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Abstract Monolepta hieroglyphica, in view of its wide-ranging host and highly polyphagous characteristics, has become an important agricultural pest in East and Southeast Asian countries. To better understand its biology and develop control strategies, we present a high-quality chromosome-level genome assembly of M. hieroglyphica, with contig N50 of 18.62 Mb and scaffold N50 of 241.916 Mb. Using 156x Hi-C data, we anchored a total length of 2,313 Mb (91.9% of the genome) to nine chromosomes. We predicted 46,561 genes using an integrated approach. The completeness of the final reported genome and proteome were assessed by BUSCO and show high values of 99.4% and 95.2%, respectively. The high-quality chromosome-level genome assembly of M. hieroglyphica will be a useful molecular resource for the communities of both beetle and crop protection.

Abstract Background To investigate the association between periodontitis and inflammatory biomarkers, including systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio. Methods Our study comprised a cross-sectional analysis (an indirect evidence group and a periodontal health control group from January to October 2023) and a retrospective study (a direct evidence group and a non-maintenance group from January 2014 to March 2022). We analyzed demographic data, imaging measurements, and peripheral blood counts. Results The study included 131 participants in the indirect evidence group, 132 in the healthy control group, 123 in the direct evidence group, and 76 in the non-maintenance group. The indirect evidence group exhibited significantly altered inflammatory biomarker levels compared to the healthy controls. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that SII was the most effective biomarker for diagnosing periodontitis, with an area under the curve 0.758 and a Youden index 0.409. The optimal cut-off value was 437.07 × 10⁹/L, achieving a sensitivity 46.2% and a specificity 94.7%. Correlation analyses revealed significant associations between the biomarker levels and periodontitis grades, with SII showing the highest correlation coefficient (0.942). In the direct evidence group, supportive periodontal therapy significantly mitigated changes in these biomarkers. Conclusion An SII level exceeding 437.07 × 109/L could facilitate the periodontitis diagnosis and disease grade determination. SII can be utilized to assess and monitor periodontitis severity and treatment response.

Abstract Background We previously showed in animals that transpulmonary driving pressure (PL) can be estimated during Neurally Adjusted Ventilatory Assist (NAVA) and Neural Pressure Support (NPS) using a single lower assist maneuver (LAM). The aim of this study was to test the LAM-based estimate of PL (PL_LAM) in patients with acute respiratory failure. Methods This was a prospective, physiological, and interventional study in intubated patients with acute respiratory failure. During both NAVA and simulated NPS (high and low levels of assist), a LAM was performed every 3 min by manually reducing the assist to zero for one single breath (by default, ventilator still provides 2 cmH2O). Following NAVA and NPSSIM periods, patients were sedated and passively ventilated in volume control and pressure control ventilation, to obtain PL during controlled mechanical ventilation (PL_CMV). PL using an esophageal balloon (PL_Pes) was also compared to PL_LAM and PL_CMV. We measured diaphragm electrical activity (Edi), ventilator pressure (PVent), esophageal pressure (Pes) and tidal volume. PL_LAM and PL_Pes were compared to themselves, and to PL_CMV for matching flows and volumes. Results Ten patients were included in the study. For the group, PL_LAM was closely similar to PL_CMV, with a high correlation (R 2 = 0.88). Bland–Altman analysis revealed a low Bias of 0.28 cmH2O, and 1.96SD of 5.26 cmH2O. PL_LAM vs PL_Pes were also tightly related (R 2 = 0.77). Conclusion This physiological study in patients confirms our previous pre-clinical data that PL_LAM is as good an estimate as PL_Pes to determine PL, in spontaneously breathing patients on assisted mechanical ventilation. Trial registration The study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (ID NCT05378802) on November 6, 2021

Abstract Exceptional points (EPs)—singularities in the parameter space of non-Hermitian systems where two nearby eigenmodes coalesce—feature unique properties with applications such as sensitivity enhancement and chiral emission. Existing realizations of EP lasers operate with static populations in the gain medium. By analyzing the full-wave Maxwell–Bloch equations, here we show that in a laser operating sufficiently close to an EP, the nonlinear gain will spontaneously induce a multi-spectral multi-modal instability above a pump threshold, which initiates an oscillating population inversion and generates a frequency comb. The efficiency of comb generation is enhanced by both the spectral degeneracy and the spatial coalescence of modes near an EP. Such an “EP comb” has a widely tunable repetition rate, self-starts without external modulators or a continuous-wave pump, and can be realized with an ultra-compact footprint. We develop an exact solution of the Maxwell–Bloch equations with an oscillating inversion, describing all spatiotemporal properties of the EP comb as a limit cycle. We numerically illustrate this phenomenon in a 5-μm-long gain-loss coupled AlGaAs cavity and adjust the EP comb repetition rate from 20 to 27 GHz. This work provides a rigorous spatiotemporal description of the rich laser behaviors that arise from the interplay between the non-Hermiticity, nonlinearity, and dynamics of a gain medium.

To investigate the cause of mass mortality in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) at an aquaculture farm in Hubei due to acute hemorrhagic disease, a dominant bacterium named LY02 was isolated from the brain and major internal organs of diseased fishdise. A re-infection experiment confirmed that LY02 was the pathogenic bacterium responsible for the mass mortality. Histopathological studies revealed that the infection caused varying degrees of necrosis and congestion in the brain and major internal organs of the largemouth bass. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection showed that the LY02 isolate carried the toxin genes simA, pdi, sagA, and cfi. Whole-genome analysis identified LY02 as Streptococcus iniae, carrying 330 toxin factor-related genes and 164 resistance factor-related genes. LY02 was found to be highly sensitive to ceftizoxime, cefradine, cefotaxime, azithromycin, erythromycin, enoxacin, doxycycline, and netilmicin; moderately sensitive to norfloxacin and enrofloxacin; and resistant to gentamicin, streptomycin, kanamycin, tobramycin, and neomycin. This study is the first to isolate and identify S. iniae from infected largemouth bass, providing a theoretical basis for the diagnosis and prevention of acute hemorrhagic disease in this species.

Compared with the conventional laser cutting and braided method, this research aimed to produce unibody NiTi vascular stents by metal injection molding (MIM), simplifying the manufacturing process. MIM NiTi alloys and stents with a low oxygen content of 0.17 % were obtained via strict oxygen control. Sintered Ni4Ti3 precipitates can be observed in both micron and nanometer scales. The MIM NiTi alloy has a tensile strength of 812 MPa, an elongation of 5.7 %, and full recovery at 5 % pre-strain. During 3.96 × 108 cycle-simulated in vitro fatigue tests, the MIM NiTi stents essentially maintained a constant diameter without any marked damage, although local pitting was observed. The biocompatibility of MIM NiTi was evaluated based on toxicity, migration, and adhesion of the human umbilical vein endothelial cells. The hemolysis rate was as low as 0.4 %. This study provides a new manufacturing strategy for NiTi self-expanding vascular stents. Additionally, it aimed to develop porous and gradient porous NiTi vascular stents using the characteristics of MIM process.

