Search

Abstract Recent advances in deep learning generative models (GMs) have created high capabilities in accessing and assessing complex high-dimensional data, allowing superior efficiency in navigating vast material configuration space in search of viable structures. Coupling such capabilities with physically significant data to construct trained models for materials discovery is crucial to moving this emerging field forward. Here, we present a universal GM for crystal structure prediction (CSP) via a conditional crystal diffusion variational autoencoder (Cond-CDVAE) approach, which is tailored to allow user-defined material and physical parameters such as composition and pressure. This model is trained on an expansive dataset containing over 670,000 local minimum structures, including a rich spectrum of high-pressure structures, along with ambient-pressure structures in Materials Project database. We demonstrate that the Cond-CDVAE model can generate physically plausible structures with high fidelity under diverse pressure conditions without necessitating local optimization, accurately predicting 59.3% of the 3547 unseen ambient-pressure experimental structures within 800 structure samplings, with the accuracy rate climbing to 83.2% for structures comprising fewer than 20 atoms per unit cell. These results meet or exceed those achieved via conventional CSP methods based on global optimization. The present findings showcase substantial potential of GMs in the realm of CSP.

Abstract This paper presents an approximate power flow model‐based forecasting‐aided state estimation estimator for power distribution networks subject to naive forecasting methods and nonlinear filtering processes. To this end, this estimator designs a voltage perturbation vector around the priori‐determined nominal value as the dynamic state variable, which enables more detailed depictions of voltage changes. Then, a state transition model incorporating nodal power variation is derived from the approximate power injection model. The constant state transition matrix working on power variations only consists of nodal impedance, which reduces the extensive parameter tuning effort when facing different estimation tasks. Furthermore, an approximate branch power flow observation equation is proposed to improve the filtering efficiency. The observation matrix with branch admittance information presents the linear filtering relationship between power flow measurements and forecasted states, omitting the complex iterative updates of the Jacobian matrix for nonlinear measurements. Finally, the overall estimated voltage state at each time sample is entirely obtained by combining the filtered voltage perturbation vector with the priori‐determined nominal value. Numerical simulation comparisons on a symmetric balanced 56‐node distribution system verify the performance of the proposed estimator in terms of accuracy and robustness under normal and abnormal conditions.

Abstract Background Foxtail millet [Setaria italica (L.) Beauv] is a C4 graminoid crop cultivated mainly in the arid and semiarid regions of China for more than 7000 years. Its grain highly nutritious and is rich in starch, protein, essential vitamins such as carotenoids, folate, and minerals. To expand the utilisation of foxtail millet, efficient and precise methods for dynamic phenotyping of its growth stages are needed. Traditional foxtail millet monitoring methods have high labour costs and are inefficient and inaccurate, impeding the precise evaluation of foxtail millet genotypic variation. Results This study introduces a high-throughput imaging system (HIS) with advanced image processing techniques to enhance monitoring efficiency and data quality. The HIS can accurately extract a range of key growth feature parameters, such as plant height (PH), convex hull area (CHA), side projected area (SPA) and colour distribution, from foxtail millet images. Compared with traditional manual measurements, this HIS improved data quality and phenotyping of the key foxtail millet growth traits. High-throughput phenotyping combined with a genome-wide association study (GWAS) revealed genetic loci associated with dynamic growth traits, particularly plant height (PH), in foxtail millet. The loci were linked to genes involved in the gibberellic acid (GA) synthesis pathway related to PH. Conclusion The HIS developed in this study enables the efficient and dynamic monitoring of foxtail millet phenotypic traits. It significantly improves the quality of data obtained for phenotyping key growth traits. The integration of high-throughput phenotyping with GWAS provides new insights into the genetic underpinnings of dynamic growth traits, particularly plant height, by identifying associated genetic loci in the GA synthesis pathway. This methodological advancement opens new avenues for the precise phenotyping and exploration of genetic resources in foxtail millet, potentially enhancing its utilisation.

This study focused on the dynamical behavior analysis of a discrete fractional Leslie-Gower model incorporating antipredator behavior and a Holling type Ⅱ functional response. Initially, we analyzed the existence and stability of the model's positive equilibrium points. For the interior positive equilibrium points, we investigated the parameter conditions leading to period-doubling bifurcation and Neimark-Sacker bifurcation using the center manifold theorem and bifurcation theory. To effectively control the chaos resulting from these bifurcations, we proposed two chaos control strategies. Numerical simulations were conducted to validate the theoretical results. These findings may contribute to the improved management and preservation of ecological systems.

Abstract Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) significantly impacts patients’ quality of life and burdens healthcare systems. Magnesium is crucial for lung function and reducing respiratory disease risk. This study investigates the association between Magnesium Depletion Score (MDS) and COPD and explores whether inflammatory markers mediate this relationship. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from 30,490 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2005 to 2018. MDS was calculated based on diuretic use, proton pump inhibitors, renal function, and alcohol consumption. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association between MDS and COPD, adjusting for potential confounders. Mediation analysis was used to examine the roles of neutrophils, serum albumin, and the Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (SII). In the univariable logistic model, higher MDS was significantly associated with increased COPD risk. Specifically, compared to MDS = 0, the odds ratios (OR) for COPD were 2.50, 4.12, 6.13, 8.53, and 7.81 for MDS = 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively (all P

Abstract Background Despite coalition resection being the preferred treatment for talocalcaneal coalition (TCC), postoperative complications, suboptimal functional recovery, and recurrence risks remain challenges. Although current TCC classification systems guide personalized surgical plans, the impact of middle and posterior facet coalitions on TCC resection surgery’s effectiveness is still poorly understood. Therefore, this study aims to compare the clinical outcomes of TCC patients with and without involvement of the subtalar joint’s (STJ) middle and posterior facets undergoing coalition resection to explore the potential impact of these coalitions on surgical outcomes. Methods We conducted a retrospective study on 115 patients who underwent coalition resection surgery due to symptomatic TCC between November 2009 and February 2023. According to preoperative CT scan results, patients were divided into an isolated posterior facet coalition (P-type) group and a middle-posterior facet coalition (MP-type) group. Demographic characteristics (including age, sex, body mass index (BMI), follow-up time, and medical history duration), pre-and postoperative assessments (including Visual Analog Scale (VAS), American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, Pain Interference (PI) and Physical Function (PF) scores from the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)), as well as postoperative self-assessment of efficacy (excellent, good, fair, poor) and hindfoot stiffness, were compared between the two groups. Postoperatively, TCC recurrence was evaluated through imaging follow-up examinations. Results 69 patients meeting the inclusion criteria were included, with 30 patients in the P-type group and 39 in the MP-type group. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in demographic characteristics (P

Abstract Although sodium–glucose transport protein-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors (SGLT2i) do not increase the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) in general, they may pose a risk in patients undergoing angiography. This prospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of SGLT2i for post-contrast AKI (PC-AKI) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Following screening, 306 patients with T2DM selected to undergo coronary arterial angiography with or without percutaneous intervention were enrolled. Patients were divided into the SGLT2i exposure and non-exposure groups. The primary outcome was PC-AKI, defined as an increase in serum creatinine levels > 0.5 mg/dL (44.2 µmol/L), or 25% above the baseline, within 48–72 h after exposure to contrast medium. The incidence of PC-AKI in the overall T2DM population was 5.2% (16/306). Following 1:1 propensity score matching, the incidence of PC-AKI was significantly higher in the SGLT2i group than in the non-SGLT2i group (10.7% vs. 2.9%; P = 0.027), with an odds ratio of 4.5 (95% confidence interval: 1.0–20.2; P = 0.047). Furthermore, PC-AKI occurred at a higher rate among short-term users of SGLT2i than long-term users (20.5% vs. 3.4%, P = 0.018). Thus, our findings suggest an increased risk of PC-AKI associated with short-term SGLT2i therapy in patients with T2DM.

