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To clarify the mechanical characteristics of tight sandstone in the Cretaceous Bashijiqike Formation of Kuqa Depression in Tarim Basin, and address field issues in deep and ultra-deep oil and gas exploration and development, triaxial compression experiments were used to quantitatively study the patterns of changes in rock mechanical properties influenced by confining pressure, fluid, and loading rate, with a preliminary analysis of their causes. The results showed that the maximum principal stress difference and elastic modulus of the sandstone samples increased significantly with confining pressure. The micro-reason was that the increase in confining pressure reduced the distance between particles inside the rock, enhancing the rock's cohesion and making particle dispersion less likely. Sandstone samples exhibited a progression from brittleness under low confining pressure to brittle-ductile transformation, and to ductile deformation under high confining pressure. Compared with dry sandstone samples, the reduction in the elastic modulus of samples soaked in pure water, 150 g/L solution, 250 g/L solution, and 350 g/L solution were 67.71%, 61.45%, 64.69%, and 57.32%, respectively, with pure water soaking causing the greatest reduction. Increasing fluid salinity could mitigate the weakening trend in rock mechanical parameters. Crystallization on crystal surfaces and changes in the electric double layer thickness were important controlling factors for these patterns. At lower loading rates, the values for maximum principal stress difference, elastic modulus, and Poisson's ratio of the sandstone samples were smaller, but they increased faster with increasing loading rates. When the loading rate reached a certain critical value (around 0.05 mm/min in this experiment), the rate of increase in rock mechanical parameters slowed down.

Efficient exploration and development of ultra-deep oil and gas reservoirs are key objectives in current global energy geological research. The concept of "geomechanical strata and oil and gas exploration and development" represents a cutting-edge research area internationally. Establishing an effective method for dividing geomechanical layers holds both theoretical and practical significance for the efficient exploration and economical development of ultra-deep oil and gas reservoirs. Currently, the state of in-situ stress affects the effectiveness of natural fractures, while the development and distribution of fractures impact the mechanical properties of rocks, which influence the the distribution of in-situ stress. However, the existing "rock mechanical stratigraphy theory" fails to comprehensively cover the coupling relationships among these three factors. In response, this study introduced a method for the quantitative division of geomechanical strata based on six parameters: minimum horizontal principal stress, difference in horizontal stress, elastic modulus, angle between the current dominant stress orientation and the natural fracture orientation, natural fracture density, and stress concentration factor. An analysis of well W in the Dabei area of the Kelasu structural belt, Kuqa Depression, Tarim Basin, demonstrated that the target layers at the Cretaceous Bashijiqike Formation exhibited strong vertical geomechanical heterogeneity. The geomechanical strata of the reservoir correlated well with the development sections of the gas layers. Therefore, with the results of geomechanical strata division, it is possible to guide the optimization of sweet spots in ultra-deep oil and gas reservoirs.

Abstract Recognizing an individual’s preference state for potential romantic partners based on electroencephalogram (EEG) signals holds significant practical value in enhancing matchmaking success rates and preventing romance fraud. Despite some progress has been made in this field, challenges such as high-dimensional feature space and channel redundancy limited the technology’s practical application. The aim of this study is to explore the most discriminative EEG features and channels, in order to enhance the recognition performance of the system, while maximizing the portable and practical value of EEG-based systems for recognizing romantic attraction. To achieve this goal, we first conducted an interesting simulated dating experiment to collect the necessary data. Next, EEG features were extracted from various dimensions, including band power and asymmetry index features. Then, we introduced a novel method for EEG feature and channel selection that combines the sequential forward selection (SFS) algorithm with the frequency-based feature subset integration (FFSI) algorithm. Finally, we used the random forest classifier (RFC) to determine a person's preference state for potential romantic partners. Experimental results indicate that the optimal feature subset, selected using the SFS-FFSI method, attained an average classification accuracy of 88.42%. Notably, these features were predominantly sourced from asymmetry index features of electrodes situated in the frontal, parietal, and occipital lobes.

AbstractThe magnitude and direction of the in-situ stress field significantly influence the Geodynamic disaster. Taking the Gaojiapu Coal Mine in the northwest Binchang mining area as the study area, the distribution law of the in-situ stress field and its relationship with microseismic events were analyzed and discussed through field geological investigation, in-situ measurement, and numerical simulation. The results show that: (1) The Maximum horizontal principal stress (MaxHPS) is mainly concentrated in the turning end of the fold, the axis of the syncline, the undulation end of the anticline, the footwall of the fault, and the two ends of the fault. (2) The MaxHPS in the footwall area of the fault is greater than that in the hanging wall area. (3) The MaxHPS at the axial part of the syncline is greater than that at the wing part, and the MaxHPS at the wing part is greater than that at the anticline. (4) In areas with high MaxHPS and Lateral pressure coefficient (LPC), the frequency of high-energy microseismic events is high. (5) The 105J high-energy microseismic events more easily occur in areas with MaxHPS greater than 38 MPa and LPC greater than 1.50.

Abstract Tendinopathy is a debilitating and crippling syndrome resulting from the degeneration of tendon tissue, leading to loss of mechanical properties and function, and eventual tendon rupture. Unfortunately, there is currently no treatment for tendinopathy that can prevent or delay its progression. Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles that transport bioactive substances produced by cells, such as proteins, lipids, mRNAs, non-coding RNAs, and DNA. They can generate by mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) throughout the body and play a role in intercellular communication and regulation of homeostasis. Recent research suggests that MSCs-derived exosomes (MSCs-exos) may serve as useful therapeutic candidates for promoting tendon healing. This review focuses on the function and mechanisms of MSCs-exos in tendinopathy treatment and discusses their potential application for treating this condition.

IntroductionPostmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) is a common chronic disease, and the loss of bone density and bone strength after menopause are its main symptoms. Effective treatments for PMOP are still uncertain, but Chinese medicine has some advantages in slowing down bone loss. Shengu granules are often used clinically to treat PMOP. It has been shown to be an effective prescription for the treatment of PMOP, and there is evidence that gut flora may play an important role. However, whether Shengu granules attenuate PMOP by modulating gut flora and related mechanisms remains unclear.MethodsIn this study, we mainly examined the bone strength of the femur, the structure of the intestinal microbiota, SCFAs in the feces and the level of FOXP3 cells in the colon. To further learn about the inflammation response, the condition of the mucosa and the level of cytokines in the serum also included in the testing. In addition, to get the information of the protein expression, the protein expression of OPG and RANKL in the femur and the protein expression of ZO-1 and Occludin in the colon were taken into account.ResultsThe osteoporosis was significantly improved in the SG group compared with the OVX group, and the diversity of intestinal flora, the secretion level of SCFAs and the expression level of FOXP3 were significantly increased compared with the OVX group. In terms of inflammatory indicators, the intestinal inflammation scores of the SG group was significantly lower than those in the OVX group. Additionally, the serum expression levels of IL-10 and TGF-β in the SG group were significantly increased compared with the OVX group, and the expression levels of IL-17 and TNF-α were significantly decreased compared with the OVX group. In terms of protein expression, the expression levels of ZO-1, Occluding and OPG were significantly increased in the SG group compared with the OVX group, and the expression level of RANKL was significantly decreased compared with the OVX group.DiscussionShengu granules treatment can improve the imbalance of intestinal flora, increase the secretion of SCFAs and the expression of FOXP3, which reduces the inflammatory response and repairs the intestinal barrier, as well as regulates the expression of OPG/RANKL signaling axis. Overall, Shengu granules ameliorate ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis by the gut-bone-immune axis.

The Zigong area in southern Sichuan Basin is one of the key shale gas production areas in China, and the Longmaxi and Wufeng Formations within it are currently the key exploration and development layers. The present-day in-situ stress field has a significant impact on well trajectory deployment, horizontal well construction, hydraulic fracturing and other aspects. However, it has not been finely quantified in shale gas reservoirs of Zigong area, making it difficult to effectively guide development practice. Therefore, this study constructed a geomechanical model of the target layer in the Zigong area, quantitatively characterized the distribution of present-day in-situ stress, and explored its shale gas development effects. The results show that: (1) Based on the analysis of drilling induced fractures obtained from rock acoustic emission experiments and imaging logging interpretation, the dominant orientation of the maximum horizontal principal stress in the target layer is mainly NW-SE-trending; (2) The horizontal principal stress difference in the Layer S1l1-1−1 and Wufeng Formation is 5–30 MPa (the majority is 6–15 MPa) and 5–35 MPa (the majority is 6–18 MPa), respectively. Low stress difference values are mainly concentrated in the southeastern and northern parts. The overall prediction accuracy is high, with an error rate of less than 8% for the Layer S1l1-1−1 and less than 10% for the Wufeng Formation; (3) Based on rock acoustic emission experiments and finite element model simulation results, the study area is mainly under strike-slip stress faulting mechanism; (4) Due to the influence of the strike-slip faulting stress mechanism, when deploying horizontal wells in the area, priority should be given to selecting areas with low stress mechanism factor (Aφ) and low stress differences, to achieve better fracturing and transformation effects and reduce the risk of casing deformation and wellbore instability.

The Chang 7 oil-bearing layer of Yanchang Formation is rich in shale oil resources. However, the reservoir indicates strong reservoir heterogeneity and has obvious differences in productivity among wells. The brittleness acts as an important factor causing the above phenomenon. Studies on rock mechanical properties and brittleness evaluation can provide technical support for drilling and fracturing design, but current methods have many disadvantages such as difficulty in obtaining parameters. In this study, the neural network method is used to construct the relationship between elastic modulus, Poisson's ratio and logging curve on the basis of measured rock mechanical parameters, construct rock mechanics parameter profile in the whole well section of Chang 7 oil-bearing layer, and finally quantitative evaluate shale oil reservoir brittleness. The results indicate that, (1) the neural network method is an effective method for rock mechanical parameter prediction and brittleness evaluation. The error between the predicted and measured values of elastic modulus and Poisson's ratio is low, generally within 10%; (2) according to the brittleness evaluation results, on the whole, the brittleness index of the Chang 72 reservoir is high, and the brittleness index of the Chang 73 reservoir is low. The results can provide scientific guidance for benefit development of Chang 7 shale oil in the Ordos Basin.

The Fuman Oilfield in Tarim Basin has great potential for ultra-deep carbonate oil and gas resources, and is an important area for future storage and production increase. The present-day in-situ stress field is critical during the exploration and development. However, no systemic investigations have been carried out in this oilfield. Therefore, in this study, the present-day in-situ stress field in the Ordovician carbonate reservoir is predicted and analyzed based on well log calculation and geomechanical numerical modeling. The results indicate that, 1) NE-SW-trending is the dominant horizontal maximum principal stress (SHmax) orientation. The vertical principal stress is the maximum principal stress, showing the Ordovician reservoir is under a normal faulting stress regime. 2) The distribution of in-situ stresses in the Ordovician carbonate reservoir is heterogeneous, which is mainly controlled burial depth and fault/fracture development. High stress magnitudes in the Yingshan Formation are mainly in the southeastern part of Fudong area, Fuman Oilfield. The present-day horizontal differential stress mainly ranges from 27 MPa to 30 MPa in the Yingshan carbonate reservoir. iii) Natural fractures are generally stale under the present-day in-situ stress state. Fractures that parallel to the SHmax orientation with high fracture dip angle are easier to be reactivated. The results are expected to provide geomechanical references for further oil and gas development in the Fuman Oilfield of Tarim Basin.