Previous research using the Attention Network Test (ANT) paradigm has indicated that older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) experience declines in attentional performance across the three core networks: alerting, orienting, and executive control, primarily focusing on main effects. The present study sought to expand these findings by exploring whether interactions between these networks are also affected in the presence of MCI. To achieve this, we used the Revised Attention Network Test (ANT-R) to examine both the individual attentional networks and their interactions in 21 older adults with MCI and 27 healthy controls (HCs) matched on demographic variables. Results indicated that the MCI group exhibited lower accuracy than the HC group in both executive control and orienting functions. In addition, the MCI group demonstrated a weakened interaction between the orienting and executive control networks, suggesting that valid cues are less effective in facilitating conflict resolution for individuals with MCI compared to HCs. No significant group differences were observed for the interaction between the executive control and alerting networks, or between the flanker conflict effect and the location conflict effect within the executive control network. This study extends previous findings by identifying changes related to MCI in the interaction between the orienting and executive control networks, highlighting the challenges individuals with MCI face in utilizing spatial cues during attentional processing.

Abstract Background The formation of stem cell clones enables close contact of stem cells inside. The gap junctions in such clone spheres establish a microenvironment that allows frequent intercellular communication to maintain self-renewal and functions of stem cells. Nevertheless, the essential gap junction protein for molecular signaling in clones is poorly known. Methods Primary human airway basal cells (hBCs) were isolated from brushing samples through bronchoscopy and then cultured. A tightly focused femtosecond laser was used to excite the local Ca2+ in an individual cell to initiate an internal Ca2+ wave in a clone to screen gap junction proteins. Immunoflourescence staining and clonogenicity assay were used to evaluate self-renewal and functions. RNA and protein levels were assessed by PCR and Western blot. Air–liquid interface assay was conducted to evaluate the differentiation potential. A Naphthalene injury mouse model was used to assess the regeneration potential. Results Herein, we identify Connexin 25 (Cx25) dominates intercellular Ca2+ communications in clones of hBCs in vitro to maintain the self-renewal and pluripotency of them. The self-renewal and in vitro differentiation functions and in vivo regeneration potential of hBCs in an airway damage model are both regulated by Cx25. The abnormal expression of Cx25 is validated in several diseases including IPF, Covid-19 and bronchiectasis. Conclusion Cx25 is essential for hBC clones in maintaining self-renewal and functions of hBCs via gap junctions.

Abstract In the age of information explosion, people are increasingly accustomed to acquiring knowledge during fragmented periods of time, which has contributed to the growing popularity of micro-learning. However, when micro-learning takes place in non-formal or informal settings, it can be easily disrupted and may lack interaction, negatively impacting the learning experience and knowledge acquisition. This study examined the effect of learning communities on knowledge acquisition and learning experience in non-formal micro-learning settings. An 8-module micro-learning course was designed, and 80 participants were divided into an experimental group with a learning community and a control group without one. All participants completed a pre-test and post-test. The results showed significant improvements in post-test scores for both groups, with no notable difference in knowledge acquisition between them. Learners who took notes and repeatedly reviewed the learning content tended to have higher post-test scores. In addition, differences between the groups in terms of mental effort and satisfaction were insignificant. By the end of the course, the control group expressed a stronger desire to join a learning community. Community learners who made significant progress reported enjoying learning within the community, while those who did not regularly check community messages and experienced a decrease in test scores reported that excessive messaging caused distress. These findings have implications for course designers and researchers aiming to enhance micro-learning through online learning communities.

Abstract The rapid rise of live-streaming selling and the increasing diversity of e-commerce channels have sparked ongoing debates regarding product pricing power. This price competition behaviour of online dual channels triggered by the supply-side pricing dilemma is a topic of significant research interest and forms the focal point of this paper. Therefore, we leverage the principles of game theory to construct a three-party evolutionary game model consisting of a brand, a steamer, and a traditional e-commerce platform. Within this framework, the brand holds the primary pricing authority. Our analysis examines the equilibrium strategies adopted by the various players under diverse scenarios and explores how the evolving behaviours of these parties impact the overall game system. Additionally, we employ the “people-goods-scene” perspective to deconstruct the intricate dynamics within this complex supply chain ecosystem. Our findings reveal two distinct evolutionary stable strategies: one in which brands maintain a stance against low-price negotiation, streamers avoid bargaining, and platforms avoid providing subsidies; the other in which brands are open to negotiating low prices, streamers engage in bargaining, and platforms provide subsidies. Notably, in most cases, brands tend to avoid explicitly stating their opposition to low-price negotiation. However, if a brand’s strategy shifts towards rejecting such negotiation, the negative implications of price wars across channels become a critical consideration. Conversely, when a brand opts for a more concessive pricing strategy, we need to consider the potential positive impacts of low-price competition.

Objective: Robotic thoracic surgery provides another minimally invasive approach in addition to video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) that yields less pain and faster recovery compared with open surgery. However, robotic incisions are generally placed more inferiorly, which may increase the risk of intercostal nerve injury that affects the abdominal wall. We hypothesized that a robotic approach causes greater ipsilateral rectus muscle atrophy compared with open and VATS approaches. Methods: The cross-sectional area and density of bilateral rectus abdominis muscles were measured on computed tomography scans in patients who underwent lobectomy in 2018. The differences between the contralateral and ipsilateral muscles were compared between preoperative and 6-month surveillance scans. Changes were compared among the open, VATS, and robotic approaches through a mixed effects model after adjustments of correlation and covariates. Results: Of 99 lobectomies, 25 (25.3%) were open, 56 (56.6%) VATS, and 18 (18.1%) robotic. The difference between the contralateral and ipsilateral rectus muscle cross-sectional area was significantly larger at 6 months after robotic surgery compared with open (31.4% vs 9.5%, P = .049) and VATS (31.4% vs 14.1%, P = .021). There were no significant differences in the cross-sectional area between the open and VATS approach. Conclusions: In this retrospective analysis, there was greater ipsilateral rectus muscle atrophy associated with robotic thoracic surgery compared with open or VATS approaches. These findings should be correlated with clinical symptoms and followed to assess for resolution or persistence.

Abstract Detection of printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) defects is crucial for improving the efficiency of PCBA manufacturing. This paper proposes PCBA-YOLO, a YOLOv5-based method that can effectively increase the accuracy of PCBA defect detection. First, the spatial pyramid pooling module with cross-stage partial structure is replaced in the neck network of YOLOv5 to capture the resolution features at multiple scales. Second, large kernel convolution is introduced in the backbone network to obtain larger effective receptive fields while reducing computational overhead. Finally, an SIoU loss function that considers the angular cost is utilized to enhance the convergence speed of the model. In addition, an assembled PCBA defect detection dataset named PCBA-DET is created in this paper, containing the corresponding defect categories and annotations of defect locations. The experimental results on the PCB defect dataset demonstrate that the improved method has lower loss values and higher accuracy. Evaluated on the PCBA-DET dataset, the mean average precision reaches 97.3 $$\%$$ % , achieving a real-time detection performance of 322.6 frames per second, which considers both the detection accuracy and the model size compared to the YOLO series of detection networks. The source code and PCBA-DET dataset can be accessed at https://github.com/ismh16/PCBA-Dataset .

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the impact of local treatment modalities in the management of large non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tumors using a nationwide population-based dataset. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients with NSCLC tumors >7 cm that were cN0-1M0 in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry from 2010 to 2015 were stratified by local management strategy (surgery, radiation therapy, no local treatment) and evaluated using Kaplan–Meier survival analyses, Cox proportional-hazard methods, and propensity-matched analysis. RESULTS: A total of 3156 patients were identified, of which 1580 (50.1%) underwent surgical resection, 920 (29.2%) received radiation only, 655 (20.7%) received no local treatment. Overall, the 5-year survival of patients undergoing surgical resection was 40.7%, compared to 14.7% and 5.3% for the radiation only and no local treatment groups, respectively (P < .001). Surgery with or without radiation continued to have an independent association with improved survival in multivariable analysis (HR 0.23, P < .0001). Other factors associated with improved survival included younger age, negative nodal disease, and chemotherapy use. In propensity-matched sub-analyses, 5-year survival remained significantly better after surgery alone compared to radiation alone (38.5% vs. 13.6%, P < .001), while survival after radiation alone was better than no local treatment, though both were largely poor (12.4% vs. 7.5%, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Survival of patients with large NSCLC managed non-surgically is very poor. Despite the significant long-term survival benefit with surgical intervention, nearly half of the study cohort did not undergo surgery. Patients and clinicians can use these results to estimate specific potential benefits when considering possible treatment strategies for large NSCLC tumors.

