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Abstract Ancient buildings possess significant artistic and cultural value. The digitization of these structures is a crucial aspect of their restoration, providing foundational data for subsequent stress and health analyses. However, creating accurate models of ancient buildings is a challenging endeavor, even for experienced researchers, especially when dealing with a large number of structures. A pressing issue that needs addressing is how to quickly obtain accurate models of ancient buildings while ensuring both precision and efficiency. Currently, one of the more precise methods for reconstructing models of ancient buildings involves the use of scanned point clouds and manual reconstruction through modeling software. However, this method suffers from poor accuracy and low efficiency, making the modeling process complex and time-consuming. In this article, we will refer to the model generated from the point cloud of real components as the "current state model", and the unforced mesh model of the ancient building as the "standard model". An algorithm is proposed to construct the current state model of ancient buildings by guiding the deformation of the unforced standard model using the scanned point cloud model. First, this paper designs an automatic modeling method for ancient building components as the foundational data before deformation, addressing the issue of low modeling efficiency for ancient buildings. Second, it proposes a method for automatically calculating deformation control point pairs based on the characteristics of ancient buildings, solving the problem of manually locating control points. Finally, the proposed adaptive weight Laplacian deformation algorithm is applied to deform the standard model into the current state model.

Abstract How organisms respond to environmental stress is a key topic in evolutionary biology. This study focused on the genomic evolution of Laburnicola rhizohalophila, a dark-septate endophytic fungus from roots of a halophyte. Chromosome-level assemblies were generated from five representative isolates from structured subpopulations. The data revealed significant genomic plasticity resulting from chromosomal polymorphisms created by fusion and fission events, known as dysploidy. Analyses of genomic features, phylogenomics, and macrosynteny have provided clear evidence for the origin of intraspecific diploid-like hybrids. Notably, one diploid phenotype stood out as an outlier and exhibited a conditional fitness advantage when exposed to a range of abiotic stresses compared with its parents. By comparing the gene expression patterns in each hybrid parent triad under the four growth conditions, the mechanisms underlying growth vigor were corroborated through an analysis of transgressively upregulated genes enriched in membrane glycerolipid biosynthesis and transmembrane transporter activity. In vitro assays suggested increased membrane integrity and lipid accumulation, as well as decreased malondialdehyde production under optimal salt conditions (0.3 M NaCl) in the hybrid. These attributes have been implicated in salinity tolerance. This study supports the notion that hybridization-induced genome doubling leads to the emergence of phenotypic innovations in an extremophilic endophyte.

Abstract Purpose The aim of this study was to analyze the learning curve of total operative time, bone cutting accuracy, and limb alignment in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) using a Chinese image-based knee surgery robot known as HURWA. Additionally, a comparison was conducted with conventional TKA to ascertain the benefits of robotic-assisted TKA. Methods In this retrospective study, we analyzed a series of patients (n = 90) who underwent robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty using the HURWA robot between December 2021 and October 2022. The procedures were performed by one of three orthopedic surgeons with varying levels of experience. As a control group, we selected the last 30 conventional TKA cases performed by each of these three surgeons. To determine the learning curve, we recorded the operative time, bone cutting error, and pre- and post-surgery radiographs. Results The study found no significant differences in total operative time, bone cutting accuracy, or limb alignment among the three surgeons. Of the three surgeons, surgeon 1, who had the most experience in joint arthroplasty, reached the learning curve in case 8, with the shortest bone cutting time and robot time. Surgeon 2 reached the learning curve in case 16, while surgeon 3 reached the learning curve in case 9. There was no observable learning curve effect for bone cutting accuracy and limb alignment. However, the percentage of cases where limb alignment differed from preoperative planning by 3° or less was higher in robotic-assisted TKA (77.97%) than in conventional TKA (47.19%). Conclusion The study determined that the learning curve for robotic-assisted TKA using the HURWA knee surgery robot ranged from 8 to 20 cases. No observable learning curve effect was detected for bone cutting accuracy or limb alignment. Experienced surgeons using the HURWA robot for bone cutting took less time and reached the learning curve earlier. The HURWA robot achieved better limb alignment without depending on the experience of conventional TKA.

ObjectiveThe oxidative balance score (OBS) is important for determining the cause of obesity and its complications. We aimed to evaluate the association between OBS and obesity and other segmental body composition parameters among young and middle-aged U.S. adults.Methods9,998 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011–2018 were included. Lean mass percentage (LM%) and FM% were evaluated by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Obesity was defined as body FM% ≥25% in men and ≥ 35% in women. The OBS was scored by 5 pro-oxidant and 21 antioxidant factors. Associations of quartiles of OBS with obesity risk were estimated using multivariable logistic regression models. Multivariable linear regression was conducted to estimate the association between OBS and segmental body composition measures including the arm LM%, leg LM%, torso LM%, whole LM%, arm FM%, leg FM%, torso FM% and total FM%.ResultsCompared to participants in the lowest quartile of OBS, those in the highest quartile of OBS were associated with a lower risk of BMI-defined obesity BMI-defined obesity [0.43 (0.36, 0.50)] and FM%-related obesity [0.43 (0.35, 0.52)]. Additionally, OBS was negatively associated with FM% of the limb and torso but positively associated with the percentage of lean mass (LM%) of the limb and trunk.ConclusionOBS was negatively associated with the risk of obesity and segmental FM%, but was positively associated with segmental LM% among US adults, indicating that adhering to an anti-oxidative diet and lifestyle management may be beneficial for preventing segmental obesity.

IntroductionPatients suffering from limb movement disorders require more complete rehabilitation treatment, and there is a huge demand for rehabilitation exoskeleton robots. Flexible and reliable motion control of exoskeleton robots is very important for patient rehabilitation.MethodsThis paper proposes a novel exoskeleton robotic system for lower limb rehabilitation. The designed lower limb rehabilitation exoskeleton robot mechanism is mainly composed of the hip joint mechanism, the knee joint mechanism and the ankle joint mechanism. The forces and motion of the exoskeleton robot were analyzed in detail to determine its design parameters. The robot control system was developed to implement closed-loop position control and trajectory planning control of each joint mechanism.ResultsMultiple experiments and tests were carried out to verify robot's performance and practicality. In the robot angular response experiments, the joint mechanism could quickly adjust to different desired angles, including 15°, 30°, 45°, and 60°. In the trajectory tracking experiments, the exoskeleton robot could complete tracking movements of typical actions such as walking, standing up, sitting down, go upstairs and go downstairs, with a maximum tracking error of ±5°. Robotic wearing tests on normal people were performed to verify the assistive effects of the lower limb rehabilitation exoskeleton at different stages.DiscussionThe experimental results indicated that the exoskeleton robot has excellent reliability and practicality. The application of this exoskeleton robotic system will help paralyzed patients perform some daily movements and sports.

