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Abstract Differentiating between diabetic nephropathy (DN) and non-diabetic renal disease (NDRD) without a kidney biopsy remains a major challenge, often leading to missed opportunities for targeted treatments that could greatly improve NDRD outcomes. To reform the traditional biopsy-all diagnostic paradigm and avoid unnecessary biopsy, we developed a transformer-based deep learning (DL) system for detecting DN and NDRD upon non-invasive multi-modal data of fundus images and clinical characteristics. Our Trans-MUF achieved an AUC of 0.980 (95% CI: 0.979 to 0.980) over the internal retrospective set and also had superior generalizability over a prospective dataset (AUC: 0.989, 95% CI: 0.987 to 0.990) and a multicenter, cross-machine and multi-operator dataset (AUC: 0.932, 95% CI: 0.931 to 0.939). Moreover, the nephrologists‘ diagnosis accuracy can be improved by 21%, through visualization assistance of the DL system. This paper lays a foundation for automatically differentiating DN and NDRD without biopsy. (Registry name: Correlation Study Between Clinical Phenotype and Pathology of Type 2 Diabetic Nephropathy. ID: NCT03865914. Date: 2017-11-30).

Abstract Dry eye disease (DED) is a prevalent inflammatory condition significantly impacting quality of life, yet lacks effective pharmacological therapies. Herein, we proposed a novel approach to modulate the inflammation through metabolic remodeling, thus promoting dry eye recovery. Our study demonstrated that co-treatment with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and thymosin beta-4 (Tβ4) yielded the best therapeutic outcome against dry eye, surpassing monotherapy outcomes. In situ metabolomics through matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) revealed increased glutamine levels in cornea following MSC + Tβ4 combined therapy. Inhibition of glutamine reversed the anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and homeostasis-preserving effects observed with combined therapy, highlighting the critical role of glutamine in dry eye therapy. Clinical cases and rodent model showed elevated expression of glutaminase (GLS1), an upstream enzyme in glutamine metabolism, following dry eye injury. Mechanistic studies indicated that overexpression and inhibition of GLS1 counteracted and enhanced, respectively, the anti-inflammatory effects of combined therapy, underscoring GLS1’s pivotal role in regulating glutamine metabolism. Furthermore, single-cell sequencing revealed a distinct subset of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic corneal epithelial cells in the dry eye model, while glutamine treatment downregulated those subclusters, thereby reducing their inflammatory cytokine secretion. In summary, glutamine effectively ameliorated inflammation and the occurrence of apoptosis by downregulating the pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic corneal epithelial cells subclusters and the related IκBα/NF-κB signaling. The present study suggests that glutamine metabolism plays a critical, previously unrecognized role in DED and proposes an attractive strategy to enhance glutamine metabolism by inhibiting the enzyme GLS1 and thus alleviating inflammation-driven DED progression.

Abstract Objective The aim of this study is to explore the clinicopathological features, radiographic manifestations, treatment options, and prognosis of primary pulmonary angiosarcoma (PPAS). Method We summarized and analyzed the clinical data of 11 patients with primary pulmonary angiosarcoma treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University between January 2018 and January 2024. A retrospective analysis was conducted in conjunction with a review of the relevant literature. Results Among the 11 cases, the primary symptoms were nonspecific respiratory issues, with chest pain, cough, and shortness of breath being the most common. Initial diagnosis was correct in only 2 cases, while the remaining 9 cases were misdiagnosed as other conditions, such as lung nodules, infections, or pulmonary embolism. All patients were ultimately diagnosed via pathology, with CD31 and CD34 showing a high positivity rate of 60%. Of the 11 patients, 9 have died, and 2 remain alive. The average survival period was 13.2 months.Based on the number of lesions, PPAS was categorized into three types: solitary, multiple, and invasive pulmonary artery. The average survival period for the solitary type (2 cases) was 15.5 months, for the multiple type (5 cases) was 6.6 months, and for the pulmonary artery type (4 cases) was 20.5 months. Among the 3 patients who underwent surgery, the median overall survival (OS) was 23.0 months, whereas for the 8 non-surgical patients, the median OS was 9.7 months. Conclusion Primary pulmonary angiosarcoma is a rare, highly aggressive vascular malignancy characterized by nonspecific clinical symptoms and a tendency for metastasis and pulmonary artery embolism. Currently, no effective treatment exists, and the overall prognosis is poor.

This article introduces a high-magnification electronic endoscope system that utilizes a continuous zoom optical design, enabling high-magnification imaging at the cellular level. By selecting an appropriate initial retrofocus structure, the optimized modulation transfer function (MTF) curve of the zoom objective lens approaches the diffraction limit. Additionally, the tip and operation parts of the system incorporate modular gas-tight sealing and multiple layers of protective structure. The design employs efficient sealing materials and precise packaging techniques to ensure the system’s sealing performance. The experimental results indicate that, under conventional imaging, the resolution is equivalent to 39.37 μm in object space, and the field of view angle is larger than 140 degrees. At magnified imaging, the resolution is equivalent to 2.78 μm in object space, and the observed actual field of view is greater than 800 μm×700 μm. When used with a 26-inch display monitor, the high-magnification electronic endoscope can achieve 500× optical magnification, allowing for the observation of features at the cellular level. Currently, this product has successfully achieved mass production and has undergone multiple animal trials, demonstrating its wide range of potential applications and significant clinical value.

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) present unique advantages in surface modification due to their stable mixed-state structures and resistance to intermetallic compound formation. This study investigates the surface modification behavior of equiatomic TiNbHfZnZr HEA components in Ti6Al4V alloy using friction stir processing (FSP). The aim is to enhance the mechanical properties and structural stability of Ti6Al4V by incorporating HEA elements. It was found that the introduction of high-entropy alloys forms shear bands with distinctive micro and nano gradient structures on the surface of the Ti6Al4V alloy. These shear bands not only significantly refine the grains but also promote β phase and β twin formation. The HEA-induced shear bands enhance the strength and stability of the alloy by creating bcc twins and dislocation networks that suppress martensitic transformation and maintain superelasticity. Concurrently, the introduction of HEA components leads to the formation of stable dual-phase (α + bcc) microstructures within the α matrix, significantly improving hardness and modulus.

Rorippa palustris Besser 1821, a species of Brassicaceae, is widely distributed around the world and used for both food and traditional Chinese medicinal purposes. Despite the plant’s significance, its genetic diversity must be better understood. In this study, we have successfully assembled and characterized a complete plastome of R. palustris, marking a significant advancement toward comprehending its genetic composition. The plastome is 154,674 bp long and harbors 128 genes, including 83 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes. Our phylogenomic analysis indicated that R. palustris is closely related to R. curvipes. These findings are crucial for conserving and utilizing this important plant species. They also highlight the potential for future research into the evolution and preservation of R. palustris, which could be advantageous in pharmaceutical applications.

