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Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), as potent reinforcements in composites, have demonstrated excellent strengthening effects when combined with copper in numerous recent studies. Challenges remain in the application of these composites and in fully leveraging the reinforcing capabilities of CNTs to achieve comprehensive performance enhancement. The performance of CNTs/Cu composites can be flexibly regulated owing to the unique structure and properties of CNTs. To achieve the fabrication of high-performance and diverse CNTs/Cu composites, a profound understanding of the reinforcement mechanisms of CNTs in the composites is essential, along with the consideration of key influencing factors on performance. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the reinforcement mechanisms of CNTs on the mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties of CNTs/Cu composites. Factors influencing the effectiveness of CNT reinforcement in composites are discussed, including the attributes and dispersion of CNTs, the architectures of composites, and the interface between CNTs and Cu. Furthermore, this study explores the role of CNTs in addressing the trade-off between high strength and high conductivity as well as between high strength and high ductility in the copper matrix.

Abstract Shape transformations of active composites (ACs) depend on the spatial distribution of constituent materials. Voxel-level complex material distributions can be encoded by 3D printing, offering enormous freedom for possible shape-change 4D-printed ACs. However, efficiently designing the material distribution to achieve desired 3D shape changes is significantly challenging yet greatly needed. Here, we present an approach that combines machine learning (ML) with both gradient-descent (GD) and evolutionary algorithm (EA) to design AC plates with 3D shape changes. A residual network ML model is developed for the forward shape prediction. A global-subdomain design strategy with ML-GD and ML-EA is then used for the inverse material-distribution design. For a variety of numerically generated target shapes, both ML-GD and ML-EA demonstrate high efficiency. By further combining ML-EA with a normal distance-based loss function, optimized designs are achieved for multiple irregular target shapes. Our approach thus provides a highly efficient tool for the design of 4D-printed active composites.

We proposed a unique wire-production process by rolling up and drawing chemical vapor deposition copper/graphene (Cu/Gr) foils, and a good strength-conductivity trade-off was achieved originating from the dispersed Gr in Cu matrix and the high-quality heterointerfaces. The 1.14 mm cold-drawn composite wire exhibited a tensile strength of 455 ± 5 MPa and a conductivity of 98.18 ± 0.16 % of the International Annealed Copper Standard (IACS), and the tensile strength was 250 ± 2 MPa with a satisfied electrical conductivity of 101.68 ± 0.52 % IACS upon annealing. The microstructure involution during the preparing process was revealed, and the reinforcement mechanisms in the yield strength and conductivity due to the introduced Gr were clarified. The results indicated that the Gr plays a role in pinning dislocations and preventing grain boundary movement during deformation and the subsequent annealing, thereby enhancing the strength of the Cu matrix. Meanwhile, the Cu-Gr coupling interfaces exhibited an electronic doping effect, enhancing the conductive properties. Our work presented a feasible method for preparing Cu/Gr composite wire with comprehensive electrical conductivity and strength optimization.

Failure behavior of epoxy coating/low alloy steel systems applied with cathodic polarization at 0.1 MPa and 15 MPa was investigated based on a deep−sea environment simulation test device. The results showed that the diffusion of water into the coating was significantly accelerated by the high hydrostatic pressure under the same polarization potential, and the time of water uptake of the coating that reached saturation was shortened; the coating's physical structure was significantly affected by the high hydrostatic pressure; the generation of highly conductive Fe3O4 was promoted in the corrosion products, which accelerated the metal corrosion process. Under the same hydrostatic pressure, with the negative shift of the polarization potential, the coating protective performance was significantly reduced and metal corrosion was mitigated to a certain extent; the water transport behavior showed a tendency to shorten the time of water uptake of the coating that reached saturation and lengthen the duration of the saturation state, which may be related to a more severe degree of cathodic delamination and the increase of water consumption for cathodic reactions under the coating. In addition, the increase of the weakly conductive α−Fe2O3 content in the corrosion products may cause a reduction in the cathodic protection current at the same polarization potential, resulting in the reduction of the protection effect on the metal.

Chinese plum (Prunus salicina Lindl.) originates from China and makes a large contribution to the global production of plums. The P. salicina ‘Wushancuili’ has a green coloration and high fruit quality and is economically important in eliminating poverty and protecting ecology in the Yangtze River Three Gorges Reservoir. However, rain-induced cracking (rain-cracking, literally skin cracking caused by rain) is a limitation to ‘Wushancuili’ fruit production and causes severe losses. This study reported a high-quality ‘Wushancuili’ genome assembly consisting of a 302.17-Mb sequence with eight pseudo-chromosomes and a contig N50 of 23.59 Mb through the combination of Illumina sequencing, Pacific Biosciences HiFi Ⅲ sequencing, and high-throughput chromosome conformation capture technology. A total of 25 109 protein-coding genes are predicted and 54.17% of the genome is composed of repetitive sequences. ‘Wushancuili’ underwent a remarkable orthoselection during evolution. Gene identification revealed that loss-of-function in four core MYB10 genes results in the anthocyanin deficiency and absence of red color, revealing the green coloration due to the residual high chlorophyll in fruit skin. Besides, the occurrence of cracking is assumed to be closely associated with cell wall modification and frequently rain-induced pathogen enrichment through transcriptomic analysis. The loss of MYB10 genes might render fruit more susceptible to pathogen-mediated cracking by weakening the epidermal strength and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging. Our findings provided fundamental knowledge regarding fruit coloration and rain-cracking and will facilitate genetic improvement and cultivation management in Chinese plums.

Abstract Oral poisoning can trigger diverse physiological reactions, determined by the toxic substance involved. One such consequence is hyperchloremia, characterized by an elevated level of chloride in the blood and leads to kidney damage and impairing chloride ion regulation. Here, we conducted a comprehensive genome-wide analysis to investigate genes or proteins linked to hyperchloremia. Our analysis included functional enrichment, protein–protein interactions, gene expression, exploration of molecular pathways, and the identification of potential shared genetic factors contributing to the development of hyperchloremia. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that oral poisoning owing hyperchloremia is associated with 4 proteins e.g. Kelch-like protein 3, Serine/threonine-protein kinase WNK4, Serine/threonine-protein kinase WNK1 and Cullin-3. The protein–protein interaction network revealed Cullin-3 as an exceptional protein, displaying a maximum connection of 18 nodes. Insufficient data from transcriptomic analysis indicates that there are lack of information having direct associations between these proteins and human-related functions to oral poisoning, hyperchloremia, or metabolic acidosis. The metabolic pathway of Cullin-3 protein revealed that the derivative is Sulfonamide which play role in, increasing urine output, and metabolic acidosis resulted in hypertension. Based on molecular docking results analysis it found that Cullin-3 proteins has the lowest binding energies score and being suitable proteins. Moreover, no major variations were observed in unbound Cullin-3 and all three peptide bound complexes shows that all systems remain compact during 50 ns simulations. The results of our study revealed Cullin-3 proteins be a strong foundation for the development of potential drug targets or biomarker for future studies.

