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Abstract Objective This research aimed to delineate the pharmacological mechanisms of 7-Hydroxycoumarin (7-HC) on ulcerative colitis (UC) employing network pharmacology and experimental validation. Methods To investigate the therapeutic effects of 7-HC on UC, a UC mouse model was established through the unrestricted intake of 3.0% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in their drinking water. Subsequently, we predicted the core targets and signaling pathways of 7-HC for the treatment of UC using the network pharmacology approach. Finally, the insights gained from network pharmacology were further validated by molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation as well as in vivo experiments. Results Administering 7-HC orally to mice with UC led to a marked improvement in colitis indicators. Furthermore, 7-HC significantly lowered the levels of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β) in the colon and modulated oxidative stress markers (MPO, SOD). Subsequent studies identified 2 core targets (AKT1 and EGFR) in the colon of UC mice that were inhibited by 7-HC. Network pharmacology and experimental validation showed that 7-HC can reduce the expression of MAPK pathway markers P38, JNK, ERK, and their phosphorylation; 7-HC can also ameliorate UC by regulating the gut microbiome. Conclusion 7-HC demonstrates considerable efficacy in alleviating UC in mice, primarily through substantial diminution of tissue inflammation and oxidative stress. This is the first time that 7-HC has been found to treat UC by inhibiting the MAPK pathway and modulating the gut microbiota, providing a fresh perspective on the pharmacological mechanisms through which 7-HC operates in the management of UC.

Abstract Low temperatures are a key factor affecting the growth, development, and geographical distribution of prickly ash. This study investigated the impact of ecological and geographical factors on the freezing tolerance of prickly ash germplasm. Thirty-seven germplasm samples from 18 different origins were collected, and their freezing tolerance was comprehensively evaluated. The correlation between freezing tolerance and the ecological and geographical factors of their origins was also analyzed. Significant differences in freezing tolerance were observed among germplasm from different origins. The semi-lethal temperature of the germplasm ranged from − 12.37 to 1.08 °C. As temperatures decreased, the relative conductivity (REC) and catalase (CAT) activity of the germplasm gradually increased, while soluble sugar (SS), soluble protein (SP), free proline (Pro), and Peroxidase (POD) activities decreased and then increased. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity initially increased and then decreased. A comprehensive evaluation of freezing tolerance was conducted using a logistic equation, membership function, and cluster analysis. Germplasm from Tongchuan and Hancheng (Shaanxi Province, China), Asakura (Japan), and Yuncheng (Shanxi Province, China) exhibited the highest freezing tolerance, whereas those from Rongchang (Chongqing Municipality, China), Qujing (Yunnan Province, China), and Honghe (Yunnan Province, China) had the lowest. The correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between freezing tolerance and latitude, and a significant negative correlation with the temperature of origin. Germplasm from higher latitudes showed higher SS content, SOD and CAT activities, stronger antioxidant enzyme activity, and better freezing tolerance compared to those from lower latitudes. REC was lower in germplasm originating from low-temperature areas than in those from high-temperature areas. Additionally, SP, Pro content, SOD, and POD activities were higher, indicating effective scavenging of active oxygen free radicals. No significant correlation was found between altitude and longitude of origin and freezing tolerance. However, at similar latitudes, prickly ash from higher altitudes displayed higher antioxidant enzyme activity and stronger freezing tolerance compared to those from lower altitudes. These findings provide a scientific basis for breeding prickly ash cultivars suited to different ecological regions.

Abstract Background Lychee seeds were fermented by three kinds of bacteria (Lactobacillus plantarum, Saccharomyces cerevillus and ganoderma lucidum mycelium), and two effective strains were selected by two indexes of activity content and antioxidant, so as to further verify whether lychee seeds have waste multiplication effect and can protect cells damaged by oxidation from anti-inflammatory, anti-aging and safety. Results The contents of polyphenols, flavonoids and proteins in the solution fermented by Ganoderma lucidum mycelium did not increase, thus affecting the antioxidant capacity of the solution was far less than that of the water extract. The active content of the other two fermentation solutions was higher than that of the water extract, and the ability of scavenging free radicals of the two solutions increased with the increase of the volume fraction. At the cellular level, the two fermentation solutions showed repair effects on UVA-induced damaged cells. The contents of type I collagen (COL-1), total antioxidant capacity and ELN were increased, the contents of reactive oxygen species and MDA were decreased, and the expressions of inflammatory factors IL-6, TNF-a, iNOS and COX-2 were decreased in HaCaT cells. From the gene level, the mRNA contents of IL-6, TNF-a, Caspase-3, Caspase-9, Bax and Bcl were significantly decreased. The test of chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (HTET CAM) showed that there was no bleeding and litchi seed fermentation liquid was not irritating. Conclusions Therefore, two kinds of litchi seed fermentation can be used as natural plant raw materials for cosmetics, and have strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-aging functions on skin, and also have good human safety. Graphical Abstract

In ophthalmology, the quality of fundus images is critical for accurate diagnosis, both in clinical practice and in artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted diagnostics. Despite the broad view provided by ultrawide-field (UWF) imaging, pseudocolor images may conceal critical lesions necessary for precise diagnosis. To address this, we introduce UWF-Net, a sophisticated image enhancement algorithm that takes disease characteristics into consideration. Using the Fudan University ultra-wide-field image (FDUWI) dataset, which includes 11 294 Optos pseudocolor and 2415 Zeiss true-color UWF images, each of which is rigorously annotated, UWF-Net combines global style modeling with feature-level lesion enhancement. Pathological consistency loss is also applied to maintain fundus feature integrity, significantly improving image quality. Quantitative and qualitative evaluations demonstrated that UWF-Net outperforms existing methods such as contrast limited adaptive histogram equalization (CLAHE) and structure and illumination constrained generative adversarial network (StillGAN), delivering superior retinal image quality, higher quality scores, and preserved feature details after enhancement. In disease classification tasks, images enhanced by UWF-Net showed notable improvements when processed with existing classification systems over those enhanced by StillGAN, demonstrating a 4.62% increase in sensitivity (SEN) and a 3.97% increase in accuracy (ACC). In a multicenter clinical setting, UWF-Net-enhanced images were preferred by ophthalmologic technicians and doctors, and yielded a significant reduction in diagnostic time ((13.17 ± 8.40) s for UWF-Net enhanced images vs (19.54 ± 12.40) s for original images) and an increase in diagnostic accuracy (87.71% for UWF-Net enhanced images vs 80.40% for original images). Our research verifies that UWF-Net markedly improves the quality of UWF imaging, facilitating better clinical outcomes and more reliable AI-assisted disease classification. The clinical integration of UWF-Net holds great promise for enhancing diagnostic processes and patient care in ophthalmology.

