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Traditional manual inspection technology has the problems of high risk, low e.ciency, and being time-consuming in bridge safety management.)e unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based detection technology is widely used in bridge structure safety monitoring. However, the existing deep learning-based concrete crack identi6cation method has great limitations in dealing with complex background and tiny cracks in bridge structures. To address these problems, this study designs a crack pixel-level highperformance segmentation model for bridge concrete cracks that is suitable for UAV detection scenarios using machine vision (MV) and deep learning (DL) algorithms. First, considering the high requirements for the computing performance of the MVbased model for UAV-based detection, the ResNet-18-based lightweight convolutional neural network is used to represent the traditional large-scale backbone network of the pyramid scene parsing network (PSPNet) to develop a high-performance crack automatic identi6cation model.)en, considering that bridge concrete cracks have the characteristics of subtle shapes and complex backgrounds, the spatial position self-attention module is inserted into the PSPNet to improve its detection accuracy. A concrete bridge is used for the case study, and a dataset of cracks in bridge concrete structures collected by UAVs is constructed and used for model training.)e experimental results show that the loss function of the developed method in the training process results in a smooth decline, and the developed algorithm achieves the evaluation indicators of 0.9008 precision, 0.8750 recall, 0.8820 accuracy, and 0.9012 IOU on the bridge concrete crack dataset, which are signi6cantly higher than other state-of-the-art baseline methods. In addition, four common UAV bridge detection scenarios, including low light, complex crack forms, high background roughness, and complex background scenes, are used to further test the crack detection ability of the developed crack identi6cation model.)e experimental results show that the proposed crack identi6cation method can e@ectively overcome interference and real-size pixel-level segmentation of crack morphology. In addition, it also achieved a detection e.ciency of 35.04 FPS, which shows that the real-time detection ability of the method has good applicability in the UAV detection scene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It aims to explore the effect of target task-oriented phase training on fibrinogen (Fbg), angiopoietin (Ang-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and quality of life in post-operative patients with brain trauma. Methods: 142 patients with brain trauma who were operated on in neurosurgery of our hospital from March 2020 to March 2023 were chosen and separated into two groups by random number table. The control group (n=71) received routine post-operative training. The experimental group (n = 71) received target task-oriented training based on the control group, and the serum cell levels of nursing for 3, 7, and 14 days were compared. Improvement of limb function and quality of life after 2, 4, and 6 weeks of nursing care is observed. Results: Before nursing, the comparison in serum factor levels, limb function scores, and quality of life scores between the two groups was with P>0.05. After 3, 7, and 14 days of nursing, the Fbg of the control group was higher than that of the experimental group. The Ang-1, VEGF and BDNF levels in the experimental group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). After 2, 4, and 6 weeks of nursing care, the FMA scores of the upper and lower limbs in the control group were lower than those in the experimental group, with P<0.05. The scores in the physiological, environmental, psychological, and social fields of the control group were lower than those of the experimental group, with P<0.05. Conclusion: The application of target task-oriented phase training in patients with brain trauma after surgery can help promote the serum levels of Fbg, Ang-1, VEGF and BDNF improve limb function, and enhance quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Computed tomography (CT) image integration is of limited use in left ventricular (LV) ablation due to inadequate accuracy of registration. The current study aimed to investigate the accuracy and feasibility of extra-cavity LV image registration via the coronary cusp. Methods: Consecutive patients were enrolled as the validation group (n = 41) and feasibility group (n = 48). After extra-cavity registration via the aortic root, the LV anatomy derived from CT image was activated and moved into real space. Accuracy of LV anatomy via this registration method was verified by intracardiac echocardiography reconstruction in the validation group and tested further in the feasibility group via measuring the location differences (<3 mm) and volume difference (<8 mL). Results: In validation group, the LV volume of CT image and ICE map were comparable (113.6 ± 15.5 mL vs. 109.0 ± 15.3 mL, P = .27), and the location difference was 3.1 ± 1.1 mm at LV summit, 1.8 ± 0.9 mm at the free wall, and 1.8 ± 0.7 mm at the LV apex. There was a mean of 2.9 ± 1.2 mm and 3.0 ± 1.0 mm length difference in anterior PM and posterior PM, the position difference of the PM's base was 2.8 ± 0.9 mm for anterior PM and 2.2 ± 0.9 mm for posterior PM. In feasibility group, the distance differences of LV summit, LV septum, LV apex, and LV free averaged 1.8 ± 0.8 mm, 1.5 ± 0.7 mm, 1.4 ± 0.6 mm, 1.3 ± 0.7 mm, respectively. Compared with validation group, acute success (100% vs. 96.5%, P = .51), complications rate (4.9% vs. 2.0%, P = 0.59) and fluoroscopic time (1.6 ± 1.1 vs. 1.9 ± 1.6 minutes, P = .30) exhibited no significant difference, but was significantly reduced with procedure time (74.5 ± 8.1 vs. 61.2 ± 9.5 minutes, P < .001) with CT image registration only. Conclusion: LV mapping and ablation could be successfully achieved by extra-cavity registration via coronary cusp without needing positions within LV beforehand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the compounds found in the leaves and stems of the plant Cassia nodosa, which is widely distributed in several countries and used in traditional medicine. Previous studies have identified different types of compounds in the Cassia genus, but there are limited reports on C. nodosa specifically. In this study, 17 compounds were isolated and characterized, including anthraquinones, flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, and steroids. The compounds were identified using spectroscopic methods and compared with existing literature data. The research was supported by the Key Laboratory and Science and Technology Innovation Team of Higher Education in Yunnan, China. [Extracted from the article]

The few already published generic features of the genus Prochasma Warren, 1897 are reviewed and new-found characters are added to make the generic description more comprehensive. A new species, Prochasma diaoluoensis Liu & Stüning, sp. nov. is described from Hainan Province, China. It is the only Prochasma species found on this island and exceptional for its conspicuous pattern, vivid coloration and some morphological characters not observed in other species before. Descriptions and illustrations of adults, their venation, and male and female genitalia are presented. An identification key and an annotated checklist of all presently known species of Prochasma are provided. In addition, a DNA barcode sequence is given for the new species, and preliminary phylogenetic estimations of the genus Prochasma are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species, Psilalcis subalbibasis Liu, sp. nov. and Psilalcis subconceptaria Liu, sp. nov., are described from Hainan Island, China. Adult males and females of both species, including their genitalia, are figured and compared to closely related species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new monotypic ground spider genus, Hotwheels gen. nov., is described, with the type species H. sisyphus sp. nov. (♂♀) from southwest China. This new genus is not assigned to any of the known subfamilies of Gnaphosidae, belonging only to the Echemus group of genera. It resembles Synaphosus Platnick & Shadab, but it can be differentiated by the presence of a median apophysis. Descriptions, illustrations and a records map are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The QuEChERS extraction technique is a pretreatment technique that has been rapidly applied in recent years and is widely used in the field of pesticide residues with many advantages. This technique is based on solid phase