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Introduction: Periodontitis is the main indication for dental extraction and often leads to peri‐implantitis (PI). Alveolar ridge preservation (ARP) is an effective means of preserving ridge dimensions after extraction. However, whether PI prevalence is lower after ARP for extraction after periodontitis remains unclear. This study investigated PI after ARP in patients with periodontitis. Materials and Methods: This study explored the 138 dental implants of 113 patients. The reasons for extraction were categorized as periodontitis or nonperiodontitis. All implants were placed at sites treated using ARP. PI was diagnosed on the basis of radiographic bone loss of ≥3 mm, as determined through comparison of standardized bitewing radiographs obtained immediately after insertion with those obtained after at least 6 months. Chi‐square and two‐sample t testing and generalized estimating equations (GEE) logistic regression model were employed to identify risk factors for PI. Statistical significance was indicated by p < 0.05. Results: The overall PI prevalence was 24.6% (n = 34). The GEE univariate logistic regression demonstrated that implant sites and implant types were significantly associated with PI (premolar vs. molar: crude odds ratios [OR] = 5.27, 95% confidence intervals [CI] = 2.15–12.87, p = 0.0003; bone level vs. tissue level: crude OR = 5.08, 95% CI = 2.10–12.24; p = 0.003, respectively). After adjustment for confounding factors, the risks of PI were significantly associated with implant sites (premolar vs. molar: adjusted OR [AOR] = 4.62, 95% CI = 1.74–12.24; p = 0.002) and implant types (bone level vs. tissue level: AOR = 6.46, 95% CI = 1.67–25.02; p = 0.007). The reason for dental extraction—that is, periodontitis or nonperiodontitis—was not significantly associated with PI. Conclusion: ARP reduces the incidence of periodontitis‐related PI at extraction sites. To address the limitations of our study, consistent and prospective randomized controlled trials are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Although the prevalence of Asian chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients is not as high as that of Caucasians, there are more atypical CLLs in Asia whose genetic characteristics and their clinical significance are distinct and remain unclear. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 85 CLL samples in our center was conducted from 2019 to 2022. We used next‐generation sequencing with a 172 gene panel to explore the multi‐gene mutational data and the mutational status of immunoglobulin heavy variable (IGHV) gene. Results: MYD88 (20.0%) was the most frequently mutated gene, much higher than in Europe, followed in order by TP53 (18.8%), NOTCH1 (14.1%), IGLL5 (11.8%), and DNMT3A (8.2%). In addition, the incidence of ATM and SF3B1 mutations was relatively lower in our centre compared to Europe. Mutated (M)‐IGHV patients were more likely to have a cooccurrence of MYD88 mutation, while complex karyotype and DNMT3A mutation were more common in the unmutated (U)‐IGHV group. MYD88 mutated CLL was characterized by prevalence in young males in high‐risk staging, with isolated 13q deletion and concomitant mutation of IGLL5. CLL patients with MYD88 and TP53 mutation showed an unfavorable prognosis. Conclusion: These results would be valuable in helping to understand the characteristics and significance of cytogenetic genetics in Chinese patients with CLL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is commonly accepted that host genes show high methylation in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 3 (CIN3) or worse (CIN3+). However, study quality varies, as does the clinical performance of markers in different populations. We aimed to validate candidate gene DNA methylation with standardized testing methods in the same batch of samples. We first compared the performance of 16 DNA methylation markers for detecting CIN3+ in the 82-sample training set, including 24 subjects with ≤ CIN1, 10 subjects with CIN2, 23 subjects with CIN3, and 25 subjects with cervical cancer (CC). Then five methylation markers were selected and subsequently validated among an independent set of 74 subjects, including 47 subjects with ≤ CIN1, 13 subjects with CIN2, 6 subjects with CIN3, and 8 subjects with CC. The results in the validation set revealed that methylation analysis of the SOX1 (SOX1m) showed a superior level of clinical performance (AUC = 0.879; sensitivity = 85.7%; specificity = 90.0%). SOX1m had better accuracy than cytology, with a reduced referral rate (23.0% vs. 31.4%) and a lower number of overtreatment (5 vs. 13) cases among high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV)-positive women. Importantly, among hrHPV-positive and SOX1m-negative women, only 1 CIN3 patient was at risk for follow-up after 1 year, whereas 1 CIN3 patient and 1 CC patient were at risk among hrHPV-positive and cytology-negative women. In this investigation, we screened 16 reported methylation markers to provide a basis for future studies related to potential precancerous lesion/cancer methylation markers in the Chinese population. The study also revealed that SOX1m has optimal CIN3+ detection performance, suggesting that it may be a promising biomarker for detecting CIN3+ in the Chinese population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The controversy surrounding Roux-en-Y (R-Y) and Billroth II with Braun (BII + B) reconstruction as an anti-bile reflux procedure after distal gastrectomy has persisted. Recent studies have demonstrated their efficacy, but the long-term outcomes and postoperative quality of life (QoL) among patients have yet to be evaluated. Therefore, we compared the short-term and long-term outcomes of the two procedures as well as QoL. Methods: The clinical data of 151 patients who underwent total laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG) at the Gastrointestinal Surgery Department of the Second Hospital of Fujian Medical University from January 2016 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Of these, 57 cases with Roux-en-Y procedure (R-Y group) and 94 cases with Billroth II with Braun procedure were included (BII + B group). Operative and postoperative conditions, early and late complications, endoscopic outcomes at year 1 and year 3 after surgery, nutritional indicators, and quality of life scores at year 3 postoperatively were compared between the two groups. Results: The R-Y group recorded a significantly longer operative time (194.65 ± 21.52 vs. 183.88 ± 18.02 min) and anastomotic time (36.96 ± 2.43 vs. 27.97 ± 3.74 min) compared to the BII + B group (p < 0.05). However, no other significant differences were observed in terms of perioperative variables, including blood loss (p > 0.05). Both groups showed comparable rates of early and late complications. Endoscopic findings indicated similar food residuals at years 1 and 3 post-surgery for both groups. The R-Y group had a lower occurrence of residual gastritis and bile reflux at year 1 and year 3 after surgery, with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001). Reflux esophagitis was not significantly different between the R-Y and BII + B groups in year 1 after surgery (p = 0.820), but the R-Y group had a lower incidence than the BII + B group in year 3 after surgery (p = 0.023). Nutritional outcomes at 3 years after surgery did not differ significantly between the two groups (p > 0.05). Quality of life scores measured by the QLQ-C30 scale were not significantly different between the two groups. However, on the QLQ-STO22 scale, the reflux score was significantly lower in the R-Y group than in the BII + B group (0 [0, 0] vs. 5.56 [0, 11.11]) (p = 0.003). The rest of the scores were not significantly different (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Both R-Y and B II + B reconstructions are equally safe and efficient for TLDG. Nevertheless, the R-Y reconstruction reduces the incidence of residual gastritis, bile reflux, and reflux esophagitis, as well as postoperative reflux symptoms, and provides a better quality of life for patients. R-Y reconstruction is superior to BII + B reconstruction for TLDG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel Al-Mg-Si aluminum alloy with the addition of the micro-alloying element Er and Zr that was promptly quenched after extrusion has been studied. The solid solution and aging treatment of the novel alloy are studied by observing the microstructure, mechanical properties, and strengthening mechanism. