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Abstract Adsorption-based direct air capture (DAC) of carbon dioxide, using chemisorbents like solid amines, has been widely recognized as a sustainable measure to contain atmospheric CO2 concentrations. However, the productivity and economic viability of DAC have been compromised by the high energy consumption for regenerating the adsorbents. Here, we show that by synergistically harvesting water and carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, we can regenerate the unit using in situ vapor purge at low energy and capital cost. The desorption of CO2 is substantially enhanced in the presence of concentrated water vapors at around 100 °C, concurrently producing 97.7% purity CO2 and fresh water without the use of vacuum pumps and steam boilers. Moreover, we demonstrate that the DAC prototype can also be powered by sunlight, which recovers 98% of the adsorbed CO2, with 20% less energy demand, enabling sustainable carbon capture from air in a real distributed manner.

High-strength advanced steel and welded structure are key for service safety and life. Static and dynamic compressive mechanical behavior of high-strength 22SiMn2TiB armor steel and welded structure is investigated, which are carried out by using universal testing machine and split Hopkinson pressure bar. The studied materials are obtained from high-strength steel matrix, welded seam and mix of them with interface, respectively. The strain rate in experiments covers the range of 0.001/s to 6000/s. The mechanical data involve stress-strain relations and strain rate dependencies of mechanical properties. The cracking behavior as well as the corresponding microstructures are characterized at different length scales from millimeter to micron scale by optical microscope and scanning electron microscope. The results show that static (0.001/s) and dynamic (5000/s) yield strengths are 1600 MPa and 2400 MPa for high-strength steel matrix, 400 MPa and 1200 MPa for welded seam, 950 MPa and 1600 MPa for mix of them with interface, respectively. Under dynamic loading, shearing occurs and results in the fracture. Along the interface of steel matrix and welded seam, cracks are firstly initiated and propagated. The relations of mechanical properties and fracture features are analyzed, where strain rate effect is mentioned. This work will guide the design and application for engineering structure.

Abstract This study explores the relationship between surface roughness and characteristic scale through theoretical analyses and experimental data. Considering the concavity and convexity of cycloidal gear tooth profile curvatures, a curved surface contact coefficient model suitable for both inner and outer contacts, with either equal or unequal curvatures, has been developed. Moreover, a fractal contact model is constructed for cycloidal pinwheels. This model considers scale correlation and analyzes the influence of microscopic parameters on the elastic-plastic critical grade and the behavior of the contact area. Additionally, the influence of the micro-convex body frequency index on surface contact performance is explored to provide theoretical insights for improving the elastic contact ratio and reducing wear on contact surfaces.

With standard T6 heat treatments, precipitate-hardened alloys such as Al7075 and Al6061 fabricated using Additive Friction Stir Deposition (AFSD) method restore to noticeablely different peak mechanical properties. Previous research observed similar results but did not provide a viable solution. This study proposes a new processing strategy, namely enhanced plastic deformation by subjecting the Al7075 feedstock to annealed softening treatments. Specifically, by annealing the standard T651-Al7075 feedstock and deposition substrate (179 HV), their Microhardness were first degraded to its lowest state (80 HV), which is called a Soft-to-Soft system. For the Soft-to-Soft system subjected to AFSD, after undergoing appropriate T6 heat treatment, the microhardness of the AFSD 7075 alloy was restored to its peak value (183.1 ± 1.8 HV). The results indicate that this softening strategy can effectively reduce the non-strengthening phase in the AFSD matrix, thereby increasing the strengthening phase (η′ phase). This addresses the issue of traditional AFSD-prepared aluminum alloys being unable to achieve peak performance through T6 heat treatment.

The ancient mitochondrial genome of a Siberian roe deer (Capreolus pygargus) coded as NJ26S from Jartai Pass Site was obtained by high throughput sequencing. The damage pattern demonstrated the authenticity and reliability of the ancient DNA data. The length of the mitogenome was 16,357 bp, which contained 13 protein-coding genes, two rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes, and one control region. The total base composition of the mitochondrial genome is 28.17% A, 25.01% T, 11.89% G, 19.72% C, and 15.21% missing data with an AT composition of 53.18%. A maximum-likelihood phylogenetic tree was recovered including other roe deer sequences under the TIM2 + I + G4 model. This study presents molecular evidence indicating the presence of Capreolus pygargus in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in China more than 3,000 years ago.

BackgroundThe study aimed to develop a risk prediction model through screening preoperative risk factors for acute kidney injury (AKI) after heart valve replacement in patients with normal renal function.MethodsA total of 608 patients with normal renal function who underwent heart valve replacement from November 2013 to June 2022 were analyzed retrospectively. The Lasso regression was used to preliminarily screen potential risk factors, which were entered into the multivariable logistic regression analysis to identify preoperative independent risk factors for postoperative AKI. Based on the results, a risk prediction model was developed, and traditional and dynamic nomograms were constructed. The risk prediction model was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC), calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA).Results220 patients (36.2%) developed AKI after surgery. Current smoker, hypertension, heart failure, previous myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular disease, CysC, and NT-proBNP were selected as independent risk factors for AKI. A risk prediction model, a traditional and a dynamic nomogram were developed based on the above factors. The area under the curve (AUC) of the ROC for predicting the risk of postoperative AKI was 0.803 (95% CI 0.769–0.836), with sensitivity and specificity of 84.9% and 63.4%, respectively. The calibration curve slope was close to 1, and the DCA showed that the model produced better clinical benefits when the probability threshold was set at 10%–82%.ConclusionsWe developed a preoperative risk prediction model for AKI after heart valve replacement in patients with normal renal function, which demonstrated satisfactory discrimination and calibration.

Escherichia coli is a major pathogen responsible for calf diarrhea. However, it has developed resistance to many antimicrobial drugs for their inappropriate usage. The bacterial quorum sensing system transmits information between bacteria, it's important in regulating bacterial virulence, drug and acid resistance and so on. This system can found in Gram-negative bacteria and operates through acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) signaling molecules. In this study, a type I quorum sensing AHL, N-Octanoyl-L-Homoserine lactone (C8), was added to E. coli growth medium to investigate its regulatory functions in drug resistance. After screening out the strains of E. coli that showed an obvious regulatory effect to the drug ofloxacin (OFX), transcriptomic sequencing was performed on the E. coli strains from the sub-inhibitory concentration group that concentration plus C8 group, and the control group. It shows that C8 significantly influenced resistance to OFX and the minimum inhibitory concentration of OFX in the tested strain was significantly increased. To Analyze transcriptome sequencing results identified 415 differentially expressed genes between the control and sub-inhibitory concentration groups, of which 201 were up-regulated and 214 were down. There were 125 differentially expressed genes between bacteria treated with a sub-inhibitory concentration of OFX and those treated with C8, of which 102 were up-regulated and 23 were down. Finally, It found that to adding the C8 significantly increased the resistance of tested bacteria to OFX. Data from transcriptome sequencing on differently expressed genes helps to explain how the type I quorum sensing system controls drug resistance in E. coli.

IntroductionAlisma starch (AS) from Alismatis Rhizoma has potential applications but has been less studied compared to common starches like corn starch (CS) and potato starch (PS).MethodsWe used scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and rapid visco analysis to study the granule morphology, crystal structure, pasting properties, freeze -thaw stability, solubility, swelling degree, and gel strength of AS, CS, and PS.ResultsAS has a lower starch content but higher amylose content than CS and PS. It has a smaller particle size and is A-type starch. Its pasting temperature and trough viscosity are higher, and its freeze -thaw stability is intermediate. Gel strength increases with concentration and shows no significant difference between 10% AS and 12% PS.DiscussionAS has good heat resistance, shear resistance, and gel strength, indicating potential for high-temperature processed foods. Future research should focus on its heat resistance mechanism and broader applications.

