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Background: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is the most prevalent complication of diabetes, and has been demonstrated to be independently associated with cardiovascular events and mortality. This aim of this study was to investigate the subclinical left ventricular (LV) myocardial dysfunction in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with and without DPN. Methods: One hundred and thirty T2DM patients without DPN, 61 patients with DPN and 65 age and sex-matched controls who underwent cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging were included, all subjects had no symptoms of heart failure and LV ejection fraction ≥ 50%. LV myocardial non-infarct late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) was determined. LV global strains, including radial, circumferential and longitudinal peak strain (PS) and peak systolic and diastolic strain rates (PSSR and PDSR, respectively), were evaluated using CMR feature tracking and compared among the three groups. Multivariable linear regression analyses were performed to determine the independent factors of reduced LV global myocardial strains in T2DM patients. Results: The prevalence of non-infarct LGE was higher in patients with DPN than those without DPN (37.7% vs. 19.2%, p = 0.008). The LV radial and longitudinal PS (radial: 36.60 ± 7.24% vs. 33.57 ± 7.30% vs. 30.72 ± 8.68%; longitudinal: − 15.03 ± 2.52% vs. − 13.39 ± 2.48% vs. − 11.89 ± 3.02%), as well as longitudinal PDSR [0.89 (0.76, 1.05) 1/s vs. 0.80 (0.71, 0.93) 1/s vs. 0.77 (0.63, 0.87) 1/s] were decreased significantly from controls through T2DM patients without DPN to patients with DPN (all p < 0.001). LV radial and circumferential PDSR, as well as circumferential PS were reduced in both patient groups (all p < 0.05), but were not different between the two groups (all p > 0.05). Radial and longitudinal PSSR were decreased in patients with DPN (p = 0.006 and 0.003, respectively) but preserved in those without DPN (all p > 0.05). Multivariable linear regression analyses adjusting for confounders demonstrated that DPN was independently associated with LV radial and longitudinal PS (β = − 3.025 and 1.187, p = 0.014 and 0.003, respectively) and PDSR (β = 0.283 and − 0.086, p = 0.016 and 0.001, respectively), as well as radial PSSR (β = − 0.266, p = 0.007). Conclusions: There was more severe subclinical LV dysfunction in T2DM patients complicated with DPN than those without DPN, suggesting further prospective study with more active intervention in this cohort of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, raccoon dogs have been suggested as a potential intermediary in transmitting SARS-CoV-2 to humans. To understand their role in the COVID-19 pandemic and the species barrier for SARS-CoV-2 transmission to humans, we analyzed how their ACE2 protein interacts with SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Biochemical data showed that raccoon dog ACE2 is an effective receptor for SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, though not as effective as human ACE2. Structural comparisons highlighted differences in the virus-binding residues of raccoon dog ACE2 compared to human ACE2 (L24Q, Y34H, E38D, T82M, R353K), explaining their varied effectiveness as receptors for SARS-CoV-2. These variations contribute to the species barrier that exists between raccoon dogs and humans regarding SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Identifying these barriers can help assess the susceptibility of other mammals to SARS-CoV-2. Our research underscores the potential of raccoon dogs as SARS-CoV-2 carriers and identifies molecular barriers that affect the virus's ability to jump between species. Author summary: Raccoon dogs are thought to have been a crucial link in the chain that led to the spread of the COVID-19 virus to humans. The key to a coronavirus moving from one species to another is its spike protein's ability to bind to receptors on the cells of the new host. In our research, we investigated the interaction between the spike protein of the COVID-19 virus and the ACE2 receptor in raccoon dogs, using both structural and biochemical techniques. We found that the ACE2 receptor in raccoon dogs does indeed work as an effective receptor for the virus, but there are critical differences when compared to the human ACE2 receptor, which may act as barriers to the virus making the jump between raccoon dogs and humans. To our knowledge, this study is the first in-depth examination of these cross-species transmission barriers for the COVID-19 virus, shedding light on how other mammals might be impacted by the virus. Our findings indicate that raccoon dogs could potentially carry and pass the COVID-19 virus on to humans, providing foundational knowledge for how the virus can navigate between different species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The brain functional network plays a crucial role in cognitive impairment in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Based on voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC), this study explored how directed functional connectivity changes and is associated with impaired cognition in right TLE (rTLE). Methods: Twenty-seven patients with rTLE and twenty-seven healthy controls were included to perform VMHC and Granger causality analysis (GCA). Correlation analysis was performed based on GCA and cognitive function. Results: Bilateral middle frontal gyrus (MFG), middle temporal gyrus, dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus (SFGdor), and supramarginal gyrus (SMG) exhibited decreased VMHC values in the rTLE group. Brain regions with altered VMHC had abnormal directed functional connectivity with multiple brain regions, mainly belonging to the default mode network, sensorimotor network, and visual network. Besides, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score was positively correlated with the connectivity from the left SFGdor to the right cerebellum crus2 and was negatively correlated with the connectivity from the left SMG to the right supplementary motor area (SMA) before correction. Before correction, both phasic and intrinsic alertness reaction time were positively correlated with the connectivity from the left MFG to the left precentral gyrus (PreCG), connectivity from the left SMG to the right PreCG, and the connectivity from the left SMG to the right SMA. The executive control effect reaction time was positively correlated with the connectivity from the left MFG to the left calcarine fissure surrounding cortex before correction. Conclusion: The disordered functional network tended to be correlated with cognition impairment in rTLE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grain crushing underpins key mechanical behaviours of granular materials. A variety of factors, including grading, particle shapes and loading conditions, have been recognised to affect the crushability of grains and the overall behaviour of a granular material. Among them, the role of intermediate principal stress in a general stress condition on the shear behaviour of crushable granular sand remains less understood, owing to the scarcity of experimental data and analytical tools available. In this paper, a multi-scale computational approach is employed to investigate the shear behaviour of crushable granular sand under general stress conditions with varying intermediate principal stresses and confining pressures. The computational approach features multi-scale coupling between non-smooth contact dynamics and peridynamics, and offers a rigorous way to consider the intertwined evolution of particle size and shape during the process of grain crushing. The numerical study helps to quantify comprehensively and analyse the grain crushing-induced changes of macro- and micro-scale material behaviours including strength, deformability, particle size and shape evolution, particle-scale forces and contact conditions, and the development of anisotropy. The competition between a void-filling mechanism due to grain size change and enhanced friction and interlocking due to grain shape change in dictating the deformation of crushable sand is further discussed. The findings offer insights into the complex behaviours of crushable granular materials under general stress conditions and facilitate future development of physics-based constitutive theories on crushable sand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanical sensing and transduction are integral to biological systems and have inspired research into the regulation of supramolecular self‐assembly via mechanical forces. This review presents an inaugural discussion on mechanically active supramolecular systems. It focuses on two primary mechanisms for modulating these systems: the incorporation of mechanophores and the application of mechanical forces to modulate non‐covalent interactions. Challenging the traditional view of mechanical forces as solely destructive, their constructive potential when harnessed through sophisticated design is showcased. Investigation is done on how external forces like ultrasound, stirring, vortex, tension, and compression can induce fluorescence in π‐conjugated systems, initiate hydrogelation, propel non‐equilibrium self‐assembly, and affect the structure of vesicles. The review also casts light on the prospective uses of mechanically active supramolecular systems in areas such as protein activation, drug delivery, and stress sensing, illustrating the nuanced role of mechanical forces as both disruptors and enablers in the creation of functional materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Glycemic control, as measured by glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), is an important biomarker to evaluate diabetes severity and is believed to be associated with heart failure development. