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Wheat leaf blight caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana is a widespread fungal disease that poses a serious risk to wheat. Biological control without causing environmental pollution is one of the safest and most effective method to control plant diseases. The antagonistic bacterial strain HeN-7 (identified as Bacillus velezensis) was isolated from tobacco leaves cultivated in Henan province, China. The results of different concentrations of cell-free supernatant (CFS) from HeN-7 culture against B. sorokiniana mycelia showed that 20% HeN-7 CFS (v/v) reached the maximum inhibition rate of 96%. In the potted plants control assay, B. velezensis HeN-7 CFS exhibited remarkable biocontrol activity on the wheat infected with B. sorokiniana, the best pot control efficacy was 65% at 20% CFS. The research on the mechanism of action demonstrated that HeN-7 CFS induced the membrane lipid peroxidation in B. sorokiniana, leading to the disruption of cell membrane integrity and resulting in the leakage of cell contents; in addition, the intracellular mitochondrial membrane potential in mycelium dissipated and reactive oxygen species accumulated, thereby inhibiting the growth of B. sorokiniana. These results indicate that B. velezensis HeN-7 is a promising candidate as a biological control agent against Bipolaris sorokiniana infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integrated electricity and heating system (IEHS) can improve energy efficiency and promote renewable energy consumption. When quality-quantity regulation (QQR) is adopted, namely adjusting hydraulic and thermal conditions of heating system, the increase in operation flexibility is more remarkable. However, present IEHS dispatch models considering QQR overlook hydraulic characteristics of valves and variable frequency pumps resulting in inexecutable dispatch results easily and hindering IEHS's flexibility potential. Furthermore, loop networks and the access of multiple heat sources in heating systems may lead to flow reversal, but current research adopts a fixed flow direction which suppresses the potential of flow reversal to improve flexibility. In this paper, we propose an IEHS dispatch model considering QQR to promote renewable energy consumption, which considers hydraulic characteristics of valves and variable frequency pumps, and flow reversal. Specifically, we introduce two binary flow direction labels for every branch in heating system model and then the IEHS dispatch model which can deal with flow reversal is established. A sequential solution process combining linear and nonlinear optimization is formulated to overcome the non-convex feature of IEHS dispatch model. Specifically, piecewise linearization and piecewise McCormick relaxation are combined to handle complex nonlinear terms in the dispatch model. Therefore, a mixed integer linear programming model is obtained and solved, of which results are used as initial values for nonlinear optimization. Results in the case study show that operation cost is decreased by 0.97 % and renewable power consumption rate is increased from 83.31 % to 84.42 % after considering valve adjustment. Operation cost is further decreased by 6.06 % and renewable power consumption rate is increased to 94.04 % after considering flow reversal. • IEHS dispatch model with quality-quantity regulation of heating systems is proposed. • Operation characteristics of pumps and valves in heating system is considered. • Heating system model with flow reversal is constructed. • A sequential method combining linear and nonlinear optimization is formulated. • Impact of valve adjustment and flow reversal on IEHS dispatch is investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes a multi-time scale dynamic optimization (MSDO) method for ultra-short-term scheduling in industrial electricity-heat-gas integrated energy systems. The aim is to enhance the feasibility of scheduling schemes and to utilize flexibility potential. The MSDO method considers equipment response differences and demand fulfillment time disparities. The dynamic aspect is reflected in the supply-demand matching within the scheduling time window. A single-layer model with unified temporal granularity is constructed based on lag parameter identification. The study proposes various forms of energy demand elasticity, including steam networks and cumulative demand, and investigates the optimal minimum temporal granularity for scheduling. Case results demonstrate that the MSDO method effectively characterizes the multi-energy time lag of equipment. Compared with methods disregarding lag parameters, the MSDO method enhances total profit by ¥ 120711.42 and improves operation stability by 2.96%. The MSDO method outperforms baseline methods in cost and stability, accommodating a 160% increase in renewable energy growth. Under different elasticity spaces, the profit of the cumulative demand method exceeds that of the average method. The time lag of different equipment impacts scheduling profits. An optimal choice exists for the minimum temporal granularity to strike a balance between computational efficiency, economy, and feasibility. • Multi-time scale scheduling is realized via a unified temporal granularity. • Lag parameters are utilized to characterize the equipment response time differences. • Elasticity of multi-energy demand with various response methods is considered. • The optimal minimum temporal granularity of the scheduling scheme is analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

