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Abstract Background Chelerythrine is an important alkaloid used in agriculture and medicine. However, its structural complexity and low abundance in nature hampers either bulk chemical synthesis or extraction from plants. Here, we reconstructed and optimized the complete biosynthesis pathway for chelerythrine from (S)-reticuline in Saccharomyces cerevisiae using genetic reprogramming. Results The first-generation strain Z4 capable of producing chelerythrine was obtained via heterologous expression of seven plant-derived enzymes (McoBBE, TfSMT, AmTDC, EcTNMT, PsMSH, EcP6H, and PsCPR) in S. cerevisiae W303-1 A. When this strain was cultured in the synthetic complete (SC) medium supplemented with 100 µM of (S)-reticuline for 10 days, it produced up to 0.34 µg/L chelerythrine. Furthermore, efficient metabolic engineering was performed by integrating multiple-copy rate-limiting genes (TfSMT, AmTDC, EcTNMT, PsMSH, EcP6H, PsCPR, INO2, and AtATR1), tailoring the heme and NADPH engineering, and engineering product trafficking by heterologous expression of MtABCG10 to enhance the metabolic flux of chelerythrine biosynthesis, leading to a nearly 900-fold increase in chelerythrine production. Combined with the cultivation process, chelerythrine was obtained at a titer of 12.61 mg per liter in a 0.5 L bioreactor, which is over 37,000-fold higher than that of the first-generation recombinant strain. Conclusions This is the first heterologous reconstruction of the plant-derived pathway to produce chelerythrine in a yeast cell factory. Applying a combinatorial engineering strategy has significantly improved the chelerythrine yield in yeast and is a promising approach for synthesizing functional products using a microbial cell factory. This achievement underscores the potential of metabolic engineering and synthetic biology in revolutionizing natural product biosynthesis.

Abstract Improving activity and stability of Ruthenium (Ru)-based catalysts in acidic environments is eager to replace more expensive Iridium (Ir)-based materials as practical anode catalyst for proton-exchange membrane water electrolyzers (PEMWEs). Here, a bicontinuous nanoreactor composed of multiscale defective RuO2 nanomonomers (MD-RuO2-BN) is conceived and confirmed by three-dimensional tomograph reconstruction technology. The unique bicontinuous nanoreactor structure provides abundant active sites and rapid mass transfer capability through a cavity confinement effect. Besides, existing vacancies and grain boundaries endow MD-RuO2-BN with generous low-coordination Ru atoms and weakened Ru-O interaction, inhibiting the oxidation of lattice oxygen and dissolution of high-valence Ru. Consequently, in acidic media, the electron- and micro-structure synchronously optimized MD-RuO2-BN achieves hyper water oxidation activity (196 mV @ 10 mA cm−2) and an ultralow degradation rate of 1.2 mV h−1. A homemade PEMWE using MD-RuO2-BN as anode also conveys high water splitting performance (1.64 V @ 1 A cm−2). Theoretical calculations and in-situ Raman spectra further unveil the electronic structure of MD-RuO2-BN and the mechanism of water oxidation processes, rationalizing the enhanced performance by the synergistic effect of multiscale defects and protected active Ru sites.

Background and objectivesTo investigate the risk factors of renal function deterioration after radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) for upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC).MethodsA total of 153 patients with UTUC who underwent radical surgery at a high-volume center in China from January 2015 to December 2019 were included in this study. The renal function of all patients was evaluated during follow-up. Besides, these patients were grouped according to postoperative renal function. The risk factors of renal function deterioration included age, sex, body mass index (BMI), T stage, tumor location and size, lymph node invasion, lymph node dissection (LND), surgical margin, tumor histology, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), hypertension, diabetes, hematuria, blood transfusion, hydronephrosis on the affected side, urine specific gravity, creatinine, uric acid, and preoperative glomerular filtration rate (GFR) on the healthy and affected sides. The correlation between risk factors and inclusion indexes was analyzed using univariate and multivariate analyses.ResultsA total of 153 patients were enrolled in this study, and the follow-up continued for 14 (11, 24) months. Acute kidney injury (AKI) was diagnosed in 65 patients in the short-term follow-up after RNU, and renal function deterioration was diagnosed in 52 patients in the long-term follow-up after RNU. The univariate analysis of 65 patients with short-term AKI revealed that there were statistically significant differences in preoperative hydronephrosis, hypertension, urinary protein, tumor size, preoperative Hb, preoperative creatinine, blood transfusion, and preoperative GFR of the healthy kidney. The multivariate Logistic regression analysis results showed that preoperative creatinine, GFR of the healthy kidney, and blood transfusion were independent risk factors for AKI. Moreover, The multivariate Logistic regression analysis of 52 patients with long-term renal insufficiency after surgery indicated that there were statistically significant differences in preoperative hydronephrosis, tumor size, preoperative GFR of the healthy kidney, and postoperative AKI.ConclusionFor patients with UTUC, the preoperative creatinine level is high, blood transfusion was given during or after procedure and the GFR of the healthy kidney is low, it is easy to have AKI in the short term after operation. In addition, there was no hydronephrosis before operation, the tumor size was small, the GFR of the healthy kidney was low before operation, AKI occurred after operation, the renal function was easy to deteriorate for a long time after operation. The above risk factors may aggravate renal function deterioration of these patients after surgery, resulting in the loss of the opportunity to continue treatment.

Deformation memory effect (DME) is a common property of the rock. A method called Deformation Rate Analysis (DRA) which is based on DME provides a brand-new approach to measuring in situ stress. When rock DME is applied in engineering, it is necessary to solve the problem that which stress peak is corresponding to in situ stress. The standard square samples made of sandstone and granite were selected to investigate the rock DME under different stress paths. Then a memory theoretical model based on multi-surface sliding friction hysteresis is used to analyze the mechanisms of rock DME. The results show that: (1) Rocks always remember the maximum peak stress from preloading, regardless of the sequence of multiple preloading; (2) Multi-memory exists in tests because we found another inflection in DRA curve; (3) The memory model based on sliding friction hysteresis shows the precision of memory information formation increases as the historical maximum peak value gets closer to the measurement load, but multi-memory does not exist in theoretical analysis. The conclusion provides the rule of rock DME under different stress path which would benefits in in situ stress reconstruction.

Introduction The systemic inflammatory response syndrome during the perioperative period of cardiac surgery can lead to serious postoperative complications and significantly increase the hospital mortality rate. Colchicine, a widely used traditional anti-inflammatory drug, has good clinical value in cardiovascular anti-inflammatory therapy. Our preliminary single-centre study had confirmed the protective value of colchicine in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. For this multicentre investigation, we aim to further validate the anti-inflammatory and organ-protective effects of low-dose colchicine during the perioperative period in a low-risk population.Methods and analysis This study is a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. A total of 768 patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery will be enrolled from eight heart centres in China. The participants will be randomly assigned to two groups: the colchicine group will receive low-dose colchicine (0.5 mg once-a-day dosing regimen (QD) orally for 3 days before the surgery and 0.5 mg dosing frequency of every other day (QOD) continuously for 10 days after the surgery), whereas the placebo group will be given starch tablets for the same time and dosage. Primary endpoints are the occurrence of postoperative inflammatory diseases, including postoperative atrial fibrillation, acute respiratory distress syndrome, preoperative myocardial injury and post-pericardiotomy syndrome. Secondary endpoints included laboratory tests on postoperative days 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10, intensive care unit data, APACHE II score, Murray lung injury score, medication-related gastrointestinal reactions, 30-day and 90-day all-cause mortality, surgical data, chest radiograph on postoperative days 1, 2 and 3, and chest CT within 14 days after surgery.Ethics and dissemination This research has received approval from the Medical Ethics Committee of Affiliated Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical College (approval number 2023-366-01). The study findings will be made available by publishing them in an open access journal.Trial registration number ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06118034).

