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Abstract Hyperlipidemia and hypertension might play a role in cardiac fibrosis, in which a heterogeneous population of fibroblasts seems important. However, it is unknown whether CD34+ progenitor cells are involved in the pathogenesis of heart fibrosis. This study aimed to explore the mechanism of CD34+ cell differentiation in cardiac fibrosis during hyperlipidemia. Through the analysis of transcriptomes from 50,870 single cells extracted from mouse hearts and 76,851 single cells from human hearts, we have effectively demonstrated the evolving cellular landscape throughout cardiac fibrosis. Disturbances in lipid metabolism can accelerate the development of fibrosis. Through the integration of bone marrow transplantation models and lineage tracing, our study showed that hyperlipidemia can expedite the differentiation of non-bone marrow-derived CD34+ cells into fibroblasts, particularly FABP4+ fibroblasts, in response to angiotensin II. Interestingly, the partial depletion of CD34+ cells led to a notable reduction in triglycerides in the heart, mitigated fibrosis, and improved cardiac function. Furthermore, immunostaining of human heart tissue revealed colocalization of CD34+ cells and fibroblasts. Mechanistically, our investigation of single-cell RNA sequencing data through pseudotime analysis combined with in vitro cellular studies revealed the crucial role of the PPARγ/Akt/Gsk3β pathway in orchestrating the differentiation of CD34+ cells into FABP4+ fibroblasts. Through our study, we generated valuable insights into the cellular landscape of CD34+ cell-derived cells in the hypertrophic heart with hyperlipidemia, indicating that the differentiation of non-bone marrow-derived CD34+ cells into FABP4+ fibroblasts during this process accelerates lipid accumulation and promotes heart failure via the PPARγ/Akt/Gsk3β pathway.

Abstract Atrial flutter, a prevalent cardiac arrhythmia, is primarily characterized by reentrant circuits in the right atrium. However, atypical forms of atrial flutter present distinct challenges in terms of diagnosis and treatment. In this study, we examine three noteworthy clinical cases of atypical atrial flutter, which offer compelling evidence indicating the implication of the lesser-known Septopulmonary Bundle (SPB). This inference is based on the identification of distinct electrocardiographic patterns observed in these patients and their favorable response to catheter ablation, which is a standard treatment for atrial flutter. Remarkably, in each case, targeted ablation at the anterior portion of the left atrial roof effectively terminated the arrhythmia, thus providing further support for the hypothesis of SPB involvement. These insightful observations shed light on the potential significance of the SPB in the etiology of atypical atrial flutter and introduce a promising therapeutic target. We anticipate that this paper will stimulate further exploration into the role of the SPB in atrial flutter and pave the way for the development of targeted ablation strategies.

Abstract Background The triglyceride–glucose (TyG) index and high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hsCRP) are the commonly used biomarkers for insulin resistance and systemic inflammation, respectively. We aimed to investigate the combined association of TyG and hsCRP with the major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS). Methods A total of 9421 patients with CCS were included in this study. The primary endpoint was defined as a composite of MACE covering all‐cause death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and revascularization. Results During the 2‐year follow‐up period, 660 (7.0%) cases of MACE were recorded. Participants were divided equally into three groups according to TyG levels. Compared with the TyG T1 group, the risk of MACE was significantly higher in the TyG T3 group. It is noteworthy that among patients in the highest tertile of TyG, hsCRP >3 mg/L was significantly associated with an increased risk of MACE, whereas the results were not significant in the medium to low TyG groups. When patients were divided into six groups according to hsCRP and TyG, the Cox regression analysis showed that patients in the TyG T3 and hsCRP >3 mg/L group had a significantly higher risk of MACE than those in the TyG T1 and hsCRP ≤3 mg/L group. However, no significant interaction was found between TyG and hsCRP on the risk of MACE. Conclusion Our study suggests that the concurrent assessment of TyG and hsCRP may be valuable in identifying high‐risk populations and guiding management strategies among CCS patients.

Background Percutaneous intramyocardial septal radiofrequency ablation (PIMSRA) has been reported to be safe and effective at midterm follow‐up to treat drug‐refractory hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy in a single center. However, data from other centers are lacking. This retrospective cohort study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of PIMSRA from another independent center. Methods and Results PIMSRA was performed in 76 patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy in our center from April 2020 to June 2023. The primary outcome was the reduction of left ventricular outflow tract gradient after 6 months or more post‐PIMSRA. Secondary outcomes were periprocedural major adverse clinical events. Sixty‐one patients returned to the hospital for follow‐up 6 to 30 (median, 14) months after the procedure. At the last follow‐up of the 61 patients, the maximum septal thickness decreased from a median of 23.6 (interquartile range, 20.5–26.4) to 19.1 (interquartile range, 16.0–22.1) mm (P

This research examined and compared the effect of microwave and deodorant treatments on the rheological and microscopic characteristics of crumb rubber modified asphalt (CRMA) after long-term aging. Although the emissions from the asphalt modified by microwave treatment of crumb rubber (CR-micr) or high-alkane alcohol deodorant treatment of crumb rubber (CR-de) are reduced significantly compared with the ordinary CRMA, the research on their rheological and microscopic properties after aging is insufficient (especially for the CRMA with CR-de), which may pose a potential risk to their application in road engineering. To address this issue, this paper first used the rolling thin film oven and pressure aging vessel test to imitate the long-term aging of CRMAs. Then, the rheological properties of aged CRMA samples were evaluated using a dynamic shear rheometer and a bending beam rheometer. Meanwhile, the surface micromorphology, micromechanical characteristics and the chemical functional groups of CRMA samples before and after long-term aging were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results demonstrated that the microwave treatment can enhance the fatigue life of the long-term aged CRMA by approximately 29 % under 8 % CR content and 3 % strain level, while effectively improve the resistance to low-temperature cracking. Meanwhile, after long-term aging, the carbonyl index of CRMA with CR-micr is 36 % lower than that of CRMA with CR-de and 50 % lower than that of ordinary CRMA. The micromechanical modulus of CRMA with CR-micr is also lower than that of CRMA with CR-de and ordinary CRMA. These findings manifest that the microwave treatment can improve the ability of CRMA to resist long-term aging, and the deodorant treatment does not have an adverse effect on this ability.

