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Objective To explore the characteristics of systemic sclerosis with acro-ulceration (SSc-DUs) and its association with organ involvement and autoantibodies in order to improve the understanding of the disease. Methods The clinical data of 70 patients with SSc-DUs were analyzed retrospectively, and the sites of ulcer and organ involvement were also analyzed. The clinical data of 155 patients with systemic sclerosis without acroulcers (SSc-No-DUs) were used as controls to assess the association between SSc-DUs and organ involvement and autoantibodies. Results The most common sites of ulcers were the fingertips (51.43%), interphalangeal joints (22.86%) and toes (15.71%), while the involvements of the heel, elbow and ankle joints were relatively rare. The rates of heart failure (31.42%) and esophageal involvement (65.71%) in SSc-DUs group were higher than those in SSc-No-DUs group (both P0.05). Conclusions The ulcers in patients with SSc-DUs are more common in the fingertips and interphalangeal joints. SSc-DUs patients are more likely to have esophageal involvement and a higher incidence of heart failure. Anti-Scl-70 antibody (+), anti-SSA antibody (+), and anti-Ro-52 antibody (+) may be danger signs of the development of ulcers.

This study aims to examine the impact of accessibility and destination brand identity on Chinese wellness tourist perceptions. It considers Bama Yao autonomous district’s growth towards longevity tourism and contributes to empirical work on the Chinese wellness tourism market. This quantitative research incorporated a post-positivism paradigm with the non-probability convenience sampling method to collect paper-based questionnaires: a total of 346 were coded for data analysis. The results demonstrated that accessibility positively influenced destination brand identity and tourist perceptions. Equally destination brand identity positively influenced tourist perception. Meanwhile, destination brand identity mediated the relationship between accessibility and tourist perception for wellness tourism destinations. However, the cross-sectional study’s results cannot be generalizable, and the sample may be one of its limitations. The present study provides policymakers and practitioners with the theoretical and practical basis to understand and predict tourists’ perceptions of wellness tourism destinations in China.

According to the abnormal fracture phenomenon of 87MnSi steel wire rod for bridge cable， the evolution of microstructure and mechanical properties during production processing were systematically analyzed. The results show that the microstructure of the rod is composed of pearlite and a small amount of proeutectoid ferrite， and the cementite lamellae are randomly distributed. After cold drawing， the cementite lamellae are rotated or fibrotic， and some cementite are broken and dissolved， the dissolution amount is 1.40wt.%（9.69%）. After ho-dip galvanizing， the dissolved cementite is spheroidized. In the process of cold drawing， hot-dip galvanizing and stabilization treatment， the microhardness of wire rod （329.8HV） increases （450.2HV） firstly， then decreases （447.9HV） and increases （474.8HV） finally. The cementite dissolved in the cold drawing process increases the hardness of the steel wire to 468.3HV， while the spheroidized cementite in the hot galvanizing process decreases the hardness to 439.8HV， and deteriorates tensile property. When the degree of spheroidization of cementite on the edge is obvious， the microstructure and mechanical properties of the steel wire inside and outside are greatly different， and the fracture is eventually caused by uneven force during stabilizing treatment.

The evolution of fractures is affected by internal and external environments such as the distribution characteristics of mineral particles and confining pressure conditions. In order to explore the macro-meso evolution characteristics and influencing factors of fractures in fractured coal under different confining pressures, based on the industrial CT scanning system and its equipped triaxial loading system, the triaxial static load test of fractured coal was carried out. The interaction mechanism of internal and external conditions of primary fractures, mineral particles and confining pressure is reasonably explained by multi-angle joint characterization. the results showed：① The confining pressure will shift the significant area of the initial damage of the coal body, so that it transits from the fracture tip to the upper and lower ends of the coal body with the increase of confining pressure, and it is easier to connect between micropores and large-sized fractures than between micropores and micropores, and new macroscopic cracks are generated. ② The increase of confining pressure will lead to the change of three-dimensional dynamic fractal dimension from slow increase, rapid increase and steady increase to the development stage of steady increase, rapid increase and slow increase, which can be used to characterize the time evolution law of fractures. ③ The fractured coal body exhibits longitudinal tensile failure under uniaxial or low confining pressure. The high confining pressure will change its failure mode and tend to shear failure, and enhance the strength of the coal body through two ways. ④ The deviation between the theoretical value and the experimental value of the cracking angle increases with the increase of confining pressure, which is consistent with the discrete numerical relationship caused by the distribution of mineral particles in coal. ⑤ According to the stress composition of the fracture and the distribution characteristics of mineral particles, the fracture propagation behavior is divided into three types: direct drive, bypassing mineral particles and staggering mineral particles. The above propagation behavior depends on the confining pressure to change the force component of the crack. The cracks under the action of relative pure tensile stress, tensile-shear composite stress and relative pure shear stress correspond to the above three propagation behaviors, that is, the influence form of crack propagation is mainly confining pressure, supplemented by the occurrence form of mineral particles.

