Search

Objective·To explore the correlation between serum small ubiquitin-like modifier 1 (SUMO1) levels and hypertriglyceridemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Methods·A total of 239 newly diagnosed T2DM patients were recruited from the endocrinology clinic of Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, between September 2020 and March 2021. Among them, 92 patients had hypertriglyceridemia, and 147 patients did not. Basic information and laboratory parameters were collected. The differences in serum SUMO1 levels between the two groups were analyzed. Factors influencing hypertriglyceridemia in patients with T2DM were analyzed, and the impact of serum SUMO1 levels on the risk of hypertriglyceridemia in T2DM patients was investigated.Results·Patients with T2DM and hypertriglyceridemia had significantly higher serum SUMO1 levels compared to those without hypertriglyceridemia (1 114.99 pg/mL vs 902.43 pg/mL, P

Abstract Objective To compare the diagnostic performance of pancreatic lesions using percutaneous ultrasound (US)-guided core needle biopsy (CNB) with and without contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). Method The patients were divided into two groups, US and CEUS group, based on whether CEUS was performed prior to biopsy. Before and after propensity score matching (PSM), the CNB-relevant characteristics of the two groups, including the first puncture success rate, the number of sampling, complication rate, type of complications, and degree of abdominal pain, were compared. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and area under the curve (AUC) of percutaneous US-guided CNB were compared between the groups. Results This study included 277 patients (173 men and 104 women) with pancreatic lesions who underwent percutaneous CNB before PSM; 190 patients in the CEUS group, and 87 in the US group prior to CNB. After controlling for potential biases using PSM, no significant differences were observed in the complication rate, type of complications, or degree of abdominal pain between the CEUS and US groups (P > 0.05). However, significant differences were observed in the first puncture success rate and the number of sampling (P

Abstract To improve the forecast accuracy of wind power, diffusion model based on prior knowledge (DMPK) is proposed. Different from the traditional diffusion model (DM), where the noise perturbation in the diffusion or generation process is random, the noise added in DMPK is modified aiming to the characteristics of wind power signals. The distribution of wind power forecast errors is not a standard Gaussian. Wind power forecast errors are related to forecast methods, weather conditions, and other factors, containing both random signals and certain regularity. This paper adapts the Gaussian distribution to fit the historical forecast error to represent the prior knowledge of wind power. Then, the sampling distribution is derived from its relationship with the fitted prior distribution to replace the standard Gaussian in DM. Taking the prior knowledge into account during the process of noise sampling, the data in the forward process of DMPK can be guided by the distribution of historical errors for diffusion, while the generated result by the reverse process is more consistent with the actual wind power signal. Finally, the superiority of the proposed method is verified by using the wind power data from two real‐world wind farms.

To improve the work efficiency and stability of discharger in soybean conditioner, this paper combined the discrete element method to simulate the motion process of soybeans in the discharger, and analyzed the effects of rotor blade number, feeding plate angle, and angle between inlet and outlet of the discharger. The results showed that when the velocity of discharger was 12 r/min, the number of rotor blades had a significant negative correlation with the discharger’s work efficiency and stability. The feeding plate angle had no significant on the work efficiency and stability, but it would cause material residue at the inlet of discharger. The larger the angle between the inlet and outlet led to the lower the work efficiency of discharger, but the work stability was better. The above research showed that when the number of the rotor blades was 6, the feeding plate angle was 40°. The angle between inlet and outlet was 180°, and the work efficiency and stability of discharger reached optimal levels.

To explore the mechanical response of composites under fire conditions，a thermal-tensile response model for polymer composites considering matrix pyrolysis and fiber softening effects was developed. Nonlinear equations were solved using multidimensional array operations to research the variation of tensile performance of glass fiber/vinyl ester composites at high temperature and to predict the failure time under different tensile loads and one-sided heat flux conditions.The results indicate that the developed nonlinear thermal-tensile response model can effectively predict the tensile behaviour of vinyl ester and glass fiber/vinyl ester composites under unilateral steady heat flux. The results calculated using the model show that there are two distinct phases during the decrease of the tensile strength of glass fiber/vinyl ester composites with temperature decreasing： the first phase features a rapid decrease near the glass transition temperature，while the second phase shows a gradual decline following the complete glassy transition of the matrix. Furthermore，the failure time of the glass fiber/vinyl ester composites significantly decreases with increasing tensile load，displaying a consistent trend across different heat flux densities. Under constant tensile stress，the reduction in heat flux density can extend failure time of composites. Specifically，at the tensile stress of 80% of room temperature strength，the failure time of the laminate at 10 kW/m² is extended by 300 seconds compared to 75 kW/m2. Additionally，at 10 kW/m2，when the tensile stress is less than 50% of the room temperature strength，the laminate will not fail for a long time.

Abstract Purpose Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and employing Controlled Attenuation Parameter (CAP) measures, this study explores the correlation between vitamin E (VE) intake and hepatic steatosis and its impact on different subsets. Materials and methods We selected 5757 participants with CAP data from the 2017–2020 NHANES dataset. Daily VE intake was assessed by a 24-hour dietary recall. Hepatic fat content was quantified using transient elastography to measure CAP. Stratified multivariable regression analysis investigated relationships in different subsets, and a generalized additive model identified nonlinear relationships and thresholds. Results After adjusting for confounders, higher VE intake correlated with lower CAP levels. Subgroup analyses and tests for interaction revealed a significantly stronger negative correlation between VE intake and CAP in obese individuals. Further analysis indicated a curvilinear relationship between VE intake and the severity of liver fat degeneration in both the general study population and the obese subgroup, demonstrating a threshold effect. In the general population, VE intake below the threshold (6.58 mg/day) is positively correlated with CAP levels, whereas intake above this threshold shows a negative correlation. For obese individuals, the threshold is set at 7.37 mg/day, above which the negative correlation with CAP is even more pronounced. Conclusion Our study revealed a negative correlation between VE intake and hepatic fat content, highlighting the potentially crucial role VE plays in obese fatty liver patients. Importantly, we identified threshold effects of VE intake in both general and obese populations. Our results support clinical nutritional interventions, personalized dietary guidance, and the development of drugs to combat fatty liver.

AI large model is leading the hot ICT(information and communications technology) industry in the next decade. Intelligent computing center network is a communication base to support the distributed training of AI large model, and it is one of the key factors to determine the efficiency of AI clusters. The data volume and the number of parameters of AI large model are expanding continuously, which brings the network of intelligent computing centers serious challenges, and also brings an opportunity for intergenerational innovation of key network technologies. In the process of AI large model training and inferencing, providing high performance and high security transmission of data are the two core requirements of AI business for intelligent computing network. Efficient load balancing, congestion control technologies and network security protocols are the key network technologies. To address the challenge brought by large-scale AI business, global scheduling ethernet (GSE) was proposed as a corresponding solution, and realistic test environment was built to compare the performance of GSE and RoCE. The test results show that GSE significantly improves JCT compared with RoCE network.

