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Abstract High‐quality randomized trial evidence is lacking on whether low‐dose aspirin exerts significant effects on blood pressure (BP) in older adults. The authors assessed longitudinal BP changes in participants enrolled in ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE), a randomized, placebo‐controlled trial of 100 mg daily aspirin in 19 114 community‐dwelling Australian and U.S. adults without cardiovascular disease (CVD), dementia, or independence‐limiting physical disability. Participants’ BP was recorded at baseline and annual study visits, and managed by their usual care provider. BP trajectories for aspirin versus placebo during 4.7 years of follow‐up were examined for systolic and diastolic BP separately, using linear mixed models to account for between and within‐individual variability in BP. Analyses by subgroups were also explored with inclusion of interaction terms in the models. The difference in mean change in systolic BP between aspirin and placebo during study follow‐up was −0.03 mm Hg (95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.13, 0.07; p = .541) (aspirin minus placebo), while the mean difference for change in diastolic BP was −0.05 mm Hg (95% CI: –0.11, 0.01; p = .094). These small, non‐significant differences in BP change between the aspirin and placebo groups were consistent across baseline levels of BP and antihypertensive treatment status (treated/untreated). Likewise, subgroups of age, sex, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and frailty revealed no interaction effect between the subgroup, aspirin treatment, and time. Interval‐censored Cox proportional hazards regression showed no difference in rates of incident treated hypertension between aspirin and placebo‐treated participants. The authors conclude that daily low‐dose aspirin does not significantly affect BP in older adults when managed by usual care.

Abstract Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is associated with heterogeneous atrophy patterns. We employed a semi-supervised representation learning technique known as Surreal-GAN, through which we identified two latent dimensional representations of brain atrophy in symptomatic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD patients: the “diffuse-AD” (R1) dimension shows widespread brain atrophy, and the “MTL-AD” (R2) dimension displays focal medial temporal lobe (MTL) atrophy. Critically, only R2 was associated with widely known sporadic AD genetic risk factors (e.g., APOE ε4) in MCI and AD patients at baseline. We then independently detected the presence of the two dimensions in the early stages by deploying the trained model in the general population and two cognitively unimpaired cohorts of asymptomatic participants. In the general population, genome-wide association studies found 77 genes unrelated to APOE differentially associated with R1 and R2. Functional analyses revealed that these genes were overrepresented in differentially expressed gene sets in organs beyond the brain (R1 and R2), including the heart (R1) and the pituitary gland, muscle, and kidney (R2). These genes were enriched in biological pathways implicated in dendritic cells (R2), macrophage functions (R1), and cancer (R1 and R2). Several of them were “druggable genes” for cancer (R1), inflammation (R1), cardiovascular diseases (R1), and diseases of the nervous system (R2). The longitudinal progression showed that APOE ε4, amyloid, and tau were associated with R2 at early asymptomatic stages, but this longitudinal association occurs only at late symptomatic stages in R1. Our findings deepen our understanding of the multifaceted pathogenesis of AD beyond the brain. In early asymptomatic stages, the two dimensions are associated with diverse pathological mechanisms, including cardiovascular diseases, inflammation, and hormonal dysfunction—driven by genes different from APOE—which may collectively contribute to the early pathogenesis of AD. All results are publicly available at https://labs-laboratory.com/medicine/ .

The volatile components of Citri Grandis Exocarpium from Huazhou (CGEH) and Guangxi (CGEG) were analyzed by portable gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC-TOF MS) combined with headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS/SPME). Due to its limited separation ability, the portable GC-MS can identify only 8 chemicals in CGEH and 4 chemicals in CGEG and is not able to determine any marker compounds which can distinguish CGEH over CGEG. While the merit of GC×GC-TOF MS is strong separation ability, allowing the identification of 304 chemicals in CGEH and CGEG, of which 261 chemicals are reported for the first time. Among them are 52 compounds only detected in CGEH, 81 ones unique in CGEG, and 171 detected in both CGEH and CGEG. The volatile components in CGEH and CGEG are classified into 17 and 19 types, respectively. The contents of alkene aromatics, hydrocarbons and alcohols in both CGEH and CGEG are relatively high. The principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares (OPLS-DA) were further performed on the MS data obtained by GC×GC-TOF MS. The results indicated that there is basically no difference from different batches of fruits in the same region, while have obvious differences between CGEH and CGEG. Among these different components, 10 compounds including 3,4-diethyl-1,1'-biphenyl, 1-methyl-4-(1-methylethenyl)-1,2-cyclohexanediol, 1-dodecanol, α-ethylidene-benzeneacetaldehyde, 3,8-dimethyl-undecane, tetradecanal, 2-methyl-tridecane, 5-methyl-2(5H)-furanone, tetraethylene glycol, sabinol in CGEH are screened out with the values of Pearson correlation coefficient |p(corr)|>0.9, |p|>0.06 and variable influence on projection (VIP) value>1.1. On the other hand, several marker compounds, such as cedrane, hibaene, 1,3,5-tris(methylene)-cycloheptane, (E)-longipinane, 1,1,6,6-tetramethylspiro[4.4]nonane, 2-(4a,8-dimethyl-1,2,3,4,4a,8a-hexahydro-2-naphthalenyl)-2-propanol, γ-gurjunene, [1S-(1α,4α,7α)]-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octahydro-1,4,9,9-tetramethyl-4,7-methanoazulene, (2R,5S)-2-methyl-5-(prop-1-en-2-yl)-2-vinyltetrahydrofuran, copaene, spathulenol, β-elemene, sativene, N-[4-bromo-n-butyl]-2-piperidinone, eremophilene, 10α-eremophilane, oleyl alcohol, trifluoroacetate, and selinane are picked up in CGEG. These results proved that GC×GC-TOF MS can identify markers of Citri Grandis Exocarpium, while portable GC-MS can not. These markers can help to distinguish CGEH from others and provide references to quality evaluation of Citri Grandis Exocarpium.

Abstract Background The net benefit of aspirin cessation in older adults remains uncertain. This study aimed to use observational data to emulate a randomized trial of aspirin cessation versus continuation in older adults without cardiovascular disease (CVD). Methods Post hoc analysis using a target trial emulation framework applied to the immediate post-trial period (2017–2021) of a study of low-dose aspirin initiation in adults aged ≥ 70 years (ASPREE; NCT01038583). Participants from Australia and the USA were included if they were free of CVD at the start of the post-trial intervention period (time zero, T0) and had been taking open-label or randomized aspirin immediately before T0. The two groups in the target trial were as follows: aspirin cessation (participants who were taking randomized aspirin immediately before T0; assumed to have stopped at T0 as instructed) versus aspirin continuation (participants on open-label aspirin at T0 regardless of their randomized treatment; assumed to have continued at T0). The outcomes after T0 were incident CVD, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), all-cause mortality, and major bleeding during 3, 6, and 12 months (short-term) and 48 months (long-term) follow-up. Hazard ratios (HRs) comparing aspirin cessation to continuation were estimated from propensity-score (PS) adjusted Cox proportional-hazards regression models. Results We included 6103 CVD-free participants (cessation: 5427, continuation: 676). Over both short- and long-term follow-up, aspirin cessation versus continuation was not associated with elevated risk of CVD, MACE, and all-cause mortality (HRs, at 3 and 48 months respectively, were 1.23 and 0.73 for CVD, 1.11 and 0.84 for MACE, and 0.23 and 0.79 for all-cause mortality, p > 0.05), but cessation had a reduced risk of incident major bleeding events (HRs at 3 and 48 months, 0.16 and 0.63, p