BackgroundExisting meta-analyses suggest that exercise intervention may play a crucial therapeutic role in improving maternal depression, anxiety and fatigue symptoms. However, the efficacy varies across different exercise content, duration, frequency, cycle, intensity, format and intervention period.ObjectiveUsing meta-analysis to propose the best intervention program and examine the effect of exercise intervention on maternal depression, anxiety, and fatigue.MethodsFive databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI) were searched from inception to June 2024, a total of 37 literatures were included. The methodological quality of the included literatures was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and the PEDro scale. When heterogeneity was high, we used random-effects models. Funnel plots were used to assess publication bias. Sensitivity analysis was used to verify the robustness of the combined results. Subgroup analysis was used to explore sources of heterogeneity.ResultsExercise has beneficial effects on the improvement of maternal depression [g = −0.71, 95%CI (−0.93, −0.49), p = 0.00], anxiety [g = −1.09, 95%CI (−1.42, −0.76), p = 0.00] and fatigue [g = −0.64, 95%CI (−0.88, −0.40), p = 0.00] symptoms. Postnatal interventions may be more effective than prenatal. Low-moderate intensity yoga with group + individual, 4–5 times/week, 40–60 min/time, duration 4–8 weeks is most effective in improving depressive symptoms. Low-intensity yoga with group + individual, 4–5 times/week, 40–60 min/time, duration 4–8 weeks is most effective for improving anxiety symptoms. Low-intensity Pilates with group, 1–2 times/week, 40–60 min/time, duration 4–8 weeks is most effective for improving fatigue symptoms.ConclusionThis meta-analysis demonstrates the positive effect of exercise on improving maternal depression, anxiety and fatigue and suggests the best intervention program. Maternal perceptions that postpartum exercise is safer may account for the better outcomes of postpartum intervention. Further higher quality and large-scale trials are needed to substantiate our findings.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, CRD42024567987.

Compared to traditional resources, user-side resources are of various types and have more significant uncertainty about their regulatory capacity, leading to difficulties in coordinating decisions about their simultaneous participation in the electric energy and peaking ancillary services markets. This paper proposes a joint bidding decision-making method for the day-ahead electricity energy and peak shaving auxiliary service market based on distributed robust opportunity constraints, which addresses the problem of difficulty in using an accurate probability density distribution to represent the uncertainty process of user-side resources. Firstly, a data-driven method for characterizing the uncertainty of load regulation capacity is investigated, and fuzzy sets are constructed without assuming specific probability distributions of random variables. Then, to minimize the risk expectation of the joint bidding cost on the customer side, a bidding strategy that considers the uncertainty is proposed. Finally, an example simulation verifies the reasonableness and effectiveness of the proposed joint bidding method, and the results show that the constructed model overcomes the problem of over-conservatism of the robust model, and the computational adaptability is better than that of the stochastic model, which achieves a better balance between robustness and economy.

During October 2022, enteric redmouth disease (ERM) affected Chinese sturgeons at a farm in Hubei, China, causing mass mortality. Affected fish exhibited characteristic red mouth and intestinal inflammation. Investigation led to isolation of a prominent bacterial strain, zhx1, from the internal organs and intestines of affected fish. Artificial infection experiments confirmed the role of zhx1 as the pathogen responsible for the deaths. The primary pathologic manifestations consisted of degeneration, necrosis, and inflammatory reactions, resulting in multiple organ dysfunction and death. Whole-genome sequencing of the bacteria identified zhx1 as Yersinia ruckeri, which possesses 135 drug-resistance genes and 443 virulence factor-related genes. Drug-susceptibility testing of zhx1 demonstrated high sensitivity to chloramphenicol and florfenicol but varying degrees of resistance to 18 other antimicrobial drugs. Identifying the pathogenic bacteria associated with ERM in Chinese sturgeons establishes a theoretical foundation for the effective prevention and control of this disease.

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of nano-silica (NS) content on the strength and cytotoxicity of calcium-silicate-based root canal filling materials. In this experimental laboratory study, four types of calcium-silicate-based paste with different NS ratios were prepared and hydrated for seven or 28 days. The setting times, compressive strengths, and porosities were tested to determine the properties of the pastes. The residual NS and the calcium hydroxide (CH; Ca (OH)2) content were investigated to analyze the hydration products. The experiments demonstrated that NS facilitates the hydration of calcium-silicate-based materials, enhances the formation of hydration products, and ensures effective porosity filling. Consequently, these findings suggest that NS contributes to the enhancement of the early compressive strength of calcium silicate root canal filling pastes. The addition of 9% NS enhanced the early compressive strength by 41.99% compared with the NS-free samples. Additionally, it was found that the test group without NS, as well as the test groups with 3% and 9% NS, exhibited mild cytotoxicity, while the test group with 15% NS exhibited moderate cytotoxicity. The observed cytotoxicity can be attributed to the increase in the ambient pH due to the production of CH during hydration. The findings of this study demonstrate that the early compressive strength of calcium-silicate-based root canal filling materials exhibits a substantial increase in response to the incorporation of NS, and that calcium-silicate-based root canal filling materials do not manifest significant levels of toxicity. NS improved hydration product formation and made efficient pore filling possible.

Grouting can effectively reduce residual deformation of coal mine goafs, but fly ash grouting materials suffer from poor flowability and slow early strength development. Microbially -induced calcite precipitation (MICP), with its high environmental compatibility and minimal disturbance to geotechnical bodies, effectively improves the injectability of grouting slurry in goafs. This study combined Castellaniella denitrificans and Sporosarcina pasteurii to induce calcite precipitation, preparing cement–fly ash slurry with varying water–solid ratios, solid ratios and denitrifying bacteria concentrations. The physical properties of the slurry and the mechanical properties of the grouted stone bodies under sealed curing conditions were measured. Results show that the dual-bacteria MICP improves stone body performance by enhancing cohesive, frictional and interlocking forces, so that the strength of the stone bodies cured by MICP increased rapidly within 7 days, and the strength reached the standard 2.03 MPa at 28 days under conditions of low solid ratio and high water–solid ratio, with the best compressive strength at a denitrifying bacteria concentration with an optical density of 0.8 at 600 nm wavelength. At a water–solid ratio of 1 : 1.2 and a solid ratio of 15%, initial and final setting times were 67.2 and 96 h, respectively, which prolonged the initial setting time and final setting time by nearly 70% and 110% compared with that of the slurry without MICP treatment, indicating that MICP enhances slurry fluidity, providing more time for grouting construction in goafs.

