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Abstract Background Predicting the potential habitat of Phytolacca americana, a high-risk invasive species, can help provide a scientific basis for its quarantine and control strategies. Using the optimized MaxEnt model, we applied the latest climate data, CMIP6, to predict the distribution of potential risk zones and their change patterns for P. americana under current and future (SSP126, SSP245, SSP585) climate conditions, followed by invasion potential analysis. Results The predictions of MaxEnt model based on R language optimization were highly accurate. A significantly high area of 0.8703 was observed for working characteristic curve (AUC value) of subject and the kappa value was 0.8074. Under the current climate conditions, the risk zones for P. americana were mainly distributed in Sichuan, Chongqing, Guizhou, Hunan, and Guangxi provinces. The contribution rate of each climatic factor of P. americana was calculated using the jackknife test. The four factors with the highest contribution rate included minimum temperature of coldest month (bio6, 51.4%), the monthly mean diurnal temperature difference (bio2, 27.9%), precipitation of the driest quarter (bio17, 4.9%), and the warmest seasonal precipitation (bio12, 4.3%). Conclusion Under future climatic conditions, the change in the habitat pattern of P. americana generally showed a migration toward the Yangtze River Delta region and the southeastern coastal region of China. This migration exhibited an expansion trend, highlighting the strong future invasiveness of the species. Based on the predictions, targeted prevention and control strategies for areas with significant changes in P. americana were developed. Therefore, this study emphasizes the need of an integrated approach to effectively prevent the further spread of invasive plants.

In order to investigate the nutritional components and application value of Agaricus subfloccosus in the Qilian mountains. The amino acids, mineral elements, vitamins, protein, fat and carbohydrates of early-harvested (K type) and late-harvested (T type) were determined, and which were compared with Lentinus edodes, Agaricus bisporus and eggs. Based on the latest version of international amino acid reference patterns, amino acid score (AAS), ratio coefficient of amino acid (RC), IOM (Institute of Medicine) pattern score and chemical score (CS) were used to evaluated their nutrition value. The results showed that the fruitbody of Agaricus subfloccosus contained a considerable amount of nutrients, vitamins, mineral element and 16 free amino acids including 7 essential amino acids and 9 pharmacodynamic amino acids. The protein contents (32 and 29.2 g/100 g) of Agaricus subfloccosus (K type and T type) were more than twice of eggs, and the contents of mineral elements Zn (68, 45.3 mg/kg) and Se (0.262, 2.49 mg/kg) were higher, which were fit for the national standard, and the contents of total amino acids and total essential amino acids were higher than those of Lentinus edodes and eggs. The nutritional value of T-type protein was higher than that of K-type protein. The contents of 9 pharmacodynamic amino acids reached more than 62% of the total amino acids, the contents of delicious amino acids (f) and sweet amino acids (s) were rich, and the F/S ratio was more than 1.8, which was higher than that of Lentinus edodes and Agaricus bisporus. All the essential amino acids except methionine were accord with the internationally implemented amino acid balance model spectrum (AAS value higher than 125.25%, IOM model score higher than 105%, RC coefficient between 0.73~1.5, CS scoring coefficient better than that of eggs). In conclusion, Agaricus subfloccosus could be a delicious and high-quality edible and medicinal fungus. The results of this study would provide a scientific basis for further cultivation and promotion of Agaricus subfloccosus.

Key points 1. Combining AI systems from different modalities may increase the overall performance. 2. Combined AI outperforms readers from single modalities for breast cancer detection. 3. Combined AI can be an alternative to radiologists in breast imaging reading.

Due to the importance of bearings in modern machinery, the prediction of the remaining useful life (RUL) of rolling bearings has been widely studied. When predicting the RUL of rolling bearings in engineering practice, the RUL is usually predicted based on historical data, and as the historical data increases, the prediction results should be more accurate. However, the existing methods usually have the shortcomings of low prediction accuracy, large cumulative error and failure to dynamically give prediction results with the increase of historical data, which are not suitable for engineering practice.To address the above problems, a novel RUL prediction method is proposed. The proposed method consists of 3 parts: First, the multi-scale entropy-based feature – namely “average multi-scale morphological gradient power spectral information entropy (AMMGPSIE)” – from the rolling bearings as the Health indicator (HI) is extracted to ensure all the fault-related information is well-included; Then, the HI is processed with the enhanced Hodrick Prescott trend-filtering with boundary lines (HPTF-BL) to ensure good performance and small fluctuation on the HI; Finally, the deterioration curve is predicted using an LSTM neural network and the improved Particle Filter algorithm that we proposed. The proposed method is validated using the experimental bearing degradation dataset and the casing data of a centrifugal pump bearing from an actual industrial site. Comparing the results with other recent RUL prediction methods, the proposed method achieved state-of-the-art feasibility and effectiveness, conform to the needs of practical application of the project.

Objective: To explore the association of lifestyles, caspase gene (CASP), and noise kurtosis with noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Design: Three hundred seven NIHL individuals and 307 matched controls from factories in Chinese factories participated in this case–control study. Age, sex, noise exposure, exfoliated oral mucosa cells, and lifestyles of participants were gathered by the authors. The single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped using the Kompetitive Allele Specific polymerase chain reaction (KASP) method. Results: The risk of NIHL was higher for people who worked in the complex noise environment than for people exposed to steady noise environment (adjusted: OR = 1.806, P = 0.002). Smoking and regular earphone use increased the risk of NIHL (adjusted: OR = 1.486, P = 0.038). The GG genotype of the recessive model and G allele in rs1049216, together with the TT genotype of the recessive model in rs6948 decreased the NIHL risk (adjusted: OR = 0.659, P = 0.017). Oppositely, the AA genotype of additive model in rs12415607 had a higher NIHL risk (adjusted: OR = 1.804, P = 0.024). In the additive models, there was a positive interaction between noise kurtosis and CASP3 polymorphisms (RERI = 1.294, P = 0.013; RERI = 1.198, P = 0.031). Conclusions: Noise kurtosis, three SNPs (rs1049216, rs6948, and rs12415607), smoking and earphone use were found to be related to NIHL, and there was a positive interaction between noise kurtosis and CASP3. Results from this study can be used to prevent and detect NIHL and for genetic testing.

Our previous clinical trial (Identifier: NCT02605265) revealed that addition of irinotecan (IRIN) to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer could improve the curative effect. However, the adverse effects caused by IRIN limited the wide application of IRIN chemoradiotherapy. This study aimed to explore the mechanism under the synergistic effects of IRIN plus radiation therapy in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells and optimization of IRIN delivery via a silicasome nanocarrier in vivo. Our results revealed that compared with single IRIN or radiation treatment, IRIN combined with radiation therapy remarkably activated the intracellular cGAS/STING pathway, and promoted the expression levels of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) and programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1). Further, a silicasome (mesoporous silica nanoparticle coated with lipid bilayer) nanocarrier was utilized to improve the delivery of IRIN with enhanced efficacy and reduced side effects. In the MC38 CRC syngeneic tumor model, IRIN silicasome combined with radiation therapy demonstrated a greater antitumor efficacy than free IRIN plus radiation therapy. Flow cytometry showed the increased number of CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and dendritic cells (DCs) in tumor in the IRIN silicasome plus radiation group. The immunofluorescence staining further confirmed the activated immune microenvironment with the elevated interferon-γ (IFN-γ) deposition. Besides, the antitumor effect of IRIN silicasome plus radiation therapy was synergistically enhanced by anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. These findings indicated that the combination of IRIN silicasome with radiation therapy could sensitize immunotherapy by manipulating the cGAS/STING pathway serving as a new strategy for CRC treatment.

