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Objective When turnouts are laid on slope, the longitudinal force increase on the track due to the cyclic braking of trains will cause uneven rail creeping phenomena， resulting in a more complex stress and deformation pattern for the turnout, and even affecting its normal service. Therefore, it is necessary to study the characteristics of stress and deformation of large-slope turnout rails under cyclic braking loads. Method Tests on fastener longitudinal resistance under CLA (cycling loads action) are conducted, and a non-linear finite element model of the No.9 turnout is established to analyze the turnout rail creeping pattern under CLA. Result & Conclusion The fastener system exhibits resistance degradation under CLA. The maximum creep of the turnout rail occurs after the first train braking. Under CLA, the cumulative increase in rail creeping gradually stabilizes with the increasing number of CLA. The presence of slope will significantly increase rail creeping amount under CLA. The train loading form has minimal influence on turnout rail creeping under cycling braking loads action.

The Yellow River Basin (YRB) has experienced severe floods and continuous riverbed elevation throughout history. Global climate change has been suggested to be driving a worldwide increase in flooding risk. However, owing to insufficient evidence, the quantitative correlation between flooding and climate change remains ill-defined. We present a long time series of maximum flood discharge in the YRB dating back to 1843 compiled from historical documents and instrument measurements. Variations in yearly maximum flood discharge show distinct periods: a dramatic decreasing period from 1843 to 1950, and an oscillating gentle decreasing from 1950 to 2021, with the latter period also showing increasing more extreme floods. A Mann-Kendall test analysis suggests that the latter period can be further split into two distinct sub-periods: an oscillating gentle decreasing period from 1950 to 2000, and a clear recent increasing period from 2000 to 2021. We further predict that climate change will cause an ongoing remarkable increase in future flooding risk and an ∼44.4 billion US dollars loss of floods in the YRB in 2100.

Abstract Controllable photofluorochromic systems with high contrast and multicolor in both solutions and solid states are ideal candidates for the development of dynamic artificial intelligence. However, it is still challenging to realize multiple photochromism within one single molecule, not to mention good controllability. Herein, we report an aggregation-induced emission luminogen TPE-2MO2NT that undergoes oxidation cleavage upon light irradiation and is accompanied by tunable multicolor emission from orange to blue with time-dependence. The photocleavage mechanism revealed that the self-generation of reactive oxidants driving the catalyst-free oxidative cleavage process. A comprehensive analysis of TPE-2MO2NT and other comparative molecules demonstrates that the TPE-2MO2NT molecular scaffold can be easily modified and extended. Further, the multicolor microenvironmental controllability of TPE-2MO2NT photoreaction within polymer matrices enables the fabrication of dynamic fluorescence images and 4D information codes, providing strategies for advanced controllable information encryption.

Objective: Huazhi Rougan granules (HRGs) are a promising drug to improve alcoholic liver disease (ALD), but its mechanism remains unclear. Materials and Methods: Network pharmacology, molecular docking, and animal experiments were used to reveal the potential mechanism of HRG against ALD. Results: A total of 245 potential targets of HRG against ALD were obtained. Functional enrichment analysis suggests that HRG could synergistically regulate various biological pathways to exert therapeutic effects on ALD. Molecular docking showed that the key targets exhibited the good binding ability with the key compounds. The in vivo experiments showed that HRG can effectively alleviate pathological changes in liver tissue, improve blood lipid levels, antioxidant stress ability, and liver function, and reduce the release of inflammatory cytokines in the liver. Conclusions: This study reflects that HRG is an effective strategy for treating ALD, providing a basis for revealing the prevention and treatment mechanisms of ALD.

Abstract Vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS) is a chronic and progressive dermatologic condition that can cause physical dysfunction, disfigurement, and impaired quality of life. However, the etiology of VLS remains unknown. The vulvar skin, intestinal and vaginal microbiomes have been postulated to play important roles in the pathogenesis of this disease. The aim of this study was to compare the compositional characteristics of the vulvar skin, vagina, and gut microbiota between perimenopausal or postmenopausal VLS patients and healthy controls. The study involved six perimenopausal or postmenopausal VLS patients which were based on characteristic clinical manifestations and histologic confirmation and five healthy controls. The pruritus severity of each patient was evaluated using the NRS scale, and the dermatology-specific health-related quality of life was assessed using the Skindex-16. Metagenomic sequencing was performed, and the results were analyzed for alpha and beta diversity. LEfSe analysis were used to investigate the microbial alterations in vulvar skin, gut and vagina. KEGG databases were used to analyze differences in functional abundance. The study found significant differences in alpha diversity between the two groups in stool and vaginal samples (P

Abstract Neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy has emerged as a potential treatment option for resectable head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). In this single-arm phase II trial (NCT04826679), patients with resectable locally advanced HNSCC (T2‒T4, N0‒N3b, M0) received neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy with camrelizumab (200 mg), nab-paclitaxel (260 mg/m2), and cisplatin (60 mg/m2) intravenously on day one of each three-week cycle for three cycles. The primary endpoint was the objective response rate (ORR). Secondary endpoints included pathologic complete response (pCR), major pathologic response (MPR), two-year progression-free survival rate, two-year overall survival rate, and toxicities. Here, we report the perioperative outcomes; survival outcomes were not mature at the time of data analysis. Between April 19, 2021 and March 17, 2022, 48 patients were enrolled and received neoadjuvant therapy, 27 of whom proceeded to surgical resection and remaining 21 received non-surgical therapy. The ORR was 89.6% (95% CI: 80.9, 98.2) among 48 patients who completed neoadjuvant therapy. Of the 27 patients who underwent surgery, 17 (63.0%, 95% CI: 44.7, 81.2) achieved a MPR or pCR, with a pCR rate of 55.6% (95% CI: 36.8, 74.3). Treatment-related adverse events of grade 3 or 4 occurred in two patients. This study meets the primary endpoint showing potential efficacy of neoadjuvant camrelizumab plus nab-paclitaxel and cisplatin, with an acceptable safety profile, in patients with resectable locally advanced HNSCC.

Abstract Purpose Gasless robot-assisted transaxillary hemithyroidectomy (RATH) is regarded as an alternative surgical option for thyroid operations. However, the associated steep learning curve is a clinical concern. This study evaluated the learning curve of RATH for surgeons without experience of endoscopic surgery and the early surgical outcomes of RATH. Methods We conducted a retrospective study of patients who underwent gasless RATH and conventional hemithyroidectomy (CH) at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China, from June 2021 to August 2022. The learning curve and early surgical outcomes of gasless RATH were evaluated. And the early surgical outcomes of gasless RATH were compared to CH. Results In total, 105 patients who underwent gasless RATH and 104 patients who underwent CH were matched and assessed. The cumulative sum techniques (CUSUM) analysis showed that the peak point of gasless RATH operative time occurred at the 31st case. No clear single peak was identified in the CUSUM plot for drainage amount and blood loss. No significant difference in perioperative complications was observed between these two groups. Moreover, the number of postoperative patients who got sense of thyroid area traction were fewer in the gasless RATH group (n = 11, 10.5%) than in the CH group (n = 32, 30.8%). Conclusion Gasless RATH can be considered as an alternative approach to the conventional open procedure, as it is an easy remote access technique, with shorter learning curves and certain advantage such as less sense of thyroid area traction.