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques are employed to examine the changes in the microstructure resulting from various solid solution treatments and aging treatments. The best strengthening effect can be achieved when the solubility of the MgSi phase and precipitate β″ (Mg2Si phase) is at their maximum. The addition of Er and Zr elements promotes the precipitation of the β″ phase and makes the b″ phase more finely dispersed. The aging strengthening of alloys is a comprehensive effect of the dislocation cutting mechanism and bypass mechanism, the joint effect of diffusion strengthening of Al3(Er,Zr) particles and the addition of Er and Zr elements promoting the precipitation strengthening of β″ phases. In this paper, by adding Er and Zr elements and exploring the optimal heat treatment system, the yield strength of the alloy reaches 437 MPa and the tensile strength reaches 453 MPa after solid solution treatment at 565 °C/30 min and aging at 175 °C/10 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Safflower is a traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of gynecological diseases and its flavonoids have potential anti-inflammatory effects. The purpose is to explore the possible effects of safflower total flavonoids (STF) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory damage of Ishikawa cells. Method: In this study, LPS-induced endometrial carcinoma Ishikawa cells were used to establish an inflammatory injury model. The effective concentration of STF was screened by CCK-8 and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The apoptosis of damaged Ishikawa cells was detected by flow cytometry. The contents of caspase11 and caspase 3 in Ishikawa cells were observed by fluorescence imaging. Western blot and RT-qPCR were used to detect the expression of related proteins and mRNA in damaged Ishikawa cells, and the possible mechanism of safflower flavonoids against LPS-induced endometrial carcinoma Ishikawa cells was analyzed by cell transcriptomics. Key findings: The STF-reduced tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6 expression level; the expression level of the proteins ASK1, Caspase3, and Caspase11 was also significantly decreased, and the proteins ERα, p-PI3K, and p-AKT were significantly increased. The transcriptome results showed that the PI3K-Akt signal pathway may be the main signal pathway for the STF. Conclusion: The STF could regulate the PI3K/AKT signal pathway to treat the inflammatory injury of Ishikawa cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Searching for life is one of the most important targets of Mars exploration missions. It has been considered that the Martian subsurface, away from the extreme surface environment, is a potentially habitable region for microbial growth. However, the distribution pattern of potential microbial habitats in the Martian subsurface has yet to be evaluated. Here, we investigate the subsurface habitats to depths of 20–60 cm from various landscapes, including slopes, gullies, channels, playas, and alluvial fans across the Mars-analog Qaidam Basin, NW China. We characterize subsurface niches by measuring microbial biomass and radiocarbon ages, and correlate them with soil properties including depth, moisture content, total organic carbon content, electric conductivity, pH, evaporite and clay mineral contents. We find more habitable niches for microbial colonization at depths of 5–25 cm as compared with the surface and deep subsurface across the hyperarid Qaidam Basin. Maximum biomass and biotic activity could be correlated with physical stability, limited radiation, and short-term moderate water availability in the shallow subsurface in hyperarid deserts. The findings of this study provide new perspectives on subsurface microbial habitats in Mars-analog hyperarid deserts and ongoing biosignature detection on Mars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an indispensable process in the microencapsulation of active substances, emulsion preparation has a significant impact on microencapsulated products. In this study, five primary emulsions of paprika oleoresin (PO, the natural colourant extracted from the fruit peel of Capsicum annuum L.) with different particle sizes (255–901.7 nm) were prepared using three industrialized pulverization-inducing techniques (stirring, ultrasound induction, and high-pressure homogenization). Subsequently, the PO emulsion was microencapsulated via spray drying. The effects of the different induction methods on the physicochemical properties, digestive behaviour, antioxidant activity, and storage stability of PO microencapsulated powder were investigated. The results showed that ultrasound and high-pressure homogenization induction could improve the encapsulation efficiency, solubility, and rehydration capacity of the microcapsules. In vitro digestion studies showed that ultrasound and high-pressure homogenization induction significantly increased the apparent solubility and dissolution of the microcapsules. High-pressure homogenization induction significantly improved the antioxidant capacity of the microcapsules, while high-intensity ultrasound (600 W) induction slowed down the degradation of the microcapsule fats and oils under short-term UV and long-term natural light exposure. Our study showed that ultrasound and high-pressure homogenization equipment could successfully be used to prepare emulsions containing nanoscale capsicum oil resin particles, improve their functional properties, and enhance the oral bioavailability of this bioactive product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To further evaluate the causal relationships between inflammatory cytokines and migraine, we conducted a bidirectional, two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis using genetic data from publicly available genome-wide association studies (GWAS). We used several MR methods, including random-effect inverse-variance weighting (IVW), weighted median, MR-Egger, to test the causal relationships. Sensitivity analyses were also conducted to evaluate the robustness of the results. The results showed that hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) was positively associated with the risk of migraine (odds ratio [OR], 1.004; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.001–1.008; P = 0.022). In addition, Interleukin-2 (IL-2) was considered a downstream consequence of migraine (OR, 0.012; 95% CI, 0.000–0.0929; P = 0.046). These findings suggest that HGF may be a factor associated with the etiology of migraine, while IL-2 is more likely to be involved in the downstream development of migraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: Continuous-wave green vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers based on self-formed quantum dots were realized with the lowest threshold current density of 51.97 A cm−2. A short cavity (~4.0 λ, where λ is the wavelength in the media) was adopted to enhance the interaction between spontaneous emission and lasing mode, with a big coupling factor up to 0.094. AlN current confinement layer and the electroplated supporting copper plate were utilized to improve heat dissipation, with a low thermal resistance of 842 K W−1. Room temperature low threshold lasing of green GaN-based vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) was demonstrated under continuous wave (CW) operation. By using self-formed InGaN quantum dots (QDs) as the active region, the VCSEL emitting at 524.0 nm has a threshold current density of 51.97 A cm−2, the lowest ever reported. The QD epitaxial wafer featured with a high IQE of 69.94% and the δ-function-like density of states plays an important role in achieving low threshold current. Besides, a short cavity of the device (~ 4.0 λ) is vital to enhance the spontaneous emission coupling factor to 0.094, increase the gain coefficient factor, and decrease the optical loss. To improve heat dissipation, AlN layer was used as the current confinement layer and electroplated copper plate was used to replace metal bonding. The results provide important guidance to achieving high performance GaN-based VCSELs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of novel anticancer drugs with antiproliferative and antimetastatic activities is of great importance in the pharmaceutical field. Herein, a series of ligustrazine (LSZ) platinum(IV) complexes with chemotherapeutic and immunotherapeutic effects were designed, prepared and evaluated as antitumor agents for the first time. Complex 4 with potent antitumor activities both in vitro and in vivo was screened out as a candidate. Notably, it displays significantly more effective anti-metastatic activities than the platinum(II) drugs cisplatin and oxaliplatin. Mechanism detection discloses that it causes serious DNA damage and increases the expression of γ-H2AX and P53. Then, the apoptosis of tumor cells is promoted by activating the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway Bcl-2/Bax/caspase-3 and causing autophagy via modulating LC3-I/II and P62 expression. Furthermore, the immune therapeutic responses are significantly elevated by blocking HIF-1α, ERK 1/2 and COX-2 pathways to reduce PD-L1 expression, and further increasing CD3+ and CD8+ T cells to elevate T cell immunity in tumors. Tumor metastasis is blocked by the synergistic functions of DNA damage, hypoxia modulation and immune activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environment-induced epigenetics are involved in diapause regulation, but the molecular mechanism that epigenetically couples nutrient metabolism to diapause regulation remains unclear. In this study, we paid special attention to the significant differences in the level of N6 -adenosine methylation (m6A) of dihydroxyacetone phosphate acyltransferase (DHAPAT) and phosphatidate phosphatase (PAP) genes in the lipid metabolism pathway of the bivoltine silkworm (Bombyx mori) strain Qiufeng developed from eggs incubated at a normal temperature (QFHT, diapause egg producer) compared to those from eggs incubated at a low temperature (QFLT, non-diapause egg producer). We knocked down DHAPAT in the pupal stage of the QFLT group, resulting in the non-diapause destined eggs becoming diapausing eggs. In the PAP knockdown group, the colour of the non-diapause destined eggs changed from light yellow to pink 3 days after oviposition, but they hatched as normal. Moreover, we validated that YTHDF3 binds to m6A-modified DHAPAT and PAP mRNAs to promote their stability and translation. These results suggest that RNA m6A methylation participates in the diapause regulation of silkworm by changing the expression levels of DHAPAT and PAP and reveal that m6A epigenetic modification can be combined with a lipid metabolism signal pathway to participate in the regulation of insect diapause traits, which provides a clearer image for exploring the physiological basis of insect diapause. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cluster separation is required to perform multi-class visual statistics tasks and plays an essential role in information processing in visualization. This cognition behavioral study investigated the cluster separation task and the effects of visual complexity and task difficulty. A total of 32 college students (18 men and 14 women, with ages ranging from 18 to 25 years; mean = 21.2, SD = 3.9) participated in this study. The observers' average response accuracy, reaction time, mental effort, and comprehensive cognitive efficiency were measured as functions of three levels of visual complexity and task difficulty. The levels of visual complexity and task difficulty were quantified via an optimized complexity evaluation method and discrimination judgment task, respectively. The results showed that visual complexity and task difficulty significantly influenced comprehensive cognitive efficiency. Moreover, a strong interaction was observed between the effects of visual complexity and task difficulty. However, there was no positive linear relationship between the mental effort and the complexity level. Furthermore, two-dimensional color × shape redundant coding showed higher cognitive efficiency at low task difficulty levels. In contrast, the one-dimensional color encoding approach showed higher cognitive efficiency at increased task difficulty levels. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into designing more efficient and user-friendly visualization in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While previous studies have found that living arrangements and religiosity can influence the subjective well-being (SWB) of older adults, they have tended to investigate each of these aspects separately. Engaging with this gap, the current study examines the relationship between living arrangements, religious attendance, and the SWB of older adults, as well as the mediating effect of religious attendance on the relationship between the other two factors. A total of 875 older adults from 40 villages or communities in a Tibetan area in China (Gannan) were surveyed. An ordinary least square regression was used to evaluate the relationship between SWB and living arrangements and/or religious attendance. A structural equation model was then used to test the mediating role played by religious attendance in the association between living arrangements and SWB. The results showed that older adults in the selected study areas who were co-residing with their children and/or spouse had a higher level of SWB compared to those living alone. While religious attendance was positively associated with older adults' SWB, the findings showed that living with their spouse or children decreased their frequency of attendance at religious activities. In contrast, it was found that living alone directly decreased older adults' SWB, but increased the frequency of their participation in religious events, thus indirectly promoting their SWB. A key implication of this study is its confirmation that religious attendance plays an important mediating role in the relationship between living arrangements and SWB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forkhead box G1 (FOXG1) is a transcriptional repressor with high expression in the nervous system. Most research focused on the biological function of FOXG1, however, the transcriptional regulation of the Foxg1 gene was rarely studied. Herein, we analyzed and cloned 2.3 kb of the 5'-upstream sequences of the Foxg1 gene to better understand the regulation of the Foxg1 gene expression. The CpG islands and putative transcription factor binding sites were analyzed by bioinformatics methods. Then we defined a small region in the upstream 350 bp area which was required for the promoter activity by constructing truncated mutants. FOXG1 is a transcriptional repressor that is highly expressed in the nervous system. While previous research has focused on the biological function of FOXG1, little attention has been paid to the transcriptional regulation of the Foxg1 gene. In this study, we analyzed and cloned 2.3 kb of the 5'-upstream sequences of the Foxg1 gene to gain a better understanding of the regulation of its expression. Using bioinformatics methods, we analyzed the CpG islands and putative transcription factor binding sites. Through constructing truncated mutants, we identified a small 350 bp region in the upstream area that was required for promoter activity. These findings shed new light on the transcriptional regulation of Foxg1 and provide a basis for further exploration of its biological function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Discretionary, energy‐dense, nutrient‐poor food and drinks are heavily marketed and readily available in retail settings frequented by adolescents. This study examines associations between food purchasing practices in various retail settings and dietary intake among Australian adolescents. Methods: Participants were students in years 8 to 11 (ages 12‐17 years) who completed the 2009‐10 (n = 13 790), 2012‐13 (n = 10 309) or 2018 (n = 9102) National Secondary Students' Diet and Activity (NaSSDA) cross‐sectional survey. Multistage stratified random sampling was used. An online survey completed at school assessed self‐reported frequency of food purchasing practices in various retail settings and consumption of discretionary food, sugary drinks, fruit and vegetables. Generalised linear regression models examined associations between food purchasing practices and dietary behaviour. Results: Relative to students who brought lunch from home, those who purchased lunch from school or nearby outlets reported higher intake of discretionary food and sugary drinks and lower fruit intake. Buying lunch from school was also associated with lower vegetable intake. Buying food or drinks on the school commute, outside school grounds during school hours, from supermarket checkouts, and using mobile phone apps were each associated with higher discretionary food and sugary drink intake (all P <.01). Conclusions: Purchasing food or drink in various retail settings is associated with higher intake of discretionary food and drink among Australian adolescents, and some purchasing practices appeared to displace fruit and vegetable intake. So What?: These findings highlight a need to improve the accessibility and promotion of healthier food and drink options in schools and other retail settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global epidemiological evidence indicates high rates of mental illness but low rates of diagnosis among older people. In China, service providers identify older adults with mental disorders in varied ways. Taking Shanghai as an example, this study revealed how the identification methods of geriatric mental health disorders in nonspecialized institutions diverge, providing a reference for the integration of services. A purposive sampling method was adopted to conduct semi-structured interviews with 24 service providers from various nonspecialized geriatric mental health care institutions. Interview audio was recorded with consent and converted into verbatim transcripts. The interview data were analysed thematically. Although service providers from the health care system tended to apply a biomedical-oriented assessment, those from the social care system typically identified mental disorders among older people based on selective attention and interpersonal relationships. Although there are stark differences, the various identification mechanisms implicitly converge—the relationship with clients has become an important consideration. Geriatric mental health issues urgently require the integration of formal and informal care resources. Referring to the idea of task transfer, social identification mechanisms are expected to be a useful supplement to traditional biomedical-oriented identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate classification and identification of chicken parts are critical to improve the productivity and processing speed in poultry processing plants. However, the overlapping of chicken parts has an impact on the effectiveness of the identification process. To solve this