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This paper introduces a path-following control method for autonomous ground vehicle with significant input delays. First, a vehicle path-following model including input delay is developed. Then, a robust predictive controller design is developed, in which a delay estimator as well as a state predictor is adopted so that control law design as well as controller gain calculation can be conducted without considering the input delay. Thus, the controller synthesis work can be greatly simplified. Finally, comparative co-simulation tests with Matlab/Simulink and Carsim are presented to verify the efficiency as well as the performance of the proposed path-following control approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the significance of combined detection of Septin9 and syndecan-2 (SDC2) methylation markers and serum tumor markers for the early diagnosis of colorectal cancer. Methods: A total of 116 patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer between December 2022 and February 2024 were designated as the colorectal cancer group. Additionally, 31 patients with colorectal adenoma were assigned to the adenoma group, while 44 individuals undergoing routine physical examinations were included in the control group. Concentrations of Septin9, SDC2, fecal occult blood (FOB), and four tumor markers—carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen 199 (CA199), carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125), and carbohydrate antigen 724 (CA724)—were measured. Diagnostic performance was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for Septin9, SDC2, the four tumor markers, FOB, the combination of Septin9 and SDC2, and the combined use of all seven indicators (CEA, CA19-9, CA125, CA72-4, FOB, Septin9, and SDC2). Results: The colorectal cancer group exhibited the highest positive rates for Septin9, SDC2, the four tumor markers, the combined detection of Septin9 and SDC2, and the combined detection of all seven indicators, compared to both the adenoma and control groups (P < 0.05). The adenoma group also showed higher positive rates than the control group (P < 0.05). For patients with stage I–III colorectal cancer, the positive rates for the combined detection of Septin9 and SDC2 were 81.3%, 78.9%, and 90.2%, respectively, surpassing those for the combined detection of the four tumor markers (43.8%, 55.3%, and 61.0%). Additionally, the positive rates for the two-gene combination in stage III colorectal cancer were higher than those for FOB (P < 0.05). The sensitivity and area under the curve (AUC) for SDC2 were 73.3% and 0.855, respectively, exceeding the sensitivity and AUC for the combined four tumor markers, which were 60.3% and 0.734 (P < 0.05). The combined detection of the two methylated genes demonstrated a sensitivity of 86.2% and an AUC of 0.908, outperforming both FOB and the combined detection of the four tumor markers (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The detection of SDC2 exhibits high sensitivity for colorectal cancer, and when combined with Septin9, it significantly enhances the diagnostic accuracy for early-stage colorectal cancer, offering substantial clinical value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impinging-jet injectors, liquid–liquid coaxial swirl injectors, and liquid–liquid pintle injectors are representative liquid–liquid injectors in liquid rocket engines (LRE). For these liquid–liquid injectors, the atomization processes all involve the liquid impingement, including jet–jet, sheet–sheet, and jets/sheet–sheet impingement, respectively. After impingement, a liquid sheet forms and fragments. Based on these similarities, reviewing published literature on the spray characteristics of these three liquid–liquid injectors in LRE is necessary and will facilitate the investigation of spray characteristics of liquid–liquid pintle injectors to meet the progress of variable-thrust LRE. This review covers the following aspects of these injectors: basic spray morphology, liquid sheet characteristics and disintegration mechanisms, and atomization characteristics. For impinging-jet injectors, rim instability and impact wave play crucial roles in spray morphology and disintegration. Jet Weber number is of great importance for liquid sheet breakup length and mean droplet diameter. In the case of liquid–liquid coaxial swirl injectors, the overall spray morphology is similar to that of pressure swirl injectors, but it may feature two separate liquid sheets. The recess length strongly influences spray morphology, spray angle, breakup length, and Sauter mean diameter. Liquid–liquid pintle injectors can be simplified to injection element, in which the spray morphology resembles a cloak-like shape. In a complete pintle injector, the spray forms a conical liquid sheet. Momentum ratio proves to be the most significant parameter for predicting spray angle. Although the review indicates substantial progress has been made in understanding spray characteristics of liquid–liquid injectors, there remain several shortcomings that require further research, particularly for pintle injectors, which can be learned from the other two injectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cocaine is one of the most abused illicit drugs, and its abuse damages the central nervous system and can even lead directly to death. Therefore, the development of simple, rapid and highly sensitive detection methods is crucial for the prevention and control of drug abuse, traffic accidents and crime. In this work, an electrochemical aptamer-based (EAB) sensor based on the low-temperature enhancement effect was developed for the direct determination of cocaine in bio-samples. The signal gain of the sensor at 10 °C was greatly improved compared to room temperature, owing to the improved affinity between the aptamer and the target. Additionally, the electroactive area of the gold electrode used to fabricate the EAB sensor was increased 20 times by a simple electrochemical roughening method. The porous electrode possesses more efficient electron transfer and better antifouling properties after roughening. These improvements enabled the sensor to achieve rapid detection of cocaine in complex bio-samples. The low detection limits (LOD) of cocaine in undiluted urine, 50% serum and 50% saliva were 70 nM, 30 nM and 10 nM, respectively, which are below the concentration threshold in drugged driving screening. The aptasensor was simple to construct and reusable, which offers potential for drugged driving screening in the real world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper comprehensively reviews hardware acceleration techniques and the deployment of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for analyzing electroencephalogram (EEG) signals across various application areas, including emotion classification, motor imagery, epilepsy detection, and sleep monitoring. Previous reviews on EEG have mainly focused on software solutions. However, these reviews often overlook key challenges associated with hardware implementation, such as scenarios that require a small size, low power, high security, and high accuracy. This paper discusses the challenges and opportunities of hardware acceleration for wearable EEG devices by focusing on these aspects. Specifically, this review classifies EEG signal features into five groups and discusses hardware implementation solutions for each category in detail, providing insights into the most suitable hardware acceleration strategies for various application scenarios. In addition, it explores the complexity of efficient CNN architectures for EEG signals, including techniques such as pruning, quantization, tensor decomposition, knowledge distillation, and neural architecture search. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first systematic review that combines CNN hardware solutions with EEG signal processing. By providing a comprehensive analysis of current challenges and a roadmap for future research, this paper provides a new perspective on the ongoing development of hardware-accelerated EEG systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interviewer ratings of respondents' physical appearance have been collected in several major social surveys. While researchers have made good use of such ratings data in substantive studies, empirical evidence on their measurement properties is rather limited. This study evaluates two potential threats to the quality of interviewer ratings of physical appearance: interviewer effects and halo effects. Using data from the China Family Panel Studies, we show large interviewer effects on interviewer ratings of respondents' physical appearance based on cross-classified models. We also provide possible evidence for halo effects based on high correlations between physical appearance ratings and other theoretically distinct constructs, after controlling for interviewer effects. However, we find support for convergent and discriminant validity of physical appearance ratings when both interviewer effects and halo effects are controlled for. Empirical studies using interviewer observation data should take into account interviewer effects and halo effects when possible or at least discuss their potential impact on the substantive findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Unintentional injuries is the leading cause of death in children aged 6–18 in China. Previous studies on the association between the guardians' educational levels and unintentional injuries in children have been inconclusive, and it remains unclear among the Chinese population. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the association between guardians' educational levels and unintentional injuries in children aged 6–18 in Shenzhen, China. Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 9,903 children aged 6–18 in Shenzhen in 2020 using a multistage cluster sampling method. Information on the children and guardians were collected, and unintentional injuries in the past year was examined by using two nested questions. Logistic regression analyses were used to test the association between the guardians' educational levels and unintentional injuries in children aged 6–18, and the crude odds ratios (ORs) and adjusted ORs with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated. Results: 275 of the 9,903 children reported experiencing at least one unintentional injuries in the past year, and the weighted incidence of unintentional injuries was 6.3% (95% CI: 5.8–6.8%) in children aged 6–18 in Shenzhen, China. The incidence of unintentional injuries differed significantly in the guardians' education levels (P < 0.05). After adjustment for the children's variables, multiple binary logistic regression analysis showed that compared to children whose guardians' educational levels were low, children whose guardians' educational levels were high (adjusted OR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.37–0.87) and medium (adjusted OR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.39–0.81) had a lower odds of unintentional injuries. Similar results were also observed when further adjustment for both the children's and guardians' variables. Conclusion: The overall incidence of unintentional injuries in children aged 6–18 in Shenzhen was low, and it was associated with the guardians' educational levels. Children whose guardians' educational levels were low should be given special concern to prevent unintentional injuries, and it is suggested to reduce the incidence of unintentional injuries in children by improving the guardians' educational levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design and development of new large-capacity and selective materials for extracting rare precious metals via electronic waste is practically essential. In this paper, a new efficient UiO-66-NCS has been obtained as a consequence of the modification of the classical Zr-MOF (UiO-66-NH2), and its ability to recover gold has been investigated. These batch results adequately illustrated that UiO-66-NCS exhibited good adsorption capacity (675.5 mg g−1) and exceptional selectivity. In addition, UiO-66-NCS achieved faster adsorption equilibrium times of about 120 min. Adsorption kinetics and isotherms demonstrated that the pseudo-second-order adsorption scheme and a Langmuir-type procedure were shown by the adsorption of Au(III) on UiO-66-NCS. Characterized by pH effect experiments, TEM, XRD, and XPS, the adsorption of UiO-66-NCS with Au(III) relies on coordination, which further results in reduction, and the generated Au(0) is uniformly dispersed in the MOF. The adsorbent has considerable advantages for cyclic regeneration. Finally, DFT fitting results showed that the adsorption binding energy of UiO-66-NCS with [AuCl4]− was −8.63 kcal mol−1 for the adsorption process. UiO-66-NCS is likely to be an ideal substance for gold recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To elucidate the nonlinear oscillations inherent to dielectric elastomer transducers (DETs), this study delves into the dynamic behaviour exhibited by a one-dimensional asymmetric Duffing oscillator, which may exhibit either hardening or softening stiffness. The investigation utilizes hyperelastic and visco-hyperelastic constitutive models to capture the nonlinear stiffness properties of dielectric elastomers within compliant transducers. The canonical Duffing equation is employed to articulate the oscillator's motion, complemented by both asymptotic and quantitative analyses of unforced vibrations and harmonic excitation. Our results reveal that the distinctive stiffness characteristics observed in DETs arise from the complex interplay among hyperelasticity, rheology and applied electric fields. Contrary to conventional oscillators, Maxwell stress substantially modifies the nonlinear dynamics of DETs, an aspect that has been quantitatively dissected in this study. Furthermore, the influence of additional system parameters on forced oscillation has also been meticulously evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostate cancer, one of the most prevalent malignancies among men worldwide, is intricately linked with androgen signaling, a key driver of its pathogenesis and progression. Understanding the diverse expression patterns of androgen-responsive genes holds paramount importance in unraveling the biological intricacies of this disease and prognosticating patient outcomes. In this study, utilizing consensus clustering analysis based on the expression profiles of androgen-responsive genes, prostate cancer patients from the TCGA database were stratified into two distinct subtypes, denoted as C1 and C2. Notably, the C1 subtype demonstrates a significant upregulation of certain genes, such as CGA and HSD17B12, along with a shorter progression-free survival duration, indicating a potentially unfavorable prognosis. Further analyses elucidated the immune infiltration disparities, mutation landscapes, and gene functional pathways characteristic of each subtype. Through integrated bioinformatics approaches and machine learning techniques, key genes such as BIRC5, CENPA, and MMP11 were identified as potential therapeutic targets, providing novel insights into tailored treatment strategies. Additionally, single-cell transcriptome analysis shed light on the heterogeneous expression patterns of these genes across different cell types within the tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, virtual screening identified candidate drugs targeting the BIRC5 receptor, offering promising avenues for drug development. Collectively, these findings deepen our understanding of prostate cancer biology, paving the way for personalized therapeutic interventions and advancing the quest for more effective treatments in prostate cancer management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sodium para-aminosalicylic acid (PAS-Na) treatment for manganese (Mn) intoxication has shown efficacy in experimental and clinical studies, giving rise to additional studies on its efficacy for lead (Pb) neurotoxicity and its associated mechanisms of neuroprotection. The difference between PAS-Na and other metal complexing agents, such as edetate calcium sodium (CaNa 2 -EDTA), is firstly that PAS-Na can readily pass through the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and complex and facilitate the excretion of manganese and lead. Secondly, PAS-Na has anti-inflammatory effects. Recent studies have broadened the understanding on the mechanisms associated with efficacy of PAS-Na. The latter has been shown to modulate multifarious manganese- and lead- induced neurotoxicity, via its anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as its ability to inhibit pyroptosis, and regulate abnormal autophagic processes. These observations provide novel scientific bases and new concepts for the treatment of lead, mercury, copper, thallium, as well as other toxic encephalopathies, and implicate PAS-Na as a compound with greater prospects for clinical medical application. [Display omitted] • A complete review and contemporary update for the PAS-Na's efficacy. • PAS-Na inhibited Mn- and Pb-induced neurotoxicity. • PAS-Na has confirmed the ability to anti-apoptosis and anti-inflammatory. • PAS-Na could inhibit pyroptosis and regulate abnormal autophagic processes. • PAS-Na involved in Glu/GABA-Gln cycle to modulate neurotransmitter metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We established experimental models of manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe) exposure in vitro and in vivo, and addressed the effects of manganese and iron combined exposure on the synaptic function of pheochromocytoma derived cell line 12 (PC12) cells and rat cortex, respectively. We investigated the protective effect of sodium para‐aminosalicylate (PAS‐Na) on manganese and iron combined neurotoxicity, providing a scientific basis for the prevention and treatment of ferromanganese combined neurotoxicity. Western blot and reverse transcription‐quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR) were performed to detect the expression levels of protein and mRNA related to synaptic damage. Y‐maze novelty test and balance beam test were used to evaluate the motor and cognitive function of rats. Haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Nissl staining were performed to observe the cortical damage of rats. The results showed that the combined exposure of Mn and Fe in rats led to a synergistic effect, attenuating growth and development, and altering learning and memory as well as motor function. The combination of Mn and Fe also caused damage to the synaptic structure of PC12 cells, which is manifested as swelling of dendrites and axon terminals, and even lead to cell death. PAS‐Na displayed some antagonistic effects against the Mn‐ and Fe‐induced synaptic structural damage, growth, learning and memory impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Children and adolescents, after natural and man-made disasters, often exhibit various psychological, emotional, and behavioral issues, showing a range of clinical symptoms related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. This review used a network meta-analysis (NMA) approach to compare and rank psychological interventions for PTSD and depression in children and adolescents after exposure to natural and man-made disasters. Methods: Randomized studies of psychosocial interventions for PTSD and depression in children and adolescents exposed to natural and man-made disasters were identified. PTSD and depression symptoms at postintervention and 1–12 month follow-up are the outcomes. The standardized mean differences (SMDs) between pairs of interventions at postintervention and follow-up were pooled. Mean effect sizes with 95% credible intervals (CI) were calculated, and the ranking probabilities for all interventions were estimated using the surface under the cumulative ranking curve. Study quality was assessed with version 2 of the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2). Results: In total, 26 studies with 4331 participants were included in this NMA. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR) (SMD = − 0.67; 95% CI − 1.17 to − 0.17), exposure therapy (ET) (SMD = − 0.66; 95% CI − 1.11 to − 0.22), and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) (SMD = − 0.62; 95% CI − 0.90 to − 0.34) were significantly more effective for PTSD at postintervention than inactive intervention. EMDR (SMD = − 0.72; 95% CI − 1.11 to − 0.33) and ET (SMD = − 0.62; 95% CI − 0.97 to − 0.27) were associated with a higher reduction in PTSD symptoms at follow-up than inactive intervention. EMDR (SMD = − 0.40; 95% CI − 0.78 to − 0.03) and play therapy (PT) (SMD = − 0.37; 95% CI − 0.62 to − 0.12) were significantly more effective for depression at postintervention than inactive intervention. For all psychological interventions in reducing depression symptoms at follow-up compared with inactive intervention, the differences were not significant. Conclusion: EMDR appears to be most effective in reducing PTSD and depression in children and adolescents exposed to natural and man-made disasters. In addition, ET and CBT are potentially effective in reducing PTSD symptoms at postintervention, while PT is beneficial in managing depression symptoms at the treatment endpoint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dengue fever (DF) and West Nile fever (WNF) have become endemic worldwide in the last two decades. Studies suggest that individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM) are at a higher risk of developing severe complications from these diseases. Identifying the factors associated with a severe clinical presentation is crucial, as prompt treatment is essential to prevent complications and fatalities. This article aims to summarize and assess the published evidence regarding the link between DM and the risk of severe clinical manifestations in cases of DF and WNF. Methodology/Principal findings: A systematic search was conducted using the PubMed and Web of Science databases. 27 studies (19 on DF, 8 on WNF) involving 342,873 laboratory-confirmed patients were included in the analysis. The analysis showed that a diagnosis of DM was associated with an increased risk for severe clinical presentations of both DF (OR 3.39; 95% CI: 2.46, 4.68) and WNF (OR 2.89; 95% CI: 1.89, 4.41). DM also significantly increased the risk of death from both diseases (DF: OR 1.95; 95% CI: 1.09, 3.52; WNF: OR 1.74; 95% CI: 1.40, 2.17). Conclusions/Significance: This study provides strong evidence supporting the association between DM and an increased risk of severe clinical manifestations in cases of DF and WNF. Diabetic individuals in DF or WNF endemic areas should be closely monitored when presenting with febrile symptoms due to their higher susceptibility to severe disease. Early detection and appropriate management strategies are crucial in reducing the morbidity and mortality rates associated with DF and WNF in diabetic patients. Tailored care and targeted public health interventions are needed to address this at-risk population. Further research is required to understand the underlying mechanisms and develop effective preventive and therapeutic approaches. Author summary: In our study, we investigated the association between diabetes mellitus (DM) and the risk of severe clinical manifestations in cases of dengue fever (DF) and West Nile fever (WNF). By analyzing 27 studies involving over 342,000 laboratory-confirmed patients, we found compelling evidence supporting a link between DM and an increased risk of severe complications in both DF and WNF. Moreover, DM was found to significantly raise the risk of mortality from these diseases. Our findings emphasize the importance of early detection and appropriate management strategies for diabetic individuals residing in endemic areas. Healthcare providers should be vigilant in monitoring diabetic patients with febrile symptoms, as they are more susceptible to developing severe disease. Tailored care and targeted interventions are crucial to minimize the morbidity and mortality rates associated with DF and WNF in diabetic individuals. These findings have significant implications for public health, highlighting the need for awareness campaigns and preventive measures aimed at diabetic individuals. Further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms and develop effective strategies for prevention and treatment. By addressing these issues, we can reduce the impact of DF and WNF on individuals with DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's Ecological Protection Red Lines (ERLs) policy has proven effective in constructing regional ecological security patterns and protecting ecological space. However, the existing methods for the identification of high conservation value areas (HCVAs) usually use physical models, whose parameters and processes are complex and only for a single service, affecting the ERL delineation. In this study, the data-driven machine learning (ML) models were innovatively applied to construct a framework for ERL identification. First, the One-Class Support Vector Machine (OC-SVM) was used to generate negative samples from natural reserves and ecological factors. Second, the supervised ML models were applied to predict the HCVAs by using samples. Third, by applying the same ecological factors, the traditional physical models were used to assess the ecological services of the study area for reference and comparison. Take Chengdu–Chongqing Urban Agglomeration (CY) as a case study, wherein data from 11 factors and 1822 nature reserve samples were prepared for feasibility verification of the proposed framework. The results showed that the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of all ML models was more than 97%, and random forest (RF) achieved the best performance at 99.57%. Furthermore, the land cover had great contributions to the HCVAs prediction, which is consistent with the land use pattern of CY. High-value areas are distributed in the surrounding mountains of CY, with lush vegetation. All of the above results indicated that the proposed framework can accurately identify HCVAs, and that it is more suitable and simpler than the traditional physical model. It can help improve the effectiveness of ERL delimitation and promote the implementation of ERL policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate the safety and efficacy of indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence‐guided inguinal lymph node dissection (ILND) in patients with penile cancer. Patients and Methods: A prospective, single‐blind, randomised controlled clinical trial (ChiCTR2100044584) was performed among patients with penile caner who underwent bilateral modified ILND at four centres in China between 1 April 2021 and 30 June 2022. Patients aged 18–80 years and diagnosed with squamous cell carcinomas were included. Each enrolled patient was randomly assigned to either ICG fluorescence‐guided ILND by a laparoscopic or robot‐assisted approach in one groin, with non‐ICG fluorescence‐guided ILND in the other groin acting as a control. The primary outcome was the number of retrieved ILNs. Secondary outcomes included complications according to the Clavien–Dindo classification and the ILN non‐compliance (inadequate removal of ILNs) rate. Results: A total of 45 patients were included in the intention‐to‐treat (ITT) analysis, and the 42 who completed the entire study were included in the per protocol (PP) analysis. There were no ICG‐related complications in any of the patients. The results of the ITT and PP analyses indicated that the total number of unilateral ILNs retrieved was higher on the ICG side than on the non‐ICG side (mean 13 vs 9 ILNs, difference 4 ILNs [95% CI 2.7–4.4], P = 0.007), and the number of unilateral deep and superficial ILNs was higher on the ICG side. Furthermore, the LN non‐compliance rate was lower on the ICG side than on the non‐ICG side. Additionally, there was no significant difference in local complications in the groins between the two sides (P > 0.05). Conclusion: An ICG fluorescence‐guided ILND was safe for patients with penile cancer. This procedure can improve the number of ILNs retrieved and reduce the LN non‐compliance rate without increased complications. ICG fluorescence‐guided ILND is beneficial and recommended for selected patients with penile cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The association of the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index with intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) and extracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ECAS) is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the relationship of TyG index with the distribution and severity of ICAS and ECAS. Method: Patients who underwent digital subtraction angiography (DSA) for evaluating ICAS/ECAS in Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University from January 2017 to October 2021 were retrospectively enrolled in our study. Clinical characteristics, DSA data, blood routine, lipid profile and fasting glucose were recorded. The association of TyG index and ICAS/ECAS status were investigated in four aspects: location and distribution of stenosis, stenosis severity and whether stenosis is symptomatic. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association. Restricted cubic splines were constructed to model the non-linear relationship between the TyG index and different arterial stenosis status. Results: Among 1129 included patients, the median age was 62 (IQR 55–68) years, and 71.3% were male. The median TyG index was 8.81 (8.40, 9.21). Elevated TyG index was significantly associated with ICAS, combined ICAS/ECAS, anterior circulation stenosis, posterior circulation stenosis, combined anterior/posterior circulation stenosis, severe stenosis, both asymptomatic and symptomatic stenosis. This association was maintained after adjusting for age, sex, smoking, drinking, medical history of hypertension and stroke, platelet, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein. Multivariable-adjusted spline regression models showed that a progressively increasing risk of arterial stenosis was related to an elevated TyG index. Conclusion: Elevated TyG index was associated with ICAS/ECAS. TyG index might be a useful indicator of ICAS and severe stenosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, and it's of great importance to understand its underlying mechanisms and find new treatments. Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is an active lipid that exerts its effects through S1P receptors on the cell surface or intracellular signal, and regulates many cellular processes such as cell growth, cell proliferation, cell migration, cell survival, and so on. S1PR modulators are a class of modulators that can interact with S1PR subtypes to activate receptors or block their activity, exerting either agonist or functional antagonist effects. Many studies have shown that S1P plays a protective role in the cardiovascular system and regulates cardiac physiological functions mainly through interaction with cell surface S1P receptors (S1PRs). Therefore, S1PR modulators may play a therapeutic role in cardiovascular diseases. Here, we review five S1PRs and their functions and the progress of S1PR modulators. In addition, we focus on the effects of S1PR modulators on atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion injury, diabetic cardiovascular diseases, and myocarditis, which may provide valuable insights into potential therapeutic strategies for cardiovascular disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an important irritant trace gas in the atmosphere, ammonia (NH3) significantly impacts human health and environment. Bottom-up emission inventories are widely used to estimate ammonia emissions and their geographical distributions over China. However, high uncertainties are still associated with emission inventories due to inaccurate emission factors used. The Differential Evolution (DE) algorithm is a population-based stochastic optimization algorithm used to solve complicated optimization problems. We quantify NH3 emissions and lifetime from Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) NH3 observations together with MERRA-2 wind fields based on the DE algorithm. Two inland cities, Urumchi and Golmud in China, are chosen to study of the NH3 emissions based on the distributions of NH3 total columns and wind fields. The NH3 emissions rate estimated is about 5.84 × 10−11 and 4.19 × 10−11 kg·m−2s−1 in Urumchi and in the Golmud area from May to September from 2008 to 2023, respectively. The lifetime of NH3 estimated in the two areas is 4.31 and 9.19 h, respectively. We compare the NH3 emissions and lifetime estimated in this study with the values in other studies, and the results show the reliability of the method used. This work is one of few quantitative studies of NH3 emissions from cities using satellite observations in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute type A aortic dissection (AAAD) has a high probability of postoperative adverse outcomes (PAO) after emergency surgery, so exploring the risk factors for PAO during hospitalization is key to reducing postoperative mortality and improving prognosis. An artificial intelligence approach was used to build a predictive model of PAO by clinical data‐driven machine learning to predict the incidence of PAO after total arch repair for AAAD. This study included 380 patients with AAAD. The clinical features that are associated with PAO were selected using the LASSO regression analysis. Six different machine learning algorithms were tried for modeling, and the performance of each model was analyzed comprehensively using receiver operating characteristic curves, calibration curve, precision recall curve, and decision analysis curves. Explain the optimal model through Shapley Additive Explanation (SHAP) and perform an individualized risk assessment. After comprehensive analysis, the authors believe that the extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) model is the optimal model, with better performance than other models. The authors successfully built a prediction model for PAO in AAAD patients based on the XGBoost algorithm and interpreted the model with the SHAP method, which helps to identify high‐risk AAAD patients at an early stage and to adjust individual patient‐related clinical treatment plans in a timely manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of pooled data from different repeated survey series to study long-term trends is handicapped by a measurement difficulty: different survey series often use different scales to measure the same attitude and thus generate scale-incomparable data. In this article, the authors propose the latent attitude method (LAM) to address this scale-incomparability problem, on the basis of the assumption that attitudes measured by ordinal categories reflect a latent attitude with cut points. The method extends the latent variable method in the case of a single survey series to the case of multiple survey series and leverages overlapping years for identification. The authors first assess the validity of the method with simulated data. The results show that the method yields accurate estimates of mean attitudes and cut point values. The authors then apply the method to an empirical study of Americans' attitudes toward China from 1974 to 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the major challenges in photocatalytic hydrogen production is to improve the separation efficiency of photo-generated carriers. Therefore, we prepared ZIS/BMO heterojunctions by hydrothermal method to promote the directional separation of photogenerated carriers. A series of characterization results show that the successful preparation of heterojunctions substantially increases the separation and transfer rate of photogenerated carriers. 11% ZIS/BMO had the highest photocatalytic hydrogen production performance reached 1502.6 μmol/g/h, which is 2.78 times than ZIS monomer. Simple construction of heterojunctions but dramatic improvement of photocatalytic hydrogen production performance opens up new horizons for photocatalyst modification. • A series of ZnIn 2 S 4 /Bi 2 MoO 6 heterojunction photocatalysts were prepared by a facile method. • The charge transfer and separation efficiency was enhanced. • A hydrogen production rate of 1502.6 μmol/g/h was achieved via this strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cost-effective CO 2 conversion to value-added products remains a great challenge until present. Here, we have discovered that the ethylenediamine (EDA) assisted preparation of Ni/CeO 2 catalyst remarkably promotes the CO 2 methanation performance at low temperatures. The Ni/CeO 2 -EDA catalyst exhibits a CO 2 conversion efficiency of 84% and a CH 4 selectivity of 98% at 225 °C, and no visible decline of CO 2 conversion is observed even after 70h of continuous reaction. The involvement of EDA is shown to effectively result in a more uniform distribution of Ni species, coupled with a reduction in particle size. In addition, the smaller particle size of Ni results in a rapid dissociative adsorption of hydrogen and H 2 spillover. Accordingly, oxygen vacancies on the CeO 2 surface are created and adequate H atoms are engendered for CO 2 hydrogenation. Furthermore, both the formate and CO pathways occur simultaneously on the Ni/CeO 2 -EDA catalyst, enhancing the low-temperature methanation activity. Herein, the EDA-assisted strategy provides an effective methodology in terms of well-dispersion and highly active catalysts for low-temperature CO 2 methanation. [Display omitted] • The addition of ethylenediamine promotes the Ni dispersion and CO 2 methanation activity on Ni/CeO 2. • Ni/CeO 2 -EDA catalyst presents 84% CO 2 conversion and 98% CH 4 selectivity at 225 °C. • The well-dispersion Ni particles facilitates a rapid dissociative adsorption of hydrogen and H 2 spillover. • The formate and CO route path way occurs over Ni/CeO 2 -EDA catalyst in parallel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a sequel to [C. Xue and A. Zhang, Doubled Hecke algebras and related quantum Schur duality, preprint (2021), arXiv:2108.07587[math.RT], accepted for publication in Algebra Colloq.], in this article we first introduce a so-called duplex Hecke algebras of type B which is a ℚ(q)-algebra associated with the Weyl group 풲(B) of type B, and symmetric groups 픖l for l = 0, 1,…,m, satisfying some Hecke relations (see Definition 3.1). This notion originates from the degenerate duplex Hecke algebra arising from the course of study of a kind of Schur–Weyl duality of Levi-type (see [B. Shu and Y. Yao, On enhanced reductive groups (I): Enhanced Schur algebras and the dualities related to degenerate duplex Hecke algebras, with an appendix by B. Liu, submitted (2023)]), extending the duplex Hecke algebra of type A arising from the related q-Schur–Weyl duality of Levi-type (see [C. Xue and A. Zhang, Doubled Hecke algebras and related quantum Schur duality, preprint (2021), arXiv:2108.07587[math.RT], accepted for publication in Algebra Colloq.]). A duplex Hecke algebra of type B admits natural representations on certain tensor spaces. We then establish a Levi-type q-Schur–Weyl duality of type B, which reveals the double centralizer property between such duplex Hecke algebras and ıquantum groups studied by Bao and Wang in [H. Bao and W. Wang, A new approach to Kazhdan–Lusztig theory of type B via quantum symmetric pairs, Astérisque 402 (2018)]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Canopy architecture is critical in determining the fruit-zone microclimate and, ultimately, in determining an orchard's success in terms of the quality and quantity of the fruit produced. However, few studies have addressed how the canopy environment leads to metabolomic and transcriptomic alterations in fruits. Designing strategies for improving the quality of pear nutritional components relies on uncovering the related regulatory mechanisms. Results: We performed an in-depth investigation of the impact of canopy architecture from physiological, metabolomic and transcriptomic perspectives by comparing pear fruits grown in a traditional freestanding system (SP) or a flat-type trellis system (DP). Physiological studies revealed relatively greater fruit sizes, soluble solid contents and titratable acidities in pear fruits from DP systems with open canopies. Nontargeted metabolite profiling was used to characterize fruits at the initial ripening stage. Significant differences in fruit metabolites, including carbohydrates, nucleic acids, alkaloids, glycerophospholipids, sterol lipids, and prenol lipids, were observed between the two groups. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that a series of organic substance catabolic processes (e.g., the glycerol-3-phosphate catabolic process, pectin catabolic process and glucan catabolic process) were overrepresented in fruits of the DP system. Moreover, integrative analysis of the metabolome and transcriptome at the pathway level showed that DP pear fruits may respond to the canopy microenvironment by upregulating phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway genes such as PpPOD. Transient assays revealed that the contents of malic acid and citric acid were lower in the pear flesh of PpPOD RNAi plants, which was associated with regulating the expression of organic acid metabolism-related genes. Conclusions: Our results provide fundamental evidence that at the physiological and molecular levels, open-canopy architecture contributes to improving pear fruit quality and is correlated with increased levels of carbohydrates and lipid-like molecules. This study may lead to the development of rational culture practices for enhancing the nutritional traits of pear fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The consequences of relying on solid fuels are disproportionately borne by minorities, the marginalized, and rural communities. However, the social disparities in transitioning from polluting energy to clean energy are not well understood. We track changes in the main energy source used for cooking among Chinese households between 2010 and 2018. We find that the proportion of households who rely on clean energy increased from 53.7% in 2010 to 80.1% in 2018. We detect substantial disparities in clean energy use between rural and urban areas, across regions, and between ethnic minorities and the Han majority. Urban status, regional variations, and household characteristics entirely accounted for the observed ethnic differences in clean energy use. Over time, disparities across rural–urban, regional, and ethnic boundaries declined, and household characteristics became irrelevant to the ethnic differences. Therefore, China's efforts to mitigate the imbalance in socioeconomic development also reduced ethnic inequalities in clean energy use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of the lithium (Li)-ion battery industry in electric vehicles (EVs) and electronic devices, coal-based Li ore is expected to be a new-type Li resource to meet the rapidly growing demand for Li. However, the traditional Li extraction process involves high temperature to activate minerals. Herein, a low-temperature sulfuric acid baking followed by water leaching was investigated in this study. The influences of baking and leaching conditions on Li leaching rate were explored in detail. Under the optimal conditions of 70 wt% H2SO4, baking temperature 180°C, baking time 1 h, leaching temperature 25°C, and leaching time 1 h, the Li leaching rate reached 84.42%. In addition, the sequential chemical extraction, XRD, and SEM-EDS results indicated that Al-Li-containing minerals were converted to soluble minerals during the baking process with sulfuric acid and then were extracted through water leaching into the solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tamoxifen (Tam) is an effective treatment for estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer. However, a significant proportion of patients develop resistance under treatment, presenting a therapeutic challenge. The study aims to determine the role of early growth response protein (EGR) 3 in tamoxifen resistance (TamR) and elucidate its molecular mechanism. Methods: TamR cell models were established and NGS was used to screening signaling alternation. Western blot and qRT-PCR were used to analysis the expression of ERα, EGR3, MCL1 and factors associated with apoptosis. CCK8, colony formation and apoptosis assay were used to analysis resistance to Tam. Immunofluorescence, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and dual luciferase assays were used to investigate mechanism of regulation. Results: We observed that EGR3, a deeply rooted ERα response factor, showed increased upregulation in response to both estrone (E1) and Tam in TamR cells with elevated level of E1 and ERα expression, indicating a potential connection between EGR3 and TamR. Mechanically, manipulating EGR3 expression revealed that it imparted resistance to Tam through increased expression of the downstream molecule MCL1 (apoptosis suppressor gene) that it regulated. Mechanismly, EGR3 directly binds to the promoter of the anti-apoptotic factor MCL1 gene, facilitating its transcription. Furthermore, apoptosis assays revealed that E1 reduces Tam induced apoptosis by upregulating EGR3 expression. Importantly, clinical public database confirmed the high expression of EGR3 in breast cancer tissue and in Tam-treated patients. Conclusions: These findings shed light on the novel estrogen/EGR3/MCL1 axis and its role in inducing TamR in ER positive breast cancer. EGR3 emerges as a promising target to overcome TamR. The elucidation of this mechanism holds potential for the development of new therapeutic modalities to overcome endocrine therapy resistance in clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Overexpression of miR-455-3p facilitates apoptosis and autophagy in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells. • miR-455-3p affects the progression of AML through UBN2. • UBN2 regulates PPARα-mediated apoptosis and autophagy in AML cells. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is one of the deadliest hematologic malignancies, and its targeted therapy has developed slowly. The molecular mechanism of the pathophysiology of the disease remains to be clarified. The aim of our study was to probe the specific regulatory mechanism of miR-455-3p in AML. This study measured the levels of miR-455-3p and ubinuclein-2 (UBN2) in AML cell lines, evaluated cell viability with CCK-8, used flow cytometry to estimate the cell cycle and apoptosis, detected cell apoptosis and autophagy-related protein levels by Western blotting, and added 50 μM chloroquine (CQ) to evaluate the relationship between autophagy and AML. In animal experiments, HL-60 cells were injected into male non-obese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency disease (NOD/SCID) mice through the tail vein to determine survival time and observe the degree of liver and spleen damage in the mice. miR-455-3p was prominently reduced in the peripheral blood and AML cell lines, and UBN2 showed high expression. The transfected miR-455-3p mimic effectively restrained the activity of AML cells, whereas overexpression of UBN2 or the addition of the autophagy inhibitor CQ reversed the effect of miR-455-3p. The interaction between UBN2 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) was confirmed by coimmunoprecipitation, and overexpression of PPARα reversed the promoting effect of UBN2 knockdown on apoptosis and autophagy in AML cells. In conclusion, miR-455-3p mediates PPARα protein expression through UBN2, exacerbating AML cell apoptosis and autophagy. This study found that miR-455-3p plays an important role in AML cell apoptosis and autophagy, which may provide novel insights for the treatment of AML diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) is a novel assay to detect pneumocystis jjrovecii (Pj) which has been defined to be more sensitive than qPCR in recent studies. We aimed to explore whether clinical features of pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) were associated with ddPCR copy numbers of Pj. Methods: A total of 48 PCP patients were retrospectively included. Pj detection was implemented by ddPCR assay within 4 h. Bronchoalveolar fluid (BALF) samples were collected from 48 patients with molecular diagnosis as PCP via metagenomic next generation sequencing (mNGS) or quantitative PCR detection. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were performed to screen out possible indicators for the severity of PCP. The patients were divided into two groups according to ddPCR copy numbers, and their clinical features were further analyzed. Results: Pj loading was a pro rata increase with serum (1,3)-beta-D glucan, D-dimmer, neutrophil percentage, procalcitonin and BALF polymorphonuclear leucocyte percentage, while negative correlation with albumin, PaO2/FiO2, BALF cell count, and BALF lymphocyte percentage. D-dimmer and ddPCR copy number of Pj were independent indicators for moderate/severe PCP patients with PaO2/FiO2 lower than 300. We made a ROC analysis of ddPCR copy number of Pj for PaO2/FiO2 index and grouped the patients according to the cut-off value (2.75). The high copy numbers group was characterized by higher level of inflammatory markers. Compared to low copy number group, there was lower level of the total cell count while higher level of polymorphonuclear leucocyte percentage in BALF in the high copy numbers group. Different from patients with high copy numbers, those with high copy numbers had a tendency to develop more severe complications and required advanced respiratory support. Conclusion: The scenarios of patients infected with high ddPCR copy numbers of Pj showed more adverse clinical conditions. Pj loading could reflect the severity of PCP to some extent. Strengths and Limitations: This is the first study to investigate the relationship between ddPCR copy number and the clinical characteristics of patients with PCP. Droplet digital PCR was a more sensitve and accurate method than qPCR for detection of pathogens. This was a retrospective study and we did not include more samples for it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skin photodamage, which is induced by ultraviolet (UV) radiation, is a prevalent cause of skin damage. In this study, a transdermal drug delivery system is developed for the topical treatment of skin photodamage, which is composed of tetrahedral framework nucleic acids (tFNAs) and lipoic acid (LA). The tFNAs‐LA (TLA) nanocomposite exhibits excellent biocompatibility, as well as antioxidant, anti‐apoptotic, and anti‐inflammatory capabilities. tFNA, as a carrier, facilitates TLA for cell entry and skin penetration, while the loaded LA enhances the antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory capabilities. In photodamaged human dermal fibroblast (HDF), TLA promotes proliferation and migration while inhibiting apoptosis activation and reactive oxygen species production. Moreover, TLA modulates apoptosis‐related proteins and NF‐κB signaling pathways, increasing cellular secretion while suppressing inflammatory responses in photodamaged HDF cells. In the in vivo experiment, topical application of TLA promotes tissue healing in photodamaged skin, and regulates the expression of inflammation and collagen‐related proteins. It is suggested that the transdermal ability of TLA enables non‐invasive therapy for skin photodamage, highlighting the potential of employing nucleic acid‐based transdermal drug delivery systems for skin disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ever‐increasing demand for data storage and neuromorphic computing calls for innovative, high‐density solutions, such as resistive random‐access memory (RRAM). However, the integration of resistive switching and rectification at the nanoscale remains a formidable challenge. In this study, we introduce a bistable [2]catenane‐based supramolecular junction that simultaneously functions as a resistive switch and a diode. All supramolecular junctions are highly stable and reproducible over thousands of resistive switching cycles, because the nano‐confinement of two mechanically interlocked rings can stabilize the radical states of pyridinium moieties under ambient conditions. The successful realization of supramolecular junctions in functionality with a thickness of approximately 2 nm presents a promising avenue for the development of molecule‐scale based RRAM for a better solution to high density and energy efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ever‐increasing demand for data storage and neuromorphic computing calls for innovative, high‐density solutions, such as resistive random‐access memory (RRAM). However, the integration of resistive switching and rectification at the nanoscale remains a formidable challenge. In this study, we introduce a bistable [2]catenane‐based supramolecular junction that simultaneously functions as a resistive switch and a diode. All supramolecular junctions are highly stable and reproducible over thousands of resistive switching cycles, because the nano‐confinement of two mechanically interlocked rings can stabilize the radical states of pyridinium moieties under ambient conditions. The successful realization of supramolecular junctions in functionality with a thickness of approximately 2 nm presents a promising avenue for the development of molecule‐scale based RRAM for a better solution to high density and energy efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the continuous development of satellite payload and system-on-chip (SoC) technology, spaceborne real-time synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging systems play a crucial role in various defense and civilian domains, including Earth remote sensing, military reconnaissance, disaster mitigation, and resource exploration. However, designing high-performance and high-reliability SAR imaging systems that operate in harsh environmental conditions while adhering to strict size, weight, and power consumption constraints remains a significant challenge. In this paper, we introduce a spaceborne SAR imaging chip based on a SoC architecture with system fault-tolerant technology. The fault-tolerant SAR SoC architecture has a CPU, interface subsystem, memory subsystem, data transit subsystem, and data processing subsystem. The data processing subsystem, which includes fast Fourier transform (FFT) modules, coordinated rotation digital computer (CORDIC) modules (for phase factor calculation), and complex multiplication modules, is the most critical component and can achieve various modes of SAR imaging. Through analyzing the computational requirements of various modes of SAR, we found that FFT accounted for over 50% of the total computational workload in SAR imaging processing, while the CORDIC modules for phase factor generation accounted for around 30%. Therefore, ensuring the fault tolerance of these two modules is crucial. To address this issue, we propose a word-length optimization redundancy (WLOR) method to make the fixed-point pipelined FFT processors in FFT modules fault tolerant. Additionally, we propose a fault-tolerant pipeline CORDIC architecture utilizing error correction code (ECC) and sum of squares (SOS) check. For other parts of the SoC architecture, we propose a generic partial triple modular redundancy (TMR) hardening method based on the HITS algorithm to improve fault tolerance. Finally, we developed a fully automated FPGA-based fault injection platform to test the design's effectiveness by injecting errors at arbitrary locations. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed methods significantly improved the chip's fault tolerance, making the SAR imaging chip safer and more reliable. We also implemented a prototype measurement system with a chip-included board and demonstrated the proposed design's performance on the Chinese Gaofen-3 strip-map continuous imaging system. The chip requires 9.2 s, 50.6 s, and 7.4 s for a strip-map with 16,384 × 16,384 granularity, multi-channel strip-map with 65,536 × 8192 granularity, and multi-channel scan mode with 32,768 × 4096 granularity, respectively, and the system hardware consumes 6.9 W of power to process the SAR raw data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple sclerosis (MS), a T-cell-mediated autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system (CNS), is characterized by white matter demyelination, axon destruction, and oligodendrocyte degeneration. Ivermectin, an anti-parasitic drug, has anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and antiviral properties. However, to date, there are no in-depth studies on the effect of ivermectin on the function effector of T cells in murine experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of MS. Here, we conducted in vitro experiments and found that ivermectin inhibited the proliferation of total T cells (CD3+) and their subsets (CD4+ and CD8+ T cells) as well as T cells secreting the pro-inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ and IL-17A; ivermectin also increased IL-2 production and IL-2Rα (CD25) expression, which was accompanied by an increase in the frequency of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Treg). Importantly, ivermectin administration reduced the clinical symptoms of EAE mice by preventing the infiltration of inflammatory cells into the CNS. Additional mechanisms showed that ivermectin promoted Treg cells while inhibiting pro-inflammatory Th1 and Th17 cells and their IFN-γ and IL-17 secretion; ivermectin also upregulated IL-2 production from MOG35–55-stimulated peripheral lymphocytes. Finally, ivermectin decreased IFN-γ and IL-17A production and increased IL-2 level, CD25 expression, and STAT5 phosphorylation in the CNS. These results reveal a previously unknown etiopathophysiological mechanism by which ivermectin attenuates the pathogenesis of EAE, indicating that it may be a promising option for T-cell-mediated autoimmune diseases such as MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Efimov effect and its universal property are of paramount importance in quantum few-body physics. Despite this, the predicted ground state Efimov resonance has not yet been observed in 39,40,41K–87Rb mixtures within the currently available observation window. Cooling atoms in the microgravity environment of outer space might overcome this limitation, whereas the residual curvature of the strong magnetic fields may result in significant atom leakage. In this work, we propose an optical method based on far-detuned time-averaged dipole potential to counteract the three-dimensional inhomogeneous field. The target intensity distribution can be conveniently obtained by modulating the central position of the quasi-1D print beam using acoustic optical modulators. Within a volume of 300 × 300 × 400 µm3, the residual potential fluctuations can be reduced by two orders of magnitude to less than 100 pK. The proposed approach offers a realistic prospect of investigating the Efimov-type resonance in the 40K–87Rb Bose–Fermi mixture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is increasing evidence that immune dysfunction plays an important role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Meso Scale Discovery (MSD) is bioanalytical method, which can detect serum inflammatory factors in patients. MSD has higher sensitivities, capturing a narrower