Summary: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), an oncogenic herpesvirus, is predominantly found in the latent infection form and is highly associated with many human malignancies, which mainly have poor prognoses and no effective treatments. Here, we obtained thirteen compounds from small-molecule libraries for specific inhibition of EBV-latently infected cell growth in vitro by high-throughput screening. Among them, cetrimonium bromide (CetB) was identified to selectively inhibit the growth of different EBV-infected B lymphoma cell lines. Importantly, CetB reduced EBNA1 protein stability, activated G1 arrest and early apoptosis of EBV-latently infected cells without viral lytic reactivation, which leads to dramatically inhibit colony formation and tumor growth of EBV-infected cells in vitro and in vivo, and significantly prolong the survival of tumor-bearing mice. Overall, these findings demonstrate that CetB acts as a highly selective inhibitor of the growth of EBV-infected cells and has the potential for further development of effective therapeutic strategies specific against EBV-associated cancers.

Assembly of AgStBu and PhCOOH ligands with the assistance of soluble silver salt CH3COOAg/CF3SO3Ag in methanol, N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and dichloromethane solution, yielded two Ag20 cage isomers co-constructed by thiol and carboxylate/sulfonate ligands encapsulating a CO32– anion template, [(CO32–)@Ag20(StBu)10(PhCOO)4(CH3COO)4(DMF)4] (1) and [(CO32–)@Ag20(StBu)10(PhCOO)6(CF3SO3)2(DMF)4]·2DMF (2). The CO32– anion template was generated in situ by fixing atmospheric CO2. The precise structures of 1 and 2 were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffractometry (SCXRD). The thermal stability of compounds 1 and 2 was proved by thermogravimetric (TG) analysis, and their solution stability was characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance hydrogen spectroscopy (1H NMR). The absorption spectra, photocurrent responses, and luminescence of compounds 1 and 2 were investigated. In addition, the photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) and cyclic voltammetry characteristic curves of 1 and 2 were also studied.

BackgroundPost-stroke depression (PSD) is a prevalent psychiatric disorder affecting about one-third of stroke survivors, significantly hindering recovery and quality of life. PSD also imposes a substantial burden on caregivers and healthcare systems. Aromatherapy has shown promise in alleviating depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. This pilot randomized controlled trial aims to assess the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of mixed herb aromatherapy in treating PSD. Feasibility outcomes encompass recruitment, intervention adherence, assessment completion and safety assessment. Secondary outcomes include evaluations of depression, anxiety, cognitive function, sleep quality, quality of life, and brain function using EEG and fNIRS.MethodsThis single-blind pilot randomized controlled trial will be conducted at the Second Rehabilitation Hospital of Shanghai, enrolling ninety-nine post-stroke patients with PSD. Participants will be randomized into three groups: a Non-Active Control Group receiving standardized rehabilitation therapy, a CBT Group receiving conventional rehabilitation with bi-weekly CBT sessions, and an Aromatherapy Group receiving conventional rehabilitation with daily aromatic inhalation sessions. Interventions will last for four weeks, with efficacy assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and one month post-intervention. Rating scales will be used to measure changes in depression, sleep quality, cognitive function, and quality of life. EEG and fNIRS will specifically be used to measure changes in cerebral cortex activity and their correlations with depression. Feasibility will be evaluated through recruitment, intervention adherence, assessment completion and safety assessment.DiscussionThis pilot study highlights the potential of mixed herb aromatherapy inhalation for treating PSD, addressing limitations of CBT by promoting self-management. While demonstrating feasibility through recruitment, adherence, assessment completion and safety assessment, the study also acknowledges limitations such as unequal intervention times, the lack of physical function data. And the use of culturally relevant plant powders may enhance compliance but limits generalizability. Despite these constraints, the study provides valuable preliminary data and insights into the mechanisms of aromatherapy, encouraging further research and development of effective PSD treatments.

Abstract Grayscale digital light processing (DLP) printing is a simple yet effective way to realize the variation of material properties by tuning the grayscale value. However, there is a lack of available design methods for grayscale DLP 3D‐printed structures due to the complexities arising from the voxel‐level grayscale distribution, nonlinear material properties, and intricate structures. Inspired by the dexterous motions of natural organisms, a design and fabrication framework for grayscale DLP‐printed soft robots is developed by combining a grayscale‐dependent hyperelastic constitutive model and a voxel‐based finite‐element model. The constitutive model establishes the relationship between the projected grayscale value and the nonlinear mechanical properties, while the voxel‐based finite‐element model enables fast and efficient calculation of the mechanical performances with arbitrarily distributed material properties. A multiphysics modeling and experimental method is developed to validate the homogenization assumption of the degree of conversion (DoC) variation in a single voxel. The design framework is used to design structures with reduced stress concentration and programmable multimodal motions. This work paves the way for integrated design and fabrication of functional structures using grayscale DLP 3D printing.

Objectives The objective of the study was to assess the clinical predictive value of the dynamics of absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) for 90-day all-cause mortality in sepsis patients in intensive care unit (ICU).Design Retrospective cohort study using big data.Setting This study was conducted using the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV database V.2.0 database.Primary and secondary outcome measures The primary outcome was 90-day all-cause mortality.Participants Patients were included if they were diagnosed with sepsis on the first day of ICU admission. Exclusion criteria were ICU stay under 24 hours; the absence of lymphocyte count on the first day; extremely high lymphocyte count (>10×109/L); history of haematolymphatic tumours, bone marrow or solid organ transplants; survival time under 72 hours and previous ICU admissions. The analysis ultimately included 17 329 sepsis patients.Results The ALC in the non-survivors group was lower on days 1, 3, 5 and 7 after admission (p

The pursuit of high-performance is worth considerable effort in catalysis for energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. To develop redox catalysts with superior performance for soot combustion, a series of MnxCoy oxides were synthesized using MgO template substitution. This method greatly improves the preparation and catalytic efficiency and is more in line with the current theme of green catalysts and sustainable development. The resulting Mn1Co2.3 has a strong activation capability of gaseous oxygen due to a high concentration of Co3+ and Mn3+. The Mn doping enhanced the intrinsic activity by prompting oxygen vacancy formation and gaseous oxygen adsorption. The nanosheet morphology with abundant mesoporous significantly increased the solid–solid contact efficiency and improved the adsorption capability of gaseous reactants. The novel design of Mn1Co2.3 oxide enhanced its catalytic performance through a synergistic effect of Mn doping and the porous nanosheet morphology, showing significant potential for the preparation of high-performance soot combustion catalysts.

Abstract Background Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is the common clinical cardiovascular disease, and easily develops into post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS). The study aimed to examine the clinical value of long non-coding RNA NORAD gene in the development of DVT and PTS. In vitro, the underlying mechanism was explored. Methods Serum levels of lncRNA NORAD gene in 85 DVT cases and 85 healthy individuals were tested. The role of lncRNA NORAD gene in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) proliferation, migration and inflammation was examined. The candidate downstream target gene was predicted via bioinformatic analysis. Gene ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were done for the function annotation and pathway enrichment. Results LncRNA NORAD gene was at high expression in the serum of DVT patients, it can distinguish DVT patients from healthy controls with the area under the curve of 0.919. Elevated expression of lncRNA NORAD gene in PTS patients was detected, DVT cases with high expression of lncRNA NORAD gene were more susceptible to PTS. LncRNA NORAD gene knockdown promoted HUVECs’ proliferation, migration while suppressing cell apoptosis and inflammation. MiR-93-5p served as a target of lncRNA NORAD gene, and its overexpression reversed the role of lncRNA NORAD gene in the biological function of HUVECs. The target genes of miR-93-5p were enriched in HIF-1 signaling, TGF-beta signaling and PI3K-Akt signaling, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network indicated STAT3, MAPK1 to be the key targets. Conclusions Upregulation of expression of lncRNA NORAD gene was a potential diagnostic biomarker for DVT and related to the development of PTS. LncRNA NORAD/miR-93-5p axis was involved in the progress of DVT through regulating endothelial cell function.