Abstract Background There is little prospective evidence exists about whether adherence to a diabetes risk reduction diet (DRRD) is related to a significant reduction in renal cancer risk. We sought to clarify whether adherence to DRRD was associated with a reduced risk of renal cancer in a US population. Methods A population-based cohort of 101,755 American adults was identified from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial. A DRRD score was calculated to assess adherence to this dietary pattern, where increased scores indicated greater adherence. The relationship between DRRD score and risk of renal cancer was assessed based on the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), which were both calculated using Cox regression. Non-linear association was determined through restricted cubic spline regression. Potential effect modifiers were identified through subgroup analyses. Results Over a mean follow-up of 8.8 years, 446 renal cancers were detected. In this analysis, the fully adjusted model depicted a notable 29% reduction in the risk of renal cancer among individuals in the highest quartile of DRRD score in comparison with the lowest quartile individuals (HRQ4 vs. Q1: 0.71; 95% CI = 0.54, 0.94; P trend = 0.008). This association remained consistent across a series of sensitivity analyses. A non-linear inverse dose–response association between renal cancer risk with DRRD score was observed (P nonlinearity = 0.026). Subgroup analyses showed that this favorable link was more prominent in participants with low Healthy Eating Index-2015 (P interaction = 0.015). Regarding the individual components of DRRD, a decrease in the risk of renal cancer was linked to increased intake of cereal fiber and whole fruit, and lower sugar-sweetened beverage consumption (all P trend

Objectives: This paper presented a detailed analysis of the epidemiology and molecular characteristics of staphylococcal food poisoning (SFP) that occurred in a hotel in Hangzhou. Methods: A total of 46 guests at the hotel underwent an epidemiological survey. Samples of stool from patients, vomit, swabs from the kitchen, leftover food items, and anal swabs from food handlers were taken and investigated for the presence of potential pathogenic bacteria. Molecular techniques and whole genome sequencing were performed to track the evolution of Staphylococcus aureus associated with the outbreak of SFP. Results: Forty-six individuals displayed gastrointestinal symptoms. Seventeen isolates of S. aureus were discovered to carry the seg, sei, sem, sen, seo, and selu genes found in a specific enterotoxin gene cluster (egc) operon, but without the presence of classical enterotoxins such as SEA ∼ SEE. All egc-positive isolates shared identical pulsed-field gel electrophoresis profiles and were classified under new ST7591 (Clonal Complex 72) with identical spa typing t148. In addition, some isolates of S. aureus obtained from food sources sold in Hangzhou over the past 3 years and carrying egc genes were grouped under the ST72 lineage (CC72). Through whole genome sequencing, a strong genetic connection was revealed between these egc-positive isolates and clinical ST72 S. aureus found in China. Conclusions: S. aureus with non-classical egc enterotoxins was suggested to be a potential cause of SFP in humans.

Abstract Downregulation of endothelial Sirtuin1 (Sirt1) in insulin resistant states contributes to vascular dysfunction. Furthermore, Sirt1 deficiency in skeletal myocytes promotes insulin resistance. Here, we show that deletion of endothelial Sirt1, while impairing endothelial function, paradoxically improves skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity. Compared to wild-type mice, male mice lacking endothelial Sirt1 (E-Sirt1-KO) preferentially utilize glucose over fat, and have higher insulin sensitivity, glucose uptake, and Akt signaling in fast-twitch skeletal muscle. Enhanced insulin sensitivity of E-Sirt1-KO mice is transferrable to wild-type mice via the systemic circulation. Endothelial Sirt1 deficiency, by inhibiting autophagy and activating nuclear factor-kappa B signaling, augments expression and secretion of thymosin beta-4 (Tβ4) that promotes insulin signaling in skeletal myotubes. Thus, unlike in skeletal myocytes, Sirt1 deficiency in the endothelium promotes glucose homeostasis by stimulating skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity through a blood-borne mechanism, and augmented secretion of Tβ4 by Sirt1-deficient endothelial cells boosts insulin signaling in skeletal muscle cells.

Abstract Background Despite the possible contribution of dairy products to the development or prevention of cancers, there is a lack of epidemiological evidence linking low‐fat dairy consumption to the risk of developing lung cancer. This research was conducted to fill this knowledge gap. Methods The data for this research were collected from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial. The Cox proportional risk model was employed to evaluate the link between low‐fat dairy consumption and the risk of developing lung cancer. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were measured in both unadjusted and adjusted models. A series of predefined subgroup analyses were performed to identify potential effect modifiers, and several sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the stability of the findings. Results The study included data from 98,459 individuals. During a total of 869,807.9 follow‐up person‐years, 1642 cases of lung cancer were observed, with an incidence of 0.189 cases for every 100 person‐years. In the fully adjusted model, participants in the highest quartile of low‐fat dairy consumption had a significantly decreased risk of lung cancer compared to the ones in the lowest quartile (HRquartile 4 vs. 1: 0.769, 95% CI: 0.664, 0.891, ptrend = 0.005). The restricted cubic spline plot revealed an inverse nonlinear dose–response relationship between low‐fat dairy consumption and lung cancer risk (pnonlinearity = 0.008). Subgroup analyses demonstrated that the inverse association was stronger among participants with higher daily caloric intake (pinteraction = 0.031). Various sensitivity analyses produced consistent results. Conclusion Consuming more low‐fat dairy products is significantly linked to a reduced risk of developing lung cancer, indicating that an appropriate increase in the use of low‐fat dairy products may help prevent lung cancer.

BackgroundThe intricate role of oxidative stress (OS) in colorectal cancer (CRC) initiation is underscored by an imbalance between pro-oxidants and antioxidants. Utilizing the Oxidative Balance Score (OBS) as a metric, this study aims to investigate the association between OS exposure and CRC risk, while also examining potential sex-specific differences in a large U.S. cohort.MethodsThe study included 98,395 adults from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial. To construct the OBS, 14 dietary and lifestyle factors intricately associated with oxidative stress were quantified. A higher OBS value indicated a more favorable oxidative balance pattern or diminished OS exposure. Due to sex-specific differences in OBS, associations were evaluated separately for men and women based on Cox regression analysis. Subgroup analyses were conducted to elucidate potential modifiers.ResultsDuring 867,963.4 person-years of follow-up, 1,054 CRCs occurred. The mean (SD) age and OBS were 65.52 (5.73) years and 14.09 (3.95) points, respectively. In the fully adjusted Cox model, we observed an inverse association between OBS and CRC incidence in women (HRQ5vsQ1: 0.72; 95% CI: 0.52, 0.99; P for trend = 0.018) but not men. Subgroup analyses revealed the inverse association was more pronounced among women without versus with a family history of CRC (HRQ5vsQ1: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.47–0.93; P for trend = 0.001; P for interaction = 0.001). The results remained robust after several sensitivity analyses.ConclusionHigher OBS was associated with lower CRC risk in women but not men; this inverse association was stronger among women without a family history of CRC. These findings suggest exposure to OS may confer sex-specific CRC risk effects, especially for women without a family history of CRC.

BackgroundKlinefelter’s syndrome (KS) was once considered infertile due to congenital chromosomal abnormalities, but the presence of focal spermatozoa changed this. The key to predict and promote spermatogenesis is to find targets that regulate focal spermatogenesis.ObjectiveTo explore the trend of fertility changes in KS patients at different ages and identify potential therapeutic targets.MethodsBibliometric analysis was used to collect clinical research data on KS from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) from 1992 to 2022. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 75 KS patients who underwent microscopic testicular sperm extraction (mTESE) from 2017 to 2022 in the real world. The reproductive hormones, testicular histopathology, androgen receptors, insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3) receptors and sperm recovery rate (SRR) were analyzed.ResultsMale infertility, dysplasia, Sertoli cells, Leydig cells, testosterone and spermatogenesis were the research focuses related to KS. Luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone, and INSL3 were evaluation indicators of Leydig cell function that fluctuate with age. Testosterone and LH peaked at ages 13-19 and 30-45, while INSL3 only peaked at ages 13-19. 27 patients (27/75) recovered sperm through mTESE and experienced SRR peaks at the ages of 20, 28, 34, and 37. The SRR of fibrosis patients was 46.15%, fatty degeneration was 7.14%, and melanosis was 40.00%. The INSL3 and androgen receptors were highly expressed and roughly balanced in focal spermatogenesis.ConclusionAbnormal metabolism of Leydig cells led to imbalanced expression of INSL3 and androgen receptors, which might be a potential target for spermatogenesis in KS.

