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Abstract The acoustic black hole (ABH) structure exhibits remarkable energy focalization above a given cut-on frequency, offering potential for broadband vibration suppression in structures. However, its energy focusing properties diminish significantly below this cut-on frequency. Therefore, it is crucial to enhance the vibration attenuation capabilities of ABH structures within the low frequency range. This study presents a numerical investigation into the impact of thin-walled structures with embedded ABHs and distributed dynamic vibration absorbers (DVAs) on low frequency broadband vibration reduction. Initially, the focusing characteristics of the ABH thin-walled structure is analyzed, aiding in the attached position of DVAs. Furthermore, the influence of the design parameters and attached position of DVA on the broadband damping effect of the structure is explored. The findings indicate that DVAs designed for low frequencies can achieve significant vibration attenuation across the entire frequency spectrum, including low frequencies, when installed at specific focusing positions. When compared to the position with the maximum vibration response, while the attenuation of the low frequency common amplitude value is slightly reduced, greater vibration attenuation across the entire frequency band is achieved. This research offers valuable insights into optimizing the integration of DVAs with ABHs in thin-walled structures for enhanced broadband vibration attenuation.

Abstract Star anise (Illicium verum), a valuable spice tree, faces significant threats from fungal diseases, particularly Alternaria leaf spot. This study investigates the potential of a soil-derived actinomycete strain, YG-5, as a biocontrol agent against Alternaria tenuissima, the causative pathogen on Alternaria leaf spot in star anise. Through comprehensive morphology, physiology, biochemistry, and genetic analyses, we identified the isolate as Streptomyces sp. YG-5. The strain exhibited broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against several plant pathogens, with inhibition rates ranging between 36.47 to 80.34%. We systematically optimized the fermentation conditions for YG-5, including medium composition and cultivation parameters. The optimized process resulted in an 89.56% inhibition rate against A. tenuissima, a 14.72% improvement over non-optimized conditions. Notably, the antimicrobial compounds produced by YG-5 demonstrated stability across various temperatures, pH levels, and UV irradiation. In vivo efficacy trials showed promising results, with YG-5 fermentation broth reducing Alternaria leaf spot incidence on star anise leaves by 56.95%. These findings suggest that Streptomyces sp. YG-5 holds significant potential as a biocontrol agent against Alternaria leaf spot in star anise cultivation, offering a sustainable approach to disease management in this valuable crop.

In modern ship degaussing systems, degaussing windings are mainly distributed based on the shape of ship bulkhead, which is difficult to ensure the degaussing effect of magnetic induction intensity of unit winding of each degaussing winding. In order to solve this problem, this paper introduces a tilted correlation screening in high-dimensional variable filter, which splits and recombines the original coils, and re-divides the original degaussing sections, so as to improve the degaussing efficiency of each coil. Aiming at the problem of sparse parameter vectors and multiple collinearity in the calculation of degaussing current after winding restructuring, this paper proposes a slant correlation screening and partial ridge regression algorithm. Through simulation, when the threshold is 0.73 and 0.91, the algorithm reduces 10.08% and 17.59% respectively compared with the least square method, while the residual root mean square error decreases by 10.45% and 12.17%. The simulation results show that the degaussing effect is significantly improved after the algorithm is adopted.

