Search

Purpose: Obsessive‐compulsive disorder (OCD) is a complex psychiatric disorder. Genetic and broad environmental factors are common risk factors for OCD. The purpose of this study is to explore the molecular mechanism of OCD and to find new molecular targets for the diagnosis and management of OCD. Methods: All data were downloaded from public dataset. Key modules and candidate key mRNAs were identified based on weighted gene co‐expression network analysis (WGCNA). The "limma" R package was used for differential expression analysis of mRNAs. Subsequently, functional enrichment analysis of differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRNAs) was also carried out. In addition, a diagnostic model was constructed. Finally, the infiltration level of immune cells in OCD and its correlation with multicentric key DEmRNAs were analyzed. Results: Green and red modules were selected as the hub modules. A total of 447 mRNAs were considered candidate key mRNAs according to GS > 0.2 and MM > 0.3. A total of 26 DEmRNAs in the same direction were identified in the GSE60190 and GSE78104 datasets. A total of 26 DEmRNAs were intersected with candidate key mRNAs in WGCNA to obtain 10 intersection DEmRNAs (HSPB1, ITPK1, CBX7, PPP1R10, TAOK1, PISD, MKNK2, RWDD1, PPA1, and RELN). However, only four DEmRNAs (HSPB1, TAOK1, MKNK2, and PPA1) predicted related drugs. Subsequently, receiver operating characteristic analysis shows that the diagnostic model has high diagnostic value. Moreover, six multicentric key DEmRNAs (SNRPF, SNRNP70, PRPF8, NOP56, EPRS, and CCT2) were screened by UpSet package. Finally, six multicentric key DEmRNAs were found to be associated with immune cells. Conclusion: The key molecules obtained in this study lay a foundation for further research on the molecular mechanism of OCD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Monkeypox is an emerging infectious disease with confirmed cases and deaths in several parts of the world. In light of this crisis, this study aims to analyze the global knowledge pattern of monkeypox-related patents and explore current trends and future technical directions in the medical development of monkeypox to inform research and policy. Methods: A comprehensive study of 1,791 monkeypox-related patents worldwide was conducted using the Derwent patent database by descriptive statistics, social network method and linear regression analysis. Results: Since the 21st century, the number of monkeypox-related patents has increased rapidly, accompanied by increases in collaboration between commercial and academic patentees. Enterprises contributed the most in patent quantity, whereas the initial milestone patent was filed by academia. The core developments of technology related to the monkeypox include biological and chemical medicine. The innovations of vaccines and virus testing lack sufficient patent support in portfolios. Conclusions: Monkeypox-related therapeutic innovation is geographically limited with strong international intellectual property right barriers though it has increased rapidly in recent years. The transparent licensing of patent knowledge is driven by the merger and acquisition model, and the venture capital, intellectual property and contract research organization model. Currently, the patent thicket phenomenon in the monkeypox field may slow the progress of efforts to combat monkeypox. Enterprises should pay more attention to the sharing of technical knowledge, make full use of drug repurposing strategies, and promote innovation of monkeypox-related technology in hotspots of antivirals (such as tecovirimat, cidofovir, brincidofovir), vaccines (JYNNEOS, ACAM2000), herbal medicine and gene therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entity alignment is an important task in knowledge fusion, which aims to link entities that have the same real-world identity in two knowledge graphs. However, in the process of constructing a knowledge graph, some noise may inevitably be introduced, which must affect the results of the entity alignment tasks. The triple confidence calculation can quantify the correctness of the triples to reduce the impact of the noise on entity alignment. Therefore, we designed a method to calculate the confidence of the triples and applied it to the knowledge representation learning phase of entity alignment. The method calculates the triple confidence based on the pairing rates of the three angles between the entities and relations. Specifically, the method uses the pairing rates of the three angles as features, which are then fed into a feedforward neural network for training to obtain the triple confidence. Moreover, we introduced the triple confidence into the knowledge representation learning methods to improve their performance in entity alignment. For the graph neural network-based method GCN, we considered entity confidence when calculating the adjacency matrix, and for the translation-based method TransE, we proposed a strategy to dynamically adjust the margin value in the loss function based on confidence. These two methods were then applied to the entity alignment, and the experimental results demonstrate that compared with the knowledge representation learning methods without integrating confidence, the confidence-based knowledge representation learning methods achieved excellent performance in the entity alignment task. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants and drug-resistant mutants calls for additional oral antivirals. The SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease (PLpro) is a promising but challenging drug target. We designed and synthesized 85 noncovalent PLpro inhibitors that bind to a recently discovered ubiquitin binding site and the known BL2 groove pocket near the S4 subsite. Leads inhibited PLpro with the inhibitory constant Ki values from 13.2 to 88.2 nanomolar. The co-crystal structures of PLpro with eight leads revealed their interaction modes. The in vivo lead Jun12682 inhibited SARS-CoV-2 and its variants, including nirmatrelvir-resistant strains with EC50 from 0.44 to 2.02 micromolar. Oral treatment with Jun12682 improved survival and reduced lung viral loads and lesions in a SARS-CoV-2 infection mouse model, suggesting that PLpro inhibitors are promising oral SARS-CoV-2 antiviral candidates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research presents a surrogate model and computational fluid dynamic analysis-based multi-objective optimization approach for microchannel heat sinks. The Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm is suggested to obtain the optimal solution set, and the Kriging model is employed to lower the simulation's computational cost. The physical model consists of a coolant chamber, a mainstream chamber, and a solid board equipped with staggered Zigzag cooling channels. Five design variables are examined in relation to the geometric characteristics of the microchannel heat sinks: the length of inlet of the cooling channels, the width of the cooling channels, the length of the "zigzag", the height of the cooling channels, and the periodic spanwise width. The optimal geometry is established by choosing the averaged cooling effectiveness and coolant mass flow rate which enters the mainstream chamber through the microchannel heat sinks as separate objectives. From the Pareto front, the optimal microchannel heat sinks structures are obtained. Three optimized results are studied, including the maximum cooling effectiveness, minimum coolant mass flow rate, and a compromise between the both objectives; a reference case using the median is compared as well. Numerical assessments corresponding to the four cases are performed, and the flow and cooling performance are compared. Furthermore, an analysis is conducted on the mechanisms that impact the ideal geometric parameters for cooling performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, we theoretically and numerically investigate the near field optical binding force on Au–Ag nanorod heterodimers, which can support the electrical dipole–dipole type Fano resonance, under a normally plane wave or polarized laser beam. The numerical results show that the optical binding force between the heterodimer can be reversed near the position of the Fano dip when the incident wave is polarized along the dimer axis, indicating an attractive to repulsive transition. Compared with the Au–Ag heterodimer, the Au and Ag homodimers with the same material show no repulsive binding force. Using the multipole decomposition method, we find that the sign of optical binding force is completely determined by the phase difference of the separated electric dipole plasmon modes excited in the different particles, which can be strongly affected by the wavelength of the incident wave. In addition, we demonstrate the effects of three geometrical parameters (including the length, radius, and gap of the heterodimer) on the Fano-mediated optical binding force in detail. Finally, the numerical results indicate that the reversal of attractive and repulsive forces can also be obtained when the heterodimer is illuminated with a laser beam. Our findings are important for not only a deep understanding of plasmonic-mediated optical binding force but also stable optical manipulation of the plasmonic particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Systemic immune‐inflammation index (SII) is a novel inflammatory marker based on neutrophils, platelets and lymphocytes counts, which has potential prognostic value among coronary artery disease (CAD) patients as described by some observational studies. We aimed to provide higher‐certainty evidence to verify the association of SII with poor outcomes of CAD patients. Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Ovid and Scopus were searched to find relevant literature exploring the prognostic value of SII among CAD patients. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) extracted from the literature included were pooled with the fixed‐effect or random‐effect model. Sensitivity analyses and subgroup analyses were conducted to detect the source of heterogeneity and evaluate the stability of results. Results: A total of nine studies with 15,832 participants were included. The quantitative synthesis including eight studies with 15,657 participants showed that the high SII was related to the major adverse cardiovascular event in CAD patients (HR with 95% CI: 2.36 [1.67, 3.33]). After eliminating heterogeneity and adjusting for publication bias, the above result was still robust (HR with 95% CI: 1.67 [1.32, 2.12]). Additionally, we also demonstrated the prognostic values of SII for all‐cause death, cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction and stroke. Conclusion: Higher SII has prognostic values for adverse outcomes in CAD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a novel lamilloy cooling structure equipped with internal minichannels used in a combustor flame cylinder. The overall flow and heat transfer characteristics of three different internal minichannel configurations (parallel-flow, counter-flow, and staggered arrangements. PF, CF, and SF for short) are analyzed and compared. From the analysis of the heat transfer characteristic, it is found that the CF structure possesses the best cooling effect and temperature uniformity. The average cooling effectiveness (ηave) of the CF structure increased by 20.6% and 20.4%, and the average temperature gradient ( (d T / d X) a v e ) decreased by 76.9% and 32.8%, compared with the SF structure and PF structure, respectively. From the analysis of flow characteristics, the coolant ejected from the minichannel one region of the SF structure completely blocks the direct contact between the mainstream and the lamilloy, while transferring more from the mainstream to the minichannel two region. Different from the SF structure, film cooling at the two outlet of the CF structure transfers most of the mainstream to the lower position, which further improves the cooling effect of the two internal minichannels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose two analytical relationships between affinity and opinion change. The first one focuses on value homophily, while the second one incorporates affinity in opinion dynamics. Three analytical test models are derived based on these relationships: the value homophily model, the temporal evolution of opinion summation, and the evolution of opinion difference between two individuals. We test these models using data from a previous experiment, and the results demonstrate their validity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fundamental topological theory, the historical development, the material realization, potential applications, and future outlooks of magnetic 2D topological materials. [Display omitted] Two-dimensional (2D) magnetism and nontrivial band topology are both areas of research that are currently receiving significant attention in the study of 2D materials. Recently, a novel class of materials has emerged, known as 2D magnetic topological materials, which elegantly combine 2D magnetism and nontrivial topology. This field has garnered increasing interest, especially due to the emergence of several novel magnetic topological states that have been generalized into the 2D scale. These states include antiferromagnetic topological insulators/semimetals, second-order topological insulators, and topological half-metals. Despite the rapid advancements in this emerging research field in recent years, there have been few comprehensive summaries of the state-of-the-art progress. Therefore, this review aims to provide a thorough analysis of current progress on 2D magnetic topological materials. We cover various 2D magnetic topological insulators, a range of 2D magnetic topological semimetals, and the novel 2D topological half-metals, systematically analyzing the basic topological theory, the course of development, the material realization, and potential applications. Finally, we discuss the challenges and prospects for 2D magnetic topological materials, highlighting the potential for future breakthroughs in this exciting field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores cycles in innovative outcomes corresponding with the timing of political turnover. Using data on local government officials and firm level innovation activities in China, firm innovation is found to be negatively associated with a turnover of local political leaders. We examine several potential explanations and find evidence supporting the premise that political turnover reduces firms' incentives to innovate until the uncertainty is resolved. This paper also indicates that local political turnover significantly inhibits firms' research and development investment, government subsidies, and expansion decisions, leading to less innovative outcomes. Moreover, reductions in innovation are greater in cities with higher levels of government expenditure or intellectual property rights trials, or in smaller firms or non-state-owned enterprises during the rotation of local government leaders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ionic rare earth (RE) ore body undergoes particle transport and pore structure change during the leaching process, resulting in "uneven percolation, preferential channel, leaching blind area," and other problems, leading to structural changes in the ore body, low leaching efficiency, and waste of resources. The unsaturated infiltration process is also the key stage that causes these problems. The initial pore structure evolution of the ore body plays a decisive role in the permeability coefficient of the ore body, and the direct influencing factor of the permeability coefficient is the distribution of the pore radius. We carried out research through indoor simulated leaching, the filter paper method for determining matrix suction, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) testing. An ionic rare earth ore soil-water characteristic curve within a large matrix suction range was obtained by the filter paper method. With the increase in volumetric water content, the matrix suction presents a sharp downward trend. When the volumetric water content is less than 20%, this rule is particularly obvious. With the increase in matrix suction, the thickness of the adsorbed water film on the particle surface and pore radius show a decreasing power function trend. Under percolation, the porosity of an ionic rare earth ore sample tends to increase linearly with the increase in volumetric water content during the process from non-saturation to saturation; the porosity of a saturated ore sample after seepage expanded by 17.5 times compared to that of an unsaturated ore sample before seepage. The change rule of the internal microstructure of the ore sample is reflected in the gradual disappearance of micro pores and the gradual formation of small, medium, large, and mega pores, which shows a gradual increase trend. In the pore radius distribution, the more large and medium pores, the larger the permeability coefficient; the more micro and small pores, the smaller the permeability coefficient. For some ore bodies with poor permeability, the ore body is infiltrated with clear water under small water pressure before leaching with a leaching solution, which can improve the permeability of the ore body, effectively improve the efficiency of rare earth leaching, and increase the economic benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Catalytic descriptors of electrocatalysts such as d -band center are the important indicators that connect the physiochemical interaction and catalytic performance and have been used for rational design of the catalysts and performance optimizations. However, these descriptors developed in traditional electrocatalysts are invalid in recent emerged topological catalysis. Here, we identify topological surface state (TSS) density at the Fermi level can serve as the universal catalytic descriptor in the family of metal diborides, the materials hosting fantasying topological nodal-net states. The catalytic activity for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is linearly correlated with the projected TSSs on corresponding surfaces, which are independent on the material types. The findings are further proven by the weakened HER performance under topological phase transition where the TSS density at Fermi level is reduced, and the revival of d -band center once all the TSSs are removed. Our work will open a new route for developing high-performance catalysts from the quantum topological point of view. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The immune system plays a pivotal role in the initiation, evolution, invasion and metastasis of cancer. Therapeutics aiming at modulating or boosting anticancer immune responses have experienced immense advances during the past decades, for example, anti‐PD‐1/PD‐L1 monoclonal antibodies. Main body: Concomitant with advancements in the understanding of novel mechanisms of action, conventional or emerging drugs bearing the potential to be repurposed for enhancing anticancer immunity have been identified. Meanwhile, ongoing advances in drug delivery systems enable us to utilise novel therapeutic strategies and impart drugs with fresh modes of action in tumour immunology. Conclusion: Herein, we systemically review these kinds of drugs and delivery systems that can unleash the anticancer response through various aspects, including immune recognition, activation, infiltration and tumour killing. We also discuss the current caveats and future directions of these emerging strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The effect of structure evolution under working condition of MNC electrocatalysts on the OER activity and stability has been studied with the DFT method. • This work conducted a comprehensive evaluation method for MNC electrocatalysts by taking ΔG *OH as the screening criterion for OER activity and ΔE b of electrocatalysts under working conditions as the stability descriptor. • The stability of MNC electrocatalysts under working conditions, including high temperature, dynamic condition, local electric field and strong specific adsorption has been studied in detail. Developing low-cost, high activity and stability oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts is significantly important but still challenging for water electrolyzers. In this work, we calculated the OER activity and stability of Metal-Nitrogen-Carbon (MNC, M = Co, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ir) based electrocatalyst with different structures (MN 4 C 8 , MN 4 C 10 , MN 4 C 12) using density functional theory (DFT) method. These electrocatalysts were divided into three groups based on the value of ΔG *OH , that is ΔG *OH > 1.53 eV (PdN 4 C 8 , PdN 4 C 10 , PdN 4 C 12), ΔG *OH < 1.23 eV (RuN 4 C 8 , RuN 4 C 10 , RuN 4 C 12 , CoN 4 C 8 , CoN 4 C 10) and 1.23 eV < ΔG *OH < 1.53 eV (RhN 4 C 8 , RhN 4 C 10 , RhN 4 C 12 , IrN 4 C 8 , IrN 4 C 10 , IrN 4 C 12 , CoN 4 C 12), and ΔG *OH determine whether the structure evolution will appear. The results proved that MNC (M = Rh, Ir) with 1.23 eV < ΔG *OH < 1.53 eV shows higher OER activity due to moderate binding energy between reaction intermediates and MNC. Furthermore, these catalysts could maintain M N C structure without further oxidation and structural evolution under working conditions (high temperature, dynamic condition, local electric field and strong specific adsorption), therefore show excellent stability. However, MNC electrocatalyst with ΔG *OH > 1.53 eV or ΔG *OH < 1.23 eV revealed less stability under working conditions, due to their low intrinsic stability or structural evolution under working conditions, respectively. In conclusion, we proposed a comprehensive evaluation method for MNC electrocatalysts by taking ΔG *OH as the screening criterion for OER activity and stability, as well as ΔE b under working condition as descriptor of stability. This is of great significance for the design and screening of ORR, OER and HER electrocatalysts under working conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Macrophages are phenotypically heterogeneous cells that play a vital role in hepatic fibrogenesis. We aimed to compare the macrophage profiles between normal livers and those with various chronic liver diseases in the precirrhotic fibrosis stage. Methods. Immunohistochemistry was performed for three macrophage markers (CD163, CD68, and IBA1) on 48 liver biopsies. Digital image analysis and automated cell count were used to calculate the densities of immunostained cells in two selected regions of interest: the periportal region and the perivenous region. Results. The absolute and relative densities of the macrophage phenotypes in relationship with zones and etiologies showed four distinct patterns by hierarchical cluster analysis: (1) no significant increase in the macrophage densities in either periportal or perivenous regions - nonalcoholic steatohepatitis; (2) significant increase in the selected macrophage densities in both periportal and perivenous regions - Hepatitis C; (3) significant increase in the macrophage densities only in periportal region - alcoholic liver disease, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and primary biliary cholangitis; and (4) significant increase in the densities of all types of macrophages in both periportal and perivenous regions - autoimmune hepatitis. Conclusions. There are distinct macrophage phenotypic and zonal geographic signatures correlating to etiologies of chronic liver disease in the precirrhotic stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urea splitting has gained increasing attention for energy-saving hydrogen production. The development of inexpensive, efficient and durable nanostructured electrocatalysts is highly desired to overcome the sluggish kinetics of the urea oxidation reaction (UOR). Nickel-containing materials have emerged as inexpensive and promising electrocatalysts for UOR in recent years. Herein, a series of cost-effective composites consisting of different loadings of Ni nanoparticles anchored on two-dimensional (2D) porous carbon nanosheets (denoted as Ni/CS) were fabricated for UOR via a facile and eco-friendly salt template-assisted approach. Among the prepared Ni/CS composites, the 4-Ni/CS sample with a suitable nickel loading and optimum structures exhibited the best UOR performances with a low potential of 1.369 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) at the current density of 10 mA cm−2 and a low Tafel slope of 39 mV dec−1. Furthermore, an overall urea splitting cell with the optimized 4-Ni/CS as the anode catalyst delivered only 1.372 V at 10 mA cm−2, which was 200 mV lower than the pure water splitting cell. The enhanced performances of 4-Ni/CS for UOR and the urea splitting cell were mainly attributed to its larger electrocatalytic specific area, more abundant active sites and defects, and faster mass transfer. The remarkable 2D porous 4-Ni/CS electrocatalyst exhibits potential application in UOR and energy-saving hydrogen production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Compared to Western countries, palliative and hospice care services are used less often in Asian countries. While both types have been implemented in mainland China in recent years, their utilization rates have not increased satisfactorily. Moreover, few hospitals in mainland China implement hospice care using the hospice shared care model. Objective: This study investigated a case in which the hospice shared care model was implemented for one patient with advanced colon cancer who had received treatment at a general tertiary hospital in mainland China. Methods: Critical points of care included pain symptom management, nutritional support, application of the SHARE model for disease notification, family meetings to assist medical decision-making, relaxation therapy to relieve depressive symptoms, provisions to address end-of-life wishes, and support for primary caregivers. Results: The patient's basic pain was controlled (Numeric Rating Scale, NRS2-3), and the score of the Depression Screening Scale (PHQ-9) decreased from 15 to 10 after intervention during hospitalization. In the end, the patient died comfortably and peacefully at home. Conclusion: The hospice shared care team helped the patient with her physical and psychological pain, met her end-of-life wishes, and provided support for the families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diffuse alveolar haemorrhage (DAH) is a rapidly developing condition owing to a lack of effective treatment and resulting in a high mortality rate in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) contain numerous antigens and proinflammatory substances that directly damage the vascular endothelium and aggravate vascular inflammation, which is considered an important pathogenic factor of DAH in SLE. Therefore, blocking the release of NETs from neutrophils is an important target for the treatment of DAH in SLE. In this study, we investigated whether the inhibition of neutrophils releasing NETs could relieve DAH in SLE. Necrostatin-1 (Nec-1), a small molecule, has been reported to inhibit the release of NETs by neutrophils. In vitro experiments revealed that Nec-1 inhibited alveolar epithelial cell damage by preventing the release of NETs. Furthermore, vivo studies showed that Nec-1 alleviated lupus pulmonary haemorrhage in mice by reducing lung pathology severity, body weight, and serum inflammatory cytokine levels. Mechanistically, Nec-1 prevented NET release by inhibiting neutrophil elastase (NE) activation and N-Gasdermin D (N-GSDMD) expression. Additionally, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence findings showed that Nec-1 decreased NE expression in the lung tissues of mice with lupus pulmonary haemorrhage. Thus, NETs released by neutrophils contributed to the pathogenesis of DAH in SLE, and Nec-1 showed protective effects by the inhibition of NET production via the reduction of NE activation and N-GSDMD expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the process of ion-adsorbed rare earth (RE) ore leaching and mining, the injected chemical agent and rare earth particles have a strong chemical reaction, resulting in changes in the structure of the rare earth, and thus affecting the macroscopic mechanical properties and permeability of soil. To investigate the evolution of the pore structure during the leaching process, indoor leaching simulation experiments were used to compare and analyze the changes of Zeta potential during the leaching process with different concentrations of leaching solution, the process of the gradual change of the strong and weak combined water layer was analyzed, and a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) instrument was used to obtain the structural parameters such as the porosity, T2 spectrum and pore radius to analyze the evolution law of microscopic pore structure. The experimental results show that the deionized (DI) water leaching process has less effect on the pore structure of the ore body, and the pore structure inside the ore body evolves gradually from small and medium pore size pores to large pore size pores, while the pore structure of the ore body changes more during the leaching process of the MgSO4 leaching solution. In the initial leaching stage, the number of minimal pores (0–0.24 μm) and small pores (0.24–0.65 μm) of the ore body decreases rapidly, and the number of large pores (1.6–10 μm) increases. In the effective leaching stage, the number of minimal pores (0–0.24 μm), small pores (0.24–0.65 μm) and medium pores (0.65–1.6 μm) increases, while the number of large pores (1.6–10 μm) and mega pores (greater than 10 μm) decreases. At the end of leaching stage, the pore size evolves from medium pores (0.65–1.6 μm) and small pore (0.24–0.65 μm) to large pores (1.6–10 μm). Both chemical replacement reaction and solution percolation can induce changes in the pore structure of the ore body, and the influence of the chemical replacement reaction is higher than that of percolation in the leaching process. The evolution of pore structure during ion exchange is caused by the difference of ionic strength in leaching solution. RE ore particles are adsorbed or released to the solid phase, and the migration of particles leads to changes in the interface properties of RE particles, which affects the pore structural changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Topological materials have been recently regarded as ideal catalysts for heterogeneous reactions due to their surface metallic states and high carrier mobility. However, the underlying relationship between their catalytic performance and topological states is under debate. It has been discovered that the electride 12CaO·7Al2O3 (C12A7:4e−) hosts multifold fermions and Fermi arcs on the (001) surface near the Fermi level due to the interstitial electrons. Through the comparison of catalytic performance under different doping and strain conditions, based on the hydrogen evolution process, it has been demonstrated that the excellent catalytic performance indeed originates from topological properties. A linear relationship between the length of Fermi arcs, and Gibbs free energy (ΔGH*) has been found, which not only provides the direct evidence to link the enhanced catalytic performance and surface Fermi arc states, but also fully clarifies the fundamental mechanism in topological catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conventional Arrhenius equation that estimates the heat generation of coal in numerical simulation has been widely applied. However, the aging effect markedly influences the exothermic behavior of coal at low temperature and cannot be achieved using the conventional Arrhenius equation. In this paper, an improved wire-mesh basket test was performed to measure the temperature and concentrations of CO and CO2 emitted from coal piles. The aging effect model based on the theory of equivalent oxidation exposure time successfully matched the experimental results. Then, a two-dimensional (2D) multifield coupling model of coal stockpiles was developed considering the aging effect to investigate the developments on values and moving paths of temperature and O2 concentration. Effects of decay-power factor, which determines the diminishing coal oxidation, and other main variables on spontaneous combustion of coal stockpiles were systematically investigated. The results indicated a unique critical value of 1.25 × 10–6 s−1 for decay-power factor. Increasing decay-power factor enlarged the safe storage time and hardly affected the moving paths of the hotspot. There are two critical values for particle size (0.7 mm, 9 mm) and porosity (0.18, 0.58), and one critical value for wind velocity (8.5 m s−1) and stockpile width (9 m). Porosity and stockpile width have significant effects on the self-ignition of coal stockpiles when their values are lower than the base ones (0.33 and 15 m). The model considering aging effect is expected to reliably predict the spontaneous combustion of coal stockpile and become the tool for inspecting the reasonability of the relative preventing measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the energy change field in the centrifugal pump has been investigated under quasi-steady conditions (QSC), equivalent information is not yet known during the rapid starting period (RSP). A centrifugal pump loop system is constructed to investigate the energy change field in the centrifugal pump during RSP. The RSP is selected as a linear rotational speed from 0 rev/min to 2900 rev/min (design rotational speed) and a constant valve opening of 0.569. Results show that the flow rate lags behind the pump head value with the linear increase in rotational speed. The large values of partial derivations of mechanical energy in normal and tangential components are mainly concentrated at the impeller outlet, whose position is insensitive to rotational speed. The region of dominant energy loss is negatively correlated with rotational speed, and an opposite phenomenon is observed in the region of dominant energy increase. With the rotational speed increasing, the mean energy gradient function in the pump impeller and pump volute gradually increases, and the slope of the former is less than that of the latter. After reaching the design rotational speed, the energy change field gradually approaches that under quasi-steady conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many factors affect the strip thickness in the industrial production process of twin‐roll strip casting, such as pouring temperature, casting speed, cooling capacity, cast‐rolling force, and so on. When the pouring temperature and cooling capacity are specified, the magnitude of the cast‐rolling force is determined by the actual roll gap, which has a significant effect on the thickness, shape, and surface quality of the cast strip. As a result, the actual roll gap size is critical for smooth realization. In the actual casting process, thermal deformation is a direct factor influencing the change in roll gap shape for a given roll gap value. Hence, any factor influencing the thermal deformation indirectly influences the roll gap shape. Thus, the critical factors determining the thermal deformation are simulated and studied in this research, which is integrated with actual production, based on the application and secondary development of ANSYS. The effect law of each process parameter on the thermal deformation of the casting roll is given, and corresponding mathematical models are established. This research lays the foundation for the establishment of the cast strip thickness control model and the realization of online control of strip thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the value of preoperative 3D-FIESTA and MR angiography (MRA) in endoscopic resection of epidermoid cysts presenting with trigeminal neuralgia (TN). 