Abstract The elevation in the optic nerve sheath (ONS) pressure (ONSP) due to microgravity-induced headward fluid shift is the primary hypothesized contributor to SANS. This longitudinal study aims to quantify the axial plane of the optic nerve subarachnoid space area (ONSSA), which is filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and expands with elevated ONSP during and after head-down tilt (HDT) bed rest (BR). 36 healthy male volunteers (72 eyes) underwent a 90-day strict 6° HDT BR. Without obtaining the pre-HDT data, measurements were performed on days 30, 60, and 90 during HDT and at 6 recovery time points extended to 180-days (R + 180) in a supine position. Portable B-scan ultrasound was performed using the 12 MHz linear array probe binocularly. The measurements of the ONS and the calculation of the ONSSA were performed with ImageJ 1.51 analysis software by two experienced observers in a masked manner. Compared to R + 180, the ONSSA on HDT30, HDT60, and HDT90 exhibited a consistently significant distention of 0.44 mm2 (95% CI: 0.13 to 0.76 mm2, P = 0.001), 0.45 mm2 (95% CI: 0.15 to 0.75 mm2, P = 0.001), and 0.46 mm2 (95% CI: 0.15 to 0.76 mm2, P

Multi-material additive manufacturing holds immense potential for performance and functionality enhancement. Past research efforts primarily focused on the horizontal interface (perpendicular to the sample build direction) during the laser-powder bed fusion (LPBF) of multi-materials, whereas a few studies demonstrated that the vertical interface (parallel to the sample build direction) is in fact the main obstacle towards high-integrity multi-material fabrication in a three-dimensional space. In this work, facilitated by our own patented powder spreading device, we explored the mechanisms behind defect formation along both the horizontal and vertical interfaces during the LPBF production of 316L stainless steel and K220 copper multi-materials. High-fidelity fluid dynamics simulations were also conducted to rationalise the experimental observations. A practical process parameter optimisation approach is also proposed at the end, with the aim of mitigating those large defects currently occurring near the vertical interface.

AbstractPurpose: Ultrasound-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (USgHIFU) represents a safe and effective non-invasive thermoablative technique for managing inoperable pancreatic cancer. This treatment method significantly alleviates disease-related symptoms and reduces pancreatic tumor volume. However, the current body of evidence is constrained by a lack of randomized controlled trials. The utilization of USgHIFU is primarily indicated for patients with unresectable, locally advanced, or metastatic pancreatic cancer, particularly those experiencing symptoms due to a locally advanced primary tumor.Methods: This collaborative consensus paper, involving European and Chinese HIFU centers treating pancreatic cancer, delineates criteria for patient selection, focusing on those most likely to benefit from USgHIFU treatment. Consideration is given to endpoints encompassing symptom alleviation, local response rates, other oncological outcomes, as well as overall and progression-free survival. Additionally, this paper defines relevant contraindications, side effects, and complications associated with USgHIFU. The publication also explores the feasibility and role of USgHIFU within the context of palliative care, including standard systemic chemotherapy.Results: The non-invasive local treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer using HIFU should be regarded as an adjunctive option alongside systemic chemotherapy or best supportive care for managing this aggressive disease. Based on the ability of USgHIFU therapy to mitigate pain and reduce primary tumor volume, it should be considered as a complementary therapy for symptomatic patients with inoperable pancreatic cancer and as a potential means of tumor debulking. The underutilized yet promising USgHIFU exhibits the potential to enhance patients’ quality of life by alleviating cancer-related pain. Experts in the field should evaluate this treatment option be evaluated by experts in this field, with this consensus paper potentially serving as a guiding resource for the medical community.Conclusions: US-guided HIFU for advanced pancreatic cancer addresses treatment goals, available options, success rates, and limitations. As a non-invasive, effective local therapy, complementary to chemotherapy and best supportive care, it plays a pivotal role in pain relief, reducing of tumor volume, and potentially improving survival rates.

Extreme fractionation of elements and isotopes in mafic igneous rocks is abnormal in deciphering the source nature and melting conditions of mafic magmatism. Especially, identification of geochemically ultra-depleted mafic melts and their mantle sources has great bearing on the property of crust-mantle differentiation at plate margins. This is illustrated by extreme Hf-Nd isotope fractionation in ultrahigh-pressure eclogites from the Sulu orogen in east-central China. In addition to the previous finding of ultrahigh εNd(0) values, we report here new data of whole-rock trace elements and Lu-Hf isotopes in eclogites and related rocks from the same region. The present results show extremely high Lu/Hf ratios and abnormally high εHf(0) values of up to 576 for the eclogites, significantly different from the garnet amphibolites and other eclogite-facies metamorphic rocks in the same orogen. This feature is coupled with the ultrahigh εNd(0) values as well as the severe depletion of light rare earth elements (LREE) and high field strength elements (HFSE). Because HFSE and LREE are immobile in aqueous solutions and the effect of melt extraction is insignificant during the continental deep subduction, the extreme fractionation of Lu/Hf and Sm/Nd indicate their origination from a geochemically ultra-depleted mantle source. These eclogites have the depleted mantle Hf model ages of 1.27 Ga to 1.61 Ga, similar to the depleted mantle Nd model ages of 1.39 Ga to 1.67 Ga as previously reported. This suggests that the protolith of the extremely high εHf-εNd eclogites was a kind of mafic igneous rocks derived from fractional crystallization of geochemically ultra-depleted mafic melts, which were produced by partial melting of the highly refractory lithospheric mantle during a series of seafloor spreading initiation-failure cycles at a divergent plate margin after the breakup of supercontinent Columbia in the Early Mesoproterozoic. The mafic igneous rocks were located in a passive continental margin in the Late Paleozoic and experienced deep subduction and exhumation in the Triassic, giving rise to the presently studied eclogites. The ancient geochemical signatures were retained without considerable influence by mantle convection, providing insights into the nature of crust-mantle differentiation during the tectonic transition from supercontinental breakup to seafloor spreading beneath the sub-ridge lithospheric mantle.

Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) is a potentially life-threatening complication after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Standard steroid first-line treatment could not satisfy therapeutic needs due to limited efficacy. As a highly selective Janus kinase (JAK) 1 inhibitor, SHR0302 exhibits a reduced inhibition effect on JAK2 and might have less effect on hematopoiesis. This phase I clinical trial investigated the tolerability and safety of SHR0302 in combination with prednisone, and its early efficacy evidence as a potential first-line treatment to moderate/severe cGVHD. The standard 3 + 3 dose escalation was implemented to find the optimal dose of SHR0302. And prednisone was concurrently administrated with a dose of 1 mg/kg/d and then gradually tapered after 2 weeks. Eighteen patients were enrolled into the study. Grade ≥ 3 treatment-related adverse events were observed in 38.9% of patients. Only one patient developed DLT (grade ≥ 3 hypercholesterolemia) in the highest dose-level group who had pre-existing hypercholesterolemia. The maximum tolerated dose was not reached. No patient discontinued treatment due to AEs. Sixteen out of 18 patients were evaluable for responses, the ORR at week 4 and week 24 were 94.4 and 87.5%, respectively. Overall, the treatment of SHR0302 combined with prednisone was safe and well-tolerated, preliminary clinical results presented a high response for previously untreated cGVHD and a significant reduction in prednisone use in this study. A phase II trial will be conducted to further investigate its therapeutic effects clinically.