Background Chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) with intestinal metaplasia (IM) is an independent risk factor for gastric cancer. Long-term inflammation and oxidative stress response stimulate the physical and mental state of patients. Under the modern medical model, proton pump inhibitors and gastric mucosal protective agents are increasingly unable to meet the high drug resistance of patients. It is urgent to seek effective new Chinese medicine treatments and multiple methods to treat CAG and IM. Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of modified Piwei Peiyuan Decoction combined with acupuncture in the treatment of CAG with IM. Methods From January 2022 to September 2023, 202 patients with CAG and IM diagnosed by gastroscopy and pathological examination in the Department of Spleen and Stomach, the Center for Preventive Treatment of Disease, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Third Affiliated Hospital of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine were selected. The patients were divided into control group (n=67), treatment group A (n=68) and treatment group B (n=67) by random number table method. All patients participated in 6 weeks of treatment: (1) Control group: aluminum magnesium suspension combined with folic acid tablets (3 times/d) ; (2) Treatment group A: to add and subtract syndrome types of Piwei Peiyuan Decoction (2 times/d) ; (3) Treatment group B: Piwei Peiyuan Decoction (the same as group A) combined with acupuncture (1 time/d), with Zusanli, Liangqiu, Gongsun, Neiguan, Zhongwan as the main points, according to the syndrome type selection of acupoints. Before and 6 weeks after treatment, OLGA, OLGIM staging, gastric mucosal pathological efficacy, gastric mucosal pathological score, clinical symptom score, PRO scale score, drug-related adverse events (AE) and adverse drug reactions (ADR) were recorded. Results A total of 192 patients completed the 6-week course of treatment (62 in the control group, 66 in the treatment group A, and 64 in the treatment group B). The effective rate of the control group was 48.39% (30/62), the effective rate of the treatment group A was 69.70% (46/66), and the effective rate of the treatment group B was 71.88% (46/64). There was a statistically significant difference in the effective rate among the three groups (χ2=9.144, P=0.01). After treatment, the gastric mucosal pathological score, clinical symptom score and PRO scale score in the three groups were lower than those in the same group before treatment (P0.05) . Conclusion The overall clinical efficacy of Piwei Peiyuan Decoction combined with acupuncture is better than that of aluminum magnesium suspension combined with folic acid tablets, which is better than that of traditional antacids and gastric mucosal protective agents.

P2X receptors (P2X1–7) are non-selective cation channels involved in many physiological activities such as synaptic transmission, immunological modulation, and cardiovascular function. These receptors share a conserved mechanism to sense extracellular ATP. TNP-ATP is an ATP derivative acting as a nonselective competitive P2X antagonist. Understanding how it occupies the orthosteric site in the absence of agonism may help reveal the key allostery during P2X gating. However, TNP-ATP/P2X complexes (TNP-ATP/human P2X3 (hP2X3) and TNP-ATP/chicken P2X7 (ckP2X7)) with distinct conformations and different mechanisms of action have been proposed. Whether these represent species and subtype variations or experimental differences remains unclear. Here, we show that a common mechanism of TNP-ATP recognition exists for the P2X family members by combining enhanced conformation sampling, engineered disulfide bond analysis, and covalent occupancy. In this model, the polar triphosphate moiety of TNP-ATP interacts with the orthosteric site, while its TNP-moiety is deeply embedded in the head and dorsal fin (DF) interface, creating a restrictive allostery in these two domains that results in a partly enlarged yet ion-impermeable pore. Similar results were obtained from multiple P2X subtypes of different species, including ckP2X7, hP2X3, rat P2X2 (rP2X2), and human P2X1 (hP2X1). Thus, TNP-ATP uses a common mechanism for P2X recognition and modulation by restricting the movements of the head and DF domains which are essential for P2X activation. This knowledge is applicable to the development of new P2X inhibitors.

Abstract Aging and obesity pose significant threats to public health and are major contributors to muscle atrophy. The trends in muscle fiber types under these conditions and the transcriptional differences between different muscle fiber types remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate distinct responses of fast/glycolytic fibers and slow/oxidative fibers to aging and obesity. We found that in muscles dominated by oxidative fibers, the proportion of oxidative fibers remains unchanged during aging and obesity. However, in muscles dominated by glycolytic fibers, despite the low content of oxidative fibers, a significant decrease in proportion of oxidative fibers was observed. Consistently, our study uncovered that during aging and obesity, fast/glycolytic fibers specifically increased the expression of genes associated with muscle atrophy and inflammation, including Dkk3, Ccl8, Cxcl10, Cxcl13, Fbxo32, Depp1, and Chac1, while slow/oxidative fibers exhibit elevated expression of antioxidant protein Nqo-1 and downregulation of Tfrc. Additionally, we noted substantial differences in the expression of calcium-related signaling pathways between fast/glycolytic fibers and slow/oxidative fibers in response to aging and obesity. Treatment with a calcium channel inhibitor thapsigargin significantly increased the abundance of oxidative fibers. Our study provides additional evidence to support the transcriptomic differences in muscle fiber types under pathophysiological conditions, thereby establishing a theoretical basis for modulating muscle fiber types in disease treatment.

