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A simplified method of determining lattice Boltzmann boundary conditions based on self-affine microchannels with an inherent roughness in a tight reservoir is presented in this paper to address nonlinear efficiency problems in fluid simulation. This approach effectively combines the influence of rough surfaces in the simulation of the flow field, the description of L-fractal theory applied to rough surfaces, and a generalized lattice Boltzmann method with equivalent composite slip boundary conditions for inherent roughness. The numerical simulations of gas slippage in a two-dimensional plate model and rough surfaces to induce gas vortex reflux flow are also successfully carried out, and the results are in good agreement with the simulation results, which establishes the reliability and flexibility of the proposed simplified method of rough surfaces. The effects of relative average height and fractal dimensions of the rough surfaces under exact boundary conditions and equivalent coarsened ones are investigated from three perspectives, namely those of the average lattice velocity, the lattice velocity at average height position at the outlet, and the coefficient of variation for lattice velocity at average height position. It was found that the roughness effect on gas flow behavior was more obvious when it was associated with the enhanced rarefaction effect. In addition, the area of gas seepage was reduced, and the gas flow resistance was increased. When the fractal dimension of the wall was about 1.20, it has the greatest impact on the fluid flow law. In addition, excessive roughness of the wall surface tends to lead to vortex backflow of the gas in the region adjacent to the wall, which greatly reduces its flow velocity. For gas flow in the nanoscale seepage space, wall roughness hindered gas migration rate by 84.7%. For pores larger than 200 nm, the effects of wall roughness on gas flow are generally negligible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to understand the molecular mechanism of cotton's response to drought during the flowering and boll stage, transcriptomics and metabolomics were carried out for two introgression lines (drought-tolerant line: T307; drought-sensitive line: S48) which were screened from Gossypium hirsutum cv. 'Emian22' with some gene fragments imported from Gossypiumbarbadense acc. 3–79, under drought stress by withdrawing water at flowering and boll stage. Results showed that the basic drought response in cotton included a series of broad-spectrum responses, such as amino acid synthesis, hormone (abscisic acid, ABA) signal transduction, and mitogen-activated protein kinases signal transduction pathway, which activated in both drought-tolerant and drought-sensitive lines. However, the difference of their imported fragments and diminished sequences triggers endoplasmic reticulum (ER) protein processing, photosynthetic-related pathways (in leaves), and membrane solute transport (in roots) in drought-tolerant line T307, while these are missed or not activated in drought-sensitive line S48, reflecting the different drought tolerance of the two genotypes. Virus-induced gene silencing assay of drought-tolerant differentially expressed heat shock protein (HSP) genes (mainly in leaf) and ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter genes (mainly in roots) indicated that those genes play important role in cotton drought tolerant. Combined analysis of transcriptomics and metabolomics highlighted the important roles of ER-stress-related HSP genes and root-specific ABC transporter genes in plants drought tolerance. These results provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the drought stress adaptation in cotton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prognosis of pancreatic cancer is poor, with a 5-year survival rate of less than 10%. Studies have shown that chemokines in the tumour microenvironment are often altered, which is associated with immune infiltration and the prognosis and survival of pancreatic cancer patients. Methods: Multiomics and bioinformatics tools were used to clarify CXC chemokine expression and its role in the pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) immune microenvironment. Results: Most CXC chemokines were upregulated in pancreatic cancer and correlated with patient prognosis. CXC chemokines can activate cancer-related signalling pathways and affect immune infiltration. Furthermore, most CXC chemokines were significantly correlated with the abundance of macrophages, neutrophils and dendritic cells. CXCL5 was selected as a hub gene, and a variety of immune checkpoints, including PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4, were identified. Conclusion: Our study provides novel insights into CXC chemokine expression and its role in the PDAC immune microenvironment. These results can provide more data about prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets of PDAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An analytical solution model of shale oil productivity calculation was presented. • The model can be used to predict the production dynamic of shale oil wells. • The productivity is most sensitive to fracture cluster spacing and flowing bottom hole pressure. • The limits of the impact of non-Darcy effects on productivity were clarified. The flow behavior of shale reservoirs is extremely complex. The mainly used development method of large-scale volume fracturing of horizontal wells is associated with a series of problems such as low productivity in general, fast decrease in productivity, and difficulty to increase productivity. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the productivity of shale oil wells and determine the key control factors. Considering low-velocity non-Darcy flow, this paper establishes an analytical solution model for productivity calculation of multi-fracture shale oil horizontal wells with coupled matrix-fracture flow. Calculating the oil production rate by considering low-velocity non-Darcy flow in shale oil reservoirs obtains values closer to the actual oil production rate on site. The average relative error of the oil production rate of the H8 shale oil well is 4.27%. The average relative error of the oil production rate of the TMS shale oil wells is 34.97%, which exceeds the rate of the semi-analytical model by 47.84%. Sensitivity analysis shows that the oil production rate of multi-fracture shale oil horizontal wells is most sensitive to fracture cluster spacing and flowing bottom hole pressure. With decreasing fracture cluster spacing and flowing bottom hole pressure, both the matrix pressure gradient and the apparent permeability of the matrix increase. These increases not only increase the oil production rate but also reduce the influence of the non-Darcy effect on the oil production rate caused by boundary effect. In addition, the limits of the impact of non-Darcy effects caused by boundary effect on oil production rate have been clarified. The results enable not only the prediction of the oil production rate, cumulative oil production, and recovery factor of multi-fracture horizontal shale oil wells, but also the finding of the shale oil sweet spot according to the influence of matrix permeability and crude oil viscosity on the oil production rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In oilfield development, the pore pressure difference between adjacent areas leads to cracks and slipping in the weak structural surface layer, which triggers the shear failure of the casing. The formation slip involves a large range of formation, and its amount is not proportional to the size of the slipping rock mass, which conventional physical models cannot simulate. In this study, based on the abnormal similarity theory, we derived the similarity coefficients of mechanical parameters with different horizontal and vertical proportions. Furthermore, an experimental device for simulating the formation crack and slip under interregional formation pressure difference was developed. Through the experiments, we obtained slip conditions under different pressure differences between adjacent areas and different oil layers and fault surface depths. The study shows that the pore pressure difference between adjacent areas is the driving force of the formation slips. The slip zone is located in the middle of two abnormal pressure zones, and the distance between the adjacent areas can affect the slip range. The deep burial of the oil layer and shallow depth of the weak structural surface can trigger a more significant formation slip. The experimental method proposed in this paper provides an experimental device and method for understanding the formation of cracks and slips on weak structural surfaces. The experimental results provide a theoretical basis for the prevention of shear-type casing damage caused by formation slip. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The type-III oil formations in Daqing Oilfield are the representatives of medium-low permeability reservoirs in ultrahigh water cut oilfields of China, which is characterized by bad connectivity of pores and throats, dispersed residual oil distribution, and difficult to displace effectively. In order to produce the residual oil, we propose a new EOR (enhanced oil recovery) method which is hydraulic fracturing by an oil displacement agent at high pressure. In this paper, firstly, we have performed three sets of displacement experiments under different conditions to provide the basis for the analysis of changes in core pore structure and wettability. Next, overburden pressure porosity and permeability tests were used to analyze the effect of the injection of an oil displacement agent at high pressure on core physical properties. Correspondingly, the constant speed mercury injection tests were used to determine the radius distribution of pore throat and change of seepage resistance under different displacement conditions. Moreover, the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) tests of cores were carried out to observe and analyze changes in pore-throat size and connectivity, mineral particle accumulation, and cementation before and after hydraulic fracturing by an oil displacement agent at high pressure. Finally, core wettability tests were conducted to discuss and analyze the rule of core wettability change in hydraulic fracturing by an oil displacement agent at high pressure, and its mechanism of wettability changes. Research shows that increasing the formation energy is the most important mechanism of EOR by a fracturing-seepage-displacement method. Additionally, the type of an oil displacement agent has less effect. After an oil displacement agent at high pressure is injected to fracture the formation, it not only provides efficient flow channel and larger sweep volume for an oil displacement agent. Under the flushing action of high-pressure injection fluid, the original way of line or point contact between mineral particles gradually changes to free particles. Therefore, the pore throat size increases, some larger pores are formed, and the overall flow resistance decreases. After the injection of fluid at high pressure, the energy in formation has increased and the core wettability changes from oil-wet to weakly water-wet. This is not only because the residual oil on the pore surface is flushed by high pressure; in addition, the adsorption of an oil displacement agent on the rock surface reduces the liquid-solid interface energy and changes the wettability, thus improving the oil displacement efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background GLS4 is a first-in-class hepatitis B virus (HBV) capsid assembly modulator (class I) that can inhibit HBV replication by interfering with the assembly and disassembly of HBV nucleocapsid. Here, we evaluated its antiviral activity, pharmacokinetics, and tolerability in a double-blind, randomized, parallel, entecavir-controlled study. Methods Twenty-four patients with chronic HBV were randomized to receive a 28-day course of GLS4 (120 or 240 mg) and ritonavir (100 mg) combination (cohorts A and B, respectively) or entecavir treatment (cohort C) at a 1:1:1 ratio. Patients were followed up for 40 days in a phase 1b study. Results The GLS4/ritonavir combination was a tolerated combination for the treatment of chronic HBV infection. A total of 2, 3, and 3 subjects presented with alanine aminotransferase flare in cohorts A, B, and C, respectively. This contributed to the withdrawal of 1, 2, and 1 patient from cohorts A, B, and C, respectively. The mean Ctrough of GLS4 was 205–218 ng/mL, which was approximately 3.7–3.9 times the 90% effective concentration (55.8 ng/mL), with a lower accumulation (accumulation rate, 1.1–2.0). In cohorts A, B, and C, the mean declines in HBV DNA after 28 days of treatment were −1.42, −2.13, and −3.5 log10 IU/mL; in hepatitis B surface antigen were −0.06, −0.14, and −0.33 log10 IU/mL; in pregenomic RNA were −0.75, −1.78, and −0.96 log10 copies/mL; and in hepatitis B core antigen were −0.23, −0.5, and −0.44 log10 U/mL, respectively. Conclusions Treatment with 120 mg GLS4 was tolerated and had antiviral activity in patients with chronic HBV infection. Clinical Trials Registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry; CTR20160068. http://www.chinadrugtrials.org.cn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Casing damage caused by shear stress has been detected in several areas of the Daqing oilfield. Such damage can be caused by marker bed slip in mud shale sections. However, the mechanism of slippage stress in mud shale horizontal sections is currently not well understood. Based on the effect of differences in interregional pore pressure, we have established a mechanical model of a cracked horizontal plane and obtained analytical solutions for the formation stress and displacement. In order to quantitatively characterize the relative slip distance in a horizontal section, the fault stick-slip and sliding weakening theories have been used. In this paper, based on a stick-slip theory, we propose a model to calculate the slip of a mud shale horizontal section under differing interregional pore pressures. The results show, that under the influence of differing formation pore pressure between the regions, the upper layer of the horizontal section intermittently slips towards the high-pressure center. When the pore water enters the formation, the friction between the sections decreases, causing a decrease in the weakened slip phenomenon. Consequently, the slippage of the formation section will increase under the conditions. The results of the study can provide useful background for preventing casing failures in mud shale marker beds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generally, long-term waterflooding development often leads to the change of reservoir pore and clay mineral composition, which results in the change of permeability and wettability. In order to explore the relationship between core micropore structure and water cut, based on physical simulation experiments and fractal theory, we proposed a fractal evolutionary model to describe the evolution characteristics of microstructure of long-term water driving reservoirs. In this paper, core pore structure by SEM was first conducted to analyze the change of core pore structure before and after waterflooding under the conditions of magnification of 200 times, 800 times, and 2000 times, respectively. Then, conventional and constant rate mercury injection tests were combined to perform the comparative analysis of core structural parameters before and after waterflooding. Finally, a micropore-throat structure evolution model of core was established. Research shows that the connectivity of larger pores becomes better after long-term water driving, the degree of heterogeneity weakens, and the micro heterogeneity of small pores becomes stronger and stronger. The throat characteristics change in a complex manner, the radius tends to increase, and the sorting becomes better, while the connectivity of small throat changes complex. In general, the heterogeneity of throat increases with the time of water injection in reservoirs with low porosity and permeability. On the basis of fractal theory and variation characteristics of rock pore structure in water driving reservoirs, we have established a micropore-throat structure evolution model of core pore-throat characteristics. This fractal evolution model quantitatively characterized the complexity and evolution law of pore structure and clarified the relationship between fractal dimension of core pore structure and water cut under different stages of water driving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Kaempferol, a natural flavonoid, exhibits anticancer properties by scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, increasing evidence has demonstrated that, under certain conditions, kaempferol can inhibit tumor growth by upregulating ROS levels. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether kaempferol effectively suppresses pancreatic cancer through upregulation of ROS, and to explore the underlying molecular mechanism.Methods: PANC-1 and Mia PaCa-2 cells were exposed to different concentrations of kaempferol. Cell proliferation and colony formation were evaluated by CCK-8 and colony formation assays. Flow cytometry was performed to assess the ROS levels and cell apoptosis. The mRNA sequencing and KEGG enrichment analysis were performed to identify differentially expressed genes and to reveal significantly enriched signaling pathways in response to kaempferol treatment. Based on biological analysis, we hypothesized that tissue transglutaminase (TGM2) gene was an essential target for kaempferol to induce ROS-related apoptosis in pancreatic cancer. TGM2 was overexpressed by lentivirus vector to verify the effect of TGM2 on the ROS-associated apoptotic signaling pathway. Western blot and qRT-PCR were used to determine the protein and mRNA levels, respectively. The prognostic value of TGM2 was analyzed by Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) tools based on public data from the TCGA database.Results: Kaempferol effectively suppressed pancreatic cancer in vitro and in vivo. Kaempferol promoted apoptosis in vitro by increasing ROS generation, which was involved in Akt/mTOR signaling. TGM2 levels were significantly increased in PDAC tissues compared with normal tissues, and high TGM2 expression was positively correlated with poor prognosis in pancreatic cancer patients. Decreased TGM2 mRNA and protein levels were observed in the cells after treatment with kaempferol. Additionally, TGM2 overexpression downregulated ROS production and inhibited the abovementioned apoptotic signaling pathway.Conclusions: Kaempferol induces ROS-dependent apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells via TGM2-mediated Akt/mTOR signaling, and TGM2 may represent a promising prognostic biomarker for pancreatic cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A three‐dimensional two‐phase Lattice Boltzmann model was developed and validated for the fundamental phenomena of gas‐water transport in tight porous media considering microscopic forces, namely, the electrostatic and solid‐liquid intermolecular forces. The thickness of the water film adhering to the porous media surface was calculated based on the principle of thermodynamic equilibrium and the gas‐water electrostatic potential energy. The Lattice Boltzmann model simulations focused on the effects of the microscopic forces and water film thickness on the gas‐water transport in tight porous media. The fluid flow in the porous media was simulated under different conditions for the characteristic length, interfacial tension, and displacement pressure gradient. The results confirmed that the gas‐water transport is strongly affected by the microscopic forces in tight porous media and that the transport process is accompanied by a high seepage resistance. The seepage resistance is more pronounced in the case of smaller pores because the adhering water film is thicker and more stable. During the transport process, the water film may disintegrate under certain conditions, which would enhance the gas flow in the porous media. However, it is difficult to effectively improve the gas flow by increasing the displacement pressure gradient under microscopic forces; this can be attributed