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Abstract Background Animal and human health are seriously threatened by bacterial infections, which can lead to bacteremia and extremely high rates of morbidity and mortality. Recently, there have been reports indicating the involvement of exosomal circular RNAs (circRNAs) in a range of human disorders and tumor types. However, the role of exosomal circRNAs in bacterial infection remains elusive. Methods We extracted and identified exosomes from the culture medium of PIEC cells infected with or without Glaesserella parasuis. RNA sequencing analysis was performed on the exosomes to screen and identify circRNAs (circHIF1α) associated with Glaesserella parasuis infection. PIEC cells were infected with Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus suis 2 to further determine whether exosome-derived circHIF1α was the crucial circHIF1α associated with bacterial infections. The transmission process of exosomes and their circHIF1α between cells was clarified via exosome tracing and co-culture assay. Moreover, the mechanism of circHIF1α being packaged into exosomes was explored, and the effects of exosomes and their circHIF1α on cell proliferation, DNA damage and cell cycle were analyzed. In addition, the binding mode and site of interacting proteins with circHIF1α were further determined. In vivo and in vitro, the role of exosomes and their circHIF1α in host resistance to bacterial infection was confirmed. Results We first discovered a new circHIF1α that was very stable and detectable, encapsulated into exosomes by hnRNPA2B1, and whose expression in exosomes of bacterially infected PIEC cells significantly decreased. Additionally, exosomal circHIF1α reduced bacterial infection both in vitro and in vivo and suppressed the growth of reception cells. Mechanistically, the circHIF1α interacted with the KH domain of IGF2BP3 in an m6A-modified manner, which mediated DNA damage to arrest the cells at the G1/S phase through the interaction between the regulator of Chromosome Condensation 2 (RCC2) and γ-H2AX protein. Exosomal circHIF1α is a unique therapeutic target for bacterial infection since this work highlights its critical function in fighting bacterial infection.

To improve the physicochemical properties and processing performance of black wheat flour dough, the effects of adding Glucose oxidase (GOD) on the gelatinization, thermomechanics dough tensile, rheology properties, and microstructure of black wheat flour were investigated using a rapid viscosity analyzer, a texture analyzer, and a scanning electron microscope, among other methods. The effects were also explained in terms of changes in protein fractions. The results showed that the moderate addition of GOD could significantly reduce the content of free sulfhydryl groups and increase the content of disulfide bonds in the dough of black wheat flour, thereby enhancing the degree of protein cross-linking and significantly improving the physicochemical properties of black wheat flour dough. The best improvement in dough structure and properties was achieved when the GOD addition was 0.8%, at which point the ratio of wheat alcohol-soluble protein to wheat gluten (0.81) was close to the optimal ratio (1.0). This study has provided a certain reference for the development of black wheat-based foods and the improvement of their edible quality.

Conventional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) instruments are large and difficult to carry, which limits their application in fields such as on-site petroleum exploration, food safety, environmental pollution, and quality control. To address this issue, this paper proposes a design of a handheld NMR console. By utilizing an advanced RISC machine (ARM) core construction, field programmable gate array (FPGA) logic design and control program design on a programmable system-on-chip Zynq-7000, the entire handheld NMR console was designed and implemented. After completing the entire design, several basic pulse sequences, including free induction decay (FID), spin echo (SE), and Carr-Purcel1-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG), were tested on a 0.5 T desktop NMR system developed by our research group. The tests validated the correctness of the overall architecture design and the coordination among various modules. The designed NMR console is 10.6 cm long, 6.0 cm wide, and 1.9 cm high, which significantly reduces the size while enhancing the real-time performance of pulse sequence and improving the stability of the console, laying a foundation for further development of portable NMR instruments.

[Objective] Water scarcity has become a major constraint to the development of grassland regions. From the perspective of herders, exploring the value of grassland water resources and attempting to establish a feasible pricing scheme for irrigation services is of great significance in promoting the realization of the value of grassland water resources. [Methods] Using survey data from pastoral areas of Inner Mongolia in 2021, this study employed the choice experiment method to simulate irrigation services, applied the random parameters logit regression model to analyze and estimate the value of grassland water resources, and conducted a cost-benefit analysis. [Results] (1) From the herders’ perspective, the value of water resources reaches 0.130 Yuan/m3 in the desert grassland areas, 1.366 Yuan/m3 in the typical grassland areas, and around 0.640 Yuan/m3 in the meadow grassland areas; (2) Herders are willing to pay for grassland irrigation services to improve their water scarce situation. They have differential preferences for different service providers and demonstrate a stronger preference for irrigation services provided by the government and agricultural enterprises compared to village committees. The increase in irrigation frequency can significantly improve herders’ well-being. Heterogeneity analysis indicated that herders with smaller land management area are more inclined to purchase paid irrigation services and prefer higher frequency irrigation services; (3) The fee scheme for grassland irrigation services and the results of cost-benefit analysis indicate that the cost of providing grassland irrigation services is much lower than the subjective benefits obtained by herders. (4) Taking the provision of artificial rainmaking technology as an example, herders in Inner Mongolia can obtain an annual consumer surplus of approximately 1.031 billion Yuan by purchasing irrigation services. [Conclusion] Different types of grasslands significantly influence the value of water resources. Furthermore, herders have a real demand for paid irrigation services to reduce the scarcity of grassland water resources, increasing the frequency of irrigation can enhance herders’ utility, and the government and agricultural enterprises play an important role in providing irrigation services. Finally, providing irrigation services is economically viable, and the value of grassland water resources can be realized through the provision of paid grassland irrigation services.

Objective: To obtain a lightweight Mini-Alexnet banana ripeness grading model and apply it to Android mobile devices. Methods: Based on the external characteristics of bananas with different ripeness, the Alexnet network model was restructured, part of the convolutional layer was deleted, and the global average pooling was used instead of the full connection layer to reduce the model parameters and required memory. A larger convolutional kernel was replaced to extract the global characteristics of the banana skin to achieve an improved lightweight Mini-Alexnet network model. Then the Mini-Alexnet network model was deployed as Android mobile APP, and its feasibility and practicability were verified. Results: The Mini-Alexnet model was only 11.6 MB, and the identification accuracy rate of banana ripeness level 5 was 97.76%. The accuracy rate of local picture recognition mode, photo recognition mode and real-time recognition mode of the mobile APP banana ripeness automatic identification system was 86.66%, 79.33% and 74.00%, respectively, with an average accuracy rate of 80%. Conclusion: The improved Mini-Alexnet model occupies less memory space.

Objective: To elucidate the biological basis of the heart qi deficiency (HQD) pattern, an in-depth understanding of which is essential for improving clinical herbal therapy. Methods: We predicted and characterized HQD pattern genes using the new strategy, TCM-HIN2Vec, which involves heterogeneous network embedding and transcriptomic experiments. First, a heterogeneous network of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) patterns was constructed using public databases. Next, we predicted HQD pattern genes using a heterogeneous network-embedding algorithm. We then analyzed the functional characteristics of HQD pattern genes using gene enrichment analysis and examined gene expression levels using RNA-seq. Finally, we identified TCM herbs that demonstrated enriched interactions with HQD pattern genes via herbal enrichment analysis. Results: Our TCM-HIN2Vec strategy revealed that candidate genes associated with HQD pattern were significantly enriched in energy metabolism, signal transduction pathways, and immune processes. Moreover, we found that these candidate genes were significantly differentially expressed in the transcriptional profile of mice model with heart failure with a qi deficiency pattern. Furthermore, herbal enrichment analysis identified TCM herbs that demonstrated enriched interactions with the top 10 candidate genes and could potentially serve as drug candidates for treating HQD. Conclusion: Our results suggested that TCM-HIN2Vec is capable of not only accurately identifying HQD pattern genes, but also deciphering the basis of HQD pattern. Furthermore our finding indicated that TCM-HIN2Vec may be further expanded to develop other patterns, leading to a new approach aimed at elucidating general TCM patterns and developing precision medicine.

