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The cold rolling and intermediate annealing process, along with the incorporation of rare earth elements, play an important role in the microstructure, texture, and inhibitors of oriented silicon steel. Currently, there is limited research on the impact of rare earth yttrium on texture evolution during the cold rolling and intermediate annealing processes. Therefore, the effects of different cold rolling deformations and intermediate annealing temperatures on the microstructure and texture of Y bearing oriented silicon steel have been studied. The experimental results demonstrate that the average grain size of the intermediate annealed plate progressively decreases with increasing the cold rolling deformation. This is because the high cold rolling deformation brings more additional dislocations and distortions, consequently enhancing the driving force for recrystallization. Observing the microstructure with various cold rolling deformation, the results show that the annealed plate with a 72 % reduction rate exhibited the highest Goss texture percentage of 4.83 %. This is because the cold-rolled sheet with a reduction rate of 72 % exhibits an abundance of Goss oriented substructures. These substructures quickly dominate the {111} deformed matrix during the initial recrystallization, and promote grains nucleation and growth. As the annealing temperature increases, the driving force for the growth of recrystallized grains also increases, leading to a gradual increase in grain size. The plate annealed at 940 °C exhibits the highest percentage (4.83 %) of Goss texture. The addition of rare earth Y can lead to an increase in grain size in the intermediate annealed plate and facilitate the formation of {411} texture. This is advantageous for the abnormal growth of Goss texture. The results demonstrate that a cold rolling deformation rate of 72 % and an intermediate annealing temperature of 940 °C are good for promoting abnormal growth of Goss orientation. The study results on precipitation kinetics suggests that the grain boundary nucleation of AlN and dislocation nucleation of MnS are the most effective way of nucleation. The precipitates in oriented silicon steel without Y are Al2O3 and MnS, while those in the samples with Y are AlN, YS, and YOxSy. The addition of rare earth Y leads to a reduction in both the density and size of precipitates. Moreover, With the increase of annealing temperature, the size of precipitates decreases and the amount of precipitates increases. Additionally, the addition of Y makes the steel more clean, meanwhile, the pinning effect of inclusions on grain boundaries is weakened. Therefore, the grain size of the steel with Y is larger.

The high temperature oxidation behavior of Fe–36Ni Invar alloy in the forged billet stage and hot rolled rod stage in the compressed air atmosphere has been systematically studied. The results show that the oxide layer can be divided into the external oxide layer composed of Fe2O3, Fe3O4 and NiO, and the inner transition oxide layer composed of FeO, Fe2O3, Fe3O4 and NiO. In addition, hot rolled rod samples treated by solution and rolling have higher oxidation resistance. The mechanism of O diffusion during oxidation is analyzed, and it is found that the O atom adsorbed on the surface of the substrate diffuses into the grain along the grain boundary. The grain boundary is the optimal path for O diffusion to the interior of the material, which results in the degree of intergranular oxidation of the alloy being greater than the degree of intragranular oxidation. In summary, the oxidation resistance of Invar alloy can be improved by proper solution treatment and avoiding the formation of grain boundary cracks during production.

Abstract The processes h c → γP (P = η′, η, π 0) are studied with a sample of (27.12 ± 0.14) × 108 ψ(3686) events collected by the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider. The decay h c → γη is observed for the first time with the significance of 9.0 σ, and the branching fraction is determined to be (3.77 ± 0.55 ± 0.13 ± 0.26) × 10 −4, while B $$ \mathcal{B} $$ (h c → γη′) is measured to be (1.40 ± 0.11 ± 0.04 ± 0.10) × 10 −3, where the first uncertainties are statistical, the second systematic, and the third from the branching fraction of ψ(3686) → π 0 h c . The combination of these results allows for a precise determination of R h c = B h c → γη B h c → γ η ′ , $$ {R}_{h_c}=\frac{\mathcal{B}\left({h}_c\to {\pi}^0\gamma \eta \right)}{\mathcal{B}\left({h}_c\to {\pi}^0\gamma {\eta}^{\prime}\right)}, $$ which is calculated to be (27.0 ± 4.4 ± 1.0)%. The results are valuable for gaining a deeper understanding of η − η′ mixing, and its manifestation within quantum chromodynamics. No significant signal is found for the decay h c → γπ 0, and an upper limit is placed on its branching fraction of B $$ \mathcal{B} $$ (h c → γπ 0) < 5.0 × 10 −5, at the 90% confidence level.

Abstract Background Postoperative pulmonary complication (PPC) is a leading cause of mortality and poor outcomes in postoperative patients. No studies have enrolled intensive care unit (ICU) patients after noncardiac thoracic surgery, and effective prediction models for PPC have not been developed. This study aimed to explore the incidence and risk factors and construct prediction models for PPC in these patients. Methods This study retrospectively recruited patients admitted to the ICU after noncardiac thoracic surgery at West China Hospital, Sichuan University, from July 2019 to December 2022. The patients were randomly divided into a development cohort and a validation cohort at a 70% versus 30% ratio. The preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative variables during the ICU stay were compared. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were applied to identify candidate predictors, establish prediction models, and compare the accuracy of the models with that of reported risk models. Results A total of 475 ICU patients were enrolled after noncardiac thoracic surgery (median age, 58; 72% male). At least one PPC occurred in 171 patients (36.0%), and the most common PPC was pneumonia (153/475, 32.21%). PPC significantly increased the duration of mechanical ventilation (p

Scraper conveyors are essential coal transportation equipment in underground coal mines, significantly impacting mine production. However, the harsh working environment and long-term use lead to wear and tear, degrading their performance. Therefore, timely monitoring of scraper conveyor’s health status is extremely critical. To address the limitations of traditional methods, which struggle with strong component coupling and require excessive manual intervention, a novel method for identifying health status of scraper conveyors is proposed. This method utilizes a Variational Autoencoder (VAE) co-optimized with Self-Attention (SA) and Normalizing Flow (NF) mechanisms to automatically construct health indicators without supervision, effectively fitting the implicit distribution of the indicators and overcoming the influence of outliers. Additionally, a method fusing multiple graph structure information is introduced, using multiple Graph Attention Networks (GAT) to extract and integrate this information. Experiments with real-world data from the scraper conveyor show that the model’s indentification accuracy achieve up to 98.60% and macro-average F1 scores up to 96.81%. This approach offers a novel and feasible solution for health status identification of scraper conveyors, with significant practical value.

Weaving sections on roads are crucial areas with high concentrations of mandatory lane changes, which can increase the likelihood of traffic accidents. Speed is a key factor in determining traffic safety, and the development of an accurate speed prediction method is essential for improving safety in weaving sections. While current methods are effective in predicting speeds in straightforward situations, they face challenges in more complex scenarios such as weaving sections. This study presents a refined traffic speed prediction approach specifically designed for weaving sections in order to tackle the aforementioned issue. Initially, novel variables were formulated to capture the unique traffic flow attributes present in weaving sections, which distinguish them from standard road segments. Subsequently, supplementary empirical variables that are known to impact speed were incorporated. We conducted a variable importance assessment to ascertain the extent and direction of each variable’s contribution. Lastly, variables with significant positive effects were chosen as inputs for three machine learning algorithms: Random Forest (RF), Backpropagation Neural Network optimised with Genetic Algorithm (BPNN-GA) and Support Vector Regression (SVR). This method was evaluated using aerial footage from five distinct weaving sections in China, maintaining an approximately 3 km/h prediction error. In addition, the study also finds that the speed distribution in weaving sections is negatively correlated with the number of lane-changing. Vehicles experience deceleration at both on-ramp and off-ramp, with a more significant deceleration occurring at the on-ramp. Speed is significantly affected by short length, number of lanes and proportion of large vehicles. The proposed method can be embedded into intelligent traffic systems for safe speeds of autonomous vehicles in weaving sections. Reconstructing spatiotemporal patterns of traffic congestion, predicting traffic accidents and implementing active traffic management strategies in weaving sections could be investigated in the future.