extraction (SPE), which uses the interaction between adsorbent and impurities in the matrix to achieve the purpose of purification. The method has easier operation and better purification effect than SPE. In this paper, the research progress of the QuEChERS technique in pesticide residue detection in different fields in recent years and its future development were reviewed, hoping to provide reference for further development and utilization of the QuEChERS technique in pesticide residue detection in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastric and colorectal cancers are significant causes of human mortality. Conventionally, the diagnosis of gastrointestinal tumors has been accomplished through image-based techniques, including endoscopic and biopsy procedures coupled with tissue staining. Most of these methods are invasive. In contrast, Raman spectroscopy has the advantages of being non-invasive and label-free and requiring no additional reagents, making it a potential tool for the detection of serum components. In this study, we collected Raman spectra of serum samples from patients with gastric cancer (n = 93) and colorectal cancer (n = 92) and from healthy individuals (n = 100). Analysis of Raman peak areas revealed that cancer patients had significantly higher peak areas at around 2923 cm−1 compared to normal individuals, which corresponded to the presence of lipids and proteins. We successfully achieved the early screening of gastrointestinal tumors using the improved gated recurrent unit (GRU) algorithm and traditional machine learning methods. The accuracy of identifying digestive tract tumors using different recognition models exceeds 84.72%, with support vector machine (SVM) and GRU achieving 100% accuracy. The use of GRU further demonstrated its ability to differentiate subtypes of gastric and colorectal cancers based on the degree of differentiation and stage, with a recognition accuracy exceeding 95%, which is challenging using traditional machine learning methods. Furthermore, our study revealed that principal component analysis (PCA) dimensionality reduction has a limited impact on the recognition results obtained using different recognition models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant organelles predominantly rely on the actin cytoskeleton and the myosin motors for long-distance trafficking, while using microtubules and the kinesin motors mostly for short-range movement. The distribution and motility of organelles in the plant cell are fundamentally important to robust plant growth and defense. Chloroplasts, mitochondria, and peroxisomes are essential organelles in plants that function independently and coordinately during energy metabolism and other key metabolic processes. In response to developmental and environmental stimuli, these energy organelles modulate their metabolism, morphology, abundance, distribution and motility in the cell to meet the need of the plant. Consistent with their metabolic links in processes like photorespiration and fatty acid mobilization is the frequently observed inter-organellar physical interaction, sometimes through organelle membranous protrusions. The development of various organelle-specific fluorescent protein tags has allowed the simultaneous visualization of organelle movement in living plant cells by confocal microscopy. These energy organelles display an array of morphology and movement patterns and redistribute within the cell in response to changes such as varying light conditions, temperature fluctuations, ROSinducible treatments, and during pollen tube development and immune response, independently or in association with one another. Although there are more reports on the mechanism of chloroplast movement than that of peroxisomes and mitochondria, our knowledge of how and why these three energy organelles move and distribute in the plant cell is still scarce at the functional and mechanistic level. It is critical to identify factors that control organelle motility coupled with plant growth, development, and stress response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The low mature shale oil resources of Lucaogou Formation in Jimusar Sag have a great potential, but the heavy oil quality limits large-scale economic development significantly. Ultrasonic is a typical representative of heavy oil viscosity reduction and anhydrous fracturing technology, and how to understand the action characteristics and mechanism of ultrasonic effect on reservoir is a critical issue to enhance shale oil production in the industrialized application of power ultrasonic. Therefore, the comparative experiments with different time of power ultrasonic loading were conducted to analyze the response mechanism of reservoir characteristics and the change of fluid mobility. The results indicate that the ultrasonic treatment is ameliorative to the pore-fracture structure, and the improvement degree is controlled by the mechanical vibration and cavitation of ultrasound. Generally, the location with weak cementation strength or relatively developed microcrack is preferred to pore expansion. After the ultrasonic treatment, the shale oil quality becomes lighter, and the transformation of shale oil from adsorbed to free, is accelerated due to enhanced fluidity. Pore-expanding effect and fluid mobility enhancement are essential aspects of the power ultrasonic loading to improve the recovery of low mature shale oil. The results of this study support the feasibility analysis of ultrasonic enhanced shale oil exploitation theoretically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic matter (OM) hosted pores are crucial for the storage and migration of petroleum in shale reservoirs. Thermal maturity and macerals type are important factors controlling the development of pores therein. In this study, six lacustrine shale samples with different thermal maturities from the first member of the Qingshankou Formation in the Songliao Basin, of which vitrinite reflectance (Ro) ranging from 0.58% to 1.43%, were selected for a comparative analysis. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and reflected light microscopy were combined to investigate the development of organic pores in different macerals during thermal maturation. The results show that alginite and liptodetrinite are the dominant primary macerals, followed by bituminite. Only a few primary organic pores developed in the alginite at the lowest maturity (Ro = 0.58%). As a result of petroleum generation, oil-prone macerals began to transform to initial-oil solid bitumen at the early oil window (Ro = 0.73%) and shrinkage cracks were observed. Initial-oil solid bitumen cracked to oil, gas and post-oil bitumen by primary cracking (Ro = 0.98%). Moreover, solid bitumen (SB) was found to be the dominant OM when Ro > 0.98%, which indicates that SB is the product of oil-prone macerals transformation. Many secondary bubble pores were observed on SB, which formed by gas release, while devolatilization cracks developed on migrated SB. Additionally, at the late oil window (Ro = 1.16%), migrated SB filled the interparticle pore spaces. With further increase in temperature, the liquid oil underwent secondary cracking into pyrobitumen and gas, and spongy pores developed on the pyrobitumen at higher levels of maturity (Ro = 1.43%), which formed when pyrobitumen cracked into gas. Vitrinite and inertinite are stable without any visible pores over the range of maturities, verifying their low petroleum generation potential. In addition, it was concluded that clay minerals could have a catalytic effect on the petroleum generation, which may explain why organic-clay mixtures had more abundant pores than single OM particles. However, after Ro > 0.98%, authigenic minerals occupied the organic pore spaces on the organic-clay mixtures, resulting in fewer pores compared to those observed in samples at the early to peak oil window. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection in pregnant women during the first trimester can cause congenital malformations including microcephaly, which has focused global attention on this emerging pathogen. By contrast, ZIKV infection in pregnant women during the third trimester can cause neurodevelopmental delays and cryptorchidism in newborns without microcephaly. Here, we evaluated the long-term fertility consequences of ZIKV infection in male suckling mice, which is equivalent to congenital ZIKV infection in children, from multiple perspectives including the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, testis, sperm, and social behaviors. We observed the persistence of ZIKV in the hypothalamus of mice, which caused long-term hormone deficiencies of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Hormone deficiencies led to limited delays in testicular development, a decrease in sperm quality and quantity, and abnormal social abilities. These damages could progress to diminished fertility in male mice, as judged by lower pregnancy rate, prolonged time to delivery, and decreased offspring quality. Currently, the extent to which these observations in mice translate to humans remains unclear, but longitudinal studies of hormone levels and reproductive health in ZIKV-exposed children seem warranted. IMPORTANCE Zika virus (ZIKV) infection in pregnant women during the third trimester can cause neurodevelopmental delays and cryptorchidism in children without microcephaly. However, the consequences of congenital ZIKV infection on fertility in these children remain unclear. Here, using an immunocompetent mouse model, we reveal that congenital ZIKV infection can cause hormonal disorders of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, leading to reduced fertility and decreased sexual preference. Our study has for the first time linked the hypothalamus to the reproductive system and social behaviors after ZIKV infection. Although the extent to which these observations in mice translate to humans remains unclear, these findings did suggest that the reproductive health and hormone levels of ZIKV-exposed children should receive more attention to improve their living quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Scopoides Platnick, 1989 from China is revised. A new genus, Platnickus gen. nov., is established with the type species Scopoides xizangensis Hu, 2001, and a new species is described, Platnickus reni sp. nov. Three new combinations are proposed: Allozelotes gyirongensis (Hu, 2001), comb. nov., Platnickus wanglangensis (Yuan, Zhao & Zhang, 2019), comb. nov., and Platnickus xizangensis (Hu, 2001), comb. nov. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus) is a marine fish of great commercial value. It was selected for a study on allometric growth using fermented soybean meal (SBM) as the primary protein source during an 8-week culture period. By comparing the gene expression levels of different individuals in the fermented soybean meal group, we discovered that 1026 genes exhibited significant changes in slow and fast-growth individuals. Among these genes, 358 showed high expression levels, while 668 showed low ones. Subsequently, we conducted go function annotation and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis on all the significantly differentially expressed genes. This analysis revealed that many of these genes were associated with oxidative phosphorylation, steroid biosynthesis, glyceride metabolism, alanine, aspartic acid, and glutamate metabolism. Identifying these differentially expressed genes is a foundation for unraveling the molecular mechanisms behind growth and development. Additionally, it provides valuable gene data for future studies on the cloning and expression of growth-related genes and offers insights for subsequent biological research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Xanthophylls are a large class of carotenoids that are found in a variety of organisms and play particularly important roles in the light-harvesting and photoprotection processes of plants and algae. Violaxanthin is an important plant-derived xanthophyll with wide potential applications in medicines, foods, and cosmetics because of its antioxidant activity and bright yellow color. To date, however, violaxanthins have not been produced using metabolically engineered microbes on a commercial scale. Metabolic engineering for microbial production of violaxanthin is hindered by inefficient synthesis pathway in the heterologous host. We systematically optimized the carotenoid chassis and improved the functional expression of key enzymes of violaxanthin biosynthesis in Escherichia coli. Results: Co-overexpression of crtY (encoding lycopene β-cyclase), crtZ (encoding β-carotene 3-hydroxylase), and ZEP (encoding zeaxanthin epoxidase) had a notable impact on their functions, resulting in the accumulation of intermediate products, specifically lycopene and β-carotene. A chassis strain that did not accumulate the intermediate was optimized by several approaches. A promoter library was used to optimize the expression of crtY and crtZ. The resulting strain DZ12 produced zeaxanthin without intermediates. The expression of ZEP was further systematically optimized by using DZ12 as the chassis host. By using a low copy number plasmid and a modified dithiol/disulfide system, and by co-expressing a full electron transport chain, we generated a strain producing violaxanthin at about 25.28 ± 3.94 mg/g dry cell weight with decreased byproduct accumulation. Conclusion: We developed an efficient metabolically engineered Escherichia coli strain capable of producing a large amount of violaxanthin. This is the first report of a metabolically engineered microbial platform that could be used for the commercial production of violaxanthin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the spin transport–driven ultrafast magnetization dynamics in a Gadolinium (Gd)/iron (Fe) bilayer. It further discusses that Laser-induced spin transport, a key ingredient in ultrafast spin dynamics; using time- and spin-resolved photoemission spectroscopy to study an antiferromagnetically coupled Gd/Fe bilayer; and the spin transport leads to an ultrafast drop of the spin polarization at the Gd surface.

Flower development plays vital role in horticultural plants. Post-transcriptional regulation via small RNAs is important for plant flower development. To uncover post-transcriptional regulatory networks during the flower development in Dimocarpus longan Lour. 'Shixia', an economically important fruit crop in subtropical regions, we collected and analyzed sRNA deep-sequencing datasets and degradome libraries Apart from identifying miRNAs and phased siRNA generating loci (PHAS loci), 120 hairpin loci, producing abundant sRNAs, were identified by in-house protocols. Our results suggested that 56 miRNA-target pairs, 22 21-nt-PHAS loci, and 111 hairpin loci are involved in posttranscriptional gene silencing during longan reproductive development. Lineage-specific or species-specific post-transcriptional regulatory modules have been unveiled, including miR482-PHAS and miRN15. miR482-PHAS might be involved in longan flower development beyond their conserved roles in plant defense, and miRN15 is a novel miRNA likely associated with a hairpin locus (HPL-056) to regulate strigolactone receptor gene DWARF14 (D14) and the biogenesis of phasiRNAs from D14. These small RNAs are enriched in flower buds, suggesting they are likely involved in post-transcriptional regulatory networks essential for longan flower development via the strigolactone signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to meet the requirements of task scheduling in on-board distributed computing environment, an evolutionary optimization scheduling method for on-board tasks was proposed based on the on-board dynamic heterogeneous computing resource model and task model. In this method, task scheduling priority coding was used to adapt to dynamic changes of computing resources. Heuristic critical path for comprehensive index balance was adopted to implement the evaluation, so as to achieve a balance between task makespan, power consumption and reliability. Multi-group neighborhood search strategy was applied to avoid the algorithm falling into local optimization and simplify the complexity of scheduling algorithm. Fault-tolerant strategy of convergence monitoring and stop loss reconfiguration were designed for scheduling unit fault tolerance. Scheduling strategy based on active and backup redundant subtasks was used for computing unit fault tolerance. The simulation results showed the efficiency of this method to deal with the scenario of on-board distributed computing resources and implement the optimal scheduling of on-board tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrocarbon generation effectiveness of lacustrine limestone has been gradually proven. The Da'anzhai Member limestone is the most important Jurassic oil-producing layer in the central Sichuan Basin, and the characteristics of limestone organic matter are often overlooked. 