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) commonly coexist, and the combination of these two diseases indicates a considerably poorer outcome than either disease alone. Therefore, glycemic control should be carefully managed. The present study aimed to explore the association between glycemic control and clinical outcomes, and to determine the optimal glycemic target in this specific population. Methods: A total of 262 patients who underwent cardiac MRI were included and were split by HbA1c levels [HbA1c < 6.5% (intensive control), HbA1c 6.5-7.5% (modest control), and HbA1c > 7.5% (poor control)]. The biventricular volume and function, as well as left ventricular (LV) systolic strains in patients in different HbA1c categories, were measured and compared. The primary and secondary outcomes were recorded. The association of different HbA1c levels with adverse outcomes was assessed. Results: Despite similar biventricular ejection fractions, both patients with intensive and poor glycemic control exhibited prominent deterioration of LV systolic strain in the longitudinal component (P = 0.004). After a median follow-up of 35.0 months, 55 patients (21.0%) experienced at least one confirmed endpoint event. Cox multivariable analysis indicated that both patients in the lowest and highest HbA1c categories exhibited a more than 2-fold increase in the risk for primary outcomes [HbA1c < 6.5%: hazard ratio (HR) = 2.42, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.07–5.45; P = 0.033; HbA1c > 7.5%: HR = 2.24, 95% CI = 1.01–4.99; P = 0.038] and secondary outcomes (HbA1c < 6.5%: HR = 2.84, 95% CI = 1.16–6.96; P = 0.022; HbA1c > 7.5%: HR = 2.65, 95% CI = 1.08–6.50; P = 0.038) compared with those in the middle HbA1c category. Conclusions: We showed a U-shaped association of glycemic control with clinical outcomes in patients with T2DM and HFrEF, with the lowest risk of adverse outcomes among patients with modest glycemic control. HbA1c between 6.5% and 7.5% may be served as the optimal hypoglycemic target in this specific population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ruthenium (Ru) loaded catalysts show high activity and selectivity for ammonia (NH3) synthesis via electrochemical reduction of nitrate (NO3−), but their practical application is still restricted by their high cost and insufficient stability. Herein, a multi‐component electrocatalyst of Ru nanoclusters loaded on phosphorus‐doped/phosphate‐modified and oxygen vacancy (OV)‐rich Fe/Fe3O4 composite nanorods (Ru@P‐Fe/Fe3O4) to synergistically promote electrocatalytic NO3− reduction reaction (NO3−RR)‐to‐NH3 performance via strong metal‐support interaction (SMSI) is reported. Impressively, the best Ru@P‐Fe/Fe3O4 catalyst exhibits outstanding NO3−RR activity, selectivity, and durability in 0.1 M KNO3 + 0.5 M KOH solution, with an NH3 yield rate of 14.37 ± 0.21 mgNH3 h−1 cm−2 (1710.71 ± 25 mgNH3 h−1 mgRu−1) at −0.75 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (vs. RHE), an NH3 Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 97.2% at −0.55 V vs. RHE, and a superior stability over 50 h, suppressing most of reported Fe‐based and Ru‐based electrocatalysts. The characterizations and theoretical calculations unveil that the SMSI between Ru nanoclusters and P‐Fe/Fe3O4 composite nanorods can promote the generation of OV, tune the electronic structure of Ru species, and stabilize Ru nanoclusters, thereby reducing the reaction energy barrier of NO3−RR‐to‐NH3, inhibiting the competitive hydrogen evolution reaction, and boosting the NH3 yield rate NH3 FE, and stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Fang'an gold deposit in the Wuhe area, Anhui Province, is located in the area adjacent to the Bengbu Uplift and Wuhe Platform Depression in the southeastern part of North China. This study aimed to determine the deposit's mineralization age and the source of its metallogenic materials and mineralization processes through investigations into its geological characteristics, Rb–Sr isotopes, and S–Pb isotopes. The orebodies of the Fang'an gold deposit in the Neoarchean Xigudui Formation primarily exhibit a vein-type structure. The ore-forming process can be divided into four stages: (i) the quartz stage (Py1); (ii) the quartz–pyrite stage (Py2); (iii) the polymetallic sulfide stage (Py3); and (iv) the carbonate stage. Of these, the main mineralization stage is also the main period in which gold mineralization occurs. In situ sulfur isotope results of pyrite (Py1 to Py3) in the first three mineralization stages, suggesting a contribution of sulfur from crust–mantle magmatic fluids. The δ34S values for Py2 (average 5.51‰) are higher than Py1 (average 4.45‰) and showed that the magmatic fluids mixed with meteoric waters. The δ34S values for Py3 (average 5.18‰) are lower than Py2 (average 5.51‰), revealing that it related fluid immiscibility. The lead isotopic compositions of sulfides within the ores possessed 206Pb/204Pb ratios ranging from 16.759 to 16.93, 207Pb/204Pb ratios ranging from 15.311 to 15.402, and 208Pb/204Pb ratios ranging from 37.158 to 37.548. These lead data were plotted close to the Xigudui Formation, relatively distant from the Mesozoic granites, indicating that the Xigudui Formation was the source of lead for the Late Mesozoic ores of the deposit. Taken together, due to the degassing of mantle-derived magma in the shallow parts of the crust, it can be determined that the sources of ore-forming sulfur and lead were crust–mantle magmatic activities in the Wuhe area. Rb–Sr dating of pyrite from Fang'an gold deposit reveals that the mineralization occurred at 126.89 ± 0.58 Ma. Considering the previous research into the dating of magmatic rocks in the Wuhe area, we propose that the genesis of the Fang'an gold deposit is closely associated with magmatic activities in the area at around 130 Ma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The folding of proteins into intricate three‐dimensional structures to achieve biological functions, such as catalysis, is governed by both kinetic and thermodynamic controls. The quest to design artificial enzymes using minimalist peptides seeks to emulate supramolecular structures existing in a catalytically active state. Drawing inspiration from the nuanced process of protein folding, our study explores the enzyme‐like activity of amphiphilic peptide nanosystems in both equilibrium and non‐equilibrium states, featuring the formation of supramolecular nanofibrils and nanosheets. In contrast to thermodynamically stable nanosheets, the kinetically trapped nanofibrils exhibit dynamic characteristics (e.g. rapid molecular exchange and relatively weak intermolecular packing), resulting in a higher hydrolase‐mimicking activity. We emphasize that a supramolecular microenvironment characterized by an optimal local polarity, microviscosity, and β‐sheet hydrogen bonding is conducive to both substrate binding and ester bond hydrolysis. Our work underscores the pivotal role of both thermodynamic and kinetic control in impacting biomimetic catalysis and sheds a light on the development of artificial enzymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The folding of proteins into intricate three‐dimensional structures to achieve biological functions, such as catalysis, is governed by both kinetic and thermodynamic controls. The quest to design artificial enzymes using minimalist peptides seeks to emulate supramolecular structures existing in a catalytically active state. Drawing inspiration from the nuanced process of protein folding, our study explores the enzyme‐like activity of amphiphilic peptide nanosystems in both equilibrium and non‐equilibrium states, featuring the formation of supramolecular nanofibrils and nanosheets. In contrast to thermodynamically stable nanosheets, the kinetically trapped nanofibrils exhibit dynamic characteristics (e.g. rapid molecular exchange and relatively weak intermolecular packing), resulting in a higher hydrolase‐mimicking activity. We emphasize that a supramolecular microenvironment characterized by an optimal local polarity, microviscosity, and β‐sheet hydrogen bonding is conducive to both substrate binding and ester bond hydrolysis. Our work underscores the pivotal role of both thermodynamic and kinetic control in impacting biomimetic catalysis and sheds a light on the development of artificial enzymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the harsh operating environment and ultralong operating hours of wireless sensor networks (WSNs), node failures are inevitable. Ensuring the reliability of the data collected by the WSN necessitates the utmost importance of diagnosing faults in nodes within the WSN. Typically, the initial step in the fault diagnosis of WSN nodes involves extracting numerical features from neighboring nodes. A solitary data feature is often assigned a high weight, resulting in the failure to effectively distinguish between all types of faults. Therefore, this study introduces an enhanced variant of the traditional belief rule base (BRB), called the belief rule base with adaptive attribute weights (BRB-AAW). First, the data features are extracted as input attributes for the model. Second, a fault diagnosis model for WSN nodes, incorporating BRB-AAW, is established by integrating parameters initialized by expert knowledge with the extracted data features. Third, to optimize the model's initial parameters, the projection covariance matrix adaptive evolution strategy (P-CMA-ES) algorithm is employed. Finally, a comprehensive case study is designed to verify the accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed method. The results of the case study indicate that compared with the traditional BRB method, the accuracy of the proposed model in WSN node fault diagnosis is significantly improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the harsh operating environment and ultralong operating hours of wireless sensor networks (WSNs), node failures are inevitable. Ensuring the reliability of the data collected by the WSN necessitates the utmost importance of diagnosing faults in nodes within the WSN. Typically, the initial step in the fault diagnosis of WSN nodes involves extracting numerical features from neighboring nodes. A solitary data feature is often assigned a high weight, resulting in the