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Abstract Improvements in the polarization of environmentally-friendly perovskite ferroelectrics have proved to be a challenging task in order to replace the toxic Pb-based counterparts. In contrast to common methods by complex chemical composition designs, we have formed Mn-inlaid antiphase boundaries in Mn-doped (K,Na)NbO3 thin films using pulsed laser deposition method. Here, we observed that mono- or bi-atomic layer of Mn has been identified to inlay along the antiphase boundaries to balance the charges originated from the deficiency of alkali ions and to induce the strain in the KNN films. Thus, rectangular saturated polarization-electric field hysteresis loops have been achieved, with a significantly improved twice remanent polarization of 114 μC/cm2 with an applied electric field of 606 kV/cm, which can be comparable to that of the typical Pb-based thin films. Moreover, we directly see the Mn occupation at the A-site of KNN perovskite structure using atomic-scale microstructure and composition analysis. The Mn-inlaid antiphase boundary can further enrich the understanding of perovskite crystal structure and give more possibilities for the design and optimization of perovskite materials.

Abstract Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease marked by synovitis and cartilage destruction. The active compound, icariin (ICA), derived from the herb Epimedium, exhibits potent anti-inflammatory properties. However, its clinical utility is limited by its water insolubility, poor permeability, and low bioavailability. To address these challenges, we developed a multifunctional drug delivery system—adipose-derived stem cells-exosomes (ADSCs-EXO)-ICA to target active macrophages in synovial tissue and modulate macrophage polarization from M1 to M2. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis confirmed a 92.4 ± 0.008% loading efficiency for ADSCs-EXO-ICA. In vitro studies utilizing cellular immunofluorescence (IF) and flow cytometry demonstrated significant inhibition of M1 macrophage proliferation by ADSCs-EXO-ICA. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, cellular transcriptomics, and real-time quantitative PCR indicated that ADSCs-EXO-ICA promotes an M1-to-M2 phenotypic transition by reducing glycolysis through the inhibition of the ERK/HIF-1α/GLUT1 pathway. In vivo, ADSCs-EXO-ICA effectively accumulated in the joints. Pharmacodynamic assessments revealed that ADSCs-EXO-ICA decreased cytokine levels and mitigated arthritis symptoms in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rats. Histological analysis and micro computed tomography confirmed that ADSCs-EXO-ICA markedly ameliorated synovitis and preserved cartilage. Further in vivo studies indicated that ADSCs-EXO-ICA suppresses arthritis by promoting an M1-to-M2 switch and suppressing glycolysis. Western blotting supported the therapeutic efficacy of ADSCs-EXO-ICA in RA, confirming its role in modulating macrophage function through energy metabolism regulation. Thus, this study not only introduces a drug delivery system that significantly enhances the anti-RA efficacy of ADSCs-EXO-ICA but also elucidates its mechanism of action in macrophage function inhibition. Graphical abstract

Abstract Objective Kappa opioid receptor (KOR) signaling is involved in joint development and inflammation in Osteoarthritis (OA), while the biochemical mechanism remains unclarified. This study aims to investigate downstream molecular events of KOR activation, to provide novel perspectives in OA pathology. Methods U50,488H, a selective KOR agonist, was intra-articularly injected in mice upon destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) as OA models, with PBS injection as control. The behavioral and histological evaluation was assessed by hot plate test and red solid green staining, respectively. Alterations in mRNA and protein expression were assessed by RNA-seq, RT-qPCR, immunohistochemistry and western blotting (WB) in chondrocytes treated with TNF-α or TNF-α + U50,488H. Proteins interacted with KOR were explored using proximity labeling followed by mass spectrometry and then testified by co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) assay and immunofluorescence (IF). Results OA-induced pain was reduced and cartilage degeneration was alleviated upon KOR activation in DMM mice. In chondrocytes, activation of KOR reversed the upregulation of MMPs, IL-6, IL-1β and phosphorylated(p-) STAT3, stimulated by TNF-α, while the expression of NF-κB, MAPKs and AKT signaling weren't reversed. RNA-seq and IF results presented that KOR activation evidently reduced STAT3 nuclear translocation in chondrocytes upon TNF-α stimuli. The reduction may be resulted from the binding of KOR and STAT3 in the plasma membrane, revealed by proximity labeling and Co-IP results. Conclusions KOR activation protects cartilage from OA, and this protective effect is mainly exerted via sequestering STAT3 on the plasma membrane, resulting in inactivation of STAT3-dependent immune responses which otherwise contributes to OA.

We characterized the evolution and molecular characteristics of avian influenza A(H7N9) viruses isolated in China during 2021–2023. We systematically analyzed the 10-year evolution of the hemagglutinin gene to determine the evolutionary branch. Our results showed recent antigenic drift, providing crucial clues for updating the H7N9 vaccine and disease prevention and control.

Abstract The ultrahigh flexibility and elasticity achieved in freestanding single-crystalline ferroelectric oxide membranes have attracted much attention recently. However, for antiferroelectric oxides, the flexibility limit and fundamental mechanism in their freestanding membranes are still not explored clearly. Here, we successfully fabricate freestanding single-crystalline PbZrO3 membranes by a water-soluble sacrificial layer technique. They exhibit good antiferroelectricity and have a commensurate/incommensurate modulated microstructure. Moreover, they also have good shape recoverability when bending with a small radius of curvature (about 2.4 μm for the thickness of 120 nm), corresponding to a bending strain of 2.5%. They could tolerate a maximum bending strain as large as 3.5%, far beyond their bulk counterpart. Our atomistic simulations reveal that this remarkable flexibility originates from the antiferroelectric-ferroelectric phase transition with the aid of polarization rotation. This study not only suggests the mechanism of antiferroelectric oxides to achieve high flexibility but also paves the way for potential applications in flexible electronics.

In this study, the Mo0.5NbTiZrTax (x = 0.3, 0.5, 0.7) HEAs obtained by arc melting were controlled by the change of Ta content. The microstructure, the wear properties, and the corrosion resistance of the alloys were studied systematically. The results revealed that the alloys have the BCC (major) phase + BCC (minor) phase structure. At the same time, the increase in Ta content promotes the refinement of grains and the formation of sub-grains with gradually random orientation at grain boundaries but suppresses the randomization of crystal orientation. This also enriched the defect structure inside the alloys, further induced the formation of Zr-rich second phase particles, high-density stacking fault structures, and disordered Zr-rich BCC phases. The increase in Ta content significantly improved the wear properties of the alloys, which is mainly ascribed to the presence of the tough BCC phase and the combined effects of solid solution strengthening, second phase strengthening, fine grain strengthening, lattice distortion effect, and stacking fault strengthening. The electrochemical measurements confirm that the overall corrosion resistance of the alloys shows a trend of first increasing and then decreasing with the increase of Ta content due to the formation of micro batteries between the second phase rich in Zr as the anode and dendrites.

Abstract Background To establish a prognostic risk profile for ovarian cancer (OC) patients based on cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and gain a comprehensive understanding of their role in OC progression, prognosis, and therapeutic efficacy. Methods Data on OC single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and total RNA-seq were collected from the GEO and TCGA databases. Seurat R program was used to analyze scRNA-seq data and identify CAFs clusters corresponding to CAFs markers. Differential expression analysis was performed on the TCGA dataset to identify prognostic genes. A CAF-associated risk signature was designed using Lasso regression and combined with clinicopathological variables to develop a nomogram. Functional enrichment and the immune landscape were also analyzed. Results Five CAFs clusters were identified in OC using scRNA-seq data, and 2 were significantly associated with OC prognosis. Seven genes were selected to develop a CAF-based risk signature, primarily associated with 28 pathways. The signature was a key independent predictor of OC prognosis and relevant in predicting the results of immunotherapy interventions. A novel nomogram combining CAF-based risk and disease stage was developed to predict OC prognosis. Conclusion The study highlights the importance of CAFs in OC progression and suggests potential for innovative treatment strategies. A CAF-based risk signature provides a highly accurate prediction of the prognosis of OC patients, and the developed nomogram shows promising results in predicting the OC prognosis.

