuous seismic waveform streams. This allows real-time Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) to be initiated at the very early stages of an occurring earthquake. When applied to substantial earthquake sequences across Japan and California (US), our models reliably report most earthquake locations and magnitudes within 4 seconds of the initial P-wave arrival, with mean errors of 2.6-7.3 km and 0.05-0.32, respectively. The generalized neural networks facilitate global applications of real-time EEW, eliminating complex empirical configurations typically required by traditional methods.

Underground salt cavern CO2 storage (SCCS) offers the dual benefits of enabling extensive CO2 storage and facilitating the utilization of CO2 resources while contributing the regulation of the carbon market. Its economic and operational advantages over traditional carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) projects make SCCS a more cost-effective and flexible option. Despite the widespread use of salt caverns for storing various substances, differences exist between SCCS and traditional salt cavern energy storage in terms of gas-tightness, carbon injection, brine extraction control, long-term carbon storage stability, and site selection criteria. These distinctions stem from the unique phase change characteristics of CO2 and the application scenarios of SCCS. Therefore, targeted and forward-looking scientific research on SCCS is imperative. This paper introduces the implementation principles and application scenarios of SCCS, emphasizing its connections with carbon emissions, carbon utilization, and renewable energy peak shaving. It delves into the operational characteristics and economic advantages of SCCS compared with other CCUS methods, and addresses associated scientific challenges. In this paper, we establish a pressure equation for carbon injection and brine extraction, that considers the phase change characteristics of CO2, and we analyze the pressure during carbon injection. By comparing the viscosities of CO2 and other gases, SCCS’s excellent sealing performance is demonstrated. Building on this, we develop a long-term stability evaluation model and associated indices, which analyze the impact of the injection speed and minimum operating pressure on stability. Field countermeasures to ensure stability are proposed. Site selection criteria for SCCS are established, preliminary salt mine sites suitable for SCCS are identified in China, and an initial estimate of achievable carbon storage scale in China is made at over 51.8–77.7 million tons, utilizing only 20%–30% volume of abandoned salt caverns. This paper addresses key scientific and engineering challenges facing SCCS and determines crucial technical parameters, such as the operating pressure, burial depth, and storage scale, and it offers essential guidance for implementing SCCS projects in China.

Abstract N-Myc is a key driver of neuroblastoma and neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC). One potential way to circumvent the challenge of undruggable N-Myc is to target the protein homeostasis (proteostasis) system that maintains N-Myc levels. Here, we identify heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) as a top partner of N-Myc, which binds a conserved “SELILKR” motif and prevents the access of E3 ubiquitin ligase, STIP1 homology and U-box containing protein 1 (STUB1), possibly through steric hindrance. When HSP70’s dwell time on N-Myc is increased by treatment with the HSP70 allosteric inhibitor, STUB1 is in close proximity with N-Myc and becomes functional to promote N-Myc ubiquitination on the K416 and K419 sites and forms polyubiquitination chains linked by the K11 and K63 sites. Notably, HSP70 inhibition significantly suppressed NEPC tumor growth, increased the efficacy of aurora kinase A (AURKA) inhibitors, and limited the expression of neuroendocrine-related pathways.

Abstract Background Z-DNA binding protein 1 (ZBP1) is a nucleic acid sensor that is involved in multiple inflammatory diseases, but whether and how it contributes to osteoarthritis (OA) are unclear. Methods Cartilage tissues were harvested from patients with OA and a murine model of OA to evaluate ZBP1 expression. Subsequently, the functional role and mechanism of ZBP1 were examined in primary chondrocytes, and the role of ZBP1 in OA was explored in mouse models. Results We showed the upregulation of ZBP1 in articular cartilage originating from OA patients and mice with OA after destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) surgery. Specifically, knockdown of ZBP1 alleviated chondrocyte damage and protected mice from DMM-induced OA. Mechanistically, tumor necrosis factor alpha induced ZBP1 overexpression in an interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1)-dependent manner and elicited the activation of ZBP1 via mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) release and ZBP1 binding. The upregulated and activated ZBP1 could interact with receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 and activate the transforming growth factor-beta-activated kinase 1-NF-κB signaling pathway, which led to chondrocyte inflammation and extracellular matrix degradation. Moreover, inhibition of the mtDNA-IRF1-ZBP1 axis with Cyclosporine A, a blocker of mtDNA release, could delay the progression of DMM-induced OA. Conclusions Our data revealed the pathological role of the mtDNA-IRF1-ZBP1 axis in OA chondrocytes, suggesting that inhibition of this axis could be a viable therapeutic approach for OA.

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent cardiac arrhythmia, and it significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular complications and morbidity, even with appropriate treatment. Tissue remodeling has been a significant topic, while its systematic transcriptional signature remains unclear in AF. Objectives: Our study aims to systematically investigate the molecular characteristics of AF at the cellular-level. Methods: We conducted single-nuclei RNA-sequencig (snRNA-seq) analysis using nuclei isolated from the left atrial appendage (LAA) of AF patients and sinus rhythm. Pathological staining was performed to validate the key findings of snRNA-seq. Results: A total of 30 cell subtypes were identified among 80, 592 nuclei. Within the LAA of AF, we observed a specific subtype of dedifferentiated cardiomyocytes (CMs) characterized by reduced expression of cardiac contractile proteins (TTN and TRDN) and heightened expression of extracellular-matrix related genes (COL1A2 and FBN1). Transcription factor prediction analysis revealed that gene expression patterns in dedifferentiated CMs were primarily regulated by CEBPG and GISLI. Additionally, we identified a distinct subtype of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) demonstrating elevated expression of PROM1 and KDR, a population decreased within the LAA of AF. Epicardial adipocytes disclosed a reduced release of the anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic factor PRG4, and an augmented secretion of VEGF signals targeting CMs. Additionally, we noted accumulation of M2-like macrophages and CD8+ T cells with high pro-inflammatory score in LAA of AF. Furthermore, the analysis of intercellular communication revealed specific pathways related to AF, such as inflammation, extracellular matrix, and vascular remodeling signals. Conclusions: This study has discovered the presence of dedifferentiated CMs, a decrease in endothelial progenitor cells, a shift in the secretion profile of adipocytes, and an amplified inflammatory response in AF. These findings could offer crucial insights for future research on AF and serve as valuable references for investigating novel therapeutic approaches for AF.

Abstract Background Cognitive impairment is a common non-motor symptom of Parkinson’s disease (PD). The apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 genotype increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, the effect of APOEε4 on cognitive function of PD patients remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to understand whether and how carrying APOEε4 affects cognitive performance in patients with early-stage and advanced PD. Methods A total of 119 Chinese early-stage PD patients were recruited. Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale, Hamilton anxiety scale, Hamilton depression scale, non-motor symptoms scale, Mini-mental State Examination, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and Fazekas scale were evaluated. APOE genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reactions and direct sequencing. Demographic and clinical information of 521 early-stage and 262 advanced PD patients were obtained from Parkinson’s Progression Marker Initiative (PPMI). Results No significant difference in cognitive performance was found between ApoEε4 carriers and non-carriers in early-stage PD patients from our cohort and PPMI. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Amyloid Beta 42 (Aβ42) level was significantly lower in ApoEε4 carrier than non-carriers in early-stage PD patients from PPMI. In advanced PD patients from PPMI, the BJLOT, HVLT retention and SDMT scores seem to be lower in ApoEε4 carriers without reach the statistical significance. Conclusions APOEε4 carriage does not affect the cognitive performance of early-stage PD patients. However, it may promote the decline of CSF Aβ42 level and the associated amyloidopathy, which is likely to further contribute to the cognitive dysfunction of PD patients in the advanced stage.

