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Monocyte to macrophage differentiation factor 2 gene (Mmd2) encodes a member of the progestin and adipoQ receptor (PAQR) family, and plays a key role in growth and development. Our previous studies had found Mmd2 (Monocyte to macrophage differentiation factor 2) is a new candidate gene for growth traits in Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). For the purpose of understanding the underlying mechanism of LvMmd2 affecting the growth of shrimp, we analyzed the gene structure, phylogeny, expression profiles and RNA interference of this gene in L. vannamei. We found the LvMmd2 gene sequence was highly conserved in transmembrane regions, it was widely expressed in different tissues, with the highest expression level in the eye stalk. Knockdown LvMmd2 could significantly promote body length and body weight gain, suggesting it is a growth suppressor. Through transcriptome analysis we identified 422 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the dsMmd2 group and control group, among which 337 genes were upregulated in the dsMmd2 group, including numerous muscle-related genes and protein synthesis genes. Further bioinformatics analysis showed that growth, metabolism, and immune-related signal pathway had changed significantly. The above results greatly increase our understanding on the conservative structure and function of LvMmd2 gene, and provide potential application prospects in genetics and breeding.

BackgroundEpilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases, affecting people of any age. Although the treatments of epilepsy are more and more diverse, the uncertainty regarding efficacy and adverse events still exists, especially in the control of childhood epilepsy.MethodsWe performed a systematic review and meta- analysis following the Cochrane Handbook and preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Four databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane library were searched. Studies reporting the use of brivaracetam monotherapy or adjuvant therapy in children (aged ≤18 years) were eligible for inclusion. Each stage of the review was conducted by two authors independently. Random-effects models were used to combine effect sizes for the estimation of efficacy and safety.ResultsA total of 1884 articles were retrieved, and finally 9 articles were included, enrolling 503 children with epilepsy. The retention rate of BRV treatment was 78% (95% CI: 0.64–0.91), the responder rate (reduction of seizure frequency ≥ 50%) was 35% (95% CI: 0.24–0.47), the freedom seizure rate (no seizure) was 18% (95% CI: 0.10–0.25), and the incidence rate of any treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAE) was 39% (95% CI: 0.09–0.68). The most common TEAE was somnolence, which had an incidence rate of 9% (95% CI: 0.07–0.12). And the incidence rate of mental or behavioral disorders was 12% (95% CI: 0.06–0.17).ConclusionOur systematic review and meta-analysis showed that BRV seemed to be safe and effective in the treatment of childhood epilepsy.

Background: Immune cell activation in early sepsis is beneficial to clear pathogens, but immune cell exhaustion during the inflammatory response induces immunosuppression in sepsis. Here, we studied the relationship between immune cell survival status and the prognosis of sepsis patients. Methods: Sepsis patients admitted to our hospital with a diagnosis time of less than 24 h were recruited. RNA sequencing technologies were used to study functional alterations in various immune cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from sepsis patients. Flow cytometry and electron microscopy were performed to study cell apoptosis and morphological alterations. Results: A total of 68 sepsis patients with complete data were enrolled and divided into survival (45 patients) and death (23 patients) groups according to their prognosis. Patients in the death group had significantly increased lactic acid levels compared with those in the survival group, but there was no significant difference in other physiological and coagulation functional indicators between the two groups. Bulk RNA sequencing showed that cell death-related pathways and biomarkers were highly enriched and activated in the PBMCs of the death group than that in the survival group. Signs of mitochondrial damage, autophagosomes, cell surface damage and cell surface pore forming were also more pronounced in PBMCs from the death group under electron microscopy. Further single-cell RNA sequencing revealed that cell death occurred mainly in myeloid cells rather than lymphocytes at the early stage of sepsis; cell death patterns of destructive necrosis and pyroptosis were predominant in neutrophils, and apoptosis, autophagy and ferroptosis with less damage to the surroundings were predominant in monocytes. Conclusion: Cell death mainly occurs in monocytes and neutrophils in the PBMCs of sepsis at the early stage. The study provides a perspective for the immunotherapy of early sepsis targeting immune cell death.

The diamond retention of traditional impregnated diamond matrix comes from the mechanical holding force. The residual compressive stress on the diamond surface is an important index used to evaluate the mechanical holding force. The existing calculation methods for the compressive stress were compared and evaluated. The results showed that the calculation results of the empirical formula and the representation formula of the elastic equation were quite different from the actual value, revealing that the forms of the formulas were not reasonable enough. The mechanic calculation formula based on the theory of elastic-plastic mechanics, and the finite element numerical simulation method had very good validity. The analysis of the cooling process of WC-based diamond composites after sintering showed that there occurred plastic deformation inside the matrix during the cooling process, and that around the diamond particles there formed a plastic deformation zone. The plastic deformation could absorb a part of the strain energy, relieve the thermal mismatch stress between the diamond and the matrix, and release part of the static pressure stress on the diamond surface. After cooling, the residual compressive stress would occur on the diamond surface and was the source of the mechanical holding force of the matrix to diamonds.

Immunosuppression as a result of severe infection impairs pathogen clearance and can increase susceptibility to secondary infection. Here, the authors dissect how T cell aging and the thymic involution that occurs during this process contribute to immunosuppression and find a key role for IL-33.