175 typical samples of different lithologies from 19 wells were systematically analyzed to determine hydrocarbon generation, controlling factors and formation models by analyses of organic matter, minerals, elements, isotopes and petrography. (1) Lacustrine paleoenvironments can be beneficial for the enrichment of organic matter in limestone. A favorable environment would be a quiet, low-energy zone in a warm and humid climate with an appropriate supply of terrestrial inputs. (2) Lacustrine limestone has a higher organic matter conversion rate, and a lower hydrocarbon generation threshold than argillaceous source rocks, and can be effective source rock. (3) The mud-bearing shell limestone from the forebeach to the lake slope is thick, with a relatively high abundance of organic matter, and its hydrocarbon generation is effective. This study can clarify the effectiveness and enrichment of the limestone organic matters in the study area, and contribute to an understanding of hydrocarbon generation for full-rock system in a lacustrine mixed sedimentary environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the nutrient requirements of geese during the growing stage are known, the dietary requirement of amino acids during the starting period remains unclear. Optimum nutrient supplementation during the starting period is crucial for improved survival rates, body-weight gain, and marketing weight in geese. Our study focused on the effect of dietary tryptophan (Trp) supplementation on the growth performance, plasma parameters, and internal-organ relative weights in 1–28-day-old Sichuan white geese. A total of 1080 1-day-old geese were divided randomly into six Trp-supplemented (0.145%, 0.190%, 0.235%, 0.280%, 0.325%, and 0.370%) groups. Average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG), and duodenal relative weight were highest in the 0.190% group, brisket protein level and jejunal relative weight in the 0.235% group, and plasma total protein and albumin levels in the 0.325% group (P < 0.05). Dietary Trp supplementation did not significantly affect the relative weights of the spleen, thymus, liver, bursa of Fabricius, kidneys, and pancreas. Moreover, the 0.145% – 0.235% groups showed significantly decreased liver fat (P < 0.05). Based on the non-linear regression analysis of ADG and ADFI, the dietary Trp levels between 0.183% and 0.190% were estimated to be optimal for 1–28-day-old Sichuan white geese. In conclusion, optimal dietary Trp supplementation in 1–28-day-old Sichuan white geese resulted in increased growth performance (0.180% – 0.190%) along with improved proximal intestinal development and brisket protein deposition (0.235%). Our findings provide basic evidence and guidance for optimal levels of Trp supplementation in geese. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sidera, belonging to the Rickenella clade of Hymenochaetales, is a worldwide genus with mostly poroid hymenophore of wood-inhabiting fungi. Two new species in the genus, Sidera americana and S. borealis, are described and illustrated from China and North America based on morphological and molecular evidence. They were mainly found growing on rotten wood of Abies, Picea and Pinus. S. americana is characterized by annual, resupinate basidiomata with silk sheen when dry, round pores (9-11 per mm), a dimitic hyphal system, and allantoid basidiospores measuring 3.5-4.2 × 1 µm. S. borealis is characterized by annual, resupinate basidiomata with cream to pinkish buff dry pore surface, angular pores (6-7 per mm), a dimitic hyphal system, and allantoid basidiospores measuring 3.9-4.1 × 1-1.1 µm. Phylogenetic analysis based on a combined 2-locus dataset [ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS) + nuclear large subunit RNA (nLSU)] shows that the two species are members of Sidera, and they are compared with morphologically similar and phylogenetically related species, respectively. An identification key to 18 accepted species of Sidera in worldwide is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS), 3D auxetic structures are successfully implemented using a dual-period function. A series of shape-controllable, dual-period deformation functions are obtained by summarising the characteristics of periodic deformation functions and applying Bezier curve fitting methods. Then, with the geometry originating from the Schwarz primitive (P) of TPMS, the periodic shape transformation of TPMS is achieved using the dual-period deformation functions. The property (negative Poisson's ratio) of the auxetic structure is investigated based on the control parameters (the TPMS c value, periodic function η, and deformation index γ). The auxetic structures can exhibit excellent 3D negative Poisson's ratio properties, and the Poisson's ratio can be effectively adjusted. Moreover, a heterostructure with positive and negative Poisson's ratio structures is obtained and applied to a stem in the hip joint. The simulation proves that the heterostructure can effectively prevent the failure of the bone implant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study introduces a novel approach to design non-uniform porous structures with gradient density through the integration of the Topology Optimisation (TO) method and the Voronoi porous structure design technique. With the homogenisation method of Voronoi structures, the density data derived from the TO process is converted into seed point distribution for Voronoi diagrams. The porous structure with controlled mechanical properties is constructed based on Voronoi diagrams using the surface mesh superposition method. Compared with uniform Voronoi porous structures, TO Voronoi porous structures exhibit improved strength and stability. The proposed method for generating non-uniform Voronoi structures in this study exhibits notable advantages in terms of simplicity of implementation and robustness. The surface mesh superposition method has advantages in model generation efficiency and accuracy. In addition, the TO Voronoi porous structure design method is applied to design medical pillows, showing significant advantages in shape retention, weight reduction, and personalisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper takes the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey (CHARLS) as a sample to assess the long-term impacts of domestic violence experienced in childhood on individuals. First, from the four dimensions of injury from violence, negligent care, emotional abuse and witness to domestic violence, an indicator system for quantifying domestic violence is constructed. Second, the simultaneous equation of self-evaluation health and life satisfaction is estimated by the seemingly unrelated regression model. Starting with education, health and life satisfaction, the long-term impact of domestic violence experiences on individuals is quantitatively assessed, providing empirical evidence for preventing and curing domestic violence and healing trauma. The empirical research shows the following: (1) An experience of domestic violence significantly reduces educational achievements. Compared with the three dimensions of injury from violence, negligent care and witnessing domestic violence, emotional abuse has the greatest negative impact on educational achievements. (2) Domestic violence significantly reduces the self-assessed health level and life satisfaction and increases the subjective mental health risk. Based on the complexity and concealment of domestic violence, combined with empirical research conclusions, this paper proposes countermeasures to prevent and control domestic violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combined with advanced fractional differential mask operation, this paper used a fractional differential to normalize the 5 × 5 mask and conducted experiments to select fractional v = 0.7 to determine the equation. The position of the center of the light band was obtained by the gray centroid method, and the center of the light band was enhanced by the fractional differential algorithm. Three samples of hard disk substrate, roller, and printed circuit board were selected. The traditional processing was compared to the fractional differential algorithm in this paper, and several advanced algorithms were compared with the algorithm in this paper. Experimental data showed that fractional differential enhancement can effectively improve the accuracy of extracting the center of light fringes. It can be found that the average error of extracting the center by fractional differential processing was relatively small, and the image outline was clearer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is considered a classic inflammation-associated tumor that usually originates from chronic hepatitis, where an intense and chronic inflammatory response leads to the accumulation of mutations and eventually carcinogenesis under conditions of persistent liver injury. In recent years, immunotherapy for HCC has continued to evolve, as the liver is naturally filled with a large variety of immune cells, making hepatocellular carcinoma