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Abstract With the continuous operation of oil and gas stations and petrochemical equipment, it has been found that steel small bore pipelines have different degrees of corrosion defects, which have led to pipeline cracking and medium leakage, and have increasingly attracted great attention of their oil and gas and chemical enterprises. In order to ensure the safe operation of the small diameter pipes with external surface corrosion defects, the influence law of the size of corrosion defects on the bearing capacity of the small diameter pipes were studied by finite element analysis and test simulation method, and the damage mechanism and failure form were analyzed, and the failure pressure prediction formula of the small diameter pipes with defects was fitted. It provides technical guidance for the applicability evaluation of corrosion-containing steel small diameter pipes in oil and gas chemical stations or installations.

Abstract This article presents a novel methodology to maximize wind farm power generation by integrating graph neural networks (GNN), supervised learning, and reinforcement learning techniques. First, the article introduces a graph‐based representation of the wind farm, capturing wind turbines as vertices and the inter‐turbine wake interactions as edges. The construction of this graph representation integrates the Jensen wake model, which includes insights derived from prior knowledge of wind farm aerodynamics. Subsequently, a detailed description of the GNN model's architecture, incorporating a message passing mechanism, is outlined. This GNN model is trained initially with supervised learning using a dataset of optimal pitch angles generated from the analytical results derived from Jensen wake model. Moreover, to improve the GNN model's accuracy and adaptability, reinforcement learning techniques are employed. The GNN model interacts with a high‐fidelity wind farm simulation environment, receiving feedback in the form of rewards derived from the wind farm's actual power output. Through a policy gradient approach, the GNN parameters undergo iterative updates, enabling the model to learn and adapt to dynamic wind conditions and intricate turbine interactions. The effectiveness and advantages of the proposed methodology are demonstrated through comprehensive case studies across various wind farm layouts.

Abstract This study aimed to develop and validate a risk prediction model based on real-world data to assess the risk of delayed recovery from anesthesia in elderly lung adenocarcinoma patients underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) radical resection. This study is a retrospective study of real-world data. A total of 257 elderly lung adenocarcinoma patients who underwent VATS radical resection from January 2022 to December 2023 in a tertiary hospital in Wuhan were selected. Patients were divided into delayed recovery (n = 42) and non- delayed recovery group (n = 215) according to whether delayed recovery occurred after anesthesia. Lasso regression was used to screen the independent variables. Logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors of delayed recovery from anesthesia, and a nomogram model was established. Bootstrap method was used to internally verify the nomogram model. Delayed recovery from anesthesia occurred in 42 of 257 elderly lung adenocarcinoma patients underwent VATS radical resection (16.34%). Logistic regression analysis showed that anesthesia duration, intraoperative infusion volume, inhaled desflurane, preoperative respiratory tract infection, intraoperative hypothermia and diagnosed with hypertension were risk factors for delayed recovery from anesthesia in elderly lung adenocarcinoma patients underwent VATS radical resection (P

Abstract Background and Aims Cotton-peanut rotation is a sustainable farming practice that enhances land utilization and promotes the sustainable development of agriculture. Crop rotation can reduce the occurrence of pests and diseases, as different crops have varying levels of resistance to such threats. Additionally, by alternating the types of crops grown, the soil environment is changed, which can lead to the elimination of favorable conditions for pathogens and pests, thereby alleviating the impact of these issues. Furthermore, cotton-peanut rotation can improve soil fertility.To investigate the effects of different crop rotation systems on crop yield, soil nutrients, and soil microbial communities. Methods: Using high-throughput sequencing technology, investigate the soil microbial diversity in the root zone after cotton-peanut rotation.Various planting patterns, including cotton continuous cropping (MC), peanut continuous cropping (HC), peanut-cotton-peanut rotation (HR), and fallow (X), were established to assess variations in crop yield, soil nutrients, and soil microbial diversity. Results: Significant differences were observed in crop yield, soil nutrients, and soil microbial community structure among different planting patterns. The HR system significantly increased the output compared with the HC and MC systems. Additionally, HR exhibited significantly lower total nitrogen (N) and basic nitrogen (BN) contents than HC and MC, whereas MC showed lower total potassium (K) and available potassium (AK) contents. HR led to a decrease in soil bacterial diversity but an increase in fungal diversity, with Ascomycota and Mortierellomycota being dominant. Various bacteria (Chloroflexi, Bacteroidota, and Actinobacteriota) associated with organic matter degradation and nutrient cycling were found across different planting systems, enhancing material cycling efficiency. Furthermore, Planctomycetota bacteria related to crop nutrient synthesis and Glomeromycota bacteria aiding plant nutrient absorption were significantly higher in the MC system than in the HR or HC systems. Redundancy analysis indicated a significant negative correlation between crop rotation and soil fungal community, whereas Ascomycota exhibited a significant negative correlation with organic matter.Conclusion: Peanut-cotton rotation can mitigate soil nutrient loss, enhance beneficial microorganism diversity, suppress harmful bacterial populations, stabilize ecosystems, and boost crop yield.

Based on the key diagnostic characteristics such as petiole, clypeus, and hypersternaulus, five new species of Passaloecus from China are identified: P. clypearcuatus Li & Ma, sp. nov., P. clypeconvexus Li & Ma, sp. nov. P. edentutus Li & Ma, sp. nov., P. margdentatus Li & Ma, sp. nov., and P. sternoleios Li & Ma, sp. nov. Detailed descriptions, diagnoses, and photographs of diagnostic characteristics are provided for these new species. Additionally, a key to the known species of Passaloecus in China is updated and illustrated, further enhancing the understanding of biodiversity within this genus.

Abstract Dissecting the genetic basis of seed traits in wheat is impeded by limited genetic polymorphisms and significant variations caused by environmental conditions and seed position in a spikelet. Seed performance is largely determined by endosperm development controlled by spatiotemporal variation in gene activities, which is greatly affected by chromatin status. Here, we map genome-wide dynamic distributions of H3K27me3, H3K4me3 and H3K9ac modifications and profile gene transcription across wheat endosperm development. The combinatorial effects of active and repressive marks ensure spatiotemporal dynamic gene expression, especially for starch biosynthesis. By scanning the transcription factor binding motifs in the ATAC-seq peaks, hub regulators are identified from the regulatory network. In addition, we observe significant correlations between sequence polymorphisms of hub regulators and variations in seed traits in a germplasm population. Thus, the analysis of genomic regulatory activities together with genetic variation provides a robust approach to dissect seed traits in bread wheat.

Abstract As the COVID-19 epidemic ends in China, it is worth exploring the growth after experiencing the trauma of the epidemic. China has been managing the epidemic for a relatively long time compared to other countries. Many scholars have researched trauma and post-traumatic growth in groups such as doctors and patients. However, little attention has been paid to the post-traumatic growth of ordinary people who experienced the epidemic in the Chinese context and the related influencing factors. Based on the educational system as the research context, this study proposes the effects of proactive personality and social support on PTG in the post-epidemic era through the mediation of meaningfulness of life. To empirically examine the influences of PTG in the post-epidemic era, an online survey of 1210 university students was conducted for data analysis. The analysis results suggest that proactive personality and social support positively influence meaning in life. Proactive personality, social support and meaning in life positively influence post-traumatic growth. Proactive personality and social support social support and proactive personality indirectly influence post-traumatic growth through the mediation of the meaning in life. This research empirically investigated the role of personality, social support, meaning in life, and post-traumatic growth among university students.

