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Abstract In a general (2+1)-dimensional scalar model, we consider the scattering of a single quantum of radiation off a domain wall string, which excites or de-excites the wall’s internal shape mode. We refer to these two process as Stokes and anti-Stokes scattering. We calculate the probability densities for these processes to first order in quantum field theory, as a function of incoming momenta and angles. We include both the case in which the incident particle is transmitted and also that in which it bounces backward. Our results are given as finite-dimensional integrals of normal modes and elementary functions, and numerical results are presented in the particular case of the ϕ 4 double-well model.

Abstract This study aimed to assess the efficacy of Defibrinogen (DF) therapy in addressing total deafness of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (TD-ISSNHL) and investigate the relationship between fibrinogen levels and auditory outcomes. A total of 342 cases of TD-ISSNHL were retrospectively analyzed, with patients divided into two main groups: an experimental group receiving batroxobin in conjunction with Ginaton and glucocorticoids, and a control group receiving Ginaton and glucocorticoids only. Auditory outcomes on the 10th day and the 14th day were analyzed and compared across these groups. Subsequently, the correlation between plasma fibrinogen and prognosis were analyzed within these groups. By the 10th day, the overall efficacy rates in the experimental groups were significantly higher than that in the control group (P = 0.039). Patients extending DF therapy to the 14th day showed a substantial improvement in the overall efficacy rate, from 50.98 to 82.35%. Additionally, significant differences in fibrinogen levels were observed on day 1, day 3, and day 5 ± 1 between the recovery and non-recovery groups (P = 0.013, P = 0.024, P = 0.005). Spearman’s rank correlation analysis indicated weak negative correlations between fibrinogen levels on day 1 and day 3 and hearing improvement, while the level on day 5±1 had a moderate negative correlation. Throughout the follow-up period, no major complications were observed. The study findings suggest that batroxobin therapy not only improves hearing recovery but also maintains plasma fibrinogen at a low and safe level. In addition, sustained low fibrinogen level throughout treatment serves as a predictor for better prognosis in TD-ISSNHL.

Introduction: Advanced maternal age is associated with reduced implantation and pregnancy rates, yet the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood, and research models are limited. Objectives: Here, we aim to elucidate the impacts of senescence on implantation ability by employing blastoids to construct a novel research model. Methods: We used a novel three-dimensional system with totipotent blastomere-like cells (TBLCs) to construct TBL-blastoids and established senescence-related embryo models derived from oxidative stress-induced TBLCs. Results: Morphological and transcriptomic analyses revealed that TBL-blastoids exhibited characteristic blastocyst morphology, cell lineages, and a higher consistency in developmental rate. TBL-blastoids demonstrated the ability to develop into postimplantation structures in vitro and successfully implanted into mouse uteri, inducing decidualization and forming embryonic tissues. Importantly, senescence impaired the implantation potential of TBL-blastoids, effectively mimicking the impaired implantation ability and reduced pregnancy rates associated with advanced age. Furthermore, analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in human homologous deciduae revealed enrichment in multiple fertility-related diseases and other complications of pregnancy. The genes implicated in these diseases and the common DEGs identified in the lineage-like cells of the two types of TBL-blastoids and deciduae may represent potential targets for addressing impaired implantation potential. Conclusion: These results unveiled that TBL blastoids are an improved model for investigating implantation and early postimplantation, offering valuable insights into pregnancy-related disorders in women with advanced age and potential targets for therapeutic interventions.

Background: The associations between Chinese visceral adiposity index (CVAI) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or hepatic fibrosis in Westerners are not obvious. Furthermore, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the new nomenclature of NAFLD, with significantly different diagnostic criteria. The present study aimed to investigate the relationships between CVAI and MASLD or hepatic fibrosis in an American population, as well as to assess the diagnostic value of CVAI for MASLD and fibrosis.Methods: After excluding missing data on calculations of indices, diagnosis of MASLD, and covariates, 3242 participants were selected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017-2020. Multivariate logistic regression analyses and restricted cubic spline (RCS) were used to determine the associations between CVAI and MASLD or fibrosis. The diagnostic capacity was evaluated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve. Data were analyzed using R software (version 4.2.2). P

The event response is a crucial feature in the real-time operating system RT-Thread, used for synchronizing threads. This paper aims to analyze the real-time performance of the event response and provide practical insights for its application. To achieve this, a low-latency piling timing analysis approach is proposed. The precise measurement of thread scheduling time is achieved by accurately recording timestamp of critical moments without external interruptions. Moreover, the theoretical time of thread scheduling under different compilation optimization levels is analyzed. And, a thread synchronization experiment based on event response is designed to measure the actual time of thread scheduling on Arm Cortex-M4 microcontroller STM32L431RCT6. The experimental results show that the low-latency piling timing analysis approach proposed in this paper has an error of about 1.5 microseconds compared to the measurement time of the logic analyzer and the theoretical analysis time. Finally, by comparing and analyzing theoretical time and actual measurement time of thread scheduling, it is evident that the compilation optimization level and PendSV exception are the key factors influencing the real-time performance of RT-Thread event response.

Abstract Liver cirrhosis is prognostically associated with poor life expectancy owing to subsequent liver failure. Thus, understanding liver regeneration processes during cirrhotic injury is highly important. This study explored the role of macrophage heterogeneity in liver regeneration following splenectomy. We collected detailed clinical information from 54 patients with decompensated cirrhosis before and after splenectomy. Obvious liver regeneration was observed after splenectomy in cirrhotic patients. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was performed on three paired liver tissues from patients before and after surgery to explore the immune microenvironment map and the characteristics of liver regeneration-associated macrophages (RAMs). scRNA-seq analysis revealed that the composition of hepatic immune cells changed after splenectomy; among these changes, the proportion of CD300E+ RAMs significantly increased after surgery, and high expression levels of functional genes associated with cell proliferation promoted liver regeneration. Moreover, a mouse model of carbon tetrachloride-induced cirrhosis and a coculture system consisting of primary bone marrow-derived macrophages and hepatocytes were established for validation. We observed a similar phenomenon of liver regeneration in cirrhotic mice and further confirmed that CD300E+ monocyte-derived macrophages facilitated hepatocyte NAD+ synthesis via the secretion of NAMPT, which subsequently promoted hepatocyte proliferation. This study characterized the hepatic immune microenvironment in patients with cirrhosis following splenectomy. Our findings demonstrated that CD300E+ macrophages play a crucial role in remodeling the hepatic immune microenvironment after splenectomy, thereby promoting liver regeneration in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. CD300E+ macrophages are anticipated to emerge as a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of liver cirrhosis.

Effective leaf classification is crucial for ecological research and agricultural management, though handling diverse leaf shapes and environmental variations can be difficult. This study introduces an innovative approach that combines advanced feature extraction techniques with optimization and classification strategies. We employ Scale Invariant feature transform (SIFT), wavelet transform, and particle gradient motion for feature extraction, followed by bee colony optimization to enhance the process. A Gaussian distribution-based classifier is subsequently utilized, achieving an accuracy of 92%, while a Random forest classifier applied to the Grapevine Leave Dataset resulted in an accuracy of 84.63%. This approach highlights the potential for improved plant identification and disease management, providing a reliable solution for both small and large-scale agricultural applications. The resilience of this framework guarantees adaptability across various datasets, making it a valuable asset for improving crop quality and sustainability.