Study of chemical properties of water radical cations is of great significance for elucidating related reactions process. In this paper, the reaction characteristics of (H2O)2+• prepared online with several benzene derivatives were investigated. The results showed that, when (H2O)2+• reacted with aromatic compounds without electron-withdrawing groups, such as benzene (C6H6, 78 u), anisole (C7H8O, 108 u) and 2,4-dimethylaniline (C8H11N, 121 u), the corresponding phenol product ((C6H5OH) +•, m/z 94), (C7H7O−OH)+•, m/z 124) and (C8H10NOH+H)+, m/z 138)) were observed, accompanied with the production of electron transfer (ET) products (C6H6) +•, (C7H8O) +•) or proton transfer (PT) product ((C8H11N+H)+). Isotope labeling experiments proved that OH in corresponding phenol products was originated from (H2O)2+•. Interestingly, when (H2O)2+• reacted with substituted benzenes bearing strong electron-withdrawing group, such as benzonitrile (C6H5CN, 103 u) and nitrobenzene (C6H5NO2, 123 u), the main products were the radical substituted adducts (C6H5CN+ H2O)+• (m/z 121) and (C6H5NO2+H2O)+• (m/z 141), respectively, without phenol products or substituted benzene radical cation were noticed. It was obvious that the reaction between (H2O)2+• and the substrate occurred through four competing processes: (a) electron transfer (ET) reaction, in which aromatic compounds release an electron to (H2O)2+• to from an aromatic radical cation; (b) proton transfer (PT) reaction in which aromatic compounds got a proton derived from the dissociation of (H2O)2+•; (c) dissociative electron transfer (DET) reaction, accompanied with the electron transfer process, C−H bond cleavage and C−OH bond formation; (d) radical substitution reaction in which a radical cation adduct consisting of aromatic molecule and H2O generates. It was speculated that the diverse reactivity of (H2O)2+• was owe to its two interchange structures ((H2O)H+−•OH and [H2O∴OH2]+•) generates. It was proposed that the electron withdrawing groups on the aromatic ring would benefit for the existence of two-center and three-electron structure of (H2O)2+• and induced the radical substitution reaction. In contrary, compounds without electron withdrawing groups or bearing electron donating groups on the aromatic ring would contribute to the presence of proton transfer structure of (H2O)2+• (containing H+ and •OH) and facilitate the C−OH bond formation. This study will help to elucidate the chemical reaction processes involving benzene or substituted benzenes and (H2O)2+•.

Abstract Flexible sensors are essential components in emerging fields such as epidermal electronics, biomedicine, and human-computer interactions, and creating high-performance sensors through simple structural design for practical applications is increasingly needed. Presently, challenges still exist in establishing efficient models of flexible piezoresistive pressure sensors to predict the design required for achieving target performance. This work establishes a theoretical model of a flexible pressure sensor with a simple laminated and enclosed structure. In the modeling, the electrical constriction effect is innovatively introduced to explain the sensitization mechanism of the laminated structure to a broad range of pressures and to predict the sensor performance. The experimental results confirmed the effectiveness of the theoretical model. The sensor exhibited excellent stability for up to three million cycles and superior durability when exposed to salt solution owing to its simple laminated and enclosed structural design. Finally, a wearable sensing system for real-time collection and analysis of plantar pressure is constructed for exercise and rehabilitation monitoring applications. This work aims to provide theoretical guidance for the rapid design and construction of flexible pressure sensors with target performance for practical applications.

Importance: Post-stroke sialorrhea (PSS) refers to excessive saliva flowing out the lip border after a stroke. PSS negatively affects patient self-image and social communication and may lead to depression. Limited evidence supports the link between excessive salivation and PSS. No large-scale, strictly controlled randomized controlled trials have shown the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating PSS patients.Objective: We aim to compare the effects of intraoral and sham acupuncture in PSS patients and explore relationships among salivation and drooling severity and frequency and swallowing function in stroke patients.Design: Clinical study protocol, SPIRIT compliant.Setting: Prospective, single-center, randomized, and sham-controlled trial.Population: We will recruit 106 PSS patients to receive 4-week intraoral or sham acupuncture. Additionally, 53 stroke patients without PSS will undergo a conventional 4-week treatment program to compare salivation between PSS and non-PSS patients.Exposures: Intraoral or sham acupuncture.Main Outcomes and Measures: The main evaluation index will be the 3-minute saliva weight (3MSW), comparing changes in 3MSW from baseline to weeks 4 and 8. Secondary assessment indices will include the “Drooling Severity and Frequency Scale” and “Functional Oral Intake Scale.” Results : : The results from this study will be published in peer-reviewed journals.Conclusion : : Comparing effects of intraoral and sham acupuncture in PSS patients, this study may contribute important evidence for future PSS treatment and provide valuable insights into whether salivation issues in stroke patients are attributed to heightened salivary secretion or dysphagia.

Purpose: To evaluate the occurrence and influencing factors of myopia occurrence in pre-myopia children aged 3–6 years. Methods: This study included 204 pre-myopia (-0.50D-0.50D). The length of macular BM was shorter in Myopia group than that in Non-myopia group (P < 0.001). Baseline SE and the length of macular BM were independent influencing factors which associated with myopia occurrence (OR, 0.031; 95 % CI, 0.008–0.117, P < 0.001 and OR, 0.204; 95 % CI, 0.055–0.763, P = 0.018, respectively) by multivariate binary logistic regression analysis. SE changing process represented the changes of SE, Myopia group had bigger SE changes (P < 0.001). And in the multivariate liner regression analysis, age was the common influencing factor of SE changing process in total participants, Non-myopia group and Myopia group (B = 0.234, P < 0.001; B = 0.078, P = 0.010; B = 0.161, P = 0.046, respectively) Conclusions: Initial SE and the length of macular BM in pre-myopia children aged 3–6 years were the independent factors of the occurrence of myopia. And initial age was the common factor that associated with SE changing process.