Abstract Low temperatures are a key factor affecting the growth, development, and geographical distribution of prickly ash. This study investigated the impact of ecological and geographical factors on the freezing tolerance of prickly ash germplasm. Thirty-seven germplasm samples from 18 different origins were collected, and their freezing tolerance was comprehensively evaluated. The correlation between freezing tolerance and the ecological and geographical factors of their origins was also analyzed. Significant differences in freezing tolerance were observed among germplasm from different origins. The semi-lethal temperature of the germplasm ranged from − 12.37 to 1.08 °C. As temperatures decreased, the relative conductivity (REC) and catalase (CAT) activity of the germplasm gradually increased, while soluble sugar (SS), soluble protein (SP), free proline (Pro), and Peroxidase (POD) activities decreased and then increased. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity initially increased and then decreased. A comprehensive evaluation of freezing tolerance was conducted using a logistic equation, membership function, and cluster analysis. Germplasm from Tongchuan and Hancheng (Shaanxi Province, China), Asakura (Japan), and Yuncheng (Shanxi Province, China) exhibited the highest freezing tolerance, whereas those from Rongchang (Chongqing Municipality, China), Qujing (Yunnan Province, China), and Honghe (Yunnan Province, China) had the lowest. The correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between freezing tolerance and latitude, and a significant negative correlation with the temperature of origin. Germplasm from higher latitudes showed higher SS content, SOD and CAT activities, stronger antioxidant enzyme activity, and better freezing tolerance compared to those from lower latitudes. REC was lower in germplasm originating from low-temperature areas than in those from high-temperature areas. Additionally, SP, Pro content, SOD, and POD activities were higher, indicating effective scavenging of active oxygen free radicals. No significant correlation was found between altitude and longitude of origin and freezing tolerance. However, at similar latitudes, prickly ash from higher altitudes displayed higher antioxidant enzyme activity and stronger freezing tolerance compared to those from lower altitudes. These findings provide a scientific basis for breeding prickly ash cultivars suited to different ecological regions.

Citrus bacterial canker (CBC) is resulted from Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (Xcc) infection and poses a significant threat to citrus production. Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are critical in maintaining redox homeostasis in plants, especially in relation to abiotic and biotic stress responses. However, the function of GSTs in resisting CBC remains unclear. Here, citrus glutathione S-transferases were investigated applying a genome-wide approach. In total, 69 CsGSTs belonging to seven classes were identified, and the phylogeny, chromosomal distribution, gene structures and conserved motifs were analyzed. Several CsGSTs responded to Xcc infection, as observed in the upregulation of CsGSTF1 and CsGSTU18 in the CBC-sensitive ‘Wanjincheng’ variety but not in the resistant ‘Kumquat’ variety. CsGSTF1 and CsGSTU18 were localized at the cytoplasm. Transient overexpression of CsGSTF1 and CsGSTU18 mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging, whereas the virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) of CsGSTF1 and CsGSTU18 caused strong CBC resistance and ROS burst. The present study investigated the characterization of citrus GST gene family, and discovered that CsGSTF1 and CsGSTU18 negatively contributed to CBC through modulating ROS homeostasis. These findings emphasize the significance of GSTs in infection resistance in plants.

Microfluidic technology utilizing the deterministic lateral displacement (DLD) method holds significant promise for efficiently separating micro-particles and biological cells. Despite the notable high throughput advantages associated with DLD chips, their widespread application is impeded by the substantial manufacturing costs of tens of thousands of micropillars. This study aims to explore the feasibility of employing the injection molding method for the mass production of DLD microfluidic chips. A multistage DLD chip with varied critical diameters was designed to isolate white blood cells from the human whole blood. The separation effectiveness was verified with the polydimethylsiloxane chip fabricated by standard soft lithography. Subsequently, nickel mold inserts were electroformed to fabricate thermoplastic DLD chips via the injection molding. The replication quality of micropillars under different molding parameters was studied. The capability of injection-molded chips to effectively achieve particle separation was validated. Results showed that thermoplastic chips with good replication quality were obtained, providing a scale-up production strategy for fabricating polymer-based microfluidic chips for disposable separation applications.

In this study, multicomponent synergistic effects were adopted to enhance the glass-forming ability (GFA), processing window (PW), thermal stability, and soft magnetic properties (SMPs) of FeCuSiB nanocrystalline alloys (NAs) with high Fe and Cu contents via P and C co-alloying. The co-addition of P and C is beneficial for enhancing the GFA, expanding the PW, and increasing the crystallization resistance of the compound phases in present FeCuSiBPC alloys. Consequently, the Fe81.5Cu1.7Si3.8B9P3C1 alloy exhibited a large optimum TA window of up to 100 °C and a large tA window of 40 min for nanocrystallization. Crystallization kinetic analysis showed that the co-addition of P and C led to a high-frequency factor (v) in the precipitation of α-Fe crystals, which was related to the high nanocrystal density (Nd) of α-Fe. This result may be attributed to the nucleation of α-Fe by Cu and CuP clusters. Additionally, the co-addition of P and C increased the growth active energy (Ep) of the α-Fe crystals because of their larger atomic diffusion resistance. The high Nd and Ep values led to the formation of fine nanostructures and excellent SMPs in FeCuSiBPC alloys. Therefore, the Fe81.5Cu1.7Si3.8B9P3C1 NA obtained by annealing at 420 °C for 30 min exhibited excellent SMPs with a Bs of up to 1.78 T, a low Hc of 7.5 A/m, and a high μe of 9863 (@1 kHz). This study provides technical and theoretical guidance for optimizing the composition and processability of NAs with high Fe and Cu contents, paving the way for mass production of high-performance soft magnetic NAs.

Amorphous alloys exhibit numerous interesting and abundant magnetic properties due to their disordered structural traits and have been extensively studied by researchers. In this work, the effects of a small amount of transition metals doping on the magnetic properties of Co80-xMxB20 (x = 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10; M = V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni) amorphous alloys were systematically investigated by utilizing first-principles molecular dynamics. The trend of the magnetic moment change in the simulated calculation conforms well to the experimental results. The doping of V atoms leads to the fastest rate of decrease in the magnetic moment of the surrounding Co atoms, and there is only an antiferromagnetic interaction between the V and Co atoms. When doped with Cr and Mn atoms, there is mutual competition between ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic coupling in the amorphous alloy, Cr reduces the magnetic moment of the surrounding Co atoms, while the change in the magnetic moment of the Co atoms around Mn is small. The doping of Fe and Ni causes an increase in the magnetic moment of the surrounding Co atoms. The reason may be due to the charge transfer between atoms. The doping of Fe and Ni has a small effect on the average magnetic moment of the Co atoms in the amorphous alloy. The results provide necessary theoretical support for the development of the Co-based amorphous alloys with excellent magnetic characteristics.