Abstract Various microbes isolated from healthy plants are detrimental under laboratory conditions, indicating the existence of molecular mechanisms preventing disease in nature. Here, we demonstrated that application of sodium chloride (NaCl) in natural and gnotobiotic soil systems is sufficient to induce plant disease caused by an otherwise non-pathogenic root-derived Pseudomonas brassicacearum isolate (R401). Disease caused by combinatorial treatment of NaCl and R401 triggered extensive, root-specific transcriptional reprogramming that did not involve down-regulation of host innate immune genes, nor dampening of ROS-mediated immunity. Instead, we identified and structurally characterized the R401 lipopeptide brassicapeptin A as necessary and sufficient to promote disease on salt-treated plants. Brassicapeptin A production is salt-inducible, promotes root colonization and transitions R401 from being beneficial to being detrimental on salt-treated plants by disturbing host ion homeostasis, thereby bolstering susceptibility to osmolytes. We conclude that the interaction between a global change stressor and a single exometabolite from a member of the root microbiome promotes plant disease in complex soil systems.

Abstract Radiation-induced intestinal injury is the most common side effect during radiotherapy of abdominal or pelvic solid tumors, significantly impacting patients’ quality of life and even resulting in poor prognosis. Until now, oral application of conventional formulations for intestinal radioprotection remains challenging with no preferred method available to mitigate radiation toxicity in small intestine. Our previous study revealed that nanomaterials derived from spore coat of probiotics exhibit superior anti-inflammatory effect and even prevent the progression of cancer. The aim of this work is to determine the radioprotective effect of spore coat (denoted as spore ghosts, SGs) from three clinically approved probiotics (B.coagulans, B.subtilis and B.licheniformis). All the three SGs exhibit outstanding reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging ability and excellent anti-inflammatory effect. Moreover, these SGs can reverse the balance of intestinal flora by inhibiting harmful bacteria and increasing the abundance of Lactobacillus. Consequently, administration of SGs significantly reduce radiation-induced intestinal injury by alleviating diarrhea, preventing X-ray induced apoptosis of small intestinal epithelial cells and promoting restoration of barrier integrity in a prophylactic study. Notably, SGs markedly improve weight gain and survival of mice received total abdominal X-ray radiation. This work may provide promising radioprotectants for efficiently attenuating radiation-induced gastrointestinal syndrome and promote the development of new intestinal predilection.

ABSTRACTCapsule Robot Endoscope (CRE), as one of the widely used methods of gastrointestinal medical examination, has the characteristics of painless, non-cross infection, and no movement restriction, compared with other traditional endoscopes. To obtain the precise location of the lesion, positioning the capsule robot in the digestive tract has become a hot research topic in related fields. In recent decades, with the rapid advancement of indoor and outdoor positioning technologies, several well-established methods have emerged that enable the acquisition of high-precision real-time spatiotemporal integration data. These methods hold great potential for interdisciplinary applications in location services across various domains. The manuscript aims to draw inspiration from surveying and mapping positioning techniques by reviewing existing microspace positioning technologies to overcome inherent technical challenges. This article has reviewed more than 100 pieces of literature at home and abroad from four major academic search engines and has further studied the state of the art of several capsule robot positioning technologies commonly used. Microspace positioning technology in capsule robots is evaluated across eight factors: positioning accuracy, power consumption, portability, comfort, complexity, robustness, extensibility, and cost. We summarize the technical challenges associated with capsule robot positioning technology from each positioning technology’s limitations, finally proffering prospective avenues for future research. Our investigation reveals that the six identified capsule robot positioning technologies have distinct advantages and disadvantages. Among these, magnetic field-based positioning technology exhibited superior overall performance and is gradually advancing toward commercialization. Vision-based positioning technology, while significantly contributing to medical applications, particularly in enhancing augmented reality and surgical navigation, faces challenges related to the weak-textured and non-rigid characteristics of the gastrointestinal environment. Additionally, the limitation posed by the size and energy consumption of capsule robots make difficulties for single-source positioning techniques. We have proposed several promising future research directions by considering the capsule robot’s current positioning technological challenges and the advancements of cutting-edge indoor and outdoor positioning technologies. These include exploring new positioning sources, integrating multiple sensor fusion, and developing real-time three-dimensional gastrointestinal models. These new approaches are expected to enhance the safety and reliability of capsule robot positioning technology. They can potentially promote the development of capsule robots further and provide support for diagnosing and treating gastrointestinal diseases.