Abstract Trace element levels in the circulation (blood, serum, plasma) are believed to play a role in the pathophysiologic processes of Alzheimer’s disease (AD); however, there is heterogeneity in the available findings. This study conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of trace elements (including: copper (Cu), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), selenium (Se), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), manganese (Mn), aluminum (Al), arsenic (As), and magnesium (Mg)) in AD patients and controls to assess the variation of trace elements in the circulation of AD patients. By systematically screening case–control studies on circulatory trace element levels in AD patients from 2000 to the present in the PubMed, Web of Science, and MEDLINE databases, 52 studies were included in the final meta-analysis. The results of the random-effects model showed significantly elevated circulatory levels of Cd (SMD = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.35, 1.24), Hg (SMD = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.03, 1.16), and Cu (SMD = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.37, 1.04) in AD patients, while levels of Fe (SMD = − 0.58, 95% CI: − 1.03, − 0.13), Se (SMD = − 0.53, 95% CI: − 0.85, − 0.21), and Zn (SMD = − 0.99, 95% CI: − 1.52, − 0.46) were significantly lower. The database formed in this study provides reliable population-based research evidence for exploring changes in circulating trace element levels in AD patients. Monitoring and stabilization of circulatory trace element levels in the elderly may be a potential preventive target for AD.

Lindernia crustacea (L.) F. Muell 1882, a species in the Linderniaceae family, holds traditional medicinal value in China. To investigate its genetic diversity, we assembled, annotated, and characterized the first complete chloroplast genome of L. crustacea using Illumina sequencing data and various bioinformatics tools. The genome is 153,647 bp in length, with a GC content of 37.6%. It exhibits a typical quadripartite structure, consisting of a large single-copy region (LSC) of 85,411 bp, a small single-copy region (SSC) of 18,724 bp, and two inverted repeat sequences (IRa and IRb) of 25,816 bp each. The genome was predicted to contain 131 genes, including 87 protein-coding genes, 36 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes. Phylogenomic analysis indicated that L. crustacea is closely related to L. stricta. These findings provide a foundation for further research on the evolution and potential medicinal applications of the Linderniaceae family.

IntroductionMitochondria are essential organelles that provide energy for plants. They are semi-autonomous, maternally inherited, and closely linked to cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) in plants. Lonicera macranthoides, a widely used medicinal plant from the Caprifoliaceae family, is rich in chlorogenic acid (CGA) and its analogues, which are known for their antiviral and anticancer properties. However, studies on the mitogenome of L. macranthoides still remain limited.MethodsThe mitochondrial DNA contained in the whole genome DNA was extracted from a male sterile cultivar of L. macranthoides, named ‘Yulei 1’. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) and third-generation sequencing (TGS) technologies were combined to obtain the mitogenome. RNA editing events were identified by integrating the mitogenome data with RNA sequencing data from leaf, stem, and flower tissues. The potential causes of male sterility in ‘Yulei 1’ were analyzed based on the loss of functional genes, mitogenome rearrangements, RNA editing events, and open reading frames (ORFs).Results and discussionThe complete mitogenome of L. macranthoides ‘Yulei 1’ was obtained for the first time, with a length of 1,002,202 bp. It contains 48 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 26 tRNA genes, and 3 rRNA genes. Additionally, 79 simple sequence repeats (SSRs), 39 tandem repeats, and 99 dispersed repeats were identified. Among these, two direct repeats (RP1a/1b, RP2a/2b) and two inverse repeats (RP3a/b, RP4a/b) may facilitate mitogenome recombination. Gene transfer analysis revealed that 4.36% and 21.98% of mitogenomic sequences mapped to the chloroplast and nuclear genomes, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that L. macranthoides is closest to L. japonica at the mitogenome level. Notably, RNA editing events varied across different plant tissues, with 357 editing sites in 30 PCGs in leaves, 138 sites in 24 PCGs in flowers, and 68 sites in 13 PCGs in stems. Finally, all indications of CMS in the mitogenome were screened, including the detection of ORFs, and the findings showed no mutations in the mitogenome that would explain the sterility of ‘Yulei 1’. Overall, our study provides a complete mitogenome of L. macranthoides, which will aid in its genetic marker exploration, evolutionary relationship analysis, and breeding programs.

During the Russia-Ukraine war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has strategically used social media to appeal for international support. This reflects a broader trend of political figures relying on digital platforms to shape public opinion and influence global narratives during crises. This work uses three main analysis methods, content, sentiment and social network analysis. The searched and collected dataset consists 604 valid tweets and 58,100 corresponding comments. The findings show that Zelenskyy employs both textual and visual narratives to construct a war-related agenda, influencing international public discourse. His agenda-setting is most effective in the early stages of the conflict but weakens over time. This study highlights Zelenskyy’s flexibility and adaptability in his media strategy, illustrating the evolving nature of political performance in a globalized media landscape. To maintain effective communication and image-building, leaders must balance audience psychology with the characteristics of digital media.

Amaranthus roxburghianus H.W. Kung 1935, belonging to the Amaranthaceae family, is recognized for its significant medicinal properties. However, molecular research on this species has been limited. This study represents the inaugural documentation of the sequencing and assembly of the complete plastome of A. roxburghianus. The genome spans a total length of 149,969 base pairs (bp), exhibiting a conventional quadripartite structure. This structure comprises a large single-copy (LSC) region of 83,917 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,124 bp, and two inverted repeat (IR) regions, each extending to 23,964 bp. In its entirety, the A. roxburghianus plastome encompasses 128 genes, of which 107 are unique, encompassing 77 individual protein-coding genes, 26 unique tRNA genes, and four unique rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis has shown a close resemblance between A. roxburghianus and A. polygonoides, both part of the subgenus Albersia. Although the genus Amaranthus is roughly divided into three subgenera, additional plastid genomic data are required for a more accurate assignment of A. albus and A. blitoides. The sequencing of this plastome is a significant step forward, likely to expedite the development of molecular markers and significantly contribute to genetic assays involving this distinctive species.

A Ti1.5Nb1Ta0.5Zr1Mo0.5 (TNTZM) refractory high entropy alloy (HEA) with a cellular structure was successfully fabricated by laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF). Compression testing and cyclic deformation testing results revealed that, in the cellular structure, the cell walls could store dislocations. Furthermore, the local chemical order (LCO) plays a crucial role in controlling dislocations within the cell wall region. The LCO not only facilitates dislocation slip but also generates additional lattice distortion upon stress-induced LCO destruction to enable dislocation pinning. This work offers novel insights into the microstructure of additively manufactured refractory HEAs and uncovers a distinct dislocation regulation mechanism.

