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We consider N×N$N\times N$ non‐Hermitian random matrices of the form X+A$X+A$, where A$A$ is a general deterministic matrix and NX$\sqrt {N}X$ consists of independent entries with zero mean, unit variance, and bounded densities. For this ensemble, we prove (i) a Wegner estimate, that is, that the local density of eigenvalues is bounded by N1+o(1)$N^{1+o(1)}$ and (ii) that the expected condition number of any bulk eigenvalue is bounded by N1+o(1)$N^{1+o(1)}$; both results are optimal up to the factor No(1)$N^{o(1)}$. The latter result complements the very recent matching lower bound obtained by Cipolloni et al. and improves the N$N$‐dependence of the upper bounds by Banks et al. and Jain et al. Our main ingredient, a near‐optimal lower tail estimate for the small singular values of X+A−z$X+A-z$, is of independent interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the climatic implications associated with the Cenozoic tectonic history and growth mechanisms of the Tibetan Plateau lack consensus and remain controversial. This is due in part to chronological uncertainties and few paleoelevation records distributed in the central to northern Tibetan Plateau, which we address here with the development of a robust chronology (using magnetostratigraphy, biostratigraphy, detrital zircons, and regional radiochronologic dating) and a paleoelevation reconstruction for the Tuotuohe Basin (central-northern Tibet). We refined the age of the Tuotuohe Formation (37-33 Ma), Yaxicuo Formation (33-23.6 Ma), and Wudaoliang Formation (23.6-19.7 Ma). We estimated early Oligocene (ca. 29 Ma) paleotemperatures of the Tuotuohe Basin from 11 °C to 16.1 °C, which correspond to paleoelevations of 2.9 km (±0.4 km) when the relative humidity is 64% and 2.5 km (±0.5 km) when this value is 75%, using various methods including ostracod assemblages, gastropods, charophytes, branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraether analysis, regional empirical formulas, and climate model simulation. Paleoelevation data and existing geological evidence in the vicinity indicate that late Eocene to late Oligocene uplift was associated with upper-crustal shortening. Since the middle Miocene, uplift has been associated with convective removal of lithospheric mantle and/or lower-crustal flow beneath the Hoh Xil Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is increasingly prevalent globally. However, the frequent and prolonged use of corticosteroids, which are commonly employed for AD treatment, carries potential side effects. Korean mistletoe (Viscum album L. var. coloratum), a perennial parasitic plant, has demonstrated various biological effects. In this study, we conducted in vivo investigations to determine whether Korean mistletoe possesses anti-inflammatory effects that play pivotal roles in regulating the pathological mechanisms of AD. BALB/c mice with AD-like skin lesions induced by 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) were utilized to explore the therapeutic effects of 1% and 2% Korean mistletoe extract (KME) ointments. The KME ointment was topically applied to the dorsal surface of the BALB/c mice, and they were categorized into four distinct groups: normal, DNCB-induced, DNCB-induced with 1% KME ointment, and DNCB-induced with 2% KME ointment. Each assessment parameter employed to evaluate the curative impact of the KME ointment displayed improvement with the application of the 1% KME ointment. While the effects observed were less pronounced than those of the 1% KME ointment, the overall therapeutic outcomes were also evident with the utilization of the 2% KME ointment. The results suggest the potential of Korean mistletoe as a viable therapeutic agent for AD. Further investigations are warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precommunicating (P1) segment aneurysms of the posterior cerebral artery are rare, with few studies reported to date. Herein, we address the clinical and radiologic outcomes of their endovascular treatment. For this study, we retrieved prospectively collected data on 35 consecutive patients with 37 P1 aneurysms, analyzing the clinical ramifications and morphologic outcomes of treatment. All subjects received endovascular interventions between January 2001 and October 2021. There were 16 aneurysms (43.2%) of P1 segment sidewalls and 21 (56.8%) at P1/posterior communicating artery junctions. Five (13.5%) were fusiform, and 14 (37.8%) were ruptured. In 14 patients (40%), 16 aneurysms (43%) were associated with intracranial arterial occlusive disease of the anterior circulation. Selective coiling was undertaken in 34 aneurysms (91.9%), using single (n = 24) or double (n = 4) microcatheters, microcatheter protection (n = 2), or stents (n = 4); and trapping was done in 3 (8.1%). No procedure-related morbidity or mortality resulted. Excluding the trapped lesions, angiographic follow-up of 29 aneurysms obtained >6 months after embolization (mean, 12.4 month) revealed stable occlusion in 21 (72.4%), with some recanalization in the other 8 (minor: 3/29, 10.4%; major: 5/29, 17.2%). Aneurysms of P1 segment (vs. other locations) are strongly associated with intracranial arterial occlusive disease of the anterior circulation and thus are likely flow related. Endovascular treatment of such lesions seems safe and efficacious, despite the array of technical strategies that their distinctive anatomic configurations impose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To select a new strain of Neoporphyra haitanensis with thin blades and high-temperature resistance, an intraspecific hybridization of a cultivated strain (WT-bo, ♂) and improved strain (HR-5, ♀) in N. haitanensis was carried out, and then a new strain qF-15 was isolated from the offspring based on heat stress and characteristics analysis. After being cultured for 40 days, the mean thickness of the blades was 22.3 μm in qF-15, which was 9.7% and 8.3% lower than that of WT-bo and HR-5, respectively; the total phycobiliprotein content was 122.9 mg/g in qF-15, which was 41.6% and 5.9% higher than that of WT-bo and HR-5, respectively. After being cultured for 45 days, the mean length of the blades was 70.4 cm in qF-15, which was 2.6- and 1.6-fold of that of WT-bo and HR-5, respectively. After being cultured for 7 days at 30 °C, the survival rate of conchospore germlings was 25.9% in qF-15, which was 439.6% and 223.8% higher than that of WT-bo and HR-5, respectively. The blades were cultured for 25 days at 23 °C and then cultured for another 20 days at 30 °C. Plenty of cells died in the blades of WT-bo, while only a little of cells died in the blades of HR-5 and qF-15. After the conchocelis-inoculated shells experienced the process of high temperature and shrunk of light, the time for the emergence of a lot of conchosporangial branch was about 20 days for the three strains. In summary, qF-15 was characterized by thin blades, high-temperature resistance of conchospore germlings and blades, fast growth, high phycobiliprotein content, and fast differentiation rate of conchocelis-inoculated shell, and it is expected to be applied in production and cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Needle electromyogram (EMG) research has suggested that endplate noise (EPN) is a characteristic of myofascial trigger points (MTrPs). Although several studies have observed MTrPs through ultrasonography, whether they are hyperechoic or hypoechoic in ultrasound images is still controversial. Therefore, this study determined the echogenicity of MTrP ultrasonography. In stage 1, the MTrP of rat masseter muscle was identified through palpation and marked. Needle EMG was performed to detect the presence of EPN. When EPN was detected, ultrasound scans and indwelling needles were used to identify the nodule with a different grayscale relative to that of its surrounding tissue, and the echogenicity of the identified MTrP was determined. In stage 2, these steps were reversed. An ultrasound scan was performed to detect the nodule at the marked site, and an EMG needle