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The pursuit of intelligence and smartness in road infrastructure is critical for the advancement of road engineering. Embedded strain sensors serve as a vital tool for sensing strain within pavement structures. To explore the influence of these embedded strain sensors on the mechanical properties of asphalt mixtures, this study established a mesoscopic model of asphalt mixtures with embedded strain sensors using the discrete element method. The effects of embedment depth and quantity of strain sensors on the mechanical properties of asphalt mixtures were examined, and the impact of the asphalt mixture characteristics (such as nominal maximum particle size, grading, friction coefficient, and asphalt–aggregate bond strength) on the operational performance of the embedded strain sensors was analyzed. The results of the study show that as the embedment depth of the sensors (6 and 4 cm from the bottom of the beam) increases, the horizontal tensile stress at the three monitoring points at the bottom of the beam also increases by 56.9%, 43.5%, and 43.8%. This finding indicates that the closer to the bottom of the beam specimen, the more uniform the distribution of the internal horizontal stress field, which is conducive to the working stability of the sensors. The crack growth rate of the beam specimen embedded with double sensors is faster than that of the beam specimen embedded with a single sensor. When the deflection is 0.8 mm, the number of detected cracks reaches 267 for the double sensors and only 93 for the single sensor. Sensors should not be buried simultaneously in the middle and lower layers of the same point on the pavement. For the asphalt mixtures, large nominal maximum particle sizes (AC-13, AC-16, and AC-20) are associated with few force chains. Compared with that for AC-13, the average force chains for AC-16 and AC-20 are 4.9% and 11.4% lower, respectively, indicating an optimal nominal maximum particle size of 13.2 mm for the mixture. The coarser the grading, the fewer the load transfer paths, resulting in a 77.7% reduction in the number of contact force systems and a decrease in the uniformity of contact force distribution. Furthermore, the maximum contact force increases by 74.6%, leading to the poor operational stability of the sensors. An increase in bond strength (tensile strength and cohesion strength) reduces the maximum contact force by 11%, thereby enhancing the operational stability of the sensors. These outcomes provide a theoretical basis for elucidating the evolution of the service performance of pavement materials with embedded sensing devices.

Abstract Symbiotic vortex-bright soliton structures with non-trivial topological charge in one component are found to be robust in immiscibel two-component superfluids, due to the effective potential created by a stable vortex in the other component. We explore the properties of symbiotic vortex-bright soliton in strongly coupled binary superfluids by holography, which naturally incorporates finite temperature effect and dissipation. We show the dependence of the configuration on various parameters, including the winding number, temperature and inter-component coupling. We then study the (in)stability of symbiotic vortex-bright soliton by both the linear approach via quasi-normal modes and the full non-linear numerical simulation. Rich dynamics are found for the splitting patterns and dynamical transitions. Moreover, for giant symbiotic vortex-bright soliton structures with large winding numbers, the vortex splitting instability might be rooted in the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. We also show that the second component in the vortex core could act as a stabilizer so as to suppress or even prevent vortex splitting instability. Such stabilization mechanism opens possibility for vortices with smaller winding number to merge into vortices with larger winding number, which is confirmed for the first time in our simulation.

Abstract Cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury (CIRI) is a major complication of acute ischemic stroke (AIS), characterized by calcium overload, oxidative stress, and cell apoptosis. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of Genistein (Gen) in alleviating CIRI by focusing on its effects on the Wnt/Ca2+ signaling pathway. Using a rat model of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion and in vitro experiments on PC12 cells, we observed that Gen treatment reduced infarct size, improved neurological function, and mitigated calcium overload, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. Further analysis revealed that Gen regulates key proteins in the Wnt/Ca2+ signaling pathway, including Wnt5a and Frizzled-2, effectively preventing intracellular calcium accumulation and subsequent damage. The knockdown of Frizzled-2 confirmed the pathway’s role in mediating calcium overload and subsequent damage. Our findings suggest that Gen alleviates CIRI by inhibiting the Wnt/Ca2+ signaling pathway, positioning it as a promising candidate for therapeutic intervention in stroke treatment.

Abstract Sulfur (S), an essential volatile in subduction zone magmatism, exhibits higher solubility in aqueous fluids compared to silicate melts. Despite its importance, the partitioning of S between aqueous fluids and silicate melts under the conditions of subduction zone, critical for magma generation and evolution, remains poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, we performed piston-cylinder experiments at a temperature of 950 ℃ and pressures of 1 and 2 GPa, investigating the effects of various parameters including oxygen fugacity, melt composition, fluid composition (salinity) and pressure on S partitioning between aqueous fluid and silicate melt (DS fluid/melt). Our results indicate that the DS fluid/melt is always large (> > 1), and S prefers to enter the aqueous fluid at high pressures. However, the DS fluid/melt decreases with increasing pressure from 1 to 2 GPa. Specifically, under reducing conditions (Ni-NiO buffer), DS fluid/melt decreased from 147 ± 40 to 20 ± 2, whereas under moderately oxidizing conditions (Re-ReO2 buffer), it decreased from 27 ± 1 to 20 ± 2. These results stress the strong affinity of S for aqueous fluids at high pressures. Together with the great capacity for S dissolution in the H2O-rich magma within the deep Earth, fluid-saturated felsic magma efficiently transports substantial amounts of S from deep to shallow regions in subduction zone settings. This process plays a crucial role in the formation of giant porphyry deposits and provides a potential source of excess S released during explosive volcanic eruptions.

Abstract Background Although the second booster dose of COVID-19 vaccines is available, vaccine hesitancy among the public may have peaked due to the surge in infections caused by the Omicron variant. To improve coverage of the second booster dose, it is crucial to investigate the prevalence of vaccine hesitancy among the general population during this period and explore the reasons for this phenomenon. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted between January 5 to February 9, 2023. Variables including sociodemographics, mental health, COVID-19 infection status, COVID-19 vaccination status, and vaccine hesitancy were collected. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to identify factors associated with the hesitancy of the second booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine among the general population. Results Among the 10,623 participants, the uptake rate of the second booster dose was 4.3%. Among those who did not receive the second booster dose, 43.6% expressed vaccine hesitancy. The highest hesitancy rate was observed among participants who had not completed primary immunization (71.4%), followed by those with chronic diseases (48.6%) and those aged 60 and above (33.2%). The COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was higher among females, participants with high incomes, those with a history of COVID-19 infection, those with depressive symptoms and post-traumatic stress disorder, and those with adverse events after COVID-19 vaccination. Conversely, lower hesitancy was observed among students, participants aged 60 and above, those from southern China, and those with higher level of perceived social support. Conclusions COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy remains prevalent among the general population in China after the surge period of the pandemic. Crucial steps, such as raising public awareness of the benefits and potential side effects of regular COVID-19 vaccination, ensuring timely monitoring and disclosure of pandemic information, and implementing targeted measures to improve social support and mental health, should be taken. These efforts will be instrumental in reducing vaccine hesitancy, advancing vaccination campaigns, and effectively preparing for the potential future outbreaks.

