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A growing number of mobile social network applications are taking advantage of cloud computing to store profiles of end users and run protocols which are compute-intensive. We focus on an application scenario of similarity computation between two users. To protect data security and privacy, mobile users encrypt their sensitive profiles before outsourcing to the cloud and different users choose different encryption keys. Three challenges need attention - how to compute on encrypted profiles under different keys, how to allow mobile users to stay offline during execution of the protocol, and how to select similarity metric. Existing schemes either rely on multi-key fully homomorphic encryption with one server or partially homomorphic encryption with two non-colluding servers. To balance computational complexity on one server and communication overhead between two servers, we put forward a privacy-preserving similarity computation protocol which supports both homomorphic additions and one homomorphic multiplication. We conduct security analysis and experimental evaluation of our scheme. The results show that our protocol is provably secure and runs reasonably fast, and thus can be applied in practice.

Abstract Cas12h1 is a compact CRISPR-associated nuclease from functionally diverse type V CRISPR-Cas effectors and recognizes a purine-rich protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) distinct from that of other type V Cas effectors. Here, we report the nickase preference of Cas12h1, which predominantly cleaves the nontarget strand (NTS) of a double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) substrate. In addition, Cas12h1 acts as a nickase in human cells. We further determined the cryo-EM structures of Cas12h1 in the surveillance, R-loop formation, and interference states, revealing the molecular mechanisms involved in the crRNA maturation, target recognition, R-loop formation, nuclease activation and target degradation. Cas12h1 notably recognizes a broad 5’-DHR-3’ PAM (D is A, G, or T; H is A, C, or T; R is A or G) both in vitro and in human cells. In addition, Cas12h1 utilizes a distinct activation mechanism that the lid motif undergoes a “flexible to stable” transition to expose the catalytic site to the substrate. A high-fidelity nucleic acid detector, Cas12h1hf, was developed through rational engineering, which distinguishes single-base mismatches and retains comparable on-target activities. Our results shed light on the molecular mechanisms underlying Cas12h1 nickase, improve the understanding of type V Cas effectors, and expand the CRISPR toolbox for genome editing and molecular diagnosis.

Abstract Background In the intensive care unit (ICU), the incidence of iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) is relatively high and is associated with various adverse clinical outcomes. Therefore, it is crucial to identify simple and practical indicators to assess the mortality risk in ICU patients with IDA. This study aims to investigate the relationship between the Neutrophil Percentage-to-Albumin Ratio (NPAR) levels in patients with IDA in the ICU and their all-cause mortality at 30 and 365 days. Materials and methods We analyzed data from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-IV (MIMIC-IV) 3.0 database spanning the years 2008–2022 and identified a cohort of 817 patients with IDA who met our inclusion criteria. Through multivariate Cox regression analysis, the relationship between NPAR levels and 30-day and 365-day mortality risks was assessed, and restricted cubic splines (RCS) models were used to explore potential nonlinear relationships. Additionally, an inflection point analysis was conducted to evaluate the potential of NPAR levels in predicting short- and long-term mortality risks. Results The study found that high NPAR levels were significantly associated with an increased risk of 30-day and 365-day mortality in patients with IDA (hazard ratio [HR] range 1.49–2.23, p

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the relationship between unintentional weight loss and 30-day mortality in sepsis patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). A retrospective cohort study sepsis patients in the ICU was conducted using data from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) database, involving 1842 sepsis patients in the ICU. We utilized multivariate Cox regression analysis to evaluate the association between unintentional weight loss and the risk of 30-day mortality. In addition, we conducted stratified and interaction analyses to determine the consistency of this association across various demographic and clinical subgroups. Out of the 1842 patients, 19.2% (354) died within 30 days. The fully adjusted multivariate Cox regression model revealed that for every one-unit decrease in body weight, the risk of death increased by 58% (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.58; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.20–2.07). Unintentional weight loss was found to be positively correlated with 30-day mortality. Subgroup analysis yielded consistent results across all groups. Unintentional weight loss was positively associated with a greater risk of mortality in critically ill patients with sepsis in the ICU.

