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Abstract Background After receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiation, the number of examined lymph nodes in resectable gastroesophageal cancer (GEC) will decrease, this may not accurately determine the N staging. So our study evaluates the clinical significance of a new staging model based on the logarithmic odds of positive lymph nodes (LODDS) in patients with GEC after receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiation. Methods A total of 1 130 patients with pathologically diagnosed GEC who received neoadjuvant chemoradiation from 2004 to 2019 included in the National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Results (SEER) database were selected for analysis. Lymph nodes were staged according to the AJCC TNM staging system (eighth edition) and LODDS. Patient prognosis across the two systems were evaluated by the Kaplan–Meier method, differences in node staging were evaluated by the Akaike information criterion and Bayesian information criterion. In addition, 914 patients from our center were externally validated. Results Compared to the traditional TNM staging system, the new TLODDSM staging system was comprised of stage I, stage II, stage IIIA, stage IIIB, and stage IVA, and decision curve analysis showed that the new staging system had higher benefits for different decision thresholds than the old staging system. The Akaike information criterion and Bayesian information criterion of the new staging system was lower than those of the old staging system, indicating the sensitivity of the TLODDSM staging system for predicting the prognosis of patients was higher. In addition, stage-IIIB or -IVA patients in the new staging system benefited from adjuvant chemotherapy. The externally validated data from our center supported this conclusion. Conclusions Compared to the TNM staging system, the TLODDSM staging system has significant advantages in predicting prognosis of patients with GEC who have completed neoadjuvant chemoradiation, guiding the adjuvant chemotherapy for patients.

Abstract The high-intactness and ultraclean fabrication of suspended 2D materials has always been a challenge due to their atomically thin nature. Here, we present a universal polymer-free transfer approach for fabricating suspended 2D materials by using volatile micro-molecule cyclododecane as the transfer medium, thus ensuring the ultraclean and intact surface of suspended 2D materials. For the fabricated monolayer suspended graphene, the intactness reaches 99% for size below 10 µm and suspended size reaches 36 µm. Owing to the advantages of ultra-cleanness and large size, the thermal conductivity reaches 4914 $${\rm{W}}\,{{\rm{m}}}^{-1}{{\rm{K}}}^{-1}$$ W m − 1 K − 1 at 338 K. Moreover, this strategy can also realize efficient batch transfer of suspended graphene and is applicable for fabricating other 2D suspended materials such as MoS2. Our research not only establishes foundation for potential applications and investigations of intrinsic properties of large-area suspended 2D materials, but also accelerates the wide applications of suspended graphene grid in ultrahigh-resolution TEM characterization.

Abstract Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of gentiopicroside against lipopolysaccharide-induced chondrocyte inflammation. Methods SW 1353 chondrosarcoma cells were stimulated with LPS (5 μg/ml) for 24 h and treated with different concentrations of gentiopicroside (GPS) for 24 h. The toxic effects of GPS on chondrocytes were determined using a CCK-8 assay and EdU staining. Western blotting, qPCR, and immunofluorescence analysis were used to examine the protective effect of GPS against the inflammatory response in chondrocytes induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). One-way ANOVA was used to compare the differences between the groups (significance level of 0.05). Results The CCK-8 results showed that 10, 20 and 40 μM GPS had no significant toxic effects on chondrocytes; GPS effectively reduced the production of IL-1β and PGE2, reversed LPS-induced extracellular matrix degradation in cartilage by inhibiting the Stat3/Runx2 signaling pathway, and suppressed the hypertrophic transformation of SW 1353 chondrosarcoma cells. Conclusion Our study demonstrated that GPS significantly inhibited the LPS-induced inflammatory response and hypertrophic cellular degeneration in SW 1353 chondrosarcoma cells and is a valuable traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.

Abstract Background The reconstruction of segmental defect of the mandible has always been a challenge. The customized reconstruction plate without a bone graft is also considered a transitional means of rehabilitation and reconstruction in some cases. Methods This study evaluated the biomechanical behaviors of customized plates with different structural designs comparing with commercial plates using the finite element method in reconstrution of the lateral mandible defect. Results Simulations revealed the stress state in the plate bodies, bone tissues and screws were associated with the width, height, thickness of the plates as well as the distribution of screws. In all of the groups, the system of 16 mm-high, 2.8 mm-thick customized reconstruction plate with 10 screws was considered to be the most ideal design because of the most harmonious biomechanical state. What’s more, the stress shielding effects were not obvious in this experiment. Based on the above findings, we conducted a clinical case analysis to verify the mechanical properties of customized reconstruction and obtained a satisfactory operation result. Conclusions The results show that by adjusting the contour parameters of the reconstruction plates, an ideal and reliable customized plate can be manufactured. And the customized 3D-printed Ti alloy implant will be a new way to achieve mandibular reconstruction in patients unable to perform autologous bone graft surgery. Trial registration The present trial has been registered with ChiCTR, the registration number is ChiCTR 2,000,038,973 on 11/10/2020.

The present study investigated the inhomogeneity of microstructure and properties of hybrid laser-MIG welded 10-mm-thick 316L/AH36 joints. The study focused on the inhomogeneity of the laser zone, hybrid zone, and transition zone. The temperature field was simulated using ABAQUS and showed a higher cooling rate in the laser zone. As a result, the microstructure in the laser zone was dominated by martensite while that in the hybrid zone was composed of 84 % austenite and 16 % ferrite. The laser zone showed poorer impact toughness and corrosion resistance than the hybrid zone. However, the corrosion resistance of the whole weld was the worst. Because the inhomogeneous microstructure formed a galvanic couple that accelerated the corrosion process. This work indicated that the energy ratio (the ratio of laser to arc energy) should be considered in the welding of dissimilar thick steel to reduce the inhomogeneity in the two zones and obtain a desirable property balance among hardness, toughness, and corrosion resistance.