Stimulator of interferon genes (STING) has recently been found to play a crucial role in cardiac sterile inflammation and dysfunction. The role of stimulator of interferon genes (STING) in cardiac sterile inflammation and dysfunction has been recently discovered. This study aims to examine the involvement of STING in pathological cardiac remodeling and the mechanisms that govern the activation of the STING pathway. To investigate this, transverse aortic constriction (TAC) was performed on STING knockout mice to induce pressure overload-induced cardiac remodeling. Subsequently, cardiac function, remodeling, and inflammation levels were evaluated. The STING pathway was found to be activated in the pressure overload-stressed heart and angiotensin II (Ang II)-stimulated cardiac fibroblasts. Loss of STING expression led to a significant reduction in inflammatory responses, mitochondrial fragmentation, and oxidative stress in the heart, resulting in attenuated cardiac remodeling and dysfunction. Furthermore, the exacerbation of pressure overload-induced STING-mediated inflammation and pathological cardiac remodeling was observed when mitophagy was suppressed through the silencing of Parkin, an E3 ubiquitin ligase. Taken together, these findings indicate that STING represents a newly identified and significant molecule implicated in the process of pathological cardiac remodeling and that mitophagy is an upstream mechanism that regulates STING activation. Targeting STING may therefore provide a novel therapeutic strategy for pathological cardiac remodeling and heart failure.

Abstract The flowering time and plant architecture of Brassica napus were significantly associated with yield. In this study, we found that the BREVIPEDICELLUS/KNAT1(BP) gene regulated the flowering time and plant architecture of B. napus. However, the precise regulatory mechanism remains unclear. We cloned two homologous BP genes, BnaBPA03 and BnaBPC03, from B. napus Xiaoyun. The protein sequence analysis showed two proteins containing conserved domains KNOX I, KNOX II, ELK, and HOX of the KONX protein family. The CRISPR/Cas9 knockout lines exhibited early budding and flowering time, coupled with floral organ abscission earlier and a larger leaf angle. On the contrary, overexpression plants displayed a phenotype that was the inverse of these characteristics. Furthermore, we observed upregulation of gibberellin and ethylene biosynthesis genes, as well as floral integrator genes in knocked‐out plants. The results revealed that BnaBPs play a role in flowering time, floral organ abscission, and leaf angle as well as germination processes mediated. Additionally, BnaBPs exerted an impact on the biosynthesis pathways of ethylene and GA.

In the context of the “dual carbon” goals， photovoltaic energy storage charging stations （PSCSs） are gradually emerging as the mainstream form of electric vehicle （EV） charging stations. To address the uncertainty associated with photovoltaic （PV） generation and user charging behavior， while ensuring the profitability of PSCSs， the paper proposes a method for optimal allocation of energy storage capacity for PSCSs that takes account of EV user behavior and PV uncertainty. Firstly， an improved K-means algorithm is employed to cluster PV output data， establishing typical PV output scenarios and their rules of probability distribution. Secondly， the charging behavior characteristics of EVs are analyzed， incorporating the impact of environmental temperature variations on EV power consumption to develop an EV charging load model. Lastly， considering demand response， an economic operational model is formulated with the objective functions including purchasing cost， carbon emission cost， and electricity sales revenue. Case study results demonstrate that incorporating PV output uncertainty and demand response during energy storage capacity configuration of PSCSs can reduce carbon emissions and ensure the economic viability of PSCSs.

Since 2017, human encephalitis caused by pseudorabies virus (PRV) has been reported in 28 cases in China. The clinical symptoms include fever, headache, seizures, focal neurological loss, disturbance of consciousness, etc.. This disease has the high disability rate and fatality rate. PRV is mainly transmitted through close contact with infected pigs or their excrement, or spread via blood-borne. Patients are mostly practitioners in the live pig industry chain. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical to the prognosis of patients. Therefore, this article reviews the progress on diagnosis and treatment of human encephalitis caused by PRV, in order to improve the clinical diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

Abstract Gastric cancer (GC) contains subpopulations of cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are described as the main contributors in tumor initiation and metastasis. It is necessary to clarify the molecular mechanism underlying CSCs phenotype and develop novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets for gastric cancer. Here, we show that POLQ positively regulates stem cell-like characteristics of gastric cancer cells, knockdown of POLQ suppressed the stemness of GC cells in vitro and in vivo. Further mechanistic studies revealed that POLQ knockdown could downregulate the expression of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH). DHODH overexpression rescued the reduced stemness resulted by POLQ knockdown. Furthermore, we found that POLQ expression correlated with resistance to ferroptosis, and POLQ inhibition renders gastric cancer cells more vulnerable to ferroptosis. Further investigation revealed that POLQ regulated DHODH expression via the transcription factors E2F4, thereby regulating ferroptosis resistance and stemness of gastric cancer cells. Given the importance of POLQ in stemness and ferroptosis resistance of GC, we further evaluated the therapeutic potential of POLQ inhibitor novobiocin, the results show that novobiocin attenuates the stemness of GC cells and increased ferroptosis sensitivity. Moreover, the combination of POLQ inhibitor and ferroptosis inducer synergistically suppressed MGC-803 xenograft tumor growth and diminished metastasis. Our results identify a POLQ-mediated stemness and ferroptosis defense mechanism and provide a new therapeutic strategy for gastric cancer.

Cereal foods are the primary source of daily energy, protein, and dietary fiber intake for humans. With the continuous improvement of people's living standards, cereal foods' nutritional value, safety, and food quality have attracted much attention. Cereal metabonomics, as a new and rapidly developing branch of "metabonomics", has made rapid progress in quantifying and analyzing various metabolites. This article reviews the analysis process of metabolomics technology, and its application in the detection of component identification, the identification of flavor substances, the traceability of origin, and the product of new developments in cereal foods, and the development trend of metabonomics in cereal food field has prospected, to provide a reference for the in-depth development and application of cereal foods.

Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs), a key electrophysiological technique, is extensively utilized for the clinical evaluation of vestibular function. Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) often have vestibular dysfunction, with VEMPs abnormalities being the most common. Based on the brief introduction of VEMPs technique, this review summarizes the features of VEMPs abnormalities, its association with clinical phenotype and underlying pathophysiological basis in patients with PD, so as to provide guidance for clinical research and practical application.