range of proteins compared to other methods typically used in similar studies. The present study was aimed to explore the correlation between the levels of serum inflammatory factors and psychiatric symptoms in patients with schizophrenia at different stages and investigate a wide panel of inflammatory factors as independent factors for the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Methods: We recruited 116 participants, including patients with first-episode schizophrenia (FEG, n = 40), recurrence patients (REG, n = 40) with relapse-episode schizophrenia, and a control group (healthy people, HP, n = 36). Patients are diagnosed according to the DSM -V. The plasma levels of IFN-γ, IL-10, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α, CRP, VEGF, IL-15, and IL-16 were tested by the MSD technique. Patient-related data was collected, including sociodemographic data, positive and negative symptom scale (PANSS), and brief psychiatric rating scale (BPRS) and subscale scores. The independent sample T test, χ2 test, Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), the least significant difference method (LSD), Spearman's correlation test, binary logistic regression analysis and ROC curve analysis were used in this study. Results: There were significant differences in serum IL-1β (F = 2.37, P = 0.014) and IL-16 (F = 4.40, P < 0.001) levels among the three groups. The level of serum IL-1β in the first-episode group was significantly higher than in the recurrence group (F = 0.87, P = 0.021) and control group (F = 2.03, P = 0.013), but there was no significant difference between the recurrence group and control group (F = 1.65, P = 0.806). The serum IL-16 levels in the first-episode group (F = 1.18, P < 0.001) and the recurrence group (F = 0.83, P < 0.001) were significantly higher than in the control group, and there was no significant difference between the first-episode group and the recurrence group (F = 1.65, P = 0.61). Serum IL-1β was negatively correlated with the general psychopathological score (GPS) of PANSS (R=-0.353, P = 0.026). In the recurrence group, serum IL-16 was positively correlated with the negative score (NEG) of the PANSS scale (R = 0.335, P = 0.035) and negatively correlated with the composite score (COM) (R=-0.329, P = 0.038). In the study, IL-16 levels were an independent variable of the onset of schizophrenia both in the first-episode (OR = 1.034, P = 0.002) and recurrence groups (OR = 1.049, P = 0.003). ROC curve analysis showed that the areas under IL-16(FEG) and IL-16(REG) curves were 0.883 (95%CI:0.794–0.942) and 0.887 (95%CI:0.801–0.950). Conclusions: Serum IL-1β and IL-16 levels were different between patients with schizophrenia and healthy people. Serum IL-1β levels in first-episode schizophrenia and serum IL-16 levels in relapsing schizophrenia were correlated with the parts of psychiatric symptoms. The IL-16 level may be an independent factor associating with the onset of schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing evidence indicates that respiratory tract microecological disorders may play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Understanding the composition of the respiratory microbiome in COPD and its relevance to respiratory immunity will help develop microbiome-based diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. One hundred longitudinal sputum samples from 35 subjects with acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) were analysed for respiratory bacterial microbiome using 16S ribosomal RNA amplicon sequencing technology, and the sputum supernatant was analysed for 12 cytokines using a Luminex liquid suspension chip. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering was employed to evaluate the existence of distinct microbial clusters. In AECOPD, the respiratory microbial diversity decreased, and the community composition changed significantly. The abundances of Haemophilus, Moraxella, Klebsiella, and Pseudomonas increased significantly. Significant positive correlations between the abundance of Pseudomonas and TNF-α, abundance of Klebsiella and the percentage of eosinophils were observed. Furthermore, COPD can be divided into four clusters based on the respiratory microbiome. AECOPD-related cluster was characterized by the enrichment of Pseudomonas and Haemophilus and a high level of TNF-α. Lactobacillus and Veillonella are enriched in therapy-related phenotypes and may play potential probiotic roles. There are two inflammatory endotypes in the stable state: Gemella is associated with the Th2 inflammatory endotypes, whereas Prevotella is associated with the Th17 inflammatory endotypes. Nevertheless, no differences in clinical manifestations were found between these two endotypes. The sputum microbiome is associated with the disease status of COPD, allowing us to distinguish different inflammatory endotypes. Targeted anti-inflammatory and anti-infective therapies may improve the long-term prognosis of COPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a comparative study of lateral motion controller design for distributed drive vehicle. Aiming at handling long input delays, two types of robust controllers are specifically investigated. First, a Lyapunov‐Krasovskii functional based robust controller design is proposed. Considering input delay, the design conditions of the state‐feedback controller are derived in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs), which can be effectively solved using LMI toolbox. Second, based on the same control law, a robust predictive controller design is further presented. However, different from the Lyapunov‐Krasovskii functional based robust controller, the control gain of the proposed robust predictive controller is calculated without considering the input delay. An input delay estimator and a predictor are developed instead to reconstruct the delay‐dependent state, which is further used to generate a new feedback error. Moreover, the feasibility of this control scheme is theoretically proved. Finally, extensive co‐simulations with Carsim and Matlab/Simulink are conducted to compare the performance between these two controllers. Compared with the Lyapunov‐Krasovskii functional based robust controller, longer input delay can be handled by using the proposed robust predictive controller. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Gut microbiota dysbiosis induced by acute pancreatitis (AP) exacerbates pancreatic injury and systemic inflammatory responses. The alleviation of gut microbiota dysbiosis through faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is considered a potential strategy to reduce tissue damage and inflammation in many clinical disorders. Here, we aim to investigate the effect of gut microbiota and microbiota‐derived metabolites on AP and further clarify the mechanisms associated with pancreatic damage and inflammation. Experimental Approach: AP rat and mouse models were established by administration of caerulein or sodium taurocholate in vivo. Pancreatic acinar cells were exposed to caerulein and lipopolysaccharide in vitro to simulate AP. Key Results: Normobiotic FMT alleviated AP‐induced gut microbiota dysbiosis and ameliorated the severity of AP, including mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative damage and inflammation. Normobiotic FMT induced higher levels of NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide)‐associated metabolites, particularly nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN). NMN administration mitigated AP‐mediated mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative damage and inflammation by increasing pancreatic NAD+ levels. Similarly, overexpression of the NAD+‐dependent mitochondrial deacetylase sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) alleviated the severity of AP. Furthermore, SIRT3 deacetylated peroxiredoxin 5 (PRDX5) and enhanced PRDX5 protein expression, thereby promoting its antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory activities in AP. Importantly, normobiotic FMT‐mediated NMN metabolism induced SIRT3–PRDX5 pathway activation during AP. Conclusion and Implications: Gut microbiota‐derived NMN alleviates the severity of AP by activating the SIRT3–PRDX5 pathway. Normobiotic FMT could be served as a potential strategy for AP treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In brain–computer interface (BCI) systems, motor imagery electroencephalography (MI-EEG) signals are commonly used to detect participant intent. Many factors, including low signal-to-noise ratios and few high-quality samples, make MI classification difficult. In order for BCI systems to function, MI-EEG signals must be studied. In pattern recognition and other fields, deep learning approaches have recently been successfully applied. In contrast, few effective deep learning algorithms have been applied to BCI systems, especially MI-based systems. In this paper, we address these problems from two aspects based on the characteristics of EEG signals: first, we proposed a combined time–frequency domain data enhancement method. This method guarantees that the size of the training data is effectively increased while maintaining the intrinsic composition of the data. Second, our design consists of a parallel CNN that takes both raw EEG images and images transformed through continuous wavelet transform (CWT) as inputs. We conducted classification experiments on a public data set to verify the effectiveness of the algorithm. According to experimental results based on the BCI Competition IV Dataset2a, the average classification accuracy is 97.61%. A comparison of the proposed algorithm with other algorithms shows that it performs better in classification. The algorithm can be used to improve the classification performance of MI-based BCIs and BCI systems created for people with disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to Moore's Law's development law, traditional floating gate memory