a more complex inflammatory microenvironment unlike other tumors. With a better understanding of the specific inflammatory microenvironment of HCC, there is an opportunity to try new therapeutic strategies for HCC immunotherapy. In this paper, we review the immunotherapy of primary liver cancer in terms of the correlation between ICI drugs, ACT therapy and the inflammatory microenvironment of HCC, summarize and discuss the progress and difficulties of immunotherapy of liver cancer, and provide more scientific guidance for immunotherapy of primary liver cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catalytic membrane reactors have the advantages of allowing the selective removal of products, avoiding the separation procedure of powder catalysts from the reaction mixture, intensifying the diffusion of reactants in the catalytic region, and integrating different reactions in one unit. Catalytic membrane reactors have been widely applied in the fields related to carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, including the capture and utilization of carbon dioxide, hydrogen production, and hydrogenation reaction. This review summarizes the design and fabrication of catalytic membrane reactors, with the focus on the capture and efficient utilization of carbon dioxide, hydrogen production and efficient liquid-phase hydrogenation. The design of membrane materials, catalyst materials and catalytic membranes, and the operation of catalytic membrane reactors are discussed respectively. Finally, the perspectives and future challenges of catalytic membrane reactors for carbon peaking and carbon neutrality are forecasted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the intermittency and uncertainty of photovoltaic (PV) power generation poses considerable challenges to the power system operation, accurate PV generation estimates are critical for the distribution operation, maintenance, and demand response program implementation because of the increasing usage of distributed PVs. Currently, most residential PVs are installed behind the meter, with only the net load available to the utilities. Therefore, a method for disaggregating the residential PV generation from the net load data is needed to enhance the grid-edge observability. In this study, an unsupervised PV capacity estimation method based on net metering data is proposed, for estimating the PV capacity in the customer's premise based on the distribution characteristics of nocturnal and diurnal net load extremes. Then, the PV generation disaggregation method is presented. Based on the analysis of the correlation between the nocturnal and diurnal actual loads and the correlation between the PV capacity and their actual PV generation, the PV generation of customers is estimated by applying linear fitting of multiple typical solar exemplars and then disaggregating them into hourly-resolution power profiles. Finally, the anomalies of disaggregated PV power are calibrated and corrected using the estimated capacity. Experiment results on a real-world hourly dataset involving 260 customers show that the proposed PV capacity estimation method achieves good accuracy because of the advantages of robustness and low complexity. Compared with the state-of-the-art PV disaggregation algorithm, the proposed method exhibits a reduction of over 15% for the mean absolute percentage error and over 20% for the root mean square error. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ionic liquids and their family known as deep eutectic solvents are non-flammable, nonvolatile, recyclable and environmentally friendly working fluids, making them suitable for use in various thermal systems. By adding nanoparticles to these fluids (through special physical and chemical approaches), one can augment their specifications (especially thermal conductivity). The current review presents, first, some of the latest studies on the thermophysical properties and electrical conductivity of ionanofluids (the mixture of nanoparticles and ionic liquids) and deep eutectic solvents-based nanofluids. Next, their applications in various fields such as solar energy, energy storage systems, and lubricants are reviewed. Finally, the current challenges for the development of these working fluids are listed and some recommendations have been presented for future works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, by comparing the optical spectra of Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), Keck LRIS (Low-Resolution Imaging Spectrograph), and Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS), a preliminary study has been done on the properties of the accretion disk of the double-peaked broad line radio quasar B3 1637+436A. The continuum of the SDSS spectrum of B3 1637+436A (May 21, 2001) and the Keck spectrum (June 28, 2003) is not significantly different, while the continuum of the BOSS spectrum (June 17, 2018) is about 1.2 magnitudes lower than the SDSS spectrum in the V band. The H α emission lines of the three spectra have a clear double-peaked broad line profile. Like the continuum, the double-peaked broad line profile is also considered to come from the accretion disk. By fitting the disk model of the double-peaked profile of H α on the three spectra, we found that the double-peaked H α profile of the BOSS spectrum can be well fit with a single disk model, and the emission line region lies about 900–3000 gravitational radius away from the central black hole. The double-peaked profiles of SDSS and Keck's H α need to be fit with two disk models. The corresponding accretion disk emission area has two regions, one of which ("The outer disk") is similar to BOSS, and the other emission region ("The inner disk") is located within the range of about 400–900 gravitational radius, which is much smaller than the outer disk. Combining the characteristics of variations of the continuum spectrum, we believe that the disappearance of the inner disk is the main reason for the variation between the SDSS/Keck spectrum and the BOSS spectrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective • The aim of this study was to attempt to evaluate the effect of fibular osteotomy (FO) with joint debridement compared with arthroscopic debridement in terms of the degree of pain and range of motion in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Methods • From August 2018 to February 2020, our hospital admitted 88 patients with KOA to this prospective study. They were randomly divided into 2 groups: the FO group (44 patients) received an FO with joint debridement and the control group (44 patients) were given simple arthroscopic debridement. Detailed data regarding clinical symptoms, knee joint function and degree of pain were collected and recorded before and 3 and 6 months after surgery in order to compare the patients’ quality of life (QoL), related nerve injury, delayed union, wound infection and other complications in the 2 groups. Results • No significant difference were found regarding pre-operative clinical symptoms in the 2 groups (P > .05). However, 3 months and 6 months after surgery, the clinical symptoms in the FO group were highly associated with lower outcomes compared with the control group (P<.05). Although there were no significant differences in terms of knee function, degree of pain or QoL between the 2 groups before surgery (P > .05), there was a superior beneficial effect on the above symptoms observed in the FO group compared with the control group at 3 and 6 months. In this study, no complications such as nerve injury, delayed healing or wound infection occurred in either group. Conclusion • The significant improvements in terms of clinical symptoms, pain and range of motion were observed following FO with joint debridement in patients with KOA. Hence, this approach may be valid for broad clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review article delves into the application of nanoparticles (NPs) in fire prevention, aiming to elucidate their specific contribution within the broader context of various fire prevention methods. While acknowledging established approaches such as fire safety principles, fire suppression systems, fire alarm systems, and the use of fire-retardant chemicals and safety equipment, this review focuses on the distinctive properties of NPs. The findings underscore the remarkable potential of NPs in controlling and mitigating fire propagation within both architectural structures and vehicles. Specifically, the primary emphasis lies in the impact of NPs on reducing oxygen levels, as assessed through the limiting oxygen index , a subject explored by various researchers. Furthermore, this review delves into the examination of