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Objective: Ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) is associated with increased risks of mortality and heart failure. However, the optimal management of moderate IMR remains controversial. We conducted a meta-analysis to appraise whether moderate IMR should be corrected during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases from its inception up to 15 October 2022 for studies that assessed CABG alone versus CABG with mitral valve (MV) surgery in patients with moderate IMR. The primary outcome was perioperative mortality. Results: Four randomized controlled trials and three observational studies with propensity-matched data including 1209 patients assessing CABG alone (n = 598) versus CABG with MV surgery (n = 611) were included. Compared to CABG alone, the addition of MV surgery did not significantly increase perioperative mortality (RR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.52–1.96; p = 0.98) and stroke (RR, 2.14; 95% CI, 0.97–4.72; p = 0.06), whereas a longer cardiopulmonary bypass duration (MD, 54.91; 95% CI, 42.13–67.68; p < 0.01) and an increased incidence of renal failure were observed in the combined-procedure group. At follow-up, the addition of MV surgery was significantly associated with reduced rates of residual MR (RR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.13–0.51; p < 0.01) and NYHA class III-IV (RR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.37–0.78; p < 0.01). However, there was no difference in either mid-term mortality (RR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.65–1.70; p = 0.82) or late mortality (RR, 91; 95% CI, 0.49–1.71; p = 0.78) between the CABG alone group and the combined-procedure group. Conclusions: In patients with moderate IMR, the addition of MV surgery to CABG did not increase perioperative mortality. Despite the reduced rates of moderate MR and NYHA class III-IV at follow-up, the addition of MV surgery did not translate in a reduction in mid-term or late mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we concern the strong convergence and stability of the balanced Euler method for stochastic pantograph differential equations with Markovian switching (SPDEs-MS). We present the balanced Euler method of SPDEs-MS and consider its moment boundedness under polynomial growth condition plus Khasminskii-type condition. We also study its strong convergence order and its mean-square stability. Two numerical examples are given to illustrate the theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a kind of plastic widely used in different industries, and it is a hard and brittle polymer that requires the use of plasticizers to improve processability. Phthalates are small molecule plasticizers of PVC, which are easy to volatilize and migrate while improving the processing properties of PVC. We propose alternatives based on phenolic resin prepolymer modified by cardanol (CPF), which were added to PVC as reactive plasticizer and can improve the processability of PVC. The effects of CPF on the rheological properties and migration resistance of plasticized PVC were studied, and the changes in the physical properties of blends were also discussed. The results showed that the viscosity of PVC melt can be reduced by two orders of magnitude by adding 30 wt% prepolymers at 180°C compared with PVC without CPF, which indicated that CPF can be used to reduce the processing temperature of PVC. The test results of migration resistance showed that the mass loss rate of the blend with 30 wt% prepolymers was less than 1 wt% after curing, however, the mass loss rate of the blend with 30 wt% dioctyl phthalate (DOP) was more than 12% after 5 days of testing. When the PVC/CPF mass ratio was between 60/40-70/30, the maximum values of tensile strength and elastic modulus are 64.4 MPa and 3.2 GPa, respectively, which showed the addition of CPF could significantly improve the tensile strength and elastic modulus of the blend system compared with PVC without CPF. Especially, the thermal stability of CPF is better than that of DOP, CPF exhibits the maximum thermal decomposition temperature (410°C), higher than that of DOP (170°C), which can adapt to higher processing temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using metal additive manufacturing processes can make up for traditional forging technologies when forming complex-shaped parts. At the same time, metal additive manufacturing has a fast forming speed and excellent manufacturing flexibility, so it is widely used in the aerospace industry and other fields. The fatigue strength of metal additive manufacturing is related to the microstructure of the epitaxially grown columnar grains and crystallographic texture. The crystal plasticity finite element method is widely used in the numerical simulation of the microstructure and macro-mechanical response of materials, which provides a strengthening and toughening treatment and can reveal the inner rules of material deformation. This paper briefly introduces common metal additive manufacturing processes. In terms of additive manufacturing fatigue, crystal plasticity simulations are summarized and discussed with regard to several important influencing factors, such as the microstructure, defects, surface quality, and residual stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metering anomalies not only mean huge economic losses but also indicate the faults of equipment and power lines, especially within the substation. As a result, metering anomaly diagnosis is becoming one of the most important missions in smart grids. However, due to the insufficient and imbalanced anomaly cases, identifying the anomalies in smart meter data accurately and efficiently remains challenging. Existing methods usually employ few-shot learning models in computer vision directly, which requires the rich experience of human experts and sufficient abnormal cases for training. It blocks model generalizing to various application scenarios. To address these shortcomings, we propose a novel framework for metering anomaly diagnosis based on few-shot learning, named FSMAD. Firstly, we design a fault data injection model to emulate anomalies, so that no abnormal samples are required in the training phase. Secondly, we provide a learnable variable transformation to reveal inherent relationships among various smart meter data and help FSMAD extract more efficient features. Finally, the deeper metric network is equipped to support FSMAD in obtaining powerful comparison capability. Extensive experiments on a real-world dataset demonstrate the advantages of our FSMAD over state-of-the-art methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) is one of the primary sources of plant protein and oil for human foods, animal feed, and industrial processing. The seed number per pod generally varies from one to four and is an important component of seed number per unit area and seed yield. We used natural variation in 264 landraces and improved cultivars or lines to identify candidate genes involved in the regulation of seed number per pod in soybean. Genome-wide association tests revealed 65 loci that are associated with seed number per pod trait. Among them, 11 could be detected in multiple environments. Candidate genes were identified for seed number per pod phenotype from the most significantly associated loci, including a gene encoding protein argonaute 4, a gene encoding histone acetyltransferase of the MYST family 1, a gene encoding chromosome segregation protein SMC-1 and a gene encoding exocyst complex component EXO84A. In addition, plant hormones were found to be involved in ovule and seed development and the regulation of seed number per pod in soybean. This study facilitates the dissection of genetic networks underlying seed number per pod in soybean, which will be useful for the genetic improvement of seed yield in soybean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metallurgical solid waste blast furnace water quenched slag (WBFS) was employed as carrier materials to prepare Fe–TiO 2 /WBFS composite photocatalyst using a sol-gel method for improving both the photocatalytic activity and the high-value utilization of metallurgical solid waste. The Fe3+ doping technology was adopted to increase the utilization of solar energy. The influencing factors and photocatalytic activity were systematically evaluated by thermogravimetry/differential thermal analyser (TG-DSC), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method, scanning electron microscopy-energy spectrometer (SEM-EDS), X-ray photoelectric spectroscopy (XPS), UV–Vis absorption spectrum and photoluminescence spectra technology through the degradation rate of methylene blue (MB) solution. The results showed that the Fe3+ ions were successfully incorporated into the TiO 2 lattice, which had no effect on the crystalline phase of TiO 2 and expanded the spectral response range of TiO 2 from the ultraviolet region to the visible light region. When the calcination temperature was at 450 °C and the number of Fe–TiO 2 sol loading cycles was two times, the photocatalytic activity of Fe–TiO 2 /WBFS presented the strongest, and the degradation ratio of MB reach the maximum value of 98.9 %. A uniform and dense anatase TiO 2 thin film was wrapped on the surface of WBFS. The photocatalytic activity first improved and then weakened with an increase of calcination temperature, Fe3+ doping amounts and the loading cycles of sol. The TiO 2 film changed from thin to thick and uneven to uniform, until cracking and spalling phenomenon finally occurred with an increase of Fe–TiO 2 sol loading cycle from 1 to 3 times. When the Fe–TiO 2 /WBFS was reused for four times, the degradation rate of MB could still show 67.4 %, being far higher than that of TiO 2 /WBFS of 25.4 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are complex temporal and spatial interactions between insects and microbes. Previously, the function of microbial virulence factors has been identified and characterized. However, the roles of disease-related microbial-derived metabolites in regulating host innate immunity and the composition of microbial community are not explored. Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) are important biological control agents because together with their insect hosts provide an idea model system to analyze the interplay between microbial-derived metabolites and host innate immune activity in relation to gut microbial community composition. Here, we report that the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae produces a variety of metabolites during growth in the locust hemolymph, and their injection into locusts modifies the expression of a wide range of host genes, which participate in cellular and humoral innate immune processes. However, upon injection of the fungal metabolites, the antimicrobial peptide diptericin is specifically expressed in the locust cuticle and midgut, suppressing the microbiota inhabiting the latter tissue. Also, three commonly identified metabolites (nicotinamide, nicotinate, and choline) can activate the expression of immune-related genes in the locust midgut. Our results further reveal that injection of fungal metabolites into locusts substantially suppresses the locust gut microbial composition. Our findings expose a fungal pathogen infection strategy that involves the release of metabolites for activating insect immune effectors in the cuticle and midgut, which may comprise an important factor to restrain the number of gut-inhabiting bacteria. This study highlights the important functions of entomopathogenic fungal-derived metabolites in manipulating the insect host innate immunity and gut microbiota composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: This article aims to clarify pitfalls and find strategies for the detecting and diagnosing hyperechoic liver metastases (LMs) using Sonazoid-contrast enhanced ultrasonography (Sonazoid-CEUS). METHODS: This study was a prospective self-controlled study. Patients with hepatic lesions suspected as LMs or benign lesions were included in the study. Baseline ultrasonography (BUS) and Sonazoid-CEUS were performed on every patient. Characteristics of LMs and benign nodules were compared by chi-square test and fisher test. Factors influenced the CEUS were demonstrated by univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: 54 patients were included in this study. CEUS found additional 75 LMs from 19 patients in Kupffer phase. We found hyperechoic focal liver lesions and deep seated in liver are main confounding factors in CEUS diagnosis. Sensitivity would be improved from 16.67% to 78.57%, negative predictive value (NPV) would be improved from 28.57% to 76.92% and accuracy would be improved from 37.5% to 87.50% when using rapid "wash-in" and "wash-out" as main diagnostic criteria. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperechoic LMs especially deeply seated ones are usually not shown typical "black hole" sign in Kupffer phase. Quickly "wash-in and wash out" shows high accuracy in diagnosing malignant nodules. We highly recommend CEUS as a routing exam to detect and diagnose LMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In magnetic confinement fusion devices, the plasma particle and energy transport depend on the turbulence transport. Ion cyclotron range of frequency (ICRF) wave heating can interact with the turbulence in the plasma edge and change the turbulence transport. To understand their interaction/correlation, the radial modification of turbulence by ICRF in the scrape-off layer (SOL) was investigated using midplane reciprocating Langmuir probe, reflectometry, Doppler reflectometry, and Divertor probes on the EAST tokamak. We showed a first demonstration that this interaction occurs at all radii and affects the turbulence across the whole SOL. It was observed that ICRF attenuates the large-scale turbulence structures (usually in the form of blobs) by breaking them into smaller ones, leading to a suppression of low-frequency turbulence in the whole SOL. Moreover, this turbulence reduction is accompanied by an increase in the high-frequency turbulence fluctuations and an increase in the poloidal velocity in the SOL. This poloidal velocity is generated by the radial electric field during ICRF. Following this, BOUT++ simulations were conducted, and the simulations results are in line with the experimental results. They show that the RF-sheath induced radial electric field can explain the increase in high-frequency fluctuations and suppression of turbulence in the SOL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ultrasensitive surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) aptamer sensor (aptasensor) using a noble metal nanoparticle-magnetic nanospheres composite was developed for L-theanine detection. It makes use of Fe3O4@Au MNPs and Au@Ag NPs embedded with the Raman reporter 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (4MBA). Au@4MBA@Ag NPs modified by aptamer and Fe3O4@Au MNPs modified by cDNA created the aptasensor with the strongest Raman signal of 4MBA through the specific binding of the aptamer. With the preferred binding of L-theanine aptamer to L-theanine, Au@4MBA@Ag NPs were released from Fe3O4@Au MNPs, causing a linear decrease in SERS intensity to achieve the SERS detection of the L-theanine. The SERS peak of 4MBA at 1078 cm−1 was used for quantitative determination. SERS intensity showed a good log-linear relationship within the range 10−10 to 10−6 M of L-theanine. The aptasensor has a high selectivity for L-theanine compared with other twelve tested analytes. Hence, this aptasensor is a promising analytical tool for L-theanine detection. The developed method was applied to the analysis of real samples, demonstrating excellent performance. The comparison with the standard liquid chromatography mass spectrometry method showed an error within 20%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluid manipulation is an important foundation of microfluidic technology. Various methods and devices have been developed for fluid control, such as electrowetting-on-dielectric-based digital microfluidic platforms, microfluidic pumps, and pneumatic valves. These devices enable precise manipulation of small volumes of fluids. However, their complexity and high cost limit the commercialization and widespread adoption of microfluidic technology. Shape memory polymers as smart materials can adjust their shape in response to external stimuli. By integrating shape memory polymers into microfluidic chips, new possibilities for expanding the application areas of microfluidic technology emerge. These shape memory polymers can serve as actuators or regulators to drive or control fluid flow in microfluidic systems, offering innovative approaches for fluid manipulation. Due to their unique properties, shape memory polymers provide a new solution for the construction of intelligent and automated microfluidic systems. Shape memory microfluidic chips are expected to be one of the future directions in the development of microfluidic technology. This article offers a summary of recent research achievements in the field of shape memory microfluidic chips for fluid and droplet manipulation and provides insights into the future development direction of shape memory microfluidic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is the third most common cardiovascular disease in aging populations. Despite a growing number of biomarkers having been shown to be associated with CAVD, a marker suitable for routine testing in clinical practice is still needed. Plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has been suggested as a biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis in multiple diseases. In this study, we aimed to test whether cfDNA could be used as a biomarker for the diagnosis of CAVD. Methods: Serum samples were collected from 137 diagnosed CAVD patients and 180 normal controls. The amount of cfDNA was quantified by amplifying a short fragment (ALU 115) and a long fragment (ALU 247) using quantitative real-time PCR. The cfDNA integrity (cfDI) was calculated as the ratio of ALU247 to ALU115. The association between CAVD and cfDI was evaluated using regression analysis. Results: CAVD patients had increased ALU 115 fragments (median, 185.14 (416.42) versus 302.83 (665.41), p < 0.05) but a decreased value of cfDI (mean, 0.50 ± 0.25 vs. 0.41 ± 0.26, p < 0.01) in their serum when compared to controls. This difference was more dramatic in non-rheumatic CAVD patients (p < 0.001) versus rheumatic CAVD patients (no significant difference). Similarly, CAVD patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) (p < 0.01) showed a greater difference than non-BAV CAVD patients (p < 0.05). Linear regression and logistic regression showed that cfDI was independently and significantly associated with the presence of CAVD (95% CI, 0.096 to 0.773, p < 0.05). The ROC assay revealed that cfDI combined with clinical characteristics had a better diagnostic value than cfDI alone (AUC = 0.6191, p < 0.001). Conclusion: cfDI may be a potential biomarker for diagnosis of CAVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have shown that Dendrobium nobile Lindl. alkaloids (DNLAs) have neuroprotective effects in several Alzheimer's disease (AD) models. Dendrobine (DDB) is one of the monomer components with the highest content in DNLAs. However, the effects of DDB on cognitive impairments in AD remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of DDB in 3 × Tg-AD mice to determine whether DDB was a key component of the anti-AD effect of DNLAs. Five-month mice were intragastrically administrated with DDB (10 and 20 mg/kg/d) or DNLAs (20 mg/kg/d) for seven consecutive months, and the effects of DDB and DNLAs were evaluated at twelve months. The results revealed that 3 × Tg-AD mice treated with DDB showed enhanced nesting ability. DDB also effectively rescued spatial learning and memory deficits in 3 × Tg-AD mice. Meanwhile, DDB treatment prevented the loss of dendritic spine density, with increased expression levels of synaptophysin, PSD95, and