Objective: Glioblastomas are highly vascularized malignant tumors. We determined the efficacy and safety of the anti-angiogenic multi-kinase inhibitor, anlotinib, for a newly diagnosed glioblastoma. Methods: This multicenter, single-arm trial (NCT04119674) enrolled 33 treatment-naïve patients with histologically proven glioblastomas between March 2019 and November 2020. Patients underwent treatment with the standard STUPP regimen [fractionated focal irradiation in daily fractions of 1.8-2 Gy given 5 d/w × 6 w (total = 54-60 Gy)] or radiotherapy plus continuous daily temozolomide (TMZ) (75 mg/m2 of body surface area/d, 7 d/w from the first to the last day of radiotherapy), followed by 6 cycles of adjuvant TMZ (150–200 mg/m2 × 5 d during each 28-d cycle) plus anlotinib (8 mg/d on d 1–14 of each 3-w cycle for 2 cycles during concomitant chemoradiotherapy, 8 maximal cycles as adjuvant therapy, followed by maintenance at 8 mg/d. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS) and adverse events (AEs). Results: Thirty-three patients received the planned treatment. The median PFS was 10.9 months (95% CI, 9.9–18.7 months) and the 12-month PFS rate was 48.5%. The median OS was 17.4 months (95% CI, 14.5–21.1 months) and the 12-month OS rate was 81.8%. The most common AEs included hypertriglyceridemia [58% (n = 19)], hypoalbuminemia [46% (n = 15)], and hypercholesterolemia [46% (n = 15)] during concurrent chemoradiotherapy and leukopenia [73% (n = 24)], hypertriglyceridemia [67% (n = 22)], and neutropenia [52% (n = 17)] during adjuvant therapy. Five patients discontinued treatment due to AEs. HEG1 (HR, 5.6; 95% CI, 1.3–23.7; P = 0.021) and RP1L1 alterations (HR, 11.1; 95% CI, 2.2–57.2; P = 0.004) were associated with a significantly shorter PFS. Conclusions: Anlotinib plus the STUPP regimen has promising anti-tumor activity against glioblastoma and manageable toxicity. HEG1 and RP1L1 alterations might be novel predictive biomarkers of the response to anlotinib.

Abstract Introduction Post-stroke depression (PSD) is a prevalent complication that has been shown to have a negative impact on rehabilitation outcomes and quality of life and poses a significant risk for suicidal intention. However, models for discriminating and predicting PSD in stroke survivors for effective secondary prevention strategies are inadequate as the pathogenesis of PSD remains unknown. Prognostic prediction models that exhibit greater rule-in capacity have the potential to mitigate the issue of underdiagnosis and undertreatment of PSD. Thus, the planned study aims to systematically review and critically evaluate published studies on prognostic prediction models for PSD. Methods and analysis A systematic literature search will be conducted in PubMed and Embase through Ovid. Two reviewers will complete study screening, data extraction, and quality assessment utilizing appropriate tools. Qualitative data on the characteristics of the included studies, methodological quality, and the appraisal of the clinical applicability of models will be summarized in the form of narrative comments and tables or figures. The predictive performance of the same model involving multiple studies will be synthesized with a random effects meta-analysis model or meta-regression, taking into account heterogeneity. Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval is considered not applicable for this systematic review. Findings will be shared through dissemination at academic conferences and/or publication in peer-reviewed academic journals. Systematic review registration PROSPERO CRD42023388548.