Abstract A muon collider represents a promising candidate for the next generation of particle physics experiments after the expected end of LHC operations in the early 2040s. Rare or hard-to-detect processes at the LHC, such as the production of multiple gauge bosons, become accessible at a TeV muon collider. We present here the prospects of detecting quantum entanglement and the violation of Bell inequalities in H → ZZ → 4ℓ events at a potential future muon collider. We show that the spin density matrix of the Z boson pairs can be reconstructed using the kinematics of the charged leptons from the Z boson decays. Once the density matrix is determined, it is straightforward to obtain the expectation values of various Bell operators and test the quantum entanglement between the Z boson pair. Through a detailed study based on Monte-Carlo simulation, we show that the generalized CGLMP inequality can be maximally violated, and testing Bell inequalities could be established with high significance.

Abstract Metalloproteinases are ubiquitous in organisms. Most metalloproteinases secreted by pathogenic microorganisms are also called virulence factors, because they degrade proteins in the external tissues of the host, thereby reducing the host’s immunity and increasing its susceptibility to disease. Zinc metalloproteinase is one of the most common metalloproteinases. In our report, we studied the biological function of zinc metalloprotease FgM35 in Fusarium graminearum and the pathogen–host interaction during infection. We found that the asexual and sexual reproduction of the deletion mutant ΔFgM35 were affected, as well as the tolerance of F. graminearum to metal stress. In addition, deletion of FgM35 reduced the virulence of F. graminearum. The wheat target TaZnBP was screened using a wheat yeast cDNA library, and the interaction between FgM35 and TaZnBP was verified by HADDOCK molecular docking, yeast two-hybrid, Bi-FC, Luc, and Co-IP assays. The contribution of TaZnBP to plant immunity was also demonstrated. In summary, our work revealed the indispensable role of FgM35 in the reproductive process and the pathogenicity of F. graminearum, and it identified the interaction between FgM35 and TaZnBP as well as the function of TaZnBP. This provides a theoretical basis for further study of the function of metalloproteinases in pathogen–host interactions.

Abstract Transformer-based methods have achieved excellent results in the field of time series forecasting due to their powerful ability to model sequences and capture their long-term dependencies. However, Transformer-based methods are still computationally inefficient and have high costs when modeling long sequences. In addition, previous work ignored the destruction of the original in-channel features by too many mixed features when performing channel mixing. To address the above issues, we introduce Mamba into the field of time series forecasting. The selective state-space model Mamba models long sequences more efficiently by expanding linearly according to the sequence length. Based on this, we propose Channel Mixing Mamba (CMMamba), which uses bidirectional Mamba to model sequences and uses a channel mixing mechanism to select appropriate mixed features to enhance the feature representation within the original channel. By introducing Mamba, we achieve efficient modeling of sequences. We also propose Deep Convolutional Structure (DCS) to learn cross-channel dependencies and temporal order information. Extensive experimental results on six real-world public datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of CMMamba.

Abstract Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a chronic disease among people aged 65 and older. As the aging population continues to grow at a rapid pace, AD has emerged as a pressing public health issue globally. Early detection of the disease is important, because increasing evidence has illustrated that early diagnosis holds the key to effective treatment of AD. In this work, we developed and refined a multi-layer cyclic Residual convolutional neural network model, specifically tailored to identify AD-related submicroscopic characteristics in the facial images of mice. Our experiments involved classifying the mice into two distinct groups: a normal control group and an AD group. Compared with the other deep learning models, the proposed model achieved a better detection performance in the dataset of the mouse experiment. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and precision for AD identification with our proposed model were as high as 99.78%, 100%, 99.65% and 99.44%, respectively. Moreover, the heat maps of AD correlation in the facial images of the mice were acquired with the class activation mapping algorithm. It was proven that the facial images contained AD-related submicroscopic features. Consequently, through our mouse experiments, we validated the feasibility and accuracy of utilizing a facial image-based deep learning model for AD identification. Therefore, the present study suggests the potential of using facial images for AD detection in humans through deep learning-based methods.

Two-dimensional (2D) layered materials with unique physicochemical properties, such as graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides, and hexagonal boron nitride, have shown considerable potential in the electrical and electronics industries as well as society. To realize the practical applications of 2D materials, the size, shape, and edge structures must be refined. Etching is a critical processing step in the semiconducting industry and its potential as an efficient approach for fabricating diverse nanostructures of 2D materials has been demonstrated, broadening their applications in the field of nanoelectronics. In this paper, we present an overview of recent advances in anisotropic etching of various 2D materials. Anisotropic etching and the associated mechanisms are discussed in context of the synthesis, processing, and characterization of 2D materials. An overview of the applications of anisotropic etched 2D materials is provided. Finally, the challenges and future opportunities for anisotropic etching of 2D materials are discussed.

Abstract Metabolic memory (MM) is a major factor in the delayed wound healing observed in diabetic patients. While “Nocardia rubrum cell wall skeleton” (Nr-CWS) is utilized to enhance macrophage proliferation in immune diseases, its impact on MM wounds in diabetes is unclear. This study demonstrates that transient hyperglycemia leads to prolonged damage in vascular endothelial cells by decreasing METTL3 expression, leading to decreased RNA methylation and impaired cellular metabolism. Remarkably, Nr-CWS application increases METTL3 levels in these cells, facilitating the recovery of cell function. Further in vivo and in vitro analyses demonstrate that transient hyperglycemia-induced reduction in METTL3 hinders RNA methylation of the downstream gene Cds2, impacting mitochondrial function and energy metabolism and consequently reducing angiogenic capacity in endothelial cells. This impairment significantly influences diabetic wound healing. Our findings highlight the profound impact of transient hyperglycemia on wound healing, establishing METTL3 as a significant role in vascular complications of diabetes. This study not only elucidates the pathophysiological mechanisms behind MM in diabetic wounds but also suggests Nr-CWS as a potential therapeutic agent, offering a novel approach for treating diabetic wounds.

Abstract The construction of databases of detrital zircon is important for Earth science research. A total of 27,915 U–Pb ages and 4,968 Hf isotopic compositions of detrital zircons from the upper Paleozoic–Mesozoic strata of the North China Block were compiled from articles in the Web of Science and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure. This dataset yields five age groups, at 3.9–1.0 Ga, 1,000–540 Ma, 540–360 Ma, 360–240 Ma and 240–95 Ma. The 3.9–1.0 Ga group has two peaks at ~2.5 and ~ 1.85 Ga. The 1,000–540 Ma and 540–380 Ma groups have three peaks at ~920 Ma, 780–750 Ma and ~ 440 Ma. Detrital zircon grains with ages of 360–240 Ma have multiple age peaks at ~380, ~320, ~280 and ~250 Ma. The group with ages of 240–95 Ma yields four peak ages at ~220, ~180, ~160 and ~120 Ma. Corresponding εHf(t) values range from −81.3 to +41.9, with two‐stage Hf model ages (TDM2) of 4,335–204 Ma. This dataset provides a comprehensive and systematic archive of detrital zircon data for Paleozoic–Mesozoic successions in the North China Block, which can be used to track tectono‐sedimentary and crustal evolution. In using this dataset, two issues need to be considered. First, the number of detrital zircon analyses from each sample varies markedly, which may influence the interpretation of the dataset. Second, there may be large uncertainties in the stratigraphic ages assigned to the samples.