ObjectiveThis study examined associations between serum concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and gout risk in the U.S. adult population using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007–2018 data. And assessing the potential intermediary effect of uric acid.MethodsThe study included 8,494 participants, with 385 having gout. Four PFAS compounds (PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA) were measured. PFOS is the most prevalent PFAS in the environment, biota, and human tissues. It is rapidly absorbed and accumulates in the liver, kidneys, and blood, binding to serum albumin and low-density lipoprotein. PFOA is highly persistent in the body, mainly accumulating in the kidneys and liver through enterohepatic circulation, posing risks due to its difficulty in metabolism and excretion. PFHxS has the longest metabolic half-life in humans (7.3 years) and bioaccumulates in the endocrine, immune, nervous, and reproductive systems. PFNA is the second most detected PFAS in human serum after PFOS. It is more likely to accumulate and express toxicity in the reproductive organs, liver, and immune system compared to PFOS and PFOA. Multivariate logistic regression and weighted quantile sum regression were used to assess individual and mixture effects. Mediation analysis was conducted to estimate effect of uric acid.ResultsIn fully adjusted model, the associations were nonsignificant, with PFOA showing a marginally positive association. Mixture analysis revealed a significant positive association with gout risk across all models. PFOS was the largest contributor to the mixture effect. Stronger associations were observed in old people and females. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these findings. Mediation analysis indicated significant intermediary effect of uric acid in the associations of PFAS with risk of gout, with the mediated proportion ranging from 48 to 77%.ConclusionThis study provides evidence for a potential link between PFAS exposure and gout risk, particularly when considering mixtures. While associations with individual PFASs are largely explained by demographic and lifestyle factors, the persistent association of mixtures with gout risk highlights the importance of considering combined exposures in environmental health research. Uric acid level plays a crucial intermediary effect.

Bistable curved shells have become a promising low-cost application in energy absorption fields owing to recent advances in material and technology. Significant research has been conducted to improve their energy absorption effect through forward prediction and single-objective optimization. However, these approaches may not fully explore their functional potential. In this study, we propose a multi-objective optimization framework based on the principle of main objective optimization that combines neural networks and genetic algorithms. The energy absorption effect and backward snapping force of the bistable curved shell are improved synchronously. Meanwhile, a reverse design algorithm is developed to generate the preset load-displacement curve, which further expands the application of machine learning methods in the field of multi-objective optimization. The combination of machine learning and multi-objective optimization is highly effective for building meta-structures with specific performance requirements and has potential applications in solving complex optimization tasks in various fields.

While the digestibility of millet starch has been studied considerably, the effects of cooking on starch digestibility in millet remain insufficiently understood. This study investigated the effects of cooking on in vitro enzymatic starch digestion in eight cooked millet flour cultivars by seeking its correlations with the changes in composition (moisture, total starch, protein, lipids, total dietary fiber, and phenolics), structure, and physicochemical properties. Compared to raw flours, cooked flours had a similar content of total starch and protein, a lower content of moisture, lipids, and total phenolic content, and a higher content of total dietary fiber. Cooking disrupted starch granules and crystalline structures in all eight millets, promoting the formation of starch–lipid complexes and reducing the paste viscosity (except for CS07). The in vitro starch digestion of eight millet flours were lower than that of rice flour. Correlation analysis results revealed that in vitro starch digestibility in cooked millet flours was related to the amounts of starch–lipid complexes and the total dietary fiber content. These findings demonstrated that interactions between starch and other components during cooking are the key determinants for the digestion of starch in cooked foods.

Abstract New concept for the development of supramolecular assemblies from intricate interactions between different classes of biomacromolecules (polysaccharides, proteins and lipids) is yet to come, due to their intrinsic chemical and structural complexity and incompatibility. Herein, we report an interaction mechanism among multiple biomacromolecules, and the structural and digestive properties of their assemblies using amylose (AM), lauric acid (LA), and β‐lactoglobulin (βLG) as exemplars. AM, LA, and βLG interact to form a water‐soluble ternary complex through van der Waals forces between AM and LA and high affinity binding between AM and βLG, which can further assemble into uniform‐sized, semi‐crystalline nanospheres under certain thermodynamic conditions. These nanospheres are substantially resistant to amylolysis, thus can be well utilized by gut microbiota, including increasing short‐chain fatty acid levels and shaping bacterial communities. Illustrating the complexation of AM, LA, and βLG and their assemblies from disorder to order, this work offers potential rationale of assemblies for multiple biomacromolecules driven by non‐covalent interactions and substantial potentials for supramolecular biomaterials development.

