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Abstract Matching ABO blood group antigens between donors and recipients is critical to prevent hyperacute rejection in kidney transplantation. Enzymatic conversion of blood group antigens to the universal O type presents a promising strategy to overcome barriers in ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation. In this study, we employ α-galactosidase from Bacteroides fragilis to convert type B kidneys to type O during hypothermic machine perfusion. After 3 hours of perfusion with enzyme, more than 95% of blood group B antigens in the kidney endothelium are effectively removed. Subsequently, enzyme-treated kidneys are protected from antibody-mediated injuries in an ex vivo simulation of ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation. Encouraged by these results, a discarded type B kidney, following enzymatic conversion, is transplanted into a type O brain-dead recipient with high titer of anti-B antibody. The allograft survives for 63 hours without hyperacute rejection. Blood group B antigens re-express within 48 hours, with histopathological analyses indicating no evidence of antibody-mediated rejection. This enzymatic conversion approach holds the potential to broaden the practice of ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation, decrease waiting times and facilitate equitable organ allocation.

With the rapid development of uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) technology, detecting aerial images has found significant applications across various domains. However, existing algorithms overlook the impact of illumination on target detection, resulting in less satisfactory detection performance under low-light conditions. We propose EfficientFuseDet, a visible and infrared image fusion detection network to overcome this issue. First, an effective multilevel cross-modal fusion network called EfficientFuse is presented to combine complementary information from both modalities better. EfficientFuse captures local dependencies and global contextual information in shallow and deep layers, seamlessly combining complimentary local and global features throughout the network. The generated fused images can exhibit clear target contours and abundant texture information. Second, we propose a detection network called AFI-YOLO, which employs an inverted residual vision transformer backbone (IRViT) to effectively address the challenges associated with background interference in fused images. We design an efficient feature pyramid network (EFPN) that efficiently integrates multiscale information, enhancing multiscale detection capability using aerial images. A reparameterization decoupling head (RepHead) is proposed to further improve target classification and localization precision. Finally, experiments on the DroneVehicle dataset indicate that the detection accuracy using fused images can reach 47.2 %, which is higher than that observed with visible light images of 45 %. Compared to state-of-the-art detection algorithms, EfficientFuseDet exhibits a slight decrease in speed. However, it demonstrates superior detection capabilities and effectively enhances the detection accuracy using aerial images under low-light conditions.

Abstract Photonic topological systems may be exploited in topological quantum light generation, the development of topological lasers, the implementation of photonic routing systems and optical parametric amplification. Here, we leverage the strong light confinement of an ultra-silicon-rich nitride (USRN) topological waveguide adopting the 1D Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) system with a topological domain wall. We present the formation and propagation of temporal optical solitons in the topological waveguide, exhibiting two-fold temporal compression. We further observe a saturation in the output power at sufficiently high input powers. It is further observed that pulse propagation through a trivial, non-topological waveguide does not lead to similar temporal soliton dynamics. The demonstrated topological system allows for the temporal compression to be manipulated through power tuning via topological control of delocalization of the topological mode. This design degree of freedom allows temporal solitons to be generated in a topological waveguide while providing straightforward control of temporal pulses in practical applications.

In the current work, the micromechanical behavior and work hardening behavior of Fe-0.1C–10Mn (in wt.%) steel deformed at 100, 63, 25 and −50 °C were investigated via in-situ high-energy X-ray diffraction (HE-XRD) technique. As the deformation temperature decreased, the yield strength (YS) and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) increased, while the total elongation (TE) reached a maximum value at 25 °C. The transformation kinetics of retained austenite (RA) was fitted by the Olson and Cohen (OC) model. The phase stress and flow stress contributed by the constituent phases were obtained based on the lattice strain and the volume fraction of the corresponding phase. The work hardening rate was decomposed into four contributors related to the TRIP effect and load partitioning, ie., the austenite phase stress, load partitioning between austenite and martensite, martensitic formation rate and load partitioning between ferrite and austenite. The influence of each contributor on the work hardening behavior was quantitatively evaluated and stacked, the stacked results agreed reasonably well with the experimental work hardening rate obtained from the true stress-strain curve. Finally, the volume fraction of austenite to martensite transformation promoted by the Lüders band (LB) and the stacking fault energy (SFE) of RA were found to be highly temperature-dependent. A linear relationship was revealed between the volume fraction of austenite to martensite transformation during the LB propagation and the SFE of RA. These findings offer insights into the TRIP effect and the LB propagation in medium-Mn steels.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the prevalence and distribution of respiratory pathogens in children under 18 years old with Acute Respiratory Infections (ARTIs) in Lanzhou, Northwest China, from July 2019 to January 2024.MethodsThe respiratory pathogens studied were FluA, FluB, PIV, RSV, ADV, MP, CP, CB, and LP, detected by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IIF). Data were obtained from the laboratory information system (LIS) of the Lanzhou University Second Hospital. As in Lanzhou, NPIs were implemented in January 2020, and were lifted in December 2022, data were divided into pre-NPIs (July 2019 to December 2019), NPIs (January 2020 to December 2022) and post-NPIs (January 2023 to January 2024) periods for analysis. Pearson’s chi-square test, ANOVA, and Fisher’s exact test were used to evaluate statistical significance in variable differences, with P < 0.05 considered significant.ResultsA total of 29,659 children diagnosed with ARTIs were included in the study, with 13030(43.93%) test positive for at least one pathogen. Single-pathogen infections predominated (33.10%), while co-detection of MP and PIV was the most common among multi-pathogen cases (52.96%). Pathogen detection rates were notably higher in female children (50.62%) and preschool-aged children (53.45%) and exhibited seasonal variations, with a pronounced increase in winter (47.61%) and a peak in November (48.92%). MP had the highest detection rate (38.59%), followed by PIV (10.18%). Detection rates significantly increased following the lifting of NPIs, rising from 33.82% (SD ± 13.13) during NPIs to 64.42% (SD ± 4.67) (P < 0.001), with 2023 showing the highest detection rate (64.61%) and largest participant count (9,591). In November 2023, detection rates reached their highest level at 73.09%. Post-NPI, most pathogens, except CB and LP, demonstrated significantly higher prevalence (P