Background: Systemic inflammation has been proposed to be associated with the incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF), but whether it is a cause or a consequence of AF remains uncertain. We sought to explore the causal associations between systemic inflammation and AF using bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Methods: Independent genetic variants strongly associated with AF were selected as instrumental variables from the largest genome-wide association study (GWAS) with up to 1,030,836 individuals. Regarding inflammation traits, genetic associations with 41 inflammatory cytokines and 5 inflammatory biomarkers were obtained from their corresponding GWASs databases. Effect estimates were primarily evaluated using the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method, supplemented by sensitivity analyses using MR-Egger, weighted median, and MR-PRESSO methods. Results: In our initial MR analyses, we observed suggestive associations of genetically predicted interleukin-17 (IL-17), interleukin-2 receptor subunit alpha (IL-2rα), and procalcitonin (PCT) with AF. One standard deviation (SD) increase in IL-17, IL-2rα, and PCT caused an increase in AF risk by 6.3 % (OR 1.063, 95 %CI 1.011–––1.118, p = 0.018), 4.9 % (OR 1.049, 95 %CI 1.007–––1.094, p = 0.023) and 3.4 % (OR 1.034, 95 %CI 1.005–––1.064, p = 0.022), respectively. Furthermore, our reverse MR analyses indicated that genetically predicted AF contributed to a suggestive increase in the levels of macrophage inflammatory protein-1β (MIP1β) (β 0.055, 95 %CI 0.006 to 0.103, p = 0.028), while a decrease in the levels of fibrinogen (Fbg) (β −0.091, 95 %CI −0.140 to −0.041, p

Summary: Cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) dysfunction in macrophages is important in atherosclerosis. However, the mechanism underlying CEC dysfunction remains unclear. We described the characteristics of ATF4 and inflammasome activation in macrophages during atherosclerosis through scRNA sequencing analysis. Then model of hyperlipemia was established in ApoE−/− mice; some were treated with tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA). TUDCA decreased the ATF4, Hspa, and inflammasome activation, reduced plaque area of the artery, and promoted CEC in macrophages. Furthermore, TUDCA abolished oxLDL-induced foam cell formation by inhibiting activation of the PERK/eIF2α/ATF4 and AIM2 inflammasome in macrophages. Further assays revealed ATF4 binding to AIM2 promoter, promoting its transcriptional activity significantly. Then we discovered that ATF4 affected AIM2-mediated foam cell formation by targeting ABCA1, which could be blocked by TUDCA. Our study demonstrated that TUDCA alleviates atherosclerosis by inhibiting AIM2 inflammasome and enhancing CEC of macrophage, which provided possibilities for the development of therapies.

Spatiotemporal variation of storm surges in the Taiwan Strait (TWS) is studied using water level datasets from 14 tidal gauge stations located in the TWS from summer to fall of 2016. The effects of bathymetry on storm surges and tropical cyclone (TC)-induced continental shelf wave (CSW) are explored. By comparing water level response along the east coast of TWS, it is found that storm surges are asymmetric on the north and south sides of the Zhan-Yun Ridge (ZYR), regardless of the different categories and tracks of TCs passing by. Observations indicate that the ZYR could modulate the storm surges and the CSW propagation; ZYR can not only amplify the storm surges that generally peak around the ZYR, but also block the CSW propagation by dramatically dissipating its kinetic energy as revealed by the dispersion relation for the first mode CSW. Moreover, local wind work and the remote forcing, which are induced by TCs and cold fronts, respectively, can also modulate the synoptic variations of water level in the TWS.

The impact of degradation on plastics is a critical factor influencing their properties and behavior, particularly evident in polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) and their blends. However, the effect of photoaging and thermal degradation, specifically within recycled polyethylene (rPE) and recycled polypropylene (rPP), on the thermo-mechanical and thermostability aspects of these blends remains unexplored. To address this gap, a range of materials, including virgin polyethylene (vPE), recycled polyethylene (rPE), virgin polypropylene (vPP), recycled polypropylene (rPP), and their blends with different ratios, were comprehensively investigated. Through a systematic assessment encompassing variables such as melting flow index (MFI), functional groups, mechanical traits, crystallization behavior, microscopic morphology, and thermostability, it was found that thermo-oxidative degradation generated hydroxyl and carboxyl functional groups in rPE and rPP. Optimal mechanical properties were achieved with a 6:4 mass ratio of rPE to rPP, as validated by FTIR spectroscopy and microscopic morphology. By establishing the chemical model, the changes in the system with an rPE–rPP ratio of 6:4 and 8:2 were monitored by the molecular simulation method. When the rPE–rPP ratio was 6:4, the system’s energy was lower, and the number of hydrogen bonds was higher, which also confirmed the above experimental results. Differential scanning calorimetry revealed an increased crystallization temperature in rPE, a reduced crystallization peak area in rPP, and a diminished crystallization capacity in rPE/rPP blends, with rPP exerting a pronounced influence. This study plays a pivotal role in enhancing recycling efficiency and reducing production costs for waste plastics, especially rPE and rPP—the primary components of plastic waste. By uncovering insights into the degradation effects and material behaviors, our research offers practical pathways for more sustainable waste management. This approach facilitates the optimal utilization of the respective performance characteristics of rPE and rPP, enabling the development of highly cost-effective rPE/rPP blend materials and promoting the efficient reuse of waste materials.

The fatigue performance of hard asphalt is an important factor that affects the service life of asphalt pavement. In order to comprehensively explore the influence of chemical components on the fatigue performance of hard asphalt, and to eliminate the chemical instability between the microstructure of asphalt from different oil sources, seven kinds of hard asphalt were designed and prepared with saturates, aromatics, resins, and asphaltenes (SARA) extracted from the same hard asphalt. Rheological, time sweep and linear amplitude sweep (LAS) tests were carried out to evaluate the fatigue properties. The results show that the complex modulus of asphalt binds increased rapidly with an increase of asphaltene and resins and that the colloidal structure was strengthened, which would increase the fatigue factor. In the time sweep test, the strength of the colloidal structure significantly affected the fatigue life, and the fatigue life was different under different test stresses. In the viscoelastic continuum damage (VECD) model, the cumulative damage was related to the modulus, while with the increase of asphaltene and resins, the fatigue life showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing. The linear regression analysis showed that the fatigue life of hard asphalt had a good correlation with strain sensitivity. This study investigated the applicability of different fatigue evaluation methods and revealed the influence of four components on the fatigue properties of hard asphalt. The results provide significant insights in the improvement of the fatigue performance of both hard asphalt and corresponding mixtures.

Abstract Background Stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR), a novel biomarker of stress hyperglycemia, was proved to be a reliable predictor of short‐term adverse outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). However, its impact on long‐term prognosis remained controversial. Methods A total of 7662 patients with ACS from a large nationwide prospective cohort between January 2015 and May 2019 were included. SHR was calculated by the following formula: SHR = admission glucose (mmol/L)/(1.59 × HbA1c [%]−2.59). The primary end point was a major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) during follow‐up, a composite of all‐cause death, myocardial infarction, and unplanned revascularization. The second end point was the separate components of the primary end points. Results During a median follow‐up of 2.1 years, 779 MACE events occurred. After multivariable adjustment, ACS patients with the highest SHR tertile were significantly associated with increased long‐term risks of MACE (hazard ratio [HR] 1.53, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.24–1.88), all‐cause death (HR 1.80, 95% CI 1.29–2.51) and unplanned revascularization (HR 1.44, 95% CI 1.09–1.91). Although significant associations between the highest SHR tertile and risks of MACE and all‐cause death were assessed in both diabetic and nondiabetic patients, the patterns of risk were different in these two groups. Conclusion Elevated SHR was independently associated with a higher risk of long‐term outcomes irrespective of diabetic status, suggesting that SHR was a potential biomarker for risk stratification after ACS.

