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Abstract Graphene oxide (GO), beyond its specialized industrial applications, is rapidly gaining prominence as a nanomaterial for modern agriculture. However, its specific effects on seed priming for salinity tolerance and yield formation in crops remain elusive. Under both pot-grown and field-grown conditions, this study combined physiological indices with transcriptomics and metabolomics to investigate how GO affects seed germination, seedling salinity tolerance, and peanut pod yield. Peanut seeds were firstly treated with 400 mg L⁻¹ GO (termed GO priming). At seed germination stage, GO-primed seeds exhibited higher germination rate and percentage of seeds with radicals breaking through the testa. Meanwhile, omics analyses revealed significant enrichment in pathways associated with carbon and nitrogen metabolisms in GO-primed seeds. At seedling stage, GO priming contributed to strengthening plant growth, enhancing photosynthesis, maintaining the integrity of plasma membrane, and promoting the nutrient accumulation in peanut seedlings under 200 mM NaCl stress. Moreover, GO priming increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes, along with reduced the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in response to salinity stress. Furthermore, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) of peanut seedlings under GO priming were mainly related to photosynthesis, phytohormones, antioxidant system, and carbon and nitrogen metabolisms in response to soil salinity. At maturity, GO priming showed an average increase in peanut pod yield by 12.91% compared with non-primed control. Collectively, our findings demonstrated that GO plays distinguish roles in enhancing seed germination, mitigating salinity stress, and boosting pod yield in peanut plants via modulating multiple physiological processes.

This case report describes a 62-year-old male with a notable medical history, including surgically treated bladder cancer and the suspicion of metastatic disease. He underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging as part of the initial diagnostic workup, which identified several marginally hypodense hepatic lesions. These lesions exhibited metabolic activity that was slightly lower than the surrounding hepatic parenchyma, raising concerns for metastatic involvement. Subsequent 18F-DOTATATE PET/CT imaging significantly expanded the diagnostic perspective by identifying multiple somatostatin receptor (SSTR)-positive lesions, not only in the liver but also in lymph nodes and bones. This marked an important diagnostic advancement over the initial FDG PET/CT findings, showcasing the superior sensitivity of 18F-DOTATATE PET/CT in detecting SSTR-expressing tumors. Pathological evaluation after these imaging studies confirmed the diagnosis of a rectal neuroendocrine tumor (NET) with extensive hepatic metastasis, altering the clinical management and therapeutic approach for the patient. This case underscores the pivotal role of integrating 18F-DOTATATE and FDG PET/CT in the diagnostic and therapeutic management of neuroendocrine tumors, highlighting the complementary nature of these imaging modalities. The findings advocate for the use of 18F-DOTATATE PET/CT in cases where NETs are suspected, particularly for its enhanced sensitivity in detecting SSTR-positive lesions across various sites, thereby facilitating a more comprehensive disease assessment and informed therapeutic planning.

68Ga-DOTA-TATE has been successfully applied in the diagnosis of clinical neuroendocrine tumors，but its short half-life limits its widespread use. This study aimed to develop [18F]AlF-NOTA-TATE to meet the clinical demands of patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) for diagnosis and treatment evaluation. A new column chromatography purification method for [18F]AlF-NOTA-TATE was developed and automated synthesis was performed using a clinical single-vessel multi-functional fluorine synthesis module. The lipophilicity, in vitro stability，and pharmacokinetics of [18F]AlF-NOTA-TATE were studied，and biodistribution experiments and PET/CT imaging of nude mice with NCI-H69 (SSTR2 positive expression) small cell lung cancer were conducted，followed by preliminary clinical evaluation on three patients with neuroendocrine tumors. The new column chromatography purification method for [18F]AlF-NOTA-TATE was simple，which was synthesized in a short time with higher than 95% of radiochemical purity and，less than 3% of.ethanol content. Pharmacokinetic and biodistribution experiments in BALB/c mice showed rapid blood clearance of the drug and renal metabolism. PET/CT imaging of tumor-bearing mice showed specific uptake of the radiotracer in SSTR-positive tumors. Preliminary clinical application showed that [18F]AlF-NOTA-TATE is well targeted in patients with long retention time and can provide better image quality. The column chromatography method for the preparation of [18F]AlF-NOTA-TATE was simple and had high radiochemical purity. Preliminary clinical results suggested that [18F]AlF-NOTA-TATE has further value for clinical research.

Abstract In order to improve the measurement accuracy of mutual inductance parameters of transmission lines in the environment of double circuit power lines without power outage, this paper establishes simulation models for measuring mutual inductance parameters of transmission lines using the different frequency method in two modes: equal and unequal zero sequence self‐parameters of two circuit lines, using a parallel zero sequence coupling model of double circuit power lines. In the article, simulation analysis is conducted on the line parameters with a coupling coefficient between 0.4 and 0.6 and a line length of 20–50 km. In order to further verify the correctness of the simulation model and measurement methods, a test bench was established based on the principle of line mutual inductance parameter testing in a laboratory dual circuit line without a power outage environment for experimental testing. By comparing the test values under experimental conditions with the standard values, it has been proven that the model and method can meet the actual measurement requirements of engineering.

Introduction: Whole-genome duplication (WGD) is one of the most sudden and dramatic events rarely reported in invertebrates, but its occurrence can lead to physiological, morphological, and behavioral diversification. WGD has also never been reported in barnacles, which is one of the most unique groups of crustaceans with extremely speciallized morphology (calcareous shells) and habits (intertidal sessile lifestyle). Objectives: To investigate whether WGD has occurred in barnacles and examine its potential role in driving the adaptive evolution and diversification of barnacles. Methods: Based on a newly sequenced and assembled chromosome-level barnacle genome, a novel WGD event has been identified in barnacles through a comprehensive analysis of interchromosomal synteny, the Hox gene cluster, and synonymous substitution distribution. Results: We provide ample evidences for WGD in the barnacle genomes. Comparative genomic analysis indicates that this WGD event predates the divergence of Thoracicalcarea, occurring more than 247 million years ago. The retained ohnologs from the WGD are primarily enriched in various pathways related to environmental information processing, shedding light on the adaptive evolution and diversification of intertidal sessile lifestyle. In addition, transcriptomic analyses show that most of these ohnologs were differentially expressed following the ebb of tide. And the cytochrome P450 ohnologs with differential expression patterns are subject to subfunctionalization and/or neofunctionalization for intertidal adaptation. Besides WGD, parallel evolution underlying intertidal adaptation has also occurred in barnacles. Conclusion: This study revealed an ancient WGD event in the barnacle genomes, which is potentially associated with the origin and diversification of thoracican barnacles, and may have contributed to the adaptive evolution of their intertidal sessile lifestyle.

Abstract The Final Year Project (FYP) is one of the most important courses for every undergraduate student, and the effective operation of the FYPs in higher education still faces challenges, such as uneven resource distribution and limited efficiency. This study reports a mixed-methods approach to study the impact of a student-centered FYP allocation mechanism on student performance. This research aims to investigate how aligning students’ FYP choices with their interests can inspire motivation and enhance academic performance. More importantly, this mechanism improves students’ academic resilience, enabling them to navigate unexpected contextual factors. The study’s findings take into account various aspects, including student satisfaction with the allocation process, future improvement methods, and the relationship between interest and context. The outcomes observed in this study support our hypotheses, indicating the improvements in students’ academic performance as well as the pass and completion rates. Moreover, this research contributes to ‘resilience theory’ by exploring students’ adaptability to contextual changes and their enhancement of academic resilience. This study proposes recommendations for cultivating a dynamic student-centered classroom environment. Future work could pay attention to addressing the limitations of this study, exploring other factors influencing FYP allocation, and integrating more quantitative measures for a comprehensive assessment of its impact.