Abstract Although observational clinical studies have established an association between Intestinal Diseases (IDS) and Anal Diseases (ADS), the causal relationship is still not fully understood due to the limitations of observational studies. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) statistical data for IDS and ADS were obtained from publicly available databases. To assess the causal effects of IDS on ADS, we conducted Mendelian randomization analysis. The inverse variance weighted method indicated that Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) had a significant causal relationship with three kinds of ADS: Anorectal abscess (ARB), Haemorrhoidal disease (HEM), and Fissure and fistula of anal and rectal regions (FISSANAL). Crohn’s disease (CD) and Ulcerative colitis (UC) also showed significant causal effects with three ADS: ARB, HEM, and FISSANAL. Furthermore, a potential link between CD and BNA(Benign neoplasm of anus and anal canal), Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and HEM, Colorectal cancer (CRC) and BNA, and Celiac disease and MNA (Malignant neoplasm of anus and anal canal) was observed. This comprehensive MR analysis highlight the significant and increased risk of common Anal Diseases (ARB, FISSANAL, and HEM) in patients with IBD, CD, and UC. Additionally, potential positive causal associations emerged between IBS and HEM, CRC and BNA, as well as between celiac disease and MNA.

The abandoned roadways (ARs) in front of the longwall face catastrophic instability will seriously hamper mining progress, which is a complicated process related to the stress environment, the roadway section, and the mechanical properties of the surrounding rock. The cusp catastrophe theory is employed to establish a state identification model for the irregular coal pillar-roof system (CPRS) formed by the ARs and re-mining entries. To begin, the state discrimination equation (Δp) for the gradual CPRS is derived, and the critical value at which the system transitions into an unstable state under quasi-static conditions is determined. The results indicated that when 16.49 m ≤ L ≤ 22.63 m (L denotes the equivalent span of the intersection roof) and 0

Abstract This study aimed to reveal the diversity and variation in panicle traits of the Chinese prickly ash and clarify their influence on the its systematic classification to provide a theoretical basis and technical support for the efficient utilization of Chinese prickly ash germplasm resources and breeding. Sixteen panicle traits were identified from 35 Chinese prickly ash germplasm resources from 2021 to 2022. The diversity of these panicle traits and their role in the plant’s systematic classification were studied using variance, correlation, cluster, and principal component analyses. Cluster analysis showed that the 35 Chinese prickly ash germplasm resources could be divided into two groups with Euclidean distances of 25. Further analysis showed that yield traits such as panicle length, panicle width, primary branching, grain number per panicle, and grain weight per panicle were significantly positively correlated with grain chlorophyll content, while grain anthocyanin content was negatively correlated with both panicle (panicle length, panicle width, panicle length to width ratio, primary branching, grain number per panicle, and grain weight per panicle) and grain characteristics (single grain weight, thousand-grain weight, grain length, grain width and fruit shape index). In conclusion, Chinese prickly ash germplasms have diverse panicle traits. Z. armatum has dark green grains, long and wide panicles, a long conical shape, many primary branches, high grain weight, and high grain number per panicle. In contrast, Z. bungeanum has bright red seeds, a panicle width larger than its length, short and conical panicles, a small number of primary branches, and low grain weight per panicle and number of grains per panicle. Overall, Z. armatum had a significant yield advantage over Z. bungeanum.

The load-bearing performance (LBP) of pumpable supports (PPS) is crucial for the stability of longwall pre-driven recovery room (PRR) surrounding rock. However, the unbalanced bearing coefficient (UBC)of the PPS (undertaking unequal load along the mining direction) has not been investigated. A mechanical model of the PRR was established, considering the main roof cantilever beam structure, to derive an assessment formula for the load, the failure criteria, and the UBC of the PPS. Subsequently, the generation mechanisms, and influencing factors of the UBC were revealed. Global sensitivity analysis shows that the main roof hanging length (l2) and the spacing between the PPS (r) significantly impact the UBC. A novel design of the PPS and the coupling control technology were proposed and applied to reduce the UBC of the PPS in the adjacent longwall PRR. Monitor results showed no failure of the PPS at the test site, with the UBC (ζ) reduced to 1.1 consistent with the design value (1.15) basically, fully utilizing the collaborative LBP of the PPS. Finally, the maximum roof-to-floor convergence of the PRR was 234 mm, effectively controlling the stability of the surrounding rock of the PRR and ensuring the mining equipment recovery.

Abstract Background The emergence of plasmid-mediated mobile colistin resistance (mcr) gene poses a great challenge to the clinical application of polymyxins. To date, mcr-1 to mcr-10 have been found in animals, humans, and the environment. Among them, mcr-8 was first identified in Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) of swine origin, and then mcr-8.1 to mcr-8.5 were successively identified. Notably, K. pneumoniae is the major host of the mcr-8 gene in both animals and humans. This study aims to explore the characteristics of K. pneumoniae strains carrying the mcr-8 gene and tmexCD1-toprJ1 gene cluster and investigate the correlation between these two antibiotic resistance genes. Methods The isolates from the poultry farms and the surrounding villages were identified by mass spectrometer, and the strains positive for mcr-1 to mcr-10 were screened by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The size of the plasmid and the antimicrobial resistance genes carried were confirmed by S1-nuclease pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (S1-PFGE) and Southern hybridization, and the transferability of the plasmid was verified by conjugation experiments. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) and whole genome sequencing (WGS) were used to characterize the strains. Results Two K. pneumoniae isolates (KP26 and KP29) displaying polymyxin resistance were identified as mcr-8 gene carriers. Besides that, tigecycline-resistant gene cluster tmexCD1-toprJ1 was also found on the other plasmid which conferred strain resistance to tigecycline. Through epidemiological analysis, we found that the mcr-8 gene has dispersed globally, circulating in the human, animals, and the environment. Furthermore, our analysis suggests that the coexistence of mcr-8 and tmexCD1-toprJ1 on a single plasmid might evolved through plasmid recombination. Conclusions Although the mcr-8 and tmexCD1-toprJ1 gene clusters in the two strains of K. pneumoniae in this study were on two different plasmids, they still pose a potential threat to public health, requiring close monitoring and further study.