Abstract Vibration, especially basic vibration, may cause loose contacts, open circuits, or other contact problems, which account for a large proportion of system failure causes. Due to the complexity of the chassis structure used in the biomedical motors, the vibration analysis of a single component cannot solve the vibration problems encountered in the work of the system. Therefore, it is necessary to use system simulation and experiments to monitor and enhance the health of the structure. Finite element method is used to carry out the dynamic analysis from the component to the system, and calculate the natural frequency, modal shape and harmonic response. Then, the effectiveness and accuracy of the analysis results are verified by experiments through simulation and experiments. The results show that the measures taken have effectively reduced the vibration of the chassis equipment and improved its safety for better health safety of patients. There is just a 2% variation between the natural frequencies acquired from the experiment and the simulation computation. In terms of natural frequency, the first 6‐order natural frequencies all have errors of less than 10%, and the natural frequency error is comparable to that of fireproof board.

The emergence of new nanoscale technologies has imposed significant challenges to designing reliable electronic systems in radiation environments. A few types of radiation like Total Ionizing Dose (TID) can cause permanent damages on such nanoscale electronic devices, and current state-of-the-art technologies to tackle TID make use of expensive radiation-hardened devices. This paper focuses on a novel and different approach: using machine learning algorithms on consumer electronic level Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) to tackle TID effects and monitor them to replace before they stop working. This condition has a research challenge to anticipate when the board results in a total failure due to TID effects. We observed internal measurements of FPGA boards under gamma radiation and used three different anomaly detection machine learning (ML) algorithms to detect anomalies in the sensor measurements in a gamma-radiated environment. The statistical results show a highly significant relationship between the gamma radiation exposure levels and the board measurements. Moreover, our anomaly detection results have shown that a One-Class SVM with Radial Basis Function Kernel has an average recall score of 0.95. Also, all anomalies can be detected before the boards are entirely inoperative, i.e. voltages drop to zero and confirmed with a sanity check.

Casing shear deformation caused by fault slip is a serious problem that restricts shale gas development. As yet, there is no effective method for controlling casing shear deformation. In this study, a cement sheath with hollow glass microspheres was used to prevent and mitigate casing deformation caused by a fault slip. An equivalent outer-diameter model was established. This model analyzes the mechanism by which casing shear deformation is controlled by a cement sheath with hollow glass microspheres under the condition of fault slip. The hollow glass microspheres in the cement sheath were broken owing to the strong shear forces of the fault slip. The internal volume of the hollow glass microspheres was released, which reduced the distance of the fault slip across the casing. The casing deformation was prevented or slowed down. A 3D assembly numerical model was established to evaluate the control effect of the hollow glass microspheres on casing shear deformation. Furthermore, the influences of slip distance, casing thickness, mechanical parameters of formation, mechanical parameters of the cement sheath, and crustal stress difference were analyzed. The mathematical calculation results showed that casing deformation increased with an increase in the fault slip distance, an increase in the stratum elastic modulus, and a decrease in the in situ stress difference. Therefore, the mass content of the hollow glass microspheres in the cement sheath also needs to be increased to ensure that the casing does not deform. The numerical analysis results showed that the change in casing thickness, Poisson’s ratio of formation, and mechanical parameters of the cement sheath had little effect on the mass content of hollow glass microspheres. Finally, the model was used to analyze the test wells in the Weirong Block, Sichuan, China. The calculation results showed that under the same condition of casing deformation of 8.23 mm in adjacent wells, casing shear deformation could be avoided by using a cement sheath with 11.9% hollow glass microspheres in the test well. This study provides a theoretical basis and reference for controlling the casing shear deformation caused by fault slip in shale gas wells.

It is important to understand the process of cancer cell metastasis and some cancer characteristics that increase disease risk. Because the occurrence of the disease is caused by many factors, and the pathogenesis process is also complicated. It is necessary to use interpretable and visual modeling methods to characterize this complex process. Machine learning techniques have demonstrated extraordinary capabilities in identifying models and extracting patterns from data to improve medical prognostic decisions. However, in most cases, it is unexplainable. Using formal methods to model can ensure the correctness and understandability of prediction decisions in a certain extent, and can well visualize the analysis process. Coloured Petri Nets (CPN) is a powerful formal model. This paper presents a modeling approach with CPN and machine learning in breast cancer, which can visualize the process of cancer cell metastasis and the impact of cell characteristics on the risk of disease. By evaluating the performance of several common machine learning algorithms, we finally choose the logistic regression algorithm to analyze the data, and integrate the obtained prediction model into the CPN model. Our method allows us to understand the relations among the cancer cell metastasis and clearly see the quantitative prediction results.

Abstract Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the leading gynecologic cancers worldwide. Cancer stem-like cells are correlated with relapse and resistance to chemotherapy. Twist1, which is involved in ovarian cancer stem-like cell differentiation, is positively correlated with CTNNB1 in different differentiation stages of ovarian cancer cells: primary epithelial ovarian cancer cells (primary EOC cells), mesenchymal spheroid-forming cells (MSFCs) and secondary epithelial ovarian cancer cells (sEOC cells). However, the expression of β-catenin is inversed compared to CTNNB1 in these 3 cell states. We further demonstrated that β-catenin is regulated by the protein degradation system in MSFCs and secondary EOC but not in primary EOC cells. The differentiation process from primary EOC cells to MSFCs and sEOC cells might be due to the downregulation of β-catenin protein levels. Finally, we found that TWIST1 can enhance β-catenin degradation by upregulating Axin2.