is constrained by charge tunneling, and its size is approaching the physical limit, which is insufficient to meet the requirements of large data storage. The introduction of new information storage devices may be the key to overcoming the bottleneck. Resistive random access memory (RRAM) has garnered interest due to its fast switching speed, low power consumption, and high integration density. The resistive switching (RS) behaviors can be demonstrated in many materials, including transition metal oxides, perovskite oxides and organic matter, etc. Among these materials, graphene oxide (GO) with its unique physical, chemical properties and excellent mechanical properties is attracting significant attention for use in RRAM owing to its RS operation and potential for integration with other graphene-based electronics. However, there is unacceptable variability in RS reliability, including retention and endurance, which is the key factor that affects the development of memristors. In addition, the RS mechanism of GO-based RRAM has not been systematically discussed. In this article, we discuss systematically several typical models of the switching mechanism of GO-based RRAM and a summary of methods for improving the device's RS performance. This article concludes by discussing the applications of GO-RRAM in artificial neural networks, flexible devices, and biological monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to Moore's Law's development law, traditional floating gate memory is constrained by charge tunneling, and its size is approaching the physical limit, which is insufficient to meet the requirements of large data storage. The introduction of new information storage devices may be the key to overcoming the bottleneck. Resistive random access memory (RRAM) has garnered interest due to its fast switching speed, low power consumption, and high integration density. The resistive switching (RS) behaviors can be demonstrated in many materials, including transition metal oxides, perovskite oxides and organic matter, etc. Among these materials, graphene oxide (GO) with its unique physical, chemical properties and excellent mechanical properties is attracting significant attention for use in RRAM owing to its RS operation and potential for integration with other graphene-based electronics. However, there is unacceptable variability in RS reliability, including retention and endurance, which is the key factor that affects the development of memristors. In addition, the RS mechanism of GO-based RRAM has not been systematically discussed. In this article, we discuss systematically several typical models of the switching mechanism of GO-based RRAM and a summary of methods for improving the device's RS performance. This article concludes by discussing the applications of GO-RRAM in artificial neural networks, flexible devices, and biological monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of carbon dioxide (CO2) capture, storage and utilization (CCSU) technologies, CO2 has gradually become a desired feedstock for the production of value-added chemicals like methane (CH4). Ceria (CeO2)-based catalysts have gained much attention because of their potential to efficiently hydrogenate CO2 to CH4 under mild conditions. Here we systematically outline the advances in CeO2-based catalysts for CO2 methanation mainly from the perspective of mechanism investigation and catalyst development. Various in situ/operando and ex situ technologies have verified that active metal and oxygen vacancies at the metal/metal oxide–CeO2 interface act as the prime active sites to promote the formation and hydrogenation of key intermediates during the CO2 methanation reaction. Kinetic analysis and in situ DRIFT characterization combined with theoretical calculations revealed that the reaction mechanism toward CO2 methanation is sensitive to active sites, and the formate route versus the carboxyl (CO*) route has been widely detected as the main methanation pathway over CeO2-based catalysts. Additionally, mainstream strategies to improve CeO2-based catalysts include optimizing reducibility, adjusting the distribution of basic sites, dispersing active metal supported on CeO2, and increasing the amount of oxygen vacancies or additional active sites for CO2 adsorption and selective hydrogenation into CH4. Finally, perspectives on the deeper understanding of active sites and intermediates' evolution and the challenges of CeO2-based catalysts for CO2 methanation in future investigations are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, Co–Fe layered double hydroxides are prepared by a hydrothermal method. The Co–Fe layered double hydroxides are used as an adsorbent for the investigation of the thermodynamic parameters and adsorption kinetics of methyl orange from aqueous solution. The results show that adsorption is affected by adsorbent dosage, adsorption time, and temperature. The characteristics of samples are investigated using X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms. The adsorption saturation level of Co–Fe layered double hydroxides on methyl orange is studied, with the results showing that the maximum uptake capacity for methyl orange is 10.21 mg g−1 based on Co–Fe layered double hydroxides. The adsorption kinetics of methyl orange is consistent with the Temkin isotherm equation and quasi-secondary kinetic model. Furthermore, separation is easily accomplished under the action of an applied magnetic field. The prepared Co–Fe layered double hydroxides can be applied as an effective adsorbent for decontamination of anionic dyes in industrial effluents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesenchymal stem cell‐derived conditioned medium (MSC‐CM) improves cardiac function after myocardial infarction; however, this cardioprotective effect is moderate and transient. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) pretreatment partially improves MSC‐CM‐mediated cardioprotective effects owing to the presence of paracrine factors. However, the mechanism underlying these improved effects remains unknown. To study the effect of LPS‐pretreated MSC‐CM on hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)‐induced injury, MSCs were treated with or without LPS (400 ng/mL) for 48 h, and the supernatant was collected (MSC‐CM). Subsequently, H9c2 cells were co‐cultured with Nor‐CM (CM derived from LPS‐untreated MSCs) and LPS‐CM (CM derived from LPS‐pretreated MSCs) for 24 h and subjected to H/R. MSC‐CM inhibited the progression of H/R‐induced injury in H9c2 cells, and this protective effect was enhanced via LPS pretreatment as evidenced by the improved apoptosis assessment index (i.e. caspase‐3 and B‐cell lymphoma‐2 [Bcl‐2] expression) and decreased levels of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and cardiac troponin (cTn). In addition, the results of haematoxylin–eosin staining (H&E), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and TdT‐mediated dUTP nick‐end labelling (TUNEL) validated that MSC‐CM inhibited H/R‐induced injury in H9c2 cardiomyocytes. LPS pretreatment downregulated the expression of high mobility group box‐1 (HMGB1) and BTB and CNC homology‐1 (Bach1) proteins in MSCs but upregulated the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and insulin‐like growth factor (IGF). HMGB1 knockdown (MSC/siHMGB1‐CM) significantly decreased the expression of Bach1 and increased the expression of VEGF, HGF and IGF. Bach1 knockdown (MSC/siBach1‐CM) did not alter the production of HMGB1 but increased the expression of VEGF and IGF. LPS pretreatment did not alter the expression of the paracrine factors VEGF and HGF in the MSC/siHMGB1 group but increased their expression in the MSC/siBach1 group. The myocyte anti‐apoptotic effects of MSCs/siBach1‐CM were similar to those of untreated MSCs, which were not enhanced by LPS. LPS‐pretreated MSC‐CM protects H9c2 cells against H/R‐induced injury partly through the HMGB1/Bach1 signalling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type Ⅱ g-C 3 N 4 /Ag 3 PO 4 photocatalysts were prepared by an in situ chemical precipitation method used to investigate the photocatalytic degradation performance. In this work, the g-C 3 N 4 /Ag 3 PO 4 (1:1) composite catalyst exhibited superior photocatalytic performance for MB and BPA degradation, the degradation rate of MB reached 100 % within 80 min, and the degradation rate of BPA reached 98.5 % within 100 min, which were 1.8 and 8.7 times higher than that of g-C 3 N 4 , respectively. Its reaction rate abided by the pseudo-first-order kinetics, kinetic rate constants (κ) were 0.0626 min−1 and 0.0419 min−1, respectively. Through a series of characterizations, it was found that the intimate interface contact between g-C 3 N 4 and Ag 3 PO 4 formed type Ⅱ heterojunction, not only shortening photogenerated carriers transfer distance and accelerating the separation of photogenerated carriers, but also enhancing the stability and reusability of the g-C 3 N 4 /Ag 3 PO 4 composite catalyst. Meanwhile, the h+ radicals and ·O 2 - radicals were main active species of photocatalytic degradation reactions by the free radical trapping experiments and ESR tests further were confirmation. A possible photocatalytic mechanism was studied by UV–vis DRS, Mott-Schottky curves, the free radical trapping experiment and ESR. This aim of this paper is to improve the efficiency of photocatalytic degradation of MB and BPA by synthesizing type Ⅱ g-C 3 N 4 /Ag 3 PO 4 photocatalysts. • Type Ⅱ g-C 3 N 4 /Ag 3 PO 4 heterojunction was prepared via chemical precipitation method. • Intimate interfacial contact was facilitated the separation and transfer of e--h+ pairs. • The degradation rates of MB and BPA by g-C 3 N 4 /Ag 3 PO 4 could reach 100 % and 98.5 %, respectively. • h+ was the main active species in the degradation of MB and BPA. • Type Ⅱ g-C 3 N 4 /Ag 3 PO 4 heterojunction had an excellent reusability after five cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]