Macrophages are the most important immune cells affecting the formation of atherosclerotic plaque. Nevertheless, the mechanisms that promote formation of foamy macrophages during atherogenesis remain poorly understood. This study explored the effects of Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and hepatic lipase (HL, encoded by LIPC) on atherogenesis, particularly in foamy macrophage formation. A luciferase reporter assay indicated that FXR could bind to the LIPC promoter and inhibit LIPC transcription. FXR agonist GW4064 decreased HL expression, foam cell formation, and increased the expression of FXR downstream genes and polarization to M2 in ox‐LDL‐induced THP‐1 and U937 foam cells. In addition, GW4064 exerted anti‐atherosclerotic effects in ApoE−/− mice, manifested as decreased serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and alleviated atherosclerotic plaque formation. Collectively, FXR exerted anti‐atherosclerotic effects, possibly by negatively regulating HL expression in macrophages.

AIM: To investigate the effect of skullcapflavone II (SCF-II) on the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) induced by transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) in human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs), as well as to identify the signaling pathways that may be involved. METHODS: HCECs were cultured in vitro. At a SCF-II (5, 10 µmol/L) dose, cell viability was analysed with a cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, and cell migration was monitored with wound healing and Transwell migration assays. There were 4 groups: SCF-II, TGF-β, SCF-II+TGF-β and Control. Western blotting and immunofluorescence were performed to show the expression of EMT markers and the translocation of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) into the nucleus in the 4 groups. RESULTS: Treatment with SCF-II decreased HCEC viability in a dose-dependent manner. A concentration below 10 µmol/L did not present obvious cell toxicity, and survival rates were more than 70% at 48h. Treatment with SCF-II (5 and 10 µmol/L) significantly impeded migration in wound healing and Transwell migration assays (P

Homo- or heterodimeric compounds that affect dimeric protein function through interaction between monomeric moieties and protein subunits can serve as valuable sources of potent and selective drug candidates. Here, we screened an in-house dimeric natural product collection, and panepocyclinol A (PecA) emerged as a selective and potent STAT3 inhibitor with profound anti-tumor efficacy. Through cross-linking C712/C718 residues in separate STAT3 monomers with two distinct Michael receptors, PecA inhibits STAT3 DNA binding affinity and transcription activity. Molecular dynamics simulation reveals the key conformation changes of STAT3 dimers upon the di-covalent binding with PecA that abolishes its DNA interactions. Furthermore, PecA exhibits high efficacy against anaplastic large T cell lymphoma in vitro and in vivo, especially those with constitutively activated STAT3 or STAT3Y640F. In summary, our study describes a distinct and effective di-covalent modification for the dimeric compound PecA to disrupt STAT3 function.

Preventing the initiation of cigarette smoking is a core concern for adolescents’ health in schools. Sufficient evidence has shown that one’s smoking behavior is susceptible to one’s misperception about the smoking status of proximate peers. However, the cognitive associates of the misperception remain largely uncharted. This study examines how cognitive distortion, which represents a cognitive error in information processing, associates with misperception of friends’ cigarette smoking status. The study surveyed 334 dyads of college students to assess their cognitive distortion and misperception with instruments such as the Cognitive Distortions Questionnaire. Logistic regression analyses revealed that cognitive distortion significantly associated with underestimation of the friend’s smoking status, especially among non-smokers. It implies reducing cognitive distortion may be useful for preventing cigarette smoking.

Medical Visual Question Answering (Med-VQA) is a multimodal task that aims to obtain the correct answers based on medical images and questions. Med-VQA, as a classification task, is typically more challenging for algorithms to predict answers to open-ended questions than to closed-ended questions due to the larger number of answer categories for the former. Consequently, the accuracy of predictions for open-ended questions is generally lower than that for closed-ended questions. In this study, we design answer distillation network with bi-text-image attention (BTIA-AD Net) to solve the above problem. We present an answer distillation network to refine the answers and convert an open-ended question into a multiple-choice question with a selection of candidate answers. To fully utilize the candidate answer information from answer distillation network, we propose a bi-text-image attention fusion module composed of self-attention and guided attention to automatically fuse image features, question representations, and candidate answer information and achieve intra-modal and inter-modal semantic interaction. Extensive experiments validate the effectiveness of BTIA-AD Net. Results prove that our model can efficiently compress the answer space of open-ended tasks, improve the answer accuracy, and provide new state-of-the-art performance on the VQA-RAD dataset.

Abstract The highest unqualified cleaning rate of suction-type lumen instruments is a major challenge for a central sterile supply department (CSSD). However, A few comprehensive studies have analyzed the main factors affecting cleaning quality. In response, this study aimed to explore the current state and the factors affecting the cleaning quality of reused suction-type metal lumen instruments in CSSD. The results revealed that the qualified cleaning rates determined by the 5x magnifier visual inspection with light source method, OB reagent method, and ATP bioluminescence detection method were 94.2%, 72.6%, and 60.5%, respectively. The results also showed a significant difference between the three methods (X2 = 60.293, P

Abstract This paper investigates the noncooperative game problems over weight-balanced digraphs with communication delays. Compared with existing noncooperative games, a class of noncooperative games that are more aligned with practical systems is discussed, where all agents have uncertain heterogeneous second-order nonlinear dynamics. Then, considering two different types of communication delays, respectively slowly-varying communication delays and fast-varying communication delays, the distributed algorithm is designed to seek the Nash equilibrium (NE). By designing appropriate Lyapunov functions and constructing linear matrix inequalities, the designed algorithm has been proven to be effective, even though second-order nonlinear dynamics and communication delays increase the challenges of system convergence analysis. Furthermore, simulation cases are given to illustrate the validity of the designed algorithm.

Abstract Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder characterized by hyperproliferation of keratinocytes and persistent inflammation. Although persistent activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is implicated in its pathogenesis, the mechanisms underlying the sustained STAT3 activation remain poorly understood. Here, we identify sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 3 (S1PR3) as a critical regulator of STAT3 activation and psoriasis pathogenesis, orchestrating a self-amplifying circuit that sustains keratinocyte hyperproliferation and chronic inflammation. S1PR3 expression is markedly elevated in psoriatic lesions and correlates with disease severity. Using genetic and pharmacological approaches, we reveal a novel S1PR3–Src–STAT3 signaling axis that drives both early and prolonged STAT3 activation in keratinocytes. Mechanistically, S1PR3 operates through Gαi/PKA-mediated Src activation, enhancing STAT3 phosphorylation and subsequent transcriptional activity. Importantly, we reveal a previously unrecognized positive feedback loop wherein activated STAT3 directly upregulates S1PR3 expression, perpetuating inflammation and hyperproliferation. Genetic deletion of S1pr3 in mice or pharmacological inhibition of S1PR3 significantly attenuates psoriasis-like skin inflammation, decreasing epidermal hyperplasia, dermal angiogenesis, and inflammatory mediator production. These findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying psoriasis and identify S1PR3 as a promising therapeutic target. Our study suggests that disrupting the S1PR3–STAT3 feedback loop may offer a novel strategy for treating psoriasis and potentially other chronic inflammatory diseases driven by persistent STAT3 activation.

Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction (NBD) is one of the common complications of stroke and spinal cord injury. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a long history of diagnosis and treatment, and has been applied more and more in NBD in recent years and has made great achievements. In order to standardize the diagnosis and treatment of NBD in China, the TCM diagnosis and treatment standard is guaranteed. This guideline is based on the research results of TCM prevention and treatment of NBD at home and abroad, drawing on the principles and methods of evidence-based medical guideline development, establishing an evidence grading system through literature search and screening, literature evaluation and grading, and literature quality assessment, selecting experts for consultation and argumentation, and modifying the guideline based on the experts' opinions. This guideline standardizes the definition, diagnosis, TCM identification, treatment, efficacy evaluation and other specific contents of NBD, which is approved and released by Shandong Standardization Association (Standard No.T/SDAS866-2024), and is of great significance in guiding clinicians to use TCM in diagnosis and treatment of NBD and improving its prognosis, as well as in promoting its application.