Abstract Grain boundaries in noble metal catalysts have been identified as critical sites for enhancing catalytic activity in electrochemical reactions such as the oxygen reduction reaction. However, conventional methods to modify grain boundary density often alter particle size, shape, and morphology, obscuring the specific role of grain boundaries in catalytic performance. This study addresses these challenges by employing gold nanoparticle assemblies to control grain boundary density through the manipulation of nanoparticle collision frequency during synthesis. We demonstrate a direct correlation between increased grain boundary density and enhanced two-electron oxygen reduction reaction activity, achieving a significant improvement in both specific and mass activity. Additionally, the gold nanoparticle assemblies with high grain boundary density exhibit remarkable electrochemical stability, attributed to boron segregation at the grain boundaries, which prevents structural degradation. This work provides a promising strategy for optimizing the activity, selectivity, and stability of noble metal catalysts through precise grain boundary engineering.

Objective: The aims of this study were to examine the effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and time-trial performance in vaccinated well-trained young kayak athletes. Methods: This is a longitudinal observational study. Sixteen (7 male, 9 female) vaccinated kayakers underwent body composition assessment, maximal graded exercise test, and 1000-m time-trial tests 21.9 ± 1.7 days before and 66.0 ± 2.2 days after the SARS-CoV-2 infection. The perception of training load was quantified with Borg's CR-10 scale before and after the infection return to sport period. Results: There were significant decreases in peak oxygen uptake (−9.7 %; effect size [ES] = 1.38), peak oxygen pulse (−5.7 %; ES = 0.96), and peak heart rate (−1.9 %; ES = 0.61). Peak minute ventilation, and minute ventilation/carbon dioxide production slope were unchanged after infection compared to the pre-infection values. In the entire 1000-m, the impaired tendencies were found in completion time, mean power, and mean speed (−2.4 to 1.2 %; small ESs = -0.40 to 0.47) as well as significant changes in stroke rate and stroke length (−4.5 to 3.7 %; ESs = -0.60 to 0.73). Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2 infection decreased CRF and time-trial performance even two months after return to regular training in vaccinated athletes.

Abstract Based on the joint analysis of multi-omic data and the biological experiments, we demonstrate that FOXF1 inhibits invasion and metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma cells and enhances anti-tumor immunity via regulating MFAP4/FAK signal axis in this study. The levels of FOXF1 and MFAP4 are significantly down-regulated in LUAD, and the increased levels of two genes can improve the clinical prognosis of LUAD patients. Fluorescein reporter gene determination, chromatin immunoprecipitation and gene co-expression analysis indicate that MFAP4 level is positively regulated by transcription factor FOXF1. The function enrichment analysis shows that the levels of FOXF1 and MFAP4 are closely associated with an enrichment of tumor metastasis signatures. FOXF1 can inhibit the migration and invasion of LAUD cells by transcriptionally activating MFAP4 expression. And the overexpression of FOXF1/MFAP4 can reduce focal adhesion kinase (FAK) phosphorylation, while their knockdown result in the opposite effects. The increased levels of FOXF1/MFAP4 enhance the antitumor immunity by increasing the infiltration of dendritic cells and CD4+ T cells, and the interactions between LUAD cells and immune cells, and activating multiple anti-tumor immunity-related pathways. In conclusion, our study reveals the potential function of FOXF1/MFAP4/FAK signal axis in inhibiting metastasis of LUAD cells and modulating anti-tumor immunity of LUAD patients.

Objective: Investigate the effects of Lonicera caerulea anthocyanin complex liquid preparation (compound made of Lonicera caerulea L., Polygonatum sibiricum, Inonotus obliquus, LPI) on glucose and lipid metabolism in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) mice. Methods: T2D model in mice was constructed by high-fat feeding combined with streptozotocin. The mice were randomly divided into 6 groups: Blank control group, diabetes model group, low, middle and high dose sample group and metformin positive control group. After continuous intervention for 28 days, the body mass data and physiological and biochemical indexes of mice were measured and recorded, and the pathological observation of the organs of mice was performed. Results: Each dose group of LPI could increase the weight of T2D mice, improve the symptoms of organ injury, significantly reduce serum insulin level (P

Abstract To explore whether the potential instability of the cervical spine and cervical muscle degeneration in patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR) affect the efficacy of cervical traction, and whether cervical traction can aggravate the potential instability of the cervical spine. We divided the 113 recruited CRS patients into three groups based on the differences in horizontal displacement and abnormal angle, and measured the degree of cervical muscle degeneration in the patients through MRI. Considering functional scores, VAS, NDI and PCS scores of the three groups post-treatment were significantly improved. Through the intergroup analysis, we found that the improvement in functional scores in the mild and moderate instability trend groups was better than that in the severe group. Through MRI measurements, we found that the degree of cervical muscle degeneration was significantly increased in the severe instability trend group. Regarding the changes in X-Ray imaging parameters pre- and post-treatment, no significant differences were observed pre- and post-treatment. For patients with CSR, the more serious their predisposition for cervical instability was, the more severe the degree of cervical muscle degeneration was, which means the worse the curative effect was, but cervical traction did not aggravate the potential degree of cervical instability.

ABSTRACT: Objectives: Klebsiella aerogenes is a largely understudied opportunistic pathogen that can cause sepsis and lead to high mortality rates. In this study, we reported the occurrence of carbapenem-resistant blaOXA-181-carrying Klebsiella aerogenes from swine in China and elucidate their genomic characteristics. Methods: A total of 126 samples, including 109 swine fecal swabs, 14 environmental samples, and three feed samples were collected from a pig farm in China. The samples were enriched with LB broth culture and then inoculated into MacConkey agar plates for bacterial isolation. After PCR detection of carbapenemases genes, the blaOXA-181-carrying isolates were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and whole-genome sequence analysis. Results: Four Klebsiella aerogenes isolates carrying the blaOXA-181 gene were obtained from swine faecal samples. All the 4 strains were belonged to ST438. The blaOXA-181 genes were located in IncX3-ColKP3 hybrid plasmids with the core genetic structure of IS26-ΔIS3000-ΔISEcp1-blaOXA-181-ΔlysR-ΔereA-ΔrepA-ISKpn19-tinR-qnrS1-ΔIS2-IS26, which suggests the potential for horizontal transfer and further dissemination of this resistance gene among Enterobacteriaceae and other sources. Conclusions: This study represents the first instance of OXA-181-producing K. aerogenes being identified from swine faeces in China. It is crucial to maintain continuous monitoring and ongoing attention to the detection of K. aerogenes carrying blaOXA-181 and other resistance genes in pigs.