ABSTRACT: Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) is a contagious pathogen that poses a significant threat to the poultry industry. Detection plays an important role in the prevention and control of MS, particularly in differentiating between wild-type MS and live attenuated vaccine strains for vaccination selection and culling of animals with wild-type only. The live attenuated ts+ vaccine strain MS-H is recognized as the most effective and widely used vaccine. In this study, we have developed a method called double enzyme-activated differentiation probes PCR (DEA-probes PCR) for the differentiation of MS-H vaccine strain from wild-type strain by targeting the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the 367th nucleotide in the Obg gene sequence. We developed 2 modified probes with the ribonucleotide insert. When the probe perfectly complements with the target, the ribonuclease H2 (RNase H2) will cleave the ribonucleotide, resulting in the generation of fluorescent signal. With a detection limit of 5.8 copies/µL, the DEA-probes PCR method demonstrates 100% specificity in distinguishing wild-type MS from MS-H strains in 1 h. The method demonstrated great performance in real application of 100 superior palate cleft swab samples from chickens in poultry farms. Twenty-eight samples were detected as MS positive, consistent with the results of the Chinese industry standard method. Additionally, our method was able to distinguish 19 wild-type MS strains from 9 MS-H vaccine strains. The DEA-probes PCR method is rapid, specific and sensitive for SNP detection, overcoming the misidentification in MS detection and differentiation. It can be also applied to the differentiation of infected from vaccinated animals (DIVA) for other pathogens.

A 36-year-old unmarried male chef was incidentally diagnosed with hypokalemia during an evaluation for an acute perianal abscess. Despite potassium supplementation, he developed progressive weakness in his lower limbs, culminating in an inability to stand. Investigations confirmed severe hypokalemia, metabolic alkalosis, hypomagnesemia, secondary hyperaldosteronism, and low urinary calcium excretion, with normotension. The patient’s long-standing stunted growth and lean physique since childhood were noted. Biochemical assays further identified type 2 diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome. Genetic analysis revealed three heterozygous SLC12A3 mutations (M1: c.421G>A: p.G141R, M2: c.509T>A:p.L170Q, and M3: c.704C>A: p.T235K), compound heterozygo us and derived from both parents, with M1 and M3 reported here for the first time. Treatment with spironolactone and oral potassium chloride stabilized his potassium levels. Following the administration of SGLT2 inhibitors in patients receiving hypoglycemic therapy, we observed a mild decrease in serum sodium levels. This case highlights the criticality of vigilant metabolic surveillance in Gitelman syndrome and advises prudence with SGLT2 inhibitors in those with concurrent type 2 diabetes, given the risk of potentially aggravate sodium loss.

The investigation was conducted to describe the status of coverage of HBV vaccination among the health care workers in Gansu province and to explore the associated factors of HBV vaccination in this study. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1544 health care workers from 64 hospitals in Gansu province. A self-designed questionnaire was used to interview the health care workers about HBV vaccination coverage. A multivariate logistic regression model explored the associated factors with HBV vaccination. The vaccination coverage was 89.17% for health care workers, nurses (90.40%) had the highest rate, followed by administration staff (89.38%) and medical technicians (89.30%). The full-dose HBV vaccination coverage was 64.25% for health care workers, and administration staff (65.04%) had the highest rate, followed by nurses (65.00%). This study found that the associated factors with HBV vaccination and full-dose vaccination were the history of training and the detection of serological indicators. The coverage of HBV vaccination among health care workers in Gansu province was high, but full-dose HBV vaccination coverage was low. It is necessary to strengthen the HBV knowledge and training in HBV prevention and treatment among health care workers in Gansu Province.

Tourism promotes the economic development of agro-cultural heritage sites while causing the problem of spatial alienation, so exploring the spatial alienation problems based on the integration of culture and tourism is of great significance for achieving the sustainable development of tourism in agro-cultural heritage sites. This study took the Yuanyang Hani Terrace agro-cultural heritage site as the research area, constructed the model of the spatial system of the agro-cultural heritage site based on the classical grounded theory, and analyzed the spatial characteristics of the agro-cultural heritage site. The results show that the spatial disorder of the agro-cultural heritage site is caused by the interaction of the imbalance of physical space, the fragmentation of cultural space and the complications of social space. Next, this study constructed the model for the spatial restructuring of the agro-cultural heritage site in the context of culture and tourism integration, with the integration of management systems as a guiding force, the integration of talent systems as a crucial force, the integration of agricultural, cultural and tourism resources as a core force, the integration of the cultural and tourism industries as a driving force, the integration of ecology and culture as a basic force, and the integration of digital scenes as an innovative force. This study expands and deepens the spatial theory of tourist destinations and the knowledge system of cultural heritage tourism, and provides a systematic implementation framework and management tools for the integration of culture and tourism and the high-quality development of agro-cultural heritage sites.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the risk factors, metabolic characteristics, and potential biomarkers of mild cognitive impairment in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM-MCI) and to provide potential evidence for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Methods: A total of 103 patients with T2DM were recruited from the Endocrinology Department of The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University for inclusion in the study. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was utilized to evaluate the cognitive functioning of all patients. Among them, 50 patients were categorized into the T2DM-MCI group (MoCA score < 26 points), while 53 subjects were classified into the T2DM without cognitive impairment (T2DM-NCI) group (MoCA score ≥ 26 points). Serum samples were collected from the subjects, and metabolomics profiling data were generated by Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS). These groups were analyzed to investigate the differences in expression of small molecule metabolites, metabolic pathways, and potential specific biomarkers.Results: Comparison between the T2DM-MCI group and T2DM-NCI group revealed significant differences in years of education, history of insulin application, insulin resistance index, insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), and creatinine levels. Further binary logistic regression analysis of the variables indicated that low educational level and low serum IGFBP-3 were independent risk factor for T2DM-MCI. Metabolomics analysis revealed that differential expression of 10 metabolites between the T2DM-MCI group and T2DM-NCI group (p < 0.05 and FDR1.5). Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment pathway analysis revealed that fatty acid degradation was the most significant pathway. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis shows that lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) 18:0 exhibited greater diagnostic efficiency.Conclusion: This study revealed that a shorter duration of education and lower serum IGFBP-3 levels are independent risk factors for T2DM-MCI. Serum metabolites were found to be altered in both T2DM-MCI and T2DM-NCI groups. T2DM patients with or without MCI can be distinguished by LPC 18:0. Abnormal lipid metabolism plays a significant role in the development of MCI in T2DM patients.

