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Objective The current understanding of the breadth of individual differences in how eHealth technologies are perceived as useful for different purposes is incomprehensive. The aim/purpose of the study is to improve the understanding of diverse perceptions of the usefulness of technologies by exploring older adults’ use of their patient-accessible electronic health records (PAEHRs). Methods The study applies and extends Affordance Theory based on an empirical analysis of data from the NORDeHEALTH 2022 Patient Survey on attitudes toward PAEHR in Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Estonia. Responses from 3964 participants in Sweden, aged 65 + years were analysed. Data included demographics and agreement ratings to reasons for using PAEHR. To analyse variation in the reasons for using PAEHR, group comparisons were conducted based on gender (male/female), age group (65–74, 75–84 and 85+) and earlier encouragement to use PAEHR. Results Overall, the findings suggest that PAEHRs have multiple parallel affordance trajectories and affordance potencies that actualise differently depending on needs. The top reasons, pointing to both orientational and goal-oriented affordances for using PAEHR, were improving understanding of health issues, getting an overview of medical history/treatment and ensuring understanding of what the doctor said. Men reported more often sharing information with relatives or friends as a reason to access PAEHR. Women were more inclined, albeit similarly to men less frequently, to read their PAEHR for detecting errors. Age had little influence on reasons for using PAEHR. Conclusions The study applies and extends Affordance Theory in the context of older adults’ PAEHR use based on findings from the largest national investigation of reasons for older users to access PAEHR in Sweden demonstrating the applicability of the theory in improving the understanding of the diversity of individual perceptions on eHealth technologies.

BackgroundAtropine is an effective medicine for myopia prevention and control. This meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the effects of atropine on choroidal thickness (ChT) in children with myopia.MethodsBetween its inception and 1 June 2023, Medline, Embase, and Web of Science were all searched, and only English literature was included. The choroidal thickness was the primary study outcome. Axial length, standardized equivalent refraction were examined as secondary outcomes. STATA 12.0 was used for data extraction and analysis.ResultsA total of 307 eyes were involved in this study to evaluate the effect of atropine on ChT, axial length (AL) and standardized equivalent refraction (SER) in myopic children. Choroidal thickening was significantly higher in the atropine group than in the control group at 1 month (WMD, 6.87 mm, 95% CI, 0.04 to 13.10, P = 0.049), whereas it was significantly higher in the atropine group than in the control group at months 6 (WMD, 10.37 mm, 95% CI, −3.21 to 23.95, P = 0.135), 12 (WMD, 15.10 mm, 95% CI, −5.08 to 35.27, P = 0.143) and at final follow-up (WMD, 11.52 mm, 95% CI, −3.26 to 26.31, P = 0.127), the differences were not statistically significant. At months 1 (WMD, −0.03 mm, 95% CI, −0.04 to −0.01, P = 0.003), 6 (WMD, −0.07 mm, 95% CI, −0.01 to −0.03, P = 0.000), 12 (WMD, −0.13mm, 95% CI, −0.15 to −0.11, P = 0.843), and at final follow-up (WMD, −0.08 mm, 95% CI, −0.16 to −0.01, P = 0.127), atropine treatment was able to delay the axial elongation. At 1-month follow-up, there was no significant difference in the effect of atropine on SER in myopic children compared with the control group (WMD, 0.01D, 95% CI, −0.07 to 26.31, P = 0.127), whereas it was able to control the progression of refractive status at final follow-up (WMD, 11.52 mm, 95% CI, −3.26 to 26.31, P = 0.127).ConclusionLimited evidence suggests that 0.01% atropine causes choroidal thickening in myopic children at 1 month of treatment. In the short term, choroidal thickness may be a predictor of the effectiveness of atropine in controlling myopia in children. 0.01% atropine is effective in controlling myopic progression in terms of SER and AL.Systematic Review Registrationhttp://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero, identifier, CRD42022381195.

IntroductionSoil contamination with copper (Cu) threatens ecological security and human health. Rapeseed demonstrates potential in remediating copper-contaminated soil, and biochar-assisted phytoremediation is increasingly being employed to improve remediation efficiency. However, the combined application of them has not been thoroughly studied in terms of the synergistic effects and the mechanisms of their interaction.MethodsIn this regard, this study conducted a pot experiment to evaluate biochar-assisted remediation under Cu-contaminated soil with varying biochar application rates; Furthermore, the plant physiological mechanism and soil physicochemical properties involved in the biocharrapeseed system was explored.ResultsOur results showed that the exchangeable pool of copper in soil decreased by 10.0% and 12.3% with adding 5% biochar (BC1) and 10% biochar (BC2) relative to control (BC0), respectively, prior to rapeseed cultivation. The rapeseed cultivation for one season further reclaimed 4.9%, 9.0%, and 13.6% of the available copper in this soil by root extraction under the BC0, BC1, and BC2 treatments, respectively. The overall copper concentration in plants decreased by 23.7% under BC2 and 13.3% under BC1 compared to BC0. However, the plant’s dry biomass at BC1 and BC2 treatments increased by 1.7-fold and 2.7-fold relative to BC0, which offset the negative impact of the decreased copper concentration on phytoremediation. Physiological analysis showed adding 10% biochar decreased the MDA content by 36% in the leaf and 49% in the root, compared to BC0. The transmission electron microscopy for cell wall ultrastructure in root tips showed that biochar addition in Cu-contaminated soil increased the mechanical strength of the celL wall, explicitly increasing the thickness of the secondary cell wall. Further cell wall components analysis revealed a remarkable increment of the pectin content in BC2 relative to BC0, increased by 56% in the leaf and 99% in the root, respectively. Additionally, 10% biochar application led to a roughly 2-fold increase in seed yield via ameliorating the soil physicochemical properties and increasing the rapeseed growth.DiscussionThese findings offer insights into synergistic rapeseed-biochar use for Cu-contaminated soil remediation.

BackgroundTraditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is used to treat mycoplasma pneumonia (MP) in children with favorable treatment outcome in China. In the present study, we evaluated the clinical efficacy of TCM combined with azithromycin (AZM) for the treatment of MP among children, providing high evidence-based reference for clinical treatment.MethodWe retrieved eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from CQVIP, CNKI, WanFang, NSTL, PubMed, Embase, and Embase databases from January 2000 to November 2023. Data extraction and quality assessment of the enrolled studies were independently by two reviewers. Review Manager 5.3 was used for meta-analysis.ResultA total of 51 RCTs involving 5,799 children aged 1–14 enrolled. Meta-analysis demonstrated that TCM combined with AZM improved the cure rate (odds ratio [OR] = 2.34, 95% CI: 2.06 to 2.64) and the effective rate (OR = 5.21, 95% CI: 4.22 to 6.43), shorted the disappearance duration of cough (WMD = −1.62, 95% CI: −1.90 to −1.34), the duration of fever (WMD = −1.62, 95% CI: −1.96 to −1.29), and the disappearance time of lung rales (WMD = −1.15, 95% CI: −1.32 to −0.98), improved CRP levels (WMD = −2.06, 95% CI: −2.57 to −1.55), IL-6 levels (WMD = −1.92,95% CI: −2.51 to −1.34), and TNF-α levels (WMD = −1.59, 95% CI: −2.14 to −1.04), and reduced adverse reactions (OR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.32 to 0.44).ConclusionTCM combined with AZM in the treatment of MP among children has favorable clinical efficacy and safety.

The mammary gland undergoes functional, developmental, and structural changes that are essential for lactation and reproductive processes. An overview of such unique tissue can offer clearer insights into mammary development and tumorigenesis. Compared to traditional methods, mouse mammary gland whole mount is a pivotal technique that provides three-dimensional structural perspectives on gland morphology and developmental stages, offering an inexpensive and accessible approach. This protocol outlines the tissue isolation of the mouse mammary gland and provides detailed instructions for whole-mount staining and analysis. Mammary gland tissues are carefully dissected from euthanized mice and stained with Carmine Alum to highlight the ductal structures, enabling detailed visualization of the branching patterns and morphological changes. Light microscopy is used to capture a panoramic image of the stained mammary gland, enabling the quantitative analysis of terminal end buds (TEBs) and bifurcated TEBs to further investigate mammary gland remodeling. This method can provide invaluable insights, particularly in the study of mammary gland morphogenesis and tumorigenesis, underscoring its significance in both basic research and clinical applications.