Understanding impacts of urbanization upon local wildlife is pivotal for fostering urban sustainability and biodiversity conservation. Urbanization can directly cause habitat loss and intensify interactions between wildlife due to habitat loss. Here we focus on a threatened flagship species, Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla), in the eastern forests of Shenzhen, a megacity in China. We first conducted field surveys to uncover its fresh (used within a year) and abandoned burrows (unused > a year) and surrounding habitat characteries (elevation, slope, canopy closure, vegetation cover). We then deployed camera traps near the burrows to monitor the daily activities of the Chinese pangolin and sympatric species, and anthropogenic activities. These data were finally used to predict changes in habitat distributions/uses with species distribution models, and to statistically analyze the spatio-temporal relationships between the Chinese pangolin and its potential threats. We found the suitable habitats of pangolin burrows have been halved over the recent decade. In contrast to abandoned burrows, fresh burrows were more likely to be found at higher altitudes (200–500 m) and closer to reservoirs (300–500 m). Pangolins had strong spatial avoidance to presences of humans and domestic dogs, and reduced activities outside when potential predators were most active. We suggest that mitigating human disturbances in the eastern forests is crucial for the maintenance and recovery of the pangolin population in Shenzhen. Our study is among the first to shred a light on the impact of urban expansion on the Chinese pangolins and provides habitat maps and ecological knowledge of the Chinese pangolin for the forest restorations and conservation planning in Shenzhen.

BackgroundCognitive impairment (CI) is common in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Multiple brain regions and their interactions are involved in PD associated CI. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology is a non-invasive method in investigating brain structure and inter-regional connections. In this study, by comparing cortical thickness, subcortical volume, and brain network topology properties in PD patients with and without CI, we aimed to understand the changes of brain structure and structural covariance network properties in PD associated CI.MethodsA total of 18 PD patients with CI and 33 PD patients without CI were recruited. Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale, Hoehn and Yahr stage, Mini Mental State Examination Scale, Non-motor Symptom Rating Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Scale, and Hamilton Depression Scale were assessed. All participants underwent structural 3T MRI. Cortical thickness, subcortical volume, global and nodal network topology properties were measured.ResultsCompared with PD patients without CI, the volumes of white matter, thalamus and hippocampus were lower in PD patients with CI. And decreased whole-brain local efficiency is associated with CI in PD patients. While the cortical thickness and nodal network topology properties were comparable between PD patients with and without CI.ConclusionOur findings support the alterations of brain structure and disruption of structural covariance network are involved in PD associated CI, providing a new insight into the association between graph properties and PD associated CI.

IntroductionFreezing of gait (FOG) is a disabling and heterogeneous symptom in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Among them, dopamine-induced FOG is rare and difficult to identify. The treatment of dopamine-induced FOG is complex.Case presentationWe herein presented a case of PD patient who complicated with refractory FOG. It was identified as dopamine-induced FOG during levodopa challenge test. Her symptoms were alleviated after we reduced the total equivalent dosage of levodopa.ConclusionOur report emphasizes the importance of levodopa challenge test in identifying different types of FOG, which is very important for further adjusting treatment.

Summary: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive degenerative joint disease, and the underlying molecular mechanisms of OA remain poorly understood. This study aimed to elucidate the relationship between mitochondrial autophagy and OA by identifying key regulatory genes and their biological functions. Utilizing bioinformatics analyses of RNA expression profiles from the GSE55235 dataset, we identified 2,136 differentially expressed genes, leading to the discovery of hub genes associated with mitochondrial autophagy and OA. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) revealed their involvement in critical pathways, highlighting their potential roles in OA pathogenesis. Furthermore, our study explored the immunological landscape of OA, identifying distinct immune cell infiltration patterns that contribute to the disease’s inflammatory profile. We also evaluated the therapeutic potential of drugs targeting these hub genes, suggesting potential approaches for OA treatment. Collectively, this study advances our knowledge of mitochondrial autophagy in OA and proposes promising biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

Ferroptosis, driven by an imbalance in redox homeostasis, has recently been identified to regulate macrophage function and inflammatory responses. SENP3 is a redox-sensitive de-SUMOylation protease that plays an important role in macrophage function. However, doubt remains on whether SENP3 and SUMOylation regulate macrophage ferroptosis. For the first time, the results of our study suggest that SENP3 sensitizes macrophages to RSL3-induced ferroptosis. We showed that SENP3 promotes the ferroptosis of M2 macrophages to decrease M2 macrophage proportion in vivo. Mechanistically, we identified the ferroptosis repressor FSP1 as a substrate for SUMOylation and confirmed that SUMOylation takes place mainly at its K162 site. We found that SENP3 sensitizes macrophages to ferroptosis by interacting with and de-SUMOylating FSP1 at the K162 site. In summary, our study describes a novel type of posttranslational modification for FSP1 and advances our knowledge of the biological functions of SENP3 and SUMOylation in macrophage ferroptosis.

Abstract Aims Bariatric surgery results in rapid recovery of glucose control in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, the underlying mechanisms are still largely unknown. The present study aims to clarify how bariatric surgery modifies pancreatic cell subgroup differentiation and transformation in the single‐cell RNA level. Methods Male, 8‐week‐old Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats with obesity and diabetes phenotypes were randomized into sleeve gastrectomy (Sleeve, n = 9), Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass (RYGB, n = 9), and Sham (n = 7) groups. Two weeks after surgery, the pancreas specimen was further analyzed using single‐cell RNA‐sequencing technique. Results Two weeks after surgery, compared to the Sham group, the metabolic parameters including fasting plasma glucose, plasma insulin, and oral glucose tolerance test values were dramatically improved after RYGB and Sleeve procedures (p

This work investigated a piecewise immunosuppressive infection model that assessed the effectiveness of implementing this therapeutic regimen once the effector cell count falls below a specific threshold level by introducing a threshold strategy. The sliding mode dynamics, global dynamics, and boundary equilibrium bifurcations of the Filippov system were examined based on the global dynamics of the two subsystems. Our primary findings indicate that the HIV viral loads and effector cell counts can be stabilized within the required predetermined level. This outcome depends on the threshold level, immune intensity, and the initial values of the system. Therefore, properly combining these key factors makes it possible to effectively curb the abnormal increase of virus and keep the effector cells at a reliable level. This approach maximizes the controllable range of the HIV. The proposed switching system incorporating pseudo-equilibrium exhibits three types of equilibriums that could be bistable or tristable. It means there is a possibility of controlling the virus after administering therapy if the immune intensity $ c $ is limited within the range of the post-treatment control threshold and the elite control threshold when $ {R_0} > {R_{{c_1}}} > {R_{{c_2}}} > 1 $.