Abstract Fibre‐based wearables for embroidery, chemosensing, and biofluid's unidirectional draining with good flexibility, tunability, and designability drive technological advance. However, synthetic polymer fibres are non‐degradable, threatening the environment and human health. Herein, we have developed versatile microfibre‐based wearables by combining many advantages in one platform of biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) and melt electrowriting strategy. Diverse potential applications of PLA wearables are achieved by flexibly designing their printing files, components and structures. Three‐dimensional printing files are generated from two‐dimensional images to fabricate ‘embroidery‐like’ patterns. PLA/aggregation‐induced emission fluorogens (AIE) chemosensors exhibit colorimetric and fluorescent colour changes upon exposure to amine vapours. Janus PLA‐cotton textiles with a hydrophobic/hydrophilic structure could facilitate unidirectional draining of sweats which is favourable for the management of temperature and humidity on the surface of skin. The proposed platform can not only broaden the design possibilities in 3D/4D printing but also offer wide potential applications for functional wearables.

Tuberculosis is a chronic infectious disease, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, that seriously endangers human health. Skeletal tuberculosis is the most common type of extrapulmonary tuberculosis and tuberculous arthritis is the second most common type of skeletal tuberculosis. We report a case series of patients with tuberculous arthritis, two of whom had no joint disease in the past and presented as monoarthritis. The final patient had a history of rheumatoid arthritis, with polyarthritis that was aggravated during treatment with glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive drugs. This series of cases can contribute to early diagnosis and treatment with appropriate infection control measures.

Abstract The bottom-up molecular science research paradigm has greatly propelled the advancement of materials science. However, some organic molecules can exhibit markedly different properties upon aggregation. Understanding the emergence of these properties and structure-property relationship has become a new research hotspot. In this work, by taking the unique closed-form rhodamines-based aggregation-induced emission (AIE) system as model compounds, we investigated their luminescent properties and the underlying mechanism deeply from a top-down viewpoint. Interestingly, the closed-form rhodamine-based AIE system did not display the expected emission behavior under high-viscosity or low-temperature conditions. Alternatively, we finally found that the molecular conformation change upon aggregation induced intramolecular charge transfer emission and played a significant role for the AIE phenomenon of these closed-form rhodamine derivatives. The application of these closed-form rhodamine-based AIE probe in food spoilage detection was also explored.

Abstract The Jiali-Chayu fault, situated on the eastern side of the eastern Himalayan syntaxis, is the southeastern margin of the large strike-slip fault zone of the Jiali Fault. The study of the distribution and activity within this fault zone is imperative for a comprehensive understanding of the tectonic movement patterns in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau. Previous studies have established that the kinematic characteristic of the Jiali-Chayu fault diverges significantly from that of other segments within the Jiali fault. Nonetheless, the current tectonic characteristics, including the slip sense, slip rate, and geometric deformation of this fault, are still not well resolved, leading to divergent interpretations regarding its contemporary activity intensity. This paper introduced an optimized time-series InSAR method with phase compensation designed for regions characterized by low coherence and exhibiting slow deformation. Using Sentinel-1 SAR data from both ascending and descending orbits spanning the period between 2017 and 2022, we successfully derived deformation rates for the middle part of the Jiali-Chayu fault at a spatial resolution of 150 m. The slip and dip rates of active faults are determined by considering the fault movement rates from two different observation angles, in conjunction with strike angle and the assumed dip angle of the fault. The results show that the deformation rates of the three branches are very different, with F2-1 and F2-2 exhibiting notable activity, while other areas exhibit relatively weaker activity. The strike-slip rates for F2-1 and F2-2 faults range between 3.6 and 5.3 mm/a and 3.05 to 5.13 mm/a, respectively, while their respective dip-slip rates fall within the range of 1.1–2.7 mm/a and 2.99–5.02 mm/a. In accordance with the fault slip directions, we classify the F2-1 fault as a sinistral (left-lateral) strike-slip fault and the F2-2 fault as a dextral (right-lateral) strike-slip fault. This study addresses a gap in remote sensing methods for detecting active fault activity in this region, providing a systematic foundation for identifying weak activity characteristics within the fault zone. Graphical Abstract

The rapid miniaturization and high integration of modern electronic devices have brought an increasing demand for polymer-based thermal management materials with higher thermal conductivity. Boron nitride nanosheets (BNNs) have been widely used as thermally conductive fillers benefiting from the extremely high intrinsic thermal conductivity. However, the small lateral size and weak interface bonding of BNNs enabled them to only form thermally conductive networks through physical overlap, resulting in high interfacial thermal resistance. To address this issue, an innovative strategy based on interface engineering was proposed in this study. High-aspect-ratio boron nitride belts (BNbs) were successfully synthesized by carbon thermal reduction nitridation method through the in-situ generation and sintering of BNNs. The surface of BNb showed the sintering of numerous smaller-sized BNNs, which precisely addresses the issue of weak interfacial bonding between BNNs. On this basis, the as-synthesized BNbs were combined with nano-fibrillated cellulose (NFC) to prepare NFC/BNb composite films through a facile vacuum filtration process. Due to the thermally conductive network formed by the horizontal oriented arrangement of BNb and their particular morphological advantages, the NFC/BNb films demonstrated significantly higher in-plane thermal conductivity than that of NFC/BNNs films, achieving the highest value of 19.119 W·m−1·K−1 at a 20 wt% filling fraction. In addition, the NFC/BNb films also exhibited superior thermal stability, mechanical strength, flexibility, and electrical insulation performance, suggesting the significant application potential of the designed BNb fillers in the thermal management field.

Abstract DNA methylation at the fifth position of cytosine (5-methylcytosine, 5mC) is a crucial epigenetic modification for regulating gene expression, but little is known about how it regulates gene expression in insects. Here, we pursue the detailed molecular mechanism by which DNMT1-mediated 5mC maintenance regulates female reproduction in the German cockroach, Blattella germanica. Our results show that Dnmt1 knockdown decreases the level of 5mC in the ovary, upregulating numerous genes during choriogenesis, especially the transcription factor ftz-f1. The hypomethylation at the ftz-f1 promoter region increases and prolongs ftz-f1 expression in ovarian follicle cells during choriogenesis, which consequently causes aberrantly high levels of 20-hydroxyecdysone and excessively upregulates the extracellular matrix remodeling gene Mmp1. These changes further impair choriogenesis and disrupt fertilization by causing anoikis of the follicle cells, a shortage of chorion proteins, and malformation of the sponge-like bodies. This study significantly advances our understanding of how DNA 5mC modification regulates female reproduction in insects.

The selection of discretization criteria and interval numbers of landslide-related environmental factors generally fails to quantitatively determine or filter, resulting in uncertainties and limitations in the performance of machine learning (ML) methods for landslide susceptibility mapping (LSM). The aim of this study is to propose a robust discretization criterion (RDC) to quantify and explore the uncertainty and subjectivity of different discretization methods. The RDC consists of two steps: raw classification dataset generation and optimal dataset extraction. To evaluate the robustness of the proposed RDC method, Lushan County of Sichuan Province in China was chosen as the study area to generate the LSM based on three datasets (optimal dataset, original dataset with continuous values, and statistical dataset) using three popular ML methods, namely, convolution neural network, random forest, and logistic regression. The results show that the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCs) of the optimal dataset for the abovementioned ML models are 0.963, 0.961, and 0.930 which are higher than those of the original dataset (0.938, 0.947, and 0.900) and statistical dataset (0.948, 0.954, and 0.897). In conclusion, the RDC method can extract the more representative features from environmental factors and outperform the other conventional discretization methods.