District heating system (DHS) are the largest energy-consuming component in the building energy sector. The management and operations of DHS are crucial in supporting energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions. Existing management and operational techniques rely on sufficient load samples. However, the short operational time and equipment outages often result in insufficient load samples, challenging supporting effective management and operations. This study compares mainstream generation models of generative adversarial networks (GAN) and the denoise diffusion probabilistic model (DDPM), considering performance aspects such as accuracy, generalization, and robustness. Based on this comparison, a hybrid model for generating load samples in DHS is proposed, and this model has been validated in a DHS located in Changzhou, China. It achieves a low relative error of 1.15% in generating samples task. To validate the effectiveness of the generated samples, an indoor temperature response model is developed to calculate the indoor temperature based on load samples. This model achieves a root mean square error of 0.248 °C, effectively bridging the "external condition-load sample-indoor temperature" relationship. This research addresses the challenge of insufficient load samples in DHS and serves as a reference for addressing similar issues in energy systems. • Addressed the issue of insufficient load samples in district heating systems. • Proposed a hybrid model for sample generation tasks in district heating systems. • The proposed model can accurately generate load samples with error of 1.15%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we discuss third-order full nonlinear singularly perturbed vector boundary value problems. We first present the existence of solutions for the nonlinear vector boundary value problems without perturbation by using the upper and lower solutions method and topological degree theory. Then the existence, uniqueness and asymptotic estimates of solutions for the singularly perturbed vector boundary value problems are established by constructing appropriate a lower solution–upper solution pair, as well as analysis technique. Some known results are extended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a common neurological complication of anesthesia and surgery in aging individuals. Neuroinflammation has been identified as a hallmark of POCD. However, safe and effective treatments of POCD are still lacking. Itaconate is an immunoregulatory metabolite derived from the tricarboxylic acid cycle that exerts anti-inflammatory effects by activating the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway. In this study, we investigated the effects and underlying mechanism of 4-octyl itaconate (OI), a cell-permeable itaconate derivative, on POCD in aged mice. Methods: A POCD animal model was established by performing aseptic laparotomy in 18-month-old male C57BL/6 mice under isoflurane anesthesia while maintaining spontaneous ventilation. OI was intraperitoneally injected into the mice after surgery. Primary microglia and neurons were isolated and treated to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), isoflurane, and OI. Cognitive function, neuroinflammatory responses, as well as levels of gut microbiota and their metabolites were evaluated. To determine the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of OI in POCD, ML385, an antagonist of Nrf2, was administered intraperitoneally. Cognitive function, neuroinflammatory responses, endogenous neurogenesis, neuronal apoptosis, and Nrf2/extracellular signal-related kinases (ERK) signaling pathway were evaluated. Results: Our findings revealed that OI treatment significantly alleviated anesthesia/surgery-induced cognitive impairment, concomitant with reduced levels of the neuroinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6, as well as suppressed activation of microglia and astrocytes in the hippocampus. Similarly, OI treatment inhibited the expression of IL-1β and IL-6 in LPS and isoflurane-induced primary microglia in vitro. Intraperitoneal administration of OI led to alterations in the gut microbiota and promoted the production of microbiota-derived metabolites associated with neurogenesis. We further confirmed that OI promoted endogenous neurogenesis and inhibited neuronal apoptosis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus of aged mice. Mechanistically, we observed a decrease in Nrf2 expression in hippocampal neurons both in vitro and in vivo, which was reversed by OI treatment. We found that Nrf2 was required for OI treatment to inhibit neuroinflammation in POCD. The enhanced POCD recovery and promotion of neurogenesis triggered by OI exposure were, at least partially, mediated by the activation of the Nrf2/ERK signaling pathway. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that OI can attenuate anesthesia/surgery-induced cognitive impairment by stabilizing the gut microbiota and activating Nrf2 signaling to restrict neuroinflammation and promote neurogenesis. Boosting endogenous itaconate or supplementation with exogenous itaconate derivatives may represent novel strategies for the treatment of POCD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Carry out district heating network sensitivity analysis based on hydraulic model. • Sensitivity matrices in hydraulic condition are derived and validated. • Coupling characteristics of hydraulic condition are analyzed based on sensitivity. • A safety adjustment method is proposed based on sensitivity matrices. The district heating network (DHN) is an important infrastructure to meet the heating demand of residents and can become a flexible resource in integrated electricity and heating systems. When both supply temperature and flow rate are variable in DHN, i.e., quality-quantity regulation is adopted, DHN's energy efficiency can be improved, and more flexibility potential is provided for integrated electricity and heating systems to promote renewable energy consumption. However, the hydraulic condition of DHN under this situation will change more frequently, making it extremely important to effectively analyze coupling characteristics between variables in the hydraulic condition and formulate a safety adjustment strategy when state variables exceed their limits. In this paper, we establish various sensitivity matrices in the hydraulic condition that quantify control variables' impact on state variables and propose a safety management method based on sensitivity matrices. Firstly, the steady-state model of DHN's hydraulic condition is established considering the pump and motor-operated valve characteristics, and it is solved based on the Newton-Raphson method. Then, various sensitivity matrices are derived, i.e., the sensitivity matrices of node pressure and branch flow caused by the pressure of the reference node, the frequency of variable frequency pump, and the motor-operated valve opening. For the unsafe hydraulic condition where state variable overruns occur, a safety adjustment method that considers the safety of all state variables is proposed, which can avoid the problem of iterative adjustment caused by the existing sensitivity-based methods. The case study results show that sensitivity matrices can accurately describe the influence of control variables on state variables in DHN. The proposed safety adjustment method can ensure that all state variables are within their limits to the maximum extent possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A sensitive, selective and matrix interference-resistant SO 2 analytical method. • A miniaturized and portable device for detection of SO 2 in food samples. • A simple TMB-based visual colorimetry that could be easily read out by naked eye. • A low-cost and efficient combination of single drop and headspace microextraction. Excessive intake of SO 2 , a widely-used food additive, is able to cause respiratory, cardiovascular and neurological disease. For effectively monitoring SO 2 level, we have developed a headspace single drop microextraction based visual colorimetry for highly sensitive and selective sensing of SO 2 with TMB (3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine) as a classic chromogenic reagent. A combination of single drop and headspace microextraction integrated merits of high extraction efficiency, low consumption of reagents and excellent matrix interference-resistant ability. The colorimetric principle was based on oxidation of TMB, and SO 2 could compete with TMB to preferentially react with ·OH, resulting in the fading of color blue that could be easily read out by naked eye. LOD was calculated to be 0.53 μM and 5 μM by UV–vis and naked eye, respectively. The method was successfully utilized to analysis of food samples, and the experimental device was miniaturized and easy to construct, thus showing a promising potential in field analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The district heating system (DHS) is one of the essential carriers for coordinating renewable energy with fossil energy and achieving flexible energy consumption. Considering the uncertainty of both the renewable energy units' power and the consumers' aggregate loads impact the transport process of the DHS, the thermal characteristics of the DHS transportation and the node temperature response under the source-load uncertainty need to be quantified and analyzed. This paper proposed a method to calculate the nodes' temperature dynamic response of the DHS under multiple source-load uncertainty scenarios. The prediction and combination methods of supply and demand probability intervals of source and load nodes under varying credibility levels were investigated. Additionally, the effects of source-load uncertainty boundary conditions on the DHS transport process were analyzed. The temperature response of the nodes was calculated based on the established dynamic DHS model under multiple source-load uncertainty scenarios. A DHS in Beijing was selected for case