BackgroundSulfur microbial diet (SMD), related to the enrichment of sulfur-metabolizing gut bacteria, has been confirmed to be linked to an elevated risk of early-onset colorectal adenoma in young females. However, it remains unclear whether SMD is associated with the risk of colorectal adenoma in older people, who are at greater risk for colorectal cancer.MethodsAll data on participants in this study were retrieved from the intervention arm of the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) cancer screening test. Participants’ adherence to this dietary pattern was assessed using SMD score. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were adopted in Cox proportional hazards regression models to assess the link between SMD score and the incidence of colorectal adenoma in participants included in the study. Specific stratified analyses were constructed to assess whether this association changed in different conditions, whereas the robustness of the association was examined through sensitivity analyses.ResultsThe mean baseline age of participants was 62.1 (SD 5.2) years (range 54.0–75.0 years). During 19,468,589 person-years of follow-up, 992 colorectal adenoma cases were documented in a total of 17,627 included participants. In a fully adjusted model, an increased risk of colorectal adenoma was determined in participants in the highest quartile of SMD score in comparison with those in the lowest quartile (HRquartile4 vs. HRquartile1 = 1.23; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.47; p = 0.017 for trend). This positive association between SMD score and adenoma risk was more evident in participants who were current or former smokers (p = 0.029 for interaction).ConclusionIn this study, our results support a role for the SMD in the carcinogenicity of colorectal cancer precursors among older adults. Nevertheless, these results require validation through more research.

The geological characteristics of tight oil have been relatively well understood, but there are certain questions needed to be answered regarding the distribution of tight oil. With comprehensive analysis of core, well logging and physical properties, and by means of mathematical calculation, the effects of the source-reservoir contact conditions on the enrichment of near-source tight reservoir of the first section of the eighth member of Yanchang Formation (Chang 81) in the Longdong area of Ordos Basin were studied in this paper. Results show that the source-reservoir contact conditions can be classified as four types including direct contact, transitional contact, fracture connected, and mudstone barrier. Among them, the direct contact and fracture connected types are favorable for the migration and accumulation of tight oil, while the transitional contact and mudstone barrier types have an obvious barrier effect for the migration of tight oil. The oil wells in the Chang 81 member in the Longdong area are mainly located in regions with a thickness of mudstone barrier less than 4 m, while the water or dry wells are mainly located in regions with a mudstone barrier thickness greater than 4 m. Based on the above calculation, it can be concluded that the source-reservoir contact condition determines the enrichment and vertical migration distance of tight oil. For the exploration of near-source tight oil, not only the "sweet zone" of the reservoir is conducive, the type of the source-reservoir contact condition should also be considered as a key factor.

BackgroundDietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) eating pattern is linked to anti-inflammatory responses and antioxidation, which overlap with the pathogenesis of lung cancer. However, there is insufficient epidemiological evidence to link this dietary pattern to lung cancer risk conclusively.AimTo determine if adherence to the DASH diet is linked to a lower risk of developing lung cancer in a large prospective study.MethodologyThe data of participants were retrieved from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial. A DASH score was calculated based on 8 dietary components to reflect adherence to DASH, with greater scores representing higher adherence. Three Cox proportional hazards models were constructed to analyze the association between DASH scores and lung cancer risk, including an unadjusted model and two adjusted models (model 1 for demographics and model 2 for fully confounding factors). A restricted cubic spline plot was utilized to illustrate the likelihood of developing lung cancer across the entire range of DASH scores. The association between each of the 8 DASH components and the risk of lung cancer was assessed separately. Several subgroup analyses were conducted to identify potential modifiers, and several sensitivity analyses were performed to verify the robustness of the findings.ResultsThe study involved 98,459 individuals in total. The mean (standard deviation) DASH score was 24.00 (4.62) points, along with the mean follow-up period of 8.84 (1.94) years. Lung cancer was identified in 1642 cases over 869807.9 person-years of follow-up, and the overall incidence rate was 0.189 cases/100 person-years. Participants in the highest quartile in the fully adjusted model had a relatively decreased risk of developing lung cancer in comparison to those in the lowest quartile (HRquartile 4 versus 1: 0.647; 95% CI: 0.557, 0.752; Ptrend

This study applies the theory of planned behavior to predict Bangladeshi teachers’ intentions and behaviors towards private tutoring. It secured qualitative data from 18 semi-structured interviews with students, parents, and teachers. The data were analyzed using a thematic analysis procedure. The findings revealed that teachers’ behavioral intentions to engage in private tutoring were influenced by their attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. Unlike prior empirically-driven studies, this study makes a substantial contribution by establishing a theoretical foundation that can predict teachers’ intentions and behaviors within the context of shadow schooling. Additionally, the moral and professional ramifications of tutoring practice are discussed, and suggestions are made in terms of public policy to manage those ramifications.

Objective: RGS2 is a GTPase activating protein that modulates GPCR-Gα signaling and mice lacking RGS2 globally exhibit metabolic alterations. While RGS2 is known to be broadly expressed throughout the body including the brain, the relative contribution of brain RGS2 to metabolic homeostasis remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to characterize RGS2 expression in the paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus (PVN) and test its role in metabolic homeostasis. Methods: We used a combination of RNAscope in situ hybridization (ISH), immunohistochemistry, and bioinformatic analyses to characterize the pattern of Rgs2 expression in the PVN. We then created mice lacking Rgs2 either prenatally or postnatally in the PVN and evaluated their metabolic consequences. Results: RNAscope ISH analysis revealed a broad but regionally enriched Rgs2 mRNA expression throughout the mouse brain, with the highest expression being observed in the PVN along with several other brain regions, such as the arcuate nucleus of hypothalamus and the dorsal raphe nucleus. Within the PVN, we found that Rgs2 is specifically enriched in CRH+ endocrine neurons and is further increased by calorie restriction. Functionally, although Sim1-Cre-mediated prenatal deletion of Rgs2 in PVN neurons had no major effects on metabolic homeostasis, AAV-mediated adult deletion of Rgs2 in the PVN led to significantly increased food intake, body weight (both fat and fat-free masses), body length, and blood glucose levels in both male and female mice. Strikingly, we found that prolonged postnatal loss of Rgs2 leads to neuronal cell death in the PVN, while rapid body weight gain in the early phase of viral-mediated PVN Rgs2 deletion is independent of PVN neuronal loss. Conclusions: Our results provide the first evidence to show that PVN Rgs2 expression is not only sensitive to metabolic challenge but also critically required for PVN endocrine neurons to function and maintain metabolic homeostasis.

