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Abstract Background The deep-sea cold seep zone is characterized by high pressure, low temperature, darkness, and oligotrophy. Vesicomyidae clams are the dominant species within this environment, often forming symbiotic relationships with chemosynthetic microbes. Understanding the mechanisms by which Vesicomyidae clams adapt to the cold seep environment is significant. Acetylation modification of lysine is known to play a crucial role in various metabolic processes. Consequently, investigating the role of lysine acetylation in the adaptation of Vesicomyidae clams to deep-sea environments is worthwhile. So, a comparative study of lysine acetylation in cold seep clam Archivesica marissinica and shallow water shellfish Ruditapes philippinarum was conducted. Results A total of 539 acetylated proteins were identified with 1634 acetylation sites. Conservative motif enrichment analysis revealed that the motifs -KacR-, -KacT-, and -KacF- were the most conserved. Subsequent gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were conducted on significantly differentially expressed acetylated proteins. The GO enrichment analysis indicated that acetylated proteins are crucial in various biological processes, including cellular response to stimulation, and other cellular processes ( p

Abstract Background Enhanced glycolysis is a crucial metabolic event that drives the development of liver fibrosis, but the molecular mechanisms have not been fully understood. Lactate is the endproduct of glycolysis, which has recently been identified as a bioactive metabolite binding to G-protein-coupled receptor 81 (GPR81). We then questioned whether GPR81 is implicated in the development of liver fibrosis. Methods The level of GPR81 was determined in mice with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis and in transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1)-activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) LX-2. To investigate the significance of GPR81 in liver fibrosis, wild-type (WT) and GPR81 knockout (KO) mice were exposed to CCl4, and then the degree of liver fibrosis was determined. In addition, the GPR81 agonist 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA) was supplemented in CCl4-challenged mice and TGF-β1-activated LX-2 cells to further investigate the pathological roles of GPR81 on HSCs activation. Results CCl4 exposure or TGF-β1 stimulation significantly upregulated the expression of GPR81, while deletion of GPR81 alleviated CCl4-induced elevation of aminotransferase, production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and deposition of collagen. Consistently, the production of TGF-β1, the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen I (COL1A1), as well as the elevation of hydroxyproline were suppressed in GPR81 deficient mice. Supplementation with DHBA enhanced CCl4-induced liver fibrogenesis in WT mice but not in GPR81 KO mice. DHBA also promoted TGF-β1-induced LX-2 activation. Mechanistically, GPR81 suppressed cAMP/CREB and then inhibited the expression of Smad7, a negative regulator of Smad3, which resulted in increased phosphorylation of Smad3 and enhanced activation of HSCs. Conclusion GPR81 might be a detrimental factor that promotes the development of liver fibrosis by regulating CREB/Smad7 pathway.

Abstract Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has asymptomatic early stages, whereby early detection is crucial to prevent its complications and progression. Creatinine and cystatin C (cysC) assays are known for assessing kidney function but there are limited point‐of‐care diagnostics which are rapid, precise, and easy to use. Here, high resistivity silicon conductometric sensors for detection of creatinine and cysC with a 10 min sample incubation is introduced. The sensors provide resistance‐based signals that can be quantified and measured wirelessly. The sensors successfully detect creatinine and cysC in both phosphate buffer saline (PBS) and artificial saliva in the nanomolar range, being able to distinguish their critical concentrations at 8.8 and 20 nm, respectively, for diagnosis of early stage of CKD. The detection limit for both creatinine and cysC is determined as 0.01 nm which is more than 500× and 1000× times lower than critical concentrations for the two biomarkers, respectively. Finally, these sensors are incorporated into a battery‐free, miniaturized electronic device for wireless biomarker detection as a proof‐of‐concept demonstration of a point‐of‐care tool for assessing kidney functionality.