was inserted into the nodule to detect EPN. There were 178 recordings in each stage, obtained from 45 rats. The stage 1 results indicate that the MTrPs in ultrasound images were hypoechoic with a 100% sensitivity of assessment. In stage 2, the accuracy and precision of MTrP detection through ultrasonography were 89.9% and 89.2%, respectively. The results indicate that ultrasonography produces highly accurate and precise MTrP detection results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Korean mistletoe (Viscum album var. coloratum) has been traditionally used as a remedy for cancer, diabetes, and hypertension. This study investigated the immuno-modulatory effects of Korean mistletoe water extract, specifically on MDA-MB-231 cells, a highly metastatic breast cancer cell line, when co-cultured with THP-1 human macrophage cells. When compared to MDA-MB-231 cells cultured alone, the co-culture of MDA-MB-231/THP-1 cells treated with mistletoe extract showed a significant reduction in IL-6 secretion. Additionally, these co-cultures exhibited elevated levels of IL-4, TGF-β, and IFN-y. These results suggest that water extracts from mistletoe have the potential to induce mitochondria-targeted apoptosis in MDA-MB 231 cells stimulated by THP macrophages. Regarding apoptosis, in MDA-MB-231 cells co-cultured with THP-1 macrophages, mistletoe water extract treatment triggered a significant increase in Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, caspase-3 activation, and PARP inactivation. In addition, there was a significant increase in E-cadherin and a decrease in N-cadherin. Treatment of Korean mistletoe also led to significant reductions in both MMP-2 and -9. Furthermore, inhibition of cell migration in MDA-MB-231/THP-1 co-cultured cells was observed. In summary, this study highlights the potential of Korean mistletoe as a prospective drug for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer, particularly through its ability to regulate human immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This pilot study explores the relationship between nocturnal hypoglycemia (NH) and subjective sleep quality in people with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Twenty-seven adults with T1D wore a Freestyle Libre Pro CGM and recorded subjective sleep quality daily, as assessed by a single Likert scale question. Frequency, duration, area under the curve (AUC) of NH (00:00–06:00) defined as sensor glucose below threshold (< 3.9 mmol/L; < 3 mmol/L) for ≥ 15 min, nocturnal mean glucose, Time in Range (3.9–10 mmol/L), and coefficient of variation were calculated. Twenty-seven adults, 18 (66.7%) women, with median (IQR) age of 27 (26, 32) years and HbA1c of 7.6 (7.1, 8.1) participated. Nights with NH < 3.9 mmol/L resulted in a lower (worse) sleep score than nights without NH [Mean (SD): 3.3 (1.2) vs 3.5 (1.0), p = 0.03). A higher frequency and longer duration but not AUC [adjusted OR (95% CI) 0.52 (0.38, 0.72), 0.961 (0.932, 0.991), 0.999 (0.998, 1.001) respectively)], of NH < 3.9 mmol/L, were associated with a lower sleep score. NH < 3.0 mmol/L metrics were not associated with sleep quality. Recurrent NH < 3.9 mmol/L, rather than prolonged NH < 3.0 mmol/L, seems associated with subjective sleep quality, implying that those with the highest burden of NH are likely unaware of it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starch, a semi-crystalline energy storage form primarily found in plant plastids plays a crucial role in various food or no-food applications. Despite the starch biosynthetic pathway's main enzymes have been characterized, their origin and evolution remained a subject of debate. In this study, we conducted the comprehensive phylogenetic and structural analysis of three types of starch biosynthetic enzymes: starch synthase (SS), starch branching enzyme (SBE) and isoamylase-type debranching enzyme (ISA) from 51,151 annotated genomes. Our findings provide valuable insights into the possible scenario for the origin and evolution of the starch biosynthetic pathway. Initially, the ancestor of SBE can be traced back to an unidentified bacterium that existed before the formation of the last eukaryotic common ancestor (LECA) via horizontal gene transfer (HGT). This transfer event likely provided the eukaryote ancestor with the ability to synthesize glycogen. Furthermore, during the emergence of Archaeplastida, one clade of SS was transferred from Deltaproteobacteria by HGT, while ISA and the other clade of SS originated from Chlamydiae through endosymbiosis gene transfer (EGT). Both these transfer events collectively contributed to the establishment of the original starch biosynthetic pathway. Subsequently, after the divergence of Viridiplantae from Rhodophyta, all three enzymes underwent multiple duplications and N-terminus extension domain modifications, resulting in the formation of functionally specialized isoforms and ultimately leading to the complete starch biosynthetic pathway. By shedding light on the evolutionary origins of key enzymes involved in the starch biosynthetic pathway, this study provides important insights into the evolutionary events of plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the spiked invariant multiplicative models when the randomness is from Haar matrices. We establish the limits of the outlier eigenvalues λ ̂ i and the generalized components (〈 v , u ̂ i 〉 for any deterministic vector v) of the outlier eigenvectors u ̂ i with optimal convergence rates. Moreover, we prove that the non-outlier eigenvalues stick with those of the unspiked matrices and the non-outlier eigenvectors are delocalized. The results also hold near the so-called BBP transition and for degenerate spikes. On one hand, our results can be regarded as a refinement of the counterparts of Belinschi et al. (2017) under additional regularity conditions. On the other hand, they can be viewed as an analog of Ding and Yang (2021) by replacing the random matrix with i.i.d. entries with Haar random matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment for morbid obesity and reduces the severity of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in the long term. Less is known about the effects of bariatric surgery on liver fat, inflammation, and fibrosis during the early stages following bariatric surgery. Aims. This exploratory study utilises advanced imaging methods to investigate NAFLD and fibrosis changes during the early metabolic transitional period following bariatric surgery. Methods. Nine participants with morbid obesity underwent sleeve gastrectomy. Multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) and magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) were performed at baseline, during the immediate (1 month), and late (6 months) postsurgery period. Liver fat was measured using proton density fat fraction (PDFF), disease activity using iron-correct T1 (cT1), and liver stiffness using MRE. Repeated measured ANOVA was used to assess longitudinal changes and Dunnett's method for multiple comparisons. Results. All participants (Age 45.1 ± 9.0 years, BMI 39.7 ± 5.3 kg / m 2 ) had elevated hepatic steatosis at baseline (PDFF >5%). In the immediate postsurgery period, PDFF decreased significantly from 14.1 ± 7.4 % to 8.9 ± 4.4 % (p = 0.016) and cT1 from 826.9 ± 80.6 ms to 768.4 ± 50.9 ms (p = 0.047). These improvements continued to the later postsurgery period. Bariatric surgery did not reduce liver stiffness measurements. Conclusion. Our findings support using MRI as a noninvasive tool to monitor NAFLD in patient with morbid obesity during the early stages following bariatric surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the effect of parametrial status on FIGO stage IIIC1 cervical cancer. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted from June 1, 2009, to December 31, 2018. Patients with stage IIIC1 cervical cancer were included and stratified into two groups based on the status of parametrial involvement. Patients with IIIA or IIIB were selected as control. The primary outcomes are overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Results: Of 586 patients included, 377 patients were stage IIIC1 (group A) and 209 patients were stage IIIA/IIIB (group B). Compared control, stage IIIC1 was not associated with worse 5-year OS or PFS. Of the stage IIIC1 patients, 58.1% without parametrial involvement (group A1) and 41.9% with parametrial involvement (group A2). Patients of group A1 showed a better prognosis than group A2 both in 5-year rates of OS (79.09% vs. 59.43%, p<0.001) and PFS (73.27% vs. 56.95%, p=0.0002). However, patients of group A1 showed a better prognosis than group B both in OS and PFS. Also, patients of group A2 showed a comparable prognosis to group B both in OS and PFS. Conclusion: Reclassification of stage IIIC1 cervical cancer without parametrial into a new stage is more appropriate and improves discriminatory ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is emerging as a serious problem with the rapid aging of the population, but due to the unclear cause of the disease and the absence of therapy, appropriate preventive measures are the next best thing. For this reason, it is important to early detect whether the disease converts from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) which is a prodromal phase of AD. With the advance in brain imaging techniques, various machine learning algorithms have become able to predict the conversion from MCI to AD by learning brain atrophy patterns. However, at the time of diagnosis, it is difficult to distinguish between the conversion group and the non-conversion group of subjects because the difference between groups is small, but the within-group variability is large in brain images. After a certain period of time, the subjects of conversion group show significant brain atrophy, whereas subjects of non-conversion group show only subtle changes due to the normal aging effect. This difference on brain atrophy makes the brain images more discriminative for learning. Motivated by this, we propose a method to perform classification by projecting brain images into the future, namely prospective classification. The experiments on the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative dataset show that the prospective classification outperforms ordinary classification. Moreover, the features of prospective classification indicate the brain regions that significantly influence the conversion from MCI to AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C22H18N4O6Mg, orthorhombic, Pbca (no. 61), a = 15.3055(2) Å, b = 15.1214(2) Å, c = 18.1048(2) Å, V = 4190.19(9) Å3, Z = 8, Rgt(F) = 0.0376, wRref(F2) = 0.1069, T = 296 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we propose a quantum asymmetric key cryptography scheme using Grover's quantum search algorithm. In the proposed scheme, Alice generates a pair of public and private keys, keeps the private keys safe, and only discloses public keys to the outside. Bob uses Alice's public key to send a secret message to Alice and Alice uses her private key to decrypt the secret message. Furthermore, we discuss the safety of quantum asymmetric key encryption techniques based on quantum mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new realization of the international terrestrial reference frame, a combination of four different space geodetic techniques, was released in 2022. Each geodetic solution should be combined carefully based on the local tie information at the co-located site. Although many approaches have been successfully applied to connect different geodetic sensors, to date, there has been no unified mathematical representation for the target motions. Herein, a unified conical model was developed to estimate the invariant points of geodetic sensors using a more robust and consistent approach. It modeled the motion of targets, in either the horizontal or vertical axis, as cones; thus, homogeneous modeling was implemented. In addition to its simplicity, the model simultaneously estimated the tilting of the vertical axis and horizontal offset. The mathematical relationship and normality of the normal vector were modeled as a Gauss–Markov model with fixed constraints. The pre-computed initial coordinates of the pillars and targets were adjusted simultaneously to calculate the correlation information for the local tie vector. The complete model was successfully applied to the co-located site, which was transformed into a global reference frame via the Helmert transformation based on the global navigation satellite system campaign. The results showed that the proposed method is more efficient in terms of the number of parameters for invariant points of geodetic sensors (only 13% compared to the 3D circle fitting type conventional approach). In addition, the reliability of the estimated solution can be increased by avoiding an ill-conditioned linear system through the conical model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to extract the energy feature distributions in the form of marginal frequency (MF) and Hilbert spectrum (HS) in the intrinsic mode functions (IMF) domain for actual movement (AM)-based and motor imagery (MI)-based electroencephalogram (EEG) signals using the Hilbert–Huang transformation (HHT) time frequency (TF) analysis method. Accordingly, F5 and F6 EEG signal TF energy feature distributions in delta (0.5–4 Hz) rhythm are explored. We propose IMF-based and residue function (RF)-based MF and HS feature information extraction methods with IMFRFERDD (IMFRF energy refereed distribution density), IMFRFMFERDD (IMFRF MF energy refereed distribution density), and IMFRFHSERDD (IMFRF HS energy refereed distribution density) parameters using HHT with application to AM, MI EEG F5, and F6 signals in delta rhythm. The AM and MI tasks involve simultaneously opening fists and feet, as well as simultaneously closing fists and feet. Eight samples (32 in total) with a time duration of 1000 ms are extracted for analyzing F5AM, F5MI, F6AM, and F6MI EEG signals, which are decomposed into five IMFs and one RF. The maximum average IMFRFERDD values of IMF4 are 3.70, 3.43, 3.65, and 3.69 for F5AM, F5MI, F6 AM, and F6MI, respectively. The maximum average IMFRFMFERDD values of IMF4 in the delta rhythm are 21.50, 20.15, 21.02, and 17.30, for F5AM, F5MI, F6AM, and F6MI, respectively. Additionally, the maximum average IMFRFHSERDD values of IMF4 in delta rhythm are 39,21, 39.14, 36.29, and 33.06 with time intervals of 500–600, 800–900, 800–900, and 500–600 ms, for F5AM, F5MI, F6AM, and F6MI, respectively. The results of this study, advance our understanding of meaningful feature information of F5MM, F5MI, F6MM, and F6MI, enabling the design of MI-based brain-computer interface assistive devices for disabled persons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jwa, M.S. and Hong, C.-Y., 2023. Abiotic stress tolerance of juvenile small abalone Haliotis diversicolor aquatilis (obunjagi) to gamma irradiation. Journal of Coastal Research, 39(1), 55–62. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208. In South Korea, the small abalone (obunjagi), Haliotis diversicolor aquatilis, is a prominent commercial seafood species. However, summer circumstances frequently impede abalone productivity, emphasizing the need for suitable approaches to promote abalone viability. The purpose of this study was to see if the survival rate and physiological responses of juvenile H. diversicolor aquatilis changed after exposure to low-level 60Co-gamma irradiation under high temperature (HT) and low salinity (LS) stress conditions (20 Gy). For this research, juvenile small obunjagi, H. diversicolor aquatilis, were obtained from Jeju City fishing vendors, Korea. Before the experiment, all abalone samples were acclimated for 7 days in a seawater-filled tank at 23°C ± 0.3°C and 32 ± 0.2 psu under starvation conditions. Seventy abalones (20 male and 50 female) were gamma irradiated and 30 abalones (10 male and 20 female) were used as controls. After 6 weeks of malnutrition, abalone survivability and the quantity of cardiovascular hemocytes rose dramatically after 20-Gy exposure compared with the control (0 Gy). The viability of abalone was dramatically reduced by HT stress but not by LS stress. The initially improved immune response-mediated hormetic impact might be connected to abalone survival rate under famine and HT stress, and the hormesis-induced gamma radiation exposure strategy will successfully raise abalone productivity throughout summer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field tests of spiral energy piles under the combined effect of temperature and loading are relatively few. Based on the field test, the heat transfer efficiency, pile strain, axial force and shaft friction of two spiral energy piles were studied. The major findings of the experimental studies were: First, when the double spiral energy pile was heated, the temperature distribution was more uniform; the total heat transfer and the heat transfer rate were higher than those of the single spiral energy pile. Second, the pile strain distribution was such that smaller values were noticed at both pile ends while larger values were in the middle part of the pile. The additional tensile stresses of the two piles generated during cooling reached 4.06 MPa and 4.75 MPa, which exceeded the tensile strength of concrete. Finally, during heating, the shaft friction was negative in the middle and upper pile and positive in the middle and lower pile. The single spiral energy pile showed two neutral points. The downward load generated by the single spiral energy pile was about 885 kN higher than that generated by the double one. The aforementioned changes should be focused on in the actual project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Including the next generation of migrant workers, the young generation with the new mobility can be appropriately considered as an urban-based floating population because they are not rooted in rural areas, unlike the previous generation. Those of the previous generation had a unilateral mobility trajectory from rural to urban areas, whereas the new generation’s life is based on particular regions and combines mobility trends in a more diverse direction with their own life themes. For explaining the social mobility, we applied descriptive-narrative methodology composing of narrative case study and semi-structured interviews. In this paper, the authors examine the endless variability and temporality that Chinese youths acquire from their migration experiences as well as their empirical emotions of uncertainty, particularly the internal narratives that support them amid such variability. Our conclusion suggests that the diversity of the narratives that supports mobility practices and the possibility of realizing personalized narratives are directly linked to the sustainability of Chinese society. Therefore, future Chinese urban population policies may appropriately be made by considering the narratives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we investigate theoretically the reflective polarization rotator in a silicon waveguide formed by periodically arranged rectangular air holes. The etched air holes generate the large birefringence for the waveguide. The effective refractive index of the non-etched waveguide is isotropic. The structure can be regarded as a stack of alternating birefringent waveplates and isotropic material similar to the folded Šolc filter. The band structure of the stack of birefringent waveplates with isotropic background is calculated to confirm the fact that high reflection peaks in the reflection spectra of the waveguide result from the photonic bandgap. The polarization extinction ratio for the reflected light is 15.8 dB. The highest reflectivity of the device is 93.1%, and the device length is 9.21 μm. An ultra-wide operation bandwidth from 1450.3 to 1621.8 nm can be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A geodetic reference frame is a fundamental element in geoinformation fields such as autonomous navigation and digital twins. The international terrestrial reference frame is established and maintained using several space-geodetic techniques, including very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) and satellite laser ranging (SLR). For several decades, geodesists have been devoted to connecting these two sensors at a site (local tie). The reference point of the VLBI antenna and SLR telescope, called invariant point (IVP), should be precisely determined to connect these two solutions. We developed an innovative integrated model to estimate the IVP, which is composed of spherical and conical models, depending on the rotational axis. In this model, all target points in 3D spaces were directly connected to the IVP; thus, the stability and robustness of the system were secured. Furthermore, all inherent errors in the coordinates were predicted by applying the total least-squares approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synergistic effects of amyloid deposition and cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) on the systematic disruption of large-scale brain anatomical organization are not well known. We investigated the brain structural covariance network (SCN) in 245 cognitively impaired older adults with the information of amyloid deposition and CSVD represented by white matter hyperintensities (WMH). We stratified the participants into 4 groups based on amyloid burden (A+/A -) and WMH severity (W+/W-). Using source-based morphometry analysis, we selected 13 independent components (ICs) in functional brain networks. SCNs between ICs were defined using Pearson correlations between individual weights; SCNs of the A+W+ group were compared with those of other groups using Fisher's r-to-z transformation. Our results revealed that SCN characteristics related to amyloid burden with CSVD could be represented by decreased intra- and increased cortico-subcortical inter-network connectivity in the salience (SN) and default mode networks (DMN), decreased cortico-subcortical internetwork connectivity in the central executive network (CEN), and altered internetwork connectivity among DMN-SN-CEN. Amyloid deposition and CSVD maybe associated with altered connectivity in structural networks in the brain and should be considered when assessing network disruption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to Pyropia haitanensis, a species of seaweed cultured in southern China, Pyropia suborbiculata exhibits stronger high-temperature resistance but its round shape is unsuitable for commercial culture. To address this, researchers have isolated several long-type mutants and strains from wild-type strain of P. suborbiculata using artificial mutagenesis. However, their growth rates are still relatively slow. In this study, the blades of a long-type strain (PS-5) were irradiated with 60Co-γ rays to determine the optimal mutagenic dose of 1200 Gy. Subsequently, a new strain with fast growth, PS-M4, was selected from its progeny based on growth rate. After 60 days of culture at 23 ℃, the average length and wet weight of PS-M4 blades were 76.3 cm and 1.3 g, respectively, which were 58.2% and 38.9% higher than those of PS-5. Both PS-M4 and PS-5 maintained normal cellular morphology without any dead cells after being cultured for 30 days at 23 ℃ followed by 30 days at 30 ℃, while the traditional cultivated strain (Ph-WT10) of P. haitanensis showed more cell pigment dispersion and death. After 14 days of culture at 30 ℃, the survival rates of conchospore germlings of PS-M4 and PS-5 were 70.6% and 66.5%, respectively, with no significant difference between them, but 133.8% and 120.2% higher than that of Ph-WT10. At this time, over 80% of the conchospore germlings of both PS-M4 and PS-5 contained more than 9 cells, while all the conchospore germlings of Ph-WT10 had only 1-4 cells. After 45 days of culture at 23 ℃, the contents of chlorophyll a and total phycobiliprotein of PS-M4 blades were 6.6 and 61.7 mg g-1, respectively, which were 12.3% and 14.9% higher than those of PS-5. The average thickness of PS-M4 was 30.5 μm, which was 16.6% thinner than that of PS-5. In terms of total