The energy transfer process occurred at all stages of the production system and could demonstrate potential changes in the state of the system during production. The cut tobacco production process also would require a large amount of heat energy to make a high-quality product. Based on the energy balance analysis of the SH626 dryer, the energy consumption of the tobacco drying process was the highest unit, which accounts for approximately 60% of the energy consumption of the whole tobacco production process. The energy transfer efficiency of the sheet heating system was only 0.46 ∼ 0.58 and was mainly influenced by the working temperature of thin plates. The energy transfer efficiency of the hot air heating system was 0.24 ∼ 0.33 and was influenced by the hot air mass flow rate. The energy transfer system remained low levels of energy transfer efficiency and had great potential for saving energy. Those conclusions of this study could provide a theoretical basis to improve dryer system energy transfer efficiency by the thermal integrated system and the intelligent control system.

Environmental pollution often occurs in the process of mining, beneficiation and smelting of metal mines.Arsenic pollution caused by acid mine drainage (AMD) is one of the most serious pollution problems of heavy metals. At present, the understanding of the evolution process of secondary minerals is insufficient. This paper summarizes the occurrence form of arsenic in metal sulfide.The specific chemical process of activation and migration in different minerals are discussed.Three rules of form transformation are concluded. ①Pyrite and arsenopyrite are the most common arsenic-bearing minerals in metal sulfide mines; ②Arsenic is activated by the oxidation and dissolution of primary minerals, existing mainly in the form of arsenate and arsenite in AMD of which arsenite is more migratory. ③Adsorptive precipitation of secondary minerals in AMD (such as ferro-vanadium, goethite, scallion, etc.) can slow the migration rate and reduce the migration amount of arsenic but cannot prevent the migration process. The migration mechanism of arsenic in the mine environment is reviewed, and new treatment schemes and research directions are proposed.

The chlorophyll content has a direct effect on photosynthesis of crops. In order to explore a quick and convenient method for estimating the chlorophyll content of Brassica napus and facilitate efficient crop monitoring, we measured the actual value of chlorophyll with a SPAD-502 chlorophyll detector, and collected aerial images of B. napus with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) carrying a RGB camera in this study. The total number of 270 samples collected images were divided into regions according to the planting conditions of different B. napus varieties in the field. Then, according to the empirical formula, there were 36 colors’ characteristic parameters calculated and combined. To estimate the chlorophyll content of rape, 189 samples were included in the modeling set, while the other 81 samples were enrolled in the validation set for testing the accuracy of this model. After the combination of R (red), G (green) and B (blue) color channels, the results showed that the color characteristics B/(R ​+ ​G), b, B/G, (G-B)/(G ​+ ​B), g-b were highly connected with the measured value of chlorophyll SPAD, and the correlation coefficient between the combination based on B/(R ​+ ​G) and SPAD value was 0.747. With R2 = 0.805, RMSE = 3.343, and RE = 6.84%, the regression model created using random forest had superior outcomes, according to the model comparison. This study offers a new method for quickly estimating the amount of chlorophyll in rapeseed and a workable reference for crop monitoring using the UAV platform.

Abstract Background Nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) and intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) are major causes of ischemic stroke. Relatively few studies have focused on the risk factors and clinical features of ischemic stroke caused by NVAF combined with ICAS. Method We retrospectively evaluated NVAF and/or ICAS in patients with acute ischemic stroke admitted within 72 h after stroke. All patients with acute ischemic stroke underwent diffusion‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI), magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), computed tomography angiography (CTA), and/or digital subtraction angiography (DSA). NVAF was detected by routine electrocardiogram or 24‐h Holter examination, Doppler echocardiography, and contrast echocardiography of the right heart. Results Among the 635 enrolled patients, NVAF, ICAS, and NVAF+ICAS were diagnosed in 170 (26.77%), 255 (40.16%), and 210 (33.07%) patients, respectively. Patients in the NVAF+ICAS group were older (p

ABSTRACT To date, studies on the swine gut microbiome have focused almost exclusively on bacteria. Despite recent advances in the understanding of the swine gut bacteriome at different growth stages, a comprehensive longitudinal study of the lifetime dynamics of the swine gut virome is lacking. Here, we used metagenomic sequencing combined with bioinformatic analysis techniques to characterize the gut viromes of parental-generation and offspring pigs at different biological classification levels. We collected 54 fecal samples from 36 parental-generation pigs (18 breeding boars [Duroc] and 18 pregnant/lactating sows [Landrace]) and 108 fecal samples from 18 offspring pigs during the lactation (day 3), nursery (days 26, 35, and 49), growing (day 120), and finishing (day 180) stages. Alpha diversity, including community richness (richness index) and diversity (Shannon index), showed an overall increasing trend in offspring pigs. Distinct shifts (beta diversity) in the microbiome structure along different growth stages were observed. The linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) algorithm revealed 53 viral genus that are stage specific. Host prediction results showed that enteric viruses are probably correlated with carbohydrate decomposition. We identified abundant auxiliary carbohydrate-active enzyme (CAZyme) genes from enteric viruses, most of which are glycoside hydrolase genes and participate in the biolysis of complex polysaccharides. IMPORTANCE This study shows that distinct stage-associated swine gut viromes may be determined by age and/or gut physiology at different growth stages, and enteric viruses probably manipulate carbohydrate decomposition by abundant glycoside hydrolases. These findings fill a gap in the longitudinal pattern of the swine gut virome and lay the foundation for research on the function of swine enteric viruses.