failure to effectively distinguish between all types of faults. Therefore, this study introduces an enhanced variant of the traditional belief rule base (BRB), called the belief rule base with adaptive attribute weights (BRB-AAW). First, the data features are extracted as input attributes for the model. Second, a fault diagnosis model for WSN nodes, incorporating BRB-AAW, is established by integrating parameters initialized by expert knowledge with the extracted data features. Third, to optimize the model's initial parameters, the projection covariance matrix adaptive evolution strategy (P-CMA-ES) algorithm is employed. Finally, a comprehensive case study is designed to verify the accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed method. The results of the case study indicate that compared with the traditional BRB method, the accuracy of the proposed model in WSN node fault diagnosis is significantly improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sarcopenia is frequently found in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and is associated with reduced exercise capacity, poor quality of life and adverse outcomes. Recent evidence suggests that axial thoracic skeletal muscle size could be used as a surrogate to assess sarcopenia in HFrEF. Since diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most common comorbidities with HFrEF, we aimed to explore the potential association of axial thoracic skeletal muscle size with left ventricular (LV) remodeling and determine its prognostic significance in this condition. Methods: A total of 243 diabetes patients with HFrEF were included in this study. Bilateral axial thoracic skeletal muscle size was obtained using cardiac MRI. Patients were stratified by the tertiles of axial thoracic skeletal muscle index (SMI). LV structural and functional indices, as well as amino-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), were measured. The determinants of elevated NT-proBNP were assessed using linear regression analysis. The associations between thoracic SMI and clinical outcomes were assessed using a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model. Results: Patients in the lowest tertile of thoracic SMI displayed a deterioration in LV systolic strain in three components, together with an increase in LV mass and a heavier burden of myocardial fibrosis (all P < 0.05). Moreover, thoracic SMI (β = -0.25; P < 0.001), rather than body mass index (β = -0.04; P = 0.55), was independently associated with the level of NT-proBNP. The median follow-up duration was 33.6 months (IQR, 20.4–52.8 months). Patients with adverse outcomes showed a lower thoracic SMI (40.1 [34.3, 47.9] cm2/m2 vs. 45.3 [37.3, 55.0] cm2/m2; P < 0.05) but a similar BMI (P = 0.76) compared with those without adverse outcomes. A higher thoracic SMI indicated a lower risk of adverse outcomes (hazard ratio: 0.96; 95% confidence interval: 0.92–0.99; P = 0.01). Conclusions: With respect to diabetes patients with HFrEF, thoracic SMI is a novel alternative for evaluating muscle wasting in sarcopenia that can be obtained by a readily available routine cardiac MRI protocol. A reduction in thoracic skeletal muscle size predicts poor outcomes in the context of DM with HFrEF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop an eco-friendly artificial turf filling for replacing rubber elastomer particles, seven kinds of natural materials (cork, soft oak, champagne bark, oak bark, pine bark, willow bark, and vermiculite) were selected and processed into particles with a dimension of 1–2 mm. The water absorption performance, mold resistance, resilience, compression characteristics, and the repose angle were tested, and the surface microscopic morphology of granular materials was observed. The experimental results showed that the champagne bark had the largest plastic deformation range under pressure load, which was 0.21–7.82 KN. And the champagne bark particles had the best resilience, which was respectively 8.9 % and 7.1 % before and after compression, and its angle of repose was 36.8°, which was 9 % higher than that of the thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) particle. Additionally, champagne bark had better mold resistance compared with the other six natural materials, and its mold only occurred in the mold inoculation center. In conclusion, champagne bark could be considered as an artificial turf filling granule to replace TPE rubber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of critical state has been a cornerstone of modern critical state soil mechanics. It remains inconclusive how grain crushing affects critical state behavior in crushable granular sand. A multiscale computational approach is employed in this study to simulate the shearing behavior of crushable granular sand at critical state. Grain crushing is rigorously considered by preserving the co-evolutions of grain size and shape in the simulation of the shearing process. Systematic simulations on specimens with varying initial states and loading paths show unique characteristics of critical state for crushable granular sand in terms of critical state stress ratio, void ratio, breakage index, and shape descriptors which are independent of stress path and initial conditions. To further understand the deformation mechanisms of crushable sand at critical state, the volumetric strain is decomposed into three components due respectively to grain size reduction, the interlocking of irregular shaped grains generated by crushing, and inter-particle friction. Competing mechanisms among the three strain components are quantitatively analyzed and discussed. Initial void ratio and stress levels are found to play a prominent role in shaping the critical state deformation of crushable sand and such impact may be gauged through the fraction of grains that experience crushing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Replication initiator proteins (Reps) from the HUH endonuclease family process specific single‐stranded DNA sequences to initiate rolling‐circle replication in viruses. Here, the first crystal structure of the apo state of a Rep domain from the smacovirus family is reported. The structure of the human smacovirus 1 Rep domain was obtained at 1.33 Å resolution and represents an expansion of the HUH endonuclease superfamily, allowing greater diversity in bioconjugation‐tag applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To demonstrate the rejuvenation effect of waste soybean oil (WSO) on aged asphalt binder (AB) and realise the efficient combination of laboratory evaluation and numerical simulation. The rheological properties and molecular dynamics simulation of WSO rejuvenated binders were investigated. The results demonstrated that the WSO provided sufficient light components in the AB and reduced the stiffness. The WSO rejuvenated binders were transformed into a sol–gel structure, this resulted in excellent rheological properties. The WSO improved the anti-fatigue performance of rejuvenated binders. The WSO provided sufficient aromatics and a small amount of saturates for the AB. The blending mechanism of WSO and AB was physical blending. The atomic force microscopy micromorphology images showed that the bee-like structure of WSO rejuvenated binders was reduced in quantity compared with that of AB. The dosages of 3–6 wt% of AB content was determined to be the optimum content of WSO. The molecular dynamics results indicated that as the amount of WSO increased, the total volume and the occupied volume increased, while the free volume decreased. The volume fusion parameters increased significantly with an increase in the WSO content. This showed that WSO effectively improved the diffusion capacity of rejuvenated binders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crater is a geologic structure in solid bodies (including the terrestrial planets, moons, and asteroids) formed by hyper-speed impact, and the impact process is extremely important to the formation and evolution of these celestial bodies. This paper presents a review of the studies on remote sensing observation, formation mechanism, and scientific application of craters. On the remote sensing study of craters, the topographic characteristics of the micro-craters, simple craters, complex craters, and impact basins are described; the related parameters in the morphological studies of craters are subsequently introduced, and the distribution characteristics of the minerals and rock types during the impact excavation process are analyzed; the methods of crater identification and the crater databases on the Moon, Mars, Ceres, and Vesta are summarized. On the studies of crater formation mechanism, the general formation process of the craters is firstly described, and then the most frequently used methods are presented, and the importance of the empirical equations is also elucidated. On the scientific applications of the craters, the principle and currently utilization of the planetary surface dating method with crater size-frequency distribution are firstly presented, and the applications, including modeling the lunar regolith formation and thickness derivation of both the regolith and basalt, are reviewed. Finally, the future prospects of the formation mechanism study of the craters are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To demonstrate the rejuvenation effect of waste soybean oil (WSO) on aged asphalt binder (AB) and realise the efficient combination of laboratory evaluation and numerical simulation. The rheological properties and molecular dynamics simulation of WSO rejuvenated binders were investigated. The results demonstrated that the WSO provided sufficient light components in the AB and reduced the stiffness. The WSO rejuvenated binders were transformed into a sol–gel structure, this resulted in excellent rheological properties. The WSO improved the anti-fatigue performance of rejuvenated binders. The WSO provided sufficient aromatics and a small amount of saturates for the AB. The blending mechanism of WSO and AB was physical blending. The atomic force microscopy micromorphology