Abstract Background The objective of our research was to investigate the specific mechanism of FTO in diabetic kidney disease (DKD) progression. Methods The DKD model was established with renal tubular epithelial HK-2 cells and mice in vitro and in vivo. The N6-methyladenosine (m6A) content in cells was detected using dot plot assay and the m6A levels of NLRP3 was detected with the MeRIP assay. The mRNA and protein levels were tested with real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blot. The IL-1β and IL-18 levels were assessed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The cell viability was measured by cell counting kit (CCK)-8 assay and cell pyroptosis was determined with Annexin V and propidium iodide (PI) double staining followed by flow cytometry analysis. RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP) and dual luciferase reporter assays were conducted to detect the interaction between FTO and NLRP3. m6A levels were detected by Me-RIP assay. The renal injury was measured by observing the renal morphology and urine and blood levels of relevant indicators. Results The results indicated that high glucose treatment induced HK-2 cell pyroptosis. m6A levels were prominently elevated in high glucose treated HK-2 cells while FTO expression were significantly down-regulated. FTO over-expression promoted cell viability but inhibited pyroptosis of HK-2 cells under high glucose (HG) treatment. Moreover, FTO could inhibit NLRP3 expression. RIP and Me-RIP assays indicated that FTO could bind with NLRP3 and regulate its m6A modification level. Further luciferase assay confirmed that FTO binds with the 233–237 bp region of NLRP3. NLRP3 neutralized the function of FTO in the HG stimulated HK-2 cells. In vivo, the H&E staining showed that FTO over-expression alleviated the kidney injury and suppressed the pyroptosis induced by DKD. Conclusion We found that FTO could inhibit the DKD progression in vivo and in vitro by regulated the m6A modification of NLRP3.

Abstract Salt efflorescence is one of the major hazards to cultural heritages, masonries, and highways etc. It is now generally accepted that damages caused by salt efflorescence are mainly due to continuous cycles of salt crystallization/dissolution or hydration/dehydration in confined spaces. The position where salt efflorescence occurs and its type are closely related to the degree of damages caused by salt efflorescence. It is known that water is the key environmental factor determining the salt crystallization position. But influence of the correlation between water supply and evaporation on the position of salt crystallization is still not clearly understood. In this work, a set of experiments are designed to investigate salt efflorescence in porous matrix. It is found that the types and positions of salt efflorescence have little to do with nucleation, but are mainly governed by crystal growth, which is controlled by the rates of water evaporation, water and salt supply, capillary forces and surface properties of the porous matrices.

Abstract Many studies have focused on the effects of small molecules, such as amino acids, on metabolism under hypoxia. Recent findings have indicated that phenylalanine levels were markedly elevated in adaptation to chronic hypoxia. This raises the possibility that phenylalanine treatment could markedly improve the hypoxic endurance. However, the importance of hypoxia-regulated phenylalanine is still unclear. This study investigates the role of phenylalanine in hypoxia adaptation using a hypoxic zebrafish model and multi-omics analysis. We found that phenylalanine-related metabolic pathways are significantly up-regulated under hypoxia, contributing to enhanced hypoxic endurance. Phenylalanine treatment reduced ROS levels, improved mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate (OCR), and extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) in hypoxic cells. Western blotting revealed increased phenylalanine uptake via L-type amino transporters (LAT1), activating the LKB1/AMPK signaling pathway. This activation up-regulated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 alpha (PGC-1α) and the Bcl-2/Bax ratio, while down-regulating uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), thereby improving mitochondrial function under hypoxia. This is the first comprehensive multi-omics analysis to demonstrate phenylalanine’s crucial role in hypoxia adaptation, providing insights for the development of anti-hypoxic drugs. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Background Despite major primary health care (PHC) reforms in China with the 2009 launch of the National Essential Public Health Service Package, the country experiences many challenges in improving the management of non-communicable diseases in PHC facilities. “EMERALD” is a multifaceted implementation strategy to strengthen the management of hypertension and type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in PHC facilities. The study aims to: (1) examine the effectiveness of EMERALD in improving hypertension and T2DM management; (2) evaluate the implementation of the interventions; and (3) use the study findings to model the long-term health economic impact of the interventions. Methods The EMERALD intervention components include: (1) empowerment for PHC providers through training and capacity building; (2) empowerment for patient communities through multi-media health education; and (3) empowerment for local health administrators through health data monitoring and strengthening governance of local PHC programs. An interrupted time series design will be used to determine the effectiveness of the interventions based on routinely collected health data extracted from local health information systems. The primary effectiveness outcome is the guideline-recommended treatment rates for people with hypertension and T2DM. Secondary effectiveness outcomes include hypertension and T2DM diagnosis and control rates, and enrolment and adherence rates to the recommended care processes in the National Essential Public Health Service Package. A mixed-methods process evaluation will be conducted to evaluate the implementation of the interventions, including the reach of the target population, adequacy of adoption, level of implementation fidelity, and maintenance. Qualitative interviews with policy makers, health administrators, PHC providers, and patients with hypertension and/or T2DM will be conducted to further identify factors influencing the implementation. In addition, health economic modelling will be performed to explore the long-term incremental costs and benefits of the interventions. Discussion This study is expected to generate important evidence on the effectiveness, implementation, and health economic impact of complex PHC interventions to strengthen the primary care sector’s contribution to addressing the growing burden of non-communicable diseases in China. Trial registration The study has been registered on Chinese Clinical Trial Registry at https://www.chictr.org.cn/ (Registration number ChiCTR2400082036, on March 19th 2024).

Abstract Racial and ethnic disparities persist in cancer survival rates across the United States, despite overall improvements. This comprehensive analysis examines trends in 5-year relative survival rates from 2002–2006 to 2015–2019 for major cancer types, elucidating differences among racial/ethnic groups to guide equitable healthcare strategies. Data from the SEER Program spanning 2000–2020 were analyzed, focusing on breast, colorectal, prostate, lung, pancreatic cancers, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, acute leukemia, and multiple myeloma. Age-standardized relative survival rates were calculated to assess racial (White, Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian/Pacific Islander) and ethnic (Hispanic, Non-Hispanic) disparities, utilizing period analysis for recent estimates and excluding cases identified solely through autopsy or death certificates. While significant survival improvements were observed for most cancers, notable disparities persisted. Non-Hispanic Blacks exhibited the largest gain in breast cancer survival, with an increase of 5.2% points (from 77.6 to 82.8%); however, the survival rate remained lower than that of Non-Hispanic Whites (92.1%). Colorectal cancer survival declined overall (64.7–64.1%), marked by a 6.2% point drop for Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Natives (66.3–60.1%). Prostate cancer survival declined across all races, with Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Natives showing a decrease of 7.7% points (from 96.9 to 89.2%). Lung cancer, acute leukemia, and multiple myeloma showed notable increases across groups. Substantial racial/ethnic disparities in cancer survival underscore the notable need for tailored strategies ensuring equitable access to advanced treatments, particularly addressing significant trends in colorectal and pancreatic cancers among specific minority groups. Careful interpretation of statistical significance is warranted given the large dataset.