Objectives The cognitive expertise of experts has been an intriguing theme; there has been rapid growth in cognitive research related to esports. Given the close association between esports activities and cognition, esports holds promise in offering new perspectives for understanding cognitive expertise. This meta-analysis aims at quantitatively delineating the cognitive disparities between esports experts and amateurs. Methods The expert group comprised professional video game players and high-ranking players (top 1%), while amateurs were assigned to the control group. Research studies published between January 2000 and December 2023 were systematically searched in databases. A three-level model with cluster-robust variance estimation was used to calculate the overall effect size. The moderating variables included professional level, cognitive abilities, dependent variable type, game genre, gender and age. Results A total of 15 studies containing 142 effect sizes and 1085 participants were included in this meta-analysis. The results indicated that, compared to amateurs, video game experts demonstrated superior cognitive abilities with a small effect size (Hedges’ g = 0.373, 95% CI [0.055–0.691], p = .012). The differences between experts and amateur players mainly manifest in spatial cognition and attention. Sensitivity analysis, risk of bias, and publication bias results indicated the reliability of these findings. Conclusions This meta-analysis confirms that esports experts possess superior cognitive abilities compared to amateurs, particularly in aspects of spatial cognition and attention. These can provide an effective reference for future selection and training in esports.

Objective: and design: Considering the clinical link between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and atherosclerosis (AS), we performed bioinformatics analysis to uncover their pathogenic interrelationship. Methods and results: Data from the U.S. National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2018 were included. Among 4851 participants in NHANES, NAFLD was significantly associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk (ASCVD risk) (OR = 2.32, 95%CI: 2.04–2.65, P

New energy vehicles (NEVs) are considered a crucial means of reducing travel costs, enhancing consumer experiences, and innovating services. This paper aims to categorize the functional experiences of NEVs into two types: intelligent experience and eco-friendly experience, using a dual-path model. By analyzing 118,648 text data from automotive information and service platforms, the relevant factors influencing consumer satisfaction are explored. The research findings reveal that intelligent experience has a significantly positive impact on consumer satisfaction, whereas eco-friendly experience has a significantly negative impact on consumer satisfaction. This suggests that new energy vehicle companies need technological innovation in infrastructure and range to enhance consumer satisfaction. Furthermore, the research confirms that, when facing the intelligent experience of new energy vehicles, consumers’ “rational” thinking plays a dominant role, and efficacy is an intermediate variable to enhance consumer satisfaction. On the other hand, when facing the eco-friendly experience of new energy vehicles, consumers’ “emotional” thinking predominates, and identity is an intermediate variable to enhance consumer satisfaction. Additionally, the moderating effect of perceived usability is examined. When faced with the intelligent experience of NEVs, consumers with high perceived usability are more likely to generate a sense of efficiency. In the case of the eco-friendly experience of NEVs, consumers with low perceived usability are more likely to experience a sense of identity.

Abstract Nonsense‐mediated decay (NMD) and autophagy play pivotal roles in restricting virus infection in plants. However, the interconnection between these two pathways in viral infections has not been explored. Here, it is shown that overexpression of NbSMG7 and NbUPF3 attenuates cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV) infection by recognizing the viral internal termination codon and vice versa. NbSMG7 is subjected to autophagic degradation, which is executed by its interaction with one of the autophagy‐related proteins, NbATG8i. Mutation of the ATG8 interacting motif (AIM) in NbSMG7 (SMG7mAIM1) abolishes the interaction and comprises its autophagic degradation. Silencing of NbSMG7 and NbATG8i, or NbUPF3 and NbATG8i, compared to silencing each gene individually, leads to more virus accumulations, but overexpression of NbSMG7 and NbATG8i fails to achieve more potent virus inhibition. When CGMMV is co‐inoculated with NbSMG7mAIM1 or with NbUPF3, compared to co‐inoculating with NbSMG7 in NbATG8i transgene plants, the inoculated plants exhibit milder viral phenotypes. These findings reveal that NMD‐mediated virus inhibition is impaired by the autophagic degradation of SMG7 in a negative feedback loop, and a novel regulatory interplay between NMD and autophagy is uncovered, providing insights that are valuable in optimizing strategies to harness NMD and autophagy for combating viral infections.

Incorporating inorganic fillers into solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) to construct composite polymer electrolytes (CPEs) serves as an effective strategy to comprehensively enhance the properties of solid electrolytes. Herein, a CPE is fabricated by integrating Li6PS5Cl particles into polycaprolactone (PCL). The addition of active fillers could effectively weaken the crystallization of polymer and increase the ionic conductivity of the solid electrolyte. In particular, the PCL-based polymer electrolyte with 3% Li6PS5Cl (PCL-3) exhibits an excellent ionic conductivity of 1.36×10−4 S cm−1 at room temperature, which is one order higher than that of PCL polymer solid electrolyte. And it achieves a high critical current density of 2.2 mA cm−2 with a capacity of 2.2 mAh cm−2. The assembled Li symmetric battery can cycle steadily for more than 3000 h at 0.5 mA cm−2 under room temperature. The LiFePO4/PCL-3/Li all-solid-state battery maintains a capacity of 125.3 mAh g−1 after 400 cycles at 0.2 C under room temperature. Notably, the LiFePO4//Li battery also shows stable cycling at 40 °C, exhibiting high reversible specific capacities of 156.7 mAh g−1 and 126.3 mAh g−1 with a retention rate of 97.15% and 94.6% at 0.2 C and 0.5 C after 100 cycles, respectively, showing promising application prospects for all-solid-state lithium metal batteries.

Abstract Objective We aimed to evaluate the ability of Adult Comorbidity Evaluation 27 (ACE-27) to predict perioperative outcomes and survival in elderly women with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (AEOC) undergoing cytoreductive surgery. Methods We collected patients with AEOC in our hospital between January 1, 2012 and January 1, 2021. Patients younger than 65 years old or those with non-epithelial ovarian cancer were excluded. ACE-27 was applied retrospectively to assess comorbidities in the selected patients, who were then classified into two groups based on their ACE-27 scores: low ACE-27 score group (none to mild) and high ACE-27 score group (moderate to severe). Results A total of 222 elderly women with AEOC were included, of whom 164 patients accepted debulking surgery. Among those who have undergone surgery, Clavien–Dindo grade III + perioperative complications or unintended intensive care unit (ICU) admission occurred more often in patients of high ACE-27 score group, with statistically significant difference (odds ratio [OR]: 4.21, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.28–14.35, p = 0.018). Further stratified analyses by age, BMI, FIGO stage and pathology also prove that OS of patients graded severe was shorter than patients graded none to moderate in cohort of age

Abstract Climate change is closely monitored and numerous studies reports increasing air temperature and weather extremes across the globe. As a direct consequence of the increase of global temperature, the increased heat stress is becoming a global threat to public health. While most climate change and epidemiological studies focus on air temperature to explain the increasing risks, heat strain can be predicted using comprehensive indices such as Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI). The Asia–Pacific region is prone to thermal stress and the high population densities in the region impose high health risk. This study evaluated the air temperature and UTCI trends between 1990 and 2019 and found significant increasing trends for air temperature for the whole region while the increases of UTCI are not as pronounced and mainly found in the northern part of the region. These results indicate that even though air temperature is increasing, the risks of heat stress when assessed using UTCI may be alleviated by other factors. The associations between El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and heat stress was evaluated on a seasonal level and the strongest regional responses were found during December-January (DJF) and March–May (MAM).