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2/ANGPT2) expression and its relationship with lymphangiogenesis and clinicopathological characteristics in cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM).MethodsGene expression differences between metastatic melanoma and melanoma in situ in 472 patients from the TCGA database were analyzed. The target gene Ang-2 was screened. A clinical study was conducted to analyze the correlation between Ang-2 expression in CMM and tumor-associated lymphangiogenesis. A total of 42 patients with primary CMM who underwent extended tumor resection procedures at the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University were included in this study. Clinical data (gender, age, lymph node metastasis, Breslow thickness, and clinical stage) were collected. The expression levels of both Ang-2 and lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor-1 (LYVE-1) proteins were detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Lymphatic vascular density (LVD) was counted by using LYVE-1 to label lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) in peritumoral and intratumoral areas per high-magnification field of view. Statistical analysis was performed using the Pearson correlation test and Student’s t-test.ResultsUsing the TCGA database, it was found that the gene expression level of Ang-2 in 368 cases of metastatic melanoma was significantly higher than that in 104 cases of melanoma in situ. Correlation analysis showed a significant relationship between Ang-2 and LYVE-1, and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3(VEGFR3) expression, respectively, in CMM. Moreover, the optimal cutoff value of survival analysis showed that high Ang-2 expression in CMM had a worse prognosis, based on data from the TCGA database. Our research showed that Ang-2 was more highly expressed in the group of patients with lymph node metastasis and in the group of stage 3C-4 patients than in the group of patients with no lymph node metastasis and in the group of stage 0-3B patients. Our research also showed that LVD in the group of patients with lymph node metastasis and in the group of stage 3C-4 patients was significantly higher than that in the group of no lymph node metastasis and in the group of stage 0-3B patients, respectively. Breslow thickness also correlated with Ang-2 expression and LVD. Ang-2 expression was not related to sex or age. Ang-2 expression was obviously correlated with LVD.ConclusionAn evaluation of Ang-2 expression and LVD can be used to predict the risk of tumor lymphatic metastasis and determine the prognosis of CMM. These results may also provide a new clinical treatment strategy for CMM.

Objective: To clarify the effects on the development, position and morphology of the permanent successors of primary molars affected by apical periodontitis (AP). Method: A total of 132 panoramic radiographs of children aged from 4 to 10 were screened out and a total of 159 mandibular second primary molars with chronic apical periodontitis（AP）(93 males and 66 females) were analyzed. The maturation values of permanent successors were interpreted and scored according to Nolla's method and compared with normal ones'. The proportion of abnormalities in the morphology and orientation of permanent successors were counted, and the differences between men and women was analyzed. The distribution of various abnormalities in different age groups was also analyzed. Result: There were significant differences in development of permanent successors in this study compared with the normal ones' in all age groups, among which the differences were statistically significant in males aged in 4,5,7 groups and females aged in 4,6 (P

There is a significant relationship between in-situ stress and reservoir quality, to reinvent the theoretical understanding and technical methods of reservoir evaluation from the perspective of in-situ stress. Based on rock mechanical test and logging data, combined with regional evolution and structural deformation, this study carried out systematic geomechanics research, proposing the quantitative characterization of stress concentration parameters to realize the optimization of favorable zones. The results show that in-situ stress and fracture permeability under its control are important factors in determining the productivity in the ultra-deep reservoir. It is preferable to choose a location with low stress and good fracture activity, rather than an adverse location such as a local stress concentration area characterized by frequent borehole breakouts. The imbalance between in-situ stress and rock strength causes high stress. Moreover, the accuracy of reservoir classification is improved by incorporating the relevant parameters under the influence of in-situ stress into the evaluation method of reservoir quality. It is vital to fully utilize the multiple advantages of highly deviated wells with various favorable areas and multiple vertical fractures to address complex problems and improve the efficiency of exploration and development.

AIM: To investigate the effect of leptin on the angiogenesis of RF/6A cells (monkey retinal choroidal endothelial cells) in vitro and test the cellular signaling in the mechanism. METHODS: RF/6A cells were cultured in vitro and randomly divided into four groups: normal control, with leptin at 50, 100, 200 ng/mL for cell counting kit-8 (CCK8). RF/6A cell proliferation and migration were examined by Transwell assays, while RF/6A cell tube formation by Matrigel assay. JAK2, p-JAK2, STAT3, and p-STAT3 protein expression was measured by Western blotting. Cells were then divided into the following treatment groups: control, 100 ng/mL leptin and AG-490 (100 ng/mL leptin+10 μmol/L AG-490) for examinations of RF/6A cellular behaviour again. Analysis of differences was carried out using one-way ANOVA and least significant difference (LSD). RESULTS: RF/6A cell proliferation, migration and cell tube formation were promoted significantly by leptin in a dose-dependent manner (P