3D-FIESTA and MRA were performed before neuroendoscopy in 32 cases of epidermoid cysts with TN, and the tumors were grouped into types A, B, C, and D according to the relationship between the tumor and adjacent nerves and arteries (Hitoshi Kobata's classification). Evaluation of the neuroendoscopic resectability of different types of tumors, included gross total tumor removal (GTR), subtotal tumor removal (STR), and partial tumor removal (PTR). During the 5-year follow-up, symptoms were assessed based on facial pain relief using the Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) score. The coincidence rate between MRI classification of the tumor and the operation was 100%. Type B tumors were the most common (18/32, 56.3%). Type A tumors showed the highest resectability (9/9, 100%), followed by type B tumors (14/18, 77.8%). Moreover, microvascular decompression was performed in all 4 cases of type C and 1 case of type D tumors. During follow-up, 23 patients showed marked improvement in symptoms (15, 8 of BNI I or II), 8 cases showed partial improvement (BNI III), and only 1 case of type C tumor was associated with poor facial pain relief, which recurred 5 years later (BNI IV). Preoperative high-resolution MR can accurately analyze the relationship between epidermoid cysts and adjacent nerves and arteries. It could act as a powerful tool in the evaluation of tumor resectability and the prognosis of surgery. • 3D-FIESTA combined with TOF MRA can accurately assess the relationship of CPA epidermoid cyst to adjacent vessel and nerve. • Preoperative high-resolution MR can predict tumor resectability. • This technique is suitable for long-term follow-up after tumor resection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current output of an anodic bioelectrochemical system (BES) depends upon the extracellular electron transfer (EET) rate from electricigens to the electrodes. Thus, investigation of EET mechanisms between electricigens and solid electrodes is essential. Here, reticulated vitreous carbon (RVC) electrodes are used to increase the surface available for biofilm formation of the known electricigen Shewanella loihica PV-4, which is limited in conventional flat electrodes. S. loihica PV-4 utilizes flavin-mediated EET at potential lower than the outer membrane cytochromes (OMC), while at higher potential, both direct electron transfer (DET) and mediated electron transfer (MET) contribute to the current output. Results show that high electrode potential favors cell attachment on RVC, which enhances the current output. DET is the prevailing mechanism in early biofilm, while the contribution of MET to current output increased as the biofilm matured. Electrochemical analysis under starvation shows that the mediators could be confined in the biofilm. The morphology of biofilm shows bacteria distributed on the top layer of honeycomb structures, preferentially on the flat areas. This study provides insights into the EET pathways of S. loihica PV-4 on porous RVC electrodes at different biofilm ages and different set potential, which is important for the design of real-world BES. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a Trnsys simulation prediction model for multistage utilization solar-assisted groundwater source heat pump system and a new year-round operation control strategy are proposed. A new dual-interface solar and groundwater heat storage module Type299 was created, which was imported into Trnsys transient simulation model for simulation. A one-year experiment was conducted to test the accuracy of the new model Type299 and Trnsys transient simulation prediction model, taking a case system in the Shenyang area as an example. When the proposed new system and control strategy was applied to the case system, the results showed that the maximum comprehensive performance coefficient of the new system is approximately 4.54, which is 23.8% higher than that of the original system. The annual solar energy utilization of the new system increased by approximately 4.68 × 105 MJ compared with the original system. After 10 years of simulation operation, it was found that the groundwater temperature under the action of the new system was approximately 3.1 °C higher than that of the original system. This effectively alleviates the underground water temperature decrease year by year caused by the operation of the original system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the rich spatio-temporal visual content and complex multimodal relations, Video Question Answering (VideoQA) has become a challenging task and attracted increasing attention. Current methods usually leverage visual attention, linguistic attention, or self-attention to uncover latent correlations between video content and question semantics. Although these methods exploit interactive information between different modalities to improve comprehension ability, inter- and intra-modality correlations cannot be effectively integrated in a uniform model. To address this problem, we propose a novel VideoQA model called Cross-Attentional Spatio-Temporal Semantic Graph Networks (CASSG). Specifically, a multi-head multi-hop attention module with diversity and progressivity is first proposed to explore fine-grained interactions between different modalities in a crossing manner. Then, heterogeneous graphs are constructed from the cross-attended video frames, clips, and question words, in which the multi-stream spatio-temporal semantic graphs are designed to synchronously reasoning inter- and intra-modality correlations. Last, the global and local information fusion method is proposed to coalesce the local reasoning vector learned from multi-stream spatio-temporal semantic graphs and the global vector learned from another branch to infer the answer. Experimental results on three public VideoQA datasets confirm the effectiveness and superiority of our model compared with state-of-the-art methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Predicted values calculated by different ML algorithms fit the measured values well. • Different ML models performed better in sediment discharge simulation. • XGB outperformed the other ML models on the training set. • RFR and SVR had best prediction ability in the AR and AS simulations, respectively. • Rainfall and runoff factor contributed most to the AR and AS changes, respectively. Predicting runoff and sediment discharge changes and understanding their drivers can provide insight into hydrological processes and aid in watershed management planning. In recent years, machine learning (ML) has become a popular tool for predicting runoff and sediment discharge in large rivers. In this study, six ML models, support vector regression (SVR), artificial neural network (ANN), random forest regression (RFR), extreme gradient boosting (XGB), k-nearest neighbor regression (kNNR), and bootstrap aggregating regression (BAR), were applied to simulate watershed runoff and sediment discharge. Notably, the Shapley additive explanation (SHAP) method was applied to identify the contribution of driving factors to runoff and sediment discharge generation. The results showed that the annual runoff and sediment discharge values predicted by the six ML algorithms fit well to the measured values. In particular, all models performed better in the sediment discharge simulation than in the runoff simulation. Combining the four evaluation indexes and their scores, the model performance hierarchy in runoff simulation was XGB > RFR > BAR > SVR > ANN > kNNR, while the model performance hierarchy in sediment discharge simulation was SVR > XGB > BAR > RFR > kNNR > ANN. After excluding the effects of sample order on the simulation results, XGB showed less empirical risk and better generalizability, while RFR and SVR showed better prediction ability in the annual runoff and annual sediment discharge simulations, respectively. Additionally, the rainfall factor contributed most to runoff changes, while the runoff factor contributed most to sediment discharge changes. Overall, the results of the present study can help assess river safety and promote sustainable river development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lung cancer is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. Since the global outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020, the impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on lung cancer has been extensively studied. Despite reports about SARS-CoV-2 infection inducing a significant increase in the number of medical visits for patients with cancer, the virus has also been reported to produce some unknown benefits. The present study reports the case of a patient with lung cancer whose tumor lesion was reduced in size after SARS-CoV-2 infection even though the therapeutic regimen remained unchanged. Although the mechanism involved is not yet understood, this case supports the novel idea of applying SARS-CoV-2 in oncolytic virotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Microglia are the tissue-resident macrophages of the CNS. They originate in the yolk sac, colonize the CNS during embryonic development and form a self-sustaining population with limited turnover. A consequence of their relative slow turnover is that microglia can serve as a long-term memory for inflammatory or neurodegenerative events.Methods: Using ATAC-, ChIP- and RNA-sequencing, we characterized the epigenomes and transcriptomes of FACS-purified microglia from mice exposed to different stimuli. A repeated endotoxin challenge (LPS) was used to induce tolerance in microglia, while genotoxic stress (DNA repair deficiency-induced accelerated aging through Ercc1 deficiency) resulted in primed (hypersensitive) microglia.Results: Whereas the enrichment of permissive epigenetic marks at enhancer regions could explain training (hyper-responsiveness) of primed microglia to an LPS challenge, the tolerized response of microglia seems to be regulated by loss of permissive epigenetic marks. We identify that inflammatory stimuli and accelerated aging as a result of genotoxic stress activate distinct gene networks. These gene networks and associated biological processes are partially overlapping, which is likely driven by specific transcription factor networks, resulting in altered epigenetic signatures and distinct functional (desensitized vs. primed) microglia phenotypes.Conclusion: This study provides insight into epigenetic profiles and transcription factor networks associated with transcriptional signatures of tolerized and trained microglia in vivo, leading to a better understanding of innate immune memory of microglia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fantastic two-dimensional (2-D) materials have been used in various fields, especially in green energy fields, because of their unique structures and accompanied physical properties. Here, we theoretically propose a novel 2-D materials family namely penta-B2X (X = S, Se, Te) that can perfectly meet the needs of photocatalytic water splitting. The penta-B2S, penta-B2Se and penta-B2Te all belong to semiconductors with indirect bandgaps of 1.889 eV, 1.998 eV and 1.928 eV, respectively. More importantly, we note that the penta-B2X (X = S, Se, Te) family has high (up to ~ 105 cm−1) and anisotropic light absorption coefficients in the visible-ultraviolet region, and their band edge positions are able to nicely satisfy the redox potentials at pH = 7 without external adjustment. Besides, they have high and anisotropic carrier mobility (up to ~ 103 cm2V−1 s−1) to ensure that the recombination of photogenerated carriers can be effectively reduced. Meanwhile, the penta-B2X (X = S, Se, Te) family possesses interesting in-plane negative Poisson's ratios (NPR) of − 0.141, − 0.117 and − 0.059, respectively. Thus, our results suggest that penta-B2X (X = S, Se, Te) can be used not only as promising water splitting photocatalysts with excellent performances but also for the design of funny nano electromechanical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AI + education technology has had a wide and far-reaching impact on the education industry, which has been applied to classroom teaching in order to achieve real-time monitoring of the classroom and complete closed-loop feedback on teaching. In this paper, AI face recognition based on deep learning is improved and optimized through key points such as image data acquisition, localization, calibration, comparison, and deepening data models, so that the detection can be completed accurately and quickly even under the condition of light and external object interference, maximizing the accuracy and efficiency of face recognition technology under the influence of the objective environment. The traditional manual operation in classroom teaching is automated and intelligent throughout, reducing the workload of teachers and related personnel while further ensuring the scientific organization and management of classroom teaching. While making classroom teaching and learning life safer, more convenient, and more efficient, it also provides a favourable reference for the wide application and development of facial recognition technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a small amount of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was used to partially replace the silica in ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM) to prepare EPDM composites via mechanical blending. The mechanical properties, thermal-oxidative aging properties and thermal stability of the composites were systematically investigated. The results showed that with the increase of CNTs content, the Shore A hardness and stress at 100% strain of the composites increased, while the elongation at break decreased. With the aging time increasing, the aging coefficient and elongation at break of composites decreased while hardness increased due to the raise of crosslinking density. In addition, evidences were found to demonstrate the improved aging resistance by adding CNTs in the EPDM composites, including the less change in Shore A hardness, the smaller change ratio of elongation at break and the lower aging coefficient. When the content of CNTs reached 10 phr, the aging coefficient of the EPDM composite aged for 168 h was nearly twice that of the composite without CNTs, and the thermal stability of the EPDM composite with CNTs was improved as demonstrated by thermal analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Southeast Asian aborigines, the hunter-gatherer populations living in tropical rainforests, exhibit distinct morphological phenotypes, including short stature, dark skin, curly hair and a wide and snub nose. The underlying genetic architecture and evolutionary mechanism of these phenotypes remain a long-term mystery. We conducted whole genome deep sequencing of 81 Cambodian aborigines from eight ethnic groups. Through a genome-wide scan of selective sweeps, we discovered key genes harboring Cambodian-enriched mutations that may contribute to their phenotypes, including two hair morphogenesis genes (TCHH and TCHHL1), one nasal morphology gene (PAX3) and a set of genes (such as ENTPD1-AS1) associated with short stature. The identified new genes and novel mutations suggest an independent origin of the distinct phenotypes in Cambodian aborigines through parallel evolution, refuting the long-standing argument on the common ancestry of these phenotypes among the worldwide rainforest hunter-gatherers. Notably, our discovery reveals that various types of molecular mechanisms, including antisense transcription and epigenetic regulation, contribute to human morphogenesis, providing novel insights into the genetics of human environmental adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keratin granulomas in the peritoneum are a rare finding with multiple etiologies and can be especially challenging for both the pathologist and the surgeon when these lesions are grossly visible. We report a case of a unique frozen section diagnostic scenario of evaluation of keratin granulomas in the peritoneum of a 47-year-old woman in the setting of multiple potential culprits: endometrial endometrioid adenocarcinoma following fertility sparing treatment, and a concurrent