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The direction and magnitude of the present in-situ stress influence the propagation of hydraulic fractures in coal seams, making it a key geological parameter for coalbed methane (CBM) well network deployment and fracturing design. Accurate evaluation of the present in-situ stress direction and magnitude in coal seams is crucial for CBM exploration and development. This study focused on the direction and magnitude of the current in-situ stress in the No. 8+9 coal seam in the southern Shenfu block, northeastern margin of the Ordos Basin. Array acoustic logging, microseismic monitoring, and imaging logging were used to evaluate the direction of the present maximum horizontal principal stress in the coal seam and its roof and floor. Under constraints of the current in-situ stress magnitude from injection/falloff tests, parameters for the composite spring model were determined, and the current in-situ stress magnitude was further calculated. The results showed that the direction of the present maximum horizontal principal stress for the No. 8+9 coal seam and its roof and floor in the eastern part of the study area was nearly in the NNE orientation. In the western part, the directions of the maximum horizontal principal stress may deviate due to stress field disturbances around inactive faults and hydraulic fracturing activities. In 20 wells, calculations of the in-situ stress showed that the vertical principal stress in the No. 8+9 coal seam with a vertical depth of 1 902-2 181 m was 47-54 MPa. The minimum horizontal principal stress was 35-44 MPa, and the maximum was 42-50 MPa. With a lateral pressure coefficient less than 1, it was in the normal faulting stress state. In the eastern part of the study area, the NNE-oriented maximum horizontal principal stress was sequentially evolved from the SN-oriented compression during the Meso-Cenozoic Indosinian stage, the NNW-oriented compression during the Yanshanian stage, and the NNE-oriented compression during the Himalayan stage. Considering the distribution of natural fractures with an average NNW orientation during different tectonic stages, as well as the propagation pattern of NNE-oriented vertical hydraulic fractures under the normal faulting stress state with NNE-oriented maximum principal horizontal stress in the eastern fracture prediction area, it was recommended to deploy horizontal cluster wells within the azimuthal interval perpendicular to the current NNE-oriented maximum horizontal principal stress direction and the average NNW-oriented natural fracture direction. This approach aims to enhance production through large-scale extreme volume fracturing in horizontal wells by integrating the productivity of natural fractures and induced hydraulic fractures. In addition, the in-situ stress direction and natural fracture parameters should be further characterized in detail to guide fracturing design and improve CBM production.

The Michelson Interferometer for Global High-resolution Thermospheric Imaging (MIGHTI) onboard the Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) satellite offers the opportunity to investigate the altitude profile of thermospheric winds. In this study, we used the red-line measurements of MIGHTI to compare with the results estimated by Horizontal Wind Model 14 (HWM14). The data selected included both the geomagnetic quiet period (December 2019 to August 2022) and the geomagnetic storm on August 26–28, 2021. During the geomagnetic quiet period, the estimations of neutral winds from HWM14 showed relatively good agreement with the observations from ICON. According to the ICON observations, near the equator, zonal winds reverse from westward to eastward at around 06:00 local time (LT) at higher altitudes, and the stronger westward winds appear at later LTs at lower altitudes. At around 16:00 LT, eastward winds at 300 km reverse to westward, and vertical gradients of zonal winds similar to those at sunrise hours can be observed. In the middle latitudes, zonal winds reverse about 2–4 h earlier. Meridional winds vary more significantly than zonal winds with seasonal and latitudinal variations. According to the ICON observations, in the northern low latitudes, vertical reversals of meridional winds are found at 08:00–13:00 LT from 300 to 160 km and at around 18:00 LT from 300 to 200 km during the June solstice. Similar reversals of meridional winds are found at 04:00–07:00 LT from 300 to 160 km and at 22:00–02:00 LT from 270 to 200 km during the December solstice. In the southern low latitudes, meridional wind reversals occur at 08:00–11:00 LT from 200 to 160 km and at 21:00–02:00 LT from 300 to 200 km during the June solstice. During the December solstice, reversals of the meridional wind appear at 20:00–01:00 LT below 200 km and at 06:00–11:00 LT from 300 to 160 km. In the northern middle latitudes, the northward winds are dominant at 08:00–14:00 LT at 230 km during the June solstice. Northward winds persist until 16:00 LT at 160 and 300 km. During the December solstice, the northward winds are dominant from 06:00 to 21:00 LT. The vertical variations in neutral winds during the geomagnetic storm on August 26–28 were analyzed in detail. Both meridional and zonal winds during the active geomagnetic period observed by ICON show distinguishable vertical shear structures at different stages of the storm. On the dayside, during the main phase, the peak velocities of westward winds extend from a higher altitude to a lower altitude, whereas during the recovery phase, the peak velocities of the westward winds extend from lower altitudes to higher altitudes. The velocities of the southward winds are stronger at lower altitudes during the storm. These vertical structures of horizontal winds during the storm could not be reproduced by the HWM14 wind estimations, and the overall response to the storm of the horizontal winds in the low and middle latitudes is underestimated by HWM14. The ICON observations provide a good dataset for improving the HWM wind estimations in the middle and upper atmosphere, especially the vertical variations.

Abstract Objectives This study aimed to examine Intrinsic Capacity (IC) subgroups and the association of IC subgroups with IC predictors in Chinese urban empty nesters. Methods A convenient sample of 385 older adults aged 60 and above in Community Health Service Center was recruited from Hei Longjiang Province, China, between June 2023 and December 2023. Latent class Analysis (LCA) was conducted to explore IC subgroups using the sensory, cognition, locomotion, psychological, and vitality domains of IC as input variables. Multinomial logistic regression was performed to explore the association between latent subgroups and the IC predictors. Results We identified three IC subgroups: "Low IC level—Low locomotion domain"(33.5%), "Medium IC level—Low sensory domain" (16.9%) and "High IC level" (49.6%). Being young, married, without multimorbidity, receiving visits from children ≥ 1 time per week, a low score of self-neglect, a high score of social networking, and a low score of loneliness were closely correlated to the "High IC level" subgroup of empty-nest older adults in communities. Conclusion The potential subgroups of the IC of empty-nest older adults in communities can be identified through five IC domains. The older empty-nesters should pay extra attention to their critical IC predictors. Community medical staff and other workers should provide intervention measures for different subgroups of older adults to improve their IC in an effective and individualized manner.

Abstract Potato late blight is a common disease affecting crops worldwide. To help detect this disease in complex environments, an improved YOLOv5 algorithm is proposed. First, ShuffleNetV2 is used as the backbone network to reduce the number of parameters and computational load, making the model more lightweight. Second, the coordinate attention mechanism is added to reduce missed detection for leaves that are overlapping, damaged, or hidden, thereby increasing detection accuracy under challenging conditions. Lastly, a bidirectional feature pyramid network is employed to fuse feature information of different scales. The study results show a significant improvement in the model’s performance. The number of parameters was reduced from 7.02 to 3.87 M, and the floating point operations dropped from 15.94 to 8.4 G. These reductions make the model lighter and more efficient. The detection speed increased by 16 %, enabling faster detection of potato late blight leaves. Additionally, the average precision improved by 3.22 %, indicating better detection accuracy. Overall, the improved model provides a robust solution for detecting potato late blight in complex environments. The study’s findings can be useful for applications and further research in controlling potato late blight in similar environments.