Abstract The incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) tends to be younger. And the role of theobromine in fatty liver disease remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between dietary theobromine intake and degree of hepatic steatosis in individuals aged 45 and below, using data from the 2017–2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and liver ultrasonography transient elastography. A total of 1796 participants aged below 45 years were included from NHANES 2017–2020 data after applying exclusion criteria. Multivariate regression and subgroup analyses were conducted to examine the associations between theobromine intake and controlled attenuation parameter (CAP), adjusting for potential confounders. Generalized additive models and two-piecewise linear regression were used to analyze nonlinear relationships. In the unadjusted Model 1 and preliminarily adjusted Model 2, there was no significant correlation between theobromine intake and CAP values. However, in Models 3 and 4, which accounted for confounding factors, a higher intake of theobromine was significantly associated with lower CAP values. Subgroup analyses in the fully adjusted Model 4 revealed a significant negative correlation among individuals aged 18–45, women, and white populations. Nonlinear analysis revealed a U-shaped relationship in black Americans, with the lowest CAP values at 44.5 mg/day theobromine. This study provides evidence that higher theobromine intake is correlated with lower degree of hepatic steatosis in young people, especially those aged 18–45 years, women, and whites. For black Americans, maintaining theobromine intake around 44.5 mg/day may help minimize liver steatosis. These findings may help personalize clinical nutritional guidance, prevent the degree of hepatic steatosis, and provide pharmacological approaches to reverse fatty liver disease in young people.

The widespread use of mobile devices and compute-intensive applications has increased the connection of smart devices to networks, generating significant data. Real-time execution faces challenges due to limited resources and demanding applications in edge computing environments. To address these challenges, an enhanced whale optimization algorithm (EWOA) was proposed for task scheduling. A multi-objective model based on CPU, memory, time, and resource utilization was developed. The model was transformed into a whale optimization problem, incorporating chaotic mapping to initialize populations and prevent premature convergence. A nonlinear convergence factor was introduced to balance local and global search. The algorithm's performance was evaluated in an experimental edge computing environment and compared with ODTS, WOA, HWACO, and CATSA algorithms. Experimental results demonstrated that EWOA reduced costs by 29.22%, decreased completion time by 17.04%, and improved node resource utilization by 9.5%. While EWOA offers significant advantages, limitations include the lack of consideration for potential network delays and user mobility. Future research will focus on fault-tolerant scheduling techniques to address dynamic user needs and improve service robustness and quality.

Rock masses in deep engineering are often subjected to high geothermal effect, and blasting is a key technique for deep rock excavation. It is crucial to study the dynamic characteristics of fractured rock masses under high geothermal conditions and blasting excavation. This paper focuses on fractured gabbro, examining the effects of high temperatures on its surface chromaticity and mass. Dynamic splitting tests were conducted using a Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) apparatus, and the microstructure was analyzed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicate that: (1) High temperatures significantly affect the surface chromaticity and mass of gabbro samples. (2) Elevated temperatures lead to the progression from a microstructure with no noticeable microcracks to the development of extensive microcracks and mineral particle fragmentation. (3) The impacts of high temperatures on the splitting strength, peak strain, and dynamic elastic modulus of gabbro samples reach a critical point around 500 °C. At this temperature, the strengthening effect of high temperature is evident, whereas at 800 °C, these properties significantly decrease due to extensive mineral crystal fragmentation and microcrack expansion, weakening the sample's strength, stiffness, and deformation resistance. (4) From 25 °C to 600 °C, the fissure angle significantly influences the splitting strength, peak strain, and dynamic elastic modulus of gabbro. Although the fissure angle still impacts these properties at 800 °C, the overall effect of high temperature is more pronounced. (5) The failure of fractured gabbro samples is primarily characterized by tensile and shear failures, with the crack initiation angle closely related to the fissure angle.

Abstract Objective This study examines the impact of parental migration on the psychological well‐being and development of left‐behind children (LBCs) in Zhejiang, China, within the broader context of the country's rural transformations and urban migration. It investigates how intellectual and relational engagement (RE), autonomy (AUT), competence (COM), and relatedness (RES) contribute to resilience (REL) and post‐traumatic growth (PTG) in these children, reflecting on the shift from viewing parental separation merely as a source of trauma to recognizing its potential to foster significant personal growth. Methods Utilizing a cross‐sectional design, the research was conducted in April and May 2023 with 1348 LBCs from a total sample of 4049 students inZhejiang. A two‐step random, stratified, cluster‐based sampling strategy was employed, and structural equation modeling was used to examine the hypothesized relationships among the constructs. Results The statistical analysis demonstrated significant positive effects of intellectual engagement (IE), AUT, COM, and RE on both REL and PTG (p .60) underscoring their importance. Notably, REL was found to moderate the relationships among RES, COM, and PTG, highlighting its critical role in the psychological adaptation of left‐behind children. Conclusion The study underscores the importance of nurturing intellectual and REs, AUT, and COM to enhance psychological REL and well‐being among LBAs. These elements are crucial for supporting the mental health and developmental needs of children facing the challenges of parental migration. The findings advocate for targeted interventions that can address the unique needs of this vulnerable population, emphasizing the potential for growth and adaptation despite adversities.

Pheretima is a popular healthy food, but Pheretima and related foods have specific stenchy odor, especially after decocting or warm soaking, the odor is intense, resulting in nausea and vomiting. This indicates that the release of stenchy odor components is intensified when Pheretima was exposed to hot water. It is urgent to study the composition and release pattern of the stenchy odor components of Pheretima. In this study, a series of samples with different odors were prepared by the combination of SFE-CO2 and warm soaking. The results showed that the fishy and smoky odor of Pheretima were heavier, attributed to the components such as dimethyl trisulfide, TMA, and guaiacol. When Pheretima was exposed to hot water, the fishy odor increased sharply. Dimethyl trisulfide and TMA were the key odor components, especially the exposure of TMA increased by 2∼3 times after warm soaking. The volatilization rate of n-hexanal, TMA, dimethyl trisulfide and other components was found to be highly volatile, and the volatilization rate at 75 °C was 2.5 times that at room temperature. This study proved for the first time that stenchy odor substances include two categories: water-soluble and liposoluble. And found that the water-soluble odor components accelerate their exposure and volatilization in warm water, which is the scientific principle of “Pheretima smells worse exposed to water”.

Abstract The demand for miniaturized and integrated multifunctional devices drives the progression of high‐performance infrared photodetectors for diverse applications, including remote sensing, air defense, and communications, among others. Nonetheless, infrared photodetectors that rely solely on single low‐dimensional materials often face challenges due to the limited absorption cross‐section and suboptimal carrier mobility, which can impair sensitivity and prolong response times. Here, through experimental validation is demonstrated, precise control over energy band alignment in a type‐II van der Waals heterojunction, comprising vertically stacked 2D Ta2NiSe5 and the topological insulator Bi2Se3, where the configuration enables polarization‐sensitive, wide‐spectral‐range photodetection. Experimental evaluations at room temperature reveal that the device exhibits a self‐powered responsivity of 0.48 A·W−1, a specific directivity of 3.8 × 1011 cm·Hz1/2·W−1, a response time of 151 µs, and a polarization ratio of 2.83. The stable and rapid photoresponse of the device underpins the utility in infrared‐coded communication and dual‐channel imaging, showing the substantial potential of the detector. These findings articulate a systematic approach to developing miniaturized, multifunctional room‐temperature infrared detectors with superior performance metrics and enhanced capabilities for multi‐information acquisition.

