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Obtaining accurate lattice thermal conductivity data of LiF under extreme conditions not only provides important reference for performance evaluation, prediction, and control of materials, but also helps to alleviate the significant challenges of precise experimental measurements. The high-temperature phonon properties and lattice thermal conductivity (LTC) of solid LiF were calculated by combining on-the-fly machine learning force fields (MLFFs) with the Green–Kubo method. The introduction of MLFF successfully combines the accuracy of ab initio molecular dynamics with the scalability advantage of classical molecular dynamics. At high temperatures, there is a significant enhancement in the vibrational coupling between the acoustic and optical branches of LiF, as well as resonant effects between Li and F atoms, resulting in strong anharmonicity. Additionally, the main peak of the phonon density of states shows a noticeable redshift compared to the harmonic case. The enhanced coupling of TO and TA modes at high temperature leads to a significant increase in phonon scattering rate. By considering higher-order phonon anharmonicity, the predicted LTC is significantly reduced compared to the results obtained from considering only three-phonon interactions. Along the Hugoniot curve up to 100 GPa (2150 K), the predicted LTC agrees well with the experimental values. These findings demonstrate the crucial role of phonon anharmonicity in promoting phonon scattering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel cross-linked fluorinated acrylate latex was successfully synthesized via the semi-continuous seeded emulsion polymerization, in which methyl methacrylate (MMA) and butyl acrylate (BA) were used as the main monomers, and dodecafluoroheptyl methacrylate (DFMA) and N–N methylene bisacrylamide (MBA) were used as the fluorine monomer and the cross-linked monomer, respectively. Potassium persulfate (KPS) and mixed surfactants of sodium lauryl sulfate and alkyl alcohol polyether (EFS-470) were used as the initiator and emulsifier, respectively. The structure of resultant latex film was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The latex films were tested by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), contact angle (CA), cross-linked degree and X-ray diffractometer (XRD). The particle size and its distribution of the latex were measured by the nanoparticle size analyzer and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The factors that have an influence on the properties of the latex and the film are investigated in detail. The stability of the resultant latex was good. The average particles of the latex and its distribution were small and uniform, respectively. In comparison with the conventional latex film, the thermal stability and hydrophobicity of the novel latex film were improved obviously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The estimation of the seismic vulnerability of regional structures has contributed positively to the development of seismic risk and resilience in large-scale building clusters. However, the empirical structural seismic damage and ground motion data used to validate the risk model are relatively outdated, resulting in insufficient evaluation accuracy of the established risk model and an urgent use for retrofitting. This study analysed the actual failure peculiarities of typical structures during a recent typical destructive earthquake in China (the Luding earthquake in Sichuan Province on September 5, 2022). A total of 300,000 acceleration records from ten actual monitoring seismic stations were processed and analysed. Nonlinear dynamic time history curves, response spectra, and combined seismic acceleration cloud images were generated considering different directions. Moreover, the traditional instrument intensity calculation equation has been updated, and an instrument intensity curve bunch considering 300,000 earthquake acceleration records has been developed. To study the probabilistic seismic risk of large-scale regional buildings, the developed vulnerability database of typical regional structures (Sichuan Province) was supplemented and optimized, and an updated vulnerability database (413 damage probability matrix) was established, considering the failure of five structures in 32 destructive earthquakes. An updated structural seismic vulnerability model based on extended vulnerability grades was proposed, and a mean vulnerability probability matrix based on structural risk datasets was established. A membership index function for estimating the correlation between different vulnerability grades was innovatively proposed, and the rationality of the model was verified using an improved empirical dataset. A multidimensional failure prediction model was developed based on an improved mean seismic damage index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractHistone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) was a potential target for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In this study, a series of novel oxyevodiamine-based HDAC6 inhibitors with a variety of linker moieties were designed, synthesized and evaluated. Compound 12 with a benzyl linker was identified as a high potent and selective HDAC6 inhibitor. It inhibited HDAC6 with an IC50 value of 6.2 nM and was more than 200 fold selectivity over HDAC1. It also had lower cytotoxicity and higher anti-H2O2 activity in vitro comparing with other derivatives. Compound 12 might be a good lead as novel HDAC6 inhibitor for the treatment of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ligand-protected metal clusters possess hybrid properties that seamlessly combine an inorganic core with an organic ligand shell, imparting them exceptional chemical flexibility and unlocking remarkable application potential in diverse fields. Leveraging chemical flexibility to expand the library of available materials and stimulate the development of new functionalities is becoming an increasingly pressing requirement. This Review focuses on the origin of chemical flexibility from the structural analysis, including intra-cluster bonding, inter-cluster interactions, cluster-environments interactions, metal-to-ligand ratios, and thermodynamic effects. In the introduction, we briefly outline the development of metal clusters and explain the differences and commonalities of M-(I)/M-(I/0) coinage metal clusters. Additionally, we distinguish the bonding characteristics of metal atoms in the inorganic core, which give rise to their distinct chemical flexibility. Section 2 delves into the structural analysis, bonding categories, and thermodynamic theories related to metal clusters. In the following sections 3 to 7, we primarily elucidate the mechanisms that trigger chemical flexibility, the dynamic processes in transformation, the resultant alterations in structure, and the ensuing modifications in physical–chemical properties. Section 8 presents the notable applications that have emerged from utilizing metal clusters and their assemblies. Finally, in section 9, we discuss future challenges and opportunities within this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kidney stones are a pervasive disease with notoriously high recurrence rates that require more effective treatment strategies. Herein, tartronic acid is introduced as an efficient inhibitor of calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) crystallization, which is the most prevalent constituent of human kidney stones. A combination of in situ experimental techniques and simulations are employed to compare the inhibitory effects of tartronic acid with those of its molecular analogs. Tartronic acid exhibits an affinity for binding to rapidly growing apical surfaces of COM crystals, thus setting it apart from other inhibitors such as citric acid, the current preventative treatment for kidney stones. Bulk crystallization and in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements confirm the mechanism by which tartronic acid interacts with COM crystal surfaces and inhibits growth. These findings are consistent with in vivo studies that reveal the efficacy of tartronic acid is similar to that of citric acid in mouse models of hyperoxaluria regarding their inhibitory effect on stone formation and alleviating stone‐related physical harm. In summary, these findings highlight the potential of tartronic acid as a promising alternative to citric acid for the management of calcium oxalate nephropathies, offering a new option for clinical intervention in cases of kidney stones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the characteristics of a nanosecond spark discharge with a pin–pin electrode configuration have been systematically studied. Both a streak camera with high temporal resolution and an intensified charge-coupled device (ICCD) camera are employed together to investigate the breakdown and evolution process of the discharge. The formation of initial breakdown and mode transition from streamer to spark in the electrode gap are clearly observed on the time scale of several nanoseconds with a temporal resolution of 100 ps. In addition, the time-resolved spectra technology is also used to analyze the generation and quenching mechanisms of reactive species, the