Introduction Colonoscopy is currently the most commonly used and effective method for early detection, diagnosis and treatment of tumours of the colon and rectum. However, similar to other invasive procedures, it is associated with adverse reactions such as pain and abdominal distension. Electroacupuncture (EA) has been proposed as a potential treatment for relieving this discomfort; however, there is limited evidence supporting its efficacy. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of EA when used prior to colonoscopy.Methods and analysis This multicentre, randomised, controlled, patient–assessor-blinded trial will be conducted at three hospitals in China. A total of 500 participants will be randomly assigned to either the EA group or sham EA (SEA) group, in a 1:1 ratio. EA will be administered for 30 min before the colonoscopy. Participants will be asked to complete detailed questionnaires within 10 min after the procedure and 24 hours after the procedure to record their symptoms. The primary outcome will be assessed using discomfort numeric rating scale (NRS) scores. Secondary outcomes will include participants’ tolerance levels, including standard NRS scores for abdominal pain, bloating and anal discomfort reported by the participants, as well as heart rate(HR), blood pressure(BP), surgical pleth index, participant satisfaction, nurses’ and endoscopists’ evaluations, incidence of adverse events and salivary cortisol levels collected before EA and after colonoscopy.Ethics and dissemination Ethics approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (number 2023-1327-94-01), Ethics Committee of Longhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (number 2023LCSY059) and Ethics Committee of Wuxi Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (number 2023-062-01). The results of this study will be disseminated in peer-reviewed publications. All potential participants will be provided informed consent before participating in the study.Trial registration number ChiCTR2300073485.

BackgroundImproving system coordination is a pivotal strategy and a critical pathway for social governance. Chinese society is currently facing a significant challenge in aligning the allocation of health resources with economic development. Evaluating the level of coordinated development within the system can provide valuable insights to support the construction of a more coordinated China and foster high-quality development.MethodsBased on a systematically constructed indicator framework, our study selected data from five eastern provinces of China to establish a ten-year panel dataset covering the period from 2011 to 2020. The comprehensive evaluation index and the relative development degree were employed to comprehensively evaluate the development level of the system. The coupling coordination degree model was applied to analyze the coupling coordination relationship and spatiotemporal evolution trend of the two systems. Additionally, the fixed effects model was used to identify the driving factors behind the coordinated development of the two systems.ResultsFrom 2011 to 2020, the comprehensive indices of health resource allocation and economic development in the five eastern provinces of China exhibited a consistent year-on-year increase, and the relative development degree experienced two critical values of 0.8 and 1.2, which changed from the lagging allocation of health resources to the lagging economic development. The system coordination index generally ranged between 0.35 and 0.90, with the coordination phase undergoing a transition from an antagonistic stage to a coordinated stage. The coordination type also gradually shifted from mild imbalance to good coordination. Furthermore, the levels of economic development, economic structure, technological investment, as well as the allocation of health human and material resources, all serve as critical drivers in enhancing the coordinated development of the system.ConclusionThe coordinated development of eastern China’s provinces produces substantial spillover effects, and the realization of a Healthy China initiative must strategically harness their radiative and demonstrative effects. Achieving a superior level of coordination requires urgent efforts to rectify the existing deficiencies in the distribution of grassroots healthcare resources. Furthermore, cultivating innovative drivers of economic growth and enhancing the capacity for economic support are critical to ensuring high-quality and sustainable development.

Infectious bursal disease (IBD) is an acute, highly contagious disease caused by infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), causing huge economic losses to the poultry industry worldwide. Currently, the emerging variant strains of IBDV and new recombinants in the field are circulating in many countries and poses severe threats to the development of poultry industry. Elucidation of the pathogenesis of IBDV infection will be of great help to the development of vaccines for control of IBDV infection. In this study, liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) combined with tandem mass tag (TMT) labeling was performed to determine the expressions of nucleus proteins in IBDV-infected chicken embryonic fibroblast (CEF) cells 24 h post-infection (hpi). Our data show that a total of 236 nucleus proteins were differentially expressed in IBDV-infected cells vs mock-infected controls, and that among those proteins, 171 were significantly upregulated while 65 downregulated. Bioinformatics analysis reveals that the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were mainly involved in immune response, DNA replication, mismatch repair, and RIG-I-like receptor (RLR) signaling. Consistently, the expression of ten selected upregulated genes (IRF10, IRF7, IRF1, STAT1, ATF3, GTF3A, CSRP3, RARB, BASP1, and NF-κB1) markedly increased as examined by quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT-PCR). Furthermore, the expression of IRF10 was upregulated both in the cytoplasm and nucleus of DF-1 cells as examined by Western Blot. Moreover, knockdown of IRF10 remarkably inhibited IBDV replication via promoting IFN-I response, and overexpression of IRF10 significantly suppressed type I interferon and ISGs expression in both mock and IBDV-infected cells, suggesting that IRF10 serve as a negative regulator for host antiviral response. These results provide clues to further investigation into host–IBDV interactions and the underlying mechanisms of IBDV infection.

ObjectiveTo confirm the effect of surgery on spinal column biomechanics and to provide theoretical support for the advantages and disadvantages of different surgical methods and their clinical efficacy.Methods33 continuous patients with no significant difference in risk factors related to the mechanical complications were enrolled in this retrospective study. Sagittal parameters were measured in the pre-, post-operative and following-up lateral radiograph of spine. An finite element (FE) model was created using CT scanning from a female volunteer with osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) with solely kyphosis. Pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO), vertebral column resection (VCR) and modified PSO(mPSO) for OVCF were simulated on FE model. Stress distribution and deformation of the FE model were measured.ResultsClinical - All differences in preoperative spinal sagittal parameters were not statistically significant. mPSO showed it is superior to PSO and VCR in multiple postoperative and following-up spinal sagittal parameters. The operation duration and intraoperative blood loss of mPSO are less than the other two. For postoperative mechanical complications, no statistically significant differences were observed. Biomechanical - Six operating conditions (flexion, extension, left/right bending, left/right twisting) for each post-operative FE model have been examined. In most conditions, the displacement of mPSO is similar to that of PSO, with both larger than that of VCR. All the maximum equivalent stress on the vertebral body is within the safe range. The stress is mainly distributed on the T10 vertebral body and the fixed vertebral body L2, while the stress of VCR is greater than that of mPSO and PSO. The intervertebral disc pressure is highest in VCR, followed by PSO, and lowest in mPSO under all conditions. The maximum pressure on the intervertebral discs is located between T10 and T11.ConclusionThe finite element analysis showed that mPSO has a similar spine stability to PSO, and possibly creates a better environment for bone-to-bone fusion and prevents adjacent segments degeneration. Combined with its less surgical risks, we believe that the modified pedicle subtraction osteotomy may be an appropriate strategy for indicated cases of OVCF.

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to assess the effects of maternal diets containing various selenium (Se) sources on the intestinal mucosal function in the jejunum of chicken offspring. A total of 630, 18-wk-old Hy-Line Grey hens and 70 18-wk-old Hy-Line Grey breeders were randomly allocated into 7 groups, with 5 replicates in each group (18 hens and tow roosters). After 4 wk of Se depletion, the birds were fed either a nonsupplemented basal diet (control) or the same basal diet supplemented with 0.15 mg/kg selenium nanoparticles (Nano-Se), 0.30 mg/kg Nano-Se, 0.30 mg/kg selenocysteine (Sec), 0.30 mg/kg sodium selenite (SS), 0.30 mg/kg selenomethionine (SeMet), or 0.15 mg/kg Nano-Se + 0.15 mg/kg Sec, for 8 wk. Frtilized eggs were collected and incubated during the final week of the experiment. Jejunal tissues from embryonic d 18 and the hatch day were collected for analysis, and the 7-d survival rate of the offspring was recorded. Compared to the control, the maternal diet of 0.30 mg/kg Nano-Se, 0.30 mg/kg Sec, and 0.30 mg/kg SeMet significantly increased the survival of 7-day-old offspring (P < 0.05). The maternal diet supplemented with 0.30 mg/kg Nano-Se significantly increased intestinal villus height and the villus height/crypt depth ratio in chicks at embryonic d 18 and in 1-day-old (P < 0.05). The maternal diet containing 0.30 mg/kg Nano-Se and Sec increased the mRNA expression levels of tight junction proteins in 1-day-old offspring (P < 0.05). Supplemental 0.30 mg/kg Nano-Se significantly increased the mRNA expression levels of marker genes in intestinal enteroendocrine, stem, and Paneth cells (P < 0.05). In 1-day-old chicks, the number of intestinal goblet cells, as well as the mRNA expression levels of intestinal mucin2 (Muc2) and goblet cell differentiation factors (Spdef and C-myc), were the highest in diets supplemented with 0.30 mg/kg Nano-Se. Moreover, the expression levels of intestinal Muc2 and Spdef in chicks at embryonic d 18 was the highest with 0.30 mg/kg Nano-Se supplementation (P < 0.05). Supplementing with 0.30 mg/kg Nano-Se significantly reduced reactive oxygen species levels and decreased the mRNA expression levels of apoptosis-related genes in 1-day-old chicks (P < 0.05). Additionally, 0.30 mg/kg Nano-Se supplementation significantly down-regulated NLRP3 pathway gene expression in 1-day-old chicks (P < 0.05). In conclusion, maternal dietary supplementation with Nano-Se improved jejunal microarchitecture, antioxidant levels, and the expression of tight-junction protein in chicken offspring along with supporting goblet cell development by inhibiting the NLRP3 signaling pathway.