Post-transcriptional epigenetic modifications provide numerous implications for tumor progression, metastasis and recurrence, which also pose resistances to reactive oxygen species (ROS)-based anti-tumor. Herein, we proposed an epigenetic deubiquitination disruption strategy to disarm the ubiquitination-deubiquitination balance-induced resistances to ROS production and ROS-based anti-tumor action for potentiating sonodynamic treatment (SDT) efficiency. To end it, porphyrin-derived metal-organic framework (MOF) sonocatalytic nanoplatforms were developed to load deubiquitination inhibitors (i.e., Auranofin). Ultrasound-triggered Auranofin release from PCN224@Au has been validated to blockade the deubiquitinating process and drive proteasome-mediated target protein degradation. The epigenetic deubiquitination disruption not only synergized with MOF-mediated sonocatalytic ROS production, but also inactivate deubiquitinating enzymes, blockade the deubiquitination process and further remove these resistances, both of which mutually behaved as reciprocal impetuses to significantly magnify SDT outcomes against liver cancers. Such a deubiquitination-engineered disruption approach finds an unprecedented pathway to disarm deubiquitination-induced resistances to SDT and other ROS-based anti-tumor means, which also enlightens us to establish other post-transcriptional epigenetic modification disruption strategies to re-program the tumor microenvironment and elevate the anti-tumor efficiency of various treatment methods (e.g., immunotherapy).

Abstract Deep-learning models have shown promise in differentiating between benign and malignant lesions. Previous studies have primarily focused on specific anatomical regions, overlooking tumors occurring throughout the body with highly heterogeneous whole-body backgrounds. Using neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) as an example, this study developed highly accurate MRI-based deep-learning models for the early automated screening of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) against complex whole-body background. In a Chinese seven-center cohort, data from 347 subjects were analyzed. Our one-step model incorporated normal tissue/organ labels to provide contextual information, offering a solution for tumors with complex backgrounds. To address privacy concerns, we utilized a lightweight deep neural network suitable for hospital deployment. The final model achieved an accuracy of 85.71% for MPNST diagnosis in the validation cohort and 84.75% accuracy in the independent test set, outperforming another classic two-step model. This success suggests potential for AI models in screening other whole-body primary/metastatic tumors.

Abstract Inadequate tendon healing and heterotopic bone formation result in substantial pain and disability, yet the specific cells responsible for tendon healing remain uncertain. Here we identify a CD26+ tendon stem/progenitor cells residing in peritendon, which constitutes a primitive stem cell population with self-renewal and multipotent differentiation potentials. CD26+ tendon stem/progenitor cells migrate into the tendon midsubstance and differentiation into tenocytes during tendon healing, while ablation of these cells led to insufficient tendon healing. Additionally, CD26+ tendon stem/progenitor cells contribute to heterotopic ossification and Tenascin-C-Hippo signaling is involved in this process. Targeting Tenascin-C significantly suppresses chondrogenesis of CD26+ tendon stem/progenitor cells and subsequent heterotopic ossification. Our findings provide insights into the identification of tendon stem/progenitor cells and illustrate the essential role of CD26+ tendon stem/progenitor cells in tendon healing and heterotopic bone formation.

Abstract Chronic liver diseases are highly linked with mitochondrial dysfunction and macrophage infiltration. Mallory-Denk bodies (MDBs) are protein aggregates associated with hepatic inflammation, and MDBs pathogenesis could be induced in mice by feeding 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine (DDC). Here, we investigate the macrophage heterogeneity and the role of macrophage during MDBs pathogenesis on DDC-induced MDBs mouse model by single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq). We defined liver macrophages into four distinct subsets including monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) subset and three Kupffer cells (KCs) subsets (Gpnmbhigh KCs, Peam1high KCs, and Gpnmblow Pecam1low KCs). Particularly, we identified a novel Gpnmbhigh KCs subset as lipid-associated macrophage (LAM) with high expression of Trem2, CD63, and CD9. Interestingly, LAM showed a potential immunosuppressive characteristic by expressing anti-inflammatory genes IL-7R during the MDBs formation. Using contact and transwell co-culture systems, the released mtDNA from hepatocytes was found to induce the activation of inflammasome in macrophages. Furthermore, we revealed the damaged DNA could activate the NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing-3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and subsequently form apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruit domain (ASC) specks of liver macrophages. Collectively, our results firstly revealed macrophage heterogeneity and inflammasome activation by mtDNA from injured liver during MDBs pathogenesis, providing crucial understanding of pathogenesis of chronic liver disease.

Abstract Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) is a common cause of infertility among males, and the majority of cases of idiopathic OAT are thought to be attributed to genetic defects. In this study, the role of the CEP78 protein in spermatogenesis was initially investigated using Cep78 knockout (Cep78 −/− ) mice. Notably, the male Cep78 −/− mice exhibited the OAT phenotype and sterility. To elucidate the mechanisms underlying the functions of the Cep78 gene in spermatogenesis, the histomorphology of germ cells was investigated during different stages of mitosis, meiosis, and spermiogenesis. Apoptotic assays and RNA-sequencing analyses were additionally performed using the testicular tissue samples of control and Cep78 −/− mice. The findings strongly suggested that defects in the Cep78 gene can lead to male infertility with OAT and that the CEP78 protein is essential for acrosomal biogenesis, sperm head shaping, and formation of flagella during spermiogenesis. The findings are expected to expand the spectrum of genetic defects in OAT and enhance the accuracy of genetic screening and clinical diagnosis.

Abstract Peatlands are a key component of terrestrial ecosystems, and their development has an important impact on global carbon cycle and climate change. However, the long-term evolution of global peatlands remains uncertain, particularly their spatial distribution. We compiled 4700 basal peatland data during Holocene, and 669 pollen data of Sphagnum with basal and end ages, to allow a more robust reconstruction of the spatial distribution of peatlands. Using buffer analysis (BA) and inverse distance weighted (IDW) interpolation of peat data, we reconstructed spatiotemporal changes in global peatland area at a spatial resolution of 0.5° × 0.5° for every 1,000 years period during Holocene. The results show that peatland area have expanded substantially in North America, Europe, and Western Siberia during early-Holocene, and increased rapidly from 2.18(0.32) Mkm2 to 4.03(3.08) Mkm2 during 12-6 ka BP, then slowly to 4.15(4.23) Mkm2 after 6 ka BP according to BA (IDW) methods. The database will be useful for analyzing the global/regional terrestrial carbon cycle and climate change during Holocene, especially for modeling peatland methane emissions.