Purpose: To evaluate temporal vascular arcade angle and its influencing factors in myopic children. Methods: It was a retrospective study, we reviewed the records of 119 patients aged 6–10 years with myopia (spherical equivalent refractive error (SER) ≤ -0.05D) in the third year of follow-up in Beijing Hyperopia Reserve Research. We measured temporal vascular arcade angles on the fundus photographs and measured 3-year rate of spherical equivalent(D/year) and axial length (AXL) changes(mm/year). Results: Mean age at initial visit was 7.71±1.20 years and mean SER was -1.32±1.09D. Children were divided into two groups according to the refractive status of children at baseline: Myopia onset group (SER>-0.50D at baseline) (n = 107) and Myopia progression group (SER≤-0.50D at baseline) (n = 12). The mean SER in Myopia progression group was much smaller than Myopia onset group (P < 0.001) and mean AXL in Myopia progression group was much longer than Myopia onset group (P = 0.042). AXL (r=-0.320, P < 0.001), SER change rate (r=-0.209, P = 0.022) and AXL change rate (r=-0.232, P = 0.011) were associated with temporal vascular arcade angle in all participants. In Myopia onset group, AXL (r=-0.317, P < 0.001) and AXL change rate (r=-0.190, P = 0.05) were associated with temporal vascular arcade angle. There were no parameters were associated with temporal vascular arcade angle (all P > 0.05) in Myopia progression group. Only AXL (r=-0.306, P = 0.018) was associated with temporal vascular arcade angle in girls while AXL (r=-0.370, P = 0.004), SER change rate (r=-0.317, P = 0.013) and AXL change rate (r=-0.365, P = 0.004) were all associated with the Angle in boys. Conclusion: Temporal vascular arcade angle was associated with the rate of SER and AXL changes in myopia onset children, and showed gender differences. These may suggest that lamina cribrosa location has different influencing factors in different genders and different stages of myopia development. Due to the small number of people in Myopia progression group, large sample size studies are still needed in the future.

BackgroundGiven the high prevalence of fibrotic interstitial lung abnormalities (ILAs) post-COVID-19, this study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of quantitative CT features in predicting fibrotic ILAs at 3-month follow-up.MethodsThis retrospective study utilized cohorts from distinct clinical settings: the training dataset comprised individuals presenting at the fever clinic and emergency department, while the validation dataset included patients hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonia. They were classified into fibrotic group and nonfibrotic group based on whether the fibrotic ILAs were present at follow-up. A U-Net-based AI tool was used for quantification of both pneumonia lesions and pulmonary blood volumes. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and multivariate analysis were used to assess their predictive abilities for fibrotic ILAs.ResultsAmong the training dataset, 122 patients (mean age of 68 years ±16 [standard deviation], 73 men), 55.74% showed fibrotic ILAs at 3-month follow-up. The multivariate analysis identified the pneumonia volume [PV, odd ratio (OR) 3.28, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.20–9.31, p = 0.02], consolidation volume (CV, OR 3.77, 95% CI: 1.37–10.75, p = 0.01), ground-glass opacity volume (GV, OR 3.38, 95% CI: 1.26–9.38, p = 0.02), pneumonia mass (PM, OR 3.58, 95% CI: 1.28–10.46, p = 0.02), and the CT score (OR 12.06, 95% CI: 3.15–58.89, p 0.05). And the area under the curve (AUC) values were PV (0.79), GV (0.78), PM (0.79), CV (0.80), and the CT score (0.77). The validation dataset, comprising 45 patients (mean age 67.29 ± 14.29 years, 25 males) with 57.78% showing fibrotic ILAs at follow-up, confirmed the predictive validity of these parameters with AUC values for PV (0.86), CV (0.90), GV (0.83), PM (0.88), and the CT score (0.85). Additionally, the percentage of blood volume in vessels

Abstract Microbial acetate metabolism is an important part of marine carbon cycling. We present a comprehensive study to constrain microbial acetate metabolism and its regulation in surface seawater of the northwest Pacific Ocean. We found that acetate oxidation (rate constant k: 0.016–0.506 day−1) accounted for 77.6%–99.4% of the total microbial acetate uptake, suggesting that acetate was predominantly used as a microbial energy source. Acetate also served as a significant biomass carbon source, as reflected by the elevated contribution of acetate assimilation to bacterial carbon production. Acetate turnover was largely influenced by water mass mixing and nutrient conditions. Atmospheric deposition was a source of acetate in surface water and this process can also impact the microbial acetate uptake. Microbial utilization of acetate could account for up to 25.9% of the bacterial carbon demand, suggesting the significant role of acetate metabolism in microbial carbon cycling in the open ocean.

The goal of this study was to assess the impacts or benefits of sludge in situ reduction (SIR) within wastewater treatment processes with relation to global warming potential in wastewater treatment plants, with a comprehensive consideration of wastewater and sludge treatment. The anaerobic side-stream reactor (ASSR) and the sludge process reduction activated sludge (SPRAS), two typical SIR technologies, were used to compare the carbon footprint analysis results with the conventional anaerobic - anoxic - oxic (AAO) process. Compared to the AAO, the ASSR with a typical sludge reduction efficiency (SRE) of 30 % increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 1.1 - 1.7 %, while the SPRAS with a SRE of 74 % reduced GHG emissions by 12.3 - 17.6 %. Electricity consumption (0.025 - 0.027 kg CO2-eq/m3), CO2 emissions (0.016 - 0.059 kg CO2-eq/m3), and N2O emissions (0.009 - 0.023 kg CO2-eq/m3) for the removal of secondary substrates released from sludge decay in the SIR processes were the major contributor to the increased GHG emissions from the wastewater treatment system. By lowering sludge production and the organic matter content in the sludge, the SIR processes significantly decreased the carbon footprints associated with sludge treatment and disposal. The threshold SREs of the ASSR for GHG reduction were 27.7 % and 34.6 % for the advanced dewatering - sanitary landfill and conventional dewatering - drying-incinerating routes, respectively. Overall, the SPRAS process could be considered as a cost-effective and sustainable low-carbon SIR technology for wastewater treatment.

Abstract Background Stress hyperglycemia, which is associated with poor prognosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), can be determined using the stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR). Impaired left ventricular function and microvascular obstruction (MVO) diagnosed using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) have also been proven to be linked to poor prognosis in patients with AMI and aid in risk stratification. However, there have been no studies on the correlation between fasting SHR and left ventricular function and MVO in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (ASTEMI). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the additive effect of fasting SHR on left ventricular function and global deformation in patients with ASTEMI and to explore the association between fasting SHR and MVO. Methods Consecutive patients who underwent CMR at index admission (3–7 days) after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) were enrolled in this study. Basic clinical, biochemical, and CMR data were obtained and compared among all patients grouped by fasting SHR tertiles: SHR1: SHR

Abstract Induced oncoproteins degradation provides an attractive anti-cancer modality. Activation of anaphase-promoting complex (APC/CCDH1) prevents cell-cycle entry by targeting crucial mitotic proteins for degradation. Phosphorylation of its co-activator CDH1 modulates the E3 ligase activity, but little is known about its regulation after phosphorylation and how to effectively harness APC/CCDH1 activity to treat cancer. Peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase NIMA-interacting 1 (PIN1)-catalyzed phosphorylation-dependent cis-trans prolyl isomerization drives tumor malignancy. However, the mechanisms controlling its protein turnover remain elusive. Through proteomic screens and structural characterizations, we identify a reciprocal antagonism of PIN1-APC/CCDH1 mediated by domain-oriented phosphorylation-dependent dual interactions as a fundamental mechanism governing mitotic protein stability and cell-cycle entry. Remarkably, combined PIN1 and cyclin-dependent protein kinases (CDKs) inhibition creates a positive feedback loop of PIN1 inhibition and APC/CCDH1 activation to irreversibly degrade PIN1 and other crucial mitotic proteins, which force permanent cell-cycle exit and trigger anti-tumor immunity, translating into synergistic efficacy against triple-negative breast cancer.