Abstract Egg-laying performance is of great economic importance in poultry, but the underlying genetic mechanisms are still elusive. In this work, we conduct a multi-omics and multi-tissue integrative study in hens with distinct egg production, to detect the hub candidate genes and construct hub molecular networks contributing to egg-laying phenotypic differences. We identifiy three hub candidate genes as egg-laying facilitators: TFPI2, which promotes the GnRH secretion in hypothalamic neuron cells; CAMK2D, which promotes the FSHβ and LHβ secretion in pituitary cells; and OSTN, which promotes granulosa cell proliferation and the synthesis of sex steroid hormones. We reveal key endocrine factors involving egg production by inter-tissue crosstalk analysis, and demonstrate that both a hepatokine, APOA4, and an adipokine, ANGPTL2, could increase egg production by inter-tissue communication with hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis. Together, These results reveal the molecular mechanisms of multi-tissue coordinative regulation of chicken egg-laying performance and provide key insights to avian reproductive regulation.

Abstract Background CRISPR-Cas13a is renowned for its precise and potent RNA editing capabilities in cancer therapy. While various material systems have demonstrated efficacy in supporting CRISPR-Cas13a to execute cellular functions in vitro efficiently and specifically, the development of CRISPR-Cas13a-based therapeutic agents for intravesical instillation in bladder cancer (BCa) remains unexplored. Methods In this study, we introduce a CRISPR-Cas13a nanoplatform, which effectively inhibits PDL1 expression following intravesical instillation. This system utilizes a fusion protein CAST, created through the genetic fusion of CRISPR-Cas13 and the transmembrane peptide TAT. CAST acts as a potent transmembrane RNA editor and is assembled with the transepithelial delivery carrier fluorinated chitosan (FCS). Upon intravesical administration into the bladder, the CAST-crRNAa/FCS nanoparticles (NPs) exhibit remarkable transepithelial capabilities, significantly suppressing PDL1 expression in tumor tissues.To augment immune activation within the tumor microenvironment, we integrated a fenbendazole (FBZ) intravesical system (FBZ@BSA/FCS NPs). This system is formulated through BSA encapsulation followed by FCS coating, positioning FBZ as a powerful chemo-immunological agent. Results In an orthotropic BCa model, the FBZ@BSA/FCS NPs demonstrated pronounced tumor cell apoptosis, synergistically reduced PDL1 expression, and restructured the immune microenvironment. This culminated in an enhanced synergistic intravesical instillation approach for BCa. Consequently, our study unveils a novel RNA editor nanoagent formulation and proposes a potential synergistic therapeutic strategy. This approach significantly bolsters therapeutic efficacy, holding promise for the clinical translation of CRISPR-Cas13-based cancer perfusion treatments.

Abstract There is a need for high-throughput, scale-relevant, and direct electrochemical analysis to understand the corrosion behavior and sensitivity of nuclear materials that are exposed to extreme (high pressure, temperature, and radiation exposure) environments. We demonstrate the multi-scale, multi-modal application of scanning electrochemical cell microscopy (SECCM) to electrochemically profile corrosion alterations in nuclear alloys in a microstructurally resolved manner. Particularly, we identify that both mechanically deformed and irradiated microstructures show reduced charge-transfer resistance that leads to accelerated oxidation. We highlight that the effects of mechanical deformation and irradiation are synergistic, and may in fact, superimpose each other, with implications including general-, galvanic-, and/or irradiation-activated stress-corrosion cracking. Taken together, we highlight the ability of non-destructive, electrochemical interrogations to ascertain how microstructural alterations result in changes in the corrosion tendency of a nuclear alloy: knowledge which has implications to rank, qualify and examine alloys for use in nuclear construction applications.

Abstract Urbanization is one of the milestones in the development of human society. Many regions in the southern parts of ‘the old world’ demonstrating an early emergence of agriculture also witnessed the flourishing of some of the earliest cities. Recent, yet still sparse, archaeological evidence appears to indicate a relatively later time for early urbanism in central Eurasia. However, given its vital geographic location and cultural nexus between East and West, more attention should be paid to the sedentary communities and their cities in oases amid the vast droughty desert, particularly in light of the rapidly increasing number of publications on early pastoralism and related communication routes along mountain chains and rivers. This study reveals the trajectory of urbanization and its role in the establishment of an exchange network in Xinjiang’s oasis region via reconstruction of the chronological sequence of the local societal history of the Baiyang River Basin along the southern piedmont of the Eastern Tianshan Mountains. A thorough archaeological investigation and refined radiocarbon dating programme was carried out and coupled with information from historical documentation within a Bayesian statistical framework. The results indicate three pulses of local urbanization during: the Early Iron Age, Tang–Yuan period, and Qing Dynasty, respectively. Combining this with evidence from other parts of Xinjiang, we re-evaluate the role of oasis urbanism in the promotion of trans-regional exchange.

Abstract Bladder cancer is characterized by aberrant activation of the phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase (PI3K) signaling, underscoring the significance of directing therapeutic efforts toward the PI3K pathway as a promising strategy. In this study, we discovered that PI3K serves as a potent therapeutic target for bladder cancer through a high-throughput screening of inhibitory molecules. The PI3K inhibitor demonstrated a robust anti-tumor efficacy, validated both in vitro and in vivo settings. Nevertheless, the feedback activation of JAK1-STAT3 signaling reinstated cell and organoid survival, leading to resistance against the PI3K inhibitor. Mechanistically, the PI3K inhibitor suppresses PTPN11 expression, a negative regulator of the JAK-STAT pathway, thereby activating STAT3. Conversely, restoration of PTPN11 enhances the sensitivity of cancer cells to the PI3K inhibitor. Simultaneous inhibition of both PI3K and STAT3 with small-molecule inhibitors resulted in sustained tumor regression in patient-derived bladder cancer xenografts. These findings advocate for a combinational therapeutic approach targeting both PI3K and STAT3 pathways to achieve enduring cancer eradication in vitro and in vivo, underscoring their promising therapeutic efficacy for treating bladder cancer.

ABSTRACT: Avian reovirus (ARV) is the causative agent of avian viral arthritis and causes significant economic losses to the global poultry industry. For clinical diagnosis, detecting ARV-specific antibodies is crucial. We successfully expressed the ARV-σC protein in insect cells using the baculovirus expression vector system, achieving an expression level of approximately 200 mg/L. We developed an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA) using the ARV-σC protein as a coating antigen to detect antibodies against it. The inter-batch and intrabatch coefficients of iELISA variation were less than 10%. Its sensitivity (1:12,800 diluted in serum) was 4 times higher than that of the indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA; 1:3200 diluted in serum), and it showed no cross-reactivity with antibodies against other common avian viruses (such as Infectious bursal disease virus, Newcastle disease virus). The practicality of the iELISA was further evaluated using clinical samples. 300 clinical sera from chickens vaccinated with the ARV attenuated vaccine and 20 SPF sera were tested using both the iELISA and the IFA, demonstrating a 100% conformity rate. In conclusion, these results suggest that the iELISA developed in this study is a rapid, sensitive, and specific method that could serve as an effective diagnostic tool for monitoring and controlling avian viral arthritis.