Tides are the Earth's response to the gravitational attraction of the Sun, the Moon, and other stars, and tidal gravimetric factors vital for revealing the Earth's interior structure. The tidal potential can be decoupled into several components, among which M2 and O1 are semi-diurnal and diurnal components, respectively, with the largest amplitudes caused by the attraction of the Moon. The China Earthquake Administration and the Chinese Academy of Sciences deployed the first gravimeters in the 1980s to study the spatial distribution characteristics of solid tides in Chinese mainland, and have developed a gravity observation network of >50 stations. In the current study, we utilized these observations, combined with tidal theory, considering the effects of lateral inhomogeneity and three-dimensional Earth models, such as GyPSuM, SPani, SEISGLOB2, SGLOBE-rani, and SAW642ANb, to construct a tidal gravimetric factor model of the M2 and O1 components in Chinese mainland and its adjacent zones. The effect of the lateral inhomogeneity on the tidal gravimetric factor was estimated using the perturbation method. The amplitude ranges of effects of the P-wave velocity perturbation, S-wave velocity perturbation, density perturbation, and their summation effects on the M2 component were −0.12% to 0.14%, −0.19% to 0.17%, −0.08% to 0.06%, and −0.09% to 0.11%, respectively (the effects on the O1 component were −0.13% to 0.28%, −0.27% to 0.15%, −0.12% to 0.10%, and −0.15% to 0.05%, respectively). For the M2 and O1 factors, the West Region Block, southwestern Xizang Block, northwestern South China Block, and central North China Block were attributed negative values, whereas the other regions were attributed positive values. For the M2 factor, the Himalayan orogenic belt (negative values) and southeastern margin of Cathaysia (positive values) were most significantly affected by lateral inhomogeneity, reflecting the special tectonics of these regions. There was no obvious maximum value for the O1 factor. The least-square-collocation method based on the idea of "remove-recovery" was utilized to combine the observed and theoretical tidal gravimetric factors. The magnitude of the gravimetric factor of the M2 component in Chinese mainland and its adjacent zones ranged from 1.130 to 1.175, with low values around and high values in the center. The magnitude of the gravimetric factor of the O1 component ranged from 1.145 to 1.195, showing a gradual increase from the northwest to southeast. The above outcomes can provide references for related studies of tidal gravimetric factors and Earth models in Chinese mainland and neighboring areas. The difference between the observed and theoretical M2 factors peaked at the southeastern margin of Cathaysia. The average difference was approximately 0.01, three to four times larger than the variation range of the theoretical M2 factor. This difference corresponds to the deviation between the real Earth and the Earth models. The difference between the superconducting gravimeter stations varied from 0.001 to 0.004. However, the difference at the gPhone stations commonly exceeded 0.01. The results show that setting up more high-precision gravimeters is expected to improve the tidal gravimetric factor model for Chinese mainland.

As the Industrial Internet of Things rapidly evolves, enterprises are increasingly using a wide variety of web containers. However, this growing usage also magnifies the complexities associated with managing these assets, leading to a rise in network security risks and vulnerabilities. This trend not only highlights a shift in industrial practices but also underscores the urgent need for proactive measures to strengthen network security. In response to this complex challenge, this paper presents a cutting-edge approach for detecting and identifying web containers through proactive probing. During the detection phase, we meticulously construct web container probes, laying the groundwork for their central role in the identification process. During this stage, the probe leverages a payload-based identification method for web containers, achieving an exceptional level of accuracy by implementing advanced protocol decoding techniques. The integration of these innovative techniques not only enhances the precision of web container identification but also demonstrates our commitment to providing a comprehensive solution to the challenges posed by web container management. This pioneering methodology reflects the ongoing evolution of detection strategies and our dedication to pushing technological boundaries for an improved understanding of web containers. By seamlessly integrating these two advanced identification methods, we have successfully identified four different types of web containers. Importantly, we have made significant progress in precision and accurately differentiating between various versions of these web containers, with a total of ten versions correctly identified. This groundbreaking method is not only crucial for addressing the current complexities in web container asset management but also provides enterprises with a more effective means of network security defense. Through the use of this advanced proactive probing method, enterprises can better understand and manage their web container assets, reducing network security risks and ensuring system stability and security. Our contribution plays a pivotal role in the ongoing development of the Industrial Internet of Things and lays a strong foundation for future research and applications in network security. The innovative approach presented here serves as a catalyst for the positive advancement of the current Industrial Internet of Things landscape and lays a solid groundwork for future exploration and application in network security.

Hemicellulose is a renewable and environmentally friendly biomass polysaccharide. However, because of the low polymerization degree, conventional hemicellulose-based hydrogels often have poor mechanical properties, severely restricting their potential applications. This study involved preparation of a novel high-strength conductive hemicellulose-based composite hydrogel, modulated by a Na2SO4 solution. The hydrogel matrix with a physicochemical double cross-linking structure was created by adding polyvinyl alcohol to the chemically crosslinked networks of gelatin and dialdehyde xylan (DAX) to improve the enhancing effect. After being soaked in a 1 M Na2SO4 solution for 24 h, the composite hydrogel’s network structure was thicker, as revealed by scanning electron microscopy. Its tensile breaking strength (3.02 MPa) and elongation (330.95%) were much higher than those prior to the treatment. Energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction confirmed that the composite hydrogel had a considerable amount of Na+ and SO42- uniformly dispersed throughout. Additionally, the ionic conductivity of the composite hydrogel was measured at 5.4 × 10-3 S/m, indicating a potential use in the field of super-capacitors.

Abstract Reinforcement learning (RL) is an effective method in training dialogue policies to steer the conversation towards successful task completion. However, most RL-based methods only rely on semantic inputs that lack empathy as they ignore the user emotional information. Moreover, these methods suffer from delayed rewards caused by the user simulator returning valuable results only at dialogue end. Recently, some methods have been proposed to learn the reward function together with user emotions, but they omit considering user emotion in each dialogue turn. In this paper, we proposed an emotion-sensitive dialogue policy model (ESDP), it incorporates user emotions information into dialogue policy and selects the optimal action by the combination of top-k actions with the user emotions. The user emotion information in each turn is used as an immediate reward for the current dialogue state to solve sparse rewards and the dependency on termination. Extensive experiments validate that our method outperforms the baseline approaches when combined with different Q-Learning algorithms, and also surpasses other popular existing dialog policies’ performance.

Abstract To explore the favorable factors that help slow the progression of disease in patients with mild Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy (CSM). A retrospective analysis was conducted, involving the enrollment of 115 CSM patients. The categorization of patients into two groups was based on the duration of symptoms, assessments using the mJOA scale and Health Transition (HT) scores: mild-slow group and severe-rapid group. We found that the patients in both groups had similar degrees of spinal cord compression, but mild-slow group were older and had smaller C2–C7 cobb angle (Flexion) (CL(F)), C2–C7 cobb angle (Range of motion) (CL(ROM)), Transverse area (TA), Normal-TA, Compressive spinal canal area (CSCA), Normal-Spinal canal area (Normal-SCA) and lower Spinal cord increased signal intensity (ISI) Grade than the severe-rapid group. A binary logistic regression analysis showed that CL(ROM) and Normal-TA are favorable factors to help slow the progression of disease patients with mild CSM. Through ROC curves, we found that when CL(ROM)

Abstract Field-effect transistors (FETs) based on two-dimensional materials (2DMs) with atomically thin channels have emerged as a promising platform for beyond-silicon electronics. However, low carrier mobility in 2DM transistors driven by phonon scattering remains a critical challenge. To address this issue, we propose the controlled introduction of localized tensile strain as an effective means to inhibit electron-phonon scattering in 2DM. Strain is achieved by conformally adhering the 2DM via van der Waals forces to a dielectric layer previously nanoengineered with a gray-tone topography. Our results show that monolayer MoS2 FETs under tensile strain achieve an 8-fold increase in on-state current, reaching mobilities of 185 cm²/Vs at room temperature, in good agreement with theoretical calculations. The present work on nanotopographic grayscale surface engineering and the use of high-quality dielectric materials has the potential to find application in the nanofabrication of photonic and nanoelectronic devices.