To understand the cause for the increasing water absorption rate of wheat shorts after cold plasma treatment, a dynamic moisture adsorption instrument was used to measure the moisture sorption isotherms of samples treated with 120 W low-pressure strong radio frequency helium or oxygen CP for different times. The result was that the Caurie equation can fit an isotherm, and its coefficient C0 gived the density of water adsorbed by the sample. For adsorbed or desorbed samples, as the helium or oxygen CP treatment time at the same power increased, there was no difference in the density of adsorbed water, and the coefficient M0 gived the adsorbed water content of the monomolecular layer of the sample. For adsorbed or desorbed samples, as the helium CP treatment time at the same power increased, the water content of the monomolecular layer increased significantly. For samples treated with oxygen plasma, the content of the adsorbed monomolecular layer water first decreased and then increased as the treatment time increased, while the desorbed single-molecule water content showed a decreasing trend with the increased time. In order to improve the fitting of the Caurie equation, M0 was corrected to A+Bt (t was the temperature, A and B were constants). Analysis of the coefficients of the modified Caurie equation showed that as the 120 W helium CP treatment time (0~180 s) increased, the monomolecular layer of water, the number of adsorbed water molecule layers, the bound water content, and the water adsorption surface area all showed a continuous increase trend. For oxygen CP, these indicators showed an increasing trend in the first 60 s of processing, and then showed a decreasing trend if the processing time was extended. The results showed that compared with oxygen-cold plasma, high-energy helium-cold plasma improved the hydrophilicity of wheat shorts proteins and polysaccharides. As the treatment time increased, the surface area and number of layers of water adsorbed by these macromolecules and the monomolecular layer, and the bound water content steadily continued to increase.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is one of the most economically devastating infectious diseases of pigs globally. The pathogen, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), is an enveloped positive-stranded RNA virus, which is considered to be the key triggers for the activation of effective innate immunity through pattern recognition receptor (PRR)-dependent signaling pathways. Toll-like receptors (TLRs), RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs), C-type lectin receptors (CLRs), NOD-like receptors (NLRs) and Cytoplasmic DNA receptors (CDRs) are used as PRRs to identify distinct but overlapping microbial components. The innate immune system has evolved to recognize RNA or DNA molecules from microbes through pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and to induce defense response against infections, including the production of type I interferon (IFN-I) and inflammatory cytokines. However, PRRSV is capable of continuous evolution through gene mutation and recombination to evade host immune defenses and exploit host cell mechanisms to synthesize and transport its components, thereby facilitating successful infection and replication. This review presents the research progress made in recent years in the study of these PRRs and their associated adapters during PRRSV infection.

Abstract Magnetosonic (MS) waves with frequencies above the proton gyrofrequency can be locally generated by ring‐beam protons in the Martian heavy ion‐rich ionosphere. In this study, we conduct a parametric analysis to investigate the effects of heavy ion concentrations, energy (Erb), and angle (αrb) of ring‐beam protons, and wave normal angle on the excitation features of Martian ionospheric MS waves. We find the growth rates and frequency range of MS waves decrease by including O+ and O2+ ions but are insensitive to their relative concentrations. With increasing Erb or αrb, the growth rates of MS waves show a general dropping tendency. Meanwhile, their frequency and wavenumber range are almost unaffected by increasing Erb but shrink to a narrower range mainly distributed in high frequencies by increasing αrb. Unstable MS waves expand to a wider wavenumber range but shrink to a narrower frequency range as they become more oblique.

With the discovery of evidence that many endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the environment influence human health, their toxic effects and mechanisms have become a hot topic of research. However, investigations into their endocrine-disrupting toxicity under combined binary exposure, especially the molecular mechanism of combined effects, have rarely been documented. In this study, two typical EDCs, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and 4-hydroxybenzophenone (4-HBP), were selected to examine their combined effects and molecular mechanism on MCF-7 cell proliferation at environmentally relevant exposure concentrations. We have successfully established a model to evaluate the binary combined toxic effects of endocrine disruptors, presenting combined effects in a simple and direct way. Results indicated that the combined effect changed from additive to synergistic from 1.25 × 10−8 M to 4 × 10−7 M. Metabolomics analyses suggested that exposure to PFOA and 4-HBP caused significant alterations in purine metabolism, arginine, and proline metabolism and had superimposed influences on metabolism. Enhanced combined effects were observed in glycine, serine, and threonine metabolic pathways compared to exposure to PFOS and 4-HBP alone. Additionally, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) are primarily involved in Biological Processes, especially protein targeting the endoplasmic reticulum, and significantly impact the oxidative phosphorylation and thermogenesis-related KEGG pathway. By integrating metabolome and transcriptome analyses, PFOA and 4-HBP regulate purine metabolism, the TCA cycle, and endoplasmic reticulum protein synthesis in MCF-7 cells via mTORC1, which provides genetic material, protein, and energy for cell proliferation. Furthermore, molecular docking confirmed the ability of PFOA and 4-HBP to stably bind the estrogen receptor, indicating that they have different binding pockets. Collectively, these findings will offer new insights into understanding the mechanisms by which EDCs produce combined toxicity.

Abstract Background Epigenetic alterations contribute greatly to the development and progression of colorectal cancer, and effect of aberrant miR-622 expression is still controversial. This study aimed to discover miR-622 regulation in CRC proliferation. Methods miR-622 expression and prognosis were analyzed in clinical CRC samples from Nanfang Hospital. miR-622 regulation on cell cycle and tumor proliferation was discovered, and FOLR2 was screened as functional target of miR-622 using bioinformatics analysis, which was validated via dual luciferase assay and gain-of-function and loss-of-function experiments both in vitro and in vivo. Results miR-622 overexpression in CRC indicated unfavorable prognosis and it regulated cell cycle to promote tumor growth both in vitro and in vivo. FOLR2 is a specific, functional target of miR-622, which negatively correlates with signature genes in cell cycle process to promote CRC proliferation. Conclusions miR-622 upregulates cell cycle process by targeting FOLR2 to promote CRC proliferation, proposing a novel mechanism and treatment target in CRC epigenetic regulation of miR-622.

ObjectiveTo investigate the high-risk detection rate and aggregation of cardiovascular diseases（CVD） in 8 districts of Shanghai and influencing factors， and to provide scientific references for prevention and control of CVD.MethodsBased on the Cardiovascular Disease Screening and Management Program in Shanghai from 2016 to 2021， 104 685 participants aged 35 to 75 in 8 districts of Shanghai were selected for analysis. χ2 test and multivariate logistic regression were used for statistical analysis of the influencing factors of CVD and aggregation of CVD.ResultsThe proportion of high-risk CVD individuals in the population was 19.17%， including the high-risk individuals with hypertension （8.65%）， dyslipidemia （6.33%）， CVD history （5.58%）， and WHO assessed risk ≥20% types （2.69%）， respectively. Old age， overweight and obesity， central obesity， smoking， drinking， farmers， unmarried， and low family income were the risk factors of CVD， while high education level was the protective factor. In the participants， 16 323 people （81.34%） were classified as CVD high-risk groups； The number of aggregation of 1， 2 and ≥3 high risk types of CVD were 16 323（81.34%）， 3 236（16.13%）， 509（2.54%）， respectively. Old age， low education level， low annual family income， farmers， unmarried， smoking， drinking， overweight， obesity and central obesity were associated with the risk of aggregation of high risk types of CVD， and the correlation strength increased with the increase of aggregation types.ConclusionThe prevention and control of CVD in Shanghai should focus on the hypertension， elderly， overweight， obesity， central obesity， smoking， drinking， low educated， low family income， farmers and unmarried people， and targeted intervention measures should be taken to reduce the risk of CVD among residents.