issue, this study proposed a real‐time classification and detection method for chicken parts, utilizing YOLOV4 deep learning. The method can identify segmented chicken parts on the assembly line in real time and accurately, thus improving the efficiency of poultry processing. First, 600 images containing multiple chicken part samples were collected to build a chicken part dataset after using the image broadening technique, and then the dataset was divided according to the 6:2:2 division principle, with 1200 images as the training set, 400 images as the test set, and 400 images as the validation set. Second, we utilized the single‐stage target detector YOLO to predict and calculate the chicken part images, obtaining the categories and positions of the chicken leg, chicken wing, and chicken breast in the image. This allowed us to achieve real‐time classification and detection of chicken parts. This approach enabled real‐time and efficient classification and detection of chicken parts. Finally, the mean average precision (mAP) and the processing time per image were utilized as key metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of the model. In addition, four other target detection algorithms were introduced for comparison with YOLOV4‐CSPDarknet53 in this study, which include YOLOV3‐Darknet53, YOLOV3‐MobileNetv3, SSD‐MobileNetv3, and SSD‐VGG16. A comprehensive comparison test was conducted to assess the classification and detection performance of these models for chicken parts. Finally, for the chicken part dataset, the mAP of the YOLOV4‐CSPDarknet53 model was 98.86% on a single image with an inference speed of 22.2 ms, which was higher than the other four models of YOLOV3‐Darknet53, YOLOV3‐MobileNetv3, SSD‐MobileNetv3, and SSD‐VGG16 mAP by 3.27%, 3.78%, 6.91%, and 6.13%, respectively. The average detection time was reduced by 13, 1.9, 6.2, and 20.3 ms, respectively. In summary, the chicken part classification and detection method proposed in this study offers numerous benefits, including the ability to detect multiple chicken parts simultaneously, as well as delivering high levels of accuracy and speed. Furthermore, this approach effectively addresses the issue of accurately identifying individual chicken parts in the presence of occlusion, thereby reducing waste on the assembly line. Practical Application: The aim of this study is to offer visual technical assistance in minimizing wastage and resource depletion during the sorting and cutting of chicken parts in poultry production and processing facilities. Furthermore, considering the diverse demands and preferences regarding chicken parts, this research can facilitate product processing that caters specifically to consumer preferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tungsten trioxide (WO 3) is a classical electrochromic (EC) material with advantages of abundant reserves, high coloration efficiency and cyclic stability. However, WO 3 films are often accompanied by a narrow spectrum of modulation due to a single-color change from transparent to blue. In this work, we report a wide-spectrum tunable WO 3 ·H 2 O nanosheets EC film solvothermally grown on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass. Interestingly, the crystalline WO 3 ·H 2 O nanosheets film is transformed into amorphous WO 3 after annealing at 250 °C for 1 h. The amorphous film can be transformed into crystalline WO 3 film by increasing the annealing temperature to 450 °C. After annealing at 250 °C, the WO 3 film exhibits an optical modulation of 75.8% in a broad solar spectrum range of 380–1400 nm and blocks 88.9% of solar irradiance. Fast switching responses of 4.9 s for coloration and 6.0 s for bleaching, and a coloration efficiency of 86.4 cm2 C−1 are also achieved. Additionally, the WO 3 film annealed at 250 °C also demonstrates an excellent cyclic stability, where 99.6% of the initial optical modulation can be retained after 1500 cycles. This simple and mild solvothermal method used in this work provides a new idea for the preparation of wide-spectrum tunable WO 3 EC films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2D cell culture occupies an important place in cancer progression and drug discovery research. However, it limitedly models the "true biology" of tumors in vivo. 3D tumor culture systems can better mimic tumor characteristics for anticancer drug discovery but still maintain great challenges. Herein, polydopamine (PDA)‐modified decellularized lung scaffolds are designed and can serve as a functional biosystem to study tumor progression and anticancer drug screening, as well as mimic the tumor microenvironment. PDA‐modified scaffolds with strong hydrophilicity and excellent cell compatibility can promote cell growth and proliferation. After 96 h treatment with 5‐FU, cisplatin, and DOX, higher survival rates in PDA‐modified scaffolds are observed compared to nonmodified scaffolds and 2D systems. The E‐cadhesion formation, HIF‐1α‐mediated senescence decrease, and tumor stemness enhancement can drive drug resistance and antitumor drug screening of breast cancer cells. Moreover, there is a higher survival rate of CD45+/CD3+/CD4+/CD8+ T cells in PDA‐modified scaffolds for potential cancer immunotherapy drug screening. This PDA‐modified tumor bioplatform will supply some promising information for studying tumor progression, overcoming tumor resistance, and screening tumor immunotherapy drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The radiative forcing of carbon dioxide (CO2) at the top of the atmosphere (TOA) has a rich spatial structure and has implications for large-scale climate changes, such as poleward energy transport and tropical circulation change. Beyond the TOA, additional CO2 increases downwelling longwave at the surface, and this change in flux is the surface CO2 forcing. Here we thoroughly evaluate the spatiotemporal variation of the instantaneous, longwave CO2 radiative forcing at both the TOA and surface. The instantaneous forcing is calculated with a radiative transfer model using ERA5 reanalysis fields. Multivariate regression models show that the broadband forcing at the TOA and surface are well predicted by local temperatures, humidity, and cloud radiative effects. The difference between the TOA and surface forcing, the atmospheric forcing, can be either positive or negative and is mostly controlled by the column water vapor, with little explicit dependence on the surface temperature. The role of local variables on the TOA forcing is also assessed by partitioning the change in radiative flux to the component emitted by the surface versus that emitted by the atmosphere. In cold, dry regions, the surface and atmospheric contribution partially cancel out, leading to locally weak or even negative TOA forcing. In contrast, in the warm, moist regions, the surface and atmospheric components strengthen each other, resulting in overall larger TOA forcing. The relative contributions of surface and atmosphere to the TOA forcing depend on the optical thickness in the current climate, which in turn is controlled by the column water vapor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical cyclone (TC) activities in the North Indian Ocean (NIO) peak in May during the pre-monsoon period, but the TC frequency shows obvious inter-annual variations. By conducting statistical analysis and dynamic diagnosis of long-term data from 1948 to 2016, the relationship between the inter-annual variations of Indian Ocean SST and NIO TC genesis frequency in May is analyzed in this paper. Furthermore, the potential mechanism concerning the effect of SST anomaly on TC frequency is also investigated. The findings are as follows: 1) there is a broadly consistent negative correlation between NIO TC frequency in May and SST in the Indian Ocean from March to May, with the key influencing area located in the southwestern Indian Ocean (SWIO); 2) the anomalies of SST in SWIO (SWIO-SST) are closely related to a teleconnection pattern surrounding the Indian Ocean, which can significantly modulate the high-level divergence, mid-level vertical motion and other related environmental factors and ultimately influence the formation of TCs over the NIO; 3) the increasing trend of SWIO-SST may play an essential role in the downward trend of NIO TC frequency over the past 69 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Delayed sleep-wake phase disorder (DSWPD) is common and easily misdiagnosed in young people, and to date, there is no evidence-based treatment. A nonblinded randomized controlled study evaluated the effect of agomelatine therapy (AT) and cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) on DSWPD in young adults. Sixty adolescents and young adults (range = 19–24 years, mean = 22 years, 52% female) diagnosed with DSWPD were randomized to receive 4 weeks of agomelatine therapy with or without cognitive behavior therapy. Sleep diaries, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and World Health Organization wellbeing questionnaire (WHO-5) were measured pre-treatment and post-treatment. Agomelatine therapy for 4 weeks shifted the sleep-wake rhythm (p <.001) forward in both groups at the week 4 assessment. There were no significant differences in sleep