NCAM in the hippocampus. Finally, DDB ameliorated the increase in APP, sAPPβ, CTF-β, and β-amyloid peptides, accompanied by the promotion of GSK phosphorylation at the Ser9 site, thereby reducing hyperphosphorylated tau levels. As the active component of DNLA, DDB can preserve cognitive function, alleviate neuronal and synaptic defects, and improve APP/tau pathology in 3 × Tg-AD mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumor‐related motor reorganization remains unclear. Navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (nTMS) can investigate plasticity non‐invasively. nTMS‐induced motor‐evoked potentials (MEPs) of different muscles are commonly used to measure the center of gravity (CoG), the location with the highest density of corticospinal neurons in the precentral gyrus. We hypothesized that a peripheral innervation‐based MEP analysis could outline the tumor‐induced motor reorganization with a higher clinical and oncological relevance. Then, 21 patients harboring tumors inside the left corticospinal tract (CST) or precentral gyrus were enrolled in group one (G1), and 24 patients with tumors outside the left CST or precentral gyrus were enrolled in Group 2 (G2). Median‐ and ulnar‐nerve‐based MEP analysis combined with diffusion tensor imaging fiber tracking was used to explore motor function distribution. There was no significant difference in CoGs or size of motor regions and underlying tracts between G1 and G2. However, G1 involved a sparser distribution of motor regions and more motor‐positive sites in the supramarginal gyrus—tumors inside motor areas induced motor reorganization. We propose an "anchor‐and‐ship theory" hypothesis for this process of motor reorganization: motor CoGs are stably located in the cortical projection area of the CST, like a seated anchor, as the core area for motor output. Primary motor regions can relocate to nearby gyri via synaptic plasticity and association fibers, like a ship moving around its anchor. This principle can anticipate functional reorganization and be used as a neuro‐oncological tool for local therapy, such as radiotherapy or surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIM: To investigate the effect of doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1) on the biological properties of gastric cancer stem cells, and to explore its possible mechanism. METHODS: Serum-free suspension culture of gastric cancer stem cells and targeted inhibition of DCLK1 activity in gastric cancer stem cells with DCLK1 inhibitor DCLK1-IN-1 were performed. The expression levels of DCLK1, stemness-related proteins (SOX2 and OCT4), proliferation-related proteins (cyclin D1 and c-MYC), drug resistance-related proteins (ABCG2 and TOP2A), epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related proteins (E-cadherin, vimentin and Snail), and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway-related proteins in gastric cancer stem cells were examined by Western blot. The effects of DCLK1 on viability and drug resistance of gastric cancer stem cells were determined by CCK-8 assay, and the effects of DCLK1 on self-renewal of gastric cancer stem cells were determined by methylcellulose spheroid-forming assay. Wound-healing and Transwell assays were performed to assess the effect of DCLK1 on the migration and invasion of gastric cancer stem cells. RESULTS: The expression levels of DCLK1 and stemness-related proteins SOX2 and OCT4 in gastric cancer stem cells were significantly higher than those in parental cells (P<0. 01). The proliferation, drug resistance, migration and invasion of gastric cancer stem cells in DCLK1 inhibition group were significantly lower than those in Sphere cell group (P<0. 01). The expression levels of proliferation-related proteins (c-MYC and cyclin D1) and drug resistance-related proteins (TOP2A and ABCG2) were down-regulated, the expression of epithelial marker E-cadherin was up-regulated, the expression of mesenchymal markers vimentin and Snail was down-regulated, and the expression levels of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway-related proteins and their phosphorylation levels were reduced in DCLK1 inhibition group (P<0. 05). CONCLUSION: DCLK1 is highly expressed in gastric cancer stem cells, which may be involved in the proliferation, drug resistance and invasion of gastric cancer stem cells by regulating PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. It suggests that DCLK1 can be used as a potential target for gastric cancer stem cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To examine the association of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) with anemia among older people. 24,116 participants aged 50 years or above were recruited. Multivariable linear and logistic regression was used to assess the associations of self-reported ACEs number with hemoglobin concentrations (g/dL) and presence of anemia. Older individuals with two or more ACEs, versus no ACEs, showed lower hemoglobin concentrations (β = − 0.08 g/dL, 95% confidence intervals (CI) − 0.12 to − 0.03) and higher odds of anemia (odds ratio = 1.26, 95% CI 1.01–1.59). A more pronounced association between ACEs and anemia in the lower education group was found, while the association became non-significant in those with higher education (P for ACEs-education interaction = 0.02). ACEs was associated with anemia in older people, and the association was stronger in those with lower education, highlighting the significance of early-life psychological stressors assessment and consideration of education background in geriatric care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intermetallic compound ZrCo is widely considered a good choice to substitute uranium in storing gaseous tritium. Whereas the storage capacity fading induced by the disproportionation reaction which happens during the hydriding and dehydriding processes becomes the main obstacle to overcome at the present stage. In this work, the effects and mechanism of Ti, Cu, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd and Sm substitutions on the anti-disproportionation performance of ZrCo alloy were carefully investigated by combining experiments and first-principles calculations. By the investigation of Zr 1-x Ti x Co (x = 0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20), it is confirmed that the increase of Zr–H (8e) bond length and decrease of 8e site size are beneficial to prevent the access of H into the 8e site of ZrCoH 3 , which helps the improvement of anti-disproportionation performance. It has shown that rare-earth elements are preferred to substitute Zr than Co atom in ZrCo and ZrCoH 3 compounds. While alloying rare-earth elements may not contribute significantly to the enhancement of the anti-disproportionation property of ZrCo alloy. Additionally, the charge density distribution and polarized density of states of undoped and doped ZrCoH 3 crystals were clarified. • The anti-disproportionation mechanism of Ti-doped ZrCo alloys were analyzed by combining experiment and simulation. • The bond length of Zr–H (8e) and volume of H (8e) are the key factors affecting the anti-disproportionation performance. • Effects of doping rare-earth elements on the anti-disproportionation behavior of ZrCo alloy was studied in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe shear thickening fluid (STF) impregnated Kevlar fabric coating glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) composite structure has both wearing comfort and high protective ability, which will provide guidance for the development of new protective products. In this study, STF with SiO2 mass fraction of 34% was prepared, the quasi-static/dynamic mechanical behavior of STF, Kevlar and STF impregnated Kevlar fabric coating GFRP were carried out by the high-speed impact experiments, respectively. At the same time, the damage characteristics and energy absorption properties of the composite structure are analyzed by integrating experimental data with numerical simulation. The results showed that the composite structure makes the energy absorption capacity of GFRP improved. STF impregnated 4 layers of Kevlar fabric coating GFRP composite structure was impacted by the projectile at a speed of 244 m/s, and the composite structure consumes 1.54 times the energy of single GFRP laminates. The resistance of composite structures can be improved by placing more layers of Kevlar fabric behind GFRP laminates. The evaluation of the target’s bullet resistance cannot solely rely on the energy consumed by the projectile. A portion of the energy is transferred to the obstacle that impedes the target’s motion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glioblastoma is a highly aggressive and malignant type of brain cancer that originates from glial cells in the brain, with a median survival time of 15 months and a 5-year survival rate of less than 5%. Regulated cell death (RCD) is the autonomous and orderly cell death under genetic control, controlled by precise signaling pathways and molecularly defined effector mechanisms, modulated by pharmacological or genetic interventions, and plays a key role in maintaining homeostasis of the internal environment. The comprehensive and systemic landscape of the RCD in glioma is not fully investigated and explored. After collecting 18 RCD-related signatures from the opening literature, we comprehensively explored the RCD landscape, integrating the multi-omics data, including large-scale bulk data, single-cell level data, glioma cell lines, and proteome level data. We also provided a machine learning framework for screening the potentially therapeutic candidates. Here, based on bulk and single-cell sequencing samples, we explored RCD-related phenotypes, investigated the profile of the RCD, and developed an RCD gene pair scoring system, named RCD.GP signature, showing a reliable and robust performance in predicting the prognosis of glioblastoma. Using the machine learning framework consisting of Lasso, RSF, XgBoost, Enet, CoxBoost and Boruta, we identified seven RCD genes as potential therapeutic targets