electron density, and the electron temperature. The results show that there is a 1.25 ns initial discharge breakdown and that a bright cathode spot exists before the transformation from streamer to spark channel. After a faster cathode filament and a slower anode filament propagate and merge at the electrode gap, the spark discharge phase begins. The generation processes of different reactive species depend on the discharge phase to a great extent. The N2* is first generated during the streamer phase while the O*, N*, and N+ are mainly generated under the spark phase, in which the electron temperature calculated by Boltzmann plots is 2.74 eV, and the electron density determined from the Stark broadening of O lines is on the order of 1016 cm−3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the mental health of paediatric cochlear implant users and analyse the relationship between six dimensions (movements, cognitive ability, emotion and will, sociality, living habits and language) and hearing and speech rehabilitation. Methods: Eighty-two cochlear implant users were assessed using the Mental Health Survey Questionnaire. Age at implantation, time of implant use and listening modes were investigated. Categories of Auditory Performance and the Speech Intelligibility Rating Scale were used to score hearing and speech abilities. Results: More recipients scored lower in cognitive ability and language. Age at implantation was statistically significant (p < 0.05) for movements, cognitive ability, emotion and will, and language. The time of implant usage and listening mode indicated statistical significance (p < 0.05) in cognitive ability, sociality and language. Conclusion: Timely attention should be paid to the mental health of paediatric cochlear implant users, and corresponding psychological interventions should be implemented to make personalised rehabilitation plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Electroacupuncture (EA) has been shown to facilitate brain plasticity‐related functional recovery following ischemic stroke. The functional magnetic resonance imaging technique can be used to determine the range and mode of brain activation. After stroke, EA has been shown to alter brain connectivity, whereas EA's effect on brain network topology properties remains unclear. An evaluation of EA's effects on global and nodal topological properties in rats with ischemia reperfusion was conducted in this study. Methods and results: There were three groups of adult male Sprague‐Dawley rats: sham‐operated group (sham group), middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) group, and MCAO/R plus EA (MCAO/R + EA) group. The differences in global and nodal topological properties, including shortest path length, global efficiency, local efficiency, small‐worldness index, betweenness centrality (BC), and degree centrality (DC) were estimated. Graphical network analyses revealed that, as compared with the sham group, the MCAO/R group demonstrated a decrease in BC value in the right ventral hippocampus and increased BC in the right substantia nigra, accompanied by increased DC in the left nucleus accumbens shell (AcbSh). The BC was increased in the right hippocampus ventral and decreased in the right substantia nigra after EA intervention, and MCAO/R + EA resulted in a decreased DC in left AcbSh compared to MCAO/R. Conclusion: The results of this study provide a potential basis for EA to promote cognitive and motor function recovery after ischemic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study introduces a method to reduce the thermal conductivity and boost cement clinker corrosion resistance in sintered magnesia using ZnO-modified additives. Solid-solution modified sintered magnesia was prepared at 1700 °C, and the impact of ZnO on the sintering properties, room-temperature strength, thermophysical properties, and corrosion resistance was assessed. ZnO addition enhanced the densification, grain size, and strength of sintered magnesia due to activated sintering from the ZnO and MgO solid-solution reaction at high temperatures. Additionally, ZnO addition improved the thermal stability and thermal shock resistance of sintered magnesia in a high-temperature environment. However, excessive ZnO led to incomplete diffusion, impeding grain growth and degrading the properties of magnesia. The thermal conductivity significantly decreased compared to the unmodified sample, particularly at 1000 °C with 4 mol% ZnO addition. Moreover, ZnO improved the corrosion resistance due to increased grain size and densification, with 4 mol% ZnO yielding the best results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) is the second leading cause of dementia with limited treatment options, characterised by cerebral hypoperfusion-induced white matter rarefaction (WMR). Subcortical VCI is the most common form of VCI, but the underlying reasons for region susceptibility remain elusive. Recent studies employing the bilateral cortical artery stenosis (BCAS) method demonstrate that various inflammasomes regulate white matter injury and blood-brain barrier dysfunction but whether caspase-1 inhibition will be beneficial remains unclear. To address this, we performed BCAS on C57/BL6 mice to study the effects of Ac-YVAD-cmk, a caspase-1 inhibitor, on the subcortical and cortical regions. Cerebral blood flow (CBF), WMR, neuroinflammation and the expression of tight junction-related proteins associated with blood-brain barrier integrity were assessed 15 days post BCAS. We observed that Ac-YVAD-cmk restored CBF, attenuated BCAS-induced WMR and restored subcortical myelin expression. Within the subcortical region, BCAS activated the NLRP3/caspase-1/interleukin-1beta axis only within the subcortical region, which was attenuated by Ac-YVAD-cmk. Although we observed that BCAS induced significant increases in VCAM-1 expression in both brain regions that were attenuated with Ac-YVAD-cmk, only ZO-1 and occludin were observed to be significantly altered in the subcortical region. Here we show that caspase-1 may contribute to subcortical regional susceptibility in a mouse model of VCI. In addition, our results support further investigations into the potential of Ac-YVAD-cmk as a novel treatment strategy against subcortical VCI and other conditions exhibiting cerebral hypoperfusion-induced WMR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic matter accumulation in water can cause serious problems such as oxygen depletion and quality deterioration of waters. While calcium carbonate has been used as green and low‐cost adsorbent for water treatment, its efficiency in reducing the chemical oxygen demand (COD) of water, which is a measure of organic pollution, is restrained by the limited specific surface area and chemical activity. Herein, inspired by the high‐magnesium calcite (HMC) found in biological materials, a feasible method to synthesize fluffy dumbbell‐like HMC with large specific surface area is reported. The magnesium inserting increases the chemical activity of the HMC moderately but without lowering its stability too much. Therefore, the crystalline HMC can retain its phase and morphology in aqueous environment for hours, which allows the establishment of adsorption equilibrium between the solution and the adsorbent that retains its initial large specific surface area and improved chemical activity. Consequently, the HMC exhibits notably enhanced capability in reducing the COD of lake water polluted by organics. This work provides a synergistic strategy to rationally design high‐performance adsorbents by simultaneously optimizing the surface area and steering the chemical activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seismic risk and vulnerability of urban building clusters are fundamental indicators for quantifying urban seismic resilience. The empirical vulnerability and risk models developed using various risk probability assessment theories and real seismic loss observation data from typical building clusters can provide positive references for predicting and evaluating urban earthquake resilience. However, the data used to validate and optimize the vulnerability and resilience models of building portfolios are mostly discrete points within a city. The coupling effect of multiple intensity measures is rarely considered, resulting in a relatively low evaluation accuracy of the established seismic hazard model. This study considers the comprehensive impact of macroseismic and instrumental intensity on the vulnerability of typical urban building portfolios. A multidimensional parameter seismic risk and vulnerability model considering updated damage states is proposed. Based on field inspection data from the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in China, an optimized hazard and vulnerability model considering all the buildings (8669 buildings) in Dujiangyan city was developed. An innovative structural vulnerability membership index was proposed to estimate the correlation between typical damage states, and vulnerability correlation parameter models were developed. An improved nonlinear vulnerability regression model considering hybrid intensity measures was proposed, and vulnerability comparison curves and matrices were generated considering the empirical damage data of buildings in Dujiangyan city. An