ABSTRACT The temperature of metal‐based facilities rises significantly under high outdoor solar irradiation, leading to serious safety accidents. The application of active cooling technology poses challenges due to its high energy consumption, especially in complex outdoor environments. Passive cooling devices with high solar reflection and thermal emission can continuously cool objects under sunlight. However, the white or silvery passive cooling devices do not meet the need for aesthetics and specific demands. Here, we present a hierarchical metapaint for outdoor facilities that simultaneously achieve vibrant color and passive cooling ability. The top layer selectively absorbs visible wavelengths to display desired colors, while the underlayer boosts the reflection of near‐to‐short wavelength infrared (NSWIR) light to prevent solar heating. The metapaint‐coated metal is resistant to high and low temperatures, acidic and alkaline environments, and simulated seawater. It also has satisfactory anti‐fouling properties. When compared to metal coated without commercial paint, the hierarchical passive cooling paint (metapaint) coated metal can cool up to 9.7°C and 17.1°C. The metapaint has excellent passive cooling performance, attributed to its broad‐spectrum selective regulation function. Our work offers a simple, inexpensive, and scalable approach to reduce cooling energy usage and promote a low‐carbon lifestyle.

Despite the promising prospects of nanoparticles in oral drug delivery, the process of oral administration involves a complex transportation pathway that includes cellular uptake, intracellular trafficking, and exocytosis by intestinal epithelial cells, which are necessary steps for nanoparticles to enter the bloodstream and exert therapeutic effects. Current researchers have identified several crucial factors that regulate the interaction between nanoparticles and intestinal epithelial cells, including surface properties such as ligand modification, surface charge, hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity, intestinal protein corona formation, as well as holistic properties like particle size, shape, and rigidity. Understanding these properties is essential for enhancing transepithelial transport efficiency and designing effective oral drug delivery systems. Therefore, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the surface and holistic properties that influence the transepithelial transport of nanoparticles, elucidating the underlying principles governing their impact on transepithelial transport. The review also outlines the chosen of parameters to be considered for the subsequent design of oral drug delivery systems.

Abstract Liver ultrasound is widely used in clinical practice due to its advantages of non-invasiveness, non-radiation, and real-time imaging. Accurate segmentation of the liver region in ultrasound images is essential for accelerating the auxiliary diagnosis of liver-related diseases. This paper proposes BACANet, a deep learning algorithm designed for real-time liver ultrasound segmentation. Our approach utilizes a lightweight network backbone for liver feature extraction and incorporates a convolutional attention mechanism to enhance the network's ability to capture global contextual information. To improve early localization of liver boundaries, we developed a selective large kernel convolution module for boundary feature extraction and introduced explicit liver boundary supervision. Additionally, we designed an enhanced attention gate to efficiently convey liver body and boundary features to the decoder to enhance the feature representation capability. Experimental results across multiple datasets demonstrate that BACANet effectively completes the task of liver ultrasound segmentation, achieving a balance between inference speed and segmentation accuracy. On a public dataset, BACANet achieved a DSC of 0.921 and an IOU of 0.854. On a private test dataset, BACANet achieved a DSC of 0.950 and an IOU of 0.907, with an inference time of approximately 0.32 s per image on a CPU processor.

ObjectiveTo systematically evaluate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN).MethodsRandomized controlled trial (RCT) of acupuncture for diabetic peripheral neuropathy in Chinese Knowledge Network (CNKI), Wanfang database, VIP database (VIP), PubMed, web of science, cochrane library, AMED and CINAHL were searched by computer since the establishment of the database. All publications in English and Chinese as of 30 December 2023 will be searched, without country or article type restrictions. Study selection, data extraction and evaluation were performed independently by two researchers. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk assessment tool, and Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan5.3 software.ResultsDPN has good effective rate in acupuncture than conventional western medicine alone. However, the above conclusions need to be verified by larger samples and higher quality randomized controlled trials. ① Acupuncture treated DPN more effective than drug (RR = 1.38, 95%CI = 1.26 ~ 1.51, Z = 6.93, p

Polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) have been demonstrated to accumulate in organisms especially from soil and exhibit neurotoxicity. However, the specific mechanisms by which PS-NPs caused neurotoxic effects remain largely unexplored. In this study, we employed PS-NPs with a diameter of 50 nm as the toxicant and used estimated exposure concentrations which are similar to those found in Chinese agricultural soil (i.e., 0, 1, 5 and 10 μg/mL). We found that PS-NPs induced significant neurotoxicity and behavioral damage in nematodes. Taking advantage of neuronal-specific reporter nematodes, we unveiled the order of neuronal damage induced by PS-NPs being DAergic neurons, followed by Achergic neurons and GABAergic neurons. Additionally, PS-NPs significantly reduced the neurotransmitter levels corresponding to these three types of neurons, with the order of reduction being Ach followed by DA and GABA. Moreover, we demonstrated that PS-NPs led to an increase in ROS production, the activation of gst-4 and a decrease in Sod-2 protein content. Furthermore, we unveiled that Sod-2 could suppress the generation of ROS induced by PS-NPs. Then we proved that the pretreatment with mitochondrial ROS scavenger Mitoquinone (Mito Q) was able to alleviate PS-NPs-induced neurotoxic effects and behavioral damage by scavenging ROS and subsequently regulating Sod-2 protein expression. In summary, we have demonstrated for the first time that ROS-mediated reduction of Sod-2 protein plays a crucial role in PS-NPs-induced neurotoxicity and behavioral damage. Furthermore, Mito Q shows potential therapeutic value in alleviating the toxic effects of PS-NPs, providing new insights for the prevention and treatment of PS-NPs-induced neurotoxicity.

Backgrounds: It is well known that epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is associated with the development of atrial fibrillation (AF). The aim of this study was to investigate whether EAT density (EAT-d) is associated with the development of new-onset atrial fibrillation (POAF) after aortic valve replacement (AVR). Methods: We retrospectively studied 143 patients who underwent simple AVR at Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of the General Hospital of Northern Theater Command between June 2020 to August 2023. All patients received cardiac coronary artery computed tomography (CT) before surgery. EAT-d, EAT volume and EAT volume index (EATVI) were quantitatively measured and analysed using EAT analysis software (TIMESlicePro). POAF was detected by 7-day Holter monitoring. Results: Of 143 patients undergoing AVR, 55 patients (38.46 %) developed POAF after surgery. Male patients and patients who had elder age or smoking history were more likely to develop POAF. On univariable analysis, patients developed POAF had significantly more EAT-d (−79.19(−83.91, −74.69) vs. −81.54(−87.16, −76.76); P = 0.043) and EATVI (4.14(3.32,5.03) vs. 3.90(2.70,4.51); P = 0.043) than patients without POAF. On multivariable analysis, EAT-d and age were independent risk factors for POAF (odds ratio (OR): 1.186, 95 % confidence interval (CI): 1.062–1.324, P = 0.002; OR: 1.119, 95 %CI: 1.055–1.187, P

Abstract Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC)-mediated immunosuppression within the tumor microenvironment (TME) frequently culminates in the failure of otherwise promising immunotherapies. In this study, we identify tumor-intrinsic FLI1 as a critical mediator in impairing T cell anti-tumor immunity. A mechanistic inquiry reveals that FLI1 orchestrates the expression of CBP and STAT1, facilitating chromatin accessibility and transcriptional activation of IDO1 in response to T cell-released IFN-γ. This regulatory cascade ultimately leads to augmented IDO1 expression, resulting in heightened synthesis of kynurenine (Kyn) in tumor cells. This, in turn, fosters CD8+ T cell exhaustion and regulatory T cell (Treg) differentiation. Intriguingly, we find that pharmacological inhibition of FLI1 effectively obstructs the CBP/STAT1-IDO1-Kyn axis, thereby invigorating both spontaneous and checkpoint therapy-induced immune responses, culminating in enhanced tumor eradication. In conclusion, our findings delineate FLI1-mediated Kyn metabolism as an immune evasion mechanism in NPC, furnishing valuable insights into potential therapeutic interventions.