validation and analysis, and it has 90 nodes and 109 pipes. The simulation results showed that the relative average error of node flow rate in the dynamic DHS model was 3.02%, and the average difference in node temperature was 1 °C. The probability distribution semi-analytical method and the Bayesian credible interval calculation method can accurately describe the uncertainty on both source and load sides. The models and algorithms proposed in this paper could effectively quantify the nodes' dynamic temperature response under the source-load uncertainty. • Proposed uncertainty quantification models for the source and load nodes of DHS. • Developed a novel credible interval calculation method for nodes' thermal power. • Quantified nodes' temperature dynamic response considering source-load uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the inflexibility of traditional single-energy virtual power plants (VPPs) in accommodating high proportions of renewable energy, this study proposes a predictive optimization method for multi-energy VPPs. The method supports multi-energy complementary cooperative dispatch and participation in multiple markets, and is applicable to future multi-energy VPPs that integrate carbon capture technology, power-to-gas, and energy storage. The method takes into account the uncertain parameters of stakeholders' behavior and introduces sliding time windows to improve production stability and the feasibility of VPP dispatch schemes. The optimization scheme is obtained based on the scenario method when the risk is maximum. The case results show that the proposed method can increase the profit by 8.31% compared with that without considering the time window. After stabilization, the ramping power changes by 17.39%. It is also found that accounting for the uncertainty of stakeholders increased the maximum profit drop from 47.70% to 60.45%. The introduction of power-to-gas and carbon capture technology has effectively improved the overall economy of the VPP and reduced carbon emissions. The proposed VPP predictive optimization method and uncertainty analysis of stakeholders' behavior provide basis for operation control of multi-energy VPPs. • A multi-energy VPP structure considered CCUS, P2G, and energy storage is proposed. • The uncertain impact of the stakeholders' behavior is quantitatively analyzed. • An optimization method considering stakeholders' behavior uncertainty is proposed. • A sliding time window parameter is proposed to enhance dispatch efficiency. • The results show that VPP's economy improved after introducing P2G and CCUS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air infiltration significantly impacts building energy consumption and the indoor thermal environment. The proportion of infiltration load in large-space buildings is higher than in normal buildings. Due to the particularity of building structure and function, the existing building infiltration load calculation methods are unsuitable for large-space buildings. This paper proposed a new method for analyzing the building infiltration process from a thermodynamic perspective, enabling large-space buildings' infiltration load to be calculated more accurately and quickly. Compared with the existing method, it was found that a fixed proportional difference existed, and the proposed method relied on certain assumptions. The correction factor η was introduced to correct these limitations. The proposed method was verified to be accurate and universal in actual buildings. The paper also presents the results of η in different building scenarios and discusses the influence of mechanical ventilation and ideal gas assumption on η. Compared with the air change method and the gap method, the correction factor is stable in the range of 0.257–0.278 and 0.327–0.353, respectively. Furthermore, the correction factor for a monatomic ideal gas is 40% higher than that for a diatomic ideal gas. The new method provides a more accurate and efficient way to calculate the infiltration load, which can help improve the energy efficiency of buildings and the indoor thermal environment. • Proposes a building load model based on grand canonical ensemble theory. • The proposed model focuses on calculation of building infiltration load. • The model is compared with existing gap air change and gap methods. • The impact of model assumptions is discussed in a large-space building case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Variable refrigerant flow system is a popular building air conditioning solution. Modern variable refrigerant flow systems such as multi-functional variable refrigerant flow systems can also provide space cooling, space heating, and water heating to the building simultaneously. The performance improvement of variable refrigerant flow system is a key research topic. In the current article, energy saving potentials of two measures: A new energy saving control strategy and a new variable refrigerant flow system with chilled water storage are theoretically investigated. The energy saving control strategy changed the evaporating temperature based on ambient temperature. The new variable refrigerant flow system utilizes the water storage component