A large-scale fine-grained Mg-Gd-Y-Zn-Zr alloy plate with high strength and ductility was successfully prepared by multi-pass friction stir processing (MFSP) technology in this work. The structure of grains and long period stacking ordered (LPSO) phase were characterized, and the mechanical properties uniformity was investigated. Moreover, a quantitative relationship between the microstructure and tensile yield strength was established. The results showed that the grains in the processed zone (PZ) and interfacial zone (IZ) were refined from 50 µm to 3 µm and 4 µm, respectively, and numerous original LPSO phases were broken. In IZ, some block-shaped 18R LPSO phases were transformed into needle-like 14H LPSO phases due to stacking faults and the short-range diffusion of solute atoms. The severe shear deformation in the form of kinetic energy caused profuse stacking fault to be generated and move rapidly, greatly increasing the transformation rate of LPSO phase. After MFSP, the ultimate tensile strength, yield strength and elongation to failure of the large-scale plate were 367 MPa, 305 MPa and 18.0% respectively. Grain refinement and LPSO phase strengthening were the major strengthening mechanisms for the MFSP sample. In particularly, the strength of IZ was comparable to that of PZ because the strength contribution of the 14H LPSO phase offsets the lack of grain refinement strengthening in IZ. This result opposes the widely accepted notion that IZ is a weak region in MFSP-prepared large-scale fine-grained plate.

The aluminum alloy components on automobile often experience high strain rate deformation during accidents. The dynamic deformation behavior and constitutive model are crucial for analysis of vehicle body collisions and failures. In this work, the 7A75 aluminum alloy plate was heat treated according to standard body manufacturing procedures. Quasi-static and dynamic tensile experiments were conducted on the aged 7A75 alloy in a wide strain rate range from 0.001 s−1 to 500 s−1. The dynamic deformation behavior of the alloy was revealed, and the constitutive models were established. It was found that the 7A75 alloy has strong strain rate sensitivity, and its mechanical properties can be significantly improved with the increase of strain rate. As the strain rate increases, the necking instability strain shifts towards higher values, which leads to a larger uniform deformation ability and fracture elongation. This behavior results in a better energy absorption capacity at high strain rates, thus providing a good collision protection property. The constitutive models, including Johnson-Cook (J-C) and Zerilli-Armstrong (Z-A) types, were established and compared. Note that the conventional J-C and Z-A models exhibit severe prediction distortion. Therefore, a modified J-C model incorporating strain rate compensation was introduced, which decrease the errors by 149% and achieves accurate predictions of both dynamic and static deformation behaviors over a wide range of strain rates.

Acalypha australis L. 1753 is a potherb popular among Asian populations and is a traditional herbal medicine. In the current study, the overall genetic diversity of A. australis still needs to be better. Here, we assembled and characterized the complete plastome of A. australis. The plastome is 168,885 bp in length with a large single-copy (LSC) of 94,576 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) of 19,715 bp, and two copies of inverted repeat region (IRs) of 27,297 bp each. The overall GC content is 34.9%. The plastome contains 127 genes, including 83 protein-coding genes, 36 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes. Phylogenomic analysis of the representative species of Euphorbiaceae showed that A. australis and A. hispida formed a monophyletic sister clade. The results of this study will support further research on the evolution and conservation of the Euphorbiaceae species; they will benefit pharmaceutical applications and ornamentation of the medicinal plant A. australis.

Commelina benghalensis L. 1753, a member of the Commelinaceae family, holds significant medicinal and culinary value. This study represents the first documentation of the sequencing and assembly of the entire plastome of C. benghalensis. The genome spans a total length of 160,663 bp, exhibiting a conventional quadripartite architecture that comprises a large single-copy (LSC) region (87,750 bp), a small single-copy (SSC) region (18,417 bp), and two inverted repeats (IR) regions (both 27,248 bp). In its entirety, the C. benghalensis plastome encompasses 129 genes (with 108 being unique), incorporating 77 individual protein-coding genes, 37 unique tRNA genes, and four unique rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a close resemblance between C. benghalensis and C. communis. The sequencing of this plastome stands to expedite the development of molecular markers and significantly contribute to genetic assays involving this distinctive plant.

High‐entropy alloys (HEAs) are novel materials composed of multiple elements with nearly equal concentrations and they exhibit exceptional properties such as high strength, ductility, thermal stability, and corrosion resistance. However, the intricate and diverse structures of HEAs pose significant challenges to understanding and predicting their behavior at different length scales. This review summarizes recent advances in computational simulations and experiments of structure‐property relationships in HEAs at the nano/micro scales. Various methods such as first‐principles calculations, molecular dynamics simulations, phase diagram calculations, and finite element simulations are discussed for revealing atomic/chemical and crystal structures, defect formation and migration, diffusion and phase transition, phase formation and stability, stress‐strain distribution, deformation behavior, and thermodynamic properties of HEAs. Emphasis is placed on the synergistic effects of computational simulations and experiments in terms of validation and complementarity to provide insights into the underlying mechanisms and evolutionary rules of HEAs. Additionally, current challenges and future directions for computational and experimental studies of HEAs are identified, including accuracy, efficiency, and scalability of methods, integration of multiscale and multiphysics models, and exploration of practical applications of HEAs.

Guanine deaminase (GD)plays important roles in the diagnosis of liver function. However, there is no totally rapid and simple for the eatimation of GD activity in clinical application. Herein, we have constructed an enzymatic assay system with highly sensitive and strong stability for quantification of GD activity by highly double enzyme-coupling (xanthine oxidase and uric acid oxidase) and adding compound stabilizer in GD kit. In this study, we validated parameters, including reagent blank, sensitivity, accuracy, inter-batch difference, intra-batch difference, linear range. Furthermore, composite stabilizers, containing gentamicin sulfate, bovine serum albumin, and mannitol, were selected to improve stability of GD kit during long-term storage. The experimental results showed that the absorbance of the reagent blank was 0.99). All indicators met the kit requirements for clinical applications. When gentamicin sulfate, bovine serum albumin, and mannitol were used as a stabilizer, the kit remained stable for 12 months without significant loss of enzymatic activity. These results indicated that GD kit possesses high sensitivity and strong stability, which can be used for routine biochemical applications and is of great significance for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of liver diseases.