combustion reduction rates facilitated by NPs, utilizing assessments of ignition time, heat release rate (HRR), and flammability tests (UL-94) on plastic materials. Beyond these aspects, the review evaluates the multifaceted role of NPs in achieving weight reduction and establishing fire-retardant properties. Additionally, it discusses the reduction of smoke, a significant contributor to environmental pollution and health risks. Among the nanoparticles investigated in this study, SiO 2 , MgAl, and nano hydrotalcite have demonstrated the best results in weight reduction, smoke reduction, and HRR, respectively. Meanwhile, Al 2 O 3 has been identified as one of the least effective treated nanoparticles. Collectively, these findings significantly contribute to improving safety measures and reducing fire risks across a range of industries. [Display omitted] • Resorting nanoparticle-based solutions as for fire control and prevention across various settings. • Effect of using nanoparticles on ignition time was comprehensively reviewed. • Combustion rate, oxygen restriction, reducing smoke production, and lightning materials in fire conditions were highlighted. • This study explored the multifaceted roles of nanoparticles in enhancing fire safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The newly emerged machine learning (e.g., deep learning) methods have become a strong driving force to revolutionize a wide range of industries, such as smart healthcare, financial technology, and surveillance systems. Meanwhile, privacy has emerged as a big concern in this machine learning-based artificial intelligence era. It is important to note that the problem of privacy preservation in the context of machine learning is quite different from that in traditional data privacy protection, as machine learning can act as both friend and foe. Currently, the work on the preservation of privacy and machine learning are still in an infancy stage, as most existing solutions only focus on privacy problems during the machine learning process. Therefore, a comprehensive study on the privacy preservation problems and machine learning is required. This article surveys the state of the art in privacy issues and solutions for machine learning. The survey covers three categories of interactions between privacy and machine learning: (i) private machine learning, (ii) machine learning-aided privacy protection, and (iii) machine learning-based privacy attack and corresponding protection schemes. The current research progress in each category is reviewed and the key challenges are identified. Finally, based on our in-depth analysis of the area of privacy and machine learning, we point out future research directions in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryopreservation of small quantities of human spermatozoa whilst maintaining adequate post- thawing motility has been found an essential challenge for male fertility preservation. Therefore, the study used an effective, and convenient rapid- freezing method to freeze small amounts of human spermatozoa by adding self- prepared cryoprotectant (SPC) without animal component. In the feasibility experiment, no significant differences in progressive motility, normal sperm morphology, vitality or DNA fragmentation index between the conventional slow freezing and rapid freezing were realised. The present study prospectively analysed the effects of sperm freezing and resuscitation in 175 patients with severe oligozoospermia (sperm concentration <1 x 106/ml). We observed the 120 severe oligozoospermia specimens had a mean recovery rate of 60.19% ± 10.43% and a mean cryosurvival rate of 68.0% ± 9.17%. In addition, 55 cryptozoospermia specimens were analysed. The small- volume cryopreservation showed advantages. The total sperm recovery, motility recovery and sperm loss rates were 98.48%, 50.17% and 1.52% respectively. In short, the SPC is safe and effective, and can be used to rapidly freeze severe oligozoospermia specimens. That is useful for successful sperm freezing whilst avoiding the risk of azoospermia in the later stages and promoting comprehensive fertility preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-cell isolation and cultivation play an important role in studying physiology, gene expression, and functions of microorganisms. A series of single-cell isolation technologies have been developed, among which single-cell ejection technology is one of the most promising. Single-cell ejection technology has applied laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT) techniques to isolate bacteria, but the viability (or recovery rate) of cells after sorting has not been clarified in current research. In this work, to keep the cells alive as long as possible, we propose a three-layer LIFT system (top layer, 25-nm aluminum film; second layer, 3 mm agar media; third layer, liquid containing bacteria) for the isolation and cultivation of single Gram-negative (Escherichia coli), Gram-positive (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG [LGG]), and eukaryotic (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) microorganisms. The experiment results showed that the average survival rates for ejected pure single cells were 63% for Saccharomyces cerevisiae, 22% for E. coli DH5a, and 74% for LGG. In addition, we successfully isolated and cultured the green fluorescent protein (GFP)-expressing E. coli JM109 from a mixture containing complex communities of soil bacteria by fluorescence signal. The average survival rate of E. coli JM109 was demonstrated to be 25.3%. In this study, the isolated and cultured single colonies were further confirmed by colony PCR and sequencing. Such precise sorting and cultivation techniques of live single microbial cells could be coupled with other microscopic approaches to isolate single microorganisms with specific functions, revealing their roles in the natural community. IMPORTANCE We developed a laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT) technology to accurately isolate single live microbial cells. The cultivation recovery rates of the ejected single cells were 63% for Saccharomyces cerevisiae, 22% for E. coli DH5a, and 74% for Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG). With coupled LIFT with a fluorescence microscope, we demonstrated that single cells of GFP-expressing E. coli JM109 were sorted according to fluorescence signal from a complex community of soil bacteria and subsequently cultured with 25% cultivation recovery rate. This single-cell live sorting technology could isolate single microbes with specific functions, revealing their roles in the natural community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

100 nm thick RuMoC films and 5nm thick RuMoC films with Cu capping have been deposited on Si(111) by magnetron co-sputtering with Ru and MoC confocal targets. The samples were subsequently annealed at temperatures ranging from 450 to 650 °C in vacuum at a pressure of 3 x 10-4 Pa to study the annealing effects on the microstructures and properties of RuMoC films for advanced seedless Cu metallization applications. The sheet resistances, residual oxygen contents, and microstructures of the RuMoC films have close correlation with the doping contents of Mo and C, which can be easily controlled by the deposition power ratio of MoC versus Ru targets (DPR). When DPR was 0.5, amorphous RuMoC film (marked as RuMoC II) with low sheet resistances and residual oxygen contents was obtained. The fundamental relationship between the annealing temperatures with the microstructures and properties of the RuMoC films was investigated, and a critical temperature point was revealed at about 550 °C where the components and microstructures of the RuMoC II films changed obviously. Results indicated that below 550 °C, the RuMoC II films remained amorphous due to the well-preserved C-Ru and C-Mo bonds. However, above 550 °C. the microstructures of RuMoC II films transformed from amorphous to nano-composite structure due to the breakage of Ru-C bonds, while the supersaturated solid solution MoC segregated out along the grain boundaries of Ru, thus hindering the diffusion of Cu and O atoms. This is the main mechanism of the excellent thermal stability of the RuMoC films after annealing at high temperatures. The results indicated great prospects of amorphous RuMoC films in advanced seedless Cu metallization applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computer‐aided synthesis planning (CASP) integrates intuition of chemists and reliability of computers. As an in‐between of unique creativities of human beings and unparalleled calculational capability of computers, CASP has become an important tool used in academic and