onset (p =.099) and sleep offset (p =.959) between the CBT group and the no treatment (NT) group at the follow-up visits. However, significant differences were found in sleep duration (p =.002), sleep quality (p=0.005), sleep difficulties (p <.001), daytime sleepiness (p =.001), and wellbeing (p =.007) between groups. The improvements were received largely through the sleep-promoting effects of agomelatine therapy, and combining with cognitive behavior therapy on maintenance of altered sleep rhythms might be feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver (Ag) nanocrystals are appealing due to their excellent antimicrobial properties. Synthesis of harmless Ag nanocrystals by low toxic reagents remains significant. Herein, an environmentally benign solvothermal process was applied to synthesize Ag nanocrystals in ethylene glycol (EG) dissolving silver nitrate and sodium oleate. Silver ions were reduced by EG to zero-valent Ag atoms that underwent nucleation and growth to form oleate-stabilized Ag nanocrystals. Multiple experimental parameters including the reaction time, temperature, concentration of Ag precursor, and the molar ratio of sodium oleate and silver nitrate were investigated to probe their effects on morphological structures and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) properties of resulting Ag nanocrystals. Results from UV–Vis absorption spectra and TEM images show that structural and SPR features of Ag nanocrystals are extremely sensitive to the reaction temperature as well as the molar ratio of sodium oleate and silver nitrate. Especially, two absorption bands appeared. The short wavelength (~ 450 nm) represents the characteristic SPR of Ag nanospheres. While, the plasmon absorption at long wavelength (500–700 nm depending on reaction conditions) indicates the anisotropic or heterogeneous structures of Ag nanocrystals that maybe pave their potential applications in asymmetric catalysis, selective growth of coating materials, nanomedicine and optoelectronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiotherapy is an effective therapy in tumour treatment. However, the characteristics of the tumour microenvironment, including hypoxia, low pH, and interstitial fluid pressure bring about radioresistance. To improve the anti-tumour effect of radiotherapy, it has been demonstrated that antiangiogenic therapy can be employed to repair the structural and functional defects of tumour angiogenic vessels, thereby preventing radioresistance or poor therapeutic drug delivery. In this study, we prepared triptolide (TP)-loaded Asn-Gly-Arg (NGR) peptide conjugated mPEG2000-DSPE-targeted liposomes (NGR-PEG-TP-LPs) to induce tumour blood vessel normalisation, to the end of increasing the sensitivity of tumour cells to radiotherapy. Further, to quantify the tumour vessel normalisation window, the structure and functionality of tumour blood vessels post NGR-PEG-TP-LPs treatment were evaluated. Thereafter, the anti-tumour effect of radiotherapy following these treatments was evaluated using HCT116 xenograft-bearing mouse models based on the tumour vessel normalisation period window. The results obtained showed that NGR-PEG-TP-LPs could modulate tumour vascular normalisation to increase the oxygen content of the tumour microenvironment and enhance the efficacy of radiotherapy. Further, liver and kidney toxicity tests indicated that NGR-PEG-TP-LPs are safe for application in cancer treatment [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthracnose is a common disease found in Camellia oleifera producing areas across China, whose primary pathogen is Colletotrichum fructicola. We previously revealed that autophagy is essential for the pathogenicity of C. fructicola. However, the function of ubiquitin–proteasome system (UPS), which is a parallel protein degradation pathway to autophagy, remains elusive. Here, we report that CfRad6, an E2 conjugating enzyme in UPS, interacts with three putative E3 ubiquitin ligases, namely CfRad18, CfUbr1, and CfBre1. Importantly, we presented evidence showing that CfRad6 negatively regulates autophagy, revealing the first link between UPS and autophagy in pathogenic fungi. Targeted gene deletion showed that CfRad6 is involved in growth and conidiation. We further found that the ΔCfrad6 mutant is defective in appressoria formation and responses to environmental stresses. These combined effects, along with the abnormal autophagy level, lead to the pathogenicity defects of the ΔCfrad6 mutant. Taken together, our study indicates the pleiotropic functions of CfRad6 in the development and pathogenicity of C. fructicola. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a report on hybrid InSb–Pb nanowires that combine high spin–orbit coupling with a high critical field and a large superconducting gap. Material characterization indicates the Pb layer of high crystal quality on the nanowire side facets. Hard induced superconducting gaps and gate-tunable supercurrent are observed in the hybrid nanowires. These results showcase the promising potential of this material combination for a diverse range of applications in hybrid quantum transport devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, based on the finite element method, the stresses of the radius and ulna are analyzed at different flexion angles of the elbow when playing tennis. The finite element model is presented for the elbow position with flexion angles of 0°, 25°, 60°, and 80° according to the normal human arm bone. In this model, the whole arm with metacarpals, radius, ulna, humerus and scapula is considered. The calculation is simplified by setting the scapula and metacarpals as rigid bodies and using Tie binding constraints between the humerus and the radius and ulna. This model is discretized using the 10-node second-order tetrahedral element (C3D10). This model contains 109,765 nodes and 68,075 elements. The hitting forces applied to the metacarpal bone are 100 N and 300 N, respectively. The numerical results show that the highest principal stresses are at the points of 1/4 of the radius, the elbow joint, and the points of 1/10 of the ulna. The results of the maximum principal stress show that the external pressures are more pronounced as the elbow flexion angle increases and that the magnitude of the hitting force does not affect the principal stress distribution pattern. Elbow injuries to the radius can be reduced by using a stroke with less elbow flexion, and it is advisable to wear a reinforced arm cuff on the dorsal 1/4 of the hand, a radial/dorsal hand wrist, and an elbow guard to prevent radial ulnar injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, there is no effective treatment for chronic skin radiation injury, which burdens patients significantly. Previous studies have shown that cold atmospheric plasma has an apparent therapeutic effect on acute and chronic skin injuries in clinical. However, whether CAP is effective for radiation-induced skin injury has not been reported. We created 35Gy X-ray radiation exposure within 3 * 3 cm2 region of the left leg of rats and applied CAP to the wound bed. Wound healing, cell proliferation and apoptosis were examined in vivo or vitro. CAP alleviated radiation-induced skin injury by enhancing proliferation and migration and cellular antioxidant stress and promoting DNA damage repair through regulated nuclear translocation of NRF2. In addition, CAP inhibited the proinflammatory factors' expression of IL-1β, TNF-α and temporarily increased the pro repair factor's expression of IL-6 in irradiated tissues. At the same time, CAP also changed the polarity of macrophages to a repair-promoting phenotype. Our finding suggested that CAP ameliorated radiation-induced skin injury by activating NRF2 and ameliorating the inflammatory response. Our work provided a preliminary theoretical foundation for the clinical administration of CAP in high-dose irradiated skin injury. [Display omitted] • CAP alleviates radiation-induced skin injury. • CAP increased antioxidants through nuclear translocation of NRF2. • CAP ameliorates the inflammatory in irradiated skin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micron-sized particles are prone to deposit on smooth surfaces. A micron-sized particle collision-deposition model including the effects of electrostatic forces, integrated with the factors of particle size, material properties, elastic–plastic deformation, particle charging, surface roughness, and van der Waals forces, is proposed. The effects of the electrostatic forces on the critical deposition velocity, collision duration, and coefficient of restitution (COR), which is the ratio of particle velocity after and before the collision, are investigated for 1–20 μm sand particles colliding with glass, steel, and aluminum alloy surfaces. The results show that the electrostatic forces of sand particles are approximately 106–108 times their gravity and increase the impact duration. Moreover, these forces increase the critical deposition velocity by 2.32–6.89% for the glass surface and decrease the COR by 0.6–3.5% for the three surfaces, while the particle size is below 20 μm and the roughness is 1 nm. The electrostatic forces ranked from the maximum to the minimum