[Introduction] In order to analyze the influence of atmospheric stability on the output of wind turbines, and to provide technical reference for improving the simulation accuracy of CFD wind energy resources. [Method] Based on the observation data of different heights of two wind towers in flat and complex mountainous terrain, including wind speed, air temperature, air pressure and other data of multi-layer height, the atmospheric stability of the two wind towers in the region was calculated by using the Moning-Obkhov length method, and the stability calculation results were classified according to Irwin atmospheric stability classification standard. [Result] The results show that: in the near surface layer, the vertical mixing effect caused by the atmospheric thermal effect in complex mountain area is more obvious, and the atmospheric instability is stronger, but the vertical mixing effect is not sufficient; The impact of atmospheric stability on wind turbine output in complex mountainous area is greater than that in flat terrain, and its uncertainty is higher. The reason largely depends on the complexity of atmospheric stability, so it is more necessary to consider the impact of atmospheric stability in wind energy resource assessment. [Conclusion] It is necessary to consider the influence of atmospheric stability in CFD wind farm fluid modeling, especially under the condition of ultra-low wind speed complex mountain site, the evaluation of atmospheric stability is particularly important for fan selection and power generation simulation accuracy.

Abstract Background Recurrent lateral patellar dislocation (RLPD) poses a significant threat to patients’ quality of life due to knee pain, patellofemoral cartilage damage, and potential traumatic arthritis. Predictive scoring systems have been developed to assess the risk of RLPD; however, their relative accuracy remains uncertain. Purpose To investigate the accuracy of the multiple regression models to predict the individual risk of recurrent LPD. Methods The Patellar Instability probability calculator (PIP), Recurrent Instability of the Patella Score (RIP), and Patellar Instability Severity Score (PIS) scoring rules were measured in 171 patients with a history of patellar dislocation and 171 healthy individuals. Three prediction models were calculated based on the data to predict the risk of recurrent lateral patellar dislocation. The inter-observer and intra-observer reliability of each measurement parameter was evaluated. The predictive capacity of the three-prediction model was investigated using the receiver operating characteristic curve. Results In the case group of 171 patients, PIS accurately predicted recurrent lateral Patella dislocation in 143 patients. RIP was 96, and PIP was 83. The positive predictive values were 92.9%, 64%, and 68% respectively. In the control group of 171 patients, the PIS was validated in 160 patients who would not experience dislocations. RIP was 117, and PIP was 50. The negative predictive values were 85.1%, 60.9%, and 36.2%, respectively. The area under the curve score for the PIS was 0.866, and the RIP was 0.673. the PIP was 0.678. Conclusion RIP and PIP did not work to predict LPD. PIS can accurately predict recurrent lateral patellar dislocation. It can aid doctors in making treatment decisions. Level of evidence Level III, retrospective comparative study.

Abstract In recent years, immunotherapy has emerged as a promising strategy for treating solid tumors, although its efficacy remains limited to a subset of patients. Transforming non-responsive “cold” tumor types into immuno-responsive “hot” ones is critical to enhance the efficacy of immune-based cancer treatments. Pyroptosis, a programmed cell death mechanism, not only effectively eliminates tumor cells but also triggers a potent inflammatory response to initiate anti-tumor immune activities. This sheds light on the potential of pyroptosis to sensitize tumors to immune therapy. Hence, it is urgent to explore and develop novel treatments (e.g., nanomedicines) which are capable of inducing pyroptosis. In this study, we constructed tumor-targeting nanoparticles (CS-HAP@ATO NPs) by loading atorvastatin (ATO) onto chondroitin sulfate (CS) modified hydroxyapatite (HAP) nanoparticles (CS-HAP). CS was strategically employed to target tumor cells, while HAP exhibited the capacity to release calcium ions (Ca2+) in response to the tumor microenvironment. Moreover, ATO disrupted the mitochondrial function, leading to intracellular energy depletion and consequential changes in mitochondrial membrane permeability, followed by the influx of Ca2+ into the cytoplasm and mitochondria. CS and HAP synergetically augmented mitochondrial calcium overload, inciting the production of substantial amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the subsequent liberation of oxidized mitochondrial DNA (OX-mitoDNA). This intricate activation process promoted the assembly of inflammasomes, most notably the NLRP3 inflammasome, followed by triggering caspase-1 activation. The activated caspase-1 was able to induce gasderminD (GSDMD) protein cleavage and present the GSDM-N domain, which interacted with phospholipids in the cell membrane. Then, the cell membrane permeability was raised, cellular swelling was observed, and abundant cell contents and inflammatory mediators were released. Ultimately, this orchestrated sequence of events served to enhance the anti-tumor immunoresponse within the organism.

Understanding the influence of gap distribution characteristics on the mechanical properties of circular concrete-filled steel tubes (CCFSTs) under bending load is important for stability and support design in engineering projects. In this study, the improved cohesive zone model considering friction was used to describe the mechanical behavior of mortar interfaces. Meanwhile, the concrete damage plastic model and isotropic elastoplastic model were applied for core concrete and steel tubes. The improved cohesive zone model has a unified potential function that governs the Mode I and Mode II failure processes of mortar interfaces to realize the mechanical interaction between concrete and steel. A smooth frictional function was utilized in the elastic stage to calculate the accurate frictional effect. Furthermore, the capability of the model in addressing unloading and reloading was verified, and the fracture energy varied accordingly during the cyclic loading. Then, the mechanical response of CCFSTs was investigated under bending loads by setting different gap sizes and angles between the gap and loading direction. The results show that under three-point bending, the equivalent plastic strains at the middle part of CCFSTs are much larger and the peak bearing forces are much lower than the other degrees when the angles between the coronal gap axis and loading direction equal 0° and 180°. In addition, the order of the peak bearing forces, from highest to lowest, is when the height of the coronal-cap gap increases from 0.0 mm to 2.5 mm, 5.0 mm, and 7.5 mm. The significant effect makes it inappropriate to ignore the weakening of the structural performance caused by coronal gaps in structural design.

Abstract Plasmaspheric density structures are considered to control the propagation trajectories of fast magnetosonic (MS) waves in the inner magnetosphere. However, whether the plasmaspheric plume can effectively alter the propagation of MS waves remains unknown. Based on the analytical model of plasma density, ray tracing simulations are performed to investigate the propagation of exactly perpendicular MS waves in the equatorial plane in the magnetosphere containing a plasmaspheric plume. We find that plasmatrough and plume MS waves propagating toward the plasmaspheric plume can be reflected into the plasmaspheric core by the plume, then potentially migrating globally and thus quasi‐trapped inside the plasmaspheric core. The simulations also indicate that lower‐frequency MS waves approaching the plasmaspheric plume are more easily reflected and quasi‐trapped inside the plasmaspheric core. Our findings illustrate a previously unexplored way that plasmatrough MS waves could access and be trapped inside the plasmaspheric core via azimuthal plasmaspheric density structures.