in glioma and verified that the SLC43A3 highly expressed in glioma grades and glioma cell lines through qRT-PCR. Our study provided comprehensive insights into the RCD roles in glioma, developed a robust RCD gene pair signature for predicting the prognosis of glioma patients, constructed a machine learning framework for screening the core candidates and identified the SLC43A3 as an oncogenic role and a prediction biomarker in glioblastoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conducting in-situ measurements of planetary environments is a key scientific goal in the geoscience field for the extraterrestrial exploration, such as the Moon or Mars. Among these measurements, determining the thermal properties of regolith is particularly challenging due to the material's inhomogeneities. In this paper, an active thermal probing technique is proposed, utilizing a transient hot-wire technique with a needle-like probe structure integrated with temperature sensors and a heater. It is capable of measuring in-situ temperature variations and inner heat flux without disturbing the surrounding regolith. In addition, a machine-learning-based method is proposed for inverting in-situ thermophysical properties, including density, thermal conductivity, and heat capacity. An embedded artificial neural network model has been developed and trained with data sets from both finite element simulations and experiments. This machine learning model is capable of efficiently predicting temperature responses for different lunar regolith simulants. For total 12 parameters, the errors of ten cases are less than 10%, and other two cases are 12.23% and 13.17%. Finally, the proposed method is verified by heat measurement experiments under normal pressure and vacuum, and the variation of thermal properties with different compactness is obtained. The proposed probing technique provides novel ideas to measure the in-situ thermal properties of extraterrestrial regolith. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A lack of health resources is a common problem after the outbreak of infectious diseases, and resource optimization is an important means to solve the lack of prevention and control capacity caused by resource constraints. This study systematically evaluated the similarities and differences in the application of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) resource allocation models and analyzed the effects of different optimal resource allocations on epidemic control. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted of CNKI, WanFang, VIP, CBD, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Embase for articles published from January 1, 2019, through November 23, 2023. Two reviewers independently evaluated the quality of the included studies, extracted and cross-checked the data. Moreover, publication bias and sensitivity analysis were evaluated. Results: A total of 22 articles were included for systematic review; in the application of optimal allocation models, 59.09% of the studies used propagation dynamics models to simulate the allocation of various resources, and some scholars also used mathematical optimization functions (36.36%) and machine learning algorithms (31.82%) to solve the problem of resource allocation; the results of the systematic review show that differential equation modeling was more considered when testing resources optimization, the optimization function or machine learning algorithm were mostly used to optimize the bed resources; the meta-analysis results showed that the epidemic trend was obviously effectively controlled through the optimal allocation of resources, and the average control efficiency was 0.38(95%CI 0.25–0.51); Subgroup analysis revealed that the average control efficiency from high to low was health specialists 0.48(95%CI 0.37–0.59), vaccines 0.47(95%CI 0.11–0.82), testing 0.38(95%CI 0.19–0.57), personal protective equipment (PPE) 0.38(95%CI 0.06–0.70), beds 0.34(95%CI 0.14–0.53), medicines and equipment for treatment 0.32(95%CI 0.12–0.51); Funnel plots and Egger's test showed no publication bias, and sensitivity analysis suggested robust results. Conclusion: When the data are insufficient and the simulation time is short, the researchers mostly use the constructor for research; When the data are relatively sufficient and the simulation time is long, researchers choose differential equations or machine learning algorithms for research. In addition, our study showed that control efficiency is an important indicator to evaluate the effectiveness of epidemic prevention and control. Through the optimization of medical staff and vaccine allocation, greater prevention and control effects can be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pursuit of sensitive fluorescent chromophores with integrated aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) and twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) properties are attractive due to the tunable emission properties and increased intensity. However, this type of chromophore has yet to be exemplified mechanistically. In this study, a strategy is presented for manipulating the formation of TICT and the AIE effect through molecular engineering. The feasibility of TICT properties is validated by theoretical calculations and ultrafast spectroscopies. By precisely adjusting the hydrophobicity of the donor group, the fluorescence is significantly enhanced through the addition of poor solvent. These findings not only provide mechanistic elucidation for chromophores exhibiting integrated TICT and AIE properties in various environmental conditions but also underscore the critical factors for the systematic design of chromophores with high tunability and strong emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The network structure of digital watermarking algorithm based on deep learning is usually encoder‐noise layer‐decoder. Most of the existing encoders suffer from the problem of insufficient feature extraction, and the introduction of simulated differentiable joint photographic experts group (JPEG) compression in the noise layer cannot ensure the robustness under real JPEG. In this paper, a watermarking algorithm based on multi‐scale auto‐encoder is proposed, which can effectively extract the image feature information by combining with the channel attention mechanism. At the same time, some parameters of decoder and encoder are shared to reduce redundant feature embedding and improve extraction accuracy. This paper also proposes a robust training scheme against JPEG compression, which can guide the model to store the watermark in the low‐frequency region needed for decoding. Experimental results show that the peak signal‐to‐noise ratio (PSNR) of the proposed algorithm is above 48 and the decoding rate is above 99% under JPEG compression with quality factor Q = 50. Moreover, this scheme can effectively promote the combination of noise layer in training. In addition, the proposed algorithm is also robust to other common network noises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the melting residue of the asthenosphere at ocean ridges, the oceanic mantle lithosphere is initially depleted, which might be re-enriched by various types of melts. However, the metasomatic enrichments in the sub-ridge mantle lithosphere are generally assumed to be limited, because these melts have low abundances of incompatible elements. In this study, we report a case of extreme metasomatic enrichment in abyssal peridotites from the Atlantis Bank oceanic core complex on the Southwest Indian Ridge. We identify two types of metasomatized peridotites (Type 1 and 2) and a clinopyroxenite, which show different degrees of interaction with evolved melts. Type 1 peridotite exhibits strong incompatible element zonation and negative Eu anomalies in clinopyroxene, indicating a short-term percolation of a modestly evolved mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB). Type 2 peridotite shows textural and trace element features consistent with the impregnation of a highly evolved, oxide-saturated MORB magma. The clinopyroxenite shows remarkable enrichments in iron and incompatible trace elements and negative Eu anomalies in clinopyroxene and contains abundant zircon and apatite, which imply reaction with an extremely evolved Fe–Zr–P-rich melt. We attribute such extreme mantle metasomatic enrichments to the lateral infiltration of variably evolved melts from a local magmatic center, which is now exposed as the Atlantis Bank gabbroic massif. As slow- and ultraslow-spreading ridges exhibit similarly discontinuous lower crust, the intervening shallow mantle between local magmatic centers may have been pervasively metasomatized by the evolved melts, leading the way for substantial mantle enrichment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freezing of gait (FoG) is one of the most distressing symptoms of Parkinson's Disease (PD), commonly occurring in patients at middle and late stages of the disease. Automatic and accurate FoG detection and prediction have emerged as a promising tool for long-term monitoring of PD and implementation of gait assistance systems. This paper reviews the recent development of FoG detection and prediction using wearable sensors, with attention on identifying knowledge gaps that need to be filled in future research. This review searched the PubMed and Web of Science databases to collect studies that detect or predict FoG with wearable sensors. After screening, 89 of 270 articles were included. The data description, extracted features, detection/prediction methods, and classification performance were extracted from the articles. As the number of papers of this area is increasing, the performance has been steadily improved. However, small datasets and inconsistent evaluation processes still hinder the application of FoG detection and prediction with wearable sensors in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Printed circuit boards play an increasingly important role in modern electronic systems. Equivalent dipole moments are widely used to