industrial research. With explosion of novel chemical reactions, increasing of computer performance, and revolution of algorithms, CASP will play more significant roles in the synthetic chemistry field, inspiring novel and highly efficient syntheses of natural products and drug candidates. In this article, we review the progress in computational analysis of synthetic planning from rule‐based programs (e.g., LHASA and SECS) in the early stage to machine learning (e.g., neural networks and seq2seq methods) in more recent years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kengyilia hirsuta (Keng, 1959) J. L. Yang, C. Yen et B. R. Baum, 1992, a perennial hexaploidy species, is a wild relative species to wheat with great potential for wheat improvement and domestication. The genome structure and cross-species homoeology of K. hirsuta chromosomes with wheat were assayed using 14 singlegene probes covering all seven homoeologous groups, and four repetitive sequence probes 45S rDNA, 5S rDNA, pAs1, and (AAG)10 by FISH. Each chromosome of K. hirsuta was well characterized by homoeological determination and repeats distribution patterns. The synteny of chromosomes was strongly conserved in the St genome, whereas synteny of the Y and P genomes was more distorted. The collinearity of 1Y, 2Y, 3Y and 7Y might be interrupted in the Y genome. A new 5S rDNA site on 2Y might be translocated from 1Y. The short arm of 3Y might involve translocated segments from 7Y. The 7 Y was identified as involving a pericentric inversion. A reciprocal translocation between 2P and 4P, and tentative structural aberrations in the subtelomeric region of 1PL and 4PL, were observed in the P genome. Chromosome polymorphisms, which were mostly characterized by repeats amplification and deletion, varied between chromosomes, genomes, and different populations. However, two translocations involving a P genome segmental in 3YL and a non-Robertsonial reciprocal translocation between 4Y and 3P were identified in two independent populations. Moreover, the proportion of heterozygous karyotypes reached almost 35% in all materials, and almost 80% in the specific population. These results provide new insights into the genome organization of K. hirsuta and will facilitate genome dissection and germplasm utilization of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To identify differentially expressed immune-related genes (DEIRGs) and construct amodel with survival-related DEIRGs for evaluating the prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer (PC). Methods: Six microarray gene expression datasets of PC from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and Immunology Database and Analysis Portal (ImmPort) were used to identify DEIRGs. RNA sequencing and clinical data from The Cancer Genome Atlas Program-Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma (TCGA-PAAD) database were used to establish the prognostic model. Univariate, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and multivariate Cox regression analyses were applied to determine the final variables of the prognostic model. The median risk score was used as the cut-off value to classify samples into low- and high-risk groups. The prognostic model was further validated using an internal validation set of TCGA and an external validation set of GSE62452. Results: In total, 142 DEIRGs were identified from sixGEO datasets, 47 were survival-related DEIRGs. A prognostic model comprising five genes (i.e., ERAP2, CXCL9, AREG, DKK1, and IL20RB) was established. High-risk patients had poor survival compared with low-risk patients. The 1-, 2-, 3-year area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of the model reached 0.85, 0.87, and 0.93, respectively. Additionally, the prognostic model reflected the infiltration of neutrophils and dendritic cells. The expression of most characteristic immune checkpoints was significantly higher in the high-risk group versus the low-risk group. Conclusions: The five-gene prognostic model showed reliably predictive accuracy. This model may provide useful information for immunotherapy and facilitate personalized monitoring for patients with PC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Sidera is a polypore genus with resupinate, white to cream or buff fresh basidioma, poroid or hydnoid hymenophore, a monomitic or dimitic hyphal system with generative hyphae bearing clamp connections, the presence of rosette-like crystals and allantoid to lunate basidiospores. We study the phylogeny and diversity of Sidera herein by using both morphological and molecular methods. Phylogenetic analyses are based on the ITS dataset, the combined 2-locus dataset (5.8S + nLSU) and 7-locus dataset (ITS + nLSU + RPB1 + RPB2 + TEF1 + mtSSU + nSSU) of 15 taxa of Sidera all over the world. Among them, four species are new to science and described and illustrated in this paper, viz. S. inflata, S. malaysiana, S. punctata and S. roseo-bubalina. In addition, three taxa were treated as Sidera vulgaris sensu lato. An identification key of the 14 accepted species of Sidera worldwide is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf curl of celery, caused by Colletotrichum acutatum sensu lato, has been reported in the United States. A multilocus phylogenetic analysis with three genes was conducted with a collection of isolates from celery (n = 23) and noncelery (n = 29) hosts to evaluate their taxonomic position within C. acutatum sensu lato. The three DNA regions used for phylogenetic analysis included the introns of the glutamine synthase GS and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase GPDH genes, and the partial sequence of the histone3 his3 gene. Moreover, celery and noncelery isolates were evaluated for vegetative compatibility and pathogenicity on celery. Culture filtrates from celery and noncelery isolates were also evaluated for their ability to reproduce leaf curl symptoms. A total of 23 celery isolates were evaluated based on phylogenetic analysis, which showed that all celery isolates were closely related and belonged to the newly described species C. fioriniae. The celery isolates were grouped into six vegetative compatibility groups, indicating that the population was not clonal. Isolates of C. fioriniae from celery (22 of 23) and other hosts (26 of 29) caused leaf curl symptoms. Isolates of C. acutatum, C. nymphaeae, and C. godetiae were pathogenic but did not cause leaf curl symptoms. Isolates of C. lupini, C. johnstonii, and C. gloeosporioides were not pathogenic on celery. In addition, cell-free fungal culture filtrates caused leaf curl symptoms on celery, indicating that certain isolates produce a metabolite that can cause leaf curl symptoms on celery, possibly indole acetic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrically and magnetically controllable random laser from dye-doped liquid crystals (LCs) was studied. The rubbing-alignment of the polyimide in the LC cell influenced the threshold voltage and the response time of the electrically controllable random laser. When the applied electric field was increased, the response time of the random laser decreased. The magnetically controllable random laser was studied in the hollow fiber structure, of which the response time was less than 1 s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We aimed to examine the associations between ambient air pollutants and daily mortality in Northeast China from 2014 to 2018. Methods: A two-stage approach was used to estimate particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 µm (PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO10), and sulfur dioxide (SP10) exposure and daily mortality. Results: An increase of 10 µg/m³ of PM10 exposure and NO2 at lag of 0 to 16 days was associated with the cumulative relative risk of 1.011 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.004, 1.019) and 1.026 (95% CI: 1.004, 1.049), respectively, in non-accident mortality. Meanwhile, significant association was observed in people aged under 60 years between SO2 exposure and respiratory mortality at lag of 0 to 9 days. Conclusions: Our findings strengthen the evidence of PM10 and [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Objective: Neurogenic hypertension is an important subtype of hypertension but the concept still lacks supporting evidence. By comparing the prevalence of hypertension in glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GPN) patients and the general population, we believe it can provide the evidence for the theory that compression of IX nerve root entry zone can cause hypertension. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients with GPN and compared the prevalence of hypertension in these patients with the general population. Results: A total of 90 patients with GPN were included, in which 40 suffered from hypertension. The adjusted prevalence was 40.3%. The odds ratio (OR) for hypertension between the GPN patients and the general population in China was 1.451. The 35-44 and 45-54 years old GPN patients had a higher prevalence than the general population, with an OR of 2.611 and 1.648, respectively. Conclusion: Patients with GPN have a higher prevalence of hypertension. The prevalence of hypertension is more pronounced in patients younger than 55, supporting the pathogenesis of vascular compression resulting in neurogenic hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent clinical studies have documented a high prevalence of dental disorders in donkeys. However, there are few studies about the same topic in China. A cross-sectional study was performed to investigate the prevalence of clinically diagnosed dental disorders of donkeys in China. A total of 101 jennies which had never received any dental care were examined for the presence of dental disorders under small-holder farm conditions. The prevalence of dental disorders was analyzed by Chi-square test or Fisher's exact correlation test. The strength of association was evaluated using Cramer's V test. Jennies between 2 and 15 years of age were categorized into four age groups. The most common dental disorders were sharp enamel points (100%), incisor diastemata (90.1%) and focal overgrowths (72.3%). Age was moderately related to the presence of ventral convex curvatures, focal overgrowths, wave mouth and canine calculus accumulation (P <0.05,0.3 0.5) was significantly associated with age group. Common dental disorders were found in all groups and the prevalence was higher in aged groups. This study indicated that donkeys should receive proper dental care to improve their welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulmonary inflammation strongly promotes alveolar hypercoagulation and fibrinolytic inhibition. NF-κB signaling regulates the expression of molecules associated with coagulation and fibrinolytic inhibition in type-II alveolar epithelial cells (AECII) stimulated by lipopolysaccharide. However, whether TNF-α-induced alveolar hypercoagulation and fibrinolysis inhibition is also associated with the NF-κB pathway remains to be determined. The aim of the present study was to determine whether BAY11-7082, an inhibitor of the NF-κB pathway, inhibits the expressions of tissue factor (TF) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in AECⅡ in response to TNF-α. Rat AECII were treated with BAY11-7082 for 24 h and stimulated with TNF-α for 1 h. The expression of TF and PAI-1 were determined using western blotting and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. The concentrations of TF and PAI-1 in culture supernatant were also measured by ELISA. Moreover, levels of NF-κB p65 (p65), phosphorylated (p)-p65 (p-p65), inhibitor of NF-κB α (IκBα) and p-IκBα were also evaluated. Immunofluorescence was used to detect p65 levels in cell nuclei. TNF-α significantly promoted TF and PAI-1 expression either at the mRNA or protein level in AECII cells. Concentrations of TF and PAI-1 in supernatant also significantly increased upon TNF-α stimulation. Furthermore, TNF-α upregulated the levels of p-IκBα, p65, and p-p65 in the cytoplasm. Immunofluorescence analysis indicated that TNF-α increased p65 translocation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. However, AECII pre-treated with BAY11-7082 expressed lower levels of TF and PAI-1 following TNF-α treatment. Levels of p-IκBα, p65 and p-p65 in the cytoplasm also decreased, and translocation of p65 from cytoplasm into the nucleus was inhibited by BAY11-7082 pretreatment. These findings suggest that BAY11-7082 improves the hypercoagulation and fibrinolytic inhibition induced by TNF-α in alveolar epithelial cells via the NF-κB signaling pathway. BAY11-7082 might represent a therapeutic option for alveolar hypercoagulation and fibrinolytic inhibition in acute respiratory distress syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Language is a powerful vehicle for expressing emotions, although the process by which words acquire their emotional meaning remains poorly understood. This study investigates how words acquire emotional meanings using two types of associative contexts: faces and sentences. To this end, participants were exposed to pseudowords repeatedly paired either with faces or with sentences expressing the emotions of disgust, sadness, or neutrality. We examined participants' acquisition of meanings by testing them in both within-modality (e.g., learning pseudowords with faces and testing them with a new set of faces with the target expressions) and cross-modality generalization tasks (e.g. learning pseudowords with faces and testing them with sentences). Results in the generalization tests showed that the participants in the Face Group acquired disgust and neutral meanings better than participants in the Sentence Group. In turn, participants in the Sentence Group acquired the meaning of sadness better than their counterparts in the Face Group, but this advantage was only manifested in the cross-modality test with faces. We conclude that both contexts are effective for acquiring the emotional meaning of words, although acquisition with faces is more versatile or generalizable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus) is a commercially important marine fish and is widely cultured in the coastal area of South China. We explored the distribution difference of intestinal microflora with the same growth condition and the difference of gut microflora with different growth rates fed with fermented soybean meal (FSM) and fish meal (FM) primary protein source. After 8 weeks of the breeding experiment, select significant growth fish (Zcd, 156.04 ± 1.04 g) average growth fish (Zc, 120.01 ± 1.05 g) stagnant growth fish (Zcx, 98.03 ± 1.08 g) in FSM and select average growth fish (Dc, 158.03 ± 1.02 g) in FM. Sequencing results show that a total of 86303 sequences had been obtained in the intestine of Trachinotus ovatus. The number of OTUs that can be annotated to the database was 2315 (98.97%). At the phylum level, Proteobacteria, Tenericutes, Spirochaetes and Firmicutes were the predominant phyla. Alpha diversity and beta diversity analyses show that gut microbes' richness and diversity in the Dc group were the highest. The diversity of gut microbiota in the FSM: Zc > Zcd >Zcx. At the genus classification level, the differences between FM and FSM were mainly in Gueglia, Grimontia, Klebsiella, Alistipes, Staphylococcus, and Parasutterella (p <0.05). Alistipes and Staphylococcus were the different genera between Dc and Zcd (p <0.05). We found significant differences in the relative abundance of Ruegeria between the Zc and Zcd groups. Also, significant differences were found in the distribution of Brevinema, Ruegeria, Unidentified-Lachnospiraceae, Blautia, and Bacteroides between Zc and Zcx groups. The results showed that fermented soybean meal had an essential effect on gut microflora of T. ovatus with the unsynchronized growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mutations in the core RNA splicing factor SF3B1 are prevalent in leukemias and uveal melanoma, but hotspot SF3B1 mutations are also seen in epithelial malignancies such as breast cancer. Although hotspot mutations in SF3B1 alter hematopoietic differentiation, whether SF3B1 mutations contribute to epithelial cancer development and progression is unknown. Here, we identify that SF3B1 mutations in mammary epithelial and breast cancer cells induce a recurrent pattern of aberrant splicing leading to activation of AKT and NF-κB, enhanced cell migration, and accelerated tumorigenesis. Transcriptomic analysis of human cancer specimens, MMTV-cre Sf3b1K700E/WT mice, and isogenic mutant cell lines identified hundreds of aberrant 3' splice sites (3'ss) induced by mutant SF3B1. Consistently between mouse and human tumors, mutant SF3B1 promoted aberrant splicing (dependent on aberrant branchpoints as well as pyrimidines downstream of the cryptic 3'ss) and consequent suppression of PPP2R5A and MAP3K7, critical negative regulators of AKT and NF-κB. Coordinate activation of NF-κB and AKT signaling was observed in the knockin models, leading to accelerated cell migration and tumor development in combination with mutant PIK3CA but also hypersensitizing cells to AKT kinase inhibitors. These data identify hotspot mutations in SF3B1 as an important contributor to breast tumorigenesis and reveal unique vulnerabilities in cancers harboring them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]