Abstract Fat greenling (Hexagrammos otakii Jordan & Starks, 1895) is a valuable marine fish species, crucial for aquaculture in Northern China due to its high-quality meat and significant economic value. However, the aquaculture industry faces challenges such as trait degradation, early sexual maturity, and disease susceptibility, necessitating advanced genomic interventions for sustainable cultivation. This study presents the first chromosomal-level genome assembly of H. otakii, achieved using PacBio long-read sequencing and Hi-C technology. The assembly yielded a genome size of 682.43 Mb with a contig N50 size of 2.39 Mb and a scaffold N50 size of 27.83 Mb. The completeness of genome assessed by BUSCO is 96.99%. A total of 22,334 protein-coding genes were predicted, with 21,619 (96.80%) functionally annotated across various protein databases. This genomic resource is a step forward in supporting the breeding, germplasm conservation, and enhancement of H. otakii, facilitating genetic studies and the development of strategies for disease resistance and growth optimization in aquaculture.

Abstract Background 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations and physical activity (PA) are linked and both are associated with changes in mortality. We examined the association of 25(OH)D and PA with all-cause or cause-specific mortality risk in stroke survivors. Methods The analysis included 677 stroke survivors from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007–2008 to 2017–2018. Independent and joint associations of 25(OH)D, PA and mortality among stroke survivors were analyzed using weighted Cox regression. Results We identified 133 all-cause deaths [major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), 34; non-MACE, 79] with a median follow-up of 5.8 years (interquartile, 2.8–8.9 years). In a range of adjusted models, high 25(OH)D was observed with lower all-cause mortality compared to low 25(OH)D (HR, 0.376; 95% CI, 0.233–0.607) and non-MACE (HR, 0.265; 95% CI, 0.143–0.490) mortality was consistently associated. At the same time, compared with no PA, PA was associated with a lower all-cause (HR, 0.280; 95%CI, 0.107–0.733) and non-MACE (HR, 0.266; 95%CI, 0.087–0.810) was associated with a lower risk of death. In addition, pooled analyses showed that stroke survivors with high 25(OH)D and PA had the lowest risk of all-cause death (HR, 0.132; 95%CI, 0.038–0.460) and non-MACE (HR, 0.092; 95%CI, 0.023–0.363), there is an additive interaction between 25(OH)D and PA in non-MACE. Conclusion In conclusion, this study found that combining high 25(OH)D levels and PA showed an enhanced protective effect which demonstrated a synergistic effect between them in reducing mortality among stroke survivors. These findings provide new ideas and possibilities for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, offering a reference for development of clinical practice guidelines in the future.

Abstract Phragmites australis is a globally distributed grass species (Poaceae) recognized for its vast biomass and exceptional environmental adaptability, making it an ideal model for studying wetland ecosystems and plant stress resilience. However, genomic resources for this species have been limited. In this study, we assembled a chromosome-level reference genome of P. australis containing one B chromosome. An explosion of LTR-RTs, centered on the Copia family, occurred during the late Pleistocene, driving the expansion of P. australis genome size and subgenomic differentiation. Comparative genomic analysis showed that P. australis underwent two whole gene duplication events, was segregated from Cleistogenes songorica at 34.6 Mya, and that 41.26% of the gene families underwent expansion. Based on multi-tissue transcriptomic data, we identified structural genes in the biosynthetic pathway of pharmacologically active Phragmitis rhizoma polysaccharides with essential roles in rhizome development. This study deepens our understanding of Arundinoideae evolution, genome dynamics, and the genetic basis of key traits, providing essential data and a genetic foundation for wetland restoration, bioenergy development, and plant stress.

Abstract Objective To investigate the clinical features, pathological phenotype, treatment and prognosis of idiopathic multicenter Castleman disease (iMCD)in children. Methods From January 2017 to September 2023, basic information, laboratory tests, treatment and prognosis of children diagnosed with iMCD who attended Beijing Children's Hospital of Capital Medical University were collected. Results A total of 9 children were enrolled, with a median age of onset of median 11 (2–15) years, 6 males and 3 female. 3 cases were pathologically typed as plasma cell type, 1 case was mixed type, and the remaining 5 cases were hyaline vascular type. 9 children received different regimens of chemotherapy. The median follow-up time was 26 (13, 58) months, with no deaths, 7/9 cases showing improvement, 1/9 cases showing stable condition, and 1/9 cases showing active condition. Conclusion Children with multicentric CD often have systemic symptoms, lymph node enlargement and related compression symptoms are the most common manifestations, followed by fever, malaise and other systemic symptoms. Anti-IL-6-based therapy combined with hormones lenalidomide and other medications have a specific therapeutic effect on multicentric CD.

Abstract China witnessed an Omicron COVID-19 outbreak at the end of 2022. During this period, medical crowding and enormous pressure on the healthcare systems occurred, which might result in the occurrence of occupational burnout among healthcare workers (HCWs). This study aims to investigate the prevalence of occupational burnout and associated mental conditions, such as depressive symptoms, anxiety, PTSD symptoms, perceived social support, resilience, and mindfulness among HCWs of the Chinese mainland during the Omicron COVID-19 outbreak, and to explore the potential risk and protective factors influencing occupational burnout of HCWs. A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted among HCWs working in the Chinese mainland from January 5 to February 9, 2023. A total of 6552 participants were recruited by convenience sampling. Data were collected on demographic characteristics, occupational burnout, depressive symptoms, anxiety, PTSD, perceived social support, resilience, and mindfulness by online questionnaires. Descriptive analyses were performed to describe the participants’ demographic characteristics. Univariate-Multivariate analyses were used to determine the influencing factors of occupational burnout. The results showed that the prevalence of occupational burnout and associated mental disorders, such as depressive symptoms, anxiety, and PTSD in HCWs were 44.56%, and 70.75%, 47.87%, and 37.49%, respectively. Older age, female gender, higher income, more doses of COVID-19 vaccine, a higher level of mindfulness, resilience, and perceived social support were protective factors of occupational burnout. Working as nurses, in a department currently taking charge of the treatment of COVID-19 patients, perceived high risk of contracting COVID-19 due to work, perceived high work intensity, and a higher level of anxiety and depressive symptoms were risk factors of occupational burnout. Tailored interventions on perceived social support, resilience, and mindfulness should be implemented to alleviate occupational burnout and associated mental disorders among HCWs.

Abstract Background In humans and other mammals, the process of oogenesis initiates asynchronously in specific ovarian regions, leading to the localization of dormant and growing follicles in the cortex and medulla, respectively; however, the current understanding of this process remains insufficient. Results Here, we integrate single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and spatial transcriptomics (ST) to comprehend spatial–temporal gene expression profiles and explore the spatial organization of ovarian microenvironments during early oogenesis in pigs. Projection of the germ cell clusters at different stages of oogenesis into the spatial atlas unveils a “cortical to medullary (C-M)” distribution of germ cells in the developing porcine ovaries. Cross-species analysis between pigs and humans unveils a conserved C-M distribution pattern of germ cells during oogenesis, highlighting the utility of pigs as valuable models for studying human oogenesis in a spatial context. RNA velocity analysis with ST identifies the molecular characteristics and spatial dynamics of granulosa cell lineages originating from the cortical and medullary regions in pig ovaries. Spatial co-occurrence analysis and intercellular communication analysis unveils a distinct cell–cell communication pattern between germ cells and somatic cells in the cortex and medulla regions. Notably, in vitro culture of ovarian tissues verifies that intercellular NOTCH signaling and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins played crucial roles in initiating meiotic and oogenic programs, highlighting an underappreciated role of ovarian microenvironments in orchestrating germ cell fates. Conclusions Overall, our work provides insight into the spatial characteristics of early oogenesis and the regulatory role of ovarian microenvironments in germ cell fate within a spatial context.