Summary: Patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) at low residual inflammatory risk are often overlooked in research and practice. This study examined the associations between fourteen inflammatory indicators and all-cause mortality in 5,339 CAD patients with baseline high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP)

For solving the dilemma of the short exothermic life-span of WO3 based metastable interstitial composites (MICs) with extensive application prospect, this paper has firstly designed the promising anti-wetting Al/WO3 MICs via electrophoresis assembly of nano-Al and WO3 particles fabricated by hydrothermal synthesis method, followed by the subsequent fluorination treatment. A combination of X ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) techniques were utilized in order to characterize the crystal structure, microstructure, and elemental composition distribution of target films after different natural exposure tests. The product with uniform distribution and high purity possesses a high contact angle of ∼170° and a minute sliding angle of ∼1°, and displays the outstanding anti-wetting property using droplets with different surface tensions. It also shows great moisture stability in high relative-humidity circumstances after one year of the natural exposure experiment. Notably, the heat output of a fresh sample can reach up to 2.3 kJ/g and retain 96% after the whole exposure test, showing outstanding thermo-stability for at least one year. This work further proposed the mechanism of anti-wetting Al/WO3 MICs considering the variation tendency of their DSC curve, providing a valuable theoretical reference for designing other self-protected MICs with a long exothermic life-span applied in wide fields of national defense, military industry, etc.

No commercial “on-label” transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) device for aortic regurgitation (AR) is available in most countries. TAVR for AR with an “off-label” self-expanding device has shown acceptable procedural success but it elevated rates of early mortality and other complications. Valve disposition or displacement frequently occurs during transfemoral TAVR (TF-TAVR) for AR with a self-expanding valve, because of weak anchoring force. To overcome this problem, we propose a transcatheter “sandwich” valve-in-valve implantation (SVIV) technique, which has achieved good results. Our initial results and experience in a case series comprising seven patients suggest that the SVIV technique using commercially available self-expanding valves may be an option for treating selected patients with AR with high risk for surgical valve replacement. Compared with the traditional method, this technique can decrease the incidence of complications, particularly conduction block, but several technical details require the operator’s attention. Additional research is required to confirm the superiority of this technology.

Abstract Objectives Heart failure (HF) has been implicated in osteoporosis. However, causality remains unestablished. Here, we sought to assess causal associations of genetic liability to HF with osteoporosis using Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses. Methods Independent single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with HF at genome-wide significance were derived from a large genome-wide association study (GWAS) (including up to 977,323 individuals). We obtained summary statistics for forearm (FA) bone mineral density (BMD) (n = 8,143), femoral neck (FN) BMD (n = 32,735), lumbar spine (LS) BMD (n = 28,498), heel (HE) BMD (n = 426,824), and fracture (n = 1,214,434) from other GWAS meta-analyses. Inverse variance weighted (IVW) and several supplementary methods were performed to calculate the MR estimates. Results Genetically determined HF has no causal effect on FA-BMD (odds ratio (OR) 1.17; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.82, 1.66; P = 0.389), FN-BMD (OR 1.01; 95% CI 0.85, 1.19; P = 0.936), LS-BMD (OR 0.96; 95% CI 0.80, 1.17; P = 0.705), HE-BMD (OR 1.01; 95% CI 0.90, 1.13; P = 0.884), and fracture risk (OR 1.00; 95% CI 0.92, 1.10; P = 0.927). Complementary analyses returned broadly consistent results. Conclusion This MR study provides genetic evidence that HF may not lead to an increased risk of reduced BMDs or fracture.

To investigate the diurnal variation in phytoplankton biomass and its regulating factors during the diurnal cycle, we conducted in situ observations in June 2018 at three buoy stations, including Douwei Buoy Station, Minjiang Estuary Buoy Station, and Huangqi Buoy Station on the western side of the Taiwan Strait. The calibration of buoy sensor data, including temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, chlorophyll, and phycoerythrin, was conducted simultaneously. In addition, water sampling was conducted to measure chlorophyll a and phycoerythrin concentrations at hourly time intervals. The results showed that the 24 h cumulative chlorophyll a concentration order for the buoys was Minjiang Estuary (10.280 μg/L) > Huangqi (7.411 μg/L) > Douwei (4.124 μg/L). The Minjiang Estuary had a lower nighttime biomass proportion than Douwei and Huangqi. The diurnal variation in phytoplankton was jointly regulated by water masses, tides, and light. There were three response patterns, including the “light trumps tidal influences” pattern at Douwei, the “Low-tide, High-biomass” pattern at Minjiang Estuary, and the “High-tide, High-biomass” pattern at Huangqi. The prediction of algal blooms and hypoxia using buoy monitoring needs to be based on seasonal water mass background and tidal influence.

ABSTRACTAscribed to its wide sensing range, high sensitivity, and low stiffness to match target objects with complex 3D shapes, the stretchable strain sensor has shown its promising applications in various fields, ranging from healthcare, bodynet, and intelligent traffic system, to the robotic system. This paper presents a low-cost and straightforward fabrication technology for the stretchable strain fiber with the combined attributes of a wide sensing range, exceptional linearity, and high durability. The hybrid composite consisting of carbon black and silicone is utilized as the functional material to respond to the external mechanical deformation due to the piezoresistive effect. To address the remarkable hysteresis of the CB-silicone composites, the latex tubes with excellent mechanical robustness and a considerable accessible tensile strain are introduced as the outer supporting components. After injecting the conductive CB-silicone composite into these tubes, the stretchable strain fibers are successfully prepared. Notably, the stretchable strain sensor exhibits linearity (R2 = 0.9854) in a wide sensing range (0–400%) and remarkable durability even after the 2500 cycles under 100% tension. Additionally, the potential of this stretchable strain fiber as the wearable strain sensor and the real-time feedback is demonstrated by detecting the body motion and the expansion devices.

Abstract The one-step fabricated laser-induced graphene (LIG) has the advantages of low cost, patterning of various desired geometries, and high sensitivity. However, the robustness of substrates imposes certain constraints on their applications in stretchable devices. In this paper, the substrate composed of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and polyimide (PI) particles is proposed to serve as the platform to manufacture LIG. Ascribing to the inherent soft and stretchable attributes of the PI/PDMS composite substrate, the LIG-based sensors can fit complex 3D configurations or bear a mechanical tension over 15%. Notably, the fluence of the laser is experimentally and theoretically determined as the only principle to characterize the formation of conductive LIG on PI/PDMS composite greatly facilitating the selection of the allowable laser scanning parameters to form the desired LIG-based devices. Three demonstrations are conducted to highlight the superiority and the potential of this soft and stretchable LIG-based system in wearable electronics and soft robots.