Leaf functional traits play critical roles in plant functioning. Although the functional traits of overstory trees have been extensively studied, minimal research has been conducted regarding understory species, despite the understory layer is an important component of temperate forests. Such insufficiency limit the broader understanding of processes and functions in forest ecosystems, particularly when under the increasing atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition. Here, we investigated the responses of 18 leaf functional traits in six understory herbaceous species within young and mature stands (three species per stand) in larch (Larix principis-rupprechtii) plantations that subjected to 12 years of anthropogenic N addition. We found that N addition did not significantly impact the photosynthetic traits of understory herbaceous species in either stand; it only led to increased chlorophyll content in Geum aleppicum Jacq. Similarly, with the exception of decreases in the predawn leaf water potential of Sanguisorba officinalis L., N addition did not significantly affect leaf hydraulic traits. With the exception of changes to adaxial epidermis thickness in Potentilla chinensis Ser. (decreased) and G. aleppicum (increased), N addition had negligible effects on leaf anatomical traits and specific leaf area, however, interspecific variations in the plasticity of leaf anatomical traits were observed. Stable responses to N addition were also observed for nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) and their components (soluble sugars and starch), with the exception of Polygonum divaricatum L., which exhibited increases in NSC. Overall, our results suggest that the functional traits of understory herbaceous species exhibit stability under conditions of long-term N enrichment in temperate plantations.

Tungsten is one of the most promising candidate materials for plasma-facing materials (PFM) because of its high melting point, superior thermal conductivity, and low sputtering rate. However, its significant brittleness and high ductile-to-brittle transition temperature constrain its broader engineering applications. To address these limitations, we developed a novel tungsten fiber-reinforced tungsten (Wf//W) composite. This composite utilizes commercially available black tungsten wire mesh as the fiber reinforcement phase with a mass ratio of 1 %. The material was synthesized through a combined Powder Extrusion Printing and High-Pressure, High-Temperature sintering process, achieving a relative density exceeding 99 %. Additionally, the composite exhibits a maximum hardness of 589 ± 10 HV, attributable to the presence of high-density dislocations in the matrix. Its compressive strength reaches up to 1530 MPa, and the plastic deformation strain is as high as 15.8 %, both of which are outstanding compared to existing research. These findings offer an alternative route for producing high-density Wf//W materials, in addition to chemical vapor deposition method and powder metallurgy technique.

ABSTRACT The polymorphism at amino acid 17 of quinolone resistance-determining region of GyrA has been stated with a potential role in fluoroquinolone susceptibility in different mycobacterial species. However, no study has provided dependable evidence so far. Here, we verified that gene-edited Mycobacterium abscessus mutants bearing Ser/Gly at this position were more susceptible to fluoroquinolones than their parent strain and the revertant that supports mycobacteria containing Ser/Gly at this position were more susceptible to fluoroquinolones than those containing Ala. IMPORTANCE Fluoroquinolones (FQs) play a key role in the treatment regimens against tuberculosis and non-tuberculous mycobacterial infections. However, there are significant differences in the sensitivities of different mycobacteria to FQs. In this study, we proved that this is associated with the polymorphism at amino acid 17 of quinolone resistance-determining region of Gyrase A by gene editing. This is the first study using CRISPR-associated recombination for gene editing in Mycobacterium abscessus to underscore the contribution of the amino acid substitutions in GyrA to FQ susceptibilities in mycobacteria.

Currently, Sanghuangporus vaninii, a large edible fungus of significant interest, is primarily utilized in its entirety for functional food. To unlock its potential as a health food, this study investigates its polysaccharide composition. We first analyzed the structural characteristics of the Sanghuangporus vaninii polysaccharide, then examined its therapeutic effect on ulcerative colitis (UC) in mice, identified the bioactivity of its acidic polysaccharide fraction (SVP-A-3), and investigated its anti-inflammatory mechanism. We purified SVP-A-3, which has a molecular weight of 3.3 kDa and primarily consists of Gal, Glc, Man and GlcA. The specific rotation degree of SVP-A-3 is +18°, and its structure is right-handed. In vivo, results indicated that SVP-A-3 reduced glandular loss and intestinal mucosal tissue damage in mouse colons and decreased the number of inflammatory factors in colon tissue. The expression of p-AKT, p-ERK1/2, p-JNK1/2, p-p38, and p-p65 was down-regulated in the colon of C57BL/6 mice treated with SVP-A-3. Its specific mechanism may be associated with the regulation of NF-κB, MAPK, and AKT signaling pathways. Furthermore, in this paper, we found that SVP-A-3 could modulate the intestinal microenvironment and could significantly increase the abundance of probiotic Anaerostipes, Lactobacillus and Muribaculaceae. We concluded that SVP-A-3 demonstrated superior anti-inflammatory effects in in vivo animal experiments and has high exploitation potential. Our results provide important structural information about SVP and provide the basis for their further development and application.

In the context of global climate warming and rising sea levels, the frequency of tropical cyclones in the South China Sea region has shown a significant upward trend in recent years. Consequently, the coastal areas of the South China Sea are increasingly vulnerable to storm surge disasters induced by typhoon, posing severe challenges to disaster prevention and mitigation in affected cities. Therefore, establishing a multi-indicator assessment system for typhoon storm surges is crucial to provide scientific references for effective defense measures against disasters in the region. This study examines 25 sets of typhoon storm surge data from the South China Sea spanning the years 1989–2020. A comprehensive assessment system was constructed to evaluate the damages caused by storm surges by incorporating the maximum wind speed of typhoons. To reduce redundancy among multiple indicators in the assessment system and enhance the stability and operational efficiency of the storm surge-induced disaster loss model, the entropy method and bootstrap toolbox were employed to process post-disaster data. Furthermore, the genetic simulated annealing algorithm was utilized to optimize a backpropagation neural network intelligent model (GSA-BP), enabling pre-assessment of the risks associated with storm surge disasters induced by typhoon and related economic losses. The results indicate that the GSA-BP model outperforms the genetic algorithm optimized BP model (GA-BP) and the simulated annealing algorithm-optimized BP model (SA-BP) in terms of predicting direct economic losses caused by storm surges. The GSA-BP model exhibits higher prediction accuracy, shorter computation time, and faster convergence speed. It offers a new approach to predicting storm surge losses in coastal cities along the South China Sea.

Introduction Bleomycin is a crucial and irreplaceable chemotherapy regimen for malignant ovarian germ cell tumours (MOGCTs) but its toxicities especially pulmonary fibrosis have limited the dose of treatment efficacy and decreased the patients’ quality of life (QoL). Nintedanib has been approved for treating progressive fibrosing interstitial lung diseases and has shown potential anti-tumour effects. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of nintedanib in the prevention of pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin in MOGCTs patients.Methods and analysis This is a multicentre, randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial. We will enrol a total of 128 patients who will be randomly assigned to the nintedanib group and placebo group in a 1:1 ratio. Standard bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin chemotherapy will be given to each MOGCT patient. In addition, patients assigned to nintedanib and the control group will be given oral nintedanib 150 mg two times per day and placebo one tablet two times per day until 1 month after the last cycle of bleomycin therapy, respectively. The primary outcome is the decline of forced vital capacity (FVC). The secondary outcomes are the decline of other pulmonary function indices (forced expiratory volume in 1 s; FVC pred%, carbon monoxide diffusion capacity) and the patients’ QoL, oncological and fertility outcomes. We will use electronic case report forms to record all the participants’ data and SPSS V.27.0/STATA V.16.0/Graphpad Prism V.8.0 to conduct statistical analysis.Ethics and dissemination The Ethics Committee of Peking Union Medical College Hospital has approved the study (I-23PJ400). Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants/guardians. Study results will be submitted to peer-reviewed medical journals for publication and presented at academic conferences.Trial registration number ChiCTR2300070492.