Abstract Background Airway pressure release ventilation (APRV) has become increasingly popular for the management of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS); however, its clinical impact remains a topic of debate. Furthermore, there is a gap between the guidelines and the actual clinical practices in mechanical ventilation management for ARDS. This survey aimed to explore the utilization of APRV and mechanical ventilation strategies for ARDS in Chinese intensive care unit (ICU) clinicians. Methods A comprehensive 34‐item survey was distributed online platforms amongst ICU clinicians across mainland China from June to August 2019. Results A total of 420 valid responses were collected, with 57.4% (241) originating from academic hospitals and 42.6% (179) from non‐academic hospitals. Of the respondents, 98.6% (414) recognized the significance of low tidal volume ventilation for ARDS prognosis, 85.2% adhered to a tidal volume below 8 mL/kg predicted body weight, and most (46.4%) selected the initial positive end‐expiratory pressure within the range of 5–10 cmH2O based on experience. Among the respondents, 62.1% (261) reported familiarity with APRV and 41.9% (176) had implemented APRV. Of those who had utilized APRV, 93.2% (164) believed in its effectiveness for ARDS patients and 69.3% (122) advocated for early application of APRV. Substantial variations were noted regarding APRV initiation settings and the preservation of spontaneous breathing during APRV. Academic hospitals exhibited higher usage rates of lung recruitment, neuromuscular blockade, prone ventilation, and acquaintance with and utilization of APRV compared to non‐academic hospitals (all p values ≤ 0.001). Conclusions Our findings highlight opportunities for improvement in mechanical ventilation management for ARDS, particularly in non‐academic hospitals. Additionally, a significant proportion of clinicians demonstrated limited knowledge of APRV, and there was a lack of consensus on its application. Further training and larger‐scale clinical trials are required to validate the efficacy and utilization of APRV in managing ARDS.

Abstract It’s imperative to create a more ideal biological scaffold for bone defect repair. Calcium phosphate bone cements (CPC) could be used as a scaffold. Some ingredients and osteogenic factors could be added to improve its poor mechanical properties and biological activity. As a macromolecule extracted from traditional Chinese medicine, Hedysarum polysaccharides (HPS) would significantly promote the osteogenic activity of bone biomaterials. Zirconium oxide and starch were added to the solid phase and citric acid was added to the liquid phase to optimize CPC. HPS was loaded onto the scaffold as an osteogenic factor, and the prepared CPS + HPS was characterized. Further, the cytocompatibility of CPS + HPS was assessed according to activity, differentiation, and calcification in neonatal rat calvarial osteoblasts, and the biosafety of CPS + HPS was evaluated according to acute toxicity, pyrogen, sensitization, and hemolysis. The success of CPS + HPS in repairing bone defects was evaluated by using a rabbit femur implantation experiment. After optimization, CPS-20-CA-5 containing 10% starch and 5% citric acid displayed the highest mechanical strength of 28.96 ± 0.03 MPa. HPS-50 was demonstrated to exert the best osteogenic effect. The combination of CPS + HPS achieved HPS-loaded CPC. Material characterization, cytocompatibility, biosafety, and femoral implantation experiments indicated that CPS + HPS possessed better pressure resistance and improved osteogenic ability in bone defect repair.CPS + HPS demonstrated effective pressure resistance and superior osteogenic ability, which may be of great significance for bone defects and bone tissue engineering to promote bone regeneration and repair. Graphical Abstract The composite CPS loaded with HPS-50 is an excellent scaffold with fine load-bearing ability and sustained release of osteogenic factors to repair bone defects.

Abstract Background COVID-19 infections can result in severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) requiring admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). Cardiovascular manifestation or exacerbation of cardiovascular diseases could be another complication. Cardiac arrhythmias including New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation (NOAF), have been observed in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 infections. In this analysis, we aimed to systematically compare the complications associated with NOAF in critically ill COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU. Methods MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, the Cochrane database, http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov , Google Scholar and Mendeley were searched for relevant publications based on COVID-19 patients with NOAF admitted to the ICU. Complications including in-hospital mortality, ICU mortality, patients requiring mechanical ventilation, acute myocardial infarction, acute kidney injury, renal replacement therapy and pulmonary embolism were assessed. This is a meta-analysis and the analytical tool which was used was the RevMan software version 5.4. Risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to represent the data post analysis. Results In critically ill COVID-19 patients with NOAF admitted to the ICU, the risks of ICU mortality (RR: 1.39, 95% CI: 1.07 – 1.80; P = 0.01), in-hospital mortality (RR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.20 – 2.04; P = 0.001), patients requiring mechanical ventilation (RR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.04 – 1.66; P = 0.02) were significantly higher when compared to the control group without AF. Acute myocardial infarction (RR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.31 – 1.81; P = 0.00001), the risk for acute kidney injury (RR: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.11 – 1.55; P = 0.002) and patients requiring renal replacement therapy (RR: 1.83, 95% CI: 1.60 – 2.09; P = 0.00001) were also significantly higher in patients with NOAF. Conclusions Critically ill COVID-19 patients with NOAF admitted to the ICU were at significantly higher risks of developing complications and death compared to similar patients without AF.

Abstract It has not yet been proven whether sepsis affects the tissue around the anal canal. To address this issue, we established three-dimensional models for various types of anorectal abscesses and utilize 3D reconstruction of Magnetic Resonance Imaging scans to assess the extent of muscle damage caused by anorectal abscesses. Patients diagnosed with anorectal abscess, selected from January 2019 to January 2022 underwent pre- and post-operative scanning of pelvic floor and perianal tissues. The aforementioned structures were segmented for the reconstruction of a three-dimensional visual model and measurement of volumes for the abscess as well as the internal and external sphincters and levator ani muscle. The study included a total of 42 patients. Three-dimensional visualization models were created for different types of anorectal abscesses, including perianal, intersphincteric, ischiorectal, and supralevator abscesses. No statistically significant differences were observed in the volume of the internal sphincter, external sphincter, and levator ani muscle between pre- and post-operative patients. The 3D model of anorectal abscess, reconstructed from MRI data, offers a precise and direct visualization of the anatomical structures associated with various types of anorectal abscesses. The infection did not result in any damage to the internal and external anal sphincter and levator ani muscle.

Abstract Background Cell subsets differentially modulate host immune responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection. However, the nature and functions of these subsets against osteoarticular tuberculosis (OTB) are unclear. Here, we aimed to understand the phenotypes and functions of immune cell subsets in patients with OTB using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq). Methods Pathological and healthy adjacent tissues were isolated from patients with OTB and subjected to scRNA-Seq. Unsupervised clustering of cells was performed based on gene expression profiles, and uniform manifold approximation and projection was used for clustering visualization. Results Thirteen cell subsets were identified in OTB tissues. scRNA-seq datasets of patients and healthy controls (HCs) showed that infection changed the frequency of immune cell subsets in OTB tissues. Myeloid cell examination revealed nine subsets. The frequency of macrophage-RGS1high subsets decreased in OTB tissues; this increased MTB susceptibility in an SLC7A11/ferroptosis-dependent manner. Immunohistochemistry assays and flow cytometry for patients with OTB and osteoarticular bacterial infection (OBI) and HCs verified that the frequency of macrophage-RGS1high subset decreased in OTB tissues and blood samples, thereby distinguishing patients with OTB from HCs and patients with OBI. Conclusion The macrophage-RGS1high subset levels were decreased in patients with OTB, and would be up-regulated after effective treatment. Therefore, the clinical significance of this study is to discover that macrophage-RGS1high subset may serve as a potential biomarker for OTB diagnosis and treatment efficacy monitoring.