Injectable recombinant collagen hydrogels (RCHs) are crucial in biomedical applications. Culture conditions play an important role in the preparation of hydrogels. However, determining the characteristics of hydrogels under certain conditions and determining the optimal conditions swiftly still remain challenging tasks. In this study, a machine learning approach was introduced to explore the correlation between hydrogel characteristics and culture conditions and determine the optimal culture conditions. The study focused on four key factors as independent variables: initial substrate concentration, reaction temperature, pH level, and reaction time, while the dependent variable was the elastic modulus of the hydrogels. To analyze the impact of these factors on the elastic modulus, four mathematical models were employed, including multiple linear regression (ML), decision tree (DT), support vector machine (SVM), and neural network (NN). The theoretical outputs of NN were closest to the actual values. Therefore, NN proved to be the most suitable model. Subsequently, the optimal culture conditions were identified as a substrate concentration of 15% (W/V), a reaction temperature of 4 °C, a pH of 7.0, and a reaction time of 12 h. The hydrogels prepared under these specific conditions exhibited a predicted elastic modulus of 15,340 Pa, approaching that of natural elastic cartilage.

Tea polyphenol (TP) is a kind of natural macromolecular compound present in tea extract with rich biological potential. The purpose of this study was to explore the protective effect of TP on the intestinal immune barrier and the related mechanisms of TP alleviating intestinal injury. Models of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) and primary intestinal epithelial cells treated with TP and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were established. The qPCR and ELISA results showed that TP increased the levels of lysozyme (LZ), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), complement component 3 (C3), complement component 4 (C4), immunoglobulin T (IgT), immunoglobulin D (IgD), and immunoglobulin M (IgM) to activate intestinal immune ability. Molecular docking indicated that TP had a strong interaction with TLR2. Meanwhile, TP alleviated LPS-induced intestinal inflammatory damage as evidenced by reducing the mRNA levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, TLR2, MyD88, P65, and IκBα, which were consistent with those of ELISA and Western blotting results. Moreover, the qPCR and Western blotting results revealed TP promoted the levels of tight junction-related proteins (claudins, occludin, and ZOs) and inhibited the phosphorylation of MLC, which showed the opposite trend after LPS treatment. In summary, the present study indicated that TP improved immune ability and inhibited the activation of the TLR2/NF-κB/MLCK pathway to attenuate LPS-induced inflammatory injury in the intestines of common carp.

Achieving spatiotemporal balance between carbon emissions and sinks at multiple spatial scales is vital for addressing climate change globally. The investigation of carbon budget variation and carbon balance zoning at the intra-city scale, however, has not received much scholarly attention. By integrating firm-level big data with other datasets, this paper aims to simulate high-resolution carbon emissions and sinks and to reveal the spatiotemporal variation of carbon budgets within Nanjing, one of metropolises in eastern China, between 2010 and 2019. We then formulated a carbon balance zoning scheme for 111 township-level regions of Nanjing based on the evaluation indicator system and clustering methods. Empirical results imply that the spatial pattern of carbon emissions has experienced a reshaping tendency from core-periphery to polycentric structure, while the scale and geography of territorial ecosystem carbon sinks remained stabilize during the past decade. There existed a spatial agglomeration effect in functional zones oriented by intra-city carbon balance of Nanjing. These are tied to determinants such as urban expansion, population redistribution, industrial restructuring, as well as regulations on energy use, natural resource supervision and ecosystem protection. The newly built urban sub-centers and new-towns in Nanjing were spatially overlapping with regions where significant changes in carbon budgets occurred. Our findings suggest that the current system of territorial governance should be reformed to support the adoption of major function and carbon balance zoning oriented by carbon peaking and neutrality at finer geographical scales in China.

The legacy of industry reflects a city's journey and marks its cultural essence, highlighting the significance of preserving and promoting such historical assets. There is a noticeable gap in the discourse surrounding the intrinsic value of industrial heritage attractions and their impact on the fidelity of tourists. In light of this, the present investigation, rooted in the ABC attitude framework, examines the linkage between the perceived value, contentment, and allegiance of initial visitors to these sites. The study delves into the intermediary function of contentment and the variable influence of gender. Focusing on the Maoming Open-pit Ecological Park as a case in point, this research gathered and scrutinized 320 valid questionnaires. The outcomes demonstrate that the perceived value exerts a positive effect on both the satisfaction and the steadfastness of tourists. Satisfaction is identified as an intermediary between perceived value and tourist steadfastness. Additionally, gender plays a notable role in moderating specific aspects of the model. This inquiry aids in harnessing the potential of industrial heritage sites for the advancement of tourism, fostering economic prosperity and the rebirth of cultural practices. Furthermore, it lays down essential theoretical and practical building blocks for the evolution of industrial heritage as a tourism asset.

Introduction Patients with non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) and concomitant multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD) are considered patients with extremely high-risk atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), and current guidelines specify a lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) target for this population. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors have been shown to effectively reduce LDL-C levels on a statin background. Additionally, several studies have confirmed the role of PCSK9 inhibitors in plaque regression and reducing residual cardiovascular risk in patients with ACS. However, those studies included coronary lesions with a degree of stenosis

Abstract The association between sarcopenia and OA still presents many uncertainties. We aimed to assess whether sarcopenia is associated with occurrence of OA in US adults. We conducted a cross-sectional study consisting of 11,456 participants from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2006. Sarcopenia was defined by a low muscle mass. The skeletal muscle index (SMI) was calculated as the appendicular skeletal muscle mass divided by body mass indexes (BMI) or body weight. OA status was assessed by using self-reported questionnaire. We evaluated the association between sarcopenia and OA using multivariate regression models. In addition, subgroup and interaction analysis were performed. Sarcopenia was associated with OA when it was defined by the BMI-adjusted SMI (OR = 1.23 [95% CI, 1.01, 1.51]; P = 0.038) and defined by the weight-adjusted SMI (OR = 1.30 [95% CI, 1.10, 1.55]; P = 0.003). Subgroup and interaction analysis found that the strongest positive association mainly exists in smoker (OR = 1.54 [95% CI, 1.21, 1.95], Pint = 0.006), and this association is not significant in other groups. In conclusion, we found that sarcopenia was associated with occurrence of OA. Subgroup analysis revealed that the association between sarcopenia and OA was more pronounced in smoker. Further well-designed prospective cohort studies are needed to assess our results.