reconstruct the radiated fields of printed circuit boards in view of the extremely high complexity. In this paper, an improved source reconstruction method based on complex‐valued neural network is proposed to investigate the radiation properties of printed circuit boards working in microwave frequency band. Firstly, the magnetic field data obtained from the near‐field scanning are utilized to construct a matrix equation based on the source reconstruction theory. Secondly, the kernel of the complex‐valued neural network is constructed through the algorithm of complex numbers, which eventually end up with the novel neural network with the help of the principle of regression optimization. Thirdly, the data obtained from the near‐field scanning are fed into the neural network for effective training to get the equivalent dipole model. Finally, several numerical examples and available measurement results are given to validate the method. Compared with the commonly used Tikhonov regularization method, the proposed method possesses higher accuracy and better robustness in noise suppression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) can significantly improve the turbine blades' high-temperature tolerance in turbine engines, the high surface roughness for the as-sprayed coating can have an adverse effect on engine performance. In order to reduce the roughness of the blade surface coating, for aero-engines and gas turbines blades, the industry's traditional method uses abrasive belts to polish the coating by manual pickup or robot clamping. The aero-engine blade studied in this paper, itself small size, the surface exhibits significant variations in curvature, the use of abrasive belt polishing method, difficult to control the polishing effect. For the current use of the model surface-based grid point division method, due to casting errors, the generated polishing path, and the actual blade, there is part of the accuracy error. To solve these problems, this paper proposes a polishing path planning method for surface TBCs applied to small blades of aero-engine turbines. By pre-processing and point cloud slicing the 3D point cloud of the blades, a polishing path is created using point cloud discretization and the B-spline curve fitting approach, guaranteeing that the accuracy error is within 0.1 mm. Simulation and experimental verification show that the method can reduce the surface roughness of blade coating to below Ra0.7 μm, which can meet the requirements and accuracy of polishing processing, while ensuring the effective thickness of the coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) is a rare but devastating complication post spinal surgery. We present three cases of post spine surgery ICH that were associated with high drain outputs postoperatively. The first patient underwent C1–C6 instrumented fusion and C4–C6 decompression. 950 mls hemoserous fluid was drained via suction drain immediately postoperatively. He suffered cerebral hemorrhage with tonsillar herniation and was brain dead on the same night. The second patient underwent C1–T1 instrumented fusion with C3–C4 decompression. 400 mls hemoserous fluid was drained via suction drain shortly after skin closure. He suffered subdural hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage and intraventricular hemorrhage, with persistent neurologic deficits and required long-term institutionalised care. The third patient underwent L2–L4 decompression and instrumented fusion. 480 mls hemoserous fluid was drained via suction drain 2 hours postoperatively. He suffered subdural haemorrhage but eventually recovered fully. An excessive drain output, especially within first few minutes to hours postoperatively, may signify a CSFleak. Suction drains should be used with caution in these cases as negative suction in the presence of a dura tear increases risk of post spine surgery ICH. In these cases, the use of non-suction drains should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ground‐state structure, average binding energy (Eb), fragmentation energies (ΔE), second‐order difference energy (Δ2E), gap between the highest occupied molecular orbital and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO‐LUMO), vertical ionization potential (VIP), vertical electron affinity (VEA), and charge transfer of SnnAln (n = 2–12) clusters are evaluated by density functional theory (DFT). With an increase in the cluster size n, Al atoms aggregate in the geometric center of the cluster, and Sn atoms encapsulate Al atoms in the periphery of the cluster. The variation of ΔE, Δ2E, the HOMO‐LUMO gap, VIP, and VEA of the SnnAln clusters follows similar trends, with certain odd–even oscillations. However, beyond the cluster size n ≥ 9, the HOMO‐LUMO gap decreases significantly, and the VIP and VEA fluctuate significantly, indicating a deterioration of the relative stability of the cluster. Charge transfer proceeds from the Sn atom to the Al atom. This study provides an analysis of the interaction between Sn and Al at the atomic level and explains the segregation phenomenon during the preparation of tin‐aluminum alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Joint super-resolution and pansharpening (JSP) brings new insight into the spatial improvement of multispectral images. How to efficiently balance the spatial and spectral qualities in JSP is important for deep learning-based approaches. To address this problem, we propose a unified interpretable deep network for JSP, named UIJSP-Net. First, we formulate the JSP problem as an optimization problem in a specially designed physical model based on the relationship among the JSP result, the multispectral image, and the panchromatic image. In particular, two deep priors are utilized to describe latent distributions of different variables, which can improve the accuracy of the physical model. Furthermore, we adopt the alternating direction method of multipliers to solve the above optimization problem, where a series of iterative steps are generated. Finally, we design UIJSP-Net by unfolding these iterative steps into multiple corresponding stages in a unified network. Because UIJSP-Net has clear physical meanings, the spatial resolution of multispectral images can be efficiently improved while the spectral information can be kept as well. Extensive experimental results are carried out on both simulated and real datasets to demonstrate the superiority of UIJSP-Net over other state-of-the-art methods from qualitative and quantitative aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ischemic stroke (IS) is a cerebrovascular disease with high incidence and mortality. White matter repair plays an important role in the long‐term recovery of neurological function after cerebral ischemia. Neuroprotective microglial responses can promote white matter repair and protect ischemic brain tissue. Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate whether hypoxic postconditioning (HPC) can promote white matter repair after IS, and the role and mechanism of microglial polarization in white matter repair after HPC treatment. Materials & Methods: Adult male C57/BL6 mice were randomly divided into three groups: Sham group (Sham), MCAO group (MCAO), and hypoxic postconditioning group (HPC). HPC group were subjected to 45 min of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) immediately followed by 40 min of HPC. Results: The results showed that HPC reduced the proinflammatory level of immune cells. Furthermore, HPC promoted the transformation of microglia to anti‐inflammatory phenotype on the third day after the procedure. HPC promoted the proliferation of oligodendrocyte progenitors and increased the expression of myelination‐related proteins on the 14th day. On the 28th day, HPC increased the expression of mature oligodendrocytes, which enhanced myelination. At the same time, the motor neurological function of mice was restored. Discussion: During the acute phase of cerebral ischemia, the function of proinflammatory immune cells was enhanced, long‐term white matter damage was aggravated, and motor sensory function was decreased. Conclusion: HPC promotes protective microglial responses and white matter repair after MCAO, which may be related to the proliferation and differentiation of oligodendrocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Without general adaptative immunity, invertebrates evolved a vast number of heterogeneous non-self recognition strategies. One of those well-known adaptations is the expansion of the immune receptor gene superfamily coding for scavenger receptor cysteine-rich domain containing proteins (SRCR) in a few invertebrates. Here, we investigated the evolutionary history of the SRCR gene superfamily (SRCR-SF) across 29 metazoan species with an emphasis on invertebrates. We analyzed their domain architectures, genome locations and phylogenetic distribution. Our analysis shows extensive genome-wide duplications of the SRCR-SFs in Amphimedon queenslandica and Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. Further molecular evolution study reveals various patterns of conserved cysteines in the sponge and sea urchin SRCR-SFs, indicating independent and convergent evolution of SRCR-SF expansion during invertebrate evolution. In the case of the sponge SRCR-SFs, a novel motif with seven conserved cysteines was identified. Exon–intron structure analysis suggests the rapid evolution of SRCR-SFs during gene duplications in both the sponge and the sea urchin. Our findings across nine representative metazoans also underscore a heightened expression of SRCR-SFs in immune-related tissues, notably the digestive glands. This observation indicates the potential role of SRCR-SFs in reinforcing distinct immune functions in these invertebrates. Collectively, our results reveal that gene duplication, motif structure variation, and exon–intron divergence might lead to the convergent evolution of SRCR-SF expansions in the genomes of the sponge and sea urchin. Our study also suggests that the utilization of SRCR-SF receptor duplication may be a general and basal strategy