Abstract Jumbo phages are a group of tailed bacteriophages with large genomes and capsids. As a prototype of jumbo phage, ΦKZ infects Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a multi-drug-resistant (MDR) opportunistic pathogen leading to acute or chronic infection in immunocompromised individuals. It holds potential to be used as an antimicrobial agent and as a model for uncovering basic phage biology. Although previous low-resolution structural studies have indicated that jumbo phages may have more complicated capsid structures than smaller phages such as HK97, the detailed structures and the assembly mechanism of their capsids remain largely unknown. Here, we report a 3.5-Å-resolution cryo-EM structure of the ΦKZ capsid. The structure unveiled ten minor capsid proteins, with some decorating the outer surface of the capsid and the others forming a complex network attached to the capsid’s inner surface. This network seems to play roles in driving capsid assembly and capsid stabilization. Similar mechanisms of capsid assembly and stabilization are probably employed by many other jumbo viruses.

Abstract Re-poling of unexpected partially depoled piezoelectric materials conventionally needs to be first fully depoled through annealing above their Curie temperature to revive piezoelectric performances. Here, we investigated de-poling and re-poling of Pb(In1/2Nb1/2)O3-Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3 single crystals under electric fields at room temperature. We found that alternating current electric fields with amplitudes near the coercive field at low frequencies (

Abstract Rationale and objective To investigate the impact of the contrast enhancement boost (CE-boost) technique on the image quality of CT angiography (CTA) derived from 80-kVp cerebral CT perfusion (CTP) data, and to compare it with conventional CTApeak as well as other currently employed methods for enhancing CTA images, such as CTAtMIP and CTAtAve extracted from CTP. Materials and methods The data of forty-seven patients who underwent CTP at 80 kVp were retrospectively collected. Four sets of images: CTApeak, CTAtMIP, CTAtAve, and CE-boost images. The CTApeak image represents the arterial phase at its peak value, captured as a single time point. CTAtMIP and CTAtAve are 4D CTA images that provide maximum density projection and average images from the three most prominent time points. CE-boost is a postprocessing technique used to enhance contrast in the arterial phase at its peak value. We compared the average CT value, standard deviation (SD), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of the internal carotid artery (ICA) and basilar artery (BA) among the four groups. Image quality was evaluated using a 5-point scale. Results The CE-boost demonstrated and CNR in the ICA and BA (all p

Abstract Cell fate decisions remain poorly understood at the molecular level. Embryogenesis provides a unique opportunity to analyze molecular details associated with cell fate decisions. Works based on model organisms have provided a conceptual framework of genes that specify cell fate control, for example, transcription factors (TFs) controlling processes from pluripotency to immunity1. How TFs specify cell fate remains poorly understood. Here we report that SALL4 relies on NuRD (nucleosome-remodeling and deacetylase complex) to interpret BMP4 signal and decide cell fate in a well-controlled in vitro system. While NuRD complex cooperates with SALL4 to convert mouse embryonic fibroblasts or MEFs to pluripotency, BMP4 diverts the same process to an alternative fate, PrE (primitive endoderm). Mechanistically, BMP4 signals the dissociation of SALL4 from NuRD physically to establish a gene regulatory network for PrE. Our results provide a conceptual framework to explore the rich landscapes of cell fate choices intrinsic to development in higher organisms involving morphogen-TF-chromatin modifier pathways.

Abstract Objective Thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO) remains clinical challenging due to its rarity and underwhelming management outcomes. This study aimed to describe a novel TAO rabbit model that demonstrates a closer resemblance to TAO. Methods Thirty-six New Zealand rabbits underwent the surgical implantation of calibrated gelatin sponge particles (CGSPs) into their right femoral artery. The CGSPs were soaked in different solutions to simulate different types of thrombi: normal (NT; normal saline); inflammatory TAO thrombus (TAO; dimethylsulfoxide [DMSO]), and DMSO with methotrexate (MTX). All groups underwent clinical assessment, digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and histopathological analysis at time points day 0 (immediate), week 1 (acute), week 2 (subacute), and week 4 (chronic). Results The TAO rabbit presented with signs of ischemia of the right digit at week 4. On DSA, the TAO rabbits exhibited formation of corkscrew collaterals starting week 1. On H&E staining, gradual CGSP degradation was observed along with increased red blood cell aggregation and inflammatory cells migration in week 1. On week 2, disorganization of the tunica media layer and vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation was observed. In the TAO rabbit, migrated VSMCs, inflammatory cells, and extracellular matrix with collagen-like substances gradually occluded the lumen. On week 4, the arterial lumen of the TAO rabbit was filled with relatively-organized VSMC and endothelial cell clusters with less inflammatory cells. Neorevascularization was found in the MTX-treated group. Conclusion The novel TAO rabbit model shows a closer resemblance to human TAO clinically, radiographically, and histopathologically. Histological analysis of the IT progression in the TAO model suggests that it is of VSMC origin.

Abstract Using e + e − collision data collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider at center-of-mass energies between 3.510 and 4.914 GeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 25 fb −1, we measure the Born cross sections for the process e + e − → K − Ξ ¯ + Λ / Σ 0 $$ {e}^{+}{e}^{-}\to {K}^{-}{\overline{\Xi}}^{+}\Lambda /{\Sigma}^0 $$ at thirty-five energy points with a partial-reconstruction strategy. By fitting the dressed cross sections of e + e − → K − Ξ ¯ + Λ / Σ 0 $$ {e}^{+}{e}^{-}\to {K}^{-}{\overline{\Xi}}^{+}\Lambda /{\Sigma}^0 $$ , evidence for ψ 4160 → K − Ξ ¯ + Λ $$ \psi (4160)\to {K}^{-}{\overline{\Xi}}^{+}\Lambda $$ is found for the first time with a significance of 4.4σ, including systematic uncertainties. No evidence for other possible resonances is found. In addition, the products of electronic partial width and branching fraction for all assumed resonances decaying into K − Ξ ¯ + Λ / Σ 0 $$ {K}^{-}{\overline{\Xi}}^{+}\Lambda /{\Sigma}^0 $$ are determined.

Abstract Cell fate is likely regulated by a common machinery, while components of this machine remain to be identified. Here we report the design and testing of engineered cell fate controller NanogBiD, fusing BiD or BRG1 interacting domain of SS18 with Nanog. NanogBiD promotes mouse somatic cell reprogramming efficiently in contrast to the ineffective native protein under multiple testing conditions. Mechanistic studies further reveal that it facilitates cell fate transition by recruiting the intended Brg/Brahma-associated factor (BAF) complex to modulate chromatin accessibility and reorganize cell state specific enhancers known to be occupied by canonical Nanog, resulting in precocious activation of multiple genes including Sall4, miR-302, Dppa5a and Sox15 towards pluripotency. Although we have yet to test our approach in other species, our findings suggest that engineered chromatin regulators may provide much needed tools to engineer cell fate in the cells as drugs era.

Abstract Ionizable lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are seeing widespread use in mRNA delivery, notably in SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines. However, the expansion of mRNA therapies beyond COVID-19 is impeded by the absence of LNPs tailored for diverse cell types. In this study, we present the AI-Guided Ionizable Lipid Engineering (AGILE) platform, a synergistic combination of deep learning and combinatorial chemistry. AGILE streamlines ionizable lipid development with efficient library design, in silico lipid screening via deep neural networks, and adaptability to diverse cell lines. Using AGILE, we rapidly design, synthesize, and evaluate ionizable lipids for mRNA delivery, selecting from a vast library. Intriguingly, AGILE reveals cell-specific preferences for ionizable lipids, indicating tailoring for optimal delivery to varying cell types. These highlight AGILE’s potential in expediting the development of customized LNPs, addressing the complex needs of mRNA delivery in clinical practice, thereby broadening the scope and efficacy of mRNA therapies.

