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Seabuckthorn is rich in polysaccharides, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, fatty acids, vitamins, and other active components. It has biological functions such as antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, liver-protecting, and cholagogic, which can enhance the immunity and antioxidant function of livestock and poultry, improve growth performance, and improve the quality of livestock and poultry products. Adding seabuckthorn residue, seeds, leaves or extracts to diet can promote the production of pigs, sheep, dairy cows and broilers to varying degrees, reduce feed costs and improve the economic benefits of breeding, but the active components and molecular mechanisms of seabuckthorn promoting livestock and poultry production are unclear. In this paper, the active components, biological functions, and application of seabuckthorn in livestock and poultry production were summarized, which provided a reference for the mechanism research, production application and development of seabuckthorn promoting livestock and poultry production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Road network maintenance scheduling mainly considers budget limits in the previous studies and largely ignores the capital constraints. This study proposes a bi-objective mixed integer programming model, in which the net present value (NPV) is maximized and the increased total system travel time (ITSTT) due to maintenance activities under the capital constraints is minimized. Since the road network flows cannot reach an equilibrium state overnight due to the variation of network capacity, a link-based day-to-day dynamics model is developed to simulate the transient fluctuation in the traffic flows and calculate the total system travel time of each day. The bi-objective model is solved by the nondominated sorting genetic algorithm-II (NSGA-II) that generates a set of optimal Pareto solutions. The TOPSIS method is then adopted to determine the best compromise solution. Finally, a case study is conducted to demonstrate the effects of key parameters on the values of the two objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cement stabilized materials (CSM) are widely used in the pavement base and subbase of highway structures which are susceptible to fatigue cracking and modulus deterioration under traffic loads. The residual modulus is a key indicator for the performance of CSM, and is an important factor for the rehabilitation design of the pavement with cement stabilized base. This study focuses on the damage accumulation and modulus decay of CSM. Firstly, the strength and fatigue performance of the CSM were tested. Then, fatigue transfer functions and their reliability models for the different types of CSM were established. Eight fatigue transfer equations with different reliability of the base CSM (6% cement) and subbase CSM (4% cement) were developed. It is found damage accumulation of CSM shows typical three phases: initial change in phase I (10%−15% of fatigue life), stable decay in phase II (60%−80% of fatigue life), and rapid damage in phase III (10%−25% of fatigue life). The range of parameters for the three phases of CSM fatigue damage is presented. Finally, three prediction models for modulus decay are established, including the incremental-recursive deterioration model, three-phase deterioration model, and the MEPDG's CSB fatigue model. These findings can be used for predicting the residual performance of the CSM base, which are useful for enhancing the rationality of pavement maintenance and rehabilitation (M&R) and ensuring the durability and reliability of highway structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cement stabilized materials (CSM) are widely used in the pavement base and subbase of highway structures which are susceptible to fatigue cracking and modulus deterioration under traffic loads. The residual modulus is a key indicator for the performance of CSM, and is an important factor for the rehabilitation design of the pavement with cement stabilized base. This study focuses on the damage accumulation and modulus decay of CSM. Firstly, the strength and fatigue performance of the CSM were tested. Then, fatigue transfer functions and their reliability models for the different types of CSM were established. Eight fatigue transfer equations with different reliability of the base CSM (6% cement) and subbase CSM (4% cement) were developed. It is found damage accumulation of CSM shows typical three phases: initial change in phase I (10%−15% of fatigue life), stable decay in phase II (60%−80% of fatigue life), and rapid damage in phase III (10%−25% of fatigue life). The range of parameters for the three phases of CSM fatigue damage is presented. Finally, three prediction models for modulus decay are established, including the incremental-recursive deterioration model, three-phase deterioration model, and the MEPDG's CSB fatigue model. These findings can be used for predicting the residual performance of the CSM base, which are useful for enhancing the rationality of pavement maintenance and rehabilitation (M&R) and ensuring the durability and reliability of highway structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In our research, we explore the impact of a geometric non-minimal coupling between fermions and curvature scalars on the positioning of fermions within a brane structure. Our investigation encompasses massless fermionic modes and massive modes, revealing that specifically fermionic modes with left chirality are situated within the brane. This insight allows us to gain a more direct understanding of how the system's geometry influences the placement of fermion fields on the brane. To delve deeper into the precise localization of massless fermionic modes, we employ entropic information measurements. By varying the parameters that govern the curvature scalars, we observe the ability to adjust the localization of these fermionic modes on the brane. Importantly, the BBM uncertainty relation remains satisfied in all scenarios, particularly for f 1 , 2 , 3 . We leverage the Shannon entropy as a highly effective metric to yield accurate results regarding the positioning of massless fermionic modes within our model. In the case of massive fermionic modes, we utilize relative probability analysis to pinpoint the resonant modes, and we identify the existence of these resonant modes in both f 1 , 2 , 3 cases. Ultimately, we ascertain that these parameters influence the placement of resonant modes by increasing the amplitude of the massive modes in the core of the brane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exact solutions of 1D Schrödinger equation subject to a complex periodic potential V (x) = - [ i a sin (b x) + c ] 2 ( a , b , c ∈ R ) are found as a confluent Heun function (CHF) H C (α , β , γ , δ , η ; z) . The energy spectra which are solved exactly by calculating the Wronskian determinant are found as real except for complex values. It is found that the eigenvalues obtained by two constraints on the CHF are not reliable or complete any more since they are only one small part of those evaluated by the Wronskian determinant. The wave functions are illustrated when eigenvalues are substituted into the eigenfunctions. We also notice that the energy spectra remain invariant when one substitutes a → - a or b → - b or c → - c due to the P T symmetry with the property V (x) = V (- x) ∗ . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumor-associated macrophages M2 (TAM2), which are highly prevalent infiltrating immune cells in the stroma of pancreatic cancer (PC), have been found to induce an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, thus enhancing tumor initiation and progression. However, the immune therapy response and prognostic significance of regulatory genes associated with TAM2 in PC are currently unknown. Based on TCGA transcriptomic data and single-cell sequencing data from the GEO database, we identified TAM2-driven genes using the WGCNA algorithm. Molecular subtypes based on TAM2-driven genes were clustered using the ConsensusClusterPlus algorithm. The study constructed a prognostic model based on TAM2-driven genes through Lasso-COX regression analysis. A total of 178 samples obtained by accessing TCGA were accurately categorized into two molecular subtypes, including the high-TAM2 infiltration (HMI) cluster and the low-TAM2 infiltration (LMI) cluster. The HMI cluster exhibits a poor prognosis, a malignant tumor phenotype, immune-suppressive immune cell infiltration, resistance to immunotherapy, and a high number of genetic mutations, while the LMI cluster is the opposite. The prognostic model composed of six hub genes from TAM2-driven genes exhibits a high degree of accuracy in predicting the prognosis of patients with PC and serves as an independent risk factor. The induction of TAM2 was employed as a means of verifying these six gene expressions, revealing the significant up-regulation of BCAT1, BST2, and MERTK in TAM2 cells. In summary, the immunophenotype and prognostic model based on TAM2-driven genes offers a foundation for the clinical management of PC. The core TAM2-driven genes, including BCAT1, BST2, and MERTK, are involved in regulating tumor progression and TAM2 polarization, which are potential targets for PC therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fertility policies in China have changed substantially over recent years, with the intention of allowing individuals to bear more children and, thereby, to increase the total fertility rate. Using a sample of young adults, this study examines changes in fertility aspirations (the desired number of children, and the timing of first birth) across the three fertility policy periods (One-Child, Two-Child, and Three-Child). The results show that both young females and males increasingly prefer fewer children, and a later age at first birth. Both parental and peer factors are shown to significantly affect fertility aspirations, yet individual factors, such as gender attitudes and pronatal beliefs, yield stronger associations. The implications of the findings, along with the possible future of fertility patterns in China, are discussed with the developmental paradigm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subfraction P3 was further performed on silica gel (200-300 mesh) column chromatography (CC) eluted with PE-EtOAc (stepwise, from 30:1-10:1) and cyclohexane-acetone (gradient, from 35:1-15:1), and then crystallized from PE-EtOAc to afford compounds B 1 b (42 mg) and B 2 b (24 mg). Subfraction E2 was isolated by silica gel (200-300 mesh) CC with CH SB 2 sb Cl SB 2 sb -MeOH (stepwise, from 80:1-20:1), and then purified by Sephadex LH-20 CC with CH SB 2 sb Cl SB 2 sb -MeOH (1:1) to give compounds B 10 b (16 mg) and B 11 b (34 mg). Subfraction P5 was subjected to silica gel (200-300 mesh) CC, eluting with PE-EtOAc (gradient, from 30:1-10:1) and PE-acetone (stepwise, from 40:1-15:1), and then crystallized from PE-EtOAc to give compounds B 3 b (12 mg) and B 4 b (26 mg). Subfraction E1 was performed on silica gel (200-300 mesh) CC with PE-acetone (40:1-12:1), and then on Sephadex LH-20 CC with CH SB 2 sb Cl SB 2 sb -MeOH (1:1) to yield compounds B 8 b (20 mg) and B 9 b (31 mg). [Extracted from the article]

Background: Converging evidence suggests that stress alters behavioural responses in a sex-specific manner; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms of stress remain largely unknown. Methods: We adapted unpredictable maternal separation (UMS) and adult restraint stress (RS) paradigms to mimic stress in rats in early life or adulthood, respectively. The sexual dimorphism of the prefrontal cortex was noted, and we performed RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) to identify specific genes or pathways responsible for sexually dimorphic responses to stress. We then performed quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to verify the results of RNA-Seq. Results: Female rats exposed to either UMS or RS showed no negative effects on anxiety-like behaviours, whereas the emotional functions of the PFC were impaired markedly in stressed male rats. Leveraging differentially expressed genes (DEG) analyses, we identified sex-specific transcriptional profiles associated with stress. There were many overlapping DEGs between UMS and RS transcriptional data sets, where 1406 DEGs were associated with both biological sex and stress, while only 117 DEGs were related to stress. Notably, Uba52 and Rpl34-ps1 were the first-ranked hub gene in 1406 and 117 DEGs respectively, and Uba52 was higher than Rp134-ps1, suggesting that stress may have led to a more pronounced effect on the set of 1406 DEGs. Pathway analysis revealed that 1406 DEGs were primarily enriched in ribosomal pathway. These results were confirmed by qRT-PCR. Limitations: Sex-specific transcriptional profiles associated with stress were identified in this study, but more in-depth experiments, such as single-cell sequencing and manipulation of male and female gene networks in vivo, are needed to verify our findings. Conclusion: Our findings show sex-specific behavioural responses to stress and highlight sexual dimorphism at the transcriptional level, shedding light on developing sex-specific therapeutic strategies for stress-related psychiatric disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Intra-Group/Cluster Light (IGL/ICL) can be used to study the dynamical evolution of galaxy groups and clusters. Hickson Compact Groups (HCGs) have a high density and a low velocity dispersion, providing a unique environment to study galaxies merger and properties of interacting galaxies. It is also a promising target for the study of IGL. The g and r band deep imaging data of HCG 95 were obtained with Chinese Near Object Survey Telescope (CNEOST). The IGL fraction in HCG 95 is measured with model fitting using GALFIT, giving an IGL fraction (defined by the ratio between the IGL luminosity and the group total luminosity) of 3.55% ± 0.38% and 3.78% ± 0.59% in the g and r band, respectively. When applying the surface brightness threshold method, the IGL fraction is 1.9%–10% and 1.5%–10% in the g an r band, respectively. The color of the IGL (g − r = 0.78 ± 0.37) is similar to that of the HCG 95A and HCG 95C in the group (g − r = 0.82 − 0.85), suggesting that it is composed by an old population. It is showed that the IGL in the group may be from the stripped material of interaction between HCG 95A and HCG 95C, with little recent accretion. Combined with the IGL fraction measurements from literatures, we find that the IGL fraction shows no clear correlation with the total mass of groups. A positive correlation is found between the IGL fraction and the early-type galaxies fraction of groups, suggesting that the IGL fraction is linked to the evolutionary stage of a group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitelline membrane proteins (VMPs) are the main proteins that form the inner shell (vitelline membrane layer) of insect eggs and are an integral part of egg formation and embryo development. Here, we characterized the molecular structure and expression patterns of the VMP26 gene and analyzed its reproductive functions in diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), a worldwide migratory pest of cruciferous plants. The PxVMP26 gene was shown to be a single exon gene that contained an open reading frame of 852 base pairs (bp) encoding 283 amino acids. Both qPCR and western blot analyses showed that PxVMP26 was specifically expressed in female adults and was significantly highly expressed in the ovary. Further anatomical analysis indicated that the expression level of PxVMP26 in the ovarian tube with an incomplete yolk was significantly higher than that in the ovarian tube with a complete yolk. CRISPR/Cas9-induced PxVMP26 knockout successfully created two homozygous strains with 8- and 46-bp frameshift mutations. The expression deficiency of the PxVMP26 protein was detected in the mutant strains using immunofluorescence and western blot. No significant difference was found in the number of eggs laid within three days between wild and mutant individuals, but there was a lower egg hatchability. The loss of the PxVMP26 gene changed the mean egg size, damaged the structure of the vitelline membrane, and increased the proportion of abnormal eggs due to water loss, resulting in egg collapse. This first analysis of the roles of the VMP gene in the oocyte formation and embryonic development of P. xylostella, using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, provides a basis for screening new genetic control targets of P. xylostella. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a pluripotent cell, activated pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) can differentiate into various pancreatic parenchymal cells and participate in the secretion of extracellular matrix and the repair of pancreatic damage. Additionally, PSCs characteristics allow them to contribute to pancreatic inflammation and carcinogenesis. Moreover, a detailed study of the pathogenesis of activated PSCs in pancreatic disease can offer promise for the development of innovative therapeutic strategies and improved patient prognoses. Therefore, the present study review aimed to examine the involvement of activated PSCs in pancreatic diseases and elucidate the underlying mechanisms to provide a viable therapeutic strategy for the management of pancreas-related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common clinical abdominal emergency, with a high and increasing incidence each year. Severe AP can easily cause systemic inflammatory response syndrome, multiple organ dysfunction and other complications, leading to higher hospitalization rates and mortality. Currently, there is no specific treatment for AP. Thus, we still need to understand the exact AP pathogenesis to effectively cure AP. With the rise of transcriptomics, RNA molecules, such as microRNAs (miRNAs) transcribed from nonprotein-coding regions of biological genomes, have been found to be of great significance in the regulation of gene expression and to be involved in the occurrence and development of many diseases. Increasing evidence has shown that miRNAs, as regulatory RNAs, can regulate pancreatic acinar necrosis and apoptosis and local and systemic inflammation and play an important role in the development and thus potentially the diagnosis and treatment of AP. Therefore, here, the current research on the relationship between miRNAs and AP is reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent molecular phylogenetic studies have identified four major clades within the fern genus Tectaria but none of them is supported by any morphological characters. Here we present an expanded phylogeny of Tectaria based on five plastid markers (atpB, ndhF + ndhF-trnN, rbcL, rps16-matK + matK, and trnL-F), with a particular focus on the species from Asia to the Solomon Islands. Our aims are to infer the systematic position of newly included species, providing insights to interspecific relationships of some species groups, and to determine the identity of some specimens with distinct morphology. As a result, three major clades and a total of 14 lineages are identified in Asia to the Solomon Islands. The 19 newly sampled species were well resolved in the phylogenetic tree, of which T. lobbii (representative of rare rheophytes in Tectaria) was confirmed as belonging in the T. angulata–T. vanikoroensis lineage. Four new species from the Solomon Islands, T. acrophoroides, T. glenniana, T. pallescens, and T. vanikoroensis, are recognized and described. Phylogenetic and morphological evidence suggests frequent hybridizations between T. crenata and T. decurrens from Malesia to the Solomon Islands, and between T. devexa and T. simonsii in mainland Asia and adjacent islands, which render the obscure species boundaries within the two groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gymnosphaera represents a minor lineage within the scaly tree‐fern family Cyatheaceae. Tropical and subtropical mainland Asia is a main distribution area of Gymnosphaera. However, the species diversity of Gymnosphaera is currently incompletely known in mainland Asia due to lacking critical revision. Here we present new findings of species diversity and their relationships to mainland Asian Gymnosphaera based on field surveys, the examination of herbarium collections, and phylogenetic analyses of sequences of multiple chloroplast and nuclear regions. Two new species, G. saxicola from southwestern Yunnan and G. bachmaensis from central Vietnam, are established. Traditionally recognized G. podophylla is revealed to be a complex, from which G. bonii is reinstated as a distinct species. Our phylogenetic analyses identified four clades within Gymnosphaera in mainland Asia: G. denticulata clade, G. gigantea clade, G. podophylla clade, and G. salletii clade. The new species G. saxicola, which is special for its saxicolous habitat, was resolved as sister to G. austroyunnanensis in the G. salletii clade. The newly discovered G. bachmaensis, which is characterized specially by the spathulate frond, was positioned in the G. podophylla clade, being sister to G. bonii. The mountainous region from south‐central Vietnam northwards to western Yunnan is a diverse center of Gymnosphaera and more species of this group are probably to be discovered there. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Excite the Optical Tamm States effect of the top GST material through quasi-periodic photonic crystal structure coatings. • Realize the active tunable performance of multi-spectral selective narrowband absorber. • Demonstrate the highly directional absorption of the designed coatings under S polarization at 75–80°. Based on the Optical Tamm States (OTS) effect of phase-change material (PCM) Ge-Sb-Te (GST), a tunable multispectral selective narrowband absorber is proposed. The application wavelength range is combined with the solar spectral distribution in this study. Compared with other absorbers with complex shapes, this planar device is easier to manufacture, making it possible for the photolithographic, large-scale, cost-effective manufacturing process. Through the phase change of GST, the multi-spectral narrowband absorption of the harmful gas SO 2 (1.35 μm), NO 2 (1.59 μm), NO (1.91 μm) and CO (2.1 μm) of the vehicle exhaust was finally realized. Meanwhile, it shows good directivity and polarization performance in the wavelength range of 1.7–2.0 μm, and finally high S-polarization absorptivity (>90 %) at 75–80° incident angle was achieved. The present work is of potential application value in the research areas of infrared detection, energy management, information encryption and so on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the feasibility of biofilter reactor to treat municipal secondary effluent deeply without extra carbon source, this paper proposed an integrated biofilter reactor (IBFR) coupling partial denitrification (PD) with anammox (A) to treat the secondary effluent and raw sewage with the flow ratio of 3:1 together. The results show that the effluent concentration of TN and COD in IBFR could be reduced to 10 mg/L and 15 mg/L, respectively, under hydraulic retention time of 1.5 h and nitrogen loading rate of 0.55 kg/(m3·d). The highest specific anammox activity (19.2 mg N/(g TVS·d)) and the maximum extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) content (107.21 mg/g TVS) occurred at the 25–50 cm section of IBFR, where Thauera , Candidatus Anammoximicrobium and Candidatus Brocadia were the dominant denitrifiers and anammox bacteria. Furthermore, the cyclic self-stratification occurred along the reactor height, where the utilization, decomposition, transformation and cross-feeding of EPS enhanced the performance stability of nitrogen and carbon removal, strengthened the niche structure and promoted the synergistic symbiosis. In conclusion, IBFR coupling PD and A demonstrated the possibility to treat secondary effluent without additional carbon sources, which is expected as an alternative approach for tertiary treatment of municipal wastewater. [Display omitted] • Tertiary purification was achieved in IBFR by PD and AMX without extra carbon source. • PD and AMX adapted to poor substrate stress through synergistic symbiosis strategy. • Cyclic self-stratification along the height was the niche feature in IBFR. • Microbial cross-feeding in IBFR was based on using, decomposing and transforming EPS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Influential node identification plays an important role in optimizing network structure. Many measures and identification methods are proposed for this purpose. However, the current network system is more complex, the existing methods are difficult to deal with these networks. In this paper, several basic measures are introduced and discussed and we propose an improved influential nodes identification method that adopts the hybrid mechanism of information entropy and weighted degree of edge to improve the accuracy of identification (Hm-shell). Our proposed method is evaluated by comparing with nine algorithms in nine datasets. Theoretical analysis and experimental results on real datasets show that our method outperforms other methods on performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pancreatic cancer is a highly malignant tumour of the digestive tract. Despite advances in treatment, its 5-year survival rate remains low, and its prognosis is the worst among all cancers; innovative therapeutic methods are needed. Ferroptosis is a form of regulatory cell death driven by iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation. Recent studies have found