IntroductionEscherichia coli is a major pathogen responsible for calf diarrhea, which has been exacerbated by the irrational and unscientific use of antimicrobial drugs, leading to significant drug resistance.MethodsThis study focused on the isolation and identification of E. coli from calf diarrhea samples in the Tongliao area of China. Isolation was conducted using selective media, Gram staining, and 16S rRNA sequencing. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of E. coli was determined through the microbroth dilution method. Additionally, the presence of antibiotic-resistant genes was detected, and multidrug-resistant strains were selected for whole-genome sequencing (WGS).ResultsThe results revealed that all 40 isolated strains of E. coli exhibited resistance to sulfadiazine sodium, enrofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin, with 90% of the strains being susceptible to polymyxin B. Notably, strains 11, 23, and 24 demonstrated severe resistance. The detection rates of the antibiotic resistance genes TEM-1, TEM-206, strA, strB, qacH, and blaCTX were 100%, indicating a high prevalence of these genes. Moreover, the majority of strains carried antibiotic resistance genes consistent with their resistance phenotypes. WGS of strains 11, 23, and 24 revealed genome sizes of 4,897,185 bp, 4,920,234 bp, and 4,912,320 bp, respectively. These strains carried two, one, and two plasmids, respectively. The prediction of antibiotic resistance genes showed a substantial number of these genes within the genomes, with strain 24 harboring the highest number, totaling 77 subspecies containing 88 antibiotic resistance genes.DiscussionIn conclusion, all 40 isolated strains of E. coli from calf diarrhea in this study were multidrug-resistant, exhibiting a broad distribution of antibiotic resistance genes and mobile components. This poses a significant risk of horizontal gene transfer, highlighting the critical situation of antibiotic resistance in this region.

BackgroundSystem coordination is an effective way to achieve high-quality development, and the debate on the interaction between health investment and economic development is still ongoing. To strengthen previous research and offer feasible advice and references for relevant stakeholders, we provide empirical evidence for exploring intersystem coordination and enhancement pathways using data from China.MethodsBased on the data published by the National Bureau of Statistics of China, the current status of the interaction and coordination between health investment and economic development in China was measured by calculating the comprehensive evaluation index, relative development degree, and coupling coordination degree. Subsequently, a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis method was introduced to explore pathways for enhancing system interaction and coordination.ResultsThere are obvious inter-provincial and regional differences between health investment and economic development in China. Provinces in the west and north are lagging in economic development, while provinces in the east and south are lagging in health investment. There is a clear synergy between health investment and economic development, and there is still much room for improving the degree of coupling coordination between systems. The five conditional configurations derived from the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis yield three pathways for enhancing system coordination: a health expenditure-driven path, an economic development-driven path, and a balanced health investment and economic development-driven path.ConclusionHealth expenditure is sufficient for high coordination, and the level and equity of investment in health expenditure should be improved. The gross regional product is a necessary and sufficient condition for high coordination, and consideration must be given to strengthening the regional economic support capacity. Health investment and economic development can drive the coordinated development of the system in a balanced way. This enlightens us to give full play to the positive synergy between health investment and economic development based on promoting the benign interaction of subsystems.

IntroductionBladder cancer is a common malignant tumor with significant heterogeneity, making personalized risk stratification crucial for optimizing treatment and prognosis. This study aimed to develop a prognostic model based on oxidative stress-related genes to guide risk assessment in bladder cancer.MethodsDifferentially expressed oxidative stress-related genes were identified using the GEO database. Functional enrichment and survival analyses were performed on these genes. A risk-scoring model was built and tested for prognostic value and therapeutic response prediction. Expression of key genes was validated by qRT-PCR in samples from two muscle-invasive and two non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients.ResultsSeveral oxidative stress-related genes were identified as significantly associated with survival. The risk-scoring model stratified patients into high- and low-risk groups, accurately predicting prognosis and therapeutic responses. qRT-PCR confirmed the differential expression of key genes in patient samples.DiscussionThe study provides a concise risk stratification model based on oxidative stress-related genes, offering a practical tool for improving personalized treatment in bladder cancer. Further validation is required for broader clinical application.

The integration of solid-state single-photon sources with foundry-compatible photonic platforms is crucial for practical and scalable quantum photonic applications. This study explores aluminum nitride (AlN) as a material with properties highly suitable for integrated on-chip photonics and the ability to host defect-center related single-photon emitters. We have conducted a comprehensive analysis of the creation of single-photon emitters in AlN, utilizing heavy ion irradiation and thermal annealing techniques. Subsequently, we have performed a detailed analysis of their photophysical properties. Guided by theoretical predictions, we assessed the potential of Zirconium (Zr) ions to create optically addressable spin defects and employed Krypton (Kr) ions as an alternative to target lattice defects without inducing chemical doping effects. With a 532 nm excitation wavelength, we found that single-photon emitters induced by ion irradiation were primarily associated with vacancy-type defects in the AlN lattice for both Zr and Kr ions. The density of these emitters increased with ion fluence, and there was an optimal value that resulted in a high density of emitters with low AlN background fluorescence. Under a shorter excitation wavelength of 405 nm, Zr-irradiated AlN exhibited isolated point-like emitters with fluorescence in the spectral range theoretically predicted for spin-defects. However, similar defects emitting in the same spectral range were also observed in AlN irradiated with Kr ions as well as in as-grown AlN with intrinsic defects. This result is supportive of the earlier theoretical predictions, but at the same time highlights the difficulties in identifying the sought-after quantum emitters with interesting properties related to the incorporation of Zr ions into the AlN lattice by fluorescence alone. The results of this study largely contribute to the field of creating quantum emitters in AlN by ion irradiation and direct future studies emphasizing the need for spatially localized Zr implantation and testing for specific spin properties.

Transcriptional dysregulation of genes is a hallmark of tumors and can serve as targets for cancer drug development. However, it is extremely challenging to develop small-molecule inhibitors to target abnormally expressed transcription factors (TFs) except for the nuclear receptor family of TFs. Little is known about the interaction between TFs and transcription cofactors in gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma (GEA) or the therapeutic effects of targeting TF and transcription cofactor complexes. In this study, we found that ETS homologous factor (EHF) expression is promoted by a core transcriptional regulatory circuitry (CRC), specifically ELF3-KLF5-GATA6, and interference with its expression suppressed the malignant biological behavior of GEA cells. Importantly, we identified Ajuba LIM protein (AJUBA) as a new coactivator of EHF that cooperatively orchestrates transcriptional network activity in GEA. Furthermore, we identified KRAS signaling as a common pathway downstream of EHF and AJUBA. Applicably, dual targeting of EHF and AJUBA by lipid nanoparticles cooperatively attenuated the malignant biological behaviors of GEA in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, EHF is upregulated by the CRC and promotes GEA malignancy by interacting with AJUBA through the KRAS pathway. Targeting of both EHF and its coactivator AJUBA through lipid nanoparticles is a novel potential therapeutic strategy.

Objective Degenerative thoracolumbar hyperkyphosis (DTH) is a disease that negatively affects individual health and requires surgical intervention, yet the ideal surgical approach and complications, especially distal junctional failures (DJF), remain poorly understood. This study aims to investigate DJF in DTH and to identify the risk factors for DJF so that we can improve surgical decision‐making, and advance our knowledge in the field of spinal surgery to enhance patient outcomes. Methods This study retrospectively reviewed 78 cases (late osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture [OVCF], 51; Scheuermann's kyphosis [SK], 17; and degenerative disc diseases [DDD], 10) who underwent corrective surgery in our institute from 2008 to 2019. Clinical outcomes were assessed using health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) measures, including the visual analogue scale (VAS) scores for back and leg pain, the Oswestry disability index (ODI), and the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scoring system. Multiple radiographic parameters, such as global kyphosis (GK) and thoracolumbar kyphosis (TLK), were assessed to determine radiographic outcomes. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to identify the risk factors associated with DJF. Results HRQOL improved, and GK, TLK decreased at the final follow‐up, with a correction rate of 67.7% and 68.5%, respectively. DJF was found in 13 of 78 cases (16.7%), two cases had wedging in the disc (L3‐4) below the instrumentation, one case had a fracture of the lowest instrumented vertebrae (LIV), one case had osteoporotic fracture below the fixation, nine cases had pull‐out or loosening of the screws at the LIV and three cases (23.1%) required revision surgery. The DJF group had older age, lower computed tomography Hounsfield unit (CT HU), longer follow‐up, more blood loss, greater preoperative sagittal vertical axis (SVA), and poorer postoperative JOA and VAS scores (back). The change in TLK level was larger in the non‐DJF group. Post‐sagittal stable vertebrae (SSV) moved cranially compared with pre‐SSV. Conclusion Age, CT HU, length of follow‐up, estimated blood loss, and preoperative SVA were independent risk factors for DJF. We recommend fixation of the two vertebrae below the apex vertebrae for DTH to minimize surgical trauma.