Abstract Plasmaspheric hiss, a whistler‐mode emission confined in the high‐density plasmasphere, is of great interest to the space community attributed to its important role in inner magnetospheric dynamics. Their frequency‐time structures provide crucial evidence for understanding the wave origin. In this work, based on ∼7‐year Van Allen Probes data, we statistically studied the frequency‐drifting plasmaspheric hiss characterized by an increasing lower cutoff frequency over a timescale exceeding 1 hr. Frequency‐drifting hiss waves predominantly occur at 3

Abstract Recent research underscores the significance of the nervous system in tumor progression. Nonetheless, understanding the intricate roles of nerves in gastric tumorigenesis remains limited. Our study aims to elucidate nerve alterations, associated key genes, and signaling pathways during gastric tumorigenesis. We enroll 257 patients with gastric precancerous lesions (GPLs) from four national cohorts. Utilizing immunohistochemistry and digital analysis, we quantified the densities of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves, as well as Schwann cells in patient slides. We collected three mRNA expression profiles of GPL samples from the gene expression omnibus database and assessed them for nerve expression signatures, differentially expressed genes, enriched pathways, and the immune microenvironment. Parasympathetic nerve and Schwann cell densities display a progressive increase, while sympathetic nerve exhibits an inverse trend along the precancerous spectrums. Notably, CD8+ T cells, natural killer cells, and antigen‐presenting cells (APC) co‐inhibition decrease, while epithelial‐mesenchymal transition increases significantly from early to late premalignancy. Several key nerve‐regulating genes (NTRK3, MYBL2, NRP1, BCL2, CCND1, VEGFA, PLXNA2, ADRB2), and pathways (mitogen‐activated protein kinase [MAPK]/ERK, PI3K/AKT, Wnt) emerge as potential contributors to precancerous progression. Our study reveals a dynamic relationship between sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves, characterized by a gradual increase in parasympathetic nerve and Schwann cell density, contrasting with an inverse trend in sympathetic nerve across precancerous spectrums. Targeting the interaction between tumor cells and nerves, including sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves, has emerged as a promising strategy for the prevention and treatment of gastric cancer.

BackgroundCoronary slow flow (CSF) has gained significance as a chronic coronary artery disease, but few studies have integrated both biological and anatomical factors for CSF assessment. This study aimed to develop and validate a simple-to-use nomogram for predicting CSF risk by combining biological and anatomical factors.MethodsIn this retrospective case-control study, 1042 patients (614 CSF cases and 428 controls) were randomly assigned to the development and validation cohorts at a 7:3 ratio. Potential predictive factors were identified using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression and subsequently utilized in multivariate logistic regression to construct the nomogram. Validation of the nomogram was assessed by discrimination and calibration.ResultsN-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, hemoglobin, left anterior descending artery diameter, left circumflex artery diameter, and right coronary artery diameter were independent predictors of CSF. The model displayed high discrimination in the development and validation cohorts (C-index 0.771, 95% CI: 0.737-0.805 and 0.805, 95% CI: 0.757-0.853, respectively). The calibration curves for both cohorts showed close alignment between predicted and actual risk estimates, demonstrating improved model calibration. Decision curve analysis suggested high clinical utility for the predictive nomogram.ConclusionThe constructed nomogram accurately and individually predicts the risk of CSF for patients with suspected CSF and may be considered for use in clinical care.

Abstract Background We have reported a positive correlation between S100 calcium-binding protein (S100) A8/S100A9 and sepsis-induced lung damage before. However, limited knowledge exists concerning the biological role of S100A8/A9 in pulmonary vascular endothelial barrier dysfunction, as well as the diagnostic value of S100A8/A9 in sepsis. Methods Sepsis was induced in C57BL/6J mice and S100A9-knockout (KO) mice through the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Pulmonary vascular leakage was determined by measuring extravasated Evans blue (EB). Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and the histological score were used to evaluate inflammation and lung injury, respectively. Recombinant S100A8/A9 (rhS100A8/A9) was used to identify the effects of S100A8/A9 on endothelial barrier dysfunction in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Additionally, the diagnostic value of S100A8/A9 in sepsis was assessed using receiver operating characteristic. Results S100A8/A9 expression was up-regulated in the lungs of CLP-operated mice. S100A9 KO significantly reversed CLP-induced hypothermia and hypotension, resulting in an improved survival rate. S100A9 KO also decreased the inflammatory response, EB leakage, and histological scores in the lungs of CLP-operated mice. Occludin and VE-cadherin expressions were decreased in the lungs of CLP-operated mice; However, S100A9 KO attenuated this decrease. Moreover, CLP-induced signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and p38/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signalling activation and apoptosis were mitigated by S100A9 KO in lungs. In addition, rhS100A8/A9 administration significantly decreased occludin and VE-cadherin expressions, increased the phosphorylated (p)-ERK/ERK, p-p38/p38, and B-cell leukaemia/lymphoma 2 protein (Bcl-2)-associated X protein/Bcl-2 ratios in HUVECs. Conclusion The present study demonstrated S100A8/A9 aggravated sepsis-induced pulmonary inflammation, vascular permeability, and lung injury. This was achieved, at least partially, by activating the P38/STAT3/ERK signalling pathways. Moreover, S100A8/A9 showed the potential as a biomarker for sepsis diagnosis.

Abstract When exposed to various microenvironmental stimuli, macrophages are highly plastic and primarily polarized into the pro-inflammatory M1-type and the anti-inflammatory M2-type, both of which perform almost entirely opposing functions. Due to this characteristic, macrophages perform different functions at different stages of immunity and inflammation. Inflammatory immune skin diseases usually show an imbalance in the M1/M2 macrophage ratio, and altering the macrophage polarization phenotype can either make the symptoms worse or better. Therefore, this review presents the mechanisms of macrophage polarization, inflammation-related signaling pathways (JAK/STAT, NF-κB, and PI3K/Akt), and the role of both in inflammatory immune skin diseases (psoriasis, AD, SLE, BD, etc.) to provide new directions for basic and clinical research of related diseases.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the most common and fatal diffuse fibrotic lung disease accompanied by macrophage M2 activation. ErbB4 is involved in and affects the process of inflammation. In this study, we determined that the mRNA level and protein expression of ErbB4 and M2 cytokine members were increased in the serum of IPF patients. In mouse alveolar macrophage MH-S cells, after knocking down ErbB4 by siRNA, the mRNA level and protein expression of M2 activator induced by interleukin (IL)-4 were decreased compared with the control group. Activating by ErbB4 agonist neuromodulatory protein (NRG)-1, IL-4-induced M2 program was promoted. Mechanistically, treated with NRG-1 in MH-S cells, the phosphorylation level of Akt did not change, while the phosphorylation level of ERK increased. Using SCH772984 to inhibit ERK pathway, the increasing IL-4-induced M2 activation by NRG-1 was inhibited, and the high level of M2 activator protein expression and mRNA expression was restored. Collectively, our data support that ErbB4 and M2 programs are implicated in IPF, and ErbB4 participates in the regulation of M2 activation induced by IL-4 through the ERK pathway.