AbstractBackground The prognostic factors for patients with pure ovarian immature teratoma (POIT) and the role of adjuvant chemotherapy in stage IA G2-G3 and IB-IC POIT remains controversial.Methods We conducted a retrospective study of 155 POIT patients treated in our hospital between 2000 and 2022. The recurrence-free survival (RFS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and potential prognostic factors of POIT patients were evaluated. Subgroup analysis was conducted in stage I other than stage IA G1 POIT.Results The median age at diagnosis was 23.0 years (range: 4.0 − 39.0), and 126 (81.3%), 2 (1.3%), 26 (16.8%), and 1 (0.6%) patients had FIGO stage I, stage II, stage III, and stage IV disease, respectively. Twenty-three patients relapsed and five died of the diseases after a median follow-up of 7.6 years, with a 5-year RFS and DSS rate of 86.0% and 97.0%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that positive postoperative tumour markers (TM) were the risk factor for recurrence in the overall cohort (hazard ratio [HR] 4.058, 95% CI 1.175 − 14.019, p = 0.027) and subgroup (HR 10.237, 95% CI 2.175 − 48.179, p = 0.003), and FIGO stage II–IV was the only factor for DSS in overall cohort (HR 7.751, 95% CI 1.281 − 46.895, p = 0.026). In 110 patients subjected to subgroup analysis, 29 patients received surveillance without chemotherapy and 81 patients were administered adjuvant chemotherapy. Multivariate analysis revealed active surveillance significantly increased the recurrence rate (5-year RFS of 75.7% vs. 93.6%, HR 7.562, 95% CI 2.441 − 23.424, p

AbstractDoxorubicin (DOX), a commonly used anti-cancer drug, is limited by its cardiotoxicity and multidrug resistance (MDR) of tumor cells. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a natural antioxidant component, can effectively reduce the cardiotoxicity of DOX. Meanwhile, EGCG can inhibit the expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and reverse the MDR of tumor cells. In this study, DOX is connected with low molecular weight polyethyleneimine (PEI) via hydrazone bond to get the pH-sensitive PEI-DOX, which is then combined with EGCG to prevent the cardiotoxicity of DOX and reverse the MDR of cancer cells. In addition, folic acid (FA) modified polyethylene glycol (PEG) (PEG-FA) is added to get the targeted system PEI-DOX/EGCG/FA. The MDR reversal and targeting ability of PEI-DOX/EGCG/FA is performed by cytotoxicity and in vivo anti-tumor activity on multidrug resistant MCF-7 cells (MCF-7/ADR). Additionally, we investigate the anti-drug resistant mechanism by Western Blot. The ability of EGCG to reduce DOX cardiotoxicity is confirmed by cardiotoxicity assay. In conclusion, PEI-DOX/EGCG/FA can inhibit the expression of P-gp and reverse the MDR in tumor cells. It also shows the ability of remove oxygen free radicals effectively to prevent the cardiotoxicity of DOX.

AbstractMitoxantrone (MX) can induce the immunogenic-cell death (ICD) of tumor cells and activate anti-tumor immune responses. However, it can also cause high expression of indole amine 2, 3-dioxygenase (IDO) during ICD, leading to T-cell apoptosis and a weakened immune response. An IDO inhibitor, 1-methyl tryptophan (1-MT), can inhibit the activity of IDO caused by MX, resulting in enhanced chemo-immunotherapy. Here, MX-1-MT was connected by ester bond which could be broken in an acidic tumor microenvironment. MX-1-MT was combined with polyethylene glycol (PEG) via a disulfide bond which could be reduced by glutathione overexpressed in tumors, thereby accelerating drug release at target sites. Folic acid-modified distearoyl phosphoethanolamine-polyethylene glycol (DSPE-PEG-FA) was introduced to form targeting micelles. The micelles were of uniform particle size, high stability, and high responsiveness. They could be taken-up by drug-resistant MCF-7/ADR cells, displayed high targeting ability, and induced enhanced cytotoxicity and ICD. Due to 1-MT addition, micelles could inhibit IDO. In vivo studies demonstrated that micelles could accumulate in the tumor tissues of nude mice, resulting in an enhanced antitumor effect and few side-effects.

Summary: Background: While the adverse effects of short-term ambient ozone exposure on lung function are well-documented, the impact of long-term exposure remains poorly understood, especially in adults. Methods: We aimed to investigate the association between long-term ozone exposure and lung function decline. The 3014 participants were drawn from 17 centers across eight countries, all of which were from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS). Spirometry was conducted to measure pre-bronchodilation forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) at approximately 35, 44, and 55 years of age. We assigned annual mean values of daily maximum running 8-h average ozone concentrations to individual residential addresses. Adjustments were made for PM2.5, NO2, and greenness. To capture the ozone-related change in spirometric parameters, our linear mixed effects regression models included an interaction term between long-term ozone exposure and age. Findings: Mean ambient ozone concentrations were approximately 65 μg/m³. A one interquartile range increase of 7 μg/m³ in ozone was associated with a faster decline in FEV1 of −2.08 mL/year (95% confidence interval: −2.79, −1.36) and in FVC of −2.86 mL/year (−3.73, −1.99) mL/year over the study period. Associations were robust after adjusting for PM2.5, NO2, and greenness. The associations were more pronounced in residents of northern Europe and individuals who were older at baseline. No consistent associations were detected with the FEV1/FVC ratio. Interpretation: Long-term exposure to elevated ambient ozone concentrations was associated with a faster decline of spirometric lung function among middle-aged European adults over a 20-year period. Funding: German Research Foundation.

Floodplain deposition can provide important historical information about river systems. 137Cs tracer measurement is the most widely used technique for studying floodplain deposition. One-time sampling is normally used to date or estimate erosion and deposition rates, while time-interval sampling has rarely been applied. Northeast China is an important grain production area characterized by intense erosion and a low sediment transport ratio. Most studies of the region have focused on slope sedimentation, while floodplain sedimentation has received little attention. In this study, two-time steps of cross-sectional sediment core sample collection were performed to examine the floodplain sedimentation in the river basin of the Laolai River, a tributary of the Songhua River. The potential for using 137Cs to estimate the sediment deposition rate for a given time-interval was also investigated. A total of 18 cross-sections were acquired, and three repeated cross-sections were selected for double sampling. Significant differences were observed between the results obtained from the samples collected in separate rounds, suggesting the presence of internal heterogeneity during floodplain sedimentation and a significant influence of sampling positions on the analysis results. In the basin examined, sedimentation often occurs midstream, upstream, and at the outlet, and was mainly affected by topography, reservoir construction, and land use. Sedimentation occurs easily at wide, flat outlets or river intersections in braided water systems. It was observed that downstream floodplain sedimentation was increased by sediment interception by upstream reservoirs, but reduced by forests near floodplains. Sedimentation rates were significantly different between the 1954 and 1963 time markers, and we found that using rates from 1954 alone would lead to underestimation. When 137Cs sedimentation and floodplain distribution are used to determine flooding occurrence, variations in 137Cs content and particle size distribution should be considered. River bank erosion in this region should be taken into account, and riparian protection is required to reduce erosion and floodplain deposition. Since 137Cs is absent in fine particles when the sediment is predominantly sand, 137Cs measurement may underestimate the sediment deposition rate.