BackgroundLow-fat diet reduces the risk of chronic metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes, which exhibit overlapping mechanisms with liver cancer. However, the association between low-fat diet and liver cancer risk remains unclear.AimTo investigate whether adherence to low-fat diet is associated with a reduced risk of liver cancer in a prospective study.Materials and methodsData of participants in this study were collected from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial. A low-fat diet score was calculated to reflect adherence to low-fat dietary pattern, with higher scores indicating greater adherence. Cox regression was used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for liver cancer incidence with adjustment for potential covariates. Restricted cubic spline model was used to characterize liver cancer risk across the full range of the low-fat diet score. Prespecified subgroup analyses were used to identify potential impact modifiers. Sensitivity analyses were performed to test the robustness of this association.ResultsA total of 98,455 participants were included in the present analysis. The mean (standard deviation) age, low-fat diet score, and follow-up time were 65.52 (5.73) years, 14.99 (6.27) points, and 8.86 (1.90) years, respectively. During 872639.5 person-years of follow-up, 91 liver cancers occurred, with an overall incidence rate of 0.01 cases per 100 person-years. In the fully adjusted Cox model, the highest versus the lowest quartile of low-fat diet score was found to be associated with a reduced risk of liver cancer (HRQ4 vs. Q1: 0.458; 95% CI: 0.218, 0.964; P = 0.035 for trend), which remained associated through a series of sensitivity analyses. The restricted cubic spline model showed a linear dose–response association between low-fat diet score and liver cancer incidence (p = 0.482 for non-linear). Subgroup analyses did not show significant interaction between low-fat diet score and potential impact modifiers in the incidence of liver cancer.ConclusionIn this study, low-fat diet score is associated with reduced liver cancer risk in the US population, indicating that adherence to low-fat diet may be helpful for liver cancer prevention. Future studies should validate our findings in other populations.

Changes in rhizosphere microbial populations and their functions in response to Spartina alterniflora root invasion could potentially reveal part of the mechanism of Suaeda salsa degradation. In this study, rhizosphere soils were collected from regions where S. alterniflora (SA) and S. salsa (SS) grew independently as well as rhizosphere soil from mixed growth regions (namely MSA and MSS) before applying high-throughput sequencing technology to study the characteristics of microbial communities. The results showed that the physicochemical properties of the rhizosphere soils were different between the groups of samples. However, based on the multi-factor PERMANOVA analysis, only EC and NO3−-N were found to significantly influence the microbial communities’ composition. Furthermore, α diversity indices and β diversity analyses revealed that the diversity and structure of rhizosphere microbial community changed in varying degrees after invasion. Compared with SS, the most abundant bacteria phylum namely Tenericutes, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria in MSS were identified as major species that increased significantly in abundance in response to S. alterniflora root invasion, while the composition of fungal community did not change. Furthermore, PICRUSt analysis revealed that the higher abundance of signal transduction, membrane transport, cell motility and certain disease-related functional pathways of MSA and MSS could be conducive to the colonization and survival of bacterial pathogens. Additionally, the analysis of the FUNGuild database confirmed that a higher proportion of pathotroph and pathogen. This could very likely cause S. salsa to be more susceptible to soil pathogenic fungi in mixed growth region. In contrast, the increase of the saprotroph-symbiotroph could be beneficial for the colonization and expansion of S. alterniflora. This study provides a new perspective for elucidating the driving mechanism by microorganisms behind S. salsa’s degradation following S. alterniflora’s invasion.

Summary: Progressive resistance training (PRT) is one of the most commonly used exercise methods after joint replacement, while its effectiveness and safety are still controversial. Therefore, it's vital to investigate the effect of PRT on muscle strength and functional capacity early postoperative total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Relevant studies were identified via a search of Medline, Web of science and Cochrane Library from 2002 to 12 May 2020. Fifteen of 704 studies which comprised 6 THAs and 8 TKAs, involving 1021 adult patients were eligible for inclusion in the meta-analysis. There were no significant differences between the two groups after TKA in the 6-min walk test (6-WMT) within 1 month (95% CI = −0.41, 1.53), within 3 months (95% CI = −0.27, 0.76), within 12 months (95% CI = −0.29, 0.66); climb performance in seconds (s) (SCP), leg extension power, timed up and go test in seconds (s) (TUG) within 1 month (95% CI = −1.75, 0.77), within 3 months (95% CI = −0.48, 0.33), within 12 months (95% CI = −0.44, 0.35), sit to stand, number of repetitions in 30s (ST). There was no difference in the incidence of adverse events (95% CI = −0.01, 0.10). Similarly, two groups were also no obvious distinction after THA in the 6-WMT, SCP, Leg extension power, ST. PRT early after THA or TKA did not differ significantly from SR in terms of functional capacity, muscle strength recovery and incidence of adverse events. PRT is one of the options for rapid rehabilitation after joint replacement.

Objective: Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a peripherally-derived endocrine hormone that acts on the central nervous system (CNS) to regulate whole body energy homeostasis. Pharmacological administration of FGF21 promotes weight loss in obese animal models and human subjects with obesity. However, the central targets mediating these effects are incompletely defined. Methods: To explore the mechanism for FGF21's effects to lower body weight, we pharmacologically administer FGF21 to genetic animal models lacking the obligate FGF21 co-receptor, β-klotho (KLB), in either glutamatergic (Vglut2-Cre) or GABAergic (Vgat-Cre) neurons. In addition, we abolish FGF21 signaling to leptin receptor (LepR-Cre) positive cells. Finally, we examine the synergistic effects of FGF21 and leptin to lower body weight and explore the importance of physiological leptin levels in FGF21-mediated regulation of body weight. Results: Here we show that FGF21 signaling to glutamatergic neurons is required for FGF21 to modulate energy expenditure and promote weight loss. In addition, we demonstrate that FGF21 signals to leptin receptor-expressing cells to regulate body weight, and that central leptin signaling is required for FGF21 to fully stimulate body weight loss during obesity. Interestingly, co-administration of FGF21 and leptin synergistically leads to robust weight loss. Conclusions: These data reveal an important endocrine crosstalk between liver- and adipose-derived signals which integrate in the CNS to modulate energy homeostasis and body weight regulation.

Objective: The aim of the study was to explore the evidence of JWRJD in the treatment of cryptozoospermia.Methods: A total of 162 cryptozoospermia patients with varicocele who refused to undergo surgery were included from January 2021 to December 2021. They were divided into the Jiawei Runjing Decoction group (group A), tamoxifen group (group B), and no treatment group (group C), and after the follow-up for 3 months, therapeutic effectiveness was compared. Network pharmacology was used to analyze and validate the effects and mechanisms of JWRJD.Results: Fifty-eight patients were treated with JWRJD, 55 with tamoxifen, and 49 without any treatment. After treatment, five patients were lost: one in group A, one in group B, and three in group C. The sperm count and the decrease of FSH in group A were significantly higher, but the degree of decline in the testicular volume and the degree of vein expansion have decreased significantly, which were closely related to the testicular volume (TV) [especially changes in the left testicular volume (ΔL-TV)], citric acid (CC) and its changes (ΔCC), and the vein width (VW) [especially left spermatic vein width (L-VW) and mean vein width (M-VW) and their changes (ΔL-VW and ΔM-VW)], as well as the sperm count before the treatment (bSC), which were the significant indexes to predict the therapeutic effect, especially for patients >35 years old and with grade III varicoceles. Network pharmacological analysis verifies that it can be regulated by fluid shear stress and the atherosclerosis pathway to improve the testicular microenvironment for spermatogenesis.Conclusion: JWRJD may promote spermatogenesis in cryptozoospermia patients with varicocele, which may be closely related to improving the testicular microenvironment, especially for >35 year olds and grade III varicocele patients.