released conchospores over 10 consecutive days, PS-M4 reached up to 293.6×104 per shell, which was 3.3 times that of PS-5. In summary, the new strain PS-M4 of P. suborbiculata has shown significant improvements in blades growth, quality, and released conchospores, while its conchospore germlings and blades exhibited superior high-temperature resistance compared to traditional cultivated strain of P. haitanensis, making it a promising candidate for commercial cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internal carotid artery (ICA) injury during transsphenoidal surgery is a rare but serious complication. We analyzed a series of ICA injuries that occurred during a transsphenoidal approach to suggest an optimal management strategy. Between January 2015 and May 2020, we enrolled 10 cases of ICA injury at our institution. Among the 10 patients enrolled, 5 had pituitary adenoma, 2 had craniopharyngioma, and 1 each had skull base chondrosarcoma, tuberculum sellae meningioma, and nasopharyngeal cancer; 4 were revision surgery cases. The cavernous segment of the ICA was the most commonly injured area. The most common reason for ICA injury was a drill injury at the sellar floor opening. A direct repair was performed using a clip in only 1 patient. In the others, bleeding control of the injured ICA was achieved by packing multiple cotton pads. After angiography, 6 patients underwent immediate endovascular sacrifice of the injured ICA. In 3 patients who showed poor collateral flow from the anterior communicating and posterior communicating arteries, revascularization surgery was performed before endovascular trapping. After 6 postoperative months, 6 patients showed favorable functional outcomes, and 4 patients showed poor functional outcomes. Prompt control of bleeding, endovascular management of injured ICA, and consideration of revascularization surgery based on collateral flow may prevent catastrophic neurological sequelae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A stall occurs in the flow around an airfoil when the angle of attack reaches a critical value, leading to a dramatic drop in airfoil performance. Recently, a passive leading-edge protuberance control method, inspired by the fin of a humpback whale, has demonstrated obvious advantages in improving airfoil stall. Hence, this study experimentally and numerically investigates the aerodynamic characteristics of an airfoil with twin protuberances at the leading edge. First, the aerodynamic characteristics were investigated for six Reynolds numbers via wind-tunnel experiments, obtaining the hysteresis caused by the test sequence. Then, numerical simulations were performed using a transition shear stress transport turbulence model, and the numerical accuracy was verified. Finally, the influence of structural parameters on stall behavior was revealed by changing the amplitude of the protuberance. The results indicate that the twin-protuberance airfoil produces step-by-step and one-side stall phenomena. The influence of vortices on the movement of separation bubbles on the lower surface is presented. The critical angle of attack for stall increases with increasing Reynolds number; its value for deep stall increases by more than 2 deg. As the protuberance amplitude is reduced, the influence on the airfoil flow is weakened, and the first stall angle increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

References 1 Wang M., Shan T., Zhang W., Huan H. Analysis of BDS/GPS Signals' Characteristics and Navigation Accuracy for a Geostationary Satellite. The proposed algorithm mainly focuses on the absorption of orbit and clock offset errors in the line of sight (LOS) and is applied to the GPS/BDS measurements obtained from the FngYun-3C satellite. Ref. [[4]] presented an ISCB estimation algorithm and analyzed the clustering code bias characteristics of BDS-2 and BDS-3. BDS satellites can be categorized into three stages: demonstration systems (BDS-1), regional systems (BDS-2), and global systems (BDS-3). [Extracted from the article]

Abstract A new Cd(II) metal–organic coordination polymer, {[Cd(eoip)(bipy)(H2O)]·H2O} n (1), (H2eoip = 5-ethoxy-isophthalic acid, bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine), was assembled under hydrothermal condition by the reactions of Cd(II) acetate with H2eoip and bipy. Complex 1 was characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, and X-ray single-crystal diffraction. Complex 1 was also characterized by TG and PXRD. The results reveal that the two carboxylic groups of each eoip ligand adopt chelate coordination modes to bridge adjacent Cd(II) ions to give a 1D chain along the b direction, the adjacent 1D chains are extended into a 3D supramolecular framework by hydrogen bonding. In addition, fluorescent properties of 1 were also investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intracranial epidermoid tumors are slowly growing benign tumors, but due to adjacent critical neurovascular structures, surgical resection is challenging, with the risk of recurrence. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) has been used to evaluate the characteristics of brain tumors, but its utility for intracranial epidermoid tumors has not been specifically explored. This study analyzed the utility of preoperative ADC values in predicting tumor recurrence for patients with intracranial epidermoid tumors. Between 2008 and 2019, 21 patients underwent surgery for cerebellopontine angle (CPA) epidermoid tumor, and their preoperative ADC data were analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups: the recurrence group, defined by regrowth of the remnant tumor or newly developed mass after gross total resection on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); and the stable group, defined by the absence of growth or evidence of tumor on MRI. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to obtain the ADC cutoff values for predicting tumor recurrence. The prognostic value of the ADC was assessed using Kaplan–Meier curves. The minimum ADC values were significantly lower in the recurrence group than in the stable tumor group (P = 0.020). ROC analysis showed that a minimum ADC value lower than 804.5 × 10−6 mm2/s could be used to predict higher recurrence risk of CPA epidermoid tumors. Non-total resection and mean and minimum ADC values lower than the respective cutoffs were negative predictors of recurrence-free survival. Minimum ADC values could be useful in predicting the recurrence of CPA epidermoid tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared with Neoporphyra haitanensis (previously known as Pyropia haitanensis) that is a cultivar of nori in southern China, Phycocalidia suborbiculata (previously known as Pyropia suborbiculata) has higher heat resistance, but is not suitable for production and cultivation due to its round blades. In this study, a long-type mutant (PS-LT1) was isolated by using ultraviolet radiation to irradiate the blades of wild-type strain (PS-WT) of P. suborbiculata. Then the characteristics of PS-LT1 were analyzed and the results showed that the morphology of F1 gametophytic blades from the conchocelis of PS-LT1 was consistent with that of its parental blade, indicating that the long-form character could be stably inherited. At 30–60 days of age, the average length–width ratio of blades was about 6.7 in PS-LT1, which was 6.7-fold of that of PS-WT; the average absolute growth rate was 0.64 cm day−1 in PS-LT1, which was 3.8-fold of that of PS-WT. At 60 days of age, the average length and fresh weight of blades were 23.0 cm and 0.5 g in PS-LT1, which are 3.9- and 1.1-fold of those of PS-WT, respectively. At 25–45 days of age, the blades of both strains could continuously release archeospores, but the total number of released archeospores of PS-LT1 was 65.0% lower than that of PS-WT. In summary, PS-LT1 is a long-type mutant with the ability to release archeospores, which can be used as a material for breeding long-type improved strain of P. suborbiculata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to establish a method