Rainfall is an important factor inducing landslide deformation. Rainfall induced landslide warning is of great significance for regional landslide prevention and control. Based on ArcGIS software, the rainfall data of Guodashan area in southwestern China from 1991 to 2021 were analyzed and processed. On the basis of the single factor system cloud grey model (SCGM (1,1)c), an improved SCGM (1,1)c model is proposed based on Markov prediction theory and CS algorithm optimization to predict rainfall. According to the prediction results, a total of 10 evaluation factors are considered, including altitude, slope, aspect, profile, engineering rock group, geological age, river, road, fault, etc. A GIS based weighted information model was established to divide the study area into five categories: extremely low, low, medium, high, and high, and to evaluate the susceptibility of landslides. The results showed that the residual corrected MaxAPE and MAEP values of the improved SCGM (1,1)c rainfall prediction model were 8.8 and 2.57%, respectively. After susceptibility zoning, historical landslide frequencies indicate that 92.4% of landslide points are located above the high susceptibility zone, and the AUC value of the model obtained from the ROC curve is 0.8654, indicating that the weighted information model has good accuracy in predicting susceptibility zoning. This coupled model can accurately predict the spatiotemporal distribution of regional rainfall and landslide susceptible areas, and predict the distribution of landslide deformation and geological disaster susceptible areas that are close to the actual landslide distribution areas, providing theoretical support for regional landslide warning and prediction.

The application of low-condensation diesel in cold regions with extremely low ambient temperatures (−14 to −29 °C) has enabled the operation of diesel vehicles. Still, it may contribute to heavy haze pollution in cold regions during winter. Here we examine pollutant emissions from low-condensation diesel in China. We measure the emissions of elemental carbon (EC), organic carbon (OC), and elements, including heavy metals such as arsenic (As). Our results show that low-condensation diesel increased EC and OC emissions by 2.5 and 2.6 times compared to normal diesel fuel, respectively. Indicators of vehicular sources, including EC, As, lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), and manganese (Mn), increased by approximately 20.2–162.5% when using low-condensation diesel. Seasonal variation of vehicular source indicators, observed at road site ambient environments revealed the enhancement of PM2.5 pollution by the application of low-condensation diesel in winter. These findings suggest that −35# diesel, a low-cetane index diesel, may enhance air pollution in winter, according to a dynamometer test conducted in laboratory. It raises questions about whether higher emissions are released if −35# diesel is applied to running vehicles in real-world cold ambient environments.

304 stainless steel (304SS) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were lapped joined by laser conduction welding using a semiconductor laser with a flat-top thermal distribution. Experimental investigation and numerical simulation were conducted to analyze the weld morphology, pores distribution, interfacial microstructure, temperature field, joint strength and fracture behavior of the laser dissimilar joints. Because of the uniform thermal distribution of the laser, the decomposition of the PET base material was well controlled with pore-free joints obtaining at the welding speed over 25 mm/s. Besides, a compound layer was generated at the interface between 304SS and PET with its thickness decreased when the welding speed increased. Chemical reactions and mechanical anchoring were both observed at the interface suggesting a dual joining mechanism. The joint fracture load first increased then decreased with the increased welding speed. Besides, a ductile to brittle failure transition was clearly seen. The underlying mechanism was also discussed.

Background Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with chronic kidney disease (CKD) poses a serious health threat and becomes a new challenge. T2DM patients with CKD fall into three categories, diabetic nephropathy (DN), non-diabetic kidney disease (NDKD), and diabetic nephropathy plus non-diabetic kidney disease (DN + NDKD), according to kidney biopsy. The purpose of our study was to compare the clinical characteristics and kidney outcomes of DN, NDKD, and DN + NDKD patients. Methods Data on clinical characteristics, pathological findings, and prognosis were collected from June 2016 to July 2022 in patients with previously diagnosed T2DM and confirmed DN and or NDKD by kidney biopsy at Tongji Hospital in Wuhan, China. The endpoint was defined as kidney transplantation, dialysis, or a twofold increase in serum creatinine. Results In our 6-year retrospective cohort research, a total of 268 diabetic patients were admitted and categorized into three groups by kidney biopsy. The 268 patients were assigned to DN (n = 74), NDKD (n = 109), and DN + NDKD (n = 85) groups. The most frequent NDKD was membranous nephropathy (MN) (n = 45,41.28%). Hypertensive nephropathy was the most common subtype in the DN+NDKD group (n = 34,40%). A total of 34 patients (12.7%) reached the endpoint. The difference between the Kaplan-Meier survival curves of the DN, NDKD, and DN + NDKD groups was significant (p

IntroductionPineal cysts have long been considered a benign intracranial variation. However, in our clinical practice, it has been observed that some children with central precocious puberty (CPP) who have pineal cysts experience rapid progression in adolescent development. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the prevalence of CPP in girls, leading to more diagnoses of CPP among children with pineal cysts. Despite this, there is no consensus regarding whether pineal cysts contribute to CPP as one of its organic factors. This study aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics of pineal cysts in children with CPP and explore the potential effects of pineal cysts on puberty development.MethodsThis single-center study retrospectively analyzed clinical data from girls aged 3 to 10 years who underwent head/pituitary magnetic resonance imaging at the Children’s Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University between 2019 and 2022. The study categorized the detection rates of pineal cysts based on systematic disease classification and compared the rates of cyst detection between girls diagnosed with CPP and those without CPP. Subsequently, CPP-diagnosed girls with pineal cysts were examined. Among CPP-diagnosed girls meeting the study’s criteria, those with pineal cysts formed the ‘cyst group,’ while those without cysts were matched in a 1:1 ratio based on age and body mass index to form the ‘non-cyst group.’ Comparative analyses were conducted to assess the clinical characteristics between these two groups. CPP-diagnosed girls with cysts were further subdivided into three groups according to cyst size (≤5 mm, 5.1–9.9 mm, and ≥10 mm) to investigate potential differences in clinical characteristics among these subgroups. The study involved an analysis of clinical data from girls diagnosed with CPP and included imaging follow-ups to explore the progression of pineal cysts over time.ResultsAmong the 23,245 girls who underwent head/pituitary magnetic resonance imaging scans, the detection rate of pineal cysts was 3.6% (837/23,245), with most cases being associated with endocrine diseases. The detection rate of pineal cysts in CPP patients was 6.4% (262/4099), which was significantly higher than the 3.0% (575/19,146) in patients without CPP. In comparison to the non-cyst group, the cyst group exhibited statistically significant increases in estradiol levels, peak luteinizing hormone (LH) levels, peak LH/follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) ratios, uterine body length, and cervix length (P < 0.001). As cyst size increased, there were significant rises in LH peak, peak LH/FSH ratio, uterine body length, and cervical length (P < 0.01). Estradiol levels and left ovarian volume also showed an increasing trend (P < 0.05). Among girls who underwent follow-up imaging, 26.3% (5/19) exhibited an increase in cyst size.ConclusionPineal cysts are relatively common in children with CPP. They may affect the pubertal development process, with larger cysts correlating to faster pubertal development. Therefore, the authors hypothesize that pineal cysts may trigger CPP in some cases, especially when the cysts are larger than 5 mm in size, as indicated by our data.