images showed that the bee-like structure of WSO rejuvenated binders was reduced in quantity compared with that of AB. The dosages of 3–6 wt% of AB content was determined to be the optimum content of WSO. The molecular dynamics results indicated that as the amount of WSO increased, the total volume and the occupied volume increased, while the free volume decreased. The volume fusion parameters increased significantly with an increase in the WSO content. This showed that WSO effectively improved the diffusion capacity of rejuvenated binders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, deep-learning-based WiFi fingerprinting has been intensively studied as a promising technology for providing accurate indoor location services. However, it still demands a time-consuming and labor-intensive site survey and suffers from the fluctuation of wireless signals. To address these issues, we propose a prototypical network-based positioning system, which explores the power of few-shot learning to establish a robust RSSI-position matching model with limited labels. Our system uses a temporal convolutional network as the encoder to learn an embedding of the individual sample, as well as its quality. Each prototype is a weighted combination of the embedded support samples belonging to its position. Online positioning is performed for an embedded query sample by simply finding the nearest position prototype. To mitigate the space ambiguity caused by signal fluctuation, the Kalman Filter estimates the most likely current RSSI based on the historical measurements and current measurement in the online stage. The extensive experiments demonstrate that the proposed system performs better than the existing deep-learning-based models with fewer labeled samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Insulin is commonly used in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) to achieve glycemic control. However, recent evidence showed that insulin use is associated with poor outcomes in the context of heart failure (HF). Since heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) accounts for approximately 50% of cases in the general HF population, we aimed to evaluate the effect of insulin treatment on left ventricular (LV) remodeling and contractility abnormalities in a HFrEF cohort and assess whether insulin was a predictor of adverse outcomes in this entity. Methods: A total of 377 HFrEF patients who underwent cardiac MRI were included and divided according to diabetes status and the need for insulin treatment. LV structural and functional indices, as well as systolic strains, were measured. The determinants of impaired myocardial strains were assessed using linear regression analysis. The associated endpoints were determined using a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model. Results: T2DM patients on insulin displayed a higher indexed LV end-diastolic volume and LV mass than those with T2DM not on insulin or those without T2DM, despite similar LV ejection fractions, accompanied by a higher three-dimensional spherical index (P < 0.01). Worse longitudinal and circumferential peak systolic strain was shown to occur in T2DM patients on insulin (P < 0.01). Insulin treatment was independently associated with impaired magnitudes of systolic strain. The median follow-up duration was 32.4 months (IQR, 15.6–43.2 months). Insulin treatment remained consistently associated with poor outcomes after adjustment for established confounders, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 3.11; (95% CI, 1.45–6.87; P = 0.009) in the overall cohort and 2.16 (95% CI, 1.08–4.59; P = 0.030) in the diabetes cohort. Conclusions: Insulin may further lead to adverse LV remodeling and contractile dysfunction in the context of HFrEF with T2DM. Considerable care should be taken when treating HFrEF patients with insulin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inorganic modified green mudstone (MGM) was prepared from the green mudstone (GM) residue of Fushun West Open Pit Mine and characterized by XRF, XRD, FTIR, and SEM of GM and MGM. According to the calculation of pore size and the BET equation, the pore size and specific surface area of the MGM were larger. The results of adsorption kinetics and isothermal adsorption experiments showed that the adsorption capacity of MGM for phosphate increased from 0.1 mg/g to 0.71 mg/g, which was obviously better than that of GM. The GM and MGM accorded with the quasi-second-order kinetic model. The isothermal adsorption data of GM accorded with the Freundlich model, and the isothermal data of MGM accorded with the Langmuir model, which indicated that the model of GM and MGM was an adsorption process from a double layer to a single layer. Thermodynamic data showed that the increase in temperature was beneficial to the adsorption of MGM. The internal diffusion model showed that due to the change of pore size structure after modification, the number of adsorption sites that could provide phosphate was increased, and at the same time, the change of internal elements led to the extension of the chemical reaction time by 700 min. Because of the ligand exchange and electrostatic interaction between phosphate, GM, and MGM, the adsorption results showed that acidity was better than alkalinity. To improve the recycling ability of MGM, hydrochloric acid with a concentration of 0.1 mol/L was determined as the best phosphorus resolving agent, and the resolving rate was still close to 80% after five cycles. The results showed that the MGM could be a promising adsorbent for the removal of phosphorus, providing a new way for resource utilization of mining waste residue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both edible fungal polysaccharides (Auricularia and Tremellan) and Crataegus flavonoids promote the balance of dyslipidemia, which have a positive biological regulating effect on intestinal flora. In this study, the extraction of water‐soluble polysaccharides from Auricularia and Tremellan was investigated and optimized firstly. Polysaccharides and flavonoids were then combined to study the effects on the mediating role of abnormal blood lipid concentration and intestinal flora in vivo. The rats were divided into 10 groups, the NC (normal control), HM (model), PCI (Simvastatin control), PCII (Fenofibrate control), AAP (Auricularia auricular Polysaccharide), TFP (Tremella fuciformis Polysaccharide), HF (Crataegus Flavonoid), LDC (Low‐dose combination), MDC (Medium dose combination), and HDC (High‐dose combination), used to explore the impact of polysaccharides and flavonoids complex on state of blood lipid, liver, and intestinal flora of dyslipidemia rats. The results showed that the combination of polysaccharides and flavonoids could significantly decrease the levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low‐density lipoprotein (LDL‐C), and increase the level of high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C). It also significantly decreased the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and improved liver morphology. What is more, the HDC favorably alters the intestinal microflora balance, promotes intestinal integrity and mobility, and inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria such as Escherichia coli/Shigella and Clostridium compared with HM group. In brief, the combination of polysaccharides and flavonoids had a synergistic effect on the remission of dyslipidemia, and promoted health by improving lipid metabolism, protecting liver tissue, and regulating the intestinal flora in hyperlipidemia rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Expression levels of transmembrane protein 41A (TMEM41A) are related to the progression of malignant tumors. However, the association between TMEM41A expression and endometrial carcinoma (EC) remains unclear. This study aims to identify the roles of TMEM41A expression in the prognosis of patients with EC and its correlation with EC progression. Methods: The TMEM41A expression and its correlation with the survival of patients with EC were assessed. Cox regression analysis was used to identify the prognostic factors, while nomograms were used to examine the association between the prognostic factors and the survival of patients with EC. Finally, the link between TMEM41A level and immune microenvironment and RNA modifications was investigated in EC. Results: TMEM41A was overexpressed in EC. TMEM41A overexpression could diagnose the EC and evaluate the poor prognosis of patients. Overexpression of TMEM41A was associated with clinical stage, age, weight, histological subtype, tumor grade, and survival status of patients with EC. Clinical stage, age, tumor grade, radiotherapy, and TMEM41A overexpression were factors of poor prognosis in patients with EC. The nomograms revealed the correlation between the TMEM41A level and survival time of patients with EC at 1, 3, and 5 years. Furthermore, TMEM41A overexpression was significantly correlated with the level of the stromal score, immune score, estimate score, NK CD56 bright cells, iDC, NK cells, eosinophils, pDC, T cells, TReg, cytotoxic cells, mast cells, Th17 cells, neutrophils, aDC, NK CD56 dim cells, TFH, Th2 cells, CD8 T cells, macrophages, immune cell markers, and RNA modifications. Conclusions: TMEM41A is overexpressed in EC tissues and is associated with the prognosis, immune microenvironment, and RNA modification. Our preliminary studies indicate that overexpression of TMEM41A can potentially serve as a biomarker for EC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The contribution of chronic kidney disease (CKD) to mortality in diabetic patients is unclear. This study aimed to explore the association between diabetics with CKD and mortality in middle-aged and elderly people of different ages. Methods: Data were obtained from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, including 1,715 diabetic individuals, 13.1% of whom also had CKD. Diabetes and CKD were assessed by combining the physical measurements and self-reports. We fitted Cox proportional hazards regression models to examine