Natural gas from shale gas reservoirs has been an important contributor for reserve growth, deliverability construction, and profits growth in natural gas industry in the world. Hydraulic fracturing is commonly required in the shale gas commercial development, and thus understanding the present-day in situ stress field is greatly significant for the hydraulic fracturing and efficient development in shale gas reservoirs. However, there are no systematic investigations on the present-day in situ stress field in the Haiba Block from the Sichuan Basin, South China. In this study, the present-day in situ stress orientations and magnitudes in shale reservoir of Haiba Block are investigated based on the well interpretations from borehole image log and geomechanical modeling. Then, the effects of stresses on hydraulic fracturing, horizontal wells, and natural fracture reactivation were discussed. The results indicate that the horizontal maximum principal stress (SHmax) orientation is mainly in the NE-SW-trending, NW-SE-trending, and WNW-ESE-trending in the Haiba Block. The magnitudes of horizontal maximum and minimum principal stresses are 13.5 MPa~85.5 MPa and 2.8 MPa~31.6 MPa, respectively. In the Haiba Block, the differential stress is generally low in the northern part, which indicates that complex hydraulic fracture networks may be produced. While the natural fractures are generally stable under the present-day in situ stress field. When the increase of pore pressure gradient is about 30 KPa/m, nearly all natural fractures in the Longmaxi Formation may be reactivated. The results can provide the insights into a better understanding of the present-day in situ stress distribution so as to optimize perforation orientation, hydraulic fracturing design, and enhance gas production in shale gas reservoirs.

Abnormal tendons are rarely ever repaired to the natural structure and morphology of normal tendons. To better guide the repair and regeneration of injured tendons through a tissue engineering method, it is necessary to have insights into the internal morphology, organization, and composition of natural tendons. This review summarized recent researches on the structure and function of the extracellular matrix (ECM) components of tendons and highlight the application of multiple detection methodologies concerning the structure of ECMs. In addition, we look forward to the future of multi-dimensional biomaterial design methods and the potential of structural repair for tendon ECM components. In addition, focus is placed on the macro to micro detection methods for tendons, and current techniques for evaluating the extracellular matrix of tendons at the micro level are introduced in detail. Finally, emphasis is given to future extracellular matrix detection methods, as well as to how future efforts could concentrate on fabricating the biomimetic tendons.

Saliva is a noninvasive biofluid that contains the metabolic signature of severe periodontitis (SP, Stage IV and Grade C). Conductive polymer spray ionization mass spectrometry (CPSI-MS) was used to record a wide range of metabolites within a few seconds, making this technique a promising point-of-care method for the early detection of SP (Stage IV and Grade C). Saliva samples from 31 volunteers, consisting of 16 healthy controls (HC) and 15 patients with SP (Stage IV and Grade C), were collected to identify dysregulated metabolites. Twenty metabolites were screened out, including seven amino acids. Moreover, the results showed that amino acid metabolism is closely related to the development of periodontitis. The present study further confirmed that salivary metabolites in the oral cavity were significantly altered after plaque removal. These results suggest that the combination of CPSI-MS is a feasible tool for preclinical screening of SP (Stage IV and Grade C).

Tendon/ligament-to-bone healing poses a formidable clinical challenge due to the complex structure, composition, cell population and mechanics of the interface. With rapid advances in tissue engineering, a variety of strategies including advanced biomaterials, bioactive growth factors and multiple stem cell lineages have been developed to facilitate the healing of this tissue interface. Given the important role of structure-function relationship, the review begins with a brief description of enthesis structure and composition. Next, the biomimetic biomaterials including decellularized extracellular matrix scaffolds and synthetic-/natural-origin scaffolds are critically examined. Then, the key roles of the combination, concentration and location of various growth factors in biomimetic application are emphasized. After that, the various stem cell sources and culture systems are described. At last, we discuss unmet needs and existing challenges in the ideal strategies for tendon/ligament-to-bone regeneration and highlight emerging strategies in the field.

The Kuqa Depression boasts rich cretaceous ultra-deep hydrocarbon resources. However, it is in complex geological conditions. At present, sufficient understandings on the in situ stress distribution and influencing factors are lacking, which restricts the process of hydrocarbon exploitation. Therefore, in this study, the Bozi gas field is selected as an example, and a 1D mechanical earth model (1D MEM) is established with the drilling data and logging data through the geomechanical method to clarify the in situ stress distribution of the wellbore. A 3D heterogeneous geomechanical model (3D HGM) is established with the constraint of 1D HEM to clarify the distribution characteristics of the 3D in situ stress field in the Bozi gas field and discuss its influencing factors. The results show that: 1) the Bozi gas field is in an extremely strong in situ stress condition with high stress values. The minimum horizontal principal stress (Sh) of the cretaceous system is 153∼180 MPa, and the maximum horizontal principal stress (SH) is nearly 200 MPa; 2) the in situ stress in the Bozi gas field has obvious vertical stratification characteristics, which can be divided into three stress sequences of “low–high–low”, with great differences in interlayer stress; 3) the in situ stress distribution of the Bozi gas field is greatly affected by the types of faulted anticline. Different types indicate different stress distribution; 4) within the influence range of overthrusts, the in situ stress in the footwall is lower than that of the hanging wall. The greater the fault offset, the greater the in situ stress difference between the hanging wall and footwall. Moreover, the lower the stress in the footwall, the higher is the degree of overthrust, and the larger is the range of footwall stress area; and 5) the means of highly deviated wells is more helpful to the Bozi gas field for hydrocarbon exploitation.