ABSTRACT Filamentous fungi present significant health hazards to immunocompromised individuals globally; however, the prompt and precise identification of them during infection remains challenging. In this study, a TaqMan probe-based multiplex real-time PCR (M-qPCR) assay was developed to detect simultaneously the target genes of four important pathogenic filamentous fungi: ANXC4 gene of Aspergillus fumigatus, EF1-α gene of Fusarium spp., mitochondrial rnl gene of Mucorales, and hcp100 gene of Histoplasma capsulatum. In this M-qPCR assay, the limit of detection (LoD) to all four kinds of fungi was 100 copies and the correlation coefficients (R2) were above 0.99. The specificity of this assay is 100%, and the minimum detection limit is 100 copies/reaction. In conclusion, an M-qPCR detection assay was well established with high specificity and sensitivity for rapid and simultaneous detection on four important filamentous fungi in the clinic.IMPORTANCEWorld Health Organization developed the first fungal priority pathogens list (WHO FPPL) in 2022. Aspergillus fumigatus, Mucorales, Fusarium spp., and Histoplasma spp. are the four types of pathogenic fungi with filamentous morphology in the critical priority group and high priority group of WHO FPPL. These four filamentous fungal infections have become more common and severe in immunocompromised patients with the increase in susceptible populations in recent decades, which resulted in a substantial burden on the public health system. However, prompt and precise identification of them during infection remains challenging. Our study established successfully a TaqMan probe-based multiplex real-time qPCR assay for four clinically important filamentous fungi, A. fumigatus, Fusarium spp., Mucorales, and Histoplasma capsulatum, with high sensitivity and specificity, which shows promising potential for prompt and precise diagnosis against fungal infection.

Electron beam lithography (EBL) involves the transfer of a pattern onto the surface of a substrate by first scanning a thin layer of organic film (called resist) on the surface by a tightly focused and precisely controlled electron beam (exposure) and then selectively removing the exposed or nonexposed regions of the resist in a solvent (developing). It is widely used for fabrication of integrated circuits, mask manufacturing, photoelectric device processing, and other fields. The key to drawing circular patterns by EBL is the graphics production and control. In an EBL system, an embedded processor calculates and generates the trajectory coordinates for movement of the electron beam, and outputs the corresponding voltage signal through a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) to control a deflector that changes the position of the electron beam. Through this procedure, it is possible to guarantee the accuracy and real-time control of electron beam scanning deflection. Existing EBL systems mostly use the method of polygonal approximation to expose circles. A circle is divided into several polygons, and the smaller the segmentation, the higher is the precision of the splicing circle. However, owing to the need to generate and scan each polygon separately, an increase in the number of segments will lead to a decrease in the overall lithography speed. In this paper, based on Bresenham’s circle algorithm and exploiting the capabilities of a field-programmable gate array and DAC, an improved real-time circle-producing algorithm is designed for EBL. The algorithm can directly generate circular graphics coordinates such as those for a single circle, solid circle, solid ring, or concentric ring, and is able to effectively realizes deflection and scanning of the electron beam for circular graphics lithography. Compared with the polygonal approximation method, the improved algorithm exhibits improved precision and speed. At the same time, the point generation strategy is optimized to solve the blank pixel and pseudo-pixel problems that arise with Bresenham’s circle algorithm. A complete electron beam deflection system is established to carry out lithography experiments, the results of which show that the error between the exposure results and the preset patterns is at the nanometer level, indicating that the improved algorithm meets the requirements for real-time control and high precision of EBL.

Abstract Syndecan-binding protein (SDCBP) was reported to stimulate the advancement of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and could potentially be a target for ESCC treatment. There is a growing corpus of research on the anti-tumor effects of iron chelators; however, very few studies have addressed the involvement of dexrazoxane in cancer. In this study, structure-based virtual screening was employed to select drugs targeting SDCBP from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug databases. The sepharose 4B beads pull-down assay revealed that dexrazoxane targeted SDCBP by interacting with its PDZ1 domain. Additionally, dexrazoxane inhibited ESCC cell proliferation and anchorage-independent colony formation via SDCBP. ESCC cell apoptosis and G2 phase arrest were induced as measured by the flow cytometry assay. Subsequent research revealed that dexrazoxane attenuated the binding ability between SDCBP and EGFR in an immunoprecipitation assay. Furthermore, dexrazoxane impaired EGFR membrane localization and inactivated the EGFR/PI3K/Akt pathway. In vivo, xenograft mouse experiments indicated that dexrazoxane suppressed ESCC tumor growth. These data indicate that dexrazoxane might be established as a potential anti-cancer agent in ESCC by targeting SDCBP.

Objectives The position of sesamoid of thumb metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint changed clearly when the joint was dislocated dorsally. However, the significance of sesamoid location in diagnosing joint dislocation was unclear. The present study aimed to explore the positional relationship between sesamoid bone and thumb metacarpophalangeal joint in normal and dorsal dislocation joints. Methods Between January 2018 and August 2023, we collected 60 isometric plain films from sixty outpatients and reviewed 56 anisometric plain films from twenty‐eight emergency patients with dorsal dislocation of thumb MCP joint at Tianjin Hospital, then took measurements on the hand X‐ray images. The sesamoid length on its longitudinal axis was defined as DP, the distance between the distal edge of sesamoid and thumb MCP joint was defined as DJ, and the ratio of DJ and DP was R. An independent‐samples t‐test and paired‐samples t‐test was utilized to analyze difference among data groups. Results The 60 isometric images were from 30 male and 30 female outpatients with normal bone structure in their hands, and the 56 anisometric images of the 28 emergency patients included both preoperative and postoperative materials. Among the outpatients, the actual distance between the distal edge of sesamoid and thumb MCP joint space (DJ) was 2.09 mm and 1.40 mm in males and females, respectively. The authentic average length of sesamoid (DP) was 4.46 mm in males and 4.22 mm in females. The average value of R (the ratio of DJ and DP) in males and females was 0.49 and 0.34, respectively. There were gender‐related statistical differences in DJ (p 0.05). For the 28 emergency patients, the mean value of R was –0.47 before joint reduction and 0.58 after joint reduction, with statistical difference between them (p

High-performance Cu/Graphene composite wire synergistically strengthened by nano Cr 3 C 2 phase was directly synthesized via hot press sintering followed by severe cold plastic deformation, using liquid paraffin and CuCr alloy powder as the raw materials. Since graphene is in situ formed under the catalysis of copper powder during the sintering process, the problem that graphene is easy to agglomerate and difficult to disperse uniformly in the copper matrix has been solved. The nano Cr 3 C 2 -particles nailed at the interface favor to improve the interface bonding. The Cu/Graphene composite possesses high electrical conductivity, hardness, and plasticity. The composite wire exhibits high electrical conductivity of 96.93% IACS, great tensile strength of 488 MPa, and excellent resistance to softening. Even after annealing at 400°C for 1 h, the tensile strength can still reach 268 MPa with a conductivity of about 99.14% IACS. The wire's temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) is largely reduced to 0.0035/°C due to the complex structure, which leads the wire to present low resistivity at higher temperatures. Such Cu/Graphene composite wire with excellent comprehensive performance has a good application prospect in high-power density motors.

