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Abstract Aims/Introduction The aim of the present study was to evaluate the status of glycemic control, and assess the effects of the disease course and comprehensive management measures on the blood glucose level in children and adolescents with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Materials and Methods The study collected the clinical data of type 2 diabetes patients in Beijing Children's Hospital from January 2015 to September 2020. Patients were grouped based on the disease course to compare their glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level, islet β‐cell function, insulin resistance and comprehensive management measures. Results Of the 170 participants, the median disease course was 2.0 years (interquartile range [IQR] 1.0–4.0 years). The baseline HbA1c was 11.2% (IQR 9.2–12.4%). According to the grouping by the disease course, the median HbA1c was the lowest (5.7% [IQR 5.3–6.1%]) in the half‐year course group and the highest in the 4‐year course group (9.0 [IQR 6.8%–11.3%]). Compared with the group with a disease duration 4 years group had a lower proportion of patients with HbA1c

Abstract In order to analyze the stability of the bridge above the goaf, the disturbance influence of goaf residual deformation on the bridge is studied. Firstly, an equivalent numerical simulation method of goaf residual deformation evolution process is studied by quantitative analysis the sensitivity of residual subsidence to the rock parameters using the OAT (one-variable-at-a-time). Then, the collaborative deformation of ground, pile, and bridge floor is studied under the condition of a simply-supported beam bridge above the goaf center. Finally, the mechanism of collaborative deformation of ground, pile, and bridge floor is revealed. The results show that the goaf residual deformation process can be obtained by weakening the elastic modulus of fractured rock in the caving zone. At the final residual deformation stage, the subsidence ratio of ground to pile is about 10, and the subsidence ratio of pile to bridge floor is about 2, while the ground horizontal movement ratio of ground to pile is about 7, and the bridge floor horizontal movement can be ignored. The bridge floor is always in the positive curvature influence zone, and the pile has an inhibitory effect on the curvature deformation of the bridge floor. The compression deformation occurs between the piles locations, while the tensile deformation occurs at the pile location. The evolution of negative frictional resistance derived from goaf residual deformation is the main reason for the change in the collaborative deformation law among the ground, pile and bridge floor. This research can provide scientific support and theoretical basis for the design, construction, and protection of the bridge above the goaf center, and can also provide reference for the stability evaluation of bridge above goaf under other conditions.

The drugs extending healthspan in clinic have always been searched. Nitazoxanide is an FDA-approved clinical antiprotozoal drug. Nitazoxanide is rapidly metabolized to tizoxanide after absorption in vivo. Our previous studies find that nitazoxanide and its metabolite tizoxanide induce mild mitochondrial uncoupling and activate cellular AMPK, oral nitazoxanide protects against experimental hyperlipidemia, hepatic steatosis, and atherosclerosis. Here, we demonstrate that both nitazoxanide and tizoxanide extend the lifespan and healthspan of Caenorhabditis elegans through Akt/AMPK/sir 2.1/daf16 pathway. Additionally, both nitazoxanide and tizoxanide improve high glucose-induced shortening of C. elegans lifespan. Nitazoxanide has been a clinical drug with a good safety profile, we suggest that it is a novel anti-aging drug.

Abstract Purpose Ovarian cancer (OC) is characterized by a high recurrence rate, and homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) is an important biomarker in the clinical management of OC. We investigated the differences in clinical genomic profiles between the primary and platinum-sensitive recurrent OC (PSROC), focusing on HRD status. Materials and methods A total of 40 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues of primary tumors and their first platinum-sensitive recurrence from 20 OC patients were collected, and comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) analysis of FoundationOne®CDx (F1CDx) was applied to explore the genetic (dis)similarities of the primary and recurrent tumors. Results By comparing between paired samples, we found that genomic loss of heterozygosity (gLOH) score had a high intra-patient correlation (r2 = 0.79) and that short variants (including TP53, BRCA1/2 and NOTCH1 mutations), tumor mutational burden (TMB) and microsatellite stability status remained stable. The frequency of (likely) pathological BRCA1/2 mutations was 30% (12/40) in all samples positively correlated with gLOH scores, but the proportion of gLOH-high status (score > 16%) was 50% (10/20) and 55% (11/20) in the primary and recurrent samples, respectively. An additional 20% (4/20) of patients needed attention, a quarter of which carried the pathological BRCA1 mutation but had a gLOH-low status (gLOH

Abstract Alterations in telomeres constitute some of the earliest occurrences in the tumourigenesis of prostate adenocarcinoma (PRAD) and persist throughout the progression of the tumour. While the activity of telomerase and the length of telomeres have been demonstrated to correlate with the prognosis of PRAD, the prognostic potential of telomere-related genes (TRGs) in this disease remains unexplored. Utilising mRNA expression data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), we devised a risk model and a nomogram to predict the survival outcomes of patients with PRAD. Subsequently, our investigations extended to the relationship between the risk model and immune cell infiltration, sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs, and specific signalling pathways. The risk model we developed is predicated on seven key TRGs, and immunohistochemistry results revealed significant differential expression of three TRGs in tumours and paracancerous tissues. Based on the risk scores, PRAD patients were stratified into high-risk and low-risk cohorts. The Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) and Kaplan–Meier survival analyses corroborated the exceptional predictive performance of our novel risk model. Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that the risk score was an independent risk factor associated with Overall Survival (OS) and was significantly associated with T and N stages of PRAD patients. Notably, the high-risk group exhibited a greater response to chemotherapy and immunosuppression compared to the low-risk group, offering potential guidance for treatment strategies for high-risk patients. In conclusion, our new risk model, based on TRGs, serves as a reliable prognostic indicator for PRAD. The model holds significant value in guiding the selection of immunotherapy and chemotherapy in the clinical management of PRAD patients.

Abstract Fullerene derivatives are highly attractive materials in solar cells, organic thermoelectrics, and other devices. However, the intrinsic low electron mobility and electrical conductivity restrict their potential device performance, such as perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Herein, we successfully enhanced the electric properties and morphology of phenyl‐C61‐butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) by n‐doping it with a benzimidazoline derivative, 9‐(1,3‐dimethyl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐benzoimidazol‐2‐yl)‐julolidine (JLBI‐H) via a solution process. We found the n‐doping can not only improve the conductivity and optimize the band alignment but also enable the PCBM to have a constantly strong charge extraction ability in a wide temperature from 173 to 373 K, which guarantees a stable photovoltaic performance of the corresponding PSCs under a wide range of operating temperatures. With the JLBI‐H‐doped PCBM, we improved the efficiency from 17.9% to 19.8%, along with enhanced stability of the nonencapsulated devices following the aging protocol of ISOS‐D‐1.

Abstract Introduction Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the breast is a rare variant of invasive breast cancer that has been classified as metaplastic carcinoma. When a tumor is composed of spindle cells, diagnosis is challenging. Case report A 42-year-old woman with a large mass in the right breast underwent modified radical mastectomy. A pathological examination revealed a tumor with central necrosis in it. The tumor had a sarcomatoid growth pattern and the cells were spindle-shaped with severe atypicality. Immunohistochemical staining showed that P63, P53, vimentin, and CKpan were positive, whereas estrogen receptor and C-erbB-2 were negative. Ki-67 proliferation index was as high as 90%. Therefore, a diagnosis of SCC of the right breast was made. The patient received eight cycles of postoperative chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin, followed by seven cycles of radiotherapy. During follow-up, the patient also had a left thyroid tumor, and postoperative pathology suggested microinvasive follicular carcinoma. Since breast surgery, the patient has remained disease-free for more than four years. Conclusion SCC of the breast with spindle cell and sarcomatoid features is rare. The diagnosis of such tumors requires exclusion of tumors with similar histological morphologies.