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and calcitonin (Ctn) are pivotal biomarkers in the diagnosis and management of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). However, their diagnostic reliability in perioperative period remains a topic of ongoing debate. This review synthesizes researches on perioperative fluctuations in CEA and Ctn levels, and evaluates the impact of their different combinations on MTC diagnosis, treatment decisions, and prognosis. Our findings highlight it is crucial to understand and interpret the various combinations of CEA and Ctn fluctuations within a clinical context. Furthermore, to reduce diagnostic errors and improve patient outcomes, we recommend follow-up diagnostic and treatment protocols designed to address the potential pitfalls associated with the use of these biomarkers.

Chronic anthropogenic disturbance (CAD) comprises the additive effect of multiple anthropogenic stressors that lead to subtle but continuous alterations to the structure, composition and functioning of natural ecosystems. However, this effect has been little studied at the tree species level. Here, we examined CAD effects on Chinese beech (Fagus engleriana), a common species in northern subtropical forests that utilizes both vegetative resprouting and seeding as regenerative modes. We computed an index of CAD for each plot based on livestock grazing intensity, wood extraction and miscellaneous resource use. Over 60 20 × 20 m plots, we measured the height and DBH of a total of 1261 Chinese beech individuals (21.02 ± 13.06 per plot, [mean ± SD]), including 593 adults (9.88 ± 4.89), 576 saplings (9.60 ± 8.91) and 92 seedlings (1.53 ± 3.91), and assessed the proportions of each that exhibited resprouting (0.91 ± 0.11, 0.69 ± 0.29, and 0.09 ± 0.25, respectively). CAD was associated with a greater number of individual trees and a proliferation of stems, and with a greater proportion of resprouting seedlings, but had no effect on adult-sized stem DBH. Chinese beech thus appears generally tolerant of CAD, which may ultimately result in its increasing contribution to the maintenance of forest biomass. CAD was also associated with shorter adult and sapling stems, but taller resprouting seedling stems, implying that CAD induced dwarfism as Chinese beech matures. Further analysis showed that the proportion of resprouting was related to small scale wood extraction and miscellaneous resource use, but not to grazing. In the context of better understanding cryptic effects of CAD, our findings show that CAD can alter tree morphology and regenerative processes. These coppicing-type effects of CAD on tree morphology structure are typically associated with higher community biodiversity in managed forest coppice, and future work should investigate the biodiversity consequences of CAD at our study site. Our study shows that CAD has important implications for forest resource utilization, planning, and management, with effects on forest biomass and carbon storage in human-modified landscapes.

Background: Fruquintinib is a third-line and subsequent targeted therapy for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Identifying survival predictors after fruquintinib is crucial for optimizing the clinical use of this medication. Objectives: We aimed to identify factors influencing the prognosis of patients with mCRC treated with fruquintinib and to leverage these insights to develop a nomogram model for estimating survival rates in this patient population. Design: Multicenter retrospective observational study. Methods: We collected patient data from January 2019 to October 2023, with one healthcare institution’s data serving as the training cohort and the other three hospitals’ data serving as the multicenter validation cohort. The nomogram for overall survival was calculated from Cox regression models, and variable selection was screened using the univariate Cox regression analysis with additional variables based on clinical experience. Model performance was measured by the concordance index (C-index), calibration curves, decision curve analyses (DCA), and utility (patient stratification into low-risk vs high-risk groups). Results: Data were ultimately collected on 240 patients, with 144 patients included in the training cohort and 96 included in the multicenter validation cohort. Predictors included in the nomogram were CA199, body mass index, T stage, the primary site of the tumor, and other metastatic and pathological differentiation. The C-index of the nomogram in the training set and multicenter validation was 0.714 and 0.729, respectively. The models were fully calibrated and their predictions aligned closely with the observed data. DCA curves indicated the promising clinical benefits of the predictive model. Finally, the reliability of the model was also verified through the risk classification using the nomogram. Conclusions: We constructed a nomogram for mCRC treated with fruquintinib based on six variables that may be used to assist in personalizing the use of the drug.

BackgroundIn recent years, the problem of cognitive impairment in the elderly has become increasingly prominent. Understanding the research trend of influencing factors of mild cognitive impairment, and provide reference for medical staff to early screening of the elderly with mild cognitive impairment.ObjectiveThrough the visual analysis of the influence factors of the elderly with mild cognitive impairment, the current research status was discussed.MethodsThe relevant literature in the field of influencing factors of mild cognitive impairment in the elderly included in the Web of Science core collection database from 2013 to 2022 was searched. Using software such as Cite Space and VOS viewer to visually analyze literature citations, country, keywords, and development trends.ResultsA total of 547 relevant literatures were included, and the number of publications showed an increasing trend in the past ten years. The United States ranked first in both the number of published papers (157) and centrality (0.34), and the United States and China had a greater influence on the influencing factors of mild cognitive impairment. Alzheimer’s disease, cognitive decline, the elderly, risk factors, are the research hotspot in this field.ConclusionCognitive decline will affect the autonomy of the elderly. Cognitive frailty, MRI is the forefront of MCI research, to understand the research hotspots and frontiers in this field, to conduct early screening and intervention guidance for people with mild cognitive impairment, so as to delay the occurrence of Alzheimer’s disease, and reduce the pressure on family caregivers and society.

IntroductionNitraria tangutorum Bobr., a prominent xerophytic shrub, exhibits remarkable adaptability to harsh environment and plays a significant part in preventing desertification in northwest China owing to its exceptional drought and salinity tolerance.MethodsTo investigate the drought-resistant mechanism underlying N. tangutorum, we treated 8-week-old seedlings with polyethylene glycol (PEG)-6000 (20%, m/m) to induce drought stress. 27 samples from different tissues (leaves, roots and stems) of N. tangutorum at 0, 6 and 24 h after drought stress treatment were sequenced using PacBio single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing and Illumina RNA sequencing to obtain a comprehensive transcriptome.ResultsThe PacBio SMRT sequencing generated 44,829 non-redundant transcripts and provided valuable reference gene information. In leaves, roots and stems, we identified 1162, 2024 and 232 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), respectively. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis revealed that plant hormone signaling and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade played a pivotal role in transmitting stress signals throughout the whole N. tangutorum plant following drought stress. The interconversion of starch and sucrose, as well as the biosynthesis of amino acid and lignin, may represent adaptive strategies employed by N. tangutorum to effectively cope with drought. Transcription factor analysis showed that AP2/ERF-ERF, WRKY, bHLH, NAC and MYB families were mainly involved in the regulation of drought response genes. Furthermore, eight physiological indexes, including content of proline, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), malondialdehyde (MDA), total amino acid and soluble sugar, and activities of three antioxidant enzymes were all investigate after PEG treatment, elucidating the drought tolerance mechanism from physiological perspective. The weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) identified several hub genes serve as key regulator in response to drought through hormone participation, ROS cleavage, glycolysis, TF regulation in N. tangutorum.DiscussionThese findings enlarge genomic resources and facilitate research in the discovery of novel genes research in N. tangutorum, thereby establishing a foundation for investigating the drought resistance mechanism of xerophyte.

Microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) originating from plastic pollution pose potential threats to cardiovascular health, with prior studies linking MNPs to atherosclerosis. Our earlier research elucidated how nanoplastics enhance macrophages' phagocytic activity, leading to the formation of foam cells and an elevated risk of atherosclerosis. However, the specific influence of MNPs on smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in the context of MNP-induced atherosclerosis remains poorly understood. In this study, ApoE knockout (ApoE-/-) male mice with a high-fat diet were orally exposed to environmentally realistic concentrations of 2.5–250 mg/kg polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs, 50 nm) for consecutive 19 weeks. Cardiovascular toxicity was comprehensively assessed through histopathological, transcriptomic, and proteomic analyses, while mechanisms underlying this toxicity were explored through in vitro studies. Herein, hematoxylin and eosin staining revealed accelerated atherosclerotic plaque development in ApoE-/- mice exposed to PS-NPs. Multi-omics analysis identified kinesin family member 15 (KIF15) as a pivotal target molecule. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments affirmed the specific upregulation of KIF15 in mouse aortic SMCs exposed to PS-NPs. Furthermore, in vitro experiments demonstrated that PS-NPs can promote the migration ability of MOVAS cells. Knockdown of Kif15 revealed its role in reducing MOVAS cell migration, with subsequent exposure to PS-NPs reversing the increased migration ability. This suggests that PS-NPs promote SMC migration by upregulating KIF15, and the migration of SMCs is closely associated with atherosclerosis outcomes. This study significantly advances our understanding of MNP-induced cardiovascular toxicity, providing valuable insights for risk assessment of human MNP exposure.