Abstract Background The Chinese pig breed Bamei faces numerous challenges, such as antibiotic abuse, feed shortages, weaning stress, low immunity and disease resistance after weaning. Probiotic-fermented feed is an ideal profile that can improve the intestinal microbiota, promote the digestion and absorption of nutrients, and improve immunity. However, the combined effect of long-term intake of probiotic-fermented feeds on the intestinal microbiota, intestinal metabolic profiles, and immunity in pigs is not well understood. Here, we investigated the effects of feeding basal feed, Lactiplantibacillus-fermented feed, Bacillus subtilis-fermented feed, mixed-fermented feed, and antibiotic-added feed for 100 days on the gut microbiota, immunity, and metabolism of Bamei pigs after feeding five different fermented feeds by using 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing, enzyme-linked immunoassay, and untargeted metabolomics, respectively. Results 16S rDNA sequencing revealed that after the piglets were fed five different feeds for 50 days, the structure of the intestinal microbiota of the Bamei pigs was significantly altered, and feeding the mixed Lactiplantibacillus (L.) plantarum and Bacillus (B.) subtilis-fermented feed not only increased the α-diversity of the intestinal microbiota and the relative abundance of Lactobacillus, but also suppressed the growth of the conditional pathogens, Clostridium and Streptococcus. The Sobs and Shannon indices were significantly lower (p

Abstract Although endoscopic necrosectomy (EN) is more frequently used to manage walled-off necrosis (WON), there is still debate over how much time should pass between the initial stent placement and the first necrosectomy. This study aims to determine the effect of performing EN within different timings after placing the initial stent on clinical outcomes for WON. A retrospective study on infected WON patients compared an early necrosectomy within one week after the initial stent placement with a necrosectomy that was postponed after a week. The primary outcomes compared the rate of clinical success and the need for additional intervention after EN to achieve WON resolution. 77 patients were divided into early and postponed necrosectomy groups. The complete resolution of WON within six months of follow-up was attained in 73.7% and 74.3% of patients in both the early and postponed groups. The early group tended to a greater need for additional intervention after EN (26.8% early necrosectomy vs. 8.3% postponed necrosectomy, P = 0.036). Our study does not demonstrate that early necrosectomy is superior to postponed necrosectomy in terms of clinical success rate, total count of necrosectomy procedures, procedure-related complications, length of hospitalization and prognosis. Conversely, patients in the postponed group received fewer additional interventions.

Abstract Background Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of blinding eye disease among working adults and is primarily attributed to the excessive proliferation of microvessels, which leads to vitreous hemorrhage and retinal traction, thereby significantly impairing patient vision. NSUN2-mediated RNA m5C methylation is implicated in various diseases, and in this investigation, we focused on elucidating the impact of NSUN2 on the regulation of the expression of the downstream gene MUC1, specifically through RNA m5C methylation, on the progression of DR. Method Utilizing Microarray analysis, we examined patient vitreous fluid to pinpoint potential therapeutic targets for DR. Differential expression of NSUN2 was validated through qRT-PCR, Western blot, and immunofluorescence in human tissue, animal tissue, and cell model of DR. The relationship between NSUN2 and DR was explored in vitro and in vivo through gene knockdown and overexpression. Various techniques, such as MeRIP-qPCR and dot blot, were applied to reveal the downstream targets and mechanism of action of NSUN2. Results The levels of both NSUN2 and RNA m5C methylation were significantly elevated in the DR model. Knockdown of NSUN2 mitigated DR lesion formation both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, NSUN2 promoted MUC1 expression by binding to the RNA m5C reader ALYREF. Knockdown of ALYREF resulted in DR lesion alterations similar to those observed with NSUN2 knockdown. Moreover, MUC1 overexpression successfully reversed a series of DR alterations induced by NSUN2 silencing. Conclusions NSUN2 regulates the expression of MUC1 through ALYREF-mediated RNA m5C methylation, thereby regulating the progression of DR and providing a new option for the treatment of DR in the future.

Abstract Background Patients with spinal cord injury have a relatively high risk for bladder cancer and often complicated with bladder cancer in advanced stages, and the degree of aggressiveness of malignancy is high. Most of the literature is based on disease clinical features while, our study reviews the clinical characteristics and molecular mechanisms of spinal cord injury patients with bladder cancer, so that it might help clinicians better recognize and manage these patients. Method We searched PubMed, Web of Science and Embase, using retrieval type like (“Neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction” OR “Spinal cord injury” OR “Spinal Cord Trauma”) AND (“bladder cancer” OR “bladder neoplasm” OR “bladder carcinoma” OR “Urinary Bladder Neoplasms” OR “Bladder Tumor”). In Web of Science, the retrieval type was searched as “Topic”, and in PubMed and Embase, as “All Field”. The methodological quality of eligible studies and their risk of bias were assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. This article is registered in PROSPERO with the CBD number: CRD42024508514. Result In WOS, we searched 219 related papers, in PubMed, 122 and in Embase, 363. Thus, a total of 254 articles were included after passing the screening, within a time range between 1960 and 2023. A comprehensive analysis of the data showed that the mortality and incidence rates of bladder cancer in spinal cord injury patients were higher than that of the general population, and the most frequent pathological type was squamous cell carcinoma. In parallel to long-term urinary tract infection and indwelling catheterization, the role of molecules such as NO, MiR 1949 and Rb 1. was found to be crucial pathogenetically. Conclusion This review highlights the risk of bladder cancer in SCI patients, comprehensively addressing the clinical characteristics and related molecular mechanisms. However, given that there are few studies on the molecular mechanisms of bladder cancer in spinal cord injury, further research is needed to expand the understanding of the disease.