Abstract Self-sustainable autonomous locomotion is a non-equilibrium phenomenon and an advanced intelligence of soft-bodied organisms that exhibit the abilities of perception, feedback, decision-making, and self-sustainment. However, artificial self-sustaining architectures are often derived from algorithms and onboard modules of soft robots, resulting in complex fabrication, limited mobility, and low sensitivity. Self-sustainable autonomous soft actuators have emerged as naturally evolving systems that do not require human intervention. With shape-morphing materials integrating in their structural design, soft actuators can direct autonomous responses to complex environmental changes and achieve robust self-sustaining motions under sustained stimulation. This perspective article discusses the recent advances in self-sustainable autonomous soft actuators. Specifically, shape-morphing materials, motion characteristics, built-in negative feedback loops, and constant stimulus response patterns used in autonomous systems are summarized. Artificial self-sustaining autonomous concepts, modes, and deformation-induced functional applications of soft actuators are described. The current challenges and future opportunities for self-sustainable actuation systems are also discussed.

Abstract The complex biological mechanisms underlying human brain aging remain incompletely understood. This study investigated the genetic architecture of three brain age gaps (BAG) derived from gray matter volume (GM-BAG), white matter microstructure (WM-BAG), and functional connectivity (FC-BAG). We identified sixteen genomic loci that reached genome-wide significance (P-value

Purpose: The novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) has continually spread and mutated, requiring a patient risk stratification system to optimize medical resources and improve pandemic response. We aimed to develop a conformal prediction-based tri-light warning system for stratifying COVID-19 patients, applicable to both original and emerging variants. Methods: We retrospectively collected data from 3646 patients across multiple centers in China. The dataset was divided into a training set (n = 1451), a validation set (n = 662), an external test set from Huoshenshan Field Hospital (n = 1263), and a specific test set for Delta and Omicron variants (n = 544). The tri-light warning system extracts radiomic features from CT (computed tomography) and integrates clinical records to classify patients into high-risk (red), uncertain-risk (yellow), and low-risk (green) categories. Models were built to predict ICU (intensive care unit) admissions (adverse cases in training/validation/Huoshenshan/variant test sets: n = 39/21/262/11) and were evaluated using AUROC ((area under the receiver operating characteristic curve)) and AUPRC ((area under the precision-recall curve)) metrics. Results: The dataset included 1830 men (50.2 %) and 1816 women (50.8 %), with a median age of 53.7 years (IQR [interquartile range]: 42–65 years). The system demonstrated strong performance under data distribution shifts, with AUROC of 0.89 and AUPRC of 0.42 for original strains, and AUROC of 0.77–0.85 and AUPRC of 0.51–0.60 for variants. Conclusion: The tri-light warning system can enhance pandemic responses by effectively stratifying COVID-19 patients under varying conditions and data shifts.

Abstract Catalysis is crucial to improve redox kinetics in lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries. However, conventional catalysts that consist of a single metal element are incapable of accelerating stepwise sulfur redox reactions which involve 16‐electron transfer and multiple Li2Sn (n = 2–8) intermediate species. To enable fast kinetics of Li–S batteries, it is proposed to use high‐entropy alloy (HEA) nanocatalysts, which are demonstrated effective to adsorb lithium polysulfides and accelerate their redox kinetics. The incorporation of multiple elements (Co, Ni, Fe, Pd, and V) within HEAs greatly enhances the catalytically active sites, which not only improves the rate capability, but also elevates the cycling stability of the assembled batteries. Consequently, HEA‐catalyzed Li–S batteries achieve a high capacity up to 1364 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C and experience only a slight capacity fading rate of 0.054% per cycle over 1000 cycles at 2 C, while the assembled pouch cell achieves a high specific capacity of 1192 mAh g−1. The superior performance of Li–S batteries demonstrates the effectiveness of the HEA catalysts with maximized synergistic effect for accelerating S conversion reactions, which opens a way to catalytically improving stepwise electrochemical conversion reactions.

Background and purposeThis study explores the relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and mortality among Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients, providing evidence for the potential benefits of vitamin D (VD) supplementation.MethodsPD patients were collected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database from 1999 to 2020. These patients were categorized based on their serum 25(OH)D levels: deficiency, insufficiency, and sufficiency. We compared demographic information and analyzed mortality data from the National Death Index. A restricted cubic spline model assessed the nonlinear association between 25(OH)D levels and mortality, complemented by multivariable Cox regression analysis. Consistency of results was checked through subgroup analysis.ResultsThe study included 364 PD patients: 87 (23.9%) with VD deficiency, 121 (33.2%) with insufficiency, and 156 (42.9%) with sufficiency. Demographically, 46.4% were male, and 56% were over 65 years. The deficiency group predominantly consisted of Mexican Americans (53.1%), had lower income levels, a higher unmarried rate, and increased liver disease incidence. The analysis showed a U-shaped curve between 25(OH)D levels and mortality risk, with the lowest risk at 78.68 nmol/L (p-non-linear = 0.007, p-overall = 0.008). Kaplan–Meier analysis found the highest survival rates in patients with 25(OH)D levels between 75–100 nmol/L (p = 0.039). Compared to this group, patients with levels below 50 nmol/L had a 3.52-fold increased mortality risk (95% CI = 1.58–7.86, p = 0.002), and those above 100 nmol/L had a 2.92-fold increase (95% CI = 1.06–8.05, p = 0.038). Age-specific subgroup analysis (p = 0.009) revealed that both very low (100 nmol/L) levels increased mortality risk in patients under 65, while levels below 75 nmol/L raised mortality risk in older patients.ConclusionSerum 25(OH)D levels are nonlinearly linked to mortality in PD patients, with optimal survival rates occurring at 75–100 nmol/L. Deviations from this range increase the risk of death.

Abstract RNA splicing is crucial in the multilayer regulatory networks for gene expression, making functional interactions with DNA‐ and other RNA‐processing machineries in the nucleus. However, these established couplings are all major spliceosome‐related; whether the minor spliceosome is involved remains unclear. Here, through affinity purification using Drosophila lysates, an interaction is identified between the minor spliceosomal 65K/RNPC3 and ANKRD11, a cofactor of histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3). Using a CRISPR/Cas9 system, Deletion strains are constructed and found that both Dm65KΔ/Δ and Dmankrd11Δ/Δ mutants have reduced histone deacetylation at Lys9 of histone H3 (H3K9) and Lys5 of histone H4 (H4K5) in their heads, exhibiting various neural‐related defects. The 65K‐ANKRD11 interaction is also conserved in human cells, and the HsANKRD11 middle‐uncharacterized domain mediates Hs65K association with HDAC3. Cleavage under targets and tagmentation (CUT&Tag) assays revealed that HsANKRD11 is a bridging factor, which facilitates the synergistic common chromatin‐binding of HDAC3 and Hs65K. Knockdown (KD) of HsANKRD11 simultaneously decreased their common binding, resulting in reduced deacetylation of nearby H3K9. Ultimately, this study demonstrates that expression changes of many genes caused by HsANKRD11‐KD are due to the decreased common chromatin‐binding of HDAC3 and Hs65K and subsequently reduced deacetylation of H3K9, illustrating a novel and conserved coupling mechanism that links the histone deacetylation with minor spliceosome for the regulation of gene expression.