This review focuses on electroencephalogram (EEG) acquisition and feedback technology and its core elements, including the composition and principles of the acquisition devices, a wide range of applications, and commonly used EEG signal classification algorithms. First, we describe the construction of EEG acquisition and feedback devices encompassing EEG electrodes, signal processing, and control and feedback systems, which collaborate to measure faint EEG signals from the scalp, convert them into interpretable data, and accomplish practical applications using control feedback systems. Subsequently, we examine the diverse applications of EEG acquisition and feedback across various domains. In the medical field, EEG signals are employed for epilepsy diagnosis, brain injury monitoring, and sleep disorder research. EEG acquisition has revealed associations between brain functionality, cognition, and emotions, providing essential insights for psychologists and neuroscientists. Brain–computer interface technology utilizes EEG signals for human–computer interaction, driving innovation in the medical, engineering, and rehabilitation domains. Finally, we introduce commonly used EEG signal classification algorithms. These classification tasks can identify different cognitive states, emotional states, brain disorders, and brain–computer interface control and promote further development and application of EEG technology. In conclusion, EEG acquisition technology can deepen the understanding of EEG signals while simultaneously promoting developments across multiple domains, such as medicine, science, and engineering.

Background: CD40 and CD40L have been reported as associated with aortic dissection (AD) and aortic aneurysm (AA), but the causality of the associations has not been established yet.Methods: We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study to assess the causal inference between CD40/CD40L and aortic diseases including AD and AA. The instrumental variables (IVs) for CD40 and CD40L were selected from a high-quality protein quantitative trait loci dataset released by a genomic study involving 30,931 individuals of European ancestry. The genome-wide association studies summary statistics for AD and AA were from the FinnGen Release 7, with 288638 controls for all outcomes of interests, 680 cases for AD and 6,092 cases for AA, also from European ancestry. For AA subtypes, there were 5,881 cases of thoracic AA (TAA) and 2,434 cases of abdominal AA (AAA) respectively. Inverse-variance weighted and Wald ratio were applied for calculating causal estimates. Horizontal pleiotropy and heterogeneity were assessed using MR-Egger regression analysis and Cochran Q test, respectively. Leave-one-out analyses were further performed.Results: Three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for CD40 and one SNP for CD40L were selected as IVs. We found genetic proxied CD40 levels inversely associated with the risk of AD (odds ratio [OR]: 0.777, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.618–0.978, p = 0.031) and AA (OR: 0.905, 95% CI: 0.837–0.978, p = 0.012), consistent across TAA (both p < 0.050). There were trends of increased risks of AD and AA in the presence of CD40L while not reaching statistical significance. No significant horizontal pleiotropy or heterogeneity was observed.Conclusion: Our MR study provides evidence supporting the causal association between CD40 and the reduced risks of both AD and AA.

Abstract To address the resource-competing issue between high sensitivity and wide working range for a stand-alone sensor, development of capacitive sensors with an adjustable gap between two electrodes has been of growing interest. While several approaches have been developed to fabricate tunable capacitive sensors, it remains challenging to achieve, simultaneously, a broad range of tunable sensitivity and working range in a single device. In this work, a 3D capacitive sensor with a seesaw-like shape is designed and fabricated by the controlled compressive buckling assembly, which leverages the mechanically tunable configuration to achieve high-precision force sensing (resolution ~5.22 nN) and unprecedented adjustment range (by ~33 times) of sensitivity. The mechanical tests under different loading conditions demonstrate the stability and reliability of capacitive sensors. Incorporation of an asymmetric seesaw-like structure design in the capacitive sensor allows the acceleration measurement with a tunable sensitivity. These results suggest simple and low-cost routes to high-performance, tunable 3D capacitive sensors, with diverse potential applications in wearable electronics and biomedical devices.

Cells in the developing embryo interpret WNT signalling with context-dependence, but the mechanism decoding these cues is unclear. Here, the authors show that combinatorial TALE/HOX activity destabilizes nucleosomes at WNT-responsive regions to activate paraxial mesodermal genes.

Cardiac fibrosis is a common pathology in cardiovascular diseases which are reported as the leading cause of death globally. In recent decades, accumulating evidence has shown that the biomechanical traits of fibrosis play important roles in cardiac fibrosis initiation, progression and treatment. In this review, we summarize the four main distinct biomechanical traits (i.e., stretch, fluid shear stress, ECM microarchitecture, and ECM stiffness) and categorize them into two different types (i.e., static and dynamic), mainly consulting the unique characteristic of the heart. Moreover, we also provide a comprehensive overview of the effect of different biomechanical traits on cardiac fibrosis, their transduction mechanisms, and in-vitro engineered models targeting biomechanical traits that will aid the identification and prediction of mechano-based therapeutic targets to ameliorate cardiac fibrosis.

Recent observations demonstrate that the Bering Sea exhibits a substantial positive trend of sea ice area increment (ΔSIA, difference in SIA between the current and preceding months) in January contrasted to the considerable negative sea ice area (SIA) trend from 1979 to 2020, and the ΔSIA is unrelated to the local wind field anomaly. To better understand the January ΔSIA variability and its physical characteristics, we explore two distinct empirical orthogonal function (EOF) modes of sea ice concentration increments. EOF1 features a reduction in sea ice concentration (SIC) in the south of St. Lawrence Island. EOF2 is characterized by the rise of SIC surrounding St. Lawrence Island. EOF1 is related to the well-known physical process of December strong poleward heat transport in mixed layer depth. During the southward expansion of sea ice, the multiyear variation of the December SST tendency mostly relies on warm advection in the Bering Sea shelf rather than net air-sea heat flux, and the abnormal northeast wind in December no longer plays the role of a dynamic process dominating the ice area expansion, but generates a stronger poleward heat transport in the Bering Sea shelf to inhibit the southward development of sea ice in the later stage. The two physical processes together result in oceanic poleward heat transport regulating the Bering Sea SIA in competition with atmospheric forcing in early winter. Since PC1 (principal component (PC) time series for EOF1) has a high correlation of -0.76 with the maximum SIA in the Bering Sea, it can be used as the prediction index of the Bering Sea maximum SIA.

The ATP consumption in heart is very intensive to support muscle contraction and relaxation. Mitochondrion is the power plant of the cell. Mitochondrial dysfunction has long been believed as the primary mechanism responsible for the inability of energy generation and utilization in heart failure. In addition, emerging evidence has demonstrated that mitochondrial dysfunction also contributes to calcium dysregulation, oxidative stress, proteotoxic insults and cardiomyocyte death. These elements interact with each other to form a vicious circle in failing heart. The role of mitochondrial dysfunction in the pathogenesis of heart failure has attracted increasing attention. The complex signaling of mitochondrial quality control provides multiple targets for maintaining mitochondrial function. Design of therapeutic strategies targeting mitochondrial dysfunction holds promise for the prevention and treatment of heart failure.