Abstract Frequency combs, specialized laser sources emitting multiple equidistant frequency lines, have revolutionized science and technology with unprecedented precision and versatility. Recently, integrated frequency combs are emerging as scalable solutions for on-chip photonics. Here, we demonstrate a fully integrated superconducting microcomb that is easy to manufacture, simple to operate, and consumes ultra-low power. Our turnkey apparatus comprises a basic nonlinear superconducting device, a Josephson junction, directly coupled to a superconducting microstrip resonator. We showcase coherent comb generation through self-started mode-locking. Therefore, comb emission is initiated solely by activating a DC bias source, with power consumption as low as tens of picowatts. The resulting comb spectrum resides in the microwave domain and spans multiple octaves. The linewidths of all comb lines can be narrowed down to 1 Hz through a unique coherent injection-locking technique. Our work represents a critical step towards fully integrated microwave photonics and offers the potential for integrated quantum processors.

Karst fracture-cavity carbonate reservoirs, in which natural cavities are connected by natural fractures to form cavity clusters in many circumstances, have become significant fields of oil and gas exploration and exploitation. Proppant fracturing is considered as the best method for exploiting carbonate reservoirs; however, previous studies primarily focused on the effects of individual types of geological formations, such as natural fractures or cavities, on fracture propagation. In this study, true-triaxial physical simulation experiments were systematically performed under four types of stress difference conditions after the accurate prefabrication of four types of different fracture-cavity distributions in artificial samples. Subsequently, the interaction mechanism between the hydraulic fractures and fracture-cavity structures was systematically analyzed in combination with the stress distribution, cross-sectional morphology of the main propagation path, and three-dimensional visualization of the overall fracture network. It was found that the propagation of hydraulic fractures near the cavity was inhibited by the stress concentration surrounding the cavity. In contrast, a natural fracture with a smaller approach angle (0° and 30°) around the cavity can alleviate the stress concentration and significantly facilitate the connection with the cavity. In addition, the hydraulic fracture crossed the natural fracture at the 45° approach angle and bypassed the cavity under higher stress difference conditions. A new stimulation effectiveness evaluation index was established based on the stimulated reservoir area (SRA), tortuosity of the hydraulic fractures (T), and connectivity index (CI) of the cavities. These findings provide new insights into the fracturing design of carbonate reservoirs.

Geotechnical engineering data are usually small-sample and high-dimensional, which brings a lot of challenges in predictive modeling. This paper uses a typical high-dimensional and small-sample swell pressure (Ps) dataset to explore the possibility of using multi-algorithm hybrid ensemble and dimensionality reduction methods to mitigate the uncertainty of soil parameter prediction. Based on six machine learning (ML) algorithms, the base learner pool is constructed, and four ensemble methods, Stacking (SG), Blending (BG), Voting regression (VR), and Feature weight linear stacking (FWL), are used for the multi-algorithm ensemble. Furthermore, the importance of permutation is used for feature dimensionality reduction to mitigate the impact of weakly correlated variables on predictive modeling. The results show that the proposed methods are superior to traditional prediction models and base ML models, where FWL is more suitable for modeling with small-sample datasets, and dimensionality reduction can simplify the data structure and reduce the adverse impact of the small-sample effect, which points the way to feature selection for predictive modeling. Based on the ensemble methods, the feature importance of the five primary factors affecting Ps is the maximum dry density (31.145%), clay fraction (15.876%), swell percent (15.289%), plasticity index (14%), and optimum moisture content (13.69%), the influence of input parameters on Ps is also investigated, in line with the findings of the existing literature.