Aims: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common chronic pathema of human joints. The pathogenesis is complex, involving physiological and mechanical factors. In previous studies, we found that ferroptosis is intimately related to OA, while the role of Sat1 in chondrocyte ferroptosis and OA, as well as the underlying mechanism, remains unclear. Methods: In this study, interleukin-1β (IL-1β) was used to simulate inflammation and Erastin was used to simulate ferroptosis in vitro. We used small interfering RNA (siRNA) to knock down the spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase 1 (Sat1) and arachidonate 15-lipoxygenase (Alox15), and examined damage-associated events including inflammation, ferroptosis, and oxidative stress of chondrocytes. In addition, a destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) mouse model of OA induced by surgery was established to investigate the role of Sat1 inhibition in OA progression. Results: The results showed that inhibition of Sat1 expression can reduce inflammation, ferroptosis changes, reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, and lipid-ROS accumulation induced by IL-1β and Erastin. Knockdown of Sat1 promotes nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signalling. Additionally, knockdown Alox15 can alleviate the inflammation-related protein expression induced by IL-1β and ferroptosis-related protein expression induced by Erastin. Furthermore, knockdown Nrf2 can reverse these protein expression alterations. Finally, intra-articular injection of diminazene aceturate (DA), an inhibitor of Sat1, enhanced type II collagen (collagen II) and increased Sat1 and Alox15 expression. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that inhibition of Sat1 could alleviate chondrocyte ferroptosis and inflammation by downregulating Alox15 activating the Nrf2 system, and delaying the progression of OA. These findings suggest that Sat1 provides a new approach for studying and treating OA. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2024;13(3):110–123.

Lithium-ion capacitors (LICs) combining the advantages of lithium-ion batteries and supercapacitors are considered a promising next-generation energy storage device. However, the sluggish kinetics of battery-type anode cannot match the capacitor-type cathode, restricting the development of LICs. Herein, hierarchical carbon framework (HCF) anode material composed of 0D carbon nanocage bridged with 2D graphene network are developed via a template-confined synthesis process. The HCF with nanocage structure reduces the Li+ transport path and benefits the rapid Li+ migration, while 2D graphene network can promote the electron interconnecting of carbon nanocages. In addition, the doped N atoms in HCF facilitate to the adsorption of ions and enhance the pseudo contribution, thus accelerate the kinetics of the anode. The HCF anode delivers high specific capacity, remarkable rate capability. The LIC pouch-cell based on HCF anode and active HCF (a-HCF) cathode can provide a high energy density of 162 Wh kg−1 and a superior power density of 15.8 kW kg−1, as well as a long cycling life exceeding 15,000 cycles. This study demonstrates that the well-defined design of hierarchical carbon framework by incorporating 0D carbon nanocages and 2D graphene network is an effective strategy to promote LIC anode kinetics and hence boost the LIC electrochemical performance.

This an article in the field of mining engineering. In order to further study the development and utilization prospects of bauxite resources in the southern region of Chongqing, this article adopts methods such as on-site investigation, questionnaire survey, and data collection. By constructing an evaluation index system for the availability of mineral resources, an evaluation model based on Analytic Hierarchy Process and Weighted Superposition Method is used to conduct in-depth research and evaluation of the availability of bauxite resources in the southern region of Chongqing. Firstly, based on the expert scoring results, select the top 12 indicators with average scores as the evaluation indicators for this evaluation. Secondly, use the Analytic Hierarchy Process to determine the weights of the 12 evaluation indicators. Finally, use the weighted superposition method to determine the evaluation indicators for each mining area. The higher the score of the evaluation index, the higher the availability of bauxite resources. Among the 15 bauxite mining areas in the southern region of Chongqing, there are no easy to use mining areas, but there are 4 available mining areas. Recently, there are 7 difficult to use mining areas, and 4 difficult to use mining areas. The evaluation model established using Analytic Hierarchy Process and Enhanced Superposition Method can provide scientific reference for the evaluation of the availability of bauxite resources.

Abstract On 18 June 2023, comprehensive observations were conducted to an altitude‐triggered lightning flash. Upward positive leader (UPL) and downward negative leader (DNL) in a bi‐directional development system were detected simultaneously by a high‐speed camera, together with the coordinated measurements of magnetic field and very‐high‐frequency (VHF) emissions. High‐speed images reveal, for the first time, the enhancement of the UPL's propagation speed by DNL in the bi‐directional leader system. Concretely, the upward positive leader initially originates from a suspended wire tip and propagates at a two dimensional (2D) speed of 5.32 × 104 m/s, and after about 6.3 ms, its propagation speed was enhanced to 1.12 × 105 m/s when the stepped DNL started advancing at an average speed of 1.44 × 105 m/s. Additionally, based on the evolution of channel luminosity and the variations of magnetic radiation, it is found that there is a consistency in luminosity variation between the ascending channel and the descending channel in the bi‐directional leader system, and the amplitude of the magnetic field increases when the negative discharges start at the bottom wire end with intensive VHF emissions. Those facts indicate that the DNL has an effect, may be a positive one, on the UPL's development in the early stage of altitude‐triggered lightning.

Abstract The evolution of gas hydrates influenced by the seawater environment is unknown. We present a model of structural transformation from sI hydrate to sII hydrate due to the influence of seawater environment and vent fluid in nature through in situ experiments of gas hydrate formation in the Haima cold seep area. The in situ experimental results indicate that gas hydrates preferentially form as sI hydrates even in cold seep environments where C2+ hydrocarbons are present. During subsequent evolution, the sI hydrates could restructured at the effect of seawater environment and vent fluid, causing transformation to sII hydrates under the influence of hydrate stability. The supply of gas and direct contact with seawater environment are critical factors for structural transformation. Such structural transformation is the result of gas hydrates seeking thermodynamic stability and may be common in active cold seep areas.

Considering the granularity of embedded data in the design of reversible data hiding scheme has important research significance for the permission control and management of multi-granularity information. To broaden the application possibilities of encrypted data in cloud environments, the researchers propose a fine-grained reversible data hiding method leveraging the cipher-text redundancy of ElGamal encryption. Initially, prior to the encryption process, pixels are organized into a full binary tree based on fine-grained access permissions. Subsequently, a chaotic sequence generator is employed to assign distinct embedding keys to each layer of the full binary tree according to the access permissions. Following this, an XOR operation is conducted between the embedding key and the corresponding secret information in each layer to derive the target features of the cipher-text, facilitating subsequent fine-grained data hiding. Throughout the ElGamal encryption process, iterative manipulation of the random variable ensures alignment between the cipher-text output and the target feature, enabling the embedding of secret information across different layers. This approach facilitates the fine-grained blind extraction of secret information from an encrypted state, thereby expanding the potential applications of cipher-text by extracting information without revealing the original data. Furthermore, the scheme enhances information security through distributed storage and conceals the presence of information hiding by leveraging the separability of lossless decryption and information extraction. Simulation results demonstrate that secret information of three granularities can be embedded and extracted without interference within a three-layer full binary structure, with a maximum embedding capacity of up to 1.75 bpp.

The Diptera insects have important ecological functions. Many plants rely on Diptera insects for pollination, and they play an important role in Co-evolution with plants. We described the detailed characteristics across the complete mitogenome sequences of Desmometopa sabroskyi Brake, 2003 (Diptera: Milichiidae) and an unidentified species of Gampsocera (Diptera: Chloropidae), which are pollinators of orchid species. Sequences were assembled and annotated using the reference genomes of Phyllomyza sp. (OP612805) and Elachiptera insignis (OP612812) available in Genbank. The complete mitogenomes of D. sabroskyi and Gampsocera sp. are 15,841 bp and 16,036 bp in length, respectively. Both mitogenomes include 37 genes consisting of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), two ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs), and one noncoding region (NCR). The mitogenome data would better contribute to species identification, taxonomy, phylogenetics, and evolutionary analysis of Diptera insects.