Coalbed water (CBW), as a stratigraphic fluid, is stored and transported together with coalbed methane (CBM), and has an important influence on the generation, transport, enrichment and production patterns of CBM. In order to study the interaction mechanism between CBM and CBW in the full cycle of CBM enrichment-drainage-output, we collected CBW samples from typical wells at different production times and development data of CBM wells in Daning-jixian area in the eastern margin of Ordos Basin. According to the geochemical test results of CBW samples and the main parameters of 5# coal seam, the basic characteristics of CBW in the study area were analyzed. Then, the control of hydrochemical field on CBM enrichment, the influence of hydrodynamic field on CBM drainage, and the connection between CBW evolution and gas production were discussed, respectively. The results show that in the low burial depth area of the 5# coal seam in the monoclinic structure, the ion concentration of CBW is higher, and the Cl–Na coefficient, desulfurization coefficient and carbonate equilibrium coefficient are relatively small, making it a relatively enriched area for CBM. CBM production in high hydrodynamic areas has a greater need for drainage and depressurization, and the average daily gas production is relatively small. The evolution in daily gas production and the hydrochemical characteristics of CBW during CBM drainage show a good correlation. Every increase in gas production is accompanied by an increase in TDS and a decrease in Cl–Na​ coefficient, desulfurization coefficient and carbonate equilibrium coefficient in the extracted water.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), characterized by cognitive dysfunction and other behavioral abnormalities, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that occurs due to aging. Currently, effective drugs to mitigate or treat AD remain unavailable. AD is associated with several abnormalities in neuronal energy metabolism, such as decreased glucose uptake, mitochondrial dysfunction, and defects in cholesterol metabolism. Amp-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is an important serine/threonine protein kinase that regulates the energy status of cells. AMPK is widely present in eukaryotic cells and can sense and regulate energy metabolism to maintain energy supply and demand balance, making it a promising target for energy metabolism-based AD therapy. Therefore, this review aimed to discuss the molecular mechanism of AMPK in the pathogenesis of AD to provide a theoretical basis for the development of new anti-AD drugs. To review the mechanisms of phytochemicals in the treatment of AD via AMPK pathway regulation, we searched PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Embase databases using specific keywords related to AD and phytochemicals in September 2023. Phytochemicals can activate AMPK or regulate the AMPK pathway to exert therapeutic effects in AD. The anti-AD mechanisms of these phytochemicals include inhibiting Aβ aggregation, preventing Tau hyperphosphorylation, inhibiting inflammatory response and glial activation, promoting autophagy, and suppressing anti-oxidative stress. Additionally, several AMPK-related pathways are involved in the anti-AD mechanism, including the AMPK/CaMKKβ/mTOR, AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α, AMPK/NF-κB/NLRP3, AMPK/mTOR, and PERK/eIF2α pathways. Notably, urolithin A, artemisinin, justicidin A, berberine, stigmasterol, arctigenin, and rutaecarpine are promising AMPK agonists with anti-AD effects. Several phytochemicals are effective AMPK agonists and may have potential applications in AD treatment. Overall, phytochemical-based drugs may overcome the barriers to the effective treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Abstract The accuracy and reliability of circuit board fault detection are significantly influenced by the uncertainty inherent in the VI curve. Here, an ensemble neural network is proposed, which combines the neural network‐based prediction interval and ensemble approaches, to improve the accuracy of fault detection using the VI curve. First, a loss function with multiple objectives is formulated by integrating curve fitting and prediction interval. The aim is to achieve the curve fitting between current and voltage while simultaneously determining the optimal upper and lower bounds of the prediction interval. Second, an ensemble approach is employed to reduce model uncertainty and derive the ultimate current predictions and intervals. These predictions and intervals are then used in a comparative approach to automatically detect faults in circuit boards. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm in improving the accuracy of fault detection is verified on experimental circuit boards.

Abstract Artificial aggregation‐induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) have flourished in bio‐applications with the development of synthetic chemistry, which however are plagued by issues like singularity in structures and non‐renewability. The unique structures and renewability of biomass moieties can compensate for these drawbacks, but their properties are hard to design and regulate due to their confined structures. Therefore, it appears to be a reasonable approach to derive AIEgens from abundant biomass (BioAIEgens), integrating the bilateral advantages of both synthetic and natural AIEgens. In this work, the blue‐violet emissive coumarin with its lactone structure serving as a rare natural acceptor, is utilized to construct donor‐π‐acceptor typed BioAIE isomers incorporating the propeller‐like and electron‐donating triphenylamine (TPA) unit. The results show that Cm‐p‐TPA undergoes charge transfer with its keto form, emitting red light at 600 nm, which can be applied to monitor Cu2+ concentration during mitophagy using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy because of the excellent biocompatibility, photostability, and specific recognition to Cu2+. This work not only demonstrates the feasibility of utilizing positional isomerization to modulate excited‐state evolutions and resultant optical properties, but also provides evidence for the rationality of constructing biologically‐active BioAIEgens via a biomass‐derivatization concept.

Summary: The mystery of appendage regeneration has fascinated humans for centuries, while the underlying regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we establish a transcriptional landscape of regenerating leg in the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana, an ideal model in appendage regeneration studies showing remarkable regeneration capacity. Through a large-scale in vivo screening, we identify multiple signaling pathways and transcription factors controlling leg regeneration. Specifically, zfh-2 and bowl contribute to blastema cell proliferation and morphogenesis in two transcriptional cascades: bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)/JAK-STAT-zfh-2-B-H2 and Notch-drm/bowl-bab1. Notably, we find zfh-2 is working as a direct target of BMP signaling to promote cell proliferation in the blastema. These mechanisms might be conserved in the appendage regeneration of vertebrates from an evolutionary perspective. Overall, our findings reveal that two crucial transcriptional cascades orchestrate distinct cockroach leg regeneration processes, significantly advancing the comprehension of molecular mechanism in appendage regeneration.

In response to fluctuations in the power levels within the link connecting the direct current transmission system to the upper-level power grid, we propose an optimization approach for determining the ability of a Hybrid Energy Storage System (HESS). Our first step involves calculating the power agreement for the link and the total power requirements for the HESS, taking into account the system’s net load power and the dynamic pricing of electricity based on time-of-use. Subsequently, we utilize the Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition (EEMD) technique to break down the total energy generated by the HESS into its constituent components. Incorporating instructions for both powering up and losing power of the HESS across varying filter orders, we solve the capacity allocation model for the HESS using a particle swarm algorithm, with rated power and rated capacity as decision variables. Finally, we identify the filter order that yields the best objective function value and the corresponding energy storage configuration scheme. An illustrative analysis, conducted on an enhanced IEEE-14 node DC distribution network, demonstrates that the proposed HESS configuration effectively mitigates tie-line fluctuations and enhances system stability.

The strategic positioning and appropriate sizing of Distributed Generation (DG) and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) within a DC delivery network are crucial factors that influence its economic feasibility and dependable performance. To tackle this vital aspect, we have formulated a multi-objective optimization model aimed at determining the most advantageous locations and capacities for DG and BESS. Our approach establishes a framework for multi-objective optimization that systematically addresses all objectives, minimizing bias towards any specific set of objectives and enhancing overall efficiency. Furthermore, from a variety of collective objectives we introduce an improved Multi-Objective Particle Swarm Optimizer (IMOPSO) tailored to produce and choose Pareto best solutions. To identify the best placement and sizing options for DG and BESS among the Pareto optimal solutions, we apply the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) strategy, integrating an information entropy method. We have conducted simulations using the 33-bus DC distribution grid of IEEE to validate the practical benefits of our suggested methodology.