Abstract Background Soybean (Glycine max), a vital grain and oilseed crop, serves as a primary source of plant protein and oil. Soil salinization poses a significant threat to soybean planting, highlighting the urgency to improve soybean resilience and adaptability to saline stress. Melatonin, recently identified as a key plant growth regulator, plays crucial roles in plant growth, development, and responses to environmental stress. However, the potential of melatonin to mitigate alkali stress in soybeans and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Results This study investigated the effects of exogenous melatonin on the soybean cultivar Zhonghuang 13 under alkaline stress. We employed physiological, biochemical, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analyses throughout both vegetative and pod-filling growth stages. Our findings demonstrate that melatonin significantly counteracts the detrimental effects of alkaline stress on soybean plants, promoting plant growth, photosynthesis, and antioxidant capacity. Transcriptomic analysis during both growth stages under alkaline stress, with and without melatonin treatment, identified 2,834 and 549 differentially expressed genes, respectively. These genes may play a vital role in regulating plant adaptation to abiotic stress. Notably, analysis of phytohormone biosynthesis pathways revealed altered expression of key genes, particularly in the ARF (auxin response factor), AUX/IAA (auxin/indole-3-acetic acid), and GH3 (Gretchen Hagen 3) families, during the early stress response. Metabolomic analysis during the pod-filling stage identified highly expressed metabolites responding to melatonin application, such as uteolin-7-O-(2''-O-rhamnosyl)rutinoside and Hederagenin-3-O-glucuronide-28-O-glucosyl(1,2)glucoside, which helped alleviate the damage caused by alkali stress. Furthermore, we identified 183 differentially expressed transcription factors, potentially playing a critical role in regulating plant adaptation to abiotic stress. Among these, the gene SoyZH13_04G073701 is particularly noteworthy as it regulates the key differentially expressed metabolite, the terpene metabolite Hederagenin-3-O-glucuronide-28-O-glucosyl(1,2)glucoside. WGCNA analysis identified this gene (SoyZH13_04G073701) as a hub gene, positively regulating the crucial differentially expressed metabolite of terpenoids, Hederagenin-3-O-glucuronide-28-O-glucosyl(1,2)glucoside. Our findings provide novel insights into how exogenous melatonin alleviates alkali stress in soybeans at different reproductive stages. Conclusions Integrating transcriptomic and metabolomic approaches, our study elucidates the mechanisms by which exogenous melatonin ameliorates the inhibitory effects of alkaline stress on soybean growth and development. This occurs through modulation of biosynthesis pathways for key compounds, including terpenes, flavonoids, and phenolics. Our findings provide initial mechanistic insights into how melatonin mitigates alkaline stress in soybeans, offering a foundation for molecular breeding strategies to enhance salt-alkali tolerance in this crop.

Abstract Coagulation alterations manifest early after severe burns and are closely linked to mortality outcomes. Nevertheless, the precise characterization of coagulation changes associated with early mortality remains elusive. We examined alterations in indicators linked to mortality outcomes at both the transcriptomic and clinical characteristic levels. At the transcriptomic level, we pinpointed 28 differentially expressed coagulation-related genes (DECRGs) following burn injuries and endeavored to validate their causal relationships through Mendelian randomization. DECRGs tied to survival exhibit a significant association with neutrophil function, wherein the expression of CYP4F2 and P2RX1 serves as robust predictors of fatal outcomes. In terms of clinical indicators, early levels of D-dimer and alterations in serum calcium show a strong correlation with mortality outcomes. Coagulation depletion and fibrinolytic activation, stemming from the hyperactivation of coagulation pathways post-severe burns, are strongly linked to patient mortality. Monitoring these early coagulation markers with predictive value can effectively identify individuals necessitating priority critical care.

Abstract Most hot dry rock geothermal wells are small angle directional wells, and rock cuttings easily accumulate at the bottom of the borehole to form a cuttings bed, causing accidents such as drill sticking, reducing the rate of penetration, and drilling tool breakage. Accurately calculating the resistance coefficient and settling velocity of hot dry rock cuttings can improve cuttings transportation efficiency, design and optimize drilling hydraulic parameters, and is crucial to solving borehole cleaning problems. Through visual experiments, this paper obtained experimental data on the settlement of 167 groups of spherical pellets, 153 groups of granite cuttings, and 174 groups of carbonate cuttings in the Herschel-Bulkley fluid. First, a prediction model for the resistance coefficient of spherical pellets consistent with Herschel-Bulkley fluid was established. Based on this, form factor-Roundness is introduced as the starting point, and two prediction models for the resistance coefficients of granite cuttings and carbonate cuttings in the Herschel-Bulkley fluid were established. The average relative errors between the resistance coefficient model predictions and experimental measurements are 9.61% for granite cuttings and 6.59% for carbonate cuttings. The average relative errors between the predicted and measured values of settlement velocity are 7.27% for granite cuttings and 6.21% for carbonate cuttings, respectively, which verifies the accuracy and reliability of the prediction model. The research results can provide a theoretical basis and engineering application guidance for optimizing drilling fluid rheology and circulation displacement in engineering.