Abstract Background According to the 5th edition of the Japanese Guidelines for the Treatment of Gastric Cancer, proximal gastrectomy is recommended for patients with early upper gastric cancer who can retain the distal half of the residual stomach after R0 resection. However, a large number of recent clinical studies suggest that surgical indications for proximal gastrectomy in the guidelines may be too narrow. Therefore, this meta-analysis included patients with early and advanced gastric cancer and compared short- and long-term postoperative outcomes between the two groups. At the same time, we only had high-quality clinical studies such as propensity score-matched studies and randomized controlled trials, which made our research more authentic and credible. Methods Data were retrieved from PubMed, EMBASE, Medline, and Cochrane Library up to June 2023, and included treatment outcomes after proximal gastrectomy with double-tract reconstruction and total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y reconstruction. The primary results were Early-phase complications(Anastomotic leakage, Anastomotic bleeding, Abdominal abscess, Abdominal infection, Pulmonary infection, Incision infection, Intestinal obstruction, Dumping syndrome, Pancreatic fistula), Late-phase complications(Intestinal obstruction, Anastomosis stricture, Dumping syndrome, Reoperation, Internal hernia, Incidence of endoscopic gastroesophageal reflux), Serious complications (≥ Grade III C-D score), Quality of life[Gastroesophageal reflux symptom evaluation (Visick score)(≥ III), Los Angeles classification(C or D)], Nutritional status(Hemoglobin, Receipt of vitamin B12 supplementation), Oncologic Outcomes(The 5-year overall survival rates). Secondary outcomes were surgical outcomes (Operative time, Estimated blood loss, Postoperative hospital stay, Number of harvested lymph nodes, Gas-passing, Postoperative mortality).The Cochrane risk-of-bias tool and Newcastle‒Ottawa scale were used to assess the quality of the included studies. Results After screening, 11 studies were finally included, including 1154 patients. Results from the combined literature showed that total gastrectomy had a significant advantage over proximal gastrectomy with double-tract reconstruction in mean operating time (MD = 4.92, 95% CI: 0.22∼9.61 P = 0.04). However, meta-analysis results showed that Hemoglobin (MD = 7.12, 95% CI:2.40∼11.84, P = 0.003) and Receipt of vitamin B12 supplementation (OR = 0.12, 95% CI:0.05∼0.26, P

Abstract Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a persistent inflammatory condition that specifically targets the colon and rectum. Existing therapies fail to adequately address the clinical requirements of people suffering from this ailment. Despite the acknowledged potential of nanomedicines in the field of anti-inflammatory treatment, their widespread use in clinical settings is impeded by their expensive nature and the uncertainty surrounding their safety profiles. This study illustrates that two naturally occurring phytochemicals, Costunolide (COS) and Glycyrrhizic acid (GA), form carrier-free, multifunctional spherical nanoparticles (NPs) through noncovalent interactions, such as π–π stacking and hydrogen bonding. The COS-GA NPs displayed a synergistic anti-inflammatory effect, providing much more evidently improved therapeutic benefits for dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced UC mice due to more effective reduction in inflammation and oxidative stress than did equal dosages of COS or GA used alone. In addition, COS-GA NPs have biocompatibility and biosafety properties unique to them. This study will serve as affirmation of the potential of COS-GA NPs as innovative natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities and also such agents as drug discovery in UC, leading possibly to better outcomes in people living with this disabling condition.

Abstract Background This study aimed to evaluate the effect of foraminoplasty using large-channel endoscopy during TESSYS on the biomechanics of the lumbar spine. Methods A complete lumbar spine model, M1, was built using 3D finite elements, and models M2 and M3 were constructed to simulate the intraoperative removal of the superior articular process of L5 using a trephine saw with diameters of 5 mm and 8.5 mm, respectively, and applying normal physiological loads on the different models to simulate six working conditions—anterior flexion, posterior extension, left-right lateral bending, and left-right rotation—to investigate the displacement and facet joint stress change of the surgical segment, and the disc stress change of the surgical and adjacent segments. Results Compared with the M1 model, the M2 and M3 models showed decreased stress at the L4-5 left FJ and a significant increase in stress at the right FJ in forward flexion. In the M2 and M3 models, the L4-5 FJ stresses were significantly greater in left lateral bending or left rotation than in right lateral bending or right rotation. The right FJ stress in M3 was greater during left rotation than that in M2, and that in M2 was greater than that in M1. The L4-5disc stress in the M3 model was greater during posterior extension than that in the M1 and M2 models. The L4-5disc stress in the M3 model was greater in the right rotation than in the M2 model, and that in the M2 model was greater than that in the M1 model. Conclusion Foraminoplasty using large-channel endoscopy could increase the stress on the FJ and disc of the surgical segment, which suggested unnecessary and excessive resection should be avoided in PTED to minimize biomechanical disruption.

Abstract Developing superporous hemostatic sponges with simultaneously enhanced permeability and mechanical properties remains challenging but highly desirable to achieve rapid hemostasis for non-compressible hemorrhage. Typical approaches to improve the permeability of hemostatic sponges by increasing porosity sacrifice mechanical properties and yield limited pore interconnectivity, thereby undermining the hemostatic efficacy and subsequent tissue regeneration. Herein, we propose a temperature-assisted secondary network compaction strategy following the phase separation-induced primary compaction to fabricate the superporous chitosan sponge with highly-interconnected porous structure, enhanced blood absorption rate and capacity, and fatigue resistance. The superporous chitosan sponge exhibits rapid shape recovery after absorbing blood and maintains sufficient pressure on wounds to build a robust physical barrier to greatly improve hemostatic efficiency. Furthermore, the superporous chitosan sponge outperforms commercial gauze, gelatin sponges, and chitosan powder by enhancing hemostatic efficiency, cell infiltration, vascular regeneration, and in-situ tissue regeneration in non-compressible organ injury models, respectively. We believe the proposed secondary network compaction strategy provides a simple yet effective method to fabricate superporous hemostatic sponges for diverse clinical applications.

Abstract The transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in various fields highlights the need for it to be both accurate and fair. Biased medical AI systems pose significant potential risks to achieving fair and equitable healthcare. Here, we show an implicit fairness learning approach to build a fairer ophthalmology AI (called FairerOPTH) that mitigates sex (biological attribute) and age biases in AI diagnosis of eye diseases. Specifically, FairerOPTH incorporates the causal relationship between fundus features and eye diseases, which is relatively independent of sensitive attributes such as race, sex, and age. We demonstrate on a large and diverse collected dataset that FairerOPTH significantly outperforms several state-of-the-art approaches in terms of diagnostic accuracy and fairness for 38 eye diseases in ultra-widefield imaging and 16 eye diseases in narrow-angle imaging. This work demonstrates the significant potential of implicit fairness learning in promoting equitable treatment for patients regardless of their sex or age.