Abstract Aims To assess the different imaging characteristics between corticosteroid‐sensitive (CS) and corticosteroid‐refractory (CR) immune checkpoint inhibitor‐associated myocarditis (ICIaM) with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and the potential CMR parameters in the early detection of CR ICIaM. Methods and results Thirty‐five patients diagnosed with ICIaM and 30 age and gender‐matched cancer patients without a history of ICI treatment were enrolled. CMR with contrast was performed within 2 days of clinical suspicion. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) were assessed by CMR. LV sub‐endocardial (GLSendo) and sub‐epicardial (GLSepi) global longitudinal strains were quantified by offline feature tracking analysis. CS and CR ICIaM were defined based on the trend of Troponin I and clinical course during corticosteroid treatment. All 35 patients presented with non‐fulminant symptoms upon initial assessment. Twenty patients (57.14%) were sensitive, and 15 (42.86%) were refractory to corticosteroids. Compared with controls, 22 patients (62.86%) with ICIaM developed LGE. LVEF decreased in CR ICIaM compared with the CS group and controls. GLSendo (−14.61 ± 2.67 vs. −18.50 ± 2.53, P

Abstract Establishing an advanced ecosystem incorporating freshwater harvesting, plastic utilization, and clean fuel acquisition is profoundly significant. However, low‐efficiency evaporation, single energy utilization, and catalyst leakage severely hinder sustainable development. Herein, a nanofiber‐based mortise‐and‐tenon structural Janus aerogel (MTSJA) is strategically designed in the first attempt and supports Z‐scheme catalysts. By harnessing of the upper hydrophilic layer with hydrophilic channels embedding into the hydrophobic bottom layer to achieve tailoring bottom wettability states. MTSJA is capable of a fully‐floating function for lower heat loss, water supply, and high‐efficiency solar‐to‐vapor conversion. Benefiting from the ultrasonic cavitation effect and high sensitivity of materials to mechanical forces, this is also the first demonstration of synergistic solar and ultrasound fields to power simultaneous evaporation desalination and waste plastics as reusable substrates generating fuel energy. The system enables persistent desalination with an exceptional evaporation rate of 3.1 kg m−2 h−1 and 82.3% efficiency (21 wt.% NaCl solution and 1 sun), and realizes H2, CO, and CH4 yields with 16.1, 9.5, and 3 µmol h−1 g−1, respectively. This strategy holds great potential for desalination and plastics value‐added transformation toward clean energy and carbon neutrality.

Abstract In recent decades, hypoxic areas have rapidly expanded worldwide in estuaries and coastal zones. The Pearl River Estuary (PRE), one of China's largest estuaries, experiences frequent seasonal hypoxia due to intense human activities and eutrophication. However, the ecological effects of hypoxia in the PRE, particularly on fish communities, remain unclear. To explore these effects, we collected fish community and environmental data in July 2021 during the summer hypoxia development period. The results revealed that bottom‐layer dissolved oxygen (DO) in the PRE ranged from 0.08 to 5.71 mg/L, with extensive hypoxic zones (DO ≤ 2 mg/L) observed. Hypoxia has varied effects on fish community composition, distribution, species, and functional diversity in the PRE. A total of 104 fish species were collected in this study, with approximately 30 species (28.6%) exclusively found in hypoxic areas. Species responses to hypoxia varied: species such as Sardinella zunasi, Coilia mystus, and Nuchequula nuchalis were sensitive, while Decapterus maruadsi, Siganus fuscescens, and Lagocephalus spadiceus showed higher tolerance. Within the hypoxia area, dissolved oxygen was the main limiting factor for fish community diversity. Functional diversity (FDiv) decreased with higher dissolved oxygen levels, indicating a potential shift in the functional traits and ecological roles of fish species in response to changing oxygen conditions. Further analysis demonstrated that dissolved oxygen had a significantly stronger effect on fish community structure at hypoxic sites than in the whole PRE. Moreover, other environmental variables also had significant effects on the fish community structure and interacted with dissolved oxygen in the hypoxia area. These findings suggest that maintaining sufficient dissolved oxygen levels is essential for sustaining fish communities and ecosystem health in the PRE. This study provides novel insights into the effects of hypoxia on fish communities in estuarine ecosystems and has significant implications for the ecological health and management of the PRE.

The Coptidis Rhizoma and Bovis Calculus herb pair possesses clearing heat and detoxifying effects. The aim of this study was to reveal the effects and mechanisms of the herb pair in the treatment of NASH by network pharmacology and experimental verification. A network pharmacology-based approach was employed to predict the putative mechanism of the herb pair against NASH. The high-fat diet (HFD) and methionine/choline deficient (MCD) diet induced NASH models were used to evaluate efficacy and mechanism of the herb pair. Network pharmacological analysis showed that the herb pair modulated NOD-like receptor pathway. In the HFD mice, herb pair reduced body weight, blood sugar, serum ALT, AST, TBA, TC, TG and LDL-C contents, also improved the general morphology and pathological manifestations. Hepatic transcriptomics study showed that herb pair attenuated NASH by regulating NOD-like receptor signaling pathway. Western blotting showed that herb pair reduced the protein expression levels of NLRP3, cleaved Caspase-1 and cleaved IL-1β. In the MCD mice, herb pair also reduced serum ALT, ALT and TBA levels, improved liver pathological manifestations, inhibited the protein expression levels of NLRP3, cleaved Caspase-1 and cleaved IL-1β. Our findings proved that the Coptidis Rhizoma and Bovis Calculus herb pair attenuates NASH through suppression of NLRP3 inflammasome activation. This will demonstrate effective pharmacological evidence for the clinical application of herb pair.

High-efficiency and low-cost knowledge sharing can improve the decision-making ability of autonomous vehicles by mining knowledge from the Internet of Vehicles (IoVs). However, it is challenging to ensure high efficiency of local data learning models while preventing privacy leakage in a high mobility environment. In order to protect data privacy and improve data learning efficiency in knowledge sharing, we propose an asynchronous federated broad learning (FBL) framework that integrates broad learning (BL) into federated learning (FL). In FBL, we design a broad fully connected model (BFCM) as a local model for training client data. To enhance the wireless channel quality for knowledge sharing and reduce the communication and computation cost of participating clients, we construct a joint resource allocation and reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) configuration optimization framework for FBL. The problem is decoupled into two convex subproblems. Aiming to improve the resource scheduling efficiency in FBL, a double Davidon–Fletcher–Powell (DDFP) algorithm is presented to solve the time slot allocation and RIS configuration problem. Based on the results of resource scheduling, we design a reward-allocation algorithm based on federated incentive learning (FIL) in FBL to compensate clients for their costs. The simulation results show that the proposed FBL framework achieves better performance than the comparison models in terms of efficiency, accuracy, and cost for knowledge sharing in the IoV.