to increase immune diversity and tissue specificity for the invertebrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study Stackelberg stochastic differential game driven by stochastic differential equation (SDE for short) with random coefficients on infinite horizon under convex control constraint. The control enters into the drift and diffusion terms simultaneously. By employing the first-order adjoint equation (backward stochastic differential equation, BSDE for short), we are able to announce Pontryagin's maximum principle for the leader's global Stackelberg solution, within adapted open-loop structure, where the term global means that the leader's domination over the entire game duration. Due to the follower's adjoint equation develops into a BSDE, the leader will be confronted with a control problem where the state equation is a kind of infinite horizon fully coupled forward-backward stochastic differential equation (FBSDE for short). We shed light on an important application in a class of infinite horizon linear-quadratic (LQ for short) Stackelberg games in which the control process of leader's is constrained in a closed convex subset $ \Gamma _{1} $ Γ 1 of full space $ \mathbb {R}^{m_{1}} $ R m 1 . Whenever the control domain is postulated to be full space, we derive a new kind of infinite horizon backward stochastic Riccati equation (BSRE for short) with asymmetric coefficients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of long‐acting gonadotropin‐releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) long protocol on in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) outcomes of patients with repeated implantation failure (RIF). Methods: The present study was carried out from June 1, 2016 to June 30, 2021. A total of 665 patients with RIF were enrolled into the study and classified by the ovarian stimulation protocols. The outcome parameters were compared in each group. In addition, we evaluated the expression of homeobox A10 (HOXA10), integrin β3 and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) in endometrial tissues between groups by quantitative RT‐PCR. Results: Patients who received the long‐acting GnRHa long protocol had significantly higher clinical pregnancy rates (58.0%, 41.7% and 39.9%, respectively; P = 0.008 and 0.003), implantation rates (38.1%, 30.3%, and 30.1%, respectively; P = 0.001 and <0.001) and live birth rates (50.3%, 36.3%, and 31.3%, respectively; P = 0.020 and 0.002) compared with the short‐acting GnRHa long protocol and GnRH antagonist protocol. In addition, we found that long‐acting GnRHa could improve the expression of HOXA10 (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The long‐acting GnRHa long protocol could improve endometrial receptivity and IVF/ICSI clinical outcomes of RIF patients compared with the short‐acting GnRHa long protocol and GnRH antagonist protocol. Synopsis: The long‐acting GnRHa long protocol could improves the clinical pregnancy rate, implantation rate and live birth rate of RIF patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The better application of robot technology in space unstructured scenes has become an important research topic. How to adapt to limited workspace and maintain high reliability sampling activities on unstructured surfaces with unknown geometric information and physical features poses high requirements for the implementation of automated sampling missions for extraterrestrial celestial bodies (ECBs). This work introduces a biomimetic adhesion sampler PBAS. It expects to achieve multisite core sampling activities on the unstructured surface of ECBs under astronaut assistance or unmanned automatic operation. Different from previous sampler, the system adopts novel modular structure design and has made improvements to the bionic adhesion mechanism, percussive and drilling mechanism, power transmission and sensing mechanism, and control mechanism. PBAS can firmly adhere to unstructured surfaces and efficiently obtain complete coring samples through penetration and drilling activities. It is compact and lightweight and has high portability, good reusability, excellent efficiency, as well as better performance in automatic sampling operations. Finally, to verify the effectiveness and reliability of the PBAS, a testing apparatus was designed. Relevant tests were conducted outdoors and in the laboratory. The experimental results indicate that PBAS can successfully adhere to surfaces with different characteristics and obtain coring samples with a length exceeding 50 mm. • The operation mode and design criteria of the PBAS system are provided. • Design details and mechanism model are analyzed. • Relevant experimental platform and environment are introdudced. • Preliminary filed test results are presented. • Some discussion and conclusion remarks are made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the electrostatic elimination speed and ability of corona ionizers, the distance from the hole to the center of the tungsten needle R , the height of the inner wall H , and the distance from the tungsten needle to the inner wall L were selected as variables to optimize the structural parameters of the ionizer nozzle. The average flow rate V a and flow field uniformity γ were proposed as the responses to evaluate the performance of the ionizer. Response surface methodology (RSM) and face-centered cubic (CCF) design were used to systematically study the influence of structural parameters on the performance of the ionizer. A computational fluid domain model of the ionizer was established and simulated by computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Finally, the regression equations between V a or γ and structural parameters were obtained through multiple regression analysis. The result shows that the feasibility of using the flow field parameter as an index of the ionizer is confirmed. By means of analysis of variance, the sensitivities of structural parameters affecting V a are F(R ) > F(L ) > F(H ), and the sensitivities of structural parameters affecting γ are F(L ) > F(R ) > F(H ). The optimal structural parameters are R =5.998 mm, H =5.520 mm, and L =1.184 mm. With the optimum nozzle geometry, the static electricity elimination performance can be improved. The decay time is less than 2.5 s and the offset voltage is not more than 6 V when the ionizer B ventilation pressure is 0.2 MPa and the distance is 30–80 cm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Prostate cancer is the most common non-cutaneous malignancy among men in the United States. Bone metastases and health are crucial issues in prostate cancer patient management. The aim of our review was to summarize the novel therapeutic targets of prostate cancer with bone metastasis, including treatments to palliate pain and therapies to prevent complications of osseous metastasis. Additionally, our study offers a comprehensive overview of the research on bone metastases in prostate cancer, which can be a valuable resource for researchers in the field. In the absence of early detection and initial treatment, prostate cancer often progresses to an advanced stage, frequently spreading to the bones and significantly impacting patients' well-being and healthcare resources. Therefore, managing patients with prostate cancer that has spread to the bones often involves using bone-targeted medications like bisphosphonates and denosumab to enhance bone structure and minimize skeletal complications. Additionally, researchers are studying the tumor microenvironment and biomarkers to understand the mechanisms and potential treatment targets for bone metastases in prostate cancer. A literature search was conducted to identify clinical studies from 2013 to 2023 that focused on pain, performance status, or quality of life as primary outcomes. The analysis included details such as patient recruitment, prior palliative therapies, baseline characteristics, follow-up, and outcome reporting. The goal was to highlight the advancements and trends in bone metastasis research in prostate cancer over the past decade, with the aim of developing strategies to prevent and treat bone metastases and improve the quality of life and survival rates for prostate cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of wastewater treatment agents with high treatment capacity and efficient separation is crucial for the remediation of heavy metal ions and organic dye wastewater. In this study, a polyrhodanine functional magnetic-activated carbon composite (PR-mAC) was synthesized via a one-step co-precipitation method combined with chemical oxidation polymerization. As an innovative water treatment agent, PR-mAC possesses not only environmentally friendly and easily obtainable raw materials but also magnetic properties that facilitate its reusability. Notably, PR-mAC exhibited remarkable removal efficiency towards lead ion (Pb(II)) and malachite green (MG). Experimental results demonstrated that the adsorption of Pb(II) and MG followed quasi-second-order kinetic model, while the Hill isothermal adsorption model and Redlich–Peterson isothermal adsorption model were suitable for Pb(II) and MG removal, respectively. All adsorption processes were spontaneous endothermic reactions. The maximum adsorption capacities reached 223.71 mg/g and 315.46mg/g, respectively. Even after undergoing 5 cycles, the material maintained satisfactory removal performance for Pb(II) and MG pollutants. Therefore, the prepared PR-mAC represents an optimal agent for wastewater treatment due to its effective capability in removing both metal ions and dyes. The magnetic activated carbon was first prepared by the co-precipitation method, and then the polyrhodanine functionalized magnetic activated carbon composite (PR-mAC) was successfully prepared by the chemical oxidation polymerization method. PR-mAC has good adsorption performance and reusability for lead ions (Pb(II)) ions and malachite green (MG). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dusts from furnaces for pyrometallurgical refining of copper (Cu) in which arsenic (As) was pre-removed through the use of vacuum carbothermal reduction methods could be used as raw materials. After treating the As pre-removed dusts through oxidative leaching using waste acids, the process of neutralizing and precipitating As and iron (Fe) in the leaching solution was investigated, as well as the precipitation and stabilization process of As and Fe residues. The results show that the leaching rate of Cu, Zn, and As from such dusts can reach 98.98%, 97.46%, and 95.22%, respectively, after leaching operation with waste acids under a liquid–solid ratio of 8:1, a leaching temperature of 80°C, an airflow rate of 300 ml/min, and a leaching time of 120 min. When the molar ratio of Fe to As (n(Fe)/n(As)) is 1.50 in the solution after advanced oxidization, and the final pH value of neutralization is 2.0, the precipitation rate of As and Cu in the residues as ferric arsenates is 93.65% and 2.2%, respectively. As and Fe are neutralized and precipitated, which allows Cu to enter the solution, while As enters the residues. After being transformed, the unstable As and Fe residues can be stockpiled as nontoxic, stable waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gastric cancer is characterized by high invasiveness, heterogeneity, and late diagnosis, leading to high incidence and mortality rates. It is a significant public health concern globally. Early prevention is crucial in reducing the occurrence of gastric cancer, and dietary prevention, particularly focusing on carotenoids, has been considered a convenient and effective approach. However, the association between carotenoid intake and gastric cancer incidence remains controversial. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Ovid Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases from inception to January 5, 2023. Two reviewers independently screened search results, extracted relevant data, and evaluated study quality. Statistical analysis was performed using the "metan" command in STATA 16 software. Random-effects or fixed-effects models were chosen based on the magnitude of heterogeneity among studies. Results: This study included a total of 35 publications, consisting of 23 case–control studies and 12 cohort studies. Meta-analysis of case–control studies showed that alpha-carotene (OR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.55–0.92), beta-carotene (OR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.53–0.72), and lutein (OR = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.69–0.97) significantly reduced the risk of gastric cancer, while beta-cryptoxanthin (OR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.75–1.04) and lycopene (OR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.73–1.00) showed no significant correlation. Meta-analysis of cohort studies indicated no significant associations between any of the five carotenoids and gastric cancer incidence (alpha-carotene: RR = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.54–1.23; beta-carotene: RR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.64–1.16; beta-cryptoxanthin: RR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.64–1.16; lutein: RR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.69–1.29; lycopene: RR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.69–1.14). Conclusions: The relationship between carotenoids and gastric cancer incidence may vary depending on the type of study conducted. Considering that evidence from cohort studies is generally considered stronger than evidence from case–control studies, and high-quality randomized controlled trials show no significant association between carotenoids and gastric cancer incidence, current evidence does not support the supplementation of carotenoids for gastric cancer prevention. Further targeted research is needed to explore the association between the two. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premature ovarian failure (POF) is a leading cause of women's infertility without effective treatment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effects of Luffa cylindrica fermentation liquid (LF) on cyclophosphamide (CTX) -induced POF in mice and to preliminarily investigate the underlying mechanisms. Thirty-two Balb/c mice were divided into four groups randomly. One group served as the control, while the other three received CTX injections to establish POF models. A 14-day gavage of either 5 or 10 μL/g LF was administered to two LF pretreatment groups. To analyze the effects of LF, the ovarian index, follicle number, the levels of serum sex hormones, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), inflammatory factors, and apoptosis of the ovarian cells were measured. The effects of LF pretreatment on the expression of TLR4/NF-κB and apoptosis pathways were also evaluated. We found that LF pretreatment increased the ovarian index and the number of primordial and antral follicles while decreasing those of atretic follicles. LF pretreatment also increased the serum levels of estradiol (E2) and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), while decreasing those of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Furthermore, LF pretreatment increased the levels of SOD and GSH in the ovaries, while decreasing those of MDA, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). LF administration reduced the amount of TUNEL+ ovarian cells and the levels of TLR4 and NF-κB P65 protein expression. In conclusion, LF has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory as well as anti-apoptotic effects against CTX-induced POF, and the inhibition of TLR4/NF-κB and apoptosis pathways may be involved in its mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient and durable electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) play an important role in the use of hydrogen energy. Rutile RuO2, despite being considered as an advanced electrocatalyst for the OER, performs poorly in stability due to its easy oxidative dissolution at very positive (oxidizing) potentials. Herein, we report a type of Co-doped RuO2 nanoparticle for boosting OER catalytic activity and stability in alkaline solutions. The replacement of Ru by Co atoms with a lower ionic valence and smaller electronegativity can promote the generation of O vacancies and increase the electron density around Ru, thus enhancing the adsorption of oxygen species and inhibiting the peroxidative dissolution of RuO2 during the OER process. It was found that Ru0.95Co0.05Oy exhibited excellent OER performance with overpotentials as low as 217 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and 290 mV at 100 mA cm−2 in 1 M KOH, as well as outstanding stability in continuous testing for 50 h at a current density of 100 mA cm−2, and nearly no significant degradation after the accelerated durability test of 2000 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractIn property insurance claims triage, insurers often use static information to assess the severity of a claim and to identify the subsequent actions. We hypothesize that the pattern of weather conditions throughout the course of a loss event is predictive of the insured losses, and hence appropriate use of weather dynamics improves the operation of insurers’ claim management. To test this hypothesis, we propose a deep learning method to incorporate dynamic weather information in the predictive modeling of the insured losses for reported claims. The proposed method features a hierarchical network architecture to address the challenges in claims triage due to the nature of weather dynamics. In the empirical analysis, we examine a portfolio of hail damage property insurance claims obtained from a major U.S. insurance carrier. When supplemented by dynamic weather information, the deep learning method exhibits substantial improvement in the hold-out predictive performance. We further design a cost-conscious decision strategy for triaging claims using the probabilistic forecasts of the insurance claim amounts. We show that leveraging weather dynamics in claims triage leads to a reduction of up to 9% and 6% in operational costs compared to when the triaging decision is based on forecasts without any weather information and with only static weather information, respectively. Supplementary materials for this article are available online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Points: Question: Will an immune checkpoint blocker in combination with perioperative chemotherapy improve event-free survival and major pathological response in patients with resectable non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)? Findings: The prespecified interim analysis of event-free survival revealed that the addition of toripalimab to platinum-based chemotherapy showed statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in event-free survival compared with chemotherapy alone in patients with stage III NSCLC, while maintaining a manageable safety profile. Meaning: The demonstrated event-free survival benefits support the use of toripalimab in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy as a new treatment option for patients with stage III resectable NSCLC. Importance: Adjuvant and neoadjuvant immunotherapy have improved clinical outcomes for patients with early-stage non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the optimal combination of checkpoint inhibition with chemotherapy remains unknown. Objective: To determine whether toripalimab in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy will improve event-free survival and major pathological response in patients with stage II or III resectable NSCLC compared with chemotherapy alone. Design, Setting, and Participants: This randomized clinical trial enrolled patients with stage II or III resectable NSCLC (without EGFR or ALK alterations for nonsquamous NSCLC) from March 12, 2020, to June 19, 2023, at 50 participating hospitals in China. The data cutoff date for this interim analysis was November 30, 2022. Interventions: Patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive 240 mg of toripalimab or placebo once every 3 weeks combined with platinum-based chemotherapy for 3 cycles before surgery and 1 cycle after surgery, followed by toripalimab only (240 mg) or placebo once every 3 weeks for up to 13 cycles. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcomes were event-free survival (assessed by the investigators) and the major pathological response rate (assessed by blinded, independent pathological review). The secondary outcomes included the pathological complete response rate (assessed by blinded, independent pathological review) and adverse events. Results: Of the 501 patients randomized, 404 had stage III NSCLC (202 in the toripalimab + chemotherapy group and 202 in the placebo + chemotherapy group) and 97 had stage II NSCLC and were excluded from this interim analysis. The median age was 62 years (IQR, 56-65 years), 92% of patients were male, and the median follow-up was 18.3 months (IQR, 12.7-22.5 months). For the primary outcome of event-free survival, the median length was not estimable (95% CI, 24.4 months-not estimable) in the toripalimab group compared with 15.1 months (95% CI, 10.6-21.9 months) in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.40 [95% CI, 0.28-0.57], P <.001). The major pathological response rate (another primary outcome) was 48.5% (95% CI, 41.4%-55.6%) in the toripalimab group compared with 8.4% (95% CI, 5.0%-13.1%) in the placebo group (between-group difference, 40.2% [95% CI, 32.2%-48.1%], P <.001). The pathological complete response rate (secondary outcome) was 24.8% (95% CI, 19.0%-31.3%) in the toripalimab group compared with 1.0% (95% CI, 0.1%-3.5%) in the placebo group (between-group difference, 23.7% [95% CI, 17.6%-29.8%]). The incidence of immune-related adverse events occurred more frequently in the toripalimab group. No unexpected treatment-related toxic effects were identified. The incidence of grade 3 or higher adverse events, fatal adverse events, and adverse events leading to discontinuation of treatment were comparable between the groups. Conclusions and Relevance: The addition of toripalimab to perioperative chemotherapy led to a significant improvement in event-free survival for patients with resectable stage III NSCLC and this treatment strategy had a manageable safety profile. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04158440 This randomized clinical trial compares the effects of toripalimab in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy vs chemotherapy alone on event-free survival and major pathological response in patients with stage III resectable non–small cell lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conversion‐type electrodes offer a promising multielectron transfer alternative to intercalation hosts with potentially high‐capacity release in batteries. However, the poor cycle stability severely hinders their application, especially in aqueous multivalence‐ion systems, which can fundamentally impute to anisotropic ion diffusion channel collapse in pristine crystals and irreversible bond fracture during repeated conversion. Here, an amorphous bismuth sulfide (a‐BS) formed in situ with unprecedentedly self‐controlled moderate conversion Cu2+ storage is proposed to comprehensively regulate the isotropic ion diffusion channels and highly reversible bond evolution. Operando synchrotron X‐ray diffraction and substantive verification tests reveal that the total destruction of the Bi─S bond and unsustainable deep alloying are fully restrained. The amorphous structure with robust ion diffusion channels, unique self‐controlled moderate conversion, and high electrical conductivity discharge products synergistically boosts the capacity (326.7 mAh g−1 at 1 A g−1), rate performance (194.5 mAh g−1 at 10 A g−1), and long‐lifespan stability (over 8000 cycles with a decay rate of only 0.02 ‰ per cycle). Moreover, the a‐BS Cu2+‖Zn2+ hybrid ion battery can well supply a stable energy density of 238.6 Wh kg−1 at 9760 W kg−1. The intrinsically high‐stability conversion mechanism explored on amorphous electrodes provides a new opportunity for advanced aqueous storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Adipose tissue (AT) plays an important role in maintaining lipid homeostasis and regulating immune function in mammals. However, the regulatory functions and mechanisms of avian AT in immune response have not been reported. In this study, we found that chicken AT actively responded to stress-induced immunosuppression (SIIS), and adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A), and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR) all constitute the key genes involved in the processes of SIIS inhibiting the immune response to the Newcastle disease virus vaccine. Moreover, SIIS significantly inhibited the different phases of the primary and secondary immune response in AT through the upregulation of steroid anabolism. Interestingly, AT could inhibit or promote immune responses through the upregulation or downregulation of steroid metabolism, respectively. The miR-29a/c-3p-HMGCR network is a potential regulation mechanism of AT participating in immune response and circulating miR-29a/c-3p is a potential molecular marker. This study can provide references for further investigating the immune functions of AT. Lipid metabolism plays an important role in maintaining lipid homeostasis and regulating immune functions. However, the regulations and mechanisms of lipid metabolism on the regional immune function of avian adipose tissue (AT) have not been reported. In this study, qRT-PCR was used to investigate the changes and relationships of different lipid metabolism pathways in chicken AT during stress-induced immunosuppression (SIIS) inhibiting immune response to Newcastle disease virus vaccine, then the miRNA regulation patterns of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR) gene and its potential applications were further identified. The results showed that AT actively responded to SIIS, and ATGL, CPT1A and HMGCR were all the key genes involved in the processes of SIIS inhibiting the immune responses. SIIS significantly inhibited the natural and specific immune phases of the primary immune response and the initiation phase of the secondary immune response in AT by suppressing T cells by up-regulating steroid anabolism. Moreover, steroid metabolism could play dual roles in regulating the regional immune functions of AT. The miR-29a/c-3p-HMGCR network was a potential regulation mechanism of steroid metabolism in AT, and serum circulating miR-29a/c-3p had the potential as molecular markers. The study can provide valuable references for an in-depth investigation of the regional immune functions regulated by lipid metabolism in AT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Hypoxia is one of the most frequent adverse events under deep sedation in the semiprone position. We hypothesized that supraglottic jet oxygenation and ventilation (SJOV) via Wei nasal jet tube (WNJ) can reduce the incidence of hypoxia in patients under deep sedation during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Methods: A total of 171 patients were divided into three groups: N group, supplementary oxygen via a nasopharyngeal airway (4–6 L/min); W group, supplementary oxygen via WNJ (4–6 L/min); WS group, SJOV via WNJ. The primary outcome was the incidence of adverse events, including sedation-related adverse events [SRAEs, hypoxemia (SpO2 = 75–89% lasted less than 60 s); severe hypoxemia (SpO2 < 75% at any time or SpO2 < 90% lasted more than 60 s] and subclinical respiratory depression (SpO2 = 90–95%). Other intraoperative and post-operative adverse events were also recorded as secondary outcomes. Results: Compared with the N group, the incidence of hypoxemia and subclinical respiratory depression in the WS group was significantly lower (21% vs. 4%, P = 0.005; 27% vs. 6%, P = 0.002). Compared with Group W, the incidence of hypoxemia and subclinical respiratory depression in Group WS was also significantly less frequent (20% vs. 4%, P = 0.009; 21% vs. 6%, P = 0.014). No severe hypoxia occurred in the group WS, while four and one instances were observed in the group N and group W respectively. There were no significant differences in other adverse events among the three groups. Conclusion: SJOV can effectively improve oxygenation during ERCP in deeply sedated semiprone patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optimization of the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is a crucial aspect in improving the performance of high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells (HT-PEMFCs). Through experimental validation, a three-dimensional HT-PEMFC computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was established to simulate the transport of charge, mass, and momentum across various porous layers. A deep neural network (DNN) was designed to quantify the influence of porous layer structures on cells performance and determined the optimal solution of the MEA parameters for different Pt loadings. The training data of DNN were generated using 11 porous layer structural parameters selected via a Monte Carlo method, and their corresponding current densities predicted by the validated HT-PEMFC CFD model. The DNN model showed an average relative error of only 0.76% in predicting current density when compared to CFD simulations. Using a bi-objective genetic algorithm (GA) in conjunction with the DNN model, the optimized cell power densities at a voltage of 0.4 V and Pt loadings of 0.3 mg/cm2 and 0.5 mg/cm2 are 18% and 9% higher than the maximum values reported in the literature, respectively. The proposed approach combining DNN model and GA can serve as a useful guide for the design of HT-PEMFC in practical applications. • HT-PEMFC CFD model is validated by published experimental data. • Data-driven DNN model achieves 0.76% mean relative error for predictions. • DNN model couples with genetic algorithm to optimize porous layer structures. • Cell performance can improve 18% and 9% at Pt loadings of 0.3 and 0.5 mg/cm2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]