Heat treatment is an important factor affecting the stability of the protein emulsion. This paper investigated the effects of different heat treatment temperature (30, 50, 70, 80 and 90 ℃, 30 min) on the physicochemical properties of tuna protein emulsion. The results showed that the emulsifying property of the heat-treated protein emulsion changed significantly compared with those without heat treatment (P

Rapid urbanization has a comprehensive impact on the patterns of regional ecological security (ESPs) in the Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City, China (SSGKC). This study aims to propose recommendations for ensuring regional ecological security by conducting a spatiotemporal dynamic assessment of ESPs. The findings reveal that SSGKC has experienced rapid urbanization in the past decade, resulting in more than doubling of construction land. The results indicate that the area of the largest 10 patches of ESs decreased by 13.5%. Two largest patches of ESs in the southwest became smaller and were out of the top 10 patches in 2020. The expansion of construction land has encroached upon key ecological corridors (ECs). Two ECs connecting the eastern and central regions have shifted southward. Landscape pattern indexes demonstrate that not only has the area of ESs decreased, but they have also become more fragmented. This study also utilized the Urban Development Boundary (UDB) and FLUS model to simulate and predict the potential impact of future land use change on ESPs. Policymakers are advised to optimize the UDB by excluding areas that overlap with ESs and key ECs, in order to minimize the potential occupation of ESs and ECs in the future. The circular ECs connecting the eastern and central regions should be given priority planned and protection.

This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of the Naples Prognostic Score (NPS) in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) who received curative concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). Clinicopathological data from 213 (training set) and 106 (validation set) LACC cases undergoing CCRT were retrospectively analyzed. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to compare the predictive ability of NPS and other indicators for survival. Cox proportional hazard regression was conducted for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). A prediction model using a nomogram was developed with independent prognostic factors in the training set and validated in the validation set. The 5-year OS for the NPS = 1, 2, and 3 groups was 56.8%, 45.4%, and 28.9% (P < 0.001), and the 5-year PFS for the NPS = 1, 2, and 3 groups was 44.9%, 36.7%, and 28.4% (P = 0.001), respectively. NPS showed better predictive ability for OS and PFS compared to other indicators. Multivariate regression analysis identified NPS as an independent prognostic factor for OS (P < 0.001) and PFS (P < 0.001). A predictive nomogram based on NPS was established and validated. The C-indices of the nomogram in the training set were 0.722 for OS and 0.683 for PFS, while in the validation set the C-indices were 0.731 for OS and 0.693 for PFS. This study confirmed that preoperative NPS could serve as a useful independent prognostic factor in LACC patients treated with CCRT.

Novel (Cr,V)-ZrSiO4 jewel green pigments with near-infrared reflection performance were prepared at a low temperature of 900 °C. Effects of Cr/Si mole ratio on phase composition, microstructure, Vis–NIR reflection performance, optical properties and thermal stability were studied. The results show that with the increase of Cr/Si mole ratio from 0 to 0.4, the color of the pigment changes from blue to jewel green and then to dark green. When the Cr/Si mole ratio is 0.2, the (Cr,V)-ZrSiO4 jewel green pigment shows the best comprehensive properties, which has rendering performance (L* = 56.69, a* = −18.52, b* = −9.28), thermal stability, and near-infrared reflection performance. The properties especially excellent near-infrared reflection performance make it promising functional pigment in heat insulation. Resumen: Se prepararon nuevos pigmentos verde joya (Cr,V)-ZrSiO4 con rendimiento por reflejo en el infrarrojo cercano a una temperatura baja de 900 ̊C. Se estudiaron los efectos de la relación molar Cr/Si sobre la composición de fase, la microestructura, el rendimiento de reflexión Vis-NIR, las propiedades ópticas y la estabilidad térmica. Los resultados muestran que con el aumento de la relación molar Cr/Si de 0 a 0,4, el color del pigmento cambia de azul a verde joya y luego a verde oscuro. Cuando la relación molar Cr/Si es 0.2, el pigmento verde joya (Cr,V)-ZrSiO4 muestra las mejores propiedades integrales, que tiene rendimiento de renderizado (L* = 56.69, a* = -18.52, b* = -9.28), estabilidad térmica y rendimiento de reflexión en el infrarrojo cercano. Las propiedades especialmente excelente rendimiento de reflexión en el infrarrojo cercano lo convierten en un pigmento funcional prometedor en el aislamiento térmico.

Abstract BAZ2A, an epigenetic regulatory factor that affects ribosomal RNA transcription, has been shown to be highly expressed in several cancers and promotes tumor cell migration. This study explored the expression and mechanism of BAZ2A in tumorigenesis at the pan-cancer level. The Cancer Genome Atlas, Gene Expression Omnibus databases and TIMER2.0, cBioPortal and other tools were used to analyze the level of expression of BAZ2A in various tumor tissues and to examine the relationship between BAZ2A and survival, prognosis, mutation and immune invasion. In vitro experiments were performed to assess the function of BAZ2A in cancer cells. Using combined transcriptome and proteome analysis, we examined the possible mechanism of BAZ2A in tumors. BAZ2A exhibited high expression levels in multiple tumor tissues and displayed a significant association with cancer patient prognosis. The main type of BAZ2A genetic variation in cancer is gene mutation. Downregulation of BAZ2A inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion and promoted apoptosis in LM6 liver cancer cell. The mechanism of BAZ2A in cancer development may involve lipid metabolism. These results help expand our understanding of BAZ2A in tumorigenesis and development and suggest BAZ2A may serve as a prognostic and diagnostic factor in several cancers.

Insulin-like peptide (ILP) is a member of the insulin superfamily with evolutionary conservation and is one of the most important factors affecting animal life activities. In this study, a full-length of ILP1 gene in Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, was cloned, and the mRNA length consisted of 812 bp with an open reading frame (ORF) of 543 bp, encoding 180 amino acids. Sequence analysis showed that the predicted molecular weight of LvILP1 protein was 20.81 kDa, and the theoretical isoelectric point was 9.45 and the instability coefficient was 96.20. There was a signal peptide, no transmembrane structure. It was deduced that it was located outside the cell and is an alkaline unstable secreted protein. Structure prediction found that LvILP1 protein had the conserved IlGF domain of the insulin superfamily, which was composed of the N-terminal signal peptide, B-chain, C-peptide and A-chain, as well as six conserved cysteine sites and two cleavage sites. Phylogenetic analysis found that LvILP1 was most closely related to ILP7 in Penaeus monodon, and clustered with ILP1 of Crustaceans to form a branch, and then clustered with ILP7 of Invertebrate, Relaxin, Insulin and Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) of vertebrate; ILP7 of Invertebrate was evolutionarily closest to outgroup sea anemone ILP1, suggesting that it may be more similar to the ancestor gene of the insulin superfamily. Transcription factor prediction found that the possible transcription factors of LvILP1 are Forkhead box protein O3 (FoxO3), Glucocorticoid receptor (GR), CAAT region/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) and Signal transduction and transcription activator protein (STAT); The protein interaction analysis found that LvILP1 interacted with Insulin receptor (IR) on the cell membrane, nerve signaling molecules (VGLUT1, SYT 1_3), Glycoprotein hormone beta 5 (GPHB5), Bursicon alpha, etc. By analyzing the biological function analysis of these transcription factors and interacting proteins, it is speculated that LvILP1 may play an important role in regulating shrimp growth and development, response to hormonal stimulation, nervous system homeostasis, carbohydrate homeostasis, postmolt tissue remodeling and reproductive development. The analysis showed that LvILP1 was expressed in the early developmental stage of shrimp, and expressed in all tissues of adults, but the expression level in the eye stalk was the highest. This study provides important information for in-depth understanding of the structure, evolution, function and expression of ILP in shrimp, as well as clues for molecular breeding and healthy farming of shrimp.