Abstract Research suggests that ischemic glycolysis improves myocardial tolerance to anoxia and low-flow ischemia. The rate of glycolysis during ischemia reflects the severity of the injury caused by ischemia and subsequent functional recovery following reperfusion. Histone H2AK119 ubiquitination (H2Aub) is a common modification that is primarily associated with gene silencing. Recent studies have demonstrated that H2Aub contributes to the development of cardiovascular diseases. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study identified Hsp27 (heat shock protein 27) as a H2Aub binding protein and explored its involvement in mediating glycolysis and mitochondrial function. Functional studies revealed that inhibition of PRC1 (polycomb repressive complex 1) decreased H2Aub occupancy and promoted Hsp27 expression through inhibiting ubiquitination. Additionally, it increased glycolysis by activating the NF-κB/PFKFB3 signaling pathway during myocardial ischemia. Furthermore, Hsp27 reduced mitochondrial ROS production by chaperoning COQ9, and suppressed ferroptosis during reperfusion. A delivery system was developed based on PCL-PEG-MAL (PPM)-PCM-SH (CWLSEAGPVVTVRALRGTGSW) to deliver PRT4165 (PRT), a potent inhibitor of PRC1, to damaged myocardium, resulting in decreased H2Aub. These findings revealed a novel epigenetic mechanism connecting glycolysis and ferroptosis in protecting the myocardium against ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Introduction Non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) remains a significant clinical concern, accounting for over 70% of acute coronary syndrome cases. One well-established risk factor for NSTE-ACS is abnormal glucose metabolism, which is associated with a poor prognosis postpercutaneous coronary intervention. Effective monitoring of blood glucose is crucial in diabetes care, as it helps identify glucose metabolic imbalances, thereby guiding therapeutic strategies and assessing treatment efficacy. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) provides comprehensive glucose profiles. Therefore, the study aims to use CGM to track perioperative glucose variations in NSTE-ACS patients and to determine its prognostic implications.Methods and analysis This is a multicentre, prospective observational study in a sample of patients (aged >18 years) with NSTE-ACS. A total of 1200 eligible patients will be recruited within 1 year at 6 sites in China. The primary composite endpoint will be determined as major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) at 3 years. MACE includes all-cause mortality, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke and target vessel revascularisation. Employing the CGM system, glucose levels will be continuously monitored throughout the perioperative phase. Prespecified cardiovascular analyses included analyses of the components of this composite and outcomes according to CGM-derived glucometrics at baseline.Ethics and dissemination This study has received approval from the Medical Research Ethics Committee of The First Affiliated Hospital of the University of Science and Technology of China (No. 2022KY357) and will adhere to the moral, ethical and scientific principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki. All participants will provide written informed consent prior to any study-related procedures. Findings from the study will be shared at conferences and published in peer-reviewed scientific journals.Trial registration number ChiCT2300069663.

Potato powdery scab is a serious disease that affects potato yield and has widespread global impacts. Due to its concealed symptoms, it is difficult to detect and control the disease once lesions appear. This paper aims to overcome the drawbacks of interactive algorithms and proposes an optimized approach using object detection for the GrabCut algorithm. We design a YOLOv7-guided non-interactive GrabCut algorithm and combine it with image denoising techniques, considering the characteristics of potato powdery scab lesions. We successfully achieve effective segmentation of potato powdery scab lesions. Through experiments, the improved segmentation algorithm has an average accuracy of 88.05%, and the highest accuracy can reach 91.07%. This is an increase of 46.28% and 32.69% respectively compared to the relatively accurate K-means algorithm. Moreover, compared to the original algorithm which could not segment the lesions independently, the improvement is more significant. The experimental results indicate that the algorithm has a high segmentation accuracy, which provides strong support for further disease analysis and control.

Vascular diseases, a leading cause of death in human, are strongly associated with pathological damage to blood vessels. The selenoprotein (Sel) have been reported to play important roles in vascular disease. However, the role of SelO in vascular disease has not been conclusively investigated. The present experiment was to investigate the regulatory mechanism of the effect of SelO on the permeability of vascular endothelial. The H.E staining, FITC-Dextran staining, Dil-AC-LDL staining and FITC-WGA staining showed that vascular structure was damaged, and intercellular junctions were disrupted with selenium (Se)-deficient. Immunohistochemistry, qPCR and Western blot revealed decreased expression of the adhesion plaque proteins vinculin, talin and paxillin, decreased expression of the vascular connectivity effector molecules connexin, claudin-1 and E-cadherin and increased expression of JAM-A and N-cadherin, as well as decreased expression of the ZO-1 signaling pathways ZO-1, Rock, rhoGEF, cingulin and MLC-2. In a screening of 24 Sel present in mice, SelO showed the most pronounced changes in vascular tissues, and a possible association between SelO and vascular intercellular junction effectors was determined using IBM SPSS Statistics 25. Silencing of SelO, vascular endothelial intercellular junction adverse effects present. The regulatory relationship between SelO and vascular endothelial intercellular junctions was determined. The results showed that Se deficiency lead to increased vascular endothelial permeability and vascular tissue damage by decreasing SelO expression, suggesting a possible role for SelO in regulating vascular endothelial permeability.

Protein corona (PC) has been identified to impede the transportation of intravenously injected nanoparticles (NPs) from blood circulation to their targeted sites. However, how intestinal PC (IPC) affects the delivery of orally administered NPs are still needed to be elucidated. Here, we found that IPC exerted “positive effect” or “negative effect” depending on different pathological conditions in the gastrointestinal tract. We prepared polystyrene nanoparticles (PS) adsorbed with different IPC derived from the intestinal tract of healthy, diabetic, and colitis rats (H-IPC@PS, D-IPC@PS, C-IPC@PS). Proteomics analysis revealed that, compared with healthy IPC, the two disease-specific IPC consisted of a higher proportion of proteins that were closely correlated with transepithelial transport across the intestine. Consequently, both D-IPC@PS and C-IPC@PS mainly exploited the recycling endosome and ER-Golgi mediated secretory routes for intracellular trafficking, which increased the transcytosis from the epithelium. Together, disease-specific IPC endowed NPs with higher intestinal absorption. D-IPC@PS posed “positive effect” on intestinal absorption into blood circulation for diabetic therapy. Conversely, C-IPC@PS had “negative effect” on colitis treatment because of unfavorable absorption in the intestine before arriving colon. These results imply that different or even opposite strategies to modulate the disease-specific IPC need to be adopted for oral nanomedicine in the treatment of variable diseases.

Abstract High-throughput sequencing allows for the comprehensive analysis of the human intestinal microbiota. However, extensive association analyses between the microbiome and lifestyle differences in the Chinese population are limited. Here, we carried out an independent cohort study—the Chinese Healthy Gut Project (n = 483)—where correlations between the gut microbiota and dietary and lifestyle variables in a healthy Chinese population are defined. We collected both questionnaire data, including basic information and lifestyle and dietary variables, and fecal stools from the enrolled volunteers. We then performed 16S rRNA sequencing on the microbial DNA isolated from the stools to assess the composition of the intestinal microbiota. We found that Prevotella and Bacteroides were the most abundant genera in the healthy Chinese gut microbiome. Additionally, 9 out of 29 clinical and questionnaire-based phenotype covariates were found to be associated with the variation in the composition of the gut microbiota. Among these lifestyle phenotypes, sleep procrastination, negative mood, and drinking habits had the largest effect size. Additionally, an appreciable effect of urbanization was observed, resulting in decreased intra-individual diversity, increased inter-individual diversity, and an increased abundance of the Bacteroides enterotype. The results of this study provide a foundation for assessing the healthy Chinese gut microbiota community structure at baseline in a healthy Chinese population. Furthermore, this study also provides insights into understanding how distinctive living habits influence the relationships between the Chinese gut microbiome and systemic health state.

Abstract Objectives This study constructed a nomogram based on grayscale ultrasound features and real-time shear wave elastography (SWE) parameters to predict thyroid cancer. Methods Clinical data of 217 thyroid nodules of 201 patients who underwent grayscale ultrasound, real-time SWE, and thyroid function laboratory examination in Ma’anshan People’s Hospital from January 2019 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The subjects were divided into a benign nodule group (106 nodules) and a malignant nodule group (111 nodules). The differences in grayscale ultrasound features, quantitative parameters of real-time SWE, and laboratory results of thyroid function between benign and malignant thyroid nodules were analyzed. We used a chi-square test for categorical variables and a t-test for continuous variables. Then, the independent risk factors for thyroid cancer were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. Based on the independent risk factors, a nomogram for predicting thyroid cancer risk was constructed using the RMS package of the R software. Results Multivariate logistic regression showed that the grayscale ultrasound features of thyroid nodules were the shape, margin, echogenicity, and echogenic foci of the nodules,the maximum Young’s modulus (SWE-max) of thyroid nodules, and the ratio of thyroid nodule and peripheral gland (SWE-ratio) measured by real-time SWE were independent risk factors for thyroid cancer (all p 0.05). Based on the shape (OR = 5.160, 95% CI: 2.252–11.825), the margin (OR = 9.647, 95% CI: 2.048–45.443), the echogenicity (OR = 6.512, 95% CI: 1.729–24.524), the echogenic foci (OR = 2.049, 95% CI: 1.118–3.756), and the maximum Young’s modulus (SWE-max) (OR = 1.296, 95% CI: 1.140–1.473), the SWE-ratio (OR = 2.001, 95% CI: 1.403–2.854) of the thyroid nodule to peripheral gland was used to establish the related nomogram prediction model. The bootstrap self-sampling method was used to verify the model. The consistency index (C-index) was 0.979, ROC curve was used to analyze the nomogram scores of all patients, and the AUC of nomogram prediction of thyroid cancer was 0.976, indicating that the nomogram model had high accuracy in the risk prediction of thyroid cancer. Conclusions The nomogram model of grayscale ultrasound features combined with SWE parameters can accurately predict thyroid cancer.