the effect of diabetics with CKD on mortality in middle-aged and elderly people. The risk factors for death were further predicted based on age stratification. Results: The mortality rate of diabetic patients with CKD (29.3%) was increased as compared to that of diabetic patients without CKD (12.4%). Diabetics with CKD were at a higher risk of all-cause mortality than those without CKD, with a hazard ratio of 1.921 (95% CI: 1.438, 2.566). Additionally, for participants 45 to 67 years of age, the hazard ratio was 2.530 (95% CI: 1.624, 3.943). Conclusions: Our findings suggested that, for diabetics, CKD was a chronic stressor that led to death in middle-aged and elderly people, especially among participants aged 45 to 67 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Protein oxidation during food processing causes changes in the balance of protein–molecular interactions and protein–water interactions, ultimately leading to protein denaturation, which results in the loss of a range of functional properties. Therefore, how to control the oxidative modification of proteins during processing has been the focus of research. RESULTS: In the present study, the intrinsic fluorescence value of the myofibrillar proteins (MP) decreased and the surface hydrophobicity value increased, indicating that the heat treatment caused a significant change in the conformation of the MP. With an increase in heating temperature, protein carbonyl content increased, total sulfhydryl content decreased, and protein secondary structure changed from α‐helix to β‐sheet, indicating that protein oxidation and aggregation occurred. Sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that heat treatment can lead to the degradation of proteins, especially myosin heavy chain, although actin had a certain thermal stability. In total, 733 proteins were identified by proteomics, and the protein oxidation caused by low temperature vacuum heating (LTVH) was determined to be mild oxidation dominated by malondialdehyde and 4‐hydroxynonenal by oxidation site division. CONCLUSION: The present study has revealed the effect of LTVH treatment on the protein oxidation modification behavior of sturgeon meat, and explored the effect mechanism of LTVH treatment on the processing quality of sturgeon meat from the perspective of protein oxidation. The results may provide a theoretical basis for the precise processing of aquatic products. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of our study was to investigate a comprehensive profile of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced early diabetic retinopathy (DR) mice to identify a risk scoring signature based on micorRNAs (miRNAs) for early DR diagnosis. Methods: RNA sequencing was performed to obtain the gene expression profile of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in early STZ-induced mice. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were determined with log2|fold change (FC)| > 1 and p value < 0.05. Functional analysis was carried out based on gene ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis and the protein–protein interaction (PPI) network. We predicted the potential miRNAs via online tools and ROC curves were then conducted. Three potential miRNAs with AUC > 0.7 were explored via public datasets and a formula was further established to evaluate DR severity. Results: In total, 298 DEGs (200 up-regulating and 98 down-regulating) were obtained through RNA sequencing. Hsa-miR-26a-5p, hsa-miR-129-2-3p and hsa-miR-217 were three predicted miRNAs with AUC > 0.7, suggesting their potential to distinguish healthy controls from early DR. The formula of DR severity score = 19.257 − 0.004 × hsa-miR-217 + 5.09 × 10−5 × hsa-miR-26a-5p − 0.003 × hsa-miR-129-2-3p was established based on regression analysis. Conclusions: In the present study, we investigated the candidate genes and molecular mechanisms based on RPE sequencing in early DR mice models. Hsa-miR-26a-5p, hsa-miR-129-2-3p and hsa-miR-217 could work as biomarkers for early DR diagnosis and DR severity prediction, which was beneficial for DR early intervention and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to evaluate the benefits of dexmedetomidine in epidural labor analgesia compared with lipophilic opioids. The databases of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Wanfang, and SinoMed were searched from inception to Mar. 25, 2021 for randomized controlled trials (RCT) that assessed dexmedetomidine versus lipophilic opioids as adjuvants to local anesthetics in epidural labor analgesia. Meta-analyses were conducted with RevMan 5.3, and a random-effects model was adopted. A total of 11 RCTs involving 1099 parturients were enrolled. The results showed that, compared with the control group, dexmedetomidine significantly reduced Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores both at 30 minutes after induction [weighted mean difference (WMD) = -0.40, 95% CI: -0.61 to -0.20] and on delivery (WMD = -0.83, 95% CI: -1.15 to -0.50), reduced analgesic consumption (WMD = -6.29 mL, 95% CI: -10.49 to -2.10), shortened the duration of the first (WMD = -9.58 minutes, 95% CI: -18.12 to -1.04) and second (WMD = -1.66 minutes, 95%CI: -3.20 to -0.12) stage of labor, increased maternal bradycardia [risk ratio (RR) = 2.44, 95% CI: 1.31 to 4.53] and motor blockade (RR = 5.30, 95% CI: 2.21 to 12.73), reduced nausea/vomiting (RR = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.20 to 0.57), pruritis (RR= 0.19, 95%CI: 0.06 to 0.58) and shivering (RR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.18 to 0.77). There was no significant difference between groups in the rate of instrumental delivery (p = 0.68), and cesarean delivery (p = 0.40), Apgar scores at 1 minute (p = 0.24), at 5 minutes (p = 0.36), and the umbilical arterial PH (p = 0.16). In summary, compared to lipophilic opioids, dexmedetomidine for epidural labor analgesia reduced analgesic agent consumption and resulted in fewer maternal complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal conductivity of composites The combinations between fibers and agar in the UT composite and the NCT composite were not very well, there were many gaps and holes which can gather air, so their thermal conductivity were small. The moisture absorption rate of the composites For the composite, both reed leaf fibers and agar can absorb a lot of water, which was mainly due to the large number of hydrophilic groups in fibers and agar. Keywords: Reed leaf fiber; agar; composites; compression molding technology; mechanical properties; morphology; ; ; ; ; ; ; EN Reed leaf fiber agar composites compression molding technology mechanical properties morphology ZH 8529 8540 12 11/21/22 20221220 NES 221220 Introduction The hard-to-degrade characteristics of plastic products have caused serious pollution to the environment. [Extracted from the article]

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most aggressive malignancies with complex tumor microenvironment (TME) which has been proven to be associated with therapeutic failure or resistance. A deeper understanding of the complex TME and cellular heterogeneity is urgently needed in ESCC. Here, we generated single‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐seq) of 25 796 immune and 8197 non‐immune cells from three primary tumor and paired normal samples in ESCC patients. The results revealed intratumoral and intertumoral epithelium heterogeneity and tremendously differences in tumor and normal epithelium. The infiltration of myofibroblasts, one subtype of fibroblasts, might play important roles in the progression of ESCC. We also found that some differentially expressed genes and markers in epithelium and fibroblast subtypes showed prognostic values for ESCC. Diverse cell subtypes of T cells and myeloid cells were identified, including tumor‐enriched HAVCR2+ CD4+ T cells with significantly exhausted signature. The epithelium and myeloid cells had more frequent cell–cell communication compared with epithelium and T cells. Taken together, this study provided in‐depth insights into the cellular heterogeneity of TME in ESCC and highlighted potential therapeutic targets including for immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a recent Comment, Chang et al. [Phys. Plasmas 29, 114703 (2022)] have studied the electron dynamics for an electron accelerating in a tightly focused Gaussian laser pulse with the higher order correction terms, and it is found that the initial position of the electron is the reason why the electron is pushed to the −z axis at the end. In this Reply, the electron dynamics and its nonlinear Thomson backscattering in a tightly focused Gaussian laser pulse with the higher order correction terms are presented, and it is found that the result is consistent with the lowest order approximation case in our paper [Hong et al., Phys. Plasmas 29, 043102 (2022)]. Meanwhile, it is also found that when the longitudinal deceleration effect of the ponderomotive force on the electron introduced by the falling part of the tightly focused laser pulse is greater than the longitudinal acceleration effect of the rising part, the electron that is initially stationary will be slightly pushed to the −z axis at the end, which can well explain the "return" phenomenon of the electron in the longitudinal direction both in our paper and in the Comment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine whether radiomics analysis of pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT) captured by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) could discriminate acute myocardial infarction (MI) from unstable angina (UA). Methods: In a single-center retrospective case-control study, patients with acute MI (n = 105) were matched to patients with UA (n = 105) and all patients were randomly divided into training and validation cohorts with a ratio of 7:3. Fat attenuation index (FAI) and PCAT radiomics features selected by Max-Relevance and Min-Redundancy (mRMR) and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) around the proximal three major epicardial coronary