Abstract Radiotherapy combined with immune checkpoint blockade holds great promise for synergistic antitumor efficacy. Targeted radionuclide therapy delivers radiation directly to tumor sites. LNC1004 is a fibroblast activation protein (FAP)-targeting radiopharmaceutical, conjugated with the albumin binder Evans Blue, which has demonstrated enhanced tumor uptake and retention in previous preclinical and clinical studies. Herein, we demonstrate that 68Ga/177Lu-labeled LNC1004 exhibits increased uptake and prolonged retention in MC38/NIH3T3-FAP and CT26/NIH3T3-FAP tumor xenografts. Radionuclide therapy with 177Lu-LNC1004 induced a transient upregulation of PD-L1 expression in tumor cells. The combination of 177Lu-LNC1004 and anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy led to complete eradication of all tumors in MC38/NIH3T3-FAP tumor-bearing mice, with mice showing 100% tumor rejection upon rechallenge. Immunohistochemistry, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), and TCR sequencing revealed that combination therapy reprogrammed the tumor microenvironment in mice to foster antitumor immunity by suppressing malignant progression and increasing cell-to-cell communication, CD8+ T-cell activation and expansion, M1 macrophage counts, antitumor activity of neutrophils, and T-cell receptor diversity. A preliminary clinical study demonstrated that 177Lu-LNC1004 was well-tolerated and effective in patients with refractory cancers. Further, scRNA-seq of peripheral blood mononuclear cells underscored the importance of addressing immune evasion through immune checkpoint blockade treatment. This was emphasized by the observed increase in antigen processing and presentation juxtaposed with T cell inactivation. In conclusion, our data supported the efficacy of immunotherapy combined with 177Lu-LNC1004 for cancer patients with FAP-positive tumors.

Objectives There are differing opinions and findings about the accuracy of self-reported data. This study sought to assess the accuracy of self-reported height, weight, and waist circumference (WC) data among adult residents in poor, rural areas of China. Methods Multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling was used to sample rural adult residents in Jinzhai County. Intraclass correlations (ICCs), Bland-Altman plots with limits of agreements (LOAs), and Cohen’s kappa were used to examine the accuracy of self-reported data. Multiple linear regression was used to explore the effect of demographic and socioeconomic variables. Results Height was over-reported by an average of 0.67 cm, weight and WC were both under-reported, by an average of 0.004 kg and 1.09 cm, respectively. The ICC for height was 0.92, the ICC for weight was 0.93, and the ICC for WC was 0.93. Bland-Altman plots showed no trend in variability with increasing height, weight, and WC, but 95% of the LOAs were wide, especially for WC. The percentage agreement (kappa) for BMI was 82.10% (0.71), and the percentage agreement for WC was 83.56% (0.66). Overall, obesity, overweight, and increased WC were underestimated by 0.56%, 2.64%, and 6.89%, respectively. Assessments of which demographic and socioeconomic factors were associated with statistically significant differences between self-reported and measured data showed that education (junior school vs. primary or below: β = −0.56, 95% CI [−1.01 to −0.11]) and occupation (others vs. professionals: β = 2.16, 95% CI [0.62–3.70]) were associated with differences between measured and self-reported height; occupation (industrial and commercial service vs. professionals: β = 1.57, 95% CI [0.52–2.61]) was associated with differences between measured and self-reported weight; and gender (women vs. men: β = −1.74, 95% CI [−2.51 to −0.97]) and age (60– vs. 18–44: β = −1.62, 95% CI [−2.88 to −0.36]) were associated with differences between measured and self-reported WC. Conclusions Self-reported height and weight were shown to be reliable in poor, rural areas of China, but self-reported WC should be used with caution. To improve the accuracy of self-reported data, certain subgroups should be targeted for educational interventions.

Abstract The exploration of antibiotic‐independent phototherapy strategies for the treatment of bacterial biofilm infections has gained significant attention. However, efficient eradication of bacterial biofilms remains a challenge. Herein, a self‐regulated phototheranostic nanosystem with single wavelength‐triggered photothermal therapy (PTT)/photodynamic therapy (PDT) transformation and oxygen supply for multimodal synergistic therapy of bacterial biofilm infections is presented. This approach combines a eutectic mixture of natural phase‐change materials (PCMs) and an aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) phototheranostic agent TPA‐ICN to form colloidally stable nanopartcicles (i.e. AIE@PCM NPs). The reversible solid−liquid phase transition of PCMs facilitates the adaptive regulation of the aggregation states of TPA‐ICN, enabling a switch between the energy dissipation pathways for enhanced PDT in solid PCMs or enhanced PTT in liquid PCMs. Additionally, oxygen‐carrying thermoresponsive nanoparticles are also introduced to alleviate the hypoxic microenvironment of biofilms by releasing oxygen upon heating by AIE@PCM NPs with enhanced PTT. The nanosystem exhibits outstanding therapeutic efficacy against bacterial biofilms both in vitro and in vivo, with an antibacterial efficiency of 99.99%. This study utilizes a self‐regulated theranostic nanoplatform with adaptive PTT/PDT transformation via the phase transition of PCMs and heat‐triggered oxygen release, holding great promise in the safe and efficient treatment of bacterial biofilm infections.

Background Bridges are vital construction infrastructures that almost every nation needs in order to function. Climate change is a significant issue, that especially affects the construction industry. It is very important that bridges are able to withstand the impacts of climate change and adaptation measures will be required to achieve this. Methods The digital twin will be developed using BIM to manage the climate change adaptation measures for the bridges. A 6D BIM model will be created that includes the 3D Revit model of a bridge featuring climate change measures, the climate change adaptation measures timeline schedule, climate change adaptation cost estimation, and carbon emission estimation, which will be produced using Revit software, Navisworks, and Granta EduPack. The results will show how 6D BIM can be used to support the adaptation of bridges to the effects of climate change. Results The findings underscore the efficacy of 6D BIM in enhancing bridge resilience against climate change impacts. The 3D model demonstrates integration of adaptation measures without compromising bridge functionality. Moreover, the 4D model's timeline scheduling facilitates hazard anticipation, project planning, communication enhancement, collaborative efforts, and project visualization. Cost estimations from the 5D model reveal varying costs among adaptation measures, while the 6D model highlights differences in carbon footprints. These BIM dimensions enable stakeholders to analyse effects on project costs and energy consumption, aiding sustainability and cost-efficiency considerations. Conclusions The study exhibits the literature review analysis, the risk assessment, research on climate change adaptation strategies, and implementation using Revit 2022, Navisworks 2022, and Granta EduPack software. By contributing to the adaptation of bridges to climate change effects, the research has provided valuable insights and practical implications for enhancing bridge resilience globally.