Abstract Background Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a serious neurodegenerative disease that brings great stress to the physical and mental health of patients. At the same time, long-term treatment will also bring great economic losses and social burden to the family and society, especially after COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study is to analyze the current status of stress perception and anxiety in patients with PD and explore the influencing factors after the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This study used the convenient sampling method to select the research objects of patients with PD who were outpatients or inpatients in a general public hospital in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, and the survey time was from February 2023 to March 2023. The measurements included the General information questionnaire, The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and The Self Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS). SPSS 21.0 software was used for data statistical analysis. Result 394 out of 420 patients with PD completed the questionnaire. The stress perception score of PD was (16.41 ± 6.435) and the anxiety score was (54.77 ± 10.477). The stress perception scores of patients with PD were significantly different in gender, age, educational, occupation, nature of costs, time of sleep, quality of sleep, duration of disease, way of medical treatment and anxiety level (p

Abstract Endometrial cancer (EC) stem cells (ECSCs) are pivotal in the oncogenesis, metastasis, immune escape, chemoresistance, and recurrence of EC. However, the specific mechanism of stem cell maintenance in EC cells (ECCs) has not been clarified. We found that WTAP and m6A levels decreased in both EC and ECSCs, and that knocking down WTAP promoted ECCs and ECSCs properties, including proliferation, invasion, migration, cisplatin resistance, and self-renewal. The downregulation of WTAP leads to a decrease in the m6A modification of EGR1 mRNA, and it is difficult for IGF2BP3, as an m6A reader, to recognize and bind to EGR1 mRNA that has lost m6A modification, resulting in a decrease in the stability of EGR1 mRNA. A decrease in the EGR1 level led to a decrease of in the expression tumor suppressor gene PTEN, resulting in deregulation and loss of cellular homeostasis and thereby fostering EC stem cell traits. Notably, the enforced overexpression of WTAP, EGR1, and PTEN inhibited the oncogenic effects of ECCs and ECSCs in vivo, and the combined overexpression of WTAP + EGR1 and EGR1 + PTEN further diminished the tumorigenic potential of these cells. Our findings revealed that the WTAP/EGR1/PTEN pathway is important regulator of EC stem cell maintenance, chemotherapeutic resistance, and tumorigenesis, suggesting a novel and promising therapeutic avenue for treating EC.

The β-cells within the pancreas play a pivotal role in insulin production and secretion, responding to fluctuations in blood glucose levels. However, factors like obesity, dietary habits, and prolonged insulin resistance can compromise β-cell function, contributing to the development of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). A critical aspect of this dysfunction involves β-cell dedifferentiation and transdifferentiation, wherein these cells lose their specialized characteristics and adopt different identities, notably transitioning towards progenitor or other pancreatic cell types like α-cells. This process significantly contributes to β-cell malfunction and the progression of T2D, often surpassing the impact of outright β-cell loss. Alterations in the expressions of specific genes and transcription factors unique to β-cells, along with epigenetic modifications and environmental factors such as inflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction, underpin the occurrence of β-cell dedifferentiation and the onset of T2D. Recent research underscores the potential therapeutic value for targeting β-cell dedifferentiation to manage T2D effectively. In this review, we aim to dissect the intricate mechanisms governing β-cell dedifferentiation and explore the therapeutic avenues stemming from these insights.

Abstract With a sample of (10087 ± 44) × 106 J/ψ events accumulated with the BESIII detector, we analyze the decays η′ → π + π − l + l − (l = e, μ) via the process J/ψ → γη′. The branching fractions are measured to be B $$ \mathcal{B} $$ (η′ → π + π − e + e − ) = (2.45 ± 0.02(stat.) ± 0.08(syst.)) × 10 −3 and B $$ \mathcal{B} $$ (η′ → π + π − μ + μ − ) = (2.16 ± 0.12(stat.) ± 0.06(syst.)) × 10 −5, and the ratio is B η ′ → π + π − e + e − B η ′ → π + π − μ + μ − = 113.4 ± 0.9 stat . ± 3.7 syst . $$ \frac{\mathcal{B}\left({\eta}^{\prime}\to {\pi}^{+}{\pi}^{-}{e}^{+}{e}^{-}\right)}{\mathcal{B}\left({\eta}^{\prime}\to {\pi}^{+}{\pi}^{-}{\mu}^{+}{\mu}^{-}\right)}=113.4\pm 0.9\left(\textrm{stat}.\right)\pm 3.7\left(\textrm{syst}.\right) $$ . In addition, by combining the η′ → π + π − e + e − and η′ → π + π − μ + μ − decays, the slope parameter of the electromagnetic transition form factor is measured to be b η′ = 1.30 ± 0.19 (GeV/c 2) −2, which is consistent with previous measurements from BESIII and theoretical predictions from the VMD model. The asymmetry in the angle between the π + π − and l + l − decay planes, which has the potential to reveal the CP-violation originating from an unconventional electric dipole transition, is also investigated. The asymmetry parameters are determined to be A CP η ′ → π + π − e + e − = − 0.21 ± 0.73 stat . ± 0.01 syst . % $$ {\mathcal{A}}_{CP}\left({\eta}^{\prime}\to {\pi}^{+}{\pi}^{-}{e}^{+}{e}^{-}\right)=\left(-0.21\pm 0.73\left(\textrm{stat}.\right)\pm 0.01\left(\textrm{syst}.\right)\right)\% $$ and A CP η ′ → π + π − μ + μ − = 0.62 ± 4.71 stat . ± 0.08 syst . % $$ {\mathcal{A}}_{CP}\left({\eta}^{\prime}\to {\pi}^{+}{\pi}^{-}{\mu}^{+}{\mu}^{-}\right)=\left(0.62\pm 4.71\left(\textrm{stat}.\right)\pm 0.08\left(\textrm{syst}.\right)\right)\% $$ , implying that no evidence of CP-violation is observed at the present statistics. Finally, an axion-like particle is searched for via the decay η′ → π + π − a, a → e + e − , and upper limits of the branching fractions are presented for the mass assumptions of the axion-like particle in the range of 0 − 500 MeV/c 2.

Abstract We present a differential representation for holographic four-point correlators. In this representation, the correlators are given by acting differential operators on certain seed functions. The number of these functions is much smaller than what is normally seen in known examples of holographic correlators, and all of them have simple Mellin amplitudes. This representation establishes a direct connection between correlators in position space and their Mellin space counterpart. The existence of this representation also imposes non- trivial constraints on the structure of holographic correlators. We illustrate these ideas by correlators in AdS5 × S5 and AdS5 × S3.

Abstract Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent and bioaccumulative pollutants that can easily accumulate in soil, posing a threat to environment and human health. Current PFAS degradation processes often suffer from low efficiency, high energy and water consumption, or lack of generality. Here, we develop a rapid electrothermal mineralization (REM) process to remediate PFAS-contaminated soil. With environmentally compatible biochar as the conductive additive, the soil temperature increases to >1000 °C within seconds by current pulse input, converting PFAS to calcium fluoride with inherent calcium compounds in soil. This process is applicable for remediating various PFAS contaminants in soil, with high removal efficiencies ( >99%) and mineralization ratios ( >90%). While retaining soil particle size, composition, water infiltration rate, and cation exchange capacity, REM facilitates an increase of exchangeable nutrient supply and arthropod survival in soil, rendering it superior to the time-consuming calcination approach that severely degrades soil properties. REM is scaled up to remediate soil at two kilograms per batch and promising for large-scale, on-site soil remediation. Life-cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis demonstrate REM as an environmentally friendly and economic process, with a significant reduction of energy consumption, greenhouse gas emission, water consumption, and operation cost, when compared to existing soil remediation practices.