Abstract Thermoelectrics have great potential for use in waste heat recovery to improve energy utilization. Moreover, serving as a solid-state heat pump, they have found practical application in cooling electronic products. Nevertheless, the scarcity of commercial Bi2Te3 raw materials has impeded the sustainable and widespread application of thermoelectric technology. In this study, we developed a low-cost and earth-abundant PbS compound with impressive thermoelectric performance. The optimized n-type PbS material achieved a record-high room temperature ZT of 0.64 in this system. Additionally, the first thermoelectric cooling device based on n-type PbS was fabricated, which exhibits a remarkable cooling temperature difference of ~36.9 K at room temperature. Meanwhile, the power generation efficiency of a single-leg device employing our n-type PbS material reaches ~8%, showing significant potential in harvesting waste heat into valuable electrical power. This study demonstrates the feasibility of sustainable n-type PbS as a viable alternative to commercial Bi2Te3, thereby extending the application of thermoelectrics.

Abstract Background Chronic migraine (CM) is a debilitating neurofunctional disorder primarily affecting females, characterized by central sensitization. Central sensitization refers to the enhanced response to sensory stimulation, which involves changes in neuronal excitability, synaptic plasticity, and neurotransmitter release. Environmental enrichment (EE) can increase the movement, exploration, socialization and other behaviors of mice. EE has shown promising effects in various neurological disorders, but its impact on CM and the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine whether EE has the potential to serve as a cost-effective intervention strategy for CM. Methods A mouse CM model was successfully established by repeated administration of nitroglycerin (NTG). We selected adult female mice around 8 weeks old, exposed them to EE for 2 months, and then induced the CM model. Nociceptive threshold tests were measured using Von Frey filaments and a hot plate. The expression of c-Fos, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and inflammatory response were measured using WB and immunofluorescence to evaluate central sensitization. RNA sequencing was used to find differentially expressed genes and signaling pathways. Finally, the expression of the target differential gene was investigated. Results Repeated administration of NTG can induce hyperalgesia in female mice and increase the expression of c-Fos and CGRP in the trigeminal nucleus caudalis (TNC). Early exposure of mice to EE reduced NTG-induced hyperalgesia in CM mice. WB and immunofluorescence revealed that EE inhibited the overexpression of c-Fos and CGRP in the TNC of CM mice and alleviated the inflammatory response of microglia activation. RNA sequencing analysis identified that several central sensitization-related signaling pathways were altered by EE. VGluT1, a key gene involved in behavior, internal stimulus response, and ion channel activity, was found to be downregulated in mice exposed to EE. Conclusion EE can significantly ameliorate hyperalgesia in the NTG-induced CM model. The mechanisms may be to modulate central sensitization by reducing the expression of CGRP, attenuating the inflammatory response, and downregulating the expression of VGluT1, etc., suggesting that EE can serve as an effective preventive strategy for CM.

In the Chinese strong-flavor baijiu (CSFB) fermentation ecosystem, the caproic acid-anabolism of caproic acid-producing bacteria (CPBs) is very important for improving the fermentation quality of CSFB. Therefore, it is necessary to thoroughly understand the types of CPBs and their caproic acid-anabolism characteristics. This minireview introduces readers to the diversity, phylogenetic relationship, physiological and metabolic characteristics, and caproic acid synthesis mechanism of CPBs isolated from the CSFB fermentation ecosystem as well as their synergistic metabolic relationships with other CPBs or non-CPBs. This paper provides a reference for understanding the in-situ caproic acid-anabolism pattern of CPBs from the CSFB fermentation ecosystem, and further provides a theoretical basis for the future targeted application of CPBs in CSFB fermentation and for CPBs culture engineering for the synthesis of high value-added caproic acid.