optimized seismic damage index calculation model was developed considering five typical building portfolios in Dujiangyan city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seismic risk estimation for urban building clusters is essential when developing regional seismic resilience models. A masonry structure is a type of building with a large stock, broad applicability, and simplified construction technology. The traditional seismic intensity measures and fuzzy quantification of structural vulnerability levels result in low accuracy in estimating and predicting seismic damage to masonry structure clusters. This paper proposes a method for evaluating bivariate seismic intensity measure. Nonlinear dynamic and spectral analyses were conducted on real acceleration records monitored by ten stations during the Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan, China, on May 12, 2008. The outdated seismic vulnerability level of masonry structures is updated, and an optimized structural seismic risk model based on the seismic damage database of 2407 masonry structures in Dujiangyan city under the influence of the Wenchuan earthquake is established. An innovative seismic risk membership index algorithm was developed, and a vulnerability curve was generated for masonry structures considering multiple risk membership indices. An improved seismic risk index calculation function is proposed using the proposed updated vulnerability level, and the seismic risk index curve and stripe model of typical urban masonry building clusters are established. According to the field investigation of the actual structures in Dujiangyan city affected by the Wenchuan earthquake, the typical failure features and disaster mechanism of masonry structures are reported and analysed, and measures and methods to improve and enhance the seismic capacity of such buildings are proposed. The developed seismic risk model for urban masonry structures can contribute positively to the development of relatively accurate seismic resilience models for urban buildings and can improve the accuracy of seismic risk estimation for masonry structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Empirical and probabilistic risk analysis methods can relatively accurately predict the seismic vulnerability of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. Using various intensity measures to estimate and forecast the seismic hazard of RC structures can contribute to the development of typical structural seismic resilience and vulnerability models. However, traditional empirical and analytical vulnerability studies rely more on field observation data and seismic risk algorithms and less on numerical simulation analysis for validation and optimization, resulting in limitations and fuzziness in the accuracy of the developed structural risk models. To explore the damage modes of RC frame structures under different intensities, this paper innovatively combines numerical model algorithms with empirical vulnerability methods to conduct empirical vulnerability and numerical simulation analyses on RC structures. Using probability statistics and nonlinear regression analysis methods, a prediction model for estimating the fragility of RC structures was proposed, and 858 RC structure damage samples from a typical city (Dujiangyan) during the Wenchuan earthquake in China on May 12, 2008, were used for model verification and comparative analysis. Using seismic response analysis theory, 901,530 acceleration records of the Wenchuan earthquake detected by eight actual seismic stations were selected, and nonlinear dynamic time history analysis was conducted. A four-story RC structural model was established using finite element software, and numerical simulation analysis was conducted on the model using 117,863 real earthquake acceleration data points obtained from actual monitoring stations during the Wenchuan earthquake. The acceleration time history curves and incremental dynamic analysis curves of the RC structure under different intensity measures were generated. By combining the moire algorithm and numerical simulation technology, damage stress clouds of steel bars and concrete under different intensity measures were generated, and the accuracy of the developed empirical vulnerability model was verified via numerical simulation results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fuzzy decision-making and analytic hierarchical processes are ubiquitously used to predict the seismic damage and vulnerability of building clusters. However, the factors affecting the seismic vulnerability of building structures are diversification, cognitive uncertainty, and complex fuzziness. To probe the impact of multiple fuzzy influencing factors on the vulnerability of regional buildings and the degree of membership between them, the development of a structural vulnerability prediction model based on fuzzy decision-making and a hierarchical system with multiple factors has strong theoretical and practical significance. This study proposes a novel method for rapidly predicting structural vulnerability based on a multivariate fuzzy membership index. Rapid fragility prediction models of fiv4e typical structures considering the multivariate fuzzy membership index are established. A new approach is proposed based on the relationship model between the empirical vulnerability index and seven fuzzy membership parameters. Five types of typical structural vulnerability index rapid prediction innovation models are developed. The new prediction model is compared and verified using the quantitative value of China's macrointensity standard and the structural seismic loss observation data (98,050 × 104 m2 and 995,000 buildings) of 213 typical earthquakes to establish an empirical vulnerability index belt model. The proposed prediction model comprehensively considers multiple fuzzy membership parameters and the empirical structural earthquake damage database. The model analysis and validation results indicate that the proposed model can be further used for the seismic damage evaluation of typical structures and rapid fragility prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to explore how well persons with anomic aphasia communicate information during discourse regarding quantity, quality, and efficiency compared to neurotypical controls, to investigate the influence of discourse tasks on informativeness and efficiency and to examine impact factors like aphasia severity and cognitive ability. Method: Language samples of four discourse tasks from 31 persons with anomic aphasia and 31 neurotypical controls were collected from Mandarin AphasiaBank. Correct information unit (CIU) analysis measures including the total number of CIUs, percentage of CIUs, CIUs per minute, and words per minute were calculated. Group differences and the effects of discourse tasks on informativeness and efficiency were investigated. Correlations of CIU analysis measures with aphasia severity and cognitive ability were examined. Results: Persons with anomic aphasia showed lower efficiency in conveying information than controls. They underperformed controls on all CIU analysis measures when executing story narrative tasks. Discourse tasks influenced the informativeness and efficiency of both groups. Neurotypical controls delivered the greatest quantity of information most efficiently when narrating stories. Persons with anomic aphasia exhibited reduced quantity of information during procedural discourse and displayed superior information quality in sequential-picture descriptions. Discourse information may be impacted by aphasia severity and cognitive ability, with varying effects depending on the task. Conclusions: Persons with anomic aphasia are inefficient in communicating discourse messages and perform poorly on all measures in story narratives. When measuring discourse information, the effects of discourse tasks and factors like aphasia severity and cognitive ability should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To comprehend the empirical seismic vulnerability capability of various typical structures in towns and suburbs, this study considers, as the research background, the structural damage data observation from the Mw 7.1 Yushu earthquake that occurred on 2010 April 14th in China. The proposed research activity sorts out the actual investigation data (7156 buildings) of five types of typical structures in towns and villages and establishes the vulnerability and seismic fragility evaluation model of a group of buildings considering multidimensional parameters by using the Chinese macroseismic intensity standard. Using spatial modal, numerical calculation, and regression analysis methods, an updated lognormal distribution vulnerability and resilience assessment model based on multidimensional quantitative parameters is performed. Based on the principle of the conditional probability and damage quantification model, an innovative model (domain, point cloud, curve, surface, matrix, and function) is established for regional vulnerability and seismic resilience assessment of typical group buildings. A logarithmic relationship model considering both the updated Chinese macroseismic intensity and three-dimensional composite peak ground acceleration as intensity measures is proposed, and an empirical vulnerability