With the rapid development of power electronics technology, a large number of nonlinear devices are widely used in power network, industry and home, and the harmonic problem has attracted more attention. In the distorted power system, it is the premise of harmonic pollution control to clarify the shared harmonic responsibility of the system side and each user at the common connection point. The existing liability division methods mainly focus on a certain harmonic, and the results are difficult to reflect the actual harmonic influence of users. The direct effect of harmonic problem can be measured by economic loss, which is the main basis for the division of harmonic responsibility is beneficial to the implementation of reward and punishment measures. This paper presents a harmonic liability division method considering the effect of user harmonic on economic loss. Firstly, the harmonic compatibility level of users is graded considering different proportions and different types of equipment. Secondly, reference to the national standard to develop economic indicators to measure the impact of harmonics on users at all levels; Finally, each harmonic responsibility of the system side and the user side is calculated, and the final comprehensive harmonic responsibility index is obtained by combining the economic index of each user harmonic influence. The reasonableness of this method is verified by the measured harmonic data of users connected to a substation.

Plant rotation is a common practice in upland rice production. However, the effects of plant rotation on the interactions between rice plants, soil and underground ecosystems need to be studied further. Here, quantitative PCR and high-throughput pyrosequencing of the ITS region was applied to investigate the fungal abundance, diversity, and composition of fungal functional guilds in rice field soils and after different rotation practices ((rice-fallow (RF), rice-Chinese milk vetch (RV) and rice-wheat (RW)) and their relationship with rice yields. The results showed that the six-year RV and RW rotations increased fungal abundance by 42.7 %–69.2 % relative to RF, but decreased the soil bacterial-to-fungi ratio and fungal diversity. For the functional guilds, RV rotation significantly increased the relative abundance of soil saprotrophs and pathotrophs by 73.30 % and 32.94 %, respectively, while that of symbiotrophs was decreased by 35.96 %, compared to RF. RW rotation was found to significantly decrease all three fungal functional guilds, but increased the symbiotroph-saprotroph ratio. A structure equal model analysis indicated that the diversity of saprotrophs was significantly and negatively correlated with rice yield. Altogether, this work provides a detailed description of how the soil fungal community, including saprotrophic, symbiotrophic and pathotrophic functional guilds, responded to different upland rice rotation practices after eight years of application.

AbstractLandslide susceptibility mapping (LSM) comprehensively evaluates the spatial probability of landslide occurrence by using different environmental factors. However, most of the evaluation methods ignore the dynamic characteristic factors of landslides, which makes it difficult to obtain reliable prediction results. Taking the upper reaches of the Jinsha River as the study area, this article introduces the deformation data into the landslide characteristic model and proposes an improved landslide susceptibility evaluation method. Four kinds of landslide susceptibility machine learning models were constructed by collecting 20 landslide related factors. The prediction accuracy of machine learning models is compared, and the performance of different models and the improvement of model performance by deformation information are evaluated. The results show that the performance of Random Forest and XGBoost model is better than SVM and logistic regression model. The prediction accuracy of Random Forest and XGBoost model is improved obviously after InSAR deformation is introduced. 96.9 and 93.19% of landslide areas were reasonably classified as high or very high risk levels. Compared with the calculation result of traditional model, the proportion of high and very high risk pixels in landslide area is increased by 2.97 and 1.13%, respectively. In addition, the percentage of high and very high risk areas in the susceptibility evaluation area increased from 15.45 to 16.23% and 18.73 to 21.89%, respectively. The accuracy of Random Forest and XGBoost models increased from 0.793 to 0.878 and 0.776 to 0.812, respectively, and the AUC increased by 0.9 and 1.7%, respectively. The SHAP and traditional feature importance analysis reveals that rainfall, aspect, temperature and NDVI are the main influencing factors of landslide in the upper reaches of the Jinsha River.

Abstract Polymerase I and transcript release factor (PTRF) plays a role in the regulation of gene expression and the release of RNA transcripts during transcription, which have been associated with various human diseases. However, the role of PTRF in glioma remains unclear. In this study, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data (n = 1022 cases) and whole-exome sequencing (WES) data (n = 286 cases) were used to characterize the PTRF expression features. Gene ontology (GO) functional enrichment analysis was used to assess the biological implication of changes in PTRF expression. As a result, the expression of PTRF was associated with malignant progression in gliomas. Meanwhile, somatic mutational profiles and copy number variations (CNV) revealed the glioma subtypes classified by PTRF expression showed distinct genomic alteration. Furthermore, GO functional enrichment analysis suggested that PTRF expression was associated with cell migration and angiogenesis, particularly during an immune response. Survival analysis confirmed that a high expression of PTRF is associated with a poor prognosis. In summary, PTRF may be a valuable factor for the diagnosis and treatment target of glioma.

Bacterial infections have a serious impact on public health. It is urgent to develop antibacterial hydrogels with good biocompatibility to reduce the use of antibiotics. In this study, poly(lipoic acid-co-sodium lipoate)–phytic acid (P(LA-SL)-PA) hydrogels are prepared by a simple mixture of the natural small molecules lipoic acid (LA) and phytic acid (PA) in a mild and green reaction environment. The crosslinking network is constructed through the connection of covalent disulfide bonds as well as the hydrogen bonds, which endow the injectable and self-healing properties. The P(LA-SL)-PA hydrogels exhibit an adjustable compression modulus and adhesion. The in vitro agar plates assay indicates that the antibacterial rate of hydrogels against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus is close to 95%. In the rat-infected wound model, the P(LA-SL)-PA hydrogels adhere closely to the tissue and promote epithelialization and collagen deposition with a significant effect on wound healing. These results prove that the P(LA-SL)-PA hydrogels could act as effective wound dressings for promoting the healing of infected wounds.

The basic oxygen steelmaking process is based on the CaO-FeO-SiO2 ternary slag system, characterized by a high melting point and low lime dissolution rate, often becoming one of the key factors limiting the efficiency of the converter. The bulk solid waste red mud, produced by the Bayer alumina process and rich in Fe2O3/Al2O3/Na2O, significantly reduces the melting point of the steelmaking slag system and enhances the efficiency of lime dissolution. This study utilized red mud as the main raw material to prepare a fluoride-free flux. An in situ online observation system was used to measure the melting point of the flux and the dissolution rate of lime in the flux. The results indicate that the melting point of the red mud-based flux is below 1200 °C, and under the same conditions, the lime dissolution rate is 10 to 15 times higher than when this flux is not used. Experiments in a 10 kg induction furnace show that using this flux, the dephosphorization rate under conditions without oxygen blowing is close to 40%, far higher than the rate achieved using CaF2. Under oxygen-blowing conditions, the dephosphorization rate using the red mud-based flux is comparable to that of CaF2, and significantly higher than without any flux, especially under high [C] content conditions. The data show that the red mud-based flux has the potential to be widely used as a fluoride-free flux in the steelmaking process.