Abstract Background MSM are at high risk of HIV infection. Previous studies have shown that the cell cycle regulation plays an important role in HIV-1 infection, especially at the G2/M checkpoint. ATR, Chk1, Cdc25C and CDK1 are key genes of G2/M checkpoint. However, the association between SNPs of these genes and susceptibility to HIV-1 infection and AIDS progression remains unknown. Methods In this study, 42 tSNPs from the above four G2/M checkpoint genes were genotyped in 529 MSM and 529 control subjects from northern China to analyze this association. Results The results showed that rs34660854 A and rs75368165 A in ATR gene and rs3756766 A in Cdc25C gene could increase the risk of HIV-1 infection (P = 0.049, OR = 1.234, 95% CI 1.001–1.521; P = 0.020, OR = 1.296, 95% CI 1.042–1.611; P = 0.011, OR = 1.392, 95% CI 1.080–1.794, respectively), while Chk1 rs10893405 (P = 0.029, OR = 1.629, 95% CI 1.051–2.523) were significantly associated with AIDS progression. Besides, rs34660854 (P = 0.019, OR = 1.364, 95% CI 1.052–1.769; P = 0.022, OR = 1.337, 95% CI 1.042–1.716, under Codominant model and Dominant model, respectively) and rs75368165 (P = 0.006, OR = 1.445, 95% CI = 1.114–1.899; P = 0.007, OR = 1.418, 95% CI 1.099–1.831, under Codominant model and Dominant model, respectively) in ATR gene, rs12576279 (P = 0.013, OR = 0.343, 95% CI 0.147-0.800; P = 0.048, OR = 0.437, 95% CI 0.192–0.991, under Codominant model and Dominant model, respectively) and rs540436 (P = 0.012, OR = 1.407, 95% CI 1.077–1.836; P = 0.021, OR = 1.359, 95% CI 1.048–1.762, under Codominant model and Dominant model, respectively) in Chk1 gene, rs3756766 (P = 0.013, OR = 1.455, 95% CI 1.083–1.954; P = 0.009, OR = 1.460, 95% CI 1.098–1.940, under Codominant model and Dominant model, respectively) in Cdc25C gene and rs139245206 (P = 0.022, OR = 5.011, 95% CI 1.267–19.816; P = 0.020, OR = 5.067, 95% CI 1.286–19.970, under Codominant model and Recessive model, respectively) in CDK1 gene were significantly associated with HIV-1 infection under different models. Conclusions We found that genetic variants of G2/M checkpoint genes had a molecular influence on the occurrence of HIV-1 infection and AIDS progression in a northern Chinese MSM population.

In addressing the high costs, inefficiencies, and limitations of purely digital simulations in maritime trials for unmanned vessel path planning, this paper introduces a ship virtual path planning simulation test system. This system, unbound by temporal and spatial constraints, vividly showcases the navigational performance of vessels. After analyzing the virtual testing requirements for the autonomous navigation performance of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), we established the overall framework of this system. Data-driven by a numerical simulation platform, the system achieves synchronized operation between physical and virtual platforms and supports interactive path planning simulations between USVs and the virtual testing system. Furthermore, to address the limitations of traditional ship trajectory planning evaluation, this paper develops a global path planning fitness evaluation function that comprehensively considers trajectory safety, navigation distance, and vessel stability, achieving optimal comprehensive routes through the particle swarm optimization algorithm. Test results indicate an average roll reduction of 14.31% in the planned routes, with a slight increase in navigation distance. By integrating two-dimensional curve simulation with three-dimensional visualization, this paper not only overcomes the limitations of purely physical and purely virtual simulations but also enhances the overall credibility and intuitiveness of the simulation. Experimental results validate the system’s effectiveness, providing a novel method for autonomous navigation testing and evaluation of USVs.

In this paper, the global stabilization problem of control systems with input saturation and multiple input delays is studied, and a new method is proposed to design nonlinear stabilization control laws. First, based on Luenberger’s canonical decomposition, the multiple-input delay system is transformed into a series of linear time-delay systems with single inputs and input saturation. However, for the converted system, each subsystem is coupled to the others. Therefore, the idea of recursion is adopted to construct a special state transformation with time delay for each subsystem and convert it into a linear system with time delay for both state variables and input variables. For the conversion system, a nonlinear controller with cascade saturation control is designed, and the controller includes some free parameters. The control performance of the controller is improved by adjusting the free parameters online. At the same time, a less conservative stability condition is established to ensure the dynamic performance of the closed-loop system. Finally, the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method are verified by numerical simulation and practical applications in a spacecraft rendezvous system.

In the realm of urban planning and environmental evaluation, the delineation and categorization of land types are pivotal. This study introduces a convolutional neural network-based image semantic segmentation approach to delineate parcel data in remote sensing imagery. The initial phase involved a comparative analysis of various CNN architectures. ResNet and VGG serve as the foundational networks for training, followed by a comparative assessment of the experimental outcomes. Subsequently, the VGG+U-Net model, which demonstrated superior efficacy, was chosen as the primary network. Enhancements to this model were made by integrating attention mechanisms. Specifically, three distinct attention mechanisms—spatial, SE, and channel—were incorporated into the VGG+U-Net framework, and various loss functions were evaluated and selected. The impact of these attention mechanisms, in conjunction with different loss functions, was scrutinized. This study proposes a novel network model, designated VGG+U-Net+Channel, that leverages the VGG architecture as the backbone network in conjunction with the U-Net structure and augments it with the channel attention mechanism to refine the model’s performance. This refinement resulted in a 1.14% enhancement in the network’s overall precision and marked improvements in MPA and MioU. A comparative analysis of the detection capabilities between the enhanced and original models was conducted, including a pixel count for each category to ascertain the extent of various semantic information. The experimental validation confirms the viability and efficacy of the proposed methodology.

IntroductionGut microbiota are closely related to the nutrition, immunity, and metabolism of the host and play important roles in maintaining the normal physiological activities of animals. Cranes are important protected avian species in China, and they are sensitive to changes in the ecological environment and are thus good environmental indicators. There have been no reports examining gut fungi or the correlation between bacteria and fungi in wild Demoiselle cranes (Grus virgo) and Common cranes (Grus grus). Related research can provide a foundation for the protection of rare wild animals.Methods16S rRNA and ITS high-throughput sequencing techniques were used to analyze the gut bacterial and fungal diversity of Common and Demoiselle cranes migrating to the Yellow River wetland in Inner Mongolia.ResultsThe results revealed that for gut bacteria α diversity, Chao1 index in Demoiselle cranes was remarkably higher than that in Common cranes (411.07 ± 79.54 vs. 294.92 ± 22.38), while other index had no remarkably differences. There was no remarkable difference in fungal diversity. There were marked differences in the gut microbial composition between the two crane species. At the phylum level, the highest abundance of bacteria in the Common crane and Demoiselle crane samples was Firmicutes, accounting for 87.84% and 74.29%, respectively. The highest abundance of fungi in the guts of the Common and Demoiselle cranes was Ascomycota, accounting for 69.42% and 57.63%, respectively. At the genus level, the most abundant bacterial genus in the Common crane sample was Turicibacter (38.60%), and the most abundant bacterial genus in the Demoiselle crane sample was Catelicoccus (39.18%). The most abundant fungi in the Common crane sample was Penicillium (6.97%), and the most abundant fungi in the Demoiselle crane sample was Saccharomyces (8.59%). Correlation analysis indicated that there was a significant correlation between gut bacteria and fungi.DiscussionThis study provided a research basis for the protection of cranes. Indeed, a better understanding of the gut microbiota is very important for the conservation and management of wild birds, as it not only helps us to understand their life history and related mechanisms, but also can hinder the spread of pathogenic microorganisms.