This study aims to provide microstructural characterization for the matrix graphite which molten salt reactors (MSRs) use, and improve resistance to molten salt infiltration of the matrix graphite for fuel elements. Mesocarbon microbeads (MCMB) densified matrix graphite A3-3 (MDG) was prepared by a quasi-isostatic pressure process. After densification by MCMBs with average particle sizes of 2, 10, and 16 μm, the pore diameter of A3-3 decreased from 924 nm to 484 nm, 532 nm, and 778 nm, respectively. Through scanning electron microscopy, the cross-section energy spectrum and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry, resistance levels of the matrix graphite to molten salt infiltration were analyzed. The results demonstrate that adding a certain proportion of MCMB powders can improve the anti-infiltration ability of A3-3. Meanwhile, the closer the particle size of MCMB is to the pore diameter of A3-3, the smaller the average pore diameter of MDG and the greater the densification. As a matrix graphite of fuel elements in MSR was involved, the thermal and mechanical properties of matrix graphite MDG were also studied. When densified by the MCMB matrix graphite, MDGs can meet the molten salt anti-infiltration requirements for MSR operation.

Private tutoring is a newly emerging field of research, which remains largely under-theorized. Adopting the Vygotskian philosophy of learning as an analytical lens, this qualitative study conceptualized the academic effects of private tutoring in a Bangladeshi higher secondary educational context. The primary data were gathered from 18 semi-structured interviews with tutored students, parents, and teachers. The data from secondary sources were also collected to supplement the primary data. A thematic procedure was used to analyze the data. The analysis demonstrated two important findings. First, students internalized knowledge and skills through scaffolding by their private tutors, which eliminated their learning deficiencies and boosted their academic credentials. Second, private tutoring induced long-term deficiencies as it provided rote learning. It dulled students’ critical thinking and made them dependent on others. The paper carried significant theoretical implications by producing a unique insight into students’ learning in the shadows from a Vygotskian perspective.

This study investigates the role and mechanisms by which the myokine musclin promotes exercise-induced cardiac conditioning. Exercise is one of the most powerful triggers of cardiac conditioning with proven benefits for healthy and diseased hearts. There is an emerging understanding that muscles produce and secrete myokines, which mediate local and systemic “crosstalk” to promote exercise tolerance and overall health, including cardiac conditioning. The myokine musclin, highly conserved across animal species, has been shown to be upregulated in response to physical activity. However, musclin effects on exercise-induced cardiac conditioning are not established. Following completion of a treadmill exercise protocol, wild type (WT) mice and mice with disruption of the musclin-encoding gene, Ostn, had their hearts extracted and exposed to an ex vivo ischemia-reperfusion protocol or biochemical studies. Disruption of musclin signaling abolished the ability of exercise to mitigate cardiac ischemic injury. This impaired cardioprotection was associated with reduced mitochondrial content and function linked to blunted cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) signaling. Genetic deletion of musclin reduced the nuclear abundance of protein kinase G (PKGI) and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) response element binding (CREB), resulting in suppression of the master regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC1α), and its downstream targets in response to physical activity. Synthetic musclin peptide pharmacokinetic parameters were defined and used to calculate the infusion rate necessary to maintain its plasma level comparable to that observed after exercise. This infusion was found to reproduce the cardioprotective benefits of exercise in sedentary WT and Ostn-KO mice. Musclin is essential for exercise-induced cardiac protection. Boosting musclin signaling might serve as a novel therapeutic strategy for cardioprotection.

BackgroundLimb length discrepancy (LLD) is one of the most common postoperative complications and can cause serious consequences. Poor recovery of femoral offset (OD) will result in weakness of the patient's external rotator muscles and affect the patient's postoperative function. The study is aimed to present a simple approach that compensates for the shortcomings of previous measuring devices and combines the advantages of different measuring devices to provide more accurate limb length and femoral offset restoration in total hip arthroplasty (THA).MethodsThis study was a prospective controlled trial involving 89 patients with THA. Group I (n = 44) was used for intraoperative measurement of THA with our self-designed horizontal calibrator. Group II (n = 45) was measured by a traditional freehand technique. The main outcome indicators were measured on the Neusoft PACS, including LLD, femoral offset deviation, and operative time. IBM SPSS 23.0 was used for data analysis.ResultsThe independent sample t-test was performed for all the data. The operative time, preoperative radiographic LLD, and OD of Group I and Group II had no statistical significance. Postoperative LLD of Group I and Group II were 2.5 ± 2.1 mm (range −5.7 to 8.3 mm) and 6.2 ± 4.3 mm (range −18.0 to 15.2 mm), and the independent sample t-test data of both (P < 0.001; 95% CI = −5.1, −2.2) showed statistical significance. In Group I, there were 38 THAs with LLD

Measuring the value of natural capital provides decision support in regard to the trade-off between natural capital use and protection. Evaluating the natural capital value of land from the perspective of the rural land ecosystem is helpful for better understanding its value. Moreover, research on the spatiotemporal variation characteristics of the natural capital value of land facilitates determination of the rural land natural capital value (RLNCV) evolution trend. This study constructed an accounting system of the RLNCV in Chongqing from the donor side based on emergy theory combined with a spatial analysis method. The spatiotemporal characteristics, spatial correlation, and spatial differentiation in the RLNCV were studied. The main conclusions are described as follows: (1) The RLNCV in Chongqing increased year by year, from 31.035 billion yuan in 2005 to 204.087 billion yuan in 2018. The high-value areas were mainly distributed in the northeast and southeast regions, and the low-value areas were largely located in the Metropolitan Economic Circle (MEC) and the region around the main city. The change rates of most districts and counties in the southeastern region were high, while those of certain districts and counties in the northeastern region were low. However, due to the large base, the value was relatively high. (2) The global Moran's I of the RLNCV in Chongqing increased from 0.602 in 2005 to 0.624 in 2018, indicating that the geographical spatial autocorrelation was increasing, there was a spatial agglomeration effect, and the coefficient of variation increased from 0.096 in 2005 to 0.808 in 2018; these findings indicate that the regional difference was increasing, and the spatial imbalance was notable. (3) The RLNCV spatial association types in Chongqing indicated a significant positive correlation-related agglomeration distribution. The high-value agglomeration association types were mainly distributed in the northeastern and southeastern regions, and the low-value agglomeration association types largely occurred in the western part of the region near the main city. (4) The rainfall factor attained the highest explanatory power regarding the spatial differentiation in the RLNCV in Chongqing, and the human activity factor had limited influence. However, the synergistic effect of the human and socioeconomic factors continuously increased, and the influence of the policy factors increased. Chongqing was as selected the case study in this work, and it yields important reference significance for rural land natural capital evaluation in the unique area of human-land relationship change and facilitates the implementation of appropriate government policies for rural land natural resource management. Based on this study, policymakers should optimize the spatial differentiation control mechanism, accounting evaluation mechanism, and green development. This study provides a reference for understanding the RLNCV from the donor side and can guide the maintenance and appreciation of natural capital in areas with complex and diverse human land relationships and unbalanced development.