Abstract Fractional flow reserve (FFR) has become the gold standard for evaluating coronary lesion-specific ischemia. However, FFR is an invasive method that may cause possible complications in the coronary artery and requires expensive equipment, which limits its use. Promising noninvasive diagnostic methods, such as computed tomography angiography–derived FFR (CT-FFR) and the quantitative flow ratio (QFR), have been proposed. In this study, we evaluated the diagnostic performance of the QFR and CT-FFR in predicting coronary lesion-specific ischemia, with the FFR serving as the reference standard. Patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease who underwent coronary CT angiography revealing 30–90% diameter stenosis in the main coronary artery (≥ 2.0 mm reference diameter) were enrolled. The FFR was measured during invasive coronary angiography (within 15 days after coronary CT angiography). An FFR ≤ 0.8 was the reference standard for coronary lesion-specific ischemia. A total of 103 vessels from 92 consecutive patients (aged 59.8 ± 9.2 years; 60.9% were men) were evaluated. The diagnostic performance of a QFR ≤ 0.80 for predicting coronary lesion-specific ischemia demonstrated good diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity (92.2%, 87.2%, and 96.4%, respectively), with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.987 (P

Abstract Phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (PGK1) and pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) have been identified as the postmortem meat quality biomarkers. However, the precise molecular mechanism through which they affect and regulate the development of meat quality remains unclear. In this work, the high‐ and low‐activity groups (n = 10) were selected from 60 lamb muscles at 24 h postmortem based on the activity levels of PGK1 and PKM2. The metabolomic, proteomic, and transcriptomic analyses combined with deeply integrated multi‐omics analysis were used to elucidate the mechanisms by which PGK1 and PKM2 characterize meat quality. The results indicated that glycolysis played a crucial role in regulating PGK1 and PKM2 activity at the metabolome, proteome, and transcriptome levels. In glycolysis pathway, we identified several key components closely related to PGK1 and PKM2 activity, including differential metabolites (adenosine triphosphate, adenosine diphosphate, glucose‐6‐phosphate, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, fructose‐6‐phosphate, dihydroxyacetone phosphate, 3‐phosphoglycerate, NAD+ nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, lactate, and pyruvate), different abundance proteins (lactate dehydrogenase B and fructose bisphosphate aldolase B), and differentially expressed genes (hexokinase and fructose‐1,6‐bisphosphatase 1). It was concluded that PGK1 and PKM2 may affect the formation of meat quality by regulating these critical substrates. Additionally, PGK1 and PKM2 could also affect the tricarboxylic acid cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, and muscle contraction in postmortem and then influence meat quality. This integrative omics study offers valuable insight into unraveling the molecular mechanisms underlying postmortem meat quality development.

Abstract Leukemia stem cells (LSCs) are recognized as the root cause of leukemia initiation, relapse, and drug resistance. Lipid species are highly abundant and essential component of human cells, which often changed in tumor microenvironment. LSCs remodel lipid metabolism to sustain the stemness. However, there is no useful lipid related biomarker has been approved for clinical practice in AML prediction and treatment. Here, we constructed and verified fatty acid metabolism-related risk score (LFMRS) model based on TCGA database via a series of bioinformatics analysis, univariate COX regression analysis, and multivariate COX regression analysis, and found that the LFMRS model could be an independent risk factor and predict the survival time of AML patients combined with age. Moreover, we revealed that Galectin-1 (LGALS1, the key gene of LFMRS) was highly expressed in LSCs and associated with poor prognosis of AML patients, and LGALS1 repression inhibited AML cell and LSC proliferation, enhanced cell apoptosis, and decreased lipid accumulation in vitro. LGALS1 repression curbed AML progression, lipid accumulation, and CD8+ T and NK cell counts in vivo. Our study sheds light on the roles of LFMRS (especially LGALS1) model in AML, and provides information that may help clinicians improve patient prognosis and develop personalized treatment regimens for AML.

Abstract Background Guanosine is a purine nucleoside that is widely used as a raw material for food additives and pharmaceutical products. Microbial fermentation is the main production method of guanosine. However, the guanosine-producing strains possess multiple metabolic pathway interactions and complex regulatory mechanisms. The lack of strains with efficiently producing-guanosine greatly limited industrial application. Results We attempted to efficiently produce guanosine in Escherichia coli using systematic metabolic engineering. First, we overexpressed the purine synthesis pathway from Bacillus subtilis and the prs gene, and deleted three genes involved in guanosine catabolism to increase guanosine accumulation. Subsequently, we attenuated purA expression and eliminated feedback and transcription dual inhibition. Then, we modified the metabolic flux of the glycolysis and Entner-Doudoroff (ED) pathways and performed redox cofactors rebalancing. Finally, transporter engineering and enhancing the guanosine synthesis pathway further increased the guanosine titre to 134.9 mg/L. After 72 h of the fed-batch fermentation in shake-flask, the guanosine titre achieved 289.8 mg/L. Conclusions Our results reveal that the guanosine synthesis pathway was successfully optimized by combinatorial metabolic engineering, which could be applicable to the efficient synthesis of other nucleoside products.

Abstract. Background:. Although overnight fasting is recommended prior to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), the benefits and safety of high-carbohydrate fluid diet (CFD) intake 2 h before ERCP remain unclear. This study aimed to analyze whether high-CFD intake 2 h before ERCP can be safe and accelerate patients' recovery. Methods:. This prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial involved 15 tertiary ERCP centers. A total of 1330 patients were randomized into CFD group (n = 665) and fasting group (n = 665). The CFD group received 400 mL of maltodextrin orally 2 h before ERCP, while the control group abstained from food/water overnight (>6 h) before ERCP. All ERCP procedures were performed using deep sedation with intravenous propofol. The investigators were blinded but not the patients. The primary outcomes included postoperative fatigue and abdominal pain score, and the secondary outcomes included complications and changes in metabolic indicators. The outcomes were analyzed according to a modified intention-to-treat principle. Results:. The post-ERCP fatigue scores were significantly lower at 4 h (4.1 ± 2.6 vs. 4.8 ± 2.8, t = 4.23, P

Abstract Topological pumps enable robust transports of topological states when the system parameters are varied in a cyclic process. The reported topological pumps are protected by the bulk topology. However, the exploration of topological pump protected by other mechanism remains elusive. Here we report our prediction and observation of higher-order topological pumps linked to the boundary topology, i.e., boundary Chern number. Based on such topological pump, the higher-order transports between the topological states of different dimensions (e.g., corner-edge-corner) are directly observed by spatial scanning of the sound field, and their topological robustness is observed in the paths with defects. Furthermore, modulated by the fundamental corner-edge-corner topological transport, topological splitting effects are unambiguously observed in our acoustic experiments. Our findings not only advance the research of the higher-order topological transports, but also offer good platforms to design unconventional devices.