Abstract Half of the world's population depends on rice for their calories. Protecting rice in the growth period from damage caused by phytopathogens is faced with a great challenge under the frequent extreme climate. To find novel fungicides to control rice diseases, 35 novel phenylthiazole‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole‐thioether (sulfone) derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their efficacy against destructive fungal and bacterial diseases of rice. Bioassay results demonstrated that most of G‐series compounds possessed excellent antifungal and antibacterial activities. In particular, compounds G1 (EC50 = 2.22 μg/mL, R.s) and G7 (EC50 = 2.76 μg/mL, R.s) showed the most promising antifungal activities in vitro and exhibited superior protective and curative activities against rice sheath blight in vivo compared with commercial carbendazim. Surprisingly, compound G2 exhibited the remarkable antibacterial activity against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) with an EC50 value of 1.98 μg/mL, and demonstrated superior protective activity (88.08%) than thiodiazole copper (79.39%) against rice bacterial leaf blight at 200 μg/mL. The abovementioned results fully manifested that the phenylthiazole‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole‐sulfone structure, especially compounds G1 and G2, had the potential to develop as commercial agents for controlling rice fungal and bacterial diseases.

Vibriosis is one of the most serious diseases that commonly occurs in aquatic animals, thus, shaping a steady inherited resistance trait in organisms has received the highest priority in aquaculture. Whereas, the mechanisms underlying the development of such a resistance trait are mostly elusive. In this study, we constructed vibriosis-resistant and susceptible families of the Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei after four generations of artificial selection. Microbiome sequencing indicated that shrimp can successfully develop a colonization resistance trait against Vibrio infections. This trait was characterized by a microbial community structure with specific enrichment of a single probiotic species (namely Shewanella algae), and notably, its formation was inheritable and might be memorized by host epigenetic remodeling. Regardless of the infection status, a group of genes was specifically activated in the resistant family through disruption of complete methylation. Specifically, hypo-methylation and hyper-expression of genes related to lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and iron homeostasis might provide rich sources of specific carbon (lactate) and ions for the colonization of S. algae, which directly results in the reduction of Vibrio load in shrimp. Lactate feeding increased the survival of shrimp, while knockdown of LDH gene decreased the survival when shrimp was infected by Vibrio pathogens. In addition, treatment of shrimp with the methyltransferase inhibitor 5-azacytidine resulted in upregulations of LDH and some protein processing genes, significant enrichment of S. algae, and simultaneous reduction of Vibrio in shrimp. Our results suggest that the colonization resistance can be memorized as epigenetic information by the host, which has played a pivotal role in vibriosis resistance. The findings of this study will aid in disease control and the selection of superior lines of shrimp with high disease resistance.

BackgroundInsulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) plays a crucial role in the growth and metabolic functions of various tissues and cells in the body. Recently, there has been increased attention to the association between IGF-1 and osteoarthritis (OA). However, there is controversy in current research regarding the correlation between IGF-1 levels and OA. Furthermore, the specific manner in which Body Mass Index (BMI), a key risk factor for OA, mediates the impact of IGF-1 levels on OA remains unclear.ObjectThis study aimed to investigate the bidirectional causal link between IGF-1 levels and OA in four body regions, and to explore how BMI influences the impact of IGF-1 on these types of OA.MethodTwo-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) and its combined forms were utilized to investigate the bidirectional relationship between IGF-1 levels and four types of OA, as well as the mediating role of BMI in the impact of IGF-1 levels on OA. Data from various Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) and multiple analytical methods, including inverse variance weighted, MR-Egger regression, and weighted median were utilized. Sensitivity analyses, such as MR-Egger intercept, Cochran Q test, leave-one-out, and MR-PRESSO, were conducted to ensure the robustness of the results.ResultsHigher IGF-1 levels are correlated with an increased risk for knee (OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.01–1.03; p = 1.49e-01; q = 9.86e-03), hip (OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.06–1.20; p = 7.61e-05; q = 7.44e-05), and hand OA (OR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.01–1.17; p = 1.88e-02; q = 1.15e-02), but not spine OA but not spine OA (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.99–1.10; p = 9.20e-02; q = 5.52e-02). Different types of OA do not affect IGF-1 levels. BMI mediates the increase in OA risk associated with higher IGF-1, including indirect spine OA risk through BMI.ConclusionThe study elucidates the bidirectional causality between IGF-1 levels and OA in various body parts, highlighting BMI’s mediating role in the impact of IGF-1 levels on OA. This provides valuable insights for OA prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies. Future research will expand our study to include a broader spectrum of ethnicities and explore the underlying mechanisms involved.

Abstract Phototherapeutic nanoplatforms that combine photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) with the guidance of photoacoustic (PA) imaging are an effective strategy for the treatment of tumors, but establishing a universal method for this strategy has been challenging. In this study, we present a supramolecular assembly strategy based on Förster resonance energy transfer to construct a supramolecular nanostructured phototherapeutic agent (PcDA) via the anion and cation supramolecular interaction between two water‐soluble phthalocyanine ramifications, PcD and PcA. This approach promotes the absorption of energy, thus enhancing the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and heat by PcDA, improving its therapeutic efficacy, and overcoming the low photon utilization efficiency of conventional PSs. Notably, after the intravenous injection of PcDA, neoplastic sites could be clearly visualized using PA imaging, with a PA signal‐to‐liver ratio as high as 11.9. Due to these unique features, PcDA exhibits excellent antitumor efficacy in a preclinical model at a low dose of light irradiation. This study thus offers a general approach for the development of efficient phototherapeutic agents based on the simultaneous effect of PDT and PTT against tumors with the assistance of PA imaging.

Chinese philosophy understood through the key philosophical terms has been made familiar to Western readers by first “Christianizing” it, and then by “Orientalizing” it. Many of new translations of these canonical texts are uncritically perpetuating the same formula for rendering key philosophical terms proffered in the earlier efforts at cultural translation. Those who are working with the Master of Confucianism in China reconsider the Confucian values and attempt to interpret Confucianism in Chinese philosophical context. This paper employs the qualia structure (Pustejovsky 1991) to verify the validation of three important Confucian concepts, rén (仁), lǐ(礼) and dé (德), of the total 92 Confucian conceptual terms from The Analects (Lúnyǚ,《论语》) and Tao-Te Ching (Dàodéjīng,《道德经》) as the case studies. The qualia structure investigates the semantic information of the core characters in both source and target text which can effectively clarify the correspondence in Chinese-English translation in that the equivalent semantic information can be regarded as the equivalent translation. Furthermore, through this research, misunderstandings can be avoided and foreigners will find it easy to understand Chinese culture.

Background: This study aimed to show a 3-year trajectory of physical performance among Chinese elderly in Beijing communities and explore the associations between new adverse events during the 3-year follow-up period and decreased physical performance. Methods: A longitudinal observational study included baseline data and transitional information of physical performance from 456 community elders (mean age 67.3 ± 4.9 years, female 43.2 %) at a 3-year follow-up. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) were used to measure cognition and physical performance, respectively. The number of chronic diseases, cognitive impairment, malnutrition, depression, knee pain, falls, and frailty were the principal independent variables in multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: The proportion of the elderly with poor physical performance (26.97 %) increased to 42.11 % and the proportion of those with good physical performance (44.96 %) dropped to 30.48 % after the three-year follow-up. As for physical performance transitions, 39.47 % of the elderly progressed to a worsening physical status. After adjustment for covariates, only new onset cognitive impairment (OR: 5.17; 95%CI: 2.01–14.54; P = 0.001) was associated with physical performance deterioration. Conclusion: Cognitive impairment is an independent risk factor for decreased physical performance in elderly people. Active interventions targeted at cognitive impairment could help promote healthy aging.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a global medical challenge. Studies have shown that neurotoxicity caused by pathological aggregation of β-amyloid (Aβ) is an important factor leading to AD. Therefore, inhibiting the pathological aggregation of Aβ is the key to treating AD. The recombinant human HspB5-ACD structural domain protein (AHspB5) prepared by our group in the previous period has been shown to have anti-amyloid aggregation effects, but its inability to penetrate biological membranes has limited its development. In this study, we prepared a recombinant fusion protein (T-AHspB5) of TAT and AHspB5. In vitro experiments showed that T-AHspB5 inhibited the formation of Aβ1–42 protofibrils and had the ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier; in cellular experiments, T-AHspB5 prevented Aβ1–42-induced oxidative stress damage, apoptosis, and inflammatory responses in neuronal cells, and its mechanism of action was related to microglia activation and mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathway. In animal experiments, T-AHspB5 improved memory and cognitive dysfunction and inhibited pathological changes of AD in APP/PS1 mice. In conclusion, this paper is expected to reveal the intervention mechanism and biological effect of T-AHspB5 on pathological aggregation of Aβ1–42, provide a new pathway for the treatment of AD, and lay the foundation for the future development and application of T-AHspB5.