Abstract The genome of faba bean was first published in 2023. To promote future molecular breeding studies, we improved the quality of the faba genome based on high-density genetic maps and the Illumina and Pacbio RNA-seq datasets. Two high-density genetic maps were used to conduct the scaffold ordering and orientation of faba bean, culminating in an increased length (i.e., 14.28 Mbp) of chromosomes and a decrease in the number of scaffolds by 45. In gene model mining and optimisation, the PacBio and Illumina RNA-seq datasets from 37 samples allowed for the identification and correction 121,606 transcripts, and the data facilitated a prediction of 15,640 alternative splicing events, 2,148 lncRNAs, and 1,752 fusion transcripts, thus allowing for a clearer understanding of the gene structures underlying the faba genome. Moreover, a total of 38,850 new genes including 56,188 transcripts were identified compared with the reference genome. Finally, the genetic data of the reference genome was integrated and a comprehensive and complete faba bean transcriptome sequence of 103,267 transcripts derived from 54,753 uni-genes was formed.

Abstract Background Cotton boll shedding is one of the main factors adversely affecting the cotton yield. During the cotton plant growth period, low light conditions can cause cotton bolls to fall off prematurely. In this study, we clarified the regulatory effects of low light intensity on cotton boll abscission by comprehensively analyzing the transcriptome and metabolome. Results When the fruiting branch leaves were shaded after pollination, all of the cotton bolls fell off within 5 days. Additionally, H2O2 accumulated during the formation of the abscission zone. Moreover, 10,172 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 81 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were identified. A KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed that the identified DEGs and DAMs were associated with plant hormone signal transduction and flavonoid biosynthesis pathways. The results of the transcriptome analysis suggested that the expression of ethylene (ETH) and abscisic acid (ABA) signaling-related genes was induced, which was in contrast to the decrease in the expression of most of the IAA signaling-related genes. A combined transcriptomics and metabolomics analysis revealed that flavonoids may help regulate plant organ abscission. A weighted gene co-expression network analysis detected two gene modules significantly related to abscission. The genes in these modules were mainly related to exosome, flavonoid biosynthesis, ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis, plant hormone signal transduction, photosynthesis, and cytoskeleton proteins. Furthermore, TIP1;1, UGT71C4, KMD3, TRFL6, REV, and FRA1 were identified as the hub genes in these two modules. Conclusions In this study, we elucidated the mechanisms underlying cotton boll abscission induced by shading on the basis of comprehensive transcriptomics and metabolomics analyses of the boll abscission process. The study findings have clarified the molecular basis of cotton boll abscission under low light intensity, and suggested that H2O2, phytohormone, and flavonoid have the potential to affect the shedding process of cotton bolls under low light stress.

In the past few years, deep learning has achieved remarkable advancements in the area of image compression. Remote sensing image compression networks focus on enhancing the similarity between the input and reconstructed images, effectively reducing the storage and bandwidth requirements for high-resolution remote sensing images. As the network’s effective receptive field (ERF) expands, it can capture more feature information across the remote sensing images, thereby reducing spatial redundancy and improving compression efficiency. However, the majority of these learned image compression (LIC) techniques are primarily CNN-based and transformer-based, often failing to balance the global ERF and computational complexity optimally. To alleviate this issue, we propose a learned remote sensing image compression network with visual state space model named VMIC to achieve a better trade-off between computational complexity and performance. Specifically, instead of stacking small convolution kernels or heavy self-attention mechanisms, we employ a 2D-bidirectional selective scan mechanism. Every element within the feature map aggregates data from multiple spatial positions, establishing a globally effective receptive field with linear computational complexity. We extend it to an omni-selective scan for the global-spatial correlations within our Channel and Global Context Entropy Model (CGCM), enabling the integration of spatial and channel priors to minimize redundancy across slices. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves superior trade-off between rate-distortion performance and complexity. Furthermore, in comparison to traditional codecs and learned image compression algorithms, our model achieves BD-rate reductions of −4.48%, −9.80% over the state-of-the-art VTM on the AID and NWPU VHR-10 datasets, respectively, as well as −6.73% and −7.93% on the panchromatic and multispectral images of the WorldView-3 remote sensing dataset.

GRP78/BiP, a stress-induced protein and autoantigen in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), exhibits different expressions in various biological fluids and tissues, including blood, synovial fluid (SF), and synovium, all of which are pertinent to the disease activity and progression of RA; however, there is a scarcity of data linking both intracellular and extracellular GRP78/Bip to disease activity and progression of RA. This study was undertaken to investigate the differential expression of GRP78/Bip in blood, SF, and synovium, and to determine their association with disease activity and progression of RA. Patients with RA, osteoarthritis (OA), and traumatic meniscal injury (TMI) without radiographic OA were consecutively recruited for the study. Among patients with RA, six different subgroups were established based on their disease activity and progression. Disease activity was measured using the DAS28 (Disease activity scores in 28 joints) criterion, while disease progression was evaluated using the Steinbrocker classification grade. The levels of GRP78/Bip, TNF-α, and IL-10 were significantly elevated in the serum, SF, and synovium of patients with RA when compared to both the control (CON, TMI Patients) and the inflammation control (iCON, OA Patients) groups (p < 0.05). In terms of disease activity status, as opposed to remission status in RA, the levels of GRP78/Bip, TNF-α, and IL-10 were all elevated in serum and synovium (p < 0.05). However, GRP78/Bip and IL-10 levels were found to be reduced in SF, while TNF-α levels remained elevated. With respect to disease progression in RA, GRP78/Bip levels exhibited a positive correlation with both the stage of RA and the levels of TNF-α and IL-10 in serum and synovium. Nonetheless, a negative correlation was observed between GRP78/Bip levels and the stage of RA in SF, while positive correlations with the levels of TNF-α and IL-10 persisted. The differential expression of GRP78/Bip in blood, SF, and synovium indicated that the potential role and function of GRP78/Bip might vary depending on its specific location within these biological fluids and tissues. The presence of intracellular and extracellular GRP78/Bip was associated with disease activity and progression of RA, suggesting the involvement of GRP78/Bip in the pathogenesis and development of this debilitating autoimmune disorder, as well as its potential as a biomarker for monitoring disease activity and progression of RA.

Silkworm (Bombyx mori) is an economically significant insect that produces silk and makes important contributions to the development of silk-producing countries. The genetic diversity and unique adaptive traits of silkworm germplasm resources form the foundation for breeding efforts. In various geographical regions, silkworm have developed distinct traits through long-term adaptive selection. In this study, we focused on identifying and evaluating representative silkworm germplasm resources from both China and Uzbekistan. We discovered notable differences in the morphology and production traits of local silkworm strains, likely influenced by differing geographical environments. It is also possible that China has a long history of silkworm rearing and after a long time of breeding selection, the diversity of silkworm morphology is less than that of Uzbekistan, but the production characteristics are more suitable for silk utilization. Phylogenetic analysis based on genomic comparisons revealed that Uzbekistan’s local silkworm strains are positioned between China’s local and improved strains. This suggests that Uzbekistan silkworms primarily originated from China. The further analysis of genetic diversity and strain differentiation highlights the unique differences of each country’s silkworms, especially in terms of genetic diversity on chromosome 1 (sex chromosome). By identifying and evaluating these germplasm resources and linking them to unique advantageous traits, it provides a scientific basis for improving cocoon silk quality and optimizing sericulture productivity.