Aim. The study aims to examine the quality-of-life dynamics in patients after single-step dental implantation depending on the technique of its implementation. Materials and methods. The study included 51 patients who underwent single-step dental implantation. Depending on the dental implantation technique, the patients were divided into two groups: the study group consisted of 25 patients who underwent implant placement in the preliminary prepared bed with a post-extraction socket grafting using Sensobone xenograft, followed by a formation of soft-tissue cuff reinforced with a bone grafting material (Sensobone xenograft and free connective tissue autograft were placed on the soft tissue area) with subsequent fixation of a temporary crown. The comparison group included 26 patients who underwent implant placement in the preliminary prepared bed with a post-extraction socket grafting using Sensobone xenograft, followed by the Sensobone xenograft placement on the soft tissue area and a temporary crown fixation. To assess the quality of life (QOL), the patients were asked to fill out the OHIP-14 questionnaire before the implantation, three months and one year after the implantation. The study results were processed using the statistical licensed software package Statistica, version 13 (Copyright 1984-2018 TIBCO Software Inc. All rights reserved. License No. JPZ804I382130ARCN10-J). Results. Problems with one or two teeth in patients requiring dental implantation led to limited QOL difficulties, reflected in the overall increase in the OHIP-14 total score. Patients in both groups had unsatisfactory QOL before implantation that was associated with a significant increase in almost all OHIP-14 items, which was significantly depended on the number of implants placed in a patient. In both groups, poor QOL was mainly due to psychosocial aspects, a physical factor, and a lower life satisfaction caused by dental problems. It has been found that a significant increase in the QOL level to a satisfactory state was seen as early as 3 months after the implantation in both groups. However, QOL was better in the study group than in the comparison group, as was evidenced by a 12 % significantly lower OHIP-14 total score. One year after implantation, the study group patients reported the OHIP-14 total score of 8.5 ± 0.8 indicating good QOL. In the comparison group, this index was 14.2 ± 0.8 showing satisfactory QOL. Normalization of QOL in the study group patients was due to the restoration of physical condition, pain relief, normalization of psychosocial state, and increased feeling of satisfaction with their life. Some patients in the comparison group reported continuing problems with physical and psychosocial disorders. Conclusions. Single-step dental implantation is a significant factor influencing the improvement of QOL in patients. QOL is an important measure of the single-step dental implantation effectiveness. The use of a soft tissue cuff reinforced with bone grafting material allows achieving good QOL compared to the use of a bone grafting material matrix alone (due to a higher aesthetic result), since QOL remains satisfactory after the same time.

Aim. To discuss the functional properties of melatonin which plays a key role in the expression of psychopathological disorders following traumatic brain injury (TBI). The influence of melatonin on neurochemical changes, which may lead to various mental disorders, has been analyzed. Specifically, its impact on asthenia, cognitive impairments, emotional instability, and insomnia, which are among the main symptoms accompanying TBI in the chronic phase, has been examined. The importance of studies on melatonin as a neurotransmitter and its role in the circadian rhythm regulation, which is often impaired as a consequence of TBI, has been emphasized. The mechanisms underlying these disorders may be related to dysfunction of the hypothalamus and interhemispheric interactions. Melatonin may influence the recovery processes after TBI, reducing inflammation and providing optimal conditions for tissue regeneration. It opens up new possibilities for the development of therapy aimed at reducing the impact of trauma consequences on patients. Earlier studies have also indicated the option of using melatonin as an antioxidant, which can protect brain tissue from further damage caused by recovery processes after injury. Studies on pharmacological modulation of the melatonin system could be useful for developing new methods for treatment and prevention of mental disorders associated with TBI. Examining the action of melatonin receptor antagonists and agonists can help to choose optimal treatment strategies aimed at correcting disorders arising as a result of trauma. It holds promise for faster and more complete recovery of mental health in TBI patients. Conclusions. Considering the significance of melatonin in regulation of physiological processes, further studies may enrich understanding of its role, ensuring the development of more effective treatment methods. Given the safe profile of melatonin and its availability as a supplement, supportive studies in this direction have the potential to positively impact clinical practice.