As colloidal structural components, the colloidal vesicles formed by the modified proteins and polysaccharides were a unique type of artificial cells with good membrane permeability, so they were widely used in cell engineering, biosensing, drug delivery and functional foods. Based on this, this study aimed to construct colloidal vesicles with aminoized bovine serum albumin (BSA-NH2) and carboxylated dextran (DEX-COOH) as the building blocks, and use Pickering emulsion template method to optimize complex concentration, oil/water volume ratio and crosslinker concentration. The storage stability at different temperatures and the ability to contain dextran with different molecular weight were investigated. Results showed that colloidal vesicles with stable morphology, uniform dispersion, stable smooth spherical shape and complete membrane structure were obtained under the conditions of compound concentration of 20 mg/mL, oil/water volume ratio of 10:1 and crosslinker concentration of 0.75 mg/mL, with size of 4.29±1.11 μm. The vesicles were stable at 4 ℃ on 0, 4 and 7 d, with sizes of 5.13±1.15, 4.81±1.03 and 5.01±1.33 μm, respectively, and could effectively contain dextran with molecular weight ≤70 kDa. Therefore, the vesicles can be used as an effective carrier of hydrophilic active components and widely used in food active component delivery.

［Objective］ Through visual analysis, an overview of the research status, the hot trends and evolutionary dynamics in the field of BIM (building information modeling) at home and abroad are comprehensively revealed. ［Method］ With the bibliometric method, the VOSviewer software is used to analyze the keyword co-occurrence in a total of 2 919 pieces of literature sourced from the CNKI （China National Knowledge Infrastructure） database and the Web of Science Core Collection database, so as to identify the current research hot spots and topic distribution in the BIM field. Through the author co-occurrence and country co-occurrence analyses, the cooperation patterns of researchers, the breadth and depth of cross-institutional communication and cooperation are evaluated. Based on the time evolution analysis, the development trend and stage characteristics of researches in the BIM field are discussed. ［Result & Conclusion］ From the point view of the number of published papers and citations in literature, China′s research strength in the BIM field is more prominent. However, the cross-institutional communication and cooperation are still insufficient compared with other countries, and the cross-development in frontier fields such as BIM+high and new technology needs to be strengthened. From the perspective of keyword and author co-occurrence results, the research hot spots at home and abroad have gradually shifted from theoretical exploration in the initial stage to engineering applications, and until now, showing a coordinated development trend of multiple perspectives such as multi-disciplinary fields, integration, greening, and intelligence.

Abstract Wheat stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), is an air-borne fungal disease, and its spores can be spread far away from its origin to colonize in new territory, causing inter-regional epidemics. Xinjiang not only is an important and independent epidemic region from other stripe rust epidemiological regions in China but also has distinguished Pst genetic structure and spatial features. However, the inoculum source of the rust in Xinjiang has remained unknown. It is not clear whether inocula in Central Asian countries migrate to Xinjiang and whether mutual gene flows possibly occur between both regions. We conducted a comparative population study of Pst populations in Xinjiang and Uzbekistan to better understand the Pst migration pattern and inoculum source of the rust in Xinjiang. Our results revealed high genetic diversity in Xinjiang (0.86, 63 MLGs out of 207 samples), compared with the Uzbekistan population (0.76, 47 MLGs out of 255 samples). Our analyses uncovered the clear migration of Uzbekistan Pst populations to Northwest Xinjiang, which is in proximity to Central Asia. The migration of clonal lineage could cause genetic drift and potential threat changing the genetic structure and virulence pattern of Pst in China. Further studies need to be conducted in the Xinjiang region to understand and evaluate the behavior of foreign genotypes in the local environment and their overall impact on local wheat crops.

Abstract Cancer-associated Fibroblasts (CAFs) have emerged as critical regulators of anti-tumour immunity, with both beneficial and detrimental properties that remain poorly characterised. To investigate this, we performed single-cell and spatial transcriptomic analysis, comparing head & neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) subgroups, which although heterogenous, can be considered broadly immune-hot and immune-cold (human papillomavirus [HPV]+ve and HPV-ve tumours respectively). This identified six fibroblast subpopulations, including two with immunomodulatory gene expression profiles (IL-11 + inflammatory [i]CAF and CCL19 + fibroblastic reticular cell [FRC]-like). IL-11 + iCAF were spatially associated with inflammatory monocytes and regulated in vitro through synergistic activation of canonical NF-κB signalling by IL-1β and TNF-α. FRC-like were enriched in immune-hot HPV+ve tumours, associated with CD4 + T-cells and B-cells in tertiary lymphoid structures and regulated through non-canonical NF-κB signalling via lymphotoxin. Pan-cancer analysis revealed several ‘iCAF’ subgroups present in both normal and cancer tissues; IL11 + iCAF were found in cancers from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and transcriptomically distinct from iCAFs previously described in pancreatic and breast cancers with greater inflammatory properties; FRC-like fibroblasts were present at low frequencies in all tumour types, and were associated with significantly better survival in patients receiving checkpoint immunotherapy. This work clarifies and expands current literature on immunomodulatory CAFs, highlighting links with important immunological niches.

Abstract The growing concerns over food safety have intensified calls for alternatives to toxic pesticides in agriculture. Despite these concerns, the global agricultural industry remains heavily reliant on chemical pesticides to maintain crop yields. However, the overuse of these chemicals has resulted in significant biodiversity loss and environmental degradation, highlighting the urgent need for safer, non-toxic, and sustainable alternatives. Trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA), a cost-effective and relatively safe industrial oxidant commonly used for disinfection, has shown potential for plant disease management. However, its application in this context remains largely unexplored. In this study, we evaluate the efficacy of TCCA in controlling Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa), the causative agent of bacterial canker in kiwifruit, and explore its underlying mechanisms of action. Our results demonstrate that TCCA effectively inhibits Psa growth in vitro, even at low concentrations, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 20 mg/L (TCCA added directly to the Psa suspension) and 100 mg/L (Psa cells mixed with liquid LB medium before adding TCC). In vivo, TCCA treatment at a concentration of 500 mg/L substantially reduced Psa colonization on both kiwifruit leaves and canes, outperforming conventional bactericides such as copper hydroxide, chlorothalonil, and ethylicin, as well as alternative treatments like pyraclostrobin-dysonline and Xinjunan acetate. Mechanistic investigations revealed that TCCA inhibited bacterial biofilm formation, impaired motility, disrupted cell integrity, and suppressed the expression of virulence-related genes, ultimately leading to bacterial cell death. Additionally, TCCA treatment of both healthy and infected canes induced the activity of key defense-related enzymes, including catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), glutathione reductase (GR), and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), suggesting that TCCA may activate systemic plant defense responses. These findings position TCCA as a promising, environmentally friendly alternative to traditional toxic bactericides, offering a sustainable and effective solution for plant disease management with reduced ecological risks. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Regulator of G protein signaling 1 (RGS1) is known to be highly expressed in various tumors, but its specific effects and regulatory mechanism in ovarian cancer (OC) progression are not well understood. To delve into the tumor biology, a predictive risk model for OC was developed, incorporating RGS1, PRKG2, CD24, and ABCB1, with RGS1 exhibiting the strongest correlation. The model’s reliability and validity were confirmed through Kaplan-Meier analysis, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and principal component analysis (PCA). The risk score was validated as an independent indicator of overall survival, and a nomogram model was created to predict overall survival. Moreover, RGS1 expression was found to be up-regulated and associated with a poor prognosis in OC. Functional studies revealed that deleting RGS1 inhibited OC cell proliferation both in vitro and in vivo, while overexpression of RGS1 enhanced cell proliferation. Additionally, blocking the NF-kB pathway was shown to impede RGS1-induced proliferation, and overexpression of p65 partially reversed the effects of RGS1 deletion, promoting the tumorigenic properties of OC cells. These findings suggest that RGS1 could be a valuable biomarker for predicting prognosis and a potential novel therapeutic target for OC treatment.