Abstract Background Previous studies evaluating the influence of diabetes on the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) showed inconsistent results. The aim of the study was to systematically evaluate the association between diabetes and DVT after TKA in a meta-analysis. Methods An extensive search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science to identify relevant cohort studies. Random-effects models were employed to pool the results after taking account of the potential influence of heterogeneity. Results Thirteen cohort studies involving 546,156 patients receiving TKA were included, with 71,110 (13.0%) diabetic patients before surgery and 1479 (2.1%) patients diagnosed as DVT after surgery. Overall, diabetes was associated with an increased risk of DVT after TKA (risk ratio [RR]: 1.43, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.12–1.84, p = 0.004; I 2 = 44%). Sensitivity analysis limited to studies with chemoprophylaxis (RR: 1.96, 95% CI: 1.50–2.54), and studies with multivariate analysis (RR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.12–2.11) showed consistent results. Subgroup analysis showed that diabetes was associated with higher risk of postoperative DVT in Asian countries (RR: 1.93, 95% CI: 1.49–2.52, p

Discrete Global Grid Systems (DGGSs) are hierarchical frameworks that provide seamless global coverage and enable the efficient processing and analysis of heterogeneous geospatial data. As cell resolution becomes finer, similarities in cell attributes, such as cell size and shape, increase. Understanding these shared characteristics enhances our knowledge of DGGSs structures, improving their reliability and accuracy across a range of applications. However, existing methods for quantifying these characteristics are limited, often emphasizing overall analysis and visualization rather than detailed assessment. This paper introduces a geometric pattern quantification method for equal-area hexagonal DGGSs by calculating inter-level attribute similarities to identify a reference level, segmenting the spatial distribution image at this reference level, and fitting the boundaries of these sub-images to create iso-feature lines. The results show that this method improves the accuracy and efficiency of cell attribute calculations, with enhancements of at least 5.6 times for study regions and 13.8 times for sample points at lower levels. This pattern provides a robust basis for grid selection and optimization in regional applications, promoting the broader adoption of DGGSs across various fields.

The Yellow River Basin has been instrumental in advancing ecological preservation and fostering national high-quality development. However, since the advent of China’s reform and opening-up policies, the basin has faced severe environmental pollution issues. This study leverages remote sensing data from 1998 to 2019. As per the “Basin Scope and Its Historical Changes” published by the Yellow River Conservancy Commission of the Ministry of Water Resources, the Yellow River Basin is categorized into upstream, midstream, and downstream regions for analysis of their spatial and temporal distribution traits using spatial autocorrelation methods. Additionally, we employed probes to study the effects of 10 factors, including mean surface temperature and air pressure, on PM2.5. The study findings reveal that (1) the annual average concentration of PM2.5 in the Yellow River Basin exhibited a fluctuating trend from 1998 to 2019, initially increasing, then decreasing, followed by another increase before ultimately declining. (2) The air quality in the Yellow River Basin is relatively poor, making it challenging for large-scale areas with low PM2.5 levels to occur. (3) The PM2.5 concentration in the Yellow River Basin exhibits distinct high and low-value concentration areas indicative of air pollution. Low-value areas are predominantly found in the sparsely populated central and southwestern plateau regions of Inner Mongolia, characterized by a better ecological environment. In contrast, high-value areas are prevalent in the inland areas of Northwest China, with poorer natural conditions, as well as densely populated zones with high energy demand and a relatively developed economy. (4) The overall population density in the Yellow River Basin, as well as in the upstream, midstream, and downstream regions, serves as a primary driving factor. (5) The primary drivers in the middle reaches and the entire Yellow River Basin remain consistent, whereas those in the upper and lower reaches have shifted. In the upstream, air pressure emerges as a primary driver of PM2.5, while in the downstream, NDVI and precipitation become the main influencing factors.

Moxibustion has a long history of use as a traditional Chinese medicine therapy. Infrared radiation is an important and effective factor in moxibustion. Instead of the time-consuming and laborious process of holding moxa sticks in the hand, moxibustion devices are commonly used as moxibustion methods and tools in modern times. With the publication of the international standard of moxibustion devices (ISO18666:2021, Traditional Chinese Medicine - General requirements of moxibustion devices) published, moxibustion devices of various materials are now sold in the pharmacies and online stores. However, the influence of moxibustion devices on the therapeutic effect of moxibustion has not been studied. Therefore, this research was aimed to evaluate the infrared radiation of moxibustion devices, in order to select the moxibustion device that delivered infrared radiation closest to that of moxa stick combustion. The combination of combustion stability and infrared radiation intensity showed that cardboard tubes and silicone were better materials for moxibustion devices. In the mid-far infrared wave band, the moxibustion devices made from cardboard tubes and silica gels can better maintain the thermal effect generated by moxibustion and enable it to be more easily absorbed by the human body. The infrared radiation intensity of the cardboard moxibustion devices increased rapidly and steadily and could be maintained for the longest time. In conclusion, cardboard tubes are the better material for moxibustion devices with respect to infrared radiation.

BackgroundMetabolic abnormalities are closely tied to the development of ovarian cancer (OC), yet the relationship between anthropometric indicators as risk indicators for metabolic abnormalities and OC lacks consistency.MethodThe Mendelian randomization (MR) approach is a widely used methodology for determining causal relationships. Our study employed summary statistics from the genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and we used inverse variance weighting (IVW) together with MR-Egger and weighted median (WM) supplementary analyses to assess causal relationships between exposure and outcome. Furthermore, additional sensitivity studies, such as leave-one-out analyses and MR-PRESSO were used to assess the stability of the associations.ResultThe IVW findings demonstrated a causal associations between 10 metabolic factors and an increased risk of OC. Including “Basal metabolic rate” (OR= 1.24, P= 6.86×10-4); “Body fat percentage” (OR= 1.22, P= 8.20×10-3); “Hip circumference” (OR= 1.20, P= 5.92×10-4); “Trunk fat mass” (OR= 1.15, P= 1.03×10-2); “Trunk fat percentage” (OR= 1.25, P= 8.55×10-4); “Waist circumference” (OR= 1.23, P= 3.28×10-3); “Weight” (OR= 1.21, P= 9.82×10-4); “Whole body fat mass” (OR= 1.21, P= 4.90×10-4); “Whole body fat-free mass” (OR= 1.19, P= 4.11×10-3) and “Whole body water mass” (OR= 1.21, P= 1.85×10-3).ConclusionSeveral metabolic markers linked to altered fat accumulation and distribution are significantly associated with an increased risk of OC.

Abstract Background While liver cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a crucial role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) initiation, progression, recurrence, and treatment resistance, the mechanism underlying liver CSC self-renewal remains elusive. We aim to characterize the role of Methyltransferase 16 (METTL16), a recently identified RNA N 6-methyladenosine (m6A) methyltransferase, in HCC development/maintenance, CSC stemness, as well as normal hepatogenesis. Methods Liver-specific Mettl16 conditional KO (cKO) mice were generated to assess its role in HCC pathogenesis and normal hepatogenesis. Hydrodynamic tail-vein injection (HDTVi)-induced de novo hepatocarcinogenesis and xenograft models were utilized to determine the role of METTL16 in HCC initiation and progression. A limiting dilution assay was utilized to evaluate CSC frequency. Functionally essential targets were revealed via integrative analysis of multi-omics data, including RNA-seq, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP)-seq, and ribosome profiling. Results METTL16 is highly expressed in liver CSCs and its depletion dramatically decreased CSC frequency in vitro and in vivo. Mettl16 KO significantly attenuated HCC initiation and progression, yet only slightly influenced normal hepatogenesis. Mechanistic studies, including high-throughput sequencing, unveiled METTL16 as a key regulator of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) maturation and mRNA translation and identified eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 subunit a (eIF3a) transcript as a bona-fide target of METTL16 in HCC. In addition, the functionally essential regions of METTL16 were revealed by CRISPR gene tiling scan, which will pave the way for the development of potential inhibitor(s). Conclusions Our findings highlight the crucial oncogenic role of METTL16 in promoting HCC pathogenesis and enhancing liver CSC self-renewal through augmenting mRNA translation efficiency.