We describe an iridium-catalyzed ortho-selective C–H borylation of unprotected anilines. The employing strong σ-donating cyclometalated mesoionic carbene as C^C bidentate ligand is crucial for the high ortho-selectivity. Computational studies support outer-sphere X–H···Oboryl hydrogen bond interactions, which are strengthened by bidentate C^C ligand introduction. The method shows broad substrate scope and high functional group tolerance.

Studying the electromechanical response behavior of piezoelectric thin films under different loading conditions is of great value for the development and optimization of piezoelectric sensors and flexible portable electronic devices. This paper establishes the theory of large deflection vibration of rectangular four-edge simply supported piezoelectric thin films using the energy method, and analyzes the electromechanical response characteristics of vibration force (including resonant frequency and nonlinear vibration). Meanwhile, the electromechanical response behavior of Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) films under different loading conditions (static and harmonic vibration) is analyzed. The study investigates the nonlinear vibration characteristics and resonance frequency variations under different film sizes and thickness conditions in the case of various loading conditions. The developed model can predict the resonance frequency associated with the plate dimensions. This study is of great significance for the research and application of laminated piezoelectric film sensors.

BackgroundThis study aims to investigate the underlying characteristics of spontaneous brain activity by analyzing the volumes of the hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus, as well as the fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo), in order to differentiate between bipolar disorder (BD) and unipolar depressive disorder.MethodsA total of 46 healthy controls, 58 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), and 61 patients with BD participated in the study and underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) scans. The researchers calculated the differences in volume, fALFF, and ReHo values among the three groups. Additionally, they conducted correlation analyses to examine the relationships between clinical variables and the aforementioned brain measures.ResultsThe results showed that the BD group exhibited increased fALFF in the hippocampus compared to the healthy control (HC) and MDD groups. Furthermore, the ReHo values in the hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus were significantly higher in the BD group compared to the HC group. The findings from the person correlation analysis indicated a positive relationship between ReHo values in the hippocampus and both HAMD and HAMA scores. Moreover, there was no correlation between the volumes, fALFF, and ReHo values in the hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus, and cognitive function levels (RBANS).ConclusionTaken together, these aberrant patterns of intrinsic brain activity in the hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus may serve as quantitative indicators for distinguishing between BD and unipolar depression.

Abstract Background Livestock animals is of great significance in agricultural production. However, the role of specific gene expression, especially alternative splicing in determining phenotype, is not well understood. The livestock research community needs a gene expression and alternative splicing database contributing to livestock genetic improvement. Description We report the construction of LivestockExp ( https://bioinfo.njau.edu.cn/livestockExp ), a web-based database server for the exploration of gene expression and alternative splicing using 43,710 uniformly processed RNA-seq samples from livestock animals and several relative species across six orders. The database is equipped with basic querying functions and multiple online analysis modules including differential/specific expression analysis, co-expression network analysis, and cross-species gene expression conservation analysis. In addition to the re-analysis of public datasets, users can upload personal datasets to perform co-analysis with public datasets. The database also offers a wide range of visualization tools and diverse links to external databases enabling users to efficiently explore the results and to gain additional insights. Conclusion LivestockExp covers by far the largest number of livestock animal species and RNA-seq samples and provides a valuable data resource and analysis platform for the convenient utilization of public RNA-seq datasets.

LINC00511 is an long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) of ncRNAs,This study aimed to investigate whether the lncRNA LINC00511 could encode a small peptide, LINC00511-133aa, and whether this peptide could promote breast cancer cell metastasis and stemness by activating the wnt/β-catenin pathway. The LINC00511-133aa coding sequence vector and control vector were transfected into MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, with subsequent assessment of peptide expression using PCR, western blotting, and immunofluorescence assays. Cell proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis were evaluated using CCK8, apoptotic, wound healing, and transwell invasion assays, while the characteristic changes of tumor stem cells were detected through sphere-forming assay and western blot analyses of the stemness markers Oct4, Nanog, and SOX2. Results showed that LINC00511-133aa was indeed encoded by LINC00511 and promoted the invasiveness and stemness of breast cancer cells while limiting apoptosis by modulating the expression levels of wnt/β-catenin pathway-related proteins Bax, c-myc, and CyclinD1, as well as facilitating β-catenin protein entry into the nucleus. This study provides evidence for the potential involvement of lncRNA LINC00511 and its peptide product in breast cancer progression via the regulation of the wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Cost-effective technology for condition monitoring and fault diagnosis is of practical importance for equipment maintenance and accident prevention. Among many fault diagnosis methods, sound-based sensing technology has been highly regarded due to its rich information, non-contact and flexible installation advantages. However, noise from the environment and other machines can interfere with sound signals, decreasing the effectiveness of acoustic sensors. In this paper, a novel trumpet-shaped acoustic metamaterial (TSAM) with a high enhancement of sound wave selection is proposed to detect rotating machinery faults. Firstly, a numerical calculation was carried out to test the characteristics of the proposed metamaterials model. Secondly, a finite element simulation was implemented on the model to verify the properties of the designed metamaterials. Finally, an experiment was conducted based on an electrical fan to prove the effectiveness of the designed metamaterials. The results of the signal-to-noise ratio show more than 25% improvement, consistently demonstrating the potentiality of the designed acoustic metamaterials for enhancing the weak fault signal in acoustic sensing and the capabilities of contributing to a more cost-effective fault diagnosis technology.