ObjectivesThe altered neuromelanin in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) is a valuable biomarker in the detection of early-stage Parkinson’s disease (EPD). Diagnosis via visual inspection or single radiomics based method is challenging. Thus, we proposed a novel hybrid model that integrates radiomics and deep learning methodologies to automatically detect EPD based on neuromelanin-sensitive MRI, namely short-echo-time Magnitude (setMag) reconstructed from quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM).MethodsIn our study, we collected QSM images including 73 EPD patients and 65 healthy controls, which were stratified into training-validation and independent test sets with an 8:2 ratio. Twenty-four participants from another center were included as the external validation set. Our framework began with the detection of the brainstem utilizing YOLO-v5. Subsequently, a modified LeNet was applied to obtain deep learning features. Meanwhile, 1781 radiomics features were extracted, and 10 features were retained after filtering. Finally, the classified models based on radiomics features, deep learning features, and the hybrid of both were established through machine learning algorithms, respectively. The performance was mainly evaluated using accuracy, net reclassification improvement (NRI), and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI). The saliency map was used to visualize the model.ResultsThe hybrid feature-based support vector machine (SVM) model showed the best performance, achieving ACC of 96.3 and 95.8% in the independent test set and external validation set, respectively. The model established by hybrid features outperformed the one radiomics feature-based (NRI: 0.245, IDI: 0.112). Furthermore, the saliency map showed that the bilateral “swallow tail” sign region was significant for classification.ConclusionThe integration of deep learning and radiomic features presents a potent strategy for the computer-aided diagnosis of EPD. This study not only validates the accuracy of our proposed model but also underscores its interpretability, evidenced by differential significance across various anatomical sites.

Two silver alkynyl clusters, [(CO32−)@Ag20(tBuC≡C)14(PhCOO)3(CF3COO)] (1) and [(CO32−)@Ag20(tBuC≡C)14(PhCOO)(CF3COO)3] (2), composed of alkynyl Ag20 shell templated by a CO32− anion and supported by carboxyl ligands PhCOO− and CF3COO−, were synthesized successfully by conventional methods. Single crystal X–ray diffractometer (SCXRD) was used to determine the precise structures of 1 and 2. Although compounds 1 and 2 have the [(CO32−)@Ag20(tBuC≡C)14]4+ unit, the numbers of PhCOO− and CF3COO− ligands along with Ag···Ag interactions were affected by the steric hindrance of different carboxyl ligands and their concentrations. That is, compounds 1 and 2 separately contain the [(CO32−)@Ag20(tBuC≡C)14(PhCOO)(CF3COO)]2+ unit, which is involved in the ligand exchange between PhCOO− and CF3COO−. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to characterized compounds 1 and 2. The photocurrent responses, absorption spectra, as well as luminescence of 1 and 2 have been studied. In addition, the reduction of H2O2 for GCE–1 and GCE–2 showed good electrocatalytic activity, and catalysts 1 and 2 showed good photocatalytic degradation efficiency of methylene blue (MB). The results suggest that 1 and 2 can act as new electrocatalysts and photocatalysts to detect and decompose organic pollutants and hazardous materials in wastewater.

Increasing demands for livestock products have stimulated rapid increases in the number of livestock and the scale of farming, thus increasing pressure on resources and the environment. Coordinating the development of livestock production (LP) with residential consumption (RC), resources and the environmental carrying capacity (RECC) is important to ensure sustainable development. In this study, the entropy weight method and the improved-coupling coordination degree (CCD) model were used to identify the spatial–temporal coordination development characteristics of livestock production-residential consumption-resource and environmental carrying capacity (LRRE). Furthermore, the spatial autocorrelation model (SAM) and gray model (GM) were used to analyze the spatial aggregation characteristics and future development trends of the CCDs of the LRRE in China. The findings show that the CCDs of the LRRE values in 31 Chinese provinces increased from 2005 to 2020, but no provinces reached a high coordination level. Specifically, the coordinated development level of LRRE is relatively high in the central, eastern and northeastern regions and relatively low in the western region. The spatial autocorrelation analysis confirmed that the high-high (H-H) aggregation areas were mainly distributed in the northeastern, eastern, and central regions, while low-high (L-H) agglomeration was distributed in the western region. This phenomenon is mainly attributed to the continuous expansion of the scale of livestock production in western China. Regions with relatively developed economies have more funds to invest in environmental protection projects. Using GM method, we find that the CCDs of LRRE in 31 provinces in China will increase from 2021 to 2030, and all provinces will reach the basic coordination level. However, most of the western regions will barely reach the basic coordination level. This result indicates that the low level of LRRE development in western China may be difficult to change in the short term. The level of coordinated LRRE development in the relatively developed eastern region is increasing. The spatial layout of China’s livestock industry should be appropriately adjusted, its expansion rate in the western region should be decreased, and the ecological environment of the areas bordering the western and central regions should be improved. These findings have practical implications for other large livestock production countries. Promoting the coordinated development of LRRE is also an important condition for agricultural transformation in developing countries, especially for improving the environment in key areas of the livestock industry.

Abstract Materials with high stretchability and conductivity are used to fabricate stretchable electronics. Self‐healing capability and four‐dimensional (4D) printability are becoming increasingly important for these materials to facilitate their recovery from damage and endow them with stimuli–response properties. However, it remains challenging to design a single material that combines these four strengths. Here, a dually crosslinked hydrogel is developed by combining a covalently crosslinked acrylic acid (AAC) network and Fe3+ ions through dynamic and reversible ionically crosslinked coordination. The remarkable electrical sensitivity (a gauge factor of 3.93 under a strain of 1500%), superior stretchability (a fracture strain up to 1700%), self‐healing ability (a healing efficiency of 88% and 97% for the mechanical and electrical properties, respectively), and 4D printability of the hydrogel are demonstrated by constructing a strain sensor, a two‐dimensional touch panel, and shape‐morphing structures with water‐responsive behavior. The hydrogel demonstrates vast potential for applications in stretchable electronics.

The research community has recently been captivated by the atomic-scale short-range order observed in high- and medium-entropy alloys. However, significant challenges persist in improving the mechanical performance through manipulation of the short-range order. Herein, molecular dynamics simulations are employed to establish the correlation between this ordering and the chemical composition for the Cr–Co–Ni medium-entropy alloys. It is demonstrated that atomic-scale clustering can be tailored through adjusting the chemical composition. Particularly, it can be promoted by decreasing the content of elements that do not participate in the clusters. The short-range ordering plays a significant role in affecting the dislocation evolution and tensile properties. Reducing the tendency to form Cr–Co clusters yields enhanced strengthening due to the increased local unstable stacking fault energy. Increasing the tendency to form Ni–Ni clusters instead results in enhanced strain hardening due to the high sessile dislocation density impeding the movement of dislocations. These findings unveil the crucial role of chemical composition on short-range ordering and have significant implications on the design of high-performance high- and medium-entropy alloys.