that ferroptosis plays an important role in the development and treatment response of tumours, particularly pancreatic cancer. This article reviews the current understanding of the mechanism of ferroptosis and ferroptosis-related treatment in pancreatic cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct laser deposition (DLD), as a popular metal additive manufacturing process, shows advantages of technical flexibility and high efficiency to gain a high-performance alloy steel component. However, during the processing of DLD, the deposited steel layer is affected by the subsequent layer depositing. The DLD block shows different microstructure and mechanical properties at the bottom, middle and top of the deposited parts. To date, there are few research works about the effects of inter-layer interval time and laser power on the microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of the deposited layers. In this study, the idle time and laser power layer by layer during DLD of 12CrNi2 steel were controlled to cause the deposited layers to maintain a high cooling rate, while the bottom deposited layer was subjected to a weak tempering effect. Results show that a high proportion of martensite is produced, which improves the strength of the deposited layer. Under the laser scanning strategy of laser power 2,500 W, scanning velocity 5 mm·s−1, powder feeding rate 11 g·min−1, overlap rate 50%, and a laser power difference of 50 W and a 2 min interval, the tensile strength of the deposited layer of 12CrNi2 steel is in the range of 873–1,022 MPa, and the elongation is in the range of 16.2%–18.9%. This study provides a method to reduce the tempering effect of the subsequent deposition layers on the bottom layers, which can increase the proportion of martensite in the low-alloy high-strength steel, so as to improve the yield strength of the alloy steel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with acute myocardial infarction (AMI); thus we aimed to explore improvement effects of 1,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D3 (VD3) on the AMI and its potential mechanism. AMI models were constructed using male C57/BL6J mice and randomly treated with normal saline or VD3, using sham rats as control. Heart functions, myocardial damage, apoptosis, and inflammation were evaluated. Cardiomyocytes isolated from 3‐day‐old suckling mice were used for in vitro verification. After VD3 treatment, AMI‐induced cardiac dysfunction was reversed with better cardiac function parameters. VD3 treatment reduced inflammatory cell infiltration and myocardial infarction area accompanied by the reduction of inflammatory factors and myocardial infarction markers compared with the AMI group. VD3 treatment obviously alleviated AMI‐induced myocardial apoptosis, along with Bcl‐2 upregulation and downregulation of caspase‐3, caspase‐9, and Bax. Both in vivo and in vitro experiments revealed that VD3 enhanced the expression of LC3II and Beclin‐1 and decreased soluble p62. Furthermore, VD3 enhanced the AMI‐caused inhibition of PI3K, p‐AKT, and p‐mTOR expression, which was conversely reversed by the addition of 3‐methyladenine in vitro. The study highlights the improvement effects of VD3 on cardiac functions. We proposed a potential mechanism that VD3 protects against myocardial damage, inflammation, and apoptosis by promoting autophagy through PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adoptive T-cell therapy with anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-expressing T cells is a new approach for treating advanced B-cell malignancies. However, CAR-Tcell therapies for tumors are challenging due to tumor heterogeneity, cytokine release syndrome (CRS), and CAR-T cell exhaustion. The Qi Yin San Liang San (SLS) decoction has a significant curative effect in treating tumors and can improve clinical efficacy when combined with tumor immunotherapy. However, there has been no in vitro or in vivo pharmacodynamic evaluation of SLS in combination with immunotherapy, and the underlying immunological mechanism remains unclear. Aim of the review : The study objective was to determine the auxiliary effect and potential mechanism of SLS as an adjuvant treatment with anti-CD19 CAR-T cells for B-cell lymphomas. Network pharmacology analyses, in vitro and in vivo studies, and transcriptome sequencing analyses were performed. Forty-two components were detected in SLS by HPLC. Sixteen pharmacologically active ingredients were analyzed by searching the TCMSP database. The predicted targets included IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, CASP7, and CASP9. In vitro studies revealed that SLS can dose-dependently promote the killing effect of unmodified T and anti-CD19 CAR-T cells against Raji cell lines. Meanwhile, SLS inhibited unmodified T and anti-CD19 CAR-T cell exhaustion, promoted anti-CD19 CAR-T cell proliferation, reduced the levels of IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α, and increased granzyme B levels. In vivo studies, SLS effectively improved the anti-tumor function of anti-CD19 CAR-T cells, prolonged the survival of the mice, and reduced the levels of IL-6, GM-CSF, and IL-17. Subsequently, the transcriptomic analysis showed that SLS inhibited the IL-17 signaling pathway and the apoptosis signaling pathway of T cells. In addition, SLS downregulated the expression of IL-17A, IL-6, TNF-α, GM-CSF, S100A8, CASP 7, CASP 9, and CASP 10 in anti-CD19 CAR-T cells. SLS regulated the IL-17 signaling pathway and apoptosis signaling pathway in anti-CD19 CAR-T cells. SLS plays a potential auxiliary role in enhancing the function of anti-CD19 CAR T cells in the treatment of B-cell lymphoma, improving the killing ability of these cells, reducing the potential risk associated with inflammation, and providing synergistic and attenuating effects. The mechanism of SLS is partially mediated by the apoptosis and IL-17 signaling pathways (such as IL-17A, IL-6, TNF-α, GM-CSF, and Granzyme B). [Display omitted] • SLS has a potential auxiliary role in enhancing the function of anti-CD19 CAR T cells in the treatment of B-cell lymphoma. • Network pharmacology analyses, in vitro and in vivo studies, and transcriptome sequencing analyses are used for analysis. • The mechanism is partially mediated by the downregulation of gentes in the apoptosis and IL-17 signaling pathways (such as IL-17A, IL-6, TNF-α, and GM-CSF) and the upregulation of granzyme B. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Guest Editors Shi Dong, Stelvio Cimato, Joarder Kamruzzaman, and Yongsheng Hao introduce the Special Section on Real-Time Image Steganography and Steganalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining background aerosol optical depth threshold value (BAOD) is critical to aerosol type identification and air pollution control. This study presents a statistical method to select the best BAOD threshold value using the VIIRS DB AOD products at 1 × 1 degree resolution from 2012 to 2019 as a major testbed. A series of multiple lognormal distributions with 1 to 5 peaks are firstly applied to fit the AOD histogram at each grid point, and the distribution with the highest correlation coefficient (R) gives preliminary estimations of BAOD, which is defined as either the intersection point of the first two normal distribution curves when having multiple peaks, or the midpoint between the peak AOD and the first AOD with non-zero probability when the mono peak is the best fit. Then, the lowest 1st to 100th percentile AOD distributions are compared with the preliminary BAOD distribution on a global scale. The final BAOD is obtained from the best cutoff percentile AOD distributions with the lowest bias compared with preliminary BAOD. Results show that the lowest 30th percentile AOD is the best estimation of BAOD for different AOD datasets and different seasons. Analysis of aerosol chemical information from MERRA-2 further supports this selection. Based on the BAOD, we updated the VIIRS aerosol type classification scheme, and the results show that the updated scheme is able to achieve reliable detection of aerosol type change in low aerosol loading conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the authors propose a quantum version of a generalized Monty Hall game, that is, one in which the parameters of the game are left free and not fixed on its regular values. The developed quantum scheme is then used to study the expected payoff of the player, using both a separable and an entangled initial‐state. In the two cases, the classical mixed‐strategy payoff is recovered under certain conditions. Lastly, the authors extend