Abstract Electrification plays a crucial role in deep decarbonization. However, electrification and power infrastructure can cause mutual challenges. We use nationwide power outage and electric vehicle adoption data in China to provide empirical evidence on how power infrastructure failures can deter electrification. We find that when the number of power outages per district increases by 1 in a given month, the number of new electric vehicles adopted per month decreases by 0.99%. A doubling of power outages in one year on average across the nation can create a depressed adoption rate for up to a decade, implying a decline of more than $ 31.3 million per year in carbon reduction benefits from electric vehicle adoptions. This paper adds to the policy discussion of the costs of increased power outages due to extreme weather and natural disasters, and the urgency for policy to address this issue to facilitate wide adoption of electrification.

Abstract Background Numerous studies have shown that somite development is a necessary stage of myogenesis chondrogenesis and osteogenesis. Our previous study has established a stable presomitic mesoderm progenitor cell line (UiPSM) in vitro. Naturally, we wanted to explore whether UiPSM cell can develop bone and myogenic differentiation. Results Selective culture conditions yielded PAX3 and PAX7 positive skeletal muscle precursors from UiPSM cells. The skeletal muscle precursors undergo in vitro maturation resulting in myotube formation. MYOD effectively promoted the maturity of the skeletal myocytes in a short time. We found that UiPSM and MYOD mediated UiPSM cell-derived skeletal myocytes were viable after transplantation into the tibialis anterior muscle of MITRG mice, as assessed by bioluminescence imaging and scRNA-seq. Lack of teratoma formation and evidence of long-term myocytes engraftment suggests considerable potential for future therapeutic applications. Moreover, UiPSM cells can differentiate into osteoblast and chondroblast cells in vitro. Conclusions UiPSM differentiation has potential as a developmental model for musculoskeletal development research and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders.

Abstract Background Limited research has been conducted on the forms, manifestations and effects of intersectional stigma among young HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) in Zambia. In this study, we aimed to address this gap by elucidating the experiences of these in a small group of young, HIV + MSM and TGW in Zambia. Methods We applied a mixed-methods design. Data were collected from January 2022 to May 2022. Qualitative data were collected using in-depth interviews while quantitative data were collected using a questionnaire. Qualitative transcripts were coded using thematic analysis while paper-based questionnaire data were entered into Kobo Connect. Descriptive statistics, using chi-squared tests were calculated using Excel. In this paper, we provide a descriptive profile of the sample and then focus on the qualitative findings on intersectional stigma, depression, and contemplation of suicide. Results We recruited 56 participants from three sites: Lusaka, Chipata, and Solwezi districts. Participants’ mean age was 23 years. The study found that 36% of all participants had moderate to significant symptoms of depression, 7% had major depression, 30% had moderate signs of anxiety, 11% had high signs of anxiety, 4% had very high signs of anxiety and 36% had contemplated suicide at least once. A greater proportion of TGW had moderate to significant symptoms of depression (40%) or major depression (10%) compared to MSM, at 33% and 6%, respectively (X 2 = 0.65; p = 0.42). Similarly, more TGW (55%) had contemplated suicide than MSM peers (36%, X 2=1.87; p = 0.17). In the qualitative data, four emergent themes about the forms, manifestations, and effects of intersectional stigma were (1) HIV, sexual orientation, and gender identity disclosure; (2) Dual identity; (3) Challenges of finding and maintaining sexual partners; (4) Coping and resilience. Overall, having to hide both one’s sexuality and HIV status had a compounding effect and was described as living “a private lie.” Conclusion Effectively addressing stigmas and poor mental health outcomes among young HIV-positive MSM and TGW will require adopting a socio-ecological approach that focuses on structural interventions, more trauma-informed and identity-supportive care for young people with HIV, as well as strengthening of authentic community-informed public health efforts.

Abstract People with diabetes mellitus (DM) and hyperglycemia are linked with cancer risk. Diabetes and cancer have been corroborated by high morbidity and mortality rates. Studies revealed that elevated levels of insulin secretions trigger insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF‐1) production. Moreover, IGF‐1 is a key regulator involved in promoting cancer cell progression and is linked with DM. Cancer drug resistance and ototoxic effects can adversely affect the health and lifespan of an individual. However, naturally derived bioactive compounds are gaining attention for their nontoxic properties and specific behavior. Likewise, probiotics have also been regarded as safe and successful alternatives to treat DM‐linked cancers. The present review aims to highlight the therapeutic potential and feasible functions of probiotics to mitigate or inhibit DM‐associated cancers. Meanwhile, the intracellular signaling cascades involved in promoting DM‐linked cancer are enumerated for future prospective research. However, metabolomics interactions and protein–protein interactions are to be discussed for deeper insights into affirmative principles in diabetic‐linked cancers. Drug discovery and innovative preclinical evaluation need further adjuvant and immune‐enhancement therapies. Furthermore, the results of the in silico assessment could provide scientific excellence of IGF‐1 in diabetes and cancer. Overall, this review summarizes the mechanistic insights and therapeutic targets for diabetes‐associated cancer.

Abstract We measured the Born cross sections for the process e + e − → ωη′ at 22 center-of-mass energies from 2.000 to 3.080 GeV with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider. We observed a resonant structure with a statistical significance of 9.6σ. A Breit-Wigner fit determines its mass to be M R = (2153 ± 30 ± 31) MeV/c 2 and its width to be Γ R = (167 ± 77 ± 7) MeV, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second are systematic.

Abstract Background Idiopathic acute transverse myelitis (IATM) is a focal inflammatory disorder of the spinal cord that results in motor, sensory, and autonomic dysfunction. However, the comparative analysis of MRI-negative and MRI-positive in IATM patients were rarely reported. Objectives The purpose of this study was to compare MRI-negative with MRI-positive groups in IATM patients, analyze the predictors for a poor prognosis, thus explore the relationship between MRI-negative and prognosis. Methods We selected 132 patients with first-attack IATM at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from May 2018 to May 2022. Patients were divided into MRI-positive and MRI-negative group according to whether there were responsible spinal MRI lesions, and good prognosis and poor prognosis based on whether the EDSS score ≥ 4 at follow-up. The predictive factors of poor prognosis in IATM patients was analyzed by logistic regression models. Results Of the 132 patients, 107 first-attack patients who fulfilled the criteria for IATM were included in the study. We showed that 43 (40%) patients had a negative spinal cord MRI, while 27 (25%) patients were identified as having a poor prognosis (EDSS score at follow-up ≥ 4). Compared with MRI-negative patients, the MRI-positive group was more likely to have back/neck pain, spinal cord shock and poor prognosis, and the EDSS score at follow-up was higher. We also identified three risk factors for a poor outcome: absence of second-line therapies, high EDSS score at nadir and a positive MRI result. Conclusions Compared with MRI-negative group, MRI-positive patients were more likely to have back/neck pain, spinal cord shock and poor prognosis, with a higher EDSS score at follow-up. The absence of second-line therapies, high EDSS score at nadir, and a positive MRI were risk factors for poor outcomes in patients with first-attack IATM. MRI-negative patients may have better prognosis, an active second-line immunotherapy for IATM patients may improve clinical outcome.