Abstract Aim The current overview on published systematic reviews (SRs) and meta-analysis (MAs) aimed to systematically gather, evaluate, and synthesize solid evidence for using fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) to treat ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods Relevant articles published before January 2023 were collected from Web of Science, Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane Library. Two authors used Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR-2) tool, PRISMA checklists, and Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system were applied by two authors to independently evaluate the methodological quality, reporting quality, and evidence quality, respectively. Re-meta-analysis on the primary RCTs was conducted after excluding overlapping randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Results Six SRs/MAs involving 12 primary RCTs and 544 participants were included. According to the AMSTAR-2 tool and PRISMA checklist, methodological quality and reporting quality of the included studies was overall satisfactory. The evidence quality of a great majority of outcomes was rated as moderate to high according to the GRADE system. Compared to placebo, the re-meta-analysis found a great advantage of use FMT in inducing combined clinical and endoscopic remission (OR 3.83 [2.31, 6.34]), clinical remission (3.31 [2.09, 5.25]), endoscopic remission (OR 3.75 [2.20, 6.39]), clinical response (OR 2.56 [1.64, 4.00]), and endoscopic response (OR 2.18 [1.12, 4.26]). Pooled data showed no significant difference in serious adverse events between patients receiving FMT and those receiving placebo (OR 1.53 [0.74, 3.19]). Evidence quality of the outcomes derived from re-meta-analysis was significantly higher after overcoming the limitations of previous SRs/MAs. Conclusion In conclusion, moderate- to high-quality evidence supported a promising use of FMT to safely induce remission in UC. However, further trials with larger sample size are still required to comprehensively analyze the delivery route, total dosage, frequency, and donor selection in FMT.

Abstract Flexible electronics strongly demand the integration of flexible and large‐scale multifunctional oxides. BiFeO3 is one of the most essential multifunctional oxides that could be used in memories, logics, sensors, and actuators. Recently, freestanding single‐crystalline BiFeO3 membranes exhibited superior elasticity and flexibility. However, fabrication and integration of large‐scale freestanding BiFeO3 membranes into flexible electronics remain elusive. In this study, inch‐scale freestanding single‐crystalline BiFeO3 membranes are fabricated with assistance from a water‐soluble sacrificial layer. To transfer flat and crack‐free membranes, all the existing methods are first followed but fail. Then the study introduces a temporary supporting Cu layer on the surface of the as‐grown SiTiO3/Sr3Al2O6/(SrRuO3/)BiFeO3 heterostructure and successfully obtains full and crack‐free 5 mm × 5 mm freestanding membranes on various substrates. The residual strain within the heterostructure releases gradually under the protection of the Cu layer. The freestanding BiFeO3 membranes are relatively uniform among different regions and exhibit good dielectric, ferroelectric, and ferromagnetic properties. Finally, flexible ferroelectric photovoltaic devices are patterned based on those BiFeO3 membranes, and they have open circuit voltage and short circuit current density up to −0.25 ± 0.03 V and 0.82 ± 0.09 µA cm−2, respectively.

BackgroundIndividual metal levels are potential risk factors for the development of preeclampsia (PE). However, understanding of relationship between multiple metals and PE remains elusive.PurposeThe purpose of this study was to explore whether eight metals [zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg)] in serum had a certain relationship with PE.MethodsA study was conducted in Dongguan, China. The concentrations of metals in maternal serum were assessed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Data on various factors were collected through a face-to-face interview and hospital electronic medical records. The unconditional logistic regression model, principal component analysis (PCA) and Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) were applied in our study.ResultsThe logistic regression model revealed that the elevated levels of Cu, Pb, and Hg were associated with an increased risk of PE. According to PCA, principal component 1 (PC1) was predominated by Hg, Pb, Mn, Ni, Cu, and As, and PC1 was associated with an increased risk of PE, while PC2 was predominated by Cd and Zn. The results of BKMR indicated a significant positive cumulative effect of serum metals on PE risk, with Ni and Cu exhibiting a significant positive effect. Moreover, BKMR results also revealed the nonlinear effects of Ni and Cd.ConclusionThe investigation suggests a potential positive cumulative impact of serum metals on the occurrence of PE, with a particular emphasis on Cu as a potential risk factor for the onset and exacerbation of PE. These findings offer valuable insights for guiding future studies on this concern.

Anhydrous hydrogen fluoride (AHF), a critical raw material for industries such as aluminum, pharmaceuticals, and petroleum, has traditionally been sourced from fluorite—a non-renewable mineral. The unsustainable reliance on fluorite has catalyzed the search for alternative AHF production methods. A promising substitute is fluorosilicic acid (FSA), a byproduct of the phosphate fertilizer industry previously deemed waste. Transforming fluorosilicic acid into AHF not only yields a valuable resource but also addresses the environmental and economic challenges associated with waste management. The innovative practice of producing AHF from fluorosilicic acid signals a shift towards sustainable chemical production by capitalizing on waste, potentially diminishing reliance on fluorite and reducing the industry’s environmental impact. This review thoroughly dissects the AHF synthesis process from fluorosilicic acid. Despite the acknowledged importance of fluorinated compounds in numerous industrial applications, research on their synthesis from fluorosilicic acid is limited and fragmented. This review seeks to amalgamate this scattered information by closely scrutinizing diverse industrial processing methods. Additionally, it explores the current and future landscape, economic feasibility, and strategies to navigate the obstacles inherent in synthesizing AHF from fluorosilicic acid. It also assesses the environmental impact of these methods, thereby contributing to the dialogue in this emerging field. The primary aim of this manuscript is to foster further research and promote the industrial uptake of this sustainable process. Highlighting the challenges and proposing potential improvements, the review supports the responsible reuse of waste and advocates for advancements in industrial practices.

The present study aims to reveal wear characteristics of an impeller pump transporting the mixture of liquid and solid particles. An experimental work is conducted to detect patterns of wear of the pump components. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technique and the discrete element method (DEM) are jointly used to simulate the two-phase flow and wear of the pump components. After a 30-hour wear experiment, the inlet edge of the long blades exhibits wavy profiles, and the outlet part of the long blades is worn through. Regarding the volute, only the volute tongue is severely worn. At a particle diameter of 2.0 mm and a solid mass fraction of 10 %, the ratio of the average wear depth of the long blades to that of the volute reaches 64.5. Wear of the blade inlet edge depends on the normal cumulative contact energy, while the tangential cumulative contact energy contributes significantly to wear of the outlet part of the long blades. As the particle diameter increases from 1.0 mm to 3.0 mm, the average depth of wear of the long blades decreases monotonically by nearly 45 %, but the maximum depth of wear increases by about 34 %. The solid mass fraction serves as a key factor influencing wear of the pump components, especially when particles of large size are transported.

Objectives: Osteoporosis (OP) is characterized by reduced bone mass and impaired bone microstructure. Paeoniflorin (PF) is isolated from peony root with anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and bone-protective effects. Up to now, the mechanism of anti-OP in PF has not been completely clarified. Methods: The expression of MEDAG in osteoclasts, osteoblasts and adipocytes was detected by RT-qPCR. The OVX mouse model was constructed, and oral administration of PF was performed for 15 weeks. Bone microstructure was detected by H&E staining and a micro-CT system, and expression of signaling proteins examined by Western blot and immunohistochemical staining. ELISA and biochemical kits were used to quantify serum metabolite levels. Key findings: MEDAG were upregulated in osteoclasts and adipocytes, and downregulated in osteoblasts. PF administration effectively alleviated OVX-induced bone loss, and histological changes in femur tissues. Moreover, PF significantly reduced serum TRAP, CTX-1, P1NP, BALP, and LDL-C levels and increased HDL-C. In addition, PF inhibited the expression of MEDAG, cathepsin K, NFATc1, PPARγ, and C/EBPα and increased p-AMPKα, OPG and Runx2. Conclusions: MEDAG is a potential target for bone diseases, and PF might attenuate OVX-induced osteoporosis via MEDAG/AMPK/PPARγ signaling pathway.