ObjectiveEleutheroside E (EE) is an anti-inflammatory natural compound derived from the edible medicinal herb Acanthopanax senticosus. This study aims to investigate the underlying mechanism of the anti-osteoporosis action of EE through network pharmacology, molecular docking and gut microbiota.Materials and methodsNetwork pharmacology was used to explore the potential core targets and main pathways mediated by EE in osteoporosis (OP) treatment. Molecular docking was exploited to investigate the interactions between the active anti-OP compounds in EE and the potential downstream targets. Following the multi-approach bioinformatics analysis, ovariectomy (OVX) model was also established to investigate the in vivo anti-OP effects of EE.ResultsThe top 10 core targets in PPI network were TP53, AKT1, JUN, CTNNB1, STAT3, HIF1A, EP300, CREB1, IL1B and ESR1. Molecular docking results that the binding energy of target proteins and the active compounds was approximately between −5.0 and −7.0 kcal/mol, which EE has the lowest docking binding energy with HIF1A. Enrichment analysis of GO and KEGG pathways of target proteins indicated that EE treatment could potentially alter numerous biological processes and cellular pathways. In vivo experiments demonstrated the protective effect of EE treatment against accelerated bone loss, where reduced serum levels of TRAP, CTX, TNF-α, LPS, and IL-6 and increased bone volume and serum levels of P1NP were observed in EE-treated mice. In addition, changes in gut microbiota were spotted by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, showing that EE treatment increased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus and decreased the relative abundance of Clostridiaceae.ConclusionIn summary, these findings suggested that the characteristics of multi-target and multi-pathway of EE against OP. In vivo, EE prevents the onset of OP by regulating gut microbiota and inflammatory response and is therefore a potential OP drug.

ObjectiveWe aimed to evaluate the effects of different exercise rehabilitation (ER) programs on LVEF and the incidence of restenosis in patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) through a systematic review and an integrated network meta-analysis (NMA) to provide a reference for the clinical formulation of ER programs for PCI patients.MethodsMeta-analyses of the effects of different types of ER programs on LVEF and the incidence of reinfarction in post-PCI patients were retrieved from 11 domestic and foreign databases. The methodological and reporting quality of the included systematic reviews were evaluated using the AMSTAR 2 and PRISMA statements. The GRADE scoring system was used to evaluate the quality of evidence found in the studies included in the meta-analysis, and studies with high and intermediate-quality evidence were qualitatively analyzed. Stata software (version 16.0) was used to conduct an integrated NMA of the original RCTs with moderate and low risk of bias.ResultSixteen meta-analyses were included in this evaluation. The reporting quality of the included meta-analyses was relatively complete, and the methodological quality was low. Seventy RCTs were included in the NMA. The results showed that all types of rehabilitative exercises were safe and effectively increased LVEF and reduced the incidence of coronary restenosis in patients. The comprehensive exercise program was the most likely to improve LVEF, and the comprehensive exercise program, early exercise program, and high-intensity interval exercise were better than aerobic exercise. Comprehensive exercise programs, early exercise programs, and aerobic exercise reduced the incidence of restenosis in patients. However, Chinese Qigong did not reduce the incidence of restenosis in patients, and there was a risk of bias and inconsistency in the quantitative analysis of restenosis incidence.ConclusionComprehensive exercise programs have the greatest therapeutic significance in improving cardiac output and reducing restenosis rates in post-PCI patients. The early exercise program has great potential but requires kinesiologists to work with physicians to structure the program and strengthen out-of-hospital management. Aerobic exercise has the least therapeutic significance, and Chinese Qigong is suitable for promotion based on its better efficacy than aerobic exercise and may be an alternative to aerobic exercise, but more experimental evidence is needed.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, PROSPERO CRD42022374590.

Sansanmycins represent a family of uridyl peptide antibiotics with antimicrobial activity specifically against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (including drug-resistant M. tuberculosis) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. They target translocase I (MraY) to inhibit bacterial cell wall assembly. Given the unique mechanism of action, sansanmycin has emerged as a potential lead compound for developing new anti-tuberculosis drugs, while the 5′-aminouridine moiety plays a crucial role in the pharmacophore of sansanmycin. For expanding the structural diversity of the 5′-aminouridine moiety of sansanmycin through biosynthetic methods, we firstly demonstrated that SsaM and SsaK are responsible for the biosynthesis of the 5′-aminouridine moiety of sansanmycin in vivo. Using the ssaK deletion mutant (SS/KKO), we efficiently obtained a series of new analogues with modified 5′-aminouridine moieties through mutational biosynthesis. Based on molecular networking analysis of MS/MS, twenty-two new analogues (SS-KK-1 to -13 and SS-KK-A to -I) were identified. Among them, four new analogues (SS-KK-1 to -3 and SS-KK-C) were purified and bioassayed. SS-KK-2 showed better antibacterial activity against E. coli ΔtolC than the parent compound sansanmycin A. SS-KK-3 showed the same anti-TB activity as sansanmycin A against M. tuberculosis H37Rv as well as clinically isolated, drug-sensitive and multidrug-resistant M. tuberculosis strains. Furthermore, SS-KK-3 exhibited significantly improved structural stability compared to sansanmycin A. The results suggested that mutasynthesis is an effective and practical strategy for expanding the structural diversity of 5′-aminouridine moiety in sansanmycin.

The fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) instrument has been widely used in molecular biology applications, where the reliability of the qPCR performance directly affects the accuracy of its detection results. In this paper, an integrated, physics-based calibration device was developed to improve the accuracy and reliability of qPCR, realizing the calibration of qPCR instruments’ standard curve through physical simulations. With this calibration device, the collected temperature was used as the control signal to alter the fluorescence output, which allowed different probes to simulate the Ct values corresponding to samples with varying initial concentrations. The temperature and optical performance of this calibration device were tested, followed by a comparative analysis comparing the on-machine test results with standard substances to assess the linearity and uniformity of the Ct values of the measured qPCR instrument. It has been proven that this physical calibration device can effectively replace the biochemical standard substance to carry out comprehensive calibration of the temperature and optical parameters of the qPCR instrument and provide a more reliable method for the periodic calibration and quality control of the qPCR instrument. This contributes to the accuracy and reliability of fluorescence qPCR instruments in the field of molecular biology.

Piezoelectric materials, which exhibit a charge distribution across the surfaces in reaction to mechanical strain, find significant utility in actuation and sensing applications. Apart from actuation applications like acoustic devices, motors, and vibration damping, an emerging domain for ultrasonic actuators lies in additive manufacturing processes. Ultrasonic waves applied during solidification aim to modulate grain structure and minimize defects. This research focuses on a fixture designed to facilitate and optimize ultrasonic wave propagation through the build plate in laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing by utilizing a piezoelectric transducer. Three implementations of piezoelectric transducers were evaluated based on their out-of-plane ultrasonic velocity transmissions. It was determined that a thin plate adhered to the surface of the piezoelectric transducer yielded the most favorable outcomes for implementation, achieving 100% transmission of velocity and energy. Preliminary analysis of melt pool morphology and defects in single-track laser scanning experiments demonstrated the impact of ultrasound on solidification, hinting at a novel approach to enhancing the printability of alloys in laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing processes. The optimal fixture and the explored transducing efficiency could further guide advanced ultrasound testing to enable in situ defect and texture detection during the additive manufacturing processes.