Limited evidence exists on the combined and mediating effects of systemic inflammation on the association between insulin resistance and cardiovascular events in patients with diabetes and chronic coronary syndrome (CCS). This secondary analysis of a multicenter prospective cohort included 4419 diabetic CCS patients. Triglyceride–glucose index (TyG) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were applied to evaluate insulin resistance and systemic inflammation, respectively. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac event (MACE). Associations of TyG and hsCRP with cardiovascular events were estimated using Cox regression. A mediation analysis was performed to assess whether hsCRP mediates the relationship between TyG and cardiovascular events. Within a median 2.1-year follow-up period, 405 MACEs occurred. Patients with high levels of TyG and hsCRP experienced the highest MACE risk (hazard ratio = 1.82, 95% confidence interval: 1.24–2.70, p = 0.002) compared to individuals with low levels of both markers. HsCRP significantly mediated 14.37% of the relationship between TyG and MACE (p < 0.001). In diabetic CCS patients, insulin resistance and systemic inflammation synergically increased the risk of cardiovascular events, and systemic inflammation partially mediated the association between insulin resistance and clinical outcomes. Combining TyG and hsCRP can help identify high-risk patients. Controlling inflammation in patients with insulin resistance may bring added benefits.

Recently calcium alginate has been successfully applied to encapsulate asphalt rejuvenator, which can protect asphalt rejuvenator from early leakage and release asphalt rejuvenator when triggered by specific factors such as cracks. The interfacial adhesion property of asphalt binder with calcium alginate carrier is of great importance to its actual performance. In this paper, the molecular model of the interface region between asphalt binder and calcium alginate was established, and molecular dynamics simulations were performed on it to investigate the molecular interaction at the interface region. By extracting and processing the data during the simulation process, the interfacial adhesion behavior was expounded using the spreading coefficient (S), permeation depth and permeation degree. Furthermore, the interfacial adhesion strength was evaluated by adopting the interfacial adhesion work. Results showed that the value of S was greater than 0, implying that asphalt binder could wet the surface of calcium alginate. Saturate had the highest value of permeation degree, followed by resin, aromatic and asphaltene. However, asphalt binder could not infiltrate into the interior of TiO2, only accumulating and spreading on the surface of TiO2. The interfacial adhesion work of unaged and aged asphalt binder to calcium alginate was −114.18 mJ/m2 and −186.37 mJ/m2, respectively, similar to that of asphalt–aggregate interface. The van der Waals interactions contributed the most to the formation of the interfacial adhesion strength. In addition, a certain degree aging of asphalt binder and addition of titanium dioxide in the calcium alginate carrier were helpful to enhance the interfacial adhesion strength.

We herein report the observation of a slope undercurrent beneath the winter western boundary current of the northwestern South China Sea (SCS), and its spatiotemporal variation. The possible underlying dynamics are also discussed. In situ observations reveal that the northeastward undercurrent is located above the upper slope with a core velocity exceeding 20 cm/s, which extends from 200 m to 800 m in depth with a width of 30–50 km and an along-slope length of approximately 200 km in deep winter of 2006-2007, and is characterized with interseasonal and interannual variabilities. The existence of this undercurrent is also supported by Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM) results. We find that the slope undercurrent is probably driven by the along-slope pressure gradient associated with the sea level set-up off the continental slope of south Hainan Island and modulated by mesoscale eddies and Rossby waves. This study will renew our knowledge of the deep slope currents in the northwestern SCS.

Early freeze-up affects the local marine environment and ecosystem throughout the entire Bering Sea. However, the process governing early freeze-up, which is responsible for the most significant interannual variation in the December sea ice area (SIA), is not well understood. Here, we show that the SIA in December is modulated by the Aleutian low in November by altering poleward heat transport (PHT). The stronger the November PHT is, the lower the December SIA. The rise in heat transport across the Bering Strait in November is consistent with the decrease in SIA in December, with a correlation of −0.71, further validating the regulatory role of PHT. The Aleutian low anomaly controls the local wind field, further altering the sea surface temperature and PHT. The center of the anomalous low-pressure in the east (west) generates the northerly (southeasterly) anomaly over the northern Bering Sea, leading to acceleration (suppression) of seawater cooling and weakening (enhancement) of the PHT. It is also found that a strong northerly surface current has a greater influence on the later SIA than warm water temperature. Hence, atmospheric forcing causing changes in ocean forcing is imperative to understand early freeze-up.

As a promising kind of functional material, highly reactive thermite energetic materials (tEMs) with outstanding reactive activation can release heat quickly at a high reaction rate after low-energy stimulation, which is widely used in sensors, triggers, mining, propellants, demolition, ordnance or weapons, and space technology. Thus, this review aims to provide a holistic view of the recent progress in the development of multifunctional highly reactive tEMs with controllable micro/nano-structures for various engineering applications via different fabricated techniques, including the mechanical mixing method, vapor deposition method, assembly method, sol-gel method, electrospinning method, and so on. The systematic classification of novel structured tEMs in terms of nano-structural superiority and exothermic performance are clarified, based on which, suggestions regarding possible future research directions are proposed. Their potential applications within these rapidly expanding areas are further highlighted. Notably, the prospects or challenges of current works, as well as possible innovative research ideas, are discussed in detail, providing further valuable guidelines for future study.

Myocardial fibrosis progression and imbalanced redox state are closely associated with increased extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness. Candesartan (CAN), an angiotensin II (Ang II) receptor inhibitor, has shown promising anti-fibrosis and antioxidant efficacy in previous cardiovascular disease studies. However, the effect of ECM stiffness on CAN efficacy remains elusive. In this study, we constructed rat models with three different degrees of myocardial fibrosis and treated them with CAN, and then characterized the stiffness, cardiac function, and NADPH oxidase-2 (NOX2) expression of the myocardial tissues. Based on the obtained stiffness of myocardial tissues, we used polyacrylamide (PA) gels with three different stiffness to mimic the ECM stiffness of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) at the early, middle, and late stages of myocardial fibrosis as the cell culture substrates and then constructed CFs mechanical microenvironment models. We studied the effects of PA gel stiffness on the migration, proliferation, and activation of CFs without and with CAN treatment, and characterized the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione (GSH) levels of CFs using fluorometry and scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). We found that CAN has the best amelioration efficacy in the cardiac function and NOX2 levels in rats with medium-stiffness myocardial tissue, and the most obvious anti-fibrosis and antioxidant efficacy in CFs on the medium-stiffness PA gels. Our work proves the effect of ECM stiffness on CAN efficacy in myocardial anti-fibrosis and antioxidants for the first time, and the results demonstrate that the effect of ECM stiffness on drug efficacy should also be considered in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

This study sought to investigate the prevalence and prognostic significance of malnutrition in patients with an abnormal glycemic status and coronary artery disease (CAD). This secondary analysis of a multicenter prospective cohort included 5710 CAD patients with prediabetes and 9328 with diabetes. Four objective tools were applied to assess the nutritional status of the study population. The primary endpoint was all-cause death. The association of malnutrition with clinical outcomes was examined using Cox proportional hazards regression. The proportion of malnutrition varied from 8% to 57% across the assessment tools. Diabetic patients were more likely to be malnourished than prediabetic patients. During a median follow-up of 2.1 years, 456 all-cause deaths occurred. The adjusted hazard ratios and 95% confidence interval for all-cause deaths of moderate–severe malnutrition defined by different tools ranged from 1.59 (1.03, 2.46) to 2.08 (0.92, 4.73) in prediabetic patients and 1.51 (1.00, 2.34) to 2.41 (1.78, 3.27) in diabetic patients. In conclusion, malnutrition is not rare in CAD patients with abnormal glycemic status. Moderate–severe malnutrition strongly predicted all-cause death regardless of the assessment tool. Assessing the nutritional status for all CAD patients with prediabetes and diabetes to identify individuals at high risk of all-cause death may help the risk assessment and prognosis improvement.