Efficient and rapid analysis of X-ray images is crucial for detecting contraband, including weapons and explosives, at transportation hubs. While existing models like YOLOv8 offer high performance, they often fall short in real-time scenarios due to slow processing speeds. This study proposes SC-Lite, an improved model based on YOLOv8, designed to improve real-time detection of prohibited items in environments with limited computational power, such as embedded systems. We propose a novel acceleration module, the CSPNet Faster Convolution Network Module (C2F_FM), which reduces computational redundancy and optimizes memory usage by focusing standard convolutions on key channels, thereby enhancing efficiency. Furthermore, the Adaptation-BiFPN module improves multi-scale feature fusion with dynamic, content-aware weighting, increasing both the sensitivity and accuracy of detections. Additionally, the LAMP pruning strategy is utilized to optimize the model for deployment in resource-limited environments, significantly reducing the complexity of its architecture. After extensive experimental validation, SC-Lite outperforms all mainstream models in terms of real-time performance and detection accuracy, and the model outperforms existing methods in all metrics. The model achieved reductions of 72%, 62%, and 70% in parameters, computation, and model size, respectively. On the LSIray dataset, SC-Lite boosted the mean average precision (mAP) by 0.3% to 94.3% and enhanced the frame rate from 87 FPS to 136 FPS, an improvement of 49 FPS. For the OPIXray dataset, SC-Lite increased the mAP by 1.5% to 94.8%, with the frame rate rising from 344 FPS to 400 FPS, an improvement of 56 FPS. This study provides an innovative solution to improve the real-time performance and accuracy of security inspection systems.

To address the problem of non-uniform energy consumption in wireless sensor networks, a weighted scale-free topological evolution model with localized energy isomers has been proposed. The relationship between node energy and strength and weight is established by modeling the relationship between node energy, load and energy consumption. A wireless sensor network energy balance topology control algorithm that conforms to power-law characteristics is established for degree distribution, node weight, and edge weight distribution. The energy balance of the network is achieved by controlling the energy parameters. Based on the intensity and weights obtained from the topology, we analyze the propagation index of node importance from both local and global perspectives, with the aim of avoiding the one-sidedness of a single attribute. The multi-attribute decision function is established using the influence indicators of neighboring nodes (Katz), the weighted mixed decomposition algorithm (W-MDD) and the weighted web page link algorithm (W-PageRank). The multi-attribute decision function is evolved into a multi-attribute weighted decision matrix using the TOPSIS method. The importance index of the nodes of the network is then obtained from the distance from the good-bad solution. Simulation results show that the proposed model not only accurately computes the load on nodes and edges, but also alleviates the imbalance in the energy consumption of nodes in scale-free networks. Moreover, the proposed critical node decision algorithm is more efficient than the single decision algorithm.

As the most common internal modification of mRNA, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) and its regulators modulate gene expression and play critical roles in various biological and pathological processes including tumorigenesis. It was reported previously that m6A methyltransferase (writer), methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) adds m6A in primary microRNAs (pri-miRNAs) and facilitates its processing into precursor miRNAs (pre-miRNAs). However, it is unknown whether m6A modification also plays a role in the maturation process of pre-miRNAs and (if so) whether such a function contributes to tumorigenesis. Here, we found that YTHDF2 is aberrantly overexpressed in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients, especially in relapsed patients, and plays an oncogenic role in AML. Moreover, YTHDF2 promotes expression of miR-126-3p (also known as miR-126, as it is the main product of precursor miR-126 (pre-miR-126)), a miRNA that was reported as an oncomiRNA in AML, through facilitating the processing of pre-miR-126 into mature miR-126. Mechanistically, YTHDF2 recognizes m6A modification in pre-miR-126 and recruits AGO2, a regulator of pre-miRNA processing, to promote the maturation of pre-miR-126. YTHDF2 positively and negatively correlates with miR-126 and miR-126's downstream target genes, respectively, in AML patients, and forced expression of miR-126 could largely rescue YTHDF2/Ythdf2 depletion-mediated suppression on AML cell growth/proliferation and leukemogenesis, indicating that miR-126 is a functionally important target of YTHDF2 in AML. Overall, our studies not only reveal a previously unappreciated YTHDF2/miR-126 axis in AML and highlight the therapeutic potential of targeting this axis for AML treatment, but also suggest that m6A plays a role in pre-miRNA processing that contributes to tumorigenesis.

Objective:. Percutaneous coronary intervention is one of the most common procedures used for the invasive treatment of patients with coronary heart disease; the incidence of in-stent restenosis (ISR) after percutaneous coronary intervention is 5% to 15%. In this study, a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network was constructed to investigate potential mechanisms involved in ISR. Methods:. The expression data for differentially expressed microRNAs (DEmiRNAs) and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) between patients with and without ISR were obtained using limma package. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) were predicted based on the DEmiRNAs using the miRDB, miRTarBase, and TargetScan databases. An ISR-specific ceRNA network was subsequently constructed and investigated. To verify the key miRNAs of ceRNA, patients with and without ISR were enrolled from Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine between January 2017 and December 2018 (n = 8, respectively); plasma was collected from all enrolled patients. Results:. Based on the raw data obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, 472 DEmiRNAs and 304 differentially expressed messenger RNAs between patients with and without ISR were identified. A ceRNA network was constructed by combining 270 lncRNAs, 3 miRNAs (miR-125, miR-140, and miR-206), and 4 mRNAs (STRADB, TKT, PCTP, and BTG2). The hub genes of the ceRNA network of ISR included the following: miR-125, miR-206, miR-140, PCDHB9, CASC2, BAK1P1, CSPG4P3Y, CSPG4P4Y, STRCP1, and GRIP2. Verification of miRNAs of ceRNA also showed that the expression of miR-206 was upregulated in patients with ISR vs. those without ISR (P < 0.05). In contrast, the expression of miR-140 and miR-125 was downregulated in patients with ISR vs. those without ISR (P < 0.05). Conclusions:. This study constructed noncoding RNA-related ceRNA networks for ISR. The results indicated that miR-206, miR-125, and miR-140 may be biomarkers of ISR.

Abstract Background Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is the most common chronic degenerative joint disease and places a substantial burden on the public health resources in China. The purpose of this study is to preliminarily evaluate whether infrared laser moxibustion (ILM) is non-inferior to traditional moxibustion (TM) in the treatment of KOA. Materials and methods In the designed Zelen-design randomized controlled non-inferiority clinical trial, a total of 74 patients with KOA will be randomly allocated to one of two interventions: ILM treatment or TM treatment. All participants will receive a 6-week treatment and a follow-up 4 weeks after treatment. The primary outcomes will be the mean change in pain scores on the numeric rating scale (NRS) measured at baseline and the end of last treatment at week 6. The secondary outcomes will be the pain scores on the NRS from weeks 1 to 5 after the start of treatment and the changes from baseline to endpoints (weeks 6 and 10) in the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), SF-36, knee circumference, and 6-min walking test. In addition, safety assessment will be performed throughout the trial. Conclusion The results of our study will help determine whether a 6-week treatment with ILM is non-inferior to TM in patients with KOA, therefore providing evidence to verify if ILM can become a safer alternative for TM in clinical applications in the future. Trial registration: Clinical Trial Registration Platform (ChiCTR2200065264); Pre-results. Registered on 1 November 2022.

