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The band structure properties of phononic crystal is important to evaluate the vibration and noise reduction of acoustic metamaterials. Taking the 2D hexachiral phononic crystal as an example, the band structure and Dirac cone properties were investigated by numerical analysis, and the four-fold accidental degenerate Dirac point was obtained in the center of Brillouin zone. By adjusting the design parameters of ligament structure, a double Dirac cone was broken and a novel directional band gap was formed. The influence of geometric parameters on the directional band gaps width was investigated, and the band structure inversion problem was further discussed. This research can provide support for the application of hexachiral phononic crystal in elastic wave manipulation and acoustic topological insulator.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) stands as the most prevalent and treatment‐resistant malignant tumour, characterized by a dismal prognosis. Croton acylation (CA) has recently gained attention as a critical factor in cancer pathogenesis. This study sought to rapidly identify prognostic features of HCC linked to CA. Differential analysis was conducted between tumour tissues and adjacent non‐tumour tissues in the TCGA‐LIHC and GSE76427 datasets to uncover differentially expressed genes (DEG1 and DEG2). The intersection of DEG1 and DEG2 highlighted DEGs with consistent expression patterns. Single‐sample gene set enrichment analysis scores were calculated for 18 lysine crotonylation‐related genes (LCRGs) identified in prior research, showing significant differences between tumour and normal groups. Subsequently, weighted gene co‐expression network analysis was employed to identify key module genes correlated with the LCRG score. Candidate genes were identified by overlapping consistently expressed DEGs with key module genes. Prognostic features were identified, and risk scores were determined via regression analysis. Patients were categorized into risk groups based on the optimal cutoff value. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and immunoassays were also performed. The prognostic features were further validated using reverse transcription‐quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR). A total of 88 candidate genes were identified from 1179 consistently expressed DEGs and 4200 key module genes. Seven prognostic features were subsequently identified: TMCO3, RAP2A, ITGAV, ZFYVE26, CHST9, HMGN4, and KLHL21. GSEA revealed that DEGs between risk groups were primarily associated with chylomicron metabolism, among other pathways. Additionally, activated CD4+ T cells demonstrated the strongest positive correlation with risk scores, and most immune checkpoints showed significant differences between risk groups, with ASXL1 exhibiting the strongest correlation with risk scores. The Tumour Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion score was notably higher in the high‐risk group. Moreover, in both the TCGA‐LIHC and ICGC‐LIRI‐JP datasets, the expression of other prognostic features was elevated in tumour tissues, with the exception of CHST9. RT‐qPCR confirmed the increased expression of TMCO3, RAP2A, ITGAV, ZFYVE26, and HMGN4. This study establishes a risk model for HCC based on seven crotonylation‐associated prognostic features, offering a theoretical framework for the diagnosis and treatment of HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peripheral nerve defect are common clinical problem caused by trauma or other diseases, often leading to the loss of sensory and motor function in patients. Autologous nerve transplantation has been the gold standard for repairing peripheral nerve defects, but its clinical application is limited due to insufficient donor tissue. In recent years, the application of tissue engineering methods to synthesize nerve conduits for treating peripheral nerve defect has become a current research focus. This study introduces a novel approach for treating peripheral nerve defects using a tissue‐engineered PLCL/SF/NGF@TA‐PPy‐RGD conduit. The conduit was fabricated by combining electrospun PLCL/SF with an NGF‐loaded conductive TA‐PPy‐RGD gel. The gel, synthesized from RGD‐modified tannic acid (TA) and polypyrrole (PPy), provides growth anchor points for nerve cells. In vitro results showed that this hybrid conduit could enhance PC12 cell proliferation, migration, and reduce apoptosis under oxidative stress. Furthermore, the conduit activated the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway in PC12 cells. In a rat model of sciatic nerve defect, the PLCL/SF/NGF@TA‐PPy‐RGD conduit significantly improved motor function, gastrocnemius muscle function, and myelin sheath axon thickness, comparable to autologous nerve transplantation. It also promoted angiogenesis around the nerve defect. This study suggests that PLCL/SF/NGF@TA‐PPy‐RGD conduits provide a conducive environment for nerve regeneration, offering a new strategy for peripheral nerve defect treatment, this study provided theoretical basis and new strategies for the research and treatment of peripheral nerve defect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract. Understanding citywide transit patterns is important for transportation management, including city planning and route optimization. The wide deployment of automated fare collection (AFC) systems in public transit vehicles has [...]