assessment model for typical rural buildings is established. The traditional average earthquake loss index calculation model is updated, and an innovative regional domain vulnerability assessment model is conducted. Taking the samples of various typical structures surveyed in the Yushu earthquake, regional group structure vulnerability domain comparison models of various structures are performed. Ultimately, depending on the typical damage characteristics of structures, the actual damage features and mechanisms of various structures are analysed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dark septate endophytes (DSEs) inhabit plant roots and soil in ecosystems and host plants worldwide. DSE colonization is influenced by cultivars, soil factors, and specific habitat conditions. The regular diversity of DSEs in blueberries in Guizhou, China, is still unclear. In this study, four cultivars (Gardenblue, Powderblue, O’Neal, and Legacy) in three areas (Gaopo, Majiang, and Fenggang) in Guizhou were used to identify DSEs by morphological and molecular biological methods and to clarify the relationship between DSE diversity and DSE colonization and soil factors of cultivated blueberries in Guizhou. The DSEs isolated from cultivated blueberry roots in 3 areas in Guizhou Province were different, belonging to 17 genera, and the dominant genera were Penicillium, Phialocephala, and Thozetella. DSEs isolated from Majiang belonged to 12 genera and 16 species, those from Gaopo belonged to 7 genera and 15 species, and those from Fenggang belonged to 5 genera and 7 species. Among the different blueberry varieties, 11 genera were isolated from O’Neal, 12 genera were isolated from Powderblue, 11 genera were isolated from Legacy and 13 genera were isolated from Gardenblue. Coniochaeta is endemic to O’Neal, Chaetomium and Curvularia are endemic to Powderblue, and Thielavia is endemic to Legacy. Correlation analysis showed that DSE diversity was significantly correlated with DSE colonization and soil factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is a major challenge to perform one-pot hydroxylation of benzene to phenol under mild conditions, which replaces the environmentally harmful cumene method. Thus, finding highly efficient heterogeneous catalysts that can be recycled is extremely significant. Herein, a (POM)-based hybrid compound {[FeII(pyim)2(C2H5O)][FeII(pyim)2(H2O)][PMo V2 Mo VI9 V IV3 O42]}·H2O (pyim = 2-(2-pyridyl)benzimidazole) (Fe2-PMo11V3) was successfully prepared by hydrothermal synthesis using typical Keggin POMs, iron ions and pyim ligands. Single-crystal diffraction shows that the Fe-pyim unit in Fe2-PMo11V3 forms a stable double-supported skeleton by Fe–O bonding to the polyacid anion. Remarkably, due to the introduction of vanadium, Fe2-PMo11V3 forms a divanadium-capped conformation. Benzene oxidation experiments indicated that Fe2-PMo11V3 can catalyze the benzene hydroxylation reaction to phenol in a mixed solution of acetonitrile and acetic acid containing H2O2 at 60 °C, affording a phenol yield of about 16.2% and a selectivity of about 94%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing the actual seismic economic losses of regional building portfolios is essential to quantify the seismic resilience of urban and rural areas. Various building clusters indicate different damage levels under real earthquakes of different intensities, which directly leads to apparent anomalies in the actual economic losses of various building portfolios. This paper proposes an economic loss assessment model for large-scale regional building portfolios, considering the damage probability matrices. The traditional empirical vulnerability quantification method is optimized and updated by combining the analysis methods of probability risk, reliability, macroseismic intensity, and instrument intensity. Five typical building sample sets (total survey area: 56,937.1893 × 104 m2) of 57 typical cataclysmic earthquakes that occurred in Yunnan Province, China, from 1993 to 2022 are collected and processed, and an updated fragility dataset is established. The calculation model considering empirical structural vulnerability and economic loss quantitative parameters is innovatively developed. Combined with the quantitative approaches of the multidimensional nonlinear fitting model and the established regional empirical structural vulnerability database, the seismic loss evaluation model of large-scale regional structures is established. Ultimately, the earthquake loss point cloud and matrix of typical building portfolios in the large-scale zone are developed using cloud analysis and the proposed seismic loss evaluation model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe quality of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) directly impacts clinical efficacy and safety. Fingerprint technology is an internationally recognized method for evaluating the quality of CHM. However, the existing quality evaluation models based on fingerprint technology have blocked the ability to assess the internal quality of CHM and cannot comprehensively reflect the correlation between pharmacodynamic information and active constituents. Through mathematical methods, a connection between the “Spectrum” (fingerprint) and the “Effect” (pharmacodynamic data) was established to conduct a spectrum-effect relationship (SER) of CHM to unravel the active component information associated with the pharmacodynamic activity. Consequently, SER can efficiently address the limitations of the segmentation of chemical components and pharmacodynamic effect in CHM and further improve the quality evaluation of CHM. This review focuses on the recent research progress of SER in the field of CHM, including the establishment of fingerprint, the selection of data analysis methods, and their recent applications in the field of CHM. Various advanced fingerprint techniques are introduced, followed by the data analysis methods used in recent years are summarized. Finally, the applications of SER based on different research subjects are described in detail. In addition, the advantages of combining SER with other data are discussed through practical applications, and the research on SER is summarized and prospected. This review proves the validity and development potential of the SER and provides a reference for the development and application of quality evaluation methods for CHM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recognizing texts in images plays an important role in many applications, such as industrial intelligence, robot vision, automatic driving, command assistance, and scene understanding. Although great progress has been achieved in various fields, research on complex systems modeling using text recognition technology requires further attention. To address this, we propose a new end-to-end multi-task learning method, which includes a super-resolution branch (SRB) and a recognition branch. To effectively learn the semantic information of images, we utilize the feature pyramid network (FPN) to fuse high- and low-level semantic information. The feature map generated by FPN is then delivered separately to the super-resolution branch and the recognition branch. We introduce a novel super-resolution branch, the SRB based on the proposed dual attention mechanism (DAM), designed to enhance the capability of learning low-resolution text features. The DAM incorporates the residual channel attention to enhance channel dependencies and the character attention module to focus on context information. For the recognition branch, the feature map generated by FPN is fed into an RNN sequence module, and an attention-based decoder is constructed to predict the results. To address the issue of low-resolution text recognition in numerous Chinese scenes, we propose the Chinese super-resolution datasets instead of relying on traditional down-sampling techniques to generate training datasets. Experiments demonstrate that the proposed method performs robustly on low-resolution text images and achieves competitive results on benchmark datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melophagus ovinus is a hematophagous insect that is distributed worldwide and plays a crucial role in transmitting disease‐causing pathogens. From June 2021 to March 2022, a total of 370 M. ovinus were collected from 11 sampling points in southern Xinjiang, China. The specimens were identified using morphological and molecular analyses. Rickettsia spp. and Anaplasma ovis were detected from all the samples using seven Rickettsia‐specific genetic markers and the msp‐4 gene of A. ovis. Approximately 11% of the M. ovinus specimens were positive for Rickettsia spp., and Candidatus Rickettsia barbariae was the most predominant species (35/41; 85.4%), while R. massiliae was least prevalent (6/41; 14.6%). Approximately 10.5% (39/370) of the M. ovinus specimens were positive for A. ovis of genotype III, which was co‐detected with Candidatus R. barbariae in M. ovinus (3/370; 0.8%). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the detection of R. massiliae and Candidatus R. barbariae in M. ovinus globally. The detection and control of insect‐borne diseases originating from M. ovinus should be strengthened in southern Xinjiang, an area important to animal husbandry and production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an ultra‐wideband Janus metastructure (MS) utilizing anapole mode for detector in the terahertz (THz) range by graphene is proposed. Specifically, when Fermi level (Ef) is set to 0.9 eV, the MS demonstrates ultra‐broadband absorption exceeding 0.9 from 0.754 to 5 THz in the −z‐direction with a relative bandwidth of 147.6 %, in which perfect absorption of over 98% develops from 3.24 to 5 THz. In the case of the +z‐direction, the absorptivity maintains around 0.6 within the 0.745 ∼ 5 THz range. As Ef equals 0 eV, the difference in absorption between the −z‐direction and +z‐direction exceeds 0.9 from 4.49 to 4.76 THz. The study also explores the MS for refractive index sensing near 3.71 THz by a unique difference detection, measuring two refractive index ranges: 1.2 ∼ 2.6 and 4.5 ∼ 4.7, with corresponding sensitivities of 0.0450 and 0.0304, respectively. Owing to its highly symmetrical structure, the MS is insensitive to the polarization state of the electromagnetic (EM) waves, performing remarkable angular stability as the incident angle varies from 0 to 60 degrees in the −z‐direction. These splendid properties make the design a good candidate for biomedical sensing, EM cloaking, and full‐space EM wave control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Catalysts with abundant oxygen defects and nitrogen defects. • One-dimensional tubular structure provides larger specific surface area. • Catalyst with tunable energy band structure and high charge separation efficiency. • The mechanism of photoreduction of CO 2 by catalyst was proposed and analyzed. Carbon nitride is an attractive non-metallic photocatalyst due to its small surface area, rapid electron-hole recombination, and low absorption of visible light. In this study, one-dimensional carbon nitride nanotubes were successfully synthesized by supramolecular self-assembly method for photocatalytic reduction of CO 2 under mild conditions. The material demonstrates significantly improved CO 2 -to-CO activity compared to bulk carbon nitride under visible light irradiation, with a rate of 12.58 μmol g−1h−1, which is 3.37 times higher than that of pristine carbon nitride. This enhanced activity can be attributed to the abundant oxygen defects and nitrogen vacancies in the unique tubular carbon nitride structure, which results in the generation of more active sites and the efficient acceleration of the migration of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. Various characterizations collectively support the presence of these defects and vacancies. Moreover, in situ DRIFTS spectroscopy supported the proposed reaction mechanism for the photoreduction of CO 2. This eco-friendly design approach provides novel insights into utilizing solar energy for the production of value-added products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Huntington's Disease (HD) is an inherited autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder that leads to progressive motor and cognitive impairment due to the expansion of a polyglutamine (CAG) repeat in the N-terminal region of the huntingtin (Htt) protein. The creation of HD mouse models represents a critical step in the research for HD treatment. Among the currently available HD mouse models, the zQ175 knock-in mouse line is the first to display robust disease phenotype on a heterozygous background. The newer FDNQ175 mouse model is derived from the zQ175 mouse line and presents a more aggressive phenotype. Moreover, increasing evidence has implicated sex as a contributing factor in the progression of HD symptoms. Here, we compared the progression of HD phenotypes in male and female heterozygous FDNQ175 mice. We found that both male and female heterozygous mice showed deficits in forelimb grip strength and cognition as early as 6 months of age. However, female FDNQ175 mice were less vulnerable to HD-associated decline in limb coordination and movement. Neither male nor female FDNQ175 mice exhibited reduced locomotor activity in the open field or exhibit consistent differences in anxiety at 6–12 months of age. Both male and female FDNQ175 mice exhibited increased numbers of huntingtin aggregates with age and 8-month-old female FDNQ175 mice had significantly more aggregates than their male counterparts. Taken together, our results provide further evidence that sex can influence the progression of HD phenotype in preclinical animal models and must be taken into consideration for future HD research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, skyrmions are constructed in the system of localized spoof surface plasmons (LSSPs), showing topological robustness and near‐equidistant multi‐resonant response. Guided wave excitation of the LSSP skyrmions plays an elementary role in large‐scale planar integration and construction of complex networks. However, it is not investigated. In this study, the LSSP skyrmions are excited by guided waves supported by two kinds of widely used transmission lines, microstrip line and coplanar waveguide. Space‐coiling meta‐structures with different shapes that support LSSP skyrmions are etched on the ground planes as defected ground structures (DGSs). All structures including resonator, transmission line, input and output ports are in one plane. The structures are fabricated on printed circuit boards (PCBs) and the near‐equidistant multi‐resonant spectra of the LSSP skyrmions are measured. Moreover, to reduce the material loss, the structure is made on MgB2 superconducting film, and the quality factor (Q‐factor) is increased by seven times compared to the corresponding mode on PCB. This study paves the way for the massive planar integration of the LSSP skyrmions and the construction of complex networks with the LSSP skyrmions, and provides an idea for developing metasurfaces with low material loss in the microwave and terahertz bands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preparation of high-strength porous mullite via gel-casting has emerged as a hot topic, but balancing high strength and high porosity remains challenging. Herein, we successfully prepared porous mullite with uniform pore size and high strength using natural lignin fibers as the pore-forming agent via gel-casting. Moreover, we investigated the properties of mullite slurries, as well as green bodies and sintered ceramics in details. The strong water transport capacity of the lignin fibers enabled the homogeneous dispersion of gel system and improved the flowability of slurry. The flexural strength of green body was significantly increased to 16.07 MPa by optimizing the lignin fiber content. Porous mullite ceramics sintered at 1400 °C exhibited a homogeneous microstructure with average pore size of 5.62 μm. Furthermore, mullite ceramics had a porosity of 64.73% at a total solid loading of 55 wt% and a lignin fiber content of 10 wt%, whereas the compressive strength remains high at 11.32 MPa. Permeability tests confirmed the presence of interconnected pores, its coefficients k 1 and k 2 increases with the total porosity of ceramics. This work provides new insights into designing the preparation of porous mullite ceramics with high performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Most previous studies on women of childbearing age have focused on reproductive health and fertility intentions, and evidence regarding the comprehensive health status of women of childbearing age is limited. This study aimed to comprehensively examine the health status of women of childbearing age through a multi-method and multi-indicator evaluation, analyze the factors that influence their overall health, and provide sound recommendations for the improvement and promotion of healthy behaviors. Methods: Data on women of childbearing age living in Shanxi Province were collected between September 2021 and January 2022 through online and offline surveys. The k-means algorithm was used to assess health-related patterns in women, and multivariate nonconditional logistic regression was used to assess the influencing factors of women's overall health. Results: In total, 1,258 of 2,925 (43%) participants were classified as having a good health status in all five domains of the three health dimensions: quality of life, mental health, and illness. Multivariate logistic regression showed that education level, gynecological examination status, health status of family members, access to medical treatment, age, cooking preferences, diet, social support, hand washing habits, attitude toward breast cancer prevention, and awareness of reproductive health were significantly associated with different health patterns. Conclusions: The comprehensive health status of women of childbearing age in Shanxi Province is generally good; however, a large proportion of women with deficiencies in some dimensions remains. Since lifestyle greatly impacts women's health, health education on lifestyle and health-related issues should be strengthened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular hydrogen (H2) is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas which displays non-toxic features at high concentrations. H2 can alleviate oxidative damage, reduce inflammatory reactions and inhibit apoptosis cascades, thereby inducing protective and repairing effects on cells. H2 can be transported into