Abstract Purpose To investigate the changes in 30° and 60° position sense in patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury at different time points after injury and reconstruction. Methods Patients were divided into six groups according to time after ACL injury and reconstruction: group A (ACL injury 1.5–6 months), group B (ACL injury 6–12 months), group C (ACL injury > 12 months), group D (postoperative ACL reconstruction 1–6 months), group E (postoperative ACL reconstruction > 6 months), and group F consisting of 14 healthy adults (control group). The ability of the affected leg to reproduce the same joint position during knee flexion was tested using active joint position sense assays to assess proprioception in both the lower extremities of the patient or between groups. Results Proprioception decreased rapidly during the early stages of ACL injury. Significant difference in the affected side at 30° compared to the healthy side (Group A: 4.70 (4.78, 9.00) vs 4.15 (3.35, 6.13), P = 0.03; Group B: 2.90 (0.48, 4.56) vs 8.30 (4.18, 10.43), P = 0.001; Group E: 6.25 (2.55, 11.60) vs 9.60 (3.90, 12.73), P = 0.009). However, no significant differences were detected for a double lower limb contrast of 60° (Group A: 5.1 (1.00, 8.00) vs 3.00 (0.75, 3.55), P = 0.044). Finally, the affected side of patients in groups C, D and E had significant differences in position perception at 30° compared with healthy subjects (P

Abstract Background Impaired wound re-epithelialization contributes to cutaneous barrier reconstruction dysfunction. Recently, N 6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modification has been shown to participate in the determination of RNA fate, and its aberration triggers the pathogenesis of numerous diseases. Howbeit, the function of m6A in wound re-epithelialization remains enigmatic. Methods Alkbh5 ‒/‒ mouse was constructed to study the rate of wound re-epithelialization after ALKBH5 ablation. Integrated high-throughput analysis combining methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP-seq) and RNA-seq was used to identify the downstream target of ALKBH5. In vitro and in vivo rescue experiments were conducted to verify the role of the downstream target on the functional phenotype of ALKBH5-deficient cells or animals. Furthermore, the interacting reader protein and regulatory mechanisms were determined through RIP-qPCR, RNA pull–down, and RNA stability assays. Results ALKBH5 was specifically upregulated in the wound edge epidermis. Ablation of ALKBH5 suppressed keratinocyte migration and resulted in delayed wound re-epithelialization in Alkbh5 ‒/‒ mouse. Integrated high-throughput analysis revealed that PELI2, an E3 ubiquitin protein ligase, serves as the downstream target of ALKBH5. Concordantly, exogenous PELI2 supplementation partially rescued keratinocyte migration and accelerated re-epithelialization in ALKBH5-deficient cells, both in vitro and in vivo. In terms of its mechanism, ALKBH5 promoted PELI2 expression by removing the m6A modification from PELI2 mRNA and enhancing its stability in a YTHDF2-dependent manner. Conclusions This study identifies ALKBH5 as an endogenous accelerator of wound re-epithelialization, thereby benefiting the development of a reprogrammed m6A targeted therapy for refractory wounds. Graphical Abstract

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a complex and multifactorial syndrome caused by impaired heart function. The high morbidity and mortality of HF cause a heavy burden of illness worldwide. Non-thyroidal illness syndrome (NTIS) refers to aberrant serum thyroid parameters in patients without past thyroid disease. Observational studies have indicated that NTIS is associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality in HF. This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the association between NTIS and HF prognosis. Methods: Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane database were searched for any studies reporting an association between NTIS and HF prognosis from inception to 1 July 2022. A meta-analysis was then performed. The quality of studies was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. The heterogeneity of the results was assessed with I2 and Cochran's Q statistics. Sensitivity analysis and publication bias analysis were also conducted. Results: A total of 626 studies were retrieved, and 18 studies were fina lly included in the meta-analysis. The results showed that NTIS in HF patients was significantly associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality and major cardiovascular events (MACE), but not with in-hospital mortality. The stability of the data was validated by the sensitivity analysis. There was no indication of a publication bias in the pooled results for all-cause mortality and MACE. Conclusions: This meta-analysis showed that NTIS was associated with a worse outcome in HF patients. However, the association between NTIS and in-hospital mortality of HF patients requires further investigation.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) contamination is a food safety issue threatening human health globally. Biodegradation is an effective method for overcoming this problem, and many microorganisms have been identified as AFB1-degrading strains. However, the response mechanisms of these microbes to AFB1 remain unclear. More degrading enzymes, especially of new types, need to be discovered. In this study, a novel AFB1-degrading strain, DDC-4, was isolated using coumarin as the sole carbon source. This strain was identified as Bacillus halotolerans through physiological, biochemical, and molecular methods. The strain’s degradation activity was predominantly attributable to thermostable extracellular proteins (degradation rate remained approximately 80% at 90 °C) and was augmented by Cu2+ (95.45% AFB1 was degraded at 48 h). Alpha/beta hydrolase (arylesterase) was selected as candidate AFB1-degrading enzymes for the first time as a gene encoding this enzyme was highly expressed in the presence of AFB1. Moreover, AFB1 inhibited many genes involved in the nucleotide synthesis of strain DDC-4, which is possibly the partial molecular mechanism of AFB1’s toxicity to microorganisms. To survive under this stress, sporulation-related genes were induced in the strain. Altogether, our study identified a novel AFB1-degrading strain and explained its response mechanisms to AFB1, thereby providing new insights for AFB1 biodegradation.

This investigation employed different laser powers to conduct the laser welding–brazing process of 5052 aluminum alloy to both Al-Si coated and uncoated 22MnB5 steel. The flux-cored Zn-Al22 filler metal was employed during the procedure. The influence of Al-Si coatings on the microstructure and corrosion resistance of Al/Steel welded joints was investigated using microstructural characterization and electrochemical tests. It was noted that the interfacial microstructure of the laser Al/steel joints was significantly altered by the Al-Si coating. Moreover, the Al-Si coating suppressed the formation and growth of the interfacial reaction layer. Electrochemical corrosion tests showed that the impact of Al-Si coating on the corrosion resistance of laser joints depended on the laser powers and thickness of the interfacial intermetallic compound (IMC) layer. The research suggests that galvanic corrosion occurs due to the differences in corrosion potential between fusion zone (FZ), steel, and Fe-Al-Zn IMCs, which accelerate the corrosion of the joint. The IMC layer acts as a cathode to accelerate the corrosion of the FZ and as an anode to protect the steel from corrosion.