Abstract Background Tumor regression and organ movements indicate that a large margin is used to ensure target volume coverage during radiotherapy. This study aimed to quantify inter-fractional movements of the uterus and cervix in patients with cervical cancer undergoing radiotherapy and to evaluate the clinical target volume (CTV) coverage. Methods This study analyzed 303 iterative cone beam computed tomography (iCBCT) scans from 15 cervical cancer patients undergoing external beam radiotherapy. CTVs of the uterus (CTV-U) and cervix (CTV-C) contours were delineated based on each iCBCT image. CTV-U encompassed the uterus, while CTV-C included the cervix, vagina, and adjacent parametrial regions. Compared with the planning CTV, the movement of CTV-U and CTV-C in the anterior-posterior, superior-inferior, and lateral directions between iCBCT scans was measured. Uniform expansions were applied to the planning CTV to assess target coverage. Results The motion (mean ± standard deviation) in the CTV-U position was 8.3 ± 4.1 mm in the left, 9.8 ± 4.4 mm in the right, 12.6 ± 4.0 mm in the anterior, 8.8 ± 5.1 mm in the posterior, 5.7 ± 5.4 mm in the superior, and 3.0 ± 3.2 mm in the inferior direction. The mean CTV-C displacement was 7.3 ± 3.2 mm in the left, 8.6 ± 3.8 mm in the right, 9.0 ± 6.1 mm in the anterior, 8.4 ± 3.6 mm in the posterior, 5.0 ± 5.0 mm in the superior, and 3.0 ± 2.5 mm in the inferior direction. Compared with the other tumor (T) stages, CTV-U and CTV-C motion in stage T1 was larger. A uniform CTV planning treatment volume margin of 15 mm failed to encompass the CTV-U and CTV-C in 11.1% and 2.2% of all fractions, respectively. The mean volume change of CTV-U and CTV-C were 150% and 51%, respectively, compared with the planning CTV. Conclusions Movements of the uterine corpus are larger than those of the cervix. The likelihood of missing the CTV is significantly increased due to inter-fractional motion when utilizing traditional planning margins. Early T stage may require larger margins. Personal radiotherapy margining is needed to improve treatment accuracy.

Abstract Electrocatalytic water splitting is a promising route for sustainable hydrogen production. However, the high overpotential of the anodic oxygen evolution reaction poses significant challenge. SrIrO3-based perovskite-type catalysts have shown great potential for acidic oxygen evolution reaction, but the origins of their high activity are still unclear. Herein, we develop a Co-doped SrIrO3 system to enhance oxygen evolution reaction activity and elucidate the origin of catalytic activity. In situ experiments reveal Co activates surface lattice oxygen, rapidly exposing IrOx active sites, while bulk Co doping optimizes the adsorbate binding energy of IrOx. The Co-doped SrIrO3 demonstrates high oxygen evolution reaction electrocatalytic activity, markedly surpassing the commercial IrO2 catalysts in both conventional electrolyzer and proton exchange membrane water electrolyzer.

Abstract Cu-oxide-based catalysts are promising for CO2 electroreduction (CO2RR) to CH4, but suffer from inevitable reduction (to metallic Cu) and uncontrollable structural collapse. Here we report Cu-based rock-salt-ordered double perovskite oxides with superexchange-stabilized long-distance Cu sites for efficient and stable CO2-to-CH4 conversion. For the proof-of-concept catalyst of Sr2CuWO6, its corner-linked CuO6 and WO6 octahedral motifs alternate in all three crystallographic dimensions, creating sufficiently long Cu-Cu distances (at least 5.4 Å) and introducing marked superexchange interaction mainly manifested by O-anion-mediated electron transfer (from Cu to W sites). In CO2RR, the Sr2CuWO6 exhibits significant improvements (up to 14.1 folds) in activity and selectivity for CH4, together with well boosted stability, relative to a physical-mixture counterpart of CuO/WO3. Moreover, the Sr2CuWO6 is the most effective Cu-based-perovskite catalyst for CO2 methanation, achieving a remarkable selectivity of 73.1% at 400 mA cm−2 for CH4. Our experiments and theoretical calculations highlight the long Cu-Cu distances promoting *CO hydrogenation and the superexchange interaction stabilizing Cu sites as responsible for the superb performance.

Plums (Prunus salicina and Prunus domestica) are prevalent in southwestern China, and have attracted interest owing to their delectable taste and exceptional nutritional properties. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the nutritional and flavor properties of plum to improve its nutritional utilization. Specifically, we determined the soluble sugars, organic acids, and phenolic components in 86 accessions using high-performance liquid chromatography. Notably, glucose, fructose, malic, and quinic acids were the predominant sweetness and acidity in plums, with sucrose contributing more to the sweetness of the flesh than the peel. Moreover, The peel contains 5.5 fold more phenolics than flesh, epicatechin, gallic acid, and proanthocyanidins C1 and B2 were the primary sources of astringency. Correlation and principal component analyses showed eight core factors for plum flavor rating, and a specific rating criterion was established. Conclusively, these findings provide information on the integrated flavor evaluation criteria and for enhancing optimal breeding of plums.

Owing to the large viscosity and mixing temperature of crumb rubber modified asphalt (CRMA), possesses high construction costs, the addition of warm-mix agent can reduce the viscosity and mixing temperature of CRMA. In this study, the Sasobit or DWMA-1 warm-mix agent was added into CRMA to prepare the warm-mix crumb rubber modified asphalt (WRMA). Rotational viscosity (RV) measurement revealed that viscosity of WRMA reduced significantly with the increasing temperature. Dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) showed that Sasobit and DWMA-1 have similar effects on the viscoelasticity of WRMA at the actual pavement temperature (64 °C). Phase separation test showed that the addition of warm-mix agent enlarged the softening point difference, and DWMA-1 had better anti-segregation effect than Sasobit. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses revealed that there was a chemical reaction after mixing the warm-mix agent and produced new functional groups at 1368 cm−1∼735 cm−1. Fluorescence microscope (FM) and polarizing microscope (PM) analyses indicated that warm-mix agents could improve the solubility between rubber and asphalt. DWMA-1 had a lesser impact on the surface roughness of WRMA compared to another warm-mix agent or composite agent. In addition, preparation method and viscosity reduction mechanism of WRMA was elaborated. This study could be of potential interest for engineering applications of WRMA.

Abstract Background In clinical medicine, fetal heart rate (FHR) monitoring using cardiotocography (CTG) is one of the most commonly used methods for assessing fetal acidosis. However, as the visual interpretation of CTG depends on the subjective judgment of the clinician, this has led to high inter-observer and intra-observer variability, making it necessary to introduce automated diagnostic techniques. Methods In this study, we propose a computer-aided diagnostic algorithm (Hybrid-FHR) for fetal acidosis to assist physicians in making objective decisions and taking timely interventions. Hybrid-FHR uses multi-modal features, including one-dimensional FHR signals and three types of expert features designed based on prior knowledge (morphological time domain, frequency domain, and nonlinear). To extract the spatiotemporal feature representation of one-dimensional FHR signals, we designed a multi-scale squeeze and excitation temporal convolutional network (SE-TCN) backbone model based on dilated causal convolution, which can effectively capture the long-term dependence of FHR signals by expanding the receptive field of each layer’s convolution kernel while maintaining a relatively small parameter size. In addition, we proposed a cross-modal feature fusion (CMFF) method that uses multi-head attention mechanisms to explore the relationships between different modalities, obtaining more informative feature representations and improving diagnostic accuracy. Results Our ablation experiments show that the Hybrid-FHR outperforms traditional previous methods, with average accuracy, specificity, sensitivity, precision, and F1 score of 96.8, 97.5, 96, 97.5, and 96.7%, respectively. Conclusions Our algorithm enables automated CTG analysis, assisting healthcare professionals in the early identification of fetal acidosis and the prompt implementation of interventions.