Abstract Background Roughly 50% of adult gliomas harbor isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutations. According to the 2021 WHO classification guideline, these gliomas are diagnosed as astrocytomas, harboring no 1p19q co-deletion, or oligodendrogliomas, harboring 1p19q co-deletion. Recent studies report that IDH-mutant gliomas share a common developmental hierarchy. However, the neural lineages and differentiation stages in IDH-mutant gliomas remain inadequately characterized. Methods Using bulk transcriptomes and single-cell transcriptomes, we identified genes enriched in IDH-mutant gliomas with or without 1p19q co-deletion, we also assessed the expression pattern of stage-specific signatures and key regulators of oligodendrocyte lineage differentiation. We compared the expression of oligodendrocyte lineage stage-specific markers between quiescent and proliferating malignant single cells. The gene expression profiles were validated using RNAscope analysis and myelin staining and were further substantiated using data of DNA methylation and single-cell ATAC-seq. As a control, we assessed the expression pattern of astrocyte lineage markers. Results Genes concordantly enriched in both subtypes of IDH-mutant gliomas are upregulated in oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPC). Signatures of early stages of oligodendrocyte lineage and key regulators of OPC specification and maintenance are enriched in all IDH-mutant gliomas. In contrast, signature of myelin-forming oligodendrocytes, myelination regulators, and myelin components are significantly down-regulated or absent in IDH-mutant gliomas. Further, single-cell transcriptomes of IDH-mutant gliomas are similar to OPC and differentiation-committed oligodendrocyte progenitors, but not to myelinating oligodendrocyte. Most IDH-mutant glioma cells are quiescent; quiescent cells and proliferating cells resemble the same differentiation stage of oligodendrocyte lineage. Mirroring the gene expression profiles along the oligodendrocyte lineage, analyses of DNA methylation and single-cell ATAC-seq data demonstrate that genes of myelination regulators and myelin components are hypermethylated and show inaccessible chromatin status, whereas regulators of OPC specification and maintenance are hypomethylated and show open chromatin status. Markers of astrocyte precursors are not enriched in IDH-mutant gliomas. Conclusions Our studies show that despite differences in clinical manifestation and genomic alterations, all IDH-mutant gliomas resemble early stages of oligodendrocyte lineage and are stalled in oligodendrocyte differentiation due to blocked myelination program. These findings provide a framework to accommodate biological features and therapy development for IDH-mutant gliomas.

In order to promote the construction of a clean, low-carbon, and diversified modern rural new energy system, this study examines the development, utilization, connection, and system construction of rural new energy in China. This is done through the classification, integration, and systematic analysis of official statistical data and materials from recent years. Utilizing descriptive statistical analysis, the study holds great theoretical and practical significance. The findings indicate the following: 1) overall, the development of new energy in China’s rural areas is progressing well. However, there is an increasing contradiction between supply and consumption. 2) The new energy industry is experiencing overall growth, accompanied by increasing policy support. Despite this, the industry’s driving effect is not substantial. 3) The development of new energy production equipment in rural areas is lagging, resulting in insufficient cleanliness of energy consumption. There is still a significant gap compared to the goal requirements of agricultural and rural modernization. 4) During the process of rural new energy connection and development, there exists a lack of strong connections between the various subjects of interest. The interest relationship is consequently unstable, necessitating the improvement of a closely-knit interest community. Taking the issue of rural new energy development as its starting point, this paper thoroughly explores the mechanisms driving rural new energy connection. It delves into the interest relationship between the different stakeholders and provides guidelines for optimizing rural new energy system construction. Ultimately, this research aims to contribute to rural revitalization, facilitate the realization of the “double carbon” goal, and establish a modern rural new energy system.

Summary: O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) acts in the development of various cancers, but its role in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) remains unclear. In this study, we found that OGT was upregulated in ccRCC and this upregulation was associated with a worse survival. Moreover, OGT promoted the proliferation, clone formation, and invasion of VHL-mutated ccRCC cells. Mechanistically, OGT increased the protein level of hypoxia-inducible factor-2α (HIF-2α) (the main driver of the clear cell phenotype) by repressing ubiquitin‒proteasome system-mediated degradation. Interestingly, the OGT/HIF-2α axis conferred ccRCC a high sensitivity to ferroptosis. In conclusion, OGT promotes the progression of VHL-mutated ccRCC by inhibiting the degradation of HIF-2α, and agents that can modulate the OGT/HIF-2α axis may exert therapeutic effects on mutated VHL ccRCC.

Objectives: The impact of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) and tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) on the outcomes of mild-moderate COVID-19 in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of NSAIDs, csDMARDs, and TNFi on AS patients with mild-moderate COVID-19.Methods: This cohort study utilized patient-reported PCR/antigen tests to determine the occurrence of COVID-19 and assessed clinical manifestations to determine its severity. The study focused on two primary outcomes: an increased number of COVID-19 symptoms and a prolonged disease course (longer than 10 or 28 days). Modified Poisson regression was performed to analyze the association between exposures and outcomes.Results: A total of 521 patients were included in the analysis. The median age was 34.8 (inter-quartile range: 27.2–46.7), with 420 (80.6%) being men. Among the patients, 52 (10.0%) had comorbidities and 443 (85%) had been vaccinated. After adjusting for confounding factors, there was no significant association between csDMARDs or TNFi and the presence of more than 5 symptoms in mild-moderate COVID-19 (adjusted relative risk (RRa) 1.08, 95% CI: 0.84–1.40 or 1.09, 0.92–1.29 for csDMARDs or TNFi, respectively), whereas the prevalence of experiencing more than 5 symptoms increased in patients with NSAID monotherapy (RRa 1.22, 95% CI: 1.01–1.46). Similarly, there was no significant association with having more than 10 symptoms (RRa 0.65, 95% CI: 0.26–1.64; 0.95, 0.36–2.54; and 1.01, 0.53–1.91 for NSAIDs, csDMARDs, and TNFi, respectively). Patients who had pre-existing use of NSAIDs, csDMARDs and TNFi had similar odds of experiencing a disease course longer than 10 days (RRa 1.17, 95% CI: 0.82–1.66; 1.18, 0.78–1.77; and 1.22, 0.92–1.63 for NSAIDs, csDMARDs, and TNFi, respectively) and longer than 28 days (RRa 0.94, 95% CI: 0.31–2.81; 0.97, 0.25–3.74 and 1.05, 0.44–2.49, respectively) compared to those not using medication.Conclusion: AS patients treated with csDMARDs or TNFi did not show inferior outcomes in terms of symptom burden or recovery compared to those not using medication in mild-moderate COVID-19. The observed inverse association between pre-existing NSAIDs use and COVID-19 symptom burden in AS deserves further investigation.

Abstract Organic near‐infrared (NIR) photodetectors with essential applications in medical diagnostics, night vision, remote sensing, and optical communications have attracted intensive research interest. Compared with most conventional inorganic counterparts, organic semiconductors usually have higher absorption coefficients, and their thin active layer could be sufficient to absorb most incident light for effective photogeneration. However, due to the relatively poor charge mobility of organic materials, it remains challenging to inhibit the photogenerated exciton recombination and effectively extract carriers to their respective electrodes. Herein, this challenge was addressed by increasing matrix conductivities of a ternary active layer (D–A–D structure NIR absorber [2TT‐oC6B]:poly(N,N′‐bis‐4‐butylphenyl‐N,N′‐bisphenyl)benzidin [PolyTPD]:[6,6]‐phenyl‐C61‐butyric acid methyl ester [PCBM] = 1:1:1) upon in situ incident light illumination, significantly accelerating charge transport through percolated interpenetrating paths. The greatly enhanced photoconductivity under illumination is intrinsically related to the unique donor–acceptor molecular structures of PolyTPD and 2TT‐oC6B, whereas stable intermolecular interaction has been verified by systematic molecular dynamics simulation. In addition, an ultrafast charge transfer time of 0.56 ps from the NIR aggregation‐induced luminogens of 2TT‐oC6B absorber to PolyTPD and PCBM measured by femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy is beneficial for effective exciton dissociation. The solution‐processed organic NIR photodetector exhibits a fast response time of 83 μs and a linear dynamic range value of 111 dB under illumination of 830 nm. Therefore, our work has opened up a pioneering window to enhance photoconductivity through in situ photoirradiation and benefit NIR photodetectors as well as other optoelectronic devices.