Objective: The paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus (PVN), an integrative center in the brain, orchestrates a wide range of physiological and behavioral responses. While the PVN melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) signaling (PVNMC4R+) is involved in feeding regulation, the neuroanatomical organization of PVNMC4R+ connectivity and its role in other physiological regulations are incompletely understood. Here we aimed to better characterize the input–output organization of PVNMC4R+ neurons and test their physiological functions beyond feeding. Methods: Using a combination of viral tools, we mapped PVNMC4R+ circuits and tested the effects of chemogenetic activation of PVNMC4R+ neurons on thermoregulation, cardiovascular control, and other behavioral responses beyond feeding. Results: We found that PVNMC4R+ neurons innervate many different brain regions that are known to be important not only for feeding but also for neuroendocrine and autonomic control of thermoregulation and cardiovascular function, including but not limited to the preoptic area, median eminence, parabrachial nucleus, pre-locus coeruleus, nucleus of solitary tract, ventrolateral medulla, and thoracic spinal cord. Contrary to these broad efferent projections, PVNMC4R+ neurons receive monosynaptic inputs mainly from other hypothalamic nuclei (preoptic area, arcuate and dorsomedial hypothalamic nuclei, supraoptic nucleus, and premammillary nucleus), the circumventricular organs (subfornical organ and vascular organ of lamina terminalis), the bed nucleus of stria terminalis, and the parabrachial nucleus. Consistent with their broad efferent projections, chemogenetic activation of PVNMC4R+ neurons not only suppressed feeding but also led to an apparent increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and brown adipose tissue temperature. These physiological changes accompanied acute transient hyperactivity followed by hypoactivity and resting-like behavior. Conclusions: Our results elucidate the neuroanatomical organization of PVNMC4R+ circuits and shed new light on the roles of PVNMC4R+ pathways in autonomic control of thermoregulation, cardiovascular function, and biphasic behavioral activation.

Summary: Brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenic activity is tightly regulated by cellular redox status, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are incompletely understood. Protein S-nitrosylation, the nitric-oxide-mediated cysteine thiol protein modification, plays important roles in cellular redox regulation. Here we show that diet-induced obesity (DIO) and acute cold exposure elevate BAT protein S-nitrosylation, including UCP1. This thermogenic-induced nitric oxide bioactivity is regulated by S-nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR; alcohol dehydrogenase 5 [ADH5]), a denitrosylase that balances the intracellular nitroso-redox status. Loss of ADH5 in BAT impairs cold-induced UCP1-dependent thermogenesis and worsens obesity-associated metabolic dysfunction. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that Adh5 expression is induced by the transcription factor heat shock factor 1 (HSF1), and administration of an HSF1 activator to BAT of DIO mice increases Adh5 expression and significantly improves UCP1-mediated respiration. Together, these data indicate that ADH5 controls BAT nitroso-redox homeostasis to regulate adipose thermogenesis, which may be therapeutically targeted to improve metabolic health.

Objectives: The hypothalamic ventromedial nucleus (VMH) plays a major role in metabolic control, but the molecular mechanisms involved remain poorly defined. We analyzed the relevance of the BBSome, a protein complex composed of 8 Bardet–Biedl syndrome (BBS) proteins including BBS1, in VMH steroidogenic factor 1 (SF1) neurons for the control of energy homeostasis and related physiological processes. Methods: We generated mice bearing selective BBSome disruption, through Bbs1 gene deletion, in SF1 neurons (SF1Cre/Bbs1fl/fl). We analyzed the consequence on body weight, glucose homeostasis, and cardiovascular autonomic function of BBSome loss in SF1 neurons. Results: SF1Cre/Bbs1fl/fl mice had increased body weight and adiposity under normal chow conditions. Food intake, energy absorption, and digestive efficiency were not altered by Bbs1 gene deletion in SF1 neurons. SF1Cre/Bbs1fl/fl mice exhibited lower energy expenditure, particularly during the dark cycle. Consistent with this finding, SF1Cre/Bbs1fl/fl mice displayed reduced sympathetic nerve traffic and expression of markers of thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue. SF1Cre/Bbs1fl/fl mice also had lower sympathetic nerve activity to subcutaneous white adipose tissue that was associated with a protein expression profile that promotes lipid accumulation. Notably, despite obesity and hyperinsulinemia, SF1Cre/Bbs1fl/fl mice did not exhibit significant changes in glucose metabolism, insulin sensitivity, blood pressure, and baroreflex sensitivity. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that the SF1 neuron BBSome is necessary for the regulation of energy homeostasis through modulation of the activity of the sympathetic nervous system and that the SF1 neuron BBSome is required for the development of obesity-related comorbidities.

The efficient utilization and optimal allocation of natural capital play an important role in economic development and human well-being. The production process of natural capital is the input and output processing of its ecological resources and the environment. Improving the rural natural capital utilization efficiency (RNCUE) is an important goal of natural capital investment, and the efficient utilization of natural capital is an important factor for the efficient operation of the regional economy and society. This study uses the super slack-based measure (SBM) model based on undesirable outputs to measure the RNCUE, combines the exploratory data analysis method (ESDA) and spatial Markov transfer matrix to analyse the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of efficiency, and analyses the influencing factors of the change of the RNCUE in Chongqing through a spatial econometric model. The results show that: (1) The RNCUE in Chongqing is still at a low level as a whole and there is a large space for efficiency improvement and efficient operation. There is a certain spatial dependence on the interaction of efficiency between adjacent districts and counties. (2) High-high agglomeration is concentrated in the western area of Chongqing One-hour Economic Circle, and low-low agglomeration is concentrated in Southeast and Northeast Chongqing. The probability of a large change in the RNCUE in consecutive years is small, and it is easy to form the phenomenon of “club convergence” in space. (3) The RNCUE in Chongqing has been affected by rainfall, temperature, NDVI, the per capita GDP, proportion of fixed asset investment, expenditure for agriculture, and proportion of primary industry and rural population. The influencing factors show that the spatial heterogeneity is significant. The RNCUE has a negative correlation with forest coverage and the expenditure for agriculture, is not significantly positive or negative with the proportion of the primary industry and is positively correlated with the rural population density. This study points out that we can improve the RNCUE in Chongqing by optimizing the spatial differentiation control mechanism, clarifying property rights, enhancing liquidity, and strengthening scientific and technological innovation.

The normalized Laplacian spectrum of a graph is an important tool that one can use to find much information about its topological and structural characteristics and also on some relevant dynamical aspects, specifically in relation to random walks. In this paper we devise an essentially algorithm to obtain the approximating graphs of a class of general Sierpinski triangles and their normalized Laplacian spectra, and illustrate such algorithm by a quasi-program of Matlab. In the meantime, our work also enriches the graphs whose spectrum is known.

Objective Diagnosing gastric cancer (GC) at early stages is important for reducing its mortality. This study evaluated the diagnostic value of serum pepsinogen (PG) I, PGII, and gastrin-17 (G17) levels in screening for early-stage GC. Methods Serum levels of PGI, PGII, and G17 were measured in patients with upper digestive tract symptoms or GC family histories, and the PGI to PGII ratio (PGR) was calculated. Receiver operator characteristic curves were used to determine the thresholds of PGI, PGR, and G17 for GC diagnosis. Results Among the 949 patients examined by gastroscopy, 13 (1.37%) had GC, including five cases of early-stage GC and eight cases of progressive GC. PGI, PGR, and G17 showed good specificity and sensitivity for early-stage and progressive GC. The optimal thresholds of PGI, G17, and PGR were 71.85 μg/L, 15.65 pmol/L and 5.04 for the diagnosis of early-stage GC, respectively, and were 42.55 μg/L, 20.55 pmol/L, and 2.79 for the diagnosis of progressive GC, respectively. Conclusion Combining PG and G17 serum levels with gastroscopy could be a promising approach to screen for early-stage GC.