Abstract Background The association between uterine malformations and adverse pregnancy outcomes is well recognized. However, studies on adverse pregnancy outcomes based on one kind of anatomical commonality between different uterine anomalies have not been reported. This study aimed to investigate pregnancy outcomes in pregnancies with uterine malformations when the pregnancy is confined to a hemi-uterus. Methods A retrospective observational study of 336 women who gave birth at our hospital from 2015 to 2021 was performed. Women (n = 112) with a unicornuate, complete bicornuate, or didelphic uterus were set as the study group, and women (n = 224) with a normal uterus were set as the reference group. Maternal and neonatal outcomes were evaluated and compared between the two groups using Student’s t-test, one-way ANOVA, Chi-squared test, Yates correction for continuity, or Fisher’s exact test. Modified Poisson regression analyses were used to estimate the relationships between the hemi-uterus pregnancy and preterm birth, preterm premature rupture of membranes, and cesarean section rates by adjusting for potential confounders. A P value

A combination of three methods, Griffith theory, work of interface separation, and first-principles tensile simulations, has been applied to uncover the Ti2AlC/TiAl interface's tensile properties and fracture mechanisms. The results show that the three methods give consistent fracture locations when considering the interface elastic energy for work of interface separation, i.e., C-hcp-hollow-BCA fractures inside the TiAl bulk, while Al-fcc-hollow-ACB, Ti(C)-hcp-hollow-ABC, and Ti(Al)-hcp-hollow-BAC all fracture at the interface; Ti(C)-hcp-hollow-ABC has a maximum critical strain (20 %) and the strongest ideal tensile strength (29.32 GPa), because it has a greater deformation energy at the inflection point and it doesn't fracture when Ti(Al)-hcp-hollow-BAC is fully fractured, and the PDOS shape of the interface's Ti atoms exhibits a higher degree of consistency during the tensile process, and the C atoms of the Ti2AlC-2 layer in the Ti(C)-hcp-hollow-ABC exert a strong influence on the Ti atoms at the interface; the fracture mechanism of the Ti2AlC/TiAl interface structure includes the formation of electron holes, the holes increasing, the formation of microcracks, microcracks increasing, the formation of electron depletion region due to a sharp increase in the bond length and the interlayer spacing, followed by a complete fracture.

Abstract Purpose For postoperative vaginal brachytherapy (POVBT), the diversity of applicators complicates the creation of a generalized auto‐segmentation model, and creating models for each applicator seems difficult due to the large amount of data required. We construct an auto‐segmentation model of POVBT using small data via domain‐adversarial neural networks (DANNs). Methods CT images were obtained postoperatively from 90 patients with gynaecological cancer who underwent vaginal brachytherapy, including 60 and 30 treated with applicators A and X, respectively. A basal model was devised using data from the patients treated with applicator A; next, a DANN model was constructed using these same 60 patients as well as 10 of those treated with applicator X through transfer learning techniques. The remaining 20 patients treated with applicator X comprised the validation set. The model's performance was assessed using objective metrics and manual clinical evaluation. Results The DANN model outperformed the basal model on both objective metrics and subjective evaluation (p

Real-time electricity prices and customer demands are inextricably linked in the smart grid environment. For the purpose of reducing grid load peaks, enhancing grid security, and optimizing customers’ electricity bills, it is critical to model dynamic real-time electricity prices and flexible customer requests, along with providing an optimized plan to guide users’ decisions regarding the use of household appliances and quantify their needs. The solution to this problem, however, is not straightforward due to the following factors. Firstly, the real-time electricity price is constantly changing, so it must be estimated from grid data associated with it. Furthermore, there are often some variations in the actual power consumption of appliances due to the uncertainty of human behavior, the characteristics of appliances, and the influence of the environment. In addition, when optimizing, serious problems such as tripping and circuit overload must be taken into account. Therefore, considering random electricity prices and random electricity consumption, in the paper, we present the models to simulate real-time changes in electricity prices and energy consumption behaviors, as well as a method to help users optimize their use of household appliances and quantify their requirements with lower electricity cost. By analyzing the experimental results, we demonstrate that our work can be used to provide a scheduling scheme for appliances that minimizes electricity costs and reduces grid pressure.

The incompatibility between inorganic flame retardants and organic acrylic coatings represents a significant challenge that requires resolution. This work selected environmentally friendly organic aqueous acrylic coatings as the substrate, sodium silicate hydrate as the inorganic flame retardant, and melamine cyanurate (MCA) as the flame-retardant modifier and the flame-retardant co-modifier, with the objective of improving the dispersion and flame-retardant properties of sodium silicate hydrate in the aqueous acrylic coatings. Subsequently, the sodium silicate/MCA/waterborne acrylic acid flame-retardant coating was prepared. The flame-retardant treatment was then applied to poplar veneer in order to create a flame-retardant poplar veneer. The dispersion of the flame-retardant coating was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDX), and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). Furthermore, the flame-retardant properties of the flame-retardant poplar veneer were analyzed by thermogravimetry (TG), limiting oxygen index (LOI), and cone calorimeter. The results demonstrated that the MCA-modified sodium silicate flame retardant was well dispersed in aqueous acrylic coatings. The results of the flame-retardant properties of the poplar veneer indicated that the ignition time of the 9% flame retardant-treated poplar veneer was increased by 122.7%, the limiting oxygen index value was increased by 43.0%, and the peak heat release rate (pHRR), the peak total heat release rate (pTHR), and the peak mass loss rate were decreased by 19.9%, 10.8%, and 27.2%, respectively, in comparison to the non-flame retardant-treated poplar veneer. Furthermore, the residual char mass increased by 14.4%, and the residual char exhibited enhanced thickness, density, and regularity. The results demonstrated that MCA was an effective promoter of sodium silicate dispersion in acrylic coatings. Furthermore, the sodium silicate/MCA/waterborne acrylic flame-retardant coating significantly enhance the flame retardancy of wood, and its flame retardant mechanism was consistent with the synergistic silicone–nitrogen expansion flame-retardant mechanism. This work presents a novel approach to enhancing the dispersion of inorganic flame retardants in organic coatings, offering a valuable contribution to the advancement of research and application in the domains of innovative flame retardant coatings and flame retardant wood.

Highlights Density functional theory calculations indicates that interstitial B atoms can tune the atomic spacing of host metal Os and achieve a reversal hydrogen adsorption-distance relationship. The structure–activity relationship between the spacing of active Os atoms and catalytic activity is established. Prepared OsB2 with increasing dOs-Os of 2.96 Å presents the optimal hydrogen evolution reaction activity (8 mV @ 10 mA cm−2) and robust stability in alkaline media.