Abstract Wind power prediction for newly built wind farms is usually faced with the problem of no sufficient historical data. To efficiently extract the useful features from related wind farms, a novel transfer learning method based on temporal convolutional network (TCN)‐Bi‐long short‐term memory (LSTM) with dynamic loss weights is proposed. Firstly, a novel multi‐task TCN‐Bi‐LSTM model is designed to extract common features. The separate TCNs, and common Bi‐LSTM layers of the proposed model are designed to extract the temporal features from related wind farms. Secondly, in the pre‐training stage, to optimize the training process of the neural networks, a dynamic loss‐weighting strategy is proposed for multi‐task learning (MTL) to select the most related features, which increase the prediction accuracy by providing a suitable optimization object. Thirdly, the multi‐task TCN‐Bi‐LSTM model is re‐trained based on the samples from the target wind farm. Finally, a dataset of seven wind farms was employed to evaluate the efficiency of the proposed MTL structure and the dynamic loss‐weighting strategy. The result shows that the root mean squared error of the 12‐h short‐term prediction can be decreased by 4.19% compared with the traditional single‐task learning model, which verifies the validity of the proposed multi‐task transfer learning method.

Low temperature heating process of the slab has become the mainstream process for producing high quality oriented silicon steel due to its environmental protection, low cost, and high yield. For this process, the number of inhibitors is less and the size is large, resulting in insufficient inhibition, coarsen grains during primary recrystallization, and insufficient driving force for secondary recrystallization, which reduces the magnetic properties of the product. These shortcomings can be improved by optimizing the inhibitors and normalizing processes. The effects of normalizing processes on the microstructure, texture, and precipitations of low-temperature oriented silicon steel containing Sn were studied by OM, SEM, TEM, and EBSD with Fe–3%Si hot-rolled plate as initial material. The experimental results show that the sample has the best performance in terms of microstructure, texture, and precipitations with the two-stage boiling water cooling normalizing process that the heating temperature is 1150 °C, and the normalizing intermediate temperature is 850 °C. With the above parameters, the microstructure is inhomogeneous along thickness. There are more {111} textures, which are favorable to the growth of Goss texture. The proportion of high energy grain boundary reached 54.2%. The precipitates are significantly refined, which enhances the ability to inhibit primary recrystallization. The sub-surface thickness of the hot rolled plate increases from 40.6% to 62.1% with increasing Sn content from 0.01% to 0.11%. The degree of tin segregation at grain boundary increases with the increase of normalizing temperature and the decrease of medium soaking temperature.

Tumor metabolite regulation is intricately linked to cancer progression. Because lactate is a characteristic metabolite of the tumor microenvironment (TME), it supports tumor progression and drives immunosuppression. In this study, we presented a strategy for antitumor therapy by developing a nanogold-engineered Rhodospirillum rubrum (R.r-Au) that consumed lactate and produced hydrogen for optical biotherapy. We leveraged a cryogenic micromolding approach to construct a transdermal therapeutic cryomicroneedles (CryoMNs) patch integrated with R.r-Au to efficiently deliver living bacterial drugs. Our long-term storage studies revealed that the viability of R.r-Au in CryoMNs remained above 90%. We found that the CryoMNs patch was mechanically strong and could be inserted into mouse skin. In addition, it rapidly dissolved after administering bacterial drugs and did not produce by-products. Under laser irradiation, R.r-Au effectively enhanced electron transfer through Au NPs actuation into the photosynthetic system of R. rubrum and enlarged lactate consumption and hydrogen production, thus leading to an improved tumor immune activation. Our study demonstrated the potential of CryoMNs-R.r-Au patch as a minimally invasive in situ delivery approach for living bacterial drugs. This research opens up new avenues for nanoengineering bacteria to transform tumor metabolites into effective substances for tumor optical biotherapy.

Introduction: Genetically modified human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-based regenerative medicine has substantial potential in the treatment of refractory human diseases. Thus, preclinical studies on the safety and efficacy of these products are essential. Non-human primate (NHP) models such as the rhesus macaque are highly similar to humans in terms of size, lifespan, and immune system, rendering them superior models. However, effective gene transduction in rhesus macaque iPSCs (Rh-iPSCs) remains challenging. In this study, we investigated the effective gene transduction into Rh-iPSCs and its effect on differentiation efficiency. Methods: We established a gene transduction method using the piggyBac transposon vector system. Gene transduced Rh-iPSCs were analyzed for undifferentiated markers. We did teratoma assay to check pluripotency. Gene transduced Rh-iPSCs were differentiated into hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) and T-cell lineage cells. Additionally, gene transduced Rh-iPSCs were compared the differentiation efficiency with parental Rh-iPSCs. Results: We could establish a gene transduction method using the piggyBac transposon vector system, demonstrating high efficiency and stable transgene expression in Rh-iPSCs. These Rh-iPSCs maintained long-term gene expression while expressing undifferentiated markers. Teratoma assay indicated that these Rh-iPSCs had pluripotency. These Rh-iPSCs could differentiate into HPSCs and T cells that express transgenes. These Rh-iPSCs can differentiate into hematopoietic stem cells and T cells that express transgenes. No significant differences in efficiency of differentiation were observed between parental Rh-iPSCs and these Rh-iPSCs. Conclusions: These results indicate that the piggyBac transposon vector is an excellent gene transfer tool for rhesus macaque iPSCs and could contribute to the advancement of preclinical studies using rhesus macaque iPSCs.

With the widespread adoption of the Internet and an increase in the number of Internet users, the security of the network environment has been seriously threatened by Internet public hazards organizations, such as the Internet water army and the internet public hazards community. Given the characteristics of these organizations, which include being distant from domestic supervision and possessing strong concealment and camouflage abilities, a social network characteristic analysis method was proposed for Internet public hazards organizations. Initially, at the user characteristic level, the influence distribution of group members was calculated through centrality measurement to identify the core users with the greatest influence, and an analysis of the anonymity characteristics of these core members was conducted. Subsequently, at the complex network characteristic level, the cluster status and resource distribution within the community were studied through the analysis of small-world effects and scale-free characteristics. Finally, at the temporal characteristic level, after preprocessing the post content of core members, BERTopic was utilized for dynamic topic modeling to ascertain the relationship between community themes and time. A large number of experimental performance analyses have verified the effectiveness of the proposed method. The research results can be utilized to analyze the characteristics of public hazard communities, track criminal activity trajectories, and provide theoretical references for the investigation and crackdown of public hazard organizations, as well as for the design of automated detection systems.

【Objective】The study was conducted to clarify the microbial community structure in soil with continuous cropping of Curcuma wenyujin and fumigation treatment, aiming to lay a foundation for alleviating continuous cropping obstacles in C. wenyujin cultivation.【Method】The soil under a continuous cropping of C. wenyujin for 3 years was selected and fumigated with dazomet one month before planting C. wenyujin. After 7-month cultivation of C. wenyujin, we collected soil samples from three types of plots: continuous cropping, fumigated and uncultivated. Total soil DNA was extracted, and the population and diversity of microbial communities (fungi and bacteria) were analyzed by using PacBio Sequel thirdgeneration sequencing.【Result】The results showed that C. wenyujin plants in the fumigated soil exhibited good growth and minimal disease incidence, while those in the continuous cropping soil had poor growth and severe seedling death. Analysis of bacterial communities at the phylum level revealed that the abundance of AD3, TK10 and WPS-2 decreased in rhizosphere soil after continuous cropping compared with those in uncultivated soil. Fumigation of continuous cropping soil increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria with biocontrol functions such as Bacillus and Sphingomonas. Among the three soil types, 5 fungal phyla were abundant, including Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Chytridiomycota, Mortierellomycota, and unclassified_k_ Fungi. Ascomycota had the lowest abundance in uncultivated C. wenyujin soil, but continuous cropping significantly increased its abundance, while Basidiomycota showed a significant decrease. Several beneficial fungal genera, including Chaetomium, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Myrothecium, Thielavia, Humicola, Rhizophlyctis, Microdochium, Ramicandelaber, Albifi mbria, Curvularia, Gigaspora, Nigrospora, Neocosmospora, Talaromyces, Roussoella, Rhytidhysteron, Boothiomyces, Apiotrichum, Ochroconis, Saitozyma, Trichosporon and Phoma, had higher abundance in fumigated soil than that in continuous cropping soil. In contrast, continuous cropping soil had a higher accumulation of pathogenic microorganisms.【Conclusion】Continuous cropping of C. wenyujin leads to the accumulation of harmful soil microorganism, resulting in continuous cropping obstacles. Fumigation with dazomet can reduce the number of soil-borne pathogens and increase the abundance of beneficial microbial populations, thereby mitigating continuous cropping obstacles in C. wenyujin cultivation.