BackgroundWhile several studies have noted a higher SII correlates with multiple diseases, research on the association between SII and cataract remains limited. Our cross-sectional study seeks to examine the association between SII and cataract among outpatient US adults.MethodsThis compensatory cross-sectional study utilized NHANES data from 1999 to 2008 cycles, conducting sample-weighted multivariate logistic regression and stratified analysis of subgroups.ResultsAmong 11,205 adults included in this study (5,571 [46.2%] male; 5,634 [53.8%] female), 2,131 (15.2%) had cataract and 9,074 (84.8%) did not have cataract. A fully adjusted model showed that SII higher than 500 × 109/L was positively correlated with an increased risk of cataracts among women (OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.02–1.59) (p = 0.036). However, no difference was found in the men subgroup, and there was no significant interaction between SII and sex.ConclusionOur results indicated that a SII higher than 500 × 109/L was positively correlated with an increased risk of cataracts in women. This study is the first to specifically investigate the impact of a high SII on cataract risk in outpatient adults in the United States. By effectively addressing inflammation, it is possible to mitigate cataract progression and significantly enhance patient outcomes.

The instability of plastic flow in medium manganese steel was investigated through uniaxial tensile tests conducted at room temperature across various strain rates. The Portvin-Le Chatelier (PLC) effect was analyzed using statistical methods and a multifractal approach. The findings indicate that the zigzag stress–strain curves associated with instability plastic flow exhibit typical multifractal characteristics. Furthermore, the multifractal analysis quantifies the influence of strain rate and initial phase composition on the instability characteristics of the stress–strain curves. Specifically, it was observed that lower strain rates and austenite content correspond to a chaotic state, whereas higher strain rates and austenite content result in self-organizing critical dynamics. Finally, the underlying physical mechanisms driving these differing modes of behavior are discussed, with a focus on their relationship to strain rate and the initial austenitic phase fraction.

The viral genome titer is a crucial indicator for the clinical dosing, manufacturing, and analytical testing of recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) gene therapy products. Although quantitative PCR and digital PCR are the common methods used for quantifying the rAAV genome titer, they are limited by inadequate accuracy and robustness. The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-Cas12a biosensor is being increasingly used in virus detection; however, there is currently no report on its application in the titer determination of gene therapy products. In the present study, an amplification-free CRISPR-Cas12a assay was developed, optimized, and applied for rAAV genome titer determination. The assay demonstrated high precision and accuracy within the detection range of 4 × 109 and 1011 vg/mL. No significant difference was observed between the Cas12a and qPCR assay results (p

Ecosystem services are crucial for human survival and development. Changes in land use can lead to alterations in ecosystem service functions. However, the mechanism of how land use changes resulting from underground coal mining affect ecosystem service remains unclear, especially in areas with high groundwater levels. To address this issue, we studied the spatiotemporal in land use change in Jining City from 2000 to 2020 and employed Markov-PIM (probability integration method)-PLUS (Patch-generate Land Use Simulation) model to simulate land use change and ecosystem service values (ESV) in Jining City by 2030 under four different scenarios. The results indicate that from 2000 to 2020, the area of ecological space increased by 169.99 km2, and the area of living space expanded by 775.28 km2, while the area of production space decreased by 945.27 km2, conversely. These changes led to a 3 million yuan increase in total ESV. From 2020 to 2030, there was a marked decline in ESV under both natural development (ND) and living space preference (LSP) scenarios, with decreases of 0.59 billion yuan and 1.38 billion yuan, respectively. In contrast, in production space preference (PSP) and ecological space preference (ESP) scenarios, ESV increase by 0.22 billion yuan and 0.34 billion yuan. The ESP scenario is an effective strategy to strengthen environmental protection, significantly improve the ESV level of Jining City and meet the development goals of Jining City. Finally, the study concludes with recommendations like comprehensive management, industrial upgrading, and collaborative development for optimizing Jining City's future land use and enhance ESV for urban development.

Abstract Background In this retrospective case investigation, we analysed the data of patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) to reveal demographic and clinical diagnostic features of ONFH in three northeastern provinces of China and provide a reference for its prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Methods We collected data from patients in Beijing Orthopaedic Hospital of Liaoning, focusing on the aetiology and diagnosis of ONFH. Medical records and self-designed questionnaires were used to collect information for statistical analysis, including age, aetiology, reason for glucocorticoid use, hospital level at first visit, and diagnosis. Results In total, 906 patients with complete medical records were included in the analysis. The mean patient age was 47.65 ± 12.12 years. The peak age distribution was in the 40s for men and the 50s for women. Among the total cohort, 72 patients (7.95%; 40 men and 32 women) had traumatic ONFH, 198 (21.85%; 131 men and 67 women) had steroid-induced ONFH, 230 (25.39%; 121 men and 109 women) had idiopathic ONFH, and 406 (44.81%; 397 men and 9 women) had alcohol-induced ONFH. Six hundred and twenty patients were diagnosed with ONFH at the first visit, while 286 patients were misdiagnosed, with a diagnosis rate of 68.43%. The diagnosis rate at the first visit in tertiary hospitals was 76.14%. The diagnosis rate at the first visit in second-class hospitals was 52.07%.ONFH was most likely to be misdiagnosed as lumbar disc herniation. Conclusions Most patients with ONFH in three northeastern provinces of China were middle-aged, male, and had alcohol-induced ONFH. The misdiagnosis rate of ONFH at the first visit was very high, especially for misdiagnosis of lumbar disc herniation, indicating that the diagnosis of ONFH requires further improvement.

Abstract Background HIF-1α is thought to be a novel regulator which contributes to carcinogenesis. However, the mechanism underlying the effect of HIF-1α in gliomas remains largely unknown. Methods In the research, we demonstrate that HIF-lα mRNA and protein levels are elevated in glioma cells. The colony formation assays, transwell assays, and wound-healing assays showed that overexpression of HIF-1α promoted proliferation and invasion of glioma cells. Results Overexpression of HIF-lα also increased the expression of inflammatory factors related to pyrolysis (TNF-α, IL-10, and IL-1β) and protein related to pyrolysis signal pathway (NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, GSDMD, and GSDME). Conclusions Therefore, we speculate that HIF-1α promotes the proliferation and invasion of glial cells by regulating pyrolysis pathway. These results might provide a novel strategy and target for treatment of glioma.