Despite numerous instruments existing to assist in the measurement of specific cyberbullying behaviors or cyberbullying in general, it is still unclear their purpose, corresponding scenarios, and their effectiveness. This study, therefore, aims to provide a comprehensive review of academic efforts on cyberbullying definitions, measurements, and their effectiveness in children and adolescents in the past two decades. A systematic review was performed using ASReview, an open source machine learning systematic review system. Three bibliographic citation databases, including Web of Science core collection, PubMed, and EBSCO were adopted for all relevant literature published from January 2001 to August 2021. In total, twenty-five studies, mentioning seventeen cyberbullying measurement scales, met the study collection criteria. The results found that most failed to provide a clear definition of cyberbullying, often providing unclear and inconsistent descriptions for the youth. Similarly, studies found it difficult to clearly reflect the three key elements of bullying, namely: harmfulness, repetitiveness, and the power imbalance between bullies and victims. With regard to cyberbullying types, most presented two or three categories, including victimization, perpetration, and bystanding, while some suggested four types based on the nature of the cyberbullying behavior, including written or verbal, visual or sexual, character impersonation, and exclusion. If characteristics are considered, cyberbullying becomes more specific with multiple categories being proposed, including flaming (or roasting), harassment, denigration, defamation, outing, jokes, online sexual harassment, and cyberstalking. With regard to measurements, many scales have been proposed and frequently refined to capture specific cyberbullying experience of the youth. This study emphasizes the value and importance of providing clear cyberbullying definitions and helps scholars in youth cyberbullying choose appropriate measurement scales.

Abstract The genus Chaenomeles has long been considered an important ornamental, herbal and cash crop and is widely cultivated in East Asia. Traditional studies of Chaenomeles mainly focus on evolutionary relationships at the phenotypic level. In this study, we conducted RNA-seq on 10 Chaenomeles germplasms supplemented with one outgroup species, Docynia delavayi (D. delavayi), on the Illumina HiSeq2500 platform. After de novo assemblies, we generated from 40,084 to 49,571 unigenes for each germplasm. After pairwise comparison of the orthologous sequences, 9,659 orthologues within the 11 germplasms were obtained, with 6,154 orthologous genes identified as single-copy genes. The phylogenetic tree was visualized to reveal evolutionary relationships for these 11 germplasms. GO and KEGG analyses were performed for these common single-copy genes to compare their functional similarities and differences. Selective pressure analysis based on 6,154 common single-copy genes revealed that 45 genes were under positive selection. Most of these genes are involved in building the plant disease defence system. A total of 292 genes containing simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were used to develop SSR markers and compare their functions in secondary metabolism pathways. Finally, 10 primers were chosen as SSR marker candidates for Chaenomeles germplasms by comprehensive standards. Our research provides a new methodology and reference for future related research in Chaenomeles and is also useful for improvement, breeding and selection projects in other related species.

The synthesis of 4,5-diiodo-1,3-dimesityl-1,2,3-triazolium salts with different anions have been developed. These triazolium salts show diverse aggregation via halogen bonding between C–I bonds and anions. Triazolium with halide anions exists as a tetramer with saddle conformation. Triazolium tetrafluoroborate exists as a trimer with Chinese lantern shape conformation. Triazolium trifluoroacetate and acetate exist as dimers, respectively, while the former shows boat conformation and the latter forms rectangle conformation. Triazolium salts form a linear polymer with polyiodide.