Abstract Background Sparganium (Typhaceae) is a widespread temperate genus of ecologically important aquatic plants. Previous reconstructions of the phylogenetic relationships among Sparganium species are incompletely resolved partly because they were based on molecular markers comprising

Scientific and technological innovation policies play a critical role in the innovative development of high-technology industrial parks. However, it remains unclear how scientific and technological innovation policies impact the innovation efficiency of high-technology industrial parks and what the impact pathways are. An in-depth investigation of this topic can give an insight into the inherent relation between the scientific and technological innovation policies and technological innovation. By conducting a theoretical analysis, this study empirically analyzed the impact of scientific and technological innovation policies on the innovation efficiency of high-technology industrial parks. The main research methods applied in this study were linear regression and qualitative comparative analysis (QCA). The results showed that the policy targets drove innovation efficiency in a relatively minor way. Among all policy tools, the demand-based policy tools had the most significant influence on innovation efficiency. The supply-based and environment-based policy tools had notable positive impacts during the lag periods of policies. The policy mix pathways for scientific and technological innovation policies that impact innovation efficiency come in four forms, namely, the targets-directed, demand-driven, supply-dominated environment optimization, and environment-dominated comprehensive pathways. Therefore, this study put forward proposals on classifying and refining the scientific and technological innovation policies and optimizing the policy mix-driven models.

Reliable transfer techniques are critical for the integration of 2D materials with arbitrary substrates. Here, the authors describe a method to transfer 4-inch and A4-sized defect-free graphene films onto rigid and flexible substrates with controllable conformal contact, leading to improved electrical properties and uniformity.

IntroductionLucerne (Medicago sativa L.) is a crucial component in agricultural rotation systems due to its ability to enhance soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) contents. In China, conventional tillage (CT) is commonly used for lucerne termination, leading to soil structure degradation and C and N losses. While herbicide application has been suggested for lucerne termination in the United States and EU, its impact on lucerne growth suppression and soil C and N contents in China remains uncertain.MethodsIn this study, we examined the effects of herbicide type [glyphosate and 2,4-D (G + 2), glyphosate and dicamba (G + D), 2,4-D and dicamba (2 + D), with water (W) and CT as controls] and concentration (100, 200, 300%) on various lucerne and soil properties.Results and DiscussionOur findings revealed that G + 2 and 2 + D treatments significantly reduced the regreening rate, and the recommended herbicide concentration (100%) was sufficient for lucerne termination. CT and W treatments resulted in a higher soil pH compared to herbicide treatments. Moreover, herbicide treatments exhibited higher soil organic C (SOC) and total N (TN) levels than the CT treatment. The 2 + D treatment demonstrated a higher SOC content compared to the G + 2 treatment, while the 200 and 300% herbicide concentrations reduced SOC and TN levels. The G + 2 treatment had the highest soil ammonium nitrogen content (7.94 ± 1.45 mg kg−1), while the CT treatment showed the lowest (6.46 ± 1.54 mg kg−1). In conclusion, our study suggests that applying the recommended herbicide dosage (100%) effectively terminates lucerne grassland on the Loess Plateau of China without negatively impacting soil C and N storage. Finally, it is important to acknowledge that one-year trials at a single site have inherent limitations, and the findings should be considered cautiously when informing policy decisions.

COVID-19 has disrupted the normative social order, particularly for young adults. Their deteriorating mental health over 2020 has been associated with the economic and social conditions during the COVID-19 lockdowns. We conducted 19 semi-structured interviews with young adults aged 8 and 29 most of whom lived in Victoria, Australia. The interviews explored participants' experiences and responses to COVID-19, covering areas such as disrupted everyday practices and future plans, impacts on their physical and mental health, and interactions with community and services. Young adults were concerned about loss of social connectedness, their mental health and the complex interplay of issues such as employment, income, education and housing. They developed routines to protect their physical and mental health while in lockdown and some made the most of new opportunities. However, the pandemic may have had a profound effect by disrupting some young adults’ plans for the future, thus contributing to a sense of ontological insecurity.

Xylene is one of the main components of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the catalytic oxidation of xylene has been studied. In this work, the manganese-cobalt mixed oxide catalysts for the xylene removal have been prepared by one step direct decomposition method with the aid of glucose. The physicochemical properties of the catalysts were characterized by TG, XRD, TEM, BET, TPR and XPS. The catalytic experiments results show that the Mn-Co catalysts are composite oxides composed of Mn2O3 and Co3O4. The Mn1Co1.4Ox catalyst with the molar ratio of Mn to Co of 1:1.4 has excellent oxidation removal performance of xylene. At the space velocity of 20000 mL (g·h)−1 and the concentration xylene of 500 ppm, the temperature of complete conversion of xylene is 210 °C, which is related to the developed pore structure, high specific surface area, excellent reduction performance, abundant adsorbed oxygen species, coexistence and interaction of polyvalent species. The space structure and competitive adsorption of reactants make the oxidation performance of low polarity p-xylene better. The participation of water vapor reduced the catalytic performance of the reaction system by 12-19%, which is related to the ads-desorption of water molecules and the decomposition of active components.

Abstract Background The COVID-19 outbreak has spread to almost every country around the world and caused more than 3 million deaths. The pandemic has triggered enormous disruption in people’s daily lives with profound impacts globally. This has also been the case in Australia, despite the country’s comparative low mortality and physical morbidity due to the virus. This scoping review aims to provide a broad summary of the research activity focused on mental health during the first 10 months of the pandemic in Australia. Results A search of the Australian literature was conducted between August-November 2020 to capture published scientific papers, online reports and pre-prints, as well as gaps in research activities. The search identified 228 unique records in total. Twelve general population and 30 subpopulation group studies were included in the review. Conclusions Few studies were able to confidently report changes in mental health driven by the COVID-19 context (at the population or sub-group level) due to a lack of pre-COVID comparative data and non-representative sampling. Never-the-less, in aggregate, the findings show an increase in poor mental health over the early period of 2020. Results suggest that young people, those with pre-existing mental health conditions, and the financially disadvantaged, experienced greater declines in mental health. The need for rapid research appears to have left some groups under-researched (e.g. Culturally and Linguistically Diverse populations and Indigenous peoples were not studied), and some research methods under-employed (e.g. there was a lack of qualitative and mixed-methods studies). There is a need for further reviews as the follow-up results of longitudinal studies emerge and understandings of the impact of the pandemic are refined.