vessels (LAD [left anterior descending artery], LCx [left circumflex artery], and RCA [right coronary artery]) were used to build logistic regression models. Finally, a FAI model, three radiomics models of PCAT (LAD, LCx, and RCA), and a combined model that used the scores of these independent models were constructed. The performance of the models was evaluated by identification, calibration, and clinical application. Results: In training and validation cohorts, compared with the FAI model (AUC = 0.53, 0.50), the combined model achieved superior performance (AUC = 0.97, 0.95) while there was a significant difference of AUC between two models (p < 0.05). The calibration curves of the combined model demonstrated the smallest Brier score loss. Decision curve analysis suggested that the combined model provided higher clinical benefit than the FAI model. Conclusions: The CCTA–based radiomics phenotype of PCAT outperforms the FAI model in discriminating acute MI from UA. The combination of PCAT radiomics and FAI could further enhance the performance of acute MI identification. Key Points: • Fat attenuation index based on CCTA can detect inflammation-induced changes in the ratio of lipid to aqueous phase in pericoronary adipose tissue. • Fat attenuation index cannot distinguish acute MI patients from UA patients, suggesting that the two groups have the same degree of ratio of lipid to aqueous phase in pericoronary adipose tissue. • Radiomics features of PCAT have the potential to distinguish acute MI patients from UA patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Sturgeon is one of the most precious fish resources worldwide. Low temperature vacuum heating (LTVH) has been confirmed as a good way of maintaining food quality. However, there is a lack of in‐depth studies assessing the impact of LTVH on lipid oxidation and flavor formation. RESULTS: The present study compared the effect of LTVH and traditional cooking on lipid oxidation and flavor of sturgeon fillets. In total, 13 fatty acids were detected, of which polyunsaturated fatty acids content was the highest (P < 0.05). LTVH prevented the formation of conjugated diene and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (P < 0.05), as manifested by an increased signal intensity of free radicals of electron spin resonance. The characteristic peaks intensity of lipid by Raman at 970 cm−1, 1080 cm−1 and 1655 cm−1 were reduced, whereas peaks at 1068 cm−1 and 1125 cm−1 displayed the opposite trend. Confocal fluorescence microscopy showed that the lipids particles were reduced and distributed more evenly with an increase in heating temperature. Principal component analysis of electronic nose cannot effectively separate all groups; however, gas chromatography‐ion migration spectrometry showed that the volatile flavor compounds were relatively stable during LTVH. Correlation analysis of all the above lipid oxidation indices and characteristic flavor substances showed that each treatment group was located in different quadrants and demonstrated great differentiation. CONCLUSION: Overall, the results of the present study support the view that LTVH is a healthier way of cooking. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• RONCs transformation and ammonification is the key step for total nitrogen removal. • The cleavage of C-N bond limited the transformation of electrophilic RONCs to NH 4 +. • Electrostimulation enhances the anaerobic reduction of RONCs into aromatic amines. • Micro-aeration enhances the aerobic oxidation of amine products into NH 4 +. • Regulating microbial redox reactions facilitates the transformation of RONCs. Biotechnology for wastewater treatment is mainstream and effective depending upon microbial redox reactions to eliminate diverse contaminants and ensure aquatic ecological health. However, refractory organic nitrogen compounds (RONCs, e.g., nitro-, azo-, amide-, and N-heterocyclic compounds) with complex structures and high toxicity inhibit microbial metabolic activity and limit the transformation of organic nitrogen to inorganic nitrogen. This will eventually result in non-compliance with nitrogen discharge standards. Numerous efforts suggested that applying exogenous electron donors or acceptors, such as solid electrodes (electrostimulation) and limited oxygen (micro-aeration), could potentially regulate microbial redox reactions and catabolic pathways, and facilitate the biotransformation of RONCs. This review provides comprehensive insights into the microbial regulation mechanisms and applications of electrostimulation and micro-aeration strategies to accelerate the biotransformation of RONCs to organic amine (amination) and inorganic ammonia (ammonification), respectively. Furthermore, a promising approach involving in-situ hybrid anaerobic biological units, coupled with electrostimulation and micro-aeration, is proposed towards engineering applications. Finally, employing cutting-edge methods including multi-omics analysis, data science driven machine learning, technology-economic analysis, and life-cycle assessment would contribute to optimizing the process design and engineering implementation. This review offers a fundamental understanding and inspiration for novel research in the enhanced biotechnology towards RONCs elimination. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Complex 1 exhibited a high photodegradation efficiency for methyl blue (MB) and saffron T (ST). • Coordination polymer 1 shows excellent stability. • The free radical active substances improved the degradation efficiency of coordination polymer 1. A zinc-based coordination polymer, namely [Zn 3 (L) 2 (H 2 O) 6 ] n (1) (L = 5-(2′,5′-dicarboxylphenyl) picolinic acid), was synthesized by the solvothermal method. Under visible light irradiation for 80 or 90 min, complex 1 exhibited a photodegradation efficiency of 98 % and 82 % towards methyl blue (MB) and saffron T (ST), respectively. After 5 cycles, the degradation performance of complex 1 did not decrease significantly, and the structure of complex 1 was consistent with that of fresh 1 , demonstrating excellent stability. Meanwhile, free radical capture experiments and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy confirmed that the free radical active species ⋅OH, ⋅O 2 − and h+ produced during photocatalytic degradation improved the degradation efficiency of complex 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Foods have a considerable influence on human health and were directly related to glycemic control for diabetes patients. However, little is known about the effects of biscuits, a traditional food consumed in large amounts in several countries, on diabetic retinopathy. This study aimed to explore the association between biscuit consumption and diabetic retinopathy prevalence in adults of the United States population. Methods: A cross-sectional study with 1904 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database were included in this population-based, cross-sectional study. The association between different consumption frequencies of biscuit and diabetic retinopathy prevalence was evaluated using a binary logistic regression model. Trend test, stratified and interaction analyses were also performed. Results: After possible confounders including sex, age, ethnicity, education, marital status, family poverty income ratio, smoking and alcohol consumption habit, fasting blood glucose level, hemoglobin A1c level, diagnosis of diabetes, insulin use, blood pressure, body mass index were adjusted, the participants who consumed biscuit 1–11 times a year, 1–3 times a month, and more than once a week had a 139.8% (95% confidence interval, 1.003–5.734), 182.1% (95% confidence interval, 1.106–7.191), and 236.2% (95% confidence interval, 1.335–9.844) higher risk of diabetic retinopathy prevalence, respectively, compared with those who never ate biscuit. For male, non-Hispanic, and overweight (body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m2) subgroups, the trend test demonstrated that the diabetic retinopathy prevalence significantly elevated with increased frequency of biscuit consumption (Ptrend = 0.021, 0.009, and 0.002, respectively). The interaction analysis suggested that no aforementioned confounders played an interactive role in the relationship between biscuit consumption and diabetic retinopathy prevalence. Conclusions: The risk of diabetic retinopathy was positively associated with biscuit consumption. Moreover, for male, non-Hispanic, or overweight individuals, the risk of diabetic retinopathy significantly increased with the frequency of biscuit consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By referring to the successful application of a cold-resistant plasticizer in the plastic industry, dioctyl adipate (DOA) plasticizer was selected to improve the low-temperature performance of asphalt. Dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) and bending beam rheometer (BBR) tests were conducted to analyse the high and low temperature performance of plasticizer-modified asphalt binder. The residual creep rate ratio was put forward to evaluate the improvement effect of the anti-aging performance of asphalt binder. The rheological characteristics analysis shows that DOA could increase the viscous components in asphalt binder. However, with the increase of plasticizer content to 3.0%, the creep rate increased by 35% and the creep stiffness decreased by 39% at −24°C. The low temperature performance of DOA modified asphalt binder was improved by 30%. The residual creep rate ratio of the plasticizer-modified asphalt binder was more than 15% higher than base asphalt at the same temperature and softening point increment was 22.5% lower than base asphalt which means that the anti-aging performance was improved. Comprehensive analysis of the high and low temperature performance of DOA modified asphalt shows that the optimum content is 3.0%. Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) indicates that the plasticizer and asphalt binder mainly undergo a physical blending reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes a magnetic integrated method for the coupler of the electric vehicle dynamic wireless charging system to suppress power fluctuation by transforming the problem into designing a stable equivalent mutual inductance between the receiving coil and transmitting coils on the road. Both primary-side and secondary-side couplers adopt a magnetic integrated design. The primary-side coupler integrates a reverse coil inside the transmitting coil, and the secondary-side coupler integrates a coil in the LCC resonance compensation inside the receiving coil. Two advantages are unveiled through theoretical analysis of system characteristics: the original single mutual inductance is replaced by the mutual inductance difference between the two reverse series transmitting coils and the receiving coil to determine the power transmission, which suppresses output power fluctuation; the secondary-side integrated inductor coil replaces the external bulky compensation inductor in the LCC resonance compensation network and additionally realizes better zero-voltage switching conditions. The optimized design process considering the additional couplings is given based on circuit analysis. A prototype is implemented to validate the proposed design. Experimental results show that the output power fluctuation is within ±4% during dynamic charging at a power level of 4.5 kW, and the efficiency reaches 91.6%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Weight management is strongly promoted for overweight or obese patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) by current guidelines. However, the prognostic impact of weight loss achieved without behavioural intervention on the mortality and cardiovascular (CV) outcomes in diabetic patients is still contested. Methods: We searched the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases for studies that investigated the association of weight loss or weight variability with mortality and CV outcomes. Results of studies that measured weight loss by percentage weight loss from baseline and stratified it as > 10% and 5–10% or studies that computed weight variability were pooled using random effects model. Study quality was evaluated using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Results: Thirty eligible studies were included in the systematic review and 13 of these were included in the meta-analysis. Large weight loss (> 10%) was associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality (pooled hazard ratio (HR) 2.27, 95% CI 1.51–3.42), composite of major CV events (pooled HR 1.71, 95% CI 1.38–2.12) and CV mortality (pooled HR 1.50, 95% CI 1.27–1.76) among T2DM patients. Moderate weight loss showed no significant association with all-cause mortality (pooled HR 1.17, 95% CI 0.97–1.41) or CV outcomes (pooled HR 1.12, 95% CI 0.94–1.33). Weight variability was associated with high hazard of all-cause mortality (pooled HR 1.54, 95% CI 1.52–1.56). Conclusions: Large weight loss and large fluctuations in weight are potential markers of increased risk of mortality and CV events in T2DM patients. Maintaining a stable weight may have positive impact in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is a major health burden worldwide with high morbidity and mortality. Comorbidities of HFrEF complicate treatment and lead to poor prognosis, among which hypertension (HTN) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are common and frequently cooccur. DM was found to have additive effects on cardiac function and structure in hypertensive patients, while its effects on the HFrEF cohort in the context of HTN remain unclear. Methods: A total of 171 patients with HFrEF were enrolled in our study, consisting of 51 HFrEF controls, 72 hypertensive HFrEF patients (HTN-HFrEF [DM−]) and 48 hypertensive HFrEF patients with comorbid DM (HTN-HFrEF [DM+]). Cardiac MRI-derived left ventricular (LV) strains, including global radial (GRPS), circumferential (GCPS) and longitudinal (GLPS) peak strain, and remodeling parameters were measured and compared among groups. The determinants of impaired LV function and LV remodeling in HFrEF patients were investigated by multivariable linear regression analyses. Results: Despite a similar LV ejection fraction, patients in the HTN-HFrEF (DM+) and HTN-HFrEF (DM−) groups showed a higher LV mass index and LV remodeling index than those in the HFrEF control group (all p < 0.05). Compared with the HTN-HFrEF (DM−) and HFrEF control groups, the HTN-HFrEF (DM+) group exhibited the most severe GLPS impairment (p < 0.001). After adjustment for covariates in HFrEF patients, DM was found to be an independent determinant of impaired LV strains in all three directions (GRPS [β = − 0.189; p = 0.011], GCPS [β = 0.217; p = 0.005], GLPS [β = 0.237; p = 0.002]). HTN was associated with impaired GLPS (β = 0.185; p = 0.016) only. However, HTN rather than DM was associated with LV remodeling in HFrEF patients in the multivariable regression analysis (p < 0.05). Conclusions: DM aggravated LV longitudinal dysfunction in hypertensive HFrEF patients without further changes in LV remodeling, indicating that HFrEF patients with comorbid HTN and DM may have a hidden high-risk phenotype of heart failure that requires more advanced and personalized management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innovation communities are being deployed increasingly by firms to gather ideas from users to sustain their competitive advantage. As one of the representative characteristics of innovation communities, effective interaction has always been perceived as a prerequisite for new product development. To investigate the inherent creative output logic, this article proposes a theoretical model to delineate the relationships among users’ online interactions [peer-to-peer (P2P) and peer-to-firm (P2F)], community self-government management (CSM, which refers to a style of management that admits users not only as participators but also as governors in the community), and creative output quantity (/quality) of new products. This model is validated empirically using data of 2000 sample users crawled from 20 firm-hosted innovation communities and 80 survey data from community administrators. The findings reveal the significant effects of users’ P2P and P2F interactions on the creative output quality and quantity as well as the moderating role of CSM. These findings suggest implications for how firms manage innovation communities and cultivate user interactions with peers and firms to capture the wisdom of the crowd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. This study aims to evaluate whether adjuvant traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can improve the survival of patients with primary liver cancer (PLC). Methods. A total of 1,859 patients with PLC at Beijing Ditan Hospital between August 2008 and September 2017 were included. The patients were divided into TCM and control groups according to whether the patients took TCM for ≥3 months. There were 1,111 patients in the TCM group and 748 in the control group. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to analyze the factors affecting the 3-year survival of patients with PLC. To reduce selection bias, 1 : 1 propensity score matching (PSM) was performed between the two groups. The overall survival outcomes were evaluated using the Kaplan–Meier (K–M) survival curve, and the log-rank test was used to compare the differences in survival curves. Results. After multivariate Cox regression analysis, TCM was an independent favorable factor for the 3-year survival of patients with PLC (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 0.359, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.292–0.441, P < 0.001). Before and after PSM, the 3-year overall survival rates were 33.3% and 54% in the control group and 79.7% and 69.7% in the TCM group, respectively. The 3-year mortality risk in the TCM group was lower than that in the control group for different PLC subgroups. Conclusions. TCM adjuvant therapy increased the 3-year overall survival rate of patients with PLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed a label- and enzyme-free single molecule fluorescence counting strategy for HIV DNA fragments detection. The nucleic acid biosensor consists of a 5′ terminal connected with a triangular gold nanoplate, 3′ terminal rich in guanine hairpin probe (HP1) and a hairpin probe HP2 complementary to the partial sequence of HP1. Without the existence of the target DNA, the DNA fragment rich in the guanine region is locked in a hairpin structure and cannot form a G-quadruplex, hence NMM exhibits a low fluorescence signal. When the target DNA exists, the hairpin assembly will trigger a strand displacement amplification reaction that produces a great number of G-quadruplexes, and the fluorescence brightness of NMM will be enhanced. The plasmon resonance effect of the triangular gold nanoplates will further amplify the fluorescence signal. This method can analyze the target DNA with high sensitivity and selectivity, and the detection limit is 0.83 fM. The analysis of the HIV DNA fragments in diluted human serum samples was successfully achieved, and the recovery rate was 92%–104%. Because of its easy operation and low cost, it has broad development potential in biochemical analysis and clinical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) is a promising alternative to the traditional Haber–Bosch process. However, the sluggish kinetics and competitive hydrogen evolution reaction result in poor NH3 yield and low Faradaic efficiency (FE). Herein, single bismuth atoms incorporated hollow titanium nitride nanorods encapsulated in nitrogen‐doped carbon layer (NC) supported on carbon cloth (NC/Bi SAs/TiN/CC) is constructed for electrocatalytic NRR. Impressively, as an integrated electrode, it exhibits a superior ammonia yield rate of 76.15 µg mgcat−1 h−1 (9859 µg μmolBi−1 h−1) at −0.8 V versus RHE and a high FE of 24.60% at −0.5 V versus RHE in 0.1 m Na2SO4 solution, which can retain stable performance in 10 h continuous operation, surpassing the overwhelming majority of reported