AIM: To observe the epithelial remodeling of femtosecond laser-assisted stromal lenticule addition keratoplasty combined with corneal collagen cross-linking(SLAK-CXL)in patients with progressive keratoconus, investigate the remodeling rules of corneal epithelial and influencing factors, and provide clinical data for further refractive correction.METHODS: Retrospective and observational study. A total of 28 keratoconus patients(29 eyes)who received SLAK-CXL from September 2020 to October 2021 were included. Preoperative and postoperative visual acuity, intraocular pressure(IOP), diopter, keratometry and corneal epithelial thickness(CET)were recorded. The trend of CET change was observed. The factors affecting CET were analyzed according to the thickness and depth of the lenticule.RESULTS: Flattest meridian keratometry(Kf)and steepest meridian keratometry(Ks)at 1mo postoperatively were significantly larger than those preoperatively(P0.05).CONCLUSIONS: It is firstly found that the corneal morphology has changed after SLAK-CXL. CET decreases and then increases and then decreases again. At 1a postoperatively, the CET of the central and paracentral areas is thinner, while the CET of the midperipheral and peripheral areas is thicker. The degree of epithelial remodeling is not correlated with lenticule thickness or depth.

Abstract Background It has been reported that the complete heart block (CHB) in neonatal lupus (NL) cannot be reversed. This study reported a case of NL-CHB that was reversed by transcutaneous pacing and repeated plasmapheresis. Case presentation A 35+ 6-week male preterm baby was transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit of the Army Medical Center in May 2020 for slight cyanosis around the lips and nose. Two days after birth, a sudden decrease in heart rate was observed during electrocardiogram (EGG) monitoring. Physical examination revealed a bluish-purple discoloration around the lips and an irregular heartbeat. EGG showed the presence of isolated P (142 bpm) and QRS (78 bpm) waves, ventricular escape beats, and a diagnosis of NL-CHB. To reverse the condition, transcutaneous pacing and five sessions of plasmapheresis were performed. At a 1.5-year follow-up, the baby exhibited well-developed cardiac structure and normal neurodevelopment. Conclusions Transcutaneous pacing and repeated plasmapheresis might be possible to reverse CHB in NL.

Abstract Fermentation is the key process required for developing the characteristic properties of cigar tobacco leaves, complex microorganisms are involved in this process. However, the microbial fermentation mechanisms during the fermentation process have not been well-characterized. This study investigated the dynamic changes in conventional chemical composition, flavor compounds, and bacterial community during the fermentation of cigar tobacco leaves from Hainan and Sichuan provinces in China, as well as the potential roles of bacteria. Fermentation resulted in a reduction of conventional chemical components in tobacco leaves, with the exception of a noteworthy increase in insoluble protein content. Furthermore, the levels of 10 organic acids and 19 amino acids showed a significant decrease, whereas the concentration of 30 aromatic substances exhibited a unimodal trend. Before fermentation, the bacterial community structures and dominant bacteria in Hainan and Sichuan tobacco leaves differed significantly. As fermentation progressed, the community structures in the two regions became relatively similar, with Delftia, Ochrobactrum, Rhodococcus, and Stenotrophomonas being dominant. Furthermore, a total of 12 functional bacterial genera were identified in Hainan and Sichuan tobacco leaves using bidirectional orthogonal partial least squares (O2PLS) analysis. Delftia, Ochrobactrum, and Rhodococcus demonstrated a significant negative correlation with oleic acid and linoleic acid, while Stenotrophomonas and Delftia showed a significant negative correlation with undesirable amino acids, such as Ala and Glu. In addition, Bacillus showed a positive correlation with benzaldehyde, while Kocuria displayed a positive correlation with 2-acetylfuran, isophorone, 2, 6-nonadienal, and β-damascenone. The co-occurrence network analysis of microorganisms revealed a prevalence of positive correlations within the bacterial network, with non-abundant bacteria potentially contributing to the stabilization of the bacterial community. These findings can improve the overall tobacco quality and provide a novel perspective on the utilization of microorganisms in the fermentation of cigar tobacco leaves. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Ample evidence reveals that glycolysis is crucial to tumor progression; however, the underlying mechanism of its drug resistance is still worth being further explored. TRAF6, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, is well recognized to overexpress in various types of cancer, which predicts a poor prognosis. In our study, we discovered that TRAF6 was expressed more significantly in the case of triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) than in other of breast cancers, promoting chemoresistance to paclitaxel; that inhibited TRAF6 expression in the chemoresistant TNBC (TNBC‐CR) cells enhanced the sensitivity by decreasing glucose uptake and lactate production; that TRAF6 regulated glycolysis and facilitated chemoresistance via binding directly to PKM2; and that overexpressing PKM2 in the TNBC‐CR cells with TRAF6 knocked down regained significantly TRAF6‐dependent drug resistance and glycolysis. Additionally, we verified that TRAF6 could facilitate PKM2‐mediated glycolysis and chemoresistance in animal models and clinical tumor tissues. Thus, we identified the novel function of TRAF6 to promote glycolysis and drug resistance in TNBC with the regulation of PKM2, which could provide a potential molecular target for TNBC treatment.

Lipids are organic nonpolar molecules with essential biological and economic importance. While the genetic pathways and regulatory networks of lipid biosynthesis and metabolism have been extensively studied and thoroughly reviewed in oil crops such as soybeans, less attention has been paid to the biological roles of lipids in rice, a staple food for the global population and a model species for plant molecular biology research, leaving a considerable knowledge gap in the biological roles of lipids. In this review, we endeavor to furnish a current overview of the advancements in understanding the genetic foundations and physiological functions of lipids, including triacylglycerol, fatty acids, and very-long-chain fatty acids. We aim to summarize the key genes in lipid biosynthesis, metabolism, and transcriptional regulation underpinning rice’s developmental and growth processes, biotic stress responses, abiotic stress responses, fertility, seed longevity, and recent efforts in rice oil genetic improvement.

Fabrication of structures in unstructured conditions is a promising area of bolstering the application spaces of additive manufacturing (AM). One emerging application is appending structures on existing ones that may have nonplanar surfaces in unconventional orientations. However, extrusion‐based AM techniques are limited to printing on structured, planar environments with a fixed single‐nozzle direction. Herein, the authors present a dexterous conformal material extrusion printing method using a six‐axis robotic arm capable of constructing complex parts onto highly unstructured surfaces with rough topographies. The manufacturing method employs a custom algorithm that generates layers consisting of 3D spatial coordinates of print path as well as the extrusion nozzle oriented in the normal direction of the substrate, thereby enabling conformal motion of the extrusion nozzle to the unstructured surface. The capabilities of the surface‐informed robotic conformal 3D printing method to fabricate structures on surfaces with a variety of topographies in unconventional orientations are demonstrated. Finally, via addition of deposited conductive paths, a high‐strength, functional reinforcement capable of in situ deformation monitoring is appended. This work has the potential for reconstructing, repairing, and reinforcing existing structures in human‐limited or inaccessible spaces. Integration of functional elements can also enable in situ sensing, monitoring, and self‐diagnosis.