Cycle step (CS) process is an advanced mode in cold metal transfer (CMT) welding technology, in which allows to set both the numbers of individual droplets and the pause time between cycles. This novel mode enables a reduced weld heat input and exhibits clear-rippled beads with high degree of reproducibility and high tolerance for workpiece gaps. In the present study, the CMT-CS process was used for welding-brazing of AA5052 aluminum alloy to galvanized low carbon steel with Al-5Si filler wire. A visually acceptable weld with clear fish-scale ripples was successfully obtained in a lap joint configuration. The influence of CMT cycle and interval time on the weld heat input, weld morphology, microstructure and mechanical properties of aluminum/steel dissimilar joints was explored. The results showed that the increase of CMT cycles led to the increase of weld heat input and it in turn increased the braze width and deceased the contact angle; while, the increase of interval time resulted in the decrease of weld heat input and it increased the weld spot spacing and decreased the density of the fish-scale ripples. The change of CMT cycle and interval time had very limited impact on the phase composition of the interfacial reaction layer. The joint strength basically increased with the increased CMT cycle; while, it increased first then deceased with the increased interval time. Two kinds of fracture modes were observed, namely interfacial shear failure and fusion zone failure. The bending angle decreased with the increase of weld heat input.

IntroductionProcessing speed is defined as the ability to quickly process information, which is generally considered as one of the affected cognitive functions of multiple sclerosis and schizophrenia. Paper–pencil type tests are traditionally used in the assessment of processing speed. However, these tests generally need to be conducted under the guidance of clinicians in a specific environment, which limits their application in cognitive assessment or training in daily life. Therefore, this paper proposed an intelligent evaluation method of processing speed to assist clinicians in diagnosis.MethodsWe created an immersive virtual street embedded with Stroop task (VR-Street). The behavior and performance information was obtained by performing the dual-task of street-crossing and Stroop, and a 50-participant dataset was established with the label of standard scale. Utilizing Pearson correlation coefficient to find the relationship between the dual-task features and the cognitive test results, and an intelligent evaluation model was developed using machine learning.ResultsStatistical analysis showed that all Stroop task features were correlated with cognitive test results, and some behavior features also showed correlation. The estimated results showed that the proposed method can estimate the processing speed score with an adequate accuracy (mean absolute error of 0.800, relative accuracy of 0.916 and correlation coefficient of 0.804). The combination of Stroop features and behavior features showed better performance than single task features.DiscussionThe results of this work indicates that the dual-task design in this study better mobilizes participants’ attention and cognitive resources, and more fully reflects participants’ cognitive processing speed. The proposed method provides a new opportunity for accurate quantitative evaluation of cognitive function through virtual reality.

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is a common treatment for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. However, after ACLR, a significant proportion of patients do not return to pre-injury levels. Research on muscle function during movement has important implications in rehabilitation.Methods: Sixty patients with unilateral ACL injury were recruited for this study and assigned into three groups: group A, individuals with an ACL injury before 6 months; group B, individuals with ACLR from 6 months to 1 year; and group C, individuals with ACLR 1 year later. Surface electromyography (SEMG) signals were collected from the bilateral rectus femoris (RF), vastus medialis (VM), vastus lateralis (VL), biceps femoris (BF), and semitendinosus (ST). The tasks performed during the experiment included straight leg raising (SLR) training at 30°, SLR training at 60°, ankle dorsiflexion, walking, and fast walking.Results: In the maximum muscle strength test, the affected side of the BF in group A (199.4 ± 177.12) was significantly larger than in group B (53.91 ± 36.61, p = 0.02) and group C (75.08 ± 59.7, p = 0.023). In the walking test, the contralateral side of the RF in group B (347.53 ± 518.88) was significantly greater than that in group C (139.28 ± 173.78, p = 0.029). In the SLR training (60°) test, the contralateral side of the RF in group C (165.37 ± 183.06) was significantly larger than that in group A (115.09 ± 62.47, p = 0.023) and smaller than that in group B (226.21 ± 237.17, p = 0.046); In the ankle dorsiflexion training test, the contralateral side of the RF in group B (80.37 ± 87.9) was significantly larger than that in group C (45.61 ± 37.93, p = 0.046).Conclusion: This study showed the EMG characteristics of patients with ACL injury helped to determine which muscle requires more training and which exercise model would be best suited for intervention.

Abstract Background China has 129 dialects with Mandarin as the standard and Chaoshan as the major dialect of the Chaoshan region in Guangdong. This study aimed to describe the dialect competence and usage, communication difficulty, impact of linguistic barriers, and subjective experience in healthcare. Methods Healthcare providers (n = 234) and healthcare consumers (n = 483) at two tertiary teaching hospitals in Shantou, Chaoshan region participated in an anonymous survey. Results Chaoshan and Mandarin were spoken respectively by ca. 80% and 6.1% of the participants. Monolinguals accounted for 28.5%, including 16.8% of Chaoshan-speaking healthcare providers and 18% of Mandarin-speaking healthcare consumers. The monolinguals preferentially used their competent dialect (Ps

Lithium–sulfur (Li-S) batteries are considered one of the most promising energy storage systems due to their high theoretical capacity, high theoretical capacity density, and low cost. However, challenges such as poor conductivity of sulfur (S) elements in active materials, the “shuttle effect” caused by lithium polysulfide, and the growth of lithium dendrites impede the commercial development of Li-S batteries. As a crucial component of the battery, the separator plays a vital role in mitigating the shuttle effect caused by polysulfide. Traditional polypropylene, polyethylene, and polyimide separators are constrained by their inherent limitations, rendering them unsuitable for direct application in lithium–sulfur batteries. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of novel separators. This review summarizes the applications of different separator preparation methods and separator modification methods in lithium–sulfur batteries and analyzes their electrochemical performance.

