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Source-free domain adaptation (SFDA) aims to transfer source knowledge to the target domain from pre-trained source models without accessing private source data. Existing SFDA methods typically adopt the self-training strategy employing the pre-trained source model to generate pseudo-labels for unlabeled target data. However, these methods are subject to strict limitations: (1) The discrepancy between source and target domains results in intense noise and unreliable pseudo-labels. Overfitting noisy pseudo-labeled target data will lead to drastic performance degradation. (2) Considering the class-imbalanced pseudo-labels, the target model is prone to forget the minority classes. Aiming at these two limitations, this study proposes a CROss domain Teacher–Student learning framework (namely CROTS) to achieve source-free domain adaptive semantic segmentation. Specifically, with pseudo-labels provided by the intra-domain teacher model, CROTS incorporates Spatial-Aware Data Mixing to generate diverse samples by randomly mixing different patches respecting to their spatial semantic layouts. Meanwhile, during inter-domain teacher–student learning, CROTS fosters Rare-Class Patches Mining strategy to mitigate the class imbalance phenomenon. To this end, the inter-domain teacher model helps exploit long-tailed rare classes and promote their contributions to student learning. Extensive experimental results have demonstrated that: (1) CROTS mitigates the overfitting issue and contributes to stable performance improvement, i.e., + 16.0% mIoU and + 16.5% mIoU for SFDA in GTA5 → Cityscapes and SYNTHIA → Cityscapes, respectively; (2) CROTS improves task performance for long-tailed rare classes, alleviating the issue of class imbalance; (3) CROTS achieves superior performance comparing to other SFDA competitors; (4) CROTS can be applied under the black-box SFDA setting, even outperforming many white-box SFDA methods. Our codes will be publicly available at https://github.com/luoxin13/CROTS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An economical and stable single-shot pulse picker design without dispersion, nonlinear effect, and limitation on wavelength is proposed. This design is composed of a periodic pulse blocker (PPB), a control unit, and a mechanical shutter. It has successfully been applied to the commercial high-fluence femtosecond laser with 11-mm beam diameter, 2-mJ pulse energy, and 1-kHz repetition rate. Significantly, by incorporating commercial optical choppers equipped with custom-designed chopper blades in the PPB, this design can accommodate lasers with fluences reaching 610 mJ/cm2 and the standard 1 kHz repetition rate typical of high-fluence lasers. Furthermore, the proposed design provides a cost-effective substitute compared to using electro-optic modulators or acousto-optic modulators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid development of mobile Internet technology has brought about the flourishing growth of social media live streaming. This study employs social presence theory as the primary framework to investigate the impact of Facebook Live's features of sociality, immediacy, and entertainment on users' sense of presence. These features were then considered within the dimensions of awareness, emotion, and cognition. The influence of social presence on user engagement behaviors was divided into browsing behavior, interactive behavior, and creative behavior. Using snowball sampling, an online survey was administered to Facebook Live users, and 416 valid responses were collected. The research team used software to analyze the data, primarily encompassing descriptive statistics, reliability and validity analyses, structural equation modeling, and mediation effects testing. The research findings are as follows. First, the media characteristics of Facebook Live significantly influence the sense of presence. Specifically, sociality, immediacy, and entertainment on Facebook Live have a notable impact on users' awareness, emotion, and cognition. Second, different dimensions of social presence have distinct effects on various user engagement behaviors. Notably, the dimensions of awareness, emotion, and cognition of social presence positively affect users' browsing and interactive behaviors, while emotion influences users' creative behavior. The third finding was that awareness, emotion, and cognition act as intermediates between Facebook Live's media characteristics and user engagement behaviors. Implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vehicle detection is crucial for traffic surveillance and assisted driving. To overcome the loss of efficiency, accuracy, and stability in low-light conditions, we propose a lightweight "You Only Look Once" (YOLO) detection model. A polarized self-attention-enhanced aggregation feature pyramid network is used to improve feature extraction and fusion in low-light scenarios, and enhanced "Swift" spatial pyramid pooling is used to reduce model parameters and enhance real-time nighttime detection. To address imbalanced low-light samples, we integrate an anchor mechanism with a focal loss to improve network stability and accuracy. Ablation experiments show the superior accuracy and real-time performance of our Light-YOLO model. Compared with EfficientNetv2-YOLOv5, Light-YOLO boosts mAP@0.5 and mAP@0.5:0.95 by 4.03 and 2.36%, respectively, cuts parameters by 44.37%, and increases recognition speed by 20.42%. Light-YOLO competes effectively with advanced lightweight networks and offers a solution for efficient nighttime vehicle-detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) are promising renewable energy storage device with higher energy density. During charging/discharging, the electrodeposition or dendrite growth on surface of Li electrode and temperature influence thermo-electrochemical behaviors in LMBs greatly. Coupling electrochemical reaction kinetic equations and thermal relations in electrode, as well as diffusion migrating equations of Li+ ion in electrolyte is employed to investigate the effects of temperature, charging current density, volume fraction of active solid and Li concentration in positive electrode, as well as salt concentration in electrolyte on the entropy production relating to power consumption and Joule heat, as well as cell voltage and overpotential in positive electrode and negative electrode with protrusion surface during charging. More polarization reactions together with larger heat generation take place, and cause more entropy generation in area of protrusion. The voltage efficiency is defined to evaluate thermo-electrochemical behaviors in LMBs, and the higher voltage efficiency occurs with the decrease in charging current density. The 93.6% voltage efficiency can be obtained in the case with solid-phase volume fraction of 0.518 in positive electrode under charging current density of 43.608A/m2. All results from investigation will be beneficial to obtain better thermo-electrochemical behavior in Li metal batteries. • Higher voltage efficiency occurs with smaller charging current density. • Lower overpotential and more Joule heat occur with the decrease in temperature. • Larger entropy generation on top of protrusion on surface of negative electrode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Anthocyanins, the main pigments in plants, are influenced by both temperature and photoperiod. However, the specific mechanisms underlying anthocyanin accumulation in tea plants in response to these two environmental factors remain unclear. (2) Methods: This study subjected potted 'Ziyan' tea plants to four types of day-length and temperature treatments (HL (28 °C, 16 h), HS (28 °C, 8 h), LL (18 °C, 16 h), and LS (18 °C, 8 h)), and then conducted targeted metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses of the samples. (3) Results: Long photoperiods and low temperatures both promoted anthocyanin accumulation in the new shoots of the tea plants. Furthermore, the enhancing effects of these two environmental factors on anthocyanin accumulation are additive and exhibit interactive effects. Through a combined analysis of metabolomics and transcriptomics, five key differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) and twenty-two key differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, the latter being found to participate in the regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis pathways under varying light and temperature conditions. In summary, extended photoperiods primarily increase the content levels of ten metabolites, including cyanidin and naringenin-7-O-glucoside, by upregulating CHS, F3H, and ANS genes. In contrast, low temperatures primarily enhance the synthesis of seven anthocyanins, including cyanidin and cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside, by upregulating the ANS and UFGT genes. (4) Conclusions: Collectively, the differences in the expression levels of CHS, F3H, ANS, and UFGT might be responsible for 'Ziyan' tea plants' purple shoot coloration, providing important data towards the discovery of candidate genes and molecular bases controlling the purple leaves of these tea plants under varied photoperiods and temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have studied the strong decay properties of the recently observed T c s ¯ 0 a (2900) + + / 0 by considering it as a c u d ¯ s ¯ / c d u ¯ s ¯ fully open-flavor tetraquark state with I (J P) = 1 (0 +) . In the framework of QCD sum rules, we have calculated the three-point correlation functions of the two-body strong decay processes T c s ¯ 0 a (2900) + + → D s + π + , D + K + , D s ∗ + ρ + and D s 1 + π + . The full width of T c s ¯ 0 a (2900) + + / 0 is obtained as 161.7 ± 94.8 MeV, which is consistent with the experimental observation. We predict the relative branching ratios as Γ (T → D s π) : Γ (T → D K) : Γ (T → D s ∗ ρ) : Γ (T → D s 1 π) ≈ 1.00 : 1.10 : 0.04 : 0.43 , implying that the main decay modes of T c s ¯ 0 a (2900) + + / 0 state are D s π and DK channels in our calculations. However, the P-wave decay mode D s 1 π is also comparable and important by including the uncertainties. To further identify the nature of T c s ¯ 0 a (2900) + + / 0 , we suggest