In recent decades, climate change has significantly affected water quality and algal blooms in lakes worldwide. Studying the temporal dynamics patterns of algal production efficiency and its drivers in individual lakes is useful for analyzing the evolutionary trajectory of Chla-TP changes, and identifying the main controlling factors of eutrophication to guide lake management. In this study, we used a dataset for the Lake Gehu (1986–2020) to analyze the drivers of the ETP variability on interannual and seasonal time scales and to quantify the relative impacts and contributions of nutrient and climatic factors on the ETP. The results showed a negative correlation of the Chla-TP relationship appeared in years with very high ETP. The effects of nutritional and climatic factors on the ETP at different time scales were quantified using a generalized additive model. The results showed that the total phosphorus (TP) concentration had a significant effect on the interannual ETP variation, explaining up to 28.9 %. At the intra-annual scale, climatic variables had a much greater effect on the ETP than the nutrient concentration, and the explanatory effect was ranked as temperature > wind speed > rainfall > total nitrogen (TN). Based on the characteristics of seasonal ETP variations, the TPa of Lake Gehu were 50 μg/L, 33 μg/L, 20 μg/L with ETP levels of 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, respectively. This research highlights the significance of nutrient and climatic factors in interannual and seasonal scale, respectively. In addition, ETP influenced by the coupling of nutrient and climate provides a criterion for establishing the seasonal nutrient threshold of lakes.

Abstract Background Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have emerged as a standard treatment for various malignancies. However, research indicates blocking the immune checkpoint pathway may exacerbate atherosclerotic lesions. Objectives We aimed to investigate whether ICI therapy increases the risk of arterial thromboembolic events (ATEs). Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients with histologically confirmed cancer at our institution between 2018 and 2021, using the propensity score matching method. The primary endpoint was ATEs occurrence, comprising acute coronary syndrome, stroke/transient ischemic attack, and peripheral arterial thromboembolism. Subgroup analyses assessed whether the ICI treatment effect on ATEs varied over time by limiting the maximum follow‐up duration. Logistic regression analysis identified ATE risk factors in ICI‐treated patients. Results Overall, the ICI group (n = 2877) demonstrated an ATEs risk 2.01 times higher than the non‐ICI group (RR, 2.01 [95% CI (1.61–2.51)]; p

Wire-feed electron beam additive manufacturing (WFEBAM) was utilized to repair the damaged Ti6Al4V (abbreviated as Ti64) alloy with B and Y modified Ti64 wire, and the effect of heat input on the repaired microstructure and properties of Ti64 alloy was investigated. The results indicated that the sizes of prior columnar β grains and α laths increased gradually with increased heat input. Besides the fine acicular α laths, continuous αGB, and retained β phase, bits of needle-like TiB and Y2O3 nanoparticles were formed in the deposited zone (DZ) due to the addition of B and Y elements in Ti64 wire. In addition, the increased heat input reduced the microhardness and wear resistance of the DZ, while still being superior to the mechanical properties of Ti64 substrate. It is attributed to the refinement of α laths and precipitates. Compared with Ti64 substrate, the DZ in as-repaired sample 1# with the lowest heat input (288 J/mm) showed the maximum microhardness (386HV), 18% higher than that of Ti64 substrate. While the DZ 1# also obtained the lowest friction coefficient (0.49), about 80.3% of Ti64 substrate. The tensile strength and elongation of the DZ 1# were 840.6 MPa and 14%, respectively, both of which remained above 88% of Ti64 substrate. Therefore, the as-repaired sample 1# with the lowest heat input could meet the repair requirements.

In recent years, with the outbreak of the global energy crisis, renewable solar energy has become a focal point of research. However, the utilization efficiency of natural photosynthesis (NPS) is only about 1%. Inspired by NPS, artificial photosynthesis (APS) was developed and utilized in applications such as the regeneration of coenzymes. APS for coenzyme regeneration can overcome the problem of high energy consumption in comparison to electrocatalytic methods. Microreactors represent a promising technology. Compared with the conventional system, it has the advantages of a large specific surface area, the fast diffusion of small molecules, and high efficiency. Introducing microreactors can lead to more efficient, economical, and environmentally friendly coenzyme regeneration in artificial photosynthesis. This review begins with a brief introduction of APS and microreactors, and then summarizes research on traditional electrocatalytic coenzyme regeneration, as well as photocatalytic and photo-electrocatalysis coenzyme regeneration by APS, all based on microreactors, and compares them with the corresponding conventional system. Finally, it looks forward to the promising prospects of this technology.

CoCrFeNiZr0.3 is a two-phase coexisting (Laves + FCC) high-entropy alloy with high strength, excellent corrosion resistance, and thermal stability. However, the inhomogeneous distribution of the eutectic structure among the dendrites has a detrimental effect on the coordinated deformation of the material. The current study shows that the grain size, weave structure, and second phase distribution of high-entropy alloys can be significantly changed by thermal deformation, which affects the mechanical and physical properties, as well as the chemical stability of the alloys. In this study, the thermal deformation behavior of CoCrFeNiZr0.3 biphasic hypoeutectic high-entropy alloy was investigated using a Gleeble-3500 thermal simulation tester under the conditions of deformation temperature of 950–1100 °C and deformation rate of 0.001–1 s−1. The results show that CoCrFeNiZr0.3 high-entropy alloy has higher deformation activation energy, which means its deformation resistance is larger. In addition, the microstructure with finer grain size and uniform distribution of Laves phase can be obtained by EBSD analysis after compression at 1000 °C and 0.01 s−1.

Due to the lower cost compared to screen-printed silver contacts, the Ni/Cu/Ag contacts formed by plating have been continuously studied as a potential metallization technology for solar cells. To address the adhesion issue of backside grid lines in electroplated n-Tunnel Oxide Passivating Contacts (n-TOPCon) solar cells and reduce ohmic contact, we propose a novel approach of adding a Ni/Si alloy seed layer between the Ni and Si layers. The metal nickel layer is deposited on the backside of the solar cells using electron beam evaporation, and excess nickel is removed by H2SO4:H2O2 etchant under annealing conditions of 300–425 °C to form a seed layer. The adhesion strength increased by more than 0.5 N mm−1 and the contact resistance dropped by 0.5 mΩ cm2 in comparison to the traditional direct plating Ni/Cu/Ag method. This is because the resulting Ni/Si alloy has outstanding electrical conductivity, and the produced Ni/Si alloy has higher adhesion over direct contact between the nickel–silicon interface, as well as enhanced surface roughness. The results showed that at an annealing temperature of 375 °C, the main compound formed was NiSi, with a contact resistance of 1 mΩ cm−2 and a maximum gate line adhesion of 2.7 N mm−1. This method proposes a new technical solution for cost reduction and efficiency improvement of n-TOPCon solar cells.