to the accumulation of water or increased seepage resistance dictated by the interfacial tension, which occurs more frequently with smaller pores. This paper provides a promising new perspective for efficiently improving the Lattice Boltzmann model for transport trends considering microscopic forces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mesoporous Ni20/Al-KIT-6 (denoted as N20AxK) catalysts with different Al content (1–9 wt%) were prepared, metal Ni and KIT-6 modified by Al were used as active component and support, respectively. The physicochemical properties of the prepared N20AxK catalysts were characterized by H2-TPR, XRD, BET, TEM, and H2-TPD. The catalytic hydrodeoxygenation(HDO) performance of N20AxK catalysts was evaluated by ethyl acetate catalytic HDO. The results show that the catalytic HDO performance of the prepared N20AxK catalysts is related to the adsorption and activation performance for H2 molecules, as well as the dispersion of matal Ni active components. N20A5K catalyst shows the best H2 adsorption property and Ni dispersion. N20A5K catalyst presents superior catalytic HDO performance. At 300 °C and atmospheric pressure, the conversion of ethyl acetate and ethane selectivity of N20A5K catalyst are 99.3 % and 97.4 %, respectively. Besides, the N20A5K catalyst exhibits good stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reduce the helicopter cabin noise generated from a gearbox, a novel compounded periodic strut is designed with periodic structures connected in series/parallel in the axial direction. In this paper, the emphasis is placed on exploring the vibration transfer performance of the strut in both the axial and lateral directions, along with its attenuation effects on fuselage vibration and cabin noise. First, considering all directions, a complete dynamic model of the designed strut is established based on the spectral finite element method and the transfer matrix method and is extended to the model of the gearbox/struts system. Based on this model, simulation predictions indicate that the designed strut exhibits better broadband vibration attenuation in the lateral directions compared to that in the axial direction. Under this combined action, the translational vibration transmitted to the fuselage floor can be effectively isolated. The maximum acceleration attenuation can be more than 40 dB. These conclusions are verified by further experimental studies, which confirm that the numerical model can accurately predict the strut's vibration control results in the helicopter model. Subsequently, the noise transfer performance from the gearbox to the cabin noise field is experimentally studied using the helicopter model. Similar to the vibration control results, satisfactory broadband noise attenuation is obtained when using the designed compounded periodic strut. Among the frequencies of the stop bands, the maximum noise attenuation is more than 30 dB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The study aimed to identify predictive risk factor to identify high‐stage histological chorioamnionitis (HCA) in pregnancies with cervical incompetence (CIC). Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted by including 116 pregnant women with cervical incompetence that required prophylactical and therapeutical cerclage. The histopathology examination on placenta was conducted with informed patient consent. All the cases included in this study were divided based on the severity degree of HCA. The demographic characteristic and the parameters related to maternal and fetal outcome were all analyzed. Besides, perioperative parameters of cerclage, including cervical length, cervical morphology, and laboratory indexes were also compared between two groups. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to determine the risk factor of severe chorioamnionitis. Results: Severe HCA was significantly associated with cervical morphology, cerclage indication, cerclage type, and cervical length measured via ultrasound and vaginal examination. After adjusted for confounders, V‐type funneling and short cervix was indicated as independent risk factors of severe HCA by multivariate logistic regression analysis, respectively. Conclusions: V‐type funneling and short cervix may indicate the elevated risk of high‐stage HCA. Due to the negative outcomes related with high‐stage HCA, appropriate prenatal treatment would improve the pregnancy outcomes in cerclaged population. To facilitate postpartum treatment, placental histological examination should be routinely recommended to identify the high‐stage HCA, especially in high risk pregnancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metsulfuron methyl is typical sulfonylurea herbicides. The degradation of metsulfuron-methyl has aroused research interests because it was mobile in natural media, and raising environmental concerns about contamination of metsulfuron-methyl to surface water. However, conventional methods cannot remove these herbicides from water efficiently. This work proposed a rapid and efficient enzymatic degradation of metsulfuron-methyl by chloroperoxidase (CPO). The effect of reaction conditions, including pH, concentration of oxidant and enzyme, and degradation time on the degradation efficiency (η) were studied and accordingly optimized. The optimum η of 93.2% for 16.7 μmol·L−1 metsulfuron-methyl was achieved after 10 min at 25 °C and weakly acidic pH. The required CPO is only 0.06 μmol·L−1. The degraded products of metsulfuron-methyl were identified by HPLC-MS. The results indicated that metsulfuron-methyl molecule was decomposed, and five smaller molecular fragments were detected. Moreover, it was found that if this enzymatic degradation was combined with following activated sludge treatment, then, this bio-cascade treatment was more effective in removal of metsulfuron-methyl in wastewater than by activated sludge alone (which was used in most municipal sewage plant). The COD removal increased from 12.09% to 74.27%. Ecotoxicity tests of 72 h EC50 for degraded solution using a green alga, Chlorella pyrenoidosa, as eco-indicator demonstrated the enzymatic degraded products had lower eco-toxicity than metsulfuron-methyl itself. Application of this bio-cascade treatment to real water sample and artificial wastewater containing metsulfuron-methyl was effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This paper characterizes the performance of a novel compounded gearbox periodic strut on controlling the noise in a helicopter cabin through modelling, simulation and experimental research. The strut exhibits low transmissibility in the specified frequency ranges, called “stop bands”. Based on a certain helicopter model, a dynamic acoustic-structure coupled system is first built by using the finite element method and the transfer matrix method. Subsequently, according to the gear mesh vibration transmission path, analyses of the vibration and noise reduction characteristics are conducted. Compared with the plain strut, attenuations of both vibration and noise in excess of 60 dB are obtained in the simulations. On a specially designed helicopter platform, experimental research is conducted simultaneously on the two aspects of fuselage vibration and cabin noise. The effectiveness of the novel strut used for helicopter cabin broadband noise reduction is demonstrated by the agreement between the simulation and experimentation results, where the attenuations of measured fuselage vibration and cabin noise exceed the levels of 40 dB and 30 dB, respectively, in the frequency range from 300 to 2000 Hz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract BiOBr was the optimum one among different halogen BiOX (X = Cl, Br, I) to improve the photocatalytic activity of BiOX/Bi 2 WO 6 heterojunction for the well band energy match under visible light irradiation. Highlights • BiOX/Bi 2 WO 6 with different kind and content of halogen was prepared by one pot hydrothermal reaction. • BiOBr maximized activity of Bi 2 WO 6 toward photocatalytic selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol. • The fundamental distinction of BiOX was related to energy band structure match model with Bi 2 WO 6. Abstract We developed a simple X−-assisted (X = Cl, Br, I) one-pot hydrothermal reaction to successfully synthesize a series of BiOX/Bi 2 WO 6 heterojunction. The effect of different halogens and their addition amount on the photocatalytic performance of BiOX/Bi 2 WO 6 composites was investigated using benzyl alcohol selective oxidation under visible-light irradiation. All BiOX could enhance the photocatalytic activity of Bi 2 WO 6 , but the BiOBr was the optimum for the maximum improvement of Bi 2 WO 6. The match of energy band structure between BiOX and Bi 2 WO 6 resulted in the highly efficient separation of photogenerated charges, which was mainly attributed to their fundamental distinction of the photocatalytic activity. This work clarified the essential distinction in photocatalytic performance of the different halogen of BiOX/Bi 2 WO 6 heterojunction, and also provided guidance for the construction of efficient heterojunction photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Androgens have been recognized to be primary causative agents of prostate cancer. Following binding to the androgen receptor (AR), androgens serve important roles in the carcinogenesis of prostate cancers. ARs serve an important role during all stages of prostate cancer, and inhibiting their function may help to slow prostate cancer growth. In the present study, the AR gene was targeted in androgen.positive prostate cancer cells using the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats.associated protein (CRISPR/Cas) system. A total of three different single.guide RNAs (sgRNAs) were designed according to the three different target sites in the AR gene. The optimal sgRNA with a specific target effect was effectively screened to cleave the AR gene in androgen.positive prostate cancer cell lines, and to suppress the growth of androgen.sensitive prostate cancer in vitro. The AR.sgRNA.guided CRISPR/Cas system was able to disrupt the AR at specific sites and inhibit the growth of androgen.sensitive prostate cancer cells; further studies demonstrated