Abstract Background Hypertrophic scar (HTS) is a fibrotic disorder of skins and may have repercussions on the appearance as well as functions of patients. Recent studies related have shown that competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks centering around miRNAs may play an influential role in HTS formation. This study aimed to construct and validate a three-miRNA (miR-422a, miR-2116-3p, and miR-3187-3p) ceRNA network, and explore its potential functions. Methods Quantitative real‑time PCR (qRT‑PCR) was used to compare expression levels of miRNAs, lncRNAs, and genes between HTS and normal skin. Target lncRNAs and genes of each miRNA were predicted using starBase as well as TargetScan database to construct a distinct ceRNA network; overlapping target lncRNAs and genes of the three miRNAs were utilized to develop a three-miRNA ceRNA network. For every network, protein–protein interaction (PPI) network analysis was performed to identify its hub genes. For each network and its hub genes, Gene Oncology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis were conducted to explore their possible functions. Results MiR-422a, miR-2116-3p, and miR-3187-3p were all downregulated in HTS tissues and fibroblasts. MiR-422a-based ceRNA network consisted of 101 lncRNAs with 133 genes; miR-2116-3p-centered ceRNA network comprised 85 lncRNAs and 978 genes; miR-3187-3p-derived ceRNA network encompassed 84 lncRNAs as well as 1128 genes. The three-miRNA ceRNA network included 2 lncRNAs with 9 genes, where MAPK1, FOSL2, ABI2, KPNA6, CBL, lncRNA-KCNQ1OT1, and lncRNA-EBLN3P were upregulated. According to GO and KEGG analysis, these networks were consistently related to ubiquitination. Three ubiquitination-related genes (CBL, SMURF2, and USP4) were upregulated and negatively correlated with the expression levels of the three miRNAs in HTS tissues. Conclusions This study identified a three-miRNA ceRNA network, which might take part in HTS formation and correlate with ubiquitination.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the clinical spectra and outcomes in pregnancy-related optic neuritis (ON).MethodsWe analyzed the clinical subtype and prognosis of women with pregnancy-related ON in the neuro-ophthalmology department of the First Medical Center at the Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2014 to December 2019.ResultsA total of 54 patients, including 21 (38.9%) with idiopathic ON (ION), 27 (50.0%) with aquaporin-4 (AQP4)-ON, and 6 (11.6%) with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-ON, who experienced 58 informative pregnancies and 67 episodes of pregnancy-related ON were assessed. Among the ON attacks, there were 11 (16.4%) during pregnancy and 56 (83.6%) within 1 year postpartum (PP1) or after abortion, including 33 (49.3%) in the first trimester. In total, 14 (25.9%) patients with ON onset before pregnancy had a higher relapse rate during PP1 than within 1 year before pregnancy (p = 0.021), and 24 (85.7%) eyes with ION and nine (100%) with MOG-ON had significantly better visual outcomes (p ≥ 0.5) than those with AQP4-ON (14, 35%) (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Two AQP4-ON patients had premature birth and low baby weight, respectively. There were no birth defects or stillbirths.ConclusionThe significantly increased relapse rate and numerous cases of ON after pregnancy suggest that delivery adversely affects the course of ON.

In the field of bone tissue engineering, porous hydroxyapatite (HA) bone repair scaffolds with controlled architecture and porosity are challenging to manufacture and lack sufficient osteoinductive activity, which limit its wider clinical application. This study fabricated porous graphene oxide (GO)/HA composite ceramic scaffolds using digital light processing (DLP) technology. The properties of the composite ceramic slurry and the process parameters of curing, degreasing, and sintering were initially examined to ensure molding accuracy. The research showed that a small amount of GO (0.1–0.4 wt%) could better maintain the pore structure and improve the mechanical properties of composite ceramics. Porous scaffolds with pore sizes of 300–400 μm were prepared for co-culture with rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells to detect biocompatibility. The results showed that all scaffolds have no cytotoxicity. Compared with HA, the GO/HA ceramic scaffold significantly promoted the cell adhesion, proliferation, and expression of osteogenesis-related genes; GO (0.1–0.2 wt%) /HA scaffolds exhibited superior alkaline phosphatase activity and more effective bone mineralization, showing enhanced osteoinductivity. The porous GO/HA composite scaffold fabricated by DLP presented a strong potential for repairing bone defects.

A thermomechanical coupling model for the solid-state flashing process of high nitrogen steel was established, based on finite element simulations and experiments. The effect of flash current on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the welded joint was investigated, and the temperature field of the flash-butt welding (FBW) process was simulated. The phase composition of the joint was determined according to the phase diagram and cooling curve. In addition, the joint with optimal parameters was subjected to full immersion corrosion tests. The results demonstrated that the interface structure was composed of austenite and δ-ferrite with a thyristor angle (flash current) of 45°. The microstructure of the overheated zone (OZ) was composed of austenite, ferrite and a small amount of the M2 phase, in which the heat-affected zone exhibited a single-phase austenite microstructure. The joint hardness displayed a “V” shaped distribution with the lowest interface hardness. As the flash current increased, the hardness and tensile strength of the interface area of the joint first increased and then decreased, with a maximum tensile strength of 902 MPa at 45°. During the full immersion corrosion tests, the joint exhibited the most serious corrosion in the interface center and gradually reduced corrosion on both sides.

Transparent hard and brittle (THB) materials have generated significant interest due to their excellent properties, such as wide spectral transmittance, heat resistance, chemical inactivity and high mechanical strength. To further explore the application of THB materials, it is inevitable to be confronted with a range of joining THB materials and THB material–metals. Ultrafast (UF) laser microwelding enables a new means of joining THB materials and THB material–metals, due to a localized energy deposition method, which is dominated by nonlinear absorption. This process can realize high-quality micro-zone direct joining of THB materials or THB material–metals without the assistance of a light-absorbing intermediate layer. In this paper, we review the advances in UF laser microwelding of THB materials and THB material–metals considering the last two decades, from the analysis of the interaction mechanism between UF laser and matter to the key influencing factors and practical applications of this technology. Finally, the existing problems and the future research focus of UF laser microwelding technology of THB materials and THB material–metals are discussed.

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to assess conditional survival (CS) after resection of primary retroperitoneal tumors (RPTs). Methods The data of 1594 patients with primary RPTs who underwent surgery between 2004 and 2016 were retrieved from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database. Multivariate Cox analysis was used to identify prognostic factors affecting overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). CS was used to calculate the probability of survival for an additional 3 years after the patient had survived x years, according to the formulas: COS3 = OS (x + 3) /OS (x) and CCSS3 = CSS (x + 3)/CSS (x). Results The 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates of all patients were 89.8, 71.8, and 60.8%, while the 1-, 3-, and 5-year CSS rates were 91.9, 77.1, and 67.8%, respectively. Age, sex, FNCLCC grade, size, multifocality, histology, and chemotherapy were independent prognostic factors for OS and CSS. Among patients who survived for 1, 3, and 5 years, the COS3 rates were 72.9, 77.9, and 79.3%, and the CCSS3 rates were 78.1, 82.7, and 85.8%, respectively. Patients with poor clinicopathological characteristics achieved greater improvements in COS3 and CCSS3 rates, and the survival gaps between OS and COS3, as well as CSS and CCSS3 were more obvious. Conclusion Postoperative CS of RPTs was dynamic and increased over time. CS increased more significantly in patients with poor clinicopathological characteristics.