The influence of organic solvents on the structural integrity and properties of activated kaolinite were compared and analyzed via characterization techniques and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. The results revealed that the organic intercalators can be easily inserted into the interlayer spaces of activated kaolinite within a short time of the wet ball milling. The DMSO intercalated kaolinites maintained structural integrity due to the high intercalation rate and the excellent buffering effect against the crushing force of milling during the delamination/exfoliation process. The delaminated layers of the DMSO–kaolinite complex exhibited a high specific surface area of 99.12 m2/g and a low average thickness of 35.21 nm. The calculated elastic properties of the organo-kaolinite complex manifested the intercalation of DMSO into a kaolinite interlayer, which could improve the compressibility and structural integrity of kaolinite nanosheets. The DMSO–kaolinite complex was easier to peel off when compared to the other organic intercalators due to its more intercalated molecules.

Taking the Qingdong Mine as the research object, combined with field measurement data, numerical simulation and theoretical analysis are used to examine the temperature field and stability of the frozen wall in the mine, respectively. The results show that during the active freezing period, under the same freezing time, the average temperature of the effective frozen wall of the fine sand layer is 0.2–1.0 and 0.5–2.5 °C lower than that of the sandy clay layer and clay layer, respectively. The effective frozen wall thickness of the fine sand layer is 0.04–0.17 and 0.17–0.33 m larger than that of the sandy clay layer and clay layer, respectively. The soil cooling between the two circles of freezing holes is the fastest. Due to the deflection of the freezing holes, the interface temperature field is asymmetrical. For deep clay with a depth of 200–250 m, it is most economical and reasonable for the brine temperature in the active freezing period to be −25 and −30 °C. At the designed brine temperature for cooling, during the excavation of the control layer of the topsoil layer (−216 m sandy clay), the side-wall temperature, average temperature, and thickness of the frozen wall meet the design requirements. The ultimate bearing capacity of the frozen wall is 3.20 MPa. When the well is empty for 30 h after excavation, the maximum radial displacement is 26.85 mm, so the frozen wall strength and stability are in a safe state. Overall, the findings of this study can serve as a useful reference for similar freezing projects.

Background: Cyberbullying is well-recognized as a severe public health issue which affects both adolescents and children. Most extant studies have focused on national and regional effects of cyberbullying, with few examining the global perspective of cyberbullying. This systematic review comprehensively examines the global situation, risk factors, and preventive measures taken worldwide to fight cyberbullying among adolescents and children.Methods: A systematic review of available literature was completed following PRISMA guidelines using the search themes “cyberbullying” and “adolescent or children”; the time frame was from January 1st, 2015 to December 31st, 2019. Eight academic databases pertaining to public health, and communication and psychology were consulted, namely: Web of Science, Science Direct, PubMed, Google Scholar, ProQuest, Communication & Mass Media Complete, CINAHL, and PsycArticles. Additional records identified through other sources included the references of reviews and two websites, Cyberbullying Research Center and United Nations Children's Fund. A total of 63 studies out of 2070 were included in our final review focusing on cyberbullying prevalence and risk factors.Results: The prevalence rates of cyberbullying preparation ranged from 6.0 to 46.3%, while the rates of cyberbullying victimization ranged from 13.99 to 57.5%, based on 63 references. Verbal violence was the most common type of cyberbullying. Fourteen risk factors and three protective factors were revealed in this study. At the personal level, variables associated with cyberbullying including age, gender, online behavior, race, health condition, past experience of victimization, and impulsiveness were reviewed as risk factors. Likewise, at the situational level, parent-child relationship, interpersonal relationships, and geographical location were also reviewed in relation to cyberbullying. As for protective factors, empathy and emotional intelligence, parent-child relationship, and school climate were frequently mentioned.Conclusion: The prevalence rate of cyberbullying has increased significantly in the observed 5-year period, and it is imperative that researchers from low and middle income countries focus sufficient attention on cyberbullying of children and adolescents. Despite a lack of scientific intervention research on cyberbullying, the review also identified several promising strategies for its prevention from the perspectives of youths, parents and schools. More research on cyberbullying is needed, especially on the issue of cross-national cyberbullying. International cooperation, multi-pronged and systematic approaches are highly encouraged to deal with cyberbullying.