Abstract Background Keratoconus (KC) is a prevalent corneal condition with a modest genetic basis. Recent studies have reported significant genetic associations in multi-ethnic cohorts. However, the situation in the Chinese population remains unknown. This study was conducted to identify novel genetic variants linked to KC and to evaluate the potential applicability of a polygenic risk model in the Han Chinese population. Methods A total of 830 individuals diagnosed with KC and 779 controls from a Chinese cohort were enrolled and genotyped by whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Common and rare variants were respectively subjected to single variant association analysis and gene-based burden analysis. Polygenic risk score (PRS) models were developed using top single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) identified from a multi-ethnic meta-analysis and then evaluated in the Chinese cohort. Results The characterization of germline variants entailed correction for population stratification and validation of the East Asian ancestry of the included samples via principal component analysis. For rare protein-truncating variants (PTVs) with minor allele frequency (MAF)

Abstract Background The incidence of knee osteoarthritis after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is high to 57%, and the biomechanical abnormality during walking is one of the reasons. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 12 weeks of knee extension constraint training on walking biomechanics during the stance phase of injured side after ACLR. Methods Forty-five patients were randomly assigned to three groups based on different brace conditions from 13 weeks to 24 weeks after ACLR: experimental (brace with knee extension constraint), placebo (brace without knee extension constraint), and control (no brace). Gait analysis was performed 3 and 6 months after ACLR. The peak for knee flexion angle (KFA), knee extension moment (KEM), and vertical ground reaction force (vGRF) were compared by 2 (time) x 3 (group) repeated-measures analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), and pairwise comparisons were conducted. . Results There was a significant time x group interaction for the peak KFA (p = 0.047), and there was no significant time x group interaction for the peak KEM and peak vGRF. The pairwise comparisons showed that there were no statistical differences among the groups both the pre-intervention and post-intervention in the peak KFA, peak KEM, and peak vGRF. Compared with pre-intervention, the peak vGRF in the experimental group was significantly greater (p = 0.009) and the peak KFA in the control group was significantly lower (p = 0.041) post-intervention. There were not significantly different in the placebo group between pre-intervention and post-intervention. Conclusion 12 weeks of knee extension constraint training can increase lower extremity loading on the injured side, may be a potential therapeutic adjunct to improve abnormal gait after ACLR.

Summary Background and aim Bile acid metabolism plays a crucial role in maintaining the delicate balance between coagulation and anticoagulation processes. However, there is a paucity of research exploring the relationship between serum total bile acids (TBA) levels and the risk of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in Chinese individuals. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the association between TBA levels and DVT occurrence in this population. Methods and results A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 4522 patients with suspected DVT, recruited from June 2018 to October 2023, at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University. After rigorous screening, 3165 patients were included in the final analysis. Participants were categorized into three TBA level groups: low-level (TBA

Introduction: Oxidative stress is one of the major contributors to acute alcoholic liver injury (AALI), which is a common alcoholic liver disease. Quercetin and catechin are flavonoid antioxidants present in plant foods and possess chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic activities. Quercetin and catechin are often included in the same meal and ingested together. While they show cooperative actions against oxidative damage, the underlying mechanisms behind their counteracting effects against oxidative stress-induced AALI remain poorly understood. Objectives: The aim of this study was to understand the mechanism underlying the enhanced antioxidant effect of quercetin-catechin combination to alleviate AALI in rats. Methods: The ethanol (EtOH)-treated rats and H2O2-treated liver cells were used to demonstrate the enhanced antioxidant effect of quercetin and catechin. Then we used RNA-sequencing to compare quercetin alone, catechin alone and quercetin-catechin combination and then identified the critical role of IKKα combining with gene silencing and overexpression techniques. Its transcription factor, FOXO3 was found through yeast one-hybrid assay, luciferase reporter assay, EMSA and ChIP assay. Finally, the interaction between quercetin, catechin and FOXO3 was verified through molecular docking, UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and CD spectroscopy. Results: The study demonstrated the enhanced antioxidant effect of a quercetin-catechin combination in EtOH-treated rats and in H2O2-treated liver cells. Quercetin and catechin cooperatively inhibited IKKα/p53 pathway and activated Nrf2 signaling pathway. IKKα was a critical negative regulator in their joint action. FOXO3 bound to IKKα promoter to regulate IKKα transcription. Quercetin and catechin influenced FOXO3-IKKα binding through attaching directly to FOXO3 at different sites and altering FOXO3′s secondary structures. Conclusion: Our study revealed the mechanism of quercetin and catechin against oxidative stress-induced AALI through jointly interacting with transcription factor. This research opens new vistas for examining the joint effect of therapeutics towards functional proteins and confirms the chemopreventive effects of multiple flavonoids via co-regulation.

This study aims to investigate the effects of continuous cooling after deformation at 900 °C and isothermal cooling after deformation at 830 °C on the microstructure and mechanical properties of EH420 steel, emphasizing ferrite structure evolution. As the continuous cooling rate increases from 0.3 °C/s to 50 °C/s at 900 °C, the fraction of ferrite and pearlite decreases, while the percentage of bainite and martensite increases. Correspondingly, the hardness increases from 180 HV5 to 323 HV5. Meanwhile, the ferrite undergoes a transformation from polygonal to an elongated morphology, and the average grain size decreases from 13.6 ± 6.3 μm to 3.7 ± 1.5 μm due to fast cooling, which limits grain growth. During the isothermal cooling process, the microstructure mainly consists of ferrite, pearlite, and a mixed structure of bainite and martensite. When the cooling rate increases from 0.3 °C/s to 3 °C/s at 830 °C, the average grain size of polygonal ferrite decreases from 8.7 ± 3.2 μm to 5.4 ± 3.5 μm, while the hardness increases from 199 HV5 to 233 HV5. The isothermal cooling process can result in equiaxed ferrite grains with a smaller size and promote the formation of pearlite and bainite with high dislocation density.

In hyperspectral image (HSI) classification, convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are widely used due to their ability to leverage the rich spectral information across multiple bands. However, HSI classification still faces various challenges, including insufficient spectral-spatial representation, excessive redundant information, and difficulties in effectively integrating features of different scales, etc., which may lead to reduced classification accuracy. In order to reduce the computational cost and improve the classification accuracy of land cover categories, an efficient spectral-spatial fusion method (ESSF) is proposed, which is based on the following modules: a multiscale feature fusion module (MSFFM), an efficient adaptive spectral-spatial feature extraction module (EASSFEM), and a context-aware fusion network (CFN). First, the MSFFM utilizes CNNs to extract and fuse features from various scales to comprehensively capture detailed spectral information in HSIs. Second, the EASSFEM dynamically adjusts the feature extraction process to optimize the fusion and representation of spectral-spatial features. In addition, it incorporates an adaptive attention mechanism to enhance the focus on relevant spectral-spatial features. Finally, the CFN enhances the model's ability to understand contextual relationships within the images, thereby improving classification accuracy. Extensive experiments conducted on four public datasets (Houston2013, Botswana, WHU-Hi-HanChuan and WHU-Hi-HongHu) demonstrate that the proposed ESSF method significantly outperforms nine other state-of-the-art methods in terms of classification accuracy.

Biodegradable two-dimensional nanomaterials could be a significant breakthrough in the field of oncology nanotheranostic agents, which are rapidly emerging as promising candidates for tumor theranostic applications. Herein, a novel biodegradable ferrous sulfide nanosheet (FeS NS) is developed. Compared to the traditional photothermal material, black phosphorus nanosheet (BP NS), FeS demonstrates superior degradability and enhanced photothermal performance, and making it ideal for efficient photothermal therapy (PTT) of tumors. In the acidic tumor microenvironment, FeS degrades and releases H2S, which inhibits mitochondrial respiration and ATP production. This process leads to a reduction in heat shock protein expression, lowering the resistance of tumor cells to photothermal stimulation, and improving the efficacy of PTT. The released Fe2+ exhibits efficient peroxidase activity, triggering ferroptosis in tumor cells. Furthermore, due to its superparamagnetic nature, FeS NSs could accumulate at the tumor site and provide a strong magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal for imaging-guided tumor therapy. Overall, as a promising alternative to BP, the FeS NSs are a potentially innovative nanotheranostic agent of tumors, offering a synergistic approach to ferroptosis−PTT with MRI guidance.