the body in the form of H2 gas, hydrogen-rich water (HRW), hydrogen-rich saline (HRS) or H2 produced by intestinal bacteria. Accumulating evidence suggest that H2 is protective against multiple ophthalmic diseases, including cataracts, dry eye disease, diabetic retinopathy (DR) and other fields. In particular, H2 has been tested in the treatment of dry eye disease and corneal endothelial injury in clinical practice. This medical gas has brought hope to patients suffering from blindness. Although H2 has demonstrated promising therapeutic potentials and broad application prospects, further large-scale studies involving more patients are still needed to determine its optimal application mode and dosage. In this paper, we have reviewed the basic characteristics of H2, and its therapeutic effects in ophthalmic diseases. We also focus on the latest progress in the administration approaches and mechanisms underlying these benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electric and magnetic modes establish the basis of the localized spoof surface plasmons (LSSPs), both of which are transverse electric (TE) modes. In this paper, the concept of transverse magnetic (TM) modes of LSSPs is proposed, and the double-layer planar-circular-grating resonator is demonstrated to support the TM modes in addition to the TE modes. In numerical simulations, the TE and TM modes were excited by a plane wave and an aperture, respectively, and their resonant frequencies and electromagnetic field distributions were demonstrated to be different. The electric field of the TE mode is parallel to the grating, while the magnetic field of the TM mode is parallel to the grating. In experiments, multiple TE and TM LSSPs modes were excited by a magnetic coupler. The magnetic coupler can be rotated to distinguish the TM modes from the TE ones, which provides conclusive evidence of the existence of the TM modes. Compared with the TE LSSPs modes, the TM LSSPs modes have the advantages of high sensitivity to the distance between layers and high quality factors (Q-factors), which hold promise for providing improvements on compact applications of LSSPs. Based on the proposed concept, therefore, the classification standard of the LSSPs is expanded to make it more scientific and comprehensive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A later chronotype has been found to be associated with unhealthy habits and diseases, such as an unhealthy diet and metabolic syndrome in adults. Little is known about the association between chronotype, eating habits, physical activity and obesity. Thus, this study aimed to explore the relationships between chronotype, eating behaviors, physical activity, and overweight in Chinese school-aged children. Methods: Data from this study was based on 952 schoolchildren (10–12 y) from six primary schools that participated in China. Anthropometric measurements of height and body weight were performed. Information about sleeping habits, dietary behaviors, and other lifestyle behaviors was gathered using a self-administered questionnaire. Multiple linear regression analysis or multivariable logistic regression model was performed to assess the associations between chronotype, eating behaviors, physical activity, and overweight. Results: Nearly 70% (69.9%) of the participants had a self-reported morning chronotype. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed chronotype score was positively associated with physical activities (all P values < 0.001) and sleep duration (all P values < 0.001) and negatively associated with BMI, meal time, eating jet lag and social jet lag (all P values < 0.001). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that compared to morning types, non-morning types individuals were more likely to be overweight (OR = 1.593, P value < 0.05), and had more frequent consumption of fast food (OR = 1.616, P value < 0.05), but less frequent consumption of milk (OR = 0.716, P value < 0.05), less time taking part in moderate (OR = 1.356, P value < 0.05) or muscle strengthening (OR = 1.393, 1.877, P value < 0.05) physical activity. Conclusions: This study indicates that early chronotype children are more active, have healthier dietary habits, get more sleep, have shorter social jet lag, and are less likely to be overweight than non-early chronotype children. Our findings suggest that later chronotype may be a potential indicator in the early detection of overweight, unhealthy eating, and physical inactivity behaviors. Plain english summary: Chronotype has been found to have an important impact on individual's health. In the present study, we conducted a cross-sectional study to investigate the association between chronotype, eating behaviors, physical activity, and overweight in school-aged children. The findings showed that children with early chronotype is associated with more active, healthier dietary behaviors, longer sleep duration, short social jet lag, and a lower risk of overweight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 'Astrocyte Network' and the understanding of its communication has been posed as a new grand challenge to be investigated by contemporary science. However, communication studies in astrocyte networks have investigated traditional petri-dish in vitro culture models where cells are closely packed and can deviate from the stellate form observed in the brain. Using novel cell patterning approaches, highly organised, regular grid networks of astrocytes on chip, to single-cell fidelity are constructed, permitting a stellate-like in vitro network model to be realised. By stimulating the central cell with a single UV nanosecond laser pulse, the initiation/propagation pathways of stellate-like networks are re-explored. The authors investigate the mechanisms of intercellular Ca2+ communication and discover that stellate-like networks of adult human astrocytes in vitro actually exploit extracellular ATP release as their dominant propagation pathway to cells in the network locally; being observed even down to the nearest neighbour and next nearest neighbouring cells—contrary to the reported gap junction. This discovery has significant ramifications to many neurological conditions such as epilepsy, stroke and aggressive astrocytomas where gap junctions can be targeted. In cases where such gap junction targeting has failed, this new finding suggests that these conditions should be re-visited and the ATP transmission pathway targeted instead. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional methods for water and wastewater treatment are energy-intensive, notably at the stage of coagulation–flocculation, calling for new strategies to predict pollutant reduction because the amount of energy consumed is related to how much of the pollutant is treated. Here we developed a model, named Bio-logic, inspired by ecosystems, where pollutants represent organisms, coagulants are food, and the wider environmental conditions are the living environment. Artificial intelligence was used to learn the biological behavior, which enabled an accurate prediction of the amount of pollutant reduction. Results show that pseudo-biological objects that have a strong affinity for biological food, such as turbidity, total phosphorus, ammonia nitrogen and the potassium permanganate index, induced a strong correlation, between measured pollutant consumption capacity and predicted values. For instance, R2 correlation coefficients are 0.97 for turbidity and 0.92 for the potassium permanganate index in the laboratory; and 0.99 for turbidity, 0.90 for total phosphorus, 0.75 for ammonia nitrogen and 0.63 for the potassium permanganate index in water treatment plants. Overall, our findings demonstrate that artificial intelligence can use the water Bio-logic model to predict the pollutant consumption capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anisotropic layered porous ceramics are crucial to satisfy the demand for devices with directional functions. However, challenges, such as complicated preparation processes and difficulties in regulating the oriented structure, severely limit their application. Here, multilayered mullite ceramics (MLMCs) with specific porosities and strongly anisotropy properties, were prepared by designing porous thin-layered units and an interlayer layout, in combination with a simple gel-casting. Benefiting from the suitable slurry properties, the samples did not show obvious defects, and a perfect bonding was observed between the layers. The optimized MLMCs exhibited a porosity of 65.12%, the differences in compressive and flexural strengths of 14 (± 0.7) and 5 (± 0.2) MPa in different pressure directions respectively, and the anisotropy factor of thermal conductivity up to 0.98, as well as exhibited good high temperature thermal insulation properties. Ultimately, the MLMCs formed transverse heat conductor and longitudinal heat insulation heat-transfer patterns, with promising applications in thermal insulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Huntington's Disease (HD) is an inherited autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder that leads to progressive motor and cognitive impairment due to the expansion of a polyglutamine (CAG) repeat in the N-terminal region of the huntingtin (Htt) protein. The creation of HD mouse models represents a critical