Distinguished features of cities influence the characteristics of CH4 emissions. A city-level emission inventory represents the characteristics of CH4 on a smaller scale, according to the special factors in each city. A city-level emission inventory was established to reveal the characteristics and source profile of CH4 emissions in the coldest province, which is a typical provincial cold region in northeast China. The dominant sources were identified for targeted cities. Rice cultivation, coal mining, oil and gas exploitation, and livestock are the dominant emission sectors. Emissions from other sectors, including wastewater disposal, biomass burning, landfill, etc. were also estimated. The provincial CH4 emissions increased gradually from 2003 to 2012, up to 2993.26 Gg with an annual increase rate of 2.85%; the emissions were 2740.63 in 2020. The emissions of CH4 in Harbin, Daqing, Jiamusi, and Hegang cities were higher than in the other nine cities, which were 337.23 Gg, 330.01 Gg, 328.55 Gg, and 307.42 Gg in 2020, respectively. Agriculture, including the rice cultivation, livestock, and biomass burning sectors contributed to 51.24–62.12% of total emissions, and the contributions increased gradually. Coal mining, oil and gas exploration, and fossil fuel combustion are energy-related sources, which contributed up to 37.91% of the total emissions, and the proportion kept decreasing to 23.87% in 2020. Furthermore, meteorological factors are especially relevant to the region, by which the differences of ambient temperature are over 60 °C (±30 °C). In the summer, CH4 emissions from the rice cultivation, biomass burning, livestock, and landfill sectors are obviously distinct from the heating period (winter), while few differences in CH4 emissions are found from wastewater disposal and the fossil fuel production sectors.

In July 2021, a flooding event, which attracted the attention of the whole country and even the world, broke out in Henan, resulting in dramatic losses across multiple fields (e.g., economic and agricultural). The basin at the junction of Hebi, Xinxiang, and Anyang was the most affected region, as the spread of water from the Wei river submerged surrounding agricultural land (e.g., corn-dominated). To comprehensively evaluate the flooding impacts, we proposed a framework to detect the flooding area and evaluated the degree of loss using satellite time series data. First, we proposed a double-Gaussian model to adaptively determine the threshold for flooding extraction using Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data. Then, we evaluated the disaster levels of flooding with field survey samples and optical satellite images. Finally, given that crops vary in their resilience to flooding, we measured the vegetation index change before and after the flooding event using satellite time series data. We found the proposed double-Gaussian model could accurately extract the flooding area, showing great potential to support in-time flooding evaluation. We also showed that the multispectral satellite images could potentially support the classification of disaster levels (i.e., normal, slight, moderate, and severe), with an overall accuracy of 88%. Although these crops were temporarily affected by this flooding event, most recovered soon, especially for the slightly and moderately affected regions. Overall, the distribution of resilience of these affected crops was basically in line with the results of classified disaster levels. The proposed framework provides a comprehensive aspect to the retrospective study of the flooding process on crops with diverse disaster levels and resilience. It can provide rapid and timely flood damage assessment and support emergency management and disaster verification work.

Smart City (SC) strategies developed by local governments reflect how governments and planners envision SC and apply smart technologies, and what challenges they face and try to address. Little attention, however, has been given to investigating SC strategies or applications, especially in the U.S. context. Moreover, there is insufficient attention paid to whether SC strategies address social issues such as equity and public participatory opportunities. Based on the documentation from the U.S. Department of Transportation 2015 Smart City Challenge, we developed a framework to evaluate SC strategies on urban transportation systems using six standards: Safety, Mobility, Sustainability, Opportunity, Efficiency, and Equity. In addition, we synthesized the challenges U.S. smart cities encounter, and SC strategies proposed by local municipal governments to tackle them. Our findings show that most SC strategies aimed to improve Efficiency (78%) and Mobility (57%), while less attention has been given to providing Equity (8%) or Opportunity (7%). The most well-acknowledged challenge that the local governments face is the limited data and tools for decision-making, with 416 SC strategies (27%) proposed to address related issues. Our framework and results contribute to the future SC strategy evaluation and inclusive smart city development. Our study also identified a broad spectrum of available SC strategies planners and policymakers can refer to when designing an SC or overcoming SC challenges.

This study investigates the link between nonstandard schedules and three psychological resources salient to working parents' parental functioning (psychological distress, work-family conflict and relationship quality). Data from fathers and mothers are analysed separately, using a nationally representative sample of dual-earner parents (6190 observations from 1915 couples) drawn from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC). The LSAC data was collected between 2008 and 2018 (with data collected every two years). Hybrid analysis models were conducted to identify within-person changes in these psychological resources in association with moving in and out of nonstandard work schedules, as well as between-person differences between parents working standard hours and nonstandard hours. The results indicate that the connections between working nonstandard schedules and the psychological resources were patterned differently across genders. No significant differences in psychological distress were found between those working nonstandard schedules and those working standard schedules for either fathers or mothers. Fathers working nonstandard schedules had higher work-family conflict compared to fathers working standard schedules, while no such effect found for mothers. This effect for fathers was largely explained by other characteristics related to working a nonstandard schedule, rather than the schedule itself. For fathers (but not mothers), working nonstandard schedules was significantly, and potentially causally, associated with lower relationship quality (i.e. within-person effects were found). Additional supplementary analyses found the connections between work schedules and psychological resources varied somewhat across different types of schedules (i.e. evening/night shift, rotating shift and irregular shift). As one of the first nationally representative longitudinal studies to explore changes in work schedules in association with changes in parents’ psychosocial resources, the impacts for fathers (particularly relationship quality) are an important line for future enquiry.

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is widely used in aviation, architecture, medical treatment, optical instruments and other fields because of its good transparency, chemical stability and electrical insulation. However, the application of PMMA largely depends on its physical properties. Mechanical properties such as tensile strength, fracture surface energy, shear modulus and Young’s modulus are increased with the increase in molecular weight. Consequently, it is of great significance to synthesize high molecular weight PMMA. In this article, we review the application of conventional free radical polymerization, atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and coordination polymerization for preparing high molecular weight PMMA. The mechanisms of these polymerizations are discussed. In addition, applications of PMMA are also summarized.