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to investigate the polymorphism of the silence information regulator 5 (SIRT5) gene in 103 Congjiang Xiang pigs from Southwest China. We searched for SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) loci of SIRT5 gene through sequence alignment and PCR. We obtained nine SNP loci: g.14135 A>C (intron 6), g.14247 C>A (intron 6), g.14305 C>T (exon 7), g.14335 C>T (exon 7), g.16603 T>C (intron 7), g.16613 T>C (intron 7), g.16800 G>A (intron 7), g.16812 C>G (intron 7), and g.16916 A>G (exon 8). Further analysis of SNP genotypes associated with the carcass traits of skin thickness, backfat thickness, and eye muscle area was carried out in pigs. We found that the genotypes g.14305 C>T (CC) and g.16812 C>G (CG) had certain advantages for improving the carcass traits of Congjiang Xiang pigs. The haplotype combination of the SIRT5 gene that improved skin thickness was H2H3:CCGGCTCA. These results may provide empirical support for molecular-based breeding of carcass traits in Congjiang Xiang pigs.

Given the escalating potential risk associated with X-ray radiation exposure to patients, scholars have been dedicated to investigating advanced algorithms for low-dose CT (LDCT) imaging. The utilization of Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) has gained significant traction in the field of LDCT denoising research over the past few years, owing to its notable performance advantages. However, variations in the distribution intensity of noise and artifacts in the LDCT image can compromise the robustness and denoising performance of GAN. In this paper, we propose a scale-sensitive generative adversarial network to enhance the robustness of GAN used in LDCT denoising. Our proposed network incorporates an error feedback pyramid generator to improve the denoising network’s sensitivity towards noise and artifacts present in LDCT images by performing feature extraction and noise reduction at different scales. Additionally, we introduce a multi-scale residual discriminator with a wider receptive field and stronger feature extraction ability to enhance the discrimination between true and false samples. Furthermore, specific constraints are incorporated into the loss functions based on the network structure, thereby enhancing the effect of adversarial training between the error feedback pyramid generator and multi-scale residual discriminator while improving the performance of the denoising network. Experimental results demonstrate that our proposed network outperforms state-of-the-art methods in terms of artifact suppression, structural preservation, and model generalization capability for LDCT denoising.

Abstract Background Cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) has proven to be an invaluable tool in the practice of cardiology. Patients who have undergone CIED surgery with local anesthesia may result in fear, insecurity and suffering. Some studies have put efforts on ways to improve intraoperative experience of patients with local anesthesia, but researches concerning experiences of CIED patients during surgery is in its infancy. Methods Based on semi-structured and in-depth interviews, a qualitative design was conducted in a tertiary general hospital in China from May 2022 to July 2023.Purposeful sampling of 17 patients received CIED surgery and 20 medical staff were interviewed. Thematic analysis with an inductive approach was used to identify dominant themes. Results Four themes emerged from the data: (1) Safety and success is priority; (2) Humanistic Caring is a must yet be lacking; (3) Paradox of surgery information given; (4) Ways to improve surgery experiences in the operation. Conclusions Intraoperative care is significant for CIED surgery. To improve care experience during surgery, healthcare professionals should pay attention to patients’ safety and the factors that affecting humanistic caring in clinical practice. In addition, information support should consider information-seeking styles and personal needs. Besides, the four approaches presented in this study are effective to improve the intraoperative care experience.

Polymer solid-state electrolytes (PSSEs) are promising for solving the safety problem of Lithium (Li) metal batteries (LMBs). However, PSSEs with low modulus in nature are prone to be penetrated by lithium dendrites, resulting in short circuit of LMBs. Here, we design and prepare piezoelectric BaTiO3 doped polyacrylonitrile (PAN@BTO) quasi-solid-state electrolytes (PQSSEs) by electrostatic spinning method to suppress dendritic growth. The piezoelectric polymer electrolytes are squeezed by nucleation and growth processes of Li dendrites, which can generate a piezoelectric electric field to regulate the deposition of Li+ ions and eliminate lithium bud. Consequently, piezoelectric PAN@BTO PQSSEs enables highly stable Li plating/stripping cycling for over 2 000 h at 0.15 mA/cm2 at room temperature (RT, 25 °C). Also, LiFePO4|PAN@BTO|Li full cells demonstrate excellent cycle performance (136.9 mA·h/g and 78% retention after 600 cycles at 0.5 C) at RT. Moreover, LiFePO4|PAN@BTO|Li battery show extremely high safety and can still work normally under high-speed impact (2 Hz, ∼30 kPa). We construct an in-situ cell monitoring system and disclose that the mechanism of suppressed lithium dendrite is originated from the generation of opposite piezoelectric potential and the feedback speed of intermittent piezoelectric potential signals is extremely fast.

Abstract Objective To study the effect of weight-bearing on lumbar facet joint during lateral bending in sitting position. Methods Ten normal healthy people (5 males and 5 females) aged 25–39 years (mean 32 ± 4.29 years) were recruited. CT scanning was used to reconstruct the lumbar spine model, and then dual fluoroscopic image system (DFIS) was used to restore the lumbar facet joint movement in sitting position. Finally, the lumbar facet joint translation distance and rotation angle were measured. Results In L3-4 level, the displacement of right facet joint in Y-axis was the smallest at 0.05 ± 0.40 mm, the displacement of 0 kg left facet joint in X-axis was the largest at 1.68 ± 0.85 mm, and the rotation angle was − 0.57 ± 1.43° to 5.66 ± 2.70° at 10 kg; in L4-5 level, the displacement of right facet joint in Y-axis was the smallest at 10 kg, − 0.13 ± 0.91 mm, and the displacement of left facet joint in Z-axis was the largest at − 2.11 ± 0.88 mm, and the rotation angle was 0.21 ± 2.14° to 7.89 ± 2.59° at 10 kg; in L5-S1 level, the displacement of right facet joint in Y-axis was the smallest at 10 kg, − 0.17 ± 1.10 mm, and the displacement of 0 kg left facet joint in X-axis was the largest at 2.19 ± 2.28 mm, and the rotation angle was 0.03 ± 2.02° to 3.98 ± 0.37°. Conclusion In sitting position, weight-bearing has certain influence on the displacement of facet joints during lumbar lateral bending movement, and this influence occurs simultaneously in translation and rotation; the left and right facet joints are not symmetrical during lumbar lateral bending movement.

The laser penetration welding for medium-thickness plates struggles with unstable molten pool behavior and a limited processing window, often leading to welding defects including spatters, depressions, and especially humps. In this study, forming processes of the defects were observed by using a high-speed camera, and forming mechanism of the defects were then analyzed in detail by simultaneously considering the influences of force and solidification. It was clear that the mass loss caused by spattering during the heating phase contributed to the depression, which was consistent with the existing knowledge. However, the formation mechanism of humps concluded in this study was different to the present understanding. Apart from the influences of force, the effects of solidification on molten pools and humps were analyzed. Under the specific conditions, middle part of molten pool solidified rapidly, causing localized necking, and disrupting the circular flow of the molten metal. As a result, molten metal once flowed downward due to the gravity and temperature can no longer refill to the upper part again, leading to the accumulation of molten metal at lower part and ultimately the formation of humps. These findings offered a fresh perspective on the formation of hump, provided valuable guidance for enhancing the quality and efficiency of thick-plate laser welding.