Abstract Nano-graphene lubricating oil with appropriate concentration shows excellent performance in reducing friction and wear under different working conditions of diesel engines, and has been widely concerned. Lubricating oil has a significant impact on particulate matter (PM) emissions. At present, there are few studies on the impact of nano-graphene lubricating oil on the physicochemical properties of PM. In order to comprehensively evaluate the impact of nano-graphene lubricating oil on diesel engines, this paper mainly focused on the effects of lubricating oil nano-graphene additives on the particle size distribution and physicochemical properties of PM. The results show that, compared with pure lubricating oil, the total number of nuclear PM and accumulated PM of nano-graphene lubricating oil is significantly increased. The fractal dimension of PM of nano-graphene lubricating oil increases and its structure becomes more compact. The average fringe separation distance of basic carbon particles decreases, the average fringe length increases. The degree of ordering and graphitization of basic carbon particles are higher. The fringe tortuosity of basic carbon particles decreases, and the fluctuation of carbon layer structure of basic carbon particles decreases. Aliphatic substances in PM are basically unchanged, aromatic components and oxygen functional groups increase. The initial PM oxidation temperature and burnout temperature increase, the maximum oxidation rate temperature and combustion characteristic index decrease, and the activation energy increases, making it more difficult to oxidize. This was mainly caused by the higher graphitization degree of PM of nano-graphene lubricating oil and the increased content of aromatic substances.

Abstract Background Rotator cuff tendinopathy (RCT) is a widespread musculoskeletal disorder and a primary cause of shoulder pain and limited function. The resulting pain and limited functionality have a detrimental impact on the overall quality of life. The purpose of this study was to perform a systematic review of the effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) for RCT. Methods The literature search was conducted on the following databases from inception to February 20, 2024: PubMed, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, Scopus, MEDLINE, EMBASE, EBSCO, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) were checked to identify the potential studies exploring the effect of ESWT for the treatment of Rotator cuff tendinopathy (Calcification or non-calcification), control group for sham, other treatments (including placebo), without restriction of date, language. Two researchers independently screened literature, extracted data, evaluated the risk of bias in the included studies, and performed meta-analysis using RevMan 5.3 software. Results A total of 16 RCTs with 1093 patients were included. The results showed that compared with the control group, ESWT for pain score Visual Analogue Scale/Score (VAS) (SMD = -1.95, 95% CI -2.47, -1.41, P

The Gibberellic Acid-stimulated Arabidopsis (GASA) gene family is involved in the regulation of gene expression and plant growth, development, and stress responses. To investigate the function of loquat GASA genes in the growth and developmental regulation of plants, a loquat EjGASA6 gene homologous to Arabidopsis AtGASA6 was cloned. EjGASA6 expression was induced by gibberellin, and ectopic transgenic plants containing this gene exhibited earlier bloom and longer primary roots since these phenotypic characteristics are related to higher gibberellin content. Transcriptome analysis and qRT-PCR results showed that the expression levels of GA3ox1 and GA20ox1, which encode key enzymes in gibberellin biosynthesis, were significantly increased. Furthermore, we confirmed that EjGASA6 could promote the expression of GA20ox1 via the luciferase reporter system. Overall, our results suggest that EjGASA6 promotes blooming and main-root elongation by positively regulating gibberellin biosynthesis. These findings broaden our understanding of the role of GASAs in plant development and growth, and lay the groundwork for future research into the functions of EjGASA6 in regulating loquat growth and development.

Background Accessory breast plasma cell mastitis (PCM) is uncommon in clinical practice with rare reports. Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics, diagnostic methods and the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinical efficacy of accessory breast PCM. Methods The clinical diagnosis and treatment data of 15 patients with accessory breast PCM admitted to Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University from January 2017 to December 2021 were analyzed retrospectively, the general information, diagnostic methods, treatment methods and outcomes of 15 cases with accessory breast PCM were summarized. Results A total of 15 female patients of childbearing age with accessory breast PCM were included in this paper, with onset within 2-5 years after pregnancy. The etiology was complex and the course of accessory breast PCM was protracted, which was similar to breast PCM in pathogenetic characteristics, using pathological examination results as gold standard for diagnosis. After the combination of internal and external treatment of TCM, the symptoms of 15 patients were relieved, local lesions disappeared, and there was no recurrence after six months of follow-up. Conclusion Accessory breast PCM is rare in clinical practice, which is easy to be misdiagnosed or missed, and difficult to be treated clinically. The combination of internal and external treatment of TCM has a significant effect on accessory breast PCM.

Exploring the factors influencing farmers' water conservation intentions under the water rights transfer policy is crucial for developing equitable water rights systems and safeguarding farmers' interests. Leveraging data from 608 respondents in the Yellow Irrigation District of Inner Mongolia, China, integrating the theory of planned behavior and the theory of perceived value, we present an analytical framework to investigate the factors affecting farmers' water conservation intentions through structural equation modeling. Our findings reveal the following: firstly, farmers' water conservation intentions are predominantly influenced by subjective norms, behavioral attitudes, perceived behavioral control, perceived benefits, and perceived risks; secondly, perceived behavioral control exerts the most significant impact on farmers' water conservation intention, whereas subjective norms have the weakest influence. This implies that farmers’ water conservation intention is not closely related to subjective norms in the context of mandatory water-saving interventions; lastly, the paths leading to farmers' water conservation intention include ‘perceived benefits/perceived risks → behavioral intention,’ and an indirect path through ‘perceived benefits/perceived risks → behavioral attitudes → behavioral intention’. Consequently, reducing the water-saving technology complexity, harnessing the influence of neighboring communities and water user associations, and enhancing farmers' compensation are effective strategies to bolster farmers' intention to engage in water conservation. HIGHLIGHTS Through agricultural water conservation and the transfer of water rights, governments can re-allocate the scarce water resources to industries.; The water rights transfer policy represents an institutional shift and involves a cognitive adjustment process for farmers on a psychological level.; By integrating TPB and TPV, this paper unravels the logic behind the formation of farmers’ intentions to save water.;