dermoid cyst. We discuss the various etiologies of keratin granulomas in the peritoneum, mechanism of their formation, diagnostic significance, as well as implications of fertility sparing treatments. To the best of our knowledge, this is the only case of keratin granulomas in the peritoneum with multiple distinct potential pathologic culprits as well the only case following fertility sparing treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enforcement actions aim to strengthen financial stability, and China has gradually bolstered the intensity of its own related actions. This research manually sorts out the enforcement action decision documents published by the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission one by one, constructs micro-level enforcement action indicators, uses △ CoVaR and connectedness, and empirically examines the relationship between enforcement actions and banking systemic risk from global and connectedness perspectives. We find that enforcement actions reduce systemic risk in banks and have a continuous reduction effect within three quarters after their initiation. The reduction impact of enforcement actions on connectedness is only reflected after two quarters of initiation. In addition, we adopt the △ CoVaR decomposition method and find that enforcement actions significantly reduce the tail risk of banks and lower their interconnectedness, but with a time lag effect. Lastly, we evaluate the systemic risk of enforcement actions on different types of banks and note that they substantially reduce such risk in high-capital and state-owned banks more than in low-capital and joint-stock banks. • Sort out the enforcement action decisions to construct micro-level indicators. • Assess the connectedness between banks and decompose banks' systemic risk. • Study the impact of enforcement actions on systemic risk and connectedness. • The results show that enforcement actions can reduce the connectedness risk. • Enforcement actions can reduce banks' interconnectedness and tail risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Credit risk assessment is a crucial element in credit risk management. With the extensive research on consumer credit risk assessment in recent decades, the abundance of literature on this topic can be overwhelming for researchers. Therefore, this article aims to provide a more systematic and comprehensive analysis from three perspectives: classification algorithms, data traits, and learning methods. Firstly, the state-of-the-art classification algorithms are categorized into traditional single classifiers, intelligent single classifiers, hybrid and ensemble multiple classifiers. Secondly, considering the diversity of data traits in the credit dataset, data traits are divided into external structure information traits, data quality traits, data quantity traits, and internal information traits. Data traits-driven modeling framework based on multiple classifiers is proposed for solving credit risk assessment. Thirdly, considering the differences in data modeling methods, learning methods are classified into data status, label status, and structure form. Furthermore, model interpretability, model bias, model multi-pattern, and model fairness are discussed. Finally, the limitations and future research directions are presented. This review article serves as a helpful guide for researchers and practitioners in the field of credit risk modeling and analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The slow release of Cr(VI) from chromium ore processing residue-contaminated soil (COPR-soil) poses a significant environmental and health risk, yet advanced remediation techniques are still insufficient. Here, the slow-release behavior of Cr(VI) in COPR-soil is observed and attributed to the embedded Cr(VI) in the lattice of vaterite due to the isomeric substitution of CrO 4 2- for CO 3 2-. A citric acid-aided mechanochemical approach with FeS 2 /ZVI as reductive material was developed and found to be highly effective in remediating COPR-soil. Almost all Cr(VI) in COPR-soil, including Cr(VI) embedded in the minerals, are reduced with a reduction efficiency of 99.94%. Cr(VI) reduction kinetics indicate that the Cr(VI) reduction rate constant in the presence of citric acid was 4.8 times higher compared to its absence. According to the Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Electron Probe X-ray Micro-Analyzer (EPMA) analysis, the reduction of Cr(VI) embedded in vaterite was mainly attributed to the citric acid-induced protonation effect. That is, under the protonation effect, the embedded Cr(VI) could be released from vaterite through its phase transformation to calcite, whose affinity to Cr(VI) is low. While the reduction of released Cr(VI) could be promoted due to the complexation of citric acid with disulfide groups on FeS 2 /ZVI. The results of long-term stability tests demonstrated that the remediated COPR-soil exhibited excellent long-term stability, which may also be associated with improved utilization of available carbon and electron donors by the Cr(VI) reducing bacteria (Proteobacteri a)-dominated microbial community in the presence of citric acid, thereby promoting to establish a stable reducing microenvironment. Collectively, these findings will further our understanding of the reduction remediation of COPR-soil, especially in the case of Cr(VI) embedded in minerals. [Display omitted] • Vaterite was identified as a key Cr(VI) host-mineral in COPR-soil. • 99.94% Cr(VI) was reduction by citric acid-aided mechanochemical approach. • The embedded Cr(VI) was released by the transformation of vaterite to calcite. • Citric acid-induced complexation effect accelerated the reduced of released Cr(VI). • Proteobacteri a-dominated microbial community facilitate remediated soil stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we study a class of dissipative, nonsmooth n degree-of-freedom dynamical systems. As the dissipation is assumed to be proportional to the momentum, the dynamics in such systems is conformally symplectic, allowing us to use some of the Hamiltonian structure. We initially show that there exists an integral invariant of the Poincaré–Cartan type in such systems. Then, we prove the existence of a generalized Liouville Formula for conformally symplectic systems with rigid constraints using the integral invariant. A two degree-of-freedom system is analyzed to support the relevance of our results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy are used to study the microstructure and to determine the mechanical properties of welded joints of tubes after 7 years of service in a furnace for ethylene pyrolysis. After the service, the microstructure of all zones of the studied welded joint degraded and tended to become homogeneous. The creep resistance decreased, and the decrease was stronger in the base metal reaching the level of the weld metal. After the long-term operation, the welded joint did not become a weak point of the pyrolysis furnace tubes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pregnant women afflicted with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are prone to both maternal and neonatal complications. Due to this, it is of importance to sustain a strict glycemic control during this time. Unfortunately, there is a lack of evidence-based medical research for the control criteria during pregnancy. Therefore, to develop better method of glycemic control for pregnant women, we conducted a multicenter all-inclusive prospective study to investigate the association between glycemic control markers and maternal and neonatal outcomes. Research design and methods: Four hundred fifty-two women were included in the study. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), HbA1c and glycated albumin (GA), and ferritin levels were measured at different gestational periods and compared to the pregnancy outcomes. The reference interval of GA and HbA1c was determined in Trimester I, II, III: 11.0–16.3%, 10.1–15.2%, and 9.5–14.6%, and 4.8–5.7%, 4.4–5.4%, and 4.7–5.8%, respectively. It was found that at the later stages of pregnancy, there was a reduction in ferritin levels and increase in HbA1c levels. Only in the GDM group, it was noticed that the frequency of total neonatal and maternal complications were significantly higher on comparison with the normal group (30.1 vs. 18.4%, p =.017 and 21.0% vs. 12.0%, p =.031, respectively). For the frequency of cesarean section and macrosomia in GDM group, GA > 15.69% group was significant higher compared to those of GA ≤ 15.69% group (p =.021 and p =.001, respectively). For HbA1c, no significant differences were observed. A reference interval of HbA1c and GA was developed for Chinese pregnant women. We found that the GDM group had a higher frequency of neonatal and maternal complications. As only GA levels and not HbA1c, were associated with cesarean section and macrosomia in GDM, we hypothesize that GA could be an appropriate glycemic control marker for pregnant mothers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the mechanical performances of joints in prefabricated construction, a type of connection structure with long-fiber and metal laminated bolts (referred to as a fiber-metal connector) is proposed and investigated by simulation and theoretical methods. The results include the following: (1) The fiber layer in bolts can form a second stiffness during rotation. This mechanical characteristic improves the bearing capacities and energy dissipation ability of the connector relative to the conventional metal connector, which are expected to effectively limit the elastoplastic rotational displacement of a structure. (2) For the reason, the fiber layer can bear load in the plastic phase due to its high-strength characteristic in the length direction. (3) A bilinear model for the bearing curve of the fiber-metal connector is proposed, and equations for optimization of fiber layer thickness are obtained with a target on bearing capacity and energy dissipation ability which are approximately higher 30% and 13% than that of the conventional metal connector, respectively. This research is expected to provide a theoretical basis for the application of this fiber-metal connector in engineering and improve the safety of prefabricated structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing candidates for treating non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), including glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) analogs and previous GLP‐1/glucagon receptor (GLP‐1R/GCGR) dual agonists, do not address the need for substantial weight loss adequately. We sought a more effective, evenly balanced GLP‐1/GCGR dual agonist suitable for weekly administration. We studied a new class of covalent modifiers, glycolipid surfactants, to prolong the duration of action of candidate peptides. Variation of the hydrophobic tail of such surfactant modifications resulted in a wide and tunable range of physical properties and t1/2 values. We selected compound 17, which demonstrated high, evenly balanced potency for activation of human GLP‐1R and GCGRs, return of diet induced obese (DIO) rodents to lean body/liver weight and prolonged duration correlated with high serum albumin binding. We observed a prolonged pharmacodynamic (PD) profile in rodents and pharmacokinetics (PK) in mini‐pigs (t1/2 = 52 hours, mean residence time, MRT = 86 hours), suggesting suitability for weekly dosing. Accordingly, 17 (ALT‐801) was selected for clinical development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (IBA1), a marker of microglia/macrophages, has not been investigated in human hematopathologic contexts. We evaluated its expression in mature and immature neoplasms of monocytic/histiocytic and dendritic cell (DC) origin.Methods: Immunohistochemistry for IBA1, CD14, CD68, and CD163 was performed on a total of 114 cases, including a spectrum of monocytic/histiocytic and DC neoplasms (20 tissue based and 59 bone marrow based) and several nonhistiocytic/monocytic/DC neoplasms as control groups (15 tissue based and 20 bone marrow based).Results: IBA1 expression was observed in all types of mature tissue-based histiocytic/DC neoplasms (20/20) but not in the corresponding control group (0/15). In bone marrow-based cases, IBA1 was expressed in most acute myeloid leukemias (AMLs) with monocytic differentiation (48/53), both blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasms (2/2), and all chronic myelomonocytic leukemias (4/4), while it was positive in only one nonmonocytic AML (1/15) and none of the acute lymphoblastic leukemias (0/5). Collectively, IBA1 showed much higher sensitivity and specificity (93.7%, 97.1%) compared with CD14 (65.4%, 88.2%), CD68 (74.4%, 74.2%), and CD163 (52.6%, 90.6%).Conclusions: IBA1 is a novel, highly sensitive, and specific marker for diagnosing neoplasms of monocytic/histiocytic and DC origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mutational spectra of low-grade serous carcinomas (LGSCs) and serous borderline tumors (SBTs) of the ovary are poorly characterized. We present 17 cases of advanced or recurrent LGSC/SBT patients who underwent molecular profiling. Thirteen LGSCs and four SBTs underwent targeted gene panel testing by massively parallel sequencing. Microsatellite stability and tumor mutation burdens (TMBs) were determined based on panel sequencing data. The mean TMB was 5.2 mutations/megabase (range 3–10) in 14 cases. Twelve of twelve (12/12) cases were microsatellite stable. Clear driver mutations were identified in 11 cases, namely KRAS (5/17), BRAF (2/17), NRAS (2/17) and ERBB2 (2/17). Five cases harbored BRCA2 alterations (allele fractions: 44–51%), including two classified as likely benign/benign variants, and three classified as variants of uncertain significance (VUSs), with two variants being confirmed to be germline. The three BRCA2 VUSs were missense variants that were assessed to be of unlikely clinical significance, based on family cancer history and expected impact on protein function. Two patients received PARP inhibitors during their disease course, with neither of the patients demonstrating appreciable response. The mutational spectra in 17 clinically aggressive SBT/LGSC cases demonstrate genomically stable tumors, frequently driven by the RTK/RAS/MAPK pathway. While BRCA2 variants were identified, our data demonstrate BRCA2 gene variants are at most VUSs and of dubious clinical significance, in contrast to disease-associated BRCA1/2 variants that may be identified in high-grade serous carcinoma. Germline testing and PARP inhibitors are thus expected to provide limited benefit to patients with LGSC/SBTs. • 17 cases of FIGO stage III low-grade serous carcinoma/serous borderline tumors underwent molecular profiling. • Tumor mutational burdens were generally low (range 3–10 mutations/Mb in 14 cases assessed). • Microsatellites were assessed to be stable in 12/12 cases. • The majority of tumors (11/17) harbored a clear driver mutation in forms of RTK/RAS/MAPK pathway gene mutations. • While BRCA2 variants were seen in 5/17 cases, further analyses suggest they are unlikely to be clinically significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suboptimal health status is a global public health concern of worldwide academic interest, which is an intermediate health status between health and illness. The purpose of the survey is to investigate the relationship between anxiety statuses and suboptimal health status and to identify the central symptoms and bridge symptoms. This study recruited 26,010 participants aged <60 from a cross-sectional study in China in 2022. General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and suboptimal health status short form (SHSQ-9) were used to quantify the levels of anxiety and suboptimal health symptoms, respectively. The network analysis method by the R program was used to judge the central and bridge symptoms. The Network Comparison Test (NCT) was used to investigate the network differences by gender, place of residence, and age in the population. In this survey, the prevalence of anxiety symptoms, SHS, and comorbidities was 50.7 %, 54.8 %, and 38.5 %, respectively. "Decreased responsiveness", "Shortness of breath", "Uncontrollable worry" were the nodes with the highest expected influence. "Irritable", "Exhausted" were the two symptom nodes with the highest expected bridge influence in the network. There were significant differences in network structure among different subgroup networks. Unable to study the causal relationship and dynamic changes among variables. Anxiety and sub-health were self-rated and may be limited by memory bias. Interventions targeting central symptoms and bridge nodes may be expected to improve suboptimal health status and anxiety in Chinese residents. Researchers can build symptom networks for different populations to capture symptom relationships. • This is the first study to examine the intrarelationships network of anxiety and suboptimal health among Chinese residents. • "Decreased responsiveness," "Shortness of breath," and "Uncontrollable worry" were the central symptoms in the network. • "Irritable" and "Exhausted" were the key bridge nodes connecting anxiety and suboptimal health states. • "Memory decline" - "Decreased responsiveness" was an edge of significant difference in all subgroups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]