BackgroundMost of the studies on grading and classification of occupational health compre-hensive risks for specific employers still remain in the establishment and description of methodology, and practical application studies are rarely reported. ObjectiveTo explore the application of an occupational disease hazards comprehensive risk assessment method issued by the National Disease Control and Prevention Bureau in conjunction with the National Health Commission and a self-developed occupational health grading and classification method in petroleum refining enterprises, and to provide practical experience for the implementation of differentiated law enforcement by relevant regulatory authorities. MethodsTwo occupational health grading and classification methods were practiced in three petroleum refining enterprises in Guangdong Province. The occupational hazards comprehensive risk assessment method was provided by the Notice on Carrying out Pilot Work of Occupational Health Classification Supervision and Law Enforcement of the National Disease Control and Prevention Bureau and the National Health Commission. The principle was to derive the occupational health risk level according to nature of occupational hazards, exposure level, and number of workers exposed to them in an employer, and then to classify them into Class A, Class B, and Class C by combining with local occupational health management status level. The occupational health grading and classification method was self-developed according to available domestic and foreign occupational health risk assessment methods. Its principle was to calculate the risk level of each workstation in an employer based on published carcinogenicity classification or LD50/LC50 of chemical toxicants, level of noise, exposure parameters such as exposure level and exposure frequency, estimate the comprehensive risk Ro of the target employer by the Romanian comprehensive risk calculation method, and then calculate a comprehensive risk Ro' weighted by the occupational health management index of the target employer and classify it into class A, class B, and class C. Finally, assessment results, scope of application, inquired indicators, advantages,disadvantages and professional competence requirements of the two grading and classification methods were compared. ResultsThe occupational hazards that were evaluated in three enterprises in this study were benzene, toluene, xylene, gasoline, hydrogen sulfide, and noise. The exposure levels of benzene, toluene, xylene, and gasoline were all below 10% OEL (occupational exposure limit), and hydrogen sulfide and noise were disqualified. Occupational hazards such as benzene and hydrogen sulfide were serious occupational hazards in the three enterprises, and the number of workers exposed was 461, 912, and 224, respectively; the HRs (hazard ratings) of benzene, toluene, xylene, gasoline, hydrogen sulfide, and noise were level 5, 3, 2, 3, 5, and 3 respectively. The occupational health management status of the three enterprises was graded as B, A, and B, respectively by the occupational disease hazards comprehensive risk assessment method. The occupational health management index of the three enterprises was graded as B, A, and A, respectively by the occupational health grading and classification method. The comprehensive risk assessment results showed that two enterprises classified into as the highest class C and one into class B by the occupational disease hazards comprehensive risk assessment method, while all three enterprises were classified into class B by the occupational health grading and classification method. ConclusionThe two grading and classification methods are not consistent in the evaluation results of petroleum refining enterprises, and there are differences in the evaluation scope, indicators to be collected, and professionalism. It is recommended that occupational health regulators should fully consider the advantages and disadvantages of the two methods and choose the appropriate assessment method according to the actual regulatory purpose.

BackgroundLead and manganese are heavy metal pollutants widely existing in the environment, which can accumulate in the human body through the food chain, exert neurotoxicity, and cause neurodegenerative disorders. Especially in early childhood, the developing blood-brain barrier and nervous system are highly susceptible to environmental chemical pollutants. Most of the previous studies focused on the toxic effects of single heavy metal such as lead or manganese, while the studies on combined toxic effect are still scarce, and involved mechanisms are still unclear. c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) is involved in neuronal development and regeneration, and some studies have found that JNK is involved in lead or manganese induced neurotoxicity. Its role in the toxicity of combined lead and manganese is unknown. ObjectiveTo understand the neurodevelopmental toxicity mechanism and to observe changes of JNK expression in zebrafish induced by combined lead and manganese exposure at environmentlly low concentrations. MethodsZebrafish embryos within 2 h post fertilization (hpf) were divided into four groups: control group, lead exposure group (0.1 mg·L−1 lead acetate), manganese exposure group (0.3 mg·L−1 manganous chloride), and lead-manganese combined exposure group (0.1 mg·L−1 lead acetate +0.3 mg·L−1 manganous chloride) and exposed to lead or/and manganese at designed levels for 7 d. Spontaneous movements and motor locomotion were observed, and mortality rate were calculated. The changes of JNK mRNA expression in zebrafish were evaluated. ResultsThe experimental results showed that no significant effect of lead or/and manganese on spontaneous movements and mortality rate was found in zebrafish compared with the control group (P＞0.05). The results of locomotion analysis showed that compared with the control group, the activity counts and activity distance of zebrafish in the manganese exposure group were slightly increased (P＜0.01); the activity counts and activity distance of zebrafish in the lead exposure group were reduced by 50% and those in the lead-manganese exposure group were reduced by 80% (P＜0.01). Compared with the lead exposure group, the activity counts and activity distance of zebrafish in the lead-manganese combined exposure group decreased significantly by 60% (P＜0.05). The real-time quantitative PCR results showed that the JNK mRNA expression level was significantly increased in the lead-manganese combined exposure group compared with the control group(P＜0.01). ConclusionLead exposure combined with manganese exposure at environmentlly low concentration can induce neurodevelopmental toxicity to zebrafish. JNK may be involved in neurodevelopmental toxicity induced by the combined exposure to lead and manganese.

In the original publication [...]

Inorganic scintillation crystals have been widely used in applications of high-energy physics, nuclear medical imaging, industrial nondestructive inspection, etc. In this work, a single crystal Ba3Y(PO4)3 (BYP) with 1.0 at% Ce3+-doping concentration was first grown by the Czochralski method, and the electronic structure was calculated using first principles based on density functional theory. In addition, a series of Ce3+-doped BYP phosphors were synthesized, and the fluorescence emission under UV excitation was measured through low-temperature spectroscopy, containing double-peaked emission from 5d–4f transition and self-trapped exciton recombination. A comparison of the UV and X-ray-excited fluorescence spectra reveals the existence of oxygen vacancies as well as F+ centers in the crystal. The air annealing of the crystal effectively reduces the thermoluminescence defects but reduces the emission intensity under UV or X-ray excitation. The BYP:Ce crystal shows a fast decay lifetime of 15.5 ns, and the fast component is as short as 8 ns. The results show that the Ce3+-doped BYP crystal has potential as a kind of scintillator with fast decay properties.

Oxidative stress causes gut dysfunction and is a contributing factor in several intestinal disorders. Intestinal epithelial cell survival is essential for maintaining human and animal health under oxidative stress. 18beta-Glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) is known to have multiple beneficial effects, including antioxidant activity; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms have not been well established. Thus, the present study evaluated the therapeutic effects of GA on H2O2-induced oxidative stress in intestinal porcine epithelial cells. The results showed that pretreatment with GA (100 nM for 16 h) significantly increased the levels of several antioxidant enzymes and reduced corresponding intracellular levels of reactive oxidative species and malondialdehyde. GA inhibited cell apoptosis via activating the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway, as confirmed by RNA sequencing. Further analyses demonstrated that GA upregulated the phosphorylation levels of PI3K and Akt and the protein level of B cell lymphoma 2, whereas it downregulated Cytochrome c and tumor suppressor protein p53 levels. Moreover, molecular docking analysis predicted the binding of GA to Vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor 1, a primary membrane receptor, to activate the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Collectively, these results revealed that GA protected against H2O2-induced oxidative damage and cell apoptosis via activating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, suggesting the potential therapeutic use of GA to alleviate oxidative stress in humans/animals.

A new type of multiphase nanoparticle-reinforced TiAl matrix composites ((Ti2AlC + Al2O3)p/TiAl composites) was successfully prepared by vacuum hot-pressing sintering using Ti powder and Al powder, which were ball-milled with different contents of stearic acid (CH3(CH2)16COOH). The component, microstructure, reaction mechanism, and mechanical properties were studied. The results indicated that the composites prepared by adding stearic acid as a process control agent during the ball-milling process not only contained γ-TiAl and α2-Ti3Al phases but also Ti2AlC and Al2O3 phases. The results of SEM and TEM showed that the composites were composed of equiaxed TiAl and Ti3Al grains, and the Ti2AlC and Al2O3 particles were mainly distributed along the TiAl grain boundary in chain form, which can effectively reduce the TiAl grain size. Through the room-temperature compression test, the maximum compression stress was significantly improved in those composites that added the stearic acid, due to the reinforcement particles. The maximum compression stress was 1590 MPa with a 24.3% fracture strain. In addition, the generated crack deflection and Ti2AlC and Al2O3 particles could also enhance the toughness of the TiAl alloy. (Ti2AlC + Al2O3)p/TiAl composites generated by adding stearic acid played a key role in improving the mechanical properties of the TiAl matrix.