BackgroundLymph node metastasis (LNM) is an important prognostic factor for cervical cancer (CC) and determines the treatment strategy. Hematological indicators have been reported as being useful biomarkers for the prognosis of a variety of cancers. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of machine learning models characterized by preoperative hematological indicators to predict the LNM status of CC patients before surgery.MethodsThe clinical data of 236 patients with pathologically confirmed CC were retrospectively analyzed at the Gynecology Oncology Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University from November 2020 to August 2022. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) was used to select 21 features from 35 hematological indicators and for the construction of 6 machine learning predictive models, including Adaptive Boosting (AdaBoost), Gaussian Naive Bayes (GNB), and Logistic Regression (LR), as well as Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machines (SVM), and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost). Evaluation metrics of predictive models included the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), accuracy, specificity, sensitivity, and F1-score.ResultsRF has the best overall predictive performance for ten-fold cross-validation in the training set. The specific performance indicators of RF were AUC (0.910, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.820–1.000), accuracy (0.831, 95% CI: 0.702–0.960), specificity (0.835, 95% CI: 0.708–0.962), sensitivity (0.831, 95% CI: 0.702–0.960), and F1-score (0.829, 95% CI: 0.696–0.962). RF had the highest AUC in the testing set (AUC = 0.854).ConclusionRF based on preoperative hematological indicators that are easily available in clinical practice showed superior performance in the preoperative prediction of CC LNM. However, investigations on larger external cohorts of patients are required for further validation of our findings.

The increasing emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance accelerate the desire for antibiotic alternatives. Plant extracts have emerged as a promising and relatively unexplored area of research as potential substitutes. Herein, we investigated the prevalence and distribution patterns of bacteria on egg surfaces and evaluated the inhibitory effects of mangosteen extract on these surface bacteria. In addition, we examined the antioxidant activity and egg quality in improving the ability of mangosteen extract. The results showed that the predominant bacteria isolated from eggshells were Gram-positive, with Staphylococcus and Micrococcus as the dominant genera. Notably, mangosteen extract exhibited significant bactericidal activity, effectively inhibiting Gram-positive bacteria on the surface of chicken eggshells. Moreover, the supplementation of mangosteen extract in the feed of laying hens yielded a noteworthy improvement in egg quality, accompanied by positively shaped structure and function of microbial communities on the egg surface and in the feces. Collectively, our findings suggested that mangosteen extract was an effective alternative to traditional antibiotics, offering valuable insights for animal husbandry development.

Introduction: Surgical correction is a common treatment for severe scoliosis. Due to the significant spinal deformation that occurs with this condition, spinal cord injuries during corrective surgery can occur, sometimes leading to paralysis.Methods: Such events are associated with biomechanical changes in the spinal cord during surgery, however, their underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Six patient-specific cases of scoliosis either with or without spinal complications were examined. Finite element analyses (FEA) were performed to assess the dynamic changes and stress distribution of spinal cords after surgical correction. The FEA method is a numerical technique that simplifies problem solving by replacing complex problem solving with simplified numerical computations.Results: In four patients with poor prognosis, there was a concentration of stress in the spinal cord. The predicted spinal cord injury areas in this study were consistent with the clinical manifestations of the patients. In two patients with good prognosis, the stress distribution in the spinal cord models was uniform, and they showed no abnormal clinical manifestations postoperatively.Discussion: This study identified a potential biomechanical mechanism of spinal cord injury caused by surgical correction of scoliosis. Numerical prediction of postoperative spinal cord stress distribution might improve surgical planning and avoid complications.

BackgroundMetastasis remains the leading cause of mortality among colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Identification of new metastasis-related genes are critical to improve colorectal cancer prognosis.MethodsData on mRNA expression in metastatic and primary CRC was obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, including GSE81986, GSE41568, GSE71222, GSE21510, and GSE14333. Additionally, data concerning mRNA expression in colon cancer (COAD) and adjacent normal tissues were acquired from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Hub genes were identified by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and differential gene expression analysis. Moreover, we assessed the impact of hub gene expression on both overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in patients and identified ZG16 as a potential target. We generated CRC cell lines transfected with lentivirus OE-ZG16 to investigate proliferation, invasion, and migration in vitro. To further elucidate the involvement of ZG16, we utilized gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) to identify enriched pathways, which were subsequently validated via Western blot analysis.ResultsFive datasets containing primary and metastatic CRC samples from GEO database and CRC samples from TCGA database were included in this study and 29 hub genes were identified by WGCNA and differentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis. Low expression of the hub genes (CLCA1 and ZG16) was associated with poor DFS and OS. We confirmed the low expression of ZG16 in CRC using external database and IHC analysis at both transcriptional and protein levels. In addition, the expression of ZG16 was notably elevated in NCM460 cells in comparison to CRC cell lines. The overexpression of ZG16 in CRC cells has been shown to inhibit the proliferation, invasion, and migration of CRC cells. Furthermore, the overexpression of ZG16 has been found to suppress the activation of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways in CRC.ConclusionZG16 may serve as a promising therapeutic target for metastatic CRC treatment.

Abstract Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are emerging as promising carriers for the delivery of therapeutic biologics. Genetic engineering represents a robust strategy for loading proteins of interest into EVs. Identification of EV‐enriched proteins facilitates protein cargo loading efficiency. Many EV‐enriched proteins are sorted into EVs via an endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT)‐dependent pathway. In parallel, viruses hijack this EV biosynthesis machinery via conserved late domain motifs to promote egress from host cells. Inspired by the similarity of biogenesis between EVs and viruses, we developed a synthetic, Late domain‐based EV scaffold protein that enables the display of a set of single chain variable fragments (scFvs) on the EV surface. We named this scaffold the Late domain‐based exosomal antibody surface display platform (LEAP). We applied the LEAP scaffold to reprogramme HEK293T cell‐derived EVs to elicit T‐cell anti‐tumor immunity by simultaneously displaying αPD‐L1 and αCD3 scFvs on the EV surface (denoted as αPD‐L1×αCD3 bispecific T‐cell engaging exosomes, BiTExos). We demonstrated that αPD‐L1×αCD3 BiTExos actively redirected T cells to bind to PD‐L1+ tumor cells, promoting T‐cell activation, proliferation and tumoricidal cytokine production. Furthermore, the αPD‐L1×αCD3 BiTExos promoted T‐cell infiltration into the tumor microenvironment to mitigate the tumor burden in vivo. Our study suggested that the LEAP scaffold may serve as a platform for EV surface display and could be applied for a broad range of EV‐based biomedical applications.

Abstract The benign and malignant status of solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) is a key determinant of treatment decisions. The main objective of this study was to validate the efficacy of machine learning (ML) models featured with dual-layer detector spectral computed tomography (DLCT) parameters in identifying the benign and malignant status of SPNs. 250 patients with pathologically confirmed SPN were included in this study. 8 quantitative and 16 derived parameters were obtained based on the regions of interest of the lesions on the patients’ DLCT chest enhancement images. 6 ML models were constructed from 10 parameters selected after combining the patients' clinical parameters, including gender, age, and smoking history. The logistic regression model showed the best diagnostic performance with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.812, accuracy of 0.813, sensitivity of 0.750 and specificity of 0.791 on the test set. The results suggest that the ML models based on DLCT parameters are superior to the traditional CT parameter models in identifying the benign and malignant nature of SPNs, and have greater potential for application.

Abstract Characterization of the atomic level processes that determine optical transitions in emerging materials is critical to the development of new platforms for classical and quantum networking. Such understanding often emerges from studies of the temperature dependence of the transitions. We report measurements of the temperature dependent Er3+ photoluminescence in single crystal Er2O3 thin films epitaxially grown on Si(111) focused on transitions that involve the closely spaced Stark-split levels. Radiative intensities are compared to a model that includes relevant Stark-split states, single phonon-assisted excitations, and the well-established level population redistribution due to thermalization. This approach, applied to the individual Stark-split states and employing Er2O3 specific single-phonon-assisted excitations, gives good agreement with experiment. This model allows us to demonstrate the difference in the electron-phonon coupling of the 4S3/2 and 2H11/2 states of Er3+ in E2O3 and suggests that the temperature dependence of Er3+ emission intensity may vary significantly with small shifts in the wavelength (~0.1 nm) of the excitation source.