Broad-spectrum antibiotics are frequently used to treat bacteria-induced infections, but the overuse of antibiotics may induce the gut microbiota dysbiosis and disrupt gastrointestinal tract function. Probiotics can be applied to restore disturbed gut microbiota and repair abnormal intestinal metabolism. In the present study, two strains of Enterococcus faecium (named DC-K7 and DC-K9) were isolated and characterized from the fecal samples of infant dogs. The genomic features of E. faecium DC-K7 and DC-K9 were analyzed, the carbohydrate-active enzyme (CAZyme)-encoding genes were predicted, and their abilities to produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were investigated. The bacteriocin-encoding genes in the genome sequences of E. faecium DC-K7 and DC-K9 were analyzed, and the gene cluster of Enterolysin-A, which encoded a 401-amino-acid peptide, was predicted. Moreover, the modulating effects of E. faecium DC-K7 and DC-K9 on the gut microbiota dysbiosis induced by antibiotics were analyzed. The current results demonstrated that oral administrations of E. faecium DC-K7 and DC-K9 could enhance the relative abundances of beneficial microbes and decrease the relative abundances of harmful microbes. Therefore, the isolated E. faecium DC-K7 and DC-K9 were proven to be able to alter the gut microbiota dysbiosis induced by antibiotic treatment.

In light of recent advancements in synchrotron radiation technology and nano-technology, there has been a marked increase in the need for ultra-precision nano-positioning mechanisms. This paper presents a method that integrates physical models with multi-objective optimization for developing an optical angle nano-positioning mechanism. We begin by examining the actual motion law of the mechanism, based on kinematic principles. The outcomes from this kinematic analysis facilitate a static analysis of the flexible hinge, identified as a critical component of the mechanism. Subsequently, we establish a dynamic model for the entire mechanism. By employing the physical model as a base and combining it with the optimization algorithm, we identify the optimal design parameters for the mechanism. The design achieves a resolution of 50 nrad and meets the specified requirements. The first-order inherent frequency of the mechanism is approximately 43.75 Hz. There is a discrepancy of 2.63% from the finite element modal analysis results and a 3.33% difference from the theoretical analysis results, validating the reliability of the design method proposed in this study.

Abstract Background In the southern part of Xinjiang, the incidence and mortality rates of the cervical cancer among Uyghurs are significantly higher than those of other ethnic groups living in the same environment, and their mortality rate takes the first place among ethnic minorities in China. Objective To assess the level of cervical cancer knowledge by Questionnaire survey using the scoring system and its influencing factors among women in Shache county, Kashi, China. Method Based on the cervical cancer health education carried out by the medical team of the county hospital to the residents in the urban and rural areas of Shache County from September 1st, 2022, to September 30th, 2022, a cluster sampling was conducted at the same time and a total of 2578 women were included. The questionnaire survey includes resident basic information, and their knowledge about cervical cancer which was evaluated by the scoring system. The scoring system of the knowledge about cervical cancer includes 4 items, the total score was 8 point and scored more than 4 points was used as knowledge knowing, the knowledge of cervical cancer (unknown = 0; known = 1) was used as the dependent variable. Six factors include residence area (urban or rural), age, ethnic group, educational level, occupation, and the ways to acquire knowledge access were used as independent variables. The retrieved questionnaire was entered by the medical staff, and the Excel software was used for duplicate verification. Chi-square test and unconditional logistic regression analysis were used for statistical analysis. Results Of the 2578 study subjects, 1591 were from rural areas and 987 were from the urban areas, and the differences were statistically significant (P

The bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis mouse model is commonly used in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis research, but its cellular and molecular changes and efficiency as a model at the molecular level are not fully understood. In this study, we used spatial transcriptome technology to investigate the cellular and molecular changes in the lungs of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis mouse models. Our analyses revealed cell dynamics during fibrosis in epithelial cells, mesenchymal cells, immunocytes, and erythrocytes with their spatial distribution available. We confirmed the differentiation of the alveolar type II (AT2) cell type expressing Krt8, and we inferred their trajectories from both the AT2 cells and club cells. In addition to the fibrosis process, we also noticed evidence of self-resolving, especially to identify possible self-resolving related genes, including Prkca. Our findings provide insights into the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying fibrosis resolution and represent the first spatiotemporal transcriptome dataset of the bleomycin-induced fibrosis mouse model.

ObjectiveThe limitation of activities of daily living (ADL) affects the mental health of older adults. We distinguished activities of daily living into basic activities of daily living (BADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and aimed to explore the relationship between the two limitations and depressive symptoms among Chinese older adults by using nationally representative cross-sectional data.MethodsData from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS, wave 4) were used, and 9,789 older adults aged 60 years and above were screened. The 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D-10) scale was used to measure the depressive symptoms of older adults, and a 12-item scale for ADL was used to estimate functional limitations. Generalized linear mixed-effect models were employed to examine the relationship between BADL/IADL and depressive symptoms among older adults.ResultsThe prevalence of high-risk depression among older adults was 43.5%, and the rates of limitation in BADL and IADL were 19.02 and 25.29%, respectively. The prevalence of high-risk depression significantly differed among subgroups of smoking, drinking, chronic diseases, duration of sleep, having social activities or not, and the type of medical insurance. Older adults with limited BADL or IADL were at a higher risk of depression than those without limitations of BADL or IADL; BADL (OR-adjusted = 2.71; 95% CI: 2.40–3.06) and IADL (OR-adjusted = 2.68; 95% CI: 2.41–2.98) had various influences on the risk of depression in older adults.ConclusionADL was a related factor in the risk of depression among older adults in China. BADL and IADL had different effects on the risk of depression, suggesting that older adults with physical function limitations might be more likely to suffer from depression.

Woody plants play a vital role in global ecosystems and serve as valuable resources for various industries and human needs. While many woody plant genomes have been fully sequenced, gene function research and biotechnological breeding advances have lagged behind. As a result, only a limited number of genes have been elucidated, making it difficult to use newer tools such as CRISPR-Cas9 for biotechnological breeding purposes. The use of Agrobacterium rhizogenes as a transformative tool in plant biotechnology has received considerable attention in recent years, particularly in the research field on woody plants. Over the past three decades, numerous woody plants have been effectively transformed using A. rhizogenes-mediated techniques. Some of these transformed plants have successfully regenerated. Recent research on A. rhizogenes-mediated transformation of woody plants has demonstrated its potential for various applications, including gene function analysis, gene expression profiling, gene interaction studies, and gene regulation analysis. The introduction of the Ri plasmid has resulted in the emergence of several Ri phenotypes, such as compact plant types, which can be exploited for Ri breeding purposes. This review paper presents recent advances in A. rhizogenes-mediated basic research and Ri breeding in woody plants. This study highlights various aspects of A. rhizogenes-mediated transformation, its multiple applications in gene function analysis, and the potential of Ri lines as valuable breeding materials

The oral cavity is the second most microbially rich region of the human body, and many studies have shown that there is a strong association between microorganisms and oral health. Some pathogenic bacteria produce biofilms and harmful metabolites in the mouth that may cause oral problems such as oral malodor, periodontitis, and dental caries. Altering the oral microbiota by using probiotics may alleviate oral health problems. Thus, using multi-function screening, we aimed to identify probiotics that can significantly improve oral health. The main parameters were the inhibition of pathogenic bacteria growth, inhibition of biofilm formation, reduction in the production of indole, H2S, and NH3 metabolites that cause halitosis, increase in the production of H2O2 to combat harmful bacteria, and co-aggregation with pathogens to prevent their adhesion and colonization in the oral cavity. Tolerance to cholic acid and choline was also assessed. Bifidobacterium animalis ZK-77, Lactobacillus salivarius ZK-88, and Streptococcus salivarius ZK-102 had antibacterial activity and inhibited biofilm production to prevent caries. They also improved the oral malodor parameter, H2S, NH3, and indole production. The selected probiotics (especially L. salivarius ZK-88) alleviated the inflammation in the oral cavity of rats with periodontitis. The analysis of the gingival crevicular fluid microbiome after probiotic intervention showed that B. animalis ZK-77 likely helped to restore the oral microbiota and maintain the oral microecology. Next, we determined the best prebiotics for each candidate probiotic in order to obtain a formulation with improved effects. We then verified that a probiotics/prebiotic combination (B. animalis ZK-77, L. salivarius ZK-88, and fructooligosaccharides) significantly improved halitosis and teeth color in cats. Using whole-genome sequencing and acute toxicity mouse experiments involving the two probiotics, we found that neither probiotic had virulence genes and they had no significant effects on the growth or development of mice, indicating their safety. Taking the results together, B. animalis ZK-77 and L. salivarius ZK-88 can improve oral health, as verified by in vivo and in vitro experiments. This study provides a reference for clinical research and also provides new evidence for the oral health benefits of probiotics.