The Multipath Exploitation Radar (MER) target detection technology is primarily based on the Non-Line-Of-Sight (NLOS) multipath propagation characteristics of electromagnetic waves, such as reflection and diffraction on the surface of the medium, enabling the effective detection of targets hidden in the “visually” blind area, such as urban street corners and vehicle occlusion. Thus, the technology can be feasible for various applications, including urban combat and intelligent driving. Further, it has significant practical and research implications. This paper summarizes the domestic and foreign literature in this field since the beginning of the 21st century to keep abreast of developments in this field and predict future development trends. The literature review revealed that according to the different types of detection platforms, MER target detection technology primarily consists of multipath detection technologies based on air and ground platforms. Both these technologies have achieved certain produced research results of practical significance. For air platforms, the following aspects are discussed: feasibility verification, analysis of influencing factors, architectural environment perception, and NLOS target detection. Further, for ground platforms, these four aspects are covered: target detection and recognition, two-dimensional target positioning, three-dimensional target information acquisition, and new detection methods. Finally, the prospects of MER target detection technology are summarized, and the potential issues and challenges in the current practical application of this technology are highlighted. These results show that MER target detection technology is evolving toward diversification and intelligence.

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in photovoltaic detectors based on mercury cadmium telluride (Hg1-xCdxTe), owing to their exceptional photoelectric properties. To provide the physical insights into the modulation effects of Cd composition x on Hg1-xCdxTe under strong injection conditions, specifically for MWIR HgCdTe detectors, we conduct the numerical simulations to investigate the coupling effects of optical and electrical fields on detector performance. The Hg1-xCdxTe detectors based on three kinds of coupling directions, namely inverse field (IF), vertical field (VF), and parallel field (PF), are compared in terms of responsivity and saturation threshold to account for the electric field contributions deriving from the compositional gradient and the applied bias voltage under front illumination (FI) and back illumination (BI). The simulations considering the modulation effects suggest that the detector exhibits better photoelectric response characteristics under FI and a higher saturation threshold for the BI case. The IF structure has the best current response at illumination intensities below 20 W/cm2, with the peak responsivity of the nonlinear model exceeding 2.8 A/W. The VF structure has the best current response at illumination intensities above 20 W/cm2 and exhibits the best saturation characteristics, with its saturation threshold consistently above 15 W/cm2, while the PF structure with nonlinear increasing (nInc) compositional gradient exhibits excellent linearity of response under conditions of high illumination intensity. The simulation methods help design and optimize the detectors with the physical understanding according to the specific requirements.

Abstract Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) represent an important class of cancer therapies that have revolutionized the treatment paradigm of solid tumors. To date, many ongoing studies of ADC combinations with a variety of anticancer drugs, encompassing chemotherapy, molecularly targeted agents, and immunotherapy, are being rigorously conducted in both preclinical studies and clinical trial settings. Nevertheless, combination therapy does not always guarantee a synergistic or additive effect and may entail overlapping toxicity risks. Therefore, understanding the current status and underlying mechanisms of ADC combination therapy is urgently required. This comprehensive review analyzes existing evidence concerning the additive or synergistic effect of ADCs with other classes of oncology medicines. Here, we discuss the biological mechanisms of different ADC combination therapy strategies, provide prominent examples, and assess their benefits and challenges. Finally, we discuss future opportunities for ADC combination therapy in clinical practice.

Abstract Background The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the predictive value of alterations in cervical artery hemodynamic parameters induced by a simulated end-inspiratory occlusion test (sEIOT) measured by ultrasound for predicting postinduction hypotension (PIH) during general anesthesia. Methods Patients undergoing gastrointestinal tumor resection under general anesthesia were selected for this study. Ultrasound has been utilized to assess hemodynamic parameters in carotid artery blood flow before induction, specifically focusing on variations in corrected flow time (ΔFTc) and peak blood flow velocity (ΔCDPV), both before and after sEIOT. Anesthesia was induced by midazolam, sufentanil, propofol, and rocuronium, and blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were recorded within the first 10 min following endotracheal intubation. PIH was defined as fall in systolic blood pressure (SBP) or mean arterial pressure (MAP) by > 30% of baseline or MAP to

The red-edge band is closely related to biochemical parameters that characterize the growth condition of green plants and is an important factor in monitoring vegetation health. Therefore, red-edge indices based on the red-edge band have been developed to measure vegetation health. However, due to the limited availability of satellites with a red-edge band, most existing red-edge indices were not developed based on satellite data. Fortunately, the launch of the GaoFen-6 (GF-6) satellite provides favorable conditions for monitoring vegetation health using satellite imagery, as it has two red-edge bands with a spatial resolution of 16 m. To investigate the effectiveness of the red-edge bands on the GF-6 satellite in monitoring forest health, this study selected six red-edge indices and conducted tests in Zhangjiajie region in Hunan Province, China and Hetian Basin in Fujian Province, China. The selected indices are the normalized difference red-edge index 1 (NDRE1), the modified chlorophyll absorption ratio index 2, the red-edge chlorophyll (CIred-edge), the inverted red-edge chlorophyll index, the red-edge position, and the Missouri emergency resource information system terrestrial chlorophyll index. The results showed that when applied to NDRE1 and CIred-edge, the red-edge bands of GF-6 can effectively distinguish forest health conditions, with a discrimination accuracy of 92.3% and 92.5%, respectively. However, the performance of the GF-6 red-edge bands with the other four indices yielded accuracy generally lower than 70%. Overall, the two red-edge bands added to the GF-6 satellite contribute to discerning forest health conditions, with NDRE1 and CIred-edge being the preferred red-edge indices.

Abstract Purpose There are limited and no standard therapies for recurrent glioblastoma. We herein report the antitumour activity and safety of sintilimab, bevacizumab and temozolomide (TMZ) in recurrent glioblastoma. Methods We retrospectively analysed eight patients with recurrent glioblastoma treated with sintilimab (200 mg) every three weeks + bevacizumab (10 mg/kg) every three weeks + TMZ (200 mg/m²orally) (5 days orally every 28 days for a total of four weeks). The primary objective was investigator-assessed median progression-free survival(mPFS). Secondary objectives were to assess the 6-month PFS, objective response rate (ORR) and duration of response (DOR) accroding to RANO criteria. Results The mPFS time for 8 patients was 3.340 months (95% CI: 2.217–4.463), The longest PFS was close to 9 months. Five patients were assessed to have achieved partial response (PR), with an overall remission rate of 62.5%, Four patients experienced a change in tumour volume at the best response time of greater than 60% shrinkage from baseline, and one patient remained progression free upon review, with a DOR of more than 6.57 months. The 6-month PFS was 25% (95% CI: 5.0–55.0%). Three patients had a treatment-related adverse events, though no grade 4 or 5 adverse events occurred. Conclusion In this small retrospective study, the combination regimen of sintilimab, bevacizumab and TMZ showed promising antitumour activity in treatment of recurrent glioblastoma, with a good objective remission rate.