Bi‐based NRR catalysts. Coupling various characterizations with theory calculations, it is disclosed that the unique monolithic core‐shell configuration with porous structure endows abundant accessible active sites, outstanding charge‐transfer property, and good stability, while the cooperation effect of Bi SAs and TiN can simultaneously promote the hydrogenation of N2 into NH3* on the TiN surface and the desorption of NH3* to release NH3 on the Bi SA sites. These features result in the significant promotion of NRR performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) is a promising alternative to the traditional Haber–Bosch process. However, the sluggish kinetics and competitive hydrogen evolution reaction result in poor NH3 yield and low Faradaic efficiency (FE). Herein, single bismuth atoms incorporated hollow titanium nitride nanorods encapsulated in nitrogen‐doped carbon layer (NC) supported on carbon cloth (NC/Bi SAs/TiN/CC) is constructed for electrocatalytic NRR. Impressively, as an integrated electrode, it exhibits a superior ammonia yield rate of 76.15 µg mgcat−1 h−1 (9859 µg μmolBi−1 h−1) at −0.8 V versus RHE and a high FE of 24.60% at −0.5 V versus RHE in 0.1 m Na2SO4 solution, which can retain stable performance in 10 h continuous operation, surpassing the overwhelming majority of reported Bi‐based NRR catalysts. Coupling various characterizations with theory calculations, it is disclosed that the unique monolithic core‐shell configuration with porous structure endows abundant accessible active sites, outstanding charge‐transfer property, and good stability, while the cooperation effect of Bi SAs and TiN can simultaneously promote the hydrogenation of N2 into NH3* on the TiN surface and the desorption of NH3* to release NH3 on the Bi SA sites. These features result in the significant promotion of NRR performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) is a promising alternative to the traditional Haber–Bosch process. However, the sluggish kinetics and competitive hydrogen evolution reaction result in poor NH3 yield and low Faradaic efficiency (FE). Herein, single bismuth atoms incorporated hollow titanium nitride nanorods encapsulated in nitrogen‐doped carbon layer (NC) supported on carbon cloth (NC/Bi SAs/TiN/CC) is constructed for electrocatalytic NRR. Impressively, as an integrated electrode, it exhibits a superior ammonia yield rate of 76.15 µg mgcat−1 h−1 (9859 µg μmolBi−1 h−1) at −0.8 V versus RHE and a high FE of 24.60% at −0.5 V versus RHE in 0.1 m Na2SO4 solution, which can retain stable performance in 10 h continuous operation, surpassing the overwhelming majority of reported Bi‐based NRR catalysts. Coupling various characterizations with theory calculations, it is disclosed that the unique monolithic core‐shell configuration with porous structure endows abundant accessible active sites, outstanding charge‐transfer property, and good stability, while the cooperation effect of Bi SAs and TiN can simultaneously promote the hydrogenation of N2 into NH3* on the TiN surface and the desorption of NH3* to release NH3 on the Bi SA sites. These features result in the significant promotion of NRR performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A modular system was designed to separate crystallization and evaporation. • A low-temperature field concept was proposed to facilitate crystallization. • The impact of NOM on evaporation and crystallization was investigated. • The demountable collector ensured fouling mitigation and resource recovery. Solar-driven interfacial evaporation stands out as a low-energy, environmentally-friendly desalination approach with substantial potential for clean water recovery and resource harvesting. However, the stability of the system is compromised by an undesirable increase in salt accumulation. Herein, we designed a modular structure to separate functional areas. The whole structure contains an evaporator and a collector: the evaporator mainly takes on the function of evaporation and the collector is mainly used for the crystals collection. Operating under one sun illumination, the system attained a high evaporation rate of 2.34 kg m-2h−1 and a high solar-water evaporation efficiency of 133.19 %. Owing to the replaceable collector, the evaporation system maintained a consistently high evaporation rate even after 240 h of continuous operation, and up to 97 % of the solute was enriched in the collector. Furthermore, we investigated the impact of natural organic matter (NOM) on both evaporation and crystallization within the system. This study provides a new perspective on the design of solar interfacial evaporation and crystallization systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Developed an affinity chromatography for high purity C-phycocyanin purification. • Using computer-simulated molecular docking for screening ligand. • Achieved reagent-grade C-phycocyanin in a single purification step. • The highest purity of C-phycocyanin was recorded as 4.53. • The highest yield of C-phycocyanin was recorded at 69 %. The high-purity phycocyanin has a high commercial value. Most current purification methods of C-phycocyanin involve multiple steps, which are complicated and time-consuming. To solve the problem, this research was studied, and an efficient affinity chromatography purification for C-phycocyanin from Spirulina platensis was developed. Through molecular docking simulation, virtual screening of ligands was performed, and ursolic acid was identified as the specific affinity ligand, which coupled to Affi-Gel 102 gel via 1-ethyl (3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-carbodiimide, hydrochloride as coupling agent. With this customized and synthesized resin, a high-efficiency one-step purification procedure for C-phycocyanin was developed and optimized, the purity was determined to be 4.53, and the yield was 69 %. This one-step purification protocol provides a new approach for purifying other phycobilin proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Hamaling deposit is the first gold-copper-molybdenum deposit discovered in the Ordovician strata in the Tongling district, eastern China. • Hamaling deposit is developed porphyry-type ore in granodiorite, skarn-type ore at contact zone and breccias-type ore in Ordovician strata. • Hamaling deposit is associated with early Cretaceous magmatic activity in the Tongling district. • Hamaling deposit demonstrates a huge mineral exploration potential of the Lower Paleozoic strata in the Tongling district and even in the eastern China. The Hamaling deposit represents the first discovery of a gold-copper-molybdenum deposit situated within the Ordovician strata of the Tongling ore-cluster region. It comprises three distinct types of ore, including porphyry-type Cu-Au ore found in granodiorite, skarn-type Cu-Au ore at the contact zone, and breccia-type Mo-Cu ore within the Ordovician strata. However, the exact mineralization age, ore genesis, and mineralization processes of the Hamaling deposit remain uncertain. To address these uncertainties, the present study employed LA-ICP-MS to date zircon in granodiorite and garnet in skarn, revealing ages of 139.3 ± 0.44 Ma and 142.3 ± 0.89 Ma, respectively. Additionally, the age of 140.0 ± 1.1 Ma was obtained through Re-Os dating of molybdenite from breccia-type ore. These findings suggest a connection between the Hamaling deposit and the early Cretaceous magmatic activity in the Tongling region. The granodiorite intrusion exhibits a high-potassium calc-alkaline affinity and formed under oxidized conditions at temperatures ranging from 721 to 832 °C (average 769 °C). The Hf isotope composition of the granodiorite implies its formation through the mixing of mantle-derived magma from an enriched lithospheric mantle with partially melted lower crustal source magma. The sulfur isotopes found in the ore minerals range from δ34S = 5.55 ‰ to 11.99 ‰, indicating a magmatic sulfur source. The H-O isotopic compositions of quartz during the quartz-sulfide stage suggest that the magmatic water was the primary component of the fluids responsible for ore formation, possibly with some contribution from meteoric water. The identification of the Hamaling deposit highlights the significant potential for mineral exploration within the Lower Paleozoic strata in the Tongling ore-cluster area and even the broader Middle-Lower Yangtze River Valley Metallogenic Belt (MLYB). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research is to identify the best edible fungi among eight species of edible fungi, and to study the best enzymatic hydrolysis reaction conditions in order to enhance the umami taste of edible fungi. The free 5'-nucleotides and amino acids in eight kinds of edible fungi were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and the equivalent umami concentration (EUC) values were calculated. Combined with the sensory evaluation, it was found that the EUC value of Agaricus bisporus was the highest, which was 826.551±20.057 g/100 g, and with a good umami taste. Enzymatic hydrolysis was conducted to further release umami substances in edible fungi, and the best effect was found under the enzyme mixtures of cellulase and Protamex™ by EUC values and sensory evaluation. Through the single-factor experiments and orthogonal tests, taking EUC value, sensory evaluation, degree of hydrolysis and soluble solids content as indexes, the optimal conditions for enzymatic hydrolysis were at 50°C, a solid-liquid ratio of 1:10, a pH of 5.5, a total enzyme mixtures addition of 4000 U/g, and a cellulase hydrolysis time of 60 min followed by the addition of a Protamex™ hydrolysis for 150 min. The final enzymatic hydrolysate had an intensive saltiness and umami taste with an EUC value of 1619.05±3.38 g/100 g. [Display omitted] • Agaricus bisporus had the highest EUC value and the best umami taste. • The compound enzymolysis of cellulase and Protamex™ showed the best effect on the umami extraction of Agaricus bisporus. • Soluble solids, EUC, sensory evaluation and DH were used as indexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]