The freshness of Atlantic salmon is influenced mainly by tissue metabolism, which in turn is affected by storage time and conditions. The alterations in taste profiles and nutritional values of salmon when packaged using vacuum methods have not been fully understood, and the factors contributing to these changes require further research. In this work, the extraction method for flavor nutrients from salmon was optimized via the Plackett–Burman (PB) test. A sensitive and rapid targeted metabolomics method for the simultaneous determination of 34 nutrients was successfully established via ultra-performance liquid chromatography–triple quadrupole/linear ion trap composite mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTRAP/MS), and various nutritional compositions during storage at 0 °C under different vacuum conditions (0 kPa or −90 kPa) for 4 and 8 days were analyzed. Results showed that storage time had a significant effect on salmon metabolism. The total amino acids decreased by 62.95% and 65.89% at 0 kPa and −90 kPa, respectively. Notably, a marked reduction in histidine after 8 days at −90 kPa may have diminished bitterness, while decreased levels of umami-tasting amino acids like glutamine and aspartic acid affected the overall flavor profile. Overall, the packaging conditions at 0 °C and 0 kPa were more suitable for the preservation of most nutrients in salmon. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed that the reduction in substances was mainly related to the alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism pathways. Alanine, inosine, and histidine, whose levels changed significantly, can bind to the typical umami taste receptor TIR1/TIR3 and can be biomarkers to monitor and determine the freshness or spoilage of salmon after 4–8 days of storage. This study revealed the changes in small-molecule nutrients in salmon during storage under different packaging conditions, which provides a reference for the packaging preservation technology of fresh salmon and new ideas for the evaluation of salmon quality and determination of freshness.

Lycium barbarum L., an important functional food in China, has antioxidant and antiaging activity. However, the exact antioxidant activity mechanism of Lycium barbarum extracts (LBE) is not well understood. Therefore, a carbendazim (CBZ)-induced PC12 cell injury model was constructed and vitrificated to study the antioxidant activity of fresh LBE on the basis of extraction parameter optimization via the full factorial design of experiments (DOE) method. The results showed that the pretreatment of PC12 cells with LBE could reduce the reactive oxygen species (ROS) level by 14.6% and inhibited the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) decline by 12.0%. Furthermore, the integrated analysis revealed that LBE played an antioxidant role by activating oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and restoring MMP, maintaining the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle stability, and regulating the GSH metabolic pathway. The results of the present study provide new ideas for the understanding of the antioxidant function of LBE from a global perspective.

Intein-mediated protein splicing has been widely used in protein engineering; however, the splicing efficiency and extein specificity usually limit its further application. Thus, there is a demand for more general inteins that can overcome these limitations. Here, we study the trans-splicing of CPE intein obtained from the directed evolution of Cne PRP8, which shows that its splicing rate is ~29- fold higher than that of the wild-type. When the +1 residue of C-extein is changed to cysteine, CPE also shows high splicing activity. Faster association and higher affinity may contribute to the high splicing rate compared with wild-type intein. These findings have important implications for the future engineering of inteins and provide clues for fundamental studies of protein structure and folding.

Functional tics is one type of functional movement disorders (FMD) with overlapping clinical manifestations of primary tics. It is difficult to distinguish them in clinical practice. In this text, we will introduce the epidemiology, risk factors, clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of functional tics by comparing with primary tics (especially Tourette's syndrome), with the aim to improve the rate of accurate diagnosis, and avoid misdiagnosis and mistreatment.

Electron cyclotron harmonic (ECH) waves are electrostatic emissions frequently observed in the Earth’s magnetosphere. By precipitating magnetospheric hot electrons into the ionosphere, ECH waves play a critical role in the formation of diffuse aurora. Previous research has extensively investigated the strong dependence of ECH waves on the geomagnetic activities. In this study, we present the first report of the prompt response of ECH waves to an interplanetary shock on the basis of WIND and Van Allen Probes observations. Our observations and analyses demonstrate that the interplanetary shock compression can increase >0.1 keV hot electron fluxes in the dayside inner magnetosphere, consequently leading to the prompt intensification of ECH waves by promoting the wave instability. These findings expand our comprehension of the impacts of solar wind disturbances on magnetospheric plasma waves and offer fresh insights into solar wind-magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling.

The architecture of apple trees plays a pivotal role in shaping their growth and fruit-bearing potential, forming the foundation for precision apple management. Traditionally, 2D imaging technologies were employed to delineate the architectural traits of apple trees, but their accuracy was hampered by occlusion and perspective ambiguities. This study aimed to surmount these constraints by devising a 3D geometry-based processing pipeline for apple tree structure segmentation and architectural trait characterization, utilizing point clouds collected by a terrestrial laser scanner (TLS). The pipeline consisted of four modules: (a) data preprocessing module, (b) tree instance segmentation module, (c) tree structure segmentation module, and (d) architectural trait extraction module. The developed pipeline was used to analyze 84 trees of two representative apple cultivars, characterizing architectural traits such as tree height, trunk diameter, branch count, branch diameter, and branch angle. Experimental results indicated that the established pipeline attained an R2 of 0.92 and 0.83, and a mean absolute error (MAE) of 6.1 cm and 4.71 mm for tree height and trunk diameter at the tree level, respectively. Additionally, at the branch level, it achieved an R2 of 0.77 and 0.69, and a MAE of 6.86 mm and 7.48° for branch diameter and angle, respectively. The accurate measurement of these architectural traits can enable precision management in high-density apple orchards and bolster phenotyping endeavors in breeding programs. Moreover, bottlenecks of 3D tree characterization in general were comprehensively analyzed to reveal future development.

Abstract In a previously published clinical trial, we demonstrated that tirofiban was effective and safe in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients who did not undergo early recanalization treatments. We aimed to evaluate neuroimaging characteristics and their clinical significance to guide tirofiban treatment. In this post hoc analysis, location of infarcts (anterior circulation stroke [ACS] vs. posterior circulation stroke [PCS]), degree of cerebral artery stenosis (≤69% vs. ≥70% or occlusion), total infarct volume, and ASPECTS were used to predict the treatment effects of tirofiban, defined as the proportions of excellent and favorable functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] score of 0–1, 0–2) at 90 days. ACS patients were more likely to achieve excellent (OR 2.08; 95% CI 1.25–3.45; p = 0.004) and favorable functional outcome (OR 2.28; 95% CI 1.24–4.22; p = 0.008) when treated with tirofiban. However, there was no significant difference in PCS patients between tirofiban and the control group. For patients with severe stenosis (≥70% or occlusion), tirofiban treatment improved the proportion of good outcomes (OR 2.84; 95% CI 1.44–5.60; p = 0.002 for mRS 0–1; OR 2.42; 95% CI 1.22–4.77; p = 0.011 for mRS 0–2). Meanwhile, we found that tirofiban improved outcome in patients with ASPECTS 8–10 and was independent of total infarct volume. These findings support the hypothesis that patients with ACS and severe stenosis may be recommended for tirofiban treatment, which can be predicted independent of total infarct volume.