Degradation of the mechanical properties of oil-immersed louver contacts is an important cause of exceeding the DC resistance on the valve side of extra-high voltage converter transformers. In this paper, the mapping relationship between force-deformation and force-contact resistance of oil-immersed louver contacts is measured and obtained by utilizing the performance test platform of oil-immersed louver contacts. Based on the stress-strain curves of the stainless steel of the strap under different temperature conditions, a mechanical simulation model of the oil-immersed louver contacts was established. Based on this model, the effects of the plastic deformation temperature of the louver contacts and the stainless steel keel structure on the heating power of the strap are investigated. The results show that the mechanical properties of the louver contacts decrease with the increase in temperature, and the permanent plastic deformation of the strap occurs when the operating temperature reaches 400 °C. Appropriately increasing the torsion angle and thickness of the stainless steel keel can slow down the local overheating of the louver contacts caused by eccentricity. The research results are helpful to understand the mechanism of local overheating failure of oil-immersed electric contact parts, and provide a reference for the design, fault analysis and further research of oil-immersed electric contact parts.

Abstract Objectives To systematically evaluate the efficacy of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) to prevent preeclampsia in high risk pregnant women without thrombophilia. Search strategy PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane library were searched for articles published before 1st August 2022 using the combination keywords “preeclampsia”, “Low Molecular Weight Heparin”, “LMWH”, “Heparin, Low Molecular Weight”, “Dalteparin”, “Nadroparin”, and “Tinzaparin”. Selection criteria: Randomized controlled trials evaluating the use of LMWH in pregnant women at high risk of preeclampsia without thrombophilia. Data collection and analysis Ten studies were included in the meta-analysis (1758 patients in total). Outcomes were expressed as relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results LMWH reduced the incidence of PE (RR = 0.67; 95% CI = 0.50–0.90; P = 0.009) in high risk pregnant women without thrombophilia. Subgroup analysis found that the prophylactic effect of LMWH was only significant in studies using low-dose aspirin (LDA) as the primary intervention. The combination of LMWH and LDA was also effective for the prevention of preterm birth and fetal growth restriction, but had no effect on the incidence of placenta abruption. Conclusion For women at high risk of developing preeclampsia without thrombophilia, the combination of LMWH and low-dose aspirin is effective for the prevention of preeclampsia, preterm birth and fetal growth restriction and is superior to LDA alone.

Abstract Background Our previous study revealed marked differences in tongue images between individuals with gastric cancer and those without gastric cancer. However, the biological mechanism of tongue images as a disease indicator remains unclear. Tongue coating, a major factor in tongue appearance, is the visible layer on the tongue dorsum that provides a vital environment for oral microorganisms. While oral microorganisms are associated with gastric and intestinal diseases, the comprehensive function profiles of oral microbiota remain incompletely understood. Metaproteomics has unique strength in revealing functional profiles of microbiota that aid in comprehending the mechanism behind specific tongue coating formation and its role as an indicator of gastric cancer. Methods We employed pressure cycling technology and data-independent acquisition (PCT-DIA) mass spectrometry to extract and identify tongue-coating proteins from 180 gastric cancer patients and 185 non-gastric cancer patients across 5 independent research centers in China. Additionally, we investigated the temporal stability of tongue-coating proteins based on a time-series cohort. Finally, we constructed a machine learning model using the stochastic gradient boosting algorithm to identify individuals at high risk of gastric cancer based on tongue-coating microbial proteins. Results We measured 1432 human-derived proteins and 13,780 microbial proteins from 345 tongue-coating samples. The abundance of tongue-coating proteins exhibited high temporal stability within an individual. Notably, we observed the downregulation of human keratins KRT2 and KRT9 on the tongue surface, as well as the downregulation of ABC transporter COG1136 in microbiota, in gastric cancer patients. This suggests a decline in the defense capacity of the lingual mucosa. Finally, we established a machine learning model that employs 50 microbial proteins of tongue coating to identify individuals at a high risk of gastric cancer, achieving an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.91 in the independent validation cohort. Conclusions We characterized the alterations in tongue-coating proteins among gastric cancer patients and constructed a gastric cancer screening model based on microbial-derived tongue-coating proteins. Tongue-coating proteins are shown as a promising indicator for identifying high-risk groups for gastric cancer. Video Abstract

ABSTRACT: The Shitou goose, the largest meat-type goose breed, is an ideal model for offering insights into enhancing meat production efficiency through understanding its genetic regulation of muscle development. Here, through whole-transcriptomic analysis of embryonic leg muscles, we identified 847 differentially expressed genes (DEG), 244 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DEL), 37 differentially expressed circRNAs (DEC), and 84 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEM). Gene ontology (GO) analysis highlighted the significant enrichment of differentially expressed RNAs in muscle structure development, actin filament-based processes, and the actin cytoskeleton pathway. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis identified pathways associated with the FoxO signaling pathway, AMPK signaling pathway, Wnt signaling pathway and calcium signaling pathway. Furthermore, we utilized Miranda, TargetScan, and miRDB to identify regulatory networks that involve interactions between lncRNA-mRNA, circRNA-mRNA, miRNA-mRNA, lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA, and circRNA-miRNA-mRNA, which regulated the growth and development of skeletal muscle. Notably, differentially expressed genes within the ceRNA network were most significantly enriched in the regulation of actin cytoskeletal organization. Additionally, a lncRNA/circRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA network related to muscle growth and development was constructed based on protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis and hub genes selection using Cytoscape. This further elucidated the regulatory roles of noncoding RNAs (ncRNA) in the formation of muscle fibers in Shitou goose. In summary, this study provides a valuable transcriptional regulatory network for goose muscle development laying the groundwork for further exploration of the molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying the excellent meat production performance of Shitou goose.

Aim: To investigate the characteristics of 4 Chinese patients with Bartter syndrome type 3 (BS Type 3). Methods: The clinical data, genetic analysis, and outcome of four cases with Bartter syndrome type 3 were retrospectively summarised. Results: Gene sequencing analysis showed that all children carried a compound heterozygous mutation in the CLCNKB gene and were diagnosed with BS type 3. All types of mutations were detected, including two missense mutations, one nonsense mutation, one small fragment deletion mutation, two large deletion mutations and one splice-site mutation. The splice-site mutation c.100 + 1 (IVS2) C > T was novel. Two cases carried large deletion mutations. The patients presented as classic BS with modest manifestations. The most common sign was growth retardation. There was no polyhydramnios or preterm delivery. All cases were treated with potassium chloride supplementation and indomethacin. During long-term follow-up, clinical symptoms and growth retardation improved significantly. Nephrocalcinosis or renal dysfunction was not observed. Conclusion: The clinical manifestations of BS type 3 are mostly presented as cBS. Growth retardation is a common sign. BS type 3 had a good long-term prognosis. There were various types of mutations in the CLCNKB gene. Large deletions were the most common.

Precise traffic prediction is crucial in the domain of intelligent transportation. However, the task of accurately predicting traffic has struggled to keep pace with escalating application demands. One of the main reasons for this difficulty is the neglect of the dependence of surrounding spatial data on traffic information. In this study, we introduce a novel framework that incorporates the surrounding spatial data from the road network into the analysis of existing sensor graphs. We delve into an innovative method for traffic prediction by employing a heterogeneous graph that integrates the surrounding spatial information from the road network. The method is based on the common observation that traffic conditions are closely associated with surrounding spatial information, which can be analyzed utilizing heterogeneous graphs. Consequently, we propose a new framework, the heterogeneous attentive spatial–temporal network (HASTN). This framework constructs a heterogeneous graph that merges road networks with surrounding geographic features and employs attention mechanisms to learn traffic patterns. Our method achieves promising results on public datasets as well as a dataset we proposed. Additionally, we employ spatial information to analyze the impact of road traffic patterns on attention. This research offers a fresh perspective on addressing traffic prediction problems by integrating spatial information.