Abstract The non-coding RNA secondary structure largely determines its function. Hence, accuracy in structure acquisition is of great importance. Currently, this acquisition primarily relies on various computational methods. The prediction of the structures of long RNA sequences with high precision and reasonable computational cost remains challenging. Here, we propose a deep learning model, RNA-par, which could partition an RNA sequence into several independent fragments (i-fragments) based on its exterior loops. Each i-fragment secondary structure predicted individually could be further assembled to acquire the complete RNA secondary structure. In the examination of our independent test set, the average length of the predicted i-fragments was 453 nt, which was considerably shorter than that of complete RNA sequences (848 nt). The accuracy of the assembled structures was higher than that of the structures predicted directly using the state-of-the-art RNA secondary structure prediction methods. This proposed model could serve as a preprocessing step for RNA secondary structure prediction for enhancing the predictive performance (especially for long RNA sequences) and reducing the computational cost. In the future, predicting the secondary structure of long-sequence RNA with high accuracy can be enabled by developing a framework combining RNA-par with various existing RNA secondary structure prediction algorithms. Our models, test codes and test data are provided at https://github.com/mianfei71/RNAPar .

Air Traffic Flow Management delay (ATFM delay) can quantitatively reflect the spatial and temporal distribution of congestion caused by the imbalance of airspace network capacity and demand, and is an important parameter to evaluate the effectiveness of air traffic flow management (ATFM) strategy. If the distribution of ATFM delay can be predicted in advance, the predictability and effectiveness of ATFM strategy can be improved. In this paper, we propose a short-time ATFM delay spatial and temporal distribution prediction method in the absence of historical records of specific ATFM delay causes. The method first clarifies the prediction object by constructing ATFM delay prediction network model, and proposes the ATFM delay prediction index system; Secondly, we use Information Value (IV) to filter and weight the features in order to construct a weighted ATFM delay prediction index system; Then, a support vector machine model based on particle swarm optimization(PSO-SVM) is implemented to predict ATFM delay distribution. Finally, some congested airports and key waypoints in China are selected as ATFM delay prediction network nodes for empirical analysis. The experimental results show that the prediction accuracy of the IV-PSO-SVM model reaches 96.4%, which is 13.5% and 9.1% higher than that of SVM model and PSO-SVM model, respectively.

Abstract Background The Mesenchymal epithelial transition factor (MET) gene encodes a receptor tyrosine kinase with pleiotropic functions in cancer. MET exon 14 skipping alterations and high-level MET amplification are oncogenic and targetable genetic changes in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has been a major challenge for targeted therapies that impairs their clinical efficacies. Methods Eighty-six NSCLC patients were categorized into three cohorts based on the time of detecting MET tyrosine kinase domain (TKD) mutations (cohort 1: at baseline; cohort 2: after MET-TKI treatment; cohort 3: after EGFR-TKI treatment). Baseline and paired TKI treatment samples were analyzed by targeted next-generation sequencing. Results MET TKD mutations were highly prevalent in METex14-positive NSCLC patients after MET-TKI treatment, including L1195V, D1228N/H/Y/E, Y1230C/H/N/S, and a double-mutant within codons D1228 and M1229. Missense mutations in MET TKD were also identified at baseline and in post-EGFR-TKI treatment samples, which showed different distribution patterns than those in post-MET-TKI treatment samples. Remarkably, H1094Y and L1195F, absent from MET-TKI-treated patients, were the predominant type of MET TKD mutations in patients after EGFR-TKI treatment. D1228H, which was not found in treatment-naïve patients, also accounted for 14.3% of all MET TKD mutations in EGFR-TKI-treated samples. Two patients with baseline EGFR-sensitizing mutations who acquired MET-V1092I or MET-H1094Y after first-line EGFR-TKI treatment experienced an overall improvement in their clinical symptoms, followed by targeted therapy with MET-TKIs. Conclusions MET TKD mutations were identified in both baseline and patients treated with TKIs. MET-H1094Y might play an oncogenic role in NSCLC and may confer acquired resistance to EGFR-TKIs. Preliminary data indicates that EGFR-mutated NSCLC patients who acquired MET-V1092I or MET-H1094Y may benefit from combinatorial therapy with EGFR-TKI and MET-TKI, providing insights into personalized medical treatment.

Background & aims: Sarcopenia is an age-related disease that increases the risk of falls and fractures in older adults. However, there is no blood biochemical marker to help to predict or diagnose sarcopenia in clinical practice. Soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL-2R) was reported to be associated with muscle satellite cell dysfunction which played an important role in the pathogenesis of sarcopenia. Thereby, we aimed to explore the association between serum sIL-2R and sarcopenia in older adults at high risk of fractures. Methods: A total of 429 hospitalized older adults (age ≥55 years) were enrolled in this cross-sectional study (mean age ​= ​66.62 ​± ​6.59 years; 62.7% female). Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association of sIL-2R with sarcopenia, muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance, respectively. The optimal models for the diagnosis of sarcopenia and low hand grip strength (HGS) were established by multivariable binary logistic regression analysis with backward selection, and further were evaluated for the diagnostic values by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: Higher sIL-2R levels were found in sarcopenia than no-sarcopenia group in male (median 421 U/mL (interquartile range [IQR] 217 U/mL) vs median 362 U/mL (IQR 157 U/mL); n ​= ​77 vs 83; p ​

To enhance the slagging efficiency of the lime-based slag system during the pre-treatment stage of hot metal, a composite calcium ferrite flux based on aluminum industry solid waste was developed in this study. The melting characteristics of the flux and its application in the pre-treatment of hot metal were investigated. The results indicated that the main phases of the composite calcium ferrite were CaFe2O4, Ca2Fe2O5, and Ca2(Fe,Al)2O4. It exhibited high oxidation, high alkalinity, and a low melting point, thereby achieving excellent melting performance. Simulations of various dephosphorization fluxes in the pre-treatment of high-phosphorus hot metal, ordinary hot metal, and kilogram-scale dephosphorization experiment processes were conducted. Under the same experimental conditions, the composite calcium ferrite flux was able to achieve a dephosphorization rate of over 90% and a final phosphorus content of less than 0.02 wt% under high carbon content ([%C] = 3.2 wt%). In the application of hot metal pre-dephosphorization, this flux was able to achieve efficient melting and rapid slagging of lime at a lower temperature, and its slagging time was 50% faster than that of calcium ferrite flux. In addition, this flux enhanced the utilization efficiency of lime during the steelmaking process, effectively prevented the agglomeration of slag, and achieved efficient slag–metal separation. These characteristics were significantly better than the application effect of calcium ferrite flux. This flux has significant implications for the industrial application of deep dephosphorization in the pre-treatment stage of hot metal or the early stage of converter steelmaking.

Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) delay can quantitatively reflect the congestion caused by the imbalance between capacity and demand in an airspace network. Furthermore, it is an important parameter for the ex-post analysis of airspace congestion and the effectiveness of ATFM strategy implementation. If ATFM delays can be predicted in advance, the predictability and effectiveness of ATFM strategies can be improved. In this paper, a short-term ATFM delay regression prediction method is proposed for the characteristics of the multiple sources, high dimension, and complexity of ATFM delay prediction data. The method firstly constructs an ATFM delay prediction network model, specifies the prediction object, and proposes an ATFM delay prediction index system by integrating common flow control information. Secondly, an ATFM delay prediction method based on feature extraction modules (including CNN, TCN, and attention modules), a heuristic optimization algorithm (sparrow search algorithm (SSA)), and a prediction model (LSTM) are proposed. The method constructs a CNN-LSTM-ATT model based on SSA optimization and a TCN-LSTM-ATT model based on SSA optimization. Finally, four busy airports and their major waypoints in East China are selected as the ATFM delay prediction network nodes for example validation. The experimental results show that the MAEs of the two models proposed in this paper for ATFM delay regression prediction are 4.25 min and 4.38 min, respectively. Compared with the CNN-LSTM model, the errors are reduced by 2.71 min and 2.59 min, respectively. Compared with the TCN-LSTM model, the times are 3.68 min and 3.55 min, respectively. In this paper, two improved LSTM models are constructed to improve the prediction accuracy of ATFM delay duration so as to provide support for the establishment of an ATFM delay early warning mechanism, further improve ATFM delay management, and enhance resource allocation efficiency.