are those of the aluminum alloy, steel, and glass surfaces for the same particle size and surface roughness. The developed model can perfect the theory of particle flow and gas-particle two-phase flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discrete element method is used to study the dissipation behavior of the granular balls in a rotating closed cylinder under the Earth gravity environment, and five kinds of particle motion forms with different dissipation characteristics are obtained. These phases are slumping, rolling, cascading, cataracting and centrifuging. Combined with the simulation of the dissipation behavior of the granular system under the Mars and Moon environment, the universality and the mechanism of the high dissipation effect of the cataracting phase is studied. In addition, based on the dissipation behavior of the granular balls in the rotating closed cylinder, the optimization design of the autogenous mill lifter is studied, and finally a design method of the structure parameters of the autogenous mill based on the material dissipation behavior is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dissipation behavior of granular balls in a quasi-2D vertically oscillating closed container is studied by the discrete element method with varying excitation frequencies in this work. Combining the dynamic behavior with dissipation effect of vibrated granular balls, the optimal damping effect of the phase transition critical stage between granular density inversion and granular Leidenfrost effect that involves four high damping granular phases (HDGPs) is revealed. Moreover, the high damping granular phases near and away from this phase transition critical stage are compared and analyzed further, which indicates the universal dynamic behavior of dense granular clusters playing the optimal damping effect. Finally, the optimal damping mechanism of granular balls in the quasi-2D closed container is clarified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The High Resolution Picture Transmission (HRPT) data of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) series meteorological satellites had been received by the SeaSpace ground station located at the Ocean University of China (OUC). Based on the atmospheric radiative transfer model, we obtained the NOAA-15/16/17/18/19 Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) sea surface skin temperature (SSTskin) data using the Bayesian cloud detection method and the optimal estimation (OE) sea surface temperature (SST) retrieval algorithm. Compared with the NOAA/AVHRR multi-channel SST data, the AVHRR SSTskin data have higher data accuracy. We also compared the AVHRR SSTskin with the buoy SST with spatial and temporal windows of 0.01° and 30 min. The daytime biases ranged from −0.32 °C (NOAA-16) to 0.08 °C (NOAA-17) with standard deviations (SDs) ranging from 0.36 °C (NOAA-18/ NOAA-19) to 0.60 °C (NOAA-16), and the nighttime biases ranged from −0.26 °C (NOAA-16) to −0.02 °C (NOAA-17) with SDs ranging from 0.33 °C (NOAA-19) to 0.60 °C (NOAA-16). The accuracy of all five satellite data during daytime and nighttime was significantly improved. These results show that the AVHRR SSTskin of NOAA series satellites is good and consistent in different periods, and the SSTskin data products with high spatial resolution and accuracy can be used for mesoscale and submesoscale marine applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a limited understanding of odor-taste interactions at the molecular levels about how these interactions influence flavor perception. Microfluidic technology used small volumes of fluids in the microscale channels and chambers. It has the potential to provide high throughput assays as well as manipulate organ-on-chips models to simulate the complex interaction of organs in the body. This review discusses the progress and limitation of psychophysics, electroencephalography, and functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate odor-induced taste perception. The application of organ-on-chip models of the nasal mucosa, oral cavity, and brain-gut axis with microfluidics is also discussed. Sensory results showed congruency between taste and odor affected the extent to which odor enhances taste perception. EEG and fMRI demonstrated the cross-modal interactions occur within primary sensory cortices in the brain, but the previous learning and experience are equally important. The multi-channel on the microfluidics not only provides an advantage to separate macromolecules in the sample matrix but can also offer higher throughput than conventional item-by-item detection and decreases reagents and sample consumption. It is feasible to establish in vitro sensory models to investigate interactions among flavor components with olfactory/taste receptors, brain, gut, etc. • Odor-taste interactions influence flavor perception at molecular-levels is unknown. • Synergistic effects of olfactory and taste perception can reduce salt/sugar intake. • Cross-modal interactions in the brain were proved by EEG and fMRI. • Microfluidics offer high throughput/ in vitro sensory models to study interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serotonin, as a monoamine neurotransmitter, modulates the activity of the nervous system. Due to its importance in the coordination of movement and regulation of mood, impairments in the synthesis and homeostasis of serotonin are involved in numerous disorders, including depression, Parkinson's disease, and anxiety. Currently, serotonin is primarily obtained via natural extraction. But this method is time-consuming and low yield, as well as unstable supply of raw materials. With the development of synthetic biology, researchers have established the method of microbial synthesis of serotonin. Compared with natural extraction, microbial synthesis has the advantages of short production cycle, continuous production, not limited by season and source, and environment-friendly; hence, it has garnered considerable research attention. However, the yield of serotonin is still too low to industrialization. Therefore, this review provides the latest progress and examples that illustrate the synthesis pathways of serotonin as well as proposes strategies for increasing the production of serotonin. Key points: • Two biosynthesis pathways of serotonin are introduced. • L-tryptophan hydroxylation is the rate-limiting step in serotonin biosynthesis. • Effective strategies are proposed to improve serotonin production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to explore the effects of SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccine on the outcome of frozen embryo transfer (FET).Methods: We grouped patients who underwent FET between August 2021 and March 2022 based on their vaccination status, number of doses, and the interval between the last dose and the FET, and then compared the differences in pregnancy outcomes among the groups.Results: There were 1084 vaccinated patients and 1228 non-vaccinated ones. There were significant differences in the live birth rate between the vaccination and non-vaccination groups (16.61% vs 28.26%), among the one-dose, two-dose, and three-dose groups (22.28% vs 19.51% vs 7.27%), and among the groups with interval ≤ 1 month, 1– 2 months, and ≥ 2 months (38.38% vs 27.27% vs 12.03%). There were significant differences in the persistent pregnancy rate between the vaccination and non-vaccination groups (22.88% vs 14.09%), among the one-dose, two-dose, and three-dose groups (14.51% vs 23.80% vs 38.18%), and among the groups with interval ≤ 1 month, 1– 2 months, and ≥ 2 months (1.01% vs 8.44% vs 28.16%). There were significant differences in the neonatal weight between the vaccination and non-vaccination groups [3805.50 (3746.00– 3863.50) vs 2970.00 (2500.00– 3400.00)]. There were significant differences in the premature birth rate among the one-dose, two-dose, and three-dose groups (23.26% vs 34.59% vs 100.00%), and among the groups with interval ≤ 1 month, 1– 2 months, and ≥ 2 months (15.79% vs 21.43% vs 37.00%).Conclusion: Pregnancy outcomes were not affected by taking the SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccine before FET, the number of doses, and the interval between doses. These findings provide evidence supporting the safety of administering the SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccine during pregnancy, which can be used as a guide for vaccinating patients undergoing ART. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To introduce novel parameters in determining directions of os odontoideum (OO) with atlantoaxial displacement (AAD) and compensations of cervical sagittal alignment after displacement. Methods: Analysis was performed on 96 cases receiving surgeries for upper cervical myelopathy caused by OO with AAD from 2011 to 2021. Twenty-four patients were included in the OO group and divided into the OO-anterior displacement (AD) group and the OO-posterior displacement (PD) group by displacement. Seventy-two patients were included as the control (Ctrl) group and divided into Ctrl-positive (Ctrl-P) group and Ctrl-negative (Ctrl-N) group by axial superior facet slope (ASFS) in a neutral position. ASFS, the sum of C2 slope (C2S) and axial superior facet endplate angle (ASFEA), was measured and calculated by combining cervical supine CT with standing X-ray. Cervical sagittal parameters were measured to analyse the atlantoaxial facet and compensations after AAD. Results: Atlas inferior facet angle (AIFA), ASFS, and ASFEA in Ctrl-P significantly differed from OO-AD.C0-C1, C1-C2, C0-C2, C2-C7, C2-C7 SVA, and C2S in Ctrl-P significant differed from the OO-AD group. C2-C7 SVA and C2S in Ctrl-N significantly were smaller than the OO-PD group. C1-C2 correlated with C0-C1 and C2-C7 negatively in the OO group. Slight kyphosis of C1-C2 in OO-AD was compared with lordosis of C1-C2 in Ctrl-P, inducing increased extension of C0-C1 and C2-C7. Mildly increased lordosis of C1-C2 in OO-PD was compared with C1-C2 in Ctrl-N, triggering augmented flexion of C0-C1 and C2-C7. Conclusion: ASFS was vital in determining directions of OO with AAD and explaining compensations. ASFS and ASFEA could provide pre- and intraoperative guidelines. Key Points: • ASFS may determine the directions and compensatory mechanisms of AAD secondary to OO. • ASFS could be achieved by the sum of ASFEA and C2S. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A systemic and local inflammatory immune imbalance is thought to be the cause of traumatic tracheal stenosis (TS). However, with CD4+ T lymphocytes being the predominant immune cells in TS, the mechanism of action and recruitment has not been described. In our research, using flow cytometry, ELISA, immunofluorescence, and Transwell chamber assays, the expression, distribution, and potential chemotactic function of CD4+ T cells in TS patients were examined before and after treatment. The results showed that the untreated group had significantly more CD4+ T cells and their secreted TGF‐β1 than the treated group. Additionally, the untreated group's CD4+ T cells showed a significant rise in CCL22 and CCL1, as well as a larger proportion of CCR4 and CCR8. CD4+ T cells and CD68+ macrophages located in TS also expressed CCL1 and CCL22. In vitro, anti‐CCL1 and anti‐CCL22 can partially block the chemoattractant effect of TS bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) on purified CD4+ T cells. The findings of this study indicated that TS contained unbalanced CD4 immune cells that were actively recruited locally by CCR4/CCL22 and CCR8/CCL1. As a result, it is anticipated that CD4 immune rebalancing can serve as a novel treatment for TS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the influence of fluid solid coupling erosion on the joints of gas pipelines, the Fluent DPM model was first used to conduct finite element analysis on several commonly used gas pipeline joints through gas-solid coupling numerical simulation. Secondly, the reasons for erosion of four-way joints and fish tail joints were studied, and the effects of fluid velocity, particle mass, and particle diameter on erosion were compared and analyzed. Finally, two optimization schemes were proposed for these two types of joints. The results show that fish tail joint is generally lower than that of the three-way channel structure. The erosion rate of the fish tail pipe is caused by the large angle between the inlet and outlet channels, which causes particles to directly impact the projection direction of the inlet channel. The erosion rate increases with the increase in velocity and increases with the increase in particle diameter. The use of a double lobe guide structure in the four-ways joint and fish tail joint not only effectively optimizes the internal flow channel, but also reduces wall erosion and avoids large flow velocity zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Government policy constraints and the green credit support of banks have played an indispensable role in promoting the development of the new energy vehicle (NEV) industry. To study the relationship between the government, the banks, and automobile manufacturers in the post-subsidy era and to promote the development of the NEV industry in China, we constructed a tripartite evolutionary game model for the government, the banks, and automobile manufacturers during the subsidy decline, analyzed the evolutionary process of the system, and used MATLAB to simulate the evolutionary stable strategies (ESSs) and the sensitivity of related parameters. The results demonstrate the following: (1) There are five possible evolutionary equilibrium points in the early, middle, and late stages of the NEV industry; (2) with the increase in the phase-out rates and the transaction prices of NEV points, the government is more inclined to low subsidies, the banks are more inclined to implement green credit, and enterprises are more inclined to produce NEVs; (3) there is a threshold for the impact of government incentives on the evolutionary results of the government and the banks, beyond which the evolutionary process of the government and the banks will be unstable; (4) with the increase in financing costs saved by green credit, the government is more inclined to low subsidies and enterprises are more inclined to produce NEVs, while changes in financing costs have less impact on the strategies of banks. According to these findings, the government, the banks, and automobile manufacturers can be relied upon to promote the development of the NEV industry in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a correction notice for an article titled "Multiple myeloma acquires resistance to EGFR inhibitor via induction of pentose phosphate pathway" published in Scientific Reports. The correction addresses an error in Figure 2 of the article, where incorrect images were used during the image assembly. The correct Figure 2 and accompanying legend are provided in the correction notice. The authors of the article are Yan Chen, Ruibin Huang, Jianghua Ding, Dexiang Ji, Bing Song, Liya Yuan, Hong Chang, and Guoan Chen. [Extracted from the article]

Microglia-mediated neuroinflammation is involved in various neurological diseases, including ischemic stroke, but the endogenous mechanisms preventing unstrained inflammation is still unclear. The anti-inflammatory role of transcription factor nuclear receptor subfamily 4 group A member 1 (NR4A1) in macrophages and microglia has previously been identified. However, the endogenous mechanisms that how NR4A1 restricts unstrained inflammation remain elusive. Here, we observed that NR4A1 is up-regulated in the cytoplasm of activated microglia and localizes to processing bodies (P-bodies). In addition, we found that cytoplasmic NR4A1 functions as an RNA-binding protein (RBP) that directly binds and destabilizes Tnf mRNA in an N6-methyladenosine (m6A)-dependent manner. Remarkably, conditional microglial deletion of Nr4a1 elevates Tnf expression and worsens outcomes in a mouse model of ischemic stroke, in which case NR4A1 expression is significantly induced in the cytoplasm of microglia. Thus, our study illustrates a novel mechanism that NR4A1 posttranscriptionally regulates Tnf expression in microglia and determines stroke outcomes. Microglia-mediated neuroinflammation is involved in neurological diseases such as ischemic stroke, but the mechanisms that prevent unstrained inflammation are unclear. This study reveals that the canonical transcription factor NR4A1 has a novel role in microglia as an RNA-binding protein that localizes to processing bodies to destabilize pro-inflammatory transcript and alleviate ischemic brain injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supramolecular copolymers have attracted much attention due to their potential functionalities. However, the co‐assembly strategies to construct co‐assemblies of small molecules with well‐defined sequence structures are still limited, especially for more complex crystalline block co‐assemblies. Herein, we target this challenge by designing IrIII complexes 1 and 2, which possess unique self‐assembly pathways and are capable of forming crystalline assemblies in aqueous systems. Specifically, block and random co‐assemblies of 1 and 2 can be synthesized by kinetic and thermodynamic control, respectively. Meanwhile, by adjusting the water content to orthogonalize the on‐pathway and the off‐pathway, an unprecedented pathway‐switching approach is realized to synthesize block and random co‐assemblies. By coupling the kinetic pathways, the present co‐assembly strategies are expected to pave the way for the synthesis of crystalline co‐assemblies of small molecules and the construction of organic heterostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The disordered expression of ZNF143 is closely related to the malignant progression of tumours. However, the basic control mechanism of ZNF143 in glioma has not yet been clarified. Therefore, we tried to find a new pathway to illustrate the function of ZNF143 in glioma. To explore the function of KPNA2 in the development of glioma, we used survival analysis by the Kaplan‒Meier method to assess the overall survival (OS) of patients with low and high KPNA2 expression in the TCGA and CGGA cohorts. Western blotting assays and RT‒PCR assays were utilized to determine the expression level of KPNA2 in glioma cells. The interaction between ZNF143 and KPNA2 was confirmed by ChIP