Abstract Background The heterogeneity of cognitive impairments in schizophrenia has been widely observed. However, reliable cognitive boundaries to differentiate the subgroups remain elusive. The key challenge for cognitive subtyping is applying an integrated and standardized cognitive assessment and understanding the subgroup-specific neurobiological mechanisms. The present study endeavors to explore cognitive subgroups and identify their morphological features. Methods A total of 920 schizophrenia patients and 169 healthy controls were recruited. MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery was applied to assess cognitive performance and recognize cognitive subgroups through latent profile and latent transition analysis. Cortical thickness and gray matter volume were employed for the morphological features across subgroups. Results Four reproducible cognitive subgroups were identified, including multidomain-intact, executive-preserved, executive-deteriorated, and multidomain-deteriorated subgroup. After 12 weeks of follow-up, the cognitive characteristics of three out of the four subgroups kept stability, except for multidomain-deteriorated subgroup in which 48.8% of patients with improved cognition transited into the executive-deteriorated subgroup. Across subgroups, significant gradient features of brain structure were exhibited in fronto-temporal regions, hippocampus, and insula. Compared to healthy controls, multidomain-intact subgroup showed the most intact cognition and morphology, and multidomain-deteriorated subgroup with youngest age showed morphological decline in extensive regions. The remaining two subgroups showed intermediate cognitive performance, but could be distinguished by executive function and morphological differences in posterior cingulate cortex. Conclusions Our study provides novel insights into the heterogeneity of cognitive impairments in schizophrenia and the morphological features from cross-sectional and longitudinal levels, which could advance our understanding of complex cognition-morphology relationships and guide personalized interventions.

Abstract Background Triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index was suggested as a possible surrogate for insulin resistance and a predictor for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes in the non-pregnant population. However, the relationship between TyG index in early pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs), and the contribution of pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) was still illusive. Methods A large retrospective cohort study involving 67,936 pregnant Chinese women between 2017 and 2022 was conducted. Data collection and laboratory tests were performed during the usual patient care. TyG index was calculated using ln [fasting plasma triglyceride (TG; mmol/L) × 88.5 × glucose (FPG; mmol/L) × 18.02/2]. Multivariable logistic regression models were applied to explore the relationship between TyG index and APOs. Interaction and stratification analyses were performed to assess the influence of pre-pregnancy BMI on the association. In addition, ROC curves were used to evaluate the potential predictive value of the TyG index and pre-pregnancy BMI. Results Positive associations between maternal early pregnancy TyG index and APOs, including gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), large for gestational age (LGA) and preterm birth (PTB) were demonstrated (all P

Abstract Background Patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are prone to developing brain metastases (BMs), particularly those with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations. In clinical practice, treatment-naïve EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients with asymptomatic BMs tend to choose EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) as first-line therapy and defer intracranial radiotherapy (RT). However, the effectiveness of upfront intracranial RT remains unclear. Methods This was a retrospective study including 217 patients from two institutions between January 2018 and December 2022. Clinical data of NSCLC patients with BMs who received EGFR-TKIs were collected. The patients were assigned to one of the three groups according to the therapeutic modality used: the upfront TKI + stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) / fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (fSRS) group (upfront TKI + SRS/fSRS ), the upfront TKI + whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) group (upfront TKI + WBRT) and the upfront TKI group. Results As of March 8, 2023, the median follow-up duration was 37.3 months (95% CI, 32.5–42.1). The median overall survival (OS) for the upfront TKI + SRS/fSRS, upfront TKI + WBRT, and upfront TKI groups were 37.8, 20.7, and 24.1 months, respectively (p = 0.015). In subgroup analysis, the upfront TKI + SRS/fSRS group demonstrated longer OS compared to the upfront TKI + WBRT and upfront TKI groups in patients treated with first or second-generation EGFR-TKIs (p = 0.021) and patients with L858R mutation (p = 0.017), whereas no survival benefit was observed in three-generation EGFR-TKIs or 19del subgroup. In the multivariable analysis, metachronous BMs, EGFR L858R mutation and nonclassic EGFR mutation were identified as independent risk factors for OS, while a DS-GPA score of 2.0–4.0 was the only independent protective factor. Conclusions This study demonstrated that upfront addition of SRS/fSRS to EGFR-TKIs was associated with longer OS compared to upfront WBRT or upfront TKI alone in EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients with BMs. This improvement was more significant in patients with L858R mutation and those treated with first or second-generation EGFR-TKIs. Further research with a larger sample size is warranted.

Abstract Simulating the dynamics of open quantum systems is essential in achieving practical quantum computation and understanding novel nonequilibrium behaviors. However, quantum simulation of a many-body system coupled to an engineered reservoir has yet to be fully explored in present-day experiment platforms. In this work, we introduce engineered noise into a one-dimensional ten-qubit superconducting quantum processor to emulate a generic many-body open quantum system. Our approach originates from the stochastic unravellings of the master equation. By measuring the end-to-end correlation, we identify multiple steady states stemmed from a strong symmetry, which is established on the modified Hamiltonian via Floquet engineering. Furthermore, we investigate the structure of the steady-state manifold by preparing initial states as a superposition of states within different sectors on a five-qubit chain. Our work provides a manageable and hardware-efficient strategy for the open-system quantum simulation.

Abstract Uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) is a crucial protein located in the mitochondrial inner membrane that mediates nonshivering thermogenesis. However, the molecular mechanisms by which enhancer–promoter chromatin interactions control Ucp1 transcriptional regulation in brown adipose tissue (BAT) are unclear. Here, we employed circularized chromosome conformation capture coupled with next-generation sequencing (4C-seq) to generate high-resolution chromatin interaction profiles of Ucp1 in interscapular brown adipose tissue (iBAT) and epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT) and revealed marked changes in Ucp1 chromatin interaction between iBAT and eWAT. Next, we identified four iBAT-specific active enhancers of Ucp1, and three of them were activated by cold stimulation. Transcriptional repression of the Ucp1-En4 or Ucp1-En6 region significantly downregulated Ucp1 and impaired mitochondrial function in brown adipocytes. Furthermore, depletion of the cohesin subunit RAD21 decreased the interaction intensity between Ucp1-En4 and the Ucp1 promoter and downregulated Ucp1. EBF2 cooperated with the acetyltransferase CBP to regulate Ucp1-En4 activity and increase Ucp1 transcriptional activity. In vivo, lentivirus-mediated repression of Ucp1-En4 was injected into iBAT, resulting in impacted iBAT thermogenic capacity and impaired iBAT mitochondrial function under cold acclimation conditions. Studying the functional enhancers regulating Ucp1 expression in iBAT will provide important insights into the regulatory mechanisms of BAT activity.