The application and promotion of water-saving irrigation technology are of great significance for maintaining food security and the sustainable development of agricultural water resources. Based on the characteristics of integrated agricultural technologies, a binary logistic model was used to analyze the impact of technology perception on farmers' adoption behavior regarding water-saving irrigation technologies using data from surveys of 775 wheat and maize farmers in the North China Plain. The results show the following: the perceived ease of use of technology significantly contributes to farmers' water-saving irrigation technology adoption behavior, but the effect of the perceived usefulness of technology is not significant. Government regulation plays a moderating role in the impact of the perceived ease of use of technology on the adoption of water-saving irrigation technologies by farmers. In addition to the perceived ease of use of technology and technology training, large-scale farmers are influenced by government advocacy and technology subsidies, while smallholders are mainly influenced by the perceived usefulness of technology. Therefore, the focus of future work should be on improving farmers' perceptions of the ease of use of water-saving irrigation technologies, expanding the scope of technical training and technical subsidies, and strengthening government advocacy and education. HIGHLIGHT According to the results of the logistic model, the improvement of technology perception can effectively promote the adoption of water-saving irrigation technology by farmers. Government regulation plays a moderating role in the impact of the perceived ease of use of technology on the adoption of water-saving irrigation technologies by farmers. Significant differences were found between farmers of different cropland sizes.;

The operation of the electricity system faces the difficulty of minimizing ice damage to transmission lines. Due to the uncertainty of transmission line icing thickness, accurate prediction of icing thickness is very important to guide transmission line planning and power grid anti-icing design effectively. Scientific and reasonable early warning assessment of conductor icing is also helpful to make timely and accurate response measures to the possible freezing disaster risk, so as to effectively ensure the safe and stable operation of power grid and reduce the occurrence of the freezing disaster. Based on this, this paper proposes a multi-factor prediction model based on GM (1, 6) grey theory, which considers the transmission line conductor icing model under the influence of multiple meteorological factors. Based on the conductor icing model, the conductor icing degree can be predicted in real time according to meteorological parameters, so as to realize the purpose of transmission line conductor icing disaster risk early warning. It is worth noting that the paper improves the traditional grey model by adding random data functions, which makes the model solve the problem of inaccurate prediction of small samples. Finally, a case study is carried out, and the icing disaster risk is divided into five levels. It is found that the maximal prediction error of icing thickness based on GM (1, 6) grey theory multi-factor prediction model is 10.06%(The average value is only 4.22%), and the accuracy of transmission line conductor icing disaster risk early warning is 88.9%. In addition, a certain safety margin value is added to the predicted value near the critical value of icing thickness, reducing the probability of judging the high-risk level as low-risk. Applying risk early warning method in ice areas can guide the anti-ice work of transmission line.

Abstract The beginning of human settlement in the Hami Basin, located in the eastern part of Xinjiang, has been a focal question for the academic community in China. In particular, the thesis that the immigrating population from the Hexi Corridor since the late Neolithic founded the Tianshanbeilu culture has riveted the attention of scholars. Pottery wares, abundantly discovered at the synonymous cemetery of this culture, have played a key role in extrapolating population migration and cultural interaction. This paper aims to test the thesis by characterizing the chemical composition, painting pigment, and carburizing technique of 70 pottery samples from the cemetery with various scientific methods. It shows that the chemical compositions of the coarse pottery in the three colors of red, yellow, and gray, painted and unpainted alike, are remarkably different from those of fine pottery in black and red, indicating that the raw materials for the coarse and fine pottery samples are possibly procured from different sources; the pigments of the red slip and black paint are derived from hematite, black manganese ore, and carbon black; carburizing and polishing techniques are further applied to the gray coarse pottery; In combination with the compositional data of pottery samples from the Yaer cemetery also in the Hami Basin and the Xichengyi settlement in the Hexi Corridor, this paper finds that some pottery wares of the Tianshanbeilu culture were exchanged within the Hami Basin, but each site had its own production facility. No direct exchange of pottery wares with Xichengyi is attested; the similar style of pottery wares between the two sites may have resulted from population migration and technological exchange.

Synthetic aperture radar is widely applied to ship detection due to generating high-resolution images under diverse weather conditions and its penetration capabilities, making SAR images a valuable data source. However, detecting multi-scale ship targets in complex backgrounds leads to issues of false positives and missed detections, posing challenges for lightweight and high-precision algorithms. There is an urgent need to improve accuracy of algorithms and their deployability. This paper introduces LH-YOLO, a YOLOv8n-based, lightweight, and high-precision SAR ship detection model. We propose a lightweight backbone network, StarNet-nano, and employ element-wise multiplication to construct a lightweight feature extraction module, LFE-C2f, for the neck of LH-YOLO. Additionally, a reused and shared convolutional detection (RSCD) head is designed using a weight sharing mechanism. These enhancements significantly reduce model size and computational demands while maintaining high precision. LH-YOLO features only 1.862 M parameters, representing a 38.1% reduction compared to YOLOv8n. It exhibits a 23.8% reduction in computational load while achieving a mAP50 of 96.6% on the HRSID dataset, which is 1.4% higher than YOLOv8n. Furthermore, it demonstrates strong generalization on the SAR-Ship-Dataset with a mAP50 of 93.8%, surpassing YOLOv8n by 0.7%. LH-YOLO is well-suited for environments with limited resources, such as embedded systems and edge computing platforms.

Exploring the biological potential of maize root architecture is one of the most important ways to improve nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). The NUE and its heterosis in maize hybrids have improved remarkably over decades. Yet, there is little research on maize hybrid heterosis for root architecture and its possible physiological relationship to heterosis for NUE. A field study lasting two years was carried out on four typical maize hybrids from old and new eras, including their parental inbred lines with two levels of nitrogen (0, 150 kg N ha−1). Compared to old-era maize hybrids, the brace root angle (BA) and crown root angle (CA) of new-era maize hybrids increased by 19.3% and 8.0% under 0 N, and by 18.8% and 7.9% under 150 N, which exhibited a steeper root architecture; the crown root number (CN) of new-era maize hybrids increased by 30.5% and 21.4% under 0 N and 150 N, respectively, which showed a denser root system; meanwhile, the depth of 95% cumulative root weight (D95) of new-era maize hybrids separately increased by 10.5% and 8.5% under 0 N and 150 N, which exhibited a deeper root distribution. This steeper-denser-deeper root architecture enhanced pre-anthesis N uptake and provided a premise of greater post-anthesis N remobilization. All maize hybrids displayed significant heterosis for root architecture compared to their parental inbred lines. The brace root branching (BB) and crown root branching (CB) of new-era maize hybrids and D95 have positive heterosis, while the BA, CA, and CB of old-era maize hybrids, brace root number (BN), and CN have negative heterosis. Regardless of whether root architecture heterosis was positive or negative, new-era maize hybrids showed an overall elevated trend compared to old-era maize hybrids. Structural equation modeling (SEM) showed that heterosis for nitrogen internal efficiency (NIE) was the primary reason for NUE heterosis in maize, influenced by heterosis for root architecture, which was steeper, denser, and deeper. Our results indicated that, compared with old-era maize hybrids, new-era maize hybrids had stronger heterosis for root architecture, which was beneficial to pre-silking nitrogen absorption and is an important physiological basis for the higher NIE heterosis and NUE heterosis in new-era maize hybrids.

The application of nanomaterials as modifiers in the field of asphalt is increasingly widespread, and this paper aims to systematically review research on the impact of nanomaterials on asphalt viscosity. The results find that nanomaterials tend to increase asphalt’s viscosity, enhancing its resistance to high-temperature rutting and low-temperature cracking. Zero-dimension nanomaterials firmly adhere to the asphalt surface, augmenting non-bonding interactions through van der Waals forces and engaging in chemical reactions to form a spatial network structure. One-dimensional nanomaterials interact with non-polar asphalt molecules, forming bonds between tube walls, thereby enhancing adhesion, stability, and resistance to cyclic loading. Meanwhile, these bundled materials act as reinforcement to transmit stress, preventing or delaying crack propagation. Two-dimensional nanomaterials, such as graphene and graphene oxide, participate in chemical interactions, forming hydrogen bonds and aromatic deposits with asphalt molecules, affecting asphalt’s surface roughness and aggregate movement, which exhibit strong adsorption capacity and increase the viscosity of asphalt. Polymers reduce thermal movement and compact asphalt structures, absorbing light components and promoting the formation of a cross-linked network, thus enhancing high-temperature deformation resistance. However, challenges such as poor compatibility and dispersion, high production costs, and environmental and health concerns currently hinder the widespread application of nanomaterial-modified asphalt. Consequently, addressing these issues through comprehensive economic and ecological evaluations is crucial before large-scale practical implementation.