Abstract Background Craniopharyngiomas are low‐grade malignancies (WHO I) in the sellar region. Most cases of childhood‐onset craniopharyngioma are adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma, and neurosurgery is the treatment of choice. Affected patients have postoperative complications, including water and electrolyte disturbances, because these malignancies develop near the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. Determining postoperative serum sodium fluctuation patterns in these patients can reduce postoperative mortality and improve prognosis. Objective To measure changes in serum sodium levels in pediatric patients who underwent craniopharyngioma surgery and identify influencing factors. Methods This retrospective study measured the serum sodium levels of 202 patients aged 0–18 years who underwent craniopharyngioma resection in Beijing Tiantan Hospital and Beijing Children's Hospital and identified predictors of severe hyponatremia and hypernatremia. Results The mean age of the cohort was 8.35 ± 4.35 years. The prevalence of hypernatremia, hyponatremia, and their severe forms (serum Na+ > 150 mmol/L and serum Na+

Abstract Mechanosensitive (MS) ion channels provide efficient molecular mechanism for transducing mechanical forces into intracellular ion fluxes in all kingdoms of life. The mechanosensitive channel of small conductance (MscS) was one of the best-studied MS channels and its homologs (MSL, MscS-like) were widely distributed in cell-walled organisms. However, the origin, evolution and expansion of MSL proteins in plants are still not clear. Here, we identified more than 2100 MSL proteins from 176 plants and conducted a broad-scale phylogenetic analysis. The phylogenetic tree showed that plant MSL proteins were divided into three groups (I, II and III) prior to the emergence of chlorophytae algae, consistent with their specific subcellular localization. MSL proteins were distributed unevenly into each of plant species, and four parallel expansion was identified in angiosperms. In Brassicaceae, most MSL duplicates were derived by whole-genome duplication (WGD)/segmental duplications. Finally, a hypothetical evolutionary model of MSL proteins in plants was proposed based on phylogeny. Our studies illustrate the evolutionary history of the MSL proteins and provide a guide for future functional diversity analyses of these proteins in plants.

Universal image restoration (UIR) aims to accurately restore images with a variety of unknown degradation types and levels. Existing methods, including both learning-based and prior-based approaches, heavily rely on low-quality image features. However, it is challenging to extract degradation information from diverse low-quality images, which limits model performance. Furthermore, UIR necessitates the recovery of images with diverse and complex types of degradation. Inaccurate estimations further decrease restoration performance, resulting in suboptimal recovery outcomes. To enhance UIR performance, a viable approach is to introduce additional priors. The current UIR methods have problems such as poor enhancement effect and low universality. To address this issue, we propose an effective framework based on a diffusion model (DM) for universal image restoration, dubbed ETDiffIR. Inspired by the remarkable performance of text prompts in the field of image generation, we employ text prompts to improve the restoration of degraded images. This framework utilizes a text prompt corresponding to the low-quality image to assist the diffusion model in restoring the image. Specifically, a novel text–image fusion block is proposed by combining the CLIP text encoder and the DA-CLIP image controller, which integrates text prompt encoding and degradation type encoding into time step encoding. Moreover, to reduce the computational cost of the denoising UNet in the diffusion model, we develop an efficient restoration U-shaped network (ERUNet) to achieve favorable noise prediction performance via depthwise convolution and pointwise convolution. We evaluate the proposed method on image dehazing, deraining, and denoising tasks. The experimental results indicate the superiority of our proposed algorithm.

The spatial shifts and vulnerability assessments of ecological niches for trees will offer fresh perspectives for sustainable development and preservation of forests, particularly within the framework of rapid climate change. Betula luminifera is a fast-growing native timber plantation species in China, but the natural resources have been severely damaged. Here, a comprehensive habitat suitability model (including ten niche-based GIS modeling algorithms) was developed that integrates three types of environmental factors, namely, climatic, soil, and ultraviolet variables, to assess the species contemporary and future distribution of suitable habitats across China. Our results suggest that the habitats of B. luminifera generally occur in subtropical areas (about 1.52 × 106 km2). However, the growth of B. luminifera is profoundly shaped by the nuances of its local environment, the most reasonable niche spaces are only 1.15 × 106 km2 when limiting ecological factors (soil and ultraviolet) are considered, generally considered as the core production region. Furthermore, it is anticipated that species-suitable habitats will decrease by 10 and 8% with climate change in the 2050s and 2070s, respectively. Our study provided a clear understanding of species-suitable habitat distribution and identified the reasons why other niche spaces are unsuitable in the future, which can warn against artificial cultivation and conservation planning.

Abstract Ectopia lentis is a hallmark of Marfan syndrome (MFS), a genetic connective tissue disorder affecting 1/5000 to 1/10 000 individuals worldwide. Early detection in ophthalmology clinics and timely intervention of cardiovascular complications can be lifesaving. In this study, a modified proteomics workflow with liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS)‐based data‐independent acquisition (DIA) and field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS) to profile the proteomes of aqueous humor (AH) and lens tissue from MFS children with ectopia lentis is utilized. Over 2300 and 2938 comparable proteins are identified in AH and the lens capsule, respectively. Functional enrichment analyses uncovered dysregulation of complement and coagulation‐related pathways, collagen binding, and cell adhesion in MFS. Through weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) and machine learning, distinct modules associated with clinical traits are constructed and a unique biomarker panel (Q14376, Q99972, P02760, Q07507; gene names: GALE, MYOC, AMBP, DPT) is defined. These biomarkers are further validated using advanced parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) in an independent patient cohort. The results provide novel insights into the proteome characterization of ectopia lentis and offer a promising approach for developing a valuable biomarker panel to aid in the early diagnosis of Marfan syndrome via AH proteome.

Introduction Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique that modulates brain states by applying a weak electrical current to the brain cortex. Several studies have shown that anodal stimulation of the ipsilesional primary motor cortex (M1) may promote motor recovery of the affected upper limb in patients with stroke; however, a high-level clinical recommendation cannot be drawn in view of inconsistent findings. A priming brain stimulation protocol has been proposed to induce stable modulatory effects, in which an inhibitory stimulation is applied prior to excitatory stimulation to a brain area. Our recent work showed that priming theta burst magnetic stimulation demonstrated superior effects in improving upper limb motor function and neurophysiological outcomes. However, it remains unknown whether pairing a session of cathodal tDCS with a session of anodal tDCS will also capitalise on its therapeutic effects.Methods and analysis This will be a two-arm double-blind randomised controlled trial involving 134 patients 1–6 months after stroke onset. Eligible participants will be randomly allocated to receive 10 sessions of priming tDCS+robotic training, or 10 sessions of non-priming tDCS+robotic training for 2 weeks. The primary outcome is the Fugl-Meyer Assessment-upper extremity, and the secondary outcomes are the Wolf Motor Function Test and Modified Barthel Index. The motor-evoked potentials, regional oxyhaemoglobin level and resting-state functional connectivity between the bilateral M1 will be acquired and analysed to investigate the effects of priming tDCS on neuroplasticity.Ethics and dissemination The study has been approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Shanghai Yangzhi Rehabilitation Center (reference number: Yangzhi2023-022) and will be conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki of 1964, as revised in 2013.Trial registration number ChiCTR2300074681.