The reversible photo-induced conformation transition of a single molecule with a [5]helicene backbone has garnered considerable interest in recent studies. Based on such a switching process, one can build molecular photo-driven switches for potential applications of nanoelectronics. But the achievement of high-performance reversible single-molecule photoswitches is still rare. Here, we theoretically propose a 13,14-dimethylcethrene switch whose photoisomerization between the ring-closed and ring-open forms can be triggered by ultraviolet (UV) and visible light irradiation. The electronic structure transitions and charge transport characteristics, concurrent with the photo-driven electrocyclization of the molecule, are calculated by the non-equilibrium Green’s function (NEGF) in combination with density functional theory (DFT). The electrical conductivity bears great diversity between the closed and open configurations, certifying the switching behavior and leading to a maximum on–off ratio of up to 103, which is considerable in organic junctions. Further analysis confirms the evident switching behaviors affected by the molecule–electrode interfaces in molecular junctions. Our findings are helpful for the rational design of organic photoswitches at the single-molecule level based on cethrene and analogous organic molecules.

BackgroundChronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common complication among individuals with hypertension. We aimed to identify the prevalence of CKD and the sex and race disparities within the hypertensive population in the United States from 2001–2016.MethodsA total of 16,148 participants with hypertension were included, representing 561,909,480 individuals from the U.S. population between 2001 and 2016, as documented in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The prevalence of albuminuria and CKD stage were assessed using survey-weighted general linear regression analysis. Heterogeneity in the CKD stage among the hypertensive population, stratified by sex and race, was identified through survey-weighted logistic regression analysis.ResultsOverall, the prevalence of albuminuria remained stable (p for trend = 0.3196), and changes in the CKD stage were minimal (p for trend > 0.05) from 2001–2016. In the analysis of CKD stage heterogeneity by sex and race, the prevalence of CKD was higher among women than men and higher among individuals of other races combined than non-Hispanic Whites, but the differences were not statistically significant.ConclusionThe overall CKD stage within the hypertensive population plateaued between 2001 and 2016. Our findings highlight the importance of continuous monitoring and potential refinement of renoprotection strategies in individuals with hypertension to mitigate the persistent burden of CKD and address health disparities among different demographic groups.

Vertebral artery （VA）Aneurysms involving the origin of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) ,occasionally, induce cerebellum and brainstem infarction due to intraluminal thrombus and calcific VA stenosis. At times, vessel occlusion and revascularization is necessary for successful obliteration of these aneurysms.2 The occipital artery (OA) is often the preferred donor graft for lesions of the posterior fossa. Although most OA-PICA bypasses can be performed using the p3 segment as the recipient site for an end-to-side anastomosis, a more feasible alternative to conventional OA-p3 PICA bypass in cases of high-riding caudal loops , aberrant anatomy or p3 multiple perforators is to free the p1 PICA, transpose it away from the lower cranial nerves, and perform an end-to-end OA-p1 PICA bypass instead. This video captures the dissection of the OA using an orientational anterograde harvesting technique and the end-to-end anastomosis of the OA to the PICA at the p1 segment. This was performed in a 56-year-old man who presented with posterior circulation ischemia from a fusiform aneurysm with calcific vertebral artery stenosis located at the origin of the right PICA. The patient tolerated the procedure well and suffered no major complications related to the operation. He did experience some mild, posterior neck rigidity at the time of his 6-month follow-up, likely due to nerve injury that occurred while harvesting the OA. Overall, the patient remains in good neurologic status 1 year after the operation. The operation proved the feasibility of end-to-end bypass in OA-p1 PICA.

Therapeutic neovascularization is a strategy to promote blood vessel growth and improve blood flow, which is critical to tissue repair and regeneration in ischemic diseases. Here, we investigated the role of endothelial progenitor cell - derived exosomes (EPC-Exos) in therapeutic neovascularization and clarified the mechanism of hsa_circ_0093884 in EPC-Exos mediated neovascularization. Injection of EPC-Exos improved mouse ischemic hindlimb perfusion, promoted angiogenesis in Matrigel plugs and mouse skin wound healing. In vitro coculture with EPC-Exos improved HUVEC proliferation, angiogenic and migration ability, while alleviated hypoxia-induced apoptosis. hsa_circ_0093884 was identified from eleven types of circRNA derived from SIRT1 and proved to be enriched in EPC-Exos. Overexpression of hsa_circ_0093884 in EPC-Exos further enhanced the angiogenic capacity, while knockdown of hsa_circ_0093884 abolished the benefits. Mechanistically, EPC-Exos mediated shuttling of hsa_circ_0093884 induced cytoplasmic sponge of miR-145, thereby releasing repression of SIRT1. In vitro co-transfection indicated silence of miR-145 further strengthened the angiogenic effect of hsa_circ_0093884, while overexpression of miR-145 inhibited hsa_circ_0093884 mediated angiogenesis and abolished the beneficial effect of EPC-Exos. Furthermore, in vivo experiments using endothelial specific SIRT1 conditional knockout mice indicated hsa_circ_0093884 overexpressing EPC-Exos failed to promote therapeutic neovascularization in SIRT1cKO mice. Collectively, our results demonstrated that EPC-Exos promoted therapeutic neovascularization through hsa_circ_0093884/miR-145/SIRT1 axis.

Abstract Owning unique optical and electronic properties, two dimensional (2D) materials have made remarkable strides in the field of photodetection applications. However, achieving highly sensitive and ultra‐broadband detection from microwave to terahertz (THz) range (0.02–0.54 THz) remains a significant challenge for photodetectors. This study presents a self‐powered THz photodetector based on VSe2 and its van der Waals heterostructure. The photoresponse of the photodetector is primarily attributed to the photothermoelectric effect. At room temperature, the device exhibits lower noise equivalent power values of 21 pW Hz−1/2 at 0.28 THz. This work has achieved ultra‐broadband detection and demonstrated the potential for large‐area imaging, providing a new avenue for the application of THz technology in nondestructive testing and biometric identification fields.

ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy and impact on executive function of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) in treating Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in adolescents.MethodsA total of 129 adolescents diagnosed with MDD were enrolled in the study. Out of these, 28 adolescents were assigned to the SFBT group, while 25 were part of the Active Control group (AC group), receiving psychodynamic psychotherapy. Executive function, depressive and anxiety symptoms were assessed at baseline, at the time of the third intervention, the sixth intervention, and the 10th intervention.ResultsAfter the third intervention, the scores of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) of the participants in the SFBT group decreased significantly, which had the cumulative effect at the 6th and 10th interventions. The verbal fluency task (VFT) performances of the SFBT group participants yielded significantly higher scores after the third intervention and remained increasing at the 6th and 10th interventions. The AC group steadily decreased after the intervention. Analysis of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) data revealed a progressive and significant increase in the average oxyhemoglobin (oxy-Hb) levels in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in the SFBT group compared to the AC group after the 10th intervention.ConclusionsSFBT might improve depressive and anxiety symptoms as well as executive function of adolescent depression.Clinical trial registrationhttps://www.chictr.org.cn, identifier ChiCTR2300067909.