The theory of cohomologies on multiplicative Hom-$ \delta $-Jordan Lie color triple systems is given. As an application, deformations and extensions on the multiplicative Hom-$ \delta $-Jordan Lie color triple system are characterized in view of relevant cohomology.

Abstract This paper introduces an enhanced time synchronization method different from IEEE 1588 (PTP). The proposed algorithm employs a unique synchronous message packet structure with a fixed length of 10 bytes and the highest system priority. This design enables preemptive transmission, effectively reducing transmission and queuing delays. Additionally, it applies a Kalman filtering model to mitigate noise interference, including clock drift, network delay jitter, and network asymmetry. The algorithm also features a clock drift compensation mechanism to continuously adjust the clock, ensuring high precision and stability in time synchronization. The algorithm proposed in this paper has the characteristics of being easy to implement, requiring minimal hardware resources, and being applicable to a variety of networks. Simulation results show that, with an 80 MHz crystal oscillator, the time offset between master and slave clocks does not exceed ± 1 clock cycle in symmetric communication links. In asymmetric links, the maximum time offset is within ± 3 clock cycles. Compared to the original PTP algorithm and the Kalman filter-based time synchronization algorithm, this method reduces the time offset from several microseconds to less than 40 ns.

To comprehensively assess the current state-of-art in asphalt foaming technology, the following four key aspects have been reviewed systematically: foaming principles, test methods, evaluation indicators, and influencing factors. Key findings reveal that asphalt foaming was primarily driven by the vaporization of water, with deterioration processes including bubble collapse and liquid film drainage. However, the current understanding of asphalt foaming principles remains limited, primarily due to difficulties in capturing and precisely measuring its microscopic behaviors during asphalt foaming process. Volume changes provided an intuitive means to evaluate the expansion capacity of asphalt and its foaming stability. Bubble evolution characteristics of foamed asphalt offered promising insights into its foaming performance. Traditional ruler and stopwatch-based assessments were being superseded by automated techniques like laser and ultrasonic ranging. Nevertheless, the current measuring equipment still lacks the capability to comprehensively evaluate the foaming effect of asphalt across various dimensions. Asphalt temperature and foaming water consumption significantly affected asphalt foaming performance, and the inclusion of foaming agents typically led to a notable increase in the half life of foamed asphalt. However, the interaction between foaming agents and asphalt, as well as the underlying mechanisms affecting the foaming effect, are still unclear and require further exploration. Future research should primarily focus on the correlation between asphalt foaming effect and mixture performance, aiming to guide the practical engineering application of foamed asphalt mixtures and enlarge the advantages of such low-emission and sustainable mixtures.

In order to create a cost-effective Zr alloy with superior overall characteristics, Zr-xFe (x = 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 at.%) binary alloys were prepared by a vacuum arc furnace system. The microstructure of these alloys was examined utilizing various techniques such as optical microscope, X-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that the addition of Fe effectively refined α-Zr slats, and the Zr3Fe compound phase was dispersed throughout the alloy. However, the composition line of the alloying elements in the phase diagram intersected with the Zr2Fe and β-Zr eutectic lines when the Fe content exceeded 6 at.%. Zr–Fe alloys were transformed from monocrystalline-eutectoid to eutectic-eutectoid reactions. The Zr3Fe compound phase accumulated inside the grain and at the grain boundary as a result of the eutectic reaction, which stabilized the microstructure of the Zr–Fe alloys. This seriously affected the mechanical and corrosion properties of the alloys. The mechanical and corrosion properties of the alloys were assessed by universal testing machine, dynamic microhardness tester, Vickers hardness tester, and electrochemical workstation. The mechanical and corrosion properties of Zr–2Fe were excellent due to the coupling effect of Zr3Fe and grain refinement. The surface of the Zr–Fe alloy was analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, revealing the presence of passivation film components ZrO2 and Fe2O3.

Recent studies have shown that age-related aging evolution is accompanied by imbalances in intestinal homeostasis. Marine red yeast (MRY) is a functional probiotic that has been shown to have antioxidant, immune and other properties. Therefore, we chose 900 healthy Hy-Line Brown hens at 433 d old as the research subjects and evaluated the correlation between intestinal health, laying performance, and egg quality in aged hens through the supplementation of MRY. These laying hens were assigned into 5 groups and received diet supplementation with 0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, and 2% MRY for 12 weeks. The results showed that MRY supplementation increased egg production rate, average egg weight, and egg quality, and decreased feed conversion ratio and daily feed intake (P

Aiming at the removal of native oxide film on 2024-T3 Al alloy before plasma electrolytic oxidation, the methods to reduce the fatigue damage caused by grit blasting are explored. Effects of the grit size and pressure on surface roughness, residual compressive stress (RCS), and fatigue life of the Al alloy are studied. Increasing grit size and pressure leads to the increase in the surface roughness and RCS. Based on the theorem of momentum and tool cutting principle, mechanism of the grits on the craters and RCS is revealed. It is found that the angularness of the small-sized grit results in the formation of long scratches. The grit with high kinetic energy induces the large craters and high RCS. The craters are the primary fatigue crack initiation source. Moreover, the craters with long scratch and large height lead to the premature fatigue failure of the grit blasted specimens. However, Fatigue behavior is insignificantly affected by the RCS. The results provide new insights into the fatigue deterioration mechanism and life optimization of the grit blasted samples. Consequently, a parameter optimization scheme for the fatigue life of the grit blasted Al alloy is proposed.

Gene expression is dynamic and varies at different stages of processes. The identification of gene profiles with temporal-specific expression patterns can provide valuable insights into ongoing biological processes, such as the cell cycle, cell development, circadian rhythms, or responses to external stimuli such as drug treatments or viral infections. However, currently, no database defines, identifies or archives gene profiles with temporal-specific expression patterns. Here, using a high-throughput regression analysis approach, eight linear and nonlinear parametric models were fitted to gene expression profiles from time-series experiments to identify eight types of gene profiles with temporal-specific expression patterns. We curated 2684 time-series transcriptome datasets and identified 2644,370 gene profiles exhibiting temporal-specific expression patterns. The results were stored in the database GeTeSEPdb (gene profiles with temporal-specific expression patterns database, http://www.inbirg.com/GeTeSEPdb/). Moreover, we implemented an online tool to identify gene profiles with temporal-specific expression patterns from user-submitted data. In summary, GeTeSEPdb is a comprehensive web service that can be used to identify and analyse gene profiles with temporal-specific expression patterns. This approach facilitates the exploration of transcriptional changes and temporal patterns of responses. We firmly believe that GeTeSEPdb will become a valuable resource for biologists and bioinformaticians.