The kidney-brain axis is a bidirectional communication network connecting the kidneys and the brain, potentially affected by inflammation, uremic toxin, vascular injury, neuronal degeneration, and so on, leading to a range of diseases. Numerous studies emphasize the disruptions of the kidney-brain axis may contribute to the high morbidity of neurological disorders, such as cognitive impairment (CI) in the natural course of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Although the pathophysiology of the kidney-brain axis has not been fully elucidated, epidemiological data indicate that patients at all stages of CKD have a higher risk of developing CI compared with the general population. In contrast to other reviews, we mentioned some commonly used medicines in CKD that may play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of CI. Revealing the pathophysiology interactions between kidney damage and brain function can reduce the potential risk of future CI. This review will deeply explore the characteristics, indicators, and potential pathophysiological mechanisms of CKD-related CI. It will provide a theoretical basis for identifying CI that progresses during CKD and ultimately prevents and treats CKD-related CI.

Abstract BackgroundKnee osteoarthritis prevalently causes significant pain, activity limitations, psychological distress, and reduced quality of life. Despite lower limb strength training being a core treatment for knee osteoarthritis, adherence remains a challenge, prompting the exploration of virtual reality (VR) to improve exercise compliance. Recent research suggests the potential of VR in providing enhanced pain management and functional outcomes for knee osteoarthritis, necessitating further exploration of immersive VR technology. ObjectiveWe aimed to study the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of an immersive VR-assisted lower limb strength training for knee osteoarthritis (VRiKnee). MethodsA convergent, parallel, mixed methods study was conducted in 30 participants with knee osteoarthritis. After 1:1 randomization, the VRiKnee group (n=15) was assigned to perform repetitive concentric quadriceps and isometric vastus medialis oblique exercise in an immersive environment using a head-mounted display for 12 weeks. The control group (n=15) completed the same exercises without VRiKnee. VRiKnee participants were interviewed at week 12 to study VRiKnee acceptability and user experience. Quantitative data included feasibility outcomes such as recruitment, dropout, and exercise adherence rates, and effectiveness outcomes such as the numeric rating scale, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (100 points) pain and function subscales, and objective physical activity measured by metabolic equivalents of task using an ActivPAL accelerometer. Qualitative data were analyzed by thematic analysis, followed by integration with quantitative data using joint displays. ResultsThe recruitment rate was 100% (N=30), with enrollment of 30 participants in 7.57 weeks. The median age was 63.5 (IQR 61.8‐66.3) years, with 76% (n=23) being female. The response rates were 80% and 93% for the VRiKnee and control groups. Dropout rates were 13% for VRiKnee and 7% for the control group. Median exercise adherence was 77% (IQR 37-104%) for VRiKnee and 62% (IQR 40-166%) for the control group, respectively, with adherence reduction over this study’s period and no significant intergroup differences (P ConclusionsVRiKnee demonstrated feasibility, acceptability, and potential efficacy in managing knee osteoarthritis. Future trials of larger sample sizes and better VR designs will confirm its role in clinical practice.

Abstract Motor learning (ML), which plays a fundamental role in growth and physical rehabilitation, involves different stages of learning and memory processes through different brain regions. However, the neural mechanisms that underlie ML are not sufficiently understood. Here, a previously unreported neuronal projection from the dorsal hippocampus (dHPC) to the zona incerta (ZI) involved in the regulation of ML behaviors is identified. Using recombinant adeno‐associated virus, the projections to the ZI are surprisingly identified as originating from the dorsal dentate gyrus (DG) and CA1 subregions of the dHPC. Furthermore, projection‐specific chemogenetic and optogenetic manipulation reveals that the projections from the dorsal CA1 to the ZI play key roles in the acquisition and consolidation of ML behaviors, whereas the projections from the dorsal DG to the ZI mediate the retrieval/retention of ML behaviors. The results reveal new projections from the dorsal DG and dorsal CA1 to the ZI involved in the regulation of ML and provide insight into the stages over which this regulation occurs.

Introduction: To investigate the nutritional status of elderly Chinese patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and analyze possible factors related to nutritional problems. Methods: Patients with PD aged 65 years or older were enrolled. Anthropometric assessment and Mini Nutritional Assessment were used to determine nutritional status. Various scales were completed to identify potentially related factors, such as Hoehn and Yahr stage (H&Y stage), 30 mL water swallow test, Clock Drawing Test (CDT), and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). Results: 785 patients were enrolled. The prevalence of malnutrition and risk of malnutrition was 3.1% (24/785) and 25.7% (202/785), respectively. Regression analyses indicated that H&Y stage ≥ 3 (OR: 2.151; 95%CI: 1.174–3.941; p = .013), abnormal water swallow test (OR: 4.559; 95%CI: 2.130–9.759; p

Abstract Flexible sensors based on laser‐induced graphene (LIG) are widely used in wearable personal devices, with the morphology and lattice arrangement of LIG the key factors affecting their performance in various applications. In this study, femtosecond‐laser‐induced MXene‐composited graphene (LIMG) is used to improve the electrical conductivity of graphene by incorporating MXene, a 2D material with a high concentration of free electrons, into the LIG structure. By combining pump‐probe detection, laser‐induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, the morphogenesis and lattice structuring principles of LIMG is explored, with the results indicating that MXene materials are successfully embedded in the graphene lattice, altering both their morphology and electrical properties. The structural sparsity and electrical conductivity of LIMG composites (up to 3187 S m−1) are significantly enhanced compared to those of LIG. Based on these findings, LIMG has been used in wearable electronics. LIMG electrodes are used to detect uric acid, with a minimum detection limit of 2.48 µM. Additionally, LIMG‐based pressure and bending sensors have been successfully used to monitor human limb movement and pulse. The direct in situ femtosecond laser patterning synthesis of LIMG has significant implications for developing flexible wearable electronic sensors.

As the pace of industrialization and urbanization accelerates, water quality management faces increasing challenges, with traditional methods for pollutant source apportionment often proving inadequate in handling complex environmental data. This study enhances the precision and reliability of pollutant source identification by integrating Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) models with diverse machine learning techniques. Utilizing data from 17 water quality monitoring stations along the Wuding River from 2017 to 2021, we employed Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Elastic Net (EN), and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) models to predict the Water Quality Index (WQI) during dry and wet seasons. Results indicate that the RF model exhibited optimal performance in the dry season (R2 = 0.93), while the SVM was superior in the wet season (R2 = 0.94). SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) value analysis identified CODMn and NH3-N as significant influencers on WQI in the dry season, whereas COD, BOD, and TP gained prominence during the wet season. SHAP values reveal the contribution of each feature to the model output, thereby enhancing the model’s transparency and interpretability. Additionally, feature importance identified by machine learning was utilized as weights to optimize the contribution rates predicted by the PMF model. The optimised model was able to identify the contribution of domestic and farm effluent discharges more accurately in the dry season, with a significant increase in the percentage of identification from 19.4 % to 45.4 %, and an increase in the percentage of contribution from agricultural non-point sources and domestic effluent in the rainy season. This research offers a novel perspective on the characteristics of river water pollution and holds significant implications for formulating data-driven environmental management strategies.

Objective: This research utilized network pharmacology to investigate the potential of Fuzheng Qudu prescription (FZQDP) in treating lung cancer (LC). Methods: The components and their targets of FZQDP were analyzed for their relationship with LC-related targets using bioinformatics tools. Mouse Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells were cultured in vitro and treated with FZQDP or cisplatin (DDP) before applying the MTT assay to determine FZQDP concentrations, and the IC50 value. According to the IC50 value, the effect of FZQDP on apoptosis and cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry. Mouse tumor growth was recorded using live animal imaging, and measurements of tumor and spleen weight were used to calculate the tumor inhibition rate and spleen index. The effects on mouse liver and kidneys were observed by analyzing levels of AST, ALT, BUN, and CRE in blood and hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) stained sections. Additionally, levels of IL-2, IL-10, IL-6, and IFN-γ in serum, along with the frequencies of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the spleen, were measured using Mouse multiple Cytokine Assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Results: SRC, STAT3, MAPK3, and MAPK1 could be crucial targets of FZQDP in the treatment of LC. FZQDP demonstrated inhibition of LC cell proliferation and tumor growth, as well as enhancement of apoptosis and induction of G2 phase cell cycle arrest. Furthermore, FZQDP led to elevated levels of IL-2 and IFN-γ, increased frequencies of CD4+ T cells and decreased levels of IL-6 and IL-10. Importantly, FZQDP did not exhibit any noticeable hepatotoxic or nephrotoxic effects in mice. Conclusion: FZQDP may target multiple signaling pathways to treat LC. In a LC mouse model, FZQDP was found to inhibit tumor growth and improve immune function.