the quantum scheme to include multiple independent players, and use this extension to sketch two possible application of the game mechanics to quantum networks, specifically, two validated, multi‐party, key‐distribution quantum protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Model calibration and validation is an important step of empirical modeling. The current local calibration (LC) method suggested by the AASHTOWare mechanistic‐empirical pavement design guide (MEPDG) is defective and can result in a completely distorted prediction of pavement reliability in design. This paper proposes an advanced LC method that integrates a jackknife sampling procedure and an iteratively weighted least squares technique into one coherent LC process. The jackknife sampling method, which has been recommended by AASHTO for model validation, is now used for identifying outliers of the data in order to ensure a homogeneous population. Meanwhile, an iteratively weighted least squares method is proposed to simultaneously estimate the LC coefficients and the standard deviation functions. Two LC case studies for Ontario roads are presented: one for the bottom‐up fatigue cracking models of asphalt concrete pavements and the other for the joint faulting models of Portland cement concrete pavements. The comparison with the traditional split‐data method has shown the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed method. With little modification, the method can be introduced as a general calibration‐validation process for all empirical and mechanistic‐empirical models in engineering disciplines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community detection plays an important role in the analysis of complex networks. However, overlapping community detection in real networks is still a challenge. To address the problems of pre-input parameters and label redundancy, an improved label propagation algorithm (ILPA) that adopts a method based on the influence factor is proposed in this paper. Theoretical analysis and experimental results on both synthetic and real datasets show that the ILPA detects that the overlapping community has higher accuracy compared to other existing methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to apply the traditional power amplifier’s (PA) waveform engineering in an RF-dc rectifier design, a piecewise ON-resistance transistor model is introduced into the derived equations. In this proposed analysis method, the connection between the drain voltage and current is built in order to make the theoretical waveforms easily applied to a practical rectifier design with optimized parameters of the best efficiency. Continuous class-F/inverse class-F and continuous class-B/J waveforms are evaluated with numerical examples in this work. Thus, the rectification performance with different classes and parameters can be compared. This study shows that a continuous class-F and a continuous class-B/J rectifier can barely offer higher than 52% and 70% efficiencies with precise on-duty ratio ($D$) of 0.5, respectively, except by reducing the conduction angle. However, a continuous inverse class-F shows the best rectification efficiency (easily higher than 85%) among all the studied cases for $D=0.5$. A self-driving inverse class-F design example with optimized parameters is given to verify the theoretical analysis and demonstrate the high-efficiency performance. The rectification efficiencies of 74.9% and 80.7% are measured for 11.2- and 6 W-input powers at 1.9 GHz, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) has been employed by agencies as an innovative method for pavement design since the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Project 1-37A was implemented in 2004. Over the years, the MEPDG has evolved into the AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design software (AASHTOWare®). Local calibration of the performance models in the AASHTOWare® is a crucial and challenging task to improve the effectiveness of its application. The accuracy of the calibration depends on efficient methods and validation processes. This paper aims at developing local calibration methods for joint faulting prediction model of Jointed Plain Concrete Pavement (JPCP). This study not only focuses on improving the prediction accuracy of the joint faulting model but also demonstrating the various optimisation procedures in detail. A total of 27 representative JPCP sections were used in the processes of calibration. Three optimisation approaches were used: (1) One-At-a-Time (OAT) through the trial-and-error procedure, (2) generalised reduced gradient (GRG) using MS Excel® Solver, and (3) Levenberg-Marquardt Algorithm (LMA) fitting the functions. The prediction accuracy of local models was improved as compared with the global ones. Average Bias (AB) reduced from 0.3083 to 0.0578, and Standard Error of the Estimate (SEE) reduced from 0.3345 to 0.1912. Among the three local calibration approaches, approach 2 and approach 3 had more significant improvement on results than approach 1. Finally, the integral procedures were provided for local calibration in Ontario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work illustrates a possible application of quantum game theory to the area of quantum information, in particular to quantum cryptography. The study proposed two quantum key‐distribution (QKD) protocols based on the quantum version of the Monty Hall game devised by Flitney and Abbott. Unlike most QKD protocols, in which the bits from which the key is going to be extracted are encoded in a basis choice (as in BB84), these are encoded in an operation choice. The first proposed protocol uses qutrits to describe the state of the system and the same game operators proposed by Flitney and Abbott. The motivation behind the second proposal is to simplify a possible physical implementation by adapting the formalism of the qutrit protocol to use qubits and simple logical quantum gates. In both protocols, the security relies on the violation of a Bell‐type inequality, for two qutrits and for six qubits in each case. Results show a higher ratio of violation than the E91 protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focus on node cloud computing environment due to the randomness of the user task arrival caused a large number of idle energy consumption. To solve this problem, a dynamic energy-efficient scheme in virtual machines based on user task characteristic is proposed. First, according to the amount of user tasks arrival and the expectations of task completion time, user tasks characteristic information table is established. Thus it can predict the request arrival probability and user expect to reach the finish time. Then, according to user expectations of completion time, psychological expectations QOS value of the user is obtained, and the threshold based on the integration of energy-saving value is dynamically adjusted. Finally, it can achieve energy-saving by dynamic integrating of the user task arrival rate and closing idle node. Experimental results show that the method can reach a better balance of performance and energy saving to meet user requirement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A half-power beamwidth (HPBW) extended patch antenna with harmonic suppression is proposed in this article. The antenna consists of one driven patch and two parasitic patches. The parasitic patches are placed parallel to the two adjacent edges of a driven patch. By introducing four sets of shorting pins near the outer edges of the patches, surface currents on the patches flow through the pins to the edges of the ground plane periodically, making those edges radiate as electrical dipole elements. Huygens’-like radiation with extended HPBW and low back-lobe level is formed by the interaction of dipole and patch-like radiation sources. On the other hand, the resonance at the second harmonic frequency is suppressed, and resonances at higher order modes are shifted away from the third harmonic frequency because of the joint effect of introducing shorting pins and coupling between patches. The mechanism of the antenna is analyzed. A verifying prototype is implemented. In the measurement, the antenna operates at 5.23 GHz. HPBWs of 135°/132° are found, while front-to-back ratios of 13.5/13.3 dB are achieved in the XoZ/YoZ-plane. Resonances at the second and third harmonic frequencies are successfully suppressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ionic liquids have received wide attention due to their novel optoelectronic structures and devices as an optical means of regulating