Diffractive neural networks (DNNs) are emerging as a new machine learning hardware based on optical diffraction with parallel and high‐throughput information processing. The optical inputs to DNNs are spatially modulated by propagating through passive diffractive layers that work in succession to achieve an inference. Herein, visible wavelength classification using single‐ and two‐layer DNNs fabricated using direct laser writing is demonstrated. The proposed DNN approach accepts the point spread function of two different wavelengths modeled after a microscope objective as the input and modulates the input field toward the target detector for classification. Of the three models trained to classify different wavelength pairs, the highest performance observed is for the classification of 561 and 785 nm, achieving over 90% accuracy. This work demonstrates the potential of all‐optical artificial neural networks for applications requiring visible wavelengths, from visible light beam shaping to spectral analysis and optical imaging.

Abstract Realizing three‐dimensional stretchable structures of functional materials with a minimum footprint on Silicone polymer is highly desirable in soft robotics, stretchable electronics, and photonics. However, material processing on a stretchable substrate requires a sophisticated deposition system with integrated substrate cooling facilities, delamination of materials from the stretchable substrate due to stretching‐releasing cycles, and coating the functional materials. Here, a methodology to address these challenges using in situ graphitization within silicone polymer, referring to transforming the material into graphite‐like structures using three‐dimensional laser printing is reported. In this case, the graphitization process occurs due to the interaction of the material with a spatially controllable, tightly focused femtosecond laser beam in the confined region within the polymer. Three‐dimensional printed embedded, stretchable electrodes and varifocal lenses of thickness 1/20th compared to the epidermis layer thickness of human skin, which can contribute to achieving compact, highly sensitive wearable sensing and imaging systems are demonstrated and characterized. This process will open a new door for forming non‐metallic stretchable three‐dimensional conductors and photonics with minimum exposure to atmospheric conditions and a pathway to interface with thin films to develop low‐dimensional devices. These graphitized three‐dimensional structures can make them integral to intelligent skins, e‐textiles, and implantable devices.

By employing a cyclic warm rolling technique, MoCu30 alloy sheets of different thicknesses were prepared to investigate the effects of various rolling reduction rates on the microstructure and mechanical properties of MoCu30 alloys. Additionally, the evolution of microscale heterogeneous deformation during the tensile process was observed based on DIC technology. This study reveals that Mo–Cu interfaces at different deformation rates exhibit an amorphous interlayer of 0.5–1.0 μm thickness, which contributes to enhancing the bond strength of Mo–Cu interfaces. As the rolling reduction rate increased, the grain size of the MoCu30 alloy gradually decreased, whereas the dislocation density and hardness increased. Furthermore, the yield strength and tensile strength of the MoCu30 alloy increased gradually, whereas the elongation decreased. At a deformation rate of 74% (2 mm), the yield strength, tensile strength, and elongation of the MoCu30 alloy were 647.9 MPa, 781.8 MPa, and 11.7%, respectively. During the tensile process of Mo–Cu dual-phase heterogeneous material, a unique hierarchical strain banding was formed, which helps to suppress strain localization and prevent premature plastic instability.

Abstract Accumulating evidence indicates that metabolic responses are deeply integrated into signal transduction, which provides novel opportunities for the metabolic control of various disorders. Recent studies suggest that itaconate, a highly concerned bioactive metabolite catalyzed by immune responsive gene 1 (IRG1), is profoundly involved in the regulation of apoptosis, but the underlying mechanisms have not been fully understood. In the present study, the molecular mechanisms responsible for the apoptosis-modulatory activities of IRG1/itaconate have been investigated in mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/D-galactosamine (D-Gal)-induced apoptotic liver injury. The results indicated that LPS/D-Gal exposure upregulated the level of IRG1 and itaconate. Deletion of IRG1 resulted in exacerbated hepatocytes apoptosis and liver injury. The phospho-antibody microarray analysis and immunoblot analysis indicated that IRG1 deletion enhanced the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/c-jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway in LPS/D-Gal exposed mice. Mechanistically, IRG1 deficiency impaired the anti-oxidative nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling and then enhanced the activation of the redox-sensitive AMPK/JNK pathway that promotes hepatocytes apoptosis. Importantly, post-insult supplementation with 4-octyl itaconate (4-OI), a cell-permeable derivate of itaconate, resulted in beneficial outcomes in fulminant liver injury. Therefore, IRG1/itaconate might function as a negative regulator that controls AMPK-induced hepatocyte apoptosis in LPS/D-Gal-induced fulminant liver injury.