Abstract Purpose To investigate the association between intravenous methylprednisolone administration and the risk of surgical site infection (SSI) following posterior lumbar fusion (PLF) surgery. Methods This retrospective, single-center study analyzed data from 800 adult patients who underwent elective PLF surgery at our institution. Patients were classified according to postoperative intravenous methylprednisolone administration. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression, and subgroup analysis were used to assess the association between methylprednisolone administration and SSI risk, as well as its impact on postoperative pain management. Results Our analysis showed no significant association between intravenous methylprednisolone administration and the development of a SSI after PLF. Subgroup analyses suggested that methylprednisolone was potentially protective in patients with a body mass index (BMI)

Abstract Phortica okadai, known as the vector of Thelazia callipaeda in Asia, is of concern to public health in the past few decades. We generated a high-quality chromosome-level genome assembly of P. okadai with a size of 263.82 Mb and a contig N50 of 15 Mb, scaffold N50 of 47.45 Mb, combining PacBio HiFi, Illumina short-reads, and Hi-C sequencing data. Approximately 98.5% of 100 contigs could be properly ordered and oriented into 6 pseudo-chromosomes and a total of 15,052 protein-coding genes were obtained from the P. okadai genome, of which 91.76% were functionally annotated. BUSCO analysis revealed that 96.20% of 1315 predicted genes were clearly covered the conserved invertebrate genes within the database. Additionally, 302 rRNAs, 377 tRNAs, 52 miRNAs, 40 snRNAs and 21 snoRNAs were detected. In conclusion, this high-quality chromosome level reference genome will be a valuable resource for furthering the fields of ecology, genetics, evolution and functional genomics of P. okadai.

Abstract The Hainan muntjac (Muntiacus nigripes) is a wild animal endemic to Hainan, China. Its species distribution and the diversity of muntjac karyotypes have attracted much attention. Although genomic resources have increased in recent years, relevant genome assembly data of Hainan muntjac are still lacking. Meanwhile, molecular evidence for the taxonomic units of this species remains lacking. In this study, we successfully assembled the Hainan muntjac haplotype genome at the chromosome level using Pacbio long read and long sequencing technologies and Hi-C data. The final assembly size was 2.66 Gb, with allele and scaffold N50 values of 29.27 and 700.27 Mb, respectively, and we scaffolded the genome sequence onto three chromosomes. The genome contains a total of 21,451 genes and 10,056 gene families. Phylogenetic analysis using single-copy gene families revealed that Hainan muntjac is most closely related to red muntjac, with a divergence time of 8–11 Ma. This new genomic resource of Hainan muntjac will be crucial for future comparative genomic analyses and genetic evolutionary studies.

Abstract Background Exercise-based phase II cardiac rehabilitation is critical for post-PCI patients, but adherence to exercise-based phase II cardiac rehabilitation remains low. Many studies aimed at improving adherence have been conducted in recent years, but the most effective interventions remain unclear. Hence, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and ranks of various interventions in enhancing adherence to exercise-based phase II cardiac rehabilitation for post-PCI patients. Methods A network meta-analysis employing random effects was utilized to evaluate the effectiveness of different interventions. Bias evaluation was performed via the revised Cochrane risk of bias tool, with data analysis performed using STATA v15.0. The surface under the cumulative ranking was used to estimate the rankings among different interventions. Results In the final analysis, 30 RCTs with 4267 patients across 17 different interventions were included. The results showed that patients who received home-based cardiac rehabilitation combined with mobile health intervention had the best adherence to exercise-based phase II cardiac rehabilitation (83.8%), followed by hospital-based cardiac rehabilitation combined with mobile health intervention (79.9%). Conclusions This network meta-analysis identified home-based CR + mobile health intervention and hospital-based CR + mobile health intervention as the top two ranked interventions for improving adherence to exercise-based phase II CR in post-PCI patients. Healthcare providers may consider prioritizing the use of home-based cardiac rehabilitation combined with mobile health intervention in clinical practice, but still need to evaluate factors such as patient preference and Medicare reimbursement availability to develop customized interventions that are not only safe and effective but also satisfying to the patient.

Abstract Over the past two decades, the monophasic variant of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) has rapidly emerged and increased worldwide. This upsurge is especially true for the European clone of the ST34 S. Typhimurium monophasic variant. The key distinction between ST34 S. Typhimurium and its monophasic variant is that the genes that encode for second-phase flagellin (FljB) and the regions around it have been replaced with various multidrug resistance cassettes. To determine if the loss of fljB or the retention of fliC,-the gene coding for first-phase flagellin (FliC)-, would impact its pathogenicity, we constructed various mutations, including deletions of fljB, fliC, fliC/fljB, and strains where fliC was replaced with fljB. Our results showed that the loss of fljB in ST34 S. Typhimurium and its monophasic variant does not affect bacterial motility, cell infection ability, survival in macrophages, induced pro-inflammatory cytokines secretion, virulence, or persistent infection in mice. However, the deletion of fliC caused a significant decrease in these outcomes for both strains, while the replacement of fliC with fljB only partially restored these capabilities. Consequently, we determined that FliC is predominant in the flagellar expression of ST34 S. Typhimurium other than FljB. This finding demonstrates that replacing the fljB gene with various resistance regions in ST34 S. Typhimurium monophasic variants can enhance bacterial survival under specific antibiotic farming practices and spread globally.

Abstract Polyomavirus enhancer activator 3 (PEA3), an ETS transcription factor, has been documented to regulate the development and metastasis of human cancers. Nonetheless, a thorough analysis examining the relationship between the PEA3 subfamily members and tumour development, prognosis, and the tumour microenvironment (TME) across various cancer types has not yet been conducted. The expression profiles and prognostic significance of the PEA3 subfamily were evaluated using data from the GEO, TCGA, and PrognoScan databases, in conjunction with COX regression analyses and the Kaplan–Meier Plotter. Furthermore, the relationships between PEA3 subfamily expression, stemness scores, tumor microenvironments, immune subtypes, and drug susceptibility across multiple cancer types were explored. We found that ETV1, ETV4 and ETV5 are highly expressed in cancer, and their biological functions are synergistic. In the prognostic analysis of the Cancer Genome Atlas, the PEA3 subfamily genes were found to be associated with the prognosis of multiple cancers such as Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), Liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC), etc., and marked a worse prognosis at different endpoints. In addition, it was significantly correlated with the stromal and immune scores of pan-cancer, and also significantly associated with the RNA stemness score and DNA stemness score of pan-cancer. Expression levels of the PEA3 subfamily genes correlate with immune subtypes of LIHC, LUAD, and Lung squamous cell carcinoma. We also found a variety of drugs with positive and negative associations of ETV1, ETV4 and ETV5. These findings elucidate the role of the PEA3 subfamily gene as a biomarker for carcinogenesis and cancer progression, offering valuable insights for future research into the PEA3 subfamily gene as a potential therapeutic target across various cancer types.