Developing alternatives to antibiotics for prevention of gastrointestinal dysbiosis in early-weaning farmed animals is urgently needed. This study was to explore the potential effects of trans-10, cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on maintaining ruminal homeostasis of young ruminants during the weaning transition period. Thirty neonatal lambs were selected (6 lambs per group) and euthanized for rumen microbial and epithelial analysis. The lambs were weaned at 28 d and experienced the following 5 treatments: euthanized on d 28 as the pre-weaning control (CON0), fed starter feed for 5 (CON5) or 21 (CON21) d, fed starter feed with 1% of CLA supplemented for 5 (CLA5) or 21 (CLA21) d. Results showed that the average daily weight gain and dry matter intake were significantly higher in CLA5 than CON5 group. As compared with the CON5 and CON21 group, the relative abundances of volatile fatty acid (VFA) producing bacteria including Bacteroides, Treponema, Parabacteroides and Anaerovibrio, as well as the concentrations of acetate, butyrate and total VFA were significantly increased in CLA5 and CLA21 group, respectively. Integrating microbial profiling and epithelial transcriptome results showed that 7 downregulated inflammatory signaling-related host genes IL2RA, CXCL9, CD4, CCR4, LTB, SPP1, and BCL2A1 with CLA supplementation were significantly negatively correlated with both VFA concentration and VFA producing bacteria, while 3 (GPX2, SLC27A2 and ALDH3A1) and 2 (GSTM3 and GSTA1) upregulated metabolism-related genes, significantly positively correlated with either VFA concentration or VFA producing bacteria, respectively. To confirm the effects of CLA on epithelial signal transduction, in vitro experiment was further conducted by treating rumen epithelial cells without or with IL-17A + TNF-α for 12 h after pretreatment of 100 μM CLA or not (6 replicates per treatment). The results demonstrated the anti-inflammatory effect of CLA via suppressing the protein expression of NF-кB p-p65/p65 with the activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ). In conclusion, CLA supplementation enhanced the ruminal microbiota-driven transcriptional regulation in healthy rumen epithelial development via rumen VFA production, and CLA may therefore serve as an alternative way to alleviate early-weaning stress and improve physiological and metabolic conditions of young ruminants.

Ectoine, a novel natural osmoprotectant, protects bacteria living in extreme environments. This study aimed to explore the therapeutic effect of ectoine for dry eye disease. An experimental dry eye model was created in C57BL/6 mice exposed to desiccating stress (DS) with untreated mice as controls (UT). DS mice were dosed topically with 0.5–2.0% of ectoine or a vehicle control. Corneal epithelial defects were detected via corneal smoothness and Oregon Green dextran (OGD) fluorescent staining. Pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines were evaluated using RT-qPCR and immunofluorescent staining. Compared with UT mice, corneal epithelial defects were observed as corneal smoothness irregularities and strong punctate OGD fluorescent staining in DS mice with vehicle. Ectoine treatment protected DS mice from corneal damage in a concentration-dependent manner, and ectoine at 1.0 and 2.0% significantly restored the corneal smoothness and reduced OGD staining to near normal levels. Expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) and chemokines CCL3 and CXCL11 was significantly elevated in the corneas and conjunctivas of DS mice, whereas 1.0 and 2.0% ectoine suppressed these inflammatory mediators to near normal levels. Our findings demonstrate that ectoine can significantly reduce the hallmark pathologies associated with dry eye and may be a promising candidate for treating human disease.

Blueberries are recognized worldwide as one of the most important healthy foods due to their anthocyanins, which have special antioxidant properties. They have become a highly produced and valuable fruit crop. Most blueberry varieties are rich in anthocyanins, which impart a beautiful blue color; however, there are currently several blueberry varieties with different colors worldwide, and these special-colored varieties are the key to analyzing the coloring mechanism of blueberry fruit. Fruit color could be seen as an important nutritional quality trait in terms of marketing. In this study, a combination of transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses was performed on three representative blueberry varieties (‘Pink Popcorn’, ‘Chandler’, and ‘Black Pearl’) with pink, blue, and black fruits, respectively. The metabolomic results showed that the delphinium pigment is the dominant anthocyanin, which is the prerequisite for the formation of fruit color in blueberries. We identified 18 candidate structural genes in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway that were significantly up-regulated during three stages of fruit ripening in ‘Black Pearl’ and ‘Chandler’, but these were not found to be significantly expressed in ‘Pink Popcorn’ after combining the transcriptomic analysis results. The non-expression of the VcANS gene may lead to the pink color of the mature fruit of ‘Pink Popcorn’. The phylogenetic tree, heatmap analysis, and WGCNA analysis identified a candidate transcription factor, VcMYBA, which may regulate the differences between black and blue fruits in blueberries by regulating the expression level of multiple structural genes in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway. These results provide new insights into the mechanisms of anthocyanin accumulation and coloration in blueberries during fruit ripening and can help support production practices to improve fruit quality characteristics. The key candidate genes that regulate the fruit color differences among different blueberry varieties have the potential to enhance the antioxidant properties and quality characteristics of blueberries through future genomic editing.

The first full demonstration of a high-efficiency phase-locking mechanism was accomplished in the millimeter-wave (mm wave) bands. Two modular Ka-band coaxial magnetrons were fabricated and phase-locked. The coaxial magnetron consisted of a conventional structure and a carefully designed coupling port that included an RF window. The coupling ports of two magnetrons were connected by coupling bridges to phase lock the coaxial magnetrons in zero-phase and π-phase difference mode, reaching phase-locking efficiencies of 93.4% and 95.6%, respectively. Two phase-locking modes were both verified by a mode detection system based on a symmetrical E-plane T-junction and a high bandwidth, high sample rate oscilloscope. Signals from the oscilloscope confirmed that phase-locking occurred after 25 ns and was reproducible from pulse to pulse. With higher power and more coaxial magnetrons in arrays, 1 MW may be achievable at Ka-band.

Abstract Background Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) can lead to adverse maternal and fetal outcomes, and early prevention is particularly important for their health, but there is no widely accepted approach to predict it in the early pregnancy. The aim of the present study is to build and evaluate predictive models for GDM using routine indexes, including maternal clinical characteristics and laboratory biomarkers, before 16 gestational weeks. Methods A total of 2895 pregnant women were recruited and maternal clinical characteristics and laboratory biomarkers before 16 weeks of gestation were collected from two hospitals. All participants were randomly stratified into the training cohort and the internal validation cohort by the ratio of 7:3. Using multivariable logistic regression analysis, two nomogram models, including a basic model and an extended model, were built. The discrimination, calibration, and clinical validity were used to evaluate the models in the internal validation cohort. Results The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the basic and the extended model was 0.736 and 0.756 in the training cohort, and was 0.736 and 0.763 in the validation cohort, respectively. The calibration curve analysis showed that the predicted values of the two models were not significantly different from the actual observations (p = 0.289 and 0.636 in the training cohort, p = 0.684 and 0.635 in the internal validation cohort, respectively). The decision-curve analysis showed a good clinical application value of the models. Conclusions The present study built simple and effective models, indicating that routine clinical and laboratory parameters can be used to predict the risk of GDM in the early pregnancy, and providing a novel reference for studying the prediction of GDM.