confirming them in the DK and D s π final states, and measuring the above ratios in future experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the thermodynamics of ammonia combustion at engine conditions and subsequent selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR) of the products, emphasizing the production of nitrogen oxides (NO X) through the minimization of Gibbs free energy. The results showed a good correlation with existing research about ammonia combustion and SNCR. NO X production increased with temperature, decreased with increasing ammonia equivalence ratio, and was largely independent of pressure. At the conditions with the highest NO X production, the NO X concentration peaked at 21,963 ppm. The ammonia combustion reaction was exothermic at high temperatures and had a reaction enthalpy that decreased with temperature and increased with an increasing ammonia equivalence ratio. Further, the SNCR simulation indicated that reducing large NO X concentrations produced during ammonia combustion could be thermodynamically favorable up to over 98% through selective non-catalytic reduction. [Display omitted] • HSC Chemistry was used to simulate ammonia combustion and subsequent SNCR. • The maximum post-combustion NO X concentration was 21,963 ppm. • The SNCR simulation resulted in reduction percentages between 97.98% and 99.66%. • N 2 O reduction was observed in SNCR, indicating simulation limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The double-network PVA-PPy hydrogels were prepared by the freeze-thawing and in-situ polymerization method. The PVA network and PPy network formed interpenetrating networks through hydrogen bonding and physical entanglement, which boosted the mechanical properties and ion diffusion characteristics. [Display omitted] The growing demands of flexible and wearable electronic devices boost the rapid development of flexible supercapacitors (FSCs). Conductive hydrogels are considered to be one type of promising electrode materials for FSCs due to their good processability and electrochemical properties. However, the poor mechanical properties of conductive hydrogels hinder their practical applications. Building robust cross-linked network structures is a feasible way to enhance their mechanical properties. Herein, the double-network polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-polypyrrole (PPy) conductive hydrogels are synthesized by the freeze–thaw and in-situ polymerization method. The double-network structure not only enhances mechanical properties of the hydrogels, but also promotes their electrolyte ion transport. The maximum elongation at break of the optimized PVA-PPy hydrogels can reach 156.4%, and the specific capacitance is 1718.7 mF cm−2 at 0.5 mA cm−2. Furthermore, the energy densities of the symmetrical PVA-PPy FSCs are 46.7 and 13.3 μWh cm−2 at power densities of 200.0 and 2000.0 μW cm−2. Such excellent electrochemical performances and mechanical properties make the synthesized PVA-PPy hydrogels a promising candidate for FSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forcing pathways between urban surfaces (impervious and pervious pavers) and near-surface air temperature were measured and investigated with a network of multiple sensors. Utilizing field data measured between April 2021 and May 2022, and assuming that the influential variables follow the basic heat-transfer energy-balance equations, multiple regression-based statistical models were built to predict the surface temperature and near-surface air temperature (0.05 m, 0.5 m, 1 m, 2 m, and 3 m) of one impervious paver site and one pervious paver site in Taipei City, Taiwan. Evaporative cooling was found to be more influential on the pervious paver with a statistically significant influence on the microclimate up to 1.8 m (and up to 0.7 m for the impervious paver), using in situ data with an ambient air temperature higher than 24 °C. The surface temperature is mainly affected by solar shortwave radiation and ambient air temperature. As for near-surface air temperature, ambient air temperature is the most influential factor, followed by surface temperature. The importance of surface temperature indicates the influence of upwelling longwave radiation on the microclimate. The predictive equations show that pervious surfaces can help cities with hot and humid climates fight the changing climate in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluating the levels of the biomarker carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) is crucial in early cancer diagnosis and prognosis assessment. In this study, an antifouling electrochemical immunosensor was developed for the label-free detection of CA19-9, in which bovine serum albumin (BSA) and graphene were cross-linked with the aid of glutaraldehyde to form a 3D conductive porous network on the surface of an electrode. The electrochemical immunosensor was characterized through the use of transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscope (AFM), UV spectroscopy, and electrochemical methods. The level of CA19-9 was determined through the use of label-free electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements. The electron transfer at the interface of the electrode was well preserved in human serum samples, demonstrating that this electrochemical immunosensor has excellent antifouling performance. CA19-9 could be detected in a wide range from 13.5 U/mL to 1000 U/mL, with a detection limit of 13.5 U/mL in human serum samples. This immunosensor also exhibited good selectivity and stability. The detection results of this immunosensor were further validated and compared using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). All the results confirmed that this immunosensor has a good sensing performance in terms of CA19-9, suggesting its promising application prospects in clinical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As potential intravesical exfoliants for the treatment of bladder cancer, four new imdiazolium salts have been prepared. These compounds are modified on the nitrogen positions of the 4,5‐diphenyl‐1H‐imidazole or benzimidazole rings with naphthalen‐2‐ylmethyl groups, and the 2 positions on the azolium cations are occupied by arene rings. The 4,5‐diphenyl‐1H‐imidazole and benzimidazole precursors are produced from 1,2‐phenylenediamine and benzil respectively, and the imidazolium cations are generated from sequential alkylation of the nitrogen positions using 2‐bromomethyl naphthalene. The four imidazolium salts were screened for their chemotherapuetic activity using the NCI‐60 Human Tumour Cell Line Screen, and we observed that the cytotoxicity was more dependent on the identity of the imidazolium group (benzimidazolium versus diphenylimidazolium) rather than on the 2‐aryl position structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mineral trioxide aggregates (MTA) are commonly used as endodontic filling materials but suffer from a long setting time and tooth discoloration. In the present study, the feasibility of using barium titanate (BTO) for discoloration and a calcium chloride (CaCl2) solution to shorten the setting time was investigated. BTO powder was prepared using high-energy ball milling for 3 h, followed by sintering at 700–1300 °C for 2 h. X-ray diffraction was used to examine the crystallinity and crystalline size of the as-milled and heat-treated powders. MTA-like cements were then prepared using 20–40 wt.% BTO as a radiopacifier and solidified using a 0–30% CaCl2 solution. The corresponding radiopacity, diametral tensile strength (DTS), initial and final setting times, and discoloration performance were examined. The experimental results showed that for the BTO powder prepared using a combination of mechanical milling and heat treatment, the crystallinity and crystalline size increased with the increasing sintering temperature. The BTO sintered at 1300 °C (i.e., BTO-13) exhibited the best radiopacity and DTS. The MTA-like cement supplemented with 30% BTO-13 and solidified with a 10% CaCl2 solution exhibited a radiopacity of 3.68 ± 0.24 mmAl and a DTS of 2.54 ± 0.28 MPa, respectively. In the accelerated discoloration examination using UV irradiation, the color difference was less than 1.6 and significantly lower than the clinically perceptible level (3.7). This novel MTA exhibiting a superior color stability, shortened setting time, and excellent biocompatibility has potential for use in endodontic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anaemia of chronic disease (ACD) is the second most common type of anaemia and lacks an effective treatment. Patients with anaemia are reported to have altered gut microbial profiles, which may affect erythropoiesis. Here, we investigated the gut microbial features of patients with ACD and determined whether regulating gut microbiota using washed microbiota transplantation (WMT) was effective in treating ACD. Methods: We compared the gut microbiota profile of patients with ACD and healthy controls, evaluated the efficacy of WMT on haematological parameters in the patients, and analysed the alterations in gut microbiota after WMT treatment. Results: Patients with ACD had lower gut microbial richness, and differences in microbial composition and function, relative to healthy controls. Additionally, the relative abundances of two butyrate‐producing genera Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 group and Butyricicoccus, were positively correlated with the haemoglobin (HGB) level and lower in patients with ACD than controls. WMT significantly increased HGB levels in patients with ACD. After the first, second and third WMT rounds, normal HGB levels were restored in 27.02%, 27.78% and 36.37% (all p <.05) of patients with ACD, respectively. Moreover, WMT significantly increased the abundance of butyrate‐producing genera and downregulated gut microbial functions that were upregulated in patients with ACD. Conclusions: Patients with ACD exhibited differences in gut microbial composition and function relative to healthy controls. WMT is an effective treatment for ACD that reshapes gut microbial composition, restores butyrate‐producing bacteria and regulates the functions of gut microbiota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transpiration (Et) in forests accounts for a significant fraction of evapotranspiration. However, because Et is influenced by meteorological factors and the physiological response of vegetation, developing an accurate model for predicting Et presents a challenge. In this study, we developed a model to estimate Et specific to cypress plantation forests using satellite remote sensing and sap flow data in Japanese cypress plantations composed of a single forest species. The contribution of Et to meteorological (Et base) and plant physiology (Et leaf) was determined using the decoupling index along with the surface temperature. Using the Forest Inventory (FI), in which the extent of growth of each species, including cypress, was surveyed and Land Remote Sensing Satellite imagery of the FI range was obtained, an index of activity estimation for cypress trees was developed. The sapwood area, which significantly influences Et, was calculated from the tree age obtained from FI or diameter at breast height and incorporated into the model. The developed model exhibited a high correlation of r = 0.74–0.88 with the measured Et. The antecedent precipitation index (API), which represents the wetness of the land surface, can be used to evaluate the confidence level and correction coefficient (if needed) of model estimates. When corrected by API, Et could be estimated with even higher accuracy (r = 0.76–0.89). The model developed in this study considers the physiological responses of vegetation and plant species, and the same approach can be used to develop models to estimate Et for other tree species. Additionally, our model uses reflectance at wavelengths close to visible light and surface temperature and can, therefore, be readily applied to other remote sensing methods, such as unmanned aerial vehicles and airborne methods. The model developed in this study can be used with FI data to estimate Et by tree species to provide detailed and accurate estimates of Et. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy consumption of mechanical products in China is enormous, and the energy utilization rate is low, which is increasingly receiving people's attention. Conducting product design for energy optimization is of great significance for improving energy utilization efficiency. The scheme design of a product is the key to achieving innovation in product design, and the evaluation and decision-making of the design scheme directly affect the results of the later stage of the design. Therefore, correctly evaluating and making reliable decisions on product design schemes that are oriented towards fuzzy decision optimization is an important aspect of product innovation conceptual design. The product modeling design quality evaluation is a multiple attribute group decision making (MAGDM) problems. Recently, the Combined Compromise Solution (CoCoSo) method and information entropy method has been employed to cope with MAGDM issues. The interval neutrosophic sets (INSs) are employed as a tool for portraying uncertain information during the product modeling design quality evaluation. In this paper, the CoCoSo method is designed for MAGDM under INSs. Then, the interval neutrosophic numbers CoCoSo (INN-CoCoSo) method based on the Hamming distance and Euclidean distance is built for MAGDM. The information Entropy method is employed to produce the weight information based on the Hamming distance and Euclidean distance under INNSs. Finally, a practical numerical example for product modeling design quality evaluation is supplied to show the INN-CoCoSo method. The main contributions of this paper are constructed: (1) This paper builds the novel MAGDM based on CoCoSo model under INSs; (2) The information Entropy method is employed to produce the weight information based on the Hamming distance and Euclidean distance under INNSs; (3) The new MAGDM method is proposed for product modeling design quality evaluation based on INN-CoCoSo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent years, there has been an increasing interest in the application of reinforcement learning (RL) to nonlinear system control. And many published studies have shown that reusing historical data can improve the learning efficiency of intelligent agents. However, reusing historical data leads to a large increase in the data to be processed. This paper proposes a novel adaptive law for the critic network in the RL framework to address this problem. The innovation of the proposed method is the introduction of an auxiliary matrix containing information about the historical estimation errors instead of the historical data itself. Moreover, the addition of the auxiliary matrix allows the persistent excitation (PE) conditions to be checked online. As a validation, the proposed approach is applied to a motor servo system containing unknown dynamics. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed controller in the end. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polygalacturonase (PG) is one of the largest families of hydrolytic enzymes in plants. It is involved in the breakdown of pectin in the plant cell wall and even contributes to peel cracks. Here, we characterize PGs and outline their expression profiles using the available reference genome and transcriptome of Akebia trifoliata. The average length and exon number of the 47 identified AktPGs, unevenly assigned on 14 chromosomes and two unassembled contigs, were 5399 bp and 7, respectively. The phylogenetic tree of 191 PGs, including 47, 57, 51, and 36 from A. trifoliata, Durio zibethinus, Actinidia chinensis, and Vitis vinifera, respectively, showed that AktPGs were distributed in all groups except group G and that 10 AktPGs in group E were older, while the remaining 37 AktPGs were younger. Evolutionarily, all AktPGs generally experienced whole-genome duplication (WGD)/segmental repeats and purifying selection. Additionally, the origin of conserved domain III was possibly associated with a histidine residue (H) substitute in motif 8. The results of both the phylogenetic tree and expression profiling indicated that five AktPGs, especially AktPG25, could be associated with the cracking process. Detailed information and data on the PG family are beneficial for further study of the postharvest biology of A. trifoliata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 0.45‐V low‐power wideband image‐rejection low‐noise amplifier (LNA) using Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) 0.18‐μm CMOS process has been proposed. The supply voltage, power consumption and chip area of the proposed LNA can be reduced using forward body biasing, folded cascode topology and a feedback capacitor. Moreover, a wideband gain‐enhancement‐and‐image‐rejection (WGEIR) circuit including a variable resonant LC tank and a common‐gate amplifier has been developed. The inductance of the variable resonant LC tank can enlarge the gain of the proposed LNA. The capacitance of the variable resonant LC tank can achieve the image rejection. Using the WGEIR circuit, gain enhancement and wideband image rejection can be achieved simultaneously. The variable inductors and capacitors are developed for suppressing wideband image signals and good image rejection ratio (IRR). The combination of the variable inductors and capacitors can achieve eight image‐reject frequencies under three control voltages. The proposed LNA shows the measured results including a 10‐dB power gain, a 3‐dB noise figure (NF) and a −11‐dBm input third‐order intercept point (IIP3) at 2.4 GHz, respectively. The measured IRR ranges from 18 to 23 dBc around 3.6–4.5 GHz, which is 900‐MHz image‐reject bandwidth. The measured proposed LNA using the mentioned techniques consumes 0.8‐mW power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional (3D) topological insulators (TIs) exhibit spin-polarized surface states in which the spin of electrons is locked to their momentum. The helical surface states can be explored from circularly polarized light-induced spin photocurrent, a phenomenon called circular photogalvanic effect (CPGE). In this work, we fabricate a TI transistor with the Bi2Se3 channel layer synthesized using vapor deposition. The photocurrent response of Bi2Se3 TI is characterized under horizontal and longitudinal electric fields. CPGE and linear photogalvanic effect (LPGE) contribute to the surface state photocurrent at room temperature. The longitudinal electric field provides kinetic energy to the electrons so that the transition of electrons to higher energy bands in momentum space occurs. Under a photon excitation with the energy far above the TI bandgap, we observed a photocurrent difference between left and right circularly polarized light excitation. The photocurrent variation with gate voltage (longitudinal field) is also investigated. Adjusting the Fermi level with the gate bias leads to changes in the population of bulk state carriers and spin electrons in surface states. By shifting the gate bias toward negative, the CPGE current increases because of the reduced scattering with bulk carriers. Our work reveals that longitudinal and horizontal electric fields can manipulate the helical spin-polarized photocurrent of Bi2Se3. From the asymmetry of circularly polarized photoconductive differential current (CPDC) under the horizontal field, we found evidence of spin-polarized electron transition to other conduction band valleys at room temperature under a high-energy photon excitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TRP channels have an important role in regulating the function of gastrointestinal epithelial cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms of genes associated with TRP channels in Crohn's disease (CD) by bioinformatics approach and to identify potential key biomarkers. In our study, we identified TRP channel-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) based on the GSE95095 dataset and the TRP channel-related gene set from the GeneCards database. Hub genes (CXCL8, HIF1A, NGF, JUN, IL1A) were identified by the PPI network and validated by the external GSE52746 dataset. Immune infiltration analysis revealed that CXCL8 was significantly correlated with B cells memory, NK cells activated, Mast cells