This paper summarized the effect of prone position ventilation and nursing management for a patient with respiratory distress syndrome caused by COVID-19. The compressive nursing assessment, airway management and tube fixation were conducted before using prone position ventilation for therapy. After implementation of prone position ventilation for therapy, efforts had been made to enhance the vital signs monitoring, tube maintenance, airway management, nutrition support and prevention of pressure injuries. (本文总结1例新型冠状病毒感染致呼吸窘迫综合征患者俯卧位通气法的应用效果及护理体会。操作前系统评估患者和完善物品准备, 保持气道通畅和妥善固定管道; 操作后密切监测患者生命体征, 加强导管维护、呼吸道护理和营养支持, 积极预防压力性损伤。)

Abstract Studies involving response of subgroups of soil microorganisms to forest change, especially comparative studies on habitat-specialization and abundance gradient were still lack. In this study, we analyzed the response of soil bacterial diversity and structure to afforestation types and its relationship to environment of Fanggan ecological restoration area under the classification of subgroups by habitat-specialization and abundance gradient based on abundance ratio respectively. The results were: (1) On the habitat-specialization gradient, the variation of OTUs species number and abundance was consistent and positively correlated with habitat-specialization; on the abundance gradient, the variation was opposite and OTUs species number was negatively correlated with abundance gradient; (2) The distribution frequency of each subgroup on both gradients was the highest in broad-leaved forests, but the abundance was the opposite. The distribution frequency of the same stand showed no difference among habitat-specialization subgroups, but the abundant subgroup in broad-leaved forests was the highest among the abundance subgroups; (3) α-diversity was positively correlated with habitat-specialization but negatively with abundance, with the highest mostly in broad-leaved and mixed forests; (4) Community structure among stands on habitat-specialization gradient showed no significant difference, but that of rare subgroup between broad-leaved forests and other stands significantly differed. Plant diversity and vegetation composition correlated stronger with community structure than spatial distance and soil physicochemical properties on both gradients. Our results provided a new perspective for revealing the effects of afforestation types on soil bacteria from the comparison of habitat specialization and abundance gradient.

Abstract Currently potential preclinical drugs for the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and NASH-related pathopoiesis have failed to achieve expected therapeutic efficacy due to the complexity of the pathogenic mechanisms. Here we show Tripartite motif containing 26 (TRIM26) as a critical endogenous suppressor of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein delta (C/EBPδ), and we also confirm that TRIM26 is an C/EBPδ-interacting partner protein that catalyses the ubiquitination degradation of C/EBPδ in hepatocytes. Hepatocyte-specific loss of Trim26 disrupts liver metabolic homeostasis, followed by glucose metabolic disorder, lipid accumulation, increased hepatic inflammation, and fibrosis, and dramatically facilitates NASH-related phenotype progression. Inversely, transgenic Trim26 overexpression attenuates the NASH-associated phenotype in a rodent or rabbit model. We provide mechanistic evidence that, in response to metabolic insults, TRIM26 directly interacts with C/EBPδ and promotes its ubiquitin proteasome degradation. Taken together, our present findings identify TRIM26 as a key suppressor over the course of NASH development.

Abstract Polyphenols are the main component of Phyllanthus emblica (PE). However, polyphenols are so easy to transform that it is unknown that how drying methods driven by heating affect the anti-fatigue effect of PE. This manuscript investigated the effects of five drying methods on the chemical composition transformation and anti-fatigue of PE, and discussed the action mechanism. The results suggested that the anti-fatigue effect of PE with hot-air-dried at 100 °C was the best, which was as 1.63 times as that with freeze-drying. Ellagic acid (EA) may be a key component of PE in anti-fatigue, and its mechanism of action may be related to regulating intestinal microbiota, protecting mitochondria, and regulating energy metabolism. This study first revealed the thermal transformation of polyphenols in PE, found the most effective strategy for enhancing the anti-fatigue function, and explores its action mechanism.

16MnNiV steel is developed from 16Mn and 16MnV steel. After hot-perforated rolling into tube, cold rolling, cold drawing and heat treatment are carried out to prepare high pressure tubes with high caliber. The microstructure and mechanical properties of 16MnNiV seamless steel tube of small diameter were studied by means of optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron backscattering diffraction (EBSD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and physicochemical phase analysis. The microstructure and the change of the second phase precipitation were revealed, and the strengthening increment was calculated. The relevant results can provide a reference for the material development and performance improvement of high strength high pressure tubes. The results show that the main structure of the experimental steel in the process of drawing the tube is ferrite and pearlite. In the case of precipitation, annealing after one pull increases the total amount of precipitation, and annealing after the second pull does not change the total amount of precipitation. It is known from EDS analysis that the precipitated second phase particle is VC. The tensile strength and yield strength of the experimental steel are gradually increased and the elongation rate decreases after cold drawing and different heat treatment processes. It can be seen that the increase of yield strength of experimental steel mainly comes from the contribution of fine crystal reinforcement due to the large deformation of cold extraction process. After heat treatment, the tensile strength, yield strength and elongation rate of ϕ6.35 mm×3 mm round tubes reach over 960, 864 MPa and 15.5%. Compared with other high pressure tubing products of 16Mn series, the mechanical properties are greatly improved and good strong plastic matching is obtained.

Ustiloxins are vital cyclopeptide mycotoxins originally isolated from rice false smut balls that form in rice spikelets infected by the fungal pathogen Ustilaginoidea virens. The toxicity of the water extract of rice false smut balls (RBWE) remains to be investigated. Studies have shown that RBWE may be toxic to animals, but toxicological evidence is still lacking. In this study, we found that the IC50 values of RBWE to BNL CL.2 cells at 24 and 48 h were 40.02 and 30.11 μg/mL, respectively, with positive correlations with dose toxicity and time toxicity. After treatment with RBWE, the number of BNL CL.2 cells decreased significantly, and the morphology of BNL CL.2 cells showed atrophy and wall detachment. RBWE induced DNA presynthesis phase arrest of BNL CL.2 cells, increased the proportion of apoptotic cells and inhibited cell proliferation. RBWE up-regulated reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and lowered mitochondrial membrane potentials. Additionally, Western blot and qRT-PCR results suggested that RBWE exerted the above effects by promoting the Nrf2/HO-1 and caspase-induced apoptosis pathways in vitro and in vivo. The contents of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and total bile acids in the serum of mice from Institute of Cancer were significantly up-regulated by RBWE. At the same time, RBWE can lead to increases in ROS and malondialdehyde contents, decreases in contents of oxidized glutathione, glutathione and reduced glutathione, as well as decrease in catalase and superoxide dismutase activities in mouse liver tissues, demonstrating that oxidative stress occurred in mice. Moreover, liver damage was further detected by haematoxylin-eosin staining and electron microscopy to verify the damage to the mice caused by RBWE. In general, RBWE may cause hepatotoxicity in vivo and in vitro via the apoptosis pathway, which provides a reference for hepatotoxicity and its mechanism of action.

The gut microbiota is crucial for maintaining the host’s intestinal homeostasis and metabolism. This study investigated the effects of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from Ningxiang pigs on the growth performance, fecal microbiota, and serum metabolites of the same-old DLY pigs. The results indicated that the average daily gain of FMT pigs was significantly greater than that of the control (CON) group. Compared to the CON group, the FMT group significantly improved the apparent digestibility of crude fiber, crude ash, gross energy, and calcium of the pigs. The analysis of serum antioxidant status revealed that the activities of total superoxide dismutase and catalase in the serum of pigs in the FMT group were significantly elevated, whereas the level of malondialdehyde was significantly reduced. Furthermore, 16S rRNA sequencing analysis revealed that the Ningxiang pig-derived microbiota altered the fecal microbiota structure and modulated the diversity of the gut microbiota in the DLY pigs. Untargeted LC–MS metabolomics demonstrated that pigs in the FMT group exhibited distinct metabolomic profiles compared to those in the CON group. Significant changes were observed in key metabolites involved in amino acid, lipid, and carbohydrate metabolism. Additionally, a correlation analysis between serum differential metabolites and the gut microbiota revealed that the relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group and Corynebacterium was highly correlated with lipid compounds. In conclusion, Ningxiang pig-derived microbiota can alleviate oxidative stress and enhance growth performance in DLY pigs by modulating their gut microbiota and metabolic features.