Background: DNA methylation can change rapidly to regulate the expression of stress-responsive genes. Previous studies have shown that there are significant differences in the cold resistance of winter rapeseed (Brassica rapa L.) after being domesticated in different selection environments; however, little is known about the epigenetic regulatory mechanisms of its cold resistance formation. Methods: Four winter rapeseed materials (‘CT-2360’, ‘MXW-1’, ‘2018-FJT’, and ‘DT-7’) domesticated in different environments were selected to analyze the DNA methylation level and pattern changes under low temperature using methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism technology with 60 primer pairs. Results: A total of 18 pairs of primers with good polymorphism were screened, and 1426 clear bands were amplified, with 594 methylation sites, accounting for 41.65% of the total amplified bands. The total methylation ratios of the four materials were reduced after low-temperature treatment, in which the DNA methylation level of ‘CT-2360’ was higher than that of the other three materials; the analysis of methylation patterns revealed that the degree of demethylation was higher than that of methylation in ‘MXW-1’, ‘2018-FJT’, and ‘DT-7’, which were 22.99%, 19.77%, and 24.35%, respectively, and that the methylation events in ‘CT-2360’ were predominantly dominant at 22.95%. Fifty-three polymorphic methylated DNA fragments were randomly selected and further analyzed, and twenty-nine of the cloned fragments were homologous to genes with known functions. The candidate genes VQ22 and LOC103871127 verified the existence of different expressive patterns before and after low-temperature treatment. Conclusions: Our work implies the critical role of DNA methylation in the formation of cold resistance in winter rapeseed. These results provide a comprehensive insight into the adaptation epigenetic regulatory mechanism of Brassica rapa L. to low temperature, and the identified differentially methylated genes can also be used as important genetic resources for the multilateral breeding of winter-resistant varieties.

Shrimp fry counting is an important task for biomass estimation in aquaculture. Accurate counting of the number of shrimp fry in tanks can not only assess the production of mature shrimp but also assess the density of shrimp fry in the tanks, which is very helpful for the subsequent growth status, transportation management, and yield assessment. However, traditional manual counting methods are often inefficient and prone to counting errors; a more efficient and accurate method for shrimp fry counting is urgently needed. In this paper, we first collected and labeled the images of shrimp fry in breeding tanks according to the constructed experimental environment and generated corresponding density maps using the Gaussian kernel function. Then, we proposed a multi-scale attention fusion-based shrimp fry counting network called the SFCNet. Experiments showed that our proposed SFCNet model reached the optimal performance in terms of shrimp fry counting compared to CNN-based baseline counting models, with MAEs and RMSEs of 3.96 and 4.682, respectively. This approach was able to effectively calculate the number of shrimp fry and provided a better solution for accurately calculating the number of shrimp fry.

In order to address the dynamic changes in vessel preferences for berth lines caused by the deployment of shore-based power equipment in major ports and the collaborative scheduling problem of berthing and towing assistance, this paper quantifies the environmental costs of pollutants from the main engines of tugs and auxiliary engines of container ships using an environmental tax. Additionally, considering the economic costs such as vessel delay and shore power cable connection, a two-layer mixed-integer linear programming model is constructed using the task sequence mapping method. This model integrates the allocation of continuous berths at container terminals with coordinated towing scheduling for shore power selection. A solution approach is designed by combining the commercial solver (CPLEX) and the immune particle swarm optimization algorithm (IAPSO). The proposed scheme is validated using the example of the Nansha Phase IV Terminal at the Port of Guangzhou. The results show that compared to the traditional first-come-first-served and adjacent scheduling schemes, the collaborative scheduling scheme proposed in this paper reduces the total cost by 21.73%. By effectively utilizing berth resources and shore power equipment while densely arranging collaborative tasks and appropriately increasing the number of tugs, the port can convert the economic cost of leasing a small number of tugs (increased by 10.63%) into environmental benefits (decreased by 33.88%). This approach provides a reference for addressing nearshore pollution emissions in ports.

Key points The model simultaneously segments infarcts and estimates ASPECTS by using baseline CT. A mirror-assembly module plus dual-path DCNN model improved the segmentation efficiency. We evaluated the model in a multi-reader and multicenter (MRMC) setting.

Abstract Background BMP9-stimulated DPSCs, SCAPs and PDLSCs are effective candidates for repairing maxillofacial bone defects in tissue engineering, while the most suitable seed cell source among these three hDMSCs and the optimal combination of most suitable type of hDMSCs and BMP9 have rarely been explored. Moreover, the orthotopic maxillofacial bone defect model should be valuable but laborious and time-consuming to evaluate various candidates for bone regeneration. Thus, inspired from the maxillofacial bone defects and the traditional in vivo ectopic systems, we developed an intrabony defect repair model to recapitulate the healing events of orthotopic maxillofacial bone defect repair and further explore the optimized combinations of most suitable hDMSCs and BMP9 for bone defect repair based on this modified ectopic system. Methods Intrabony defect repair model was developed by using decellularized bone matrix (DBM) constructs prepared from the cancellous part of porcine lumbar vertebral body. We implanted DBM constructs subcutaneously on the flank of each male NU/NU athymic nude mouse, followed by directly injecting the cell suspension of different combinations of hDMSCs and BMP9 into the central hollow area of the constructs 7 days later. Then, the quality of the bony mass, including bone volume fraction (BV/TV), radiographic density (in Hounsfield units (HU)) and the height of newly formed bone, was measured by micro-CT. Furthermore, the H&E staining and immunohistochemical staining were performed to exam new bone and new blood vessel formation in DBM constructs. Results BMP9-stimulated periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) exhibited the most effective bone regeneration among the three types of hDMSCs in DBM constructs. Furthermore, an optimal dose of PDLSCs with a specific extent of BMP9 stimulation was confirmed for efficacious new bone and new blood vessel formation in DBM constructs. Conclusions The reported intrabony defect repair model can be used to identify optimized combinations of suitable seed cells and biological factors for bone defect repair and subsequent development of efficacious bone tissue engineering therapies.

AbstractIn this paper, a horizontal and vertical double-slits interferometer using visible light are designed to measure the transverse beam size of Hefei Light Source II (HLS-II). For the given initial structural parameters of the two interferometers, a series of numerical simulations and analyses are carried out by using the Synchrotron Radiation Workshop (SRW) code. Furthermore, the core parameters of the double-slits components in the interferometers are optimized. In the end, the visibilities of the horizontal and vertical interferometer we designed are 0.345 and 0.548 respectively, which are in the range of 0.2–0.6. And simulation results meet the requirement of theoretical relative measurement error of less than 10%.

Establishing robust structure/performance correlations is critical for the development of single-atom-catalysts with improved activity. Here, the axial ligand on Pt single-atom-catalyst is precisely adjusted and studied, showing that the ligand’s first electron affinity is crucial for the catalysis.

The rapid development of the aerospace and nuclear industries is accompanied by increased exposure to high-energy ionising radiation. Thus, the performance of radiation shielding materials needs to be improved to extend the service life of detectors and ensure the safety of personnel. The development of novel lightweight materials with high electron density has therefore become urgent to alleviate radiation risks. In this work, new MAPbI3/epoxy (CH3NH3PbI3/epoxy) composites were prepared via a crystal plane engineering strategy. These composites delivered excellent radiation shielding performance against 59.5 keV gamma rays. A high linear attenuation coefficient (1.887 cm−1) and mass attenuation coefficient (1.352 cm2 g−1) were achieved for a representative MAPbI3/epoxy composite, which was 10 times higher than that of the epoxy. Theoretical calculations indicate that the electron density of MAPbI3/epoxy composites significantly increases when the content ratio of the (110) plane in MAPbI3 increases. As a result, the chances of collision between the incident gamma rays and electrons in the MAPbI3/epoxy composites were enhanced. The present work provides a novel strategy for designing and developing high-efficiency radiation shielding materials.