resting, Mast cells activated, and Neutrophils. GSEA of CXCL8 results showed inositol phosphate metabolism, RNA polymerase, propanoate metabolism, MAPK signaling pathway, base excision repair, and Calcium signaling pathway. In addition, we constructed a lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA network and a drug–gene interaction network. Finally, we performed in vitro experiments to verify that LPS induced CXCL8 expression in HT-29 cells and that knockdown of CXCL8 inhibited the inflammatory stimulatory effects of LPS. This study reveals that CXCL8 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease and is expected to be a novel biomarker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although rarely framed as enacted stigma, adults with Tourette syndrome (ATS) have long suffered from discrimination associated with their tic symptoms. Given the high stress levels of enacted stigma that ATS experience, it is expected that their tic symptoms are profoundly impacted. However, the evidence linking enacted stigma to ATS's tic symptoms remains limited. Methods: This study used a secondary data‐analysis approach to reanalyze the data from the follow‐up phase of a multi‐centered, randomized controlled trial in which a behavioral intervention was tested for its efficacy in managing tic symptoms. This study first conducted psychometric testing on a list of 16 enacted stigma events across five life stages and identified the underlying factor structure. The Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) was used to assess severity and impairment of current tic symptoms, whereas the Clinical Global Impression of Severity scale (CGI) was used to obtain the gestalt of clinical judgment on tic severity. A series of multivariate linear models were then fitted to test the relationships between different types of lifetime enacted stigma and current tic symptoms. Results: The analytic sample included 73 young ATS (average age of 23.2 [standard deviation = 2.5] years). The factor analysis identified three types of enacted stigmas: "traumatic events," "confrontations," and "subtle mistreatments." In multivariate models, traumatic events significantly associated with YGTSS‐severity, whereas subtle mistreatments provided additional explanations for CGI. Conclusions: Enacted stigma may play important roles in shaping ATS's current tics symptom severity and, therefore, should be carefully considered in future intervention development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terrestrial water storage (TWS) is a pivotal component of the global water cycle, profoundly impacting water resource management, hazard monitoring, and agriculture production. The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and its successor, the GRACE Follow-On (GFO), have furnished comprehensive monthly TWS data since April 2002. However, there are 35 months of missing data over the entire GRACE/GFO observational period. To address this gap, we developed an operational approach utilizing singular spectrum analysis and principal component analysis (SSA-PCA) to fill these missing data over mainland China. The algorithm was demonstrated with good performance in the Southwestern River Basin (SWB, correlation coefficient, CC: 0.71, RMSE: 6.27 cm), Yangtze River Basin (YTB, CC: 0.67, RMSE: 3.52 cm), and Songhua River Basin (SRB, CC: 0.66, RMSE: 7.63 cm). Leveraging two decades of continuous time-variable gravity data, we investigated the spatiotemporal variations in TWS across ten major Chinese basins. According to the results of GRACE/GFO, mainland China experienced an average annual TWS decline of 0.32 ± 0.06 cm, with the groundwater storage (GWS) decreasing by 0.54 ± 0.10 cm/yr. The most significant GWS depletion occurred in the Haihe River Basin (HRB) at −2.07 ± 0.10 cm/yr, significantly substantial (~1 cm/yr) depletions occurred in the Yellow River Basin (YRB), SRB, Huaihe River Basin (HHB), Liao-Luan River Basin (LRB), and Southwest River Basin (SWB), and moderate losses were recorded in the Northwest Basin (NWB, −0.34 ± 0.03 cm/yr) and Southeast River Basin (SEB, −0.24 ± 0.10 cm/yr). Furthermore, we identified that interannual TWS variations in ten basins of China were primarily driven by soil moisture water storage (SMS) anomalies, exhibiting consistently and relatively high correlations (CC > 0.60) and low root-mean-square errors (RMSE < 5 cm). Lastly, through the integration of GRACE/GFO and Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS) data, we unraveled the contrasting water storage patterns between northern and southern China. Southern China experienced drought conditions, while northern China faced flooding during the 2020–2023 La Niña event, with the inverse pattern observed during the 2014–2016 El Niño event. This study fills in the missing data and quantifies water storage variations within mainland China, contributing to a deeper insight into climate change and its consequences on water resource management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Targeted therapy with tumour‐associated macrophages (TAMs) has emerged as a new paradigm for immunotherapy of cervical cancer. Nocardia rubra cell wall skeleton (Nr‐CWS) for external use is an immunotherapeutic agent. In this study, we aimed to explore the effects of Nr‐CWS on TAMs and the potential mechanisms. Cervical tissue samples were collected before and after Nr‐CWS treatment from patients with high‐risk HPV infection and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). The effect of Nr‐CWS on macrophages in vivo was examined by immunohistochemistry and double‐labeling immunofluorescence histochemistry. In vitro experiments were performed using a TAM model established by THP‐1 cells under Nr‐CWS treatment. We found that Nr‐CWS treatment significantly reduced the numbers of total macrophages and M2 macrophages, increased the proportion of M1 macrophages and decreased the proportion of M2 macrophages in cervical tissues. After Nr‐CWS treatment in vitro, the expression levels of the M1 macrophage markers were increased, while the expression levels of the M2 macrophage markers were decreased. Nr‐CWS treatment also activated STAT1 pathways but inhibited STAT6 pathways. These results indicated that Nr‐CWS may improve local immune response and reverse immunosuppression by regulating the M2 to M1 polarization of TAMs via STAT1/STAT6 pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is associated with quality of life and all-cause mortality in the end-stage renal disease population. This study aims to identify biomarkers and reveal the underlying mechanisms of EDS in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. A total of 48 nondiabetic continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients were assigned to the EDS group and the non-EDS group according to the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS) was used to identify the differential metabolites. Twenty-seven (male/female, 15/12; age, 60.1 ± 16.2 years) PD patients with ESS ≥ 10 were assigned to the EDS group, while twenty-one (male/female, 13/8; age, 57.9 ± 10.1 years) PD patients with ESS < 10 were defined as the non-EDS group. With UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS, 39 metabolites with significant differences between the two groups were found, 9 of which had good correlations with disease severity and were further classified into amino acid, lipid and organic acid metabolism. A total of 103 overlapping target proteins of the differential metabolites and EDS were found. Then, the EDS–metabolite–target network and the protein–protein interaction network were constructed. The metabolomics approach integrated with network pharmacology provides new insights into the early diagnosis and mechanisms of EDS in PD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: For the successful approval and clinical prescription of insulin biosimilars, it is essential to show pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) bioequivalence to the respective reference products sourced from the European Union and the United States. Methods: Three phase 1, randomized, double‐blind, three‐period crossover trials compared single doses of the proposed biosimilar insulin analogues aspart (GL‐Asp, n = 36), lispro (GL‐Lis, n = 38) and glargine (GL‐Gla, n = 113), all manufactured by Gan & Lee pharmaceuticals, to the respective EU‐ and US‐reference products in healthy male participants (GL‐Asp and GL‐Lis) or people with type 1 diabetes (GL‐Gla). Study participants received 0.2 U/kg (aspart and lispro) or 0.5 U/kg (glargine) of each treatment under automated euglycaemic clamp conditions. The clamp duration was 12 h (aspart and lispro) or 30 h (glargine). Primary PK endpoints were the total area under the PK curves (AUCins.total) and maximum insulin concentrations (Cins.max). Primary PD endpoints were the total area under the glucose infusion rate curve (AUCGIR.total) and maximum glucose infusion rate (GIRmax). Results: Bioequivalence to both EU‐ and US‐reference products were shown for all three GL insulins. Least squares mean ratios for the primary PK/PD endpoints were close to 100%, and both 90% and 95% confidence intervals were within 80%–125% in all three studies. There were no noticeable differences in the safety profiles between test and reference insulins, and no serious adverse events were reported for the GL insulins. Conclusion: GL‐Asp, GL‐Lis and GL‐Gla are bioequivalent to their EU‐ and US‐reference products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Barrier islands are vital dynamic landforms that not only host ecological resources but often protect coastal ecosystems from storm damage. The Waisanding Barrier (WSDB) in Taiwan has suffered from continuous beach erosion in recent decades. In this study, we developed a SiamUnet network compared to three basic DeepUnet networks with different image sizes to effectively detect barrier waterlines from 207 high-resolution satellite images. The evolution of the barrier waterline shape is obtained to present two special morphologic changes at the southern end and the evolution of the entire waterline. The time periods of separation of the southern end from the main WSDB are determined and discussed. We also show that