Glioma is a common type of malignant tumor with high global incidence and limited therapeutic options. Buthus martensii Karsch (BmK) Scorpion is listed as medicinal and functional food material for centuries to relieve neurological diseases including glioma in traditional Chinese medicine. In this study, network pharmacology firstly revealed that BmK Scorpion may exert anti-tumor effect via regulating oncogenic signals like EGFR and SRC. The anti-neoplastic effect and safety of BmK Scorpion were further validated on two in vivo glioma models, subcutaneous xenograft and orthotopic transplanted glioma in C57BL/6J mice. Data from mRNA and miRNA transcriptomes of orthotopic glioma showed that BmK exerted anti-glioma as well as immune regulatory effects. Flow cytometry and immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated that BmK improved CD4 + and CD8 + T immunity and decreased myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) infiltration in glioma. Collectively, BmK Scorpion restrained the progress of glioma possibly via improving T cell surveillance and inhibiting MDSC in tumor microenvironment.

The digital oil and gas field system applies digital communication technology to manage and optimize the development and production process of oil and gas field. The system realizes the comprehensive monitoring and intelligent management of oil and gas field by collecting, transmitting and processing various data of oil and gas field. However, in terms of data protection and access control, digital oil and gas field system is unable to ensure critical data confidentiality and provide trusted equipment authentication with efficient security mechanisms. To tackle with these challenges, this paper proposes a secure and efficient anonymous certificateless access control protocol for digital oil and gas field system management platform (ACAC-OGF), which implements anonymous identity authentication for the mobile engineering service terminal in the system, and ensures that only the legally authenticated mobile engineering service terminal can safely access the digital oil and gas field system management platform, thus ensuring authorized access of communication information. We conduct security analysis of ACAC-OGF, including message authentication, message confidentiality, identity anonymity, non-repudiation, traceability, unlinkability, and common attacks. We conduct performance evaluation of ACAC-OGF, the result shows that the protocol has lower computational costs and communication overhead, which demonstrates the feasibility of ACAC-OGF in the deployment of digital oil and gas field system management platform.

Abstract Background Kernel dehydration is an important factor for the mechanized harvest in maize. Kernel moisture content (KMC) and kernel dehydration rate (KDR) are important indicators for kernel dehydration. Although quantitative trait loci and genes related to KMC have been identified, where most of them only focus on the KMC at harvest, these are still far from sufficient to explain all genetic variations, and the relevant regulatory mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, we tried to reveal the key proteins and metabolites related to kernel dehydration in proteome and metabolome levels. Moreover, we preliminarily explored the relevant metabolic pathways that affect kernel dehydration combined proteome and metabolome. These results could accelerate the development of further mechanized maize technologies. Results In this study, three maize inbred lines (KB182, KB207, and KB020) with different KMC and KDR were subjected to proteomic analysis 35, 42, and 49 days after pollination (DAP). In total, 8,358 proteins were quantified, and 2,779 of them were differentially expressed proteins in different inbred lines or at different stages. By comparative analysis, K-means cluster, and weighted gene co-expression network analysis based on the proteome data, some important proteins were identified, which are involved in carbohydrate metabolism, stress and defense response, lipid metabolism, and seed development. Through metabolomics analysis of KB182 and KB020 kernels at 42 DAP, 18 significantly different metabolites, including glucose, fructose, proline, and glycerol, were identified. Conclusions In sum, we inferred that kernel dehydration could be regulated through carbohydrate metabolism, antioxidant systems, and late embryogenesis abundant protein and heat shock protein expression, all of which were considered as important regulatory factors during kernel dehydration process. These results shed light on kernel dehydration and provide new insights into developing cultivars with low moisture content.

The bleeding circuit is important for dropping the dc-bus voltage to safe voltage when electric vehicles (EVs) encounter an emergency. However, the bleeding circuit may be bulky and heavy to ensure that the total discharge operation can be completed in the specified time (5 seconds). In order to reduce the volume and weight of the bleeding circuit, this paper proposes a maximum discharge power method that can maintain the discharge power of the bleeding resistor and windings at the maximum discharge power. The mechanism and disadvantage of traditional uncontrolled rectification (UR) method is analyzed for illustrating the necessity of reducing the bleeding resistor at first. Then, the proposed maximum discharge power is developed based on the established power flow model. For the sake of improving the tracking performance and dynamic performance of the discharge power, an adaptive sliding mode power control (ASMPC) is proposed with the adaptive reaching law, which can effectively reduce the chatting effect on inner current loop. Finally, the proposed strategy is validated on a permanent magnet synchronous motor drive used for EVs, and the results show that the proposed discharge method can not only reduce the bleeding resistor size and weight but also improve the dynamic characteristics.

Abstract Targeted assembly of nanoparticles in biological systems holds great promise for disease-specific imaging and therapy. However, the current manipulation of nanoparticle dynamics is primarily limited to organic pericyclic reactions, which necessitate the introduction of synthetic functional groups as bioorthogonal handles on the nanoparticles, leading to complex and laborious design processes. Here, we report the synthesis of tyrosine (Tyr)-modified peptides-capped iodine (I) doped CuS nanoparticles (CuS-I@P1 NPs) as self-catalytic building blocks that undergo self-propelled assembly inside tumour cells via Tyr-Tyr condensation reactions catalyzed by the nanoparticles themselves. Upon cellular internalization, the CuS-I@P1 NPs undergo furin-guided condensation reactions, leading to the formation of CuS-I nanoparticle assemblies through dityrosine bond. The tumour-specific furin-instructed intracellular assembly of CuS-I NPs exhibits activatable dual-modal imaging capability and enhanced photothermal effect, enabling highly efficient imaging and therapy of tumours. The robust nanoparticle self-catalysis-regulated in situ assembly, facilitated by natural handles, offers the advantages of convenient fabrication, high reaction specificity, and biocompatibility, representing a generalizable strategy for target-specific activatable biomedical imaging and therapy.