ABSTRACT: The chicken comb is an essential secondary sexual characteristic to measure sexual maturity and is closely related to reproductive performance. Pendulous comb (PC) and upright comb (UC) are 2 common comb phenotypes in hens, which have been highly associated with egg production performance. However, the reasons for the formation of PC remain undetermined. In this study, we first characterized the PC and UC chicken at start (at 175 d age), peak (at 217 d age), and postlaying (at 300 d age) and found that PC and UC could transform for each other. Furthermore, we suggested that PC chicken demonstrated better egg production performance than UC chicken, especially characterizing comb type in the start-laying period. Moreover, we performed histological evaluation of PC and UC tissue, which suggested that the low density of collagen fibers and acid mucopolysaccharides might lead to the formation of PC. To further explore the possible reasons for PC formation, we performed an untargeted metabolomic analysis of serum between PC and UC chicken in the start, peak, and postlaying periods. The enrichment analysis of period-unique differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) between PC and UC showed that the different metabolic pathways and nutritional levels might contribute to the formation of PC in the different laying periods. Our research provided critical insights into the phenotypic diversity of chicken comb, establishing a foundation for early selection of chicken egg production performance.

Objectives: Celastrol has widespread therapeutic applications in various pathological conditions, including chronic inflammation. Previous studies have demonstrated the potent cardioprotective effects of celastrol. Nevertheless, limited attention has been given to its potential in reducing ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) following myocardial infarction (MI). Hence, this study aimed to elucidate the potential mechanisms underlying the regulatory effects of celastrol on VAs and cardiac electrophysiological parameters in rats after MI. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were divided at random: the sham, MI, and MI + celastrol groups. The left coronary artery was occluded in the MI and MI + Cel groups. Electrocardiogram, heart rate variability (HRV), ventricular electrophysiological parameters analysis, histology staining of ventricles, Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), western blotting and Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were performed to elucidate the underlying mechanism of celastrol. Besides, H9c2 cells were subjected to hypoxic conditions to create an in vitro model of MI and then treated with celastrol for 24 hours. Nigericin was used to activate the NLRP3 inflammasome. Results: Compared with that MI group, cardiac electrophysiology instability was significantly alleviated in the MI + celastrol group. Additionally, celastrol improved HRV, upregulated the levels of Cx43, Kv.4.2, Kv4.3 and Cav1.2, mitigated myocardial fibrosis, and inhibited the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. In vitro conditions also supported the regulatory effects of celastrol on the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. Conclusions: Celastrol could alleviate the adverse effects of VAs after MI partially by promoting autonomic nerve remodeling, ventricular electrical reconstruction and ion channel remodeling, and alleviating ventricular fibrosis and inflammatory responses partly by through inhibiting the NLRP3/Caspase-1/IL-1β pathway.

Abstract The hemiparasitic tribe Cymbarieae (Orobanchaceae) plays a crucial role in elucidating the initial stage of the transition from autotrophism to heterotrophism. However, the complete chloroplast genome of the type genus Cymbaria has yet to be reported. In addition, the traditional Mongolian medicine Cymbaria daurica is frequently subjected to adulteration or substitution because of the minor morphological differences with Cymbaria mongolica. In this study, the complete chloroplast genomes of the two Cymbaria species were assembled and annotated, and those of other published 52 Orobanchaceae species were retrieved for comparative analyses. We found that the Cymbaria chloroplast genomes are characterized by pseudogenization or loss of stress‐relevant genes (ndh) and a unique rbcL–matK inversion. Unlike the high variability observed in holoparasites, Cymbaria and other hemiparasites exhibit high similarity to autotrophs in genome size, guanine–cytosine (GC) content, and intact genes. Notably, four pairs of specific DNA barcodes were developed and validated to distinguish the medicinal herb from its adulterants. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the genus Cymbaria and the Schwalbea–Siphonostegia clade are grouped into the tribe Cymbarieae, which forms a sister clade to the remaining Orobanchaceae parasitic lineages. Moreover, the diversification of monophyletic Cymbaria occurred during the late Miocene (6.72 Mya) in the Mongol–Chinese steppe region. Our findings provide valuable genetic resources for studying the phylogeny of Orobanchaceae and plant parasitism, and genetic tools to validate the authenticity of the traditional Mongolian medicine “Xinba.”

ObjectiveTo determine the cost-effectiveness of imported immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) such as atezolizumab and durvalumab, and domestic ICIs like serplulimab and adebrelimab, in combination with chemotherapy for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) in China.MethodsUsing a 21-day cycle length and a 20-year time horizon, a Markov model was established to compare the clinical and economic outcomes of five first-line ICIs plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone, as well as against each other, from the perspective of the Chinese healthcare system. Transition probabilities were estimated by combining the results of the CAPSTONE-1 trial and a published network meta-analysis. Cost and health state utilities were collected from multiple sources. Both cost and effectiveness outcomes were discounted at a rate of 5% annually. The primary model output was incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs). A series of sensitivity analyses were preformed to assess the robustness of the model.ResultsIn the base-case analysis, the addition of first-line ICIs to chemotherapy resulted in the ICERs ranged from $80,425.31/QALY to $812,415.46/QALY, which exceeded the willing-to-pay threshold set for the model. When comparing these first-line immunochemotherapy strategies, serplulimab plus chemotherapy had the highest QALYs of 1.51286 and the second lowest costs of $60,519.52, making it is the most cost-effective strategy. Our subgroup-level analysis yielded results that are consistent with the base-case analysis. The sensitivity analysis results confirmed the validity and reliability of the model.ConclusionIn China, the combination of fist-line ICIs plus chemotherapy were not considered cost-effective when compared to chemotherapy alone. However, when these fist-line immunochemotherapy strategies were compared with each other, first-line serplulimab plus chemotherapy consistently demonstrated superiority in terms of cost-effectiveness. Reducing the cost of serplulimab per 4.5 mg/kg would be a realistic step towards making first-line serplulimab plus chemotherapy more accessible and cost-effective.

Traditional reinforced concrete (RC) shear walls have insufficient deformation capacity under strong earthquake conditions and are difficult to repair due to severe post-earthquake damage. Ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) is a cement-based composite material with high strength and toughness, which can be applied to shear walls. Therefore, a new type of RC shear walls with UHPC boundary columns was proposed. A rectangular-shaped shear wall and two shear walls with barbell-shaped sections were tested under axial force and lateral cyclic load, and the effects of UHPC distribution, sectional shape and stirrup strength were studied. The hysteresis characteristics, ductility behavior, energy dissipation and stiffness degradation of all the specimens were analyzed and discussed. The test showed that the shear wall with UHPC boundary columns had good crack-width control ability and the damage degree was greatly alleviated even under large axial forces. The addition of UHPC could enhance the ductility and energy dissipation capacity of shear walls, especially for rectangular-shaped walls. Besides, an efficient shear-flexure interaction (SFI) model was developed for the shear walls and it could accurately capture the lateral load versus lateral displacement relationship and crack orientations. This nonlinear analysis model had fast calculation speed and effective results, with a prediction error of less than 5 % for peak loads.