ABSTRACT Background Young lung cancer is a rare subgroup accounting for 5% of lung cancer. The aim of this study was to compare the causes of death (COD) among lung cancer patients of different age groups and construct a nomogram to predict cancer‐specific survival (CSS) in young patients with advanced stage. Methods Lung cancer patients diagnosed between 2004 and 2015 were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database and stratified into the young (18–45 years) and old (> 45 years) groups to compare their COD. Young patients diagnosed with advanced stage (IVa and IVb) from 2010 to 2015 were reselected and divided into training and validation cohorts (7:3). Independent prognostic factors were identified through the Fine‐Gray's test and further integrated to the competing risk model. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), consistency index (C‐index), and calibration curve were applied for validation. Results The proportion of cancer‐specific death (CSD) in young patients was higher than that in old patients with early‐stage lung cancer (p

Abstract Nasopharyngeal (NP) swab is one of the most effective sampling devices for clinical specimens. However, commercial NP swabs often release samples through diluents, lowering analyte concentration and causing inaccurate detections. Here, we developed 3D-printed open-cell microlattice NP swabs with user-friendly high-efficiency controlled sample release (CR) mode. Compared with traditional NP swabs, our microlattice NP swabs show higher (~7–11 times) flexibility, larger (~2.3 times) and customizable release volume, higher (dozens to thousands of times) release concentration, high recovery efficiency (~100%), and the ability to quantify analyte levels. Our microlattice NP swabs have been thus demonstrated to improve the sensitivity and accuracy of antibody detection experiments using rapid detection kits. This study offers a promising approach to enhance sensitivity and accuracy in clinical specimen detections, and is beneficial to inspire the design of a wider range of biomedical devices based on 3D-printed microlattice metamaterials.

Metamaterials have garnered significant interest in recent years due to their unprecedented properties unattainable by natural substances and potential applications in various fields. In this review, we provide an in-depth analysis of a novel class of three-dimensional (3D) disordered alloy metamaterials, including metallic glasses and high/medium entropy alloys metamaterials, which offer a promising platform for the integration of structure and function. These materials are characterized by their unique including disordered atomic structures and alloy compositions modulation, enabling the manipulation of electromagnetic, thermal, and mechanical properties. We begin by discussing the underlying principles and synthesis methods of 3D disordered alloy metamaterials, followed by a comprehensive examination of their distinctive properties and potential applications in the realms of engineering, energy harvesting, and sensing. Furthermore, we delve into the existing challenges and future directions of this burgeoning field, encompassing aspects such as scalability, precision in fabrication, and the evolution of multi-functional materials. 3D disordered alloy metamaterials represent a promising avenue for the advancement of structure-function integration, with potential implications for a broad range of scientific and technological disciplines.

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is one of the fungi that cause plant diseases. It damages plants by secreting large amounts of oxalic acid and cell wall-degrading enzymes. To meet this challenge, we designed a new pH/enzyme dual-responsive nanopesticide Pro@ZnO@Pectin (PZP). This nanopesticide uses zinc oxide (ZnO) as a carrier of prochloraz (Pro) and is encapsulated with pectin. When encountering oxalic acid released by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, the acidic environment promotes the decomposition of ZnO; at the same time, the pectinase produced by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum can also decompose the outer pectin layer of PZP, thereby promoting the effective release of the active ingredient. Experimental data showed that PZP was able to achieve an efficient release rate of 57.25% and 68.46% when pectinase was added or under acidic conditions, respectively. In addition, in vitro tests showed that the antifungal effect of PZP was comparable to that of the commercial Pro (Pro SC) on the market, and its efficacy was 1.40 times and 1.32 times that of the Pro original drug (Pro TC), respectively. Crucially, the application of PZP significantly alleviated the detrimental impacts of Pro on wheat development. Soil wetting experiments have proved that PZP primarily remained in the soil, thereby decreasing its likelihood of contaminating water sources and reducing potential risks to non-target organisms. Moreover, PZP improved the foliar wettability of Pro, lowering the contact angle to 75.06°. Residue analyses indicated that PZP did not elevate prochloraz residue levels in tomato fruits compared to conventional applications, indicating that the nanopesticide formulation does not lead to excessive pesticide buildup. In summary, the nanopesticide PZP shows great promise for effectively managing Sclerotinia sclerotiorum while minimizing environmental impact.

The biological characteristics of Lymantria xylina Swinhoe (Lepidoptera: Erebidae), a moth that threatens coastal forests in Fuzhou, China, are closely linked to its spread risk. To characterize these traits, we primarily investigated emergence, reproductive, and flight behaviors. Our findings show that females typically emerge, mate, and copulate during specific times of day. The peak hours of emergence, courtship, and copulation are 13:00–14:00, 19:00–21:00, and around 0:00, respectively. The starting time of oviposition was concentrated before dawn and during the daytime. They preferentially lay eggs on columnar objects, including artificial ones. On average, females laid 361 eggs, lived for 4.5 days, and weighed 0.74 g. Non-ovipositing females were observed to fly for short distances, especially during the evening. Field observations suggest that these females can potentially travel up to 184.5 m in total and 34.5 m continuously. While this indicates a theoretical risk of long-distance dispersal, our findings suggest that the overall risk is limited. These results contribute to our understanding of the biology and dispersal potential of L. xylina.

In this study, a centrifugal feeding disc device is proposed. To investigate the influence of the process parameters on the discharging efficiency and the lifting of the discharging efficiency, the centrifugal feeding disc device was dynamically simulated based on the discrete element method (DEM), and the simulation results were experimentally verified. Based on the quadratic regression orthogonal test method, a significant lossless regression model of process parameters and discharging efficiency was established, and the response surface of the interaction of process parameters was obtained. The results indicated that the order of influence of the process parameters on the discharging speed of the centrifugal feeding disc was as follows: outer turntable speed > inner turntable speed > inner turntable tilt angle > conical turntable angle. The interaction of the conical turntable angle and the inner turntable tilt angle had the greatest influence on the centrifugal feed disc discharge efficiency. The response surface method (RSM) was used to optimize the process parameters, and the optimal combination of process parameters included an outer turntable speed of 135 r/min, an inner turntable speed of 64 r/min, an inner turntable tilt angle of 7°, and a conical angle of 15°. The discharged efficiency of the optimized centrifugal feeding disc device was increased by 31.9%.

Gradient porous structures based on triply periodic minimal surfaces offer exceptional specific strength and multi-functionality. However, strain heterogeneity complicates their deformation mechanisms and fracture modes. In this study, we fabricated a series of gradient porous NiTi alloys based on gyroid (G), diamond (D), and I-WP (I) unit cells, with porosities ranging from 50% to 70%. Surprisingly, the I structure exhibited an abnormally high compressive strength of nearly 600 MPa at around 50% porosity, more than twice that of the G and D structures. This performance gap was attributed to the activation of mixed deformation mechanisms and distinct fracture modes. While the G structure showed a uniform radial strain distribution, the D and I structures displayed pronounced radial strain gradients with concentrated central strains. The D structure deformed through relative sliding of oblique struts, while the I structure maintained macrostructural stability, with thick edge struts providing continuous strain hardening until monolithic fracture. This unique deformation behavior results from the synergistic effects of its intrinsic macrostructural stability, significant radial strain gradients, and sufficiently thicker edge struts. The integration of metallurgical and architectural design principles represents a novel approach to tailoring the mechanical properties of gradient porous metals for advanced applications.