The effects of Si addition to Fe on the formation and growth of intermetallic compounds (IMC) in Fe/Al composites were studied by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) techniques. The results showed that: when annealing time was 1 h, the critical IMC formation temperature of Pure Al/Pure Fe, Pure Al/Fe+0.82Si, Al+0.88Si/Pure Fe and Al+0.88Si/Fe+0.82Si were 440 °C, 480 °C, 520 °C and 620 °C, respectively. The major IMC phase formed in the four composites after heat treatments at 640 °C/1h and 640 °C/24h was the η phase (Fe2Al5), and a large number of θ phase (Fe4Al13) particles were present in the η phase for the Pure Al/Pure Fe sample. When Si element was added to Fe and Al, Fe3Al2Si3 phase and FeAl2Si phase were observed in the η phase. The thickness of the formed IMC layer in the four composites after heat treatment at 640 °C/1h was in the order: Pure Al/Pure Fe ≈ Pure Al/Fe+0.88Si > Al+0.888Si/Pure Fe ≈ Al+0.888Si/Fe+0.88Si. The growth activation energies of the IMC layer in the Pure Al/Pure Fe, Pure Al/Fe+0.82Si, Al+0.88Si/Pure Fe, Al+0.88Si/Fe+0.82Si samples were 76.1 kJ/mol, 276 kJ/mol, 349 kJ/mol and 519.6 kJ/mol, respectively. The effect of Si atoms on the formation of IMC was mainly by the interfacial enrichment mechanism and the new phase inhibition mechanism of FexAlySiz. The enrichment of Si at the interface of Al and Fe increased the growth activation energy and reduce the growth rate of IMC layer thickness. The formation of new FexAlySiz phase can inhibit the rapid growth of IMC phase along the C axis.

Abstract Background S100A8 and S100A9 are members of Ca2+-binding EF-hand superfamily, mainly expressed by macrophages and neutrophils. Limited by the poor stability of homodimers, they commonly exist as heterodimers. Beyond acting as antibacterial cytokines, S100A8/A9 is also associated with metabolic and autoimmune diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis. While the involvement of S100A8/A9 in breast cancer development has been documented, its prognostic significance and the precise regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. Methods S100A8/A9 protein in breast cancer samples was evaluated by immunohistochemistry staining with tumor tissue microarrays. The serum S100A8 concentration in patients was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The S100A8 secreted by breast cancer cells was detected by ELISA as well. Pooled analyses were conducted to explore the relationships between S100A8/A9 mRNA level and clinicopathological features of breast cancer patients. Besides, the effects of S100A8/A9 and DACH1 on patient outcomes were analyzed by tissue assays. Finally, xenograft tumor assays were adopted to validate the effects of DACH1 on tumor growth and S100A8/A9 expression. Results The level of S100A8/A9 was higher in breast cancer, relative to normal tissue. Increased S100A8/A9 was related to poor differentiation grade, loss of hormone receptors, and Her2 positive. Moreover, elevated S100A8/A9 predicted a worse prognosis for breast cancer patients. Meanwhile, serum S100A8 concentration was upregulated in Grade 3, basal-like, and Her2-overexpressed subtypes. Additionally, the results of public databases showed S100A8/A9 mRNA level was negatively correlated to DACH1. Stable overexpressing DACH1 in breast cancer cells significantly decreased the generation of S100A8. The survival analysis demonstrated that patients with high S100A8/A9 and low DACH1 achieved the shortest overall survival. The xenograft models indicated that DACH1 expression significantly retarded tumor growth and downregulated S100A8/A9 protein abundance. Conclusion S100A8/A9 is remarkedly increased in basal-like and Her2-overexpressed subtypes, predicting poor prognosis of breast cancer patients. Tumor suppressor DACH1 inhibits S100A8/A9 expression. The combination of S100A8/A9 and DACH1 predicted the overall survival of breast cancer patients more preciously.

Abstract Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is a well-established treatment modality for locally advanced breast cancer (BC). However, it can also result in severe toxicities while controlling tumors. Therefore, reliable predictive biomarkers are urgently needed to objectively and accurately predict NAC response. In this study, we integrated single-cell and bulk RNA-seq data to identify nine genes associated with the prognostic response to NAC: NDRG1, CXCL14, HOXB2, NAT1, EVL, FBP1, MAGED2, AR and CIRBP. Furthermore, we constructed a prognostic risk model specifically linked to NAC. The clinical independence and generalizability of this model were effectively demonstrated. Additionally, we explore the underlying cancer hallmarks and microenvironment features of this NAC response-related risk score, and further assess the potential impact of risk score on drug response. In summary, our study constructed and validated a nine-gene signature associated with NAC prognosis, which was accomplished through the integration of single-cell and bulk RNA data. The results of our study are of crucial significance in the prediction of the efficacy of NAC in BC, and may have implications for the clinical management of this disease.

Abstract The research suggests a method to improve the present pulse coupled neural network (PCNN), which has a complex structure and unsatisfactory performance in image denoising and image segmentation. Then, a multi strategy collaborative improvement whale optimization algorithm (WOA) is proposed, and an improved whale optimization algorithm (IWOA) is constructed. IWOA is used to find the optimal parameter values of PCNN to optimize PCNN. By combining the aforementioned components, the IWOA-PCNN model had the best image denoising performance, and the produced images were crisper and preserve more information. IWOA-PCNN processed pictures have an average PSNR of 35.87 and an average MSE of 0.24. The average processing time for photos with noise is typically 24.80 s, which is 7.30 s and 7.76 s faster than the WTGAN and IGA-NLM models, respectively. Additionally, the average NU value measures 0.947, and the average D value exceeds 1000. The aforementioned findings demonstrate that the suggested method can successfully enhance the PCNN, improving its capability for image denoising and image segmentation. This can, in part, encourage the use and advancement of the PCNN.

In order to explore the composition, taste characteristics and nutritional value of free amino acids in pellicle of different varieties of walnut, the content of free amino acid in the pellicle of 6 walnut varieties was detected, and the taste activity value (TAV) analysis, principal component analysis and comprehensive evaluation were carried out. The results showed that a total of 17 free amino acids could be detected in the pellicle of walnut, with a total content of 2673.86~3490.12 mg/kg. Nine medicinal amino acids accounted for 57.67%~68.23% of the total amino acids, and Leu was the first limiting amino acid in the pellicle. Glu, Asp, Thr, Cys and Arg were the main amino acids of free amino acids in the pellicle, with Glu having the highest content. The TAV value of Glu among the six cultivars was 2.34~3.81, which contributed the most to the umami of the pellicle. The TAV values of Arg in 'Jing 861', 'Bokexiang' and 'Jinboxiang 8' were 1.03~1.26, which contributed to the bitterness of the pellicle. Among the flavor amino acids, the content of umami amino acids was the highest, while aromatic amino acids had the lowest contentm. The ratio of bitter to sweet amino acid content in the 'Nonghe 1', 'Jing 861', 'Bokexiang' and 'Jinboxiang 8' was greater than 1. While the ratio of bitter to sweet amino acid content in the 'Fenhe 2' and ' Fenhe 4' was less than 1. The comprehensive quality of amino acids was also relatively higher. The amino acids in pellicle had high nutritional value and medicinal value, and the taste was bitter, as a food auxiliary material to supplement Thr, Ile and sulfur-containing amino acids, it could increase the overall taste richness of food.

The depth profiling of the element content and precipitation phase distribution of the AA4045/AA3003mod (Al-1.5Mn-0.35Cu alloy)/AA4045 brazed sheets were investigated by optical microscope observation, electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), focused ion beam-scanning transmission electron microscopy (FIB-STEM). The electrochemical test and sea water acetic acid test (SWAAT) were performed to obtain the evolution of electrochemical responses and corrosion forms of brazed sheet. EPMA results showed that a diffusion layer with the thickness of approximately 50 μm existed between the clad layer and core layer, where the Cu diffused from the core layer and Si diffused from the clad layer. It was found that brazing led to a significant low elements solid solution area at the end of the Si diffusion path, where the open circuit potential was lower by 25 mV comparing to the unaffected region. Thus the diffusion zone can provide effective cathodic protection to the unaffected region as sacrificial anode by the potential gradient. The SWAAT analysis revealed the corrosion mechanism of the residual cladding was pitting and intergranular corrosion. This area with high density of intermetallic compounds and Si particles increased sensitivity to localized attacks. These results demonstrated the successful application of the FIB-STEM system in illustrating the electrochemical responses and corrosion propagation by an accurate in-depth characterization of intermetallic particles and the matrix solid solution.