for germplasm identification of the thin-blade strain (HR-5) of Pyropia haitanensis, the specific molecular markers of the conchocelis and blades of HR-5 were developed by using the techniques of insertion/deletion (InDel) and sequence-characterized amplified regions (SCAR). Results showed that a specific band was amplified by InDel-3 primer-pair (F: GGGGATGGCAGTTTTAC; R: GAATCTTCATTTCGTGGTG), and a specific band was amplified by SCAR-170 primer-pair (F: GACGCCGAGTCGTAGTGC; R: CCGTTGTTAGTGTGATGG) in conchocelis DNA of the HR-5 strain, which was significantly different from those in other four control strains of P. haitanensis and also present in the gametophytic blades of the HR-5 strain cultured in the laboratory. When those primer-pairs were applied to discriminate HR-5 blades from the other cultivars in the Pyropia sea area, the InDel-3 and SCAR-170 markers showed the same results. In addition, genetic analysis of the above specific markers showed that the InDel-3 marker was inherited from its female parent, while the SCAR-170 marker of HR-5 was inherited from its male parent. These results indicated that the specific bands amplified by InDel-3 and SCAR-170 primer-pairs could be considered as the specific markers of HR-5 strain and could be used for its germplasm identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In terms of field application, the archeospores released from Pyropia yezoensis blades are of great significance for increasing the number of seedlings on the cultivation nets, prolonging the harvest period, and improving yield and quality. To select a new strain of P. yezoensis with fast growth, good quality, high-temperature resistance, and a suitable quantity of archeospores released, an intraspecific hybridization was carried out between the improved strain (A-18) with almost no archeospores released and Py-26W’ strain with a large quantity of archeospores released. A new strain S-15 was then isolated from the offspring. From 15 days of age, the total number of archeospores released from S-15 per blade for 21 consecutive days was 1353, while that from A-18 was only 6 (P < 0.05). After being cultured for 60 days, the mean length of the S-15 blades was 156.8 cm, which is 1.2 times longer than that of the A-18 blades. When blades aged 30 days (cultured at 18 ℃) were further cultured at 25 ℃ for another 30 days, both A-18 and S-15 showed a slow increase in blade length, but the Fv/Fm value of A-18 blades decreased by 13.0% (P < 0.01), while that of S-15 remained steady. After being cultured at 18 ℃ for 45 days, the contents of chlorophyll a and total phycobiliprotein were 9.8 and 68.1 mg/g in S-15, which were 23.3% (P < 0.05) and 17.3% (P > 0.05) higher than those of A-18, respectively. In summary, S-15 was characterized by fast growth, high phycobiliprotein content, high-temperature resistance, and a suitable quantity of archeospores released, which is expected to be applied in production and cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blade length, which is a quantitative trait controlled by multiple genes, is a key trait determining the yield in Pyropia haitanensis. However, there are few studies on the identification of candidate genes associated with it. In this study, the double haploid (DH) strains from the hybrid offspring of P. haitanensis were used to construct two DNA pools from extremely long-length and short-length strains, respectively. Using bulk segregant analysis sequencing (BSA-seq), three candidate regions associated with the blade length were identified on the genome, all of which were located on chromosome 1. These regions contain a total of 625 genes. One extremely long-length strain and one extremely short-length strain were selected respectively, and their 35-day blades were used for RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). It was found that the genes related to carbon fixation in photosynthetic organisms, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and carbon metabolism were up-regulated in long blades, and 145 genes were differentially expressed in the candidate regions. Subsequently, eight candidate genes were screened using strict criteria (delta SNP-index ≥ 0.9), which encode WD40-repeat containing protein, major facilitator superfamily, LPXTG-anchored surface-anchored adhesin, RmlC-like cupin superfamily, EMP24_GP25L and three unknown functional proteins, respectively. Further SNP molecular marker verification showed that the success rate of selection of these 8 genes for blade length was greater than 90%. In addition, among the differentially expressed genes within the candidate regions, the expression levels of growth-related genes (PKCI and ABC transporters) were significantly different between 5 extremely long-length and 5 extremely short-length strains. In summary, this study identified 10 potential candidate genes associated with the blade length of P. haitanensis, thereby providing valuable insights for future advancements in precise molecular breeding and expedited development of high-yield varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A new Zn(II) metal–organic coordination polymer, {[Zn(eoip)(bipy)]} n (1), (H2eoip = 5-ethoxy-isophthalic acid, bipy = 4,4'-bipyridine), was assembled under hydrothermal condition by the reactions of Zn(II) acetate with H2eoip and bipy. Complex 1 was characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy and X-ray single-crystal diffraction. The results reveal that complex 1 is a two-dimensional layered structure. In addition, fluorescent properties of 1 were also investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facile introduction of diverse substituents to 2‐ or 4‐chloro‐7H‐pyrrolo[2,3‐d]pyrimidines was examined with microwave‐assisted nucleophilic substitution and Cu‐catalyzed N‐arylation. Microwave‐assisted Cu‐catalyzed N‐arylation of pyrrolo[2,3‐d]pyrimidines with various nucleophiles proceeded very well with diverse heteroaryl halides. Sequential microwave‐assisted substitution provided good to excellent yields of 2,7‐ or 4,7‐disubstituted pyrrolo[2,3‐d]pyrimidines, with short reaction times and energy savings compared with conventional thermal heating. The diverse pyrrolo[2,3‐d]pyrimidine derivatives are useful for screening drug candidates for various diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Small non-coding RNAs play critical regulatory roles in post-transcription. However, their characteristics in Trichomonas vaginalis, the causative agent of human sexually transmitted trichomoniasis, still remain to be determined. Methods: Small RNA transcriptomes from Trichomonas trophozoites were deep sequenced using the Illumina NextSeq 500 system and comprehensively analyzed to identify Trichomonas microRNAs (miRNAs) and transfer RNA (tRNA)-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs). The tsRNA candidates were confirmed by stem-loop quantitative reverse transcription-PCR, and motifs to guide the cleavage of tsRNAs were predicted using the GLAM2 algorithm. Results: The miRNAs were found to be present in T. vaginalis but at an extremely low abundance (0.0046%). Three categories of endogenous Trichomonas tsRNAs were identified, namely 5′tritsRNAs, mid-tritsRNAs and 3′tritsRNAs, with the 5′tritsRNAs constituting the dominant category (67.63%) of tsRNAs. Interestingly, the cleavage site analysis verified both conventional classes of tRNA-derived fragments (tRFs) and tRNA-halves in tritsRNAs, indicating the expression of tRNA-halves in the non-stress condition. A total of 25 tritsRNAs were experimentally confirmed, accounting for 78.1% of all tested candidates. Three motifs were predicted to guide the production of tritsRNAs. The results prove the expression of tRFs and tRNA-halves in the T. vaginalis transcriptome. Conclusions: This is the first report of genome-wide investigation of small RNAs, particularly tsRNAs and miRNAs, from Trichomonas parasites. Our findings demonstrate the expression profile of tsRNAs in T. vaginalis, while miRNA was barely detected. These results may promote further research aimed at gaining a