High-resolution Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) are essential for precise geographic analysis. However, obtaining high-resolution DEMs in regions with dense vegetation, complex terrain, or satellite imagery voids presents substantial challenges. This study introduces a deep learning approach using three-dimensional (3D) terrain features combined with Conditional Generative Adversarial Networks (CGANs) to reconstruct DEMs. The 3D terrain features, such as valley and ridge lines, exhibit topographic relief patterns and provide constraints for CGANs to reconstruct DEMs. Experiments conducted in the Loess Plateau of Shaanxi confirmed the performance of the proposed method, demonstrating marked improvements in the accuracy of DEM reconstruction compared to models based on two-dimensional (2D) terrain features. The elevation accuracy of the reconstructed DEMs by the proposed method is 5.30 m, which is higher than that of the 2D terrain features method (18.90 m) by 71.96 %. Meanwhile, the proposed method shows a 15.78 % and 17.64 % improvement in elevation accuracy and slope accuracy, respectively, when reconstructing a 5 m high-resolution DEM from a 30 m low-resolution DEM. The proposed method can be flexibly used for reconstructing, repairing, and filling voids in DEM data.

Crystallin βb2 (crybb2) is upregulated in regenerating retinas and in various pathological conditions of the retina, including uveoretinitis. However, the role of crybb2 in this disease is largely unknown. Therefore, we used recombinant crybb2 (rcrybb2) as intravitreal treatment of B10.RIII mice prior to immunization with human interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein peptide 161–180 (hIRBPp161-180) in complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) and concomitant injection of pertussis toxin (PTX) to induce experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU). In naïve mice, more beta III-tubulin (TUBB3) + and RNA-binding protein with multiple splicing (RBPMS) + cells were found in the ganglion cell layer of the retina than in EAU eyes, suggesting a loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGC) during the development of EAU. At the same time, the number of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) + cells increased in EAU eyes. RGCs were better protected in EAU eyes treated with rcrybb2, while the number of GFAP+ cells decreased. However, in retinal flatmounts, both retinal ganglion cells and retinal endothelial cells stained positive for TUBB3, indicating that TUBB3 is present in naïve B10.RIII mouse eyes not exclusive to RGCs. A significant decline in the number of RBPMS-positive retinal ganglion cells was observed in retinal flatmounts from EAU retinas in comparison to naïve retinas or EAU retinas with intravitreal rcrybb2 treatment. Whereas no significant decrease in TUBB3 levels was detected using Western blot and RT-qPCR, GFAP level, as a marker for astrocytes, increased in EAU mice compared to naïve mice. Level of Bax and Bcl2 in the retina was altered by treatment, suggesting better cell survival and inhibition of apoptosis. Furthermore, our histologic observations of the eyes showed no change in the incidence and severity of EAU, nor was the immune response affected by intravitreal rcrybb2 treatment. Taken together, these results suggest that intravitreal injection of rcrybb2 reduces retinal RGC death during the course of EAU, independent of local or systemic autoimmune responses. In the future, treating posterior uveitis with rcrybb2 to protect RGCs may offer a promising novel therapeutic strategy.

Background: Neonatal respiratory failure (NRF) is a critical condition with high morbidity and mortality rates. This study aimed to develop a nomogram prediction model to early predict the risk of death in Chinese neonates with NRF. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on NRF neonates from 21 tertiary neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) across 13 prefecture-level cities in Jiangsu Province, China, from March 2019 to March 2022. NRF neonates from one random NICU were selected as the external validation set, while those from the remaining 20 NICUs were divided into the training set and the internal validation set at a 7:3 ratio. Death was the primary outcome. LASSO regression and multivariate logistic regression were used to identify the predictive factors from the training set and then the nomogram was constructed. Results: A total of 5387 neonates with NRF were included in the analysis. Among them, 3444 were in the training set, 1470 were in the internal validation set, and 473 were in the external validation set. The nomogram was constructed based on the eight predictors of the 1-min Apgar score, birth weight, gestational age, the relationship between birth weight and gestational age, mode of first respiratory support, inhaled nitric oxide, antenatal corticosteroids, and vasoactive drugs. The area under the curve of the nomogram in the training set, internal validation set, and external validation set was 0.763, 0.733, and 0.891, respectively. The P-values of the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test were 0.638, 0.273, and 0.253, respectively. Brier scores were 0.066, 0.072, and 0.037, respectively. The decision curve analysis demonstrated a significant net benefit in all cases. These data indicate the good performance of the nomogram. Conclusions: This nomogram can serve as a reference for clinicians to identify high-risk neonates early and reduce the incidence of neonatal mortality.

BackgroundRenal ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) is one of the pivotal event of acute kidney injury (AKI), and they are unavoidable in the process of kidney transplantation, which eventually leads to the loss of renal allograft. Ferroptosis is a newly identified programmed cell death. Recent studies have suggested that ferroptosis may participate in the pathophysiological process of renal IRI. Therefore, we aimed to determine biomarkers associated with ferroptosis during renal IRI and their impact on renal allografts.MethodsWe conducted a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis and established an IRI-AKI animal model to illustrate the critical role of ferroptosis-related hub genes (FRHGs) in IRI-AKI and their potential impact on kidney transplantation.ResultsIn this study, we identified 60 ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs) in renal IRI based on the GSE148420 dataset and FerrDb database. And then we performed functional annotation analysis using Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed by online tool String. EZH2, CDKN1A, PPARA, EGR1, ATF3, and CD44 were identited as six ferroptosis-related hubgenes (FRHGs) using four methods, including MMC, Degree, DMNC, and EPC. FRHGs expression level were verified by the validation sets GSE58438 and GSE126805. Protein expression level of FRHGs verified by Proteomics and Western blot. Cibersort was utilized to analyze immune cell infiltration during renal IRI as well as the correlation between FRHGs and immune cells. The GSE21374 dataset was used for renal allografts survival analysis. Finally, We induced the IRI-AKI animal model and illustrated the importance of FRGHs CD44 in ferroptosis and the accumulation of macrophages.ConclusionWe identified 6 FRHGs. We found that FRHGs not only exhibited significant correlation with immune cells but also directly influenced the survival of transplanted kidneys in the human population. Among six FRHGs, only CD44 was overexpressed at both the gene and protein levels. Anti-CD44 exerts a protective effect by inhibiting ferroptosis and the accumulation of M1 macrophages during renal IRI. This study provided new insights into the pathogenesis of renal IRI and provided new evidence for its treatment.

Traditional residential dwellings as architectural heritage holds substantial research value and significance for regional studies. This study investigates the indoor thermal comfort of traditional “Hankou Lifen” dwellings compared to new residences during summer through field measurements and questionnaires. The results demonstrate that the indoor thermal environment of “Lifen” houses is inferior, leading to lower thermal comfort for the residents. A linear regression model assesses summer residents' thermal comfort, considering psychological perspectives to calculate natural and acceptable temperature ranges. However, these models primarily rely solely on temperature and overlook other environmental and personal factors, due to their lack of accuracy in capturing complex non-linear relationships. To address these limitations, six machine learning models with high predictive performance are selected for analyses. Data preprocessing techniques, such as upsampling, and hyper-parameter optimization are employed to enhance prediction performance. The selection of algorithms is based on metrics such as accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score, with further performance evaluation conducted using ROC curves and confusion matrices. Through evaluation, XGBoost and LightGBM show superior performance in predicting residential thermal comfort.Finally, SHAP(SHapley Additive exPlanations) values and PDP(Partial Dependence Plot) are used to interpret the models, revealing various factors influencing residents' thermal sensations in both new and old dwellings. These findings emphasize the significance of thermal comfort in the preservation and revitalization of historic dwellings and propose a novel framework for advancing the sustainable utilization of traditional dwellings.

The shear fatigue performance and fracture behavior of microscale ball grid array (BGA) structure Cu/Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu/Cu solder joints with different heights (500 μm, 300 μm, and 100 μm) with increasing current density (from 6.0 × 103 to 1.1 × 104 A/cm2) were investigated systematically. The results reveal that the fatigue life of solder joints decreases with increasing current density, while increasing with decreasing the height of solder joints. The location of fatigue fracture shifts from solder matrix to the interface between solder and intermetallic compound (IMC) layer for those with heights of 500 μm and 300 μm with increasing current density, in which the interfacial fracture is triggered by current crowding at the groove of the IMC layer and driven by mismatch strain at the solder/IMC layer interface; while, the fatigue fracture all occurs in the solder matrix for solder joints with a height of 100 μm. Moreover, the fracture in solder matrix of solder joints with heights of 500 μm and 300 μm exhibits an arc-shape fracture path, while a linear path for those with a height of 100 μm. These fracture paths are consistent with the concentration distribution region of plastic strain energy in solder joints.