Macrobrachium nipponense is a significant cultivated species in China. However, decapod iridescent virus 1 (DIV1), as a newly discovered crustacean-lethal virus, has resulted in significant financial losses for the M. nipponense industry. In order to examine the immunological response of M. nipponense to DIV1, we conducted transcriptome analysis of the hepatopancreas from M. nipponense infected with DIV1 using RNA-seq. RNA sequencing analysis identified a combined total of 41,712 assembled unigenes, and 7014 genes that showed differential expression were identified in the group infected with DIV1, compared to the control group. Among these DEGs, 3952 were found to be up-regulated, while 3062 were down-regulated; many well-characterized DEGs were involved in innate immune defense, particularly involving the C-type lectin receptor signaling pathway, complement and coagulation cascades, phagosome, lysosome and PPAR signaling pathway. Moreover, the expression levels of well-known immune-related genes (dorsal, wnt6, lectin, caspase, integrin, hsp70) in the hepatopancreas and hemolymph were investigated by Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and the findings demonstrated a significant increase in gene expression in the hepatopancreas and hemolymph at various time points after infection. The results acquired in this study offered further comprehensive understanding of the immunological response of M. nipponense to DIV1 infection.

Postharvest ethylene accumulation and lignification are significant issues affecting the storage quality of fresh faba beans, resulting in rapid quality decline. However, there is still a lack of effective preservation methods to preserve the quality of faba beans during storage. This study aimed to investigate the regulation of lignification in faba beans during storage using a high-efficiency ethylene remover (HEER), examining physiological responses, key enzyme activities, and transcriptomic changes. Results showed that the HEER treatment inhibited the lignification, reducing it by 45% and lowering the respiratory rate of fresh pods by 32.8% during storage. Additionally, the HEER treatment suppressed respiration rates and the activities of lignin synthesis-related enzymes, including phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (from 353.73 to 246.60 U/g), cinnamic acid-4-hydroxylase (from 635.86 to 125.00 U/g), 4-coumarate: coenzyme A ligase (from 1008.57 to 516.52 U/g), and cinnamyl-alcohol dehydrogenase (from 129.42 to 37.12 U/g), thus slowing lignin accumulation. During storage, the hardness of fresh faba bean increased by 9.79% from the initial period, being 1.44 times higher than that of HEER. On days 8 and 16 of storage, the respiratory rate of the treated beans decreased by 24.38% and 4.12%, respectively. Physiological and enzyme activity analyses indicated that HEER treatment-induced increase in hardness was associated with the phenylpropanoid metabolic pathway. Moreover, the HEER significantly down-regulated the expression of several key genes, namely FaPAL, FaC4H, and FaCAD. This study helps to deepen the understanding of the inhibition of lignification by HEER and provide new insights for the development of preservation technology of faba bean.

This article explores the finite-time control problem associated with a specific category of non-homogeneous hidden semi-Markov jump systems. Firstly, a hidden semi-Markov model is designed to characterize the asynchronous interactions that occur between the true system mode and the controller mode, and emission probabilities are used to establish relationships between system models and controller modes. Secondly, a novel piecewise homogeneous method is introduced to tackle the non-homogeneous issue by taking into account the time-dependent transition rates for the jump rules between different modes of the system. Thirdly, an asynchronous controller is developed by applying Lyapunov theory along with criteria for stochastic finite-time boundedness, ensuring the specified H∞ performance level is maintained. Finally, the effectiveness of this method is verified through two simulation examples.

Lead-free Mn2+-based metal halide materials are now being considered as clean candidates for backlight displays and lights due to the d–d transition, diverse components, and environmental friendliness. Therefore, efficient and stable Mn2+-based metal halide phosphors are in great demand for practical applications. In this work, adopting the mixed-ligand strategy, a series of [(CH3)4N]2−x[(C2H5)4N]xMnCl4 phosphors were synthesized by mechanochemical process. With the increase molar ratio of (CH3)4N/(C2H5)4N, the phase of phosphors is transformed from orthorhombic to tetragonal. Compared to [(CH3)4N]2MnCl4 and [(C2H5)4N]2MnCl4 phosphors, the mixed-ligand strategy significantly boosts the green emission intensity of Mn2+-based metal halide phosphors. The obtained [(CH3)4N][(C2H5)4N]MnCl4 phosphors exhibit a high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of 83.78% under 450 nm excitation, which is attributed to the modulation of the adjacent [MnCl4]2- distance by using the different chain length of organic cations, effectively suppressing non-radiative recombination. Additionally, the [(CH3)4N][(C2H5)4N]MnCl4 phosphors exhibit a green emission at 516 nm, narrow full width at half-maximum (FWHM) of 45.53 nm, and good thermal stability. The constructed white light-emitting diode (WLED) device exhibits a wide color gamut of 108.3% National Television System Committee, demonstrating the suitability of the [(CH3)4N][(C2H5)4N]MnCl4 phosphors as a green emitter for WLED displays and lightings. This work provides a new way to modulate the PL performance of manganese-based metal halides for application in the optoelectronic field.

The leaf is not only the main site of photosynthesis, but also an important organ reflecting plant salt tolerance. Discovery of salt-stress-responding genes in the leaf is of great significance for the molecular improvement of salt tolerance in wheat varieties. In this study, transcriptome sequencing was conducted on the leaves of salt-tolerant wheat germplasm CH7034 seedlings at 0, 1, 6, 24, and 48 h after NaCl treatment. Based on weighted gene correlation network analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) under salt stress, 12 co-expression modules were obtained, of which, 9 modules containing 4029 DEGs were related to the salt stress time-course. These DEGs were submitted to the Wheat Union database, and a total of 904,588 SNPs were retrieved from 114 wheat germplasms, distributed on 21 wheat chromosomes. Using the R language package and GAPIT program, association analysis was performed between 904,588 SNPs and leaf salt injury index of 114 wheat germplasms. The results showed that 30 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 15 DEGs were associated with salt tolerance. Then, nine candidate genes, including four genes (TaBAM, TaPGDH, TaGluTR, and TaAAP) encoding enzymes as well as five genes (TaB12D, TaS40, TaPPR, TaJAZ, and TaWRKY) encoding functional proteins, were identified by converting salt tolerance-related SNPs into Kompetitive Allele-Specifc PCR (KASP) markers for validation. Finally, interaction network prediction was performed on TaBAM and TaAAP, both belonging to the Turquoise module. Our results will contribute to a further understanding of the salt stress response mechanism in plant leaves and provide candidate genes and molecular markers for improving salt-tolerant wheat varieties.

Currently, divers face significant safety risks when cleaning marine organisms from the steel structures of offshore underwater platform jackets. Consequently, utilizing robots instead of divers to carry out underwater biofouling removal operations will be an important development direction for the underwater maintenance of offshore platforms in the future. In this study, a wall-climbing robot was designed to clean marine organisms from the underwater surface of a platform jacket leg. The overall structure of the underwater cleaning wall-climbing robot is introduced, including the cleaning actuator and the variable curvature-adapted connecting rod mechanism. The corresponding relationship between the variable curvature-adapted connecting rod mechanism and the jacket leg is analyzed in detail. The variable curvature-adapted connecting rod mechanism was optimized using a genetic algorithm to ensure that the underwater cleaning wall-climbing robot can adapt to a minimum diameter of 1 m for the jacket leg. By drawing on Airy wave theory and random wave theory, the Airy wave parameters for waves were analyzed under different sea conditions, considering practical application scenarios. By using Fluent software 2022, a 2D numerical wave tank was constructed to simulate waves under various sea conditions, and the wave surface shapes for different sea states were determined. By building on the Morison equation, a method for calculating the horizontal wave forces on the underwater cleaning wall-climbing robot using the equivalent area and equivalent volume is proposed. By using the two aforementioned methods, the horizontal wave forces on the underwater cleaning wall-climbing robot under specific sea states were determined. The horizontal wave forces of the underwater cleaning wall-climbing robot under different sea conditions were analyzed and simulated in a 3D numerical wave tank. By comparing the theoretical analysis results with the numerical simulation results, where the maximum difference at the extreme points is approximately 11%, the feasibility of the proposed horizontal wave force estimation method was verified.