Abstract BRCA1/2 gene mutations, which result in a dysfunction of homologous recombination repair, have been discovered in at least 5% of breast cancer (BC) patients with the increase in BC incidence in recent years. PARP inhibitors (PARPis), the first drugs with clinical approval based on synthetic lethality, have been approved to treat BRCA1/2‐mutant BC. However, as with other targeted drugs, PARPis drug resistance has become a significant obstacle in the application of PARPis. In this paper, we discuss the mechanism of PARPis, the clinical application of PARPis as monotherapy and the possible induced resistance mechanism. By exploring the resistance mechanism, we aimed to identify appropriate effective therapeutic techniques to overcome PARPis resistance and improve the efficacy of PARPis as well as to provide theoretical and experimental evidence for the clinical use of PARPis in BRCA1/2‐mutant BC.

ABSTRACT Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a liver disease characterized by chronic liver inflammation. The intestinal barrier and microbiome play critical roles in AIH progression. AIH treatment remains challenging because first-line drugs have limited efficacy and many side effects. Thus, there is growing interest in developing synbiotic therapies. This study investigated the effects of a novel synbiotic in an AIH mouse model. We found that this synbiotic (Syn) ameliorated liver injury and improved liver function by reducing hepatic inflammation and pyroptosis. The Syn reversed gut dysbiosis, as indicated by an increase in beneficial bacteria (e.g., Rikenella and Alistipes) and a decrease in potentially harmful bacteria (e.g., Escherichia-Shigella) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-bearing Gram-negative bacterial levels. The Syn maintained intestinal barrier integrity, reduced LPS, and inhibited the TLR4/NF-κB and NLRP3/Caspase-1 signaling pathway. In addition, microbiome phenotype prediction by BugBase and bacterial functional potential prediction using Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICRUSt) showed that Syn improved gut microbiota function involving inflammatory injury, metabolism, immune response, and pathopoiesia. Furthermore, the new Syn was as effective as prednisone against AIH. Therefore, this novel Syn could be a candidate drug for alleviating AIH through its anti-inflammatory and antipyroptosis properties that relieve endothelial dysfunction and gut dysbiosis. IMPORTANCE Synbiotics can ameliorate liver injury and improve liver function by reducing hepatic inflammation and pyroptosis. Our data indicate that our new Syn not only reverses gut dysbiosis by increasing beneficial bacteria and decreasing lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-bearing Gram-negative bacteria but also maintains intestinal barrier integrity. Thus, its mechanism might be associated with modulating gut microbiota composition and intestinal barrier function by inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3/pyroptosis signaling pathway in the liver. This Syn is as effective as prednisone in treating AIH without side effects. Based on these findings, this novel Syn represents a potential therapeutic agent for AIH in clinical practice.

The use of machine learning (ML) in anaerobic digestion (AD) is growing in popularity and improves the interpretation of complex system parameters for better operation and optimisation. This systematic literature review aims to explore how ML is currently employed in AD, with particular attention to the challenges of implementation and the benefits of integrating ML techniques. While both lab and industry-scale datasets have been used for model training, challenges arise from varied system designs and the different monitoring equipment used. Traditional machine-learning techniques, predominantly artificial neural networks (ANN), are the most commonly used but face difficulties in scalability and interpretability. Specifically, models trained on lab-scale data often struggle to generalize to full-scale, real-world operations due to the complexity and variability in bacterial communities and system operations. In practical scenarios, machine learning can be employed in real-time operations for predictive modelling, ensuring system stability is maintained, resulting in improved efficiency of both biogas production and waste treatment processes. Through reviewing the ML techniques employed in wider applied domains, potential future research opportunities in addressing these challenges have been identified.

The development of low-cost, highly active, and stable electrocatalytic water-splitting catalysts is crucial to solving the current energy crisis and environmental pollution. Herein, a simple two-step conversion strategy is proposed to successfully prepare NiFeS nanosheet structure catalyst through the “immersion-sulfurization” strategy. The self-supported electrode can be prepared in large quantities due to its simple preparation process. As an active substance, NiFeS can grow directly on the NiFe foam substrate, avoiding the use of adhesives or conductive agents, and directly used as electrodes. The as-obtained NiFeS/NFF-300 displays efficient catalytic activity in electrocatalytic water splitting. The overpotential required for OER of the NiFeS/NFF-300 electrode at a current density of 10 mA cm−2 is 230 mV. The electrode underwent a stability test at 10 mA cm−2 for 24 h, and the overpotential remained essentially unchanged, demonstrating excellent stability. Moreover, NiFeS/NFF-300 exhibits considerable HER performances compared with NiFeC2O4/NFF and NiFe foam. The unique nanosheet structure and the presence of Niδ+ and Ni2+ formed by NiFe foam substrate on the NiFeS surface are responsible for its excellent electrocatalytic activity.

Compared to traditional actuators (such as piezoelectric ceramics), metal actuators possess the advantages of a low energy consumption, large strain amplitude, and high strain energy density. However, most of the existing metal actuators with an excellent comprehensive performance are composed of precious metals, which are limited by high costs and have almost no possibility for large-scale production in the future. This study focuses on non-precious metal materials and exploits a one-step chemical dealloying method to prepare bulk nanoporous (NP) CoCuAl actuators (NP-CCA) from Al70Co20Cu10 alloy. The microstructure and actuation properties of the NP-CCA were analyzed in detail. The dense continuous nanoscale pores provide an excellent network connectivity for a large strain response, enabling the NP-CCA to achieve a strain amplitude of up to 1.19% (more than eight and two times that of NP-Pt and NP-Ag, respectively), comparable to precious metal actuators. In addition, the NP-CCA possesses a high strain energy density, which is prominent in many precious metal actuation materials (such as NP-Au, NP-Ag, and NP-Pt).

Flexible ferrite film has high potential applications in electronic skins and wearable devices. However, it is an enormous challenge to fabricate flexible ferrite film because of its high fragility. This work uses a novel etching sacrificial Sr3Al2O6 (SAO) layer to synthesize flexible Mn0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 (MZFO) ferrite film. The MZFO film remains its single crystal structure after being transferred onto a flexible substrate. Owing to the great lattice mismatch between SAO and MZFO, the as-grown and transferred MZFO films exhibit the difference in magnetic properties, which is more sensitive along out-of-plane direction. The controllable magnetic properties of the film under the bending test are characterized by ferromagnetic resonance (FMR). A huge FMR field (Hr) shift of 704 Oe is achieved along out-of-plane direction when the bending radii are 5 mm. Meanwhile, the FMR linewidth (δH) of bent MZFO film (1267 Oe) is about 4 times higher than that of the unbent film (310 Oe). These controllable changes mainly come from the contribution of the two magnon scattering (TMS) effect. Finally, the Hr and δH almost return to their initial states when the stress is released, indicating a great recoverability.