electricity. However, the quantitative testing and analysis of refractive index of ionic liquids under electric field are rarely carried out. In the present study, an experimental apparatus including a hollow prism is designed to measure the refractive indices of ionic liquids under different electric fields. Five groups of imidazole ionic liquids are experimentally investigated and an inversion is performed to determine the refractive indices under electric fields. The error propagation analysis of the apex angle and the minimum deflection angle are conducted, and the machining accuracy requirements of the hollow prism are determined. The results show that the refractive indices of imidazole ionic liquids change with the light wavelength, following a downward convex parabola. Furthermore, the refractive index decreases with the carbon chain length of ionic liquid at a given wavelength, presenting an order of C3MImI > C4MImI > C5MImI > C3MImBr > C3MImBF4. Notably, the refractive index of imidazole ionic liquid exhibits a nonlinear change with the applied voltage at 546 nm and a monotonical decrease at 1529 nm. Besides, the variation of refractive index at 1529 nm with the applied voltage is larger than that at 546 nm and 1013 nm. Importantly, the variation of refractive index is contrary to that of absorption coefficient under electric field. This study illustrates that the theory of electrode and carrier transport can be used to explain the law of variation of n–k value of ionic liquid under the electric field, and provides the support for the evaluation of physical properties of ionic liquids, the measurement of optical functional parameters and the regulation of electric–optic performances of optical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel diagnostic model for evaluating the damage condition of a cement-stabilised base course using a T-S fuzzy neural network (FNN). An evaluation criterion for core damage rating, base core condition index (BCCI), was established based on the distress features observed in 369 core samples that had been collected from asphalt concrete pavements with cement-stabilised base courses. The core samples of cement-stabilised macadam (CSM) were classified into five levels according to the evaluation criterion. Ten parameters were chosen as inputs to establish non-linear mapping relationships in an FNN model. These input parameters include pavement distresses' characteristics (crack depth, breadth and lumpiness), Pavement Surface Condition Index (PCI), Riding Quality Index (RQI), Pavement Structure Strength Index (PSSI), Cumulative Equivalent Single Axle Loads (ESALs), thickness of asphalt concrete (AC) layers, annual temperature difference and average annual precipitation. Out of the 369 samples, 169 field cores were used in the FNN model for recursive training, and the parameters for the neural network structure were optimised until the errors between the network outputs and the expected outputs were minimised. The established FNN model was then used for the calculations of predicted quantitative results for remaining sections. The calculation results showed the logical reasoning capability of the T-S fuzzy system and the quantitative data processing capability of the neural network (NN). The comparisons between the objectively predicted results with the subjectively evaluated scores of the testing samples showed a prediction accuracy of 88.4%. The objectively predicted results calculated by the FNN model were also compared with the measurements taken using a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). The two groups of results showed reasonable similarity, which again indicated the effectiveness of the developed FNN method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malware has become more complicated in its purpose and abilities over time, demanding continuous progress in detection and defense technologies. Malware designers use anti-analysis obfuscation techniques, including packing and encryption, to evade detection and hinder the analysis process. Current malware detection methods have shortcomings; thus, an alternative dynamic platform-independent scheme is proposed to extract harmful hardware impressions. This scheme includes extracting and converting a file from process memory dumps into an image. A combined structural and statistical image textural analysis is performed by designing a hybrid local and global feature descriptor. The hybrid feature descriptor helps to improve the data training ability of the proposed deep-stacked ensemble model by reducing input dimensions. A deep-stacked ensemble model is developed by combining prediction outputs from weak learners (CNNs) and feeding them into a meta-learner (MLP) as learning input. An explainable artificial intelligence-based approach is employed to interpret and validate the final results of the proposed scheme. Evaluations are conducted using three datasets: the publicly available Dumpware10 dataset, which contains 3686 samples from 10 different malware families; the publicly available CIC-MalMem-2022 dataset, which includes 2,916 samples from 15 different obfuscated malware families; and a real-world dataset, which contains 2375 samples of both malware and benign android apps. Experimental outcomes show that the proposed scheme achieved 99.1 % accuracy in analyzing Windows malware memory dumps, 94.3 % accuracy in analyzing Android malware memory dumps, and 99.8 % accuracy in analyzing Windows obfuscated malware memory dumps. The final results indicate that our vision-based system provides an excellent defense against malicious programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dynamical response of a passivation model subjected to parametric periodic and stochastic perturbations is studied numerically. In response to weak periodic modulation, the system exhibits a rich variety of resonance behavior and induced dynamics, including periodically induced oscillation, birhythmicity, switching between two bistable states, selection of one of the bistable states, mixed-mode and chaotic oscillations. These phenomena are discussed in terms of the stability of saddle focus and an incomplete homoclinic connection. Our numerical results are relevant for a wide class of electro-chemical oscillatory systems, where the re-injection of unstable trajectory on the neighborhood of a saddle focus is a typical feature in the phase space. © 2004 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we employ PCA and t-SNE analyses to gain deeper insights into the behavior of entangled and non-entangled mixing operators within the Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm (QAOA) at various depths. We utilize a dataset containing optimized parameters generated for max-cut problems with cyclic and complete configurations. This dataset encompasses the resulting R Z , R X , and R Y parameters for QAOA models at different depths ( 1 L , 2 L , and 3 L ) with or without an entanglement stage within the mixing operator. Our findings reveal distinct behaviors when processing the different parameters with PCA and t-SNE. Specifically, most of the entangled QAOA models demonstrate an enhanced capacity to preserve information in the mapping, along with a greater level of correlated information detectable by PCA and t-SNE. Analyzing the overall mapping results, a clear differentiation emerges between entangled and non-entangled models. This distinction is quantified numerically through explained variance in PCA and Kullback–Leibler divergence (post-optimization) in t-SNE. These disparities are also visually evident in the mapping data produced by both methods, with certain entangled QAOA models displaying clustering effects in both visualization techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traffic identification is currently an important challenge for network management and security. In this paper, we propose a novel application identification method named as MPNN to improve the efficiency and flexibility of application identification. MPNN is based on a structure of multiple neural networks, and it uses an individual neural network module to handle a single application; therefore, it can effectively utilize the characteristics of every application; meanwhile, the minimum Bayes method is used in every neural network module. The MPNN method has the following advantages: it can handle more complex network behavior and extend the identified object from complete TCP flows to all TCP+UDP flows. It can improve the identification accuracy of every application, especially for those applications which containing much less