Search

Abstract Generating co‐speech gestures for interactive digital humans remains challenging because of the indeterministic nature of the problem. The authors observe that gestures generated from speech audio or text by existing neural methods often contain less movement shift than expected, which can be viewed as slow or dull. Thus, a new generative model coupled with memory networks as dynamic dictionaries for speech‐driven gesture generation with improved diversity is proposed. More specifically, the dictionary network dynamically stores connections between text and pose features in a list of key‐value pairs as the memory for the pose generation network to look up; the pose generation network then merges the matching pose features and input audio features for generating the final pose sequences. To make the improvements more accurately measurable, a new objective evaluation metric for gesture diversity that can remove the influence of low‐quality motions is also proposed and tested. Quantitative and qualitative experiments demonstrate that the proposed architecture succeeds in generating gestures with improved diversity.

Abstract Background This paper reviews the scope of research on kinesiophobia in patients after cardiac surgery. Further, it reviews the current situation, evaluation tools, risk factors, adverse effects, and intervention methods of kinesiophobia to provide a reference for promoting early rehabilitation of patients after cardiac surgery. Methods Guided by the scoping methodology, the Web of Science, PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, China Biomedical Literature Database, VIP Database, Wanfang Database, CNKI, and other databases were searched from database inception until July 31, 2024. The studies obtained were screened, summarised and systematically analysed by two researchers. Results Eighteen studies (16 cross-sectional studies, one qualitative study, and one randomised controlled trial) were included. The incidence of kinesiophobia in patients after cardiac surgery was 39.20–82.57%, and the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia Heart (TSK-SV Heart) was used to evaluate this incidence. The influencing factors of kinesiophobia in patients after cardiac surgery included demographic characteristics, pain severity, frailty, exercise self-efficacy, disease-related factors, and psychosocial factors. Kinesiophobia led to adverse health outcomes such as reduced recovery, prolonged hospital stays, and decreased quality of life in patients after cardiac surgery, and there were few studies on intervention methods for postoperative kinesiophobia. Conclusion The kinesiophobia assessment tools suitable for patients after cardiac surgery should be improved, and intervention methods to promote the early recovery of patients after major clinical surgery and those with difficult and critical diseases should be actively researched.

Abstract Background To investigate the role of lncRNA LINC00665 in modulating ovarian cancer stemness and its influence on treatment resistance and cancer development. Methods We isolated ovarian cancer stem cells (OCSCs) from the COC1 cell line using a combination of chemotherapeutic agents and growth factors, and verified their stemness through western blotting and immunofluorescence for stem cell markers. Employing bioinformatics, we identified lncRNAs associated with ovarian cancer, with a focus on LINC00665 and its interaction with the CNBP mRNA. In situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, and qPCR were utilized to examine their expression and localization, alongside functional assays to determine the effects of LINC00665 on CNBP. Results LINC00665 employs its Alu elements to interact with the 3’-UTR of CNBP mRNA, targeting it for degradation. This molecular crosstalk enhances stemness by promoting the STAU1-mediated decay of CNBP mRNA, thereby modulating the Wnt and Notch signaling cascades that are pivotal for maintaining CSC characteristics and driving tumor progression. These mechanistic insights were corroborated by a series of in vitro assays and validated in vivo using tumor xenograft models. Furthermore, we established a positive correlation between elevated CNBP levels and increased disease-free survival in patients with ovarian cancer, underscoring the prognostic value of CNBP in this context. Conclusions lncRNA LINC00665 enhances stemness in ovarian cancer by mediating the degradation of CNBP mRNA, thereby identifying LINC00665 as a potential therapeutic target to counteract drug resistance and tumor recurrence associated with CSCs.

Abstract Due to the rapid development of stem cell technology, there have been tremendous advances in molecular biological and pathological research, cell therapy as well as organoid technologies over the past decades. Advances in genome editing technology, particularly the discovery of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-related protein 9 (Cas9), have further facilitated the rapid development of stem cell researches. The CRISPR-Cas9 technology now goes beyond creating single gene editing to enable the inhibition or activation of endogenous gene loci by fusing inhibitory (CRISPRi) or activating (CRISPRa) domains with deactivated Cas9 proteins (dCas9). These tools have been utilized in genome-scale CRISPRi/a screen to recognize hereditary modifiers that are synergistic or opposing to malady mutations in an orderly and fair manner, thereby identifying illness mechanisms and discovering novel restorative targets to accelerate medicinal discovery investigation. However, the application of this technique is still relatively rare in stem cell research. There are numerous specialized challenges in applying large-scale useful genomics approaches to differentiated stem cell populations. Here, we present the first comprehensive review on CRISPR-based functional genomics screening in the field of stem cells, as well as practical considerations implemented in a range of scenarios, and exploration of the insights of CRISPR-based screen into cell fates, disease mechanisms and cell treatments in stem cell models. This review will broadly benefit scientists, engineers and medical practitioners in the areas of stem cell research.

Abstract Background With Primary Health Care (PHC) being a cornerstone of accessible, affordable, and effective healthcare worldwide, its efficiency, especially in developing countries like China, is crucial for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). This study evaluates the efficiency of PHC systems in a southwest China municipality post-healthcare reform, identifying factors influencing efficiency and proposing strategies for improvement. Methods Utilising a 10-year provincial panel dataset, this study employs an enhanced Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model integrating Slack-Based Measure (SBM) and Directional Distance Function (DDF) with the Global Malmquist-Luenberger (GML) index for efficiency evaluation. Tobit regression analysis identifies efficiency determinants within the context of China’s healthcare reforms, focusing on horizontal integration, fiscal spending, urbanisation rates, and workforce optimisation. Results The study reveals a slight decline in PHC system efficiency across the municipality from 2009 to 2018. However, the highest-performing county achieved a 2.36% increase in Total Factor Productivity (TFP), demonstrating the potential of horizontal integration reforms and strategic fiscal investments in enhancing PHC efficiency. However, an increase in nurse density per 1,000 population negatively correlated with efficiency, indicating the need for a balanced approach to workforce expansion. Conclusions Horizontal integration reforms, along with targeted fiscal inputs and urbanisation, are key to improving PHC efficiency in underdeveloped regions. The study underscores the importance of optimising workforce allocation and skillsets over mere expansion, providing valuable insights for policymakers aiming to strengthen PHC systems toward achieving UHC in China and similar contexts.

Abstract Objective Ubiquitin-specific peptidase 10 (USP10), a typical de-ubiquitinase, has been found to play a double-edged role in human cancers. Previously, we reported that the expression of USP10 was negatively correlated with the depth of gastric wall invasion, lymph node metastasis, and prognosis in gastric cancer (GC) patients. However, it remains unclear whether USP10 can regulate the metastasis of GC cells through its de-ubiquitination function. Methods In this study, proteome, ubiquitinome, and transcriptome analyses were conducted to comprehensively identify novel de-ubiquitination targets for USP10 in GC cells. Subsequently, a series of validation experiments, including in vitro cell culture studies, in vivo metastatic tumor models, and clinical sample analyses, were performed to elucidate the regulatory mechanism of USP10 and its de-ubiquitination targets in GC metastasis. Results After overexpression of USP10 in GC cells, 146 proteins, 489 ubiquitin sites, and 61 mRNAs exhibited differential expression. By integrating the results of multi-omics, we ultimately screened 9 potential substrates of USP10, including TNFRSF10B, SLC2A3, CD44, CSTF2, RPS27, TPD52, GPS1, RNF185, and MED16. Among them, TNFRSF10B was further verified as a direct de-ubiquitination target for USP10 by Co-IP and protein stabilization assays. The dysregulation of USP10 or TNFRSF10B affected the migration and invasion of GC cells in vitro and in vivo models. Molecular mechanism studies showed that USP10 inhibited the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process by increasing the stability of TNFRSF10B protein, thereby regulating the migration and invasion of GC cells. Finally, the retrospective clinical sample studies demonstrated that the downregulation of TNFRSF10B expression was associated with poor survival among 4 of 7 GC cohorts, and the expression of TNFRSF10B protein was significantly negatively correlated with the incidence of distant metastasis, diffuse type, and poorly cohesive carcinoma. Conclusions Our study established a high-throughput strategy for screening de-ubiquitination targets for USP10 and further confirmed that inhibiting the ubiquitination of TNFRSF10B might be a promising therapeutic strategy for GC metastasis.