Abstract Underground coal excavation has caused a series of geological disasters and environmental problems, especially coal mining subsidence. Backfill-strip mining, which combines the advantages of strip mining and backfill mining, can reduce subsidence and improve the recovery rate of coal. Therefore, predicting the impact of backfill-strip mining on the surface environment and strata structure is essential for the better development of backfill-strip mining technology. Here, a scientific and comprehensive mechanical model is creatively proposed. The mechanical model is divided into two systems at the main key strata (MKS): the lower strata of the MKS are regarded as a rectangular plane mechanical model on the Winkler foundation, comprising spaced filling bodies and coal pillars, and the upper strata of the MKS are regarded as a space-layer mechanical model. First, the subsidence function of the MKS is proposed. Then, this function is transmitted to the space-layer mechanical model through the interface. Finally, the mechanical model is used to predict the subsidence of the strata and the surface. The feasibility of the model is verified by numerical simulation and similar material simulation, and the characteristics of strata movement are analyzed. Using the mechanical model, the influences of geological and mining conditions on strata movement are discussed. This provides theoretical guidance for the study of strata movement and mechanisms in backfill-strip mining.

Abstract Background Maternal hemoglobin (Hb) is related to nutritional status, and it widely fluctuates during pregnancy. However, the relationship between Hb and blood pressure (BP) during pregnancy is unclear. This study aimed to estimate the associations between maternal Hb in various trimesters and its changes with BP during pregnancy. Methods We conducted this study by using data from the Electronic Medical Record System (EMRS) database of Zhoushan Maternal and Child Care Hospital in Zhejiang Province, China. The pregnancy duration was divided into seven periods: before 14th, 14 to 17th, 18 to 22nd, 23 to 27th, 28 to 31st, 32 to 35th, and 36 to delivery; generalized estimating equations (GEE) and multiple linear regressions were used for exploring their associations. Results 8168 pregnant women in the first trimester were included in this study. Hb level decreased significantly from the first to late-second trimester and then increased but did not return to the level of the first trimester. After adjustment for the potential confounders, compared with women with Hb 110 ~ 119 g/L, those with Hb = 140 g/L groups had significantly higher SBP and DBP than the other groups. A significant nonlinear relationship was found between hemoglobin changes with both SBP and DBP in different gestational weeks (P non-linear 120 g/L during pregnancy and increased maternal Hb from the first to third trimesters should especially be given more attention.

ObjectiveIn coal mining engineering, damaged well walls pose a threat to the safety of production facilities and mines. Comprehensively monitoring the impacts of shaft grouting on the deformations of mine surface plants and surface buildings is critical for ensuring the safe production of mines. MethodsThis study investigated a coal mine in the mining area within northern Anhui Province. Using the 15 scenes of Sentinel-1A image data covering the coal mine and the differential interferometric synthetic aperture radar (D-InSAR) technology, this study comprehensively monitored the subsidence of mine surface plants and surface buildings before and after shaft grouting, obtaining information on the dynamic deformations of surface and buildings. Accordingly, this study analyzed the impacts of grouting on the surface and buildings. [Results and Conclusions] The results indicate that compared to leveling measurements, the D-InSAR-based land subsidence monitoring yielded an average error of 1.70 mm and a maximum error of 2.70 mm. These results demonstrate the reliable accuracy of D-InSAR in monitoring minor land subsidence, thus meeting the requirements for land subsidence monitoring in mine surface plants. Before shaft grouting, the surface and buildings were in a continuous subsidence state, with a maximum subsidence of 21.12 mm recorded during the monitoring period. After shaft grouting, their subsidence slowed down and then gradually stabilized. The analysis of shaft strain monitoring results and changes in land subsidence reveals that the grouting engineering exhibited remarkable remediation effects by forming an impermeable curtain around the shaft. The monitoring results show that the surface underwent four deformation stages, i.e., continuous subsidence, slight uplift, minor subsidence, and stabilization, before and after grouting. Specifically, initial grouting demonstrated a pronounced effect in curbing land subsidence. As the grouting progressed, the surface was slightly uplifted, followed by minor subsidence until stabilization after grouting completion. During the monitoring period, the deformations of major buildings remained within the safety threshold according to the Class I damage criterion specified in the Regulations for Coal Pillar Retention and Coal Mining thereunder for Buildings, Water bodies, Railways, and Main Shafts (2017 Edition). Therefore, grouting engineering can ensure the safety of buildings by further mitigating their deformations.

CRISPR-Cas9 systems constitute bacterial adaptive immune systems that protect against phage infections. Bacteriophages encode anti-CRISPR proteins (Acrs) that mitigate the bacterial immune response. However, the structural basis for their inhibitory actions from a molecular perspective remains elusive. In this study, through microsecond atomistic molecular dynamics simulations, we demonstrated the remarkable flexibility of Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 (SpyCas9) and its conformational adaptability during interactions with AcrIIA4 and AcrIIA2. Specifically, we demonstrated that the binding of AcrIIA4 and AcrIIA2 to SpyCas9 induces a conformational rearrangement that causes spatial separation between the nuclease and cleavage sites, thus making the endonuclease inactive. This separation disrupts the transmission of signals between the protospacer adjacent motif recognition and nuclease domains, thereby impeding the efficient processing of double-stranded DNA. The simulation also reveals that AcrIIA4 and AcrIIA2 cause different structural variations of SpyCas9. Our research illuminates the precise mechanisms underlying the suppression of SpyCas9 by AcrIIA4 and AcrIIA2, thus presenting new possibilities for controlling genome editing with higher accuracy.

Abstract Introduction Cervical disc herniation (CDH) is the most common cause of cervical radiculopathy and causes persistent neck pain and neurological deficits. Collagenase chemonucleolysis has been successfully applied to treat lumbar disc herniation, which has a similar pathological mechanism to CDH. However, its application for CDH remains under-researched, and there is an even greater lack of high-quality clinical evidence. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of collagenase chemonucleolysis for treating CDH. Methods Eligible patients with CDH underwent collagenase chemonucleolysis via anterior cervical intradiscal injection or epidural injection. The primary efficacy endpoint showed an excellent and good rate regarding the Odom criteria, which was not lower than the reference value (≥ 78%) at 6 months postoperatively. The secondary efficacy endpoints were the percentage reduction in Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and Neck Disability Index (NDI) scores from baseline, which were not lower than the reference values (≥ 40%, ≥ 30%), and improvement in the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) score compared to the preoperative value. The pre- and postoperative CDH index of patients were also compared. Safety endpoints included the incidence of adverse events (AEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs). Results An excellent and good rate regarding the Odom criteria 6 months postoperatively was 90.5% (133/147), which was significantly higher than 78% (P