traffic than others. The process of changing identified applications become much easier. Due to adopting parallel processing, it has much lower time and space complexity. The theoretical analysis and experimental results show that MPNN could achieve 95% identification accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Plant species diversity and biomass varied insignificantly along spatial gradients. • Plant species diversity was positively correlated with plant functional diversity. • Multiple environmental factors were related to plant biodiversity and biomass. Abstract Spatial patterns of plant species diversity, functional diversity, and aboveground plant biomass, and their relationships with environmental factors in the Aerjin Mountain Nature Reserve (AMNR) on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China were examined in this study. The transect-quadrat sampling method was applied to sample the plant species and functional diversity and the aboveground plant biomass. Statistical package F-diversity v. 2011 was used to calculate the functional diversity index. OriginPro 9.0 drawing software was used to diagram 3-dimensional (longitudinal, latitudinal, and altitudinal) distribution patterns of plant diversity, plant biomass and environmental factors. Correlations among plant biomass, species diversity, functional diversity, and environmental factors were analyzed by using SPSS16.0. The results indicated that alpine steppe was the major vegetation type in high-altitude areas of the southwestern region of the AMNR, alpine wet meadow and alpine steppe were the major vegetation types in low altitude areas of the northeastern region of the AMNR. The vegetation types in mid-altitude areas of the northwestern region and low altitude areas of the southeastern region of the AMNR were primarily alpine desert. Plant species diversity and biomass did not vary significantly along latitudinal, longitudinal, and altitudinal gradients. Plant species diversity was positively correlated with soil total nitrogen, total carbon, organic carbon, and moisture. The functional diversity of the plant community was positively correlated with precipitation and soil moisture. Vegetation biomass was positively correlated with soil total nitrogen, organic carbon, and soil moisture, whereas it was negatively correlated with soil bulk density. Plant species diversity was positively correlated with the functional diversity of the plant community. The integrated effects of geographic factors, soil factors, and meteorological conditions contributed to the spatial heterogeneity of species biodiversity and vegetation biomass of the plant communities in the AMNR, whereas the effects of soil and climatic factors were much stronger than those of geographical factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pretension deviation may cause stiffness degradation and overstress that can compromise the safety of tensile structures, which can be diagnosed by modal identification. This article presents modal tests on a 1:10 scaled model of a herringbone-ribbed cable dome structure. An optimal sensor placement scheme is proposed to observe the geometric stiffness change induced by pretension deviation. Based on the tests, different output-only modal identification techniques were implemented. A substructure strategy was adopted to overcome the limited measurement quantity and provide localized diagnoses. The experimental results show that operational modal analysis methods based on output-only data can effectively identify major modes of massive structures. The sensitivity of modal characteristics to pretension deviation is also evaluated via experimental comparisons, and modifications are implemented in an analytical finite element model to approximate the test model. The identified modal information can help locate stiffness degradation and thereby pretension loss in tensile structures. A modified modal strain energy method is proposed to detect pretension loss from decentralized testing and is verified by the test results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A six-bar tetrahedral unit of a rhombic projection plane is a basic geometric invariable body with a simple configuration. A six-bar tetrahedral cylindrical lattice shell can be assembled by rhombic projection plane six-bar tetrahedral units with identical geometry sizes, which is conducive to standardized design, industrial production, and prefabricated construction. The popularization and application requirements of green architecture industry can also be met using such a shell. A model test of a six-bar tetrahedral cylindrical lattice shell was developed to simulate the practical application of the prefabricated structural system. A new type of joint for the prefabricated structure was proposed that is easy to assemble and is lightweight. A tridimensional fine-tuning bed jig was developed to ensure the manufacturing precision of the pre-made six-bar tetrahedral units. Stacking and transport of the units were practiced. The assembly process from units to the integral shell was conducted in an experimental hall; the result testified the advantages of easy stack, convenient transport, and highly efficient fabrication. The structural assembly errors of the shell were measured, and the measurement results verified the installation accuracy of the test model. This practical study lays the foundation for further engineering applications of six-bar tetrahedral cylindrical lattice shells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Abstract Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is an uncommon and life-threatening disorder that may rarely complicate the clinical course of Orientia tsutsugamushi disease (scrub typhus). Here, we describe the clinical features, laboratory parameters, management, and outcome of 16 children with scrub typhus-associated HLH. All patients satisfied the HLH-2004 diagnostic criteria. All patients had fever of unknown origin and multisystem damage. Raised hepatic transaminases and abnormalities in routine blood test were observed in all children. Imaging tests showed abnormalities in 10 cases. Six patients were treated with intravenous azithromycin for 5 days, and 10 with intravenous chloramphenicol for 7–10 days because of non-response to 3-day azithromycin treatment. Five patients were treated with intravenous albumin and 3 with intravenous immunoglobulin. Two patients with severe symptoms (shortness of breath, cyanosis) were treated with dexamethasone (0.3 mg/kg/d). Fifteen patients recovered completely after 8–22 days of treatment. One patient died. The occurrence of severe complications draws attention to the need for early diagnosis and effective treatment. Anti-rickettsial antibiotic treatment (azithromycin or chloramphenicol) without the need for chemotherapy may be beneficial in such cases, instead of treatment according to the 2004 HLH protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Studying pavement thermal cracking through large-scale data analysis. • Mining multiple association rules among indicators of the asphalt mixture, asphalt binder, climate, pavement structure, service age, and traffic loading. • Providing constructive recommendations to pavement engineers based on the findings. Abstract Thermal cracking is one of the most noteworthy distresses in asphalt concrete (AC) pavements. It is caused by the thermal stress in pavement layers, when air temperatures are extremely low or change rapidly. This paper aims to mine multiple association rules for thermal cracking in seasonal freezing zones. Relevant data on thermal cracking, including 36 potential influence factors, were collected from 339 samples from 46 Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) sections in 6 US states and 3 Canadian provinces. Grey Relational Analysis was used to identify the most significant elements among these 36 factors as inputs for an Apriori algorithm, which was implemented to explore the association rules among the key influence factors. Results showed that the asphalt binder percentage, measured stiffness (PG + 4 240s) from BBR testing, monthly freezing index, AC layer thickness, service age and Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) all exhibited significant influences on thermal cracking, and the proposed indicator, the thermal cracking development rate (TCDR), had different levels of strong associations with these significant influence factors. All six factors were taken into account for mining association rules. Based on these association rules, recommendations for pavement design, construction and