Abstract Electrical stimulation (ES) is proposed as a therapeutic solution for managing chronic wounds. However, its widespread clinical adoption is limited by the requirement of additional extracorporeal devices to power ES‐based wound dressings. In this study, a novel sandwich‐structured photovoltaic microcurrent hydrogel dressing (PMH dressing) is designed for treating diabetic wounds. This innovative dressing comprises flexible organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells, a flexible micro–electro–mechanical systems (MEMS) electrode, and a multifunctional hydrogel serving as an electrode–tissue interface. The PMH dressing is engineered to administer ES, mimicking the physiological injury current occurring naturally in wounds when exposed to light; thus, facilitating wound healing. In vitro experiments are performed to validate the PMH dressing's exceptional biocompatibility and robust antibacterial properties. In vivo experiments and proteomic analysis reveal that the proposed PMH dressing significantly accelerates the healing of infected diabetic wounds by enhancing extracellular matrix regeneration, eliminating bacteria, regulating inflammatory responses, and modulating vascular functions. Therefore, the PMH dressing is a potent, versatile, and effective solution for diabetic wound care, paving the way for advancements in wireless ES wound dressings.

Scientific assessment of the relationships and influencing factors between livestock and resource-environmental carrying capacity (LS-RECC) is essential for alleviating environmental pressure. The crop-livestock balance method was used to measure China’s livestock production potential from 2005 to 2020. The improved coupling coordination degree model (I-CCDM) and exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) were used to analyze the spatial-temporal coordinated development characteristics of the LS-RECC. Furthermore, geographically and temporally weighted regression (GTWR) was used to identify the factors influencing the coordination development of the LS-RECC. The findings showed that (1) From 2005 to 2020, the nutrient demand for crop cultivation in China increased, and, the crop system nutrient demand exceeded the livestock nutrient supply in 2007 to 190 ×104 tons, reaching a maximum of 925 ×104 tons in 2019. However, the production potential of livestock in Ningxia, Tibet, Guizhou, Gansu, Yunnan, and Qinghai was severely overloaded. (2) The coupling coordination degree (CCD) of the LS-RECC showed a progressively increasing trend, which indicates that the sustainable development ability of China's livestock industry is constantly increasing. However, compared with that in eastern and central China, the coordinated development level of the LS-RECC in western China was lower, further indicating excessive livestock industry development in western China. (3) Environmental regulation had the strongest effect on the regional coordinated development of the LS-RECC, with obvious spatial differences. The economic development level had a positive effect, but urbanization and Engel's coefficients had the opposite effect. These results provide not only references for reducing environmental pressure on the livestock industry in China but also guidance for the sustainable development of the livestock industry in other large livestock production countries.

The vegetation canopy clumping index (CI) is an important indicator for understanding radiative transport processes, radiation interception, and the photosynthesis of vegetation canopies. However, most studies consider CI only in the nadir or specific direction. In this study, we analyze the directional characteristics of the CI based on RAMI-V (radiation transfer model intercomparison) activity, which represents most typical canopies. The directional gap fraction and CI of these scenes are accurately calculated based on the LESS (large-scale remote sensing data and image simulation framework) model. According to our results, the directional characteristics of the CI are affected by many factors, such as vegetation type, season, and canopy structure. Generally, the CI of a coniferous forest varies little with zenith angle, while the CI of a broad-leaf forest demonstrates the different trend. In winter, the CI is smaller than that in summer, and the variation in the CI at the zenith angle is less. The row structure scenes exhibit different directional characteristics along and perpendicular to the row direction, and their CIs tend to increase with zenith angle. To accurately model the directional CI, we propose a modified Gompertz function model. Compared with other directional CI models, this model has the advantages of high precision and strong applicability (R2 = 0.975). By studying the directional characteristics of CI, we can enhance the usability of radiative transfer modeling and the accuracy of canopy biophysical parameter retrieval for vegetation with different structures.

AIM: To investigate the effects of primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction(PANDO)on the tear film and ocular surface using LipiView ocular surface interferometer and Keratograph 5M anterior segment analyzer.METHODS: A self-controlled clinical trials. A total of 40 patients diagnosed with unilateral PANDO for at least 6mo who were admitted to our department from September 2021 to March 2022 were enrolled in the study, and the healthy eyes of the patients were assessed as control group. The LipiView ocular surface interferometer and Keratograph 5M anterior segment analyzer were used to measure the changes in related parameters of the tear film and ocular surface in both eyes.RESULTS: The non-invasive tear meniscus height(NITMH), stimulated NITMH, loss rate of upper meibomian gland, nasal and temporal ciliary redness index, temporal conjunctival redness index of the affected eyes were higher than healthy eyes(P0.05).CONCLUSION: PANDO may lead to the aggravation of ocular surface inflammation and the loss of upper meibomian gland, and damage the ocular surface of patients. Attention should be paid to the early treatment of PANDO.

Abstract Introduction Unbiased metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) has been used for infection diagnosis. In this study, we explored the clinical diagnosis value of mNGS for pulmonary complications after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Methods From August 2019 to June 2021, a prospective study was performed to comparatively analyze the pathogenic results of mNGS and conventional tests for bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from 134 cases involving 101 patients with pulmonary complications after allo-HSCT. Results More pathogens were identified by mNGS than with conventional tests (226 vs 120). For bacteria, the diagnostic sensitivity (P = 0.144) and specificity (P = 0.687) were similar between the two methods. For fungus except Pneumocystis jirovecii (PJ), conventional tests had a significantly higher sensitivity (P = 0.013) with a similarly high specificity (P = 0.109). The sensitivities for bacteria and fungi could be increased with the combination of the two methods. As for PJ, both the sensitivity (100%) and specificity (99.12%) of mNGS were very high. For viruses, the sensitivity of mNGS was significantly higher (P = 0.021) and the negative predictive value (NPV) was 95.74% (84.27–99.26%). Pulmonary infection complications accounted for 90.30% and bacterium was the most common pathogen whether in single infection (63.43%) or mixed infection (81.08%). The 6-month overall survival (OS) of 88.89% in the early group (mNGS ≤ 7 days) was significantly higher than that of 65.52% (HR 0.287, 95% CI 0.101–0.819, P = 0.006) in the late group (mNGS > 7 days). Conclusions mNGS for BALF could facilitate accurate and fast diagnosis for pulmonary complications. Early mNGS could improve the prognosis of patients with pulmonary complications after allo-HSCT. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT 04051372.

The escalating utilization of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) in everyday products has sparked concerns regarding their potential hazards to pregnant females and their offspring. To address these concerns and shed light on their undetermined adverse effects and mechanisms, we established a pregnant rat model to investigate the impacts of TiO2 NPs on both maternal and offspring health and to explore the underlying mechanisms of those impacts. Pregnant rats were orally administered TiO2 NPs at a dose of 5 mg/kg body weight per day from GD5 to GD18 during pregnancy. Maternal body weight, organ weight, and birth outcomes were monitored and recorded. Maternal pathological changes were examined by HE staining and TEM observation. Maternal blood pressure was assessed using a non-invasive blood analyzer, and the urinary protein level was determined using spot urine samples. Our findings revealed that TiO2 NPs triggered various pathological alterations in maternal liver, kidney, and spleen, and induced maternal preeclampsia-like syndrome, as well as leading to growth restriction in the offspring. Further examination unveiled that TiO2 NPs hindered trophoblastic cell invasion into the endometrium via the promotion of autophagy. Consistent hypertension and proteinuria resulted from the destroyed the kidney GBM. In total, an exposure to TiO2 NPs during pregnancy might increase the risk of human preeclampsia through increased maternal arterial pressure and urinary albumin levels, as well as causing fetal growth restriction in the offspring.