Seed cotton yield and fiber quality are two primary factors that influence the international competitiveness of cotton. To enhance the water-nitrogen utilization efficiency and promote the sustainable cotton production, field experiments were performed in 2020 and 2021 to explore the effects of irrigation depth and nitrogen (N) fertilization rate on N uptake and distribution, seed cotton yield, fiber quality traits and water-nitrogen utilization efficiency in the Korla region of southern Xinjiang, China. Three irrigation depths (W1: 60% ETc, W2: 80% ETc, W3: 100% ETc; ETc was crop water consumption) and four N rates (N0: 0 kg ha−1, N200: 200 kg ha−1, N300: 300 kg ha−1, N400: 400 kg ha−1) were applied. The results showed irrigation depth and N rate significantly influenced N uptake and distribution in plant organs, seed cotton yield, crop water productivity (WP), partial factor productivity of nitrogen (PFPN) and some fiber quality traits. Increasing irrigation depth improved plant height, leaf area index, aboveground dry matter and seed cotton yield, while increasing N rate increased and then declined these indicators. At the squaring and flowering stages, the N accumulation in all parts of cotton increased as irrigation depth and N rate increased, whereas it increased and then declined with increasing N rate at the boll-setting and harvesting stages. At the squaring and flowering stages, N was mainly accumulated in the leaves. As the growth period progressed, N was transported to bolls and the proportion of N content in leaves decreased. The proportion of N accumulation in cotton bolls was largest at the boll-setting and harvesting stages, and the N accumulation in plant organs followed the order of boll > leaf > stem > root. As irrigation depth increased, PFPN increased but WP decreased. As N rate increased, PFPN decreased but WP increased and then declined. The increases in N rate improved fiber quality. The maximum seed cotton yield (7578 kg ha−1 in 2020 and 7173 kg ha−1 in 2021) and greater WP, PFPN and fiber quality occurred in W3N300, which was recommended as a sustainable cotton production strategy in the Korla region of southern Xinjiang and elsewhere with similar environments to improve water-nitrogen utilization efficiency, seed cotton yield and alleviate soil nitrate pollution risk.

Along the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, an important boundary fault, known as the Red River Fault (RRF), formed during the extrusion of mantle and lower crustal materials beneath the Tibetan Plateau. The characteristics of RRF activity are important for understanding the tectonic evolution of the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. There is less knowledge about the strong earthquake recurrence interval in the southern segment of the RRF than about its northern segment. In this study, based on the characteristics of the active tectonic landform, three paleoseismic trenches were excavated in Adipo Village north of Honghe County in the southern segment of the RRF. In these trenches, three paleoseismic events that occurred in the middle and late Holocene were identified. According to the 14C dating results, these events were constrained to 785–504 BC, 26–492 AD, and 1,415–1857 AD. The average earthquake recurrence interval was determined to be approximately 960–1,320 a.

In the present paper, we investigate the effects of latitude-dependent wave power spectrum on the interactions of chorus with electrons. Great errors in evaluating the electron diffusion coefficients and the resultant electron temporal evolutions are introduced by the widely adopted latitudinally constant model, compared with the latitudinally varying model. The latitudinally constant model tends to overestimate (underestimate) the diffusion coefficients for electrons below (above) 200 keV. The overestimation and underestimation are mainly confined in small to intermediate pitch angles, increase with decreasing pitch angles, and can reach up to several orders of magnitude. The large differences in diffusion coefficients significantly alter the net changes of electron phase space densities and the resultant shapes of electron pitch angle distributions. Our simulations demonstrate that the wave power spectrum distribution along the magnetic field line plays an important role in controlling the dynamics of radiation belt electrons.

The reliable Al/steel resultant welded joint with a large contact area was of great significance in electrolysis cells to produce aluminum. Herein, a large-area 6061 aluminum alloy/304 stainless steel dissimilar welds were successfully obtained by unbalanced thermal field assisted thermo-compensated resistance brazing welding(abbreviated as UTC-TC-RBW). In the present study, the heating distribution conditions of the joint were adjusted based on the introduction of the auxiliary welding current, forming an unbalanced temperature field. The whole welding temperature field of the joint was improved significantly with the increase of the auxiliary current, which promoted the interdiffusion of Al and Fe elements at the interface. Hence, the connection area between Al alloy and steel was increased gradually. The final interface between Al alloy and steel was changed to the Al(s.s) diffusion layer and Fe2Al5 layer. XRD results proved the presence of these phase compositions. When the auxiliary current was 0.3 kA, the maximum thickness of the Al(s.s) diffusion layer and Fe2Al5 layer reached 5.25 μm and 0.86 μm. The final load of the obtained joint with the auxiliary current of 0.3 kA was the maximum and reached 1789.7N, which was approximately 3 times that of the joints without auxiliary current.

Achieving the effective joining between Al alloy and stainless steel with a large cross-section was meaningful in the significant industry field. For this, the Al/steel dissimilar bimetal materials were manufactured by a novelty hybrid technology, named thermo-compensated resistance brazing welding. The effect of the single Zn foil and the deposited Zn coatings with cold spray technology on the bonding interface, interfacial microstructure, and mechanical properties of the final Al/steel resultant joints were systematically investigated by the relevant analysis method. The results revealed that the obvious reaction layer with main components of Al(s.s) was formed at the Al/steel joints with the single Zn foil as the interlayer. Meanwhile, the introduction of the Zn interlayer improved the temperature field of the joint, which enhanced the lap-shear load of the weld. Besides, the Zn coating was deposited at the top surface of the 304ss substrate as the interlayer to increase joint performance further. The advantage of the pre-deposition formed a better metallurgical bond between the coating and 304ss. The subsequent lap-shear load of the weld was improved with the increase of the Zn coating thickness. The maximum lap-shear load of the final joints reached 2087.6N with a Zn coating thickness of 500 μm and the interfacial structure of the joint was changed: Al alloy, reaction layer I, Al(s.s) + Al2O3, and 304ss from top to bottom. The main composition was Al(s.s) at the reaction layer I between Al alloy and coating.

Objective: To explore the effects of 6-gingerol, asarinin, and deoxyschizandrin—the main components of Zingiber officinale (Willd.) Rosc. (Gan Jiang), Asarum heterotropoides f. var. mandshuricum (Maxim.) (Xi Xin), and Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. (Wu Wei Zi), respectively—on an interleukin (IL)-13–induced BEAS-2B cell model in vitro. Methods: The BEAS-2B cell model was established using 25 ng/mL IL-13 combined with 1% fetal bovine serum (FBS) in vitro. Mitoquinone mesylate (Mito-Q) treatment was used as a positive control group, and different concentrations of 6-gingerol, asarinin, and deoxyschizandrin were used to treat the models. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was detected by flow cytometry. The expression levels of LC3B, Beclin1, adenosine 5′-monophosphate (AMP)–activated protein kinase (AMPK), phosphorylated-AMP–activated protein kinase (P-AMPK), dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1), and mitochondrial fusion protein 2 (MFN2) were detected by Western blot. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) assay kit with JC-1 was utilized to detect the level of MMP. Results: The BEAS-2B cells exposed to 25 ng/mL IL-13 with 1% FBS showed an increased ROS level and a decreased MMP. 6-Gingerol, asarinin, and deoxyschizandrin were able to downregulate ROS level and upregulate the MMP in the BEAS-2B model. Asarinin and deoxyschizandrin reduced the expression of autophagy protein LC3B, while deoxyschizandrin significantly increased the expression of DRP1 in the BEAS-2B model. Conclusion: 6-Gingerol, asarinin, and deoxyschizandrin can reduce ROS generation and increase MMP, but have different regulatory effects on the expression of autophagy protein and mitochondrial mitotic protein. The three components have both synergistic and complementary effects in classic medicine compatibility. This study may provide an innovative strategy to reduce the lung inflammation related to IL-13.