Abstract Background Gait impairment is common in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients, which greatly reduces their quality of life. Executive dysfunction is associated with gait impairment. Compensatory strategies, including visual cues, have been shown to be effective in improving PD gait. In this study, we aimed to understand whether carpets with visual cues could improve PD gait, and how the improvement varies across patients with different executive function state. Methods We designed carpets with chessboard and stripe cues. A total of 65 Chinese PD patients were recruited. Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale, L-dopa equivalent daily dosage, Hoehn & Yahr stage, Frontal Assessment Battery, Mini Mental State Examination Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Scale, and Hamilton Depression Scale were evaluated. Gait parameters including stride length, gait speed and fall risk were recorded by a wearable electronic device. Results The stride length and gait speed were significantly improved and the fall risk was significantly mitigated when PD patients walked on carpets with chessboard and stripe patterns. Further analysis showed the amelioration of gait parameters was independent of executive dysfunction. Conclusions Our study demonstrates that carpets with visual cues can improve the gait of PD patients even in those with mild executive dysfunction.

Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) is a crucial enzyme in glycolysis, an essential metabolic pathway for carbohydrate metabolism across all living organisms. Recent research indicates that phosphorylating GAPDH exhibits various moonlighting functions, contributing to plant growth and development, autophagy, drought tolerance, salt tolerance, and bacterial/viral diseases resistance. However, in rapeseed (Brassica napus), the role of GAPDHs in plant immune responses to fungal pathogens remains unexplored. In this study, 28 genes encoding GAPDH proteins were revealed in B. napus and classified into three distinct subclasses based on their protein structural and phylogenetic relationships. Whole-genome duplication plays a major role in the evolution of BnaGAPDHs. Synteny analyses revealed orthologous relationships, identifying 23, 26, and 26 BnaGAPDH genes with counterparts in Arabidopsis, Brassica rapa, and Brassica oleracea, respectively. The promoter regions of 12 BnaGAPDHs uncovered a spectrum of responsive elements to biotic and abiotic stresses, indicating their crucial role in plant stress resistance. Transcriptome analysis characterized the expression profiles of different BnaGAPDH genes during Sclerotinia sclerotiorum infection and hormonal treatment. Notably, BnaGAPDH17, BnaGAPDH20, BnaGAPDH21, and BnaGAPDH22 exhibited sensitivity to S. sclerotiorum infection, oxalic acid, hormone signals. Intriguingly, under standard physiological conditions, BnaGAPDH17, BnaGAPDH20, and BnaGAPDH22 are primarily localized in the cytoplasm and plasma membrane, with BnaGAPDH21 also detectable in the nucleus. Furthermore, the nuclear translocation of BnaGAPDH20 was observed under H2O2 treatment and S. sclerotiorum infection. These findings might provide a theoretical foundation for elucidating the functions of phosphorylating GAPDH.

The multi-terminal modular multi-level converter-based high voltage direct current (MMC-HVDC) grid with short circuit protection equipment (SCPE) is so complex that it is difficult to estimate its fault current and analyze the performance of SCPE by conventional time-domain numerical calculation method, it meets three big obstacles. This paper has made significant progress in overcoming these obstacles. 1). By applying the modern electrical circuit theory, a systematic formulation of the differential equation set for fault current calculation is developed to avoid a lot of complex and cumbersome matrix manual calculations. 2). A novel Y-Delta transformation in the s-domain is proposed to develop an eliminating virtual node approach for a complex MMC-HVDC grid, including the ring, radial, and hybrid topologies. 3). It is difficult to solve the equivalent circuit of MMC-HVDC grid with SCPE since SCPE is a time-variable-nonlinear circuit. A canonical voltage source model of SCPE is established to transform the time-variable-nonlinear circuit into a piecewise linear circuit. Based on the three significant progresses, a DC fault current fast-computing method of MMC-HVDC grid with SCPE is put forward to deal with all kinds of MMC-HVDC grids with several kinds of SCPEs. Then, the performance of several kinds of SCPE is analyzed and compared by this method. Consequently, the proposed DC fault current fast-computing method is a new powerful tool to estimate the fault current of MMC-HVDC grid and analyze the performance of SCPE.

Two critical factors, namely intense precipitation and intricate excavation, can trigger rock mass disasters in mining operations. In this study, an indoor rainfall system was developed to precisely regulate the flow and intensity of precipitation. A large-scale model experiment was conducted on a self-designed physical simulation experiment platform to investigate the failure and instability of high-steep rock slopes under unsaturated conditions. The real-time reproduction of the progressive failure process in high-steep rock slopes enabled the determination of the critical rainfall intensity and revealed the mechanism underlying slope instability. Experiment results indicated that rainfall may be the primary factor contributing to rock mass instability, while continuous pillar mining exacerbates the extent of rock mass failure. The critical failure stage of high-steep rock slopes occurs at a rainfall intensity of 40 mm/h, whereas a rainfall exceeding 50 mm can induce critical instability and precipitation reaching up to 60 mm will result in slope failure. The improved region growing segmentation method (IRGSM) was subsequently employed for image recognition of rock mass deformation in underground mines. Herein an error comparison with the simple linear iterative cluster (SLIC) superpixel method and the original region growing segmentation method (ORGSM) showed that the average identification error in the X and Y directions by the method was reduced significantly (1.82% and 1.80% in IRGSM; 4.70% and 6.26% in SLIC; 9.45% and 12.40% in ORGSM). Ultimately, the relationship between rainfall intensity and failure probability was analyzed using the Monte Carlo method. Moreover, the stability assessment criteria of rock slope under unsaturated condition were quantitatively and accurately evaluated.

Abstract Background Wild edible plants (WEPs) play a crucial role in communities with limited communication with the outside world, where unstable factors, such as poor food supply and insufficient access to timely nutritional supplementation, are common, as in the Himalayan region. To document the traditional knowledge of WEPs and explore their significance for communities with minimal global economic exchange, an ethnobotanical study was conducted in the town of Rongjia, which lies in a narrow valley near Mount Everest, Tibet, China. Methods This ethnobotanical study was conducted in three villages in the Rongjia River Valley between August 2021 and June 2023. Semi-structured interviews and participatory observations were used to collect information on WEPs. The fieldwork was performed with the assistance of local guides. Voucher specimens were collected from each documented plant species for taxonomic identification. We used the use report (UR) and relative frequency of citations (RFC) to evaluate the comprehensive utilization value of WEPs. Results We interviewed 161 informants who provided us with 2499 use reports. We collected 50 WEPs belonging to 28 families and 42 genera used by the Tibetan people in the Rongjia River Valley. WEPs are used in vegetables, fruits, seasonings, healthcare foods, substitute grains, and beverages. Wild vegetables were the most commonly used, followed by wild fruits. Leaves were the most commonly consumed part of the plant. The three most important WEPs ordered by RFC values were Rosa sericea var. glandulosa Osmaston (RFC = 0.76), Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. (RFC = 0.75), and Urtica hyperborea Jacquem. ex Wedd. (RFC = 0.71). Other than that, we also document some of WEPs used in the past. Arisaema erubescens Schott, Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Makino, and Satyrium nepalense var. ciliatum (Lindl.) Hook. f. used to serve as important substitute grains, are no longer in use, however, they remain vivid in the memories of older people. Conclusions WEPs included wild vegetables, fruits, seasonings, healthcare food, and substitute grains for Tibetan people in the Rongjia River Valley. Some WEPs have become important cultural symbols for older people, which can help in understanding the relationship between plants and local people in the past. In addition, WEPs can increase the resilience of local people living in remote areas when facing sudden destabilizing events in future. This is the significance of WEPs for communities with minimal global economic exchange. Therefore, we suggest that future studies focus more on WEPs in communities with limited communication with the world to improve their resilience.