Abstract Objectives To investigate the safety of short-term stenting following flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy (fURL) for patients without preoperative stents. Retaining double-J stent for 1–2 weeks after fURL is a common practice. At present, data on short-term stenting after non-pre-stented fURL is still lacking. Methods 182 patients who met inclusion criteria were retrospectively divided into the 2-days group (2-day removal, 76 cases) and the 1-week group (1-week removal, 106 cases). The study endpoint was stent-associated adverse symptoms assessed by follow-up and completed validated questionnaires on postoperative days (POD) 7 and 12. A postoperative imaging review was performed 1 month after the surgery. Results No statistical differences were found in the patients’ demographic and stone-related characteristics. The 2-days group showed fewer urinary tract symptoms and lower scores on the ureteral stent symptom questionnaire on POD 7: less backache during urination (p = 0.004), less hematuria (p = 0.031), less frequent urination (p = 0.004), lower urinary symptoms index (p

Abstract Brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) based on steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEP) have received widespread attention due to their high information transmission rate, high accuracy, and rich instruction set. However, the performance of its identification methods strongly depends on the amount of calibration data for within-subject classification. Some studies use deep learning (DL) algorithms for inter-subject classification, which can reduce the calculation process, but there is still much room for improvement in performance compared with intra-subject classification. To solve these problems, an efficient SSVEP signal recognition deep learning network model e-SSVEPNet based on the soft saturation nonlinear module is proposed in this paper. The soft saturation nonlinear module uses a similar exponential calculation method for output when it is less than zero, improving robustness to noise. Under the conditions of the SSVEP data set, two sliding time window lengths (1 s and 0.5 s), and three training data sizes, this paper evaluates the proposed network model and compares it with other traditional and deep learning model baseline methods. The experimental results of the nonlinear module were classified and compared. A large number of experimental results show that the proposed network has the highest average accuracy of intra-subject classification on the SSVEP data set, improves the performance of SSVEP signal classification and recognition, and has higher decoding accuracy under short signals, so it has huge potential ability to realize high-speed SSVEP-based for BCI.

This study employed the effect of sub-critical annealing heat treatment on the microstructure and anisotropy of the hybrid additive manufactured TC11 alloy. The results demonstrate that after sub-critical annealing, a gradient microstructure with the gradual changes in the morphology and content of primary α phases from the laser deposition zone to the substrate zone was formed. Moreover, the tensile anisotropy of the hybrid manufactured specimens was substantially reduced. In particular, when loading along to the deposition direction, the ultimate tensile strength of the heat-treated hybrid manufactured specimen was 1062 MPa, increased by 8.5%. And when loading perpendicular to the deposition direction, the elongation can reach 13.0%, increased by 86% compare to the as-deposited sample. These findings would also shed new insights for the modification of graded structural parts prepared by the hybrid manufacturing technique, laser additive repair and other methods.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory disease with a very high infectious rate caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2(SARS-CoV-2). Because SARS-CoV-2 is easy to mutate, the continuous emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variant strains not only enhances the infectivity of the SARS-CoV-2 but also brings great obstacles to the treatment of COVID-19. Neutralizing antibodies have achieved good results in the clinical application of the novel coronavirus pneumonia, which can be used for pre-infection protection and treatment of novel coronavirus patients. This review makes a detailed introduction to the mutation characteristics of SARS-CoV-2, focusing on the molecular mechanism of mutation affecting the infectivity of SARS-CoV-2, and the impact of mutation on monoclonal antibody therapy, providing scientific reference for the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 variant strains and the research and development of antibody drugs.

The advent of various additive manufacturing technologies, such as 3D printing, has changed the structural design and preparation process of rocket fuels. In order to investigate the combustion properties of various common polymer materials that can be additively manufactured by fused deposition, the combustion tests of hybrid rocket fuels prepared by 3D printing were carried out. These materials include polylactic acid (PLA), wood-like polylactic acid (Wood), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylate (ASA), copolymers of nylon 6 and nylon 6,6 (CoPA), polycarbonate-polybutylene terephthalate (PC-PBT), flame retardant polycarbonate (PC-FR) and polyethylene terephthalateco-1,4-cylclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate (PETG). Thermogravimetric-differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC) analysis was carried out on these materials, the printing effect of the fuel grains was observed by three-dimensional X-ray microscopy (µCT) and the combustion performance of these fuels in gaseous oxygen flow (GOX) was recorded by high-speed photography at a constant pressure of 1 MPa. The results show that ASA and ABS exhibit good printing results. The regression rates of PC-PBT, PETG, ABS, ASA, CoPA and PLA are 0.792 mm/s, 0.592 mm/s, 0.536 mm/s and 0.477 mm/s, 0.368 mm/s, 0.339 mm/s (AtGOX=220kg/(m2·s)), respectively.

Abstract This study presents a dynamic Bayesian game model designed to improve predictions of ecological uncertainties leading to natural disasters. It incorporates historical signal data on ecological indicators. Participants, acting as decision-makers, receive signals about an unknown parameter-observations of a random variable’s realization values before a specific time, offering insights into ecological uncertainties. The essence of the model lies in its dynamic Bayesian updating, where beliefs about unknown parameters are refined with each new signal, enhancing predictive accuracy. The main focus of our paper is to theoretically validate this approach, by presenting a number of theorems that prove its precision and efficiency in improving uncertainty estimations. Simulation results validate the model’s effectiveness in various scenarios, highlighting its role in refining natural disaster forecasts.

Abstract Background Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MIRI) is an important complication of reperfusion therapy, and has a lack of effective prevention and treatment methods. Oleuropein (OP) is a natural strong antioxidant with many protective effects on cardiovascular diseases, but its protective effect on MIRI has not yet been studied in depth. Methods Tert-Butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP) was used to establish an in vitro oxidative stress model. Cell viability was detected by 3-(4,5)-dimethylthiahiazo (-z-y1)-3,5-di-phenytetrazoliumromide (MTT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Flow cytometry and fluorescence assays were performed for evaluating the ROS levels and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Immunofluorescence analysis detected the NRF2 nuclear translocation and autophagy indicators. Further, Western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR were performed to evaluate the expression levels of proteins and mRNAs. Molecular docking, CETSA, and molecular interaction analysis explored the binding between OP and TLR4. The protective effects of OP in vivo were determined using a preclinical MIRI rat model. Results OP protected against tBHP-treated injury, reduced ROS levels and reversed the damaged MMP. Mechanistically, OP activated NRF2-related antioxidant pathways, inhibited autophagy and attenuated the TLR4/MAPK signaling pathway in tBHP-treated H9C2 cells with a high binding affinity to TLR4 (K D = 37.5 µM). The TLR4 inhibitor TAK242 showed a similar effect as OP. In vivo, OP could alleviate cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury and it ameliorated adverse cardiac remodeling. Consistent with in vitro studies, OP inhibited TLR4/MAPK and autophagy pathway and activated NRF2-dependent antioxidant pathways in vivo. Conclusion This study shows that OP binds to TLR4 to regulate oxidative stress and autophagy for protecting damaged cardiomyocytes, supporting that OP can be a potential therapeutic agent for MIRI.