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is a critical component that affects soil quality and global carbon cycling. Current SOC mapping approaches are based on the spatial stationarity relationship of SOC and soil formation processes. Nevertheless, the spatial pattern of SOC is the consequence of different soil-forming factors and processes that operate at different scales. In this work, we hypothesized that the covariation of environmental variables and SOC might differ spatially, and proposed a global (whole area) and local analysis framework that aimed to enhance our comprehension of the explanatory scale of environmental variables on SOC variation. This framework primarily incorporates Geographically Weighted correlation and the Multi-scale Geographically Weighted Regression (MGWR) model. With 216 farmland topsoil samples collected from the Qilu Lake watershed in Yunnan Province, China (area of 354 km2), we explored both global and local relationships between environmental variables and SOC to verify the feasibility of this framework. Results showed that the explanatory power of environmental variables on SOC variation is scale-dependent. Our analysis revealed that certain variables, which may explain local variations of SOC, are often overlooked due to their insignificant global correlation with SOC (p > 0.05). For example, in this case study, soil porosity and two landscape metrics that characterize the anthropogenic processes of land use patterns can effectively explain the local spatial variation of SOC. They improved the model performance of MGWR, but their global correlation with SOC is not significant. The proposed framework highlights the necessity of investigating the explanatory power of environmental variables on a global and local scale.

The neuronal excitotoxicity that follows reoxygenation after a hypoxic period may contribute to epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and various disorders that are related to inadequate supplement of oxygen in neurons. Therefore, counteracting the deleterious effects of post-hypoxic stress is an interesting strategy to treat a large spectrum of neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we show that the expression of the key telomere protecting protein Trf2 decreases in the brain of mice submitted to a post-hypoxic stress. Moreover, downregulating the expression of Terf2 in hippocampal neural cells of unchallenged mice triggers an excitotoxicity-like phenotype including glutamate overexpression and behavioral alterations while overexpressing Terf2 in hippocampal neural cells of mice subjected to a post-hypoxic treatment prevents brain damages. Moreover, Terf2 overexpression in culture neurons counteracts the oxidative stress triggered by glutamate. Finally, we provide evidence that the effect of Terf2 downregulation on excitotoxicity involves Sirt3 repression leading to mitochondrial dysfunction. We propose that increasing the level of Terf2 expression is a potential strategy to reduce post-hypoxic stress damages.

PV hosting capacity of a practical three-phase unbalanced distribution network is expected to increase, thus increasing safe PV penetration and speeding up the decarbonization of power systems. However, power unbalances and bus voltage violations are two major obstacles limiting further increases in the PV hosting capacity. With the popularization of electric vehicles (EVs), EV charging stations (EVCSs) as controllable loads can effectively provide grid ancillary services, which helps enhance the PV hosting capacity. In this regard, this paper proposes a hierarchical control method for EVCSs in an unbalanced network, consisting of central day-ahead scheduling and local real-time dynamic control. It is novel that the local control capability of EVCSs is reserved in the central scheduling. A three-phase day-ahead EV charging scheduling optimization model is developed to reduce the power unbalance and the bus voltage violation, and in turn, improve the PV hosting capacity. Moreover, active power transfer and voltage droop control are developed as two ancillary service functions for local real-time control responding to dynamic network operating conditions. Numerical simulations verify the effectiveness of the proposed method in enhancing PV hosting capacity and providing grid ancillary services.

Apoptosis signal-regulated kinase 1 (ASK1) is a member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MAP3K) family, whose activation and regulation are intricately associated with apoptosis. ASK1 is activated in response to oxidative stress, among other stimuli, subsequently triggering downstream JNK, p38 MAPK, and mitochondria-dependent apoptotic signaling, which participate in the initiation of tumor cell apoptosis induced by various stimuli. Research has shown that ASK1 plays a crucial role in the apoptosis of lung cancer, breast cancer, and liver cancer cells. Currently, the investigation of effective ASK1 activators is a hot topic in research on tumor cell apoptosis. Synthetic compounds such as human β-defensin, triazolothiazide derivatives and heat shock protein 27 inhibitors; natural compounds such as quercetin, Laminarina japonica polysaccharide-1 peptide and theabrownin; and nanomedicines such as cerium oxide nanoparticles, magnetite FeO nanoparticles and silver nanoparticles can activate ASK1 and induce apoptosis in various tumor cells. This review extensively investigates the roles and activation mechanisms of ASK1, explores its impact on a variety of apoptotic signaling pathways, and discusses the potential therapeutic applications of various ASK1 activators in cancer treatment. In addition, this paper provides an in-depth discussion of the future development of this field and proposes a promising method for further research and clinical progress.

In the steel industry, improving the hot charging and heat delivery ratio in the continuous casting of slabs and thick slabs can effectively reduce carbon emissions, lower energy consumption, and improve production efficiency. However, this puts very strict requirements on the surface quality of continuous-casting slab. Flame scarfing (or cleaning) technology is currently an important process in the metallurgy field, which can effectively remove impurities and crack defects on the surface and corners of continuous casting slab to ensure the quality and performance of the final product. Under the action of cleaning flame and iron oxide reaction heat, a cleaning molten pool is formed in the corner of the casting slab, and the shape and depth of the molten pool have an important influence on the cleaning effect. A three-dimensional mathematical model is developed to study the effect of slab cleaning speed and oxygen flow rate on the shape of the molten pool in the corners for the corner flame cleaning process. Simultaneously, a two-phase flow volume of fluid (VOF) model for gas-slag interactions is employed to examine the motion behavior of the molten slag. The results showed that when the operating conditions changed, the cleaning speed increased by 1 m/min, the length of the wide and narrow sides decreased by approximately 9.2 mm, and the depth of the corner pool decreased by approximately 5.3 mm. Moreover, a slag-blocking device was designed to mitigate the issue of slag splashing effectively based on the numerical simulation results compared with and without the slag-blocking device. These study works provide beneficial theoretical support and practical guidance for refining and optimizing flame-cleaning techniques.

Identifying safety risks in distribution networks is of great significance for ensuring the safety of personnel and the stable operation of the distribution system. Existing research on safety risk identification in distribution network operations mainly focuses on personnel irregular dress detection and dynamic unsafe behavior identification. However, the actual operation scenario of the distribution network involves a complex process of multi-element interaction and integration of personnel, tools, and equipment machinery, where the risk of violations is often hidden within the intricate web of interactions. For this reason, this paper focuses on the problem of violation identification of human-object interaction relations in distribution network operation scenarios and proposes a violation risk identification method based on multiple interaction relations. The method firstly extracts the features of the distribution network operation image by convolutional neural network resnet101, then introduces the coding-decoding structure to re-encode the feature vectors to get the feature vectors with different interactions, and at the same time, utilizes the conditional filtering module to improve the convergence speed of the structure, and utilizes the Residual Information Exchange Module and the multi-layer mlp structure to discriminate the interaction pairs of multiple relationships, and finally takes the ladder climbing operation scenario as an example for the experimental validation. The experimental results showed that the proposed method can realize the accurate identification of human-object interaction relationships and violation risk, and has strong practical application value.

Elevated homocysteine (Hcy) levels, referred to hyperhomocysteinemia, are associated with an increased risk of several neurological disorders. Ferroptosis and inflammation play a vital role in Hcy-induced neuronal dysfunction. Amentoflavone (AMF), an active natural biflavone compound, exhibits antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective activities. This study aimed to explore the potential effects of AMF on Hcy-induced neuronal injury, with a particular focus on the underlying mechanisms involving ferroptosis and inflammation. We assessed neuronal damage in HT22 cells by measuring cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, and proliferation rates. Additionally, we evaluated oxidative stress markers including the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), MitoSOX, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH). Iron metabolism and ferroptosis-related gene expressions (Ptgs2, Tfr1, and Fth1) were quantified. TheSLC7A11/GPX4 axis was also detected. Our results showed that AMF treatment dramatically mitigated Hcy-induced neuronal injury by increasing cell viability, decreasing LDH release, and promoting cell proliferation. AMF treatment also reduced Hcy-induced oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation, as evidenced by reduced ROS, MitoSOX, MMP, and MDA levels, along with an increased GSH content in HT22 cells. In addition, AMF treatment reduced iron content and ferroptosis-related gene mRNA levels. However, Erastin, a ferroptosis inducer, blocked these neuroprotective effects of AMF. Ferroptosis inhibitor Ferrostatin-1 also attenuated Hcy-induced ferroptosis. Moreover, both AMF and Ferrostatin-1 effectively mitigated Hcy-induced inflammation, which was again antagonized by Erastin. Mechanistically, AMF treatment enhanced SLC7A11/GPX4 axis in Hcy-treated HT22 cells. In conclusion, these findings suggest that AMF possesses neuroprotection against Hcy-induced injury primarily by inhibiting ferroptosis-mediated inflammation, partly through the activation of SLC7A11/GPX4 axis.