AbstractIn southern Sichuan Basin, the main production layers are characterized by deeply buried, high stress difference, and complex structural conditions. The Luzhou area is far from large faults, and natural fractures are greatly important for shale gas storage and production. Multi-scale natural fractures control the migration, enrichment, and preservation conditions of shale gas, and facilitate the formation of complex fracture network under the action of hydraulic fracturing. In this study, based on the outcrops, drilling cores, geochemical tests, thin section, and other experiments, the development characteristics of the Wufeng-Longmaxi shale in the Luzhou block, Southern China, are statistically analyzed, and the controlling factors (e.g., tectonic factors, organic matter, mineral components, mechanical properties) are discussed in details. Fractures observed in the outcrops are mainly regional fractures with two groups of orthogonal joints. Similarly, fractures observed in the core are also mainly joints fractures perpendicular to the laminae with three typical features (high-density, high-angle, and unfilled). In detail, steeply dipping fractures (75-90°) account for 78.1% of all fractures, with 85.1% being unfilled, 78.1% having a longitudinal extension less than 4 cm, and 65.1% having a spacing less than 2 cm. In brief, there exist cross-scale similarity among outcrops, cores, and microscopic thin sections, which is critical to the shale gas preservation conditions. Based on this understanding, further research is conducted on the relationship between the fracture density and gas content, which shows that (i) when the fracture density is less than 122 number/m, TOC content and fracture density together positively dominate gas content; (ii) when fracture density exceeds 122 number/m, gas content appears negative with fracture density, and TOC content is not the critical factor anymore. The above study establishes quantitative limits for shale gas preservation in the study block. It may assist in providing references for determining the sweet spot area and further deep shale gas exploration and development in the southern Sichuan Basin.

Accurate assessment of Respiratory Rate (RR) is the most important mechanism in detecting pneumonia in low-resource settings. Pneumonia is a disease with one of the highest mortality rates among young children under five. However, the diagnosis of pneumonia for infants remains challenging, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). In such situations, RR is most often measured manually with visual inspection. Accurate RR measurement requires the child to remain calm without any stress for a few minutes. The difficulty in achieving this with a sick child in a clinical environment can result in errors and misdiagnosis, even more so when the child is crying and non-cooperating around unfamiliar adults. Therefore, we propose an automated novel RR monitoring device built with textile glove and dry electrodes which can make use of the relaxed posture when the child is resting on the carer’s lap. This portable system is non-invasive and made with affordable instrumentation integrated on customized textile glove. The glove has multi-modal automated RR detection mechanism that simultaneously uses bio-impedance and accelerometer data. This novel textile glove with dry electrodes can easily be worn by a parent/carer and is washable. The real-time display on a mobile app shows the raw data and the RR value, allowing a healthcare professional to monitor the results from afar. The prototype device has been tested on 10 volunteers with age variation of 3 years to 33 years, including male and female. The maximum variation of measured RR with the proposed system is ±2 compared to the traditional manual counting method. It does not create any discomfort for either the child or the carer and can be used up to 60 to 70 sessions/day before recharging.

AIM: To observe the effect of AGGF1 on the proliferation, migration and tube formation of retinal endothelial cells in diabetic retinal tissue and high glucose conditions.METHODS: C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into the control group and diabetic retinopathy(DR)model group. The cultured rhesus monkey choroido-retinal endothelial cells(RF/6A cells)were randomly divided into the control group(cultured in low-glucose environment)and the high-glucose group(cultured in medium with 25mmol/L D-glucose), and the AGGF1 protein expression in the cells was detected by immunofluorescence assay. RF/6A cells were then divided into the control group and AGGF1 treatment group, and cell proliferation, migration and tube formation was detected by CCK-8, Transwell and Matrigel, respectively.RESULTS: AGGF1 protein was expressed in all layers of the retinas and in vascular endothelial cells. The expression of AGGF1 in the retinas of DR group(0.17±0.05)was significantly higher than that of the control group(0.07±0.02)(PPPPPPPPCONCLUSION: The expression of AGGF1 protein was significantly increased in diabetic retinal tissues and retinal vascular endothelial cells induced by high glucose. AGGF1 can promote the proliferation, migration and tube formation of retinal vascular endothelial cells, suggesting that AGGF1 may be involved in retinal neovascularization of DR.

In order to solve the problem of vegetation restoration in the traditional heap leaching of rare earths, a novel heap leaching technology is proposed. In the novel technology, leaching liquid is laterally injected into the rare earth pile from the side end so that vegetation restoration can be carried out quickly on the top of the pile. In this study, a laboratory test was performed to investigate the permeability of the ion-adsorbed rare earth pile under lateral liquid injection conditions. Four rare earth samples with varied combinations of the mineral particles at different sizes were adopted in the test to emphatically discuss the influence of the particle composition on permeability. The experimental results show that the permeability of the rare earth pile under the lateral liquid injection conditions is governed by the migration of fine particles. As the hydraulic head of the leaching liquid increases, the fine particles undergo a motion process of stabilization, migration initiation, deposition, and remigration. Accordingly, the permeability coefficient of the rare earth pile exhibits a variation of stabilization, a gradual increase, a re-stabilization, and a re-increase. The fine particle migration and exudation causes the permeability of the rare earth pile to be non-uniform in space. The permeability coefficients near the liquid injection end and the liquid outlet end are much greater than those are at the middle positions of the pile. The particle composition of the rare earth has an important effect on the permeability of the pile. In the rare earth with a combination of coarse and fine particles, preferential flow paths are easy to develop as in this soil, the fine particles easily migrate and they cannot block the pore channels. By contrast, the fine particles find it difficult to migrate, and the permeability coefficient is relatively stable in the fine-medium particle rare earth. This particle composition is conducive to the heap leaching of the rare earth under lateral liquid injection conditions.