Understanding the mechanical properties and multiscale failure mechanism of frozen soft rock is an important prerequisite for the construction safety of tunnels, artificially frozen ground and other infrastructure in cold regions. In this study, the triaxial compression test are performed on mudstone in the weakly cemented soft rock strata in the mining area of western China, and the mechanical characteristics and failure mechanism of weakly cemented mudstone are systematically investigated under the combined action of freezing and loading. Furthermore, the quantitative relationship between the microstructural parameters and the macroscopic strength and deformation parameters is established based on fractal theory. Thus, the failure mechanism of frozen weakly cemented mudstone is revealed on both micro- and macro-scales. The results show that temperature and confining pressure significantly affects the elastic modulus and peak strength of weakly cemented mudstone. With decreasing temperature, the compressive strength increases, while the corresponding peak strain decreases gradually. On the deformation curve, the plastic deformation stage is shortened, and the brittle fracture feature at the post-peak stage is more prominent, and the elastic modulus correspondingly increases with decreasing temperature. Under low-temperature conditions, most of the weakly cemented mudstone undergoes microscopic shear failure along the main fracture surface. The micro-fracture morphology characteristics of weakly cemented mudstone under different temperatures are quantified via the fractal dimension, and an approximately exponential relationship can be obtained among the fractal dimension and the temperature, compressive strength and elastic modulus.

Purposes: This study determined the synergy of polymyxin B (POLB) and colistin (COL) with 16 other tested antimicrobial agents in the inhibition of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDR-AB). Methods: We used chequerboard assays to determine synergy between the drugs against 50 clinical MDR-AB from a tertiary hospital in the Zhejiang province in 2019, classifying combinations as either antagonistic, independent, additive, or synergistic. The efficacy of hit combinations which showed highest synergistic rate were confirmed using time-kill assays. Results: Both POLB and COL displayed similar bactericidal effects when used in combination with these 16 tested drugs. Antagonism was only observed for a few strains (2%) exposed to a combination of POLB and cefoperazone/sulbactam (CSL). A higher percentage of synergistic combinations with POLB and COL were observed with rifabutin (RFB; 90%/96%), rifampicin (RIF; 60%/78%) and rifapentine (RFP; 56%/76%). Time-kill assays also confirmed the synergistic effect of POLB and rifamycin class combinations. 1/2 MIC rifamycin exposure can achieve bacterial clearance when combined with 1/2 MIC POLB or COL. Conclusion: Nearly no antagonism was observed when combining polymyxins with other drugs by both chequerboard and time-kill assays, suggesting that polymyxins may be effective in combination therapy. The combinations of POLB/COL with RFB, RIF, and RFP displayed neat synergy, with RFB showing the greatest effect.

Purpose: Cancer is the second leading cause of human mortality and has rapidly become a major global issue. According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory, the primary pathogenesis of cancer is the deficiency of ''vital Qi''. Licorice (Gancao in Chinese, GC) one of the oldest and the most frequently used herbs for tonifying Qi, is commonly integrated with other Chinese medicines to treat cancer in TCM clinical practice. GC extract, or its chemical components, are often utilized in cancer treatment. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying GC's therapeutic effects on cancer remain unclear. Our current study aimed to elucidate these mechanisms from the perspective of network pharmacology and experimental validation. Methods: We employed network pharmacology and bioinformatics to explore the anti-cancer mechanism, crucial targets, and kernel ingredients of GC. The significant targets and key ingredients (quercetin, glycyrrhetinic acid, and glucyrin) were substantiated using the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) viability assay, respectively. Results: Our findings identified eight critical targets and key ingredients (quercetin, glycyrrhetinic acid, glucyrin) and suggested that GC's anti-cancer effects are primarily associated with modulation of the immune system, signal transduction, cell cycle, and gene expression. The efficacy of quercetin, glycyrrhetinic acid, glucyrin against Human A549 lung cancer cells was confirmed. Conclusion: This study comprehensively elucidates the mechanisms through which GC addresses cancer, leveraging network pharmacology and experimental validation. These insights contribute to identifying principal compounds and developing innovative drugs for cancer therapy.

This study explores a sustainable recycling technique for converting coal gangue, an abundant industrial waste, into high-value porous ceramics, aiming to mitigate environmental hazards while contributing to materials science. By characterising the waste's composition, the research outlines a detailed methodology for ceramic synthesis, which includes calcination, grinding, and sintering at varying temperatures with the incorporation of chemical additives. The findings reveal that a sintering temperature of 1250 °C is optimal for producing ceramics with desirable porosity and strength. Additionally, additives, such as NaOH, KOH, and Ca(OH)₂, are shown to enhance the formation of mullite, gehlenite, and calcium silicate phases, thus improving the mechanical properties of the final product. The study concludes with a successful demonstration of a scalable process for manufacturing porous ceramics from coal gangue, providing a new application for waste utilisation and a new pathway to produce advanced materials with significant industrial applications.

Abstract The morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics of leaves result from the long-term adaptation of plants to their environment and are closely related to plant growth and development. In this study, 37 prickly ash germplasm resources from 18 production areas were utilized as the subjects of research. Logistic equations, principal component analysis, and cluster analysis were employed to comprehensively evaluate the leaf traits of prickly ash germplasm resources, with an analysis of their correlation with ecological and geographical factors in the production areas. The results showed that the leaf traits of prickly ash germplasms of different origins are substantially different and diverse. The coefficient of variation for the 14 leaf traits was greater than 10%. The coefficient of variation of the compound leaflet number was the highest among all the considered leaf traits, and the coefficient of variation of leaf thickness was the lowest, at 49.86% and 11.37%, respectively. The leaf traits of the prickly ash germplasm originating from Chongqing in Yongchuan, Chongqing in Rongchang, and Yunnan in Honghe ranked highest, whereas the leaf traits of the prickly ash germplasm from Henan in Jiaozuo, Gansu in Tianshui, and Shanxi in Yuncheng ranked lowest. The results of the correlation analysis showed that among the ecological and geographical factors of the origins, latitude had the strongest correlation with the leaf traits of the prickly ash germplasm. As latitude increased, the leaves of prickly ash gradually decreased in size, weight, and leaf shape index. The factor with the second strongest correlation was temperature. The leaves of the prickly ash germplasm originating from warmer climate areas were larger and heavier than those from areas with colder climates. Altitude and longitude did not significantly affect the leaf traits of the prickly ash germplasm, but at similar latitudes, the leaves of the prickly ash germplasm in high-altitude areas were smaller, and the leaves of the prickly ash germplasm in low-altitude areas were larger. These findings can provide valuable references for breeding and the sustainable utilization of new varieties of prickly ash resources.