In the context of energy transition and carbon neutrality strategies, distributed renewable energy is widely emerging on the distribution side. However, due to the volatility and randomness characteristics of distributed renewable energy, its full absorption poses a huge challenge to the economy and stable operation of the power grid. Flexible resources on the demand side, represented by air conditioners and electric vehicles, can participate in grid dispatching, improving the economic efficiency and reliability of system operation. To this end, this paper proposes an intraday dispatch strategy for demand-side flexible resources based on two-stage optimization. First, based on a generalized energy storage model, the adjustable flexibility of demand-side flexible resources is modeled. Second, to hinder the uncertainties related with markets and demand-side flexible resources, the rolling optimization is adopted for the optimal bidding, thus enabling demand-side flexible resources to participate in the intraday market with low risks of profit losses. Third, based on the bidding decision, real-time dispatch optimization is carried out to cope with the system operation deviation caused by forecast errors. Then, in the real-time control stage, the dispatch instructions are decomposed to the control units to achieve power tracking. Finally, the proposed method is simulated and verified on a test system. The results show that by coordinating the operation of demand-side flexible resources through two-stage optimization, the uncertainties of renewable energy output, market price, etc. Can be effectively overcome, and the economics of system operation can be improved.

[INLINE:1] Neurotrophic keratopathy is a persistent defect of the corneal epithelium, with or without stromal ulceration, due to corneal nerve deficiency caused by a variety of etiologies. The treatment options for neurotrophic keratopathy are limited. In this study, an ophthalmic solution was constructed from a chitosan-based thermosensitive hydrogel with long-term release of murine nerve growth factor (CTH-mNGF). Its effectiveness was evaluated in corneal denervation (CD) mice and patients with neurotrophic keratopathy. In the preclinical setting, CTH-mNGF was assessed in a murine corneal denervation model. CTH-mNGF was transparent, thermosensitive, and ensured sustained release of mNGF for over 20 hours on the ocular surface, maintaining the local mNGF concentration around 1300 pg/mL in vivo. Corneal denervation mice treated with CTH-mNGF for 10 days showed a significant increase in corneal nerve area and total corneal nerve length compared with non-treated and CTH treated mice. A subsequent clinical trial of CTH-mNGF was conducted in patients with stage 2 or 3 neurotrophic keratopathy. Patients received topical CTH-mNGF twice daily for 8 weeks. Fluorescein sodium images, Schirmer’s test, intraocular pressure, Cochet-Bonnet corneal perception test, and best corrected visual acuity were evaluated. In total, six patients (total of seven eyes) diagnosed with neurotrophic keratopathy were enrolled. After 8 weeks of CTH-mNGF treatment, all participants showed a decreased area of corneal epithelial defect, as stained by fluorescence. Overall, six out of seven eyes had fluorescence staining scores < 5. Moreover, best corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure, Schirmer’s test and Cochet-Bonnet corneal perception test results showed no significant improvement. An increase in corneal nerve density was observed by in vivo confocal microscopy after 8 weeks of CTH-mNGF treatment in three out of seven eyes. This study demonstrates that CTH-mNGF is transparent, thermosensitive, and has sustained-release properties. Its effectiveness in healing corneal epithelial defects in all eyes with neurotrophic keratopathy suggests CTH-mNGF has promising application prospects in the treatment of neurotrophic keratopathy, being convenient and cost effective.

Abstract High synthesis temperatures and specific growth substrates are typically required to obtain crystalline or oriented inorganic functional thin films, posing a significant challenge for their utilization in large-scale, low-cost (opto-)electronic applications on conventional flexible substrates. Here, we explore a pulse irradiation synthesis (PIS) to prepare thermoelectric metal chalcogenide (e.g., Bi2Se3, SnSe2, and Bi2Te3) films on multiple polymeric substrates. The self-propagating combustion process enables PIS to achieve a synthesis temperature as low as 150 °C, with an ultrafast reaction completed within one second. Beyond the photothermoelectric (PTE) property, the thermal coupling between polymeric substrates and bismuth selenide films is also examined to enhance the PTE performance, resulting in a responsivity of 71.9 V/W and a response time of less than 50 ms at 1550 nm, surpassing most of its counterparts. This PIS platform offers a promising route for realizing flexible PTE or thermoelectric devices in an energy-, time-, and cost-efficient manner.

Sodium alginate is a natural polysaccharide material with good gel properties. Presently, the sodium alginate-based gel beads prepared by gel properties are mainly used as microcapsules in the encapsulation of probiotics, the immobilization of cells and enzymes, and the encapsulation of essential oils. However, in recent years, using sodium alginate gel spheroidization technology to package viscous liquids has also attracted many studies, showing good application prospects. This paper summarizes the formation mechanism of sodium alginate gel balls. The preparation methods and application scope of sodium alginate gel balls are mainly summarized, including the forward spheroidization method, emulsion gel method, reverse spheroidization method, frozen reverse spheroidization method and coaxial extrusion method. Because the gel strength, water holding capacity and embedding rate of sodium alginate-based gel beads greatly affect their application, the compound mixing and hydrophobic modification of sodium alginate and the improvement method of secondary coating of sodium alginate-based gel beads are discussed. Finally, the application and development prospect of sodium alginate gel beads in food packaging is introduced, which provide theoretical references and new ideas for future research on sodium alginate gel beads in food packaging.

Abstract Background Research on human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) has shown tremendous progress in cell-based regenerative medicine. Corneal endothelial dysfunction is associated with the loss and degeneration of corneal endothelial cells (CECs), rendering cell replacement a promising therapeutic strategy. However, comprehensive preclinical assessments of hPSC-derived CECs for this cell therapy remain a challenge. Results Here we defined an adapted differentiation protocol to generate induced corneal endothelial cells (iCECs) consistently and efficiently from clinical-grade human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) with xeno-free medium and manufactured cryopreserved iCECs. Cells express high levels of typical CECs markers and exhibit transendothelial potential properties in vitro typical of iCECs. After rigorous quality control measures, cells meeting all release criteria were available for in vivo studies. We found that there was no overgrowth or tumorigenicity of grafts in immunodeficient mice. After grafting into rabbit models, the surviving iCECs ameliorated edema and recovered corneal opacity. Conclusions Our work provides an efficient approach for generating iCECs and demonstrates the safety and efficacy of iCECs in disease modeling. Therefore, clinical-grade iCECs are a reliable source for future clinical treatment of corneal endothelial dysfunction.

This work used electroshocking treatment (EST) plus external loading to regulate the microstructure of titanium matrix composites (TMCs). The external loading was 0.3 MPa. After EST plus external loading with 0.3 MPa, the α was reduced to 2.53 μm in size. The percentage of high angle grain boundaries (HAGBs) in α increased first and then decreased. The percent of HAGBs in TiB decreased, mainly due to the introduction of abundant dislocations in the TiB/matrix interface after EST. After EST, the maximum texture strength of TiB decreased from 13.09 to 12.97, and that of α decreased from 3.11 to 1.58. After EST under external loading with 0.3 MPa, the maximum texture strength of TiB decreased to 8.10. The orientation of TiB experienced significant variation. TEM results showed that TiB and α formed a distorted interface after EST under external loading with 0.3 MPa. The interplanar spacing of TiB and α was varied. All results show that the texture of TMCs can be relieved by EST plus external loading with 0.3 MPa. It is mainly attributed to the thermal and athermal effects and the imposed external loads with EST. EST plus external loading provides a new method for manipulating the microstructure of TMCs.