Abstract Single‐atom catalysts (SACs) have gained substantial attention because of their exceptional catalytic properties. However, the high surface energy limits their synthesis, thus creating significant challenges for further development. In the last few years, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have received significant consideration as ideal candidates for synthesizing SACs due to their tailorable chemistry, tunable morphologies, high porosity, and chemical/thermal stability. From this perspective, this review thoroughly summarizes the previously reported methods and possible future approaches for constructing MOF‐based (MOF‐derived‐supported and MOF‐supported) SACs. Then, MOF‐based SAC's identification techniques are briefly assessed to understand their coordination environments, local electronic structures, spatial distributions, and catalytic/electrochemical reaction mechanisms. This review systematically highlights several photocatalytic and electrocatalytic applications of MOF‐based SACs for energy conversion and storage, including hydrogen evolution reactions, oxygen evolution reactions, O2/CO2/N2 reduction reactions, fuel cells, and rechargeable batteries. Some light is also shed on the future development of this highly exciting field by highlighting the advantages and limitations of MOF‐based SACs.

The purpose of this paper is to reveal the effects of porous structure and surface acid-base sites on CO2 adsorption for those nitrogen-doped activated carbons, which were prepared in a tube furnace with anaerobic conditions (TF) and muffle furnace with oxygen-poor conditions (MF), respectively. Subsequently, the porous structure and surface group distribution of the prepared activated carbons TF and MF were characterized in detail through those methods such as scanning electron microscope (SEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), Barret-Joyner-Halenda method (BJH), Horvath-Kawazoe method (HK), Dubinin-Radushkevich method (DR), mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), non-local density functional theory method (NLDFT), (in-situ) Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectra (RS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and temperature programmed desorption (TPD). Then the thermodynamic and kinetic characteristics of CO2 adsorption such as adsorption capacity, selectivity, and activation energy were systematically investigated based on the static volumetric method and dynamic adsorption method. The results showed that the anaerobic or oxygen-poor preparation atmosphere affected the micropore volume and surface functional group distribution of activated carbons. Thus the activated carbon TF exhibited a higher adsorption capacity of CO2 (7.9 mmol g−1, 100 kPa and 273 K) and longer dynamic breakthrough time due to the higher microporosity (Vmic/Vt = 90 %), while the activated carbon MF exhibited the higher selectivity (14.7, CO2/N2 molar ratio of 1:1) and adsorption rate due to the higher nitrogen and oxygen contents (11.23 %, 13.53 %) in the main forms such as pyrrole nitrogen (N-5), carbony, and carboxyl. Overall, CO2 adsorption on the activated carbons was verified to be a dominant physical adsorption and exothermic process, which was suitable to be described by a quasi-first-order dynamic model. Meanwhile, compared with TF, the activated carbon MF exhibited the higher activation energy of CO2 adsorption (12.98 kJ mol−1 for TF and 17.23 kJ mol−1 for MF), accompanied by the larger rate constants (k1) and diffusion coefficients (D). The higher activation energy for MF meant that the adsorption temperature had a stronger effect on the rate constant during CO2 adsorption.

Purpose: To investigated the biological effects of E156K-mutated αA-crystallin (CRYAA) in human lens epithelial cells (HLECs). Methods: FLAG-tagged, human, full-length, wild-type (WT), or E156K-mutated CRYAA was expressed in HLECs under CRYAA knockdown. CRYAA expression was determined by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blotting (WB). Rhodamine cytoskeleton staining was used to observe the changes in cell morphology following transfection with WT or E156K-mutated CRYAA plasmids. WB was performed to assess the expression of markers related to epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and migration. Results: Rhodamine cytoskeleton staining revealed changes in the morphology of cells transfected with E156K-mutated CRYAA and opposite responses occurred after treatment with a β-catenin inhibitor. Cells transfected with E156K-mutated CRYAA expressed remarkably higher levels of the mesenchymal biomarkers N-cadherin and vimentin but decreased levels of the epithelial biomarker E‐cadherin, whereas opposite trends were observed in cells treated with the β-catenin inhibitor, ICG001. The migratory capability of E156K-mutated CRYAA cells was significantly greater than that of WT cells (P

As a subclass of ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs), α-amino-3-hydroxyl-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors have been implicated in various neurological disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. To further our understanding of AMPA receptor-related disorders in the central nervous system (CNS), it is important to be able to image and quantify AMPA receptors in vivo. In this study, we identified a novel F-containing AMPA positive allosteric modulator (PAM) 6 as a potential lead compound. Molecular docking studies and CNS PET multi-parameter optimization (MPO) analysis were used to predict the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) characteristics of 6 as a PET probe. The resulting PET probe, [18F]6 (codename [18F]AMPA-2109), was successfully radiolabeled and demonstrated excellent blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability and high brain uptake in rodents and non-human primates. However, [18F]6 did not show substantial specific binding in the rodent or non-human primate brain. Further medicinal chemistry efforts are necessary to improve specific binding, and our work may serve as a starting point for the design of novel 18F-labeled AMPA receptor-targeted PET radioligands aimed for clinical translation.

Abstract Imidazoline‐2 binding sites (I2BS) exhibit specific expression in reactive astrocytes of the brain and are implicated in various pathophysiological processes, including analgesia, inflammation, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and glial tumors. However, the lack of available protein structural data poses a challenge in the exploration of I2BS functions and pharmacological characterizations, indicating the need for the discovery of selective ligands. As a non‐invasive and translational molecular imaging tool, positron emission tomography (PET) has found wide application in clinical diagnosis and drug discovery. Consequently, several PET ligands have been developed to “visualize” I2BS in the living brain, thereby elucidating the biological implications of I2BS and facilitating I2BS‐directed drug development. This review offers a comprehensive update on I2BS PET ligands, with a focus on their chemotypes and PET imaging outcomes. Furthermore, the review provides a summary of recent I2BS drug discoveries, which could serve as a catalyst for the development of more potent PET ligands.

Abstract Background Garden I femoral neck fractures are nondisplaced femoral neck fractures. Nonoperative treatment and in situ fixation are the preferred treatments. However, the postoperative outcome is not satisfactory and the incidence of complications remains high, which raises doubts about the accuracy of the diagnosis of nondisplaced Garden I fractures. Recently, three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction has been reported as a mature technology for reconstructing the bone structure of patients. We further extended this technique in the measurement of the fracture spatial displacement to verify the accuracy of Garden I femoral neck fractures. Methods This was a retrospective study of patients with Garden I femoral neck fractures from January 2013 to December 2018 at our institution, who were included according to specified criteria. A bilateral proximal femur model of each patient was established based on computed tomography (CT) data. The displacement of the deepest portion of the femoral head fovea, the displacement of the center of the femoral head and the rotation of the femoral head were measured in the bilateral model. Results A total of 102 patients diagnosed with Garden I fractures were included in this study. The cohort included 32 men and 70 women, with an average age of 55.88 ± 15.32 years. In these patients, the average displacement of the deepest portion of the femoral head fovea was 16.43 ± 7.69 mm. The minimum and maximum displacement was 3.58 and 44.32 mm, respectively. The average displacement of the center of the femoral head was 10.39 ± 5.47 mm and ranged from 2.16 to 34.42 mm. The rotational angle was 23.81 ± 10.15 ° and ranged from 3.71 ° to 61.19 °. Conclusions Garden I fractures have large spatial displacement and cannot be considered incomplete or nondisplaced fractures. Therefore, we suggest that anatomical reduction should be considered during treatment.