Chip bonding, an essential process in power semiconductor device packaging, commonly includes welding and nano-silver sintering. Currently, most of the research on chip bonding technology focuses on the thermal stress analysis of tin–lead solder and nano-silver pressure-assisted sintering, whereas research on the thermal stress analysis of the nano-silver pressureless sintering process is more limited. In this study, the pressureless sintering process of nano-silver was studied using finite element software, with nano-silver as an interconnect material. Using the control variable method, we analyzed the influences of sintering temperature, cooling rate, solder paste thickness, and solder paste area on the residual stress and warping deformation of power devices. In addition, orthogonal experiments were designed to optimize the parameters and determine the optimal combination of the process parameters. The results showed that the maximum residual stress of the module appeared on the connection surface between the power chip and the nano-silver solder paste layer. The module warping deformation was convex warping. The residual stress of the solder layer increased with the increase in sintering temperature and cooling rate. It decreased with the increase in coating thickness. With the increase in the coating area, it showed a wave change. Each parameter influenced the stress of the solder layer in this descending order: sintering temperature, cooling rate, solder paste area, and solder paste thickness. The residual stress of the nano-silver layer was 24.83 MPa under the optimal combination of the process parameters and was reduced by 29.38% compared with the original value of 35.162 MPa.

The littoral zones of lakes are potential hotspots for local algal blooms and biogeochemical cycles; however, the microbial communities within the littoral sediments of eutrophic plateau lakes remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the taxonomic composition, co-occurrence networks, and potential functional roles of both abundant and rare taxa within bacterial and archaeal communities, as well as physicochemical parameters, in littoral sediments from Erhai Lake, a mesotrophic lake transitioning towards eutrophy located in the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau. 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that bacterial communities were dominated by Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Chloroflexi, while Euryarchaeota was the main archaeal phylum. Co-occurrence network analysis revealed that keystone taxa mainly belonged to rare species in the bacterial domain, but in the archaeal domain, over half of keystone taxa were abundant species, demonstrating their fundamental roles in network persistence. The rare bacterial taxa contributed substantially to the overall abundance (81.52%), whereas a smaller subset of abundant archaeal taxa accounted for up to 82.70% of the overall abundance. Functional predictions highlighted a divergence in metabolic potentials, with abundant bacterial sub-communities enriched in pathways for nitrogen cycling, sulfur cycling, and chlorate reduction, while rare bacterial sub-communities were linked to carbon cycling processes such as methanotrophy. Abundant archaeal sub-communities exhibited a high potential for methanogenesis, chemoheterotrophy, and dark hydrogen oxidation. Spearman correlation analysis showed that genera such as Candidatus competibacter, Geobacter, Syntrophobacter, Methanocella, and Methanosarcina may serve as potential indicators of eutrophication. Overall, this study provides insight into the distinct roles that rare and abundant taxa play in the littoral sediments of mesotrophic plateau lakes.

While organizations tend to introduce network mechanism to activate the potential of members in the hierarchical dominated context, it is not clear how individual members deal with the complexity caused by two logics of hierarchy and network. To address this gap, this study focuses on the role of middle managers in collaborating with others in the multiple-logic complexity. We identify three types of collaboration scenarios, top-down, bottom-up, and horizontal, through 27 semi-structured interviews within a Sino-Foreign Cooperative University from 2021 to 2023. Guided by the grounded theory approach, we conceptualize the composite role of middle managers as the translucent hand of explicit and implicit connections, which help us to interpret middle managers' tangibly and intangibly impact under a hybrid organization context. The empirical results also reveal that the boundary perception of authority and responsibility as an important factor determines middle managers' awareness of power involvement in cooperation. The findings extend the understanding of middle managers in network organizations in the higher education context and provide suggestions for the dynamic role of middle managers and hybrid university management in the information age.

BackgroundTotal hip arthroplasty (THA) is a well-established surgical procedure that has been extensively validated to alleviate pain, enhance joint function, improve the ability to perform daily activities, and enhance overall quality of life. However, this procedure is associated with certain complications, among which skeletal muscle fibrosis is a frequently overlooked but significant complication that can lead to persistent pain. Currently, there is no effective method for diagnosing skeletal muscle fibrosis following total hip arthroplasty.Case reportWe report a 75-year-old male patient who complained of left groin pain after revision total hip arthroplasty. Serological examinations, X-rays, and bone scan results were all normal. However, during the 68Ga-FAPI PET/CT examination, we observed significant radiotracer uptake along the iliopsoas muscle. This abnormal uptake pattern suggested potential biological activity in this specific area. Combined with physical examination, the patient was diagnosed with iliopsoas fibrosis.ConclusionsThe presented images indicated that the uptake pattern was an important indicator for diagnosis, and the prospect of fibroblast activation protein in the diagnosis of skeletal muscle fibrosis has shown certain application value.

Lenvatinib is a frontline tyrosine kinase inhibitor for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, just 25% of patients benefit from the treatment, and acquired resistance always develops. To date, there are neither effective medications to combat lenvatinib resistance nor accurate markers that might predict how well a patient would respond to the lenvatinib treatment. Thus, novel strategies to recognize and deal with lenvatinib resistance are desperately needed. In the current study, a robust Lenvatinib Resistance index (LRi) model to predict lenvatinib response status in HCC was first established. Subsequently, five candidate drugs (Mercaptopurine, AACOCF3, NU1025, Fasudil, and Exisulind) that were capable of reversing lenvatinib resistance signature were initially selected by performing the connectivity map (CMap) analysis, and fasudil finally stood out by conducting a series of cellular functional assays in vitro and xenograft mouse model. Transcriptomics revealed that the co-administration of lenvatinib and fasudil overcame lenvatinib resistance by remodeling the hedgehog signaling pathway. Mechanistically, the feedback activation of EGFR by lenvatinib led to the activation of the GLI2-ABCC1 pathway, which supported the HCC cell's survival and proliferation. Notably, co-administration of lenvatinib and fasudil significantly inhibited IHH, the upstream switch of the hedgehog pathway, to counteract GLI2 activation and finally enhance the effectiveness of lenvatinib. These findings elucidated a novel EGFR-mediated mechanism of lenvatinib resistance and provided a practical approach to overcoming drug resistance in HCC through meaningful drug repurposing strategies.

To promote extraction efficiency of bioactive polysaccharides from sclerotium of Polyporus umbellatus, ultrasonic-assisted extraction was applied to extract polysaccharides from P. umbellatus sclerotium. The effects of extraction time, ultrasonic power, extraction temperature and liquid-to-material ratio on the yield of polysaccharide were investigated by combining single factor experiments and response surface optimization, and the optimal extraction parameters were also determined. Meanwhile, antioxidant activities were evaluated by DPPH free radical scavenging ability and reducing power test. The results showed that the yield of polysaccharides from sclerotia of P. umbellatus was significantly correlated to the interaction between extraction temperature and ultrasonic power, extraction temperature and liquid-to-material ratio, ultrasonic power and liquid-to-material ratio, liquid-to-material ratio and extraction time. The optimum extraction parameters were extraction temperature 72.0 ℃, extraction power 300 W, extraction time 65 min and liquid-solid ratio 22 mL/g, and the maximum yield was 2.47%±0.03%. PUPF30, PUPF60 and PUPF80 were obtained from polysaccharide extracts by graded ethanol precipitation. Their polysaccharide contents were respectively 39.99%, 58.60% and 50.35%, and the protein contents were respectively 25.80%, 14.42% and 25.54%. Within the tested dose range, PUPF30, PUPF60 and PUPF80 showed the highest DPPH scavenging rate of 50.63%, 83.95%, 87.48%, respectively, and the highest reduction power of 0.828, 1.433, 1.525, respectively. The ultrasonic-assisted extraction optimized by response surface methodology was preferable for effective extraction and preparation of bioactive polysaccharides from sclerotia of P. umbellatu. This study would lay a foundation for the further development and utilization of polysaccharides from sclerotia of P. umbellatus.