Abstract Background The evaluation of amblyopia treatment efficacy is essential for amblyopia prevention, control, and rehabilitation. Methods To evaluate the amblyopia treatment efficacy more precisely and quantitatively, this study recorded four visual function examination results, i.e., visual acuity, binocular rivalry balance point, perceptual eye position, and stereopsis before and after amblyopia treatment. Results We found that all these four results had a significant difference between before and after treatment, and the relationship between visual acuity improvement and the difference of BRBP, PEP, and stereoacuity cannot show a fitting correlation regarding the widely used index of visual acuity as the standard of treatment efficacy. By using the Criteria Importance Through Inter-criteria Correlation (CRITIC) method, a more comprehensive and quantitative index by coupling the selected four indexes with objective weights was obtained for further training efficacy representation, and the validation dataset also showed a good performance. Conclusions This study proved that our proposed coupling method based on different visual function examination results via the CRITIC algorithm is a potential means to quantify the amblyopia treatment efficacy.

Abstract To provide a basis for further optimization of the polio sequential immunization schedule, this study evaluated the effectiveness of booster immunization with one dose of bivalent oral poliovirus vaccine (bOPV) at 48 months of age after different primary polio immunization schedules. At 48 months of age, one dose of bOPV was administered, and their poliovirus types 1–3 (PV1, PV2, and PV3, respectively)-specific neutralizing antibody levels were determined. Participants found to be negative for any type of PV-specific neutralizing antibody at 24, 36, or 48 months of age were re-vaccinated with inactivated polio vaccine (IPV). The 439 subjects who received a bOPV booster immunization at the age of 48 months had lower PV2-specific antibody levels compared with those who received IPV. One dose of IPV during basic polio immunization induced the lowest PV2-specific antibody levels. On the basis of our findings, to ensure that no less than 70% of the vaccinated have protection efficiency, we recommend the following: if basic immunization was conducted with 1IPV + 2bOPV (especially Sabin strain-based IPV), a booster immunization with IPV is recommended at 36 months of age, whereas if basic immunization was conducted with 2IPV + 1bOPV, a booster immunization with IPV is recommended at 48 months of age. A sequential immunization schedule of 2IPV + 1bOPV + 1IPV can not only maintain high levels of antibody against PV1 and PV3 but also increases immunity to PV2 and induces early intestinal mucosal immunity, with relatively good safety. Thus, this may be the best sequential immunization schedule for polio in countries or regions at high risk for polio.

The cellular automata (CA) method has played an important role in the research and development of metallic materials. CA can interpret the microstructure changes of materials and obtain more abundant, accurate and intuitive information of microstructure evolution than conventional methods. CA can visually represent the process of grain formation, growth, development and change to us in a graphical way, which can assist us in analysis, thinking and solving problems. In the last five years, the application of CA in materials research has been rapidly developed, and CA has begun to occupy an increasingly important position in the simulation research of metallic materials. After introducing the advantages and limitations of CA compared to other widely used simulation methods, the purpose of this paper is to review the recent application progress on the microstructure simulation of metallic materials using CA, such as solidification, recrystallization, phase transformation and carbide precipitation occurring during forming and heat treatment. Specifically, recent research advances on microstructure simulation by CA in the fields of additive manufacturing, welding, asymmetrical rolling, corrosion prevention, etc., are also elaborated in this paper. Furthermore, this paper points out the future work direction of CA simulation in the research of metallic materials, especially in the simulation of the crystal structure, the prediction of mechanical properties, CA simulation software and rule systems, etc. These are expected to attract wide attention of researchers in the field of metallic materials and promote the development of CA in materials research.