The involvement of magnesium matrix composite enhanced by metal particles, the development of low lattice mismatch interface, and the refining of particle size are all of great significance in improving strengthening efficiency. In this work, nano-crystalline Ti/Mg-9Al-Zn-0.3Mn composites were prepared by mechanical milling. The microstructure was characterized and the mechanical property was measured. After mechanical milling, the grain of the Mg matrix was refined to ~72 nm. Ti particles were smashed to submicron scale, and dispersed in the Mg matrix. In total, 68% of Ti particles were nano-scale and the average particle size was 133 nm. A nano-scale Mg17Al12 precipitate was found and the average particle size was approximately 44 nm. Meanwhile, coherent interfaces of Ti/Mg and Mg17Al12/Mg were observed, and it was found that the (101)Mg plane and (100)Ti plane inclined 12° and [044]Mg17Al12 was parallel to [010]Mg. The hardness of the milled Ti/Mg-9Al-Zn-0.3Mn composite was 1.98 GPa, 247% higher than the initial alloy. Milled Mg-9Al-Zn-0.3Mn alloy under the same preparation processing was used as a comparison, and the value of hardness was 1.53 GPa. Tiny Ti particles displayed excellent strengthening efficiency. Strengthening mechanisms of the milled Ti/Mg-9Al-Zn-0.3Mn composite were analyzed and the main strengthening mechanisms included the strengthening of grain boundary strengthening, Orowan strengthening, dislocation strengthening, solid solution strengthening and load-bearing strengthening, which accounted for 56.3%, 18.2%, 17.4%, 4.7% and 3.5%, respectively.

BACKGROUND: Low protein intake (LPI) has been suggested as a treatment for chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, protein intake is essential for bone health. METHODS: We studied the database of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2005-2010. Basic variables, metabolic diseases, and bone density of different femoral areas were stratified into four subgroups according to different protein intake (DPI) (that is, 1.2 g/kg/day). RESULTS: Significant differences were found among all lumbar area bone mineral density (BMD) and T-scores (p 1.2 g/day/kg over L2 (relative risk (RR)=1.326, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.062-1.656), subgroup >1.2 g/day/kg over L3 (RR = 1.31, 95%CI = 1.057-1.622), subgroup 1.2 g/day/kg over all L spines (RR = 0.333, 95%CI = 1.098-1.618). However, a higher risk of osteoporosis was observed only in the non-CKD group. There was an apparent trend of higher DPI coexisting with lower BMD and T scores in patients with CKD. For osteoporosis (reference:0.8-1.0 g/day/kg), lower (1.2 g/day/kg) was associated with higher risks in the non-CKD group, but not in the CKD group. CONCLUSIONS: In the CKD group, LPI for renal protection was safe without threatening L spine bone density and without causing a higher risk of osteoporosis.

Abstract Shales from the Yanchang Formation Chang 7 Member in the Ordos Basin are among the most important shale reservoirs in China and have been investigated due to their great potential. Knowledge of pore structure is important for understanding the storage capacity and flow mechanism in shale reservoirs. In this study, eight shale samples were collected from the Yanchang Formation Chang 7 Member in the southwestern Ordos Basin, and their geochemistry, mineral compositions, pore structure, and fractal characteristics were investigated based on X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, total organic carbon (TOC) analysis, low‐pressure adsorption/desorption analysis, thermal maturity analysis, and fractal analysis. The results indicated that the TOC content ranged between 0.48% and 2.37%, and the Ro values varied from 0.826% to 1.217%. The major mineral compositions were quartz and clay minerals. Nitrogen adsorption/desorption analysis indicated that the isotherms were similar for all collected shale samples from the Chang 7 Member and resembled the type IV isotherm. Narrow slit‐like pore was the dominant pore type, and the pore size distribution appeared to be unimodal with its peak mainly around 40 nm. Investigation of factors for pore structures showed that the TOC content was the controlling factor for the Chang 7 shales. The Frenkel‐Halsey‐Hill (FHH) method was applied to determine fractal dimensions, which were calculated as the D1 (relative pressure >0.96), D2 (0.96 >relative pressure >0.45), and D3 (0.45 >relative pressure) values, ranging in the intervals of 2.788~2.854, 2.547~2.688, and 2.410~2.567, respectively. The relatively high fractal dimensions indicated that pore structures were complicated, and the higher D1 values suggested that pores with larger sizes showed a rougher pore surface and more complex pore structure. Fractal dimensions showed positive correlations with the contents of TOC and clay minerals, and a negative relationship with the quartz contents.

In the traditional heap leaching of rare earth minerals, the top of the rare earth pile is covered with leaching liquid. This creates trouble for vegetation restoration carried out timely on the top of the pile. In order to solve this trouble, a novel pile structure into which leaching liquid is laterally injected is proposed for heap leaching of rare earth. In this study, a laboratory test is carried out to study the formation and distribution of preferential flow paths for the rare earth pile under a horizontal liquid injection condition. Furthermore, numerical simulations based on a dual-permeability model are conducted to investigate the influence of the preferential flow paths on the seepage characteristics in the rare earth pile. The results show that, under the horizontal liquid injection condition, the fine particles of the rare earth move away from the liquid injection end and also toward the lower part of the pile. The migration of the fine particles results in the formation and connection of macropore, thereby generating preferential flow paths in the rare earth pile. The preferential flow paths are mainly distributed in the lower part of the pile near the liquid injection end. This causes the fluid in the lower part of the pile to seep faster significantly than that in the upper part. Within the region where the preferential flow paths develop, the seepage in the early stage of the horizontal liquid injection is dominated by preferential flow. The preferential flow is more significant at the locations farther away from the liquid injection end.

Extant literature has suggested that leadership styles have a significant impact on subordinate taking charge. However, the effect of ethical leadership on subordinate taking charge is still insufficiently explored. Drawing on social exchange theory, we developed a moderated mediation model in which social exchange was theorized as a mediating mechanism underlining why subordinates feel motivated to take charge with the supervision of ethical leadership. Moreover, power distance was supposed to be a relevant boundary condition to moderate such a relationship. Two hundred thirty-nine independent leader–subordinate dyads in China were used to test the model. Results showed that subordinates’ social exchange mediates the relationship between ethical leadership and subordinate taking charge, and such a relationship was found to be stronger among subordinates who had lower levels of power distance rather than higher levels. Theoretical and practical implications concerning enhancement of subordinate taking charge in organizations where ethical leaderships exist are discussed.

Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is a rapid and nondestructive technology for monitoring atmospheric quality. The identification of each component from the FTIR spectra is a prerequisite for the accurate quantitative analysis of gaseous pollutants. Due to the overlap of different gas absorption peaks and the interference of water vapor in the actual measurement, the existing identification methods of gas spectra have drawbacks of low identification rate and the inability to carry out real-time online analysis in atmospheric quality monitoring. In this work, independent component analysis (ICA) is applied to the spectral separation of heavily overlapped spectra of gaseous pollutants. The proposed method is validated by the analysis of mixture spectra obtained in laboratory and actual atmospheric spectra collected from stationary source. The average time consumption of separation process is less than 0.2 seconds, and the identification rate of experimental gases is up to 100%, as shown by the results of peak searching and the analysis of the correction coefficient between the separated spectra and the standard spectra database. The identification results of actual atmospheric spectra demonstrated that the proposed method can effectively identify the gaseous pollutants whose concentration changes in the measured spectra, and it is a promising qualitative spectral analysis tool that can shorten the identification time, as well as increase the identification rate. Therefore, this method can be a useful alternative to traditional qualitative identification methods for real-time online atmospheric pollutant detection.

The MC-UVE-SPA method is commonly proposed as a variable selection approach for multivariate calibration. However, the SPA tends to select wavelength variables that are sparsely distributed over the wavelength ranges of the variables selected by the MC-UVE algorithm, and the MC-UVE-SPA cascade cannot improve the problem of wavelength point discontinuity. It is addressed in this paper by proposing a moving-window- (MW-) improved MC-UVE-SPA wavelength selection algorithm. The proposed algorithm improves the continuity of the selected wavelength variables and thereby better exploits the advantages of the MC-UVE algorithm and the SPA to obtain regression models with high prediction accuracy. The MC-UVE, MC-UVE-SPA, and MC-UVE-SPA-MW algorithms are applied for conducting wavelength variable selection for the NIR spectral absorbance data of corn, diesel fuel, and ethylene. Here, partial least squares regression (PLSR) models reflecting the oil content of corn, the boiling point of diesel fuel, and the ethylene concentration are established after conducting wavelength selection using the MC-UVE algorithm, and corresponding multiple linear regression (MLR) models are established after conducting wavelength selection using the MC-UVE-SPA and MC-UVE-SPA-MW algorithms. Experimental results demonstrate that the progressive elimination of uncorrelated and collinear variables generates increasingly simplified partial-spectrum models with greater prediction accuracy than the full-spectrum model. Among the three wavelength selection algorithms, the MC-UVE-SPA selected the least number of wavelength variables, while the proposed MC-UVE-SPA-MW algorithm provided models with the greatest prediction accuracy.

Hedgehog (Hh) signaling relies on the primary cilium, a cell surface organelle that serves as a signaling hub for the cell. Using proximity labeling and quantitative proteomics, we identify Numb as a ciliary protein that positively regulates Hh signaling. Numb localizes to the ciliary pocket and acts as an endocytic adaptor to incorporate Ptch1 into clathrin-coated vesicles, thereby promoting Ptch1 exit from the cilium, a key step in Hh signaling activation. Numb loss impedes Sonic hedgehog (Shh)-induced Ptch1 exit from the cilium, resulting in reduced Hh signaling. Numb loss in spinal neural progenitors reduces Shh-induced differentiation into cell fates reliant on high Hh activity. Genetic ablation of Numb in the developing cerebellum impairs the proliferation of granule cell precursors, a Hh-dependent process, resulting in reduced cerebellar size. This study highlights Numb as a regulator of ciliary Ptch1 levels during Hh signal activation and demonstrates the key role of ciliary pocket-mediated endocytosis in cell signaling.

Eastern Ordos Basin is an important region for the development of Carboniferous-Permian coalbed methane in China; however, there are significant differences of the coalbed methane exploration and development prospects among different regions within eastern Ordos Basin due to the multiple tectonic movements. In this study, the No. 5 coal of the Shanxi Formation of the Lower Permian in the Daning-Jixian region was selected for analysis. The influences of structures on coalbed methane content and permeability of coalbed methane reservoirs in the Daning-Jixian region were discussed and the favorable target areas for coalbed methane development were determined based on the analysis of tectonic characteristics and evolution. The results indicate that the main structures in this region extend in the NE–NNE direction with distinct E-W-trending zoning, which can be specifically divided into, from the east to the west, the fault depression zone in basin margins, the gentle fold zone in basin slopes, and the gentle slope zone. The formation and evolution of the structures in this area are primarily formed during the Indosinian, the Yanshanian, and the Himalayan movement, and the tectonic movement during the Middle Yanshan Period is critical for the formation of the structural frameworks. The coalbed methane contents in the No. 5 coal increase from the east to the west; therefore, low gas contents are found in the eastern margin zone, while the Yaoqu-Wucheng zone of middle slope belt displays high coalbed methane contents. The permeability is relatively high in the eastern margin zone and in the Mingti-Yangjiahe region of the middle slope zone, where there exist relatively strong structural deformations. The Guyi and Mingzhu blocks are selected as the favorable target areas for coalbed methane exploitation by a comprehensive analysis of burial depth, coalbed methane content, and the permeability.