The Cr-coated Zr alloys demonstrate excellent resistance to high-temperature steam oxidation. However, the rapid diffusion pathways for oxygen formed by the inter-diffusion between the coating and alloy at high temperatures significantly affect the steam oxidation resistance of the coated alloys. To address this issue, we developed a Mo/Cr bilayer coating on Zr alloy by a combination of dc-MS and HiPIMS surface treatments. The coating exhibits outstanding steam oxidation resistance at high temperatures, resulting in a mass gain approximately 86.6% and 44.1% lower than that of the bare Zr alloy and Cr coating, respectively, after 30 min of steam oxidation at 1200 °C. This is mainly because, during the oxidation process, the Mo interface layer undergoes a transformation into a thin and high-quality double diffusion layer structure, effectively avoiding high-temperature inter-diffusion between the Cr coating and Zr alloy, thereby inhibiting the formation of oxygen diffusion pathways.

IntroductionExtreme weather events driven by climate change profoundly affect migratory birds by altering their habitats, food sources, and migration routes. While gut microbiota is believed to play a role in helping birds adapt to environmental changes, research on how extreme weather impacts their gut microbiota and how these microbial communities respond to such conditions has been limited.Methods16S rRNA gene sequencing was utilized to investigate the gut microbiota of common cranes (Grus grus) wintering at Poyang Lake from 2020 to 2023, with a particular focus on their response to extreme drought conditions on both inter-annual and monthly timescales.ResultsThe results revealed that extreme drought conditions substantially impact gut microbiota, with inter-annual water-level fluctuations exerting a more pronounced impact on microbial community structure than that of inter-monthly fluctuations. Notably, a significant decline in bacterial diversity within the gut microbiota of common cranes was observed in the extreme drought year of 2022 compared with other years. Monthly observations indicated a gradual increase in gut microbial diversity, coinciding with relatively minor water-level changes. Key taxa that responded to drought included the Enterobacteriaceae family and Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus species. Additionally, functional genes related to carbohydrate metabolism, the phosphotransferase system, and the two-component systems were significantly enriched during the extreme drought year. These functions may represent adaptive mechanisms by which the gut microbiota of common cranes respond to drought stress.DiscussionThis research provides novel insights into the temporal variability of gut microbiota in wintering waterbirds, underscoring the significant impact of climatic fluctuations on microbial communities. The findings highlight the importance of understanding the ecological and functional responses of gut microbiota to extreme weather events, which is crucial for the conservation and management of migratory bird populations in the face of climate change.

Abstract Electrodes, which offer sites for mass transfer and redox reactions, play a crucial role in determining the energy efficiencies and power densities of redox flow batteries. This review focuses on various approaches to enhancing electrode performance, particularly the methods of surface etching and catalyst deposition, as well as some other advanced strategies for regulating electrode surface properties. These approaches aim to increase active sites and enhance kinetics for the redox reactions, which are crucial for elevating power density and electrolyte utilization, eventually determining the performance of the flow battery. Highlighting the need for interdisciplinary research, this mini‐review suggests that future advancements in electrode design will significantly impact the commercial viability and adoption of redox flow batteries in sustainable energy storage solutions.

ObjectiveTo investigate whether the combination of acupuncture and mirror therapy can improve motor impairment in stroke patients.DesignA systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.Data sourcesCNKI, Wanfang, PubMed, Embase, Vip, web of since, Cochrane database and CBM database.Eligibility criteria for selecting studiesThe included randomized controlled trials compared the efficacy of acupuncture therapy (AT) combined with mirror therapy (MT) against AT, MT, and conventional rehabilitation therapy on limb motor impairment in stroke patients, with independent data extraction and study quality assessment conducted. A META analysis using fixed-effect and random-effect models was performed to calculate the mean difference (MD) in motor scores and the Total effective rate RR (Risk ratio) between the AT combined with MT group and the control group.Main outcome measuresThe Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) for motor function includes the FMA-T (total FMA), FMA-UE (upper extremity FMA), and FMA-L (lower extremity FMA).ResultsA total of 42 randomized controlled trials were included, involving 3,340 patients with post-stroke motor impairment. AT combined with MT was more favorable for FMA-UE (mean difference [MD] = 6.67, 95% CI [5.60–7.93], Z = 11.42, P

IntroductionWe aimed to verify the application value of the Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) based on multiple post-labeling delay (multi-PLD) arterial spin labeling (ASL) for outcome assessment in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients.MethodThe endpoint was modified Rankin scale score at 90 days (90-day mRS). Patients were divided into the good outcome (0–2) and poor outcome (3–6) groups. The independent samples t-test, Mann-Whitney U-test, and χ2-test were used to compare clinical and imaging parameters between groups. We used partial correlation analysis to evaluate the relationships between ASPECTS and outcomes. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to examine potential independent prognostic indicators. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the performance of the independent prognostic indicators in predicting outcomes.ResultsFifty-five AIS patients were included. The good outcome group had a lower baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS; Z = −3.413, P < 0.001) and infarct core volume (ICV; Z = −3.114, P = 0.002) as well as higher cerebral blood flow (CBF)-ASPECTS (Z = −3.835, P < 0.001) and cerebral blood volume (CBV)-ASPECTS (Z = −4.099, P < 0.001). Higher CBF-ASPECTS (r = −0.459, P = 0.001), and CBV-ASPECTS (r = −0.502, P < 0.001) were associated with a lower 90-day mRS. The baseline NIHSS, CBF-ASPECTS, and CBV-ASPECTS were identified as independent prognostic indicators. The AUCs of the baseline NIHSS, CBF-ASPECTS, and CBV-ASPECTS were 83.3, 87.4, and 89.9%, respectively. Combining NIHSS with CBF-ASPECTS and CBV-ASPECTS, the AUC significantly improved to 96.3%. The combined three factors showed a significant difference compared to the baseline NIHSS (Z = 2.039, P = 0.041) and CBF-ASPECTS (Z = 2.099, P = 0.036), but no difference with CBV-ASPECTS (Z = 1.176, P = 0.239).ConclusionsThe ASPECTS based on multi-PLD ASL is a valuable tool for identifying independent prognostic indicators and assessing clinical outcomes in AIS patients. The baseline NIHSS, combined with CBF-ASPECTS and CBV-ASPECTS, enhances the predictive efficacy of clinical outcomes in AIS patients. The CBV-ASPECTS alone can offer comparable predictive efficacy to the combination.

To address the slow heating and low efficiency issues of traditional macro-packed phase change material (PCM) radiant floor heating systems, this study innovatively explores the impact of altering the eccentric positions of hot water pipes within the PCM encasement, based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) numerical simulations. Starting with a concentric case as a baseline, the investigation extends to six different configurations achieved by displacing the hot water pipes vertically (upward and downward) and horizontally. The analysis encompasses the PCM's thermal state, temperature dynamics, spatial distribution, and heat flux. The results indicate that the arrangement of hot water pipes with upward and horizontal displacements demonstrates a more positive impact on improving the thermal performance of the PCM radiant floor heating system, with the effect becoming more pronounced as the displacement distance increases. Cases with upward eccentric movement of r/4 (where r is the encasement radius) and r/2 reached the optimal floor temperature of 297.15 K faster than the concentric case by 2 h and 3.8 h, respectively, during the heating phase. Cases with horizontal eccentric movement advanced by 0.5 h and 2.5 h, respectively. Cases with horizontal displacements of r/4 and r/2 caused smaller temperature fluctuations and provided greater comfort and energy efficiency than those with upward displacements, with average heat flux values being 4.75 % and 11.82 % lower, respectively. These findings offer theoretical support for the optimization and application of macro-packed PCM floor heating systems.