Waterborne acrylic coatings, the largest market share of predominant environmentally friendly coatings, face limitations in their extensive application due to their flammability. The flame-retardant properties of the coatings could be significantly enhanced by incorporate inorganic flame retardants. However, inorganic flame retardants tend to aggregate and unevenly disperse in waterborne acrylic coatings, causing a substantial decrease in flame retardancy. In this work, sodium silicate was utilized as a flame retardant, with urea and melamine serving as modifiers and synergistic agents. This combination resulted in the preparation of a sodium silicate/urea/melamine ternary synergistic waterborne acrylic flame-retardant coating. This coating was applied to the surface of poplar veneer to create flame-retardant poplar veneer. Subsequently, various instruments, including a scanning electron microscope (SEM), a limiting oxygen index meter (LOI), a thermogravimetric analyzer (TG), and a cone calorimeter (CONE), were employed to investigate the relevant properties and mechanisms of both the flame-retardant coating and poplar veneer. The results demonstrated that the sodium silicate/urea/melamine ternary synergistic flame retardant did not exhibit aggregation and could be uniformly dispersed in waterborne acrylic coatings. The physical and mechanical properties of the ternary synergistic flame-retardant poplar veneer coating were satisfactory. Melamine and urea, acting as modifiers, not only greatly enhanced the dispersibility of sodium silicate in waterborne acrylic coatings, but also assisted in the formation of a silicon-containing char layer through the generation of nitrogen, achieving ternary synergistic flame retardancy. In conclusion, this work explores a novel method to efficiently and uniformly disperse inorganic flame retardants in organic coatings. It significantly improves the dispersibility and uniformity of inorganic flame retardants in organic polymers, thereby substantially enhancing the flame-retardant performance of coatings. This work provides a theoretical basis for the research and application of new flame-retardant coatings in the field of chemistry and materials.

Walking exercise is a prevalent physical activity in urban areas, with streetscapes playing a significant role in shaping preferences. Understanding this influence is essential for creating urban environments conducive to walking exercise and improving residents’ quality of life. In this study, we utilize scenic beauty estimation and deep learning methods, leveraging street view images and walking exercise trajectories to analyze this influence from a human-centric perspective. We begin by generating sampling points along streets covered by trajectories and acquiring street view images. Subsequently, we apply a deep learning model to segment the images, yielding six visual indicators. Additionally, we use scenic beauty estimation to derive the seventh visual indicator. Finally, we match these indicators with trajectory data to implement preference analysis. The main findings are: (1) preferences for walking and running exercises differ on multiple indicators; (2) there are gender distinctions, with males preferring openness and females prioritizing enclosed spaces; (3) age plays a role, with those aged 30–40 preferring openness and those aged 40–50 preferring enclosed spaces; (4) preferences for different indicators vary over time and across different locations. These insights can inform policymakers in tailoring urban planning and design to specific population segments and promoting sustainable residential landscapes.

Objective: To investigate the ameliorative effect of Semaglutide-loaded PEG-nanoliposomes (Sem-PEG-lips) combined with ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD) on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) in rodents and its potential mechanisms. Methods: Sem-PEG-lips were prepared by the reverse phase evaporation method. Fifty STZ-induced diabetic rats were randomly divided into DCM model group, Sem or Sem-PEG-lips alone treatment group, UTMD + Sem group and UTMD + Sem-PEG-lips group (n = 10), respectively, and used the healthy rats as normal control. During the 12-week intervention, the weight and blood glucose levels of all rats were recorded. Myocardial injury and fibrosis were observed by using H&E and Masson staining. The activity of antioxidant enzymes and the expression levels of oxidative stress-related signaling pathway markers in myocardial tissues were measured by ELISA and western blotting method, respectively. Results: Compared with DCM rats, the body weight and blood glucose levels of those in the UTMD + Sem-PEG-lips group were significantly increased and decreased, respectively (both p

Exposure to lead (Pb) and manganese (Mn) during early life influences neurodevelopment and increases the risk of neurodegenerative disorders. However, the level of developmental neurotoxicity due to combined exposure to the two metals remains unclear. Although the microbiota plays an essential part in the development of the nervous system via the gut–brain axis, there is a paucity of information regarding the interactions between exposure to Pb and Mn, the destruction of the microbiome, and neurodevelopmental impacts. To fill in this knowledge gap, we investigated the developmental neurotoxicity and effects on the microbiota of Pb (0.05 mg·L−1) alone and in combination with Mn (0.3 mg·L−1) in zebrafish larvae. Our results revealed that combined exposure precipitated higher malformation rates and lower locomotor activity levels than exposure to either Pb or Mn alone. Additionally, when we separated the combined exposure group from the other groups by applying unsupervised principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) and linear discriminant analysis (LEfSe) of microflora sequencing results, we observed extensive alterations in microbial abundances under combined-exposure conditions. Functional prediction analysis showed that combined exposure contributed to altered amino acid and lipid metabolism, and also that combined exposure to Pb and Mn reflected the greatest number of differentially activated biological pathways compared to the other three groups. ATP-binding cassette G (ABCG) genes and genes related to serotonin signaling and metabolism were altered following combined Pb and Mn exposure and exhibited disparate trends vis-à-vis Pb or Mn exposure alone. According to the results, the combined exposure to Pb and Mn led to more severe effects on both zebrafish locomotor activity and gut microbial composition. We suggest that the microbiota contributes to the combined neurotoxicity by increasing ABCG5 and ABCG8 gene expression.

Marsupenaeus japonicus has two types of phenotypic differences that are mainly reflected in the stripe pattern of the carapace. However, the underlying mechanism regulating the stripe patterns is not clear. In the present study, we first observed the composition of pigment cells and detected the contents of different carotenoids in the carapace of M. japonicus. We clearly observed the setae structure on the carapace. There were red pigment cells in the stripe pattern and yellow pigment cells in the other parts. Both red pigment cells and yellow pigment cells showed dendritic morphology. In the carapace, the content of astaxanthin was the highest, significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that of other carotenoids. Some differentially expressed genes between two pattern types of M. japonicus, may be associated with the body color formation, such as crustacyanin (CRCN), apolipoprotein D (ApoD), tubulin alpha-1 chain, cuticle protein, and ABC transporter, which were verified by quantitative PCR experiments. The amino acid composition and secondary structure of CRCN A2, CRCN C1, and ApoD were significantly different. The results of this study will help to elucidate the molecular mechanism of the differential pattern formation of M. japonicus and provide a reference for further exploration of the formation mechanism of crustacean color.

Abstract Background Chaihu-Guizhi-Ganjiang Decoction (CGGD) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription used to treat viral influenza. There is evidence that CGGD can be used to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) but the potential mechanism of action and metabolites produced upon CGGD treatment remains elusive. Methods Patients with IBS were treated with pinaverium bromide (Dicetel™) and then CGGD after a washout period of 1 week. Both treatments lasted for 30 days. The efficacy and changes of metabolites in plasma after the two treatments were compared. Plasma samples were acquired before and after each treatment, and untargeted metabolics analysis was performed. Results Efficacy was measured according to the Rome IV criteria and TCM theory. Our results indicated that CGGD showed significantly better efficacy than Dicetel in the treatment of IBS utilizing each criterion. CGGD exerted greater effects on plasma metabolism than Dicetel. Dicetel treatment led to increased tryptophan metabolism (increased levels of 5-Hydroxyindoleacetaldehyde) and increased protein metabolism (increased levels of L-arginine). CGGD treatment significantly (p

Abstract Benefitting from the maximum atom utilization efficiency, special size quantum effects and tailored active sites, single‐atom catalysts (SACs) have been promising candidates for bifunctional catalysts toward water splitting. Besides, due to the unique structure and properties, some amorphous materials have been found to possess better performance than their crystalline counterparts in electrocatalytic water splitting. Herein, by combining the advantages of ruthenium (Ru) single atoms and amorphous substrates, amorphous molybdenum‐based oxide stabilized single‐atomic‐site Ru (Ru SAs‐MoO3−x/NF) catalysts are conceived as a self‐supported electrode. By virtue of the large surface area, enhanced intrinsic activity and fast reaction kinetics, the as‐prepared Ru SAs‐MoO3−x/NF electrode effectively drives both oxygen evolution reaction (209 mV @ 10 mA cm−2) and hydrogen evolution reaction (36 mV @ 10 mA cm−2) in alkaline media. Impressively, the assembled electrolyzer merely requires an ultralow cell voltage of 1.487 V to deliver the current density of 10 mA cm−2. Furthermore, such an electrode also exhibits a great application potential in alkaline seawater electrolysis, achieving a current density of 100 mA cm−2 at a low cell voltage of 1.759 V. In addition, Ru SAs‐MoO3−x/NF only has very small current density decay in the long‐term constant current water splitting test.