better understanding of the evolution of small non-coding RNA in T. vaginalis and their functions in the pathogenesis of trichomoniasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The adult stage is an important period in the life cycle of Angiostrongylus cantonensis, as it is at this stage that male and female worms produce thousands of fertilized eggs daily. Methods: To explore the transcriptional details of adult male and female A. cantonensis, three groups of male and female adult worms were collected, and their transcriptome profiles were analyzed using an Illumina next-generation sequencing platform. A total of 283,910,174 clean reads were obtained, and 137,626 unigenes and 237,059 transcripts were then generated. Unigenes were successfully annotated by querying the Gene Ontology (GO), the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), NCBI non-redundant protein sequences (NR), PFAM, STRING, and SWISS-PROT databases. Then, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the 2 genders were identified. The GO and KEGG databases were used for DEG annotation, and a number of DEG annotations were enriched. Results: The results obtained from querying DEGs using the GO and KEGG databases revealed that male and female adult worms exhibited differences in metabolism and production. Protein phosphorylation, ion transport, and calcium transport were all significantly enriched according to GO annotation. A number of other pathways were also enriched according to KEGG enrichment annotation, including the pentose phosphate pathway, nitrogen metabolism, oocyte meiosis pathway, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, calcium signaling pathway, transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signaling pathway etc. Conclusion: We hypothesized that the nervous system of the worm plays a key role in the physiological regulation of adult A. cantonensis, and based on this, the function of the calcium- signaling pathway should be investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To deeply understand the swelling mechanism, the water swelling ratio and direction of elementary hemp fiber and the reinforced polypropylene (PP) composites were analyzed by both experimental methods and numerical simulation. The fiber swelling force was also calculated based on Flory–Rehner theory. The results showed that the simulated fiber radial swelling ratio of 6.5% is slightly higher than the measured one of 5.6%. For the reinforced composites, the simulated cross‐sectional expansion of 3.7% is very close to the measured one of 3.5%. This indicates that fiber mainly swells along its radial direction and the composite expansion is affected by not only fiber swelling ratio and direction but also fiber volume fraction and orientation. The proposed simulation model could easily estimate the swelling ratio and rate of plant fiber and the reinforced composites from their weight gain data. The generated swelling force of fiber is almost 850 MPa at the beginning and decreases to zero until achieving saturation state, which is much higher than the constraint stress of PP matrix and drives composite water expansion behavior. It is concluded that reducing the mixing entropy of plant fiber with water should be an effective approach to inhibit composite water expansion and improve its dimensional stability. The obtained results are beneficial for constructing a water absorption and service life prediction model of shortcut hemp fiber composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interannual variability of boreal summer sea surface temperature (SST) in the tropical Atlantic displays two dominant modes, the Atlantic zonal mode highlighting SST variations in the equatorial–southern tropical Atlantic (ESTA) region and the northern tropical Atlantic (NTA) mode focusing on SST fluctuations in the NTA region except in the Gulf of Guinea. Observational evidence indicates that both the boreal summer ESTA and NTA warming are accompanied by a pair of anomalous low-level anticyclones over the western tropical Pacific, and the NTA-related anticyclone is more obvious than the ESTA-related one. Both atmosphere-only and partially coupled experiments conducted with the Community Earth System Model version 1.2 support the observed NTA–Pacific teleconnection. In contrast, the ESTA-induced atmospheric circulation response is negligible over the tropical Pacific in the atmosphere-only experiments, and although the response becomes stronger in the partially coupled experiments, obvious differences still exist between the simulations and observation. The ESTA-induced atmospheric circulation response features an anomalous low-level cyclone over the western tropical Pacific in the partially coupled experiments, opposite to its observed counterpart. It is found that the ESTA warming coincides with significantly La Niña–like SST anomalies in the central–eastern equatorial Pacific, the influence of which on the tropical atmospheric circulation is opposite to that of the ESTA warming, and therefore contributes to difference between the ESTA-related simulations and observation. Moreover, the cold climatological mean SST in the ESTA region is unfavorable to enhancing the ESTA–Pacific teleconnection during boreal summer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A convenient method for reductive Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons (HWE) olefination is described. The E‐selective HWE homologation of various esters to α,β‐unsaturated esters was readily achieved and gave the desired products in good‐to‐moderate yields under mild conditions. The one‐pot reaction proceeds through an in situ generated aldehyde, formed via the partial reduction of an ester with lithium diisobutyl‐t‐butoxyaluminum hydride. The formation of cyclized metal acetal and subsequent decompose to the aldehyde for the olefination was found to be a crucial step in this C2‐carbon homologation protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The yeast species Hyphopichia is common in nature and strongly competitive under harsh environmental conditions. Here, we characterized Hyphopichia burtonii KJJ43 and H. pseudoburtonii KJS14, which exhibit strong halotolerance, using genomic and transcriptomic analyses. The genomes of H. burtonii and H. pseudoburtonii comprised eight chromosomes with 85.17% nucleotide identity and significant divergence in synteny. Notably, both Hyphopichia genomes possessed extended gene families of amino acid permeases and ATP‐binding cassette (ABC) transporters, whose dynamic expression patterns during osmotic stress were revealed using transcriptome profiling. Intriguingly, we found unique features of the HOG pathway activated by Hog1p even under non‐osmotic stress conditions and the upregulation of cytosolic Gpd1 protein during osmotic stress. Associated with hyperfilamentation growth under high osmotic conditions, a set of genes in the FLO family with induced expression in response to NaCl, KCl, and sorbitol supplementation were identified. Moreover, comparative transcriptome analysis reveals the NaCl‐specific induction of genes involved in amino acid biosynthesis and metabolism, particularly BAT2. This suggests the potential association between oxoacid reaction involving branched‐chain amino acids and osmotolerance. The combined omics analysis of two Hyphopichia species provides insights into the novel mechanisms involved in salt and osmo‐stress tolerance exploited by diverse eukaryotic organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interfacial adhesion and the potential degradation are critical to service life and performances of plant fiber polymer composites. In this paper, the interfacial ultraviolet (UV) aging was studied by silane modification of hemp fiber on UV aging of the reinforced polypropylene (PP) composites. Three silane agents of 3‐(Trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (MPS), N‐[3‐(Trimethoxysilyl)propyl]aniline (PAPS), and (3‐Aminopropyl)‐triethoxysilane (APS) were selected to obtain different interfacial adhesion. The composite degradation