Blasting excavation of rock masses under high in-situ stress often encounters difficulties in rock fragmentation and a high boulder rate. To gain a deeper understanding of this issue, the stress distribution of rock masses under dynamic and static loads was first studied through theoretical analysis. Then, the ANSYS/LS-DYNA software was employed to simulate the blasting crack propagation in rock masses under various in-situ stress conditions. The fractal dimension was introduced to quantitatively analyze the influence of in-situ stress on the distribution of blasting cracks. The results indicate that in-situ stress primarily affects crack propagation in the later stages of the explosion, while crack initiation and propagation in the early stages are mainly driven by the explosion load. In-situ stress significantly influences the damage area and fractal dimension of cut blasting. Under hydrostatic in-situ stress, as the in-situ stress increases, the damage area and fractal dimension of blasting cracks gradually decrease. Under non-hydrostatic in-situ stress, when the principal stress difference is small, in-situ stress promotes the damage area and fractal dimension of the surrounding rock, enhancing rock fragmentation. However, when the principal stress difference is large, in-situ stress inhibits the damage area and fractal dimension of the surrounding rock, hindering effective rock breaking.

In order to improve fuel economy to meet the standard for passenger car oil, a new formulation with good viscosity–temperature performance for gasoline engine oil is required. In this study, coal-to-liquid (CTL) base oil, with a high viscosity index and good low-temperature performance, was selected as the base oil to develop the gasoline engine oil. A systematic study on the molecular interaction between the CTL base oil and the viscosity index improver (VII), including three kinds of hydrogenated styrene diene copolymers (HSD-type) and four kinds of ethylene propylene copolymers (OCP-type), was conducted. It was found that in general, in CTL base oil, the HSD-type VII exhibited a much higher viscosity index, a significantly lower shear stability index, a higher thickening ability, and a lower cold-cranking simulator (CCS) viscosity than that of OCP-type VII. Moreover, when comparing CTL base oil with mineral oil 150N, the combination of CTL base oil and the VII displayed a lower CCS viscosity than that of mineral oil, suggesting it had better low-temperature performance and was able to quickly form a protective oil film on the surface, which was beneficial for the cold start. The functional group distribution state of the VII in base oil was analyzed using synchrotron radiation micro-infrared microscope (SR Micro-IR) technology, which revealed that HSD-1 had a better molecular interaction with CTL6 than 150N because of the better uniformity of the C=C group distribution. Based on this, a SP 0W-20 gasoline engine oil was developed by the combination of CTL base oil and the HSD-1 viscosity index improver, together with an additive package, a polymethacrylate pour point depressant, and a non-silicone defoamer, which showed excellent low-temperature performance, thermal oxidation stability, and detergency performance compared to the reference oil.

In order to investigate the laws of the laser peening forming process and the effects of laser peening on the surface quality and tensile properties of 5083 aluminum alloy, experiments were conducted utilizing various laser peening paths, energies, and plate thicknesses. Subsequently, laser peening forming experiments were performed on S-shaped and different shapes of aluminum alloy substrates. The impact of different laser peening durations on surface morphology and tensile properties was then analyzed. Results indicated that the largest bending deformation perpendicular to the laser peening path reached 12.5 mm. In cases where the laser peening path was inclined relative to the horizontal direction, torsional deformations were observed in the aluminum alloy plate. For laser energy levels of 5 J, 6 J, and 7 J, deformation amounts were 3.8 mm, 4.9 mm, and 5.4 mm, respectively. Plates with thicknesses of 4 mm exhibited convex deformation, while those with 2 mm thickness showed concave deformation. Furthermore, following one and two laser peening cycles, the residual stresses in the alloy plates were −80 MPa and −107 MPa, the surface hardness increased by 16 HV and 31 HV, the roughness increased by 2.495 μm and 3.615 μm, and the tensile strength increased by 9.5 MPa and 18.5 MPa, respectively.

The area of permafrost worldwide accounts for approximately 20% to 25% of land area. In cold-climate regions of China, which are garnering international attention, the study of low-temperature and moisture effects on rock mass mechanical properties is of significant importance. China has a wide area of cold regions. This research can provide a foundation for China’s exploration activities in such extreme environments. This paper examines the mechanical behavior of rock specimens subjected to various low temperatures and water contents through uniaxial compression tests. The analysis encompasses failure modes, stress–strain relationships, uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), and elastic modulus (EM) of these specimens. Findings reveal that at lower temperatures, the rock specimens’ fracture patterns transition from compressive shear failure to cleavage failure, reflecting a shift from a plastic–elastic–plastic to a plastic–elastic response. Specifically, saturated rocks exhibit a 40.8% decrease in UCS and an 11.4% reduction in EM compared to their dry counterparts. Additionally, in cold conditions, an increased water content in rocks primarily leads to vertical cracking. Under such conditions, saturated rocks show a 52.3% decline in UCS and a 15.2% reduction in EM, relative to their dry state.

The Jinhua pig is well known in China due to its delicious meat. However, because of large litter size, low birth weight always happens. This experiment used this breed as a model to research bacterial evidence leading to growth restriction and provide a possible solution linked to probiotics. In this experiment, the differences in organs indexes, colonic morphology, short chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations, microbiome, and transcriptome were detected between piglets in the standard-birth-weight group (SG) and low-birth-weight group (LG) to find potential evidence leading to low birth weight. We found that LG piglets had a lower liver index (p < 0.05), deeper colonic crypt depth (p < 0.05), fewer goblet cells (p < 0.05), and more inflammatory factor infiltration. In addition, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were mainly enriched in B-cell immunity and glucose metabolism, and LG piglets had lower concentrations of SCFAs, especially butyrate and isobutyrate (p < 0.05). Finally, most of the significantly differentially abundant microbes were fewer in LG piglets, which affected DEG expressions and SCFA concentrations further resulting in worse energy metabolism and immunity. In conclusion, colonic disrupted microbiota may cause worse glucose metabolism, immunity, and SCFA production in LG piglets, and beneficial microbes colonized in SG piglets may benefit these harmful changes.

Compared with traditional propellers, the pump jet has the characteristics of low noise, large thrust, and high efficiency, which is widely used in underwater ships, unmanned underwater vehicles, and underwater rescue equipment. It is difficult to design and evaluate the performance of a pump jet because of its complex structure and the many changes in its component parameters. In this paper, high-efficiency pump jet design and optimization methods are presented. Based on the center-of-gravity accumulation line control, a design method is proposed to design the pump jet rotor. The thrust performance and hydraulic performance of the pump jet are obtained through numerical simulation, and the influence of various parameters on performance is studied. Finally, based on a single-factor analysis and orthogonal optimization, a multi-parameter orthogonal optimization of pump jet was carried out. The angle of attack, chord length, camber angle, and number of blades were selected to establish a four-factor and three-level orthogonal table. The thrust efficiency was taken as the optimization goal. Compared to the original pump jet, the optimized pump jet thrust coefficient and thrust efficiency are significantly improved at various speed conditions, with the maximum thrust efficiency increased by 7.23%, meeting the design requirements. This research provides a theoretical basis and technical guidance for the structural optimization design of a pump jet propulsion system.