the southern L-shaped end has occurred recently from the end of 2017 until 2021. The length of the L-shaped end gradually decreases during the summer, but gradually increases during the winter. The L-shaped end obviously has a seasonal and jagged change. The attenuation rate of the land area is analyzed as −0.344 km2/year. We also explore two factors that affect the analysis results, which are the number of valid images selected and the deviation threshold from the mean sea level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A core‐shell‐structured Cu2O@Mn3Cu3O8 (CMCO) nanozyme is constructed to serve as a tumor microenvironment (TME)‐activated copper ionophore to achieve safe and efficient cuproptosis. The Mn3Cu3O8 shell not only prevents exposure of normal tissues to the Cu2O core to reduce systemic toxicity but also exhibits enhanced enzyme‐mimicking activity owing to the better band continuity near the Fermi surface. The glutathione oxidase (GSHOx)‐like activity of CMCO depletes glutathione (GSH), which diminishes the ability to chelate Cu ions, thereby exerting Cu toxicity and inducing cuproptosis in cancer cells. The catalase (CAT)‐like activity catalyzes the overexpressed H2O2 in the TME, thereby generating O2 in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle to enhance cuproptosis. More importantly, the Fenton‐like reaction based on the release of Mn ions and the inactivation of glutathione peroxidase 4 induced by the elimination of GSH results in ferroptosis, accompanied by the accumulation of lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species that can cleave stress‐induced heat shock proteins to compromise their protective capacity of cancer cells and further sensitize cuproptosis. CMCO nanozymes are partially sulfurized by hydrogen sulfide in the colorectal TME, exhibiting excellent photothermal properties and enzyme‐mimicking activity. The mild photothermal effect enhances the enzyme‐mimicking activity of the CMCO nanozymes, thus inducing high‐efficiency ferroptosis‐boosted‐cuproptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the aerosol exposure risks while using common noninvasive oxygenation devices. A simulated mannequin was designed to breathe at a minute ventilation of 20 L/min and used the following oxygen-therapy devices: nasal cannula oxygenation (NCO) at 4 and 15 L/min, nonrebreathing mask (NRM) at 15 L/min, simple mask at 6 L/min, combination of NCO at 15 L/min and NRM at 15 L/min, high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) at 50 L/min, and flush rate NRM. Two-dimension of the dispersion distance and the aerosol concentrations were measured at head, trunk, and foot around the mannequin for over 10 min. HFNC and flush-rate NRM yielded the longest dispersion distance and highest aerosol concentrations over the three sites of the mannequin than the other oxygenation devices and should use with caution. For flow rates of < 15 L/min, oxygenation devices with mask-like effects, such as NRM or NCO with NRM, decreased aerosol dispersion more effectively than NCO alone or a simple mask. In the upright position, the foot area exhibited the highest aerosol concentration regardless of the oxygenation device than the head–trunk areas of the mannequin. Healthcare workers should be alert even at the foot side of the patient while administering oxygenation therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: High-power short-duration (HPSD) ablation strategy has emerged as a popular approach for treating atrial fibrillation (AF), with shorter ablation time. The utilized Smart Touch Surround Flow (STSF) catheter, with 56 holes around the electrode, lowers electrode-tissue temperature and thrombus risk. Thus, we conducted this prospective, randomized study to investigate if the HPSD strategy with STSF catheter in AF ablation procedures reduces the silent cerebral embolism (SCE) risk compared to the conventional approach with the Smart Touch (ST) catheter. Methods: From June 2020 to September 2021, 100 AF patients were randomized 1:1 to the HPSD group using the STSF catheter (power set at 50 W) or the conventional group using the ST catheter (power set at 30 to 35 W). Pulmonary vein isolation was performed in all patients, with additional lesions at operator's discretion. High-resolution cerebral diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (hDWI) with slice thickness of 1 mm was performed before and 24–72 h after ablation. The incidence of new periprocedural SCE was defined as the primary outcome. Cognitive performance was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test. Results: All enrolled AF patients (median age 63, 60% male, 59% paroxysmal AF) underwent successful ablation. Post-procedural hDWI identified 106 lesions in 42 enrolled patients (42%), with 55 lesions in 22 patients (44%) in the HPSD group and 51 lesions in 20 patients (40%) in the conventional group (p = 0.685). No significant differences were observed between two groups regarding the average number of lesions (p = 0.751), maximum lesion diameter (p = 0.405), and total lesion volume per patient (p = 0.669). Persistent AF and CHA2DS2-VASc score were identified as SCE determinants during AF ablation procedure by multivariable regression analysis. No significant differences in MoCA scores were observed between patients with SCE and those without, both immediately post-procedure (p = 0.572) and at the 3-month follow-up (p = 0.743). Conclusions: Involving a small sample size of 100 AF patients, this study reveals a similar incidence of SCE in AF ablation procedures, comparing the HPSD strategy using the STSF catheter to the conventional approach with the ST catheter. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04408716. AF = Atrial fibrillation, DWI = Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, HPSD = High-power short-duration, ST = Smart Touch, STSF = Smart Touch Surround Flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Selective fetal growth restriction (sFGR) is an extreme complication that significantly increases the risk of perinatal mortality and long-term adverse neurological outcomes in offspring, affecting approximately 15% of monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) twin pregnancies. The lack of longitudinal cohort studies hinders the early prediction and intervention of sFGR. Methods: We constructed a prospective longitudinal cohort study of sFGR, and quantified 25 key metabolites in 337 samples from maternal plasma in the first, second, and third trimester and from cord plasma. In particular, our study examined fetal growth and brain injury data from ultrasonography and used the Ages and Stages Questionnaire-third edition subscale (ASQ-3) to evaluate the long-term neurocognitive behavioral development of infants aged 2–3 years. Furthermore, we correlated metabolite levels with ultrasound data, including physical development and brain injury indicators, and ASQ-3 data using Spearman's-based correlation tests. In addition, special combinations of differential metabolites were used to construct predictive models for the occurrence of sFGR and fetal brain injury. Results: Our findings revealed various dynamic patterns for these metabolites during pregnancy and a maximum of differential metabolites between sFGR and MCDA in the second trimester (n = 8). The combination of l-phenylalanine, l-leucine, and l-isoleucine in the second trimester, which were closely related to fetal growth indicators, was highly predictive of sFGR occurrence (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.878). The combination of l-serine, l-histidine, and l-arginine in the first trimester and creatinine in the second trimester was correlated with long-term neurocognitive behavioral development and showed the capacity to identify fetal brain injury with high accuracy (AUC: 0.94). Conclusions: The performance of maternal plasma metabolites from the first and second trimester is superior to those from the third trimester and cord plasma in discerning sFGR and fetal brain injury. These metabolites may serve as useful biomarkers for early prediction and promising targets for early intervention in clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soundscapes have played an important role in the design and building of classical Chinese gardens. In Chinese classical poetry, biophonies such as bird calls, and geophonies such as wind, are the preferable sound sources. Although these major sound sources have been categorized and summarized by scholars extensively, little research has been conducted to analyze the physical characteristics and preference matrix of these preferred sound sources. Moreover, the perceived loudness of sound in classical Chinese gardens has received more attention from scholars than acoustic frequency. In this study, we selected 12 sound sources that are most typically present in classical Chinese gardens based on extensive literature research on Chinese classical poetry, and acquired respective audio samples from the BBC's library of Sound Effects. Through the spectrogram analyses, pitch detection algorithm and LSTM audio classification methods, the sound sources were classified into discrete sound sources with pitch variation and continuous sound sources with spectral characteristics of white noise or pink noise. The reasoning behind the preference for these two types of sound sources was then discussed from physical and mental healing perspectives, which aims to help provide perspectives on the associated implications in the planning of urban green spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis is driven by dysregulated metabolism precipitated by chronic inflammation. Rho-associated coiled-coil-containing protein kinases (ROCKs) have been implicated in these processes, however the ability of selective ROCK2 inhibition to target simultaneously profibrotic, pro-inflammatory and metabolic pathways remains undocumented. Here we show that therapeutic administration of GV101, a selective ROCK2 inhibitor with more than 1000-fold selectivity over ROCK1, attenuates established liver fibrosis induced by thioacetamide (TAA) in combination with high-fat diet in mice. GV101 treatment significantly reduces collagen levels in liver, associated with