Abstract Background Inadequate financing constrains primary healthcare (PHC) capacity in many low- and middle-income countries, particularly in rural areas. This study evaluates an innovative PHC financing reform in rural China that aimed to improve access to healthcare services through supply-side integration and the establishment of a designated PHC fund. Methods We employed a quasi-experimental synthetic difference-in-differences (SDID) approach to analyze county-level panel data from Chongqing Province, China, spanning from 2009 to 2018. The study compared the impact of the reform on PHC access and per capita health expenditures in Pengshui County with 37 other control counties (districts). We assessed the reform’s impact on two key outcomes: the share of outpatient visits at PHC facilities and per capita total PHC expenditure. Results The reform led to a significant increase in the share of outpatient visits at PHC facilities (14.92% points; 95% CI: 6.59–23.24) and an increase in per capita total PHC expenditure (87.30 CNY; 95% CI: 3.71-170.88) in Pengshui County compared to the synthetic control. These effects were robust across alternative model specifications and increased in magnitude over time, highlighting the effectiveness of the integrated financing model in enhancing PHC capacity and access in rural China. Conclusions This research presents compelling evidence demonstrating that horizontal integration in PHC financing significantly improved utilization and resource allocation in rural primary care settings in China. This reform serves as a pivotal model for resource-limited environments, demonstrating how supply-side financing integration can bolster PHC and facilitate progress toward universal health coverage. The findings underscore the importance of sustainable financing mechanisms and the need for policy commitment to achieve equitable healthcare access.

BackgroundEndoscopy nurses in China face significant work–family conflicts, where the clash between high work demands and family responsibilities markedly increases the risk of occupational fatigue. This not only affects the nurses’ physical and mental health and overall well-being, but also poses a threat to the quality of care and patient safety. This study, grounded in the Conservation of Resources theory, constructs a moderated mediation model to examine the mediating role of positive coping style in the relationship between work–family conflict and occupational fatigue among endoscopy nurses in China, as well as the moderating effect of perceived social support.MethodsA convenience sampling method was employed to select 315 endoscopy nurses from 25 tertiary hospitals across 14 provinces in China. A questionnaire survey was conducted using the Fatigue Assessment Instrument, the Work–Family Conflict Scale, the Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire, and the Perceived Social Support Scale. The moderated mediation model was validated using Stata16.0.ResultsOur findings reveal that work–family conflict is a significant predictor of occupational fatigue, with a negative impact on positive coping style. Positive coping style, in turn, is negatively associated with occupational fatigue. Furthermore, positive coping style partially mediates the relationship between work–family conflict and occupational fatigue, accounting for 35.52% of the total effect. Additionally, perceived social support mitigates the negative effects of work–family conflict on positive coping style and occupational fatigue.ConclusionThere exists a moderated mediation effect between work–family conflict and occupational fatigue among endoscopy nurses in China, wherein positive coping style serve as a mediating variable. Perceived social support mitigates the negative impact of work–family conflict on positive coping style, while enhancing the alleviating effect of positive coping style on occupational fatigue. Therefore, improving endoscopy nurses’ levels of perceived social support and coping strategies may help to prevent and alleviate the occurrence of occupational fatigue.

Abstract The coupled analysis of multi-field heat and mass transfer in geothermal reservoirs is a pivotal concern within the realm of geothermal rock exploitation. It holds significant implications for the assessment of thermal energy capacity and the formulation of reservoir optimization strategies in the context of geothermal rock resources. Parameters governing production, along with fracture network characteristics (such as injection well temperature, injection well pressure, fracture width, and fracture network density), exert an influence on enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) heat production. In this study, aiming to comprehend the dynamic heat generation of EGS during prolonged exploitation, a coupling of various fields including permeation within the rock formations of geothermal reservoirs and the deformation of these rocks was achieved. In this study, we formulated the governing equations for the temperature field, stress field, and permeability field within the geothermal reservoir rock. Subsequently, we conducted numerical simulations to investigate the heat transfer process in an enhanced geothermal system. We analyzed the effects of injection well temperature, injection well pressure, primary fracture width, and secondary fracture density on the temperature distribution within the reservoir and the thermal power output of the production well. The research findings underscore that ill-conceived exploitation schemes markedly accelerate the thermal breakthrough rate of production wells, resulting in a diminished rate of geothermal resource extraction from the geothermal reservoir rock. Variations in influent well temperature and secondary fracture density exhibit an approximately linear impact on the output from production wells. Crucially, injection well pressure and primary fracture width emerge as pivotal factors influencing reservoir output response, with excessive widening of primary fractures leading to premature thermal breakthrough in production wells.

Abstract Cu-Au intermetallic alloys are classic paradigms in the history of alloy theory for studying order-disorder transition, phase stability, and so on. However, density functional theory with a generalized gradient approximation (GGA) fails to describe their formation energies and Au-rich ground states, e.g., calculated formation energies are nearly 40% smaller than experimental values. In this work, we found that these discrepancies, which are also common in other Cu-transition metal (TM) intermetallic alloys, are actually caused by the fact that GGA produces Cu-3d bands with a shallower energy level than the experimental results, leading to incorrect d-d hybridizations. By using the Hubbard U correction to adjust the d-bands to the correct position, the discrepancies in GGA calculations are eliminated. Our finding that the correct d-bands position is the key to characterize Cu-TMs, which can be achieved efficiently by applying the Hubbard U correction.

Objective To systematically review the risk factors for unplanned weaning during continuous renal replacement therapy in ICU patients.Methods A combination of subject words + free words was used to search the relevant literature published in CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, CBM, PubMed, EMbase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Mediline and other databases. The search period was from the establishment of the databases to June 25, 2024. Revman 5.4 software and Stata15.0 software was used to meta-analyze the risk factors for unplanned weaning during continuous renal replacement therapy in ICU patients.Results A total of 23 studies were included in this meta-analysis, describing 15 variables, 3793 patients, and using 7197 filters. Meta-analysis results showed that risk factors for unplanned weaning during continuous renal replacement therapy in ICU patients were as follows: Low mean arterial pressure [OR = 1.02, 95%CI (1.00, 1.03), p