step in the research for HD treatment. Among the currently available HD mouse models, the zQ175 knock-in mouse line is the first to display robust disease phenotype on a heterozygous background. The newer FDNQ175 mouse model is derived from the zQ175 mouse line and presents a more aggressive phenotype. Moreover, increasing evidence has implicated sex as a contributing factor in the progression of HD symptoms. Here, we compared the progression of HD phenotypes in male and female heterozygous FDNQ175 mice. We found that both male and female heterozygous mice showed deficits in forelimb grip strength and cognition as early as 6 months of age. However, female FDNQ175 mice were less vulnerable to HD-associated decline in limb coordination and movement. Neither male nor female FDNQ175 mice exhibited reduced locomotor activity in the open field or exhibit consistent differences in anxiety at 6–12 months of age. Both male and female FDNQ175 mice exhibited increased numbers of huntingtin aggregates with age and 8-month-old female FDNQ175 mice had significantly more aggregates than their male counterparts. Taken together, our results provide further evidence that sex can influence the progression of HD phenotype in preclinical animal models and must be taken into consideration for future HD research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the seismic vulnerabilities and performances of typical bridges, data from a field investigation of 2134 bridges on 22 highway sections hit by the Wenchuan earthquake that occurred in China on May 12, 2008, were collected and processed. From the sample data of the empirical seismic-damage observations, 1409 simply supported girder bridges, 107 continuous girder bridges, and 612 arch bridges were selected. The latest version of the Chinese seismic intensity standard was utilized to evaluate the fragility of bridge samples in different macroseismic intensity zones, and the empirical vulnerability matrix and multidimensional regression comparison model of typical bridge clusters were developed. Taking the bridge length, the coordinate azimuth of the bridge location, the number of spans, the geometric form of the pier columns, and the type of bearings and foundations as the single factors influencing vulnerability and assuming (i) the line type and bridge length, (ii) the types of pier column and foundation, and (iii) the number of spans, the type of bearings, foundations, and linearity as the coupled factors influencing vulnerability, the aforementioned typical bridges were subjected to comparative vulnerability analysis. Innovative fragility regression and probability comparison models of typical bridges were developed considering the influence of multiple factor coupling. A novel vulnerability evaluation model was proposed based on the characteristic parameters and damage grade of bridge clusters in the umbrella earthquake area, and the model was optimized and verified by using the typical bridge database of the Wenchuan earthquake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining the diverse cell types in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and their organization into cellular communities, is critical for understanding the biological heterogeneity and therapy of cancer. Here, we deeply immunophenotype the colorectal cancer (CRC) by integrative analysis of large-scale bulk and single cell transcriptome of 2350 patients and 53,137 cells. A rich landscape of 42 cellular states and 7 ecosystems in TMEs is uncovered and extend the previous immune classifications of CRC. Functional pathways and potential transcriptional regulators analysis of cellular states and ecosystems reveal cancer hallmark-related pathways and several critical transcription factors in CRC. High-resolution characterization of the TMEs, we discover the potential utility of cellular states (i.e., Monocytes/Macrophages and CD8 T cell) and ecosystems for prognosis and clinical therapy selection of CRC. Together, our results expand our understanding of cellular organization in TMEs of CRC, with potential implications for the development of biomarkers and precision therapies. An extensive analysis of public bulk and single-cell data in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients extends immune classifications in CRC and uncovers more detail in the tumor microenvironment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We derive residue formulas for the regularized integrals (introduced by Li and Zhou in Commun Math Phys 388:1403–1474, 2021) on configuration spaces of elliptic curves. Based on these formulas, we prove that the regularized integrals satisfy holomorphic anomaly equations, providing a mathematical formulation of the so-called contact term singularities. We also discuss residue formulas for the ordered A-cycle integrals and establish their relations with those for the regularized integrals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Granite residual soil is vulnerable to collapse under rainfall-induced erosion. This may in turn lead to the occurrence of landslides or debris flows on slopes. Previous studies on use of microbial-induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) technique for soil stabilization are often conducted on sandy soils and also with rainfall-induced erosion are rarely assessed for a slope treated with MICP. This study investigated the feasibility of using the MICP technique for surface protection of granite residual soil slopes against erosion. The MICP technique was applied to soil samples using the spraying method. Hydraulic conductivity and rainfall erosion tests (using flume) were conducted to assess the coating effects of MICP on granite residual soils. In addition, crust thickness, calcite content and near-surface strength were measured to interpret the results. Tests were repeated to assess any variability in results. Scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectrometer and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were conducted on treated and untreated samples to interpret the formation of calcite due to MICP. After 7 days of curing, the calcite content increases to 4.3%, whereas mean coating thickness is 4.2 mm. Unconfined compressive strength is increased by 20.3% as compared with the bare soil. MICP treatment reduced the soil hydraulic conductivity and erosion rate by 90.9% and 95.2%, respectively. This was attributed to the bio-cementation process generating a surface coating on granite residual soils, leading to a reduction in pore throats, as observed in the obtained micrographs. Compared to the bare soil, the runoff rate in the MICP-treated soil was increased by 39.4% on average. However, the erosion is found to reduce significantly in MICP-treated soil. Based on ANOVA analysis, it could be concluded that the rainfall intensity found to be a significant factor affecting the erosion rate of granite residual soil slopes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a top-down holographic approach, the D4/D8 model is expected to be a holographic version of QCD, since it almost includes all the elementary features of QCD based on string theory. In this manuscript, we review the fundamental properties of the D4/D8 model with respect to the D4-brane background and the embedding of the flavor branes, holographic quark, gluon, meson, baryon and glueball with various symmetries; then, we take a look at some interesting applications and developments based on this model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of anti‐rods and rings (anti‐RR) antibodies in antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) test samples retrospectively. The laboratory data and clinical details of patients with positive anti‐RR antibodies were collected and analysed between December 2017 and May 2022 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University. A total of 72 665 patients were tested for ANAs. There were 45 632 patients discovered with positive ANAs (62.80%), only 131 patients presented with anti‐RR antibodies (0.18%), among which only 68 patients were hospitalized patients with a definitive diagnosis. Among the 68 patients with a definitive diagnosis, 8 of 68 (11.8%) had autoimmune diseases, and 19 of 68 (27.9%) had renal diseases. Other diseases included liver disease, pulmonary disease, cerebral ischemia, cerebral infarction, chronic cardiac failure and venous thromboembolism. The detection rate of high titre(≥1:1000) anti‐RR antibodies is significantly higher in autoimmune diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Macrophages are the "big eaters" of the immune system who are in charge of engulfing undesirable substances. Macrophages are vital for the human body as they are instrumental in developing organisms, regulating immune responses, and maintaining a relatively stable internal environment. When the phagocytic capacity of macrophages is impaired, the body is prone to disease. In the context of tumors, tumor cells have their ways to escape from macrophage-mediated phagocytosis. They masquerade as healthy cells by expressing "don't eat me" signals to fool macrophages and turn the initially anti-tumoral macrophages against the human body, which results in reduced macrophage-mediated phagocytosis. Hence, promoting the phagocytosis of macrophages is an important