In recent decades, enhancing underwater images has become a crucial challenge when obtaining high-quality visual information in underwater environment detection, attracting increasing attention. Original underwater images are affected by a variety of underwater environmental factors and exhibit complex degradation phenomena such as low contrast, blurred details, and color distortion. However, most encoder-decoder-based methods fail to restore the details of underwater images due to information loss during downsampling. The noise in images also influences the recovery of underwater images with complex degradation. In order to address these challenges, this paper introduces a simple but effective denoising multiscale back-projection feature fusion network, which represents a novel approach to restoring underwater images with complex degradation. The proposed method incorporates a multiscale back-projection feature fusion mechanism and a denoising block to restore underwater images. Furthermore, we designed a multiple degradation knowledge distillation strategy to extend our method to enhance various types of degraded images, such as snowy images and hazy images. Extensive experiments on the standard datasets demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed method. Qualitative and quantitative analyses validate the effectiveness of the model compared to several state-of-the-art models. The proposed method outperforms previous deep learning models in recovering both the blur and color bias of underwater images.

The autonomous navigation system of feed-pushing robots is one of the key technologies for the intelligent breeding of dairy cows, and its accuracy has a significant influence on the quality of feed-pushing operations. Currently, the navigation methods of feed-pushing robots in the complex environment of cattle barns mainly include visual, LiDAR, and geomagnetic navigation, but there are still problems relating to low navigation accuracy. An autonomous navigation system based on ultra-wideband (UWB) positioning utilizing the dynamic forward-looking distance pure pursuit algorithm is proposed in this paper. First, six anchor nodes were arranged in the corners and central feeding aisle of a 30 × 86 m rectangular standard barn to form a rectangular positioning area. Then, utilizing the 9ITL-650 feed-pushing robot as a platform and integrating UWB wireless positioning technology, a global coordinate system for the cattle barn was established, and the expected path was planned. Finally, the pure pursuit model was improved based on the robot’s two-wheel differential kinematics model, and a dynamic forward-looking distance pure pursuit controller based on PID regulation was designed to construct a comprehensive autonomous navigation control system. Subsequently, field experiments were conducted in the cattle barn. The experimental results show that the static positioning accuracy of the UWB system for the feed-pushing robot was less than 16 cm under no-line-of-sight conditions in the cattle barn. At low speeds, the robot was subjected to linear tracking comparative experiments with forward-looking distances of 50, 100, 150, and 200 cm. The minimum upper-line distance of the dynamic forward-looking distance model was 205.43 cm. In the steady-state phase, the average lateral deviation was 3.31 cm, with an average standard deviation of 2.58 cm and the average root mean square error (RMSE) of 4.22 cm. Compared with the fixed forward-looking distance model, the average lateral deviation, the standard deviation, and the RMSE were reduced by 42.83%, 37.07%, and 42.90%, respectively. The autonomous navigation experiments conducted on the feed-pushing robot at travel speeds of 6, 8, and 10 m/min demonstrated that the maximum average lateral deviation was 7.58 cm, the maximum standard deviation was 8.22 cm, and the maximum RMSE was 11.07 cm, meeting the autonomous navigation requirements for feed-pushing operations in complex barn environments. This study provides support for achieving high-precision autonomous navigation control technology in complex environments.

Due to the capability of multiplexing thousands of sensors on a single optical cable, ultra-weak fiber Bragg grating (UWFBG) vibration sensing technology has been utilized in monitoring the vibration response of large-scale infrastructures, particularly urban railway tracks, and the volume of the collected monitoring data can be huge with the great number of sensors. Even though the train-induced vibration responses of urban railway tracks constitute the most informative and crucial component, they comprised less than 7% of the total operational period. This is mainly attributed to the temporal sparsity of commuting trains. Consequently, the majority of the stored data consisted of low-informative environmental noise and interference excitation data, leading to an inefficient structural health monitoring (SHM) system. To address this issue, this paper introduced an adaptive monitoring strategy for railway track structures, which is capable of identifying train-load patterns by leveraging deep learning techniques. Inspired by image semantic segmentation, a U-net model with one-dimensional convolution layers (U-net-1D) was developed for the pointwise classification of vibration monitoring data. The proposed model was trained and validated using a dataset obtained from an actual urban railway track in China. Results indicated that the proposed method outperforms the traditional dual-threshold method, achieving an Intersection over Union (IoU) of 94.27% on the segmentation task of the test dataset.

Fly ash was utilized as raw material for the preparation of spherical SiO2 (SS), which was subsequently ammonified using APTES (H2NCH2CH2CH2Si(OC2H5)3) to obtain aminated spherical SiO2 (SSN). The physicochemical properties of SS and SSN were systematically characterized. Notably, SS exhibited a remarkable specific surface area and pore volume, enabling it to accommodate abundant nitrogen-containing groups. These functional groups served as crucial active sorption sites, significantly enhancing the sorption capacity of SiO2 for Pb2+ and Cu2+ ions. Thus, the removal efficiency was above 99.9% when using dosages of 4 and 6 g/L SSN in solutions containing 200 mg/L of Pb2+ and Cu2+, respectively. Additionally, SSN showed a higher theoretical maximum sorption capacity for Pb2+ and Cu2+ ions, as determined by the Langmuir isotherm model, with values of 185.2 mg/g and 86.2 mg/g, respectively. These results surpass those reported in previous studies on adsorbents derived from fly ash. The chemical reactions that occurred between the aqueous cations and nitrogen-containing groups were identified as the pivotal factors governing the sorption of Pb2+ and Cu2+. This study presents a practical approach to fly ash utilization, along with the effective removal of Pb2+ and Cu2+ from water.

This study focuses on constructions that are vulnerable to fire hazards during wildfire events, and these constructions are known as ‘exposures’, which are an increasingly significant area of disaster research. A key challenge lies in estimating dynamically and comprehensively the risk that individuals are exposed to during wildfire spread. Here, ‘exposure risk’ denotes the potential threat to exposed constructions from fires within a future timeframe. This paper introduces a novel method that integrates a spatiotemporal knowledge graph with wildfire spread data and an exposure risk analysis model to address this issue. This approach enables the semantic integration of varied and heterogeneous spatiotemporal data, capturing the dynamic nature of wildfire propagation for precise risk analysis. Empirical tests are employed for the study area of Xichang, Sichuan Province, using real-world data to validate the method’s efficacy in merging multiple data sources and enhancing the accuracy of exposure risk analysis. Notably, this approach also reduces the time complexity from O (m×n×p) to O (m×n).