Abstract Background Little research has been conducted on the spatio-temporal relationship between the severe cases and the enteroviruses infections of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD). This study aimed to investigate epidemic features and spatial clusters of HFMD incidence rates and assess the relationship between Enterovirus 71 (EV71) and Coxsackievirus A16 (CoxA16) and severe cases of HMFD in Gansu province, China. Methods Weekly county-specific data on HFMD between 1st January and 31st December 2018 were collected from the China Infectious Disease Information System (CIDIS), including enterovirus type (EV71 and CoxA16), severe and non-severe cases in Gansu province, China. Temporal risk [frequency index (α), duration index (β) and intensity index (γ)] and spatial cluster analysis were used to assess epidemic features and identify high-risk areas for HFMD. Time-series cross-correlation function and regression model were used to explore the relationship between the ratios of two types of viruses (i.e. EV71/Cox16) (EC) and severe cases index (i.e. severe cases/non-severe cases) (SI) of HFMD. Results Some counties in Dingxi City, Gansu were identified as a hot spot for the temporal risk indices. Time-series cross-correlation analysis showed that SI was significantly associated with EC (r = 0.417, P

ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the composition and function of the gut microbiome in long-term depression using an 8-week chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) rat model.Materials and methodsAnimals were sacrificed after either 4 weeks or 8 weeks under CUMS to mimic long-term depression in humans. The gut microbiome was analyzed to identify potential depression-related gut microbes, and the fecal metabolome was analyzed to detect their functional metabolites. The correlations between altered gut microbes and metabolites in the long-term depression rats were explored. The crucial metabolic pathways related to long-term depression were uncovered through enrichment analysis based on these gut microbes and metabolites.ResultsThe microbial composition of long-term depression (8-week CUMS) showed decreased species richness indices and different profiles compared with the control group and the 4-week CUMS group, characterized by disturbance of Alistipes indistinctus, Bacteroides ovatus, and Alistipes senegalensis at the species level. Additionally, long-term depression was associated with disturbances in fecal metabolomics. D-pinitol was the only increased metabolite in the 8-week CUMS group among the top 10 differential metabolites, while the top 3 decreased metabolites in the long-term depression rats included indoxyl sulfate, trimethylaminen-oxide, and 3 alpha,7 alpha-dihydroxy-12-oxocholanoic acid. The disordered fecal metabolomics in the long-term depression rats mainly involved the biosynthesis of pantothenate, CoA, valine, leucine and isoleucine.ConclusionOur findings suggest that the gut microbiome may participate in the long-term development of depression, and the mechanism may be related to the regulation of gut metabolism.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore the association between multiple chronic conditions (MCCs) and depressive symptoms among older adults in China.Methods: We used the fourth round of data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, and included 9789 older adults aged 60 years old and above.Results: Compared with the older adults without chronic disease, older adults with MCCs and those with one chronic disease had a high risk of depression (MCCs: OR-adjusted: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.37 to 1.75; one chronic disease: OR-adjusted: 1.20, 95% CI: 1.05–1.37). In urban areas, the prevalence among older adults with MCCs was 2.01 times higher than that among older adults without chronic disease (OR-adjusted: 2.01, 95% CI: 1.56–2.60), while it was 1.44 times higher in rural areas (OR-adjusted:1.44, 95% CI: 1.25–1.65). Self-reported health, duration of sleep, social activities, and type of medical insurance were the influencing factors of depressive symptoms in older adults.Conclusion: This study contributed to enriching the research on the relationship between MCCs and depressive symptoms in older adults in China.

Previous studies have demonstrated that patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) often had the problems of fecal microbiota dysbiosis, and were usually accompanied with psychiatric comorbidities (such as depression and anxiety). Here, we conducted a randomized clinical study to analyze the changes in gut microbiota, serum metabolism and emotional mood of patients with T2DM after consumption of a high-fiber diet. The glucose homeostasis of participants with T2DM was improved by the high-fiber diet, and the serum metabolome, systemic inflammation and psychiatric comorbidities were also altered. The increased abundances of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Akkermansias revealed that the proportions of beneficial gut microbes were enriched by the high-fiber diet, while the abundances of Desulfovibrio, Klebsiella and other opportunistic pathogens were decreased. Therefore, the current study demonstrated that the intestinal microbiota alterations which were influenced by the high-fiber diet could improve the serum metabolism and emotional mood of patients with T2DM.

ObjectiveLife satisfaction is closely related to the quality of life. Previous studies showed that left-behind children have low life satisfaction levels due to their separation from their parents. Therefore, it is significant to explore the risk factors and protective factors of left-behind children’s life satisfaction to improve their life quality. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the mediating roles of perceived social support and sense of security in the relationship between negative life events and life satisfaction among left-behind children.MethodsA survey was conducted on 281 left-behind children in rural Shandong, China using negative life events, perceived social support, a sense of security, and life satisfaction scales.ResultsNegative life events had a negative impact on life satisfaction (β = −0.34, p = 0.001). In addition, not only does social support mediate between negative life events and life satisfaction (β = −0.21, p = 0.001), but also in between, security (β = −0.05, p = 0.030). Moreover, social support and security act as a chain intermediary between negative life events and life satisfaction (β = −0.03, p = 0.010), with an indirect effect share of 4.76%.ConclusionNegative life events could directly or indirectly affect the life satisfaction of left-behind children through the chain-mediating effects of perceived social support or the sense of security alone. Perceived social support and the sense of security are two important targets for further improving the life satisfaction of LBC.

Metasurface antennas have been proposed for computational imaging (CI) systems, which can reconstruct images without using mechanical scanning or large antenna arrays. In a CI system based on metasurface antennas, a variety of different radiation fields, which can be applied to sample the objects, are generated by exciting different frequency points in broadband. According to the compressed sensing theory, the imaging performance of the system is mainly limited by frequency-diversity radiation modes. In general, it is difficult to achieve rich radiation modes; therefore, a special design of metasurface aperture is required. In this paper, we propose a frequency-diversity MIMO metasurface antenna that consists of 2 × 2 sub-apertures with randomly distributed surface impedance. By employing the aperture rotation technique (ART) which rotates the MIMO metasurface antenna around the panel axis, the pseudo-randomness of the radiation fields is utilized. The diversity of the radiation field is improved on the premise of ensuring the relatively low complexity of the system. The ART significantly improves the measurement richness at the cost of increasing the measurement time. The performance of the proposed method is evaluated through simulations and experiments, suggesting that the proposed 2 × 2 MIMO metasurface antenna and the ART are effective to reconstruct high-quality images.

Abstract Backgrounds In recent years, many studies have shown that insulin resistance is related to the occurrence of thyroid cancer, but there are few reports on whether the two are related under the premise that thyroid function is normal and the metabolic components related to insulin resistance are excluded. This study aims to analyze the insulin resistance of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer after excluding the population with abnormal metabolic components, and to study the risk factors of thyroid cancer in this population. Methods 61 subjects diagnosed with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) formed the DTC group and 262 subjects with benign nodules formed the control group. Body mass index (BMI, kg/m2), waist circumference (WC), lipid profiles, and free T3 (FT3), free T4 (FT4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb), thyroid globulin antibody (TGAb), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting serum insulin and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) levels were measured. Results Mean subjects age (P = 0.021), BMI (P = 0.049), WC (P = 0.01), serum insulin concentration (P = 0.006), and HOMA-IR level (P = 0.005) were significantly greater in the DTC group than in the control group. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis identified advanced age (OR = 1.027 [1.003–1.051], P = 0.029) and an increased HOMA-IR level (OR = 1.572 [1.277–1.935], P