Abstract Background The animal sperm shows high diversity in morphology, components, and motility. In the lepidopteran model insect, the silkworm Bombyx mori, two types of sperm, including nucleate fertile eupyrene sperm and anucleate unfertile apyrene sperm, are generated. Apyrene sperm assists fertilization by facilitating the migration of eupyrene spermatozoa from the bursa copulatrix to the spermatheca. During spermatogenesis, eupyrene sperm bundles extrude the cytoplasm by peristaltic squeezing, while the nuclei of the apyrene sperm bundles are discarded with the same process, forming matured sperm. Results In this study, we describe that a mechanoreceptor BmPiezo, the sole Piezo ortholog in B. mori, plays key roles in larval feeding behavior and, more importantly, is essential for eupyrene spermatogenesis and male fertility. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated loss of BmPiezo function decreases larval appetite and subsequent body size and weight. Immunofluorescence analyses reveal that BmPiezo is intensely localized in the inflatable point of eupyrene sperm bundle induced by peristaltic squeezing. BmPiezo is also enriched in the middle region of apyrene sperm bundle before peristaltic squeezing. Cytological analyses of dimorphic sperm reveal developmental arrest of eupyrene sperm bundles in BmPiezo mutants, while the apyrene spermatogenesis is not affected. RNA-seq analysis and q-RT-PCR analyses demonstrate that eupyrene spermatogenic arrest is associated with the dysregulation of the actin cytoskeleton. Moreover, we show that the deformed eupyrene sperm bundles fail to migrate from the testes, resulting in male infertility due to the absence of eupyrene sperm in the bursa copulatrix and spermatheca. Conclusions In conclusion, our studies thus uncover a new role for Piezo in regulating spermatogenesis and male fertility in insects.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) among youth students, and the mediating role of psychological factors in the relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and NSSI.MethodAn online survey was conducted at junior and senior high schools, as well as universities located in Jingzhou, Hubei Province, China between June 2021 and January 2022. The COVID-19 Impact Index was constructed using multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) method. The bootstrapping method was used for mediation analysis.ResultsA total of 16025 youth participated in the study and 12507 youth (78.1%) finished the questionnaires. The COVID-19 Impact Index had a significantly positive effect on NSSI (r=0.16, p

The realization of graphene gapped states with large on/off ratios over wide doping ranges remains challenging. Here, we investigate heterostructures based on Bernal-stacked bilayer graphene (BLG) atop few-layered CrOCl, exhibiting an over-1-GΩ-resistance insulating state in a widely accessible gate voltage range. The insulating state could be switched into a metallic state with an on/off ratio up to 107 by applying an in-plane electric field, heating, or gating. We tentatively associate the observed behavior to the formation of a surface state in CrOCl under vertical electric fields, promoting electron-electron (e-e) interactions in BLG via long-range Coulomb coupling. Consequently, at the charge neutrality point, a crossover from single particle insulating behavior to an unconventional correlated insulator is enabled, below an onset temperature. We demonstrate the application of the insulating state for the realization of a logic inverter operating at low temperatures. Our findings pave the way for future engineering of quantum electronic states based on interfacial charge coupling.

The main idea was to justify the natural, technological, and ecological aspects of digestate-based composite for heavy metals (HMs) binding in soil due to organic matter content and mineral additives’ biosorption properties. The study aimed to determine the potential of a composite made from digestate and phosphogypsum for remediation of HMs polluted soils and the role of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in binding HMs. Methods used included a literature review to identify the mechanisms for HM binding to digestate DOM, a laboratory setup for producing a digestate-based composite with digestate (from manure or sewage sludge) mixed with phosphogypsum, and an analysis of digestate fluorescence properties. Results show that a composite based on digestate from manure as feedstock had a higher fluorescence complexity index than a composite with sewage sludge digestate (2.2 and 1.71, respectively). However, the DOM stability in the sewage sludge digestate composite was higher than reported in the literature, probably due to the mineral composition of phosphogypsum, which resulted in a high HMs sorption capacity and its positive effect on soil microbial activity. Based on the theoretical substantiation of DOM content and its binding properties, manure was the most effective feedstock type out of the two tested if digestate was used for HM remediation. Using a digestate-based composite with phosphogypsum can potentially reduce the ecological risk levels imposed by HM-contaminated soils from considerably too low.