Background and objectivesThe relationship between the tumor microenvironment and the network of key signaling pathways in cancer plays a key role in the occurrence and development of tumors. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are important inflammatory cells in the tumor microenvironment and play an important role in tumorigenesis and progression. Macrophages in malignant tumors, mainly the M2 subtype, promote tumor progression by producing cytokines and down-regulating anti-inflammatory immune responses. Several articles have investigated the effect of macrophages on the sensitivity of cancer chemotherapeutic agents, but few such articles have been reported in cholangiocarcinoma, so we investigated the effect of M2 macrophage on the sensitivity of cholangiocarcinoma cells to Lenvatinib compared to M1.MethodsTHP-1 monocytes were polarized to M0 macrophage by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and then induced to differentiate into M1 and M2 macrophages by LPS, IFN-γ and IL-4 and IL-13, respectively. Macrophages and cholangiocarcinoma cells were co-cultured prior to 24 hours of Lenvatinib administration, cancer cell apoptosis was detected by western-blot, FACS analysis of Annexin V and PI staining. Furthermore, we use xCELLigence RTCA SP Instrument (ACEA Bio-sciences) to monitor cell viability of Lenvatinib administration in co-culture of cholangiocarcinoma cells and macrophages. After tumorigenesis in immunodeficient mice, Lenvatinib was administered, and the effects of M2 on biological characteristics of cholangiocarcinoma cells were investigated by immuno-histochemistry.ResultsmRNA and protein expression of M1 and M2 markers confirmed the polarization of THP-1 derived macrophages, which provided a successful and efficient model of monocyte polarization to TAMs. Lenvatinib-induced apoptosis of cholangiocarcinoma cells was significantly reduced when co-cultured with M2 macrophage, whereas apoptosis of cholangiocarcinoma cells co-cultured with M1 macrophage was increased. In the CDX model, Lenvatinib-induced cancer cell apoptosis was markedly reduced, and proliferative cells increased in the presence of M2 macrophages. Angiogenesis related factors was significantly increased in cholangiocarcinoma cells co-cultured with M2.ConclusionCompared with M1, M2 macrophages can inhibit the anti-tumor effect of Lenvatinib on cholangiocarcinoma through immune regulation, which may be related to the tumor angiogenesis factor effect of M2 macrophage.

Vitrimer composites with bond- exchange reactions offer significant advantages in terms of repair and recyclability. The mechanical properties of such composites can be designed by modifying the epoxy/anhydride ratio, thus allowing their interface properties to be customised. In this study, the mode-I interfacial fracture properties of vitrimer carbon fibre composites with different epoxy/anhydride ratios are investigated experimentally and numerically. The results show that composites with an epoxy/anhydride group ratio of 1:0.5 exhibit the highest fracture toughness, with a maximum value of 1.6 mJ/mm2. Meanwhile, the analysis of the composites’ microscopic fracture morphology indicates their good bonding performance with carbon fibres. Subsequently, a multiscale numerical approach is developed to simulate the mode-I fracture response of composite laminates and establish a trilinear cohesive model to simulate the macroscopic interfacial fracture behaviour. In this approach, a matrix elastic–plastic constitutive model and the J-integral method are applied to obtain the stress distribution in the fibre-bridging phase via a double cantilever beam fracture test. The macroscopic fracture behaviour obtained via simulation is consistent with the experimental results. Therefore, the proposed multiscale numerical simulation method, which correlates the matrix properties with macroscopic fracture parameters, allows the interlaminar properties of composites with novel matrices to be evaluated effectively.

Background: One particular type of cellular death that is known as ferroptosis is caused by the excessive lipid peroxidation. It is a regulated form of cell death that can affect the response of the tumor cells. Currently, it is not known if the presence of this condition can affect the prognosis of patients with multiple myeloma (MM).Methods: In this study, we studied the expression differences and prognostic value of ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs) in MM, and established a ferroptosis risk scoring model. In order to improve the prediction accuracy and clinical applicability, a nomogram was also established. Through gene enrichment analysis, pathways closely related to high-risk groups were identified. We then explored the differences in risk stratification in drug sensitivity and immune patterns, and evaluated their value in prognostic prediction and treatment response. Lastly, we gathered MM cell lines and samples from patients to confirm the expression of marker FRGs using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR).Results: The ability to predict the survival of MM patients is a challenging issue. Through the use of a risk model derived from ferroptosis, we were able to develop a more accurate prediction of the disease’s prognosis. They were then validated by a statistical analysis, which showed that the model is an independent factor in the prognosis of MM. Patients of high ferroptosis risk scores had a much worse chance of survival than those in the low-risk groups. The calibration and power of the nomogram were also strong. We noted that the link between the ferroptosis risk score and the clinical treatment was suggested by the FRG’s significant correlation with the immune checkpoint genes and the medication sensitivity. We validated the predictive model using qRT-PCR.Conclusion: We demonstrated the association between FRGs and MM, and developed a new risk model for prognosis in MM patients. Our study sheds light on the potential clinical relevance of ferroptosis in MM and highlights its potential as a therapeutic target for patients with this disease.

Background: The few studies that have examined associations between greenspace and lung function in adulthood have yielded conflicting results and none have examined whether the rate of lung function decline is affected. Objective: We explored the association between residential greenspace and change in lung function over 20 years in 5559 adults from 22 centers in 11 countries participating in the population-based, international European Community Respiratory Health Survey. Methods: Forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) were measured by spirometry when participants were approximately 35 (1990–1994), 44 (1999–2003), and 55 (2010–2014) years old. Greenness was assessed as the mean Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) in 500 m, 300 m, and 100 m circular buffers around the residential addresses at the time of lung function measurement. Green spaces were defined as the presence of agricultural, natural, or urban green spaces in a circular 300 m buffer. Associations of these greenspace parameters with the rate of lung function change were assessed using adjusted linear mixed effects regression models with random intercepts for subjects nested within centers. Sensitivity analyses considered air pollution exposures. Results: A 0.2-increase (average interquartile range) in NDVI in the 500 m buffer was consistently associated with a faster decline in FVC (−1.25 mL/year [95% confidence interval: −2.18 to −0.33]). These associations were especially pronounced in females and those living in areas with low PM10 levels. We found no consistent associations with FEV1 and the FEV1/FVC ratio. Residing near forests or urban green spaces was associated with a faster decline in FEV1, while agricultural land and forests were related to a greater decline in FVC. Conclusions: More residential greenspace was not associated with better lung function in middle-aged European adults. Instead, we observed slight but consistent declines in lung function parameters. The potentially detrimental association requires verification in future studies.

Hyperglycemia is a key risk factor for death and disability worldwide. To better inform prevention strategies, we aimed to delineate and predict the temporal, spatial, and demographic patterns in mean fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels and their related disease burden globally. Based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019, we estimated the distributions of mean FPG levels and high FPG-related disease burden by age, sex, year, socioeconomic status (SES), and geographical region from 1990 to 2050. We also investigated the possible associations of demographic, behavioral, dietary, metabolic, and environmental factors with FPG levels and high FPG-related disease burden. In 2019, the global mean FPG level was 5.40 mmol/L (95% uncertainty interval [UI]: 4.86–6.00), and high FPG contributed to 83.0 deaths (95% UI, 64.5–107.1) and 2,104.3 DALYs (95% UI: 1,740.7–2,520.7) per 100,000 people. For both historical (1990–2019) and future (2020–2050) periods, the mean FPG levels and the high FPG-related disease burden increased globally, with greater increases among the middle-aged and elderly, and people in low-to-middle SES countries, relative to their counterparts. Aging, unhealthy lifestyles, elevated body mass index, and lower air temperatures were potential risk factors for high FPG levels and the high FPG-related disease burden. This study demonstrates that high FPG continues to contribute to the global disease burden and is expected to do so for at least the next 30 years. Older people and those living in low-to-middle SES countries should receive more attention in glycemic management health interventions. In addition, effective interventions that target identified risk factors should be adopted to handle the increasingly large disease burden of high FPG.