Abstract Background Coronary artery spasm (CAS) and stress cardiomyopathy (SC) have different characteristic clinical manifestations in the case of suspicious myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries. Established recurrence rates of both conditions have been reported, however, alternate recurrent CAS and SC in the same individual have not been described. Case presentation A 59-year-old man suffered from atypical chest pain in the first episode, acute heart attack in the second and third episodes (totally 3 times over a period of approximately 5 years). During the first episode, he visited our hospital with mild paroxysmal chest pain without obvious inducement for approximately 2 years. He was underdiagnosed at that time without other obvious findings except the poor R wave progression in V1–3 leads revealed in electrocardiogram. At 4 months after the first episode, he suffered from a heart attack (the second episode) and was diagnosed with SC based on the coronary angiography (CAG) and left ventriculography findings of nonobstructive coronary arteries combined with a classic apical ballooning shape. At 31 months after the second episode, he suffered another heart attack (the third episode) and was diagnosed with CAS based on the CAG results of recoverable severe multivessel stenoses. During the episodes, partial reversible nature of apical hypokinesis was observed in echocardiogram. In retrospect, the patient suffered silent CAS in the first episode, SC in the second episode, and severe multivessel CAS in the third episode. Conclusion The unusual presentations observed in this case have not been reported. This case suggests that cardiologists should be aware of the possibility of alternate recurrent CAS and SC in the same individual. Provocative tests for spasm and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging might help gain more insights into this issue.

A large number of studies suggest that uric acid (UA) is related to the occurrence, complications, and prognosis of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the guidelines did not clearly elaborate on this issue. The current research results need to be summarized to analyze the association between UA and AF. This study found that in the current clinical research on the relationship between UA and AF, studies mainly focus on the development or complications of AF. A lot of repetitive work does not deepen awareness of this question. In contrast, studies investigating the effects of UA-lowering therapy on the management of AF are limited. The only reports deny the protective effect of UA-lowering therapy. For now, we suggest that UA is close to the occurrence and progression of AF; therefore, it may have important significance as a clinical marker. The role of UA-lowering therapy in the management of AF is one of the next key issues to be explored. It will be a meaningful topic to focus on the latest research on AF ablation and to conduct a secondary analysis to explore the prognostic impact of UA on the latest treatment methods for AF. Multiomics techniques may allow us to have a deeper understanding of the role of UA in AF management in the future.

Background: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a major cause of heart failure worldwide. The Z-line protein Cypher/Z-band alternatively spliced PDZ-motif protein (ZASP) is closely associated with DCM, both clinically and in animal models. Our earlier work revealed Cypher/ZASP as a PKA-anchoring protein (AKAP) that tethers PKA to phosphorylate target substrates. However, the downstream PKA effectors regulated by AKAP Cypher/ZASP and their relevance to DCM remain largely unknown.Methods and Results: For the identification of candidate PKA substrates, global quantitative phosphoproteomics was performed on cardiac tissue from wild-type and Cypher-knockout mice with PKA activation. A total of 216 phosphopeptides were differentially expressed in the Cypher-knockout mice; 31 phosphorylation sites were selected as candidates using the PKA consensus motifs. Bioinformatic analysis indicated that differentially expressed proteins were enriched mostly in cell adhesion and mRNA processing. Furthermore, the phosphorylation of β-catenin Ser675 was verified to be facilitated by Cypher. This phosphorylation promoted the transcriptional activity of β-catenin, and also the proliferative capacity of cardiomyocytes. Immunofluorescence staining demonstrated that Cypher colocalised with β-catenin in the intercalated discs (ICD) and altered the cytoplasmic distribution of β-catenin. Moreover, the phosphorylation of two other PKA substrates, vimentin Ser72 and troponin I Ser23/24, was suppressed by Cypher deletion.Conclusions: Cypher/ZASP plays an essential role in β-catenin activation via Ser675 phosphorylation, which modulates cardiomyocyte proliferation. Additionally, Cypher/ZASP regulates other PKA effectors, such as vimentin Ser72 and troponin I Ser23/24. These findings establish the AKAP Cypher/ZASP as a signalling hub in the progression of DCM.

Progesterone treatment is commonly employed to promote and support pregnancy. While maternal tissues are the main progesterone targets in humans and mice, its receptor (PGR) is expressed in the murine embryo, questioning its function during embryonic development. Progesterone has been previously associated with murine blastocyst development. Whether it contributes to lineage specification is largely unknown. Gastrulation initiates lineage specification and generation of the progenitors contributing to all organs. Cells passing through the primitive streak (PS) will give rise to the mesoderm and endoderm. Cells emerging posteriorly will form the extraembryonic mesodermal tissues supporting embryonic growth. Cells arising anteriorly will contribute to the embryonic heart in two sets of distinct progenitors, first (FHF) and second heart field (SHF). We found that PGR is expressed in a posterior–anterior gradient in the PS of gastrulating embryos. We established in vitro differentiation systems inducing posterior (extraembryonic) and anterior (cardiac) mesoderm to unravel PGR function. We discovered that PGR specifically modulates extraembryonic and cardiac mesoderm. Overexpression experiments revealed that PGR safeguards cardiac differentiation, blocking premature SHF progenitor specification and sustaining the FHF progenitor pool. This role of PGR in heart development indicates that progesterone administration should be closely monitored in potential early-pregnancy patients undergoing infertility treatment.