The increasing use of molybdate has raised concerns about its potential toxicity in humans. However, the potential toxicity of molybdate under the current level of human exposure remains largely unknown. Endogenous metabolic alterations that are caused in humans by environmental exposure to pollutants are associated with the occurrence and progression of many diseases. This study exposed eight-week-old male C57 mice to sodium molybdate at doses relevant to humans (0.01 and 1 mg/kg/day) for eight weeks. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) were utilized to assess changes in urine element levels and serum metabolites in mice, respectively. A total of 838 subjects from the NHANES 2017–2018 population database were also included in our study to verify the associations between molybdenum and cadmium found in mice. Analysis of the metabolome in mice revealed that four metabolites in blood serum exhibited significant changes, including 5-aminolevulinic acid, glycolic acid, l-acetylcarnitine, and 2,3-dihydroxypropyl octanoate. Analysis of the elementome revealed a significant increase in urine levels of cadmium after molybdate exposure in mice. Notably, molybdenum also showed a positive correlation with cadmium in humans from the NHANES database. Further analysis identified a positive correlation between cadmium and 2,3-dihydroxypropyl octanoate in mice. In conclusion, these findings suggest that molybdate exposure disrupted amino acid and lipid metabolism, which may be partially mediated by molybdate-altered cadmium levels. The integration of elementome and metabolome data provides sensitive information on molybdate-induced metabolic disorders and associated toxicities at levels relevant to human exposure.

Chinese plum (Prunus salicina) cv. Wushancuili has a green coloration, high fruit quality, and is economically important in eliminating poverty and protecting ecology in the Yangtze River Three Gorges Reservoir. However, large-scale production and synchronous ripening times present a huge postharvest storage challenge. This study investigated the effect of different postharvest storage temperatures on the ‘Wushancuili’ plum fruit flavor. The dynamics of soluble sugars, organic acids, and aroma substances were investigated at four temperatures mimicking large-scale commercial storage applications: 0–2 °C, 4–6 °C, 8–10 °C, and 20 °C, for 0, 3, 5, 7, 10, 15, and 20 days. Storage under the 0–2 °C regime was the best at preserving fruit flavor and reducing decay compared to the other settings. At 0–2 °C, fruit maintained a stable level of soluble sugars and organic acids during storage. Moreover, this storage temperature facilitated the formation of aroma compounds such as alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, and acids, which contributed to the distinct fruit aromatic characteristics. Taken together, our findings indicate that 0–2 °C is the most favorable temperature for commercial storage and maintenance of the ‘Wushancuili’ plum flavor.

Abstract Wearable sensors have garnered considerable attention due to their flexibility and lightweight characteristics in the realm of healthcare applications. However, developing robust wearable sensors with facile fabrication and good conformity remains a challenge. In this study, a conductive graphene nanoplate‐carbon nanotube (GC) ink is synthesized for multi jet fusion (MJF) printing. The layer‐by‐layer fabrication process of MJF not only improves the mechanical and flame‐retardant properties of the printed GC sensor but also bolsters its robustness and sensitivity. The direction of sensor bending significantly impacts the relative resistance changes, allowing for precise investigations of joint motions in the human body, such as those of the fingers, wrists, elbows, necks, and knees. Furthermore, the data of resistance changes collected by the GC sensor are utilized to train a support vector machine with a 95.83% accuracy rate for predicting human motions. Due to its stable humidity sensitivity, the sensor also demonstrates excellent performance in monitoring human breath and predicting breath modes (normal, fast, and deep breath), thereby expanding its potential applications in healthcare. This work opens up new avenues for using MJF‐printed wearable sensors for a variety of healthcare applications.

ABSTRACTMetal oxide nanorods exhibit promising potential as reinforcement fillers in various polymer matrices, but their application in the Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) technique is rarely reported. In this work, surface-modified zinc oxide nanorods (SMZnO) were synthesized and incorporated into polyamide 12 (PA12) powder to enhance the mechanical properties of the MJF-printed parts. Compared to ZnO, SMZnO exhibited better dispersion, resulting in markedly enhanced mechanical performances. The ultimate tensile strength and the Young's modulus of the MJF-printed SMZnO/PA12 nanocomposites were 62.02 MPa and 2.28 GPa in the X orientation and 64.07 MPa and 2.34 GPa in the Y orientation, equivalent to 27.85%, 59.44%, 29.12%, and 54.97% increments, respectively. The flexural strength and modulus demonstrated similar improvements in the X and Y orientations, confirming the uniform mechanical enhancement effect of homogenously distributed SMZnO. This work provides a novel and facile approach for the additive manufacturing of polymeric nanocomposites with superior mechanical performance.

Additive manufacturing (AM) offers the advantages of direct near-net-shape production, reduced material waste, and shortened production lead time, showing great potential to revolutionise the manufacturing industry. The flexible movements of the deposition head and the build platform allow directed energy deposition (DED) to conduct the repair process of damaged high-value metallic parts. However, the resulting heterogeneous microstructure and its effect on the mechanical properties of the repaired parts have not been widely realised. In this work, the repair of Monel alloy parts, known for their excellent mechanical properties and high corrosion resistance, was conducted by the laser-DED process with low and high laser power settings, respectively. Different from the fine, equiaxed grains in the original part, the as-deposited Monel alloy consists of large columnar grains. The mechanical performance across the interface between the original and newly deposited material was tested and analysed along horizontal and vertical loading directions. The yield strength and elongation of repaired Monel alloy parts were 409.1 MPa and 35.2% along the horizontal loading direction, which both significantly surpass the corresponding values along the vertical loading direction. This study lays the groundwork for designing a laser-DED process to achieve high performance for repaired metallic parts.

Polymeric materials for powder bed fusion additive manufacturing have been attracting extensive research interest due to their vast potential for fabricating end-use functional parts. Here, a high-fidelity multiphysics approach combining the discrete element model with the computational fluid dynamics model has been developed to simulate the printing process of polymers in powder bed fusion, involving powder recoating, melting, and coalescence. The developed approach considers particle flow dynamics, the reflection, absorption, and transmission of infrared laser radiation, and the viscous flow of polymer melt. The pore formation mechanisms due to lack of fusion and gas entrapment in polyamide 12 parts printed via selective laser sintering are studied. The simulation results reveal that lower polymer viscosity would be beneficial to the densification rate of the printed parts. Excessively small powder particles would degrade powder bed quality due to the agglomeration of polymer powder, thus leading to high porosity in the printed parts.

The packing characteristics of fiber/polymer powder in powder bed fusion additive manufacturing exhibit a high correlation with the mechanical behaviours of printed composite parts such as homogeneity and anisotropy. A discrete element model has been developed to investigate the packing characteristics of glass fiber/polyamide 12 (PA12) powder, which include fiber orientations, fiber homogeneity, and packing density. The predicted probability distributions of fiber orientations in the powder bed are comparable with those measured in glass fiber–reinforced PA12 composites printed via multi jet fusion. Three types of fibers with different length distributions are adopted to study the effects of the fiber length distribution on their packing characteristics. The simulation results reveal that a large average fiber length is beneficial to fiber alignment in the powder spreading direction but lowers the fiber homogeneity and packing density of the powder bed. Furthermore, varying the fiber length can provide an effective way to regulate fiber orientations in the powder packing process, which would help achieve satisfactory anisotropic mechanical properties for composite parts.