The occurrence mechanism of coal and gas outburst disasters is still unclear. According to the rheological hypothesis, gas-bearing coal and rock may enter the “strength limit neighborhood” under long-term load, and it is more likely to be destroyed by external impact disturbance. The “strength limit neighborhood” of gas-bearing coal rock under different loading conditions is studied to find the influence law of entering this state, and the corresponding micro-discrimination criteria are established,” using the self-developed triaxial test system of rock rheological disturbance effect and the seepage experimental device of coal rock rheological disturbance effect, the rheological disturbance experiment of gas-bearing coal rock under different confining pressures, different gas pressures and axial pressures was carried out. The coal rock before and after rheological disturbance was analyzed and compared by means of nuclear magnetic resonance, and the T2 spectrum curve, porosity and pore size distribution under different loading conditions were obtained. The test results show that: ① In the rheological process of coal rock under different loading conditions, there is a critical value for the sensitivity of external disturbance. When the applied force is less than this critical value, after the impact disturbance, the porosity of coal rock decreases and the specimen is compressed closely. When the force is greater than this critical value, after the impact disturbance, the large pore size of coal rock increases obviously, the T2 spectrum curve shifts to the right, and the peak height increases, It shows that the stress threshold is the key to determine whether the coal rock enters the “strength limit neighborhood”. ② Confining pressure and gas pressure have opposite mechanical properties to coal rock. It is shown in the compressive capacity, damage degree, long-term strength and “strength limit neighborhood”. Among them, the greater the confining pressure, the earlier the coal rock enters the “strength limit neighborhood;” The greater the gas pressure, The greater the gas pressure, the earlier the coal rock enters the neighborhood. ③ the pore size distribution and T2 spectrum curve of coal rock can directly reflect the internal and external micro-variation characteristics of rock’s “strength limit neighborhood.” ④The constitutive equation of axial pressure, confining pressure and gas pressure determined by the porosity of coal rock can be used to judge the timing of coal rock entering the “strength limit neighborhood” under different loading conditions. As a criterion for entering the “strength limit neighborhood,” the greater the confining pressure, the greater the stress threshold when entering the “strength limit neighborhood,” the greater the gas pressure, and the smaller the stress threshold when entering the “strength limit neighborhood.”

Abstract Background Anisodus tanguticus (Maxim.) Pascher (A. tanguticus) is a valuable botanical for extracting tropane alkaloids, which are widely used in the pharmaceutical industry. Implementing appropriate cultivation methods can improve both the quality and yield of A. tanguticus. A two-year field experiment was conducted from 2021 to 2023 using a single-factor randomized complete block design replicated three times. The study examined the effects of different nutrient levels (nitrogen: 0, 75, 150, 225, 300, 375 kg/ha; phosphorus: 0, 600, 750, 900, 1050, 1200 kg/ha; potassium: 0, 75, 112.5, 150, 187.5, 225 kg/ha) on the growth, primary alkaloid contents, and alkaloid yield of A. tanguticus at different growth stages (S-Greening, S-Growing, S-Wilting; T-Greening, T-Growing, and T-Wilting) in both the roots and aboveground portions. Results Our results demonstrate that nutrient levels significantly affect the growth and alkaloid accumulation in A. tanguticus. High nitrogen levels (375 kg/ha) notably increased both root and aboveground biomass, while phosphorus had a minimal effect, especially on aboveground biomass. For alkaloid content (scopolamine, anisodamine, anisodine, atropine), a moderate nitrogen level (225 kg/ha) was most effective, followed by low potassium (75 kg/ha), with phosphorus showing a limited impact. Increased phosphorus levels led to a decrease in scopolamine content. During the T-Growing period, moderate nitrogen addition (225 kg/ha) yielded the highest alkaloid levels per unit area (205.79 kg/ha). In the T-Wilting period, low potassium (75 kg/ha) and low phosphorus (750 kg/ha) resulted in alkaloid levels of 146.91 kg/ha and 142.18 kg/ha, respectively. This indicates nitrogen has the most substantial effect on alkaloid accumulation, followed by potassium and phosphorus. The Douglas production function analysis suggests focusing on root biomass and the accumulation of scopolamine and atropine in roots to maximize alkaloid yield in A. tanguticus cultivation. Conclusions Our findings show that the optimum harvesting period for A. tanguticus is the T-Wilting period, and that the optimal nitrogen addition is 225 kg/ha, the optimal potassium addition is 75 kg/ha, and the optimal phosphorus addition is 600 kg/ha or less.

Abstract Our research endeavors are directed towards unraveling the stem cell characteristics of lower-grade glioma patients, with the ultimate goal of formulating personalized treatment strategies. We computed enrichment stemness scores and performed consensus clustering to categorize phenotypes. Subsequently, we constructed a prognostic risk model using weighted gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA), random survival forest regression analysis as well as full subset regression analysis. To validate the expression differences of key genes, we employed experimental methods such as quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) and assessed cell line proliferation, migration, and invasion. Three subtypes were assigned to patients diagnosed with LGG. Notably, Cluster 2 (C2), exhibiting the poorest survival outcomes, manifested characteristics indicative of the subtype characterized by immunosuppression. This was marked by elevated levels of M1 macrophages, activated mast cells, along with higher immune and stromal scores. Four hub genes—CDCA8, ORC1, DLGAP5, and SMC4—were identified and validated through cell experiments and qPCR. Subsequently, these validated genes were utilized to construct a stemness risk signature. Which revealed that Lower-Grade Glioma (LGG) patients with lower scores were more inclined to demonstrate favorable responses to immune therapy. Our study illuminates the stemness characteristics of gliomas, which lays the foundation for developing therapeutic approaches targeting CSCs and enhancing the efficacy of current immunotherapies. By identifying the stemness subtype and its correlation with prognosis and TME patterns in glioma patients, we aim to advance the development of personalized treatments, enhancing the ability to predict and improve overall patient prognosis.