Shikonin is the main active ingredient in Arnebiae Radix, an herbal medicine with anti-inflammatory and hemostatic effects, yet which mechanism remains unveiled. Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) not only regulates fibrinolysis, but also modulates macrophage invasion, matrix remodeling and adhesion. This study examined whether uPA participated in the anti-inflammatory activity of Shikonin on LPS-induced mice acute lung-injury (ALI) and RAW264.7 models, and investigated whether Shikonin mediated a hemostatic effect by inhibiting uPA in animal serum. The results showed that Shikonin ameliorated inflammation and reduced uPA in the lung of ALI mice. Proteomic results revealed that Shikonin markedly decreased uPA, MMP-9 and pro-inflammatory cytokines in macrophages. Besides, Shikonin decreased serum uPA and promoted blood coagulation. Collectively, current data suggested that Shikonin inhibited uPA, which possibly associated with its anti-inflammatory and hemostatic effects.

PurposeOlfactory dysfunction (OD) is a debilitating symptom frequently reported by patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and it is associated with a dysregulated sinonasal inflammation. However, little information is available about the effect of the inflammation-related nasal microbiota and related metabolites on the olfactory function in these patients. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the nasal microbiota-metabolites-immune interactions and their role in the pathogenesis of OD in CRS patients.Methods23 and 19 CRS patients with and without OD, respectively, were enrolled in the present study. The “Sniffin’ Sticks” was used to measure the olfactory function, while the metagenomic shotgun sequencing and the untargeted metabolite profiling were performed to assess the differences in terms of the nasal microbiome and metabolome between the two groups. The levels of nasal mucus inflammatory mediators were investigated by a multiplex flow Cytometric Bead Array (CBA).ResultsA decreased diversity in the nasal microbiome from the OD group compared to the NOD group was evidenced. The metagenomic analysis revealed a significant enrichment of Acinetobacter johnsonii in the OD group, while Mycoplasma arginini, Aeromonas dhakensis, and Salmonella enterica were significantly less represented (LDA value > 3, p < 0.05). The nasal metabolome profiles were significantly different between the OD and NOD groups (P < 0.05). The purine metabolism was the most significantly enriched metabolic subpathway in OD patients compared with NOD patients (P < 0.001). The expressions of IL-5, IL-8, MIP-1α, MCP-1, and TNF were statistically and significantly increased in the OD group (P < 0.05). All these data, including the dysregulation of the nasal microbiota, differential metabolites, and elevated inflammatory mediators in OD patients demonstrated a clear interaction relationship.ConclusionThe disturbed nasal microbiota-metabolite-immune interaction networks may be implicated in the pathogenesis of OD in CRS patients and the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms need to be further investigated in future studies.

The bacterium Aeromonas veronii is a co-pathogenic species that can negatively impact the health of both humans and aquatic animals. In this study, we used single-cell transcriptome analysis (scRNA-seq) to investigate the effects of infection with A. veronii on head kidney cells and the regulation of gene expression in the dark sleeper (Odontobutis potamophila). scRNA-seq was used to assess the effects of infection with A. veronii in O. potamophila B cells, endothelial cells, macrophages, and granulocytes, and differential enrichment analysis of gene expression in B cells and granulocytes was performed. The analyses revealed a significant increase in neutrophils and decrease in eosinophils in granulocytes infected with A. veronii. Activation of neutrophils enhanced ribosome biogenesis by up-regulating the expression of RPS12 and RPL12 to fight against invading pathogens. Crucial pro-inflammatory mediators IL1B, IGHV1-4, and the major histocompatibility class II genes MHC2A and MHC2DAB, which are involved in virulence processes, were upregulated, suggesting that A. veronii activates an immune response that presents antigens and activates immunoglobulin receptors in B cells. These cellular immune responses triggered by infection with A. veronii enriched the available scRNA-seq data for teleosts, and these results are important for understanding the evolution of cellular immune defense and functional differentiation of head kidney cells.

Developmental abnormalities and hippocampal aging leads to alteration in cognition. In the brain, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is a common and reversible mRNA alteration that is essential for both neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration. However, its function in the postnatal hippocampus and the specific mechanisms regulating hippocampus-related neurodegeneration still awaits elucidate. We identified dynamic m6A modifications in postnatal hippocampus at different stages (at 10 days postnatally, and at 11 and 64 weeks of age). m6A shows a definite cell-specific methylation profile and m6A modification displays temporal dynamic during neurodevelopment and aging. Differentially methylated transcripts in the aged (64-week-old) hippocampus were enriched in microglia. The PD-1/PD-L1 pathways was identified that may participate in the cognitive dysfunction associated with an aged hippocampus. Furthermore, Mettl3 was spatiotemporally expressed in the postnatal hippocampus, which was highly expressed at the age of 11 weeks compared with the other two timepoints. Ectopic expression of METTL3 in mice hippocampus mediated by lentiviral infection resulted in high expression of genes related to PD-1/PD-L1 pathway and significant spatial cognitive deficit. Together, our data show that m6A dysregulation, which is mediated by METTL3, most likely contributes to cognitive deficits linked to the hippocampus via the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway.