Abstract Background Thoracic aortic dissection (TAD) is a life-threatening disease caused by an intimal tear in the aorta. The histological characteristics differ significantly between the tear area (TA) and the distant area. Previous studies have emphasized that certain specific genes tend to cluster at the TA. Obtaining a thorough understanding of the precise molecular signatures near the TA will assist in discovering therapeutic strategies for TAD. Methods We performed a paired comparison of the pathological patterns in the TA with that in the remote area (RA). We used Tomo-seq, genome-wide transcriptional profiling with spatial resolution, to obtain gene expression signatures spanning from the TA to the RA. Samples from multiple sporadic TAD patients and animal models were used to validate our findings. Results Pathological examination revealed that the TA of TAD exhibited more pronounced intimal hyperplasia, media degeneration, and inflammatory infiltration compared to the RA. The TA also had more apoptotic cells and CD31+α-SMA+ cells. Tomo-seq revealed four distinct gene expression patterns from the TA to the RA, which were inflammation, collagen catabolism, extracellular matrix remodeling, and cell stress, respectively. The spatial distribution of genes allowed us to identify genes that were potentially relevant with TAD. NINJ1 encoded the protein-mediated cytoplasmic membrane rupture, regulated tissue remodeling, showed high expression levels in the tear area, and co-expressed within the inflammatory pattern. The use of short hairpin RNA to reduce NINJ1 expression in the beta-aminopropionitrile-induced TAD model led to a significant decrease in TAD formation. Additionally, it resulted in reduced infiltration of inflammatory cells and a decrease in the number of CD31+α-SMA+ cells. The NINJ1-neutralizing antibody also demonstrated comparable therapeutic effects and can effectively impede the formation of TAD. Conclusions Our study showed that Tomo-seq had the advantage of obtaining spatial expression information of TAD across the TA and the RA. We pointed out that NINJ1 may be involved in inflammation and tissue remodeling, which played an important role in the formation of TAD. NINJ1 may serve as a potential therapeutic target for TAD.

Abstract Osteoarthritis (OA) is a multifactorial and increasingly prevalent degenerative disease that affects the whole joint. The pathogenesis of OA is poorly understood and there is a lack of therapeutic interventions to reverse the pathological process of this disease. Accumulating studies have shown that the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ROS-induced lipid peroxidation are involved in the pathogenesis of OA. 4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE) and malondialdehyde (MDA) have received considerable attention for their role in cartilage degeneration and subchondral bone remodeling during OA development. Ferroptosis is a form of cell death characterized by a lack of control of membrane lipid peroxidation and recent studies have suggested that chondrocyte ferroptosis contributes to OA progression. In this review, we aim to discuss lipid peroxidation-derived 4-HNE and MDA in the progression of OA. In addition, the therapeutic potential for OA by controlling the accumulation of lipid peroxidation and inhibiting chondrocyte ferroptosis are discussed.

Capacitors exhibit exceptional power density, a vast operational temperature range, remarkable reliability, lightweight construction, and high efficiency, making them extensively utilized in the realm of energy storage. There exist two primary categories of energy storage capacitors: dielectric capacitors and supercapacitors. Dielectric capacitors encompass film capacitors, ceramic dielectric capacitors, and electrolytic capacitors, whereas supercapacitors can be further categorized into double-layer capacitors, pseudocapacitors, and hybrid capacitors. These capacitors exhibit diverse operational principles and performance characteristics, subsequently dictating their specific application scenarios. To make informed decisions in selecting capacitors for practical applications, a comprehensive knowledge of their structure and operational principles is imperative. Consequently, this review delved into the structure, working principles, and unique characteristics of the aforementioned capacitors, aiming to clarify the distinctions between dielectric capacitors, supercapacitors, and lithium-ion capacitors.

To solve the limitations of reversible data hiding in encrypted domains (RDH-ED) that cannot be applied to a distributed variable security environment, a novel RDH-ED scheme based on variable threshold image secret sharing (VTSIS) is proposed. Initially, a security vulnerability analysis of existing changing thresholds in a bivariate polynomial-based secret image sharing (TCSIS) method is conducted and validated through experiments. Subsequently, enhancements are made to the VTSIS scheme to rectify the identified security loopholes. During the image encryption process, additional data can be embedded into the redundancy of VTSIS, which results in a large embedding rate and high security. Finally, theoretical analysis and experimental proofs are carried out for the proposed scheme, and the results show that our scheme broadens the application scenarios of RDH-ED. Notably, the scheme eliminates the need for preprocessing and has the advantages of high security, a large embedding rate, and complete reversibility.

Proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) is resilient to abiotic stress, especially to drought. However, the mechanisms by which its roots adapt and tolerate salt stress are obscure. In this study, to clarify the molecular mechanism of proso millet in response to drought stress, the physiological indexes and transcriptome in the root of seedlings of the proso millet cultivar ‘Yumi 2’ were analyzed at 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 3.0 h of stimulated drought stress by using 20% PEG-6000 and after 24 h of rehydration. The results showed that the SOD activity, POD activity, soluble protein content, MDA, and O2−· content of ‘Yumi 2’ increased with the time of drought stress, but rapidly decreased after rehydration. Here, 130.46 Gb of clean data from 18 samples were obtained, and the Q30 value of each sample exceeded 92%. Compared with 0 h, the number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) reached the maximum of 16,105 after 3 h of drought, including 9153 upregulated DEGs and 6952 downregulated DEGs. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses revealed that upregulated DEGs were mainly involved in ATP binding, nucleus, protein serine/threonine phosphatase activity, MAPK signaling pathway–plant, plant–pathogen interactions, and plant hormone signal transduction under drought stress, while downregulated DEGs were mainly involved in metal ion binding, transmembrane transporter activity, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. Additionally, 1441 TFs screened from DEGs were clustered into 64 TF families, such as AP2/ERF-ERF, bHLH, WRKY, NAC, MYB, and bZIP TF families. Genes related to physiological traits were closely related to starch and sucrose metabolism, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, glutathione metabolism, and plant hormone signal transduction. In conclusion, the active oxygen metabolism system and the soluble protein of proso millet root could be regulated by the activity of protein serine/threonine phosphatase. AP2/ERF-ERF, bHLH, WRKY, NAC, MYB, and bZIP TF families were found to be closely associated with drought tolerance in proso millet root. This study will provide data to support a subsequent study on the function of the drought tolerance gene in proso millet.

The beta T-cell receptor (TRB) expressed by beta T cells is essential for foreign antigen recognition. The TRB locus contains a TRBV family that encodes three complementarity determining regions (CDRs). CDR1 is associated with antigen recognition and interactions with MHC molecules. In contrast to domestic pigs, African suids lack a 284-bp segment spanning exons 1 and 2 of the TRBV27 gene that contains a sequence encoding CDR1. In this study, we used the African swine fever virus (ASFV) as an example to investigate the effect of deleting the TRBV27-encoded CDR1 on the resistance of domestic pigs to exotic pathogens. We first successfully generated TRBV27-edited fibroblasts with disruption of the CDR1 sequence using CRISPR/Cas9 technology and used them as donor cells to generate gene-edited pigs via somatic cell nuclear transfer. The TRBV-edited and wild-type pigs were selected for synchronous ASFV infection. White blood cells were significantly reduced in the genetically modified pigs before ASFV infection. The genetically modified and wild-type pigs were susceptible to ASFV and exhibited typical fevers (>40 °C). However, the TRBV27-edited pigs had a higher viral load than the wild-type pigs. Consistent with this, the gene-edited pigs showed more clinical signs than the wild-type pigs. In addition, both groups of pigs died within 10 days and showed similar severe lesions in organs and tissues. Future studies using lower virulence ASFV isolates are needed to determine the relationship between the TRBV27 gene and ASFV infection in pigs over a relatively long period.