Fungi are eukaryotic microorganisms found in nature, which can invade the human body and cause tissue damage, inflammatory reactions, organ dysfunctions, and diseases. These diseases can severely damage the patient’s body systems and functions, leading to a range of clinical symptoms that can be life-threatening. As the incidence of invasive fungal infections has progressively increased in the recent years, a wealth of evidence has confirmed the “double-edged sword” role of fungal extracellular vesicles (EVs) in intercellular communication and pathogen-host interactions. Fungal EVs act as mediators of cellular communication, affecting fungal-host cell interactions, delivering virulence factors, and promoting infection. Fungal EVs can also have an induced protective effect, affecting fungal growth and stimulating adaptive immune responses. By integrating recent studies, we discuss the role of EVs in fungi, providing strong theoretical support for the early prevention and treatment of invasive fungal infections. Finally, we highlight the feasibility of using fungal EVs as drug carriers and in vaccine development.

Abstract Background A healthy alveolar epithelium is critical to the gas exchange function of the lungs. As the major cell type of alveolar epithelium, alveolar type 2 (AT2) cells play a critical role in maintaining pulmonary homeostasis by serving as alveolar progenitors during lung injury, inflammation, and repair. Dysregulation of AT2 cells may lead to the development of acute and chronic lung diseases and cancer. The lack of clinically relevant AT2 cell models hampers our ability to understand pulmonary diseases. Here, we sought to establish reversibly immortalized mouse pulmonary alveolar type 2 cells (imPAC2) and investigate their potential in forming alveolar organoids to model pulmonary diseases. Methods Primary mouse pulmonary alveolar cells (mPACs) were isolated and immortalized with a retroviral expression of SV40 Large T antigen (LTA). Cell proliferation and survival was assessed by crystal violet staining and WST-1 assays. Marker gene expression was assessed by qPCR, Western blotting, and/or immunostaining. Alveolar organoids were generated by using matrigel. Ad-TGF-β1 was used to transiently express TGF-β1. Stable silencing β-catenin or overexpression of mutant KRAS and TP53 was accomplished by using retroviral vectors. Subcutaneous cell implantations were carried out in athymic nude mice. The retrieved tissue masses were subjected to H & E histologic evaluation. Results We immortalized primary mPACs with SV40 LTA to yield the imPACs that were non-tumorigenic and maintained long-term proliferative activity that was reversible by FLP-mediated removal of SV40 LTA. The EpCAM+ AT2-enriched subpopulation (i.e., imPAC2) was sorted out from the imPACs, and was shown to express AT2 markers and form alveolar organoids. Functionally, silencing β-catenin decreased the expression of AT2 markers in imPAC2 cells, while TGF-β1 induced fibrosis-like response by regulating the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers in the imPAC2 cells. Lastly, concurrent expression of oncogenic KRAS and mutant TP53 rendered the imPAC2 cells a tumor-like phenotype and activated lung cancer-associated pathways. Collectively, our results suggest that the imPAC2 cells may faithfully represent AT2 populations that can be further explored to model pulmonary diseases.

The effect of Mn element on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Nb–Si based alloys is studied, and the investigated alloys compositions are Nb–16Si–22Ti–xMn (x = 0, 2, 4, 8 at.%). Solubility of Mn in Nbss phase is higher than that in silicide. This dissolution of Mn in Nbss phase and silicide causes solid solution strengthening. Tiss phase and Mn2Ti phase eutectic structure precipitates between dendrites of 8Mn alloy, which affect room-temperature fracture toughness and compressive strength adversely. After heat treatment, Tiss phase and Mn2Ti eutectic structure almost disappears in Mn-contained alloys (Nb, Ti)3Si phase decomposes and transforms to Nbss phase and α-(Nb, Ti)5Si3 phase. The fracture toughness of heat treated 8Mn alloy has been improved greatly due to Mn solution strengthening in Nbss phase.

Abstract Postural abnormalities are common disabling motor complications affecting patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). We proposed a summary index for postural abnormalities (IPA) based on Kinect depth camera and explored the clinical value of this indicator. Seventy individuals with PD and thirty age-matched healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled. All participants were tested using a Kinect-based system with IPA automatically obtained by algorithms. Significant correlations were detected between IPA and the Movement Disorder Society-Sponsored Revision of the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) total score (r s = 0.369, p = 0.002), MDS-UPDRS-III total score (r s = 0.431, p

Abstract p53 is the most highly mutated tumor suppressor across multiple types of human cancers. The level and function of p53 are fine-tuned through multifaced mechanisms in which the protein–protein interaction between p53 and MDM2 is considered as a major circuit. Recent studies suggest therapeutic strategy attempts to restore p53 function by small molecule inhibitors targeting p53–MDM2 interaction can be a promising direction in treating cancers with wild-type or functional p53. Currently, clinical tests of the p53–MDM2 protein–protein interaction inhibitors (PPIs) are underway. However, it remains elusive about the biomarkers that may predict the therapeutic responses to those inhibitors. Here we report that RNA-binding protein LIN28B directly regulates p53 through binding to the 5′΄ untranslated region of p53 mRNA and blocks its translation by competing with a translation enhancer protein, ribosomal protein L26 (RPL26). This regulatory mechanism of LIN28B does not involve let-7 maturation or the canonical protein turnover pathway of p53. Furthermore, we show that inhibition of LIN28B unleashes the translational suppression of p53 through RPL26, and leads to enhanced sensitivities of cancer cells to inhibitors of p53–MDM2 interaction. Together, we demonstrate a competitive regulatory mechanism of p53 by LIN28B, which has important implications in developing biomarkers to the therapies aiming to reinstate p53 function.

Abstract Background Ocular adnexal B-cell lymphoma (OABL) is a rare subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The molecular characteristics of OABL remain poorly understood. We performed an integrated study to investigate the proteotranscriptome landscape and identify novel molecular characteristics and biomarkers of OABL. Methods Integrated quantitative proteome and transcriptome were performed on 40 OABL 12 idiopathic orbital inflammation, 6 reactive lymphoid hyperplasia, and 13 aesthetic orbital plastic surgery specimens. Complete clinicopathologic and prognostic data of the patients were recorded. Results We identified high global protein-mRNA concordance as a novel characteristic of OABL. High concordance was related to OABL recurrence. By integrated expression profile, motif enrichment and trend analysis, we found that alternative splicing is inflammation-independently dysregulated in OABL. After portraying the aberrant alternative splicing event landscape, we demonstrated the oncogenic role of ADAR, a core splicing regulator that regulates the splicing of Rho GTPase and cell cycle members. We found that ADAR regulates cell proliferation and Rho GTPase inhibitor sensitivity of lymphoma. We identified DNAJC9 as a potential biomarker for OABL in proteomic analyses. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescent staining showed the nuclear staining of DNAJC9 was significantly higher in extranodal marginal zone lymphomas compared with inflammation specimens. Conclusions These results provide an integrated gene expression profiling and demonstrate that high global protein-mRNA concordance is a prognosis-related molecular characteristic of OABL. We portray the alternative splicing events landscape of OABL, and reveal the oncogenic role of ADAR. We identified strong nuclear staining of DNAJC9 as a promising pathology diagnostic biomarker for extranodal marginal zone lymphomas.