Objectives The aim of this study was to determine the strength of the association between frailty and adverse outcomes in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis.Design A systematic review and meta-analysis.Setting and participants Patients aged ≥18 years who were undergoing maintenance hemodialysis.Methods PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Scopus, the China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database, the Wanfang Database and the Weipu Database were searched from inception until 11 April 2024. The reviewers independently selected the studies, extracted the data and evaluated the quality of the studies. Stata 15.1 software was used to perform the meta-analysis.Results A total of 36 articles were included in this study, including 56,867 patients. The primary outcome events in this study were mortality, hospitalization, and vascular access events. The secondary outcomes were depression, cognitive impairment, falls, fracture, sleep disturbances, and quality of life. This study suggested that frailty was associated with mortality in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis [hazard ratio (HR), 1.97; 95% CI, 1.62–2.40]. Frailty increased the risk of mortality in patients [odds ratio (OR), 2.33; 95% CI, 1.47–3.68]. In addition, we found that frailty was significantly associated with hospitalization in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (OR, 2.47; 95% CI, 1.52–4.03). Patients who were undergoing maintenance hemodialysis and who were frail had a greater risk of hospitalization [RR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.05–2.08] and emergency visits (RR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.78–2.92). The results of this study also suggested that frailty was associated with a greater risk of vascular access events (HR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.50–1.97). Finally, frailty increased the risk of depression (OR, 4.31; 95% CI, 1.83–10.18), falls and fractures, and reduced quality of life.Conclusions The findings of this study suggested that frailty was an important predictor of adverse outcomes in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. In the future, medical staff should regularly evaluate signs of weakness, formulate individual diagnosis and treatment plans, adjust dialysis plans according to the patient’s condition, and reduce the occurrence of adverse events.Registration The study protocol was registered on PROSPERO (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, number: CRD42023486239).

Prochloraz is a widely used fungicide worldwide. It is classified as an endocrine disrupting pesticide that affects the reproductive system. This study aimed to examine the impact of exposure to prochloraz of male mice on the reproductive system of their offspring male mice. Male father mice were intragastrically administered different dosages of prochloraz (group MA: 0 mg/kg/day; MB: 53.33 mg/kg/day; MD:160 mg/kg/day). Then, the testicular average weight of male offspring in the dose groups was found to be significantly lower than those in the control group (MB:0.312g, MD:0.294g, and MA:0.355 g; P

The persistence of the novel brominated flame retardant, bis(2-ethylhexyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrabromophthalate (TBPH), in the environment and its potential for bioaccumulation in living organisms, including humans, further exacerbate its health risks. Therefore, ongoing research is crucial for fully understanding the extent of TBPH’s neurotoxicity and for developing effective mitigation strategies. This study aims to investigate the potential neurotoxicity of TBPH on mouse neurobehavior and to evaluate the protective effects of the natural antioxidant astaxanthin (AST) against TBPH-induced neurotoxicity. The results indicate that exposure to TBPH can lead to a decline in learning and memory abilities and abnormal behaviors in mice, which may be associated with oxidative stress responses and apoptosis in the hippocampus. TBPH may disrupt the normal function of hippocampal neurons by activating the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) signaling pathway. Mice exposed to TBPH treated with AST showed improved learning and memory abilities in the Morris water maze (MWM) and Step-down test (SDT). AST, through its antioxidant action, was able to significantly reduce the increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels induced by TBPH, the increased expression of apoptosis markers, and the activation of the ERK1/2-FOS signaling pathway, alleviating TBPH-induced apoptosis in hippocampal neurons and improving neurobehavioral outcomes. These findings suggest that AST may alleviate the neurotoxicity of TBPH by modulating molecular events related to apoptosis and the ERK1/2-FOS signaling pathway. Thus, this study provides evidence for AST as a potential interventional strategy for the prevention or treatment of cognitive decline associated with environmental neurotoxicant exposure.

ObjectiveTo investigate the current situation of olfactory dysfunction in patients after endoscopic transsphenoidal resection of pituitary tumors, and analyze its influencing factors, to provide references for clinical nursing and rehabilitation.MethodsA cross-sectional study design and convenience sampling method were used to investigate 158 patients with pituitary tumors treated by endoscopic transsphenoidal pituitary tumor resection in the Department of Neurosurgery of three Grade-A general hospitals in Sichuan Province from January 2022 and June 2023. The olfactory function of patients was evaluated 1 week after surgery, and the general clinical data and olfactory related data of patients were collected, and the influencing factors of olfactory disorder were analyzed by logistic regression.ResultsThe incidence of olfactory dysfunction was 73.42%. analysis revealed that the formation of blood scabs, nasal cavity adhesion, cerebrospinal fluid leakage and operation time were independent risk factors for olfactory dysfunction in patients after transsphenoidal pituitary tumor resection (p

BackgroundNursing occupational fatigue has emerged as a critical issue affecting the safety and health of nurses. This phenomenon not only impairs nurses’ performance and mental well-being but also poses risks to patient safety and the quality of care provided. This study focuses on endoscopic nurses to explore the mediating role of positive coping styles between sleep quality and occupational fatigue, aiming to identify effective strategies to alleviate fatigue, thereby improving the work environment and enhancing healthcare quality.MethodsFrom July to August 2023, a cross-sectional design was used to select 258 endoscopy nurses from 25 top-three hospitals in 14 cities across 5 provinces in China. Data was collected through general information questionnaires, Fatigue assessment instrument, Pittsburgh sleep quality index, and Simple Coping Style Questionnaire. A structural equation model of sleep quality – positive coping style – occupational fatigue was constructed using Amos 26.0, and Bootstrap was employed to test the mediating effect.ResultsThe results showed that the mean scores of sleep quality, occupational fatigue, and positive coping style for endoscopy nurses were 8.89 ± 4.13, 17.73 ± 5.64, and 18.32 ± 10.46, respectively. Positive coping style were negatively correlated with sleep quality and occupational fatigue (p

Weldability plays a crucial role in the journey of high entropy alloys towards their engineering applications. In this study, gas metal arc welding was performed to join an as-rolled CoCrFeMnNi high entropy alloy using Monel 400 as the filler wire. The present research findings demonstrate a favorable metallurgical chemical reaction between the Monel 400 filler and the CoCrFeMnNi high entropy alloy, resulting in compositional mixing within the fusion zone that promotes a solid-solution strengthening effect, counteracting the typical low hardness associated to the fusion zone of these alloys. The weld thermal cycle induced multiple microstructure changes across the joint, including variations in the grain size, existing phases and local texture. The grain size was seen to increase from the base material toward the fusion zone. An FCC matrix and finely sparse Cr-Mn-based oxides existed in both base material and heat affected zone, while in the fusion zone new FCC phases and carbides were formed upon the mixing of the Monel 400 filler. The role of the filler material on the fusion zone microstructure evolution was rationalized using thermodynamic calculations. Texture shifted from a γ-fiber (in the base material) to a strong cubic texture in the fusion zone. Digital image correlation during tensile testing to fracture coupled with microhardness mapping revealed that, stemming from the process-induced microstructure changes, the micro and macromechanical response differed significantly from the original base material. This study successfully established a correlation between the impact of the process on the developed microstructural features and the resultant mechanical behavior, effectively assessing the processing-microstructure-properties relationships towards an improved understanding of the physical metallurgy associated to these advanced engineering alloys. In conclusion, this work provides an important theoretical framework and practical guidance for optimizing the engineering applications of high entropy alloys.

Nearshore tidal observation is one of the most fundamental tasks in ocean engineering applications, coastal disaster mitigation, coastal zone management, and ocean-related scientific research. In this paper, a method based on video image deep learning is proposed to extract tidal level features from the video frames captured by a fixed camera installed near the shore, using YOLOv5 visual AI model for tidal analysis. The study used the high-definition camera of Xiamen Gaoqi Wharf with a resolution of 1920×1080 as the training and validation dataset for the February 2023, and the test dataset for March 2023. The hourly tide data of the coastal tide verification well is used for annotation, and the YOLOv5 object detection model is used for training. The calculation results show that the errors of tidal observation through video on the training set and the test set are 3.9cm and 5.3cm, respectively. One pixel in the video represents 3.8cm, so the average error of the tidal observation is at the pixel level. The study shows that the method of using high-definition cameras based on image deep learning for tidal observation near the shore is feasible, and the observation accuracy depends on the resolution of the target object in the image.