Fluorosis due to high fluoride levels in drinking water profoundly affects the development of human skeletal and dental structures. Sodium butyrate (NaB) has been found to regulate overall bone mass and prevent pathological bone loss. However, the mechanism of NaB action on fluorosis remains unclear. In this study, a rat model of fluorosis induced by 100 mg/L sodium fluoride was used to investigate the impact of NaB on bone homeostasis and serum metabolomics. It was found that NaB significantly reduced the levels of bone resorption markers CTX-Ⅰ and TRACP-5B in fluorosis rats. Moreover, NaB increased calcium and magnesium levels in bone, while decreasing phosphorus levels. In addition, NaB improved various bone microstructure parameters, including bone mineral density (BMD), trabecular thickness (Tb. Th), trabecular bone separation (Tb. SP), and structural model index (SMI) in the femur. Notably, NaB intervention also enhanced the antioxidant capacity of plasma in fluorosis rats. Furthermore, a comprehensive analysis of serum metabolomics by LC-MS revealed a significant reversal trend of seven biomarkers after the intervention of NaB. Finally, pathway enrichment analysis based on differential metabolites indicated that NaB exerted protective effects on fluorosis by modulating arginine and proline metabolic pathways. These findings suggest that NaB has a beneficial effect on fluorosis and can regulate bone homeostasis by ameliorating metabolic disorders.

P2X receptors are extracellular ATP-gated ion channels that form homo- or heterotrimers and consist of seven subtypes. They are expressed in various tissues, including neuronal and nonneuronal cells, and play critical roles in physiological processes such as neurotransmission, inflammation, pain, and cancer. As a result, P2X receptors have attracted considerable interest as drug targets, and various competitive inhibitors have been developed. However, although several P2X receptor structures from different subtypes have been reported, the limited structural information of P2X receptors in complex with competitive antagonists hampers the understanding of orthosteric inhibition, hindering the further design and optimization of those antagonists for drug discovery. We determined the cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of the mammalian P2X7 receptor in complex with two classical competitive antagonists of pyridoxal-5'-phosphate derivatives, pyridoxal-5'-phosphate-6-(2'-naphthylazo-6'-nitro-4',8'-disulfonate) (PPNDS) and pyridoxal phosphate-6-azophenyl-2′,5′-disulfonic acid (PPADS), and performed structure-based mutational analysis by patch-clamp recording as well as molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Our structures revealed the orthosteric site for PPADS/PPNDS, and structural comparison with the previously reported apo- and ATP-bound structures showed how PPADS/PPNDS binding inhibits the conformational changes associated with channel activation. In addition, structure-based mutational analysis identified key residues involved in the PPNDS sensitivity of P2X1 and P2X3, which are known to have higher affinity for PPADS/PPNDS than other P2X subtypes.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary energy levels on microorganisms and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) of rumen and the expression of tight junction proteins in Honghe Yellow cattle. A total of fifteen male Honghe Yellow cattle were randomly divided into three treatments (five replicates per treatment), consisting of formulated energy concentrations of 5.90 MJ/kg (high-energy diet, group H), 5.60 MJ/kg (medium-energy diet, group M) and 5.30 MJ/kg (low-energy diet, group L). The results showed that compared with group H, the expression of Claudin-1 in rumen epithelium of groups M and L was increased, but the expression of ZO-1 was decreased (p

Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the deadliest malignancies in the world. Research into the key genes that maintain the malignant behavior of cancer cells is crucial for the treatment of HCC. Here, we identified ubiquitin‐specific peptidase 44 (USP44), a member of the deubiquitinase family, as a novel regulator of HCC progression. The tumor suppressive function of USP44 was evaluated in a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments. Through quantitative proteomics examination, we demonstrated that USP44 inhibits HCC PDL1 expression by downregulating the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway. Mechanistically, we found that USP44 directly interacts with Itch, an E3 ligase involved in Hh signaling, and promotes the deubiquitination and stabilization of Itch. These events result in the proteasomal degradation of Gli1 and subsequent inactivation of Hh signaling, which ultimately suppresses PDL1 expression and the progression of HCC. Furthermore, the HCC tissue microarray was analyzed by immunohistochemistry to evaluate the pathological relevance of the USP44/Itch/Gli1/PDL1 axis. Finally, the Gli1 inhibitor GANT61 was found to act in synergy with anti-PDL1 therapy. Overall, USP44 can act as a suppressive gene in HCC by modulating Hh signaling, and co-inhibition of Gli1 and PDL1 might be an effective novel combination strategy for treating HCC patients.

Textured Nb4AlC3 ceramics were rapidly and efficiently prepared by hot forging through spark plasma sintering (SPS). The longitudinal compression ratio of textured Nb4AlC3 ceramics was −78.3%, and the lateral expansion ratio was 32.1%. The grains grew preferentially along the direction perpendicular to the c-axis, forming the texture microstructure. The Lotgering orientation factor f(00l) was calculated to be 0.63. The thermal conductivity of textured Nb4AlC3 ceramics along the c-axis direction (11.23 W·m−1·K−1) (25 ℃) was lower than that of untextured ceramics (13.75 W·m−1·K−1) (25 ℃). The electrical conductivity perpendicular to the c-axis direction reached 4.37×106 S·m−1 at room temperature. The ordered layered grains increased the resistance of crack propagation, resulting in a higher fracture toughness parallel to the c-axis direction (9.41 MPa·m1/2), which was higher than that of untextured ceramics (6.88 MPa·m1/2). The Vickers hardness tested at 10 N on the texture top surface (7.18 GPa) was higher than that on the texture side surface (6.45 GPa).

After years of high-speed urbanization and rapid expansion, China's economy has gradually transformed into a "new normal," with a new people-oriented urbanization strategy emphasizing spatial quality. In this context, the disjunction between the development of medium- and high-density buildings and low-density human activity, common in the new towns and districts of China, has become increasingly prominent. From the perspective of spatial form, this study proposes that good street accessibility, suitable construction density and architectural form, and sufficient functional mixing are the bases for promoting sustainable urban development. In these studies, the spatial form elements in Yinzhou New Town in Ningbo were measured using spatial syntax, spatial matrix, and mixed function indicators. The results show that (1) the overall coordination ability of the street network in Yinzhou New Town is strong, the local spatial network and global spatial network structure are integrated, and the vitality of the street system in the central area is relatively high; (2) the architectural forms of Yinzhou New City are mainly middle-level slabs and enclosures, low-level enclosures, and high-level slabs. Analysis of density-shape correlation reveals residential areas within the low-level high coverage zones and shielded residential areas in the multi-level high coverage zones, suggesting a need to appropriately enrich multilevel slab or enclosure and high-level enclosure zones, which have strong positive effects on the vitality of New City; (3) The new urban area of Yinzhou is dominated by the single-function large-scale land development mode, with a low proportion of mixed land and only 1.73% thoroughly mixed land (H_A_W); (4) Functional mixing, accessibility, building strength, and form have a high degree of overlap. A total of 64.54% of cells with a high floor area ratio (> 2.2) were clustered in high-accessibility areas, and 50.25% and 85.71% of dual-function and multi-function mixed units, respectively, were clustered in high-accessibility areas. The effect of the mixed function-accessibility association is more obvious when mixed units include public facilities. In the future, the spatial structure represented by street accessibility should be considered the core breakthrough point. On the one hand, we should ensure good street accessibility as a whole; on the other hand, we should organize the arrangement of construction intensity and functions with high accessibility street distribution, emphasize the moderate mixing of urban land, construct diversified urban life, and improve the vitality and sustainability of urban space to simultaneously realize an agglomeration of multiple urban morphological characteristics with positive effects, and finally foster the emergence of urban spaces with high urban vitality. These sustainable spatial form investigation results are helpful for formulating policy suggestions to improve the quality of ecologically sound construction and create spatial vitality through informed planning and design.