Introduction ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) presents a serious cardiovascular condition requiring prompt intervention. Dysglycaemia has been identified as a significant risk factor impacting STEMI prognosis. However, limited research has focused on comprehensively examining the association between glucose dynamics during the perioperative period and patient outcomes. This study aims to address this gap by leveraging continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology to gain real-time insights into glucose fluctuations and their potential impact on STEMI prognosis.Methods and analysis This is a multicentre, prospective, 3-year follow-up cohort study. Between May 2023 and May 2024, 550 eligible STEM patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention are expected to be recruited. Using the CGM system, continuous glucose levels will be collected throughout the perioperative phase. Key clinical parameters, including cardiac biomarkers, angiographic findings and major adverse cardiovascular events, will be assessed in relation to glucose profile.Ethics and dissemination The study was approved by the Medical Research Ethics Committee of The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China and will be conducted in accordance with the moral, ethical and scientific principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants before any study-related procedures are implemented. Study results will be disseminated through conferences and peer-reviewed scientific journals.Trial registration number ChiCTR2300069662.

Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is a relatively rare malignant neoplasm of the urinary system. Due to its highly aggressiveness, the tumor has already undergone invasive growth when most UTUC patients are diagnosed. In addition, the most common cause of fever in cancer patients is infection, and cancer patients with neoplastic fever are relatively rare. We reported a 58-year-old man with invasive high-grade UTUC accompanied by hyperthermia.

In response to the lack of global quantitative research on the potential and scale prediction of CO2 capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) in China under the background of carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals, this study predicts the future economic costs of different links of CCUS technologies and the carbon capture needs of different industries in the scenario of fossil energy continuation. Based on the CO2 utilization and storage potential and spatial distribution in China, a cost-scale calculation model for different regions in China in 2060 is constructed to predict the whole-process economic cost and its corresponding scale potential of CCUS. The results show that a local + remote storage mode is preferred, together with a local utilization mode, to meet China's 27×108 t/a CO2 emission reduction demand under the scenario of fossil energy continuation. Specifically, about 5×108 t CO2 emission is reduced by capture utilization, and the whole-process cost is about −1400–200 RMB/t; about 22×108 t CO2 emission is reduced by capture storage, and the whole-process cost is about 200–450 RMB/t. According to the model results, it is recommended to develop the chemical utilization industry based on P2X (Power to X, where X is raw material) technology, construct the CCUS industrial cluster, and explore a multi-party win-win cooperation mode. A scheme of national trunk pipeline network connecting areas connecting intensive emission reduction demand areas and target storage areas is suggested. The emission reduction cost of thermal power based on CCUS is calculated to be 0.16 RMB/(kW·h).

For constrained image-based visual servoing (IBVS) of robot manipulators, a model predictive control (MPC) strategy tuned by reinforcement learning (RL) is proposed in this study. First, model predictive control is used to transform the image-based visual servo task into a nonlinear optimization problem while taking system constraints into consideration. In the design of the model predictive controller, a depth-independent visual servo model is presented as the predictive model. Next, a suitable model predictive control objective function weight matrix is trained and obtained by a deep-deterministic-policy-gradient-based (DDPG) RL algorithm. Then, the proposed controller gives the sequential joint signals, so that the robot manipulator can respond to the desired state quickly. Finally, appropriate comparative simulation experiments are developed to illustrate the efficacy and stability of the suggested strategy.

Background: No evidence exists on the impact of bivalirudin in patients with the acute coronary syndrome undergoing rotational atherectomy. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of bivalirudin on patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing rotational atherectomy. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study conducted in our hospital between January 2017 and December 2019. The study included patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing rotational atherectomy. Furthermore, 2 cohorts were included in this study (bivalirudin cohort and control cohort unfractionated heparin). The primary end-point was in-hospital net adverse clinical events. The secondary endpoint was all-cause mortality at 23 months. Results: The study included 157 patients with 33 (21.0%) in the bivalirudin cohort and 124 (79.0%) in the control cohort. Net adverse clinical events during hospitalization in the bivalirudin cohort were higher than that in the control cohort [9 (27.3%) vs. 14 (11.3%), P = .021]. However, there was no significant difference in all-cause mortality at 23 months between the 2 cohorts [25 (20.2%) vs. 10 (30.3%), P =.214]. After adjusting for potential confounders, the usage of bivalirudin was not associated with net adverse clinical event (odds ratio = 0.90; 95% CI: 0.18-4.45; P =.890), and the hazard ratio for all-cause mortality at 23 months was 1.01 (95% CI: 0.33-3.15; P =.983). Conclusion: Bivalirudin appears to exhibit a similar impact as unfractionated heparin on patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing rotational atherectomy in real-life setting.

Abstract Quantitative assessment and effective utilization of wind energy resources in global range are substantively meaningful in contemporary low‐carbon energy scenarios. In order to enrich the assessment with large‐scale applicability, multi‐factor consideration and quantitative economic analysis, a multi‐criteria assessment method for global wind energy with consideration of both environmental and economic factors (existing power grids, transportation, etc.) is proposed. Based on 18 items of basic digital data, a model is established from three dimensions of theoretical, technical and economic criteria, respectively. Global wind resources assessment is then accomplished with a spatial resolution of 500 m. The results indicate that global technical potential is 206 TW, of which 73% is from onshore wind, and around 132 TW is suitable for centralized development. Specifically, the global average development cost is 4.28 ¢/kWh, including 4.13 ¢/kWh onshore and 4.57 ¢/kWh offshore. The global distribution maps are drawn. Furthermore, combining geospatial calculation and statistical analysis, the cumulative probability distribution curves are obtained with two key indexes of capacity factor and development cost. A case study supporting a low‐carbon energy transition scenario indicates the overall cost of the future wind power demand of 6.76 TW can reduce to 2.48 ¢/kWh ideally in 2035. Finally, a rationality verification method is proposed. By the case study of global built wind farms, the geographical location coincidence of the assessment results is 83%.

Abstract Background Radiotherapy resistance is the main cause of treatment failure in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), which leads to poor prognosis. It is urgent to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying radiotherapy resistance. Methods RNA-seq analysis was applied to five paired progressive disease (PD) and complete response (CR) NPC tissues. Loss-and gain-of-function assays were used for oncogenic function of FLI1 both in vitro and in vivo. RNA-seq analysis, ChIP assays and dual luciferase reporter assays were performed to explore the interaction between FLI1 and TIE1. Gene expression with clinical information from tissue microarray of NPC were analyzed for associations between FLI1/TIE1 expression and NPC prognosis. Results FLI1 is a potential radiosensitivity regulator which was dramatically overexpressed in the patients with PD to radiotherapy compared to those with CR. FLI1 induced radiotherapy resistance and enhanced the ability of DNA damage repair in vitro, and promoted radiotherapy resistance in vivo. Mechanistic investigations showed that FLI1 upregulated the transcription of TIE1 by binding to its promoter, thus activated the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. A decrease in TIE1 expression restored radiosensitivity of NPC cells. Furthermore, NPC patients with high levels of FLI1 and TIE1 were correlated with poor prognosis. Conclusion Our study has revealed that FLI1 regulates radiotherapy resistance of NPC through TIE1-mediated PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, suggesting that targeting the FLI1/TIE1 signaling pathway could be a potential therapeutic strategy to enhance the efficacy of radiotherapy in NPC.