Abstract Background Poor sleep quality will have adverse effects on physical and mental health, quality of life and other aspects of middle-aged and older adults. Sleep quality is affected by many factors. Whether the sleep quality measures of the participants had changed in the previous or subsequent time period is not easily taken into account. Moreover, there have been no studies on this topic in Chinese middle-aged and older adults. The objective of this study was to mitigate the bias of sleep quality assessment, and analyze the association between personality traits and sleep quality in Chinese middle-aged and older adults. Methods The data came from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS). A total of 6031 participants aged ≥ 45 years were included in this study. Personality characteristics were evaluated based on the scores of each dimension of Big Five personality traits. Sleep duration and sleep perception were used as indicators to measure sleep quality. Logistic models were used to analyze the relationship between personality traits and sleep duration or sleep perception, respectively. Results 4.5% of the participants had abnormal sleep duration, and 14.4% had a pessimistic sleep perception. Conscientiousness was rated the highest among the personality traits (3.97 ± 0.6). Participants with higher scores for extraversion personality traits had more normal sleep duration (OR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.64–0.93) and more optimistic sleep perception (OR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.76–0.96). Using the Internet and feeling unwell in the past week have a moderating effect on the impact of conscientiousness personality characteristics on sleep duration or sleep perception, respectively (but not overall sleep quality). In addition, participants with a spouse or no recent physical discomfort tended to have a normal sleep duration and a more optimistic sleep perception. Conclusions The higher the score of extraversion personality traits, the better the overall sleep quality of middle-aged and older adults. Having a spouse and feeling unwell were the important factors affecting their sleep quality. Specific personality traits intervention should be carried out for middle-aged and older adults with poor sleep quality to make their personality traits are closer to extraversion. In addition, middle-aged and older adults without spouses should be encouraged to marry or remarry. We will strengthen health management and medical expenditures for middle-aged and older adults.

Immunosuppression undermines intestinal barrier integrity. Cow placenta extract (CPE) primarily consists of active peptides with immunomodulatory and antioxidant effects. This study aimed to examine the preventive effect of CPE against intestinal damage induced by cyclophosphamide (Cy) in immunosuppressed mice. Thirty-six mice were randomly allocated into three groups: control group (C), model group (M), and treatment group (CPE). The mice in the CPE group were provided with 1500 mg/kg/day of CPE via gavage. In the last 3 days, mice in the groups M and CPE received intraperitoneal injections of 80 mg/kg/day of Cy. The results showed that CPE improved intestinal barrier function by decreasing serum d-Lactate (D-LA) levels and diamine oxidase (DAO) activity, while elevating the relative expression of Occludin, zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), and mucin-2 (MUC-2) mRNA. Additionally, CPE improved the immune organ index and elevated the levels of secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the intestine, thereby enhancing intestinal mucosal immune function. Furthermore, CPE improved the diversity of intestinal microbiota and increased the abundance of Candidatus_Saccharimonas, Psychrobacter, and Enterorhabdus, which promoted the proper functioning of the intestines. These findings suggest that CPE effectively ameliorates Cy-induced intestinal damage by enhancing the intestinal barrier, improving immune function, and restoring intestinal microbiota.

Robotic fruit harvesting has great potential to revolutionize agriculture, but detecting cherry tomatoes in farming environments still faces challenges in accuracy and efficiency. To overcome the shortcomings of existing cherry tomato detection methods for harvesting, this study introduces a deep-learning-based cherry tomato detection scheme for robotic harvesting in greenhouses using multimodal RGB-D perception and an improved YOLOv7-tiny Cherry Tomato Detection (YOLOv7-tiny-CTD) network, which has been modified from the original YOLOv7-tiny by eliminating the “Objectness” output layer, introducing a new “Classness” method for the prediction box, and incorporating a new hybrid non-maximum suppression. Acquired RGB-D images undergo preprocessing such as color space transformation, point cloud normal vector angle computation, and multimodal regions of interest segmentation before being fed into the YOLOv7-tiny-CTD. The proposed method was tested using an AGV-based robot in a greenhouse cherry tomato farming facility. The results indicate that the multimodal perception and deep learning method improves detection precision and accuracy over existing methods while running in real time, and the robot achieved over 80% successful picking rates in two-trial mode in the greenhouse farm, showing promising potential for practical harvesting applications.

Abstract The efficiency of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution is currently limited by poor light adsorption, rapid recombination of photogenerated carriers, and ineffective surface reaction rate. Although heterojunctions with innovative morphologies and structures can strengthen built‐in electric fields and maximize the separation of photogenerated charges. However, how to rational design of novel multidimensional structures to simultaneously improve the above three bottleneck problems is still a research imperative. Herein, a unique Cu2O─S@graphene oxide (GO)@Zn0.67Cd0.33S Three dimensional (3D) hollow heterostructure is designed and synthesized, which greatly extends the carrier lifetime and effectively promotes the separation of photogenerated charges. The H2 production rate reached 48.5 mmol g−1 h−1 under visible light after loading Ni2+ on the heterojunction surface, which is 97 times higher than that of pure Zn0.67Cd0.33S nanospheres. Furthermore, the H2 production rate can reach 77.3 mmol g−1 h−1 without cooling, verifying the effectiveness of the photothermal effect. Meanwhile, in situ characterization and density flooding theory calculations reveal the efficient charge transfer at the p‐n 3D hollow heterojunction interface. This study not only reveals the detailed mechanism of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution in depth but also rationalizes the construction of superior 3D hollow heterojunctions, thus providing a universal strategy for the materials‐by‐design of high‐performance heterojunctions.

Abstract Background Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is known to be associated with chronic low-grade inflammation and endometrial dysfunction. Chronic endometritis (CE) is a type of local inflammation that can contribute to endometrial dysfunction in infertile women. Some clinicians recommend screening for CE in women at high risk, such as those with endometrial polyps. However, it is still uncertain whether there is a relationship between PCOS and CE, as well as whether women with PCOS require enhanced screening for CE. This study was to assess the incidence of CE among infertile women with PCOS by hysteroscopy combined with histopathology CD138 immunohistochemical staining of endometrium. Methods A total of 205 patients in the PCOS group and 4021 patients in the non-PCOS group from July 2017 to August 2022 were included in this retrospective study. After nearest-neighbor 1:4 propensity score matching (PSM), 189 PCOS patients were matched with 697 non-PCOS patients. Basic information was recorded. The CE incidence was compared. The risk factors affecting CE incidence were also analyzed. Results No significantly higher CE incidence in infertile women with PCOS were found either in total analysis or after PSM (P = 0.969; P = 0.697; respectively). Similar results were discovered in the subgroup of Body Mass Index (BMI) (P = 0.301; P = 0.671; P = 0.427; respectively) as well as the four PCOS phenotypes (P = 0.157). Intriguingly, the incidence of CE increased as BMI increased in the PCOS group, even though no significant differences were found (P = 0.263). Multivariate logistic regression showed that age, infertility duration, infertility type, PCOS, and obesity were not the independent risk factors affecting CE incidence. Conclusion The incidence of CE in PCOS patients did not significantly increase compared to non-PCOS patients. Similarly, no significant differences in the incidence of CE were observed among different PCOS phenotypes. The current evidence does not substantiate the need for widespread CE screening among PCOS women, potentially mitigating the undue financial and emotional strain associated with such screenings.