In the context of global climate change and rising sea levels, the adverse impacts of storm surges on the environment, economy, and society of affected areas are becoming increasingly significant. However, due to differences in geography, climate, and other conditions among the affected areas, a single method for assessing the risk of storm surge disasters cannot be fully applicable to all regions. To address this issue, an increasing number of new methods and models are being applied in the field of storm surge disaster risk assessment. This paper introduces representative traditional statistical methods, numerical simulation methods, and artificial intelligence-based techniques in this field. It compares these assessment methods in terms of accuracy, interpretability, and implementation difficulty. The paper emphasizes the importance of selecting appropriate assessment methods based on specific conditions and scientifically combining various methods in practice to improve the accuracy and reliability of storm surge disaster risk assessments.

Annually, hundreds of individuals tragically lose their lives at sea due to shipwrecks or aircraft accidents. For search and rescue personnel, the task of locating the debris of a downed aircraft in the vastness of the ocean presents a formidable challenge. A primary task these teams face is determining the search area, which is a critical step in the rescue operation. The movement of aircraft wreckage on the ocean surface is extremely complex, influenced by the combined effects of surface winds, waves, and currents. Establishing an appropriate drift motion prediction model is instrumental in accurately determining the search area for the wreckage. This article initially conducts maritime drift observation experiments on wreckage, and based on the results of these experiments, analyzes the drift characteristics and patterns of the debris. Subsequently, employing a wealth of observational experimental data, three types of drift prediction models for the wreckage are established using the least squares method. These models include the AP98 model, the dynamics model, and an improved model. In conclusion, the effectiveness and accuracy of the three models is evaluated and analyzed using Monte Carlo techniques. The results indicate that the probability of positive crosswind leeway (CWL) is 47.4%, while the probability of negative crosswind leeway (CWL) is 52.6%. The jibing frequency is 7.7% per hour, and the maximum leeway divergence angle observed is 40.4 degrees. Among the three drift prediction models, the refined AP98 drift model demonstrates the highest forecasting precision. The findings of this study offer a more accurate drift prediction model for the search of an aircraft lost at sea. These results hold significant guiding importance for maritime search and rescue operations in the South China Sea.

Aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs) have emerged as a promising battery technology due to their excellent safety, high capacity, low cost, and eco-friendliness. However, the cycle life of AZIBs is limited by severe side reactions and zinc dendrite growth on the zinc electrode surface, hindering large-scale application. Here, an electrolyte optimization strategy utilizing the simplest dipeptide glycylglycine (Gly-Gly) additive is first proposed. Theoretical calculations and spectral analysis revealed that, due to the strong interaction between the amino group and Zn atoms, Gly-Gly preferentially adsorbs on zinc’s surface, constructing a stable and adaptive interfacial layer that inhibits zinc side reactions and dendrite growth. Furthermore, Gly-Gly can regulate zinc ion solvation, leading to a deposition mode shift from dendritic to lamellar and limiting two-dimensional dendrite diffusion. The symmetric cell with the addition of a 20 g/L Gly-Gly additive exhibits a cycle life of up to 1100 h. Under a high current density of 10 mA cm−2, a cycle life of 750 cycles further demonstrates the reliable adaptability of the interfacial layer. This work highlights the potential of Gly-Gly as a promising solution for improving the performance of AZIBs.

As the frequency of natural disasters increases, the study of emergency communication becomes increasingly important. The use of federated learning (FL) in this scenario can facilitate communication collaboration between devices while protecting privacy, greatly improving system performance. Considering the complex geographic environment, the flexible mobility and large communication radius of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) make them ideal auxiliary devices for wireless communication. Using the UAV as a mobile base station can better provide stable communication signals. However, the number of ground-based IoT terminals is large and closely distributed, so if all of them transmit data to the UAV, the UAV will not be able to take on all of the computation and communication tasks because of its limited energy. In addition, there is competition for spectrum resources among many terrestrial devices, and all devices transmitting data will bring about an extreme shortage of resources, which will lead to the degradation of model performance. This will bring indelible damage to the rescue of the disaster area and greatly threaten the life safety of the vulnerable and injured. Therefore, we use user scheduling to select some terrestrial devices to participate in the FL process. In order to avoid the resource waste generated by the terrestrial device resource prediction, we use the multi-armed bandit (MAB) algorithm for equipment evaluation. Considering the fairness issue of selection, we try to replace the single criterion with multiple criteria, using model freshness and energy consumption weighting as reward functions. The state of the art of our approach is demonstrated by simulations on the datasets.

Addressing a collision-aware multi-robot mission planning problem, which involves task allocation and path-finding, poses a significant difficulty due to the necessity for real-time computational efficiency, scalability, and the ability to manage both static and dynamic obstacles and tasks within a complex environment. This paper introduces a parallel real-time algorithm aimed at overcoming these challenges. The proposed algorithm employs an approximation-based partitioning mechanism to partition the entire unassigned task set into several subsets. This approach decomposes the original problem into a series of single-robot mission planning problems. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed method, both numerical and hardware experiments are conducted, involving dynamic obstacles and tasks. Additionally, comparisons in terms of optimality and scalability against an existing method are provided, showcasing its superior performance across both metrics. Furthermore, a computational burden analysis is conducted to demonstrate the consistency of our method with the observations derived from these comparisons. Finally, the optimality gap between the proposed method and the global optima in small-size problems is demonstrated.

In this paper, a novel small-scale gust generator research facility was designed and examined for generating Sears-type gusts. The design scheme, integration with the wind tunnel, experiment and validation of its capability are presented in detail. To help design the gust generator and validate the experimental results of the flow field characteristics generated by the developed gust generator, two numerical simulation methods, the field velocity method (FVM) and oscillating vane method (OVM), were utilized to detect the impacts of the geometrical parameters of the oscillating vanes and the downstream test model. The filtered experimental measurement results agree well with the numerical data, validating the capability of the developed gust generator to produce sinusoidal gusts. However, it should be noted that necessary measures are needed to prevent mechanical noise from interfering with the gusty flow field, which will be a focus of future research.

In the laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing process, the quality of fabrications is intricately tied to the laser–matter interaction, specifically the formation of the melt pool. This study experimentally examined the intricacies of melt pool characteristics and surface topography across diverse laser powers and speeds via single-track laser scanning on a bare plate and powder bed for 316L stainless steel. The results reveal that the presence of a powder layer amplifies melt pool instability and worsens irregularities due to increased laser absorption and the introduction of uneven mass from the powder. To provide a comprehensive understanding of melt pool dynamics, a high-fidelity computational model encompassing fluid dynamics, heat transfer, vaporization, and solidification was developed. It was validated against the measured melt pool dimensions and morphology, effectively predicting conduction and keyholing modes with irregular surface features. Particularly, the model explained the forming mechanisms of a defective morphology, termed swell-undercut, at high power and speed conditions, detailing the roles of recoil pressure and liquid refilling. As an application, multiple-track simulations replicate the surface features on cubic samples under two distinct process conditions, showcasing the potential of the laser–matter interaction model for process optimization.

A major challenge in cancer prognostics is finding early biomarkers that can accurately identify cancer. Circulating tumor cells are rare and circulating tumor DNA can not provide information about the originating cell. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) contain cell specific information, are abundant in fluids, and have unique properties between cancerous and non-cancerous. Fluorescence measurements have limitations from intrinsic fluorescent background signals, photobleaching, non-specific labelling, and EV structural modifications. Here, we demonstrate a label-free approach to classification of 3 different EVs, derived from non-malignant, non-invasive cancerous, and invasive cancerous cell lines. Using double nanohole optical tweezers, the scattering from single trapped EVs is measured, and using a 1D convolutional neural network, we are able to classify the time series optical signal into its respective EV class with greater than 90% accuracy.