We develop a novel framework for fiducial inference in linear mixed-effects (LME) models, with the standard deviation of random effects reformulated as coefficients. The exact fiducial density is derived as the equilibrium measure of a reversible Markov chain over the parameter space. The density is equivalent in form to a Bayesian LME with noninformative prior, while the underlying fiducial structure adds new benefits to unify the inference of random effects and all other parameters in a neat and simultaneous way. Our fiducial LME needs no additional tests or statistics for zero variance and is more suitable for small sample sizes. In simulation and empirical analysis, our confidence intervals (CIs) are comparable to those based on Bayesian and likelihood profiling methods. And our inference for the variance of random effects has competitive power with the likelihood ratio test.

Objectives: Kajiichigoside F1 and rosamultin are natural triterpenoid saponins found in the root of Rosa laevigata Michx. These compounds are isomers, making their separation challenging. Nonetheless, they have been reported to exhibit significant anti-inflammatory activity, although their mechanism of action remains unclear. This study aimed to optimize the extraction process of echinacoside and rosamultin from R. laevigata and to elucidate the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of these saponins in an LPS-induced acute lung injury (ALI) model. Methods: The extraction process was optimized using a single-factor experiment and the Box–Behnken response surface methodology, with the content of kajiichigoside F1, rosamultin, and their total content serving as evaluation indices. The acute lung injury model was induced by LPS, and lung tissue damage was assessed through hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. The secretion of relevant inflammatory factors was quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the expression levels of associated proteins were analyzed via Western blotting. Results: The optimal extraction conditions were determined to be an ethanol volume fraction of 80.0%, a solid–liquid ratio of 1:25, an extraction duration of 80 min, and three extraction cycles. Kajiichigoside F1 and rosamultin were found to mitigate alveolar inflammation in mice with acute lung injury (ALI) by effectively reducing the expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6. Additionally, these compounds down-regulated the expression of phosphorylated NF-κB p65 and NF-κB IκBα proteins, thereby alleviating inflammatory symptoms. Conclusions: Kajiichigoside F1 and rosamultin attenuate the inflammatory response in acute lung injury induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation through modulation of the NF-κB signaling pathway. This study preliminarily elucidates their anti-inflammatory mechanism, suggesting that both compounds possess therapeutic potential for ALI. These findings provide significant guidance for the future development of active components derived from the root of R. laevigata and establish a foundation for enhancing the quality standards of its medicinal materials.

In the present study, a novel normally-off vertical GaN MOSFET with an enhanced AlGaN/GaN channel on the sidewall has been proposed using the technology computer-aided design (TCAD) simulation. By using the selective area growth process, the trench structure and the enhanced sidewall channel are formed simultaneously, which is beneficial to enhance the conduction capability compared with the conventional trenched MOSFET. It demonstrates that a proper hole concentration and thickness of the p-GaN layer are key parameters to balance the threshold voltage, on-state resistance, and off-state breakdown voltage, resulting in the highest Baliga’s figure of merit value. Furthermore, a p-GaN shield layer is also adopted as a junction termination extension to modulate the electric field around the trench bottom. By optimizing the device parameters, a normally-off GaN MOSFET with good performance is designed.

The protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) is a critical therapeutic target for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Many PTP1B inhibitors have been reported, however, most of them lack high specificity and have adverse effects. Designing effective PTP1B inhibitors requires understanding the molecular mechanism of action between inhibitors and PTP1B. To this end, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and molecular mechanics Poisson Boltzmann Surface Area (MM-PB/SA) methods were used to observe the binding patterns of compounds with similar pentacyclic triterpene parent ring structures but different inhibition abilities. Through structure and energy analysis, we found that the positions of cavities and substituents significantly affect combining capacity. Besides, we constructed a series of potential inhibitor molecules using LUDI and rational drug design methods. The ADMET module of Discovery Studio 2020 was used to predict the properties of these inhibitor molecules. Lastly, we obtained compounds with low toxicity and significant inhibitory activity. The study will contribute to the treatment of T2DM.

The optical parametric amplification process in the mid-infrared (MIR) 3–5 μm region of nonlinear crystal LiInS2 (LIS) has been investigated. The LIS crystal was pumped by a 1064 nm laser with a pulse width of 30 picoseconds and seeded by a tunable laser generated from a KTP-OPG/OPA pumped by the second harmonic (SH) of the same 1064 nm laser. In the experiment, the 3.28–5.50 μm tunable idler was realized. When the fixed pump energy is 8.75 mJ, the idler energy obtained is 72.2 μJ at 3.28 μm and 63.3 μJ at 5.50 μm. The maximum idler energy of 179.4 μJ at 4.70 μm is reached at a pump energy of 12.5 mJ, and the optimal photon conversion efficiency is 6.36% at the pump energy of 11.5 mJ. Finally, the optical parametric frequency conversion parameters and performance in the 3–5 μm of several typical new crystals (BGSe, LISe, AGS, HGS, and LGS) developed in recent years are briefly compared and summarized.

As the “carbon neutrality” strategy is implemented, green technology R&D, a core competitive strength for sustainable enterprise development, is an essential pathway for China’s transformation and green growth. Green technology, a breakthrough over traditional production technologies, involves lengthy and costly R&D processes with high risks typically beyond the reach of a single enterprise. It requires the heterogeneous functions of enterprises, universities, and research institutions to complement each other’s advantages and establish an “industry–university–research” collaborative innovation alliance for green technologies. This paper constructs differential game models for non-cooperative and cooperative green technology R&D involving a green manufacturer and a research institution. We solve and compare the profits for both parties under these scenarios, apply a time-consistent payment distribution mechanism to allocate cooperative profits, and ensure that neither party deviates from the optimal cooperative trajectory over a prolonged period, achieving Pareto improvement and enhancing social welfare.