downregulation of pCofilin, pSTAT3, pAkt, while pSTAT5 and pAMPK levels are increased in tissues of treated mice. In vitro, GV101 inhibits profibrogenic markers expression in fibroblasts, adipogenesis in primary adipocytes and TLR-induced cytokine secretion in innate immune cells via targeting of Akt-mTOR-S6K signaling axis, further uncovering the ROCK2-specific complex mechanism of action and therapeutic potential of highly selective ROCK2 inhibitors in liver fibrosis. Therapeutic administration of highly selective ROCK2 inhibitor reverses established liver fibrosis induced by chemical injury combined with high fat diet in mice via concurrent targeting of inflammatory, fibrotic and metabolic cellular pathways [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ectothermic fish exposure to hypothermal stress requires adjusting their metabolic molecular machinery, which was investigated using Indian medaka (Oryzias dancena; 10 weeks old, 2.5 ± 0.5 cm) cultured in fresh water (FW) and seawater (SW; 35‰) at room temperature (28 ± 1 °C). The fish were fed twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, and the photoperiod was 12 h:12 h light: dark. In this study, we applied two hypothermal treatments to reveal the mechanisms of energy metabolism via pgc-1α regulation in the gills of Indian medaka; cold-stress (18 °C) and cold-tolerance (extreme cold; 15 °C). The branchial ATP content was significantly higher in the cold-stress group, but not in the cold-tolerance group. In FW- and SW-acclimated medaka, the expression of genes related to mitochondrial energy metabolism, including pgc-1α, prc, Nrf2, tfam, and nd5, was analyzed to illustrate differential responses of mitochondrial energy metabolism to cold-stress and cold-tolerance environments. When exposed to cold-stress, the relative mRNA expression of pgc-1α, prc, and Nrf2 increased from 2 h, whereas that of tfam and nd5 increased significantly from 168 h. When exposed to a cold-tolerant environment, prc was significantly upregulated at 2 h post-cooling in the FW and SW groups, and pgc-1α was significantly upregulated at 2 and 12 h post-cooling in the FW group, while tfam and nd5 were downregulated in both FW and SW fish. Hierarchical clustering revealed gene interactions in the cold-stress group, which promoted diverse mitochondrial energy adaptations, causing an increase in ATP production. However, the cold-tolerant group demonstrated limitations in enhancing ATP levels through mitochondrial regulation via the PGC-1α energy metabolism pathway. These findings suggest that ectothermic fish may develop varying degrees of thermal tolerance over time in response to climate change. This study provides insights into the complex ways in which fish adjust their metabolism when exposed to cold stress, contributing to our knowledge of how they adapt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Retained placenta is a concern during labor and delivery. However, recent data regarding the profiles of retained placenta are scarce, especially nationwide and in minority populations. This study aimed to investigate the recent incidence of retained placenta and its associated outcomes. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed an American population-based data from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) 2016–2019. The outcomes of interest included the incidence of retained placenta, in-hospital mortality, length of hospital stay, and hospitalization costs. We estimated the incidence for retained placenta overall and by racial and ethnic subgroups, utilizing survey weights standardized for each subgroup. Multivariable linear or logistic regression models were employed in our study to investigate the associations between retained placenta and the impact of in-hospital mortality, duration of stay, and hospitalization expenditures for the entire population and further stratified by race and ethnicity, adjusting for potential confounders. Results: Of the 13,848,131 deliveries, there were 108,035 (or 0.78%) birthing persons were identified as having retained placentas. Over time, the incidence of retained placenta increased from 730 per 100,000 (0.73%) in 2016 to 856 per 100,000 (0.86%) in 2019. Native American mothers have the highest rate of retained placenta, with a prevalence almost twice that of the general population, reaching 1,434 cases per 100,000 (1.43%). After adjusting for confounding factors, Native American mothers were more likely to have retained placenta (odds ratio [OR], 1.56; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.35–1.81), whereas Black (OR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.88–0.97) and Hispanic mothers (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.80–0.89) were significantly less likely to have retained placenta than White mothers. Furthermore, those who delivered with a retained placenta were significantly associated with higher in-hospital mortality, a longer duration of stay, and hospitalization expenditures, which were disproportionately varied by maternal race and ethnicity. Conclusions: The incidence of retained placenta among people undergoing vaginal delivery is exhibiting an upward trend over time, with notable variations observed across different ethnic groups by unclear mechanisms. The ramifications of these findings have the potential to impact the clinical management of maternal health care and the creation of health policies, specifically in relation to the Native American birth population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fast-moving soft robotics usually suffer large-strain deformation with a relatively high velocity. To improve their performance, it is necessary to study the underly dynamical mechanism. However, the inherent strong material nonlinearity brings considerable difficulties in modeling and calculating the soft structure’s nonlinear dynamics. This work focuses on the large-strain vibrations of the hyperelastic rod under an axial tensile force. Several typical hyperelastic models, including the neo-Hookean, Mooney, and Yeoh models, are used to derive the equations governing the rod’s dynamics. The equations based on these models are relatively complex, and their corresponding numerical calculation diverges in some cases. Therefore, a reference stretch ratio(s) polynomial fitting (RSRPF) model is proposed to derive the concise governing equation. Such a governing equation is effectively solved by the combination of the Galerkin discretization and the fourth-order Runge–Kutta integration algorithm. The correctness of the developed model and the employed algorithm is verified by comparing with the previous data of a hyperelastic membrane. In most cases, the rod periodically vibrates under a periodic tensile force. However, when the structural damping is small and the load frequency approaches the resonant frequency, the hyperelastic rod may quasi-periodically vibrate. The revealed large-strain vibration mechanism is supposed to be useful for guiding the dynamical design of soft structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have shown that the high expression of EphA4 in gastric cancer tissues may correlate with unfavorable clinical pathological characteristics. Therefore, EphA4 may be an effective target for treating gastric cancer in addition to HER-2/neu. In this study, generated scFv S3 can bind endogenous EphA4 of gastric cancer cells and has significant membrane staining. Additionally, scFv S3 binding to EphA4 inhibits the growth and migration of cancer cells and the growth induction that ephrinA1 generates in gastric cancer cells. We found that EphA4 molecules may degrade through antibody treatment of cells, and the increase in LAMP1 and LAMP2 indicates that lysosome is involved in the degradation. The scFv S3 administration leads to the signals pAKT, pERK, and pSTAT3 decrease in cancer cells. The xenograft model of HER-2/neu low expressing gastric cancer cell SNU-16 exhibits better therapeutic effects by scFv S3 than trastuzumab scFv. The scFv S3 administration in vivo can degrade EphA4 molecules in tumor tissues, decreasing Ki67 and increasing cleaved C3 molecule expression. Furthermore, we identified and validated that scFv S3 generates essential ionic bonding with R162 on EphA4. The antibody may provide effective treatment for patients with gastric cancer and abnormal activation or overexpression of EphA4 signaling. • EphA4 may be an effective target for the clinical treatment of gastric cancer. • The anti-EphA4 antibodies have neutralizing effects against gastric tumor growth. • The R162 on EphA4 is the key residue that affected the antibody response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hip fracture is a prevalent and hazardous injury among the elderly population that often results in intensive care unit (ICU) admission due to various complications, despite advanced medical science. One common complication experienced in the ICU by elderly hip fracture patients is heart failure, which significantly impacts short-term survival rates. Currently, there is a deficit of adequate predictive models to forecast the short-term risk of death following heart failure for elderly hip fracture patients in the ICU. This study aims to identify independent risk factors for all-cause mortality within 30 days for elderly patients with hip fractures and heart failure while in the ICU in order to develop a predictive model. Method: A total of 641 elderly patients with hip fractures combined with heart failure were recruited from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV dataset and randomized to the training and validation sets. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality within 30 days. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression was used to reduce data dimensionality and select features. Multivariate logistic regression was used to build predictive models. Consistency index (C-index), receiver operating characteristic curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to measure the predictive performance of the nomogram. Result: Our results showed that these variables including MCH, MCV, INR, monocyte percentage, neutrophils percentage, creatinine, and combined sepsis were independent factors for death within 30 days in elderly patients with hip fracture combined with heart failure in the ICU. The C-index was 0.869 (95% CI 0.823–0.916) and 0.824 (95% CI 0.749–0.900) for the training and validation sets, respectively. The results of the area under the curve and decision curve analysis (DCA) confirmed that the nomogram performed well in predicting elderly patients with hip fractures combined with heart failure in the ICU. Conclusion: We developed a new nomogram model for predicting 30-day all-cause mortality in elderly patients with hip fractures combined with heart failure in the ICU, which could be a valid and useful clinical tool for clinicians for targeted treatment and prognosis prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The teacher–child relationship is a key element in measuring the quality of childcare institutions and is essential to the current and future physical and mental developmental outcomes of children. The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of private preschool teachers' readiness to teach in influencing the teacher–child relationship, and to explore the mechanisms by which teachers' motivation and self-efficacy mediate their readiness to teach and the teacher–child relationship. Online questionnaires were administered to 289 early-childhood teachers in Shanghai, China. The findings of the study indicated a significant and positive correlation between early-childhood teachers' readiness to teach and the quality of the teacher–child relationship. In addition, early-childhood teachers' internal motivation to teach and self-efficacy mediated their readiness to teach and the teacher–child relationship, respectively. However, teachers' external motivation did not mediate the effect of teaching readiness on the quality of the teacher–child relationship. Moreover, teachers' motivation to teach (encompassing both internal and external factors) and their self-efficacy played chained roles in mediating the relationships between teaching readiness and the teacher–child relationship. This study highlights the significant roles of teaching readiness and instructional motivation, along with self-efficacy, in cultivating positive teacher–child relationships within early-childhood education settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) acts as a neuromodulator to regulate gut motility, but the role of BDNF in diabetes‐related dysmotility is uncertain. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible involvement of BDNF and its receptor TrkB in the colonic hypomotility of mice with streptozotocin (STZ)‐induced diabetes. Methods: A single intraperitoneal injection of STZ was used to establish a type 1 diabetes model. An organ bath system was applied to observe the contractile activities of colonic muscle strips. Immunofluorescence and western blotting were performed to evaluate the expression of BDNF and TrkB in the colon. ELISA was used to detect BDNF and SP levels in the serum and colon. The patch‐clamp technique was applied to record the currents of L‐type calcium channels and large conductance Ca2+‐activated K+ channels on smooth muscle cells. Key Results: Compared with healthy controls, diabetic mice showed attenuated colonic muscle contraction (p < 0.001), which was partly reversed by BDNF supplementation. TrkB protein expression was significantly reduced in diabetic mice (p < 0.05). In addition, both BDNF and substance P (SP) levels were decreased, and exogenous administration of BDNF increased SP levels in diabetic mice (p < 0.05). Both the TrkB antagonist and the TrkB antibody inhibited the spontaneous contraction of colonic muscle strips (p < 0.01). Moreover, the BDNF–TrkB signaling system enhanced SP‐induced muscle contraction. Conclusions: Downregulation of BDNF/TrkB signaling and reduced SP release from the colon may contribute to the colonic hypomotility associated with type 1 diabetes. Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor supplementation may have therapeutic potential for diabetes‐related constipation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The acquisition of high-accuracy reflectance in mid-infrared channels is of great significance for the on-orbit cross-calibration of other bands using the mid-infrared band. However, due to the phenomenon that some sensors have a wide range of wavelengths covered by adjacent channels in the mid-infrared band, the traditional method of estimating the mid-infrared reflectivity assumes that the sea surface reflectivity in different mid-infrared bands is equal, which will lead to a large error during calculation. To solve this problem, this study proposes a nonlinear split-window algorithm involving ocean sun glint data to retrieve reflectivity of FY-3D/MERSI-2 channels 20. The results show that the variation range of sea surface reflectivity of channel 20 in the glint area is 10~25%, the mean value of the reflectivity difference obtained by the nonlinear split-window algorithm is 0.27%, and the RMSE is 0.0066. Among the main influencing factors, the atmospheric conditions have the greatest impact, and the effects of the uncertainties in the water vapor content and aerosol optical thickness on the calculation results are 1.16% and 0.34%, respectively. The initial value limits of the mid-infrared sea surface reflectivity also contribute approximately 0.84%, and their contribution to the uncertainty represents one of the main components. This work shows that the nonlinear split-window algorithm can calculate the infrared sea surface reflectivity with high accuracy and can be used as a reference for in-orbit cross-calibration between different bands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis has poor clinical outcomes despite antifibrotic treatment. The nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat-containing receptor, pyrin domain-containing-3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndoMT) were shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis. However, the detailed mechanism is unknown. Our study aimed to investigate the role of the NLRP3 inflammasome in the regulation of EndoMT in pulmonary fibrosis. The inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome via a caspase-1 inhibitor, Ac-YVAD-cmk (YVAD), was intraperitoneally administered to male C57BL/6 mice (8–12 weeks old) one hour before bleomycin intratracheal injection (1.5 U/kg). Immunohistochemical staining, Masson's trichrome staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunofluorescence, and Western blotting were used to assess the activity of the NLRP3 inflammasome and EndoMT in lung samples from mice. Human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HPMECs) were used as a model of EndoMT in vitro with YVAD and bleomycin stimulation. We observed the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and EndoMT (decreased vascular endothelial cadherin with increased alpha-smooth muscle actin and vimentin) in the lung samples after bleomycin. However, inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome significantly reduces EndoMT via inhibiting focal adhesion kinase (FAK). In vitro studies also confirmed these findings. In conclusion, NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition could reduce lung inflammation and fibrosis via the regulation of EndoMT by the FAK pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the heterogeneous Fenton reaction, a solid catalyst reacts with H2O2 to generate highly oxidizing free radicals, that degrade organic pollutants in aqueous solutions. In this study, impregnation calcination was used to modify activated carbon and load it with various metal compounds. The synergistic catalysis of the various metal compounds showed improved catalytic activity, and the prepared heterogeneous Fenton catalyst exhibited high catalytic activity, a wide pH range, and good stability. The concentration ratios of the Fenton catalyst impregnation solutions-were as follows: Fe3+, Cu2+, Mn2+, and Ce3+ at 0.45, 0.72, 0.19, and 0.11 mol/L, respectively. The optimal sintering temperature of AC impregnation was determined through TGA/DSC, SEM, SEM-EDS, XPS, and XRD testing. At a final calcination temperature of 900 °C, the degradation efficiency of 10 ppm methylene blue reached 98.25% at pH 5 with 5 mM H2O2. After ten soaking cycles, the degradation efficiency exceeded 90%. The structure and performance of the catalysts were characterized using EPR, BET, ICP, and UV spectroscopy, demonstrating the excellent performance of the catalyst and providing an improved treatment plan for solving wastewater problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serum creatinine (Cr) and Albumin (Alb) have emerged as prognostic factors for mortality in many diseases including burned patients. However, few studies report the relationship between Cr/Alb ratio and major burned patients. The purpose of this study is to make evaluation of efficacy of Cr/Alb ratio in predicting 28-day mortality in major burned patients. Based on a local largest tertiary hospital in South of China, we retrospectively analyzed data of 174 patients with total burn area surface (TBSA) ≥ 30% from January 2010 to December 2022. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), logistic analysis, and Kaplan–Meier analysis were performed to evaluate the association between Cr/Alb ratio and 28-day mortality. Integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), and net reclassification improvement (NRI) were used to estimate the improvements in new model performance. 