AbstractCampsis radicans (L.) Bureau 1864, a species of Bignoniaceae, has a widespread paleotropical distribution and is utilized for horticultural and traditional Chinese medicinal purposes. Despite the plant’s significance, its genetic diversity must be better understood. In this study, we have successfully assembled and characterized the complete plastome of C. radicans, marking a significant advancement toward comprehending its genetic composition. The plastome is 153,630 bp long and harbors 130 genes, including 86 protein-coding genes, 36 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes. Our phylogenomic analysis of the representative species of Bignoniaceae indicated that C. radicans formed a monophyletic sister clade of Campsis with C. grandiflora. These findings are crucial for conserving and utilizing this important plant species. They also highlight the potential for future research into the evolution and preservation of C. radicans, which could be advantageous in pharmaceutical applications.

Lattice structures show advantages in mechanical properties and energy absorption efficiency owing to their lightweight, high strength and adjustable geometry. This article reviews lattice structure classification, design and applications, especially those based on additive manufacturing (AM) technology. This article first introduces the basic concepts and classification of lattice structures, including the classification based on topological shapes, such as strut, surface, shell, hollow-strut, and so on, and the classification based on the deformation mechanism. Then, the design methods of lattice structure are analyzed in detail, including the design based on basic unit, mathematical algorithm and gradient structure. Next, the effects of different lattice elements, relative density, material system, load direction and fabrication methods on the mechanical performance of AM-produced lattice structures are discussed. Finally, the advantages of lattice structures in energy absorption performance are summarized, aiming at providing theoretical guidance for further optimizing and expanding the engineering application potential of lattices.

Phenylhydroxylamine and its derivates (PHAs) are important chemical intermediates. Phenylhydroxylamines are mainly produced via the catalytic reduction of aromatic nitro compounds. However, this catalytic reduction method prefers to generate thermodynamically stable aromatic amine. Thus, designing suitable catalytic systems, especially catalysts to selectively convert aromatic nitro compounds to PHAs, has received increasing attention but remains challenging. In this review, we initially provide a brief overview of the various strategies employed for the synthesis of PHAs, focusing on reducing aromatic nitro compounds. Subsequently, an in-depth analysis is presented on the catalytic reduction process, encompassing discussions on catalysts, reductants, hydrogen sources, and a comprehensive assessment of the merits and drawbacks of various catalytic systems. Furthermore, a concise overview is provided regarding the progress made in comprehending the mechanisms involved in this process of catalytic reduction of aromatic nitro compounds. Finally, the main challenges and prospects in PHAs’ production via catalytic reduction are outlined.

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) have garnered significant attention across various fields owing to their unique design incorporating multi-principal elements and remarkable comprehensive performance. Nevertheless, the enormous composition design space of HEAs makes conventional alloy design methods appear to be costly and inefficient. Recently, computer simulation technologies such as multi-scale simulation and machine learning have emerged as an efficient way to explore the composition design, structure, and performance simulation of HEAs.This review introduces the commonly used multi-scale simulation methods such as first-principles calculation, molecular dynamics simulation, Monte Carlo simulation, CALPHAD, finite element simulation, and machine learning. These methods not only simulate the microstructure and deformation behavior of HEAs but also predict crucial material properties like mechanical and physicochemical properties, thereby facilitating the design of HEAs. The current state-of-the-art advancements in multi-scale simulation and machine learning techniques for studying HEAs are summarized, encompassing their practical applications and potential limitations. The utilization of machine learning and multi-scale computation in materials science, as well as the future prospects are ultimately proposed.

Highlights An artificial macrophage with hierarchical nanostructure (BaSO4@ZIF-8/TRF NMΦ) is constructed as an alternative to immunoactive macrophages. The Zn2+ chemical messenger as an “artificial cytokine” is released from the artificial macrophage to induce tumor anoikis and enhance immunogenicity. The artificial macrophage can efficiently capture tumor antigens for antigen presentation and T cell activation to fabricate long-term antitumor immunity, successfully mimicking the basic functions of natural immunoactive macrophage.

Albizia kalkora (Roxb.) Prain 1897, belonging to the family Fabaceae, is not only a landscape tree but also a medicinal plant. At present, few plastomes have been reported from Albizia, which delays the in-depth phylogenomic studies and the development of high-resolution discriminating markers for this genus. Herein, we sequenced the first plastome of A. kalkora by NGS technology. The genome is a circular structure (176,158 bp), containing a large single-copy (LSC) region (91,521 bp), a small copy (SSC) region (5237 bp), and two inverted repeat (IR) regions (39,700 bp each). It has 35.45% GC content and encodes 109 unique genes, which are 76 protein-coding, 4 rRNA, and 29 tRNA genes. The genetic distance analysis of the intergenic spacer regions for A. kalkora, A. odoratissima and A. bracteate shows four intergenic regions with very high K2p values, namely, ccsA-ndhD (15.04), matK-rps16 (10.77), rps11-rpl36 (17.63) and rps3-rps19 (20.08), which can discriminate the three Albizia species. In addition, we identified ten pairs of regions that could be utilized to design primers to discriminate the three Albizia species. The phylogenetic analysis showed Albizia was closely related to Samanea. The results in this study will provide valuable information to elucidate the classification, identification and evolutionary history of Albizia.

Abstract This work attempts to investigate the inhibitory effect of L-lysine (Lys) on the thermal aggregation of coconut protein (CP). The results showed that under neutral conditions (pH = 7), temperature reduced the solubility and enhanced the thermally induced gel formation of CP. In addition, Lys reduced the fluorescence properties, particle size and increased the turbidity of CP, which had an inhibitory effect on heat induced gels. The results indicate that Lys plays an important role in inhibiting protein thermal aggregation by interacting with CP to create steric hindrance and increase protein electrostatic repulsion.