assays. Proliferation was assessed by CCK-8 assays, and migration was evaluated by wound healing and Transwell assays. Apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry, and the expression level of YAP/TAZ was visualized using an immunofluorescence assay. The expression levels of LATS1, LATS2, YAP1, and p-YAP1 were determined. Patients with low KPNA2 expression showed a better prognosis than those with high KPNA2 expression. KPNA2 was found to be upregulated in human glioma cells. ZNF143 can bind to the promoter region of KPNA2. Downregulation of ZNF143 and KPNA2 can activate the Hippo signalling pathway and reduce YAP/TAZ expression in human glioma cells, thus inducing apoptosis of human glioma cells and weakening their proliferation, migration and invasion. In conclusion, ZNF143 mediates the Hippo/YAP signalling pathway and inhibits the growth and migration of glioma cells by regulating KPNA2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supramolecular copolymers have attracted much attention due to their potential functionalities. However, the co‐assembly strategies to construct co‐assemblies of small molecules with well‐defined sequence structures are still limited, especially for more complex crystalline block co‐assemblies. Herein, we target this challenge by designing IrIII complexes 1 and 2, which possess unique self‐assembly pathways and are capable of forming crystalline assemblies in aqueous systems. Specifically, block and random co‐assemblies of 1 and 2 can be synthesized by kinetic and thermodynamic control, respectively. Meanwhile, by adjusting the water content to orthogonalize the on‐pathway and the off‐pathway, an unprecedented pathway‐switching approach is realized to synthesize block and random co‐assemblies. By coupling the kinetic pathways, the present co‐assembly strategies are expected to pave the way for the synthesis of crystalline co‐assemblies of small molecules and the construction of organic heterostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plate-based proteomic sample preparation offers a solution to the large sample throughput demands in the biotechnology field where hundreds or thousands of engineered microbes are constructed for testing is routine. Meanwhile, sample preparation methods that work efficiently on broader microbial groups are desirable for new applications of proteomics in other fields, such as microbial communities. Here, we detail a step-by-step protocol that consists of cell lysis in an alkaline chemical buffer (NaOH/SDS) followed by protein precipitation with high-ionic strength acetone in 96-well format. The protocol works for a broad range of microbes (e.g., Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria, non-filamentous fungi) and the resulting proteins are ready for tryptic digestion for bottom-up quantitative proteomic analysis without the need for desalting column cleanup. The yield of protein using this protocol increases linearly with respect to the amount of starting biomass from 0.5–2.0 OD*mL of cells. By using a bench-top automated liquid dispenser, a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly option to eliminating pipette tips and reducing reagent waste, the protocol takes approximately 30 minutes to extract protein from 96 samples. Tests on mock mixtures showed expected results that the biomass composition structure is in close agreement with the experimental design. Lastly, we applied the protocol for the composition analysis of a synthetic community of environmental isolates grown on two different media. This protocol has been developed to facilitate rapid, low-variance sample preparation of hundreds of samples and allow flexibility for future protocol development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IL-1β mediates inflammation and regulates immune responses, cell proliferation, and differentiation. Dysregulation of IL-1β is linked to inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Elevated IL-1β levels are found in patients with severe COVID-19, indicating its excessive production may worsen the disease. Also, dry eye disease patients show high IL-1β levels in tears and conjunctival epithelium. Therefore, IL-1β signaling is a potential therapeutic targeting for COVID-19 and aforementioned diseases. No small-molecule IL-1β inhibitor is clinically approved despite efforts. Developing such inhibitors is highly desirable. Herein, a docking-based strategy was used to screen the TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) database to identify possible IL-1β inhibitors with desirable pharmacological characteristics by targeting the IL-1β/IL-1R interface. Primarily, the docking-based screening was performed by selecting the crucial residues of IL-1β interface to retrieve the potential compounds. Afterwards, the compounds were shortlisted on the basis of binding scores and significant interactions with the crucial residues of IL-1β. Further, to gain insights into the dynamic behavior of the protein–ligand interactions, MD simulations were performed. The analysis suggests that four selected compounds were stabilized in an IL-1β pocket, possibly blocking the formation of an IL-1β/IL-1R complex. This indicates their potential to interfere with the immune response, making them potential therapeutic agents to investigate further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paleoproterozoic banded iron formation (BIF) iron ore of the Zhengjiapo region of the Changyi metallogenic belt, Eastern Block of North China Craton contains abundant coexisting antiperthite and mesoperthite textures. The antiperthite and mesoperthite occur in felsic domains of the Zhengjiapo BIF ore and enable derivation of peak temperature metamorphic conditions. Thermodynamic phase modeling shows that equilibrium conditions of corresponding textures, considering the related mineral assemblage of Pl + Qz + Kfs + Mag + Opx + L, are in the range of 870–940 °C and 5.0–6.8 kbar. Ternary feldspar thermometry using reintegrated compositions of antiperthite and mesoperthite in the felsic domain of the studied BIF iron ore reveals even higher peak metamorphic temperatures of 1045–1080 °C. The ultra-high temperature–low pressure conditions of Precambrian BIF have not yet been reported from the North China Craton. The documented ultra-high temperature metamorphism of the Zhengjiapo BIF iron ore in the Changyi metallogenic belt indicates that the BIF was involved in the collision-related tectonic process during Paleoproterozoic to have occurred in the Jiao-Liao-Ji orogenic belt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To establish an in vitro study model of gastric cancer, gastric cancer organoid culture system, by biopsy under gastroscope, and to explore and analyze the related factors affecting the success rate of culture, to provide a better in vitro model for the study of gastric cancer. Methods: Twenty-six patients with advanced gastric cancer were collected. Organoids were cultured by biopsy under gastroscope. Paraffin sections were made and HE staining was used to compare the consistency of gastroscopic pathological morphology and organoids. To explore the influencing factors of cultivating gastric cancer organoids in combination with clinical data. Results: A total of 26 cases were collected by gastroscopy, and 12 cases of gastric cancer organoids were successfully cultured after identification, with a success rate of about 48%. Its histopathological morphology was highly consistent with that of gastric cancer. According to the pathological type, 21 cases were poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma and 12 cases were successful. Four cases of signet ring cell carcinoma failed. According to the location of the lesion, the success rate of sampling and culture of gastric antrum was significantly lower, which may be related to antral edema and anatomical characteristics of gastric antrum. Some of the failed cases are related to the quality of sampling, technique and contamination of tissue cells. Conclusions: We have successfully established gastric cancer organoids through endoscopic biopsy, and analyzed the factors affecting the success rate of culture from various angles, to improve and enhance the organoid culture technology and provide a better platform for tumor research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For GaN-based vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs), a suitable current confinement layer is essential for high-performance devices. The effect of different current confinement layers, including SiO2, AlN, and diamond, on the performance of GaN-based VCSELs was compared through simulation. The devices' heat dissipation and current confinement characteristics were analyzed based on the electro-opto-thermal model. Considering thermal management, the diamond was a better candidate under high injected current. Benefiting from the excellent heat dissipation, the device with diamond shows a significant improvement in output power and the thermal roll-over current. This work gives a superior option for the current confinement layer and can be helpful for future design and fabrication of high-power GaN-based VCSELs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]