Abstract Background Recent studies suggest a connection between immunoglobulin light chains (IgLCs) and coronary heart disease (CHD). However, current diagnostic methods using peripheral blood IgLCs levels or subtype ratios show limited accuracy for CHD, lacking comprehensive assessment and posing challenges in early detection and precise disease severity evaluation. We aim to develop and validate a Coronary Health Index (CHI) incorporating total IgLCs levels and their distribution. Additionally, we aim to evaluate its effectiveness by integrating patient data and using machine learning models through diagnostic trial. Methods The CHI was developed and combined with other clinical data. Nine machine learning models were screened to identify optimal diagnostic performance, with the XGBoost model emerging as the top performer. Performance was assessed based on accuracy, sensitivity, and its ability to identify severe CHD cases characterized by complex lesions (SYNTAX score > 33). Results The XGBoost model demonstrated high accuracy and sensitivity in diagnosing CHD, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.927. It also accurately identified patients with severe CHD, achieving an AUC of 0.991. An online web tool was introduced for broader external validation, confirming the model’s effectiveness. Conclusions Combining the CHI with the XGBoost model offers significant advantages in diagnosing CHD and assessing disease severity. This approach can guide clinical interventions and improve large-scale CHD screening.

Abstract Background Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is one of the most common causes of heart failure. Infiltration and alterations in non-cardiomyocytes of the human heart involve crucially in the occurrence of DCM and associated immunotherapeutic approaches. Methods We constructed a single-cell transcriptional atlas of DCM and normal patients. Then, the xCell algorithm, EPIC algorithm, MCP counter algorithm, and CIBERSORT method were applied to identify DCM-related cell types with a high degree of precision and specificity using RNA-seq datasets. We further analyzed the heterogeneity among cell types, performed trajectory analysis, examined transcription factor regulatory networks, investigated metabolic heterogeneity, and conducted intercellular communication analysis. Finally, we used bulk RNA-seq data to confirm the roles of M2-like2 subpopulations and GAS6 in DCM. Results We integrated and analyzed Single-cell sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from 7 DCM samples and 3 normal heart tissue samples, totaling 70,958 single-cell data points. Based on gene-specific expression and prior marker genes, we identified 9 distinct subtypes, including fibroblasts, endothelial cells, myeloid cells, pericytes, T/NK cells, smooth muscle cells, neuronal cells, B cells, and cardiomyocytes. Using machine learning methods to quantify bulk RNA-seq data, we found significant differences in fibroblasts, T cells, and macrophages between DCM and normal samples. Further analysis revealed high heterogeneity in tissue preference, gene expression, functional enrichment, immunodynamics, transcriptional regulatory factors, metabolic changes, and communication patterns in fibroblasts and myeloid cells. Among fibroblast subpopulations, proliferative F3 cells were implicated in the fibroblast transition process in DCM, while myofibroblast F6 cells promoted the fibroblast transition to a late cell state in DCM. Additionally, two subpopulations of M2 macrophages, M2-like1 and M2-like2, were identified with distinct features. The M2-like2 cell subpopulation, which was enriched in glycolysis and fatty acid metabolism, involved in inflammation inhibition and fibrosis promotion. Cell‒cell communication analysis indicated the GAS6-MERTK axis might exhibit interaction between M2 macrophage and M2-like1 macrophage. Furthermore, deconvolution analysis for bulk RNA-seq data revealed a significant increase in M2-like2 subpopulations in DCM, suggesting a more important role for this cell population in DCM. Conclusions We revealed the heterogeneity of non-cardiomyocytes in DCM and identified subpopulations of myofibroblast and macrophages engaged in DCM, which suggested a potential significance of non-cardiomyocytes in treatment of DCM.

Abstract Background Quinoa, as a new food crop, has attracted extensive attention at home and abroad. However, the natural disaster of spike germination seriously threatens the quality and yield of quinoa. Currently, there are limited reports on the molecular mechanisms associated with spike germination in quinoa. Results In this study, we utilized transcriptome sequencing technology and successfully obtained 154.51 Gb of high-quality data with a comparison efficiency of more than 88%, which fully demonstrates the extremely high reliability of the sequencing results and lays a solid foundation for subsequent analysis. Using these data, we constructed a weighted gene co-expression network (WGCNA) related to starch, sucrose, α-amylase, and phenolic acid metabolites, and screened six co-expression modules closely related to spike germination traits. Two of the modules associated with physiological indicators were analyzed in depth, and nine core genes were finally predicted. Further functional annotation revealed four key transcription factors involved in the regulation of dormancy and germination processes: gene LOC110698065, gene LOC110696037, gene LOC110736224, and gene LOC110705759, belonging to the bHLH, NF-YA, MYB, and FAR1 gene families, respectively. Conclusions These results provide clues to identify the core genes involved in quinoa spike germination. This will ultimately provide a theoretical basis for breeding new quinoa varieties with resistance.

Abstract The primary cause of viral encephalitis (VE) is invasion of the central nervous system (CNS) by the virus, which leads to neuroinflammation and poses a significant threat to global public health. Microglia, as CNS-resident macrophages, play a crucial role in neuroinflammation and are often identified as the preferred target for the prevention or treatment of VE. In this study, we used pseudorabies virus (PRV)-induced VE in mice and pigs as a model to investigate the regulation of microglial responses during viral encephalitis and explored the mechanism of microglial activation. Cellular experiments revealed that microglial activation was accompanied by cell migration, characteristic morphological changes, phagocytosis, inflammatory cytokine production, and antigen presentation. Transcriptome analysis revealed that genes related to inflammation in PRV-infected BV2 cells were significantly enriched. The expression of the NOD1 gene in BV2 cells was significantly increased during PRV infection, after which NOD1 in BV2 cells was silenced by siRNA and overexpressed via a plasmid. NOD1 was found to be involved in the secretion of cytokines in BV2 cells by regulating the MAPK/NF-κB signalling pathway. Mouse and pig experiments have shown that NOD1 is involved in the secretion of cytokines by microglia by regulating the MAPK/NF-κB signalling pathway during PRV infection.

Abstract Feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1), a member of the Herpesviridae family, is one of the most important pathogens that causes upper respiratory tract disease in felines. Following infection, FHV-1 can spread retrogradely to the trigeminal ganglia, establishing a life-long latency. Although vaccines are available for routine feline vaccination, FHV-1 is still an agent that poses a serious threat to feline health. There are currently no specific drugs for the treatment of FHV-1. To facilitate the screening of antiviral drugs, we constructed a reporter FHV-1 virus, which expresses a secreted Gaussia luciferase (GLuc) and a bright green fluorescent protein, mNeonGreen. The reporter virus shows slower growth than does the wild-type FHV-1. The expression of the two reporter genes, Gluc and mNeonGreen, was consistent with viral propagation and remained stable during continuous passage in CRFK cells, even after twenty rounds. In addition, the known inhibitor ganciclovir was used to confirm the characteristics of the reporter virus for drug screening. We found that the reporter FHV-1 is suitable for antiviral screening assays. Overall, our work provides a useful tool for screening drugs to combat FHV-1.