Abstract Inhibition of T cell infiltration dampens antitumor immunity and causes resistance to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. By in vivo CRISPR screening in B16F10 melanoma in female mice, here we report that loss of melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) in melanoma cells activates antitumor T cell response and overcomes resistance to ICB. Depletion of MC1R from another melanocytic melanoma model HCmel1274 also enhances ICB efficacy. By activating the GNAS-PKA axis, MC1R inhibits interferon-gamma induced CXCL9/10/11 transcription, thus impairing T cell infiltration into the tumor microenvironment. In human melanomas, high MC1R expression correlates with reduced CXCL9/10/11 expression, impaired T cell infiltration, and poor patient prognosis. Whereas MC1R activation is restricted to melanoma, GNAS activation by hotspot mutations is observed across diverse cancer types and is associated with reduced CXCL9/10/11 expression. Our study implicates MC1R as a melanoma immunotherapy target and suggests GNAS-PKA signaling as a pan-cancer oncogenic pathway inhibiting antitumor T cell response.

Our preliminary study identified dairy cow placenta extract (CPE) as a mixture of peptides with potent antioxidant activity both in vivo and in vitro. However, the specific antioxidant peptides (AOPs) responsible for this activity were not yet identified. In the current study, we employed virtual screening and chromatography techniques to isolate two peptides, ANNGKQWAEVF (CP1) and QPGLPGPAG (CP2), from CPE. These peptides were found to be less stable under extreme conditions such as high temperature, strong acid, strong alkali, and simulated digestive conditions. Nevertheless, under normal physiological conditions, both CP1 and CP2 exhibited significant antioxidant properties, including free-radical scavenging, metal chelating, and the inhibition of lipid peroxidation. They also up-regulated the activities of intracellular antioxidant enzymes in response to hydrogen-peroxide-induced oxidative stress, resulting in reduced MDA levels, a decreased expression of the Keap1 gene and protein, and increased levels of the Nrf2 and HO-1 genes and proteins. Furthermore, CP1 demonstrated superior antioxidant activity compared to CP2. These findings suggest that CP1 and CP2 hold potential for mitigating oxidative stress in vitro and highlight the efficacy of virtual screening as a method for isolating AOPs within CPE.

With the development of lightweight aerospace structures, the use of the high-quality and efficient laser welding of near-α titanium alloys has received widespread attention and favor thanks to its superior comprehensive performance. The welding experiment of 3 mm thick TA15 titanium alloy was carried out by YAG laser welding, and the material weldability, microstructure, microhardness, and mechanical properties of welded joints were systematically studied. The results indicated that laser welding of TA15 titanium alloy can produce well-formed welded joints without defects such as cracks and porosity. The welded metal used was a typical basket-weave microstructure composed of a large number of α′ martensitic phases and a small number of high-temperature residual β phases, and the heat-affected zone was a staggered arrangement of undissolved α phase and needle-like α′ martensite. The microhardness of the welded joint showed a hump distribution, and the hardness of WM fluctuated between 410 and 450 HV since the martensitic transformation occurred during the solidification of the weld under thermal cycling, and the β phase changed to the needle-like α′ phase. The tensile test indicated that the fracture position was located in the base metal area, and the fracture morphology showed the equiaxial dimple morphology of different sizes in a ductile fracture mode. The welded metal had the lowest impact performance (average value of 5.3 J) because the weld area was predominantly coarse α′ martensite. This experiment conducted systematic, in-depth, and extensive research on welding processes, hardness, tensile, impact, and fracture mechanisms. Based on the special product applications in the aerospace field, it was more targeted and conducive to promoting the application of the welding process in this material.

Abstract We propose that the double barrier effect is expected to enhance the tunneling electroresistance (TER) in the ferroelectric tunnel junctions (FTJs). To demonstrate the feasibility of this mechanism, we design a model structure of Pt/BaTiO3/LaAlO3/Pt/BaTiO3/LaAlO3/Pt double barrier ferroelectric tunnel junction (DB-FTJ), which can be considered as two identical Pt/BaTiO3/LaAlO3/Pt single barrier ferroelectric tunnel junctions (SB-FTJs) connected in series. Based on density functional calculation, we obtain the giant TER ratio of 2.210 × 108% in the DB-FTJ, which is at least three orders of magnitude larger than that of the SB-FTJs of Pt/BaTiO3/LaAlO3/Pt, together with an ultra-low resistance area product (0.093 KΩμm2) in the high conductance state of the DB-FTJ. Moreover, it is possible to control the direction of polarization of the two single ferroelectric barriers separately and thus four resistance states can be achieved, making DB-FTJs promising as multi-state memory devices.

Abstract Background Malnutrition is associated with a high risk of mortality in adults with ischemic stroke (IS). This study aimed to investigate the relationship between malnutrition and the risk of stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) as only a few studies examined the relationship between malnutrition and the risk of SAP in IS. Methods Patients were included from emergency departments of five tertiary hospitals in the REtrospective Multicenter study for Ischemic Stroke Evaluation (REMISE) study from January 2020 to December 2020. Malnutrition was defined according to the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT), Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI), and Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) systems. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to explore the association between malnutrition and risk of SAP. Results We enrolled 915 patients with IS, 193 (14.75%), 495 (54.1%), and 148 (16.2%) of whom were malnourished according to the PNI, CONUT, and GNRI scores, respectively. SAP occurred in 294 (32.1%) patients. After adjusting for confounding influencing factors in the logistic regression analysis, malnutrition (moderate and severe risk vs. absent malnutrition) was independently associated with an increased risk of SAP based on the PNI (odds ratio [OR], 5.038; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.435–10.421, P

Abstract The aim is to reconstruct a complete and detailed clothed human from a single‐view input. Implicit function is suitable for this task because it represents fine shape details and varied topology. Current methods, however, often suffer from artefacts such as broken or disembodied body parts, missing details, or depth ambiguity due to the ambiguity and complexity of human articulation. The main issue observed by the authors is structure‐agnostic. To address these problems, the authors fully utilise the skinned multi‐person linear (SMPL) model and propose a method using the Skeleton‐aware Implicit Function (SIF). To alleviate the broken or disembodied body parts, the proposed skeleton‐aware structure prior makes the skeleton awareness into an implicit function, which consists of a bone‐guided sampling strategy and a skeleton‐relative encoding strategy. To deal with the missing details and depth ambiguity problems, the authors’ body‐guided pixel‐aligned feature exploits the SMPL to enhance 2D normal and depth semantic features, and the proposed feature aggregation uses the extra geometry‐aware prior to enabling a more plausible merging with less noisy geometry. Additionally, SIF is also adapted to the RGB‐D input, and experimental results show that SIF outperforms the state‐of‐the‐arts methods on challenging datasets from Twindom and Thuman3.0.

Propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerin (VG) are the most common solvents used in electronic cigarette liquids. No long-term inhalation toxicity assessments have been performed combining conventional and multi-omics approaches on the potential respiratory effects of the solvents in vivo. In this study, the systemic toxicity of aerosol generated from a ceramic heating coil-based e-cigarette was evaluated. First, the aerosol properties were characterized, including carbonyl emissions, the particle size distribution, and aerosol temperatures. To determine toxicological effects, rats were exposed, through their nose only, to filtered air or a propylene glycol (PG)/ glycerin (VG) (50:50, %W/W) aerosol mixture at the target concentration of 3 mg/L for six hours daily over a continuous 28-day period. Compared with the air group, female rats in the PG/VG group exhibited significantly lower body weights during both the exposure period and recovery period, and this was linked to a reduced food intake. Male rats in the PG/VG group also experienced a significant decline in body weight during the exposure period. Importantly, rats exposed to the PG/VG aerosol showed only minimal biological effects compared to those with only air exposure, with no signs of toxicity. Moreover, the transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic analyses of the rat lung tissues following aerosol exposure revealed a series of candidate pathways linking aerosol inhalation to altered lung functions, especially the inflammatory response and disease. Dysregulated pathways of arachidonic acids, the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, and the hematopoietic cell lineage were revealed through integrated multi-omics analysis. Therefore, our integrated multi-omics approach offers novel systemic insights and early evidence of environmental-related health hazards associated with an e-cigarette aerosol using two carrier solvents in a rat model.

In this work, a combination of in-situ high synchrotron X-ray diffraction and electron backscattered diffraction were used to systematically investigate the activation and evolution of the deformation mechanisms in an as-cast Fe42Mn28Co10Cr15Si5 metastable high entropy alloy deformed until fracture at room temperature. This work unveils the critical role of the dual-phase γ-f.c.c. / ε-h.c.p. microstructure on the deformation response of the alloy. The different deformation modes, i.e., slip, transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) and transformation induced twinning (TWIP), were seen to initiate at different loading stresses and then to overlap. Quantitative microstructural characterization, which included the evolution of the phase fraction, stress partitioning, dislocation density, c/a ratio and lattice strain for different planes, was performed to elucidate the role of each phase on the macroscopic mechanical response of the metastable high entropy alloy. Furthermore, the magnitude of the different strengthening contributions has been quantified for the first time.

Abstract Female fecundity declines in a nonlinear manner with age during the reproductive years, even as ovulatory cycles continue, which reduces female fertility, disrupts metabolic homeostasis, and eventually induces various chronic diseases. Despite this, the aging‐related cellular and molecular changes in human ovaries that occur during these reproductive years have not been elucidated. Here, single‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐seq) of human ovaries is performed from different childbearing ages and reveals that the activation of the pyroptosis pathway increased with age, mainly in macrophages. The enrichment of pyroptotic macrophages leads to a switch from a tissue‐resident macrophage (TRM)‐involve immunoregulatory microenvironment in young ovaries to a pyroptotic monocyte‐derived macrophage (MDM)‐involved proinflammatory microenvironment in middle‐aged ovaries. This remolded ovarian immuno‐microenvironment further promotes stromal cell senescence and accelerated reproductive decline. This hypothesis is validated in a series of cell and animal experiments using GSDMD‐KO mice. In conclusion, the work expands the current understanding of the ovarian aging process by illustrating a pyroptotic macrophage‐involved immune mechanism, which has important implications for the development of novel strategies to delay senescence and promote reproductive health.

BackgroundThe association between body weight perception and intuitive eating among undergraduate students in China remains insufficiently understood. In the present study, we were aimed to examine the correlation between body weight perception, body image, and intuitive eating and determine whether the link between body weight perception and intuitive eating was influenced by body image.MethodsA total of 1,050 undergraduate students completed the survey. Participants provided self-reported demographic details and completed two structured scales. The Body Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults (BESAA) and the Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2) were employed to assess body image and intuitive eating. Analysis of the mediation model was conducted using version 4.1 of the PROCESS Macro. Results with a value of p less than 0.05 were deemed statistically significant.ResultsThe average age of the participants was 20.08 years (SD = 1.64). Among the students, 837 (79.7%) were female, and 212 (20.3%) were male. Body image (r = −0.429, p

BackgroundDeath education has been confirmed to be an effective method to enhance nursing students’ attitudes and coping abilities toward death. However, integrated Narrative Pedagogy into the death education to explore educational effectiveness is still limited. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of a death education based on Narrative Pedagogy in a palliative care course on the attitude toward death, coping with death, and attitude toward caring for the dying among undergraduate nursing students in China.MethodsThe study was designed as a pre-post intervention study with a quasi-experimental design. All the participants received 6 class hours of death education which was designed in a palliative care course. The death education includes preparation, presentation, discussion, reflection, and practice of the narrative materials. Death Attitude Profile-Revised (DAP-R), Coping with Death Scale (CDS), and Frommelt Attitude Toward Care of the Dying-Form B (FATCOD-Form B) were used to measure outcomes.ResultsSixty undergraduate nursing students who consented. There were statistically significant increases in the mean score of neutral acceptance and approach acceptance in the DAP-R, CDS, and FATCOD-Form B before and after the intervention.ConclusionThis death education integrated Narrative Pedagogy which indicated to improve attitude toward death, competence to cope with death, and attitude toward the care of dying patients. The findings assist teachers in understanding the importance and urgency of death education, as well as providing a favorable approach to death education. However, the long-term effectiveness still needs to study in further.

Immobilized microbial technology is a sustainable solution to reduce water pollution. Understanding the microorganisms in immobilized biochar is critical for the removal of contaminants in water. Biochar as a carrier of microorganisms, there are some problems need to be focused on, microporous structure blockage limiting the contact between microorganisms and pollutants for further degradation, unstable microbial loading, and low cycle times. To solve these problems, Alcaligenes faecalis was immobilized with rice hull biochar to study its adsorption and degradation characteristics of phenol. It was found that A. faecalis JH1 could effectively remove 300 mg/L of phenol within 24 h. The adsorption capacity of rice husk biochar for phenol increased with the increasing pyrolysis temperature (700 > 500>300°C). The immobilized biomass of JH1 from 700°C rice husk biochar reached 249.45 nmol P/g at 24 h of fixation reaction. It was found that the phenol removal rate of JH1 immobilized at all temperature biochar reached 300 mg/L within 12 h after the sixth cycle. As the number of cycles increased, bacteria grew and adhered to the biochar, forming a thick viscous biofilm and accelerating the removal of phenol. The results showed that A. faecalis could firmly adhere to rice hull biochar and degrade phenol effectively, with good durability and cyclicity.

Over-consumption of limited fossil fuels has caused serious environmental pollution and a global energy crisis, threatening human life and biodiversity. As an ideal, environmentally friendly renewable energy, hydrogen can satisfy human clean energy requirements. Therefore, whether hydrogen can be catalytically generated in the wastewater treatment process is a highly meaningful investigation. Herein, Bi2Te3/Te/C heterojunction nanowires with high specific surface area and rich pore structure were successfully synthesized. The efficient catalytic degradation process is accompanied by the generation of hydrogen. The catalytic degradation of methylene blue and methyl orange was achieved in less than 20 s and 150 s, respectively. Meanwhile, in scaled-up degradation/hydrogen production experiments, fast and efficient H2 production from NaBH4 can be realized in the presence of Bi2Te3/Te/C nanowires. The mechanism of efficient synergistic organic dye degradation and hydrogen production is due to the efficient carrier transfers and accumulation at the hetero-interface. In contrast to previous work, rapid degradation of organic dyes and hydrogen production by decomposition of NaBH4 were achieved without the help of high-cost catalysts such as precious metals. This work could provide an alternative pathway for the future degradation of organic matter in synergistic heterogeneous catalytic wastewater and recovery of by-products including hydrogen.