Despite being a non-hematophagous leech, Whitmania pigra is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of antithrombotic diseases. In this study, we provide a high quality genome of W. pigra and based on which, we performed a systematic identification of the potential antithrombotic genes and their corresponding proteins. We identified twenty antithrombotic gene families including thirteen coagulation inhibitors, three platelet aggregation inhibitors, three fibrinolysis enhancers, and one tissue penetration enhancer. Unexpectedly, a total of 79 antithrombotic genes were identified, more than a typical blood-feeding Hirudinaria manillensis, which had only 72 antithrombotic genes. In addition, combining with the RNA-seq data of W. pigra and H. manillensis, we calculated the expression levels of antithrombotic genes of the two species. Five and four gene families had significantly higher and lower expression levels in W. pigra than in H. manillensis, respectively. These results showed that the number and expression level of antithrombotic genes of a non-hematophagous leech are not always less than those of a hematophagous leech. Our study provides the most comprehensive collection of antithrombotic biomacromolecules from a non-hematophagous leech to date and will significantly enhance the investigation and utilization of leech derivatives in thrombosis therapy research and pharmaceutical applications.

The detection of instability inception is favorable to avoid compressor instability. In this paper, a multiscale entropy-based feature extraction is developed for the detection of the instability inception in axial compressors. Nonlinear and statistical features of the short-time instability inception are extracted by generally combining multiscale entropy and statistical features. First, nonlinear features are extracted by refined composite multiscale entropy to avoid the inaccurate estimation or undefined entropy of multiscale entropy for short time series. Second, the time-domain-based statistical features are chosen to capture more information on instability inception, and the dominant statistical features are determined by random forests implemented with the mean decrease accuracy algorithm at each time scale. The obtained refined composite dominant statistical features are regarded as weighting factors and integrated with the refined composite multiscale entropy to generate a combined feature. Finally, numerical simulation results on two synthetic noise datasets and a compressor instability model dataset are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness, efficiency, and robustness of the combined features under different conditions.

Separating wake vortices is crucial for aircraft landing safety and essential to airport operational efficiency. Vertical wind, as a typical atmospheric condition, plays a significant role, and studying the evolution characteristics of wake vortices under this condition is of paramount importance for developing dynamic wake separation systems. In this study, we employed the SST k-ω turbulence model based on an O-Block structured grid to numerically simulate the simplified wing model. We analyzed the variations in the wake vortex structure and parameters of the Airbus A320 during the near-field phase under different vertical wind directions and speeds. The results indicate that favorable vertical winds cause a “flattening” deformation in the wake vortex. Vertical winds reduce the initial vortex strength, accelerate the rate of vortex decay, and influence the trajectory of the vortex core. Notably, under wind speeds of 1~3 m/s, the decay rate is more significant than under 4 m/s. When vertical wind speeds are substantial, it can lead to irregular motion and interactions within the vortex core, forming secondary vortices.

The growth and reproduction of phytoplankton are closely associated with the changes of water environment; thus, phytoplankton have been taken as environmental indicator organisms and provided references for water environment protection. However, the phytoplankton community characteristics of Dianchi Lake (a seriously polluted lake in China) are unclear under the background of the cumulative effects of historical pollutants and current control measures, and environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding monitoring has rarely been applied in phytoplankton research at Dianchi Lake. Therefore, this study investigated the temporal and spatial characteristics of phytoplankton community and the environmental stressors of Dianchi Lake via eDNA metabarcoding monitoring. A total of 10 phyla, 22 classes, 50 orders, 82 families, 108 genera and 108 species of phytoplankton were detected, and distinct temporal and spatial variations in the phytoplankton community (e.g., ASV number, dominant taxon, the relative abundance) were observed in Dianchi Lake. Microcystis dominated the prokaryotic phytoplankton community from the dry period to the wet period, but interestingly, the first dominant cyanobacteria genus was changed from Microcystis (dry period) to Planktothrix (wet period). Cryptophyta dominated in the eukaryotic phytoplankton community from the dry period to the wet period, and eukaryotic-phytoplankton-dominant genera included Cryptomonas, Aulacoseira, Plagioselmis and others. A temporal–spatial heterogeneity of the relationships between the phytoplankton community and environmental factors was shown in Dianchi Lake. Dissolved oxygen was the crucial environmental stressor influencing the phytoplankton community structure in Dianchi Lake during the dry period, while pH was the crucial one during the wet period. The impacts of total phosphorus and nitrogen also showed differences at different periods. This research provides an interesting perspective on phytoplankton diversity monitoring and the health assessment and restoration of Dianchi Lake.

ObjectiveTo investigate correlation between cognitive function, age, and sleep disturbances.MethodsThis retrospective clinical study enrolled 78 patients with sleep disorders who were divided into three groups: a group of 24 patients with sleep disorders accompanied by cognitive decline (SD-CD); 54 patients with sleep disorders and no cognitive decline (SD-nCD) was divided into two groups, one of 30 patients aged between 60 and 70 years and another of 24 patients aged >70 years. Polysomnography was used to record patients’ sleep indicators throughout night; these included total sleep duration, sleep efficiency (SE), sleep latency, sleep structure and percentage of N1, N2, and N3 stages, rapid eye movement (REM) stage, as well as apnea hypopnea index (AHI), and oxygen saturation (OS). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) for continuous variables and chi-square test for categorical variables were used to analyze variables between different groups. Pearson’s correlation was used to analyze correlation between sleep parameters and mini-mental state examination (MMSE). Blood samples were used to determine their Aβ, Aβ40, Aβ42, total tau, phosphorylated tau protein (ptau), ptau181, ptau217, the inflammatory factor IL-1β, vitamin B12 (VB12), and melatonin levels.ResultsIn the SD-CD group, there was a significant decrease in SE and an increase in N1 stage sleep in older patients and a significant increase in AHI, REM stage AHI, and non-REM stage AHI. In patients with SD-nCD, the minimum OS, minimum OS in the REM period, and minimum OS in the non-REM period were significantly reduced. OS was significantly correlated with cognitive level, as evaluated by the MMSE. The addition of sleep parameters can significantly improve the accuracy of dementia diagnosis. Dementia biomarkers of Aβ and tau proteins in blood showed cognition-related differences, while ptau181 was associated with both cognition and age-related differences. Regression models revealed that age was related to higher levels of cognitive decline before (β = −0.43, P < 0.001) and after (β = −0.38, P < 0.001) adjustment of gender, BMI, and education level. There was a significant mediation effect of relationship between aging and cognitive function by sleep efficiency and N1 stage sleep.ConclusionSleep disorders and low OS are associated with a higher incidence of cognitive decline and dementia.

AbstractEnvironmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding permits a new measurement to monitor biodiversity in aquatic ecosystems. This study utilized eDNA metabarcoding to examine the seasonal and spatial distribution of phytoplankton and their relationship with environmental factors in the Chai River, Kunming, China, in the dry, and wet seasons. The process detected 108 genera of phytoplankton, which were members of 11 phyla, 41 orders, and 60 families. Distinct differences in seasonal and spatial distribution patterns of phytoplankton diversity, including community structure, α-diversity, and representative functional groups, were observed. In the dry season, Pseudanabaena, Microcystis, and Synechococcus were the predominant genera in Cyanophyta, and Chlorophyta, Bacillariophyta and Euglenophyta were predominant in the eukaryotic phytoplankton. While in the wet season, Cylindrospermopsis, Microcystis, and Planktothrix predominated in the Cyanophyta, and Bacillariophyta, Chlorophyta and Xanthophyta predominated in the eukaryotic phytoplankton. Significant differences were shown by a principal coordinate analysis and PERMANOVA test among the upper, middle, and lower reaches of the phytoplankton communities except for the cyanobacterial community structure between the upper and lower reaches at the wet season (p > 0.05). The representative functional groups of phytoplankton varied from A, D, E, LM, L0, N, S1, MP, P, TB, TC, U, W0, W1, Xph, Y, and Z in the dry season to A, B, D, E, F, J, MP, LM, S1, SN, TC, P, W0, W1, X2, and Y in the wet season. Significant differences in the water temperature (WT), pH, chemical oxygen demand, oxygen consumed, nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N), and chlorophyll a were exhibited between the dry and wet seasons (p

Screening programmes are important for early diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) but they are not equally efficient in all locations. Depending on which hospital people belong to, they often are not willing to follow up even after a positive result, resulting in a lower-than-expected overall detection rate. Improved allocation of health resources would increase the program’s efficiency and assist hospital accessibility. A target population exceeding 70,000 people and 18 local hospitals were included in the investigation of an optimization plan based on a locationallocation model. We calculated the hospital service areas and the accessibility for people in communities to CRC-screening hospitals using the Huff Model and the Two-Step Floating Catchment Area (2SFCA) approach. We found that only 28.2% of the residents with initially a positive screening result had chosen followup with colonoscopy and significant geographical differences in spatial accessibility to healthcare services indeed exist. The lowest accessibility was found in the Southeast, including the Zhangjiang, Jichang and Laogang communities with the best accessibility mainly distributed near the city centre of Lujiazui; the latter also had relatively a high level of what is called “ineffective screening” as it represents wasteful resource allocation. It is recommended that Hudong Hospital should be chosen instead of Punan Hospital as the optimization, which can improve the service population of each hospital and the populations served per colonoscope. Based on our results, changes in hospital configuration in colorectal cancer screening programme are needed to achieve adequate population coverage and equitable facility accessibility. Planning of medical services should be based on the spatial distribution trends of the population served.

In the past 35 years, the natural coastline along Jiaozhou Bay has undergone extensive changes under the influence of human activities, and the coastal wetland area has been drastically reduced. Therefore, it is of great importance to study the spatio-temporal changes of the Jiaozhou Bay coastline, and their trends and causes, for sustainable economic development and the rational utilization of coastal resources. This paper constructed a comprehensive method for extracting the coastline information and change analysis based on long time series remote sensing data. Based on multi-spectral optical data and dual-polarization SAR data, the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) and the Sentinel-1 Dual-polarized Water body Index (SDWI) combined with the Otsu threshold segmentation method were used to automatically extract the spatial distribution of coastline. The U-Net semantic segmentation model was used to classify the land cover types in the land direction of the coastline to count the coastline types. The End Point Rate (EPR) and Linear Regression Rate (LRR) were used to analyze the coastline changes, and the land reclamation was calculated according to the changing trends. The Pearson coefficient was used to study the reasons for the coastline changes. With an average time interval of 5 years, eight coastlines of Jiaozhou Bay in different years were extracted, and the coastline types were obtained. Then, the changes of the coastlines in Jiaozhou Bay from 1987 to 2022 were analyzed. The results show that: 1) Coastline type information provides important information for analyzing the coastline changes in long time series, and coastline information can be effectively extracted using multi-spectral optical data and dual-polarization SAR data. When the resolution of remote sensing data is 30m, the average error of the two types of data is better than one pixel, and the error between the data is about 1-2 pixels. 2) Based on the U-Net model, the overall accuracy of coastline classification using multi-spectral optical data and dual-polarization SAR data is 94.49% and 94.88%, respectively, with kappa coefficients of 0.9143 and 0.8949. 3) In the past 35 years, Jiaozhou Bay area has shown an obvious trend towards the ocean, with an average annual expansion of 16.723m. 4) The coastline of the Jiaozhou Bay area is dynamic. Due to the frequent human activities, the coastline has been reconstructed on a large scale, and the length of artificial coastline has increased significantly. The proportion of artificial coastline length has increased from 33.72% in 1987 to 59.33% in 2022. 5) In the past 35 years, the land reclamation area has reached 41.45km2, of which Shibei District, Licang District, and Huangdao District are the three most frequent areas, with an area of 34.62 km2.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting programmed cell death 1, programmed cell death ligand 1, and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 have shown significantly durable clinical benefits and tolerable toxicities and have improved the survival of patients with various types of cancer. Since 2018, the National Medical Products Administration of China has approved 17 ICIs as the standard treatment for certain advanced or metastatic solid tumors. As ICIs represent a broad-spectrum antitumor strategy, the populations eligible for cancer immunotherapy are rapidly expanding. However, the clinical applications of ICIs in cancer patient populations with special issues, a term that refers to complex subgroups of patients with comorbidities, special clinical conditions, or concomitant medications who are routinely excluded from prospective clinical trials of ICIs or are underrepresented in these trials, represent a great real-world challenge. Although the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO) has provided recommendations for screening before the use of ICIs in special populations, the recommendations for full-course management remain insufficient. The CSCO Expert Committee on Immunotherapy organized leading medical oncology and multidisciplinary experts to develop a consensus that will serve as an important reference for clinicians to guide the proper application of ICIs in special patient populations. This article is a translation of a study first published in Chinese in The Chinese Clinical Oncology (ISSN 1009-0460, CN 32-1577/R) in May 2022 (27(5):442–454). The publisher of the original paper has provided written confirmation of permission to publish this translation in Therapeutic Advances in Medical Oncology .

Influenza virus, with a global distribution, diverse animal host range and multiple virus subtypes, has caused several pandemics. To better prepare for the emergence of new subtypes and the possible threat of the next pandemic, the global status of animal influenza must be defined and documented. We created a global database of animal influenza events by searching scientific databases and the primary literature on animal influenza-related events up to and including 2016. The temporal, spatial and host distribution of animal influenza and the diversity of influenza subtypes in different regions were analyzed. A total of 70,472 records and 4712 events of animal influenza throughout the world were identified. Events involving subtypes H5N2, H7N7 and H7N9 were relatively constant, with a slow upward trend during the past decade. Asia was the region with the most clusters of events. Poultry was the main host reported in Asia and Africa, and wild birds in Europe and North America. We found that wild birds carried a very rich array of virus subtypes, a warning for the possible generation of reassortment viruses with pandemic potential. Influenza virus subtype diversity - a risk for virus reassortment - was greatest in Asia, North America and Europe. Our database provides a comprehensive overview of the historical and current status of animal influenza events throughout the world. Influenza surveillance needs to be strengthened in some countries and regions to prevent the emergence of new subtypes. Importantly, improvement of the global influenza surveillance system and structures to enable sharing of surveillance data is very much needed to prepare for the next pandemic.