Abstract The grasshopper optimization algorithm (GOA) is a meta-heuristic algorithm proposed in 2017 mimics the biological behavior of grasshopper swarms seeking food sources in nature for solving optimization problems. Nonetheless, some shortcomings exist in the origin GOA, and GOA global search ability is more or less insufficient and precision also needs to be further improved. Although there are many different GOA variants in the literature, the problem of inefficient and rough precision has still emerged in GOA variants. Aiming at these deficiencies, this paper develops an improved version of GOA with Levy Flight mechanism called LFGOA to alleviate the shortcomings of the origin GOA. The LFGOA algorithm achieved a more suitable balance between exploitation and exploration during searching for the most promising region. The performance of LFGOA is tested using 23 mathematical benchmark functions in comparison with the eight well-known meta-heuristic algorithms and seven real-world engineering problems. The statistical analysis and experimental results show the efficiency of LFGOA. According to obtained results, it is possible to say that the LFGOA algorithm can be a potential alternative in the solution of meta-heuristic optimization problems as it has high exploration and exploitation capabilities.

ABSTRACT The host–bacterial interactions play the key role in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Dysbiosis of the intestinal flora can lead to pathological changes in the intestine. Rosmarinic acid (RA) is a natural phenolic acid compound with antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, anti-fibrotic, and anti-bacterial activities that has a palliative effect on acute IBD. We have established an in vivo model for mice. Histological staining was performed to directly observe RA alterations in the intestinal tract. The alteration of RA on mouse intestinal flora was observed by 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing, and the effect of RA on intestinal mechanism of action was detected by qPCR and western blot. The results showed that RA had a significant protective effect on the intestine. RA upregulated the abundance of Lactobacillus johnsonii and Candidatus Arthromitus sp SFB-mouse-NL and downregulated the abundance of Bifidobacterium pseudolongum, Escherichia coli, and Romboutsia ilealis. RA downregulated the expressions of ROCK, RhoA, CaM, MLC, MLCK, ZEB1, ZO-1, ZO-2, occludin, E-cadherin, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, GRP78, PERK, IRE1, ATF6, CHOP, Caspase12, Caspase9, Caspase3, Bax, Cytc, RIPK1, RIPK3, MLKL, and upregulated the expression of IL-10 and Bcl-2. These results displayed that RA inhibited the inflammation, which is caused by tight junction damage, by repairing intestinal flora dysbiosis, relieved endoplasmic reticulum stress, inhibited cell death, and corrected smooth muscle contractile dysregulation. The results of this study revealed RA could have a protective effect on the small intestine of mice by regulating intestinal flora. IMPORTANCE Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic, relapsing, remitting disorder of the gastrointestinal system. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of rosmarinic acid on the intestinal tract. The results showed that RA was effective in reducing inflammatory damage, endoplasmic reticulum stress, smooth muscle contraction abnormalities, and regulating intestinal flora disorders.

Primary colorectal cancer (CRC) often leads to liver metastasis, possibly due to the formation of pre-metastatic niche (PMN) in liver. Thus, unravelling the key modulator in metastasis is important for the development of clinical therapies. Gut microbiota dysregulation is a key event during CRC progression and metastasis. Numerous studies have elucidated the correlation between specific gut bacteria strains (e.g., pks+E. coli and Bacteroides fragilis) and CRC initiation, and gut bacteria translocation is commonly witnessed during CRC progression. Gut microbiota shapes tumor microenvironment (TME) through direct contact with immune cells or through its functional metabolites. However, how gut microbiota facilitates CRC metastasis remains controversial. Meanwhile, recent studies identify the dissemination of bacteria from gut lumen to liver, suggesting the role of gut microbiota in shaping tumor PMN. A pro-tumoral PMN is characterized by the infiltration of immunosuppressive cells and increased pro-inflammatory immune responses. Notably, neutrophils form web-like structures known as neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) both in primary TME and metastatic sites, NETs are involved in cancer progression and metastasis. In this review, we focus on the role of gut microbiota in CRC progression and metastasis, highlight the multiple functions of different immune cell types in TME, especially neutrophils and NETs, discuss the possible mechanisms of gut microbiota in shaping PMN formation, and provide therapeutical indications in clinic.

This study presents a novel image-based visual servoing fault-tolerant control strategy aimed at ensuring the successful completion of visual servoing tasks despite the presence of robotic arm actuator faults. Initially, a depth-independent image-based visual servoing model is established to mitigate the effects of inaccurate camera parameters and missing depth information on the system. Additionally, a robotic arm dynamic model is constructed, which simultaneously considers both multiplicative and additive actuator faults. Subsequently, model uncertainties, unknown disturbances, and coupled actuator faults are consolidated as centralized uncertainties, and an iterative learning fault observer is designed to estimate them. Based on this, suitable sliding surfaces and control laws are developed within the super-twisting sliding mode visual servo controller to rapidly reduce control deviation to near zero and circumvent the chattering phenomenon typically observed in traditional sliding mode control. Finally, through comparative simulation between different control strategies, the proposed method is shown to effectively counteract the effect of actuator faults and exhibit robust performance.

Lossy mode resonance (LMR) sensors offer a promising avenue to surpass the constraints of conventional surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors by delivering enhanced label-free detection capabilities. A notable edge of LMR over SPR is its excitation potential by both transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) polarized light. Yet this merit remains underexplored due to challenges to achieving high sensing performance under both TM and TE polarization within a singular LMR model. This study introduces a theoretical model for an LMR prism refractive index sensor based on a MgF2-few layer black phosphorus-MgF2 configuration, which can achieve angular sensitivity nearing 90° refractive index unit−1 (RIU−1) for both polarizations. Leveraging the distinct anisotropic nature of black phosphorus, the figure of merit (FOM) values along its two principal crystal axes (zigzag and armchair) show great difference, achieving an impressive FOM of 1.178 × 106 RIU−1 along the zigzag direction under TE polarized light and 1.231 × 104 RIU−1 along the armchair direction under TM polarized light. We also provide an analysis of the electric field distribution for each configuration at its respective resonant conditions. The proposed structure paves the way for innovative applications of anisotropic-material-based LMR sensors in various applications.

Fractional differential equations, which are non-local and can better describe memory and genetic properties, are widely used to describe various physical, chemical, and biological phenomena. Therefore, the multi-agent systems based on discrete-time fractional stochastic models are established. First, some followers are selected for pinning control. In order to save resources and energy, an event-triggered based control mechanism is proposed. Second, under this control mechanism, sufficient conditions on the interaction graph and the fractional derivative order such that formation control can be achieved are given. Additionally, influenced by noise, the multi-agent system completes formation control in the mean square. In addition to that, these results are equally applicable to the discrete-time fractional formation problem without noise. Finally, the example of numerical simulation is given to prove the correctness of the results.

Effective transport layers are essential to suppress non-radiative recombination losses. Here, the authors introduce phenylamino-functionalized ortho-carborane as an interfacial layer, and realise inverted perovskite solar cells with efficiency of over 23% and operational stability of T97 = 400 h.