This paper presents an investigation on the forming characteristics of the tailor rolled blank of an aluminum alloy (Al-TRB) during three-point bending at room temperature through experiments and finite element simulations. The strain distribution, spring-back characteristics, and metal flow law of 6000 series Al-TRB during three-point bending are explored. The prepared Al-TRB has good bending properties, and no surface cracks appear in the bending region of the Al-TRB when bent to 180°. Surface roughening occurs on the outside of the bending region. Since the strain in the thick zone is greater than that in the thin zone, the surface roughening in the thick zone is more obvious than that in the thin zone. The spring-back angle in the thin zone is higher than that in the thick zone after three-point bending, and the overall spring-back angle of Al-TRB becomes larger with an increasing bending angle. When the transition zone of Al-TRB is centered and the length of the transition zone is certain, as the length of the equal-thickness zone increases, the spring-back angle of the thin zone is larger, while the spring-back angle of the thick zone is smaller. Under the premise of a certain total length of Al-TRB and the length of the transition zone, the larger the length proportion of the thin zone, the larger the overall spring-back angle of Al-TRB, and the larger the length proportion of the thick zone, the smaller the overall spring-back angle of Al-TRB. In addition, a slight metal flow phenomenon exists during three-point bending, which shows that the metal in the bending region will flow to the thick zone, and the metal at the edge will flow to the thin zone. At the same time, there are localized thickening and thinning phenomena in Al-TRB. This study is helpful because it provides theoretical guidance for designing molds for the actual production of Al-TRB parts for automotives.

Abstract Background Acute lung injury (ALI) caused by intestinal ischemia–reperfusion is a life-threatening disease. Interferon gene stimulator (STING) is a cytoplasmic DNA sensor that participates in the initiation of the inflammatory response. This study aims to establish whether C-176 (STING inhibitor) improves ALI under intestinal ischemia–reperfusion conditions. Methods To induce ALI, 72 male C57BL/6 mice were subjected to intestinal ischemia for 60 min and reperfusion for 3 h. Through intraperitoneal injection, C-176, a selective STING inhibitor, was injected 30 min before surgical treatment; meanwhile, compound C, an antagonist of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), was administered 30 min after surgery. Based on immunofluorescence and Western blot assays, post-ALI assessments included lung water content (TLW), bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) protein, H&E staining, Masson staining, pulmonary pyroptosis [Gasdermin-D (GSDMD), cleaved caspase-1], and apoptosis (TUNEL, cleaved caspase-3). Results C-176 administration significantly attenuated intestinal ischemia–reperfusion-mediated ALI; this effect was reflected by exacerbated TLW and BALF protein, aggravated lung injury score, elevated degree of pulmonary fibrosis, increased TUNEL- and GSDMD-positive cells, and upregulated phospho-AMPK, cleaved caspase-1, cleaved caspase-3 and IFNβ mRNA expression. Moreover, C-176 increased phospho-AMPK under ALI conditions. Nonetheless, compound C partially reversed these beneficial effects. Conclusion C-176, a selective STING inhibitor, improves intestinal ischemia–reperfusion-mediated ALI, and its underlying mechanism may be associated with AMPK signal activation.

Abstract Background Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB)-based cancer immunotherapy presents promising efficacy in cancer treatment. However, only a small portion of patients show responsiveness to the treatment, which is partially caused by limited tumor infiltration of T cells. Chemokines CXCL9, CXCL10 and CXCL11 bind to their receptor CXCR3 to regulate T cell invasion. Methods We delivered plasmids encoding CXCL9, CXCL10 and CXCL11 to tumor cells and tumor tissues using nanoparticles and investigated their effect on T cell invasion and infiltration. In addition, we applied these nanoparticles together with anti-PD-1 antibody, which is known to activate T cells and restore immune function against tumor cells. The anti-tumor effects were evaluated. Results Delivering plasmids encoding CXCL9, CXCL10 and CXCL11 by nanoparticles resulted in expression of these chemokines in both LLC cells and tumors. Expressing CXCL9, CXCL10 and CXCL11 promoted the infiltration of T cells in vitro and in vivo, as well as decreased the tumor size. Nanoparticles together with anti-PD-1 displayed the best anti-tumor effects. Conclusions Delivery of CXCL9/10/11 plasmids by nanoparticles promoted T cell infiltration in tumors and synergizes with the activity of anti-PD1 antibody.