ABSTRACT: Fowl adenovirus serotype 4 (FAdV-4) is the causative agent of hydropericardium hepatitis syndrome in chickens, which causes severe economic impact to the poultry industry. A simple, swift and reliable detection is crucial for timely identification of FAdV-4 infection, promoting effective viral prevention and control measures. Herein, the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 12a (Cas12a) system detection platform based on loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) was studied. The CRISPR RNA (crRNA) and LAMP primers were designed and screened based on the highly conserved region of the FAdV-4 hexon gene. The parameters were then optimized individually to achieve the ideal reaction performance. The platform could lead visual detection of FAdV-4 to achieve as low as 1 copy in less than 40 min without the need for specialized instrumentation or complex equipment. Moreover, it was greatly specific, and did not cross-react with other common avian viruses. Following the validation of 30 clinical samples of suspected FAdV-4 infection, the results LAMP-CRISPR/Cas12a method generated showed fully concordance with which of the gold standard quantitative real-time PCR. To summarize, this study presented a novel, swift, expedient and inexpensive detection platform for FAdV-4, which is beneficial to viral inchoate diagnosis and point-of-care testing.

ABSTRACT: Salmonellosis in poultry is detrimental to the advancement of the breeding industry and poses hazards to human health. Approximately 2,600 Salmonella varieties exist, among which S. Enteritidis, S. Pullorum, S. Typhimurium, and S. Infantis are prevalent serotypes in the poultry industry in recent years. They can also infect humans by contaminating poultry eggs and meat. Therefore, identifying these serotypes is crucial for successful preventive and control interventions. The White–Kauffmann–Le Minor scheme is time-consuming and requires expensive reagents. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and other molecular biology techniques require skilled technical staff. In comparison, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is more accurate, rapid, and inexpensive, thus proving suitable for widespread application in the poultry industry. Here, we selected 4 specific primers: lygD, mdh, ipaJ, and SIN_02055, which correspond to detecting S. Enteritidis, S. Typhimurium, S. Pullorum, and S. Infantis, respectively. They were integrated into a 1-step multiplex PCR method. We optimized the PCR method by utilizing specificity test results to determine the optimal annealing temperature (57°C). The PCR method exhibited excellent sensitivity for genomic DNA and bacterial cultures. We used the developed method to determine 157 clinical Salmonella isolates from various stages of the poultry production chain. The results aligned with serotype data generated via WGS analysis, demonstrating the method's excellent accuracy. In conclusion, this study developed a 1-step multiplex PCR method that simultaneously identifies S. Enteritidis, S. Typhimurium, S. Pullorum, and S. Infantis, allowing routine mass detection in the grass-root poultry industry.

The multiphase structure of bainite and martensite with different proportions was obtained in 42CrMo steel by controlling the isothermal temperature and isothermal time, and the mechanism of martensitic variant selection on the crystallographic features of materials was studied. The results show that the final microstructure after austempering is a multiphase structure of bainite and martensite, which conforms to the K–S orientation relationship with the parent phase austenite. Under the redistribution of carbon elements and plastic confinement effect, the martensite formed by the post-transformed austenite has stronger variant selectivity than bainite. As the isothermal temperature decreases, the dislocation density of the material increases, which improves the strength of the material. At the same time, the increase of phase transformation driving force and austenite strength weakens the variant selection, resulting in the decrease of grain size and the increase of high angle grain boundaries (HAGBs), further improving the strength and plasticity of the material. At a shorter isothermal time, more martensite with stronger variant selectivity reduces HAGBs and decreases the plasticity of the material. Finally, the best matching of strength and plasticity was obtained under the heat treatment process of isothermal temperature and 30 min isothermal time. This study provides a theoretical basis for further improving the product of strength and elongation of 42CrMo multiphase steel.

Abstract Delayed repair of fractures seriously impacts patients’ health and significantly increases financial burdens. Consequently, there is a growing clinical demand for effective fracture treatment. While current materials used for fracture repair have partially addressed bone integrity issues, they still possess limitations. These challenges include issues associated with autologous material donor sites, intricate preparation procedures for artificial biomaterials, suboptimal biocompatibility, and extended degradation cycles, all of which are detrimental to bone regeneration. Hence, there is an urgent need to design a novel material with a straightforward preparation method that can substantially enhance bone regeneration. In this context, we developed a novel nanoparticle, mPPTMP195, to enhance the bioavailability of TMP195 for fracture treatment. Our results demonstrate that mPPTMP195 effectively promotes the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells into osteoblasts while inhibiting the differentiation of bone marrow mononuclear macrophages into osteoclasts. Moreover, in a mouse femur fracture model, mPPTMP195 nanoparticles exhibited superior therapeutic effects compared to free TMP195. Ultimately, our study highlights that mPPTMP195 accelerates fracture repair by preventing HDAC4 translocation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus, thereby activating the NRF2/HO-1 signaling pathway. In conclusion, our study not only proposes a new strategy for fracture treatment but also provides an efficient nano-delivery system for the widespread application of TMP195 in various other diseases.

Abstract Intensive research has been carried out on two-dimensional materials, in particular molybdenum disulfide, towards high-performance field effect transistors for integrated circuits1. Fabricating transistors with ohmic contacts is a challenging task due to the formation of a high Schottky barrier that severely limits the performance of the transistors for real-world applications. Graphene-based heterostructures can be used in addition to, or as a substitute for unsuitable metals. In this paper, we present lateral heterostructure transistors made of scalable chemical vapor-deposited molybdenum disulfide and chemical vapor-deposited graphene achieving a low contact resistances of about 9 kΩ·µm and high on/off current ratios of 108. Furthermore, we also present a theoretical model calibrated on our experiments showing further potential for scaling transistors and contact areas into the few nanometers range and the possibility of a substantial performance enhancement by means of layer optimizations that would make transistors promising for use in future logic integrated circuits.

Abstract The social changes in the new century and the shifting concept of filial piety have jointly shaped the unique intergenerational relationships in China. Intergenerational relationships are closely connected to arrangements for care of the older adults, particularly those who live alone. Based on data from the 2017 China General Social Survey (CGSS), the latent profile analysis method was used to explore the profiles of intergenerational family relationships and their influencing factors in the context of “non-co-residence” based on the five dimensions of intergenerational solidarity theory and related indicators. The study found that family intergenerational relationships can be categorised into five profiles: distant-emotional, proximity-detached, proximity-loose, distant-support, and traditional-reciprocal, which share commonalities with previous studies and have their own characteristics. The results of the multiple regression analysis showed that gender, education level, annual personal income for the previous year, self-rated happiness, and self-rated health had significant effects on the latent profiles of intergenerational relationships. Specifically, adult children who are male, living in a rural area, no legal spouse, a primary school education or less, an annual income above 50,001 RMB in the last year (2016), low or average self-rated happiness, and good self-rated health are more likely to deviate from the traditional filial support track (i.e. they are less likely to be the traditional-reciprocal) than their counterparts in these profiles. In the future, it will be important to increase attention to those families in which older parent live apart from their adult child through relevant legislation, social welfare systems, and social older-care services. This will help ensure that adult children provide intergenerational support and will enable the normal functioning of home- and community-based older adults’ care.