Abstract Background and Aims Sex determining region Y related high-mobility group box protein 9 (Sox9) is expressed in a subset of hepatocytes, and it is important for chronic liver injury. However, the roles of Sox9+ hepatocytes in response to the acute liver injury and repair are poorly understood. Methods In this study, we developed the mature hepatocyte-specific Sox9 knockout mouse line and applied three acute liver injury models including PHx, CCl4 and hepatic ischemia reperfusion (IR). Huh-7 cells were subjected to treatment with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in order to induce cellular damage in an in vitro setting. Results We found the positive effect of Sox9 deletion on acute liver injury repair. Small heterodimer partner (SHP) expression was highly suppressed in hepatocyte-specific Sox9 deletion mouse liver, accompanied by less cell death and more cell proliferation. However, in mice with hepatocyte-specific Sox9 deletion and SHP overexpression, we observed an opposite phenotype. In addition, the overexpression of SOX9 in H2O2-treated Huh-7 cells resulted in an increase in cytoplasmic SHP accumulation, accompanied by a reduction of SHP in the nucleus. This led to impaired mitochondrial function and subsequent cell death. Notably, both the mitochondrial dysfunction and cell damage were reversed when SHP siRNA was employed, indicating the crucial role of SHP in mediating these effects. Furthermore, we found that Sox9, as a vital transcription factor, directly bound to SHP promoter to regulate SHP transcription. Conclusions Overall, our findings unravel the mechanism by which hepatocyte-specific Sox9 knockout ameliorates acute liver injury via suppressing SHP signaling and improving mitochondrial function. This study may provide a new treatment strategy for acute liver injury in future. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Background Modular tissue engineering (MTE) is a novel “bottom-up” approach that aims to mimic complex tissue microstructural features. The constructed micromodules are assembled into engineered biological tissues with repetitive functional microunits and form cellular networks. This is emerging as a promising strategy for reconstruction of biological tissue. Results Herein, we constructed a micromodule for MTE and developed engineered osteon-like microunits by inoculating human-derived umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUMSCs) onto nHA/PLGA microspheres with surface modification of dual growth factors (BMP2/bFGF). By evaluating the results of proliferation and osteogenic differentiation ability of HUMSCs in vitro, the optimal ratio of the dual growth factor (BMP2/bFGF) combination was derived as 5:5. In vivo assessments showed the great importance of HUMSCs for osteogneic differentiation. Ultimately, direct promotion of early osteo-differentiation manifested as upregulation of Runx-2 gene expression. The vascularization capability was evaluated by tube formation assays, demonstrating the importance of HUMSCs in the microunits for angiogenesis. Conclusions The modification of growth factors and HUMSCs showed ideal biocompatibility and osteogenesis combined with nHA/PLGA scaffolds. The micromodules constructed in the current study provide an efficient stem cell therapy strategy for bone defect repair.

In this work, the electroshocking treatment (EST) was applied on the Ti–6Al–4V alloys prepared by laser melting deposition (LMD), and the evolutions of microstructure and mechanical property were investigated. The results indicated that the size of columnar grains in LMD Ti–6Al–4V was reduced after EST, and the α refinement was obvious. The basket weave microstructure existed due to the effect of EST. The results of electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) showed that EST could reduce the orientation concentration and weaken the texture. The texture in Ti–6Al–4V was formed during LMD, and it became uniform and weak after EST. On the mechanical properties, the microhardness of specimen increased after EST with 0.04 s, and the yield strength changed little and the strain increased more obviously because of the microregion phase transition. The compression fracture morphology revealed that the fracture mode of LMD Ti–6Al–4V changed from the brittle fracture to ductile fracture because of the microstructure variation. Based on above results, it demonstrates that EST is a new exploration method to manipulate the microstructure of LMD titanium alloys and modify the comprehensive mechanical properties of LMD titanium alloys.

It is well known that the mechanical properties of Ti-6.5Al-3.5Mo-1.5Zr-0.3Si are closely related to its microstructure and texture. In this work, a novel treatment of electroshocking treatment (EST) was adopted to optimize the microstructure and improve the mechanical properties of this titanium alloy. The grain orientation, texture, and mechanical properties of Ti-6.5Al-3.5Mo-1.5Zr-0.3Si alloy under EST were characterized and analyzed. With the increase of EST time to 0.04 s, the resultant acicular secondary αs shows a tendency of spheroidization and the increase in grain diameter, which leads to a little decrease in hardness and yield strength. The increase in EST time to 0.06 s resulted in the precipitation of martensitic phases with high aspect ratios and a reduction in grain size in Ti-6.5Al-3.5Mo-1.5Zr-0.3Si alloy, as well as generating a more uniform texture distribution. The optimization of microstructure and texture significantly enhances the hardness and yield strength. The results in this work demonstrate that EST can serve as a novel method to regulate the microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti-6.5Al-3.5Mo-1.5Zr-0.3Si alloy.

Abstract Objective Ovarian cancer (OV) has a high mortality rate all over the world, and extrachromosomal circular DNA (eccDNA) plays a key role in carcinogenesis. We wish to study more about the molecular structure of eccDNA in the UACC-1598–4 cell line and how its genes are associated with ovarian cancer prognosis. Methods We sequenced and annotated the eccDNA by Circle_seq of the OV cell line UACC-1598–4. To acquire the amplified genes of OV on eccDNA, the annotated eccDNA genes were intersected with the overexpression genes of OV in TCGA. Univariate Cox regression was used to find the genes on eccDNA that were linked to OV prognosis. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and cox regression models were used to create the OV prognostic model, as well as the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) curve and nomogram of the prediction model. By applying the median value of the risk score, the samples were separated into high-risk and low-risk groups, and the differences in immune infiltration between the two groups were examined using ssGSEA. Results EccDNA in UACC-1598–4 has a length of 0-2000 bp, and some of them include the whole genes or gene fragments. These eccDNA originated from various parts of chromosomes, especially enriched in repeatmasker, introns, and coding regions. They were annotated with 2188 genes by Circle_seq. Notably, the TCGA database revealed that a total of 198 of these eccDNA genes were overexpressed in OV (p

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is an overwhelming and incurable disabling condition, for which increasing forms of multifunctional biomaterials are being tested, but with limited progression. The promising material should be able to fill SCI-induced cavities and direct the growth of new neurons, with effective drug loading to improve the local micro-organism environment and promote neural tissue regeneration. In this study, a double crosslinked biomimetic composite hydrogel comprised of acellularized spinal cord matrix (ASCM) and gelatin-acrylated-β-cyclodextrin-polyethene glycol diacrylate (designated G-CD-PEGDA) hydrogel, loaded with WAY-316606 to activate canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling, and reinforced by a bundle of three-dimensionally printed aligned polycaprolactone (PCL) microfibers, was constructed. The G-CD-PEGDA component endowed the composite hydrogel with a dynamic structure with a self-healing capability which enabled cell migration, while the ASCM component promoted neural cell affinity and proliferation. The diffusion of WAY-316606 could recruit endogenous neural stem cells and improve neuronal differentiation. The aligned PCL microfibers guided neurite elongation in the longitudinal direction. Animal behavior studies further showed that the composite hydrogel could significantly recover the motor function of rats after SCI. This study provides a proficient approach to produce a multifunctional system with desirable physiological, chemical, and topographical cues for treating patients with SCI.