To report a case of staged surgical excision of giant porokeratosis. A 54-year-old man had been seeking medical attention for 29 years due to an itchy purplish-red spot on the right upper abdomen. Dermatological examination revealed a well-defined round purplish-red patch, approximately 15 cm×15 cm, with rough keratinization and few attached scales on the surface. Brown color was observed around the lesion without any noticeable elevation, erosion or exudation. Histopathological analysis showed hyperkeratosis and parakeratosis, loss of granular layers, irregular thickening of the stratum spinosum, superficial dermal vasodilation and perivascular infiltration of mononucleated cells along with melanophages. Dermoscopy revealed dark red background with clear boundaries, whitish peripheral rim and linear vessels, focal hypopigmentation, comma-like vessels at center, as well as thickened yellow scales in the surrounding area. Diagnosis was porokeratosis of Mibelli. The skin lesion was surgically removed using a staged excision method over four stages, resulting in successful healing without recurrence during one-year follow-up.

Objective To analyze the characteristics of blood transfusion consultation cases and establish the consultation route, so as to provide reference for blood transfusion doctors to participate in blood transfusion consultation practice. Methods The cases involved in clinical transfusion consultation in the blood transfusion department of our hospital from 2020 to 2023 were collected from the hospital information system (HIS), and then classified by department and consultation type to summarize the main points of transfusion consultation, formulate transfusion consultation routes, and conduct typical cases analysis. Results There were 315 clinical transfusion consultations from 2020 to 2023, with an increasing trend year by year (26 in 2020, 67 in 2021, 81 in 2022, 141 in 2023). The consultations involved 24 departments, including cardiovascular medicine 14.0%(44/315), orthopedics 12.7%(40/315), intensive care medicine 8.9%(28/315), general medicine 8.3%(28/315), cardiopulmonary disease 6.0%(19/315), etc. There were 8 categories of consultations, including 35.6%(112/315) autologous ozonized blood transfusion, 23.8%(75/315) plasma exchange, 14.9%(47/315) perioperative mass blood preparation (transfusion), 11.4%(36/315) platelet- rich plasma therapy and 6.3%(20/315) autologous blood collection, etc. The clinical blood transfusion consultation route was formulated according to the consultation points. Six patients with various diseases were treated by blood transfusion department. With effective treatment measures taken, all of them improved and were discharged. Conclusion The summary of key points of clinical blood transfusion consultation and formulation of the blood transfusion consultation route by department of blood transfusion are conducive to the implementation of blood transfusion consultation and guarantee the safety of patients.

Corn straw-based board has great potential for the protection of forest resources, waste recycling, and sustainable economic development. However, corn stalk-based board has poor mechanical properties due to its short fiber length and poor water resistance because of the presence of numerous hydrophilic hydroxyl functional groups in its structure. Natural mycelium originating from waste Pleurotus ostreatus substrate is a hydrophobic bio-adhesive. In the present study, formaldehyde-free corn stalk/P. ostreatus substrate bio-composites were prepared using the hot-pressing technique without the addition of any chemical adhesive. The mechanical properties and water resistance of the prepared bio-composites were excellent. The highest internal bonding strength (IBS) of 2.16 MPa and the minimum thickness swelling (TS) of 18.3% were observed, which are beyond the national standards for particleboard in China. These bio-composites were prepared using a simple, green, and convenient manufacturing method to promote their popularization and application. The method may, therefore, be used as a novel technical measure to resolve the problem of overuse of forestry resources and waste disposal.

Abstract Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2)-related schwannomatosis is a rare autosomal dominant monogenic disorder caused by mutations in the NF2 gene. The hallmarks of NF2-related schwannomatosis are bilateral vestibular schwannomas (VS). The current treatment options for NF2-related schwannomatosis, such as observation with serial imaging, surgery, radiotherapy, and pharmacotherapies, have shown limited effectiveness and serious complications. Therefore, there is a critical demand for novel effective treatments. Gene therapy, which has made significant advancements in treating genetic diseases, holds promise for the treatment of this disease. This review covers the genetic pathogenesis of NF2-related schwannomatosis, the latest progress in gene therapy strategies, current challenges, and future directions of gene therapy for NF2-related schwannomatosis.

To address the issue of low gas extraction efficiency in driving roadway of broken soft and low permeability coal seams in Huainan mining area, a model of segmented cluster fracturing gas management in horizontal wells at the roof of coal seams was proposed. The crack expansion process of hydraulic fracturing in horizontal wells of coal seam roof was studied using numerical simulation and physical similarity simulation methods. The gas production effect of segmented and clustered fracturing was investigated using productivity simulation, and a comparative analysis of residual gas content between fracturing in clusters and without clustering was conducted. The numerical simulation results of crack extension shown that, the cracks in the horizontal wells at the roof of coal seam could expand to the coal seam and open up the coal seam completely. Due to the plasticity of the coal seam was greater than that of the sandy mudstone at the roof, a wider fracturing crack was formed in the coal seam than at the roof. The physical similarity simulation results of crack extension shown that, considering the development of the mudstone pseudo-roof, when the horizontal drilling was placed in the sandstone at the roof of the broken soft coal seam, and under reasonable vertical distances and high-displacement fracturing fluid construction, if coal seam developed a relatively thin mudstone pseudo-roof, the fractures could extend through the interface of direct roof and pseudo roof (siltstone- mudstone interface) and the interface of pseudo-roof and coal seam (mudstone-coal seam interface) along the shot hole aperture and into the underlying coal seam. The fractures extended to form a curved and irregular step-like pattern, which can achieve the goal of fracturing and reforming the broken soft coal seam. However, when the coal seam developed a thick mudstone pseudo-roof, it had a blocking effect on hydraulic fracturing, making it difficult for the cracks to open up the underlying coal seam. The productivity simulation results shown that, under the same stratigraphic environment and construction conditions, after 3 years of extraction, single-stage non-cluster fracturing could produce a larger gas extraction impact range. However, the gas content of driving roadway could not be uniformly reduced, and there was a gas extraction gap between the fractured segments. Fracturing in clusters produced a smaller gas extraction impact, but it could more evenly reduce the gas content in driving roadway. After the engineering verification in the Panxie coal mine in Huainan, with a construction discharge of 10 m3/min, the longest fracture length could reach up to 193.8 m, the maximum height of fracture was 27.0 m, and the daily gas production of a single well reached 1 490 m3/d. The gas extraction volume of 2 years was 31×104 m3, indicating that the segmented and cluster fracturing technology of horizontal wells at the coal seam roof was an effective model for efficient gas extraction in the driving roadway of broken soft and low-permeability coal seams in Huainan area.

Abstract Using e + e − collision data collected at the BESIII detector at center-of-mass energies between 4.128 and 4.226 GeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 7.33 fb −1, we determine the absolute branching fractions of fifteen hadronic D s + $$ {D}_s^{+} $$ decays with a double-tag technique. In particular, we make precise measurements of the branching fractions B D s + → K + K − π + = 5.49 ± 0.04 ± 0.07 % $$ \mathcal{B}\left({D}_s^{+}\to {K}^{+}{K}^{-}{\pi}^{+}\right)=\left(5.49\pm 0.04\pm 0.07\right)\% $$ , B D s + → K S 0 K + = 1.50 ± 0.01 ± 0.01 % $$ \mathcal{B}\left({D}_s^{+}\to {K}_S^0{K}^{+}\right)=\left(1.50\pm 0.01\pm 0.01\right)\% $$ and B D s + → K + K − π + π 0 = 5.50 ± 0.05 ± 0.11 % $$ \mathcal{B}\left({D}_s^{+}\to {K}^{+}{K}^{-}{\pi}^{+}{\pi}^0\right)=\left(5.50\pm 0.05\pm 0.11\right)\% $$ , where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second ones are systematic. The CP asymmetries in these decays are also measured and all are found to be compatible with zero.