In this paper, we study a autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) inspection system. In this system, the AAV flies to all inspection points in a certain area for patrol inspection, and the energy of inspection AAV is limited. Our goal is to optimize the communication quality of the AAV by planning the inspection sequence and flight trajectory, so as to ensure that the AAV can complete the inspection task and minimize the outage time subject to limited energy of the AAV. To solve this problem, we propose a hybrid algorithm, which consists of simulated annealing (SA) algorithm and Dueling Double Deep Q Network (D3QN) algorithm. The SA algorithm is used to obtain the inspection sequence of the AAV with the most energy saving. On this basis, the D3QN algorithm is used to optimize the flight trajectory of the energy-limited inspection AAV. To prove the effectiveness of the sub-optimal solution obtained by our proposed algorithm, we use several algorithms as a comparison. Numerical results show that the proposed algorithm is effective in optimizing the communication quality of the inspection AAV with limited energy, and its performance is improved by about 15%-50% compared with other benchmarks.

Abstract The low scattering efficiency of Raman scattering makes it challenging to simultaneously achieve good signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), high imaging speed, and adequate spatial and spectral resolutions. Here, we report a noise learning (NL) approach that estimates the intrinsic noise distribution of each instrument by statistically learning the noise in the pixel-spatial frequency domain. The estimated noise is then removed from the noisy spectra. This enhances the SNR by ca. 10 folds, and suppresses the mean-square error by almost 150 folds. NL allows us to improve the positioning accuracy and spatial resolution and largely eliminates the impact of thermal drift on tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopic nanoimaging. NL is also applicable to enhance SNR in fluorescence and photoluminescence imaging. Our method manages the ground truth spectra and the instrumental noise simultaneously within the training dataset, which bypasses the tedious labelling of huge dataset required in conventional deep learning, potentially shifting deep learning from sample-dependent to instrument-dependent.

In this paper, an intra-cavity SPR sensor based on erbium-doped fiber (EDF) laser is proposed to achieve higher sensitivity for detecting analyte refractive indices. A liquid-core fiber-based SPR sensor is first designed to match the operating wavelength of 1530 nm in the fiber laser intra-cavity, and then placed into the cavity of the EDF laser to constitute the all-fiber intra-cavity SPR sensor. We theoretical investigate the influence of pump power, cavity loss and EDF length on the sensitivity of the proposed intra-cavity SPR sensor. The results indicate that the sensitivity of the intra-cavity SPR sensor can reach 1.051 × 109 RIU−1 (refractive index unit), which is enhanced 4 × 106 times compared with the sensitivity of 253 RIU−1 obtained by the SPR sensor without fiber laser cavity. In addition, the sensitivity of the proposed intra-cavity SPR sensor can be flexibly tuned by changing pump power, cavity loss or EDF length. This work demonstrates that as an alternative approach, the combination of the fiber laser intra-cavity spectroscopy and the fiber-based SPR sensor can achieve a remarkable enhancement in sensitivity.

Tunnel fires often lead to vehicles being trapped inside, causing the “blocking effect”. In this work, fire plume behavior and the maximum ceiling temperature rise in a curved tunnel with blocked vehicles under longitudinal ventilation conditions are studied numerically. The results show that, in curved tunnels, the fire plume in the quasi-stable state exhibits dynamic deflections between the concave and convex walls of the tunnel, so the location of high-temperature zones varies accordingly. The flow field structure in the near field of the blockage and the fire source is complex but can be decoupled into four characteristic sub-structures, i.e., the free shear layer, recirculation I above the vehicle blockage, recirculation II behind the downstream of the blockage, and recirculation III at the top of the tunnel. Recirculation I and II pull the fire plume upstream, while free shear layer and recirculation III pull the flame downstream. The final plume deflection direction depends on the relative strengths of these two pulling forces. As the longitudinal air velocity increases, the plume deflection direction changes from downstream to upstream of the fire source, forming the “downstream tilt—touch the ceiling above the fire source—upstream tilt” mode, resulting in the maximum ceiling temperature rise fluctuating in a decreasing-increasing-decreasing trend. Moreover, the higher the blocking ratio, the lower the critical air velocity required to induce the transition of the plume deflection directions, e.g., a critical wind speed of 3 m/s for a blockage ratio of 0.46 and a critical wind speed of 1 m/s for a blockage ratio of 0.62. Finally, a semi-empirical equation of the maximum ceiling temperature rise in curved tunnels, considering both longitudinal wind and the vehicle blocking ratio, is proposed and validated. This work highlights the multi-dimensional and non-stable plume behavior pattern in a complex tunnel fire scenario, thus providing a deeper understanding to improve the classical tunnel fire dynamic system.

2D MoS2 with narrow lateral size and thickness distributions was introduced to promote the anti-friction and anti-wear properties of the bentonite grease (BG) in a state of boundary lubrication. Optical microscopy (OM), and 3D optical profilers (3D OP), Raman spectrometry (Raman), scanning electron microscope, energy dispersion spectrum (SEM-EDS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were applied to characterize the wear surface of the GCr15 bearing steel/GCr15 bearing steel contact. It is found that the average friction coefficient (AFC), wear scar diameter (WSD), surface roughness and average wear scar depth of BG + 1.2 wt.% 2D MoS2 were effectively reduced by approximately 22.15%, 23.14%, 55.15%, and 21.1%, respectilvely, compared with BG under the working condition of 392N, 75 °C, 1 h, and 1200 rpm. Raman, EDS and XPS results jointly demonstrated that a stable adsorbed film and a robust tribochemical film composed of Fe2O3, FeSO4, Fe2(SO4)3, FeSO3, FeS, FeO and MoO3, which further contributes to the enhancement of lubrication performance.

In this study, an aptamer biosensor for detecting lactoferrin (LF) was developed using piezoelectric quartz-induced bond rupture sensing technology. The thiol-modified aptamer I was immobilized on the gold electrode surface of the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) through an Au-S bond to specifically bind LF. It was then combined with aptamer–magnetic beads to amplify the mass signal. The peak excitation voltage was 8 V at the resonance frequency for the 60 MHz gold-plated quartz crystal. When the molecular bond cracking process occurred, the aptamer–magnetic beads combined on the surface of the piezoelectric quartz were removed, which resulted in an increase in quartz crystal resonance frequency. Therefore, the specific detection of LF can be realized. Under optimized experimental conditions, the linear range for LF was 10–500 ng/mL, the detection limit (3σ) was 8.2 ng/mL, and the sample recoveries for actual milk powder samples ranged from 97.2% to 106.0%. Compared with conventional QCM sensing technology, the signal acquisition process of this sensing method is simple, fast, and easy to operate.

With the development of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology, deep learning is becoming more and more widely used in object detection in UAV aerial images; however, detecting and identifying small objects in low-illumination scenes is still a major challenge. Aiming at the problem of low brightness, high noise, and obscure details of low-illumination images, an object detection algorithm, LI-YOLO (Low-Illumination You Only Look Once), for UAV aerial images in low-illumination scenes is proposed. Specifically, in the feature extraction section, this paper proposes a feature enhancement block (FEB) to realize global receptive field and context information learning through lightweight operations and embeds it into the C2f module at the end of the backbone network to alleviate the problems of high noise and detail blur caused by low illumination with very few parameter costs. In the feature fusion part, aiming to improve the detection performance for small objects in UAV aerial images, a shallow feature fusion network and a small object detection head are added. In addition, the adaptive spatial feature fusion structure (ASFF) is also introduced, which adaptively fuses information from different levels of feature maps by optimizing the feature fusion strategy so that the network can more accurately identify and locate objects of various scales. The experimental results show that the mAP50 of LI-YOLO reaches 76.6% on the DroneVehicle dataset and 90.8% on the LLVIP dataset. Compared with other current algorithms, LI-YOLO improves the mAP 50 by 3.1% on the DroneVehicle dataset and 6.9% on the LLVIP dataset. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm can effectively improve object detection performance in low-illumination scenes.