With an aging population, the osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) has become a constant concern for its physical and neurological complications, such as spinal kyphosis and refractory pains. Compared with traditional conservative treatments, the open surgery is more superior in some ways because of its direct decompression and correction. Various operation methods applying to different indications have been developed to deal with different fracture situations, including anterior, posterior, and combined surgery. In this review, we have concluded the latest developments of the surgery treating OVCF and the internal fixation as references for spinal surgeons of the choice of suitable treatments.

Abstract The TMEM63 family proteins (A, B, and C), calcium-permeable channels in animals that are preferentially activated by hypo-osmolality, have been implicated in various physiological functions. Deficiency of these channels would cause many diseases including hearing loss. However, their structures and physiological roles are not yet well understood. In this study, we determine the cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of the mouse TMEM63C at 3.56 Å, and revealed structural differences compared to TMEM63A, TMEM63B, and the plant orthologues OSCAs. Further structural guided mutagenesis and calcium imaging demonstrated the important roles of the coupling of TM0 and TM6 in channel activity. Additionally, we confirm that TMEM63C exists primarily as a monomer under physiological conditions, in contrast, TMEM63B is a mix of monomer and dimer in cells, suggesting that oligomerization is a regulatory mechanism for TMEM63 proteins.

Objective Surgical strategy for spinal kyphosis in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) has been challenging. Pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO) through a minimally invasive (MI) approach has been developed with promising clinical outcomes. We aimed to compare the effectiveness and safety of PSO via an MI approach and a standard posterior approach (SPA) for treating AS‐related spinal kyphosis. Methods A total of 41 patients with AS‐related spinal kyphosis who underwent PSO through an MI approach (MI surgery [MIS] group: n = 25) or SPA (SPA group: n = 16) between January 2015 and July 2020 were retrospectively included. Spinopelvic parameters were evaluated before the surgery, immediately after the surgery, and at the 2‐year follow‐up. Clinical data including operative time, estimated blood loss, blood transfusion, level of fusion, incision length, bed rest period, length of hospitalization, and surgical complications were compared between the two groups. The Scoliosis Research Society outcomes instrument‐22 (SRS‐22) was administered to assess patients' quality of life at the latest follow‐up. Comparisons between the two groups were performed using independent sample t‐test or Chi‐square test. Results Characteristics and baseline kyphosis of the two groups were matched. At the 2‐year follow‐up, in the MIS group, the average correction values of the sagittal vertical axis and global kyphosis (GK) were 9.5 cm and 44.3°, respectively. Compared with the SPA group, the MIS group had similar correction values and correction losses after surgery. No obvious differences were observed in any radiographic parameters, except for GK, immediately after surgery and at the 2‐year follow‐up between the two groups (p > 0.05). The MIS group had a significantly shorter operative time, lesser blood loss, lesser transfusion volume, shorter fusion level, and lesser time to mobilization than did the SPA group. Higher average functional activity scores of SRS‐22 were obtained in the MIS group than in the SPA group. Conclusion Mini‐open PSO may be an effective alternative to the SPA for treating AS‐related spinal kyphosis, with comparable correction effect, lesser surgical trauma and faster recovery. This comparative study may provide valuable guidance for surgical decision‐making and patient counseling.

Abstract In order to improve the electrical tree resistance of epoxy resin, composites were prepared using dihydroxydiphenylsilane and a novel silicone modifier modified epoxy resin and micron silica, and the composites were subjected to accelerated thermal aging test and electrical tree test and recorded the growth process of electrical trees to further obtain the characteristic parameters of electrical trees in the experimental samples. The results show that the silicone‐modified epoxy resin/silica composite has better thermal stability and electrical tree resistance than the unmodified epoxy resin/silica composite and pure epoxy resin. Analysis of the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and breakdown field strength results show that the introduction of the modifier enhanced interfacial properties between the epoxy resin and silica. At the end of the electrical tree test, the length of the electrical tree in the silicone‐modified epoxy resin/silica composite was at a minimum 25.31% of the length of the electrical tree in the unmodified epoxy resin/silica composite with the same silica filling ratio, and 9.19% of the length of the electrical tree in the pure epoxy, while the electrical trees in the silicone‐modified epoxy resin/silica composite have lower expansion factors, as well as higher fractal dimensions, compared to those in the resin without added silica.

This research investigates the relationship between the microstructure and mechanical properties of electron beam welding joints, with a particular emphasis on the influence of varying electron beam currents on AISI 410L stainless steel plates and NS163 Co-based superalloy wires, which is a rare and novel form of welding. An increase in beam current led to a gradual transformation of the weld microstructure from columnar to equiaxed grains, creating finer and more homogeneous grains. Macrosegregation was also observed, a consequence of the liquidus temperature difference between the weld metal (WM) and base metal (BM). The segregation structure exhibited irregularly shaped beaches near the fusion line and islands of unmixed and partially mixed NS163 within the WM. This phenomenon was more pronounced in samples with a lower beam current. Given the limitations in BM shape and WM size, nanoindentation was employed to characterize the strength of welded joints. In conjunction with microhardness measurements, it was confirmed that the weld is strengthened under different electron beam currents, with higher current resulting in a more significant strengthening effect. This study also underscores the value of nanoindentation in evaluating the weld strength of brush seals without destruction.

Study region: In the Yangtze River basin of China. Study focus: Accurate and reliable streamflow forecasting methods are of utmost importance for the sustainable utilization and management of water resources. Recently, machine learning models have been widely used in streamflow forecasting, but greatly focus on the improvement of prediction accuracy and ignore the description of prediction uncertainty. Therefore, we applied bidirectional gated recurrent unit (BIGRU), attention mechanism (AM), and natural gradient boosting (NGB) methods to predict the uncertainty of streamflow in the Yangtze River basin. We propose a novel hybrid streamflow probabilistic prediction model BIGRU-AM-NGB. In addition, the underlying contribution of input features to output was thoroughly analyzed. New hydrological insights for the region: Six state-of-the-art models were compared with the proposed model from three aspects: deterministic prediction, interval prediction, and probability prediction. The results revealed that BIGRU-AM-NGB model can obtain high accuracy point prediction, reliable probability prediction, and appropriate interval prediction. Different input features result in different contribution to output. The runoff of Yichang hydrological station one-day ahead dominated the output, followed by the runoff of Zhutuo hydrological station two-day ahead. This can be attributed to the spatial and temporal distribution of hydrographic stations. Therefore, BIGRU-AM-NGB can achieve high-precision streamflow predictions while quantifying uncertainty, and effectively develop implicit relationships between features and output that obey physical properties.

Chlorite is present extensively in many types of deposits. The mechanism underlying the chemical variations in chlorite remains unclear. The Naruo porphyry deposit is a giant copper porphyry deposit in the Duolong ore district of Tibet. Chlorite, which is abundant in this deposit, has yet to be studied systematically; hence, we used principal component analysis (PCA) to assess the correlation between chlorite elements and various types of mineral deposits. We then conducted a preliminary investigation into its mineralogy and geochemistry to better understand its formation process and identify potential prospecting indicators. The PCA method proved effective in discerning two distinctive element signatures within the chlorite and categorising them into four deposit types: orogenic Au deposits, granite-type U deposits, and skarn-type Sn deposits that exhibit high FeO and low MgO distinguishing them from porphyry copper deposits. The chlorite in the Naruo deposit is classified as either early metasomatic (M-type), consisting mainly of clinochlore, or late hydrothermal (H-type), primarily consisting of clinochlore and chamosite. This classification suggests that H-type chlorite formed in a reductive environment conducive to Cu precipitation at medium temperatures (255°C–342°C). Al-Si and Fe-Mg substitutions were found to be the primary processes involved in its generation. Additionally, from the mineralisation centre outwards, there was an observed decrease in Si content as well as the Fe/(Fe+Mg) ratio in H-type chlorite, along with decreases in temperature, sulphur, and oxygen fugacity of all chlorites; conversely, increases were observed for Al content along with Mg and Mn elements in H-type chlorite. Chlorite is useful for exploring porphyry copper systems as an indicator mineral.