that the decreased cell proliferation was due to cellular apoptosis. The results of the present study suggested that the CRISPR/Cas system may be a useful therapeutic strategy for the treatment of prostate cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A special periodic strut is developed to reduce the helicopter cabin noise in this paper. The strut exhibits unique dynamic characteristics which can isolate the gearbox vibrations from transferring to the fuselage and radiating noise. Modeling, simulation, and experimental research are carried out to explore its characteristics and performance. A theoretical model of the strut is firstly established, with particular emphasis on correlating the passband and stop band behaviors with the damping and a series of boundary conditions. Then, through simulations, it is shown that both the damping and boundary conditions have significant influences on the stop band, including the beginning and end frequencies and attenuation effects. Based on these analytical simulations, experimental analyses are conducted with the newly developed strut. Inspiring performances are validated under different conditions. Considering that the helicopter vibration in practical applications is much more complex, further experimental investigations are carried out on a helicopter model, which generates prominent gear mesh tones similar to a real helicopter. The experimental results show that the compounded periodic strut can significantly attenuate the vibrations transmitted to the fuselage. Compared with the plain strut, attenuations in excess of 40 dB are measured in the frequency range from 300 to 2000 Hz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exact bright self-similar solitary waves are analytically derived in a cigar-shaped condensate with time-dependent atomic scattering length as(t) in an expulsive parabolic potential. The straightforward relation between the Gross–Pitaevskii equation and the standard nonlinear Schrödinger equation is presented for as(t)=a0exp(γt) at the growing or decaying coefficient γ=±|ωz|/ωt with ωz(ω⊥) the axial (transverse) frequency. In the expulsive parabolic potential, in particular, it is found that the bright self-similar solitary wave is accelerated and set into motion due to the expulsive force. The results tally with the experimental observations by Khaykovich et al. [Science296 (2002) 1290]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By developing a three-mode approximation, we derive dynamical equations governing a condensate in a symmetric three-well potential. Based on the dynamical equations, we numerically simulate the dynamical properties of a Bose–Einstein condensate in a symmetric three-well potential. It is shown that, for the zero-phase mode, atomic population in each well oscillates periodically with the amplitude dependent on the initial conditions, and there may exist a critical initial distribution. However, for the π-phase mode, it is possible for the system to exhibit a set of behaviors directly dependent on the ratio between the nonlinearity induced by the atom-atom interactions and the coupling of neighboring wells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a deep learning-based traffic state discrimination method is proposed to detect traffic congestion at urban intersections. The detection algorithm includes two parts, global speed detection and a traffic state discrimination algorithm. Firstly, the region of interest (ROI) is selected as the road intersection from the input image of the You Only Look Once (YOLO) v3 object detection algorithm for vehicle target detection. The Lucas-Kanade (LK) optical flow method is employed to calculate the vehicle speed. Then, the corresponding intersection state can be obtained based on the vehicle speed and the discrimination algorithm. The detection of the vehicle takes the position information obtained by YOLOv3 as the input of the LK optical flow algorithm and forms an optical flow vector to complete the vehicle speed detection. Experimental results show that the detection algorithm can detect the vehicle speed and traffic state discrimination method can judge the traffic state accurately, which has a strong anti-interference ability and meets the practical application requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to reduce the structure-borne noise in the helicopter cabin generated by the main gearbox, this paper proposed a novel periodic mono-material strut with geometrical discontinuity. To design the strut under the realistic requirements in helicopter, both the dynamics and statics behaviors of the strut are considered in the theoretical modeling based on the transfer matrix method and the theoretical formulation. On this basis, the mathematical relationships between the design parameters and the design requirements are obtained. The parametric effects are then analyzed to get the coupling relationships of the design requirements, which provide a basis for parameter selection. A sample strut is subsequently designed for a specific helicopter model. Like the periodic strut with multiple materials, the newly periodic strut with mono-material also has good broadband vibration attenuation characteristics in the targeted frequency range from 500 Hz to 2000 Hz. The measured acceleration attenuation can achieve up to 64% and the attenuations in some frequencies can exceed 40 dB, verifying the feasibility and effectiveness of the strut in attenuating the vibration transmitted from the gearbox to the fuselage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural water resource, mainly consumed through evapotranspiration, plays a critical role in agricultural production of arid and semiarid regions. Quantifying the changes of evapotranspiration in cropland (ETc), and its driving factors, may provide rich information for improving human land-use and water resource management. Here we first investigated the multi-year (2000–2015) changes in the ETc (mm yr−1) and associated driving factors of the Loess Plateau (LP), using a combination of the Vegetation Interfaces Processes model and a factorial analysis of variance. We found that the ETc of the LP showed a significant upward trend of 0.31 km3 yr−2 (3.33 mm yr−2) (p <.05) over the last 16 years, mainly driven by cropland changes (3.77% per year), which combined the contribution of cropland area changes and cropland leaf area index (LAIc) changes. We then examined the changes of the dominant driving factor: cropland, and results indicated that the cropland changes consisted of the decrease in cropland area (net decrease of 10.50 × 103 km2) and the increase in LAIc (increased by 10.72%), which suggest the actual contribution of the ETc uptrend was the increasing LAIc. Our further analysis on the causes of the increasing LAIc by correlating the LAIc with land-use management factors revealed that the cropland greening on the LP showed high positive correlations with the increasing inputs of total power of agriculture machinery and farm plastic film, followed by chemical fertilizer. The increase of LAIc was also promoted by the increased ratio of the garden fruits output to total crops output (increased by 67.12%) and multiple cropping (increased by 21.66%). These results suggest that the ETc uptrend can be related to the agricultural intensification. Our study highlights the need for a realistic representation of socio-economic development and human land-use practices in the sustainable optimal allocation of agricultural water resources on the LP. Unlabelled Image • ET in cropland (ETc) showed upward trend over the Loess Plateau from 2000 to 2015. • Land-use optimization drives cropland greening and promotes multi-year rise of ETc. • Socioeconomic development and land-use practice affect agricultural water allocation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Opencast coal mining activities have significant effects on the reconstructed soil properties, including its physical, chemical and biological properties. To assess the effects of opencast mining and associated dumping activities on reconstructed soil properties, the spatial variability of soil properties, i.e., soil particle size distribution (PSD), organic matter (OM) and total nitrogen (TN), in an inner dump after dumping and before reclamation in Antaibao opencast coal-mine of Shanxi Pingshuo was analyzed using multi-fractal and joint multi-fractal methods. Soil samples at 78 sampling sites at the depths of 0–20 cm and 20–40 cm were collected using an auger. The singularity spectra of soil properties in the study area were analyzed, and three multi-fractal parameters (i.e., D 1 , D 2 and ∆α) were calculated. The singularity spectra and multi-fractal parameters can quantitatively characterize the spatial variability of soil PSD, OM and TN. The variability of soil PSD, OM and TN at the depth of 20–40 cm was higher than that at the depth of 0–20 cm. At same soil depth, the sand and clay contents showed relatively high spatial variability, and the silt content, OM and TN exhibited relatively low spatial variability. The spatial variability in sand content, OM and TN between 0 and 20 cm and 20–40 cm depths had a relatively high correlation, while the clay and silt contents at the depths of 0–20 cm and 20–40 cm showed a relatively low correlation. Multi-fractal and joint multi-fractal methods exhibited more advantages in characterizing spatial variability of reconstructed soil properties. This study provided a theoretical basis for the soil sampling optimization of in the opencast coal-mine dump in the Loess area of China. • The variability of reconstructed soil properties was evaluated by multi-fractal. • A tool for analyzing the correlation of variables variability was applied. • The sand and clay contents had high variability at the same soil depth. • The variability of subsoil properties was higher than that of topsoil properties. • Sand content, OM and TN at both depths of 0–20 cm and 20–40 cm had a high correlation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RNA editing, adenosine (A)-to-inosine (I), plays a vital role in many biological processes. Our previous study has demonstrated that the hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) deficient