Although substantive research has devoted increasing attention to variability in human resource practices at the organization, group, and individual levels, the critical role of line managers’ leadership in predicting this variability in the human resource management delivery and implementation process has been overlooked. Drawing from social information processing theory and human resource (HR) attributions theory, this study proposes that authentic leadership moderates the positive relationship between department-level high-performance work systems and employee-perceived high-performance work systems. Moreover, employee-perceived high-performance work systems can enhance employees’ thriving at work through commitment-focused HR attributions (well-being and performance). Analyzing the matched data from 145 departments and 834 employees, we found that the extent to which department-level high-performance work systems are positively related to employee-perceived high-performance work systems depends on authentic leadership within departments. We also found that employee-perceived high-performance work systems will result in commitment-focused HR attributions (well-being and performance), which in turn motivate employees to thrive at work. This study sheds light on whether and how line managers’ leadership influences the HR management process.

Re-epithelialization is a fundamental process in wound healing that involves various cytokines and cells during cutaneous barrier reconstruction. Ubiquitin-specific peptidase 15 (USP15), an important member of the deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs), removes ubiquitin chains from target proteins and maintains protein stability. However, the dynamic role of USP15 in epithelialization remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the regulatory function of USP15 in re-epithelialization. An excisional wound splinting model was established to evaluate the re-epithelialization rate in Usp15 knockout (KO) mice. Coimmunoprecipitation (Co-IP) and mass spectrum analyses were performed to identify USP15-interacting proteins. RNA-sequencing was performed for transcriptome analysis in keratinocytes and uploaded into NODE database (http://www.biosino.org/node, accession numbers: OEP000770 and OEP000763). First, a significant delay in epithelialization was observed in the Usp15 KO mice. Moreover, inhibition of cell migration and proliferation was observed in the USP15-silenced keratinocytes (HaCaTs). Moreover, we revealed for the first time that USP15 could interact with eukaryotic initiation factor 4A-1 (EIF4A1), thereby promoting translational efficacy in keratinocytes, which is essential for keratinocyte proliferation and migration. Conclusively, the USP15-EIF4A1 complex significantly accelerated re-epithelialization in wound healing. These observations helped elucidate the function and mechanisms of USP15 in modulating re-epithelialization in wound healing, providing a promising target for refractory wound treatment.

Taking charge is an important form of proactive behavior that sustains organizational survival and individual development. Learning how to motivate employees to engage in taking-charge behavior has become one of the hot topics in the field of organizational management. Despite considerable research investigating the factors influencing taking charge, less attention has been paid to leadership-related factors, such as inclusive leadership. Based on the self-determination theory and the social information processing theory, we examined the mediating roles of psychological safety and thriving at work in the relationship between inclusive leadership and taking-charge behavior. We collected data in two stages from 205 pairs of employees and their supervisors at 17 companies in mainland China. Specifically, the results revealed that inclusive leadership promoted employees’ taking-charge behavior first through psychological safety and then through thriving at work. The results describe a more detailed mechanism underlying the formation of taking-charge behavior. The results further deepen our understanding of the path from inclusive leadership to employee behavior. These findings have theoretical implications for the taking-charge literature and managerial implications for practitioners.

Abstract Micro-motors driven by light field have attracted much attentions for their potential applications. In order to drive the rotation of a micro-motor, structured optical beams with orbital angular momentum, spin angular momentum, anisotropic medium, and/or inhomogeneous intensity distribution should be used. Even though, it is still challenge to increase the optical torques (OT) in a flexible and controllable way in case of moderate incident power. In this paper, a new scheme achieving giant optical torque is proposed by increasing both the force arm and the force amplitude with the assistance of a ring resonator. In this case, the optical torque doesn’t act on the target directly by the incident beam, but is transmitted to it by rotating the ring resonator connected with it. Using the finite-difference in time-domain method, we calculate the optical torque and find that both the direction and the amplitude of the torque can be tuned flexibly by modifying the frequency, or the relative phases of the sources. More importantly, the optical torque obtained here by linearly polarized beams can be 3 orders larger than those obtained using the structured beams. This opt-mechanical-resonator based optical torque engineering system may find potential applications in optical driven micro-machines.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a novel subgroup of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), have been reported in human cancers due to their significant regulatory roles. CircRNA Hippocampus Abundant Transcript 1 (circHIAT1) has been studied in clear cell renal cell carcinoma. However, whether it can regulate the tumorigenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. The expression level of circHIAT1 in HCC samples and cell lines was measured by qRT-PCR analysis. CircHIAT1 was expressed at a significantly low level in cancerous samples. Based on Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, we determined a positive correlation between the downregulation of circHIAT1 and the poor overall survival of HCC patients. Using subcellular fractionation and RNA FISH assay, we identified the predominant cytoplasmic localization of circHIAT1. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated the suppressive effect of circHIAT1 on the HCC cell growth. Mechanistically, circHIAT1 acted as the miR-3171 sponge to upregulate PTEN in HCC. Finally, rescue assays demonstrated the role of circHIAT1/miR-3171/PTEN pathway in regulating HCC cell growth. Taken together, this study revealed the novel mechanism of circHIAT1 in HCC.

The preparation of Cu-based coatings on AlN ceramic surface was accomplished by laser cladding and brazing technology. The Cu-based coating was prepared by both copper powder and titanium powder on ceramic surface. The microstructure and properties were tested by x-ray diffraction, metallurgical microscope, scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive spectrometer and microhardness tester. The novelties of this paper in the method of laser cladding and brazing were used to prepare Cu-coating on ceramic surface and the addition of Ti could improve the properties of Cu-based coating. The addition of Ti improved the wettability of ceramic surface. According to the results of EDS, Ti could better get into the Cu-based coating and formed metallurgical bonding in the laser cladding. The microhardness of laser cladding was higher than brazing, which could be concluded that it was due to the rapid cooling rate during the laser cladding could restrain grain growth and element segregation.

Using composite filler is a very potential way to braze dissimilar material, especially braze metals with ceramics. The composite filler which is added varieties of high temperature alloy, carbon fiber and ceramic particles has a suitable coefficient of thermal expansion. The application of composite filler can release the residual stress caused by mismatch of thermal expansion coefficient in the brazing joints and improve the overall performance significantly. According to the traditional classification method of composite materials, the composite filler is divided into micron-reinforced composite filler and nano-reinforced composite filler, of which the feature and research status are discussed in this text. According to the influence of different size reinforced phases on microstructure and mechanical property of the brazing joints, nano-reinforced composite filler has more uniform and better structure compared with micron-reinforced composite filler, and higher joint strengh can be obtained by using it. However, the reinforced mechanism is still an open question, and will become the key area of the future research work.