was characterized by surface observations, surface degradations, and tensile tests. The results show that functional group of silane agent has considerable effects on UV aging of the polymer composites. For APS, the composites have higher interfacial adhesion and exhibit slower surface whitening, cracking, degradation, and less mechanical properties deteriorations than others. After 8 weeks aging, its fracture stress and fracture strain decreased of 5.3% and 8.0%, respectively. Because aniline of PAPS is incompatible with PP matrix, the composites have a relative weak interfacial adhesion and shows faster surface whitening, cracking, and degradation. While aniline absorbs UV radiation strongly and may retard the interfacial degradation, thus its fracture stress hardly decreased after 8 weeks. However, ester group in MPS absorbs UV radiation and may get degraded leading to the decline of interfacial chain slips. Thus, fracture strains of the composites decrease greatest of 35.2%. It is concluded that interfacial adhesion and potential degradation are critical in UV aging. A "suitable" modifier improves not only initial mechanical properties but also the weathering resistance of plant fiber polymer composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current flows in a porous media is a very complex nature phenomenon, and it is very difficult to establish its mathematical model with the traditional definition of derivative. In this paper, the fractal resistance-capacitance circuit of porous media is successfully established based on He's fractal derivative, and the twoscale transform is adopted to solve the fractal circuit. In this fractal resistance-capacitance circuit circuit, the fractal dimension represents the effective porosity of the two plates of the capacitor, and the influence of its value on the fractal resistance-capacitance circuit circuit is also elaborated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given two nondegenerate Borel probability measures |$\mu$| and |$\nu$| on |${\mathbb{R}}_{+}=[0,\infty)$|⁠ , we prove that their free multiplicative convolution |$\mu \boxtimes \nu$| has zero singular continuous part and its absolutely continuous part has a density bounded by |$x^{-1}$|⁠. When |$\mu$| and |$\nu$| are compactly supported Jacobi measures on |$(0,\infty)$| having power law behavior with exponents in |$(-1,1)$|⁠ , we prove that |$\mu \boxtimes \nu$| is another Jacobi measure whose density has square root decay at the edges of its support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MOF-74-type frameworks are considered one of the most promising metal–organic frameworks owing to their remarkable structural features and properties such as a high density of open metal sites, hexagonal channels along the c-axis, and high porosity. Diverse strategies have been adopted to prepare bimetallic MOF-74 frameworks, in the pursuit of synergistic effects and enhanced properties originating from different metal sites that serve as Lewis acidic sites. Moreover, extended versions of the MOF-74-type structure have been demonstrated in terms of ligand extension, featuring enhanced pore size and surface area. The extended variants of MOF-74 are beneficial for the incorporation of additional functional groups due to the relatively larger pore size. Pre- or post-synthetic modification approaches have been applied to introduce functionalities into the framework, resulting in desirable and superior properties such as chemical stability, binding affinity, and catalytic activity. This review addresses the significant progress made in the development of MOF-74-type frameworks with respect to synthetic strategies and modification approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Previously observational studies did not draw a clear conclusion on the association between fatty liver diseases and bone mineral density (BMD). Our large-scale studies revealed that MAFLD and hepatic steatosis had no causal effect on BMD, while some metabolic factors were correlated with BMD. The findings have important implications for the relationship between fatty liver diseases and BMD, and may help direct the clinical management of MAFLD patients who experience osteoporosis and osteopenia. Purpose: Liver and bone are active endocrine organs with several metabolic functions. However, the link between metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and bone mineral density (BMD) is contradictory. Methods: Using the UK Biobank and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) dataset, we investigated the association between MAFLD, steatosis, and BMD in the observational analysis. We performed genome-wide association analysis to identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with MAFLD. Large-scale two-sample Mendelian randomization (TSMR) analyses examined the potential causal relationship between MAFLD, hepatic steatosis, or major comorbid metabolic factors, and BMD. Results: After adjusting for demographic factors and body mass index, logistic regression analysis demonstrated a significant association between MAFLD and reduced heel BMD. However, this association disappeared after adjusting for additional metabolic factors. MAFLD was not associated with total body, femur neck, and lumbar BMD in the NHANES dataset. Magnetic resonance imaging-measured steatosis did not show significant associations with reduced total body, femur neck, and lumbar BMD in multivariate analysis. TSMR analyses indicated that MAFLD and hepatic steatosis were not associated with BMD. Among all MAFLD-related comorbid factors, overweight and type 2 diabetes showed a causal relationship with increased BMD, while waist circumference and hyperlipidemia had the opposite effect. Conclusion: No causal effect of MAFLD and hepatic steatosis on BMD was observed in this study, while some metabolic factors were correlated with BMD. This has important implications for understanding the relationship between fatty liver disease and BMD, which may help direct the clinical management of MAFLD patients with osteoporosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) affects many populations, and screening out the high‐risk populations at an early stage is a challenge. As a sarcopenia index, the relationship between creatinine to cystatin C ratio (CCR) and MASLD remains unclear. This cross‐sectional, prospective study aimed to explore the relationship between CCR and MASLD. Design Firstly, explored the correlation between CCR and MASLD in cross‐sectional analyses. Then excluded the population with baseeline diagnosis of MASLD and analyzed the association with baseline CCR levels and the onset of MASLD in the population with available follow‐up data. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) to evaluate the association between CCR levels and MASLD. Patients and Measurements: This study included 368,634 participants from the UK Biobank for cross‐sectional and prospective analyses. The demographic characteristics and laboratory measurements of all participants were obtained from the UK Biobank. MASLD was diagnosed according to the multi‐society consensus nomenclature. Hepatic steatosis was defined as FLI ≥60. Results: We grouped the study participants according to CCR tertiles. In cross‐sectional analyses, participants in CCR tertile 1 had the highest MASLD risk (OR: 1.070, 95% CI: 1.053−1.088, p <.001). And the similar association was observed in the prospective analyses (CCR tertile 1 OR: 1.340, 95% CI: 1.077−1.660, p =.009; CCR tertile 2 OR: 1.217, 95% CI: 1.021−1.450, p =.029, respectively). After stratification by gender, the significant association between CCR and the onset of MASLD was only observed in males (CCR tertile 1 OR: 1.639, 95% CI: 1.160−2.317, p =.005; CCR tertile 2 OR: 1.322, 95% CI: 1.073−1.628, p =.005, respectively). Conclusion: Our results indicated that lower CCR was significantly associated with higher risk of MASLD, based on which predictive models can be developed to screen populations at high risk of developing MASLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]