SiC particle-reinforced Ti/Al/Ti clad plates were successfully fabricated by the powder-in-tube method. The surface micrography, element diffusion, peeling strength and tensile property of clad plates were studied after annealing and cold rolling. The experimental results show that 6 wt.% is optimal. The presence of SiC particles has been seen to significantly enhance the diffusion of Ti and Al elements. Additionally, it has been observed that the diffusion width of the intermetallic compound (IMC) increases as the size of SiC particles grows. However, it is worth noting that the average of Ti/Al–SiC/Ti clad plates initially increases and subsequently falls. The optimized diffusion thickness of the Ti/Al–SiC/Ti clad plate’s IMC layer determined via the powder-in-tube method is approximately 4.5 μm. The 1 μm SiC-reinforced Ti/Al/Ti clad plate can obtain the best mechanical properties after annealing at 500 °C and further hot rolling, and the peeling strength, ultimate tensile strength and elongation are 31.5 N/mm, 305 MPa and 26%, respectively. The efficacy of Ti/Al–SiC/Ti clad plates in delivering exceptional performance is substantiated by the analysis of peeling surfaces, peeling tests and tensile testing, which collectively demonstrate the presence of compact and homogenous intermetallic compounds.

The underlying immunological mechanisms of immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions (HSR) to COVID-19 vaccines are poorly understood. We investigate the mechanisms of immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions to the Pfizer BNT162b2 vaccine and the response of antibodies to the polyethylene glycol (PEG)ylated lipid nanoparticle after two doses of vaccination. Sixty-seven participants, median age 35 and 77.3% females who tolerated two doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine (non-reactors), were subjected to various blood-sampling time points. A separate group of vaccine reactors (10 anaphylaxis and 37 anonymised tryptase samples) were recruited for blood sampling. Immunoglobulin (Ig)G, IgM and IgE antibodies to the BNT162b2 vaccine, biomarkers associated with allergic reaction, including tryptase for anaphylaxis, complement 5a(C5a), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) for endothelial activation and Interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, IL-33, tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP-1), were measured. Basophil activation test (BAT) was performed in BNT162b2-induced anaphylaxis patients by flow cytometry. The majority of patients with immediate-type BNT162b2 vaccine HSR demonstrated raised C5a and Th2-related cytokines but normal tryptase levels during the acute reaction, together with significantly higher levels of IgM antibodies to the BNT162b2 vaccine (IgM 67.2 (median) vs. 23.9 AU/mL, p < 0.001) and ICAM-1 when compared to non-reactor controls. No detectable IgE antibodies to the BNT162b2 vaccine were found in these patients. The basophil activation tests by flow cytometry to the Pfizer vaccine, 1,2-dimyristoyl-rac-glycero-3-methoxypolyethylene glycol (DMG-PEG) and PEG-2000 were negative in four anaphylaxis patients. Acute hypersensitivity reactions post BNT162b2 vaccination suggest pseudo-allergic reactions via the activation of anaphylatoxins C5a and are independent of IgE-mechanisms. Vaccine reactors have significantly higher levels of anti-BNT162b2 IgM although its precise role remains unclear.

Developing effective therapies and medicines to conquer nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is of great significance for public health and is faced with a major challenge. The activation of the thyroid hormone receptor agonist THRβ could be regulated by target drugs that has brought huge potential to the treatment of NASH. In this work, pyridazinone compound YWS01125 was synthesized for the first time. In this study, an ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method for YWS01125 determination was established, and the pharmacokinetics of YWS01125 was evaluated. The half-life values (t1/2)of three different doses of YWS01125 was 189.12 ± 95.27, 152.64 ± 37.98, and 181.95 ± 64.25 min, respectively, and the tissue distribution studies demonstrated that YWS01125 was quickly distributed to various tissues. With successful application in the pharmacokinetics study of YWS01125, the UPLC-MS/MS method has shown characteristics of high sensitivity, rapidity, and good selectivity.