Understanding influential factors for the academic performance of doctoral students is crucial for supporting their exploration of academic research opportunities and aiding their pursuit of careers in academic research. This study surveyed 659 doctoral students in China, utilizing scales to assess academic motivation, buoyancy, self-efficacy, self-concept, and performance. Based on a partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) analysis, a direct correlation between self-concept and performance was identified. Moreover, motivation, buoyancy, and self-efficacy were significant mediators in the relationship between self-concept and performance. To significantly enhance self-concept's impact on doctoral students' academic performance, educators should endeavor to enhance students' motivation, buoyancy, and self-efficacy. This endeavor will contribute to the discourse on academic performance and its underlying psychological mechanisms.

ABSTRACT: Meat production performance is the most important economic trait in broilers, and skeletal muscle, as the largest organ in animals, is directly related to meat production during embryonic and postnatal growth and development. N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) is a chemical modification occurs on RNA adenosine that has been reported to participate in a variety of biological processes in all species. However, there are still few reports on the regulatory role of muscle growth and development in poultry after birth. This study aims to reveal the distribution of m6A modification sites in chicken pectoralis major muscle after birth and find out the regulatory relationship between m6A and muscle development. As representatives of leaner (Xinghua chicken [XH]) and hypertrophic (White Recessive Rock chicken [WRR]) broilers, there are significant differences in body weight, muscle fiber diameter, and muscle fiber cross-sectional area between XH and WRR chickens. RNA sequencing detected a total of 397 differentially expressed genes (DEG) in the pectoralis major muscle of XH and WRR chicken, and these DEGs were mainly enriched in catalytic activity and metabolic pathways. MeRIP sequencing results showed that among all 6,476 differentially modified m6A peaks, about 90% peaks (5,823) were differentially down regulated in XH chickens. The joint analysis of the mRNA and MeRIP sequencing data found 145 DEGs with differential m6A peak, ALKBH5 as a m6A demethylase, was also included. The highly expression of ALKBH5 in the muscle tissue of poultry and differential expression between XH and WRR chickens suggest that ALKBH5 may play a crucial role in regulating muscle development. Our results revealed that there were significant differences in growth rate, body weight, muscle fiber diameter, and fiber cross-section area between WRR and XH chicken, as well as significant differences in m6A methylation level and muscle metabolism level.

Abstract Background Skeletal muscle development is pivotal for animal growth and health. Recently, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) were found to interact with chromatin through diverse roles. However, little is known about how lncRNAs act as chromatin-associated RNAs to regulate skeletal muscle development. Here, we aim to investigate the regulation of chromatin-associated RNA (MYH1G-AS) during skeletal muscle development. Methods We provided comprehensive insight into the RNA profile and chromatin accessibility of different myofibers, combining RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) with an assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with high-throughput sequencing (ATAC-seq). The dual-luciferase reporter assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay were used to analyze the transcriptional regulation mechanism of MYH1G-AS. ALKBH5-mediated MYH1G-AS N 6-methyladenosine (m6A) demethylation was assessed by a single-base elongation and ligation-based qPCR amplification method (SELECT) assay. Functions of MYH1G-AS were investigated through a primary myoblast and lentivirus/cholesterol-modified antisense oligonucleotide (ASO)-mediated animal model. To validate the interaction of MYH1G-AS with fibroblast growth factor 18 (FGF18) protein, RNA pull down and an RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay were performed. Specifically, the interaction between FGF18 and SWI/SNF-related matrix-associated actin-dependent regulator of chromatin subfamily A member 5 (SMARCA5) protein was analyzed by coimmunoprecipitation (Co-IP) and a yeast two-hybrid assay. Results A total of 45 differentially expressed (DE) lncRNAs, with DE ATAC-seq peaks in their promoter region, were classified as open chromatin-associated lncRNAs. A skeletal muscle-specific lncRNA (MSTRG.15576.9; MYH1G-AS), which is one of the open chromatin-associated lncRNA, was identified. MYH1G-AS transcription is coordinately regulated by transcription factors (TF) SMAD3 and SP2. Moreover, SP2 represses ALKBH5 transcription to weaken ALKBH5-mediated m6A demethylation of MYH1G-AS, thus destroying MYH1G-AS RNA stability. MYH1G-AS accelerates myoblast proliferation but restrains myoblast differentiation. Moreover, MYH1G-AS drives a switch from slow-twitch to fast-twitch fibers and causes muscle atrophy. Mechanistically, MYH1G-AS inhibits FGF18 protein stabilization to reduce the interaction of FGF18 to SMARCA5, thus repressing chromatin accessibility of the SMAD4 promoter to activate the SMAD4-dependent pathway. Conclusions Our results reveal a new pattern of the regulation of lncRNA expression at diverse levels and help expound the regulation of m6A methylation on chromatin status. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Background We aimed to develop a combined model based on radiomics and computed tomography (CT) imaging features for use in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant subcentimeter (≤ 10 mm) solid pulmonary nodules (SSPNs). Methods A total of 324 patients with SSPNs were analyzed retrospectively between May 2016 and June 2022. Malignant nodules (n = 158) were confirmed by pathology, and benign nodules (n = 166) were confirmed by follow-up or pathology. SSPNs were divided into training (n = 226) and testing (n = 98) cohorts. A total of 2107 radiomics features were extracted from contrast-enhanced CT. The clinical and CT characteristics retained after univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to develop the clinical model. The combined model was established by associating radiomics features with CT imaging features using logistic regression. The performance of each model was evaluated using the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results Six CT imaging features were independent predictors of SSPNs, and four radiomics features were selected after a dimensionality reduction. The combined model constructed by the logistic regression method had the best performance in differentiating malignant from benign SSPNs, with an AUC of 0.942 (95% confidence interval 0.918–0.966) in the training group and an AUC of 0.930 (0.902–0.957) in the testing group. The decision curve analysis showed that the combined model had clinical application value. Conclusions The combined model incorporating radiomics and CT imaging features had excellent discriminative ability and can potentially aid radiologists in diagnosing malignant from benign SSPNs. Relevance statement The model combined radiomics features and clinical features achieved good efficiency in predicting malignant from benign SSPNs, having the potential to assist in early diagnosis of lung cancer and improving follow-up strategies in clinical work. Key points • We developed a pulmonary nodule diagnostic model including radiomics and CT features. • The model yielded the best performance in differentiating malignant from benign nodules. • The combined model had clinical application value and excellent discriminative ability. • The model can assist radiologists in diagnosing malignant from benign pulmonary nodules. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Exploring the dynamic structural evolution of electrocatalysts during reactions represents a fundamental objective in the realm of electrocatalytic mechanism research. In pursuit of this objective, we synthesized PhenPtCl2 nanosheets, revealing a N2-Pt-Cl2 coordination structure through various characterization techniques. Remarkably, the electrocatalytic performance of these PhenPtCl2 nanosheets for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) surpasses that of the commercial Pt/C catalyst across the entire pH range. Furthermore, our discovery of the dynamic coordination changes occurring in the N2-Pt-Cl2 active sites during the electrocatalytic process, as clarified through in situ Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, is particularly noteworthy. These changes transition from Phen-Pt-Cl2 to Phen-Pt-Cl and ultimately to Phen-Pt. The Phen-Pt intermediate plays a pivotal role in the electrocatalytic HER, dynamically coordinating with Cl- ions in the electrolyte. Additionally, the unsaturated, two-coordinated Pt within Phen-Pt provides additional space and electrons to enhance both H+ adsorption and H2 evolution. This research illuminates the intricate dynamic coordination evolution and structural adaptability of PhenPtCl2 nanosheets, firmly establishing them as a promising candidate for efficient and tunable electrocatalysts.