Abstract To investigate the associated risk factors affecting necrosis of the nasal septal mucosal flap (NSF) after salvage surgery for recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with recurrent NPC who underwent endoscopic salvage surgery and NSF repair. Factors analyzed included second-course radiotherapy history, recurrence T stage, recurrence time, and postoperative packing time. Logistic regression identified independent risk factors. Second-course radiotherapy, advanced T stage recurrence, longer recurrence time, and shorter postoperative packing time were identified as independent risk factors for NSF necrosis. Patients with second-course radiotherapy had an 8.338 times higher risk of flap necrosis. Advanced T stage and longer recurrence times were also associated with increased risk. Nasal packing for less than 5 days presented a higher risk of flap necrosis compared to packing for 5 days or more. The predictive model demonstrated good predictive ability. The second-course radiotherapy history, the recurrence T stage, the recurrence time, and the postoperative packing time are independent risk factors for necrosis of the nasal septal mucosal flap after salvage surgery for recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Abstract Objectives Although a few studies have found that maternal smoke during pregnancy (MSDP) is linked to a range of non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs) in offspring, its association with the onset, progression, and prognosis of multimorbidity of NCDs (MNCDs) has never been studied. Study design Population-based prospective cohort study. Method A total of 318,122 adults aged 18–87 years who were free of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes at baseline were selected. MNCDs was defined as the coexistence of two or three NCDs, including CVDs (coronary heart disease and stroke), cancer (digest, breast, lung, and urination), diabetes (type 1 and type 2), and CLRD (COPD and asthma). Then we used multi-state model to analyse the impacts of MSDP on the progression of MNCDs in the offspring. Associations between MSDP and transition trajectory were analyzed with results expressed as hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Results During the 70.2 years of follow-up, a total of 112,894 participants developed first NCDs (FNCDs), among whom 28,195 developed MNCDs and 21,452 subsequently died. After adjustment for potential confounders, the MSDP was associated with the transition trajectory from baseline to FNCD (HR = 1.10, 95%CI:1.09–1.11) and from FNCDs to MNCDs (HR = 1.08,95%CI:1.06–1.10). Meanwhile, the MSDP was associated with the transition trajectory from MNCDs to death (HR = 1.07,95%CI:1.03–1.11). Further, these association became more pronounced among the offspring who smoke (HRbaseline→FNCDs=1.13, 95%CI:1.12–1.15; HRFNCD→MNCD=1.13, 95%CI:1.12–1.15; HRMNCDs→death=1.11, 95%CI:1.16–1.16); whereas among the offspring who do not smoke, only the transition trajectory from baseline to FNCDs was observed (HR = 1.07, 95%CI:1.05–1.09). Conclusion This study suggested that the MSDP is associated with almost all transition phases of MNCDs development and increases the mortality risk of MNCDs in offspring who smoke, and these transition trajectories can be largely reduced by smoking cessation among offspring.

Abstract Background The relationship between public health emergencies and psychological distress had been well known, yet none research had been conducted on the trend in psychological resilience and its longitudinal determinants during the pandemic. This study aimed to explore the changes of psychological resilience of university students during COVID-19 pandemic, and further clarify the longitudinal relationship between family factors, mental health, social mentality and psychological resilience. Methods Questionnaires were distributed to students from five universities in Shandong Province, China during the COVID-19. A total of 1635 students were finally included in this three-wave follow-up study using stratified random sampling method. Mental health was assessed by Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, social mentality was measured by the Bi-Dimensional Structure Questionnaire of Social Mentality, psychological resilience was evaluated by the Chinese version of the Psychological Resilience Scale. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to analyze the longitudinal changes of psychological resilience, generalized estimating equation (GEE) was conducted to estimate the determinants of psychological resilience. Results Psychological resilience changed from 28.37 in Wave 1, 29.10 in Wave 2, and 29.15 in Wave 3 among the university students. The students who majored in Art (β = 0.872, P = 0.032), parents (mother β = 0.546, P = 0.035; father β = 0.718, P = 0.012) had a greater influence on children’s personality, and positive social mentality (β = 5.725, P

Abstract Background Post-infectious bronchiolitis obliterans (PIBO) is a severe form of chronic obstructive lung disease secondary to severe respiratory tract infections. Knowledge of pediatric PIBO development-associated risk factors may improve selection of appropriate early therapeutic interventions. Objective The aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics of children diagnosed with PIBO, and identify the risk factors for development of PIBO after adenovirus pneumonia. Methods First, a retrospective observational study was performed of 308 pediatric patients with PIBO (ages

In this study, the damage level and morphology of Bi2223 composite superconducting tapes subjected to severe tensile stress were investigated using four detection methods: the four-probe, 2D-Hall, magneto-optical, and micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). A new detection procedure was developed to detect micrometre-sized damaged areas in a 10 cm-long Bi2223 composite superconducting tape. The four detection methods showed different spatial resolutions and sensitivity to damage level and area. These were systematically compared in this study. The four-probe method provided the highest level of accuracy in evaluating Ic degradation. However, it showed a spatial resolution of 1 cm. In contrast, submicron-sized structural variations in three dimensions (3D) were differentiated in Bi2223 using micro-CT. However, the damaged area required a subjective assessment, decreasing the accuracy of damage detection. A prototype phenomenological model was also developed, which linked tensile damage to the resulting 3D morphology. This investigation can assist Bi2223 magnet researchers in analysing damaged magnets and determining whether the damage is owing to tensile stress.

Abstract Introduction Clinical practice guidelines are essential tools for standardizing medical practices and improving healthcare quality. However, current guideline implementation is unsatisfactory. Barriers to guideline implementation include external environmental factors (e.g., medical personnel, medical institutions, local policies) and intrinsic characteristics (e.g., context, format, language etc.), with the latter being addressable by optimizing the guidelines themselves. This study aims to develop an appraisal tool to promote effective guideline implementation. Existing guideline implementability appraisal tools lack a clear theoretical basis, evidence of reliability and validity, and/or empirically-based guidance for effective implementation, all of which will be addressed in this study. Methods and analysis The research is divided into four phases: (1) Generating a theoretical framework for guideline implementability (i.e., scoping review and concept analysis method); (2) Conducting a factorial experiment (i.e., guideline users simulate the use of different guideline versions to examine the relationship between constructs in the framework and implementability), and removing constructs with weak relationships to form the final implementability theoretical framework; (3) Generating dimensions and items for the guideline implementability appraisal tool based on the constructs in the theoretical framework, conducting comprehensive reliability and validity testing, usability testing, and iterative optimization according to the COSMIN guidelines; (4) Integrating the validated tool with the STAR guideline rating system for guideline appraisal and feedback to promote guideline implementability. Strengths and limitations (1) Our research will follow a standardized and rigorous process for developing measurement scales, ensuring that the resulting evaluation scale for the implementability of CPGs is theoretically grounded, internally consistent between theory and practice, and reliable and valid. (2) The theoretical framework developed in our study will strengthen the validity and rationality of constructs in the real world. (3) In the confirmatory factor analysis, this study will determine the dimensions and items’ weight through factor loadings, allowing for the quantification of the implementability of CPGs and providing users of the guidelines with objective evaluative results. In addition, the clinical practice guideline implementability evaluation tool developed in this study can assist guideline developers in enhancing implementability before, during, and after guideline formulation.

Abstract To address coal pillar instability, the study focuses on the 3−1 coal seam coal pillar at Nanliang Coal Mine. It analyzes the bending deformation energy of the main roof and the pre-yield elastic energy of the coal pillar’s elastic zone through theoretical analysis, similar simulation, and field measurements. The formula for the bending elastic energy of the main roof is derived by establishing the mechanical model of the roadway’s main roof near the goaf side. Based on the side abutment stress distribution of the coal pillar, the calculation of the pre-yield elastic energy distribution along the width direction of the coal pillar’s elastic zone is conducted, leading to the derivation of the instability energy criterion for the coal pillar. The range analysis method is used to analyze the influencing factors and distribution patterns of the bending elastic energy of the main roof and the pre-yield elastic energy of the coal pillar’s elastic zone. Findings indicate that the main roof’s tensile strength is the primary factor influencing bending elastic energy. Higher tensile strength of the main roof, and smaller load, larger thickness and elastic modulus on the overlying strata, lead to higher bending elastic energy in the main roof. The internal friction angle, width of the coal pillar, and elastic modulus of the coal seam notably impact the pre-yield elastic energy of the coal pillar’s elastic zone. A larger internal friction angle and coal pillar width, along with a smaller elastic modulus, result in higher pre-yield elastic energy in the coal pillar’s elastic zone. Using the working face of 3−1 coal seam in Nanliang Coal Mine as the engineering context, the study calculates the minimum coal pillar width required for stability. Physical simulations and field monitoring demonstrate that with a 9 m—wide coal pillar, there is no apparent deformation or failure in the surrounding rock of the roadway, indicating good internal rock stability.