As important components of air pollutant, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can cause great harm to environment and human body. The concentration change of VOCs should be focused on in real-time environment monitoring system. In order to solve the problem of wavelength redundancy in full spectrum partial least squares (PLS) modeling for VOCs concentration analysis, a new method based on improved interval PLS (iPLS) integrated with Monte-Carlo sampling, called iPLS-MC method, was proposed to select optimal characteristic wavelengths of VOCs spectra. This method uses iPLS modeling to preselect the characteristic wavebands of the spectra and generates random wavelength combinations from the selected wavebands by Monte-Carlo sampling. The wavelength combination with the best prediction result in regression model is selected as the characteristic wavelengths of the spectrum. Different wavelength selection methods were built, respectively, on Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra of ethylene and ethanol gas at different concentrations obtained in the laboratory. When the interval number of iPLS model is set to 30 and the Monte-Carlo sampling runs 1000 times, the characteristic wavelengths selected by iPLS-MC method can reduce from 8916 to 10, which occupies only 0.22% of the full spectrum wavelengths. While the RMSECV and correlation coefficient (Rc) for ethylene are 0.2977 and 0.9999ppm, and those for ethanol gas are 0.2977 ppm and 0.9999. The experimental results show that the iPLS-MC method can select the optimal characteristic wavelengths of VOCs FTIR spectra stably and effectively, and the prediction performance of the regression model can be significantly improved and simplified by using characteristic wavelengths.

Human key-point detection is a challenging research field in computer vision. Convolutional neural models limit the number of parameters and mine the local structure, and have made great progress in significant target detection and key-point detection. However, the features extracted by shallow layers mainly contain a lack of semantic information, while the features extracted by deep layers contain rich semantic information but a lack of spatial information that results in information imbalance and feature extraction imbalance. With the complexity of the network structure and the increasing amount of computation, the balance between the time of communication and the time of calculation highlights the importance. Based on the improvement of hardware equipment, network operation time is greatly improved by optimizing the network structure and data operation methods. However, as the network structure becomes deeper and deeper, the communication consumption between networks also increases, and network computing capacity is optimized. In addition, communication overhead is also the focus of recent attention. We propose a novel network structure PGNet, which contains three parts: pipeline guidance strategy (PGS); Cross-Distance-IoU Loss (CIoU); and Cascaded Fusion Feature Model (CFFM).

Accumulating evidence indicates that the lysosomal Ragulator complex is essential for full activation of the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1). Abnormal mTORC1 activation has been implicated in several developmental neurological disorders, including Angelman syndrome (AS), which is caused by maternal deficiency of the ubiquitin E3 ligase UBE3A. Here we report that Ube3a regulates mTORC1 signaling by targeting p18, a subunit of the Ragulator. Ube3a ubiquinates p18, resulting in its proteasomal degradation, and Ube3a deficiency in the hippocampus of AS mice induces increased lysosomal localization of p18 and other members of the Ragulator-Rag complex, and increased mTORC1 activity. p18 knockdown in hippocampal CA1 neurons of AS mice reduces elevated mTORC1 activity and improves dendritic spine maturation, long-term potentiation (LTP), as well as learning performance. Our results indicate that Ube3a-mediated regulation of p18 and subsequent mTORC1 signaling is critical for typical synaptic plasticity, dendritic spine development, and learning and memory.

The South Tianshan Orogen and adjacent regions of Central Asia are located in the southwestern part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt. The formation of South Tianshan Orogen was a diachronous, scissors-like process, which took place during the Palaeozoic, and its western segment was accepted as a site of the final collision between the Tarim Craton and the North Asian continent, which occurred in the late Palaeozoic. However, the post-collisional tectonic evolution of the South Tianshan Orogen and adjacent regions remains debatable. Based on previous studies and recent geochronogical data, we suggest that the final collision between the Tarim Craton and the North Asian continent occurred during the late Carboniferous. Therefore, the Permian was a period of intracontinental environment in the southern Tianshan and adjacent regions. We propose that an earlier, small-scale intraplate orogenic stage occurred in late Permian to Triassic time, which was the first intraplate process in the South Tianshan Orogen and adjacent regions. The later large-scale and well-known Neogene to Quaternary intraplate orogeny was induced by the collision between the India subcontinent and the Eurasian plate. The paper presents a new evolutionary model for the South Tianshan Orogen and adjacent regions, which includes seven stages: (I) late Ordovician–early Silurian opening of the South Tianshan Ocean; (II) middle Silurian–middle Devonian subduction of the South Tianshan Ocean beneath an active margin of the North Asian continent; (III) late Devonian–late Carboniferous closure of the South Tianshan Ocean and collision between the Kazakhstan-Yili and Tarim continental blocks; (IV) early Permian post-collisional magmatism and rifting; (V) late Permian–Triassic the first intraplate orogeny; (VI) Jurassic–Palaeogene tectonic stagnation and (VII) Neocene–Quaternary intraplate orogeny.

This paper presents the end Late Paleozoic tectonic stress field in the southern edge of Junggar Basin by interpreting stress-response structures (dykes, folds, faults with slickenside and conjugate joints). The direction of the maximum principal stress axes is interpreted to be NW–SE (about 325°), and the accommodated motion among plates is assigned as the driving force of this tectonic stress field. The average value of the stress index R′ is about 2.09, which indicates a variation from strike-slip to compressive tectonic stress regime in the study area during the end Late Paleozoic period. The reconstruction of the tectonic field in the southern edge of Junggar Basin provides insights into the tectonic deformation processes around the southern Junggar Basin and contributes to the further understanding of basin evolution and tectonic settings during the culmination of the Paleozoic.