There is great demand for the development of novel efficient therapeutic strategies or preventative measures to alleviate the life-threatening complications of type 2 diabetes. Hederasaponin C (PB5), a natural product, has been reported to exhibit significant therapeutic effects in various diseases; however, the possible effects and mechanism underlying PB5 in reducing diabetic renal complications have not been comprehensively reported. Here, we investigated the response of murine diabetic models to PB5 treatment using single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) and proteomics. Our findings revealed the dynamic transcriptional changes of renal cells in response to diabetic nephropathy. PB5 alleviated inflammatory injury by partially reducing pathophysiologic processes. In addition, we observed severe glomerular lesions and functional deficiencies, including GBM thickening and podocyte dysfunction, during the progression of diabetes, which were likewise attenuated by PB5. These results provide insight into how PB5 treatment improves diabetic symptoms and possibly serves as a novel protective measure and therapeutic strategy in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Abstract Background Anterior cruciate ligament injury is a common knee joint injury. Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is a common surgical treatment to treat anterior cruciate ligament injury. It may have certain advantages to retain the ligament stump during the operation, but the results of systematic evaluation on whether to retain the ligament stump are different. The conclusion is still controversial, and the quality needs to be strictly evaluated. Objective To evaluate the methodological quality, risk of bias, reporting quality and evidence quality of the systematic review of remnant preservation in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, and to provide reference for clinical work. Methods We systematically searched the system evaluations in 8 electronic databases, the languages were limited to Chinese and English, and the time limit was from the establishment of the database to June 2023. Two reviewers independently screened literature and extracted data. The methodological quality, risk of bias, reporting quality and quality of evidence were evaluated by AMSTAR-2, ROBIS, PRISMA and GRADE tools. Results A total of 14 systematic reviews were included. The evaluation of results showed that the methodological quality of the included systematic reviews was relatively low, of which 5 were low quality and 9 were critically low quality. A small number of systematic reviews were low risk of bias. The system evaluation reports are relatively complete, but the lack of program registration is a common problem. A total of 111 pieces of clinical evidence were extracted from the included 14 systematic reviews. The quality of evidence was generally low, with only 7 pieces of high-quality evidence, 45 pieces of medium-quality evidence, and the rest were low and very low-quality evidence. Among the reasons for relegation, imprecision is the most common, followed by inconsistency and indirectness. The existing evidence shows that patients after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with remnant preservation have certain advantages in knee joint function, joint stability and proprioception recovery, which may be a more effective surgical method. However, it may also increase the incidence of postoperative complications and adverse reactions. Conclusion Compared with Standard Technique, Remnant Preservation in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction has more advantages in restoring joint function and stability and proprioception. But the potential risks should also be considered by surgeons. At present, the quality of evidence is generally low, and the reliability of the conclusion is insufficient. It still needs to be verified and further in-depth research is needed.

Abstract Background The successful launch of icaritin, a therapeutic drug for liver cancer derived from Epimedium brevicornu, has provided new impetus for the development of prenylated flavonoids in the field of oncology. Flemingia macrophylla is reported to contain characteristic prenylated flavonoids which can regulate the p53 protein. We aimed to isolate these constituents and conduct activity evaluation, structure–activity relationship, and mechanism studies to provide candidate compounds for antitumor drug development. Methods In this study, chromatographic techniques combined with spectroscopic methods were used to separate, purify, and identify the constituents of Flemingia macrophylla methanol extract. The cytotoxic activity of the constituents was evaluated using an MTT assay with A549 and H1975 cells as the model. The binding mechanism between the compounds and the p53 protein was investigated with molecular docking and validated with cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA). Western blotting (WB) was employed to detect the expression of p53 protein and apoptosis-related proteins in cells. Results Chiral HPLC separation of racemates 1 and 7 provided two pairs of undescribed enantiomers (1a/1b and 7a/7b), along with eight known compounds (2 − 9) isolated from Flemingia macrophylla roots. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, and the absolute configurations of the enantiomers were determined from experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism data. Compounds 1 − 7, and the non-prenyl analogues 10 − 13, were evaluated for cytotoxic activity against the human lung cancer A549 and H1975 cell line. Compounds 5 − 7 displayed better cytotoxicity than the positive control icaritin in A549 and H1975, with IC50 values ranging from 4.50 to 19.83 μmol·L-1 and

Background: Chemotherapy is a primary treatment for breast cancer (BC), yet many patients develop resistance over time. This study aims to identify critical factors contributing to chemoresistance and their underlying molecular mechanisms, with a focus on reversing this resistance. Methods: We utilized samples from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and West China Hospital to identify and validate genes associated with chemoresistance. Functional studies were conducted using MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cell lines, involving gain-of-function and loss-of-function approaches. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) identified potential mechanisms. We examined interactions between DNAJC12, HSP70, and AKT using co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) assays and established cell line-derived xenograft (CDX) models for in vivo validations. Results: Boruta analysis of four GEO datasets identified DNAJC12 as highly significant. Patients with high DNAJC12 expression showed an 8 % pathological complete response (pCR) rate, compared to 38 % in the low expression group. DNAJC12 inhibited doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cell death through both ferroptosis and apoptosis. Combining apoptosis and ferroptosis inhibitors completely reversed DOX resistance caused by DNAJC12 overexpression. RNA-seq suggested that DNAJC12 overexpression activated the PI3K-AKT pathway. Inhibition of AKT reversed the DOX resistance induced by DNAJC12, including reduced apoptosis and ferroptosis, restoration of cleaved caspase 3, and decreased GPX4 and SLC7A11 levels. Additionally, DNAJC12 was found to increase AKT phosphorylation in an HSP70-dependent manner, and inhibiting HSP70 also reversed the DOX resistance. In vivo studies confirmed that AKT inhibition reversed DNAJC12-induced DOX resistance in the CDX model. Conclusion: DNAJC12 expression is closely linked to chemoresistance in BC. The DNAJC12-HSP70-AKT signaling axis is crucial in mediating resistance to chemotherapy by suppressing DOX-induced ferroptosis and apoptosis. Our findings suggest that targeting AKT and HSP70 activities may offer new therapeutic strategies to overcome chemoresistance in BC.