In the present study, the performance of a creative poly-generation plant generating electricity and freshwater was energetically, exegetically, economically, and environmentally analyzed. The system consists of a gas turbine as the prime mover and Kalina and humidification-dehumidification desalination units for waste heat recovery purposes. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to evaluate the influence of design parameters variation on the proposed system performance. The construction feasibility of the proposed system was assessed by utilizing Net Present Value and the payback period. According to the obtained data from the base simulation conditions, the total gained output ratio, exergetic efficiency, the total cost of products, Levelized total emission, and freshwater production capacity were obtained 0.9574, 43.05%, 20.22$/GJ, 63679kg/kW, and 10.77kg/s. The combustion chamber has the highest exergy destruction rate by 16382kW. Moreover, the sensitivity analysis revealed that an increase in the combustion temperature reduces pollutant emission and enhances the power generation rate and exergy efficiency. Regarding 2.5$/GJ and 0.085$/kWh as the fuel cost and electricity price, a total profit of 18.93$M at the end of economic book life can be obtained, with a payback time of 6.39years, demonstrating the feasibility of the plant for establishment.

The Al butt-lap joints are widely applied in China Railway High-speed (CRH) trains body joints. However, the gaps caused by the thermal deformation in Al butt-lap joints lead to the lack penetration or over penetration. To predict the penetration state of laser welds in Al butt-lap joints with different gaps, this work investigated the correlation between the plasma plume morphology and penetration state monitored by high-speed imaging system and the vertical gap and horizontal gap were utilized as intermediary. The ensemble experience mode decomposition (EEMD) was used to obtain the frequency features of plasma plume morphology. A support vector machine (SVM) model combined with EEMD was then established to classify the different penetration state, which adopted the original signals at time-domain and the mode decomposition signals at frequency-domain as input. The EEMD-SVM accuracy of 97.98% was the highest among the EMD-SVM of 86.44% and the SVM of 58.15%. The EEMD-SVM obtained both high Accuracy and Recall when the quantity of positive and negative samples were utmost different. The classification of the EEMD-SVM model was the most superior among the EMD-SVM model and SVM model. This proposed method provided a novel and accurate approach to perform process monitoring and penetration defects detection during laser welding of butt-lap joints.

Global energy crisis and climate change have caused widespread concern about the development of the biomass energy industry. China has committed to exploring feasible policies to promote the development of the biomass energy industry. To analyze the impact of China’s energy tax subsidy policy (ETS) on the development of densified biomass fuel (DBF) industry, this study constructs a partial equilibrium model of the densified biomass fuel industry sector to quantitatively evaluate and optimize the effect of China’s current ETS policy based on the compilation of input–output table for the biomass energy industry sector in China. The results indicate that 1) under the current policy scenario, the price of DBF in China decreased by 15.05%, the supply increased by 40.75%, and the demand increased by 18.62%, while the price of raw biomass (RB) decreased by 14.75%, the supply increased by 42.44%, and the demand increased by 29.41%, and the revenue of enterprises increased by 20.42%. However, compared to China’s 13th Five-Year Plan national DBF development target, there is still a supply and demand gap of 16,560,549 tons. 2) under the optimized policy scenario premised on accomplishing the Chinese government’s DBF development goals, the price of DBF in China decreased by 6.9%, supply increased by 128.5%, and demand increased by 44.5%, while the price of raw biomass decreased by 7.84%, supply increased by 133.34%, demand increased by 45.71%, and corporate earnings rose by 112.1% but required the government to pay extremely high tax benefits and financial subsidies for this, which is not feasible in actual economic operation. Therefore, to support the sustainable development of the DBF industry, relevant departments should not only set the mandatory total target but also pursue production quality and market construction.

The assembly of atomically precise clusters into ordered superstructures enables new functional material designs. Here, the authors propose a strategy for linear arrangements of AgCu clusters and explore the consequent transfer and coupling of magnetic spins.

Despite the success of hydraulic fracturing in yielding large production increases from shale gas reservoirs, uncertainties associated with basic transport processes require understanding in order to improve the efficiency and minimize environmental impacts. The hydraulic fracturing process brings in large volumes of water into shale reservoir formations, most of which remains unrecoverable and interferes with shale gas production. The imbibition behavior in shales is commonly observed during the hydraulic fracturing process, and the mechanism greatly influences the hydrocarbon recovery in shale gas reservoirs. In this review, the imbibition models in shales are briefly summarized using the Lucas–Washburn model, piston repulsion model, capillary bundle model, and scalar model. Then the experimental study and numerical simulation of shale imbibition are discussed. Moreover, the influencing factors of the imbibition behavior in shales are analyzed, such as shale and fluid properties. Finally, the main conclusions and the future research direction prospects of the imbibition behavior in shale gas reservoirs are summarized. An accurate description of the imbibition behavior in shale is crucial for optimizing the hydraulic fracturing design and enhancing shale gas production in the development of shale gas reservoirs. It is proposed that the research on the individual influencing factors of shale percolation and the geological mechanism under coupling should be strengthened and that the research on the experimental aspects of shale powder percolation should be emphasized.

BackgroundThe high multimorbidity and lower socioeconomic status (SES) of older adults, can lead to catastrophic health expenditures (CHEs) for older adults’ households. However, whether widowed older adults will bear such a financial burden has yet to be explored. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of multimorbidity patterns and SES on CHE in Chinese widowed older adults.MethodsData was obtained from the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). This is a cross-sectional study. A total of 1,721 widowed participants aged 60 years and older were enrolled in the study. Latent class analysis was performed based on 14 self-reported chronic diseases to identify multimorbidity patterns. The logistic model and Tobit model were used to analyze the influence of multimorbidity patterns and SES on the incidence and intensity of CHE, respectively.ResultsAbout 36.72% of widowed older adults generated CHE. The incidence and intensity of CHE were significantly higher in the cardiovascular class and multisystem class than in the minimal disease class in multimorbidity patterns (cardiovascular class, multisystem class, and minimal disease class). Among SES-related indicators (education, occupation and household per capita income), respondents with a middle school and above education level were more likely to generate CHE compared to those who were illiterate. Respondents who were in the unemployed group were more likely to generate CHE compared to agricultural workers. In addition, respondents aged 70–79 years old, geographically located in the east, having other medical insurance, or having fewer family members are more likely to generate CHE and have higher CHE intensity.ConclusionWidowed older adults are at high risk for CHE, especially those in the cardiovascular and multisystem disease classes, and those with low SES. Several mainstream health insurances do not provide significant relief. In addition, attention should be paid to the high-risk characteristics associated with CHE. It is necessary to carry out the popularization of chronic disease knowledge, improve the medical insurance system and medical service level, and provide more policy preferences and social support to widowed older adults.

Fast generation of reliable primary radiation damage plays a key role in modeling of long-term defect evolution in materials under irradiation within the multi-scale modeling framework. We have proposed a model, PradG, to fast generate reliable primary radiation damage by sampling limited molecular dynamics databases. First, MD cascade simulations for body-centered-cubic W are systematically carried out with a wide range of discrete cascade energies. Through introducing the spherical symmetry approximation of cascade volume and analyzing cascade configurations, we find that the size distribution shows a piecewise power-law formula, and the radial distribution shows the Gaussian and exponential decay types for interstitial and vacancy clusters, respectively. Second, by using a sampling method based on these fitting size and spatial distribution, regardless of the spatial correlation of interstitial and vacancy clusters, PradG is developed for generating primary defects of arbitrary cascade energies. Third, the reliability and validation of PradG are verified by comparing with cascade annealing simulations and defect evolution in fission neutron irradiated W. It provides a reliable damage source term for multi-scale modeling of long-term defect evolution with a certain PKA energy spectrum.