Objective While the incidence of peroneal tendon dislocation (PTD) is relatively low, it is frequently underdiagnosed in clinical practice, and the misdiagnosis or improper treatment of this condition may lead to a decline in patients' quality of life. Currently, the surgical treatment options for PTD mainly include open and arthroscopic surgery. However, in order to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of these two surgical approaches, further comparative research is needed. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the early clinical outcomes of arthroscopic and open surgery in the treatment of Ogden type 1–2 PTD. Methods We conducted a comprehensive analysis of 46 patients diagnosed with PTD who underwent surgery at our institution between January 2017 and January 2023. The patients were divided into two groups: the open surgery group, consisting of 26 cases, and the arthroscopic surgery group, consisting of 20 cases. To compare the effectiveness of the surgical approach, we evaluated several parameters, including the integrity of the superior peroneal retinaculum on MRI images, functional scores, pain interference scores, and ankle eversion muscle strength. These assessments are conducted respectively before the surgery, 1 month after the surgery, 3 months after the surgery, and at the final follow‐up for each group of patients (at least 6 months post‐surgery). Demographics and intergroup comparisons of the two groups of data were analyzed by t‐test or the Mann–Whitney U test. Intragroup comparisons of the two groups of data were analyzed by one‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) or the Kruskal–Wallis test, followed by post hoc multiple comparisons. Results In the intragroup comparisons, both the arthroscopic surgery and the open surgery group demonstrated significant improvement in functional scores, pain interference scores, muscle strength, and MRI findings at the final follow‐up postoperatively (p

Abstract Aquifer confinement represents a pivotal property that significantly influences the vulnerability and contamination risk of groundwater resources. Several methods have been proposed for determining aquifer confinement by analyzing the response of well water level to Earth tides and atmospheric tides. In this study, we evaluated the performance of the existing single methods and put forward an optimized comprehensive approach. We compared the determination results of the three single methods with those of a comprehensive method using water-level data from 39 earthquake precursor monitoring wells in North China. The results demonstrate that the comprehensive method effectively determined aquifer confinement, significantly reducing the uncertainty associated with the three single methods. The application of the comprehensive method in North China reveals that aquifer confinement may undergo temporal variations during long-term continuous observation, especially in areas where the confining properties of aquifers may vary due to human activities and earthquakes. In such areas, the comprehensive method facilitates accurate assessment of groundwater vulnerability, as well as the potential dispersion of underground pollutants.

Abstract The high sequencing error rate has impeded the application of long noisy reads for diploid genome assembly. Most existing assemblers failed to generate high-quality phased assemblies using long noisy reads. Here, we present PECAT, a Phased Error Correction and Assembly Tool, for reconstructing diploid genomes from long noisy reads. We design a haplotype-aware error correction method that can retain heterozygote alleles while correcting sequencing errors. We combine a corrected read SNP caller and a raw read SNP caller to further improve the identification of inconsistent overlaps in the string graph. We use a grouping method to assign reads to different haplotype groups. PECAT efficiently assembles diploid genomes using Nanopore R9, PacBio CLR or Nanopore R10 reads only. PECAT generates more contiguous haplotype-specific contigs compared to other assemblers. Especially, PECAT achieves nearly haplotype-resolved assembly on B. taurus (Bison×Simmental) using Nanopore R9 reads and phase block NG50 with 59.4/58.0 Mb for HG002 using Nanopore R10 reads.

Abstract Introduction This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of adalimumab in pediatric patients with chronic non-infectious posterior uveitis and panuveitis (not associated with juvenile idiopathic arthritis). Methods The medical records of children (

Objective Research on reefs is highly important for determining sedimentary environments and for oil and gas exploration, but relatively few studies have been conducted on Carboniferous reefs in the Southwest Tarim Basin. Methods Early Carboniferous reefs of the Heshirafu Formation in the Artashi section in the Southwest Tarim Basin formed in the Middle-Late Visean section of the Early Carboniferous. Reef-building organisms and accessory organisms were not quite diversified; the former mainly consisted of colonial corals of different kinds and solitary corals of a small number, and the latter were mostly echinoderms. Results Their growth was suspended due to less supply of terrigenous materials largely related to the frequent sea level changes in the Early Carboniferous in the piedmont structures of the Southwest Tarim Basin. These reefs are among the products of the recovery of metazoan skeleton reefs across the globe after the Late Devonian mass extinction; their occurrence was accompanied by mid- to late-stage Visean climate warming and global sea level rise. These reefs are common in the Early Carboniferous Visean reefs worldwide. In addition, according to the overall sedimentary facies of the Heshirafu Formation in the Artashi section and the adjacent Hantiereke Formation in the Kushanhe section, it is speculated that a transgression occurred from southwest to northeast in the Visean period of the Early Carboniferous in the Southwest Tarim Basin when the global sea level was rising and a passive continental margin was simultaneously forming and beginning to sink. As a result, a narrow platform margin facies belt gradually took shape in the piedmont structure of the Southwest Tarim Basin. This belt was conducive to the development of biological reefs. Then, when the Heshirafu Formation formed, a depositional system of "shore facies-lagoon facies-platform margin facies-slope facies-continental shelf facies" developed in a seaward direction. Conclusion The classification of sedimentary systems can provide a reference for Carboniferous sedimentary environments and oil and gas exploration in the Southwest Tarim Basin.

Abstract Background Patients with schizophrenia (SCZ) exhibit difficulties deficits in recognizing facial expressions with unambiguous valence. However, only a limited number of studies have examined how these patients fare in interpreting facial expressions with ambiguous valence (for example, surprise). Thus, we aimed to explore the influence of emotional background information on the recognition of ambiguous facial expressions in SCZ. Methods A 3 (emotion: negative, neutral, and positive) × 2 (group: healthy controls and SCZ) experimental design was adopted in the present study. The experimental materials consisted of 36 images of negative emotions, 36 images of neutral emotions, 36 images of positive emotions, and 36 images of surprised facial expressions. In each trial, a briefly presented surprised face was preceded by an affective image. Participants (36 SCZ and 36 healthy controls (HC)) were required to rate their emotional experience induced by the surprised facial expressions. Participants’ emotional experience was measured using the 9-point rating scale. The experimental data have been analyzed by conducting analyses of variances (ANOVAs) and correlation analysis. Results First, the SCZ group reported a more positive emotional experience under the positive cued condition compared to the negative cued condition. Meanwhile, the HC group reported the strongest positive emotional experience in the positive cued condition, a moderate experience in the neutral cued condition, and the weakest in the negative cue condition. Second, the SCZ (vs. HC) group showed longer reaction times (RTs) for recognizing surprised facial expressions. The severity of schizophrenia symptoms in the SCZ group was negatively correlated with their rating scores for emotional experience under neutral and positive cued condition. Conclusions Recognition of surprised facial expressions was influenced by background information in both SCZ and HC, and the negative symptoms in SCZ. The present study indicates that the role of background information should be fully considered when examining the ability of SCZ to recognize ambiguous facial expressions.