Non-destructive analysis(NDA) techniques can be used to ensure that no sensitive nuclear materials(SNM) are being lost or diverted from their defined flows and containments. Rapid measurements of SNM in feed materials, process lines, finished products, scrap and waste, and holdup in the plant are all possible with NDA techniques. With the development of nuclear industry, it has also brought huge challenges to the supervision of nuclear security and nuclear material control. The NDA of pressurized water reactor fuel assemblies is one of the important technologies for nuclear security. The establishment of the NDA for pressurized water reactor requires the possession of corresponding nuclear material standard materials. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the uranium content and 235U abundance accurately in the uranium dioxide pellets of standard pressurized water reactor components. China North Nuclear Fuel Corpotation prepared comparison samples and conducted a uniformity test on the samples. Through F test analysis, it was deemed that the samples had good homogeneity. Beijing Research Institute of Uranium Geology(BRIUG) organizes several laboratories to determine the content of uranium in uranium dioxide by potentiometric titration, and the abundance of 235U by TIMS or MC-ICP-MS methods. The samples are sent to different laboratories. Six laboratories conducted comparative analysis of uranium content and 235U abundance. After summarizing and comparing the results, through online SPSS calculations, the small sample data of uranium content and 235U abundance shows a p-value greater than 0.05, indicating no significant difference. This indicates that the parameter conforms to the normal distribution characteristics. The uncertainty of the comparison data results was evaluated, the uncertainty of sample measurement results refers to ISO guide 35 2017 reference materials: guidance for characterization and assessment of homogeneity and stability, which is mainly composed of three parts: stability uncertainty, homogeneity uncertainty and characterization uncertainty. The uranium content and abundance of 235U in the sample have good homogeneity, and its properties will not change with time. Moreover, the uncertainty caused by the inhomogeneity of the sample has been reflected in the comparison analysis, so in this calculation, the uncertainty components arising from sample inhomogeneities and instabilities are not considered. The average value of uranium mass fraction is 88.00%(n=6), the relative uncertainty is 0.057%, and the measured average value of 235U abundance is 3.2326%(n=6), the relative uncertainty is 0.062%. The uranium content and 235U abundance in standard pressurized water reactor components made of uranium dioxide pellets were obtained through comparative analysis, providing base data for subsequent research on non-destructive analysis methods for pressurized water reactors.

Polyimide (PI) has received great attention for high-temperature capacitive energy storage materials due to its remarkable thermal stability, relatively high breakdown strength, strong mechanical properties, and ease of synthesis and modification. In this review, several key parameters for evaluating capacitive energy storage performance are introduced. Subsequently, the properties of the commercially available PIs are presented. Then, the recent development of designing and tailoring all-organic PI-based polymers is discussed in detail, focusing on molecular composition and spatial configuration to enhance dielectric constant, breakdown strength, discharged energy density, and charge-discharge efficiency. Finally, we outline the current challenges and future development directions of PI-based high-temperature energy storage dielectric materials.

Vision-based digital shadowing is a highly efficient way to monitor the health of buildings in use. However, previous studies on digital shadowing have been limited to laboratory experiments. This paper proposes a novel computer-vision-based digital shadow workflow and presents its successful application in a real engineering case. In this case, a 345.8-m supertall building experienced unexpected shaking under normal meteorological conditions. This study established a digital shadow of the building using three-dimensional displacement measurements based on super-resolution monocular vision, revealing the hidden structural dynamics and inherent mechanical reasons for the abnormal shaking. The proposed digital shadowing workflow is a feasible roadmap for developing vision-based digital shadows of real-world structures using low-cost cameras. The abnormal vibration event in the supertall building considered in this study is the first of its type worldwide. The results of this study offer practical strategies and invaluable insights into the prevention and mitigation of this type of global risk, thereby contributing to the lifespan extension of buildings in use worldwide. Furthermore, with the increasing number of general sensing devices, such as surveillance cameras in cities, the proposed method may unleash the immense potential of general sensing devices in achieving the leap from structural health monitoring to city health monitoring.

Abstract Monkeypox (MPOX) is a zoonotic disease caused by Orthopoxvirus monkeypox (MPXV), belonging to the Orthopoxvirus genus, and exhibits symptoms similar to smallpox. In 2024, the monkeypox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo continued to develop, raising widespread global public health concerns. In September 2023, the first local monkeypox outbreak was reported in Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China. Whole-genome sequencing of samples from seven confirmed patients identified a new lineage, C.1.1, which may be related to imported cases from Japan. Evolutionary analysis of MPXV showed fewer mutations mediated by Apolipoprotein B mRNA Editing Catalytic polypeptide-like 3 (APOBEC3). Additionally, mutations in the N2L protein disrupted transcription initiation, while changes in the Cytomegalovirus-encoded immunomodulatory protein B (CrmB) led to structural instability of the protein. It is hoped that these findings will provide insights for future research on the evolutionary mechanisms of the monkeypox virus and the development of vaccines.

Abstract Background Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is a perennial, bulbous flower whose stigma is one of the most valuable spices, herbal medicines, and dyes. Light is an essential environmental regulator of plant growth, development, and metabolism. With the popularization of customized light-emitting diode (LED) light sources in facility agriculture, accurate light control has become essential for regulating crop yield and quality. In this study, white, red, and blue LED lights were applied to extend the photoperiod at the start and end of the day during the indoor stage of saffron cultivation. We investigated saffron growth and flowering using non-target metabolomic and transcriptome analyses to determine the flux and accumulation of metabolites from the stigma under different light treatments. Results The results revealed that supplemental red and white lights both promoted dry mass accumulation in the stigma, with the optimal appearance achieved using white light. Supplemental white light promoted saffron flowering, whereas supplemental blue light delayed it. Supplemental blue light promoted crocin-1 and crocin-3 accumulation, whereas supplemental red light promoted crocin-2 accumulation. Expression analysis of key genes and their correlations with crocin-related metabolites may provide useful information for screening functional genes involved in crocin synthesis. Conclusions This study provides useful information for future application of LED light to improve the planting technology, quality, and yield of saffron, and reveals underlying molecular information for the further research.

In this work, thick BiFeO3 films (~1 μm) were prepared on LaNiO3-buffered (111)Pt/Ti/SiO2/(100)Si substrates via radio-frequency magnetron sputtering without post-growth annealing. The effects of the substrate temperature on the film’s crystallinity, defect chemistry, and associated electrical properties were investigated. In contrast to the poorly crystallized BiFeO3 film deposited at 300 °C and the randomly-oriented and (111)-textured films deposited at 500 and 650 °C, respectively, a (001)-preferred orientation was achieved in the BiFeO3 film deposited at 350 °C. This film not only showed a dense, fine-grained morphology but also displayed enhanced electrical properties due to the (001) texture and improved defect chemistry. These properties include a reduced leakage current (J ≈ 2.4×10−5 A/cm2@200 kV/cm), a small dielectric constant (εr ≈ 243–217) with a low loss (tanδ ≤ 0.086) measured from 100 Hz to 1 MHz, and a nearly intrinsic remnant polarization (Pr) of ~60 μC/cm2. A detailed TEM analysis confirmed the R3c symmetry of the BFO films and hence ensured good stability of their electrical properties. In particular, single-beam cantilevers fabricated from BiFeO3/LaNiO3/Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si heterostructures showed excellent electromechanical performance, including a large transverse piezoelectric coefficient (e31,f) of ~−2.8 C/m2, a high figure of merit (FOM) parameter of ~4.0 GPa, and a large signal-to-noise ratio of ~1.5 C/m2. An in-depth analysis revealed the intrinsic nature of the e31,f piezoelectric coefficient, which is well fitted along a straight line of e31,f ratio = (εrPr) ratio with the reported representative results. These high-quality lead-free piezoelectric films processed with a reduced thermal budget can open many possibilities for the integration of piezoelectricity into Si-based micro-electro–mechanical systems (MEMSs).