In the fabrication of soft magnetic composites, the lattice mismatch between the inorganic insulation layer and the iron matrix often leads to the formation of cracks during the molding process, which significantly impairs the operational performance of the materials. Consequently, it is imperative to develop novel strategies for inorganic insulation coatings that offer high electrical resistivity and thermal stability and are less susceptible to cracking during formation. This paper presents a new structure for soft magnetic composites that incorporates FePO4 as an intermediate transition layer between the iron-based soft magnetic particles and the inorganic ceramic insulation layer. This configuration is designed to provide insulation coatings with superior voltage and thermal resistance, as well as high electrical resistivity. The research details the processes forming the FePO4 intermediate transition layer and the SiO2 insulation layer on the iron powder surface, along with their interaction mechanisms. An analysis comparing the scenarios with and without the FePO4 intermediate transition layer shows its beneficial impact on the magnetic properties and mechanical strength of the soft magnetic composites. Further investigations reveal that at a phosphoric acid concentration of 1 wt.%, the FePO4 layer significantly enhances the interface compatibility between the Fe powder matrix and the SiO2 insulation layer. Under these conditions, the Fe@ FePO4/SiO2 soft magnetic composites demonstrate outstanding overall performance: the saturation magnetization stands at 215.60 emu/g, effective permeability at 83.2, resistivity at 57.42 Ω·m, power loss at 375.0 kW/m3 under 30 mT/100 kHz, and radial compressive strength at 15.95 Kgf. These findings offer novel insights and practical approaches for advancing inorganic insulation coating strategies and provide vital scientific support for further enhancing the magnetic and mechanical properties of soft magnetic composites.

Volume fracturing technology is used to achieve economic recovery of crude oil in tight reservoirs. Then, the fluid flows into the wellbore through artificial fractures in the fractured zone, and the reservoir permeability is improved. Therefore, the study of the conductivity of artificial fractures is the key link for the fracturing development of tight reservoirs. Presently, experimental and theoretical studies on conductivity are based on a homogeneous model, which cannot reflect the nonuniform distribution of proppants in actual artificial fractures. Experiments on the long-term nonuniform sand spreading of artificial fractures in tight reservoirs are carried out in this paper with different influencing factors. Then, the influences of the matrix of proppant performance, proppant concentration, reservoir lithology, reservoir permeability and closure stress on the long-term conductivity of artificial fractures are clarified. The calculation model of the long-term conductivity of heterogeneous artificial fractures considering the reservoir characteristics, fracturing technology and reservoir characteristics is established based on the conductivity loss mechanism. Finally, the conductivity model is applied to the 7th tight reservoir block in the Ordos Basin, and the productivity prediction results are compared. The results show that the average loss of the conductivity of the heterogeneous artificial fractures is 26.6% relative to the initial state, and the loss of the conductivity is mainly at the initial stage of closure, accounting for approximately 90% at the condition of 60MPa confining pressure. The calculation accuracy of the theoretical nonuniform conductivity model is 92.2%, which can describe the continuous depression of the artificial fracture conductivity after introduction into the tight reservoir numerical simulation.

Objective: The intensivist-led cardiovascular intensive care unit model is the standard of care in cardiac surgery. This study examines whether a cardiovascular intensive care unit model that uses operating cardiac surgeons, cardiothoracic surgery residents, and advanced practice providers is associated with comparable outcomes. Methods: This is a single-institution review of the first 400 cardiac surgery patients admitted to an operating surgeon-led cardiovascular intensive care unit from 2020 to 2022. Inclusion criteria are elective status and operations managed by both cardiovascular intensive care unit models (aortic operations, valve operations, coronary operations, septal myectomy). Patients from the surgeon-led cardiovascular intensive care unit were exact matched by operation type and 1:1 propensity score matched with controls from the traditional cardiovascular intensive care unit using a logistic regression model that included age, sex, preoperative mortality risk, incision type, and use of cardiopulmonary bypass and circulatory arrest. Primary outcome was total postoperative length of stay. Secondary outcomes included postoperative intensive care unit length of stay, 30-day mortality, 30-day Society of Thoracic Surgeons–defined morbidity (permanent stroke, renal failure, cardiac reoperation, prolonged intubation, deep sternal infection), packed red cell transfusions, and vasopressor use. Outcomes between the 2 groups were compared using chi-square, Fisher exact test, or 2-sample t test as appropriate. Results: A total of 400 patients from the surgeon-led cardiovascular intensive care unit (mean age 61.2 ± 12.8 years, 131 female patients [33%], 346 patients [86.5%] with European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation II

Background: Radiotherapy (RT) is integral to breast cancer treatment, especially in the current era that emphasizes breast conservation. The aim of our study was to determine the incidence of subsequent primary lung cancer after RT exposure for breast cancer over a time span of 3 decades to quantify this risk over time as modern oncologic treatment continues to evolve. Methods: The SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) database was queried from 1988 to 2014 for patients diagnosed with nonmetastatic breast cancer. Patients who subsequently developed primary lung cancer were identified. Multivariable regression modeling was performed to identify independent factors associated with the development of lung cancer stratified by follow up intervals of 5 to 9 years, 10 to 15 years, and >15 years after breast cancer diagnosis. Results: Of the 612,746 patients who met our inclusion criteria, 319,014 (52%) were irradiated. primary lung cancer developed in 5556 patients (1.74%) in the RT group versus 4935 patients (1.68%) in the non-RT group. In a multivariable model stratified by follow-up duration, the overall HR of developing subsequent ipsilateral lung cancer in the RT group was 1.14 (P = .036) after 5 to 9 years of follow-up, 1.28 (P = .002) after 10 to 15 years of follow-up, and 1.30 (P = .014) after >15 years of follow-up. The HR of contralateral lung cancer was not increased at any time interval. Conclusions: The increased risk of developing a primary lung cancer secondary to RT exposure for breast cancer is much lower than previously published. Modern RT techniques may have contributed to the improved risk profile, and this updated study is important for counseling and surveillance of breast cancer patients.

Abstract Viral RNAs have been known to contain N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modifications since the 1970s. The function of these modifications remained unknown until the development of genome-wide methods to map m6A residues. Increasing evidence has recently revealed a strong association between m6A modifications and plant viral infection. This highlight introduces advances in the roles of RNA m6A modifications in plant-virus interactions.

Industrial microbes have become the core of biological manufacturing, which utilized as the cell factory for production of plenty of chemicals, fuels and medicine. However, the challenge that the extreme stress conditions exist in production is unavoidable for cell factory. Consequently, to enhance robustness of the chassis cell lays the foundation for development of bio-manufacturing. Currently, the researches on cell tolerance covered various aspects, involving reshaping regulatory network, cell membrane modification and other stress response. In fact, the strategies employed to improve cell robustness could be summarized into two directions, irrational engineering and rational engineering. In this review, the metabolic engineering technologies on enhancement of microbe tolerance to industrial conditions are summarized. Meanwhile, the novel thoughts emerged with the development of biological instruments and synthetic biology are discussed.