Abstract Background Previous observational studies have suggested diabetic patients should synchronize their foods and nutrient intake with their biological rhythm; however, the optimal intake time of coffee and tea for reducing all-cause and disease-specific mortality in diabetes is still unknown. This study aims to examine by investigating the association of timing for coffee and tea consumption with long-term survival in people with diabetes. Methods A total of 5378 people with diabetes who enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2003 to 2014 were recruited for this study. Coffee and tea intakes were measured by a 24-h dietary recall, which were divided by different time intervals across the day, including dawn to forenoon, forenoon to noon, noon to evening, and evening to dawn. Weighted cox proportional hazards regression models were developed to evaluate the survival-relationship of coffee and tea consumption with mortality of all-cause, cardiovascular disease (CVD), stroke, and diabetes. Results During 47,361 person-year follow up, total 1639 death cases were documented, including 731 CVD deaths, 467 heart disease deaths, 99 stroke deaths, and 462 diabetes deaths. After adjustment for potential confounders, compared with participants without drinking coffee during dawn to forenoon, drinking coffee at this period was associated with increased mortality risk of all-cause (HR 1.25, 95% CI 1.05–1.50), CVD (HR 1.41, 95% CI 1.07–1.86), heart-disease (HR 1.47, 95% CI 1.05–2.07), and diabetes (HR 1.50, 95% CI 1.10–2.04). In contrast, drinking coffee during forenoon to noon had lower mortality risk of all-cause (HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.69–0.92), CVD (HR 0.79, 95% CI 0.63–0.99), and heart disease (HR 0.70, 95% CI 0.52–0.94). Similarly, drinking tea during forenoon to noon had lower risk of CVD mortality (HR = 0.62, 95% CI 0.44–0.87). Conclusions This study suggests that drinking coffee in dawn to forenoon is linked to a higher risk of death, but having coffee and tea from forenoon to noon is linked to a lower risk of overall mortality, CVD, and heart disease in individuals with diabetes. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Relapse is one of the major challenges in clinical treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Though minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring plays a crucial role in quantitative assessment of the disease, molecular MRD analysis has been mainly limited to patients diagnosed with gene fusions and NPM1 mutations. Here, we report a longitudinal ultra-sensitive mutation burden (UMB) monitoring strategy for accurate MRD analysis in AML patients regardless of genetic abnormality types. Using a Quantitative Blocker Displacement Amplification (QBDA) sequencing panel with limit of detection below 0.01% variant allele frequency (VAF), a hazard ratio of 14.8 (p

A detrimental feedback loop between hypoxia and oxidative stress consistently drives macrophage polarization toward a pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype, thus persistently aggravating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) progression. Herein, an enzyme-catalyzed nanoplatform with synergistic hypoxia-relieving and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging properties was developed using bovine serum albumin-bilirubin-platinum nanoparticles (BSA-BR-Pt NPs). Bilirubin was employed to eliminate ROS, while platinum exhibited a synergistic effect in scavenging ROS and simultaneously generated oxygen. In mice RA model, BSA-BR-Pt NPs treatment exhibited superior effects, resulting in significant improvements in joint inflammation, cartilage damage, and bone erosion, compared to methotrexate, the most widely used antirheumatic drug. Mechanistically, RNA-sequencing data and experimental results elucidated that BSA-BR-Pt NPs induced a re-polarization of hypoxic M1 macrophages to M2 macrophages via switching glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation through the inhibition of HIF-1α pathway. Collectively, this research for the first time elaborated the underlying mechanism of enzyme-catalyzed nanoplatform in orchestrating macrophage polarization, and identified a novel therapeutic strategy for RA and other inflammatory disorders.

Abstract Accumulating evidence has shown that adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) have the potential to differentiate into hepatic lineages, which are ideal engraftments for tissue-engineered repair. In this study, we investigated the potential of transplanted induced hepatocyte-like cells (iHEPs) in treating hepatic alveolar echinococcosis and describe an efficient three-step protocol for the generation of iHEPs in vitro from ADSCs. The expression of hepatocyte lineage markers was assessed and iHEPs function was evaluated by Periodic acid-Schiff staining. iHEPs were intravenously transplanted into mice infected with Echinococcus multilocularis. Histopathological analysis and liver function tests were used to assess therapeutic effects. The iHEPs exhibit morphological features and a glycogen storage function similar to those of mature hepatocytes and demonstrate an upregulation in hepatic gene programs with increasing induction time. Following transplantation, iHEPs were observed surrounding the metacestode lesions in the liver parenchyma of E. multilocularis-infected mice. iHEPs transplantation effectively restored liver function and improved liver injury in the infected mice. Additionally, we observed significant activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in the livers of infected mice transplanted with iHEPs. Our results provide evidence that iHEPs transplantation can alleviate E. multilocularis-induced liver injury, potentially creating new avenues for treating liver injury in end-stage hepatic alveolar echinococcosis.

To solve the problem of low cementitious activity of steel slag (SS), N, N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid sodium salt (BES-Na) and triethanolamine (TEA) were used in this study to improve the hydration activity of SS. However, there are no comparative studies on the effects of BES-Na and TEA on the hydration of SS-Portland cement (PC) systems. This study compared the hydration process and strength development of SS-PC systems in the presence of BES-Na and TEA, as well as the complexing ability of BES-Na and TEA. The results showed that both BES-Na and TEA improved the early compressive strength of SS-PC mortar, but TEA did not contribute to the late compressive strength, while BES-Na still improved the late compressive strength. At the same dosage, TEA accelerated aluminates hydration more than BES-Na and retarded/inhibited silicates hydration more than BES-Na. This difference in effect on hydration can be attributed to the difference in their complexing ability. TEA has a stronger complexing ability with metal ions than BES-Na, which is beneficial for accelerating aluminates hydration, but this not only prolonged the hydration induction period but also inhibited silicates hydration. BES-Na has a weaker complexing ability relative to TEA. Although BES-Na has a weaker accelerating effect on aluminates hydration, it has a lesser effect on silicates hydration and even accelerates silicates hydration at low dosage. This study also showed that BES-Na is an alternative additive to TEA, which could help expand the application of BES-Na in cementitious materials.