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) agonists such as dioxin have been associated with obesity and the development of diabetes. Whole-body Ahr knockout mice on high-fat diet (HFD) have been shown to resist obesity and hepatic steatosis. Tissue-specific knockout of Ahr in mature adipocytes via adiponectin-Cre exacerbates obesity while knockout in liver increases steatosis without having significant effects on obesity. Our previous studies demonstrated that treatment of subcutaneous preadipocytes with exogenous or endogenous AHR agonists disrupts maturation into functional adipocytes in vitro. Here, we used platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (Pdgfrα)-Cre mice, a Cre model previously established to knock out genes in preadipocyte lineages and other cell types, but not liver cells, to further define AHR's role in obesity. We demonstrate that Pdgfrα-Cre Ahr-floxed (Ahrfl/fl) knockout mice are protected from HFD-induced obesity compared to non-knockout Ahrfl/fl mice (control mice). The Pdgfrα-Cre Ahrfl/fl knockout mice were also protected from increased adiposity, enlargement of adipocyte size, and liver steatosis while on the HFD compared to control mice. On a regular control diet, knockout and non-knockout mice showed no differences in weight gain, indicating the protective phenotype arises only when animals are challenged by a HFD. At the cellular level, cultured cells from brown adipose tissue (BAT) of Pdgfrα-Cre Ahrfl/fl mice were more responsive than cells from controls to transcriptional activation of the thermogenic uncoupling protein 1 (Ucp1) gene by norepinephrine, suggesting an ability to burn more energy under certain conditions. Collectively, our results show that knockout of Ahr mediated by Pdgfrα-Cre is protective against diet-induced obesity and suggest a mechanism by which enhanced UCP1 activity within BAT might confer these effects.

Particle size is an important factor affecting the Thermal-Hydraulic-Mechanical (THM) coupling behavior of graveled rock mass, especially for the shear mechanical properties. In this study, three groups of the particle size range and nine particle grading samples are designed for a large-scale direct shear test. The relationships between shear stress and shear displacement, shear strength, stress ratio, shear strength parameters, and particle breakage of pebble gravel are analyzed. The influence of particle size range and grade on the strength and particle breakage of gravel material is discussed. Results show evident particle breakage in the process of direct shear, and the degree of fragmentation is controlled by the normal load and the particle size distribution of the sample. The shear strength of the sample is no longer applicable to Mohr-Coulomb strength theory because of particle breakage that is more in line with the power function relationship. Shear strength of pebble gravel material has scale effect, and a corresponding relationship model between friction coefficient f of material and characteristic particle size of the sample is proposed.

Abstract Background The effects of acute hypoxia at high altitude on the telomere length of the cells in the heart and lung tissues remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the change in telomere length of rat heart and lung tissue cells in response to acute exposure to severe hypoxia and its role in hypoxia-induced damage to heart and lung tissues. Methods Forty male Wistar rats (6-week old) were randomized into control group (n = 10) and hypoxia group (n = 30). Rats in control group were kept at an altitude of 1500 m, while rats in hypoxia group were exposed to simulated hypoxia with an altitude of 5000 m in a low-pressure oxygen chamber for 1, 3, and 7 days (n = 10). The left ventricular and right middle lobe tissues of each rat were collected for measurement of telomere length and reactive oxygen species (ROS) content, and the mRNA and protein levels of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), hypoxia-inducible factor1α (HIF-1α), and hypoxia-inducible factor1α (HIF-2α). Results Increased exposure to hypoxia damaged rat heart and lung tissue cells and increased ROS production and telomere length. The mRNA and protein levels of TERT and HIF-1α were significantly higher in rats exposed to hypoxia and increased with prolonged exposure; mRNA and protein levels of HIF-2α increased only in rats exposed to hypoxia for 7 days. TERT was positively correlated with telomere length and the levels of HIF-1α but not HIF-2α. Conclusions Acute exposure to severe hypoxia causes damage to heart and lung tissues due to the production of ROS but promotes telomere length and adaptive response by upregulating TERT and HIF-1α, which protect heart and lung tissue cells from fatal damage.

Exotic transport properties of type-II Weyl semimetals have been predicted but are yet to be experimentally evidenced. Here, Li et al. report evidences of an anisotropy of negative magnetoresistance and a quantum oscillation arising from the predicted Weyl orbit in the type-II Weyl semimetal WTe2.

Metabolic cycles are a fundamental element of cellular and organismal function. Among the most critical in higher organisms is the Cori Cycle, the systemic cycling between lactate and glucose. Here, skeletal muscle-specific Mitochondrial Pyruvate Carrier (MPC) deletion in mice diverted pyruvate into circulating lactate. This switch disinhibited muscle fatty acid oxidation and drove Cori Cycling that contributed to increased energy expenditure. Loss of muscle MPC activity led to strikingly decreased adiposity with complete muscle mass and strength retention. Notably, despite decreasing muscle glucose oxidation, muscle MPC disruption increased muscle glucose uptake and whole-body insulin sensitivity. Furthermore, chronic and acute muscle MPC deletion accelerated fat mass loss on a normal diet after high fat diet-induced obesity. Our results illuminate the role of the skeletal muscle MPC as a whole-body carbon flux control point. They highlight the potential utility of modulating muscle pyruvate utilization to ameliorate obesity and type 2 diabetes.

This study aims to explore the perspectives of resource room teachers (RRTs) on their role transformation from regular education teachers to special educators and its influencing factors. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 10 RRTs from inclusive education schools in Beijing, China. This study found that the RRTs have experienced three stages of role transformation moving from confusion by the new job to conflict among multiple expectations and then to being professionalised as special educators with self-determination. They struggled with multiple roles, felt marginalised and deprofessionalised, and were dominated by a categorical perspective serving students with special educational needs. Moreover, clearly authorised full-time positions, professionalisation, administrative support, and attitudes towards inclusive education were found to be key determinants in RRTs' successful role transformation. The present study concludes that RRTs should be empowered with clear expectations of their roles and responsibilities to lead inclusive education practices in schools and guarantee a stable professional status via sustainable training.

The Hastelloy N alloy, Alloy 800H and 316H stainless steel were irradiated by Xe20+ ion irradiation with energy of 4 MeV at room temperature (peak damage ranging from 0.5 to 10 dpa). The micromechanical properties, hardness and creep plasticity, of these three investigated alloys were characterized before and after irradiation using nanoindentation. The results show that the hardness increases, and creep plasticity degrades with increasing ion dose in all the samples. In comparison, Hastelloy N has good irradiation damage resistance, while that of the 800H and 316H alloys is slightly worse. Additionally, the approximate positive relationship between irradiation hardening and creep plasticity degradation means that the property of creep plasticity of irradiated materials can be reflected from the nanohardness measurement for the heavy ion irradiation cases.