In this paper, a W-band unequal power divider is proposed on the basis of groove-to-ridge gap waveguide, and it is employed to design a low sidelobe level (SLL) slot array antenna with monopulse radiation patterns. The proposed unequal power divider is capable of realizing large power ratio and small phase difference. In light of this property, three different unequal power dividers with various output power ratios and phase balance are proposed for designing a low SLL array antenna. Furthermore, a compare network with planar Magic-Tee is designed for realizing the monopulse radiation patterns. Then, a 32 × 32 antenna array consisting of five unconnected layers is designed, fabricated, and measured. The measured results indicate that the relative impedance bandwidth of the antenna is about 5.5%. In addition, the realized gain of the sum pattern at 84 GHz is 35.4 dBi, while the null of the difference pattern is less than 38 dB. Furthermore, the SLL of the antenna array is more than −25 dB on both the E- and H-planes within the operating band.

To reduce the ash content of bone collagen peptide and improve the quality of bone collagen peptide products. In this paper, the method of nanofiltration desalination was used to remove ash. The process parameters for nanofiltration desalination of bone collagen peptides were optimized through design response tests. The changes in physical and chemical indicators, amino acid content, molecular weight distribution, content of various elements, and sensory scores of samples treated with nanofiltration membranes were analyzed. Results showed that, the optimal desalination process conditions were sample concentration of 5%, cycle times of 7 times and pressure of 0.5 MPa. Under this condition, the desalination rate was 65.89%±1.25%. After nanofiltration membrane treatment, the quality of the sample was significantly improved, but the amino acid content did not change much. Through the measurement of molecular weight distribution, it was found that nanofiltration desalination had little impact on the change of molecular weight distribution, the components with molecular weight less than 3000 Da accounted for 97%, which was in line with the provisions of the national food safety standard GB 31645-2018 bone collagen peptides. ICP-MS was used to analyze the changes in the content of various elements before and after desalination, and it was found that the content of various elements in the sample decreased to varying degrees, the content of Na, K, P, Mg, Ca decreased significantly (P

The plastic deformation of metal material is accompanied by surface defects, internal defects, damage cracks, etc., and these defects seriously restrict the processing of metal and its performance improvement. Therefore, the continuous damage mechanics theory and the fine view of the damage mechanics theory were reviewed, and then according to the damage model construction, to effectively predict the material crack damage, thus making a good foundation for the subsequent secondary development and simulation application. By comparison, the Johnson-Cook model has been widely used by researchers in its simple multiplication form, owing to its excellent ability to predict strain rate and mechanical behavior in the temperature range. The model is very suitable for finite element program simulation and its verification, and has been continuously improved and optimized.

Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus with highly contagious and has posed a significant threat to global public health. The main protease (Mpro) is a promising target for antiviral drugs against SARS-CoV-2.Methods: In this study, we have used pharmacophore-based drug design technology to identify potential compounds from drug databases as Mpro inhibitors.Results: The procedure involves pharmacophore modeling, validation, and pharmacophore-based virtual screening, which identifies 257 compounds with promising inhibitory activity.Discussion: Molecular docking and non-bonding interactions between the targeted protein Mpro and compounds showed that ENA482732 was the best compound. These results provided a theoretical foundation for future studies of Mpro inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2.

ObjectiveThe intricate relationship between sleep deprivation (SD) and cognitive performance has long been a subject of research. Our study offers a novel angle by closely examining the neurobiological underpinnings of sustained attention deficits through the lens of the fronto-parietal network (FPN). Using state-of-the-art imaging techniques, we delve into the changes in spontaneous brain activity after SD and explore their associations with performance on the psychomotor vigilance task (PVT).MethodsWe conducted an elaborate investigation involving 64 healthy, right-handed participants who underwent resting-state functional MRI scans before and after experiencing 24 h of sleep deprivation. Employing sophisticated statistical analyses, we scrutinized the changes in fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) through paired t-tests. Pearson correlation analyses were then applied to dissect the associations between these neurobiological shifts and behavioral outcomes in PVT.ResultsThe study yielded remarkable findings, revealing a dramatic decrease in fALFF values within critical areas of the FPN following SD. These alterations predominantly occurred in the frontal and parietal gyri and were inversely correlated with PVT performance metrics. Furthermore, we discovered that baseline fALFF values in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) have the potential to serve as compelling neurobiological markers, with high discriminatory power in identifying individual responses to the adverse effects of SD on cognitive performance.ConclusionOur groundbreaking research underscores the pivotal role that the FPN plays in modulating attention and executive function, especially under the challenging conditions brought about by sleep deprivation. The findings offer critical insights that could shape the way we understand, assess, and potentially mitigate the cognitive impacts of SD, setting the stage for future research in this riveting domain.

Background: Necroptosis, a novel form of programmed cell death wherein the necrotic morphology is characterized by swelling of the cells, rupture of the plasma membrane, and dysfunction of the organelle, has been always observed in cardiovascular diseases. Sugarcane leaf polysaccharide (SLP) are primary components present in sugarcane leaves that exert cardiovascular protective effects. However, the positive effect of SLP and underlying mechanisms in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (MI/R) remain unexplored. Aim: In this study, the protective effects of SLP on MI/R injury were investigated under in vitro and in vivo conditions. Methods: The protective effects of SLP on MI/R injury were assessed using tertiary butyl hydrogen peroxide (TBHP)–stimulated-H9c2 cells in the in vitro assay and using Sprague Dawley rats in the in vivo assay. Results: In vitro, SLP significantly reversed TBHP-induced H9c2 cell death by inhibiting necroptosis and oxidative stress. SLP exerted antioxidant activity through the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. SLP suppressed necroptosis by decreasing phosphorylation of RIP1, RIP3, and MLKL in TBHP-stimulated H9c2 cells. In vivo, SLP attenuated MI/R injury by decreasing the myocardial infarct area; increasing myeloperoxidase and superoxide dismutase levels; and reducing malondialdehyde, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α levels.

Abstract g‐C3N4 was employed as a modified substance for modification engineering of wurtzite‐ZnS photocatalysts to overcome its limited light response and stability. The g‐C3N4/ZnS (CNZS) photocatalyst was synthesized by solvothermal reaction of g‐C3N4, thiourea and zinc acetate. The results show that wurtzite‐ZnS spheres were loaded on the surface of g‐C3N4 with well uniformed size. The photocatalytic activity of the catalyst was determined by the degradation of MB and Rh.B under visible light. The degradation rates of Rh.B and MB by CNZS were 96% and 97%, much better than that of pure ZnS. The addition of g‐C3N4 promoted the visible light response of wurtzite‐ZnS and inhibited the recombination of photogenerated electrons with holes. The density functional theory (DFT) results indicated that the components of both valence band and conductive band were changed for the CNZS system. Compared to pure ZnS, the band gap of CNZS was decreased about 0.5 eV, and the work function calculations were in good agreement with the experimental results. As a result, the heterostructure of CNZS made it beneficial to the electron transfer from g‐C3N4(2p of N) to ZnS (3p of S) and absorption edge has been extended to about 600 nm.