in adenosine deaminase acting on RNA 1 (Adar1), an RNA-editing enzyme, cannot reconstitute the irradiated recipients in vivo and form colonies in vitro (Xufeng R et al, PNAS 2009). However, the overall profile of RNA editome in hematopoiesis has not been established and the underlying mechanism how RNA editing governs the function of HSPCs is poorly defined. In this study, we sorted 12 murine adult hematopoietic cell populations and performed RNA sequencing. We depicted the landscape of RNA editome in hematopoietic cells and identified 30,796 editing sites in total. By charactering specific editing sites in different hematopoietic cell subsets at different stages, we found that the antizyme inhibitor 1 (Azin1) was highly edited in coding region in HSPCs as opposed to other cell types. To understand whether edited Azin1 was required for functioning of HSPCs, we transduced c-Kit+ HSPCs with the lentivirus carrying Azin1 cDNAs with distinct editing frequencies. c-Kit+ cells transduced with fully edited Azin1 showed enhanced reconstitution, compared to that transduced with partially edited or non-edited Azin1. Specifically, inability of RNA editing in Azin1 blocked the differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in vivo. Moreover, a similar finding was obtained when Azin1 was knocked down. In summary, for the first time, this study provides a landscape of specific editing sites in hematopoietic cascade and demonstrates a pivotal role of the RNA-editable gene, Azin1, in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development and utilization of biomass "green carbon" is conducive to alleviating the energy crisis and environmental protection problems. We reported herein a novel and unique shell-style Cu/γ-Al 2 O 3 catalyst. The shell Cu/γ-Al 2 O 3 catalyst (Cu-CPA) with the Cu content of 3 wt% prepared by acetone as solvent has excellent hydrodeoxygenation performances, methyl laurate hydrogenation conversion and C 12 alkanes selectivity were 87.2 and 80.0 % at 400 °C, respectively, which were equivalent to the activities of 10 wt% Cu/γ-Al 2 O 3 catalyst prepared by using water as solvent. That is to say, the Cu atoms availability can be greatly improved through solvent assistance. [Display omitted] • Shell Cu/γ-Al 2 O 3 catalysts prepared by impregnation method with solvent assisted. • Shell Cu/γ-Al 2 O 3 catalysts have service cycle-stable HDO performance. • Shell thickness, pore structure, and surface composition can be adjusted by solution. Using biomass "green carbon" can effectively alleviate the energy crisis and environmental protection problems. To achieve efficient removal of oxygen atoms, retain complete carbon chain structures, and maximize the economy of carbon atoms for the inedible or waste bio-oils, a novel and unique shell-style Cu/γ-Al 2 O 3 catalyst with low Cu content was developed to solve the current problems including easy sintering and poor hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) activity of the studied catalysts. The shell Cu/γ-Al 2 O 3 catalyst (Cu-CPA) with the Cu content of 3 wt% prepared by acetone as solvent has excellent cycle-stable HDO performances, the methyl laurate hydrogen conversion and C 12 alkanes selectivity were 87.2 and 80.0 % at 400 °C, respectively, which were equivalent to the activities of the ordinary 10 wt% Cu/γ-Al 2 O 3 catalyst prepared by wet impregnation using water as a solvent. The polarity of the impregnating solution modulates the shell layer thickness of the Cu-based catalysts to improve the surface chemical composition and pore structure of the catalysts, which in turn affects the lipids HDO performances of the corresponding catalyst. Active heterogeneous shell Cu-CPA catalyst showed high activity, selectivity, and stability in HDO, which can be attributed to the unique structure with suitable active shell thickness and high utilization rate of the metal Cu active components. This study provides feasible ideas for the preparation of shell-type catalysts, the design of anti-sintering Cu-based catalysts, and the production of renewable biofuels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have suggested that MIC26 (apolipoprotein O, APOO), a novel mitochondrial inner membrane protein, is involved in inflammation. Thus, the role of macrophage MIC26 in acute inflammation and chronic inflammatory disease atherosclerosis was investigated. Macrophage-specific MIC26 knockout mice (MIC26LysM) were generated by crossing Apoo flox/flox and LysMcre +/- mice. An endotoxemia mouse model was generated to explore the effects of macrophage MIC26 deficiency on acute inflammation, while an atherosclerosis mouse model was constructed by crossing MIC26LysM mice with Apoe −/− mice and challenged with a Western diet. Atherosclerotic plaques, primary macrophage function, and mitochondrial structure and function were analyzed. MIC26 knockout did not affect the median survival time and post-injection serum interleukin 1β concentrations in mice with endotoxemia. Mice with MIC26 deficiency in an Apoe −/− background had smaller atherosclerotic lesions and necrotic core than the control group. In vitro studies found that the loss of MIC26 did not affect macrophage polarization, apoptosis, or lipid handling capacity, but increased efferocytosis (the ability to clear apoptotic cells). An in situ efferocytosis assay of plaques also showed that the ratio of macrophage-associated apoptotic cells to free apoptotic cells was higher in the MIC26-deficient group than in the control group, indicating increased efferocytosis. In addition, an in vivo thymus efferocytosis assay indicated that MIC26 deletion promoted efferocytosis. Mechanistically, the loss of MIC26 resulted in an abnormal mitochondrial inner membrane structure, increased mitochondrial fission, and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential. Loss of MIC26 reduced mitochondria optic atrophy type 1 (OPA1) protein, and OPA1 silencing in macrophages promoted efferocytosis. Overexpression of OPA1 abolished the increase in efferocytosis produced by MIC26 deficiency. Macrophage MIC26 deletion alleviated advanced atherosclerosis and necrotic core expansion by promoting efferocytosis. This mechanism may be related to the increased mitochondrial fission caused by reduced mitochondrial OPA1. [Display omitted] • Macrophage MIC26 deletion does not affect acute inflammation but reduces atherosclerosis. • Macrophage MIC26 deletion promotes efferocytosis in vitro and in vivo. • Macrophage MIC26 deletion reduces mitochondria OPA1. • Overexpression of OPA1 abolishes the increase in efferocytosis produced by MIC26 deficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Butylphthalide, a prescription medicine recognized for its efficacy in treating ischemic strokes approved by the State Food and Drug Administration of China in 2005, is sourced from the traditional botanical remedy Ligusticum chuanxiong. While chemical synthesis offers a viable route, limitations in the production of isomeric variants with compromised bioactivity necessitate alternative strategies. Addressing this issue, biosynthesis offers a promising solution. However, the intricate in vivo pathway for butylphthalide biosynthesis remains elusive. In this study, we examined the distribution of butylphthalide across various tissues of L. chuanxiong and found a significant accumulation in the rhizome. By searching transcriptome data from different tissues of L. chuanxiong, we identified four rhizome-specific genes annotated as 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase (2-OGDs) that emerged as promising candidates involved in butylphthalide biosynthesis. Among them, LcSAO1 demonstrates the ability to catalyze the desaturation of senkyunolide A at the C-4 and C-5 positions, yielding the production of butylphthalide. Experimental validation through transient expression assays in Nicotiana benthamiana corroborates this transformative enzymatic activity. Notably, phylogenetic analysis of LcSAO1 revealed that it belongs to the DOXB clade, which typically encompasses genes with hydroxylation activity, rather than desaturation. Further structure modelling and site-directed mutagenesis highlighted the critical roles of three amino acid residues, T98, S176, and T178, in substrate binding and enzyme activity. By unraveling the intricacies of the senkyunolide A desaturase, the penultimate step in the butylphthalide biosynthesis cascade, our findings illuminate novel avenues for advancing synthetic biology research in the realm of medicinal natural products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thrombocytopenia is a major and fatal complication in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), which results from disrupted megakaryopoiesis by leukemic niche and blasts. Our previous research revealed that elevated interleukin-4 (IL-4) in AML bone marrow had adverse impact on multiple stages throughout megakaryopoiesis including hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), but the specific mechanism remains unknown. In the present study, we performed single-cell transcriptome analysis and discovered activated oxidative stress pathway and apoptosis pathway in IL-4Rαhigh versus IL-4Rαlow HSCs. IL-4 stimulation in vitro led to apoptosis of HSCs and down-regulation of megakaryocyte-associated transcription factors. Functional assays displayed higher susceptibility of IL-4Rαhigh HSCs to tunicamycin and irradiation-induced apoptosis, demonstrating their vulnerability to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress injury. To clarify the downstream signaling of IL-4, we analyzed the transcriptomes of HSCs from AML bone marrow and found a remarkable down-regulation of the proteasome component Psmd13, whose expression was required for megakaryocytic-erythroid development but could be inhibited by IL-4 in vitro. We knocked down Psmd13 by shRNA in HSCs, and found their repopulating capacity and megakaryocytic differentiation were severely compromised, with increased apoptosis in vivo. In summary, our study uncovered a previous unrecognized regulatory role of IL-4-Psmd13 signaling in anti-stress and megakaryocytic differentiation capability of HSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thrombocytopenia