Abstract Existing formulas cannot fully explain the variation of resting metabolic rate (RMR). This study aims to examine potential influencing factors beyond anthropometric measurements and develop more accurate equations using accessible parameters. 324 healthy adults (230 females; 18–32 years old) participated in the study. Height, fat-free mass (FFM), fat mass (FM) and RMR were measured. Menstrual cycle, stress levels, living habits, and frequency of consuming caffeinated foods were collected. Measured RMR were compared with predictive values of the new equations and previous 11 equations. Mean RMR for men and women was 1825.2 ± 248.8 and 1345.1 ± 178.7 kcal/day, respectively. RMR adjusted for FFM0.66FM0.066 was positively correlated with BMI. The multiple regression model showed that RMR can be predicted in this population with model 1 (with FFM, FM, age, sex and daily sun exposure duration) or model 2 (with weight and height replacing FFM and FM). The accuracy was 75.31% in the population for predictive model 1 and 70.68% for predictive model 2. The new equations had overall improved performance when compared with existing equations. The predictive formula that consider daily sun exposure duration improve RMR prediction in young adults. Additional investigation is required among individuals in the middle-aged and elderly demographic.

Abstract Using (27.12 ± 0.14) × 108 ψ(3686) events collected by the BESIII detector at the center-of-mass energy of s $$ \sqrt{s} $$ = 3.686 GeV, we search for the first time for two nonleptonic hyperon decays that change strangeness by two units, Ω − → Σ0 π − and Ω − → nK − . No significant signal is observed. The upper limits on their decay branching fractions are determined to be B $$ \mathcal{B} $$ (Ω − → Σ0 π − ) < 5.4 × 10 −4 and B $$ \mathcal{B} $$ (Ω − → nK − ) < 2.4 × 10 −4 at the 90% confidence level.

Abstract Animal regeneration involves coordinated responses across cell types throughout the animal body. In endosymbiotic animals, whether and how symbionts react to host injury and how cellular responses are integrated across species remain unexplored. Here, we study the acoel Convolutriloba longifissura, which hosts symbiotic Tetraselmis sp. green algae and can regenerate entire bodies from tissue fragments. We show that animal injury causes a decline in the photosynthetic efficiency of the symbiotic algae, alongside two distinct, sequential waves of transcriptional responses in acoel and algal cells. The initial algal response is characterized by the upregulation of a cohort of photosynthesis-related genes, though photosynthesis is not necessary for regeneration. A conserved animal transcription factor, runt, is induced after injury and required for acoel regeneration. Knockdown of Cl-runt dampens transcriptional responses in both species and further reduces algal photosynthetic efficiency post-injury. Our results suggest that the holobiont functions as an integrated unit of biological organization by coordinating molecular networks across species through the runt-dependent animal regeneration program.

Betalain has received increased attention because of its high nutritional value and crucial physiological functions. Based on the elucidation of its core biosynthetic pathway, betalain can be produced in additional plants by metabolic engineering. Synthesis of betalain in carrot (Daucus carota L.) can improve its nutritional quality and economic value by extracting betalain from the fleshy root, non-edible part, and processing residue of carrot. In this study, two different constructs, namely, pYB:mCD (AomelOS, BvCYP76AD1S, and BvDODA1S) and pYB:CDD (BvCYP76AD1S, BvDODA1S, and MjcDOPA5GTS), were introduced into carrot for betanin synthesis by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Betanin can be synthetized in both transgenic calli, and pYB:mCD-transgenic callus can be used to produce betacyanin by suspension culture. However, pYB:mCD-transgenic seedlings can synthetize betanin only by tyrosine feeding. The pYB:CDD-transgenic lines can synthetize betanin in whole plants. The betanin content in fleshy root of pYB:CDD-transgenic carrot was (63.4 ± 9) μg ·g−1 fresh weight according to quantitative analysis. These betanin-producing carrot plant materials can be used to synthesize betanin for industrial application or consumption as dietary sources.

Abstract Using 24.1 fb −1 of e + e − collision data collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider, the Born cross sections and effective form factors of the e + e − → Σ + Σ ¯ − $$ {e}^{+}{e}^{-}\to {\Sigma}^{+}{\overline{\Sigma}}^{-} $$ reaction are measured. The measurements are performed at center-of-mass energies ranging from 3.510 to 4.951 GeV. No significant evidence for the decay of the charmonium(-like) states, ψ(3770), ψ(4040), ψ(4160), Y(4230), Y(4360), ψ(4415), and Y(4660), into a Σ + Σ ¯ − $$ {\Sigma}^{+}{\overline{\Sigma}}^{-} $$ final state is observed. Consequently, upper limits for the products of the branching fractions and the electronic partial widths at the 90% confidence level are reported for these decays.

Abstract Background Radiologic volumetric evaluation of Wilms’ tumor (WT) is an important indicator to guide treatment decisions. However, due to the heterogeneity of the tumors, radiologists have main-guard differences in diagnosis that can lead to misdiagnosis and poor treatment. The aim of this study was to explore whether CT-based outlining of WT foci can be automated using deep learning. Methods We included CT intravenous phase images of 105 patients with WT and double-blind outlining of lesions by two radiologists. Then, we trained an automatic segmentation model using nnUnet. The Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) and 95th percentile Hausdorff distance (HD95) were used to assess the performance. Next, we optimized the automatic segmentation results based on the ratio of the three-dimensional diameter of the lesion to improve the performance of volumetric assessment. Results The DSC and HD95 was 0.83 ± 0.22 and 10.50 ± 8.98 mm. The absolute difference and percentage difference in tumor size was 72.27 ± 134.84 cm 3 and 21.08% ± 30.46%. After optimization according to our method, it decreased to 40.22 ± 96.06 cm 3 and 10.16% ± 9.70%. Conclusion We introduce a novel method that enhances the accuracy of predicting WT volume by integrating AI automated outlining and 3D tumor diameters. This approach surpasses the accuracy of using AI outcomes alone and has the potential to enhance the clinical evaluation of pediatric patients with WT. By intertwining AI outcomes with clinical data, this method becomes more interpretive and offers promising applications beyond Wilms tumor, extending to other pediatric diseases.

Interstitial free (IF) steels are characterized by their interstitial free ferritic matrix due to addition of micro-alloying elements that draw carbon and nitrogen out of matrix to form carbonitrides. The IF steels typically have excellent deep drawing ability, certain mechanical strength, and high plastic deformation performance. In this paper, the microstructure evolution and carbides precipitation behavior during the hot rolling, cold rolling and annealing processes have been studied using both experimental and thermodynamic and kinetic modeling approaches. The strengthening mechanism of Nb–Ti microalloyed IF steel has been investigated. The results of the thermodynamic simulation indicates that the addition of Nb into Ti bearing IF steel promotes recrystallization at 900 °C, leading to fine recrystallized grains. Due to the recrystallization of austenite during the final rolling process, Nb–Ti microalloyed hot rolled plates exhibit finer grain size, fewer substructures, and lower dislocation density compared to the hot rolled plates containing only Ti. Building upon the initial fine and uniform structure, Nb–Ti microalloyed steel maintains a refined structure after undergoing cold rolling and annealing. The study of the carbides precipitation behavior suggests that TiN precipitates at high temperature above 1100 °C, while a substantial amount of (Nb,Ti)C and TiC precipitate at about 900 °C in Nb–Ti and Ti bearing steels, respectively. There is no significantly difference between the amount of carbides in steels hot deformed at 900 °C and in the hot rolled plates, indicating that the carbides mainly precipitate during the hot rolling process. There are negligible carbides precipitated during the coiling process at 600 °C. In Nb–Ti containing steel, Nb and Ti in solid solution are significantly reduced due to the large amount precipitation of (Nb,Ti)C during the final rolling process. The reduction of solid solution Nb effectively promotes the recrystallization of austenite. Therefore, the grains of hot-rolled, cold-rolled, and annealed strips are refined. In addition, there are more small size carbides in Nb–Ti bearing steel than that in Ti bearing steel. Therefore, the higher strength of Nb–Ti steel is mainly from the strengthening effect of grain refinement and carbides precipitation.