Abstract IL-1β represents an important inflammatory factor involved in the host response against GBS infection. Prior research has suggested a potential involvement of IL-1β in the process of ferroptosis. However, the relationship between IL-1β and ferroptosis in the context of anti-GBS infection remains uncertain. This research demonstrates that the occurrence of ferroptosis is essential for the host’s defense against GBS infection in a mouse model of abdominal infection, with peritoneal macrophages identified as the primary cells undergoing ferroptosis. Further research indicates that IL-1β induces lipid oxidation in macrophages through the upregulation of pathways related to lipid oxidation. Concurrently, IL-1β is not only involved in the initiation of ferroptosis in macrophages, but its production is intricately linked to the onset of ferroptosis. Ultimately, we posit that ferroptosis acts as a crucial initiating factor in the host response to GBS infection, with IL-1β playing a significant role in the resistance to infection by serving as a key inducer of ferroptosis.

Abstract Exploring the interaction and coupling effects within the population‒land‒water‒industry (PLWI) system is conducive to promoting high-quality regional sustainable development. Taking the lower Yellow River during the period from 2000 to 2020 as a research sample, this study used the entropy weight TOPSIS method, the coupling coordination degree (CCD) model and kernel density estimation to synthetically evaluate the CCD of the PLWI system. The GeoDetector model was applied to explore the factors influencing the CCD of the PLWI system considering the nonlinear relationship. The major results can be summarized as follows: (1) From 2000 to 2020, the comprehensive development index (CDI) of the population, land, water and industry subsystems followed a gradual upward trend in the lower Yellow River, increasing by 0.293, 0.033, 0.111 and 0.369, respectively. However, the CDI of the land subsystem varied greatly between regions. Some cities, such as Jinan, Jining and Binzhou, experienced large declines in the CDI of the land subsystem, from 0.433, 0.534 and 0.572 to 0.358, 0.481 and 0.522, respectively. (2) The CCD of the PLWI system in the lower Yellow River showed an upward trend, increasing from 0.481 to 0.678, and became more concentrated during 2000–2020. Most of the region transitioned from near disorder to primary coordination. (3) Factors such as number of health technicians per 10,000 people, average salary, number of college students per 10,000 people, per capita GDP and per capita education expenditure were critical to the coordinated development of the PLWI system, the explanatory powers were 0.644, 0.639, 0.610, 0.498 and 0.455, respectively. Finally, this study proposed three policy recommendations to improve coupling coordination in the lower Yellow River Basin: Improving population quality, promoting green technology and rational land planning.

Abstract This study constructed a system dynamics (SD) evolutionary game model, from which we analyzed the conditions that need to be met by multi-agents to achieve cooperation in agricultural water conservancy (AWC) Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects. Simultaneously, this study used numerical simulation to depict the impact of initial participation willingness, reward, punishment, income, and other parameters of local governments, project enterprises, and farmers on the evolution strategy. The results firstly showed that the basic conditions for tripartite cooperation are to strengthen the rewards and punishments for project enterprises and improve the participation benefits of farmers. Secondly, it showed that increasing the rewards for farmers and improving the project dividend benefits can effectively motivate farmers to participate. Thirdly, it showed that enhancing the incentive subsidies and reputation benefits for project enterprise’s participation, as well as strengthening the supervision of local government, boosts the motivation of project enterprises significantly. However, it is vital to ensure that the reward amounts are not too high to allow local government to play its guiding role efficiently. Lastly, the results indicated that digital technology can help reduce the participation cost of local government, project enterprises and farmers, and improve the external reputation benefits of each participant, thus forming a win-win situation for all three participants. Analyzing the cooperation strategies of the three parties in AWC PPP projects provides theoretical support and a decision-making basis for the efficient operation of AWC PPP projects under the digital background, and also provides practical policy recommendations for the high-quality development of AWC.

Abstract The rapid expansion of the oncology field has revealed new insights into cell death processes, with a particular emphasis on the role of ferroptosis. Characterized by iron dependency and the accumulation of lipid peroxides and iron within cells, ferroptosis stands out as a unique form of programmed cell demise. This in-depth analysis delves into the pivotal role of IGF2BP3, an RNA-binding protein, in the complex regulatory network of ferroptosis in cancerous cells. By exerting post-transcriptional control over genes associated with iron equilibrium, IGF2BP3 is demonstrated to manage cellular iron concentrations and reactive oxygen species (ROS) equilibrium, thus affecting the destiny of the cell. The correlation between aberrant IGF2BP3 expression and increased aggressiveness, metastatic capacity, and poor prognosis in various cancers is further clarified. The potential of IGF2BP3 as a biomarker for prognosis and a therapeutic agent to enhance cancer cells’ vulnerability to ferroptosis is also examined, heralding new strategies in cancer treatment.

In order to study the deflection and deformation law of vertical shafts in deep and thick topsoil layer, the main and secondary shafts of Shandong Guotun Coal Mine are taken as the examples, and the wireline baseline method is adopted to carry out multi-period deformation monitoring. Based on the multi-period monitoring data, the dynamic information of shaft deflection was obtained, and combined with the geological conditions and mining activities, the temporal and spatial characteristics of shaft deflection and deformation were investigated to analyze the changes of the local parameters of the shaft, compare the differences in shaft deflection, and reveal the deflection and deformation law of the shafts in deep topsoil layer, which provides a reliable basis for demonstrating the mechanism of shaft deflection and the management of the shafts. The study shows that: the time characteristics of wellbore deflection in vertical wells affected by mining and grouting activities can be divided into three phases of “increasing-decreasing-stabilizing”, and the spatial characteristics are mainly manifested in that the bedrock layer is less deflected, while the topsoil layer shows a function-like significant change, and the dynamics of wellbore and its deflection in the topsoil layer are approximately equal, with the area of the largest wellbore deflection converging to the wellhead; the main and auxiliary wells are inclined to the northwest of the mining area and there is a difference in orientation. The overall inclination of the wellbore in the east-west direction accounts for more than 97%, while that in the north-south direction is only less than 20%, which is highly correlated with the working face direction in terms of the distance between the workings; the horizontal displacement of the deep topsoil layer triggered by the mining disturbance increases with the height of the wellbore, which is the main reason for the deflection of the wellbore.

The Bohai Bay Basin, as a super oil-rich basin in the world, is characterized by cyclic evolution and complex regional tectonic stress field, and its lifecycle tectonic evolution controls the formation of regional source rocks. The main pre-Cenozoic stratigraphic system and lithological distribution are determined through geological mapping, and the dynamics of the pre-Cenozoic geotectonic evolution of the Bohai Bay Basin are investigated systematically using the newly acquired high-quality seismic data and the latest exploration results in the study area. The North China Craton where the Bohai Bay Basin is located in rests at the intersection of three tectonic domains: the Paleo-Asian Ocean, the Tethys Ocean, and the Pacific Ocean. It has experienced the alternation and superposition of tectonic cycles of different periods, directions and natures, and experienced five stages of the tectonic evolution and sedimentary building, i.e. Middle–Late Proterozoic continental rift trough, Early Paleozoic marginal-craton depression carbonate building, Late Paleozoic marine–continental transitional intracraton depression, Mesozoic intracontinental strike-slip–extensional tectonics, and Cenozoic intracontinental rifting. The cyclic evolution of the basin, especially the multi-stage compression, strike-slip and extensional tectonics processes in the Hercynian, Indosinian, Yanshan and Himalayan since the Late Paleozoic, controlled the development, reconstruction and preservation of several sets of high-quality source rocks, represented by the Late Paleozoic Carboniferous–Permian coal-measure source rocks and the Paleogene world-class extra-high-quality lacustrine source rocks, which provided an important guarantee for the hydrocarbon accumulation in the super oil-rich basin.