ABSTRACT: To effectively assess the extent of the mycotoxin contamination of grapes, a method was developed to analyze 22 mycotoxins by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole/orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS). Samples were extracted and purified using the QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) procedure. The extracts were separated on a BEH Shield C18 column (100 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.7 μm), using methanol and water with 0.1% formic acid solution and 2 mmol/L ammonium acetate as the mobile phases. The quantification was performed according to a matrix-matched external standard method. There was a good linear relationship within the respective mass concentration ranges of 22 mycotoxins; the correlation coefficients were not less than 0.998 1. The limit of quantification was 0.3–10.0 μg/kg. Mycotoxin recovery ranged from 68.6% to 109.0%, with a relative standard deviation of 1.28%–12.80%. The method is simple, rapid, highly sensitive, and accurate, making it useful for screening grapes for common and emerging mycotoxins.

In this paper, we investigated the adaptive exponential synchronization problem of impulsive coupled neutral stochastic neural networks with Lévy noise and probabilistic delays under non-Lipschitz conditions. A stochastic variable with a Bernoulli distribution was utilized to transform the information regarding probabilistic delays into a model featuring deterministic time delays and stochastic parameters. In the context of adaptive controllers, exponential synchronization conditions depending on the delay, noise intensity, and impulse factor were derived using Lyapunov-Krasovskii functions, the nature of Lévy noise, and some inequality methods. To provide further support for the proposed approach, two numerical illustrations were presented.

Abstract Background With a series of clinical trials confirming the sensitivity of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) to immunotherapy, research on personalized treatment for SCLC has gained increasing attention. Currently, the most widely accepted subtype of SCLC is based on the expression levels of Achaete-Scute Family BHLH Transcription Factor 1 (ASCL1), neurogenic differentiation factor 1 (NEUROD1), and POU class 2 homeobox 3 (POU2F3). However, real-world studies on this classification remain limited. Methods We retrospectively collected biopsy specimens from patients who received immunotherapy at Shandong Provincial Hospital between January 2019 and July 2021. After determining the patient subtypes using immunohistochemistry, we analyzed the relationships between each subtype and survival as well as some clinical characteristics. Results In our study, we found that the subtype I achieved a significant survival advantage compared to the other groups. Additionally, the subtype A demonstrated a significant survival disadvantage. Among patients in the subtype I, there was a higher proportion of early brain metastasis and patients with a family history of tumors, while the subtype A had a lower proportion. Furthermore, the subtype A exhibited relatively poor immune infiltration. Conclusion In a diverse cohort of SCLC patients receiving immunotherapy, the subtype-I showed significant survival advantages while the subtype-A experienced a worse survival.

Abstract This study aims to analyze the risk factors associated with delayed postoperative bleeding (DPPB) following colorectal polyp surgery, develop a dynamic nomogram and evaluate the model efficacy, provide a reference for clinicians to identify the patients at high risk of DPPB. Retrospective study was done on patients who underwent endoscopic colorectal polypectomy at the First Hospital of Lanzhou University from January 2020 to March 2023. Differences between the group with and without DPPB were compared, and independent risk factors for DPPB occurrence were identified through univariate analysis and combination LASSO and logistic regression. A dynamic nomogram was constructed based on multiple logistic regression to predict DPPB following colorectal polyp surgery. Model evaluation included receiver operating characteristic (ROC), Calibration curve, Decision curve analysis (DCA). DPPB occurred in 38 of the 1544 patients included. multivariate analysis showed that direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), polyp location in the right hemi colon, polyp diameter, drink, and prophylactic hemoclips were the independent risk factors for DPPB and dynamic nomogram were established. Model validation indicated area under the ROC curve values of 0.936, 0.796, and 0.865 for the training set, validation set, and full set, respectively. The calibration curve demonstrated a strong alignment between the predictions of the column-line diagram model and actual observations. The decision curve analysis (DCA) displayed a significant net clinical benefit across the threshold probability range of 0–100%. The dynamic nomogram aids clinicians in identifying high-risk patients, enabling personalized diagnosis and treatment.

Abstract This study aimed to reveal the diversity and variation in panicle traits of the Chinese prickly ash and clarify their influence on the its systematic classification to provide a theoretical basis and technical support for the efficient utilization of Chinese prickly ash germplasm resources and breeding. Sixteen panicle traits were identified from 35 Chinese prickly ash germplasm resources from 2021 to 2022. The diversity of these panicle traits and their role in the plant’s systematic classification were studied using variance, correlation, cluster, and principal component analyses. Cluster analysis showed that the 35 Chinese prickly ash germplasm resources could be divided into two groups with Euclidean distances of 25. Further analysis showed that yield traits such as panicle length, panicle width, primary branching, grain number per panicle, and grain weight per panicle were significantly positively correlated with grain chlorophyll content, while grain anthocyanin content was negatively correlated with both panicle (panicle length, panicle width, panicle length to width ratio, primary branching, grain number per panicle, and grain weight per panicle) and grain characteristics (single grain weight, thousand-grain weight, grain length, grain width and fruit shape index). In conclusion, Chinese prickly ash germplasms have diverse panicle traits. Z. armatum has dark green grains, long and wide panicles, a long conical shape, many primary branches, high grain weight, and high grain number per panicle. In contrast, Z. bungeanum has bright red seeds, a panicle width larger than its length, short and conical panicles, a small number of primary branches, and low grain weight per panicle and number of grains per panicle. Overall, Z. armatum had a significant yield advantage over Z. bungeanum.

Abstract This paper proposes an all-sky star map identification algorithm that can simultaneously achieve high identification probability, low algorithm complexity, and small databases for well photometric and intrinsic parameters-calibrated star sensors. The proposed algorithm includes three main steps. First, a binary radial pattern table is constructed offline. Then, the maximum value matching of the radial pattern is performed between the star spots and the guide stars, and the star pairs (i.e., the minimum star map) after radial pattern matching undergo a coarse matching through angular distance cross-validation. Finally, a reference star map is designed based on the identified star pairs, and the matching of all the star spots in the field of view is realized. Simulation and analysis results show that the database required by the proposed algorithm for 5,000 guide stars is not larger than 200 KB. Also, when false and missing star spots account for 50% of all guide stars and the star spot extraction error is 0.5 pixel (the corresponding pointing error is 26″), the average star map identification time of the proposed algorithm is less than 2 ms, and its identification probability is higher than 98%. The results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm performs better than similar algorithms.