Abstract Background Currently there are only two population studies on sepsis incidence in Asia. The burden of sepsis in Hong Kong is unknown. We developed a sepsis surveillance method to estimate sepsis incidence from a population electronic health record (EHR) in Hong Kong using objective clinical data. The study objective was to assess our method’s performance in identifying sepsis using a retrospective cohort. We compared its accuracy to administrative sepsis surveillance methods such as Angus’ and Martin’s methods. Method In this single centre retrospective study we applied our sepsis surveillance method on adult patients admitted to a tertiary hospital in Hong Kong. Two clinicians independently reviewed the clinical notes to determine which patients had sepsis. Performance was assessed by sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and area under the curve (AUC) of Angus’, Martin’s and our surveillance methods using clinical review as “gold standard.” Results Between January 1 and February 28, 2018, our sepsis surveillance method identified 1352 adult patients hospitalised with suspected infection. We found that 38.9% (95%CI 36.3–41.5) of these patients had sepsis. Using a 490 patient validation cohort, two clinicians had good agreement with weighted kappa of 0.75 (95% CI 0.69–0.81) before coming to consensus on diagnosis of uncomplicated infection or sepsis for all patients. Our method had sensitivity 0.93 (95%CI 0.89–0.96), specificity 0.86 (95%CI 0.82–0.90) and an AUC 0.90 (95%CI 0.87–0.92) when validated against clinician review. In contrast, Angus’ and Martin’s methods had AUCs 0.56 (95%CI 0.53–0.58) and 0.56 (95%CI 0.52–0.59), respectively. Conclusions A sepsis surveillance method based on objective data from a population EHR in Hong Kong was more accurate than administrative methods. It may be used to estimate sepsis population incidence and outcomes in Hong Kong. Trial registration This study was retrospectively registered at clinicaltrials.gov on October 3, 2019 ( NCT04114214 ).

A novel formal (4 + 1) annulation between N-(o-chloromethyl)aryl amides and 3-chlorooxindoles through in situ generated aza-ortho-QMs with 3-chlorooxindoles is reported for the synthesis of a series of 2,3′-spirobi (indolin)-2′-ones in high yields. Under structured illumination microscopy, compound 3a is found to change the mitochondrial morphology and induce mitophagy pathway, which might then trigger mitophagy in cancer cells.

Architectural heritage is a lively carrier of historical development, as well as providing a valuable resource for human society. Recently, however, the longevity of architectural heritage has been influenced and even threatened by natural and human factors. Furthermore, the future remains uncertain. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a comprehensive method, namely, digital protection and utilization based on knowledge visualization (DPUKV), to protect and utilize architectural heritage. The most important problem to solve involves transforming digital protection data into a digital inheritance culture. We constructed a technical framework of knowledge acquisition, knowledge reconstruction, knowledge innovation, and knowledge management using qualitative and vertical methods to form hierarchical digital resources of architectural heritage. In particular, the knowledge reconstruction converted tacit knowledge of architectural heritage into explicit knowledge via visualization technology, providing research materials for more scholars. In knowledge innovation, architectural heritage culture was excavated and inherited through knowledge graphs, digital displays, and cultural creation with virtual reality, augmented reality, etc. Furthermore, this method was validated over four years via architectural heritage in China as case studies. In this paper, the buildings of Qinglian Temple in Shanxi, China, are discussed in detail as a case study. The results indicated that this method was effective for preserving architectural heritage and is suitable for other cultural heritage. It is also helpful to improve the public’s protection of and interest in cultural heritage, especially architectural heritage.

We report a rapid and precise spectral determination approach based on visually patterned integrated narrow bandpass filters. The wavelength of light can be determined accurately even by naked eyes in the aid of the device. The experimental results show that both the light with single wavelength and a spectral range can be distinguished rapidly and precisely by naked eyes with spectral resolution higher than 7 nm, which can be even higher than 1 nm with the intended design. It is a very robust and stable way to keep the filtering wavelengths constant and remarkably improves the stability superior to conventional methods. It can be used for high-throughput identification of light source and food safety detection related applications.