The purpose of this article is to provide an effective approach to evaluate slope stability in real-time in a reservoir area, which is significant for carrying out risk management for landslide disaster prevention in various engineering practices. A comprehensive idea for stability estimation of bank slope under the influence of rainfall or the reservoir water level is presented in this work. Slope stability analysis and back analysis of soil parameters are both included based on numerical simulation. The mechanical parameters of the bank slope were first back-analyzed using particle swarm optimization (PSO), and real-time stability analysis with high accuracy and efficiency was then established based on multiple continuously monitored displacements. Two case studies were carried out in this study. The results show that (1) based on the real-time monitored displacement and numerical simulation, the mechanical parameters of the slope can be reasonably retrieved through PSO; and (2) based on the inverse mechanical parameters, the safety factors of the slope can be numerically obtained, so that the real-time estimation of slope stability can be realized.

The 6061 aluminum alloy/304 stainless steel dissimilar materials with a certain area were successfully achieved by a novelty welding method, named thermo-compensated resistance brazing welding, in which, the high-resistivity graphite was inserted as the auxiliary electrode. The effect of the welding current and welding time on the temperature field of the graphite, mechanical properties, and the fracture surface of the final Al/steel weld was investigated. The results revealed that the temperature field was generated by Joule heat based on graphite, Al alloy, and stainless steel in the welding process. The generated Joule heat was gradually extended from one point to the entire interface in the whole welding process. The temperature field and tensile-shear load of the joint were also improved with the increase of the welding parameters. The degree of diffusion surface was illustrated at the fracture, indicating the “brazing” feature. There were three diffusion regions A, B, and C on the fracture surface with the steel side of the optimal parameters. The mechanical properties of the weld mainly depended on regions B and C. The effective connection was formed at a local area of the entire interface between Al alloy and 304ss at this parameter. Al(s.s) and Fe2Al5 IMC were generated at the interface. The typical inclined interfacial failure was formed after the tensile-shear test due to the heat generation mechanism. The Al(s.s), Fe(s.s), and Fe2Al5 IMC were presented on the fracture surface, which was consistent with the above contents.

To evaluate the earthquake disaster resistance capability of highway tunnels, it is necessary to study an index system for the earthquake disaster resistance capability of highway tunnels. This paper uses a literature research method. The damage of highway tunnels in 12 earthquake disasters recorded in detail in China and abroad was investigated. According to the types of hazard-beating bodies and damage forms, 17 seismic damage scenes of highway tunnels are classified. According to different damage scenes, the fault tree analysis model is used to identify the damage-causing factors. Combined with the industry standards, norms and research results related to the earthquake resistance of highway tunnels, the evaluation indices are analyzed from three perspectives: engineering geological factors, tunnel structural factors and operation management factors. According to the principle of index system construction, a four-level index system is constructed, which takes the earthquake disaster resistance capability of highway tunnels as the target layer; engineering geological factors, tunnel structural factors and operation management factors as the criterion layer indices; 12 indicators as the index layer and 35 specific indicators. The established index system for the earthquake disaster resistance capability of highway tunnels has strong scientific, rational and application value and can provide a reference for the evaluation of the earthquake disaster resistance capability of highway tunnels and can also provide important support for the safe operation and sustainable development of highway tunnels.

In this paper, four water–binder ratios (w/b) of 0.29, 0.33, 0.39, and 0.46 were designed. A variable test temperature was implemented in the drying–wetting cycle test according to the temperature fluctuations in the actual service environment, and the constant temperature test was established as the control group. The mechanical properties and chloride corrosion resistance of concrete with different w/b ratios under variable temperature drying–wetting cycles, as well as the microstructure changes, phase composition, and damage mechanism inside the concrete, were investigated. The results showed that the mechanical properties of concrete increased first and then decreased with drying–wetting cycles increasing, whereas the chloride corrosion resistance continued to decline. A higher w/b exacerbated the deterioration of the concrete performance. A higher w/b increased the porosity, chloride diffusion depth, and chloride content, thus reducing the resistance of chloride corrosion. Compared with w/b = 0.29, the compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, mass, and relative dynamic elasticity modulus of w/b = 0.46 exposed to 60 drying–wetting cycles decreased by 54.50%, 52.44%, 0.96%, and 6.50%, respectively, while the porosity, peak chloride content, and erosion depth increased by 45.12%, 70.45%, and 45.00%. Compared with the drying–wetting cycle with a constant temperature, the cumulative damage caused by the drying–wetting cycle with a variable temperature was greater, resulting in more severe deterioration of concrete performance. The increase in the test temperature significantly accelerated the diffusion rate, penetration depth, and chemical binding capacity of chloride ions. After 60 drying–wetting cycles, the peak chlorine content and erosion depth of w/b = 0.46 under variable temperature cycles were 15.38% and 10.32% higher than those under a constant temperature, while the compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, mass, and relative dynamic elastic modulus were reduced by 7.76%, 14.81%, 0.33%, and 2.40%, respectively. Microscopic analysis confirmed that higher w/b and variable temperature cycles accelerated the decay of mechanical properties and the decline of chloride corrosion resistance. According to the numerical fitting analysis, the w/b should be 0.29~0.39 under the condition that the mechanical properties and chloride corrosion resistance of concrete are met.

Food material is the key factor of food 3D printing. This review summarized the characteristics of food materials (protein, starch, hydrogel and fat) commonly used in food 3D printing at present, analyzed the influence of different material combinations on the forming performance. Moreover, suggestions on how to improve the printing effect of difficult printing materials were also provided, and the technical bottleneck of food materials development faced in food 3D printing nowadays were noticed. Finally, the direction of food 3D printing technology in the future was prospected.

There is no targeted drug treatment for autistic children. Educational intervention and rehabilitation are the main ways to improve the ability development of autistic children. However, there are great differences in the individual symptoms and abilities. It is an urgent need for educators, practitioners and parents of autistic children to find effective ways to improve their cognitive, social and motor abilities. The author cooperates with the therapist to study and design the somatosensory interaction game for autistic children, which is a formal attempt of art therapy on the treatment tool, with the purpose of studying an effective and safe art intervention method. In order to verify the effect, the author recruited 26 children with mild or moderate autism for a six-week empirical evaluation, and the participants were randomly assigned. Among them, 13 participants participated in the art therapy of the proposed somatosensory game group (the experimental group), and 13 participants participated the traditional picture book group (the control group) that improved the emotion, cognition and skills of children, and the design style was more popular with children. The aesthetic design in the picture book could have an intervention effect on the participants, and its artistic effect could serve as an effective reference for the interface design of the game group. The results showed that the two groups had a significant impact on the participants in different aspects. The game group improved not only in terms of concentration and special ability, but also in terms of physical coordination and activity enhancement, it is inferred that the core factors of game therapy are sub-intervention, interaction and feedback, icon design and color matching system; the picture book group has significant improvement in interpersonal relationship guidance and language learning and communication. The results show that it is necessary to take more comprehensive and richer preliminary research on the development of treatment products for autistic children. Because picture book education requires children’s initial concentration, it is found that picture book therapy has high requirements for teachers’ classroom control and relatively strict requirements for picture book content, and play therapy can be a good complement to these problems.