Abstract While exploring the process of CO/CO2 electroreduction (COxRR) is of great significance to achieve carbon recycling, deciphering reaction mechanisms so as to further design catalytic systems able to overcome sluggish kinetics remains challenging. In this work, a model single-Co-atom catalyst with well-defined coordination structure is developed and employed as a platform to unravel the underlying reaction mechanism of COxRR. The as-prepared single-Co-atom catalyst exhibits a maximum methanol Faradaic efficiency as high as 65% at 30 mA/cm2 in a membrane electrode assembly electrolyzer, while on the contrary, the reduction pathway of CO2 to methanol is strongly decreased in CO2RR. In-situ X-ray absorption and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopies point to a different adsorption configuration of *CO intermediate in CORR as compared to that in CO2RR, with a weaker stretching vibration of the C–O bond in the former case. Theoretical calculations further evidence the low energy barrier for the formation of a H-CoPc-CO– species, which is a critical factor in promoting the electrochemical reduction of CO to methanol.

Abstract Background Oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) is known as one of the most important oilseed crops cultivated around the world. However, its production continuously faces a huge challenge of Sclerotinia stem rot (SSR), a destructive disease caused by the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, resulting in huge yield loss annually. The SSR resistance in B. napus is quantitative and controlled by a set of minor genes. Identification of these genes and pyramiding them into a variety are a major strategy for SSR resistance breeding in B. napus. Results Here, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using a natural population of B. napus consisting of 222 accessions to identify BnaA08g25340D (BnMLO2_2) as a candidate gene that regulates the SSR resistance. BnMLO2_2 was a member of seven homolog genes of Arabidopsis Mildew Locus O 2 (MLO2) and the significantly SNPs were mainly distributed in the promoter of BnMLO2_2, suggesting a role of BnMLO2_2 expression level in the regulation of SSR resistance. We expressed BnMLO2_2 in Arabidopsis and the transgenic plants displayed an enhanced SSR resistance. Transcriptome profiling of different tissues of B. napus revealed that BnMLO2_2 had the most expression level in leaf and silique tissues among all the 7 BnMLO2 members and also expressed higher in the SSR resistant accession than in the susceptible accession. In Arabidopsis, mlo2 plants displayed reduced resistance to SSR, whereas overexpression of MLO2 conferred plants an enhanced SSR resistance. Moreover, a higher expression level of MLO2 showed a stronger SSR resistance in the transgenic plants. The regulation of MLO2 in SSR resistance may be associated with the cell death. Collinearity and phylogenetic analysis revealed a large expansion of MLO family in Brassica crops. Conclusion Our study revealed an important role of BnMLO2 in the regulation of SSR resistance and provided a new gene candidate for future improvement of SSR resistance in B. napus and also new insights into understanding of MLO family evolution in Brassica crops.

304 austenitic stainless steel with a thickness of 7.5 mm was welded by high-power fiber laser welding. The effects of main welding parameters, including laser power, welding speed, and defocusing amount, on weld formation were studied in detail. The welding parameters were optimized according to the weld formation. On this basis, the microstructure and mechanical properties of the welded joints were further analyzed. The results showed that depression and hump defects easily occurred once the joints were penetrated. The defects could be effectively avoided when two specific parameters were adopted: namely, high-power laser welding with high speed at the focal position or low speed at the far defocusing position; both could reduce the impact of metal vapor in the keyhole on the molten pool, and meet the requirements of penetration and stability to obtain well-formed welds. High-speed welding obtained nail-shaped weld, and Peanut-shaped weld was obtained by low-speed welding. The microstructure of the welds was mainly composed of massive austenite and a small amount of ferrite, indicating that the solidification abided by the F-A mode according to the pseudo-binary phase diagram. Due to the smaller grain size, the hardness of the Nail-shaped weld (238.8HV0.3) was higher than that of the Peanut-shaped weld (223.4HV0.3). The tensile strength of the Nail-shaped weld joint and Peanut-shaped weld joint were 677 MPa and 689 MPa, which reached more than 95% of the base metal.

Machine learning provides new insights for designing MOFs with high CO2 adsorption capacity and understanding the CO2 adsorption mechanism. In this work, 348 data points from published reports were collected and four tree-based models were designed to predict the CO2 adsorption capacity of MOFs by machine learning. The results showed that the Random Forest (RF) had the best prediction performance (R2train = 0.970, R2test = 0.896). Feature importance analysis revealed the relative importance of CO2 adsorption parameters (73 %), textures (23 %) and metal centers of MOFs (4 %) for the CO2 adsorption process. Single and synergistic effects of different features were observed through partial dependence analysis. MOFs with Cu, Fe, Co, and Ni metal centers exhibited a promoting effect on CO2 adsorption. In addition, under high pressure, well-developed textures had significant positive impact on CO2 adsorption capacity, while under medium and low pressure, textures were not determining factors.

CO2 adsorption and electrocatalytic CO2 reduction (CO2RR) have been considered a promising path to realize CO2 emission reduction and simultaneously producing value-added chemicals. However, the high price and unsatisfactory performance of adsorbent or electrocatalyst materials have limited their application. Our group focuses on developing high-performance carbon materials derived from biomass for efficient CO2 adsorption and CO2RR. The effect of pyrolytic parameter and modifying agents was systematically studied to figure out the formation mechanism of biomass-derived carbon material. Furthermore, the mechanism CO2 adsorption and CO2RR are explored to determine required physicochemical properties of these carbon materials. Notably, in order to precisely introduce the desired pore structure and functional groups onto material, the idea of combining adjustable and modifiable metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with environmentally friendly and stable biomass was proposed. The challenge in the application of biomass-derived functional carbon material is clarified. Through researchers are constantly dedicated to this field of research, it is believed that biomass-derived carbon material will find their unique positions in helping achieving carbon neutral.

Objective Age-related cataract (ARC) is an eye disease characterized by lens opacity. This study analyzed the correlation between 25 hydroxyvitamin D [25 (OH) D] levels and Interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels in aqueous humor from the patients with ARC, as well as between 25 (OH) D levels and lens opacity, and explored the effect of 25 (OH) D on the pathogenesis of ARC. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed, which included the clinical data from 120 ARC patients and 40 healthy individuals. They were divided into three groups based on the objective scattering index (OSI): 40 healthy individuals (control group), 84 patients with the early cataract (EC group), and 36 patients with the mature cataract (MC group). An electrochemical luminescence method was used to detect the levels of 25 (OH) D and IL-6 in aqueous humor, the OSI of the eye was measured using a visual quality analysis system. The correlation between the changes in the above indicators and ARC was analyzed. Results The OSI and IL-6 levels in the control group, EC group, and MC group increased sequentially (all p < .001), while the levels of 25 (OH) D showed an opposite trend (all p < .001). Conclusion The decrease in 25 (OH) D levels is related to the occurrence and development of ARC, and the relationship between 25 (OH) D deficiency and the pathological mechanism of ARC needs further research.