In the breeding process of Exopalaemon carinicauda from the same family, noticeable differences often occur in growth characteristics under the same conditions. To investigate this issue, we performed a comparative transcriptome analysis to identify the critical genes involved in weight gain and compared the intestinal flora to screen for potential intestinal probiotics. In total, we identified 1311 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), of which 735 genes, including troponin C, chitinase, cathepsin B, cathepsin L, and trypsin, were upregulated exclusively in the fast growth group. Several DEGs were validated by quantitative real-time PCR and assigned to the ribosome, phagosome, apoptosis, purine metabolism, and Hippo signaling pathways. The microbiome community richness and diversity of the fast-growing individuals (FGIs) were higher than those of the slow-growing individuals (SGIs). In the current study, the intestinal microflora was mainly distributed in the Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidota. The species with significant differences (P

Predation risk posed by natural enemies can alter pest performance. In our previous study, we found Menochilus sexmaculatus provides risk cues to melon aphids, resulting in increased numbers of winged aphids. However, the effects of predation risk on multiple traits including behavior, physiology, growth rate, and reproductive capacity of pests are not clear. This study examined the effects of predation risk on host preference, the activities of two important defense enzymes (CAT and SOD), longevity, and offspring production. The Y-tube trial results showed that the risk of M. sexmaculatus significantly altered the host preference of the aphids, leading to avoidance behavior. When exposed to M. sexmaculatus for a long period (24 h), the reproductive period and offspring production were significantly decreased, and adult longevity was significantly shortened. The defense enzyme activities of SOD and CAT, as well as the MDA content (which is considered a marker of oxidative stress and cellular damage) in the aphids, significantly increased under M. sexmaculatus risk. The compounds of M. sexmaculatus extracted with n-hexane and volatile compounds collected with HS-SPME were analyzed by GC-MS, and when combined with the behavior response experiment, the results showed that the alkane compounds n-henicosane, n-docosane, n-tricosane, n-pentacosane, and n-hentriacontane may contribute to the impact of predation risk. The results will be helpful in the comprehensive evaluation of the ability of lady beetles to affect the aphid population, and provide new ideas for using these compounds in aphid control.

BackgroundOccupational hazards such as solvents and noise in the electronics industry are serious. Although various occupational health risk assessment models have been applied in the electronics industry, they have only been used to assess the risks of individual job positions. Few existing studies have focused on the total risk level of critical risk factors in enterprises.MethodsTen electronics enterprises were selected for this study. Information, air samples and physical factor measurements were collected from the selected enterprises through on-site investigation, and then the data were collated and samples were tested according to the requirements of Chinese standards. The Occupational Health Risk Classification and Assessment Model (referred to as the Classification Model), the Occupational Health Risk Grading and Assessment Model (referred to as the Grading Model), and the Occupational Disease Hazard Evaluation Model were used to assess the risks of the enterprises. The correlations and differences between the three models were analyzed, and the results of the models were validated by the average risk level of all of the hazard factors.ResultsHazards with concentrations exceeding the Chinese occupational exposure limits (OELs) were methylene chloride, 1,2-dichloroethane, and noise. The exposure time of workers ranged from 1 to 11 h per day and the frequency of exposure ranged from 5 to 6 times per week. The risk ratios (RRs) of the Classification Model, the Grading Model and the Occupational Disease Hazard Evaluation Model were 0.70 ± 0.10, 0.34 ± 0.13, and 0.65 ± 0.21, respectively. The RRs for the three risk assessment models were statistically different (P < 0.001), and there were no correlations between them (P > 0.05). The average risk level of all of the hazard factors was 0.38 ± 0.18, which did not differ from the RRs of the Grading Model (P > 0.05).ConclusionsThe hazards of organic solvents and noise in the electronics industry are not negligible. The Grading Model offers a good reflection of the actual risk level of the electronics industry and has strong practicability.

Metastasis is the main cause of cervical cancer lethality, but to date, no effective treatment has been developed to block metastasis. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) were recently found to be involved in cancer metastasis. In this study, we identified a downregulated circRNA derived from the host gene Gli1 (hsa_circ_0005358) in cervical cancer tissues, which was expressed at lower levels in tissues with extracervical metastasis than in those without extracervical metastasis. Upregulation of hsa_circ_0005358 significantly suppressed the migration and invasion of cervical cancer cells in vitro, and downregulation of hsa_circ_0005358 had the opposite effect. A mouse model revealed that cervical cancer cells overexpressing hsa_circ_0005358 possessed weaker metastatic potential in vivo. RNA-pull-down assay, mass spectrometry, and RNA immunoprecipitation validated the findings that hsa_circ_0005358 functions via its 215–224 sequence, which interacts with polypyrimidine tract-binding protein 1 (PTBP1). RNA-sequencing profiling revealed that CUB-domain-containing protein 1 (CDCP1) is a common target for hsa_circ_0005358 and PTBP1. We further confirmed that hsa_circ_0005358 sequestered PTBP1, preventing it from stabilizing CDCP1 mRNA, reducing CDCP1 protein translation and ultimately suppressing cancer metastasis. Our findings reveal the function of hsa_circ_0005358 in tumor metastasis, which may be applied to a potential therapeutic approach for patients with metastatic cervical cancer.

BackgroundChronic low-level exposure to lead can damage the central nervous system and cause anxiety-like behavior. However, whether changes of blood metabolites occur in this process and its relationship with lead-induced neurobehavioral disorder remain unclear.ObjectiveTo explore the effects of chronic lead acetate (PbAc) exposure at different concentrations on anxiety-like behavior and serum metabolites and their relationships in mice, as well as the mechanism of lead exposure on neurobehavioral injury in mice from the perspective of metabolomics.MethodsA total of 64 healthy 4-week-old C57BL/6J mice, half male and half female, were randomly divided into four groups: control group (normal drinking water), 20 mg·L−1 PbAc group, 100 mg·L−1 PbAc group, and 500 mg·L−1 PbAc group. After 10 weeks of free drinking of water containing designed concentrations of PbAc, the mice were tested for anxiety-like behavioral changes by open field experiment. After the mice were anesthetized, blood was collected from the eyes, the serum was separated, and the effects of designed doses of lead exposure on metabolites in the serum of mice were compared by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry combined with principal component analysis and partial least squares discrimination analysis.ResultsThe results of the open field experiment showed that the reductions in movement time spent in central area in the 100 mg·L−1 and 500 mg·L−1 PbAc groups compared with the control group were of statistical significance (P

Propeller-crossing probability analysis is crucial for evaluating the impact resistance and foreign object exclusion capability of turboprop engines. However, due to the complex structure of the propeller and the uncertainties associated with the impact location as well as the flight attitude of the foreign object, developing a comprehensive model for analyzing the propeller-crossing process remains a significant challenge. This paper presents a novel simulation method that can obtain the probability of a foreign object successfully crossing the propeller using a high-fidelity structure model of the propeller and a comprehensive substituted model of the foreign object. To validate the performance of the proposed method, an analytical model is developed that takes into account the spatial structure constraints of the propeller and the foreign object. The proposed method is applied to calculating the probability of bird ingestion, and the results reveal that the increments in flight speed and aspect ratio of the bird have opposite effects on the propeller-crossing probability, and the values eventually converge to a constant value.