Titanium and its alloys are widely used in biomedical fields as metallic biomaterials, specifically for implant applications. There are many kinds of titanium alloys capable to be used in clinical treatment, Ti–6Al–4V alloys are among the most widely used biomedical implant materials due to their favorable strength, high corrosion and wear resistance along with acceptable biocompatibility. Based on the complex physiological environment in the human body and the different needs for the treatment of various diseases, the performance requirements of Ti–6Al–4V alloy are getting higher and higher. Unfortunately, Ti–6Al–4V alloy has some disadvantages like high friction coefficient, mismatch of elastic modulus, and release of cytotoxic elements, hence its original performance is not satisfactorily sufficient to meet the growing clinical requirements. In consequence, further multilateral improvement of the overall performance of Ti–6Al–4V alloy by surface modification leads to achieving more and more compatible materials with the human body environment with stable and long-term effective use. Surface modification alone is not enough for improvement of implants' efficiency and the structural influence and topological features of cellular structures should also be considered. This paper is focused on the surface modification methods for improving wear resistance, corrosion resistance, biocompatibility, antibacterial property, wettability, and elastic modulus of Ti–6Al–4V alloy with the aim to achieve high throughput nascent Ti–6Al–4V alloys for biomedical applications. It mainly focuses on the new generation of medical implants especially additively manufactured ones and it summarizes the latest articles related to Ti–6Al–4V surface modification methods and elucidates how biocompatibility improvement will be a key research direction in the field of modern Ti–6Al–4V implants in the future.

The incorporation of nanoparticles into metallic biomaterials has been recognized as a significant approach to improve their bioactivity for biomedical applications. In this study, friction stir processing (FSP) was employed to incorporate TiO2 nanoparticles as bioactive reinforcement into the β titanium alloy Ti–35Nb–2Ta–3Zr (TNTZ) matrix to construct an integrated micro-nano composite layer. The effect of different TiO2 contents on the osteogenic capacity of rat bone marrow stromal stem cells (BMSCs) was studied. The TiO2/TNTZ composite layer exhibited a refined grain structure with a mean grain size of approximately 10 μm and a characteristic surface morphology of pronounced peaks and valleys with enhanced RSkw and RKur values. Moreover, TiO2/TNTZ significantly promoted the adhesion, proliferation, and spreading of BMSCs, upregulated the expression of genes related to osteogenesis (ALP and Runx2) up to nearly 1.5 times, and enhanced the expression of ALP and OCN (P

Titanium and its alloys are promising materials for engine production, special pump manufacturing, and bone implants. However, the abrasion resistance and fracture toughness of Ti alloys are insufficient to withstand extreme high loading conditions and harsh environments. Surface modification is an effective way to improve the performance of Ti alloys. In this study, Ag and Cu were added to Ti6Al4V alloy through friction stir processing to modify its surface. The different ratios of the Ag/Cu powder mixture were designed to optimize the surface modification of Ti6Al4V, and the relationship between intermetallic compounds and martensitic transformation was analyzed. The martensitic transformation was induced by AgCuTi phases. The submicron-size martensite was distributed outside the AgCuTi particle, while the nano-laminar martensitic band was generated inside the AgCuTi particle. Under the co-modification of Ti alloy using Ag and Cu, the surface of Ti6Al4V alloy exhibited higher hardness (4.3 GPa) values and lower modulus (100.6 GPa), which gave the credit to the formation of AgCuTi and martensitic transformation. The alloy specimen was subjected to short heat treatment at 600 °C for 30 min to further modify the gradient structure. After the short heat treatment of the Ag/Cu co-modified specimen, a lower modulus (88.8 GPa) and a high level of hardness (4.1 GPa) were achieved. In addition, superelastic strain recovery was also enhanced, showing the further induced martensitic transformation. This work provides new insight into the surface modification of titanium alloys using the FSP method to achieve the ideal hardness and elastic modulus balance.

Bidens pilosa L. 1753 is a perennial herbaceous flowering plant, traditionally used in foods and medicines. In this study, we sequenced, assembled, and characterized the complete plastome of B. pilosa from Beijing, China. The plastome (MN385242) is circularized with a conservative quadripartite structure. Its length is 150,524 bp, including a large single-copy region (83,535 bp), a small single-copy region (17,627 bp), and a pair of inverted repeat regions (each 24,681 bp). The plastome consists of 128 genes, including 78 unique protein-coding, 28 unique tRNA, and 4 unique rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analyses showed all five B. pilosa plants couldn’t form a monophyletic clade and were separated into three clades. The results of K2P distance and molecular markers were all consistent with those of phylogenetic analysis, revealing high genetic diversity and even possible misidentifications of the B. pilosa. Our results highlighted the importance of correct species identification of materials in medicinal products.

The identification of safflower filament targets and the precise localization of picking points are fundamental prerequisites for achieving automated filament retrieval. In light of challenges such as severe occlusion of targets, low recognition accuracy, and the considerable size of models in unstructured environments, this paper introduces a novel lightweight YOLO-SaFi model. The architectural design of this model features a Backbone layer incorporating the StarNet network; a Neck layer introducing a novel ELC convolution module to refine the C2f module; and a Head layer implementing a new lightweight shared convolution detection head, Detect_EL. Furthermore, the loss function is enhanced by upgrading CIoU to PIoUv2. These enhancements significantly augment the model’s capability to perceive spatial information and facilitate multi-feature fusion, consequently enhancing detection performance and rendering the model more lightweight. Performance evaluations conducted via comparative experiments with the baseline model reveal that YOLO-SaFi achieved a reduction of parameters, computational load, and weight files by 50.0%, 40.7%, and 48.2%, respectively, compared to the YOLOv8 baseline model. Moreover, YOLO-SaFi demonstrated improvements in recall, mean average precision, and detection speed by 1.9%, 0.3%, and 88.4 frames per second, respectively. Finally, the deployment of the YOLO-SaFi model on the Jetson Orin Nano device corroborates the superior performance of the enhanced model, thereby establishing a robust visual detection framework for the advancement of intelligent safflower filament retrieval robots in unstructured environments.

A pioneering aggregation-induced emission (AIE) fluorescent compound, PCBO, has been engineered initially, combining oxalyl di-hydrazide and a phenylcarbazole derivative. When tested in a THF/H2O solution with a fraction of water (fw) at 70 %, the compound reveals superior selectivity, interference-resilience, and expansive pH range. Additionally, it manifests as a recyclable 'turn-off' fluorescent sensor for Cu2+ in an aqueous medium, with a detection limit (LOD) standing impressively low at 1.6 × 10−7 M. The coordination ratio that emerges between PCBO and Cu2+ is maintained at 2:1, alongside a binding constant of approximately 3.18 × 1011 M−2. The testing paper generated demonstrates commendable performance in the measurement of Cu2+ in water samples. The working principle of the fluorescence mechanism is theorized and established through sophisticated simulation calculations.