Abstract Two‐dimensional (2D) high‐entropy alloys (HEAs) have emerged as promising electrocatalysts due to the benefits of polymetallic coordination and robust electrical conductivity. However, the multiple elements in 2D HEAs pose challenges in achieving a uniform composition and maintaining a 2D limit morphology, complicating their structural characterization. Furthermore, even minor adjustments to the composition can significantly alter the properties of 2D HEAs, underscoring the need for a deeper understanding of their structure–property relationships to advance synthesis and application. Therefore, this review critically examines the intrinsic factors influencing synthesis methods and the practical applications of 2D HEAs in electrocatalysis for sustainable energy conversion. The urgency is emphasized for developing new synthesis techniques, enhancing advanced characterization methods, and gaining profound insights into the functional mechanisms of 2D HEAs.

The pore structure and mineral characteristics affect the accumulation and migration of hydrocarbons in shale, which determines the production capacity of shale oil. In this study, shale samples from the Chang 7 member of the Ordos Basin in China were selected to investigate the pore space characteristics, the effect of hydrocarbon accumulation on pore heterogeneity, and the hydrocarbon migration changes based on fractal theory, and a series of experiments were conducted involving X-ray diffraction (XRD), total organic carbon (TOC), Soxhlet extraction, and low-temperature nitrogen (N2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) adsorption. Then, the factors affecting extraction efficiency in shale pores were discussed. The interparticle pores contributed most to the accumulation of shale oil, and the organic matter (OM) pores contributed positively to the adsorption of hydrocarbons. The accumulation of hydrocarbons in the pore space did not increase the heterogeneity of the shale pore structure. The contents, states, and positions of hydrocarbons changed during the extraction process. Hydrocarbons were redistributed on the pore surface after Soxhlet extraction, and the heterogeneity of hydrocarbon adsorption and pore surface roughness were improved. Some heavy hydrocarbons and adsorbed components were pyrolyzed, resulting in the gradual escape of the adsorbed layer in the large pores. However, the free oil in the small pores diffused to the large pores and reaggregated on the surface, restoring a stable adsorption layer. The extraction rate was closely related to the pore throat structure and the wettability of mineral surfaces. The configuration between pores and throats had a crucial influence on the extraction rate. A high proportion of meso-pores, which effectively connect micro- and macro-pores, had a higher diffusion efficiency and a higher extraction rate. The OM pores with high energy adsorption were located in the micro-pores, and the shale oil existed in a dissolved state with high mobile capacity. The wettability of mineral surfaces affected the adsorption behavior during extraction, and strong oil wetting promoted hydrocarbon re-adsorption in clay minerals, so that the volume of micro-pores was smaller after extraction.

The micromechanical properties (i.e., hardness, elastic modulus, and stress–strain curve) of AlCu films were determined by an instrumented indentation test in this work. For three AlCu films with different thicknesses (i.e., 1 µm, 1.5 µm, and 2 µm), the same critical ratio (hmax/t) of 0.15 and relative indentation depth range of 0.15–0.5 existed, within which the elastic modulus (i.e., 59 GPa) and nanoindentation hardness (i.e., 0.75 GPa, 0.64 GPa and 0.63 GPa for 1 µm, 1.5 µm and 2 µm films) without pile-up and substrate influence can be determined. The yield strength (i.e., 0.754 GPa, 0.549 GPa and 0.471 GPa for 1 µm, 1.5 µm and 2 µm films) and hardening exponent (i.e., 0.073, 0.131 and 0.150 for 1 µm, 1.5 µm and 2 µm films) of Al-(4 wt.%)Cu films for MEMS were successfully reported for the first time using a nanoindentation reverse method. In dimensional analysis, the ideal representative strain εr was determined to be 0.038. The errors of residual depth hr between the simulations and the nanoindentation experiments was less than 5% when the stress–strain curve obtained by the nanoindentation reverse method was used for simulation.

Due to the complex operating environment of LED lamp beads (hereinafter referred to as LED), the test method that only considers the action of multiple stresses alone ignores the mutual influence between stresses, making it difficult to accurately obtain the life indicators of LEDs, resulting in a large deviation in the theoretical life results. In this regard, this paper proposes a multi-stress accelerated degradation evaluation method considering generalized coupling and conducts an accelerated degradation test (ADT) to evaluate the life of LEDs. We identified three stress sources and designed five new high-gradient ADTs. Through experimental data, we found that the three stress sources are strongly coupled on this LED. Then, a generalized coupling maximum likelihood estimation method (MLE) for the entire sample was constructed, and the particle swarm algorithm was used to solve the parameters. Finally, the life of this LED was evaluated based on the experimental data. The results show that the life of the LED considering multiple-stress coupling is within 6.5% of the historical life scatter point, which is more in line with the actual working environment.

Mg metal vascular stents not only have good mechanical support properties but also can be entirely absorbed by the human body as a trace element beneficial to the human body, but because Mg metal is quickly dissolved and absorbed in the human body, magnesium metal alone cannot be ideally used as a vascular stent. Since the dense oxide Zn film formed by Zn contact with oxygen in the air has good anti-corrosion performance, the Zn nanolayer film deposited on the Mg matrix vascular scaffold by magnetron sputtering can effectively inhibit the rapid dissolution of Mg metal. However, there are few studies on the molecular dynamic structural defects of Mg-matrix Zn atomic magnetron sputtering, and the atomic level simulation of Mg-matrix Zn thin-film depositions can comprehensively understand the atomic level structural defects in the deposition process of Zn thin films from a theoretical perspective to further guide experimental research. Based on this, this research first studied and analyzed the atomic layer structure defects, surface morphology, surface roughness, atomic density of different deposited layers, radial distribution function, and residual stress of the thin-film deposition layer of 1500 deposited Zn atoms at the initial deposition stage, during and after deposition under Mg-matrix thermal layer 500K and a deposited velocity 5 Å/ps by molecular dynamics. At the same time, the effects of temperature and deposited velocity of the Mg-matrix thermal layer on the surface morphology, roughness, and biaxial stress of the deposited films were studied.