is a major and fatal complication in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), which results from disrupted megakaryopoiesis by leukemic niche and blasts. Our previous research revealed that elevated interleukin-4 (IL-4) in AML bone marrow had adverse impact on multiple stages throughout megakaryopoiesis including hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), but the specific mechanism remains unknown. In the present study, we performed single-cell transcriptome analysis and discovered activated oxidative stress pathway and apoptosis pathway in IL-4Rαhigh versus IL-4Rαlow HSCs. IL-4 stimulation in vitro led to apoptosis of HSCs and down-regulation of megakaryocyte-associated transcription factors. Functional assays displayed higher susceptibility of IL-4Rαhigh HSCs to tunicamycin and irradiation-induced apoptosis, demonstrating their vulnerability to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress injury. To clarify the downstream signaling of IL-4, we analyzed the transcriptomes of HSCs from AML bone marrow and found a remarkable down-regulation of the proteasome component Psmd13, whose expression was required for megakaryocytic-erythroid development but could be inhibited by IL-4 in vitro. We knocked down Psmd13 by shRNA in HSCs, and found their repopulating capacity and megakaryocytic differentiation were severely compromised, with increased apoptosis in vivo. In summary, our study uncovered a previous unrecognized regulatory role of IL-4-Psmd13 signaling in anti-stress and megakaryocytic differentiation capability of HSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Cotton GhMKK16 is functionally identified to promotes ABA accumulation, and enhances drought tolerance via regulating stomatal closure under drought stress. • GhMKK16 mediated stomatal closure and drought tolerance depend on GhMPK32 or GhEDT1. • GhMKK16 interacts with GhMAP3K62 and GhMPK32 to form a MAPK cascade pathway GhMAP3K62-GhMKK16-GhMPK32. • GhEDT1 was identified as a downstream transcription factor target of MAPK cascade pathway GhMAP3K62-GhMKK16-GhMPK32.GhEDT1 was found to bind to the promoter of GhNCED3 and to activate its expression, resulting in ABA accumulation. • It was proposed that the MAPK cascade GhMAP3K62-GhMKK16-GhMPK32 pathway functions in the cotton drought response through ABA-dependent stomatal movement. Drought is the principal abiotic stress that severely impacts cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) growth and productivity. Upon sensing drought, plants activate stress-related signal transduction pathways, including ABA signal and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade. However, as the key components with the fewest members in the MAPK cascade, the function and regulation of GhMKKs need to be elucidated. In addition, the relationship between MAPK module and the ABA core signaling pathway remains incompletely understood. Here we aim to elucidate the molecular mechanism of cotton response to drought, with a focus on mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades activating ABA signaling. Biochemical, molecular and genetic analysis were used to study the GhMAP3K62-GhMKK16-GhMPK32-GhEDT1 pathway genes. A nucleus- and membrane-localized MAPK cascade pathway GhMAP3K62-GhMKK16-GhMPK32, which targets and phosphorylates the nuclear-localized transcription factor GhEDT1 , to activate downstream GhNCED3 to mediate ABA-induced stomatal closure and drought response was characterized in cotton. Overexpression of GhMKK16 promotes ABA accumulation, and enhances drought tolerance via regulating stomatal closure under drought stress. Conversely, RNAi-mediated knockdown of GhMKK16 expression inhibits ABA accumulation, and reduces drought tolerance. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS)-mediated knockdown of either GhMAP3K62 , GhMPK32 or GhEDT1 expression represses ABA accumulation and reduces drought tolerance through inhibiting stomatal closure. Expression knockdown of GhMPK32 or GhEDT1 in GhMKK16 -overexpressing cotton reinstates ABA content and stomatal opening-dependent drought sensitivity to wild type levels. GhEDT1 could bind to the HD boxes in the promoter of GhNCED3 to activate its expression, resulting in ABA accumulation. We propose that the MAPK cascade GhMAP3K62-GhMKK16-GhMPK32 pathway functions on drought response through ABA-dependent stomatal movement in cotton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thrombocytopenia is a major and fatal complication in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), which results from disrupted megakaryopoiesis by leukemic niche and blasts. Our previous research revealed that elevated interleukin-4 (IL-4) in AML bone marrow had adverse impact on multiple stages throughout megakaryopoiesis including hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), but the specific mechanism remains unknown. In the present study, we performed single-cell transcriptome analysis and discovered activated oxidative stress pathway and apoptosis pathway in IL-4Rαhigh versus IL-4Rαlow HSCs. IL-4 stimulation in vitro led to apoptosis of HSCs and down-regulation of megakaryocyte-associated transcription factors. Functional assays displayed higher susceptibility of IL-4Rαhigh HSCs to tunicamycin and irradiation-induced apoptosis, demonstrating their vulnerability to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress injury. To clarify the downstream signaling of IL-4, we analyzed the transcriptomes of HSCs from AML bone marrow and found a remarkable down-regulation of the proteasome component Psmd13, whose expression was required for megakaryocytic-erythroid development but could be inhibited by IL-4 in vitro. We knocked down Psmd13 by shRNA in HSCs, and found their repopulating capacity and megakaryocytic differentiation were severely compromised, with increased apoptosis in vivo. In summary, our study uncovered a previous unrecognized regulatory role of IL-4-Psmd13 signaling in anti-stress and megakaryocytic differentiation capability of HSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The delayed platelet engraftment associated with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo‐HSCT) is a common complication and often results in increased transplant‐related complications. A single‐center, prospective, investigator‐initiated pilot study was conducted to explore whether herombopag, a second generation thrombopoietin‐receptor agonist, would promote platelet engraftment after allo‐HSCT. Between 2/2022 and 06/2022, 17 individuals (median age 39; range 15–58 years) with hematological malignancies were enrolled. Herombopag was given for a median of 22 (range 14–61) days at a dose of 7.5 mg/d. The median time to neutrophil >500/μl was 11 (range 9–19) days. The median time to platelet >20 000/μl and >50 000/μl was 13 (range 8–22), and 20 (range 14–45) days, respectively. Compared with historical controls, the cumulative incidence of platelet engraftment after HSCT was significantly higher in the herombopag group (>20 000/μl at day +21, 88% vs 65%, p =.003; >50 000/μl at day +30, 65% vs. 43%, p =.001). Herombopag also reduced the units of platelet transfusion within 30 days post‐SCT (3.6 ± 2.5 vs. 5.4 ± 3.2 U, p =.01). In conclusion, it seems likely that herombopag could enhance platelet engraftment after allo‐HSCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the recent advances in reduction of multifrequency noise inside helicopter cabin using an active structural acoustic control system, which is based on active gearbox struts technical approach. To attenuate the multifrequency gearbox vibrations and resulting noise, a new scheme of discrete model predictive sliding mode control has been proposed based on controlled auto-regressive moving average model. Its implementation only needs input/output data, hence a broader frequency range of controlled system is modelled and the burden on the state observer design is released. Furthermore, a new iteration form of the algorithm is designed, improving the developing efficiency and run speed. To verify the algorithm's effectiveness and self-adaptability, experiments of real-time active control are performed on a newly developed helicopter model system. The helicopter model can generate gear meshing vibration/noise similar to a real helicopter with specially designed gearbox and active struts. The algorithm's control abilities are sufficiently checked by single-input single-output and multiple-input multiple-output experiments via different feedback strategies progressively: (1) control gear meshing noise through attenuating vibrations at the key points on the transmission path, (2) directly control the gear meshing noise in the cabin using the actuators. Results confirm that the active control system is practical for cancelling multifrequency helicopter interior noise, which also weakens the frequency-modulation of the tones. For many cases, the attenuations of the measured noise exceed the level of 15 dB, with maximum reduction reaching 31 dB. Also, the control process is demonstrated to be smoother and faster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Protein kinases play a pivotal role in the malignant evolution of pancreatic cancer (PC) through mediating phosphorylation. Many kinase inhibitors have been developed and translated into clinical use, while the complex pathology of PC confounds their clinical efficacy and warrants the discovery of more effective therapeutic targets. Methods: Here, we used the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and protein kinase datasets to map the PC-related protein kinase-encoding genes. Then, applying Gene Expression and Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA), GEO and Human Protein Atlas, we evaluated gene correlation, gene expression at protein and mRNA levels, as well as survival significance. In addition, we performed protein kinase RIPK2 knockout and overexpression to observe effects of its expression on PC cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro, as well as cell apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and autophagy. We established PC subcutaneous xenograft and liver metastasis models to investigate the effects