Abstract Chemical vapor deposition-based growth techniques allow flexible design of complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) compatible materials. Here, we report the deuterated silicon-rich nitride films grown using plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. The linear and nonlinear properties of the films are characterized, and we experimentally confirm that the silicon-rich nitride films grown with SiD4 eliminates Si–H and N–H related absorption. The performance of identical waveguides for films grown with SiH4 and SiD4 are compared demonstrating a 2 dB/cm improvement in line with that observed in literature. Waveguides fabricated on the SRN:D film are further shown to possess a nonlinear parameter of 95 W−1 m−1, with the film exhibiting a linear and nonlinear refractive index of 2.46 and 9.8 $$\times$$ × 10–18 m2W−1 respectively.

Abstract Supercontinuum generation is demonstrated in a 3-mm-long ultra-silicon-rich nitride (USRN) waveguide by launching 500 fs pulses centered at 1555 nm with a pulse energy of 17 pJ. The generated supercontinuum is experimentally characterized to possess a high spectral coherence, with an average |g 12| exceeding 0.90 across the wavelength range of the coherence measurement (1260 nm to 1700 nm). Numerical simulations further indicate a high coherence over the full spectrum. The experimentally measured supercontinuum agrees well with the theoretical simulations based on the generalized nonlinear Schrödinger equation. The generated broadband spectra using 500 fs pulses possessing high spectral coherence provide a promising route for CMOS-compatible light sources for self-referencing applications, metrology, and imaging.

With the simple perovskite structure, Bi2WO6 could be utilized as a modifier to overcome the low visible light response of the wide energy band photocatalyst ZnS. Flower-like Bi2WO6 was simply synthesized by hydrothermal method and Bi2WO6/ZnS heterojunction was constructed via solvothermal reaction. The results showed that ZnS nanospheres were uniformly loaded on the flower-like structure, which was well kept under low concentration loading (≤20%ωt ZnS). The degradation of MB and Rh.B under visible light was used to measure the photocatalytic activity of the photocatalysts. The degradation rates of MB and Rh.B by 20%ωt-Bi2WO6/ZnS were as high as 94.3% and 92.8%, respectively. Moreover, the degradation performance of photocatalyst still maintained 89.3% after 4 times recycling tests. The visible light absorption ability of modified ZnS was improved, and the recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes was inhibited due to the formation of heterojunction. According to the data from density functional theory calculation, the composition of the valence band and conductive band of the Bi2WO6/ZnS system has been altered. The band gap of Bi2WO6/ZnS was reduced by roughly 1.12 eV compared to that of pure ZnS, and the work function analysis were in good agreement with the experimental results. Under light stimulation, electrons were transferred from Bi2WO6 to ZnS to produce superoxide radicals which played key roles in the degradation reaction of dyes.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a rapidly emerging infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. Inflammatory factors may play essential roles in COVID-19 progression. Huashi Baidu Decoction (HSBD) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula that can expel cold, dispel dampness, and reduce inflammation. HSBD has been widely used for the treatment of COVID-19. However, the active ingredients and potential targets for HSBD to exert anti-inflammatory or anti-SARS-CoV-2 effects remain unclear. In this paper, the active ingredients with anti-inflammatory or anti-viral effects in HSBD and their potential targets were screened using the Discovery Studio 2020 software. By overlapping the targets of HSBD and COVID-19, 8 common targets (FYN, SFTPD, P53, RBP4, IL1RN, TTR, SRPK1, and AKT1) were identified. We determined 2 key targets (P53 and AKT1) by network pharmacology. The main active ingredients in HSBD were evaluated using the key targets as receptor proteins for molecular docking. The results suggested that the best active ingredients Kaempferol2 and Kaempferol3 have the potential as supplements for the treatment of COVID-19.

BackgroundIndoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) is responsible for tumor immune escape by regulating T cell-associated immune responses and promoting the activation of immunosuppressive. Given the vital role of IDO1 in immune response, further investigation on the regulation of IDO1 in tumors is needed.MethodsHerein, we used ELISA kit to detect the interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), Tryptophan (Trp), and kynurenic acid (Kyn) levels; western blot, Flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence assays detected the expression of the proteins; Molecular docking assay, SPR assay and Cellular Thermal Shift Assay (CETSA) were used to detect the interaction between IDO1 and Abrine; nano live label-free system was used to detect the phagocytosis activity; tumor xenografts animal experiments were used to explore the anti-tumor effect of Abrine; flow cytometry detected the immune cells changes.ResultsThe important immune and inflammatory response cytokine interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) up-regulated the IDO1 expression in cancer cells through the methylation of 6-methyladenosine (m6A) m6A modification of RNA, metabolism of Trp into Kyn, and JAK1/STAT1 signaling pathway, which could be inhibited by IDO1 inhibitor Abrine. CD47 is IFN-γ-stimulated genes (ISGs) and prevents the phagocytosis of macrophages, leading to the cancer immune escape, and this effect could be inhibited by Abrine both in vivo and in vitro. The PD-1/PD-L1 axis is an important immune checkpoint in regulating immune response, overexpression of PD-1 or PD-L1 promotes immune suppression, while in this study Abrine could inhibit the expression of PD-L1 in cancer cells or tumor tissue. The combination treatment of Abrine and anti-PD-1 antibody has a synergistic effect on suppressing the tumor growth through up-regulating CD4+ or CD8+ T cells, down-regulating the Foxp3+ Treg cells, and inhibiting the expression of IDO1, CD47, and PD-L1.ConclusionOverall, this study reveals that Abrine as an IDO1 inhibitor has an inhibition effect on immune escape and has a synergistic effect with the anti-PD-1 antibody on the treatment of HCC.