Chinese lesbian and bisexual women (LBW) often face difficulties and challenges on campus due to their multiple, socially-oppressed identities. These students have to navigate through uncharted environments to make meaning of their identities. In this qualitative study, by considering four environmental systems of student life, including the student club (microsystem), the university (mesosystem), families (exosystem), and society (macrosystem), we aim to explore what identity negotiation Chinese LBW students have in them and what their meaning-making capacity influence that identity negotiation. We find students experience identity security in the microsystem, identity differentiation-inclusion or inclusion in the mesosystem, and identity unpredictability-predictability or predictability in the exosystem and macrosystem. Moreover, they employ foundational, transitional (formulaic to foundational or symphonic), or symphonic meaning-making capacity to influence their identity negotiation. Suggestions are made for the university to create an inclusive climate accommodating students with different identities.

Protein aggregation and associated amyloid formation is linked with several harmful human pathophysiologies including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and cerebrovascular diseases. A potential approach for modulating and exploring amyloid fibrillization is the control of protein self-assembly. Herein, anti-aggregation effects of salidroside, its influence on the kinetics of amyloid fibrillization of Aβ1-42 peptide and its cytotoxicity against cerebrovascular endothelial cells (bEnd.3) were assessed by using a wide range of spectroscopic and cellular techniques. The present outcome of Thioflavin T (ThT) and 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonic acid (ANS) fluorescence, Congo red (CR), and circular dichroism (CD) analyses indicated that salidroside potentially inhibits protein fibril formation. The cellular studies inferred that salidroside protects bEnd.3 cells against Aβ1-42 oligomers -triggered cytotoxicity through modulation of oxidative stress [reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities] and apoptosis (caspase-3 activity). Therefore, the data signifies the role of salidroside as a promising small molecule in inhibiting Aβ1-42 aggregation and associated cerebrovascular endothelial cell toxicity. Hence, salidroside can serve as a potential inhibitor in the therapeutic advancement to combat cerebrovascular diseases.

The pursuit of an advanced functional coating that simultaneously combines high hardness, wear resistance, and superior electrical conductivity has remained an elusive goal in the field of copper alloy surface enhancement. Traditional solid solution alloying methods often lead to a significant increase in electron scattering, resulting in a notable reduction in electrical conductivity, making it challenging to achieve a balance between high hardness, wear resistance, and high conductivity. The key lies in identifying a suitable microstructure where dislocation motion is effectively hindered while minimizing the scattering of conductive electrons. In this study, a novel Cu-MoSi2 coating was successfully fabricated on a CuCrZr alloy surface using the coaxial powder feeding high-speed laser cladding technique, with the addition of 10–30% MoSi2 particles. The coating significantly enhances the hardness and wear resistance of the copper substrate while maintaining favorable electrical conductivity. As the quantity of MoSi2 particles increases, the coating’s hardness and wear resistance gradually improve, with minimal variance in conductivity. Among the coatings, the Cu-30%MoSi2 coating stands out with the highest hardness (974.5 HV0.5) and the lowest wear amount (0.062 mg/km), approximately 15 times the hardness of the copper base material (65 HV0.5) and only 0.45% of the wear amount (13.71 mg/km). Additionally, the coating exhibits a resistivity of 0.173 × 10−6 Ω·m. The extraordinary hardness and wear resistance of these coatings can be attributed to the dispersion strengthening effect of MoxSiy particles, while the high electrical conductivity is due to the low silicon content dissolved into the copper from the released MoSi2 particles, as well as the rapid cooling rates associated with the high-speed laser cladding process.

Titanium alloys are widely used in various structural materials due to their lightweight properties. However, the low wear resistance causes significant economic losses every year. Therefore, it is necessary to implement wear-resistant protection on the surface of titanium alloys. In this study, four types of in situ composite ceramic coatings with two-layer gradient structures were prepared on a Ti-6Al-4V (TC4) substrate using laser cladding. In order to reduce the dilution rate, a transition layer (Ti-40SiC (vol.%)) was first prepared on TC4 alloy. Then, a high-volume-fraction in situ composite ceramic working layer (Ti-xFe-80SiC (vol.%)) with different contents of Fe-based alloy powder (x = 0, 5, 10 and 15 vol.%) was prepared. The working surface of Ti-40SiC (TL) exhibited a typical XRD pattern of Ti, TiC, Ti5Si3, and Ti3SiC2. In comparison, both Ti-80SiC (WL-F0) and Ti-5Fe-80SiC (WL-F5) exhibited similar phase compositions to the TL coating, with no new phase identified in the coatings. However, the TiFeSi2 and SiC phases were presented in Ti-10Fe-80SiC (WL-F10) and Ti-15Fe-80SiC (WL-F15). It is proven that the addition of the Fe element could regulate the in situ reaction in the original Ti-Si-C ternary system to form the new phases with high hardness and good wear resistance. The hardness of the WL-F15 (1842.9 HV1) is five times higher than that of the matrix (350 HV1). Due to the existence of self-lubricating phases such as Ti5Si3 and Ti3SiC2, a lubricating film was presented in the WL-F0 and WL-F5 coatings, which could block the further damage of the friction pair and enhance the wear resistance. Furthermore, a wear-transition phenomenon was observed in the WL-F10 and WL-F15 coatings, which was similar to the friction behavior of structural ceramics. Under the load of 10 N and 20 N, the wear volume of WL-F15 coating is 5.2% and 63.7% of that in the substrate, and the depth of friction of WL-15 coating is only 14.4% and 80% of that in the substrate. The transition of wear volume and depth can be attributed to the wear mechanism changing from oxidation wear to adhesive wear.