Glass fibre (GF) and glass bead (GB)–reinforced polyamide1212 (PA1212) was additively manufactured by selective laser sintering. The effects of laser power and GF content on the tensile and tribological properties of the printed specimens with a base GB weight fraction of 40 wt.% were investigated. The strengthening mechanism of GFs/GBs was illustrated by analyzing the interfacial adhesion between the fillers and the PA1212 matrix. The specimens with 40 wt.% GBs and 10 wt.% GFs fabricated at a laser power of 30 W exhibited a strength of 52 MPa, a friction coefficient of 0.23, and a wear rate of 0.0011 mm3/N·m. The selected optimal laser power and GF addition contributed to the strong interfacial adhesion, which realised flat surface morphology and an adequate encapsulation of fillers in the specimen. The reinforcement of GBs/GFs in PA1212 can serve as a reference for a deeper understanding of the strengthening mechanisms for other additively manufactured engineering plastics.

Multi jet fusion (MJF), a powder-based additive manufacturing technology, is suitable for fabricating fibre-reinforced polymer composites. However, the types of reinforcement fibres applied in MJF are limited due to the incompatibility between the fibres and polymer. Herein, a simple and cost-effective surface modification method for Fe3O4-coated aramid fibres (Fe3O4@AF hybrids) is proposed to fabricate polyamide 12 (PA12) composites by MJF. The optimal fibre content for Fe3O4@AF/PA12 composites is 6 wt%, which resulted in 10.83% and 16.05% higher ultimate tensile strength and Young’s modulus, respectively, compared with AF/PA12. The addition of Fe3O4@AF hybrids also improved the flame retardancy of AF/PA12 by reducing the peak heat release rate (PHRR) and postponing the temperature at PHRR. This practical surface modification method can be potentially applied to other reinforcement fibres for fabricating functional polymer composites by other powder-based manufacturing technologies.

Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) has attracted extensive attention because of its ability to print support-free complex structures. However, the mechanical properties of MJF-printed polymer parts are still unsatisfactory for certain industrial requirements. Herein, by leveraging the fibre reinforcement effect and high specific strength of polyimide (PI) fibres, this work developed PI/polyamide 12 (PA12) composites with largely enhanced mechanical performance via MJF. Specifically, the tensile strength and modulus were increased by 43% and 42%, and the flexural strength and modulus were improved by 39% and 46%, respectively, compared to those of the neat PA12 parts. Furthermore, the incorporation of lightweight PI fibres endowed the composites with high specific tensile strength (67.60 kN·m/kg) and specific flexural strength (93.70 kN·m/kg), which are superior to those of MJF-printed PA12 composites reinforced with other fibres. This work provides new insights into enhancing the mechanical performance of lightweight parts printed by MJF and other powder-based techniques.

AbstractLarge-scale farming is an important way for sustainable development of pig industry. In this regard, the digital economy has an important influence on the industrial structure and economic development, but whether it is conducive to large-scale pig farming (LSPF) needs further study. This study assesses the development level of the digital economy in 31 provinces of China and examines the transmission mechanism of the digital economy in LSPF. The results demonstrate that the digital economy can contribute both directly and indirectly to the LSPF through improved technological innovation, enhanced merchandise sales, and reduced labor costs of raising pigs. More importantly, the digital economy has a significant negative spatial spillover effect on LSPF; that is, it is not conducive to large-scale farming in neighboring localities. The results of the heterogeneity analysis further show that the digital economy is more significant for regions that have been identified as LSPF key and potential growth areas. The findings provide a reference for policymakers and professionals in emerging economies to facilitate the scale-up and sustainability of the pig industry.

AbstractObjective To evaluate the feasibility of using an intrarectal Foley catheter during ultrasound-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (US-HIFU) in patients with benign uterine diseases of the posterior wall beyond the HIFU therapeutic range.Methods Patients were treated with US-HIFU and lesion changes were monitored using contrast-enhanced MRI from June 2020 to September 2021. A Foley catheter was inserted into the rectum to facilitate a successful US-HIFU ablation. Complications and lesion responses were recorded during the treatment and follow-up.Results Thirteen patients with 14 lesions beyond the device’s treatable area were enrolled. The average placement time and insertion depth of the intrarectal Foley catheter was 7.6 ± 2.7 min and 23.2 ± 7.6 cm, respectively. A median of 50 mL degassed water was injected into the Foley catheter balloon. All 14 lesions were successfully pushed into a treatable area and subjected to HIFU. The average treatment time, irradiation time, and total therapeutic energy of HIFU were 44.2 ± 17.3 min, 394.4 ± 295.7 s, and 73.3 ± 46.6 kJ, respectively. The mean non-perfusion volume (NPV) in all treated lesions was 23.2 ± 19.2 cm3, and the mean NPV ratio was 57.8 ± 16.9%. Major complications were not observed.Conclusion Intrarectal Foley catheter-assisted US-HIFU is effective and safe. Its clinical application could benefit patients with benign uterine diseases outside the HIFU therapeutic range.

ObjectiveThe causal relationship between Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and hypothyroidism/hyperthyroidism remains controversial due to the limitations of conventional observational research, such as confounding variables and reverse causality. We aimed to examine the potential causal relationship between RA and hypothyroidism/hyperthyroidism using Mendelian randomization (MR).MethodWe conducted a bidirectional two-sample univariable analysis to investigate the potential causal relationship between hypothyroidism/hyperthyroidism and RA. Furthermore, we performed a multivariate analysis to account for the impact of body mass index (BMI), smoking quantity, and alcohol intake frequency.ResultsThe univariable analysis indicated that RA has a causative influence on hypothyroidism (odds ratio [OR]=1.07, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.01–1.14, P=0.02) and hyperthyroidism (OR=1.32, 95% CI=1.15–1.52, P0.05).ConclusionUnivariate and multivariate MR analyses have validated the causal association between RA and hypothyroidism/hyperthyroidism. Hypothyroidism confirmed a causal relationship with RA when employed as an exposure variable, whereas no such relationship was found between hyperthyroidism and RA.

Synechococcus are widely distributed in the global ocean, from the pelagic zone to coastal waters. However, little is known about Synechococcus in coastal seawater due to limitations in isolation and culture conditions. In this study, a combination of metagenomic sequencing technology, flow cytometry sorting, and multiple displacement amplification was used to investigate Synechococcus in the coastal seawater of Xiamen Island. The results revealed 18 clades of Synechococcus and diverse metabolic genes that appear to contribute to their adaptation to the coastal environment. Intriguingly, some metabolic genes related to the metabolism of carbohydrates, energy, nucleotides, and amino acids were found in 89 prophage regions that were detected in 16,258 Synechococcus sequences. The detected metabolic genes can enable prophages to contribute to the adaptation of Synechococcus hosts to the coastal marine environment. The detection of prophages also suggests that the cyanophages have infected Synechococcus. On the other hand, the identification of 773 genes associated with antiviral defense systems indicates that Synechococcus in Xiamen have evolved genetic traits in response to cyanophage infection. Studying the community diversity and functional genes of Synechococcus provides insights into their role in environmental adaptation and marine ecosystems.