Abstract The high‐voltage direct current (HVDC) power transmission short‐circuit fault protection is a big challenge, and it is the main obstacle to promote the HVDC multi‐terminal networks. A natural commutation current topology (NCCT) of hybrid HVDC circuit breaker (DCCB) integrated with limiting fault current is proposed in this paper, which shares several obvious merits, such as lower peak fault current, shorter fault isolation time and low turn‐off loss. The main contributions in this paper are made as follows. (1). A second‐order RLC circuit in novel NCCT circuit breaker is utilized as the current limiting circuit to dramatically reduce the fault current rising slope and its peak value. (2) A asynchronous NCCT circuit breaker has been investigated to broaden the proposed NCCT circuit breaker's optimal working area. (3) By taking China Zhangbei 500 kV four‐terminal DC grid as an example, an optimization design technique of the asynchronous NCCT‐DCCB is developed to demonstrate the process of the theoretical analysis and parameter design. The correctness of the proposed NCCT‐DCCB and the feasibility of the optimization design technique are confirmed by EMT simulation on PSCAD/EMTDC and hardware‐in‐loop experiment on PLECS‐RtBox.

Abstract Osteoarthritis (OA) is an age-related disease characterized by cartilage degeneration. TNFR1-associated death domain protein (TRADD) is a key upstream molecule of TNF-α signals but its role in OA pathogenesis is unknown. This study aimed to verify that whether inhibition of TRADD could protect against chondrocyte necroptosis and OA, and further elucidate the underlying mechanism. We demonstrated that TNF-α-related OA-like phenotypes including inflammation response, extracellular matrix degradation, apoptosis, and necroptosis in chondrocytes were inhibited by TRADD deficiency. Furthermore, TRADD interacted with TRAF2 and knockdown of TRADD suppressed the activation of RIPK1-TAK1-NF-κB signals and restored impaired autophagy. ICCB-19, the selective inhibitor of TRADD, also attenuated necroptosis in chondrocytes. Mechanismly, ICCB-19 blocked the phosphorylation of TAK1-NF-κB signals and restored impaired autophagy, whereas inhibiting autophagic process with 3-Methyladenine compromised these effects of ICCB-19. The in vivo study showed that the intra-articular injection of ICCB-19 rescued the expression of collagen alpha-1(II) chain and LC3, and mitigated the cartilage degeneration of OA mice. This study demonstrates that TRADD mediates TNF-α-induced necroptosis and OA-like phenotypes of chondrocytes and suggests that ICCB-19 suppresses chondrocyte damage and cartilage degeneration by inhibiting TNF-α-TRADD-mediated signals and dysregulation of autophagy in chondrocytes. ICCB-19 may serve as an important option for OA therapy.

Abstract Background Aortic pseudoaneurysm is a life-threatening clinical condition, and thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has been reported to have a relatively satisfactory effect in aortic pathologies. We summarized our single-centre experience using chimney TEVAR for aortic arch pseudoaneurysms with inadequate landing zones. Methods A retrospective study was conducted from October 2015 to August 2020, 32 patients with aortic arch pseudoaneurysms underwent chimney TEVAR to exclude an aortic lesion and reconstruct the supra-aortic branches, including 3 innominate artery, 12 left common carotid arteries and 29 left subclavian arteries. Follow-up computed tomography was suggested before discharge; at 3, 6, 12 months and yearly thereafter. Results The median age of 32 patients was 68.0 years (range, 28–81) with the mean max diameter of aneurysm of 47.9 ± 12.0 mm. Forty-four related supra-aortic branches were well preserved, and the technical success rate was 100%. The Type Ia endoleaks occurred in 3 (9%) patients. Two patients were lost to follow-up and 4 patients died during the follow-up period. The mean follow-up times was 46.5 ± 14.3 months. One patient died due to acute myocardial infarction just 10 days after chimney TEVAR and the other 3 patients passed away at 1.5 months, 20 months, and 31 months with non-aortic reasons. The 4.5-year survival estimate was 84.4%. The primary patency rate of the target supra-arch branch vessels was 97.7% (43/44), and no other aorta-related reinterventions and severe complications occurred. Conclusion For aortic arch pseudoaneurysms with inadequate landing zones for TEVAR, the chimney technique seems to be feasible, with acceptable mid-term outcomes, and it could serve as an alternative minimally invasive approach to extend the landing zone. Slow flow type Ia endoleak could be treated conservatively after chimney TEVAR. Additional experience is needed, and the long-term durability of chimney TEVAR requires further follow-up.

This paper introduces a developed multi-sensor integrated system comprising a thermal infrared camera, an RGB camera, and a LiDAR sensor, mounted on a lightweight unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). This system is applied to the inspection tasks of levee engineering, enabling the real-time, rapid, all-day, all-round, and non-contact acquisition of multi-source data for levee structures and their surrounding environments. Our aim is to address the inefficiencies, high costs, limited data diversity, and potential safety hazards associated with traditional methods, particularly concerning the structural safety of dam bodies. In the preprocessing stage of multi-source data, techniques such as thermal infrared data enhancement and multi-source data alignment are employed to enhance data quality and consistency. Subsequently, a multi-level approach to detecting and screening suspected risk areas is implemented, facilitating the rapid localization of potential hazard zones and assisting in assessing the urgency of addressing these concerns. The reliability of the developed multi-sensor equipment and the multi-level suspected hazard detection algorithm is validated through on-site levee engineering inspections conducted during flood disasters. The application reliably detects and locates suspected hazards, significantly reducing the time and resource costs associated with levee inspections. Moreover, it mitigates safety risks for personnel engaged in levee inspections. Therefore, this method provides reliable data support and technical services for levee inspection, hazard identification, flood control, and disaster reduction.

Owing to the paucity of research on synchronous mafic rocks in the Tarim Basin, the late Paleozoic–early Mesozoic tectonic development of this region is not well defined. The Halaqi region is situated on Tarim’s northwest edge, and numerous mafic dikes can be found cross-cutting the Permian strata. The whole-rock geochemistry, zircon U–Pb age, and Sr–Nd isotopic signature of these mafic rocks have never been reported before, and this contribution can offer geochronological and petrogenetic investigations that provide fresh insight into the geodynamic development of the area. Major oxide contents in the Halaqi mafic rocks vary, including SiO2 (45.74–50.31 wt.%), Al2O3 (13.28–14.8 wt.%), FeOT (16.48–19.19 wt.%), MgO (7.58–10.32 wt.%), CaO (7.19–12.39 wt.%), Na2O (2.97–4.50 wt.%), K2O (0.24–0.63 wt.%), TiO2 (1.11–1.29 wt.%), MnO (0.14–0.16 wt.%), and P2O5 (0.13–0.17 wt.%). The mafic rocks are enriched in high-field-strength elements (e.g., Zr and Hf) and large-ion lithophile elements (e.g., Sr, Th, and U) but depleted in Nb, Ta, and P. The total REEs in the rocks are lower (ΣREE = 72.80–86.85 ppm), and HREEs are somewhat depleted in comparison to LREEs, with positive Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 1.05–1.17) but weak negative Ce anomalies (Ce/Ce* = 0.91–0.93). Zircon U–Pb ages of 201–247 Ma were obtained from a total of 18 magmatic zircon grains found in the mafic rocks that were studied. These results point to a middle-to-late Triassic emplacement. The mafic dikes exhibit somewhat enriched Nd isotopic compositions (εNd(t) = –1.6~–0.2) and an older Nd model age (TDM = 1.24–1.37 Ga). The Halaqi middle–late Triassic mafic dikes are thought to have originated from the same tectonic background as the Permian Tarim Large Igneous Province, along with similar geochemical and isotopic compositions. This suggests that they are all products of the interaction between asthenospheric and lithospheric mantles in an intraplate extensional environment. Research indicates that the Triassic mafic magmatism in northwest Tarim could be the product of the continuous thermal pulse of the Tarim mantle plume and be a part of the Tarim LIP.