The continuous growth in global energy and chemical raw material demand has drawn significant attention to the development of heavy oil resources. A primary challenge in heavy oil extraction lies in reducing crude oil viscosity. Alkali–surfactant–polymer (ASP) flooding technology has emerged as an effective method for enhancing heavy oil recovery. However, the chromatographic separation of chemical agents presents a formidable obstacle in heavy oil extraction. To address this challenge, we utilized a free radical polymerization method, employing acrylamide, 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid, lauryl acrylate, and benzyl acrylate as raw materials. This approach led to the synthesis of a multifunctional amphiphilic polymer known as PAALB, which we applied to the extraction of heavy oil. The structure of PAALB was meticulously characterized using techniques such as infrared spectroscopy and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy. To assess the effectiveness of PAALB in reducing heavy oil viscosity and enhancing oil recovery, we conducted a series of tests, including contact angle measurements, interfacial tension assessments, self-emulsification experiments, critical association concentration tests, and sand-packed tube flooding experiments. The research findings indicate that PAALB can reduce oil–water displacement, reduce heavy oil viscosity, and improve swept volume upon injection into the formation. A solution of 5000 mg/L PAALB reduced the contact angle of water droplets on the core surface from 106.55° to 34.95°, shifting the core surface from oil-wet to water-wet, thereby enabling oil–water displacement. Moreover, A solution of 10,000 mg/L PAALB reduced the oil–water interfacial tension to 3.32 × 10−4 mN/m, reaching an ultra-low interfacial tension level, thereby inducing spontaneous emulsification of heavy oil within the formation. Under the condition of an oil–water ratio of 7:3, a solution of 10,000 mg/L PAALB can reduce the viscosity of heavy oil from 14,315 mPa·s to 201 mPa·s via the glass bottle inversion method, with a viscosity reduction rate of 98.60%. In sand-packed tube flooding experiments, under the injection volume of 1.5 PV, PAALB increased the recovery rate by 25.63% compared to traditional hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) polymer. The insights derived from this research on amphiphilic polymers hold significant reference value for the development and optimization of chemical flooding strategies aimed at enhancing heavy oil recovery.

The storage quality and microbiome analysis of pickled swimming crabs (Portunus trituberculatus) stored at 20 and 4 °C were investigated. It showed that samples stored at 4 °C had a longer shelf life, lower total viable count (TVC), pH, and total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N) contents than those stored at 20 °C. The biogenic amine (BA) results demonstrated that tyramine (tyr), putrescine (put), and cadaverine (cad) were the dominant amines in all samples, and samples stored at 4 °C had lower BA contents. A microbiome analysis indicated that a salt–alcohol water mixture significantly inhibited the growth of Tenericutes. Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Cyanobacteria were the dominant bacteria of stored pickled crabs, and storage at 4 °C significantly inhibited the growth of dominant bacteria, more than that of 20 °C. In conclusion, 4 °C storage guaranteed the quality of samples by inhibiting changes in biochemical properties and the growth of dominant bacteria, thereby prolonging its shelf life.

Chromosome studies provide the foundation for comprehending inheritance, variation, systematics, and evolution. Penaeid shrimps are a group of crustaceans with great economic importance. Basic cytogenetic information obtained from these shrimps can be used to study their genome structure, chromosome relationships, chromosome variation, polyploidy manipulation, and breeding. The study of shrimp chromosomes experienced significant growth in the 1990s and has been closely linked to the progress of genome research since the application of next-generation sequencing technology. To date, the genome sequences of five penaeid shrimp species have been published. The availability of these genomes has ushered the study of shrimp chromosomes into the post-genomic era. Currently, research on shrimp cytogenetics not only involves chromosome counting and karyotyping, but also extends to investigating submicroscopic changes; exploring genome structure and regulation during various cell divisions; and contributing to the understanding of mechanisms related to growth, sexual control, stress resistance, and genome evolution. In this article, we provide an overview of the progress made in chromosome research on penaeid shrimp. We emphasize the mutual promotion between studies on chromosome structure and genome research and highlight the impact of chromosome-level assembly on studies of genome structure and function. Additionally, we summarize the emerging trends in post-genomic-era shrimp chromosome research.

This study investigates the impact of strain rate on the twinning process (i.e., twin nucleation, twin propagation, and twin growth) and associated mechanical behavior during compression along the normal direction (ND) and transverse direction (TD) of a rolled AZ31 Mg plate at a range of strain rates from 0.00005 s−1 to 2500 s−1. The findings reveal that the yield strength is insensitive to strain rates below 0.05 s−1 during both ND and TD compression tests, while at higher strain rates of 2500 s−1, the yield strength increases under both loading conditions. Interestingly, the TD-compressed sample exhibits a larger yield plateau at a strain rate of 2500 s−1, attributed to an increased activation of {101¯2} twins. Further examination of the microstructure reveals that the twinning process is highly dependent on the strain rate. As the strain rate increases, twin nucleation is promoted, leading to a higher twin boundary density. In contrast, at lower strain rates, twin nucleation is restrained, and the external strain is mainly accommodated by twin growth, which results in higher area fractions of twinned regions.