Abstract In response to the underemphasis on creativity in college engineering education and the limited knowledge and skills of early-career engineering faculty to nurture students’ creativity, the Creativity Academy was designed as a faculty development program. Using theatre-based approaches, the program aimed to train early-career engineering faculty members to incorporate creativity into their classrooms. Two research questions were addressed: how faculty incorporate creativity after participating in the Creativity Academy and how students perceive faculty integration of creativity into their classes. Interviews were conducted with ten early-career engineering faculty members who participated in the training, as well as focus group interviews with each faculty participant’s students. Results indicated that faculty participants mastered at least two creativity-fostering exercises to apply in their teaching, revised their syllabi, and incorporated these exercises to engage students and develop their creativity. Students confirmed the changes in their professors’ teaching practices and expressed excitement. The study concludes that providing more opportunities for engineering students to develop creativity is essential, and the implications of the findings are discussed with suggestions for future Creativity Academy programs.

Abstract Objective Thoracic aortic pseudoaneurysm (TAP) is an uncommon but life-threatening condition. The present study aimed to investigate the early and midterm clinical outcome of TAP patients following TEVAR and identify potential mortality predictors. Methods We retrospectively reviewed a series of 37 eligible patients with TAP admitted to our hospital from July 2010 to July 2020. We explored their baseline, perioperative and follow-up data. Fisher exact test and Kaplan–Meier method were applied for comparing difference between groups. Results There were 29 men and 12 women, with the mean age as 59.5 ± 13.0 years (range 30–82). The mean follow-up period was 30.7 ± 28.3 months (range 1–89). For early outcome (≤ 30 days), mortality happened in 3 (8.1%) zone 3 TAP patients versus 0 in zone 4 (p = 0.028); postoperative acute arterial embolism of lower extremity and type II endoleak respectively occurred in 1(2.7%) case. For midterm outcome, survival at 3 months, 1 year and 5 years was 88.8%, 75.9% and 68.3%, which showed significant difference between zone 2/3 versus zone 4 group (56.3% vs. 72.9%, p = 0.013) and emergent versus elective TEVAR group (0.0% versus 80.1%, p = 0.049). Previous stent grafting or esophageal foreign body with Aortoesophageal fistula (AEF), and systemic vasculitis, as etiologies, resulted in encouraging immediate outcome but worse midterm prognosis. Conclusion TAP lesions at zone 2/3 and emergent TEVAR predict worse midterm outcomes compared to zone 4 lesions and elective TEVAR. The outcomes are also mainly restricted by the etiology of the TAP.

Trust propensity (TP) relies more on social than economic rationality to transform the perceived probability of betrayal into positive reciprocity expectations in older adults with normal cognition. While deficits in social rationality have been observed in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), there is limited research on TP and its associated resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) mechanisms in this population. To measure TP and related psychological functions (affect, motivation, executive cognition, and social cognition), MCI (n = 42) and normal healthy control (NHC, n = 115) groups completed a one-shot trust game and additional assessments of related psychological functions. RSFC associated with TP was analyzed using connectome-based predictive modeling (CPM) and lesion simulations. Our behavioral results showed that the MCI group trusted less (i.e., had lower TP) than the NHC group, with lower TP associated with higher sensitivity to the probability of betrayal in the MCI group. In the MCI group, only negative CPM models (RSFC negatively correlated with TP) significantly predicted TP, with a high salience network (SN) contribution. In contrast, in the NHC group, positive CPM models (RSFC positively correlated with TP) significantly predicted TP, with a high contribution from the default mode network (DMN). In addition, the total network strength of the NHC-specific positive network was lower in the MCI group than in the NHC group. Our findings demonstrated a decrease in TP in the MCI group compared to the NHC group, which is associated with deficits in social rationality (social cognition, associated with DMN) and increased sensitivity to betrayal (affect, associated with SN) in a trust dilemma. In conclusion, our study contributes to understanding MCI-related alterations in trust and their underlying neural mechanisms.

C1q domain-containing (C1qDC) proteins are significant pattern recognition receptors in the innate immune system that play important roles in regulating immune responses in vertebrates and invertebrates. In this study, a gene encoding the fish C1qDC (designated CiC1ql2) from the grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella was characterized for the first time. Like other reported C1ql proteins, CiC1ql2 contains a conserved C1q domain and a signal peptide at its 5′ end. Expression profile analysis revealed that CiC1ql2 was mostly expressed in the intestine but was expressed at low levels in the brain and gill. In vivo injection experiments directly revealed that CiC1ql2 exhibited strong responsiveness to Aeromonas hydrophila, Aeromonas veronii and pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) challenge, as indicated by the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and peptidoglycan (PGN), and that the expression of these genes was significantly upregulated in the intestine of C. idella. Additionally, the recombinant CiC1ql2 protein obviously promoted the agglutination of the gram-negative bacteria A. hydrophila and A. veronii and the gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis, as shown by in vitro binding experiments. Moreover, CiC1ql2 protein injection experiment revealed that CiC1ql2 significantly enhanced the expression levels of classic complement genes (C3, C5, and C7) and inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-8), while knockdown of CiC1ql2 decreased the expression of these immune-related genes. Taken together, our results suggested that CiC1ql2 could act as a pathogenic pattern recognition receptor involved in complement activation and that this might be related to the intestinal defense of C. idella against bacterial infection.

Background: Endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) is the most frequently used treatment for aneurysm in abdominal aorta. The endoleak after EVAR causes the aneurysm sac to remain enlarged and risk for rupture. Aims: The purpose of the study was to assess the efficacy of strategies and techniques for endoleak treatment. Methods: This study was a single center retrospective study of 30 patients who had kinds of endoleak. The 30 patients were from a cohort of 597 patients who received EVAR from the Secondary Xiangya Hospital, Central South University between Jan 2014 to Dec 2021, what is follow-up well and diagnosed as endoleak. Data included basic clinical information, aspects of the endoleak treatment techniques, and follow-up findings. Results: The 30 patients with endoleak were diagnosed by computed tomography angiography or digital subtraction angiography. Age is 69 ± 7.9 yrs. 26 patients are male with only 4 female patients. Immediate endoleak after EVAR is 46.7%and delayed endoleak is 53.3%. The classification of endoleak is type Ⅰ:76.6%; type Ⅱ 26.7%; type Ⅲ:6.7%; type Ⅳ:6.7%; type Ⅴ:13.3%. Different treatment of endoleak includes: screening, endovascular re-intervention and open surgery. There are 3 patients (10.0%) underwent emergency EVAR due to their rupture condition of aneurysm. All the endoleak patients’ CTA image characteristics has been reviewed. The follow-up rate is 93.3%. There are 6 patients (21.4%) died during follow-up. No aneurysm sac rupture death has been recorded. Conclusions: Endoleak after EVAR is the most frequent complication that directly affects survival and re-intervention rates. Our findings suggested that different treatment strategies based on the individual patient's situation is important for their endoleak treating result.

Abstract Brain transcriptional variation is a heritable trait that mediates complex behaviors, including addiction. Expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) mapping reveals genomic regions harboring genetic variants that influence transcript abundance. In this study, we profiled transcript abundance in the striatum of 386 Diversity Outbred (J:DO) mice of both sexes using RNA-Seq. All mice were characterized using a behavioral battery of widely-used exploratory and risk-taking assays prior to transcriptional profiling. We performed eQTL mapping, incorporated the results into a browser-based eQTL viewer, and deposited co-expression network members in GeneWeaver. The eQTL viewer allows researchers to query specific genes to obtain allelic effect plots, analyze SNP associations, assess gene expression correlations, and apply mediation analysis to evaluate whether the regulatory variant is acting through the expression of another gene. GeneWeaver allows multi-species comparison of gene sets using statistical and combinatorial tools. This data resource allows users to find genetic variants that regulate differentially expressed transcripts and place them in the context of other studies of striatal gene expression and function in addiction-related behavior.