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to evaluate the adverse effects of allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplanted via intravenous infusion in dogs and examine their safety. We performed a retrospective analysis of various clinical assessments, including physical examination, blood tests, and radiographs, and monitored the formation of neoplasms during a 6-month follow-up period in 40 client-owned dogs that received intravenous infusion of adipose tissue-derived MSCs (AT-MSCs) for the treatment of various underlying diseases between 2012 and 2018. Results No significant adverse effects of MSC therapy were detected by clinical assessment, blood tests, or radiographic examination in the 6-month follow-up period after the first MSC treatment. Additionally no new neoplasms were observed during this period. Conclusions To our knowledge, this study is the first to evaluate the safety aspects (≥ 6 months) associated with intravenous allogeneic AT-MSC infusion. These results suggest that allogenic AT-MSC infusion could be a useful and relatively safe therapeutic approach in canines.

Abstract Background As of September 2023, more than 1,000 cases of monkeypox (mpox) have been reported in China. Based on the available evidence, men who have sex with men (MSM) are at high risk for mpox infection. This study aimed to analyses the self-reported infection status, knowledge, attitude and influencing factors of monkeypox among MSM in Jiaxing City, China. Methods A web-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in September 2023 to gather data on participants’ socio-demographic profiles, mpox-related knowledge, sexual behavior characteristics, and other potentially related information to mpox knowledge. Multivariate regression modeling was employed to analyze the factors influencing the level of mpox-related knowledge. Results A total of 562 MSM were recruited; 4.3% self-reported being HIV-positive, 83.3% of respondents had heard of mpox, and 2.3% of them reported having suspected symptoms. 89.7% of respondents were willing to be vaccinated against mpox, but only 24.8% had a high level of knowledge about mpox. The main factors influencing knowledge of mpox were education level, household registration, homosexual anal intercourse in the past 6 months, and taking the HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Conclusions Knowledge of mpox among MSM living in the Jiaxing area needs to be enhanced, but willingness to get vaccinated is high. Educational level, household location, sexual behavior and PrEP use have important effects on knowledge of mpox. Individuals exhibiting symptoms indicative of suspected mpox had a diminutive consultation frequency, and it is imperative to augment screening efforts for mpox symptoms within specific demographic groups to prevent the underreporting of mpox cases.

The search for new green and efficient stabilizers is of great importance for the stabilization of nitrocellulose (NC). This is due to the shortcomings of traditional stabilizers, such as high toxicity. In this study, reduced polyaniline (r-PANI), which has a similar functional structure to diphenylamine (DPA) but is non-toxic, was prepared from PANI based on the action with N2H4 and NH3–H2O, and used for the first time as a potential stabilizer for NC. XPS, FTIR, Raman, and SEM were used to characterize the reduced chemical structure and surface morphology of r-PANI. In addition, the effect of r-PANI on the stabilization of NC was characterized using DSC, VST, isothermal TG, and MMC. Thermal weight loss was reduced by 83% and 68% and gas pressure release by 75% and 49% compared to pure NC and NC&3%DPA, respectively. FTIR and XPS were used to characterize the structural changes of r-PANI before and after reaction with NO2. The 1535 cm−1 and 1341 cm−1 of the FTIR and the 404.98 eV and 406.05 eV of the XPS showed that the –NO2 was generated by the absorption of NO2. Furthermore, the quantum chemical calculation showed that NO2 was directly immobilized on r-PANI by forming –NO2 in the neighboring position of the benzene ring.

Abstract Industrial CO2 electrolysis via electrochemical CO2 reduction has achieved progress in alkaline solutions, while the same reaction in acidic solution remains challenging because of severe hydrogen evolution side reactions, acid corrosion, and low target product selectivity. Herein, an industrial acidic CO2 electrolysis to pure HCOOH system is realized in a proton-exchange-membrane electrolyzer using an acid-tolerant Bi-based metal-organic framework guided by a Pourbaix diagram. Significantly, the Faradaic efficiency of HCOOH synthesis reaches 95.10% at a large current density of 400 mA/cm2 with a high CO2 single-pass conversion efficiency of 64.91%. Moreover, the proton-exchange-membrane device also achieves an industrial-level current density of 250 mA/cm2 under a relatively low voltage of 3.5 V for up to 100 h with a Faradaic efficiency of 93.5% for HCOOH production, which corresponds to an energy consumption of 200.65 kWh/kmol, production rate of 12.1 mmol/m2/s, and an energy conversion efficiency of 38.2%. These results will greatly aid the contemporary research moving toward commercial implementation and success of CO2 electrolysis technology.

Abstract Background With the fast pace of modern life, people have less time for meals, but few studies have examined the association between the habit of fast eating and metabolic diseases. Objective Combining the results of the current study and the prior ones, we aimed to investigate the possible relationship between fast eating and the risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Methods This is a sub-analysis of a multicenter cross-sectional study of 1965 participants investigated the association between fast eating and MASLD in Chinese. Fast eating was defined as meal time less than five minutes and participants were divided into three categories based on their self-reported frequency of fast eating: ≤1 time/month, ≤1 time/week and ≥2 times/week. We further conducted a literature search for available studies published before November, 2023 as well as a meta-analysis to investigate the association between fast eating and MASLD. Results The proportion of MASLD was 59.3%, 50.5%, and 46.2% in participants with fast eating ≥2 times/week, ≤1 time/week and ≤1 time/month, respectively (P for trend

Abstract In recent years, research on organ-on-a-chip technology has been flourishing, particularly for drug screening and disease model development. Fibroblasts and vascular endothelial cells engage in crosstalk through paracrine signaling and direct cell–cell contact, which is essential for the normal development and function of the heart. Therefore, to faithfully recapitulate cardiac function, it is imperative to incorporate fibroblasts and vascular endothelial cells into a heart-on-a-chip model. Here, we report the development of a human heart-on-a-chip composed of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes, fibroblasts, and vascular endothelial cells. Vascular endothelial cells cultured on microfluidic channels responded to the flow of culture medium mimicking blood flow by orienting themselves parallel to the flow direction, akin to in vivo vascular alignment in response to blood flow. Furthermore, the flow of culture medium promoted integrity among vascular endothelial cells, as evidenced by CD31 staining and lower apparent permeability. The tri-culture condition of iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes, fibroblasts, and vascular endothelial cells resulted in higher expression of the ventricular cardiomyocyte marker IRX4 and increased contractility compared to the bi-culture condition with iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts alone. Such tri-culture-derived cardiac tissues exhibited cardiac responses similar to in vivo hearts, including an increase in heart rate upon noradrenaline administration. In summary, we have achieved the development of a heart-on-a-chip composed of cardiomyocytes, fibroblasts, and vascular endothelial cells that mimics in vivo cardiac behavior.