Abstract Background Bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum severely affects peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) yields. The breeding of resistant cultivars is an efficient means of controlling plant diseases. Therefore, identification of resistance genes effective against bacterial wilt is a matter of urgency. The lack of a reference genome for a resistant genotype severely hinders the process of identification of resistance genes in peanut. In addition, limited information is available on disease resistance-related pathways in peanut. Results Full-length transcriptome data were used to generate wilt-resistant and -susceptible transcript pools. In total, 253,869 transcripts were retained to form a reference transcriptome for RNA-sequencing data analysis. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes revealed the plant-pathogen interaction pathway to be the main resistance-related pathway for peanut to prevent bacterial invasion and calcium plays an important role in this pathway. Glutathione metabolism was enriched in wilt-susceptible genotypes, which would promote glutathione synthesis in the early stages of pathogen invasion. Based on our previous quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping results, the genes arahy.V6I7WA and arahy.MXY2PU, which encode nucleotide-binding site-leucine-rich repeat receptor proteins, were indicated to be associated with resistance to bacterial wilt. Conclusions This study identified several pathways associated with resistance to bacterial wilt and identified candidate genes for bacterial wilt resistance in a major QTL region. These findings lay a foundation for investigation of the mechanism of resistance to bacterial wilt in peanut.

Abstract Quantum confinement is a restriction on the motion of electrons in a material to specific region, resulting in discrete energy levels rather than continuous energy bands. In certain materials, quantum confinement could dramatically reshape the electronic structure and properties of the surface with respect to the bulk. Here, in the recently discovered kagome superconductors CsV3Sb5, we unveil the dominant role of quantum confinement in determining their surface electronic structure. Combining angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) measurement and density-functional theory simulation, we report the observations of two-dimensional quantum well states due to the confinement of bulk electron pocket and Dirac cone to the nearly isolated surface layer. The theoretical calculations on the slab model also suggest that the ARPES observed spectra are almost entirely contributed by the top two layers. Our results not only explain the disagreement of band structures between the recent experiments and calculations, but also suggest an equally important role played by quantum confinement, together with strong correlation and band topology, in shaping the electronic properties of this material.

Surface-modified Zr-based alloy (ZIRLO) claddings with advanced ceramic coatings are increasingly required for accident-tolerant fuel (ATF) systems in light-water reactors. Cr2AlC MAX phase coatings are promising for this purpose owing to their remarkable properties combining radiation/oxidation/corrosion resistance. However they are suffering from weak interface compatibility to ZIRLO substrate and poor structural densities for long-term services. Herein, we fabricated densely high-purity Cr2AlC MAX phase coatings with uniquely designed Cr/CrCx interfacial layers. The oxidation behavior of the coatings was focused under steam environments at 1000–1200 °C. Results showed that Cr2AlC coatings exhibited an oxidation mass gain of 8.9 mg/cm2 and an oxide thickness of 680 nm after oxidation at 1200 °C for 30 min, which were about 10% and 0.5% of ZIRLO substrate, respectively. Based on microstructural evolutions, the embedded interfacial layers significantly suppressed the rapid diffusion of Al in Cr2AlC coatings to the substrate and the premature delamination of oxidized coatings. Particularly, the formed oxides were identified as dense yet pure α-Al2O3, which endowed the protection against further oxidation and excellent resistance to high-temperature steam corrosion.

1,4-butanediol (1,4-BDO) is an important building block in the chemical industry that has been mainly produced from fossil fuels, but now biosynthesis of 1,4-BDO has received more and more attention due to environmental issues. The Clostridia C4 pathway produces an intermediate crotonyl-CoA which could be diverted to 1,4-BDO by 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydratase (4HBD). Here, we compared this pathway with other 1,4-BDO biosynthesis pathways and illustrated its potential advantages regarding cellular energy conservation and theoretical yield. Then, the feasibility of 1,4-BDO production in this way was tested by introducing a single 4HBD in Clostridium acetobutylicum that natively produced the C4 intermediate and a variety of aldehyde/alcohol dehydrogenases (AdhE). Five different 4HBD genes were screened and the Cbei-2100 gene from Clostridium beijerinckii was the most effective, producing 0.066 mg/mL of 1,4-BDO. To block the metabolic flux towards the main product butanol, disruption of butyryl-CoA dehydrogenase (Bcd) was tried but failed, while inactivation of its homologue (FAD/FMN-containing dehydrogenase, Fcd) obtained little effect. Alternatively, the electron-transferring flavoprotein EtfA coupled with Bcd was inactivated, and 1,4-BDO production was greatly increased to 0.182 mg/mL. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the feasibility of 1,4-BDO production through the Clostridia C4 pathway. Further blocking of the competing flux towards butanol would be effective to improve the production of in the future.

ObjectiveThe brain-computer interface (BCI) systems based on rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) have been widely utilized for the detection of target and non-target images. Collaborative brain-computer interface (cBCI) effectively fuses electroencephalogram (EEG) data from multiple users to overcome the limitations of low single-user performance in single-trial event-related potential (ERP) detection in RSVP-based BCI systems. In a multi-user cBCI system, a superior group mode may lead to better collaborative performance and lower system cost. However, the key factors that enhance the collaboration capabilities of multiple users and how to further use these factors to optimize group mode remain unclear.ApproachThis study proposed a group-member selection strategy to optimize the group mode and improve the system performance for RSVP-based cBCI. In contrast to the conventional grouping of collaborators at random, the group-member selection strategy enabled pairing each user with a better collaborator and allowed tasks to be done with fewer collaborators. Initially, we introduced the maximum individual capability and maximum collaborative capability (MIMC) to select optimal pairs, improving the system classification performance. The sequential forward floating selection (SFFS) combined with MIMC then selected a sub-group, aiming to reduce the hardware and labor expenses in the cBCI system. Moreover, the hierarchical discriminant component analysis (HDCA) was used as a classifier for within-session conditions, and the Euclidean space data alignment (EA) was used to overcome the problem of inter-trial variability for cross-session analysis.Main resultsIn this paper, we verified the effectiveness of the proposed group-member selection strategy on a public RSVP-based cBCI dataset. For the two-user matching task, the proposed MIMC had a significantly higher AUC and TPR and lower FPR than the common random grouping mode and the potential group-member selection method. Moreover, the SFFS with MIMC enabled a trade-off between maintaining performance and reducing the number of system users.SignificanceThe results showed that our proposed MIMC effectively optimized the group mode, enhanced the classification performance in the two-user matching task, and could reduce the redundant information by selecting the sub-group in the RSVP-based multi-user cBCI systems.

Energy-intensive load benefits from low electricity tariff and carbon emission, since they occupy certain amounts in the total cost of the product. This paper considers energy-intensive load participation in the electricity as well as carbon trading to reduce the cost. Firstly, an electricity-carbon model is established based on the correlation value method to calculate the carbon emissions of energy-intensive load based on their electricity consumption to realize the carbon amount. Afterwards, the baseline method is used to allocate free carbon emission quotas to energy-intensive load and a reward-penalty carbon trading price mechanism considering offset is proposed. Next, the objective function to achieve maximum benefits, and to reduce output fluctuation, and to improve new energy accommodation is proposed. The case studies show that, by comparing multi-objective function optimization, the optimization target proposed in this paper can effectively reduce wind power output fluctuations and improve wind power accommodation. Through the total participation in carbon trading and electricity market income, multi-objective optimization can increase the system income while ensuring that energy-intensive load meets production requirements under the premise of reducing carbon emissions, verifying the effectiveness of the low-carbon optimal operation model proposed in this paper.