Mu Us Sandy Land is a typical semi-arid vulnerable ecological zone, characterized by vegetation degradation and severe desertification. Effectively identifying desertification changes has been a topical environmental issue in China. However, most previous studies have used a single method or remote sensing index to monitor desertification, and lacked an efficient and high-precision monitoring system. In this study, an optimal monitoring scheme that considers multiple indicators combination and different machine learning methods (Classification and Regression Tree-Decision Tree, CART-DT; Random Forest, RF; Convolutional Neural Networks, CNN) was developed and used to analyze the spatial–temporal patterns of desertification from 2000 to 2018 in Mu Us Sandy Land. The results showed that: (a) The random forest model performed best for monitoring desertification based on medium and low-resolution remote sensing images, and the four-index combination (Albedo, NDVI, LST and TGSI) obtained the highest classification accuracy (OA = 87.67%) in Mu Us Sandy Land. Surprisingly, the model accuracy of the three-index combination (NDVI, LST and TGSI) (OA = 85.74%) is comparable to the four-index combination. (b) The TGSI index used to characterize soil information performs well, while the LST is not conducive to the extraction of desertified land in several desertification monitoring indicators. (c) Since 2000, the area of extremely severe desertified land has shown a reversal trend; however, there is significant interannual fluctuation in the total and light desertification land area affected by extreme climate. This research provides a novel approach and a valuable reference for monitoring the evolution of desertification in regional studies, and the results improve the research system of desertification and provide a data basis for desertification cause analysis and prevention.

Accurate detection of vegetation cover and biomass of shrub communities in sandy area is beneficial for evaluating ecosystem, improving remote sensing models, and assessing the accuracy of remote sensing. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have replaced traditional measurement methods in biomass and fraction of vegetation coverage (FVC) detection owing to the high spatial resolution of their imagery, their high positioning accuracy, and their ease of use. The existing methods of detecting biomass via UAVs, however, are not suitable for surface fluctuations, dwarf shrubs, and herbs. Futhermore, the method of calculating FVC using UAV RGB images has not yet been tested in sandy areas. To accurately extract FVC data, aboveground biomass (ABS) and net aboveground biomass (NABS) of shrub communities in the desert regions, UAV RGB images of 87 sample plots in the Mu Us sandy land were collected and used to obtain the FVC and biomass information via the object-based classification method, single shrub canopy biomass model and vegetation index-based method. The results are as follows: (1) the method of calculating ABS and NABS based on shrub canopy width extraction can be used in desert shrub communities, and results show that the ABS and NABS of vegetation communities increases from 15 to 800 g/m2 and 10–250 g/m2, respectively, in the Mu Us sandy land; and (2) the lowest value of ABS (NABS) appeared in the mobile sandy dunes and the highest value appeared in the semi-fixed sandy dunes; (3) under fixed thresholds conditions, the FVC can be extracted accurately using the excess green method, visible atmospherically resistant index, vegetative index, green red vegetation index and red green blue vegetation index (RGBVI); and (4) the correlation between the FVC calculated by the five RGB vegetation indexes and NABS in this study is greater than that between FVC and ABS (e.g. R2NABS - RGBVI = 0.734, R2ABS - RGBVI = 0.666), and the FVC calculated by RGBVI can be used to estimate NABS in the Mu Us sandy land. This study will provide new insights for field investigations of the ABS, NABS, and FVC in sandy areas.

AIM: To study the therapeutic effect of visual perception learning combined with occlusion on visual acuity and stereoscopic function in patients with anisometropic amblyopia, and to compare the differences in visual acuity and stereoscopic visual function enhancement.METHODS: A total of 47 patients with monocular anisometropic amblyopia who were treated in our hospital from June 2016 to December 2017 were enrolled. The visual acuity learning system combined with occlusion for amblyopia treatment was used to observe the best corrected visual acuity of 47 patients before and after treatment, and the result of random point dynamic 2nd order rough stereoscopic view, random point dynamic 1st order stereoscopic view between fine and rough, random point static 0-order near, far fine stereoscopic view, and to compare the difference between visual acuity improvement and stereo vision improvement.RESULTS: After treatment, the visual acuity improvement degree was significantly different from that of dynamic 2nd order rough stereoscopic vision of random points, dynamic 1st order fine stereoscopic vision of random points, static 0 order near and far fine stereoscopic vision of random points,and the degree of improvement is obviously inconsistent. The difference was statistically significant.CONCLUSION: The degree of visual acuity in patients with anisometropic amblyopia is not synchronized with the improvement of stereopsis. The stereoscopic function of patients with basically curedvisual acuity is not basically normal. Therefore, the training and establishment of stereoscopic function in patients with anisometropic amblyopia should be concerned. The measurement of stereopsis may become a new classification method and treatment standard for amblyopia.