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3 (TIMP3) is a protease with high expression levels in the heart and plays an essential role in extracellular matrix turnover by maintaining equilibrium with matrix metalloproteinases. Considerable data in experimental models have demonstrated a protective role of TIMP3 in coronary artery disease (CAD) and myocardial infarction (MI). However, causality remains unexplored in population studies. Here, we sought to decipher the potential causality between TIMP3 and CAD/MI using the Mendelian randomization (MR) method. We extracted summary−level datasets for TIMP3 and CAD/MI from the genome−wide association studies performed in the KORA study and CARDIoGRAMplusC4D consortium, respectively. Seven independent SNPs were obtained as instrumental variables for TIMP3. The MR analyses were replicated using FinnGen datasets, and the main results were combined in meta−analyses. Elevated genetically predicted serum TIMP3 levels were causally associated with a lower risk of CAD [odds ratio (OR), 0.97; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.95, 0.98; p = 5.29 × 10−5] and MI (OR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.95, 0.98; p = 3.85 × 10−5). The association patterns persisted in the meta−analyses combining the different datasets (CAD: OR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.96, 0.99; p = 4.37 × 10−5; MI: OR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.96, 0.99; p = 9.96 × 10−5) and was broadly consistent across a set of complementary analyses. Evidence of heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy was limited for all associations considered. In conclusion, this MR study supports inverse causal associations between serum TIMP3 and the risk of CAD and MI. Strategies for raising TIMP3 levels may offer new avenues for the prevention strategies of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases.

High specific surface area, reasonable pore structure and heteroatom doping are beneficial to enhance charge storage, which all depend on the selection of precursors, activators and reasonable preparation methods. Here, B, O and N codoped biomass-derived hierarchical porous carbon was synthesized by using KCl/ZnCl2 as a combined activator and porogen and H3BO3 as both boron source and porogen. Moreover, the cheap, environmentally friendly and heteroatom-rich laver was used as a precursor, and impregnation and freeze-drying methods were used to make the biological cells of laver have sufficient contact with the activator so that the layer was deeply activated. The as-prepared carbon materials exhibit high surface area (1514.3 m2 g−1), three-dimensional (3D) interconnected hierarchical porous structure and abundant heteroatom doping. The synergistic effects of these properties promote the obtained carbon materials with excellent specific capacitance (382.5 F g−1 at 1 A g−1). The symmetric supercapacitor exhibits a maximum energy density of 29.2 W h kg−1 at a power density of 250 W kg−1 in 1 M Na2SO4, and the maximum energy density can reach to 51.3 W h kg−1 at a power density of 250 W kg−1 in 1 M BMIMBF4/AN. Moreover, the as-prepared carbon materials as anode for lithium-ion batteries possess high reversible capacity of 1497 mA h g−1 at 1 A g−1 and outstanding cycling stability (no decay after 2000 cycles).

The laser-induced porous graphene (LIG) prepared in a straightforward fabrication method is presented, and its applications in stretchable strain sensors to detect the applied strain are also explored. The LIG formed on the polyimide/polydimethylsiloxane (PI/PDMS) composite exhibits a naturally high stretchability (over 30%), bypassing the transfer printing process compared to the one prepared by laser scribing on PI films. The PI/PDMS composite with LIG shows tunable mechanical and electronic performances with different PI particle concentrations in PDMS. The good cyclic stability and almost linear response of the prepared LIG's resistance with respect to tensile strain provide its access to wearable electronics. To improve the PDMS/PI composite stretchability, we designed and optimized a kirigami-inspired strain sensor with LIG on the top surface, dramatically increasing the maximum strain value that in linear response to applied strain from 3% to 79%.

From the perspective of information, this paper constructs a theoretical model based on information system (IS) success model and information adoption model (IAM), aiming to further disclose the action mechanism of business intelligence (BI) on user information adoption (UIA). Firstly, the BI factors affecting UIA were modeled in reference to the existing literature. Next, a questionnaire survey was carried out to collect valid samples from 423 Chinese enterprises. After that, an empirical analysis on structural equations was conducted on Amos 24.0 and SPSS 26.0. The results show that BI information content quality (ICQ), expected performance (EP), expected ease-of-use (EEOU), and perceived risk (PR) have a direct and significant influence on UIA, and ICQ further significantly influences UIA via mediators such as EP, EEOU, and PR; BI information access quality (IAQ) has a direct yet insignificant influence on UIA, but exerts a significant positive effect on UIA of BI via EP and EEOU. The research provides a new perspective into BI user behaviors in the context of big data, and a good reference for the successfully implementation and use of BI in practice.

Since it was reported in 2014, laser-induced graphene (LIG) has received growing attention for its fast speed, non-mask, and low-cost customizable preparation, and has shown its potential in the fields of wearable electronics and biological sensors that require high flexibility and versatility. Laser-induced graphene has been successfully prepared on various substrates with contents from various carbon sources, e.g., from organic films, plants, textiles, and papers. This paper reviews the recent progress on the state-of-the-art preparations and applications of LIG including mechanical sensors, temperature and humidity sensors, electrochemical sensors, electrophysiological sensors, heaters, and actuators. The achievements of LIG based devices for detecting diverse bio-signal, serving as monitoring human motions, energy storage, and heaters are highlighted here, referring to the advantages of LIG in flexible designability, excellent electrical conductivity, and diverse choice of substrates. Finally, we provide some perspectives on the remaining challenges and opportunities of LIG.

Herein, the target compound of S-benzyl-O,O'-bis(2-naphthyl)dithiophosphate (SBOB) as corrosion inhibitor with ultra-long lifespan was successfully synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, single crystal X-ray diffraction and spectroscopy involving FT-IR, 1H, 13C and 31P NMR. Meanwhile, the inhibition performance and mechanism of SBOB for mild steel (MS) in HCl medium were combined to investigate by weight loss, potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and quantum chemical calculation. The potentiodynamic polarization results indicate that SBOB is a mixed-type inhibitor. All experimental results are in good agreement and reveal that the corrosion inhibition increases with the concentration of SBOB. Weight loss results indicate that the inhibition efficiency decreases with HCl concentration and temperature increasing, but the corrosion inhibition performance of SBOB keeps almost unchanged after ultra-long storage time due to the formation of inhibitor film by the physisorption and chemisorption of SBOB on MS surface. Keywords: O,O'-diaryldithiophosphates, Synthesis, Crystal structure, Corrosion inhibition, Ultra-long lifespan

Mesostructures: Complex 3D structures pop-up from 2D films 2D surfaces can be pulled into 3D structures just like a pop-up book. The transformation of 2D structures into complex 3D structures can be achieved by exploiting pre-stretched pre-patterned films- this is known as the compressive buckling method. Upon release, the pre-stretched film forms a 3D structure whose shape is dependant on how these films were pre-patterned. The requirement of pre-stretching may add complexity to the manufacturing process. Yihui Zhang and colleagues present an alternative approach to form 3D structures which bypasses the requirement of pre-stretching. The researchers- who are from Tsinghua University and Northwestern University- demonstrate the controlled mechanical assembly of 3D mesostructures by stretching pre-patterned 2D films- known as the tensile buckling method. Notably, their approach opens up 3D structures previously unobtainable via compressive buckling.