Abstract In the Asia–Pacific region (APR), extreme precipitation is one of the most critical climate stressors, affecting 60% of the population and adding pressure to governance, economic, environmental, and public health challenges. In this study, we analyzed extreme precipitation spatiotemporal trends in APR using 11 different indices and revealed the dominant factors governing precipitation amount by attributing its variability to precipitation frequency and intensity. We further investigated how these extreme precipitation indices are influenced by El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) at a seasonal scale. The analysis covered 465 ERA5 (the fifth-generation atmospheric reanalysis of the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts) study locations over eight countries and regions during 1990–2019. Results revealed a general decrease indicated by the extreme precipitation indices (e.g., the annual total amount of wet-day precipitation, average intensity of wet-day precipitation), particularly in central-eastern China, Bangladesh, eastern India, Peninsular Malaysia and Indonesia. We observed that the seasonal variability of the amount of wet-day precipitation in most locations in China and India are dominated by precipitation intensity in June–August (JJA), and by precipitation frequency in December–February (DJF). Locations in Malaysia and Indonesia are mostly dominated by precipitation intensity in March–May (MAM) and DJF. During ENSO positive phase, significant negative anomalies in seasonal precipitation indices (amount of wet-day precipitation, number of wet days and intensity of wet-day precipitation) were observed in Indonesia, while opposite results were observed for ENSO negative phase. These findings revealing patterns and drivers for extreme precipitation in APR may inform climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction strategies in the study region.

Due to the similar physical and chemical properties of ilmenite and olivine, separating them is challenging. The flotation process, with the use of collectors, is an effective method. In this study, a ternary collector consisting of aluminum ion (III), benzohydroxamic acid (BHA), and sodium oleate (NaOL) was prepared for the flotation separation of ilmenite and olivine. Through micro-flotation experiments, molecular dynamics simulation (MD), density functional theory (DFT), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) analysis, the synergistic effect between the components of the ternary collector and the adsorption configuration on the surface of ilmenite was investigated. The results revealed that at pH = 8, Al (III), BHA, and NaOL could coordinate and adsorb effectively on the surface of ilmenite, enhancing its floatability for separation from olivine. The adsorption configuration differed from previous reports, showing a co-adsorption of multiple forms on the surface of ilmenite.

Lithium-ion capacitors (LICs) are emerging as promising hybrid energy storage devices that combine the high energy densities of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) with high power densities of supercapacitors (SCs). Nevertheless, the development of LICs is hindered by the kinetic imbalances between battery-type anodes and capacitor-type cathodes. To address this issue, honeycomb-like N-doped carbon matrices encapsulating Co1−xS/Co(PO3)2 heterostructures were prepared using a simple chemical blowing-vulcanization process followed by phosphorylation treatment (Co1−xS/Co(PO3)2@NC). The Co1−xS/Co(PO3)2@NC features a unique heterostructure engineered within carbon honeycomb structures, which efficiently promotes charge transfer at the interfaces, alleviates the volume expansion of Co-based materials, and accelerates reaction kinetics. The optimal Co1−xS/Co(PO3)2@NC composite demonstrates a stable reversible capacity of 371.8 mAh g−1 after 800 cycles at 1 A g−1, and exhibits an excellent rate performance of 242.9 mAh g−1 even at 8 A g−1, alongside enhanced pseudocapacitive behavior. The assembled Co1−xS/Co(PO3)2@NC//AC LIC delivers a high energy density of 90.47 Wh kg−1 (at 26.28 W kg−1), a high power density of 504.94 W kg−1 (at 38.31 Wh kg−1), and a remarkable cyclic stablitiy of 86.3% retention after 5000 cycles. This research is expected to provide valuable insights into the design of conversion-type electrode materials for future energy storage applications.

To facilitate the sensor fabrication and sensing operation in microstructured optical fiber-based surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors for high refractive index (RI) detection, we propose a special hollow fiber-based SPR sensor that comprises an opening on its body side and a thin gold layer coated on its outer surface. The analyte is able to flow into the hollow core through the side-opening to form new fiber core, with the Gaussian-like mode propagating in it. We investigate the sensing performance of the proposed sensor in a higher RI range of 1.48 to 1.54 at two feasible schemes: one is to only fill the fiber core with analyte (Scheme A), and the other is to directly immerse the sensor in the analyte (Scheme B). The results demonstrate that our sensor exhibits higher wavelength sensitivity at Scheme A with a maximum wavelength sensitivity of 12,320 nm/RIU, while a greater amplitude sensitivity was found at Scheme B with a maximum amplitude sensitivity of 1146 RIU−1. Our proposed sensor features the advantages of simple fabrication, flexible operation, easy analyte filling and replacing, enhanced real-time detection capabilities, high RI detection, and very high wavelength sensitivity and amplitude sensitivity, which makes it more competitive in SPR sensing applications.

Abstract Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling plays a vital role in differentiation, organogenesis, and various cell processes. As a member of TGF‐β superfamily, the BMP initiation usually accompanies crosstalk with other signaling pathways and simultaneously activates some of them. It is quite challenging to solely initiate an individual pathway. In this study, an opsin‐free optical method to specifically activate BMP receptors (BMPR) and subsequent pSmad1/5/8 cascades by a single‐time scan of a tightly‐focused femtosecond laser in the near infrared range is reported. Via transient two‐photon excitation to intrinsic local flavins near the cell membrane, the photoactivation drives conformational changes of preformed BMPR complexes to enable their bonding and phosphorylation of the GS domain in BMPR‐I by BMPR‐II. The pSmad1/5/8 signaling is initiated by this method, while p38 and pSmad2 are rarely perturbed. Based on a microscopic system, primary adipose‐derived stem cells in an area of 420 × 420 µm2 are photoactivated by a single‐time laser scanning for 1.5 s and exhibit pSmad1/5/8 upregulation and osteoblastic differentiation after 21 days. Hence, an opsin‐free, specific, and noninvasive optical method to initiate BMP signaling, easily accomplished by a two‐photon microscope system is reported.

The mechanism by which Y. ruckeri infection induces enteritis in Chinese sturgeon remains unclear, and the efficacy of drug prevention and control measures is not only poor but also plagued with numerous issues. We conducted transcriptomic and 16 S rRNA sequencing analyses to examine the differences in the intestinal tract of hybrid sturgeon before and after Y. ruckeri infection and florfenicol intervention. Our findings revealed that Y. ruckeri induced the expression of multiple inflammatory factors, including il1β, il6, and various chemokines, as well as casp3, casp8, and multiple tumor necrosis factor family members, resulting in pathological injury to the body. Additionally, at the phylum level, the relative abundance of Firmicutes and Bacteroidota increased, while the abundance of Plesiomonas and Cetobacterium decreased at the genus level, altering the composition of the intestinal flora. Following florfenicol intervention, the expression of multiple apoptosis and inflammation-related genes was down-regulated, promoting tissue repair. However, the flora became further dysregulated, increasing the risk of infection. In conclusion, our analysis of the transcriptome and intestinal microbial composition demonstrated that Y. ruckeri induces intestinal pathological damage by triggering apoptosis and altering the composition of the intestinal microbiota. Florfenicol intervention can repair pathological damage, but it also exacerbates flora imbalance, leading to a higher risk of infection. These findings help elucidate the molecular mechanism of Y. ruckeri-induced enteritis in sturgeon and evaluate the therapeutic effect of drugs on intestinal inflammation in sturgeon.