With increasing concerns for energy conservation and environmental protection, research on glazed hollow bead thermal insulation mortar is of utmost importance. This type of mortar offers superior thermal insulation, leading to reduced energy consumption and emissions, in line with the current green building trends. This article aims to investigate the impact of varying component proportions on the parameters of thermal insulation mortar through an orthogonal experiment with four factors and three levels: glazed hollow bead, sepiolite, air-entraining agent, and cellulose ether. Additionally, a single-factor experiment is conducted to analyze the influence degree of water-solid ratio and these four factors. The experimental results are then verified through SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) observation. The research findings indicate that glazed hollow beads have the most significant impact on thermal conductivity and compressive strength, while the air-entraining agent exerts the greatest influence on flexural strength. Specifically, when the content of glazed hollow bead is 2%, sepiolite 1%, air-entraining agent 0.6%, and cellulose ether 0.6%, the thermal conductivity can reach a minimum value of 0.0533W/(m·K). On the other hand, when the content of glazed hollow bead is 1%, sepiolite 2%, air-entraining agent 0.4%, and cellulose ether 0.6%, the compressive strength can achieve a maximum value of 2.4 MPa. These findings provide a solid foundation for further exploration into improving the performance of thermal insulation mortar.

Lightweight porous concrete blocks have become one of the preferred energy-saving envelope materials for modern buildings due to their good thermal insulation performance. This paper reviews the extensive literature on different theoretical models for the effective thermal conductivity of porous concrete blocks. The advantages and limitations of different models, including the pore structure, fractal theory, and thermal conductivity models, are summarized. The applicability and challenges of each lightweight porous concrete model are discussed in detail. It can be concluded that more research on lightweight porous concrete blocks is necessary to improve the theoretical thermal conductivity model by incorporating parameters related to indoor thermal and humid environments.

In a SAR image acquired by the ERS-2 satellite, crossed “X-shape” internal solitary waves (ISWs) south to Dongsha Island are found to be a wave–wave interaction composed of five solitons: two head waves, two tail waves, and the overlapped part. To explain this remote sensing phenomenon, based on a high-resolution three-dimensional MIT general circulation model (MITgcm) using realistic topography and tidal forcing, the “X-shape” internal waves are reproduced at the same location. The development processes of the waves indicate that the “X-shape” ISWs are two waves diffracted from one internal wave southeast to Dongsha Island. During the propagation, the amplitude of their overlapped part of the “X-shape” ISWs becomes significantly larger than the sum of the amplitudes of both head waves, which proves that nonlinear wave–wave interaction has occurred. Based on wave–wave interaction theory, the theoretical maximum value of the amplitude of the overlapped part at the initial moment is calculated as 14.12 m, which is in good agreement with the model results of 14 m. Meanwhile, the variation of the theoretical amplitude of the overlapped part is basically consistent with that of the modeled one, confirming the occurrence of the wave–wave interaction. Besides, when the waves propagate over varying water depths, the type of the wave–wave interaction can change rather than being fixed from the start.

Abstract Background Effective treatment is needed for advanced, inoperable, or chemotherapy-resistant cervical cancer patients. Immunotherapy has become a new treatment modality for cervical cancer patients, and there is an urgent need to identify additional targets for cervical cancer immunotherapy. Methods In this study the core gene, RGS1, which affects immune status and the FIGO stage of cervical cancer patients was identified by WGCNA analysis and differential analysis using TCGA database. 10 related genes interacting with RGS1 were identified using PPI network, and the functional and immune correlations were analyzed. Based on the expression of RGS1 and related genes, the consensus clustering method was used to divide CESC patients into two groups (group 1, high expression of RGS1; group 2, low expression of RGS1). Then, the functional enrichment analysis was used to search for the functional differences in differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between group 1 and group 2. Immune infiltration analysis was performed using ESTIMATE, CIBERSORT, and ssGSEA, and the differences in expression of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targets were assessed between the two groups. We investigated the effect of RGS1 on the clinical relevance of CESC patients, and experimentally verified the differences in RGS1 expression between cervical cancer patient tissues and normal cervical tissues, the role of RGS1 in cell function, and the effect on tumor growth in tumor-bearing mice. Results We found that RGS1 was associated with CD4, GNAI3, RGS2, GNAO1, GNAI2, RGS20, GNAZ, GNAI1, HLA-DRA and HLA-DRB1, especially CD4 and RGS2. Functional enrichment of DEGs was associated with T cell activation. Compared with group 2, group 1 had stronger immune infiltration and higher ICI target expression. RGS1 had higher expression in cervical cancer tissues than normal tissues, especially in HPV-E6 positive cancer tissues. In cervical cancer cell lines, knockdown of RGS1 can inhibited cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and tumor growth in nude mice and promoted apoptosis. Conclusions RGS1, as an oncogenic gene of cervical cancer, affects the immune microenvironment of patients with cervical cancer and may be a target of immunotherapy.

The properties of cg-N with point defects and an interface are investigated based on the first-principles method. Our results show that at 0 GPa, the stability of cavities depends on their size. A smaller cavity has higher stability than the larger case. The decomposition of N2 molecules mainly occurs on the (110) surface of the cavity. However, the decomposition process will be suppressed by applying high-pressure. For the interface constructed by (110) surfaces, N2 molecules will be released at low pressure, and polymerization of N2 molecules with surfaces is triggered by loading pressures of 80–100 Gpa, giving rise to a stable polymerized interface, which is also stable after decreasing the pressure to 0 GPa. The results indicate that the existence of polymeric nitrogen networks can enhance the polymerization of N2 molecules at low-temperature.

Gastric cancer is a malignant epithelial neoplasm of the stomach, including adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, adenosquamous carcinoma, undifferentiated carcinoma, gastroblastoma and neuroendocrine neoplasms, without gastric metaplastic carcinoma. We describe a 69-year-old male patient with gastric cancer who presented with a novel, biphasic histologic morphology with one component consisting of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma and the other component consisting of chondromyxoid matrix with adenocarcinoma transition to, between the two components without a spindle cell component. The histological morphology of this case is similar to matrix-producing metaplastic breast carcinoma. Therefore, we diagnose this case as gastric carcinoma with chondromyxoid matrix similar matrix-producing metaplastic breast carcinoma.

The Surprise Question is an effective tool to identify patients in need of palliative care. But it is unknown whether the Surprise Question can effectively predict adverse outcomes in Emergency patients. Therefor this study is to determine the utility of the modified Surprise Question for risk stratification in emergency patients. And assessed if the modified Surprise Question could be used by different healthcare personnel. Nurses and patients’ families were asked to respond as “Yes” or “No” to the modified Surprise Question for each patient. The outcome was resuscitation unit admission. Logistic regression was used to determine covariant significantly associated with resuscitation unit admission. The area under the curve for the second Surprise Question response by nurses was 0.620, which improved to 0.704 when the responses of nurses and patients’ families were in agreement. The clinical impression of nurses is a valuable tool to predict altered conditions for medium-acuity patients, and the diagnostic accuracy improves when responses of patients’ families and nurses agreed. The clinical impression of nurses is a valuable tool to predict altered conditions for medium-acuity patients, and the diagnostic accuracy improves when responses of patients’ families and nurses agreed.