In 2004, the Ministry of Education, National Development and Reform Commission, State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security jointly released a special document On Training High-Caliber Backbone Personnel from the Ethnic Minorities, as a supporting measure for the strategy of human resources in western development of China. The central government takes it as an important force in thriving and developing the western region, especially the region where ethnic minority groups reside in the west. However, more and more graduates through the Program have breached or intend to break the contract of the Program. Why do they not abide by the contract and return to their hometown province for the work after they have enjoyed the preferential Program? This case study focused on three graduates who broke the employment contract through the Program, traced the origin and development of their minds and action, and demonstrated more about what hid behind the phenomenon. According to the deep interaction with these ethnic minority students, the research found that the social background under which high education policies for the ethnic minorities had greatly changed. The changes have challenged the implementation of the Program. Furthermore, under the socialistic market economy system, the employment contract of the Program couldn’t be processed and secured as the involved actors have expected. Last but not the least, the graduates benefited from the Program have become more and more individualistic and diversified in their career development due to different micro and macro reasons.En el año 2004 y de manera conjunta, el Ministerio de Educación, la Comisión Nacional para el Desarrollo y las Reformas, la Comisión Estatal de Asuntos Étnicos, el Ministerio de Economía, el Ministerio de Recursos Humanos y la Seguridad Social, publicaron una normativa especial para la Formación de Alto Nivel de Personal Backbone entre las Minorías Étnicas, como medida de apoyo a la estrategia de recursos humanos para el desarrollo de la zona occidental de China. El gobierno central considera un elemento clave el desarrollo de la región occidental, especialmente allí donde residen los grupos minoritarios. Sin embargo, cada vez más graduados universitarios que pasaron por el Programa han intentado pasar por encima o romper el contrato suscrito en él. ¿Por qué no cumplen con el contrato y regresan a sus provincias de origen para trabajar tras haber disfrutado de los beneficios que les brinda el Programa? Este estudio de casos se centra en tres estudiantes de grado que rompieron el contrato de trabajo suscrito dentro del Programa, se establecen el origen y evolución de sus pensamientos y acciones, y se avanza en el conocimiento de lo que hay detrás de este fenómeno. A través de una interacción profunda con estos estudiantes que pertenecen a alguna minoría étnica, la investigación ha determinado que las motivaciones sociales de las políticas educativas para grupos étnicos minoritarios han cambiado mucho. Los cambios han desafiado la implementación del Programa. Además, bajo el sistema económico de mercado socialista, el contrato de empleo del Programa no podría desarrollarse ni asegurarse en el sentido en que sus actores lo preveían. Por último, los graduados universitarios que se beneficiaron de este Programa, son cada vez más individualistas y presentan una mayor diversidad en su desarrollo profesional como consecuencia de razones de tipo micro y macro.

The search for new approaches to treatment and prevention of heart failure is a major challenge in medicine. The adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium (KATP) channel has been long associated with the ability to preserve myocardial function and viability under stress. High surface expression of membrane KATP channels ensures a rapid energy-sparing reduction in action potential duration (APD) in response to metabolic challenges, while cellular signaling that reduces surface KATP channel expression blunts APD shortening, thus sacrificing energetic efficiency in exchange for greater cellular calcium entry and increased contractile force. In healthy hearts, calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) phosphorylates the Kir6.2 KATP channel subunit initiating a cascade responsible for KATP channel endocytosis. Here, activation of CaMKII in a transaortic banding (TAB) model of heart failure is coupled with a 35-40% reduction in surface expression of KATP channels compared to hearts from sham-operated mice. Linkage between KATP channel expression and CaMKII is verified in isolated cardiomyocytes in which activation of CaMKII results in downregulation of KATP channel current. Accordingly, shortening of monophasic APD is slowed in response to hypoxia or heart rate acceleration in failing compared to non-failing hearts, a phenomenon previously shown to result in significant increases in oxygen consumption. Even in the absence of coronary artery disease, failing myocardium can be further injured by ischemia due to a mismatch between metabolic supply and demand. Ischemia-reperfusion injury, following ischemic preconditioning, is diminished in hearts with CaMKII inhibition compared to wild-type hearts and this advantage is largely eliminated when myocardial KATP channel expression is absent, supporting that the myocardial protective benefit of CaMKII inhibition in heart failure may be substantially mediated by KATP channels. Recognition of CaMKII-dependent downregulation of KATP channel expression as a mechanism for vulnerability to injury in failing hearts points to strategies targeting this interaction for potential preventives or treatments.

This paper focuses on the carrier estimation performance improvement in Mars entry, descent, and landing (EDL) flights. Carrier reconstruction could be used for trajectory derivation and Martian atmosphere profile inversion, and is the critical information for mission operations, as it helps determine the flight status of the spacecraft, demodulate the downlink information. The current approach is maximum likelihood estimation based on a two-dimensional (2D) maximum energy search algorithm, which computes the grid energy over all the combinations of frequency cells and frequency rate cells among the search space. Although it has good performance on robust estimation, the frequency estimation accuracy is limited due to the short coherent integration. An instantaneous frequency rate tracking approach based on the cubic phase function (CPF) is proposed that directly estimates the instantaneous frequency rate over the frequency rate cells, followed by the frequency estimation among the frequency cells. A sequential estimation method is introduced to propose the sequential CPF statistics, which uses the a priori Doppler phase information to suppress the noise squaring loss inherent in the standard CPF statistics. Simulations have been made on the released Mars Science Laboratory EDL trajectory for the two approaches, which show that considerable estimation improvement has been achieved for aerobraking flight by the new algorithm.

U–Pb dating of the common iron-oxide hematite (α-Fe2O3), using laser-ablation inductively-coupled-plasma mass-spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), provides unparalleled insight into the timing and processes of mineral deposit formation. Until now, the full potential of this method has been negatively impacted by the lack of suitable matrix-matched standards. To achieve matrix-matching, we report an approach in which a U–Pb solution and ablated material from 99.99% synthetic hematite are simultaneously mixed in a nebulizer chamber and introduced to the ICP-MS. The standard solution contains fixed U- and Pb-isotope ratios, calibrated independently, and aspiration of the isotopically homogeneous solution negates the need for a matrix-matched, isotopically homogenous natural iron-oxide standard. An additional advantage of using the solution is that the individual U–Pb concentrations and isotope ratios can be adjusted to approximate that in the unknown, making the method efficient for dating hematite containing low (~10 ppm) to high (>1 wt %) U concentrations. The above-mentioned advantage to this solution method results in reliable datasets, with arguably-better accuracy in measuring U–Pb ratios than using GJ-1 Zircon as the primary standard, which cannot be employed for such low U concentrations. Statistical overlaps between 207Pb/206Pb weighted average ages (using GJ-1 Zircon) and U–Pb upper intercept ages (using the U–Pb mixed solution method) of two samples from iron-oxide copper-gold (IOCG) deposits in South Australia demonstrate that, although fractionation associated with a non-matrix matched standard does occur when using GJ-1 Zircon as the primary standard, it does not impact the 207Pb/206Pb or upper intercept age. Thus, GJ-1 Zircon can be considered reliable for dating hematite using LA-ICP-MS. Downhole fractionation of 206Pb/238U is observed to occur in spot analyses of hematite. The use of rasters in future studies will hopefully minimize this problem, allowing for matrix-matched data. Using the mixed-solution method in this study, we have validated a published hematite Pb–Pb age for Olympic Dam, and provide a new age (1604 ± 11 Ma) for a second deposit in the same province. These ages are further evidence that the IOCG mineralizing event is tied to large igneous province (LIP) magmatism in the region at ~1.6 Ga.

By all-electron ab initio calculations, the layered polar semiconductor BiTeCl is shown to host giant bulk Rashba spin splitting, similar to the recently reported compound BiTeI. In both materials, the standard Rashba–Bychkov model is no longer applicable, because of huge band extrema shifts even in the absence of spin–orbit coupling and a strong momentum dependence of the Rashba coupling constant ( α _R ). By assuming α _R to be orbital dependent, a phenomenological extension of the Rashba–Bychkov model is proposed which explains the splitting behavior of states with small in-plane momentum.