28-day mortality rate was 13.2% (23/174) in burned patients. Cr/Alb on admission at level of 3.340μmol/g showed the best discrimination between survivors and non-survivors after admission at 28 days. The result of multivariate logistic analysis suggested that age (OR, 1.058 [95%CI 1.016–1.102]; p = 0.006), higher FTSA (OR, 1.036 [95%CI 1.010–1.062]; p = 0.006), and higher level of Cr/Alb ratio (OR, 6.923 [95CI% 1.743–27.498]; p = 0.006) were independently associated with 28 day-mortality. A regression model was constructed by logit(p) = 0.057 *Age + 0.035 *FTBA + 1.935 * Cr/Alb − 6.822. The model showed a better discrimination and risk reclassification compared with ABSI and rBaux score. High Cr/Alb ratio at admission is a herald of poor outcome. The model generated from multivariate analysis could serve as an alternative prediction tool among major burned patients. • Creatinine-to-albumin (Cr/Alb) ratio can predict prognosis in major burned patients. • Age, full-thickness burn area and high level of Cr/Alb were independent risk factors in 28-day mortality. • A new model made of age, full-thickness burn area and Cr/Alb showed a great predictive performance in 28-day mortality compared with other predictive scores systems. • It may help to improve survival rate by reducing Cr and improving Alb in early phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the wide application of image information transmission technology, people have higher requirement for the security of image transmission. Aiming at the problem that the previous encryption scheme uses a single key to encrypt the image information, and the key leakage will directly lead to the theft of the image information, an image encryption scheme combining optical chaos and elliptic curve encryption algorithm is proposed. The external key input by the user and the hash function of the plaintext image jointly generate the control parameters required for image encryption and encrypt the plaintext image together with the optical chaotic sequence. The control parameters are encrypted by the public key of the elliptic curve encryption algorithm and transmitted to the receiver. Only by combining the decrypted control parameters with the optical chaotic sequence synchronized at the receiver to generate the decryption sequence of each stage, the image can be restored. When the optical chaotic sequence is generated, the binary sequence generated by the control parameters will be used to encrypt the optical chaotic sequence, so that the optical chaotic sequence can be double encrypted at the physical layer and the application layer, and it is difficult to decipher the physical parameters of the laser and improve the security of encryption. The experimental simulation results show that the key space of the encryption scheme is greater than 2100, the information entropy is close to the theoretical maximum value of 8, the Number of Pixels Change Rate, and the Unified Average Changing Intensity are close to the theoretical value of 99.6094% and 33.4635%, respectively. And it has good robustness to various typical attacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the surgical outcomes of robot‐assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) in octogenarian or older patients based on a Japanese nationwide database. Methods: The diagnosis procedure combination database was used to extract the data on radical cystectomy cases. Surgical outcomes of RARC in octogenarian or older patients (older group) were initially compared to those of patients younger than 80 years (younger group). Then, the surgical outcomes of RARC in the older group were compared to those of open radical cystectomy (ORC) and laparoscopic radical cystectomy (LRC) in the same age group. Results: Between 2018 and 2021, 478 RARC cases in the older group and 2257 RARC cases in the younger group were identified. In the older group, ileal conduit, neobladder, and other urinary diversions were carried out in 352 (73.6%), 22 (4.6%), and 104 (21.8%) patients, respectively. In the older group, when compared with the younger group, the complication rate (24.9%), blood transfusion rate (41.4%), and in‐hospital mortality (1.4%) were equivalent, while significantly shorter anesthesia time and longer length of stay were observed in the older group (521.0 ± 140.4 min vs. 595.1 ± 141.71 min, p < 0.01, and 32.9 ± 16.8 days vs. 30.6 ± 17.8 days, p = 0.01, respectively). In the comparison of the surgical outcomes of older patients receiving RARC to those receiving ORC (n = 746) and LRC (n = 375), the RARC group had the lowest complication rate and the shortest length of stay, while the shortest anesthesia time was noted in the ORC group. Conclusion: The feasibility of RARC for octogenarian or older patients was demonstrated by the nationwide database study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement is critical in diagnosing and managing eye conditions. This study aims to assess the comparability of three alternative devices for measuring IOP: Noncontact tonometer, Icare rebound tonometer, and Tono-Pen.Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study included 172 adult participants (87 males and 85 females) who underwent IOP and central corneal thickness (CCT) assessments. IOP was measured using Noncontact (Canon TX-20), Icare (Icare TA01i), and Tono-Pen (Tonopen XL). CCT was measured with the built-in pachymetry of the Noncontact tonometer. Correlation coefficients and Bland-Altman analyses were conducted to assess the relationships and agreements between these tonometers. Participants were grouped based on IOP and CCT levels. The mean of the standard deviation of the three tonometer results was calculated to evaluate measurement result variability. One-way analysis of variance was conducted for comparing between the groups.Results: IOP measurements among the three devices were not significantly different, indicating their comparability. Correlation analysis revealed strong correlations between the tonometers. Bland-Altman analysis showed good agreement, with the Icare rebound tonometer and Tono-Pen exhibiting narrower limits of agreement. Furthermore, IOP levels influenced measurement result variability, with higher IOP levels associated with greater variance.Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the alternative devices examined can provide reliable IOP measurements. It highlights the potential of these alternative devices for IOP measurement. These findings have implications for clinical practice, offering practitioners additional tools for accurate IOP assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• T817MA attenuates OxyHb-induced oxidative stress and neurotoxicity. • T817MA regulates mitochondrial dynamics after OxyHb treatment. • T817MA protects against OxyHb via Sirt1 and Arc in vitro. • T817MA alleviates brain damage following SAH in vivo. • T817MA regulates mitochondrial dynamics, Sirt1 and Arc in vivo. Spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is an acute neurologic emergency with poor outcomes, and mitochondrial dysfunction is known as one of the key pathological mechanisms underlying the SAH-induced early brain injury (EBI). 1-{3-[2-(1-benzothiophen-5-yl)ethoxy]propyl} azetidin-3-ol maleate (T817MA) is a newly synthesized neurotrophic compound that has been demonstrated to exert protective effects against brain injury. Here, we investigated the effect of T817MA in neuronal injury following experimental SAH both in vitro and in vivo. Primary cultured cortical neurons were treated with oxyhemoglobin (OxyHb) to mimic SAH in vitro , and T817MA at concentrations higher than 0.1 μM reduced OxyHb-induced neuronal injury. T817MA treatment significantly inhibited lipid peroxidation, reduced neuronal apoptosis and attenuated mitochondrial fragmentation. The results of western blot showed that T817MA markedly reduced the expression of mitochondrial fission proteins, fission protein 1 (Fis-1) and dynamin-related GTPase-1 (Drp-1), but prolonged the expression of the postsynaptic protein activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc). In addition, T817MA significantly increased the expression of sirtuin 1 (Sirt1), which was accompanied by preserved enzymatic of isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH2) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Knockdown of Sirt1 and Arc via small interfere RNA (siRNA) transfection partially prevented the T817MA-induced protection in cortical neurons. Furthermore, treatment with T817MA in vivo significantly reduced brain damage and preserved neurological function in rats. The decreased expression of Fis-1 and Drp-1, as well as the increased expression of Arc and Sirt1 were also observed in vivo. Taken together, these data indicate that the neuroprotective agent T817MA protects against SAH-induced brain injury via Sirt1- and Arc-mediated regulation of mitochondrial dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fully stretchable photosynaptic device with low energy consumption is achieved by the intrinsic stretchability of conjugated block copolymers and the accommodation of perovskite quantum dots. The strategy emulates photosynapse functionalities and provides an artificial muscle's neural network with high recognition accuracy, thereby representing potentially major advances in soft optoelectronics. [Display omitted] Emulation of photonic synapses offers a promising avenue for developing low-energy consumption of soft electronics, neurologically inspired robotics, and neuromorphic network computation. In this paper, a fully stretchable photosynaptic device with ultralow energy consumption using intrinsically stretchable poly(δ -decanolactone) (PDL)-based conjugated block copolymers (BCPs) with perovskite quantum dots (PeQDs) is first reported. The findings reveal that selectively choosing solvents for the PDL-based BCPs effectively regulates the assembly of P3HT and the accommodation of PeQDs, leading to improved self-aggregation of PeQDs, increased grain size, and optimized interfaces between P3HT and PeQDs The BCPs/PeQDs composite effectively emulates significant features of photonic synapses, such as paired-pulse facilitation (PPF), spike-dependent and short/long-term neuroplasticity, demonstrating excellent performance, including the fastest response time (1 ms), the highest current contrast (4.9 × 105), PPF (1.93) and ultra-low energy consumption (0.3 aJ) at an operating voltage of –0.1 mV. Furthermore, the BCP/PeQDs exhibit remarkable neuromuscular synapse characteristics, including high strain and bending tolerance and spike-dependent plasticity, enabling the devices to achieve high classification accuracy in artificial neural network simulations during tensile strain. The accommodation solvent selectivity of BCP/PeQDs suggests a promising strategy for advancing neurologically soft electronics, human-like pattern recognition, and neuromorphic computation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]