The occurrence, distribution, and rapid molecular detection technology of Heterodera zeae Koshy et al. 1971, have been reported in China. We explored the biological characteristics of H. zeae sampled in Henan Province, China to understand its interaction with plants. Cysts and second-stage juveniles (J2s) were identified under an optical and scanning electron microscope, internal transcribed spacer (ITS) phylogenetic tree, and sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR)-PCR analyses. The optimum hatching temperatures of H. zeae were 30°C and 28°C, with cumulative hatching rates of 16.5 and 16.1%, respectively, at 30 days post-hatching (dph). The hatching rate of H. zeae eggs was improved by 20- and 50-time maize soil leachate and root juice, and 10-time root exudates. The hatching rate in 10-time root exudates was the highest (25.9%). The 10-time root exudates of maize and millet produced the highest hatching rate at 30 dph (25.9 and 22.9%, respectively), followed by wheat (19.9%), barley (18.3%), and rice (17.6%). Heterodera zeae developed faster in maize than in other crops. Fourth-stage juveniles (J4s) were detected in maize roots 8 days post-inoculation (dpi) at 28°C but not in other crops. Combined with hatching tests, the Huang–Huai–Hai summer maize region and the south and central-southwest mountainous maize areas are highly suitable for H. zeae in China. This is the first systematically study of the hatching and infection characteristics on different plant hosts of corn cyst nematode H. zeae in temperate regions. This study laid a theoretical foundation for the rapid spread and high environmental adaptability of corn cyst nematode.

This paper aims to conduct tool wear experiments on cutting SiCp/Al composite materials, and methodically reveal the wear evolution of PCD tools in some detail. Based on the experiments, five-tool wear schemes are rationally developed, including free from wear, crater wear, flank wear, combined crater and flank wear, and edge blunting. The accurate equivalent homogeneous material (EHM) turning simulation model of SiCp/Al composite material is constructed and verified using AdvantEdge software. Subsequently, comprehensive studies have been conducted to analyze the effect of various tool wear patterns on the SiCp/Al cutting process. The results indicate that the crater wear of the tool is positively correlated with the radius of curvature of the chip. Additionally, the flank wear of the tool demonstrates a negative correlation with both the thickness and length of the chips. The actual cutting temperature is 11.3% lower compared to the simulated data, whereas the actual cutting forces in the X and Y directions are 16.1% and 13.7% higher, respectively. The flank wear degree of the tool and the edge blunting both remarkably influence the cutting force in the Y direction and the surface residual stress after machining. As the degree of wear increases, the cutting force in the Y direction and the surface residual stress rise, and the penetration layer of the residual stress becomes deeper, which is attributed to the significantly enhanced ploughing effect of the tool. This study provides a valuable reference for predicting the wear status of cutting tools, particularly in machining difficult-to-machine materials.

Abstract Shale oil development in Ordos Basin, China, primarily relies on the displacement of crude oil during the post-fracturing shut-in stage (PFSIS) of horizontal wells. Reservoir wettability significantly influences the shut-in duration and even the development approach. However, due to strong heterogeneity and super tight characteristics, the reservoir usually shows an mixed wettability, and it was usually hard to differentiate the wettability in different pore sizes. With this in mind, this study focuses on core samples from shale oil reservoir in the Longdong region of the Ordos basin to quantitatively analyze the reservoir wettability. Amott method combined with nuclear magnetic resonance is adopted in the paper to meed this end. And the optimal post-fracturing shut-in duration for Huachi and Heshui areas in the Longdong region are determined based on both wettability and field practice analysis as well as numerical simulations. Qualitative wettability evaluation reveals that the reservoir in the Longdong region is weakly oil-wet (oil-wet pores account for 58.9% and water-wet pores for 41.1%), and that larger pores are more water-wet, while smaller pores are more oil-wet. Field practice observes a noticeable two-stage decline in wellhead pressure, with pressure drop rates and water content decline rates following the order of neutral reservoir > weakly oil-wet reservoir > oil-wet reservoir during the post-fracturing shut-in stage. Numerical simulations indicate that the determination of the optimal post-fracturing shut-in duration for horizontal wells should consider reservoir properties, wettability, and injection volume. The final optimal shut-in durations for the Huachi and Heshui areas in the reservoir are determined to be 36 days and 43 days, respectively. Our study qualitatively distinguishes the wettability in different pores sizes and thus determines reasonable post-fracturing shut-in durations in different areas in Longdong region. The research has major implication for building a realistic method of wettability analysis in shale or tight oil reservoir.

Current studies on blasting construction of small clear-distance tunnels have not considered the impact of existing tunnel lining defects when establishing safety controls. This paper offers a series of study results based on the blasting project of a new tunnel adjacent to the existing defect Xinling tunnel to thoroughly examine the dynamic response, safety control standards, and measures of the existing defect tunnel. First, structural models were developed to investigate the influence of the presence or absence of specific defects (like lining cracks and cavities behind the lining) on the dynamic response of the current tunnel lining to identify the most unfavorable defect distribution. Then, establish safety control standards for intact linings and those with the most unfavorable defects. Eventually, two types of control measures, single safe charge and reasonable delay time, were studied based on the established safety control standards. In particular, the most adverse position of cracks was the wall facing the explosion, the rise in depth was more unfavorable for vibration response, and the impact of the longitudinal crack was restricted to the vicinity of the crack. While the vault was the most adverse cavity position, the rise in cavity area was more damaging, and the influence range varied with longitudinal cavity length. Moreover, the impact of cracks was mainly evident in the amplification effect of stress at the crack region. In contrast, cavities had varied degrees of amplification effects on the vibration velocity and stress response and a relatively extensive influence range. Safety control research was conducted, when the tunnel was intact, with a right wall crack, a vault cavity, and both vault cavity and crack for this project, the peak particle velocity (PPV) of the safety control standard for vibration velocity was 13, 10, 13, and 8 cm/s, respectively, and the respective single safe charge could be adjusted at 64, 53, 37, and 25 kg. However, the presence of different defects had a relatively negligible effect on the reasonable delay time; 25 ms was recommended for existing tunnel lining with and without the defect.

Abstract Eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE) is an allergen/immune‐mediated chronic esophageal disease characterized by esophageal mucosal eosinophilic infiltration and esophageal dysfunction. Although the disease was originally attributed to a delayed allergic reaction to allergens and a Th2‐type immune response, the exact pathogenesis is complex, and the efficacy of existing treatments is unsatisfactory. Therefore, the study of the pathophysiological process of EOE has received increasing attention. Animal models have been used extensively to study the molecular mechanism of EOE pathogenesis and also provide a preclinical platform for human clinical intervention studies of novel therapeutic agents. To maximize the use of existing animal models of EOE, it is important to understand the advantages or limitations of each modeling approach. This paper systematically describes the selection of experimental animals, types of allergens, and methods of sensitization and excitation during the preparation of animal models of EoE. It also discusses the utility and shortcomings of each model with the aim of providing the latest perspectives on EoE models and leading to better choices of animal models.

The seismic signals collected underground in coal mines often exhibit complex waveforms accompanied by significant noise interference, leading to a reduction in the accuracy of first arrival time picking of seismic signals and thereby impacting the inversion and interpretation of seismic data. In response to the low signal-to-noise ratio seismic signals collected in complex interference environments, a method for seismic noise suppression and first arrival extraction based on the Variational Mode Decomposition (VMD) and the Genetic Algorithm-optimized Support Vector Machine (GA-SVM) is proposed to enhance the quality of seismic signals under complex noise conditions in coal mines. The approach employs the Variational Mode Decomposition for adaptive decomposition of the noisy seismic signals, yielding several Variational Mode Components (IMF). The feature extraction is applied to the IMFs obtained from VMD decomposition, utilizing the extracted signal features as the basis for discerning signal validity. Genetic Algorithm is utilized to optimize the Support Vector Machine model, obtaining the optimal penalty factor (c) and kernel function parameter (g). The optimized SVM model is then employed for the validity discrimination of the IMF components, reconstructing them into high signal-to-noise ratio signals. By applying the noise suppression algorithm to artificially noised seismic signals, the common types of noise encountered in coal mines are effectively suppressed, validating the feasibility of the algorithm. Noise suppression processing is applied to the seismic records obtained from mine roadways, successfully mitigating interference noise in the data and significantly improving the signal-to-noise ratio of the seismic records, thereby enhancing the accuracy of first arrival time picking. The results indicate that the seismic noise suppression and first arrival extraction method based on the VMD and GA-SVM can effectively separate and extract valid signals from noisy seismic records, improving first arrival time picking accuracy. This approach demonstrates a significant potential for its application in complex interference conditions in mines, which is of significance for the seismic exploration in the mining environments with complex interference conditions.