Abstract Background Antrodia cinnamomea, a rare medicinal fungus, has been increasingly studied in recent years because of its abundant secondary metabolites which are beneficial to humans. However, there is a lack of research on its polyphenols which are of good research value due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic and other activities. Results In this study, the effects of different extraction conditions on the yield of its polyphenols were investigated. Deep-Eutectic Solvents composed of choline chloride and malonic acid had the best extraction efficiency, with the optimal extraction conditions being as follows: a solid–liquid ratio of 40 mg/mL, an extraction temperature of 55 °C, an extraction time of 70 min and a DES with 20% water content. Under these conditions, the extraction yield of polyphenols reached 22.09 mg/g which was about 2 times that of alcohol-based extraction (10.95 mg/g). In vitro antioxidant test results further showed that polyphenols from A. cinnamomea had strong antioxidant activities. When the concentration of polyphenols reached 0.1 mg/mL of polyphenols, the scavenging activity of free radical basically reached its maximum, with values of 94.10%, 83.34% and 95.42% for DPPH, ABTS+ and ·OH scavenging. In this case, the corresponding IC50 values were 0.01, 0.014 and 0.007 mg/mL, respectively. Conclusions This study lays the foundation for the efficient extraction and application of polyphenols from A. cinnamomea.

Abstract Ultra-silicon-rich nitride with refractive indices ~ 3 possesses high nonlinear refractive index—100× higher than stoichiometric silicon nitride and presents absence of two-photon absorption, making it attractive to be used in nonlinear integrated optics at telecommunications wavelengths. Despite its excellent nonlinear properties, ultra-silicon-rich nitride photonics devices reported so far still have fairly low quality factors of $$\sim 6\times {10}^{4}$$ ∼ 6 × 10 4 , which could be mainly attributed by the material absorption bonds. Here, we report low temperature plasma-deposited dichlorosilane-based ultra-silicon-rich nitride (Si8N) with lower material absorption bonds, and ~ 2.5× higher quality factors compared to ultra-silicon-rich nitride conventionally prepared with silane-based chemistry. This material is found to be highly rich in silicon with refractive indices of ~ 3.12 at telecommunications wavelengths and atomic concentration ratio Si:N of ~ 8:1. The material morphology, surface roughness and binding energies are also investigated. Optically, the material absorption bonds are quantified and show an overall reduction. Ring resonators fabricated exhibit improved intrinsic quality factors $$\sim 1.5\times {10}^{5}$$ ∼ 1.5 × 10 5 , ~ 2.5× higher compared to conventional silane-based ultra-silicon-rich nitride films. This enhanced quality factor from plasma-deposited dichlorosilane-based ultra-silicon-rich nitride signifies better photonics device performance using these films. A pathway has been opened up for further improved device performance of ultra-silicon-rich nitride photonics devices at material level tailored by choice of different chemistries.

Abstract Background Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide, and most of the patients after treatment with EGF-TKIs develop drug resistance, which is closely correlated with EMT. Cucurbitacin B (CuB) is a natural product of the Chinese herb Cucurbitaceae plant, which has a favorable role in anti-inflammation and anti-cancer activities. However, the effect of CuB on EMT is still far from fully explored. In this study, the inhibition effect of CuB on EMT was investigated. Methods In this study, TGF-β1 was used to induce EMT in A549 cells. MTS assay was used to detect the cell viability of CuB co-treated with TGF-β1. Wound healing assay and transwell assay were used to determine the migration and invasion capacity of cells. Flow cytometry and fluorescence microscope were used to detect the ROS level in cells. Western blotting assay and immunofluorescence assay were used to detect the proteins expression. Gefitinib was used to establish EGF-TKI resistant NSCLC cells. B16-F10 intravenous injection mice model was used to evaluate the effect of CuB on lung cancer metastasis in vivo. Caliper IVIS Lumina and HE staining were used to detect the lung cancer metastasis of mice. Results In this study, the results indicated that CuB inhibited TGF-β1-induced EMT in A549 cells through reversing the cell morphology changes of EMT, increasing the protein expression of E-cadherin, decreasing the proteins expression of N-cadherin and Vimentin, suppressing the migration and invasion ability. CuB also decreased the ROS production and p-PI3K, p-Akt and p-mTOR expression in TGF-β1-induced EMT in A549 cells. Furthermore, Gefitinib resistant A549 cells (A549-GR) were well established, which has the EMT characteristics, and CuB could inhibit the EMT in A549-GR cells through ROS and PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathways. In vivo study showed that CuB inhibited the lung cancer metastasis effectively through intratracheal administration. Conclusion CuB inhibits EMT in TGF-β1-induced A549 cells and Gefitinib resistant A549 cells through decreasing ROS production and PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. In vivo study validated that CuB inhibits lung cancer metastasis in mice. The study may be supporting CuB as a promising therapeutic agent for NSCLC and Gefitinib resistant NSCLC.

Abstract Background Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can differentiate into diverse cell types under specific conditions. Dysfunction in the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs can result in bone metabolism-related diseases, including osteoporosis. Accumulating evidence has revealed that long non-coding RNA (lncRNAs) play critical regulatory roles during MSC differentiation. Methods In the present study, we identified an evolutionarily conserved lncRNA expressed during the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs, which we termed LINC01119. We first identified LINC01119 as a negative regulator of the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. Results LINC01119 knockdown markedly induced calcium deposition in bone marrow MSCs and promoted the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. More importantly, we demonstrated the underlying molecular basis through which LINC01119 regulates osteogenesis via the Wnt pathway by targeting FZD4. Furthermore, we observed that transcription factor EBF3 could directly bind the promoter site of LINC01119. Conclusions We first explored the molecular regulatory mechanism of LINC01119 during the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs and revealed that LINC01119 negatively regulates osteogenesis through the Wnt pathway by targeting FZD4.

Ginsenoside Rb1 (GRb1), a bioactive ingredient of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer, has the effects of anti-tumor, anti-inflammation, and cardiovascular protection. The present study aims to explore the effects and potential mechanisms of GRb1 on UC. GRb1 suppressed the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-1β in both cells and mice models. GRb1 showed antioxidant effects and inhibited NLR family pyrin domain 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation by decreasing ROS production and directly targeting Nrf2 to activate Nrf2/HO-1/Keap-1 signaling pathway. In addition, GRb1 suppressed pyroptosis by inhibiting inflammasome activation and Ca2+ level through the calcium-related phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) signaling pathway. For the DSS-induced UC mice model, GRb1 improved the length and pathological damage to the colon to repair intestinal barrier integrity via modulating the inflammatory response. Taken together, GRb1 has therapeutic effects on UC in vitro and in vivo through regulating the Nrf2/PIP2/NLRP3 pathway, suggesting that GRb1 targeting Nrf2 is a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of UC.