Based on the latest results of near-source exploration in the Middle and Lower Jurassic of the Tuha Basin, a new understanding of the source rocks, reservoir conditions, and source-reservoir-cap rock combinations of the Jurassic Shuixigou Group in the Taibei Sag is established using the concept of the whole petroleum system, and the coal-measure whole petroleum system is analyzed thoroughly. The results are obtained in three aspects. First, the coal-measure source rocks of the Badaowan Formation and Xishanyao Formation and the argillaceous source rocks of the Sangonghe Formation in the Shuixigou Group exhibit the characteristics of long-term hydrocarbon generation, multiple hydrocarbon generation peaks, and simultaneous oil and gas generation, providing sufficient oil and gas sources for the whole petroleum system in the Jurassic coal-bearing basin. Second, multi-phase shallow braided river delta–shallow lacustrine deposits contribute multiple types of reservoirs, e.g. sandstone, tight sandstone, shale and coal rock, in slope and depression areas, providing effective storage space for the petroleum reservoir formation in coal-measure strata. Third, three phases of hydrocarbon charging and structural evolution, as well as effective configuration of multiple types of reservoirs, result in the sequential accumulation of conventional-unconventional hydrocarbons. From high structural positions to depression, there are conventional structural and structural-lithological reservoirs far from the source, low-saturation structural-lithological reservoirs near the source, and tight sandstone gas, coal rock gas and shale oil accumulations within the source. Typically, the tight sandstone gas and coal rock gas are the key options for further exploration, and the shale oil and gas in the depression area is worth of more attention. The new understanding of the whole petroleum system in the coal measures could further enrich and improve the geological theory of the whole petroleum system, and provide new ideas for the overall exploration of oil and gas resources in the Tuha Basin.

Abstract Background To analyze the economic benefits of paliperidone palmitate in the treatment of schizophrenia. Methods We collected 546 patients who met the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia according to the 《International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems,10th》(ICD-10). We gathered general population data such as gender, age, marital status, and education level, then initiated treatment with paliperidone palmitate. Then Follow-up evaluations were conducted at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after the start of treatment to assess clinical efficacy, adverse reactions, and injection doses. We also collected information on the economic burden before and after 12 months of treatment, as well as the number of outpatient visits and hospitalizations in the past year to analyze economic benefits. Results The baseline patients totaled 546, with 239 still receiving treatment with paliperidone palmitate 12 months later. After 12 months of treatment, the number of outpatient visits per year increased compared to before (4 (2,10) vs. 12 (4,12), Z=-5.949, P 0.05); the indirect costs of patients after 12 months of treatment (lost productivity costs for patients and families, economic costs due to destructive behavior, costs of seeking non-medical assistance) decreased compared to before (300(150,600) vs. 150(100,200), P

Abstract Aiming at the practical teaching of intelligent manufacturing majors faced with lack of equipment, tense teachers and other problems such as high equipment investment, high material loss, high teaching risk, difficult to implement internship, difficult to observe production, difficult to reproduce the results, and so on, we take the electrical automation technology, mechatronics technology and industrial robotics technology majors of intelligent manufacturing majors as an example, and design and establish a virtual simulation teaching platform for intelligent manufacturing majors by using the cloud computing platform, edge computing technology, and terminal equipment synergy. The platform includes six major virtual simulation modules, including virtual simulation of electrician electronics and PLC control, virtual and real combination of typical production lines of intelligent manufacturing, dual-axis collaborative robotics workstation, digital twin simulation, virtual disassembly of industrial robots, virtual simulation of magnetic yoke axis flexible production line. The platform covers the virtual simulation teaching content of basic principle experiments, advanced application experiments, and advanced integration experiments in intelligent manufacturing majors. In order to test the effectiveness of this virtual simulation platform for practical teaching in engineering, this paper organizes a teaching practice activity involving 246 students from two parallel classes of three different majors. Through a one-year teaching application, we analyzed the data on the grades of 7 core courses involved in three majors in one academic year, the proportion of participation in competitions and innovative activities, the number of awards and certificates of professional qualifications, and the subjective questionnaires of the testers. The analysis shows that the learners who adopt the virtual simulation teaching platform proposed in this paper for practical teaching are better than the learners under the traditional teaching method in terms of academic performance, proportion of participation in competitions and innovative activities, and proportion of awards and certificates by more than 13%, 37%, 36%, 27% and 22%, respectively. Therefore, the virtual simulation teaching platform of intelligent manufacturing established in this paper has obvious superiority in solving the problem of "three highs and three difficulties" existing in the practical teaching of engineering, and according to the questionnaire feedback from the testers, the platform can effectively alleviate the shortage of practical training equipment, stimulate the interest in learning, and help to broaden and improve the knowledge system of the learners.

Abstract Memory T cells demonstrate superior in vivo persistence and antitumor efficacy. However, methods for manufacturing less differentiated T cells are not yet well-established. Here, we show that producing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells using berbamine (BBM), a natural compound found in the Chinese herbal medicine Berberis amurensis, enhances the antitumor efficacy of CAR-T cells. BBM is identified through cell-based screening of chemical compounds using induced pluripotent stem cell-derived T cells, leading to improved viability with a memory T cell phenotype. Transcriptomics and metabolomics using stem cell memory T cells reveal that BBM broadly enhances lipid metabolism. Furthermore, the addition of BBM downregulates the phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and enhanced mitochondrial respiration. CD19-CAR-T cells cultured with BBM also extend the survival of leukaemia mouse models due to their superior in vivo persistence. This technology offers a straightforward approach to enhancing the antitumor efficacy of CAR-T cells.

Nitrogen pollution resulting from excessive feed consumption poses a significant challenge for modern swine production. Precision nutrition technology seems to be an effective way to solve this problem; therefore, understanding the law of pig body composition deposition is a prerequisite. This study investigated the sex effects on growth performance, body composition, nutrient deposition, gut microbiota, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) in weaned piglets. Eighty weaned pigs were randomly allocated to 2 treatments according to the sex of pigs. An individual pig was considered as a treatment replicate. Six body weights (BW 5, 7, 11, 15, 20, and 25 kg) were chosen as experimental points; for each point 10 piglets close to the average BW (5 males and 5 females) were slaughtered, and there was one growth phase between each 2 BW points. Results indicated that the males had higher average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) compared to the females (P

Fluorescence imaging with high spatiotemporal resolution and sensitivity is employed for in vivo visualization and detection applications. Compared with visible light and the first near-infrared window (700–900 nm), the second near-infrared window (1 000–1 700 nm) imaging has a lower auto-background fluorescence, deeper tissue penetration, and a higher signal-to-noise ratio, thus highlighting its broad prospects in the biomedical field. Currently, reported second near-infrared region probes include single-walled carbon nanotubes, rare-earth nanoparticles, quantum dots, metal materials, and organic molecular dyes. Multimodal imaging can overcome the limitations of single imaging and provide more comprehensive information on the anatomical structure, tissue composition, and cellular and molecular quantification of lesions to achieve multi-level visualization. Therefore, second near-infrared window nanoprobes must be engineered for multimodal imaging. Moreover, these nanoprobes can be actively targeted by modification with antibodies, peptides, nucleotides, or biofilms to obtain detailed and accurate information on biological systems. This review describes the active targeting capabilities of various second near-infrared window nanoprobes in multimodal imaging, diagnosis, and treatment of different diseases by carrying different ligands and the common features and future application prospects of second near-infrared window fluorescent nanoprobes with targeting ability.

To report a case of staged surgical excision of giant porokeratosis. A 54-year-old man had been seeking medical attention for 29 years due to an itchy purplish-red spot on the right upper abdomen. Dermatological examination revealed a well-defined round purplish-red patch, approximately 15 cm×15 cm, with rough keratinization and few attached scales on the surface. Brown color was observed around the lesion without any noticeable elevation, erosion or exudation. Histopathological analysis showed hyperkeratosis and parakeratosis, loss of granular layers, irregular thickening of the stratum spinosum, superficial dermal vasodilation and perivascular infiltration of mononucleated cells along with melanophages. Dermoscopy revealed dark red background with clear boundaries, whitish peripheral rim and linear vessels, focal hypopigmentation, comma-like vessels at center, as well as thickened yellow scales in the surrounding area. Diagnosis was porokeratosis of Mibelli. The skin lesion was surgically removed using a staged excision method over four stages, resulting in successful healing without recurrence during one-year follow-up.