To address the limited wear resistance attributed to the insufficient initial mechanical properties observed in high manganese steel (HM) wear behavior, we introduced nitrogen (N) to modulate precipitation behavior, thereby elevating material mechanical properties and wear resistance, and this was further enhanced through aging treatments. Due to the nitrogen addition, the precipitates transformed from MC to M(C, N), concurrently triggering a substantial increase and refinement in precipitates. As a result, nitrogenous high manganese steel (NHM) exhibited improved strength, toughness, and work-hardening capacity. The enhancements amounted to 67–77 MPa in yield strength and 5.3–9.3 % in elongation, with these improvements becoming more pronounced after extending the aging treatment. Under impact abrasive wear conditions, the NHM demonstrated the development of a stable work-hardened layer. The NHM hardened layer rapidly reached a depth of 4–6 mm, effectively resisting abrasive embedding and suppressing matrix abrasion. This transitioned the primary wear mechanisms from cutting and plowing to plastic deformation and micro-spalling. Additionally, NHM's great uniformity and toughness-plasticity played a crucial role in preventing the initiation and propagation of fatigue cracks and fatigue sheds.

Abstract Controlling the growth of bacterial biofilms in a specific pattern greatly enhances the study of cell‐to‐cell interactions and paves the way for expanding their biological applications. However, the development of simple, cost‐effective, and highly resolved biopatterning approaches remains a persistent challenge. Herein, a pioneering photodynamic biopatterning technique for the creation of living bacterial biofilms with customized geometries at high resolutions is presented. First of all, an outstanding aggregation‐induced emission photosensitizer is synthesized to enable efficient photodynamic bacterial killing at a low concentration. By combining with custom‐designed photomasks featuring both opaque and transparent patterns, the viability of photosensitizer‐coated bacteria is successfully manipulated by controlling the degree of light transmittance. This process leads to the formation of living bacterial biofilms with specific patterns replicated from the photomask. Such an innovative strategy can be employed to generate living bacterial biofilms composed of either mono‐ or multispecies, with a spatial resolution of approximately 24 µm. Furthermore, its potential applications in information storage/encryption and antibiotic screening are explored. This study provides an alternative way to understand and investigate the intricate interactions among bacteria within 3D biofilms, holding great promise in the controlled fabrication of dynamic biological systems for advanced applications.

BackgroundTunneling technique has shown preliminary promise in lung segmentectomy which requires the use of staplers in specific procedures. However, the obstacle when staples pass is the most obvious factor hindering the implementation and development of this technique. This study investigated whether the obstacle of the technology could be addressed by using an innovative self-designed stapler tractor and analyzed the combined and respective advantages of them.MethodsThe clinical data of patients with lung nodules located near anatomical sites with potential tunnel creation treated by segmentectomy were analyzed in this retrospective case-control study. The data were divided into four groups according to four distinct surgical strategies: In Group A, the tunneling technique was performed with a stapler tractor; in Group B, the tunneling technique was performed without a stapler tractor; in Group C, didn’t perform the tunneling technique but using stapler tractor in a normal approach; and in Group D, neither performed the technique nor used the stapler tractor. The general linear data, operation times, intraoperative adverse events, postoperative recovery and complications were compared.ResultsCompared with other groups, Group A exhibited the best surgical outcomes in comprehensive aspects. Separately, the tunnel groups (Group A&B) had better outcomes in the macro implementation of operation, including resection margin, the number of sampled intrapulmonary lymph nodes and resected subsegments, while the staple tractor groups (Group A&C) performed better on details of the procedure, including operation time, conversion to thoracotomy, and intraoperative bleeding (p < 0.05). Both of them were beneficial for shorter hospital stay, and the tunnel group was more advantageous.ConclusionThe tunneling technique is an advanced and beneficial surgical strategy for performing precise resection of lung segments while a stapler tractor can promote and facilitate it as a supplementary instrument. They show more combined benefits in effectively minimizing the occurrence of erroneous injuries and enhancing the operational efficacy.

Childhood obesity presents a serious health concern associated with gut microbiota alterations. Dietary interventions targeting the gut microbiota have emerged as promising strategies for managing obesity in children. This study aimed to elucidate the impact of stachyose (STS) supplementation on the gut microbiota composition and metabolic processes in obese children. Fecal samples were collected from 40 obese children (20 boys and 20 girls) aged between 6 and 15 and in vitro fermentation was conducted with or without the addition of STS, respectively, followed by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and analysis of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and gases. Notably, our results revealed that STS supplementation led to significant alterations in gut microbiota composition, including an increase in the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium and Faecalibacterium, and a decrease in harmful bacteria including Escherichia-Shigella, Parabacteroides, Eggerthella, and Flavonifractor. Moreover, STS supplementation resulted in changes in SCFAs production, with significant increases in acetate levels and reductions in propionate and propionate, while simultaneously reducing the generation of gases such as H2S, H2, and NH3. The Area Under the Curve (AUC)-Random Forest algorithm and PICRUSt 2 were employed to identify valuable biomarkers and predict associations between the gut microbiota, metabolites, and metabolic pathways. The results not only contribute to the elucidation of STS’s modulatory effects on gut microbiota but also underscore its potential in shaping metabolic activities within the gastrointestinal environment. Furthermore, our study underscores the significance of personalized nutrition interventions, particularly utilizing STS supplementation, in the management of childhood obesity through targeted modulation of gut microbial ecology and metabolic function.

This work introduced a facile method for fabricating heterostructures in a medium Mn steel via a direct warm rolling process. The heavy warm rolling promoted the transformation of metastable austenite (∼12.2 vol%) into hard domain α’ martensite, which formed a heterogeneous microstructure with the untransformed γ (soft domain). After 600 °C re-annealing, the hard domain α’ re-reversed to α + γ, and the heterostructure disappeared. Compared to the homogeneous structure, the heterostructure exhibited the synergistic enhancement of strength-ductility (yield strength (YS): 782 → 1113 MPa; ultimate tensile strength (UTS): 1099 → 1304 MPa; total elongation (TEL): 20.8 % → 21.7 %). Quantitative analysis showed that the heterogeneous deformation induced (HDI) strengthening (∼261 MPa) was the primary contributor to the increased ΔYS (782 → 1113 MPa) value, rather than the traditional strengthening mechanisms. Transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) and twinning induced plasticity (TWIP) effect were the main deformation mechanisms of both homogeneous/heterogeneous structures. However, compared to the homogeneous microstructure, the heterogeneous structure possessed the more pronounced TRIP and HDI hardening effects as well as L-C locks, the cooperative effect of these three factors further improved the strain hardening ability to break through the strength-ductility trade-off dilemma.