Various studies have highlighted the important associations between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and gut microbiota and related metabolites. Nevertheless, the establishment of causal relationships between these associations remains to be determined. Multiple mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were performed to genetically predict the causative impact of 196 gut microbiota and 83 metabolites on OSA. Two-sample MR was used to assess the potential association, and causality was evaluated using inverse variance weighted (IVW), MR-Egger, and weighted median (WM) methods. Multivariable MR (MVMR) was employed to ascertain the causal independence between gut microbiota and the metabolites linked to OSA. Additionally, Cochran’s Q test, the MR Egger intercept test and the MR Steiger test were used for the sensitivity analyses. The analysis of the 196 gut microbiota revealed that genus_Ruminococcaceae (UCG009) (PIVW = 0.010) and genus_Subdoligranulum (PIVW = 0.041) were associated with an increased risk of OSA onset. Conversely, Family_Ruminococcaceae (PIVW = 0.030), genus_Coprococcus2 (PWM = 0.025), genus_Eggerthella (PIVW = 0.011), and genus_Eubacterium (xylanophilum_group) (PIVW = 0.001) were negatively related to the risk of OSA. Among the 83 metabolites evaluated, 3-dehydrocarnitine, epiandrosterone sulfate, and leucine were determined to be potential independent risk factors associated with OSA. Moreover, the reverse MR analysis demonstrated a suggestive association between OSA exposure and six microbiota taxa. This study offers compelling evidence regarding the potential beneficial or detrimental causative impact of the gut microbiota and its associated metabolites on OSA risk, thereby providing new insights into the mechanisms of gut microbiome-mediated OSA development.

Maize, the most widely planted and highest yielding of the three major crops in the world, requires the development and breeding of new varieties to accommodate the shift towards mechanized harvesting. However, the moisture content of kernels during harvest poses a significant challenge to mechanized harvesting, leading to seed breakage and increased storage costs. Previous studies highlighted the importance of LEA (Late Embryogenesis Abundant) members in regulating kernel dehydration. In this study, we aimed to gain a better understanding of the relationship between the LEA family and grain dehydration in maize. Through expression pattern analysis of maize, we identified 52 LEA genes (ZmLEAs) distributed across 10 chromosomes, organized into seven subgroups based on phylogenetic analysis, gene structure, and conserved motifs. Evolutionary and selective pressure analysis revealed that the amplification of ZmLEA genes primarily resulted from whole-genome or fragment replication events, with strong purifying selection effects during evolution. Furthermore, the transcriptome data of kernels of two maize inbred lines with varying dehydration rates at different developmental stages showed that 14 ZmLEA genes were expressed differentially in the two inbreds. This suggested that the ZmLEA genes might participate in regulating the kernel dehydration rate (KDR) in maize. Overall, this study enhances our understanding of the ZmLEA family and provides a foundation for further research into its role in regulating genes associated with grain dehydration in maize.

Two triple interpenetrating Zn(II)-based MOFs were studied in this paper. Named [Zn6(1,4-bpeb)4(IPA)6(H2O)]n (MOF-1) and {[Zn3(1,4-bpeb)1.5(DDBA)3]n·2DMF} (MOF-2), {1,4-bpeb = 1,4-bis [2-(4-pyridy1) ethenyl]benze, IPA = Isophthalic acid, DDBA = 3,3′-Azodibenzoic acid}, they were synthesized by the hydrothermal method and were characterized and stability tested. The results showed that MOF-1 had good acid–base stability and solvent stability. Furthermore, MOF-1 had excellent green fluorescence and with different phenomena in different solvents, which was almost completely quenched in acetone. Based on this phenomenon, an acetone sensing test was carried out, where the detection limit of acetone was calculated to be 0.00365% (volume ratio). Excitingly, the MOF-1 could also be used as a proportional fluorescent probe to specifically detect tryptophan, with a calculated detection limit of 34.84 μM. Furthermore, the mechanism was explained through energy transfer and competitive absorption (fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)) and internal filtration effect (IFE). For antibacterial purposes, the minimum inhibitory concentrations of MOF-1 against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were 19.52 µg/mL and 39.06 µg/mL, respectively, and the minimum inhibitory concentrations of MOF-2 against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were 68.36 µg/mL and 136.72 µg/mL, respectively.

Current stratospheric airships generally employ photovoltaic cycle energy systems. Accurately calculating their power generation is significant for airships’ overall design and mission planning. However, the power generation of solar arrays on stratospheric airships is challenging to model and calculate due to the dynamic nature of the airships’ flight, resulting in continuously changing radiation conditions on the curved surface of the airships. The power generated by the airship solar array was modeled herein through a combination of the flight attitude, spatial position, time, and other influencing factors. Additionally, the model was modified by considering the variation in photovoltaic conversion efficiency based on the radiation incidence angle, as well as the state of charge and power consumption of the energy storage battery pack. This study compared the measurement data of power generation in real flight tests with the calculation results of the model. The comparison showed that the results of the calculated model were highly consistent with the actual measured data. An average normalized root-mean-square error of 2.47% validated the accuracy of the newly built model. The generalizability and rapidity of the model were also tested, and the results showed that the model performed well in both metrics.