As the reliability, availability, maintainability, and safety of industrial equipment have become crucial in the context of intelligent manufacturing, there are increasing expectations and requirements for maintenance policies. Compared with traditional methods, data-driven Predictive Maintenance (PdM), a superior approach to equipment and system maintenance, has been paid considerable attention by scholars in this field due to its high applicability and accuracy with a highly reliable quantization basis provided by big data. However, current data-driven methods typically provide only point estimates of the state rather than quantification of uncertainty, impeding effective maintenance decision-making. In addition, few studies have conducted further research on maintenance decision-making based on state predictions to achieve the full functionality of PdM. A PdM policy is proposed in this work to obtain the continuous probability distribution of system states dynamically and make maintenance decisions. The policy utilizes the Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) network and Kernel Density Estimation with a Single Globally-optimized Bandwidth (KDE-SGB) method to dynamic predicting of the continuous probability distribution of the Remaining Useful Life (RUL). A comprehensive optimization target is introduced to establish the maintenance decision-making approach acquiring recommended maintenance time. Finally, the proposed policy is validated through a bearing case study, indicating that it allows for obtaining the continuous probability distribution of RUL centralized over a range of ±10 sampling cycles. In comparison to the other two policies, it could reduce the maintenance costs by 24.49~70.02%, raise the availability by 0.46~1.90%, heighten the reliability by 0.00~27.50%, and promote more stable performance with various maintenance cost and duration. The policy has offered a new approach without priori hypotheses for RUL prediction and its uncertainty quantification and provided a reference for constructing a complete PdM policy integrating RUL prediction with maintenance decision-making.

Meteor radar is one of the key tools for studying the atmospheric dynamics in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere. The physical parameters obtained by meteor radar inversion can provide important statistical information for research. The daily and annual variations in meteor azimuth distribution detected by meteor radars contain information about meteor source regions and patterns related to the rotation and revolution of the Earth. Using the meteor parameters from two meteor radars located in Mohe (53.5° N, 122.3° E) and Wuhan (30.6° N, 114.4° E), this study calculates the variation patterns in the meteor azimuth distribution over the two sites over 1 year. Additionally, this study introduces the variable, Max_Azi, to describe the position of the peak of azimuth distribution. The peak value of azimuth distribution is calculated by Gaussian fitting to quantify the variation patterns in azimuth distribution. This study provides complementary information on the azimuth distribution in high and middle latitudes. The results indicated that the azimuth distribution variation for the Mohe meteor radar is consistent with the Earth’s revolution model.

The rapid urbanization and population growth in China have brought the issues of social equity and justice to the forefront. The supply and layout of public service facilities play a crucial role in determining the residents’ quality of life and have become a significant factor triggering social equity and justice concerns. This study took Zhengzhou’s urban core as an example. From the perspectives of regional equality, spatial equity, and social justice, the service area analysis and Gaussian two-step floating catchment area method were used to analyze the public service facilities’ layout situation and the equity and justice issue and to discuss the causes of the current situation. The study found that the social equity and justice of public facilities in Zhengzhou’s urban core were more prominent. The accessibility of public facilities inside and outside the 3rd ring road of the urban core exhibited marked differences, indicating a need for improvement in regional equality and spatial equity. Vulnerable groups lacked special care and public facilities lacked justice. Combined with the development process of urbanization in Zhengzhou, this paper argued that this was closely related to the government’s public policies.

We report herein a point-to-axial chirality transfer reaction of optical dihydrophenanthrene-9,10-diols for the synthesis of axially chiral diketones. Two sets of conditions, namely a basic tBuOK/air atmosphere and an acidic NaClO/n-Bu4NHSO4, were developed to oxidatively cleave the C-C bond, resulting in the formation of axially chiral biaryl diketones. Finally, brief synthetic applications of the obtained chiral aryl diketones were demonstrated.

Voice print recognition is one of the most mature biometric authentication technologies, and the application of deep neural networks (DNNs) has led to a significant improvement in the accuracy of voice print recognition. However, DNN models can be attacked by backdoor attackers, which poses a serious threat to the security of model for voice print recognition. In this paper, a method is proposed for backdoor defence of voice print recognition model based on speech enhancement and weight pruning. Firstly, input samples are perturbed by superimposing various speech patterns, and the backdoor samples are determined based on the randomness (entropy value) of the prediction classes with perturbed inputs from a given deployment model (malicious or benign). Secondly, the backdoor samples are fed into a network (Deep Complex Convolution Recurrent Network) dedicated for speech enhancement, with which the backdoor samples can be denoised by removing the backdoor noise. Finally, the model is pruned using an automatic progressive weight pruning algorithm, which can avoid the accuracy degradation caused by neurons pruning. Experimental results on the AISHELL speech dataset show that the method not only reduces the success rate of backdoor attacks, but also greatly realizes the purification of the backdoor samples.

Abstract As a key part of the wind turbines (WTs), the blade has a direct influence on the efficiency of WT. Because the defect detection technology of WT blade is not widely used, and the robustness of traditional detection methods is poor, this paper proposes a multi‐feature fusion residual network combined with transfer learning. In this paper, the WT blade image dataset is enhanced and constructed to train the convolutional network. Two residual structures of multi‐feature fusion (two feature fusion and three feature fusion) are proposed and compared. At the same time, transfer learning is used to improve training process and accelerate convergence. Compared with several convolutional neural networks based on indices include training loss and testing accuracy, f1‐score and confusion matrix, the method proposed greatly reduces the time while achieving accurate detection.

Abstract Single‐atom catalysts, featuring some of the most unique activities, selectivity, and high metal utilization, have been extensively studied over the past decade. Given their high activity, selectivity, especially towards small molecules or key intermediate conversions, they can be synergized together with other active species (typically other single atoms, atomic clusters, or nanoparticles) in either tandem or parallel or both, leading to much better performance in complex catalytic processes. Although there have been reports on effectively combining the multiple components into one single catalytic entity, the combination and synergy between single atoms and other active species have not been reviewed and examined in a systematic manner. Herein, in this overview, the key synergistic interactions, binary complementary effects, and the bifunctional functions of single atoms with other active species are defined and discussed in detail. The integration functions of their marriages are investigated with particular emphasis on the homogeneous and heterogeneous combinations, spatial distribution, synthetic strategies, and the thus‐derived outstanding catalytic performance, together with new light shined on the catalytic mechanisms by zooming in several case studies. The dynamic nature of each of the active species and in particular their interactions in such new catalytic entities in the heterogeneous electrocatalytic processes are visited, on the basis of the in situ/operando evidence. Last, we feature the current challenges and future perspectives of these integrated catalytic entities that can offer guidance for advanced catalyst design by the rational combination and synergy of binary or multiple active species.

Abstract Angularity is a class of event-shape observables that can be measured in deep-inelastic scattering. With its continuous parameter a one can interpolate angularity between thrust and broadening and further access beyond the region. Providing such systematic way to access various observables makes angularity attractive in analysis with event shapes. We give the definition of angularity for DIS and factorize the cross section by using soft-collinear effective theory. The factorization is valid in a wide range of a below and above thrust region but invalid in broadening limit. It contains an angularity beam function, which is new result and we give the expression at O $$ \mathcal{O} $$ (α s ). We also perform large log resummation of angularity and make predictions at various values of a at next-to-next-to-leading log accuracy.