Abstract Background Precise genome editing is essential for both basic and translational research. The recently developed CRISPR/Cas9 system can specifically cleave a designated site of target gene to create a DNA double-strand break, which triggers cellular DNA repair mechanism of either inaccurate non-homologous end joining, or site-specific homologous recombination. Unfortunately, homology-directed repair (HDR) is challenging due to its very low efficiency. Herein, we focused on improving the efficiency of HDR using a combination of CRISPR/Cas9, eGFP, DNA ligase IV inhibitor SCR7, and single-stranded oligodeoxynucleotides (ssODN) in human cancer cells. Results When Cas9, gRNA and eGFP were assembled into a co-expression vector, the disruption rate more than doubled following GFP-positive cell sorting in transfected cells compared to those unsorted cells. Using ssODNs as templates, SCR7 treatment increased targeted insertion efficiency threefold in transfected cells compared to those without SCR7 treatment. Moreover, this combinatorial approach greatly improved the efficiency of HDR and targeted gene mutation correction at both the GFP-silent mutation and the β-catenin Ser45 deletion mutation cells. Conclusion The data of this study suggests that a combination of co-expression vector, ssODN, and ligase IV inhibitor can markedly improve the CRISPR/Cas9-directed gene editing, which should have significant application in targeted gene editing and genetic disease therapy.

In this paper, the methodology for short-term line maintenance scheduling in distribution network with PV penetration is proposed, in which the mixed randomness and fuzziness of solar power generation concerning the available cloud amount forecasting, along with other random or fuzzy factors, such as electricity demand and component historical failure rate, are considered. First, based on the obtained historical data from NASA, the empirical mapping from cloud amount to solar irradiance can be established where the uncertainty is represented by combining randomness and fuzziness. Second, the short-term line maintenance scheduling of distribution network with uncertainties is modeled by using random fuzzy chance-constrained programming aiming at minimizing the pessimistic value in terms of economics and reliability subject to the chance constraints. Finally, a hybrid intelligent algorithm with two-layer optimization is implemented to solve the model. Simulation experiments are carried out on the IEEE 33-Bus and IEEE RBTS 2-Bus systems, and the results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed short-term line maintenance scheduling solution for distribution network with the mixed uncertainties of randomness and fuzziness.

Potential damage, eventually demonstrated as moisture damage on inner and in-situ road structures, is the most complex problem to predict, which costs lots of money, time, and natural resources for maintenance and even leads to safety problems. Traditional linear regression analysis cannot fit well with this multi-factor task in such in-field circumstances. Random Forest (RF) is a progressive nonlinear algorithm, which can combine all relative factors to gain accurate prediction and good explanation. In this study, an RF model is constructed for the prediction of potential damage. In addition, relative variable importance is analyzed to obtain the correlations between factors and potential damage separately. The results show that, through the optimization, the model achieved a good average accuracy of 83.33%. Finally, the controlling method for moisture damage is provided by combining the traditional analysis method and the RF model. In a word, RF is a prospective method in predictions and data mining for highway engineering. Trained with effective data, it can be multifunctional and powerful to solve hard problems.

Grouted Semi-flexible Pavement (GSP) is a novel pavement composed of open-graded asphalt concrete grouted with high-fluidity cement mortar. Due to its excellent load-bearing and anti-rutting performance, it has great potential as anti-rutting overlay and surface in road construction. However, the understanding of GSP performance remains limited and pertinent findings are inconsistent. This article aims to provide a systematic literature review for the articles which were published between 2000 and 2020 on GSP, explore the problems in the recent research, identify knowledge gaps, and deliver recommendations for future research. The influential factors and the relative evaluation methods of GSP performance are summarized and discussed in this article.

Film-forming techniques and the control of heat release in micro-energetic chips or devices create challenges and bottlenecks for the utilization of energy. In this study, promising nano-Al/MoO3 metastable intermolecular composite (MIC) chips with an uniform distribution of particles were firstly designed via a convenient and high-efficiency electrophoretic deposition (EPD) technique at room temperature and under ambient pressure conditions. The mixture of isopropanol, polyethyleneimine, and benzoic acid proved to be an optimized dispersing agent for EPD. The kinetics of EPD for oxidants (Al) and reductants (MoO3) were systematically investigated, which contributed to adjusting the equivalence ratio of targeted energetic chips after changing the EPD dynamic behaviors of Al and MoO3 in suspension. In addition, the obtained nano-Al/MoO3 MIC energetic chips showed excellent heat-release performance with a high heat release of ca. 3340 J/g, and were successfully ignited with a dazzling flame recorded by a high-speed camera. Moreover, the fabrication method here is fully compatible with a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS), which suggests promising potential in designing and developing other MIC energetic chips or devices for micro-ignition/propulsion applications.

Origin-destination (OD) flow pattern mining is an important research method of urban dynamics, in which OD flow clustering analysis discovers the activity patterns of urban residents and mine the coupling relationship of urban subspace and dynamic causes. The existing flow clustering methods are limited by the spatial constraints of OD points, rely on the spatial similarity of geographical points, and lack in-depth analysis of high-dimensional flow characteristics, and therefore it is difficult to find irregular flow clusters. In this paper, we propose an OD flow clustering method based on vector constraints (ODFCVC), which defines OD flow event point and OD flow vector to express the spatial location relationship and geometric flow behavior characteristics of OD flow. First, the OD flow vector coordinate system is normalized by the Euclidean distance-based OD flow event point spatial clustering, and then the OD flow clusters with similar flow patterns are mined using adjusted cosine similarity-based OD flow vector feature clustering. The transformation of OD data from point set space to vector space is realized by constraining the vector coordinate system and vector similarity through two-step clustering, which simplifies the calculation of high-dimensional similarity of OD flow and helps mining representative OD flow clusters in flow space. Due to the OD flow cluster property, the k-means algorithm is selected as the basic clustering logic in the two-step clustering method, and a sum of squared error perceptually important points algorithm considering silhouette coefficients (SSEPIP) is adopted to automatically extract the optimal cluster number without defining any parameters. Tested by origin-destination flow data in Beijing, China, new traffic flow communities based on traffic hubs are obtained by using the ODFCVC method, and irregular traffic flow clusters (including cluster mode, divergence mode, and convergence mode) with representative travel trends are found.

A composite chitosan/nano-activated carbon (CS-NAC) aminated by (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) was prepared in the form of beads and applied for the removal of acetaminophen from aqueous solutions. NAC and APTES concentrations were optimized to obtain a suitable adsorbent structure for enhanced removal of the pharmaceutical. The aminated adsorbent (CS-NAC-APTES beads) prepared with 40% w/w NAC and 2% v/v APTES showed higher adsorption capacity (407.83 mg/g) than CS-NAC beads (278.4 mg/g). Brunauer−Emmett−Teller (BET) analysis demonstrated that the surface area of the CS-NAC-APTES beads was larger than that of CS-NAC beads (1.16 times). The adsorption process was well fitted by the Freundlich model (R2 > 0.95), suggesting a multilayer adsorption. The kinetic study also substantiated that the pseudo-second-order model (R2 > 0.98) was in better agreement with the experimental data. Finally, it was proved that the prepared beads can be recycled (by washing with NaOH solution) at least 5 times before detectable performance loss.