Dark septate endophytes (DSE) commonly inhabit the root systems of plants that flourish in heavy metal-contaminated soils. Nevertheless, there is limited understanding regarding the overall response of medicinal plants to DSE under heavy metal stress. The present study utilized a non-sterile pot experiment to evaluate the beneficial impacts of DSE (Paraphoma chlamydocopiosa, Paraboeremia selaginellae, and Paraphoma radicina) inoculation on Astragalus mongholicus under cadmium (Cd) stress. At 0 mg Cd/kg soil, inoculation with DSE led to a significant increase in the total biomass of the host plant by up to 34.0%. Although plant biomass decreased at 5 mg Cd/kg soil and 10 mg Cd/kg soil, the total biomass of the host plant increased by up to 72.3% after DSE inoculation. The plant height, branch number, soil and plant analyzer development (SPAD) value, and biomass were not affected by Cd concentration after inoculation with P. chlamydocopiosa and P. selaginellae. DSE emerged as the most prominent explanatory variable (44.2%) for plant growth at 10 mg Cd/kg soil. Inoculation with P. chlamydocopiosa increased root length by 47.9% and root biomass by 74.1%, and inoculation with P. chlamydocopiosa and P. selaginellae increased the indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) content by 103.6% and 105.8%, respectively, at 10 mg Cd/kg soil. Additionally, P. radicina inoculation was preferred to increase the content of calycosin-7-O-glucoside, while P. chlamydocopiosa increased the content of formononetin. DSE enhanced the accumulation of Cd in the shoot, whereas P. radicina exhibited an inhibitory effect on Cd accumulation in the root system. P. chlamydocopiosa decreased the Cd translocation factor, while P. radicina increased the Cd translocation factor, which exceeded one. The interaction between DSE and soil factors significantly contributed to the host plant growth. DSE inoculation improved soil organic carbon content and inoculation with P. chlamydocopiosa, and P. selaginellae reduced available nitrogen content, regardless of the Cd stress. DSE inoculation reduced available phosphorus content at 10 mg Cd/kg soil. Importantly, P. radicina promote the performance and calycosin-7-O-glucoside accumulation of the host plant, and reduced Cd content in the roots at 5 mg Cd/kg soil. These data enhanced comprehension of the ecological function of DSE in heavy metal-contaminated soils and demonstrated the potential utility of DSE strains for cultivating medicinal plants.

The study of the temporal and spatial characteristics of air pollutants in heavily polluted cities is extremely important for analyzing the causes of pollution and achieving a viable means of control. Such characteristics in the case of Xi’an, a typical heavily polluted city in Fenwei Plain, China, have remained unclear due to limitations in data accuracy and research methods. The monthly, daily, and hourly patterns of O3 and particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) are analyzed in this study using on-site data provided by an urban air quality monitoring network. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) method was used to compare differences in pollutant concentrations during different seasons and time periods. The spatial distributions of O3, PM2.5, and PM10 at different time points following interpolation of the air quality monitoring sites have been analyzed. The results show that the O3 concentration from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. was significantly higher than that in the morning and evening, and the concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. were significantly higher than those in the morning and afternoon. The number of qualified days for PM2.5 was less than 30 and unqualified days for O3 was more than 100 in 2019. There is a potential risk of exposure to pollution with associated health risks. Even on the same day, the spatial pollutant distributions at different time points can differ significantly. This study provides a scientific basis for reducing O3 and particulate matter exposure. Outdoor activities in the morning in summer are more beneficial to reduce O3 exposure, and outdoor activities should be curtailed in the evening in winter to reduce particulate exposure. This study provides a scientific basis for the government to formulate public health policies to reduce pollution exposure from outdoor activities.

The aim of this study was to explore risk factors of recurrent bacterial vaginosis (RBV) among women of reproductive age. This cross-sectional study was carried out in real-world conditions. Women with RBV were selected, and simultaneously uncomplicated bacterial vaginosis (UBV) and those who underwent routine gynecological examination and had normal vaginal microflora were also recruited as the control. Totally, 316 participants were enrolled. Univariate analysis showed that unemployment, desserts, and wiping were related to UBV, while there was no definite relationship between education, high body mass index, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, and RBV or UBV. History of human papillomavirus infection, contraceptive methods, age at first sexual intercourse, and not cleaning vulva during sexual activity were connected with UBV, while the history of other vaginitis and number of sexual partners in the previous year were related to both RBV and UBV. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that lower educational level increased the risk of suffering RBV. Interestingly, no smoking was a protective factor. Moreover, the absence of other vaginitis and an exclusive sexual partner could also weaken the risk of incurring RBV. These various adverse factors alter endocrine function and vaginal immunity, further leading to the recurrence of BV. It is necessary to take corresponding measures to avoid risk factors and to help lessening the prevalence of RBV among women of reproductive age.

Taking precipitation processes at the edge of subtropical high as target objects, three typical sub-regions including the southern foothills of Taihang Mountains, the eastern foothills of Funiu Mountains, and the eastern plains in Huanghuai Region are investigated, according to the topography and precipitation distribution characteristics. On this basis, using multi-source fusion precipitation data of National Meteorological Information Center, the precipitation refinement verification index, FSS (fractional skill score) and STFSS (spatial temporal fractional skill score) that adds the temporal neighborhood are used to evaluate the forecasting performance of the precipitation diurnal variation of CMA-MESO and CMA-SH9. The results show that the precipitation frequency and intensity by CMA-MESO in mountainous areas are smaller than observations, leading to significant underestimation, while results by CMA-SH9 are both stronger. The deviation of precipitation amount forecast of CMA-MESO in plain area mainly comes from the deviation of precipitation frequency. The precipitation intensity forecast by CMA-SH9 is stronger than observations in the southern foothills of Taihang Mountains, and the forecast precipitation frequency in the afternoon is significantly larger. For the early morning to morning period in the eastern foothills of Funiu Mountains, the frequency of precipitation by CMA-MESO is significantly lower than observations, while the diurnal variation of precipitation intensity is better than that of CMA-SH9. For the eastern plains, the overestimation of precipitation in early evening by CMA-SH9 mainly comes from the significantly larger precipitation intensity, while CMA-MESO significantly underestimates the frequency of precipitation in early evening and early morning. Based on the analysis of FSS, CMA-MESO is superior to CMA-SH9 in hourly precipitation forecast of more than 10 mm during afternoon to mid-night in the eastern foothills of Funiu Mountains and 0200 BT to 0400 BT in the night in the eastern plains, but the conclusion is opposite in the southern foothills of Taihang Mountains in the nighttime. STFSS can better evaluate the temporal and spatial uncertainty of hourly precipitation forecasts. Precipitation forecasts of CMA-SH9 in southern foothills of Taihang Mountains from the afternoon to the first half of the night significantly lag behind observations, but its spatial-deviation-scale and performance is better than CMA-MESO. The precipitation forecast of CMA-MESO from 0200 BT to 0800 BT in the eastern foothills of Funiu Mountains is significantly ahead of observations, and the advance time is more obvious in the eastern plains in the morning.