of RIPK2 knockout on PC growth and metastasis. Co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence were utilized to explore the interaction between protein kinases RIPK2 and PRKCI. Polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting were used to evaluate gene expression and protein phosphorylation level. Results: We found fourteen kinases aberrantly expressed in human PC and nine kinases with prognosis significance. Among them, RIPK2 with both serine/threonine and tyrosine activities were validated to promote PC cells proliferation, migration and invasion. RIPK2 knockout could inhibit subcutaneous tumor growth and liver metastasis of PC. In addition, RIPK2 knockout suppressed autophagosome formation, increased ROS production and PC cell apoptosis. Importantly, another oncogenic kinase PRKCI could interact with RIPK2 to enhance the phosphorylation of downstream NF-κB, JNK and ERK. Conclusion: Paired protein kinases PRKCI-RIPK2 with multiple phosphorylation activities represent a new pathological mechanism in PC and could provide potential targets for PC therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean is one of the most important food crops in the world. However, with the environmental change in recent years, many environmental factors like drought, salinity, heavy metal, and disease seriously affected the growth and development of soybean, causing substantial economic losses. In this study, we screened a bZIP transcription factor gene, GmbZIP152, which is significantly induced by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (S. sclerotiorum), phytohormones, salt-, drought-, and heavy metal stresses in soybean. We found that overexpression of GmbZIP152 in Arabidopsis (OE-GmbZIP152) enhances the resistance to S. sclerotiorum and the tolerance of salt, drought, and heavy metal stresses compared to wild-type (WT). The antioxidant enzyme related genes (including AtCAT1, AtSOD, and AtPOD1) and their enzyme activities are induced by S. sclerotiorum, salt, drought, and heavy metal stress in OE-GmbZIP152 compared to WT. Furthermore, we also found that the expression level of biotic- and abiotic-related marker genes (AtLOX6, AtACS6, AtERF1, and AtABI2, etc.) were increased in OE-GmbZIP152 compared to WT under S. sclerotiorum and abiotic stresses. Moreover, we performed a Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay and found that GmbZIP152 could directly bind to promoters of ABA-, JA-, ETH-, and SA-induced biotic- and abiotic-related genes in soybean. Altogether, GmbZIP152 plays an essential role in soybean response to biotic and abiotic stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reference evapotranspiration (ET0) is a vital component in hydrometeorological research and is widely applied to various aspects, such as water resource management, hydrological modeling, irrigation deployment, and understanding and predicting the influence of hydrologic cycle variations on future climate and land use changes. Quantifying the influence of various meteorological variables on ET0 is not only helpful for predicting actual evapotranspiration but also has important implications for understanding the impact of global climate change on regional water resources. Based on daily data from 69 meteorological stations, the present study analyzed the spatiotemporal pattern of ET0 and major contributing meteorological variables to ET0 from 1960 to 2017 by the segmented regression model, Mann-Kendall test, wavelet analysis, generalized linear model, and detrending method. The results showed that the annual ET0 declined slightly because of the combined effects of the reduction in solar radiation and wind speed and the increase in vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and average air temperature in the Loess Plateau (LP) during the past 58 yr. Four change points were detected in 1972, 1990, 1999, and 2010, and the annual ET0 showed a zigzag change trend of 'increasing-decreasing-increasing-decreasing-increasing'. Wind speed and VPD played a leading role in the ET0 changes from 1960 to 1990 and from 1991 to 2017, respectively. This study confirms that the dominant meteorological factors affecting ET0 had undergone significant changes due to global climate change and vegetation greening in the past 58 years, and VPD had become the major factor controlling the ET0 changes on the LP. The data presented herein will contribute to increasing the accuracy of predictions on future changes in ET0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Timely and detailed investigation of dangerous landslides is crucial for preventing catastrophic disasters. On June 29, 2023, the local collapse of the Mengu landslide in the upper reaches of Jinsha River in Qinghai Province, China, drew significant attention due to potential risks. Based on the integrated landslide investigation framework of 'space-air-ground', this study examined the development characteristics of the landslide and gave some conclusions. Optical imagery and InSAR results reveal continuous deformation in the source area of the landslide since the beginning of the monitoring in early 2020. Field surveys indicate that the Mengu landslide developed on an anti-dip slope, and the primary slope deformation mode evolved from toppling to overall shear failures. Landslide deformation is correlated with rainfall, exhibiting accelerated movements during periods of significant short-term precipitation. The high-intensity rainfall event in mid-June was identified as the direct cause of the landslide destruction. The landslide is identified as a retrogressive landslide and is categorized into four stages. Presently, there are three primary trailing-edge sliding boundaries, and the overall risk of failure is not high. However, local sliding at the leading edge poses a high risk. Analysis of GNSS monitoring displacement indicates that the front edge of the landslide is in the initial acceleration stage of deformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been the leading cause of death worldwide. As a chronic inflammatory disease, atherosclerosis (AS) acts as the initiating factor for CVD and reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a vital role in its development. Superoxide dismutases (SOD) can alleviate the detrimental effects of ROS and serve as the first line of defense through detoxifying the products derived from oxidative stress in vivo. Considering the potential preventive effects of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) on AS and the close relationship between CuZn superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) and HDL, the present work investigated whether CuZnSOD overexpression in swine could improve the function of HDL. Seven CuZnSOD transgenic swine, constructed by sperm and magnetic nanoparticles, demonstrated overexpressed CuZnSOD in the liver (P < 0.01) but comparable level to control in plasma (P > 0.05). CuZnSOD overexpression significantly down-regulated the levels of triglyceride (TG), apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) (P < 0.05), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (P < 0.01) in plasma. In the presence of CuZnSOD overexpression, HDL3 significantly inhibited levels of IL-6 and TNF-α induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) (P < 0.05), indicating enhanced anti-inflammatory activity of HDL. At the same time, HDL-mediated cholesterol efflux did not decrease (P > 0.05). CuZnSOD overexpression improves the anti-inflammatory function of HDL despite decreased levels of HDL-C. In Conclusion , CuZnSOD overexpression improves HDL function in swine. • Overexpression of CuZn superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) increases the activity of SOD in liver. • CuZnSOD overexpression decreases the levels of apoA-Ⅰ, HDL-C, and TG in plasma. • CuZnSOD overexpression enhances the anti-inflammatory activity of HDL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The DIAPHs (DIAPH1, DIAPH2, and DIAPH3) are members of the diaphanous subfamily of the formin family. KIF20B and MET, hub genes of DIAPHs, play crucial roles in cytoskeletal remodeling, cell migration, and adhesion. However, their combined prognostic and treatment value in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PC) warrants further investigation. Multiomics analysis tools were used to comprehensively assess the genomic expression and prognostic value of KIF20B and MET in PC. Immune cell infiltration, functional enrichment, single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA) analysis, potential therapeutic drugs, and nomograms were established and analyzed. CCK-8 levels, transwell assay, Co-IP assay, mass spectrometry, and western blotting were performed to assess the role of KIF20B and MET as modulators of β-catenin and Lactate Dehydrogenase A (LDHA) in vitro. Xenograft tumor models were used to evaluate the anti-tumor effects in vivo. DIAPHs, KIF20B, and MET were overexpressed and functioned as poor prognostic markers of PC. Immunoinfiltration analysis revealed that pDC and NK cells were enriched with low expression levels of KIF20B and MET, whereas Th2 cells were enriched with high expression levels of these two genes. The copy number variations (CNVs) in KIF20B and MET were positively correlated with B cell and CD4 + T cell infiltration. Immunological checkpoints NT5E and CD44 were positively correlated with KIF20B and MET expression. Moreover, the nomogram constructed based on KIF20B and MET demonstrated predictive value for overall survival. scRNA-Seq analysis indicated that KIF20B and MET were enriched in endothelial, malignant, B, T, and CD8 + T cells, which correlated with glycolysis and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The interactions of KIF20B and MET with β-catenin and LDHA were verified by Co-IP assay and mass spectrometry. Knockdown of KIF20B and MET downregulates β-catenin and LDHA in vitro. Furthermore, dual knockdown of KIF20B and MET exhibited a synergistic suppressive effect on PC progression in vitro and in vivo. DIAPHs, KIF20B, and MET are promising candidates for the prognosis and treatment of PC. More importantly, downregulation of KIF20B and MET inhibited pancreatic cancer progression by regulating LDHA and EMT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: ID-based ring signcryption schemes (IDRSC) are usually derived from bilinear parings, a powerful but computationally expensive primitive. The number of paring computations of all existing ID-based ring signcryption schemes from bilinear pairings grows linearly with group size, which makes the efficiency of ID-based schemes over traditional schemes questionable. This paper presents a new identity-based ring signcryption scheme, which only takes four pairing operations for any group size and the scheme is proven to be indistinguishable against adaptive chosen ciphertext ring attacks (IND-IDRSC-CCA2) and existentially unforgeable against adaptive chosen message and identity attacks (EUF-IDRSC-ACMA) under the random oracle model. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: SIP has been chosen as the protocol for multimedia application in 3G mobile networks. The authentication mechanism proposed in SIP specification is HTTP digest based authentication, which allows malicious parties to impersonate other parties or to charge calls to others, furthermore, other security problems, such as off-line password guessing attacks and server spoofing, are also needed to be solved. This paper proposes a new authenticated key exchange protocol NAKE, which can solve the existing problems in the original proposal. The NAKE protocol is probably secure in CK security model, thus it inherits the corresponding security attributes in CK security model. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This work aimed to analyze the value of serum platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125), and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the diagnosis of recurrent ovarian cancer. Forty-three patients with suspected recurrence of ovarian cancer were deemed as research objects, and 5 healthy people were set as controls. PLR, DWI, and CA125 level before surgery were analyzed. Pearson correlation analysis was implemented to explore the correlation between CA125 and lymphocyte count, platelet count, and PLR. Neuropathic Pain Scale was adopted to analyze the analgesic effect of patients with recurrent ovarian cancer before treatment and 7 days after treatment. Moreover, the quality of life scores of patients with recurrent ovarian cancer were evaluated before treatment and 30 days after treatment. The platelet and PLR values of patients with recurrent ovarian cancer were significantly higher relative to healthy people (P < 0.001), while the lymphocyte count was relatively lower (P = 0.002). There were considerable differences in PLR and CA125 levels in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer before and after treatment (P < 0.001). The single detection of CA125 was significantly better than that of DWI and PLR (P = 0.034). The sensitivity and specificity of CA125 detection alone was 77.3% and 81.8%, respectively, while those of the joint detection of DWI + PLR + CA125 was 92.4% and 79.9%, respectively. PLR was proved to be positively correlated with CA125 before and after treatment (r = 0.687, P < 0.001). Pain scores in all aspects of patients with recurrence of ovarian cancer after treatment were lower than that before treatment (P < 0.001), and the quality of life score was significantly higher than that before treatment (P < 0.001). CA125 and PLR combined with DWI had the best diagnostic effect for patients with recurrent ovarian cancer. After treatment, the levels of PLR and CA125 were reduced and the quality of life of patients was improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flowers of Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat cv. Hangju (Hangbaiju) are taken as a traditional medicine and health promoting tea due to their flavonoids. Selenium (Se) and gibberellic acid (GA) affect the flavonoid content of C. morifolium. However, few studies have evaluated the effects of Se combined with GA on Hangbaiju. Here, two-year field experiments were conducted with Se (sodium selenite [Na2SeO3]) and GA (50 and 100 mg L−1) applications alone or in combination, and the treatments were denoted as CK, Se50, Se100, GA50, GA100, Se50+GA50, and Se100+GA100. Se and GA application decreased the leaf soluble sugar contents, increased the soluble protein contents, and enhanced superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities. The enhanced SOD and CAT activities were more pronounced with GA applications alone than other treatments. Se and GA applications increased the flower yield of Hangbaiju, and the highest values were recorded with Se50+GA50 in 2017 and 2018. When Se was applied alone or in combination with GA, the soluble sugar contents in Hangbaiju flowers showed the same trend as the flavonoid content; when GA was applied alone, the opposite trend was recorded. This fact suggested that Se and GA application modulate plant allocation of photosynthates to different metabolic pathways. Se application alone or in combination with GA increased the Se and flavonoid contents; the highest values of soluble sugar, protein and water extract contents were recorded with the Se50+GA50 application in 2017 and 2018, and the results provide an innovative approach to enhance the yield and quality of Hangbaiju flowers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of Ni/KIT6 catalyst precursors with 25 wt.% Ni loading amount were reduced in H2 at 400, 450, 500, and 550 °C, respectively. The studied catalysts were investigated by XRD, Quasi in-situ XPS, BET, TEM, and H2-TPD/Ranalysis methods. It was found that reduction temperature is an important factor affecting the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) performance of the studied catalysts because of the Strong Metal Support Interaction Effect (SMSI). The reduction temperature influences mainly the content of active components, crystal size, and the abilityfor adsorbing and activating H2. The developed pore structure and large specific surface area of the KIT-6 support favored the Ni dispersion. The RT450 catalyst, which was prepared in H2 atmosphere at 450 °C, has the best HDO performance. Ethyl acetate can be completely transformed and maintain 96.8% ethane selectivity and 3.2% methane selectivity at 300 °C. The calculated apparent activation energies of the prepared catalysts increased in the following order: RT550 > RT400 > RT500 > RT450. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of patient body mass index (BMI) and estimated creatinine clearance (CrCl) on serum vancomycin concentrations to define a possible optimal dosage regimen in overweight patients based on data obtained during therapeutic drug monitoring.Methods: This retrospective study used data collected from January 2017 to January 2019. Adult patients (n = 204) received vancomycin treatment at a dose of 1000 mg every 12 h and underwent serum monitoring. Data collected included patient disease category, sex, age, height, weight, vancomycin concentrations, and serum creatinine. The CrCl values were estimated using the Cockcroft-Gault formula. In this study, statistical comparisons were performed on the results of patients according to serum vancomycin concentration.Results: Serum vancomycin concentration was significantly related to BMI (P <  0.001) and CrCl (P <  0.05) in adult patients. Furthermore, the trough serum vancomycin concentration showed a logarithmic correlation with BMI (R = - 0.5108, 95% CI: - 0.6082 to - 0.3982, P <  0.001) and CrCl (R = - 0.5739, 95% CI: - 0.6616 to - 0.4707, P <  0.001). The multivariate analysis showed that BMI and CrCl are independent contributors to the trough vancomycin concentration. Moreover, some of the patients with higher BMI (≥ 24 kg/m2) met the goal trough concentration after an adjustment from 1000 mg every 12 h to 1000 mg every 8 h.Conclusions: Serum vancomycin concentration decreases progressively with increasing BMI and the augmentation in CrCl in adult patients. The trough concentration of vancomycin should be continuously monitored for patients with a BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2, and the dosage regimen should be adjusted to reach the target trough concentration in these patients to reduce the impact of BMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construction of heterostructure by intimately interfacing two or more semiconductor materials with different geometrical and electronically energetic alignments at nanoscale is very important to achieve the composite photocatalysts with a high photocatalytic efficiency. Here, we in-situ prepared an intimate contact MoS 2 /ZnIn 2 S 4 heterostructure photocatalyst by a one-pot solvothermal reaction. The MoS 2 /ZnIn 2 S 4 heterostructure significantly enhanced the photocatalytic H 2 evolution of ZnIn 2 S 4 under visible light illumination. The hydrogen evolution rate reaches 3891.6 μmol g −1  h −1 over 5%-MoS 2 /ZnIn 2 S 4 , which exceeded the photocatalytic activity of Pt-loaded ZnIn 2 S 4 samples. The subtle atomic-level intimate contact and strong interactions between ZnIn 2 S 4 and MoS 2 was ascribed to a highly efficient charge carrier separation and thus photocatalytic activity for MoS 2 /ZnIn 2 S 4 . These results provide inspiration for the design of composited photocatalysts with efficient photocatalytic H 2 evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methyl protodioscin (MPD) is one of the main bioactive components in the plant of Dioscoreaceae. MPD has been demonstrated to possess antitumor activities. However, its role in pancreatic cancer and the underlying molecular mechanisms are poorly defined. In the present study, we demonstrated that MPD inhibited proliferation and promoted apoptosis of pancreatic cancer. Furthermore, our results demonstrated that MPD decreased oncogene c-Myc in protein level and resulted in concomitant reduction in glycolysis. In vivo assays with xenograft mouse model further confirmed the in vitro observations, which indicated that MPD inhibited 18FDG uptake in tumors formed by subcutaneously injection of MIA PaCa-2 cells. Collectively, our present study uncovered novel antitumor functions of MPD in pancreatic cancer and provided the possible molecular mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]