Abstract Nasal endoscopy is crucial for the early detection of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), but its accuracy relies heavily on the clinician’s expertise, posing challenges for primary healthcare providers. Here, we retrospectively analysed 39,340 nasal endoscopic white-light images from three high-incidence NPC centres, utilising eight advanced deep learning models to develop an Internet-enabled smartphone application, “Nose-Keeper”, that can be used for early detection of NPC and five prevalent nasal diseases and assessment of healthy individuals. Our app demonstrated a remarkable overall accuracy of 92.27% (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 90.66%–93.61%). Notably, its sensitivity and specificity in NPC detection achieved 96.39% and 99.91%, respectively, outperforming nine experienced otolaryngologists. Explainable artificial intelligence was employed to highlight key lesion areas, improving Nose-Keeper’s decision-making accuracy and safety. Nose-Keeper can assist primary healthcare providers in diagnosing NPC and common nasal diseases efficiently, offering a valuable resource for people in high-incidence NPC regions to manage nasal cavity health effectively.

ObjectiveTo observe the spontaneous testicular tumors in interferon receptor-deficient mice (AG129) and provide a basis for further research using this mouse strain.MethodsThe AG129 mouse population was bred in an SPF barrier environment and reproduced normally. Among the 3-week-old weaned mice, we found that one male mouse had an abnormally enlarged testis, while none of the other mice in the same litter exhibited a similar condition. The spontaneous testicular tumor in this mouse was continuously monitored. The mouse was euthanized and dissected at 9 weeks of age. The gross morphology of the tumor was observed, and the tissue was then embedded in paraffin and sectioned for hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining.ResultsAfter several weeks of observation, the tumor tissue gradually increased in size as the mice aged. Upon dissection, the tumor tissue was encapsulated in a smooth capsule. After opening the capsule, the tumor tissue was irregular in shape, with some areas being hard and others soft. The results of HE staining showed that the tumor tissue developed from tissues derived from multiple germ layers, with nerve tissue, bone tissue, muscle tissue, and adipose tissue inside, exhibiting an irregular morphological structure.ConclusionBased on the tumor development, gross morphological structure, and the HE staining results of the pathological sections, the tumor in this mouse was preliminarily diagnosed as an immature teratoma.

Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) elastomers generated via the copolymerization of 3,3-bis(azidomethyl) oxetane and tetrahydrofuran have been widely used as a matrix for solid engines in rockets, missiles, and spacecraft because of their positive standard enthalpies of formation. This study investigates how the decomposition of PBT elastomers impacts their interactions with plasticizers during long-term storage and aging. We apply molecular dynamics to calculate the parameters (e.g., glass transition temperature, mechanical properties, diffusion, and compatibility) of PBT elastomers that influence the aging performance of PBT. The computational results indicate that as the degree of thermal-oxidative aging decomposition increases, the radius of gyration, peak value of radial distribution function, and free volume fraction of the aging model all decrease. The concomitant increase in defects and the weakening of the interactions between molecular chains in the aging model lead to a continuous reduction in the mechanical properties and glass transition temperature of the aging model. In general, the plasticizer exhibits enhanced diffusion and reduced compatibility. Overall, this article establishes models representing different degrees of thermal-oxidative aging of PBT elastomers, thereby revealing the interactions between plasticizers and PBT elastomers under thermal-oxidative aging conditions. The results provide a theoretical basis for evaluating the changes in the macroscopic aging performance of PBT elastomers from a microstructural perspective.

Landfill leachate has high COD, ammonia nitrogen and conductivity, these complex pollution characteristics make the reverse osmosis treatment load too high, which further leads to the decrease of membrane performance and membrane permeate flux. This paper took influent pH, operating pressure and temperature as influencing factors, and COD, ammonia nitrogen and conductivity of concentrate and produced water as evaluation parameters, to derive the optimal working conditions by analyzing the changes of concentration multiplication rate, membrane flux and water production rate to treat leachate from a landfill plant in Lanzhou. The results showed that the effect of the three factors on the DTRO system was operating pressure>temperature>inlet pH, and when the pH was 6.5, the operating pressure was 6 MPa, and the temperature was 40 ℃. The system had the highest concentration multiplier of 4.07 and the best water production rate of 75.6% consistently, which reduced the load for subsequent concentrate treatment.

Abstract To investigate the safety, efficacy and risk factors for complications of stenting with optional coiling versus coiling alone for acutely ruptured cerebral aneurysms (ARCAs) using different antiplatelet schemes, 2021 patients were prospectively enrolled into the stenting group (n = 967) and the coiling group (n = 1054). Four different antiplatelet regimens were used. The clinical and treatment data were analyzed and compared. In the stenting group, the common antiplatelet regimen was applied in 259 patients (26.8%), loading regimen in 210 (21.7%), intravenous tirofiban regimen in 240 (24.8%), and premedication free regimen in 258 (26.7%). The aneurysm occlusion degrees in the coiling vs. stenting group were not significantly (P > 0.05) different after treatment. Complications occurred in 168 (15.94%) and 171 (17.68%) patients in the coiling and the stenting group, respectively. Fifteen (1.55%) patients experienced stent-related ischemic complications. The only significant (P

Abstract Tortuosity of the vasculature poses challenges to mechanical thrombectomy (MT); however, only a few studies have reported the impact of vertebral artery (VA) tortuosity on MT. The present study aimed to investigate the impact of tortuosity of the V1-segment VA on MT in patients with acute vertebrobasilar artery occlusion (AVBAO). The patients diagnosed with AVBAO and treated with MT in the Stroke Center of Xijing Hospital from November 2019 to March 2022 were analyzed retrospectively. According to the tortuosity of V1-segment VA, patients were divided into tortuous (coiling and kinking) and non-tortuous groups (straight, single-arc, and multi-arc). A binary logistic regression model was established to analyze the association between the tortuosity of V1-segment VA and successful reperfusion (mTICI ≥ 2b), neurological improvement at 7 days, favorable and poor outcome at 90 days, and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) within 24 h. After adjustment for age, baseline National Institute of health stroke scale (NIHSS) score and puncture-to-recanalization time, the impact of tortuosity of the V1-segment VA on outcomes was analyzed. After screening, 35 patients were enrolled in this study. The overall rate of successful reperfusion was 74.3% (26/35), and 40% (14/34) patients achieved favorable outcomes at 90 days. Subsequently, 15/35 (42.9%) patients were included in the tortuous group, and the remaining 20 patients comprised the non-tortuous group. After adjustment for age, baseline NIHSS score, and puncture-to-recanalization time, the rate of 90-day favorable outcome in the tortuous group was significantly lower than that of the non-tortuous group (20% vs. 57.9%, P = 0.034), while the rates of reperfusion (80% vs. 73.7%) and 7-day neurological improvement (33.3% vs. 36.8%) were similar between the two groups. The incidence of 24-h symptomatic ICH in the tortuous group was higher than that in the non-tortuous group (26.7% vs. 15.8%), albeit not significantly. In patients with AVBAO, tortuosity of the V1-segment VA was negatively associated with favorable outcomes 90 days after MT.