Abstract The dry reforming of methane provides an attractive route to convert greenhouse gases (CH4 and CO2) into valuable syngas, so as to resolve the carbon cycle and environmental issues. However, the development of high-performance catalysts remains a huge challenge. Herein, we report a 0.6% Ir/CeO2−x catalyst with a metal-support interface structure which exhibits high CH4 (~72%) and CO2 (~82%) conversion and a CH4 reaction rate of ~973 μmolCH4 gcat −1 s−1 which is stable over 100 h at 700 °C. The performance of the catalyst is close to the state-of-the-art in this area of research. A combination of in situ spectroscopic characterization and theoretical calculations highlight the importance of the interfacial structure as an intrinsic active center to facilitate the CH4 dissociation (the rate-determining step) and the CH2* oxidation to CH2O* without coke formation, which accounts for the long-term stability. The catalyst in this work has a potential application prospect in the field of high-value utilization of carbon resources.

Abstract In this article, a new differential magnetic‐field probe with high detection sensitivity for near‐field scanning is proposed. The proposed probe consists of a U‐shaped differential loop as a driven element, a pair of asymmetric inverted U‐shaped differential loops as a parasitic element, two transmission line, two connected vias, two shorted vias, and two output ports. Connected and shorted vias are used to form the sensing structure with high sensitivity. Some shield vias are used to reject the unwanted electric–field coupling. The proposed probe is simulated, fabricated, and measured to demonstrate the design rationality. The measured results reveal that the presented probe has a higher detection sensitivity and a high electric‐field suppression ratio greater than −35 dB in the range of 0.01 to 20 GHz.

Background The family doctor contract service is being vigorously promoted. Compared with the individual performance appraisal scheme, the performance appraisal scheme based on the family doctor team including the two processes of "first distribution" and "secondary distribution" is more capable of mobilizing the work motivation of family doctor team members, thus improving service efficiency and quality. Objective To develop the "first distribution" indicator system of family doctor team performance based on contract service fee. Methods The draft of the "first distribution" indicator system of family doctor team performance was preliminarily formulated through literature analysis and semi-structured interviews. On the basis of the draft, an expert consultation questionnaire was designed, and two rounds of expert consultation were implemented and completed from October 2021 to April 2022 to develop the "first distribution" indicator system of family doctor team performance based on contract service fee. Results The recovery rate of the two rounds of expert consultation questionnaires was 100.0%. The authority coefficient of the first round of correspondence was 0.761 6, and the Kendall coordination coefficients of the two rounds of consultations were 0.067 (P

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can be personalized and differentiated into neural stem cells (NSCs), thereby effectively providing a source of transplanted cells for spinal cord injury (SCI). To further improve the repair efficiency of SCI, we designed a functional neural network tissue based on TrkC-modified iPSC-derived NSCs and a CBD-NT3-modified linear-ordered collagen scaffold (LOCS). We confirmed that transplantation of this tissue regenerated neurons and synapses, improved the microenvironment of the injured area, enhanced remodeling of the extracellular matrix, and promoted functional recovery of the hind limbs in a rat SCI model with complete transection. RNA sequencing and metabolomic analyses also confirmed the repair effect of this tissue from multiple perspectives and revealed its potential mechanism for treating SCI. Together, we constructed a functional neural network tissue using human iPSCs-derived NSCs as seed cells based on the interaction of receptors and ligands for the first time. This tissue can effectively improve the therapeutic effect of SCI, thus confirming the feasibility of human iPSCs-derived NSCs and LOCS for SCI repair and providing a valuable direction for SCI research.

The manipulation of micro/nanostructures to customise their inherent material characteristics has garnered considerable attention. In this study, we present the selective activation of gallium arsenide (GaAs) via ultrafast laser-induced decomposition, which correlates with the emergence of ripples on the surface. This instigated a pronounced enrichment in the arsenic (As) concentration around the surface while inducing a depletion of gallium (Ga) at the structural depth. Theoretical simulations based on first principles exhibited a robust inclination towards the phase separation of GaAs, with the gasification of As–As pairs proving more facile than that of Ga–Ga pairs, particularly above the melting point of GaAs. As an illustrative application, a metal-semiconductor hybrid surface was confirmed, showing surface chemical bonding and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) through the reduction of silver ions on the laser-activated pattern. This laser-induced selective activation holds promise for broader applications, including the controlled growth of Pd and the development of Au/Ag alloy-based platforms, and thereby opens innovative avenues for advancements in semiconductors, solar cell technologies, precision sensing, and detection methodologies.