Abstract Background Silage is widely used to formulate dairy cattle rations, and the utilization of antibiotics and methane emissions are 2 major problems for a sustainable and environmentally beneficial ruminant production systems. Bacteriocin has received considerable attention because of its potential as an alternative to antibiotics in animal husbandry. However, the impact of bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria on the microbiological conversion process of whole-plant corn silage and rumen fermentation remains limited. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of 2 class IIa bacteriocin-producing strains Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ATCC14917 and CICC24194 on bacterial community composition and ensiling profiles of whole-plant corn silage and its in vitro rumen fermentation, microbiota, and CH4 emissions. Results Both bacteriocin-producing strains increased the lactic acid concentration in silage fermented for 7 d, whereas the lowest lactic acid was observed in the ATCC14917 inoculated silage fermented for 90 d (P

Abstract Introduction Early identification of patients with sepsis at high risk of death remains a challenge, and whether brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) or N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) has a prognostic effect on patients with sepsis is controversial. Here, we clarified the prognostic value of BNP and NT-proBNP and sought to establish suitable cutoff values and intervals. Methods We searched five databases to identify studies that met the inclusion criteria. The primary outcomes were the pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), area under the curve (AUC), and corresponding 95% credible interval (95% CI) of BNP and NT-proBNP. The secondary outcomes were the sensitivity and specificity of BNP or NT-proBNP in subgroup analyses. Results Forty-seven studies were included in our meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivity of NT-proBNP (0.77 [0.68, 0.84]) was weaker than that of BNP (0.82 [0.76, 0.87]), the pooled specificity of NT-proBNP (0.70 [0.60, 0.77]) was less than that of BNP (0.77 [0.71, 0.82]), and the AUC of BNP (0.87 [0.83–0.89]) was greater than that of NT-proBNP (0.80 (0.76–0.83]). The results of the subgroup analysis showed that the cutoff range of 400–800 pg/mL for BNP had high sensitivity (0.86 [0.74–0.98]) and specificity (0.87 [0.81–0.93]) and was probably the most appropriate cutoff range. Conclusions Elevated levels of BNP and NT-proBNP were significantly related to the mortality of patients with sepsis and had a moderate prognostic value in predicting the mortality of patients with sepsis. In addition, our meta-analysis preliminarily established appropriate cutoff values for BNP and NT-proBNP.

Atherosclerosis is a severe cardiovascular disease followed by the accumulation of atherosclerotic plaques within the lumen of blood vessels resulting in reduced blood flow thus initiating a series of events. Conventional therapies for atherosclerosis encounter multiple challenges, especially difficulty in precisely concentrating in certain affected regions and the potential for unwanted side effects. Consequently, scientists are focused on developing nanoformulations for atherosclerosis diagnosis and therapy. Peptide-based nanomedicines improve conventional therapies by offering improved structural and therapeutic stability and enabling target-specific delivery. Their inherent biocompatibility and biodegradability additionally render them desirable materials intended for in vivo use. This review manuscript aims to provide an in-depth overview of peptide-based nanomedicines for atherosclerosis, focusing on targeted cells like endothelial cells, macrophages, and monocytes and their interaction with different plaque components. Moreover, the manuscript also highlights the latest progress in multimodal techniques and provides a comprehensive overview of limitations associated with their practical implementation.

To elucidate the development patterns and influencing factors of natural fractures in deep-buried tight oil reservoirs, a comprehensive evaluation was conducted using a large amount of core samples, thin section, physical property data, imaging and conventional logging, water injection pressure testing and other data. The focus was on the tight oil reservoirs within the Ⅱ-Ⅵ oil layers of the third member of the Paleogene Hetaoyuan Formation in the southeastern An'peng area of the Biyang Depression, Nanxiang Basin. These oil formations, deposited in fan-delta front environment, are characterized by a high content of rock debris, indicating proximal deposition. A strong positive correlation between reservoir porosity and permeability was observed. Among the various sandstone lithologies, fractures predominantly developed in fine sandstone, followed by siltstone, while gravelly sandstone generally lacked fractures. High-angle and vertical fractures were predominant, constituting 87.8% of the total, while low-angle oblique and horizontal fractures accounted for 7.3% and 4.9%, respectively. The main controlling factors for fracture development in these tight reservoirs included lithology, depositional microfacies, and local structures. Thin and fine-grained single or composite sand bodies typically had more deve-loped fractures, particularly in front channel, channel flank, mouth bar, and outer edge of distal bars. Conversely, fractures were less developed in sheet sands or delta front microfacies. Moreover, fractures primarily formed at structural inflection points, predominantly at the tops and wings of forward structures and were primarily oriented along the WE and NE directions, followed by the NW direction. These fractures predominantly formed during the Neogene depression period (late Himalayan). Fractures significantly influence water channeling in tight oil reservoirs, necessitating enhanced dynamic and static monitoring of the degree, extent, and orientation of fracture development.

Abstract Due to the cancer therapy-related cardiovascular toxicity, heart failure following cancer therapy has a significant mortality rate. Gene-targeted therapy promotes the re-entry of existing cardiomyocytes into the cell cycle to achieve myocardial regeneration, which is a promising strategy for preventing and treating heart failure after myocardial infarction. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are considered as potential targets for myocardial regeneration due to their strong stability, resistance to degradation, and potential role in heart development and cardiovascular diseases. By comparing the myocardial tissue of mice in the sham operation group and the Doxorubicin therapy group (DOX), we observed a significant decrease in Cirsorbs expression in the DOX group. Cirsorbs was predominantly localized in cardiomyocytes and exhibited high conservation. Subsequent investigations revealed that Cirsorbs could promote myocardial proliferation and inhibit myocardial apoptosis. Mechanistic studies further demonstrated that Cirsorbs could bind to miR99 and reduce its expression level. Meanwhile, miR99 was found to bind to GATA4 mRNA and decrease its expression level. The binding of Cirsorbs to miR99 alleviated the repression of miR99, thereby enhancing GATA4 expression and the transcription of downstream cyclin A2 and cyclin E1. This, in turn, increased cardiomyocyte proliferation and reduced apoptosis. In conclusion, Cirsorbs holds promise as an effective target for myocardial regeneration in reducing cancer therapy-related cardiovascular toxicity.

CrMnFeCoNi high-entropy alloy (HEA) manufactured by laser powder bed fusion has been demonstrated to possess a superior trade-off of tensile strength and ductility due to unique microstructures during the printed process. However, the improvement of mechanical properties of 3D printed-CrMnFeCoNi HEA through the addition of nano-scaled ceramic particles instead of in-situ precipitated particles is poorly studied. In this work, the effects of WC additions on the microstructure evolution and strengthening mechanism of additive-manufactured HEA samples at both room temperature (298 K) and cryogenic temperature (77 K) were systematically investigated. Except for the representative hierarchical microstructure characteristics of 3D printed- HEA samples, WC particles are dissolved completely in the CrMnFeCoNi matrix without obvious element segregation. The mechanical tests at room temperature (RT) revealed an excellent comprehensive mechanical property (tensile strength of 925 MPa and ductility of 38%) of the HEA sample with 5 wt% WC addition, which is mainly attributed to the solid solution strengthening induced by WC dissolution. In addition, the strength and ductility of the HEA sample synchronously increase when the testing temperature decreases from 298 K to 77 K, due to the reaction between dislocation and high-density deformation twins (DTs). The tensile strength (∼1420 MPa) of HEA-5 wt% WC sample at 77 K is higher than that of traditional CrMnFeCoNi HEA, because of contribution to strengthening from dislocation pile-up, entanglement and wavy dislocation slide.