(1) Background: To assess the efficacy of the quantitative parameters of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) diffusion-weighted imaging for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) diagnosis after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). (2) Methods: Fifty HCC patients after TACE were included and underwent MRI. All of the patients were scanned with the IVIM-DWI sequence and underwent TACE retreatment within 1 week. Referring to digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and MR enhanced images, two readers measured the f, D, and D* values of the tumor active area (TAA), tumor necrotic area (TNA), and adjacent normal hepatic parenchyma (ANHP). Then, the distinctions of the TAA, TNA, and ANHP were compared and we analyzed the differential diagnosis of the parameters in three tissues. (3) Results: For values of f and D, there were significant differences between any of the TAA, TNA, and ANHP (p < 0.05). The values of f and D were the best indicators for identifying the TAA and TNA, with AUC values of 0.959 and 0.955, respectively. The values of f and D performed well for distinguishing TAA from ANHP, with AUC values of 0.835 and 0.753, respectively. (4) Conclusions: Quantitative IVIM-DWI was effective for evaluating tumor viability in HCC patients treated with TACE and may be helpful for non-invasive monitoring of the tumor viability.

Abstract Background Balance function provides a physiological link between the physical and cognitive function, and is a potential predictor for cognitive frailty. As a gentle mind–body exercise, Baduanjin can develop flexibility and co-ordination, thus would be is helpful for the improvement of balance function. This trial will evaluate the effect of Baduanjin on balance function in older adults with CF. Methods/design A total of 72 community-dwelling older adults with CF will be recruited and randomly allocated (1:1) into the Baduanjin exercise group or usual physical activity control group. All participants will undergo a health education program on nutrition and diet-related knowledge for 6 sessions (30 min per session) during the intervention period. Moreover, participants in the Baduanjin exercise group will receive a 24-week Baduanjin training course of 60 min per session and 3 sessions per week, while those in the usual physical activity control group will be required to maintain their original physical activity. Primary and secondary outcomes will be measured at baseline and after the 24-week intervention period. A mixed linear model will be constructed to analyse the intervention effects. Discussion This protocol presents an objective design of a randomized, single-blind trial that will evaluate the effectiveness and safety of traditional Chinese mind–body exercise Baduanjin training on the balance ability of community-dwelling older adults with cognitive frailty. If the results are as expected, this trial will provide evidence of the effect of Baduanjin exercise on balance in an older community-based population. Trial registration This trial was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry with code ChiCTR2100050857 and was approved on 5 September 2021.

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is a common brominated flame retardant that has a wide range of toxic effects on organisms. However, the mechanism of the toxic effects of TBBPA on the digestive system has rarely been studied. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanism of TBBPA toxicity on the gastric mucosa. In this study, TBBPA (mixed with corn oil) was administered by gavage at doses of 0 mg/kg (CG), 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg. The results showed that the levels of ROS, MDA and LPO were increased, and the activities of antioxidant enzymes were decreased. Large amounts of ROS activated the NF-κB pathway, leading to the development of an inflammatory response. The expression of BCL family and Caspase (Cas) family genes was increased, inducing apoptosis. The RIP3/MLKL pathway was activated, leading to cell necrosis. In summary, TBBPA can cause damage to the gastric mucosa through oxidative stress, leading to increased ROS activation of the NF-κB pathway. Treatment with the antioxidant NAC alleviated the damage to the gastric mucosa caused by TBBPA.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is currently the fastest growing disabling neurological disorder worldwide, with motor and non-motor symptoms being its main clinical manifestations. The primary pathological features include a reduction in the number of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and decrease in dopamine levels in the nigrostriatal pathway. Existing treatments only alleviate clinical symptoms and do not stop disease progression; slowing down the loss of dopaminergic neurons and stimulating their regeneration are emerging therapies. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that transplantation of dopamine cells generated from human embryonic or induced pluripotent stem cells can restore the loss of dopamine. However, the application of cell transplantation is limited owing to ethical controversies and the restricted source of cells. Until recently, the reprogramming of astrocytes to replenish lost dopaminergic neurons has provided a promising alternative therapy for PD. In addition, repair of mitochondrial perturbations, clearance of damaged mitochondria in astrocytes, and control of astrocyte inflammation may be extensively neuroprotective and beneficial against chronic neuroinflammation in PD. Therefore, this review primarily focuses on the progress and remaining issues in astrocyte reprogramming using transcription factors (TFs) and miRNAs, as well as exploring possible new targets for treating PD by repairing astrocytic mitochondria and reducing astrocytic inflammation.

Abstract Over the last decade, the rapid development of wearable electronics has generated renewed interest in textiles. The integration of advanced nanotechnology and microelectronics with well‐established textile production processes has resulted in textile electronics, that are lightweight, flexible, breathable, and conformable, which broadens the applications of electronic products. The hierarchical textile structure, ranging from a single fiber to twisted yarns and various fabrics, is suitable for constructing multifunctional flexible devices. In particular, yarn, which bridges between fiber and fabric, is advantageous owing to its easy integration into wearable formats via weaving, knitting, or braiding. However, because of the dearth of effective interdisciplinary communication between researchers of electronic and textile engineering, fabricating yarn‐based devices with superior mechanical properties and versatile electronic functionality is difficult. Therefore, this review provides an overview of yarn‐based electronics, followed by a systematical summary of recent progress in yarns with respect to material and device design, multifunctional integration, and applications in wearable devices, including sensors, actuators, stealth, batteries, and nanogenerators. Furthermore, the major challenges and future developments in this field are discussed.

Abstract Non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) is a specific type of acute coronary syndrome. We applied the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) score for risk stratification of patient prognosis. There was uncertainty about the routine revascularization time in patients with intermediate-risk NSTE-ACS. A total of 2835 patients with intermediate-risk NSTE-ACS (TIMI score 3–4) included in the China Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry from November 2014 to January 2017 were analyzed according to the time window from symptom onset to revascularization: within 24 h, Group I (814/28.7%); within 24 to 48 h, Group II (526/18.6%); within 48 to 72 h, Group III (403/14.2%); and after 72 h, Group IV (1092/38.5%). Risk factors, management and in-hospital outcomes were analyzed in the four groups. The results of the chi-square test showed that there was a significant difference in the incidence of in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) when revascularization was completed within 48 h than when it was completed after 48 h (P

Abstract Background Efficient upgrading of inferior agro-industrial resources and production of bio-based chemicals through a simple and environmentally friendly biotechnological approach is interesting Lactobionic acid is a versatile aldonic acid obtained from the oxidation of lactose. Several microorganisms have been used to produce lactobionic acid from lactose and whey. However, the lactobionic acid production titer and productivity should be further improved to compete with other methods. Results In this study, a new strain, Pseudomonas fragi NL20W, was screened as an outstanding biocatalyst for efficient utilization of waste whey to produce lactobionic acid. After systematic optimization of biocatalytic reactions, the lactobionic acid productivity from lactose increased from 3.01 g/L/h to 6.38 g/L/h in the flask. In batch fermentation using a 3 L bioreactor, the lactobionic acid productivity from whey powder containing 300 g/L lactose reached 3.09 g/L/h with the yield of 100%. Based on whole genome sequencing, a novel glucose dehydrogenase (GDH1) was determined as a lactose-oxidizing enzyme. Heterologous expression the enzyme GDH1 into P. putida KT2440 increased the lactobionic acid yield by 486.1%. Conclusion This study made significant progress both in improving lactobionic acid titer and productivity, and the lactobionic acid productivity from waste whey is superior to the ever reports. This study also revealed a new kind of aldose-oxidizing enzyme for lactose oxidation using P. fragi NL20W for the first time, which laid the foundation for further enhance lactobionic acid production by metabolic engineering. Graphical Abstract