Cobalt complexes have previously been reported to exhibit high faradaic efficiency in reducing CO2 to CO. Herein, we synthesized capsule-like cobalt–polypyridine diamine complexes [Co(L1)](BF4)2 (1) and [Co(L2) (CH3CN)](BF4)2 (2) as catalysts for the electrocatalytic reduction of CO2. Under catalytic conditions, complexes 1 and 2 demonstrated the electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 to CO in the presence or absence of CH3OH as a proton source. Experimental and computational studies revealed that complexes 1 and 2 undergo two consecutive reversible one-electron reductions on the cobalt core, followed by the addition of CO2 to form a metallocarboxylate intermediate [CoII(L)–CO22−]0. This crucial reaction intermediate, which governs the catalytic cycle, was successfully detected using high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). In situ Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) analysis showed that methanol can enhance the rate of carbon–oxygen bond cleavage of the metallocarboxylate intermediate. DFT studies on [CoII(L)–CO22−]0 have suggested that the doubly reduced species attacks CO2 on the C atom through the dz2 orbital, while the interaction with CO2 is further stabilized by the π interaction between the metal dxz or dxz orbital with p orbitals on the O atoms. Further reductions generate a metal carbonyl intermediate [CoI(L)–CO]+, which ultimately releases CO.

Automatic and accurate detection of clouds and cloud shadows is a critical aspect of optical remote sensing image preprocessing. This paper provides a time series maximum and minimum mask method (TSMM) for cloud and cloud shadow detection. Firstly, the Cloud Score+S2_HARMONIZED (CS+S2) is employed as a preliminary mask for clouds and cloud shadows. Secondly, we calculate the ratio of the maximum and sub-maximum values of the blue band in the time series, as well as the ratio of the minimum and sub-minimum values of the near-infrared band in the time series, to eliminate noise from the time series data. Finally, the maximum value of the clear blue band and the minimum value of the near-infrared band after noise removal are employed for cloud and cloud shadow detection, respectively. A national and a global dataset were used to validate the TSMM, and it was quantitatively compared against five other advanced methods or products. When clouds and cloud shadows are detected simultaneously, in the S2ccs dataset, the overall accuracy (OA) reaches 0.93 and the F1 score reaches 0.85. Compared with the most advanced CS+S2, there are increases of 3% and 9%, respectively. In the CloudSEN12 dataset, compared with CS+S2, the producer’s accuracy (PA) and F1 score show increases of 10% and 4%, respectively. Additionally, when applied to Landsat-8 images, TSMM outperforms Fmask, demonstrating its strong generalization capability.

To aid cocrystal screening, a deep forest-based cocrystal prediction model was developed in this study using data from the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD). The positive samples in the experiment came from the CSD. The negative samples were partly from the failure records in other papers, and some were randomly generated according to specific rules, resulting in a total of 8576 pairs. Compared with the models of traditional machine learning methods and simple deep neural networks models, the deep forest model has better performance and faster training speed. The accuracy is about 95% on the test set. Febuxostat cocrystal screening was also tested to verify the validity of the model. Our model correctly predicted the formation of cocrystal. It shows that our model is practically useful in practice.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common chronic hepatic condition whose impact on human health is increasingly significant. The imbalance of the gut microbiome, linked to insulin resistance, heightened intestinal permeability, and pro-inflammatory reactions, may be the linchpin in the development of NAFLD. In our research, the impact of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ZDY2013 administration for 12 weeks on gut microbiota dysbiosis induced by a high-fat, high-fructose, high-cholesterol (FHHC) diet in male C57BL/6n mice was investigated. Research results presented that the intervention of L. plantarum ZDY2013 in mice fed with the FHHC diet could restore their liver function and regulate oxidative stress. Compared to mice in the model group, the intervention of L. plantarum ZDY2013 significantly regulated the gut microbiota, inhibited the LPS/NF-κB pathway, and led to a lower level of colonic inflammation in the mice administered with L. plantarum ZDY2013. It also improved insulin resistance to regulate the PI3K/Akt pathway and lipid metabolism, thereby resulting in reduced fat accumulation in the liver. The above results suggest that the intervention of L. plantarum ZDY2013 can hinder the progression of diet-induced NAFLD by reducing inflammation to regulate the PI3K/Akt pathway and regulating gut microbiota disturbance.

Tomato is the vegetable with the largest greenhouse area in China, and low temperature is one of the main factors affecting tomato growth, yield, and quality. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) plays an important role in regulating plant chilling tolerance, but its downstream cascade reaction and mechanism remain unclear. Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK/MPKs) are closely related to a variety of signaling substances in stress signal transmission. However, whether H2S is related to the MPK cascade pathway in response to low-temperature stress is rarely reported. In this study, NaHS treatment significantly decreased the electrolyte leakage (EL), superoxide anion (O2−) production rate, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content of seedlings at low temperatures. In addition, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) were obviously increased; and the photochemical efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) was enhanced with treatment with NaHS, indicating that NaHS improved the seedlings’ cold tolerance by alleviating the degree of membrane lipid peroxidation and oxidative damage. However, H2S scavenger hypotaurine (HT) treatment showed the opposite effect. We found that H2S content, L-cysteine desulfhydrase (LCD) activity, and mRNA expression were increased by chilling stress but reduced by MPK inhibitor PD98059; PD98059 reversed the alleviating effect of H2S via increasing the EL and H2O2 contents. The expression levels of MPK1–MPK7 at low temperatures showed that SlMPK4 was significantly induced by exogenous NaHS and showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing, while the expression level of SlMPK4 in HT-treated seedlings was lower than that of the control. After SlMPK4 was silenced by virus-induced gene silencing, the H2S-induced upregulation of C-repeat-Binding Factor (CBF1), inducer of CBF expression 1 (ICE1), respiratory burst oxidase homologs (RBOH1, RBOH2) at low temperatures disappeared, and tomato cold tolerance decreased. In conclusion, H2S improves the cold tolerance of tomato plants by increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes and reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and membrane lipid peroxidation. MPK4 may act as a downstream signaling molecule in this process.

This study focuses on exploring the effects of niobium (Nb)-microalloying on the properties of steel for ultra-high-strength bridge cables during hot-rolling processes. We employed a combination of dual-pass compression tests, stress–strain curve analysis, and Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) techniques to investigate the influence of Nb-microalloying on the static recrystallization behavior and grain size of the steel. The key findings reveal that Nb-microalloying effectively inhibits static recrystallization, particularly at higher temperatures, significantly reducing the volume fraction of recrystallized grains, resulting in a finer grain size and enhanced deformation resistance. Secondly, at a deformation temperature of 975 °C, Nb-containing steel exhibited finer grain sizes compared to Nb-free steel when held for 10 to 50 s; however, the grain size growth accelerated when the hold time exceeded 50 s, likely linked to the increased deformation resistance induced by Nb. Lastly, this research proposes optimal hot-rolling process parameters for new bridge cable steel, recommending specific finishing rolling temperatures and inter-pass times for both Nb-containing and Nb-free steels during the roughing and finishing stages. This study suggests optimal hot-rolling parameters for both Nb-containing and Nb-free steels, providing essential insights for improving hot-rolling and microalloying processes in high-carbon steels for bridge cables.