Abstract Persistent cardiac hypertrophy causes heart failure and sudden death. Gene therapy is a promising intervention for this disease, but is limited by the lack of effective delivery systems. Herein, it is reported that CHO‐PGEA (cholesterol (CHO)‐terminated ethanolamine‐aminated poly(glycidyl methacrylate)) can efficiently condense small RNAs into nanosystems for preventing cardiac hypertrophy. CHO‐PGEA contains two features: 1) lipophilic cholesterol groups enhance transfection efficiency in cardiomyocytes, 2) abundant hydrophilic hydroxyl groups benefit biocompatibility. miR‐182, which is known to downregulate forkhead box O3, is selected as an intervention target and can be blocked by synthetic small RNA inhibitor of miR‐182 (miR‐182‐in). CHO‐PGEA can efficiently deliver miR‐182‐in into hearts. In the mice with aortic coarctation, CHO‐PEGA/miR‐182‐in significantly suppresses cardiac hypertrophy without organ injury. This work demonstrates that CHO‐PGEA/miRNA nanosystems are very promising for RNA‐based therapeutics to treat heart diseases.

Herein, a new kind of overaging strategy: two steps of overaging for tailor rolled blank of dual phase steel (DP-TRB) was investigated. The results indicate that two steps of the overaging process is a useful way to control the mechanical properties of DP-TRB. In the premise of satisfying the requirement for the strength of DP590 grade, the total elongation can be significantly increased (3~7% in most cases). Due to the different degrees of ferrite recrystallization (differences of densities of dislocation) among the thicknesses, the obvious changes of mechanical properties among thicknesses are found. The thicknesses zones of 1.0~1.4 mm show lower strength, while the zones of 1.6~1.8 mm present higher strength. Otherwise, the high density of dislocations in samples of 1.6~1.8 mm provide more locations for Cottrell atmospheres, yield plateau occur easier. The zones with different thicknesses for one DP-TRB show two kinds of yield behaviors (continuous yield and non-continuous yield) simultaneously. The subtle C diffusion control by two step overaging leads to the quite different pinning effect of Cottrell atmospheres. Thus, the pinning effect occurs in a gradual way, and a transition state of yield behavior, which combines the characteristic of smooth curve in continuous yield and the plateau in non-continuous yield, is found.

AIM: To observe clinical efficacy of the intravitreal injection of conbercept treatment for exudative age-related macular degeneration. METHODS:Prospective study. Totally 112 senile patients(112 eyes)with exudative macular degeneration were randomly divided into study group and the control group, 56 cases in each group. The study group were treated with intravitreal injection of conbercept. The control group received conservative treatment. Uncorrected visual acuity and foveal retinal thickness were observed before and after treatment in the two groups. RESULTS: Visual acuity of study group improved significantly, and the most obvious improvement was observed at 6mo after treatment. Foveal retinal thickness of study group was reduced after treatment, and the most obvious decrease was observed at 6mo after treatment. CONCLUSION: Intravitreal injection of conbercept can improve visual acuity reduced foveal thickness in senile patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration.

Forsythosides H-J (1-3), three new caffeoyl phenylethanoid glycosides (CPGs), were isolated from the fruits of Forsythia suspense (Thunb.) Vahl., together with six known phenylethanoid glycosides: Forsythoside A (4), Forsythoside F (5), Forsythoside E (6), 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (7), phenethyl alcohol β-D-xylo-pyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside (8) and calceolarioside B (9). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic and chemical methods.