Bioresorbable magnesium-metal vascular stents are gaining popularity due to their biodegradable nature and good biological and mechanical properties. They are also suitable candidate materials for biodegradable stents. Due to the rapid degradation rate of Mg metal vascular scaffolds, a Mg/Zn bilayer composite was formed by a number of means, such as magnetron sputtering and physical vapor deposition, thus delaying the degradation time of the Mg metal vascular scaffolds while providing good radial support for the stenotic vessels. However, the interlaminar compounds at the metal interface have an essential impact on the mechanical properties of the bi-material interface, especially the cracking and delamination of the Mg matrix Zn coating vascular stent in the radially expanded process layer. Intermetallic compounds (IMCs) are commonly found in dual-layer composites, such as Mg/Zn composites and multi-layer structures. They are frequently overlooked in simulations aiming to predict mechanical properties. This paper analyses the interfacial failure processes and evolutionary mechanisms of interfacial fracture mechanics of a Mg/Zn interface with an intermetallic compound layer between coated Zn and Mg matrix metallic vascular stents. The simulation results show that the fracture mode in the Mg/Zn interface with an intermetallic compound involves typical ductile fracture under static tensile conditions. The dislocation line defects mainly occur on the side of the Mg, which induces the Mg/Zn interfacial crack to expand along the interface into the pure Mg. The stress intensity factor and the critical strain energy release rate decrease as the intermetallic compound layer’s thickness gradually increases, indicating that the intensity of stress and the force of the crack extending and expanding along the crack tip are weakened. The presence of intermetallic compounds at the interface can significantly strengthen the mechanical properties of the material interface and alleviate the crack propagation between the interfaces.

IntroductionAnti-IgLON5 antibody-related encephalitis is a rare autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system, predominantly occurring in middle-aged elderly individuals, with paediatric cases being exceptionally rare. This study aims to enhance the understanding of paediatric anti-IgLON5 antibody-related encephalitis by summarising its clinical and therapeutic characteristics.MethodA retrospective analysis was conducted on two paediatric patients diagnosed with anti-IgLON5 antibody-related encephalitis at Hunan Children’s Hospital from August 2022 to November 2023. This involved reviewing their medical records and follow-up data, in addition to a literature review.ResultsThe study involved two patients, one male and one female, aged between 2.5 and 9.6 years, both presenting with an acute/subacute course of illness. Clinically, both exhibited movement disorders (including dystonia, involuntary movements, and ataxia), cognitive impairments, sleep disturbances, and psychiatric symptoms. Patient 1 experienced epileptic seizures, while Patient 2 exhibited brainstem symptoms and abnormal eye movements. Neither patient showed autonomic dysfunction. Patient 1 had normal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and Brain MRI findings, whereas Patient 2 showed moderate leukocytosis and mild protein elevation in the CSF, and Brain MRI revealed symmetrical lesions in the basal ganglia and cerebellum. Oligoclonal bands in the CSF were positive in both cases. Both patients tested negative for HLA-DQB*05:01 and HLA-DRB*10:01. They received both first-line and second-line immunotherapies, with Patient 2 showing a poor response to treatment.DiscussionPaediatric cases of anti-IgLON5 antibody-related encephalitis similarly present sleep disturbances as a core symptom, alongside various forms of movement disorders. Immunotherapy is partially effective. Compared to adult patients, these paediatric cases tend to exhibit more pronounced psychiatric symptoms, a more rapid onset, and more evident inflammatory changes in the CSF. The condition appears to have a limited association with HLA-DQB*05:01 and HLA-DRB*10:01 polymorphisms.

ABSTRACT: Qingyuan partridge chicken (QYM) is a highly regarded native breed in China, highly esteemed for its exceptional breeding characteristics. However, the investigation into the selection signatures and its strains remains largely unexplored. In this study, blood sampling, DNA extracting, and high-depth resequencing were performed in 27 QYMs. Integrating the genomic data of 14 chicken (70 individuals) breeds from other researches, to analyze the genetic structure, selection signatures, and effects of selective breeding within QYM and its 3 strains (QYMA, QYMB, and QYMC). Population structure analysis revealed an independent QYM cluster, which exhibited distinct from other breeds, with each of its 3 strains displaying distinct clustering patterns. Linkage disequilibrium analysis highlighted QYMB's notably slower decay rate, potentially influenced by selection pressure from various production indicators. Examination of selection signatures uncovered genes and genetic mechanisms associated with genomic changes resulting from extensive selective breeding within the QYM and its strains. Intriguingly, diacylglycerol kinase beta (DGKB) and catenin alpha 2 (CTNNA2) were identified as commonly selected genes across the 3 QYM strains, linked to energy metabolism, muscle development, and fat metabolism. Our research validates the substantial impact of selective breeding on QYM and its strains, concurrently identifying genomic regions and signaling pathways associated with their distinctive characters. This research also establishes a fundamental framework for advancing yellow-feathered broiler breeding strategies.

This review examines the complex role of Pin1 in the development and treatment of cancer. Pin1 is the only peptidyl–prolyl isomerase (PPIase) that can recognize and isomerize phosphorylated Ser/Thr-Pro peptide bonds. Pin1 catalyzes a structural change in phosphorylated Ser/Thr-Pro motifs that can modulate protein function and thereby impact cell cycle regulation and tumorigenesis. The molecular mechanisms by which Pin1 contributes to oncogenesis are reviewed, including Pin1 overexpression and its correlation with poor cancer prognosis, and the contribution of Pin1 to aggressive tumor phenotypes involved in therapeutic resistance is discussed, with an emphasis on cancer stem cells, the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and immunosuppression. The therapeutic potential of Pin1 inhibition in cancer is discussed, along with the promise and the difficulties in identifying potent, drug-like, small-molecule Pin1 inhibitors. The available evidence supports the efficacy of targeting Pin1 as a novel cancer therapeutic by analyzing the role of Pin1 in a complex network of cancer-driving pathways and illustrating the potential of synergistic drug combinations with Pin1 inhibitors for treating aggressive and drug-resistant tumors.

Abstract Value‐added conversion of lignocellulose is a sustainable approach. Photo‐refining biomass is in line with current environmental protection strategies. However, photo‐reforming biomass suffers from poor catalyst stability and low conversion efficiency. Here, we designed fructose as a lignocellulosic model. The heterogeneous structure of Prussian blue coating was constructed with a special covalent bond structure of CoCNZn. This structure has a catalytic conversion mechanism that can accelerate electron transfer. Fructose was simultaneously converted to value‐added platform compounds (5‐HMF and formic acid) and gaseous fuels (CO, CH4) with a conversion rate of up to 92.5%, which is more than 1.7 times than that of catalysts without adding Prussian blue. Hydrogen transfer and carbon transfer on the carbon atoms of fructose facilitates the production and accelerates the spillover of CO from formic acid. This work provides new ideas for the development of Prussian blue catalysts and the conversion of pentose.