approach to improving the efficacy of anti-tumor treatment. In this review, we introduced the underlying mechanisms of macrophage-mediated phagocytosis and reviewed the recent progress in the area of application strategies on the basis of the phagocytosis mechanism. Macrophages are essential for the human body in both physiological and pathological conditions, engulfing undesirable substances and participating in several processes, such as organism growth, immune regulation, and maintenance of homeostasis. Macrophages play an important role in anti-bacterial and anti-tumoral responses. Aberrance in the phagocytosis of macrophages may lead to the development of several diseases, including tumors. Tumor cells can evade the phagocytosis of macrophages, and "educate" macrophages to become pro-tumoral, resulting in the reduced phagocytosis of macrophages. Hence, harnessing the phagocytosis of macrophages is an important approach to bolster the efficacy of anti-tumor treatment. In this review, we elucidated the underlying phagocytosis mechanisms, such as the equilibrium among phagocytic signals, receptors and their respective signaling pathways, macrophage activation, as well as mitochondrial fission. We also reviewed the recent progress in the area of application strategies on the basis of the phagocytosis mechanism, including strategies targeting the phagocytic signals, antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP), and macrophage activators. We also covered recent studies of Chimeric Antigen Receptor Macrophage (CAR-M)-based anti-tumor therapy. Furthermore, we summarized the shortcomings and future applications of each strategy and look into their prospects with the hope of providing future research directions for developing the application of macrophage phagocytosis-promoting therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Panxi area in Sichuan Province is the main area for the production of truffles in China, and several species of truffle are known to exist in this region. Nevertheless, it is unclear what the differences in chemical composition between the truffles are. Using an ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography quadrupole/orbitrap high‐resolution mass spectrometry coupled with Compound Discoverer 3.0, we identified chemical components in three mainly known truffles from the Panxi region. Further analysis of chemical composition differences was conducted using principal component analysis, and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis. Note that, 78.9% of the variance was uncovered by the principal component analysis model. As a result of the orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis model, the three species of truffles (Tuber pesudohimalayense, Tuber indicum, and Tuber sinense) from Panxi were better discriminated, with R2X, R2Y, and Q2 being 0.821, 0.993, and 0.947, respectively. In this study, 87 components were identified. T. pesudohimalayense contained significantly higher levels of nine different compounds than the other two species. Hence, it was possible to identify similarities and differences between three species of truffles from Panxi in terms of chemical composition. This can be used as a basis for quality control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polysaccharides present in grapes interact with wine sensory-active compounds (polyphenols and volatile compounds) via different mechanisms and can affect wine organoleptic qualities such as astringency, color and aroma. Studies on the role that grape polysaccharides play in wines are reviewed in this paper. First, the composition of grape polysaccharides and their changes during grape ripening, winemaking and aging are introduced. Second, different interaction mechanisms of grape polysaccharides and wine sensory-active compounds (flavanols, anthocyanins and volatiles) are introduced, and the possible effects on wine astringency, color and aroma caused by these interactions are illustrated. Finally, the control of the grape polysaccharide content in practice is discussed, including classical winemaking methods (applying different maceration enzymes, temperature control, co-fermentation, blending), modern vinification technologies (pulsed electric field, ultrasound treatment), and the development of new grape polysaccharide products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coptisine (COP) is the main active ingredient of Coptis chinensis. In Chinese veterinary clinics, Coptis chinensis is commonly used alongside florfenicol to treat intestinal infections. The goal of this study was to investigate the impact of COP co-administration on the pharmacokinetics of florfenicol in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were orally administered COP (50 mg/kg BW) or sterile water for 7 consecutive days, followed by a single oral dose of florfenicol (25 mg/kg BW) on the 8th day. Pharmacokinetics of florfenicol were analysed using non-compartmental methods, while expression levels of cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoforms in the liver and P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in the jejunum were measured using real-time RT-PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses. Co-administration of COP and florfenicol significantly increased AUC(0-∞), MRT(0-∞), and Cmax of florfenicol, while CLz/F was significantly decreased. COP down-regulated the expression of CYP1A2, CYP2C11, and CYP3A1 in the liver, as well as P-gp in the jejunum. These findings suggest that co-administration of COP with florfenicol alters the pharmacokinetics of florfenicol in rats. The down-regulation of CYP and P-gp expression may contribute to this effect. Therefore, the co-administration of COP with florfenicol may enhance the prophylactic or therapeutic efficacy of florfenicol in veterinary practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An acoustic absorption structure of a double-layer porous metal material with air layers is proposed. The Johnson-Champoux-Allard (JCA) model combined with the transfer matrix method (TMM) was used to establish the theoretical calculation model of the sound absorption coefficient (SAC). Meanwhile, the SAC between 500 and 6300 Hz were measured with an impedance tube. The errors between the theoretical and experimental values were compared to illustrate the good predictability of the theoretical model within the inverse estimations of the transport properties. The effects of the material placement order, material thickness, and cavity depth on the sound absorption performance from 200 to 5000 Hz were analyzed using the theoretical model. Further, a multi-objective function genetic algorithm was used to optimize the porous material's thickness and SAC to obtain an acoustic structure with a smaller thickness and higher sound absorption. A series of optimal solutions were obtained for acoustic structures with a total thickness of less than 70 mm. When the total thickness of the foam metal was 33.57 mm, the average SAC reached 0.853, which was significantly lower than the total thickness of the previous experiments. The multi-objective function genetic algorithm can provide a reliable solution for the optimal design of most sound-absorbing structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pain often occurs in parallel with neuropsychiatric disorders. However, the underlying mechanisms and potential causality have not been well studied. We collected the genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics of 26 common pain and neuropsychiatric disorders with sample size ranging from 17,310 to 482,730 in European population. The genetic correlation between pair of pain and neuropsychiatric disorders, as well as the relevant cell types were investigated by linkage disequilibrium (LD) score regression analyses. Then, transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) was applied to identify the potential shared genes by integrating the gene expression information and GWAS. In addition, Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were conducted to infer the potential causality between pain and neuropsychiatric disorders. Among the 169 pairwise pain and neuropsychiatric disorders, 55 pairs showed positive correlations (median rg = 0.43) and 9 pairs showed negative correlations (median rg = −0.31). Using MR analyses, 26 likely causal associations were identified, including that neuroticism and insomnia were risk factors for most of short-term pain, and multisite chronic pain was risk factor for neuroticism, insomnia, major depressive disorder and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and vice versa. The signals of pain and neuropsychiatric disorders tended to be enriched in the functional regions of cell types from central nervous system (CNS). A total of 19 genes shared in at least one pain and neuropsychiatric disorder pair were identified by TWAS, including AMT, NCOA6, and UNC45A, which involved in glycine degradation, insulin secretion, and cell proliferation, respectively. Our findings provided the evidence of shared genetic structure, causality and potential shared pathogenic mechanisms between pain and neuropsychiatric disorders, and enhanced our understanding of the comorbidities of pain and neuropsychiatric disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]