management are provided to prolong the service life of pavements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective(s): Schwann cells (SCs) have a wide range of applications as seed cells in the treatment of nerve injury during transplantation. However, there has been no report yet on kinds of proteomics changes that occur in Schwann cells before and after peripheral nerve injury. Materials and Methods: Activated Schwann cells (ASCs) and normal Schwann cells (NSCs) were obtained from adult Wistar rat sciatic nerves. After immunofluorescence identification, we identified differentially expressed proteins in the ASCs and NSCs using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) combined with high-resolution Orbitrap liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). In addition, all the differentially expressed proteins were analyzed by Gene ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis. Finally, several differentially expressed proteins were selected for Western blot verification. Results: A total of 122 differentially expressed proteins in ASCs and NSCs were screened. GO analysis suggested that these different proteins are likely to accumulate in the cytoplasm and are associated with single-multicellular organism processes. The KEGG pathway analysis suggested that proteins related to purine metabolism were significantly enriched. The expression of Transmembrane glycoprotein NMB (GPNMB), Ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase family member 3 (ENPP3), and other proteins were consistent with the proteomics data obtained by Western blot analysis. Conclusion: GPNMB, ENPP3, GFPT2, and other proteins may play an important role in the repair of peripheral nerve injury. This study may provide new insights into changes in SCs after peripheral nerve injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we consider a charged Wigner–Dunkl quantum system in the presence of a constant magnetic field. It is shown that this system obeys gauge invariance if minimally coupled to a vector potential following the Dunkl-Maxwell relations. A family of vector potentials, which generate the constant magnetic field, is constructed explicitly. The gauge invariance of the Wigner–Dunkl quantum system is established with a gauge transformation exhibiting a deformed unitarity. For vector potentials following the standard Maxwell relations it is not possible to establish gauge invariance for the Wigner–Dunkl quantum system. • Wigner–Dunkl Quantum mechanics minimally coupled to a magnetic field. • Gauge invariance established for Dunkl–Maxwell relations. • No gauge invariance possible when coupled to standard magnetic field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weldability of a Cu-free high strength low alloy (HSLA) hull structure steel is studied. Strengthening contributions of this steel are analyzed and phase continuous cooling transformation in simulated coarse-grained heat affected zone (CGHAZ) is investigated. Indeed, strengthening contributions of simulated CGHAZs under heat input 50 and 20 kJ/cm, respectively, are estimated. It shows this Cu-free HSLA hull structure steel is dominated at grain refinement strengthening and supplemented by precipitation strengthening and phase transformation strengthening, while the simulated CGHAZ under heat input 50 or 20 kJ/cm is dominated at phase transformation strengthening and supplemented by solid solution strengthening and grain refinement strengthening. The drawn simulated heat affected zone continuous cooling transformation (SH-CCT) diagram shows this Cu-free HSLA hull structure steel can obtain main lath-like microstructures in a wide cooling rate range with low phase start temperature. Mechanical property tests of simulated CGHAZ samples indicate high strengths and good low temperature impact toughness. All results exhibit this Cu-free HSLA hull structure steel has satisfactory weldability, which suggests its wide potential applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The fern genus Tectaria (Tectariaceae) Cav. is morphologically diverse and difficult in terms of recognizing species and species groups. To infer the systematic positions of some species and identity‐unknown collections with special morphological characters, we undertook phylogenetic analyses based on sequences of five plastid regions (atpB, ndhF + ndhF‐trnL, rbcL, rps16‐matK + matK, and trnL‐F). Three analysis methods (maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian inference) were used to reconstruct the phylogeny of Tectaria. The most surprising result is that T. menyanthidis (C. Presl) Copel., T. ternata (Baker) Copel., and T. variabilis Tardieu & Ching are revealed to represent a distinct lineage from Tectaria, which should be called Polydictyum C. Presl, and is supported as sister to Pteridrys C. Chr. & Ching. Other accessions of Tectaria are well resolved into four major clades, which is consistent with the results of previous studies. Of the four clades, Clade II (T. subtriphylla (Hook. & Arn.) Copel. group) is unpredictable, with morphologically very diverse species clustered there, and is supposed to be a minor evolutionary line within Tectaria in the Old World. In addition, the position of the climbing genus Arthropteris J. Sm. and the utility of molecular data in recognizing species of Tectaria are briefly discussed. As a conclusion, we formally reinstate the genus Polydictyum by providing diagnostic characters, key to species, nomenclature, and information of detailed distribution and habitat for the currently known three species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stress in laser cladding coating is an important factor affecting the safe operation of remanufacturing components. Ultrasonic testing has become a popular approach in the nondestructive evaluation of stress, because it has the advantages of safety, nondestructiveness, and online detection. This paper provides a review of ultrasonic testing for stress in remanufacturing laser cladding coating. It summarizes the recent research outcomes on ultrasonic testing for stress, and analyzes the mechanism of ultrasonic testing for stress. Remanufacturing laser cladding coating shows typical anisotropic behaviors. The ultrasonic testing signal in laser cladding coating is influenced by many complex factors, such as microstructure, defect, temperature, and surface roughness, among others. At present, ultrasonic testing for stress in laser cladding coating can only be done roughly. This paper discusses the active mechanism of micro/macro factors in the reliability of stress measurement, as well as the impact of stress measurement on the quality and safety of remanufacturing components. Based on the discussion, this paper proposes strategies to nondestructively, rapidly, and accurately measure stress in remanufacturing laser cladding coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of high efficiency luminescent liquid crystalline polymers (LLCPs) based on aggregation-induced emission (AIE) and the "Jacketing" effect, namely, poly{2,5-bis{[2-(4-oxytetraphenylethylene)-n-alkyl]oxycarbonyl}styrene} (denoted as Pm, m = 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12), were successfully designed and synthesized via introducing tetraphenylethylene to the side group with different length spacers. Because of the AIE effect, the resultant LLCPs are completely free of aggregation caused quenching. The photophysical properties and phase behavior were studied via various techniques such as UV-vis absorption spectra, photoluminescence spectra (PL), polarized light microscopy (PLM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and variable temperature one-dimensional wide-angle X-ray diffraction (1D WAXD). The results revealed that the resultant monomers showed typical AIE behavior and the polymers exhibited aggregation enhanced emission (AEE) behavior. Moreover, due to the "Jacketing" effect, the polymers showed high efficiency luminescence in the liquid crystalline state, which was significantly dependent on the spacer length (the solid-state quantum yields decreased from 52% to 18% with increasing spacer length). Meanwhile, the glass transition temperatures (Tg) decreased with increasing the length of spacers. With increasing the spacer length, the phase structure transformed from smectic A (SmA) (Pms, m = 2, 4, 6) to hexagonal columnar phase (ColH) (Pms, m = 8, 10, 12). All the polymers presented good film-forming property and processing performance, which made them be promising materials for the luminescent devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]