Backgroundn-Hexane (NH) poisoning is a common occupational poisoning in the hardware and electronics industries. However, there is few research data on risk assessment of positions using NH in enclosed workshops. It is very important to assess the risk level of these positions and put forward effective measures and suggestions.MethodsThe information of selected companies and air samples were collected through on-site investigation, and data collation and sample testing were carried out according to the requirements of Chinese standards. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Essential, the EPA non-carcinogenic risk assessment model, the Singapore exposure index method and the Chinese semi-quantitative risk assessment models were used to assess the risks of NH.ResultsThe working hours of the exposure groups, printing groups and packing groups all exceeded 9 h per day, less than 30% of each similar exposure groups (SEG) was equipped with the local exhaust ventilation, and 11.1% of the cleaning group and 8.3% of the printing group had NH concentrations in the air that exceeded the Chinese occupational exposure limit (OEL). In the EPA non-carcinogenic risk assessment model, each SEG was evaluated at high risk. In the Chinese semi-quantitative risk assessment models, all of the work groups of exposure groups, 91.7% of the work groups of printing groups, 77.8% of the work groups of printing groups, and 57.1% of the work groups of printing groups were evaluated at unacceptable risk. More than 40.0% of the work groups of printing groups and cleaning groups and over 20.0% of the work groups of exposure groups and packing groups were evaluated at high risk in the Chinese semi-quantitative risk assessment models.ConclusionsThe Chinese exposure index method and the synthesis index method may have a stronger practicability. Some work groups that use NH in air-conditioned enclosed workshops in China, especially the cleaning groups, are still in a high-risk state. It is necessary to increase protective measures and strengthen occupational hygiene management to reduce risks.

Chemically driven micromotors display unpredictable trajectories due to the rotational Brownian motion interacting with the surrounding fluid molecules. This hampers the practical applications of these tiny robots, particularly where precise control is a requisite. To overcome the rotational Brownian motion and increase motion directionality, robots are often decorated with a magnetic composition and guided by an external magnetic field. However, despite the straightforward method, explicit analysis and modeling of their motion have been limited. Here, catalytic Janus micromotors are fabricated with distinct magnetizations and a controlled self‐propelled motion with magnetic steering is shown. To analyze their dynamic behavior, a dynamic model that can successfully predict the trajectory of micromotors in uniform viscous flows in real time by incorporating a form of state‐dependent‐coefficient with a robust two‐stage Kalman filter is theoretically developed. A good agreement is observed between the theoretically predicted dynamics and experimental observations over a wide range of model parameter variations. The developed model can be universally adopted to various designs of catalytic micro‐/nanomotors with different sizes, geometries, and materials, even in diverse fuel solutions. Finally, the proposed model can be used as a platform for biosensing, detecting fuel concentration, or determining small‐scale motors’ propulsion mechanisms in an unknown environment.

ObjectiveThe purpose of our study is to construct and validate nomograms that effectively predict postoperative overall survival and cancer-specific survival for patients with chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (chRCC).MethodClinical, social, and pathological data from 6016 patients with chRCC collected from the SEER database were screened from 2004 to 2015. They were randomly assigned to a training cohort (n = 4212) and a validation cohort (n = 1804) at a 7:3 ratio. Cox regression and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analyses were used to identify the prognostic factors affecting overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) and establish nomograms. Their performance was validated internally and externally by calculating Harrell’s C-indexes, area under the curve (AUC), calibration, and decision curves. For external validation, samples from postoperative patients with chRCC at 3 independent centers in Xuzhou, China, were collected. Risk stratification models were built according to the total scores of each patient. Kaplan-Meier curves were generated for the low-risk, intermediate-risk, and high-risk groups to evaluate survival.ResultsThe C-indexes, AUC curves, and decision curves revealed the high ability of the nomograms in predicting OS and CSS, overall better than that of AJCC and TNM staging. Moreover, in internal and external validation, the calibration curves of 5-, 8-, and 10-year OS agreed with the actual survival. Kaplan-Meier curves indicated significant differences in survival rates among the 3 risk groups in OS or CSS.ConclusionThe nomograms showed favourable predictive power for OS and CSS. Thus, they should contribute to evaluating the prognosis of patients with chRCC. Furthermore, the risk stratification models established on the nomograms can guide the prognosis of patients and further treatment.

Abstract Background To assess the intra-fractional dosimetric variations of image-guided brachytherapy of cervical cancer. Methods A total of 38 fractions (9 patients) undergoing brachytherapy for cervical cancer underwent a CT scanning for treatment planning (planning CT) and a Cone-beam CT (CBCT) scanning immediately prior to delivery (pre-delivery CBCT). The variations of volumes as well as the dosimetric impact from treatment planning to delivery (intra-application) were evaluated. The dose volume histogram parameters including volume, D90 of high-risk clinical target volume (HRCTV) and D2cc of organs at risk (OARs) were recorded. Results The relative differences (mean ± 1SD) of the volume and D90 HRCTV across the two scans were − 2.0 ± 3.3% and − 1.2 ± 4.5%, respectively. The variations of D2cc for bladder, rectum, sigmoid and small intestine are − 0.6 ± 17.1%, 9.3 ± 14.6%, 7.2% ± 20.5% and 1.5 ± 12.6%, respectively. Most of them are statistically nonsignificant except the D2cc for rectum, which showed a significant increase (P = 0.001). Using 5% and 10% uncertainty of physical dose for HRCTV at a 6 Gy × 5 high-dose-rate schedule, the possibility of total equivalent doses in 2 Gy fractions (EQD2) lower than 85 Gy is close to 0% and 3%, respectively. Performing similar simulation at 15% and 20% uncertainty of a 4 Gy physical dose for OARs, the possibility of total EQD2 dose exceeding 75 Gy is about 70%. Less than 1% of the total EQD2 of OARs would exceed 80 Gy. Conclusions Average intra-fractional dosimetric variation of HRCTV was small in an interval of less than 1 h, and the possibility of total EQD2 exceeding 85 Gy is higher than 97%. The intra-fractional dosimetric variations of OARs might result in an overdose for OARs in a single fraction or the whole treatment. It is necessary to detect unfavorable anatomical changes by re-imaging and take interventions to minimize applied doses and reduce the risk of complications.

This paper is based on “Opinion of the Audit-Commission on Strengthening Resource and Environmental Auditing” issued by the Audit Commission in 2009. The commission suggested studies on the impact of industrial structure upgradation in the manufacturing enterprises in China, based on 2006 to 2008 stocks of the listed companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen. Propensity Score Matching (PSM) and Differences-in-Differences (DID) were used to test the induced effect of the policy on industrial structure upgradation by comparing the experimental and control groups before and after policy implementation. The study found that government environmental auditing (GEA) upgrades the structure of the manufacturing industry. The data also reveals that the positive impact of GEA on the upgradation of industrial structure was significantly manifested in state-owned enterprises (SOEs). The findings validate the governance effect of GEA, expand the perspective of industrial structure upgradation in manufacturing enterprises, and provide suggestions on the regulatory effect in the industrial transformation of enterprises.

During the cultivation of Marsupenaeus japonicus, there are often obvious differences in the growth within the same family under the same food, water quality, and environment, which greatly affects cultivation efficiency. To explore the molecular mechanism of this growth difference, this study used RNA-seq technology to compare the transcriptomes of M. japonicus individuals with significant growth differences from the same family. A total of 1375 differentially expressed genes were identified, of which 1109 were upregulated and 266 were downregulated. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were performed on the differentially expressed genes, and the results showed that growth-related processes, including chitin metabolism, chitin-binding amino sugar metabolism, and antioxidant processes, including response to oxidative stress, peroxidase activity, antioxidant activity, and peroxidase activity, showed significant differences between the large-size and small-size groups. The expression levels of some differentially expressed genes, such as cuticular protein, low-density lipoprotein receptor, ecdysteroid kinase, myosin heavy chain, and apoptosis inhibitor, were verified by quantitative PCR experiments. One cuticle gene was annotated, and phylogenetic analysis showed that this sequence clustered with the penaeid cuticle genes. This study provides valuable data and a scientific basis for understanding the mechanism of growth differences in M. japonicus at the molecular-genetic level.