Abstract Purpose We built a joint replacement loosening model based on the original rabbit model of infection and evaluated the performance characteristics of 18F-FDG and 68 Ga-FAPI in evaluating infection and loosening. Methods After surgery, the rabbits were divided into four groups, with six individuals in the control group and 10 each in the aseptic loosening, S. aureus and S. epidermidis groups. PET/CT and serological examination were performed three times at two-week intervals. After the rabbits were euthanized, micro-CT, tissue pathology, pullout tests and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed. Results The pullout test and SEM showed the feasibility of the aseptic loosening model. 18F-FDG showed similar performance in the control and loosening groups. The SUVmax of the S. aureus group was consistently higher than that of the S. epidermidis group. As for 68 Ga-FAPI, the SUVmax of the control group was lowest in the second week and gradually increased over subsequent weeks. The SUVmax of the loosening group began to exceed that of the control group after the second week. The SUVmax of the S. aureus group in the second week was the lowest among the four groups and increased as the number of weeks increased. The pathology results showed concordance with the performance of PET/CT. Linear regressions between SUVmax and serology showed that 18F-FDG was positively correlated with CRP and IL-6, while 68 Ga-FAPI revealed negative correlations with CRP and IL-6 in the second week and positive correlations in the sixth week. In addition, the SUVmax and MT(target)V of both 18F-FDG and 68 Ga-FAPI were negatively correlated with bone volume/trabecular volume (TV) and bone surface area/TV. Conclusion In this longitudinal observation, 68 Ga-FAPI showed greater sensitivity than 18F-FDG in detecting diseases, and 68 Ga-FAPI had no intestinal or muscular uptake. The MT(target)V of 68 Ga-FAPI was larger than that of 18F-FDG, which meant that 68 Ga-FAPI had the potential to define the scope of lesions more accurately. Finally, the SUVmax of 68 Ga-FAPI could not differentiate between loosening and infection; further study of the diagnostic criteria is warranted.

In order to realize the localization of unmanned helicopter gear oil，the influence of different performance gear oil on gearbox performance is clarified，so as to improve the reliability and service life of gearbox scientifically. Zhengzhou Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering Co.， Ltd.， jointly developed 80W-140 unmanned helicopter gear oil. Based on the performance test of the oil in the laboratory，the performance of the 80W-140 unmanned gear oil is compared and tested with that of the imported oil through the gearbox comprehensive test bench. The vibration，noise，temperature，efficiency and gluing torque obtained from the bench test are carried out，the results show that different performance oils have obvious different effects on the efficiency and bearing capacity of the gearbox， the 80W-140 oil product has better friction reduction，anti-wear and anti gluing performance，which can effectively improve the reliability of the gearbox.

Abstract Background The deep-sea may be regarded as a hostile living environment, due to low temperature, high hydrostatic pressure, and limited food and light. Isopods, a species-rich group of crustaceans, are widely distributed across different environments including the deep sea and as such are a useful model for studying adaptation, migration, and speciation. Similar to other deep-sea organisms, giant isopods have larger body size than their shallow water relatives and have large stomachs and fat bodies presumably to store organic reserves. In order to shed light on the genetic basis of these large crustaceans adapting to the oligotrophic environment of deep-sea, the high-quality genome of a deep-sea giant isopod Bathynomus jamesi was sequenced and assembled. Results B. jamesi has a large genome of 5.89 Gb, representing the largest sequenced crustacean genome to date. Its large genome size is mainly attributable to the remarkable proliferation of transposable elements (84%), which may enable high genome plasticity for adaptive evolution. Unlike its relatives with small body size, B. jamesi has expanded gene families related to pathways of thyroid and insulin hormone signaling that potentially contribute to its large body size. Transcriptomic analysis showed that some expanded gene families related to glycolysis and vesicular transport were specifically expressed in its digestive organs. In addition, comparative genomics and gene expression analyses in six tissues suggested that B. jamesi has inefficient lipid degradation, low basal metabolic rate, and bulk food storage, suggesting giant isopods adopt a more efficient mechanism of nutrient absorption, storage, and utilization to provide sustained energy supply for their large body size. Conclusions Taken together, the giant isopod genome may provide a valuable resource for understanding body size evolution and adaptation mechanisms of macrobenthic organisms to deep-sea environments.

A gold tailings in Mianyang contains 0.8 g/t gold, 1.24% sulfur and 3.45% carbon, and the gold mainly existing as particles, intergrowth with gangue minerals and wrapped in iron oxides. The gangue minerals are mainly quartz, silicate and organic carbon, etc, which named as high carbon and low gold deposit. The combined beneficiation flowsheet was developed to recovery gold, and good results were achieved. Flotation concentrate with a yield of 3.06% and grade of 12.7 g/t was achieved, which makes up 48.52% of total gold. Meanwhile, gravity concentrate with a yield of 2.82% and grade of 4.54 g/t was achieved, account for 16.02% of total gold. The final tailing with grade of 0.23 g/t was obtained. Therefore, the developed beneficiation flowsheet provides a technical basis for comprehensive recovery of tailings.

Malaria is an important and worldwide fatal disease that has been widely reported by the World Health Organization (WHO), and it has about 219 million cases worldwide, with 435,000 of those mortal. The common malaria diagnosis approach is heavily reliant on highly trained experts, who use a microscope to examine the samples. Therefore, there is a need to create an automated solution for the diagnosis of malaria. One of the main objectives of this work is to create a design tool that could be used to diagnose malaria from the image of a blood sample. In this paper, we firstly developed a graphical user interface that could be used to help segment red blood cells and infected cells and allow the users to analyze the blood samples. Secondly, a Feed-forward Neural Network (FNN) is designed to classify the cells into two classes. The achieved results show that the proposed techniques can be used to detect malaria, as it has achieved 92% accuracy with a database that contains 27,560 benchmark images.