Introduction. DN is a common complication of diabetes. However, diabetes combined with renal injury may involve DN or NDKD, with different treatment schemes. The purpose of our study was to determine the independent risk factors of DN and establish a risk score model to help differentiate DN and NDKD, providing a reference for clinical treatment. Methods. A total of 678 T2D patients who had undergone renal biopsy in four affiliated hospitals of Peking University were consecutively enrolled. Patients were assigned to the DN group and NDKD group according to histopathological results. Seventy percent of patients from PKUFH were randomly assigned to the training group, and the remaining 30% were assigned to the internal validation group. Patients from the other three centers were assigned to the external validation group. We used univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses to identify independent risk factors of DN in the training group and conducted multivariate logistic regression analysis with these independent risk factors in the training group to find regression coefficients “β” to establish a risk score model. Finally, we conducted internal and external validation of the model with ROC curves. Results. Diabetic retinopathy, diabetes duration≥5 years, eGFR

Drying is an important process of cotton-stalk reconstituted material. The aim of this study was to find the best drying process of extruded cotton stalks by using three drying methods and applying single-factor experiments combined with response surface methodology (RSM). For experimental design, the central composite design approach was used. The hot-air temperature, moisture content at the conversion point, and microwave power were selected as influencing factors; the drying rate and energy consumption per unit precipitation were selected as experimental indexes. The regression equation between each experimental factor and the performance index was established, and the optimization calculation was carried out. The experimental results showed that the optimum drying parameters were as follows: hot-air temperature 95 °C, moisture content at the conversion point 57%, and microwave power 700 W. With these experimental conditions, it was verified that the drying rate was 4.14 kg (100 kg min)−1 and the energy consumption per unit precipitation was 70.89 MJ kg−1, which were 106.7% and 10.4% lower than that of hot-air drying and microwave drying, respectively. The research results will provide a theoretical and technical basis for the large-scale drying process of cotton stalks and the design of drying equipment.

Abstract Infrared (IR)-emitting RE doped materials have been extensively used to fabricate active components of integrated optical devices in various fields, such as fiber amplifiers, telecommunications, optoelectronics, and waveguides. Among various RE elements, trivalent erbium ions (Er 3+) are of great interest since their emissive behavior span the low loss telecommunication window of 1300–1650 nm. In this paper, we report two types of polymeric waveguide amplifiers. 8 cm long, lithographically patterned spiral waveguides provide 8 dB of gain using a 980 nm pump power of 95 mW. Gain is observed from 1530 to 1590 nm. We further report the first demonstration of polymeric waveguide amplifiers fabricated using 3D printing methods based on two-photon lithography, paving the way for rapid prototyping of active 3D printed devices and active photonic devices which may transcend planar limitations.

IntroductionCoronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. Severe cases of COVID-19 are characterized by an intense inflammatory process that may ultimately lead to organ failure and patient death. Qingfei Paidu Decoction (QFPD), a traditional Chines e medicine (TCM) formula, is widely used in China as anti-SARS-CoV-2 and anti-inflammatory. However, the potential targets and mechanisms for QFPD to exert anti-SARS-CoV-2 or anti-inflammatory effects remain unclear.MethodsIn this study, Computer-Aided Drug Design was performed to identify the antiviral or anti-inflammatory components in QFPD and their targets using Discovery Studio 2020 software. We then investigated the mechanisms associated with QFPD for treating COVID-19 with the help of multiple network pharmacology approaches.Results and discussionBy overlapping the targets of QFPD and COVID-19, we discovered 8 common targets (RBP4, IL1RN, TTR, FYN, SFTPD, TP53, SRPK1, and AKT1) of 62 active components in QFPD. These may represent potential targets for QFPD to exert anti-SARS-CoV-2 or anti-inflammatory effects. The result showed that QFPD might have therapeutic effects on COVID-19 by regulating viral infection, immune and inflammation-related pathways. Our work will promote the development of new drugs for COVID-19.

Objective In this study, serum markers of acute ischemic stroke (AICS) with carotid artery plaque were retrospectively evaluated to establish a basis for discovering serological indicators for early warning of acute ischemic stroke (AICS). Methods A total of 248 patients with AICS were enrolled in Lanzhou University Second Hospital from January 2019 to December 2020. The study population included 136 males and 112 females, 64 ± 11 years of age. Of these, there were 90 patients with a transient ischemic attack (TIA), including 60 males and 30 females, aged 64 ± 8 years old. Patients with AICS were stratified by carotid ultrasound into a plaque group (n = 154) and a non-plaque group (n = 94). A total of 160 healthy subjects were selected as the control group. Serum lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), amyloid A (SAA), immunoglobulin E (IgE), D-dimer (D-D), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were collected from all subjects. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors of AICS with carotid plaque. ROC curve was used to analyze the diagnostic efficacy of AICS with carotid plaque. Results The IgE, Lp-PLA2, SAA, LDL-C, TC, TG, and D-D levels in the AICS group were higher than those in the TIA group and healthy control group (P

The slow regression rate induced by the high pyrolysis difficulty has limited the application and development of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB)-based fuels in hybrid rocket propulsion. Nickel oxide (NiO) shows the possibility of increasing the regression rate of HTPB-based fuels by catalyzing the pyrolysis process of the polymer matrix in our previous investigation; hence, this paper studies the NiO particles in the thermal decomposition and combustion of HTPB fuel grains. The DSC/TG test shows that NiO can intensely decrease the thermal stability of HTPB, and the catalytic effect of NiO is mainly reflected in the final decomposition stages of polybutadiene components. 5 wt% NiO enhances the regression rate by 19.4% and 13.7% under an oxygen mass flux of 50 kg/m2s and 150 kg/m2s, respectively. Further investigation shows that NiO particles will also cause the reduction of combustion heat and the agglomeration at the regressing surface while catalyzing the pyrolysis process, improving the thermal conductivity, and promoting the radiative heat transfer of the HTPB-based fuels; thus, more NiO additive (5 wt% < [NiO] ≤ 10 wt%) does not lead to a faster regression rate in HTPB-based fuels. This study demonstrates the catalytic effect of NiO on the polymer matrix for HTPB-based fuels, showing the attractive application prospects of this additive in HTPB-containing fuel grains.