in current multi-functional variable refrigerant flow systems as a chilled water storage unit. Simulation is carried out on a validated thermodynamic variable refrigerant flow model in EnergyPlus. The seasonal energy saving potentials of both measures are calculated in four cities: Miami, Houston, Baltimore, and Chicago. The energy saving control strategy can achieve seasonal energy saving as high as 10.8% in cooling season and 15.4% in heating season. The performance of the new system is also compared to baseline variable refrigerant flow system and the seasonal cooling energy saving could reach 12.5%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given manifold advantages of natural gas in clean energy substitution and promotion of renewable energy penetration, the scale of natural gas networks (NGN) and the number of natural gas users will continue to increase, resulting in more complex coupling characteristics among system state parameters. To facilitate coupling characteristics analysis, this paper proposes an analytical sensitivity analysis (ASA) method for radial NGN, which establishes analytical expressions between sensitivity, system state, and topology parameters. The steady-state model of NGN is established, considering different equilibrium nodes: reference nodes and slack nodes. The Newton-Raphson method is used to solve this model. Then, analytical expressions, including the sensitivity between gas pressure and reference node pressure, the sensitivity between gas pressure and gas load, and the sensitivity between gas pressure and the ratio of injected flow at slack node and reference node, are derived. The branch's sensitivity contribution factor (SCF), which comprises branch's gas flow and characteristic parameter, is defined. Finally, we conduct a case study based on Belgium NGN to verify the proposed method. The comparison with the perturbation method shows most of the analytical sensitivity results have an error of less than 3%. Results in different scenarios indicate that both the number of reference and slack nodes and their positions will influence sensitivity results. Coupling characteristics in NGN can be adjusted by changing branches' SCF. Two ways to change SCF are installing a gas storage tank (GST) and adjusting branches' characteristic parameters. The optimum installation position of GST and the characteristic parameter having the greatest influence on sensitivity results can be accurately obtained based on ASA, which is verified in the case study. • The steady-state model of natural gas networks is given. • The analytical sensitivity expressions in different scenarios are derived. • The branch's sensitivity contribution factor is defined. • The analytical sensitivity can be used for adjusting operating characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a comprehensive research review on variable refrigerant flow systems. The content includes four main parts: (1) a comprehensive introduction of variable refrigerant flow systems; (2) a review of recent experimental studies, including testing of the heat pump variable refrigerant flow system, heat recovery variable refrigerant flow system, and new variable refrigerant flow systems under various operation modes; (3) a review of steady-state modeling of variable refrigerant flow systems, including history, modeling approach, and model accuracy; and (4) a review of a dynamic modeling study of variable refrigerant flow systems, including modeling approach, control design, and fault detection and diagnosis techniques. It is suggested that the experimental study of variable refrigerant flow systems should include occupants’ thermal comfort. In addition, it is recommended that the steady-state simulation should take the internal gain of buildings into consideration. To improve the accuracy of the steady-state variable refrigerant flow model, more field testing would also be necessary. For dynamic modeling research, it is suggested to include heat recovery variable refrigerant flow and new variable refrigerant flow systems. Development of advanced controllers and effective fault detection and diagnosis algorithms would also be necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this study, a multi-functional variable refrigerant flow system operated in heat recovery mode with a water heating system was experimentally investigated. The multi-functional variable refrigerant flow system could supply space cooling, space heating, and hot water simultaneously in multiple zones. Its system performance with the water heating system operation was evaluated under a cooling main mode and a heating main mode. For the cooling main mode, when the water heating system was operated, the daily multi-functional variable refrigerant flow system performance was improved by 20.4%. This was mainly due to the increased heat recovery ratio from 0 to 0.1 and the reduced compressor pressure ratio. The pressure ratio was reduced by 16.5% because the condensing capacity was shared by both the water heating system and outdoor heat exchangers. For the heating main mode, when the water heating system was operated, the daily multi-functional variable refrigerant flow system performance was improved by 7.3%. This was mainly due to the increased part-load ratio of the system, which resulted in the increase of the compressor efficiency. The performance of the heat recovery mode between indoor units was also tested. It was found that the heat recovery operation could reduce discharge pressure by 22.2% and improve the hourly performance factor by 17%. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We have identified a biologically active component, panaxadiol saponins component (PDS-C), from Chinese ginseng herb extract. Panaxadiol saponins component contains five ginsenoside monomers with total purity of 92.44%. In this study, the BALB/c mouse model with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) was established by injection of antiplatelet antibody every other day for 5 total times; the peripheral blood platelet counts steadily decreased to 20%–30% of normal levels and remained decreased for about 10 days. The antiplatelet antibody was derived from the sera of guinea pigs immunized with the platelets of BALB/c mice. Mice with ITP were treated with PDS-C at a low, a moderate, or a high dose for 10 consecutive days. We observed that the peripheral blood platelet counts of ITP mice were significantly higher than that of ITP controls (untreated) after treatment of PDS-C in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with PDS-C also increased the mature megakaryocytes in the bone marrow of treated ITP animals with a concomitant decease of immature megakaryocyte precursors. Furthermore, macrophage phagocytosis of exogenous erythrocytes in the intra-abdominal cavity of ITP mice was inhibited by PDS-C treatment, indicating that PDS-C also could modulate immune function and may possibly prevent phagocytosis of antibody-coated platelets. Altogether, our findings suggest that PDS-C may have a dual role, promoting proliferation and differentiation of megakaryocytes, as well as modulating immune function, and it may therefore be very helpful in the treatment of ITP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water-soluble polymers with equal positive and negative charges in the same monomer unit, such as the phosphorylcholine group and other zwitterionic groups, exhibit promising potential in gene delivery with appreciable transfection efficiency, compared with the traditional poly(ethylene glycol)-based polycation–gene complexes. These zwitterionic polymers with various architectural structures and properties have been synthesized by various polymerization methods, such as conventional radical polymerization, atom-transfer radical-polymerization, reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer polymerization, and nitroxide-mediated radical polymerization. These techniques have been used to efficiently facilitate gene therapy by fabrication of non-viral vectors with high cytocompatibility, large gene-carrying capacity, effective cell-membrane permeability, andin vivogene-loading/releasing functionality. Zwitterionic polymer-based gene delivery vectors systems can be categorized into soluble-polymer/gene mixing, molecular self-assembly, and polymer-gene conjugation systems. This review describes the preparation and characterization of various zwitterionic polymer-based gene delivery vectors, specifically water-soluble phospholipid polymers for carrying gene derivatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrated energy systems (IES) realize the coupling of different energy flows and help to improve energy efficiency and increase renewable energy consumption. However, due to the coupling effect, variation of operation parameters in one energy flow can be propagated to other ones through the coupling equipment, which results in complex security problems of IES. Here, we propose a security assessment method based on the vulnerability index (VI) for electricity-gas-heat IES. The vulnerability index combines the current values of state variables, operation limits, and sensitivity factors between state variables and control variables simultaneously. Current values are obtained by the solution of the steady-state IES model by the decomposed Newton-Raphson method. Sensitivity factors are derived based on the Jacobian matrix in the IES model. VI matrixes for IES with different control modes are formulated and deduced. The vulnerable state variables and the key control variables are identified based on the VI matrixes. A case study is conducted to validate the proposed method. Vulnerable state variables and key control variables are identified by the absolute value of vulnerability index with the upward and downward adjustment of control variables. These results are verified by energy flow calculations, which show that vulnerable state variables and key control variables derived by vulnerability index are more accurate than those identified by sensitivity factors. In the situations of determining electricity based on heat and determining heat based on electricity, the method proposed herein is 1.73 and 22.45 times faster than energy flow calculations respectively. [Display omitted] • Vulnerability index (VI) is proposed for the integrated energy systems assessment. • The VI combines the state variable value, operation limit, and sensitivity factor. • The VI matrixes under different control modes are derived. • Vulnerable state variables and key control variables are defined via the VI matrixes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we are concerned with a delayed multispecies competition predator-prey dynamic system with Beddington-DeAngelis functional response. Some sufficient conditions which guarantee the existence of a positive periodic solution for the system are obtained by applying the Mawhin coincidence theory. The interesting thing is that the result is related to the delays, which is different from the corresponding ones known from literature (the results are delay-independent). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this paper, we discuss singular perturbations of third-order nonlinear ordinary differential equations with full nonlinear boundary conditions. The emphasis here is that the nonlinear term depends on the first, second order derivatives and the boundary conditions are full nonlinear that is where the main novelty of this work lies. By applying the upper and lower solutions method, as well as analysis technique, the existence, uniqueness results for the singularly perturbed boundary value problem are established and asymptotic estimates of solutions is also obtained. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We prepared redox phospholipid polymer microparticles for immobilizing an enzyme in order to maintain activity for a long time and obtain highly effective electron transfer to a gold substrate as an electrode. To achieve these double functions, an amphiphilic redox phospholipid polymer, poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine-co-n-butyl methacrylate-co-p-nitrophenyloxycarbonyl oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (MEONP)-co-vinylferrocene (VFc)) (PMBNF) was synthesized. The polystyrene (PS) microparticles were modified by employing a simple solution dip-coating technique to form the PMBNF layer on the surface. As one of the model enzyme oxidases, a glucose oxidase (GO x ) was immobilized on the PMBNF/PS microparticles by the reaction between the MEONP units in the PMBNF layer and the amino group in the GO x . The activity of immobilized GO x is maintained well; for example, activity of more than 80% of the initial activity was observed even after storage at both 4°C and 25°C (ionic strength: 0.10mol/L, phosphate buffer solution, pH 7.0) for at least one month. The GO x /PMBNF/PS microparticles were arrayed on a gold substrate in a monolayer, and then, crosslinked to each other with a polymeric diamine compound. The PMBNF/PS microparticles demonstrated an efficient electron transfer from immobilized GO x to the gold surface. From these results, we concluded that the PMBNF layer on the PS microparticles possessed double functions such as stable enzyme immobilization ability and efficient electron transfer ability. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: By using the theory of comparison theorem and suitable Lyapunov functional, a multispecies competition-predator system with Holling III functional response and time delays is investigated in this paper. Some sufficient conditions for the existence and uniqueness and global asymptotic stability of almost periodic solutions of this system is obtained. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Development of living cell-based devices holds great promise in many biomedical and industrial applications. To increase our understanding of the process, we investigated the biological and electrochemical properties of a redox phospholipid polymer hydrogel containing an electron-generating bacteria (Shewanella oneidensis MR-1). A water-soluble and amphiphilic phospholipid polymer, poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine-co-n-butyl methacrylate-co-p-vinylphenylboronic acid-co-vinylferrocene) (PMBVF), was our choice for incorporation into a hydrogel matrix that promotes encapsulation of bacteria and acts as an electron transfer mediator. This hydrogel formed spontaneously and encapsulated Shewanella in three-dimensional structures. Visual analysis showed that the encapsulated Shewanella maintained viability and metabolic activity even after long-term storage. Cyclic voltammetry measurement indicated that the PMBVF/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PMBVF/PVA) hydrogel had stable and high electron transfer efficiency. Amperometric measurement showed that the hydrogel could maintain the electron transfer efficiency even when Shewanella was encapsulated. Thus, the PMBVF/PVA hydrogel not only provides a mild environment for long-term bacterial survival but also maintains electron transfer efficiency from the bacteria to the electrode. We conclude that hydrogel/bacteria hybrid biomaterials, such as PMBVF/PVA/Shewanella, may find application in the fabrication of living cell-based devices. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Based on the coincidence degree theory of Mawhin, we get a new general existence result for the following higher-order multi-point boundary value problem at resonance where f: [0, 1] × ℝ → ℝ is a Carathéodory function, 0 < ξ < ξ < ... < ξ < 1, α ∈ ℝ, i = 1, 2, ..., m, m ≥ 2 and 0 < η < ... < η < 1, β ∈ ℝ, j = 1, ..., l, l ≥ 1. In this paper, two of the boundary value conditions are responsible for resonance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fabrication of biodegradable poly(lactic acid) (PLA) microspheres containing total alkaloids of Caulis sinomenii was investigated. The formation, diameter, morphology and properties of the microspheres were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), laser particle size analyser and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), etc. In vitro releasing behaviour was also investigated using UV-Vis spectrometer. As a result, the drug-loaded microspheres with a narrower distributive, rounder and smoother surface were prepared. Drug-releasing behaviour from microspheres was affected by the concentration of emulsifier and the stirring rate. The results demonstrated that a medicated system, which can be potentially applied within a drug delivery system, was designed. This system acts in a systematic manner for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: By using the generalized Riccati technique and an inequality due to Hardy, Littlewood and Polya, several new oscillation criteria are established for a class of even-order half-linear distributed for a differential equation with damping. The results obtained extend and improve earlier results in existing literature. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper, we deal with the existence of at least three classical solutions for the following two point boundary value problemwhere , is a constant, is a positive parameter, . Our main tool is a recent three critical point theorem of Ricceri. Our emphasis here is constructing an appropriate separable and reflexive real Banach space. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper provides sufficient conditions for the existence and uniqueness of solutions to a nonlinear multi-point boundary value problem for third order differentia equation. The nonlinear term f in the differential equation under consideration may depend on second-order derivative. The emphasis here is the boundary conditions are nonlinear and this is where the main novelty of this work lies. By applying the upper and lower solutions method, as well as degree theory, the existence and uniqueness results of the problem are established. Some examples are given to demonstrate the main results. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper deals with the existence of solutions for the following th order multi-point boundary value problem at resonancewhere is a continuous function, , , and . An existence theorem is obtained by using the coincidence degree theory of Mawhin. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper, we prove some existence results for a third order multi-point boundary value problem at resonance. Our method is based upon the coincidence degree theory of Mawhin. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Let f : [0, 1]× Rn → R be a continuous function and e ∈ L 1[0, 1]. Let βj (1 ≤ j ≤ m − 2) ∈ R, 0 &#60; η 1 &#60; η 2 &#60; … &#60; η m−2 &#60; 1 be given. This paper is concerned with the existence of solutions for the following nth-order multipoint boundary value problems at resonance case and Some existence results are obtained by using the coincidence degree theory of Mawhin. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A highly sensitive and selective nitrite sensing platform based on nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (N-CDs), by means of a headspace single drop microextraction process, was constructed for dual-mode fluorometric and visual colorimetric determination of nitrite. In this system, the two-channel selective sensing of nitrite was achieved at the same time, with color ranging from colorless to red and N-CDs fluorescence quenching gradually. Meanwhile, gaseous NO was generated from the redox chemical vapor generation process and further extracted into a single drop, which effectively improving the analytical sensitivity and alleviating the matrix interference. By fluorescence and colorimetry, the limits of detection were calculated to be 0.03 and 0.08 μg mL−1, respectively, while 0.8 μg mL−1 nitrite was discernable by the naked eye. This method was utilized to analysis of diversified real food samples (vegetables, milk and ham), and the results were proved to be nearly consistent with a standard method. Furthermore, the storage conditions of vegetable juice have also been explored. ● A dual-mode fluorometric and visual colorimetric nitrite sensing platform. ● A N-CDs based sensing system with hyperfluorescence, low toxicity and rich active amino groups. ● A headspace single drop microextraction based chemical vapor generation process. ● A sensitive, selective and matrix interference-resistant nitrite analytical method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intelligent and efficient operation of large-scale urban centralized heating system (UCHS) is a hot topic in urban energy system field. This study develops an intelligent operation control platform for China's UCHS via "cyber-physical systems" (CPS). The platform is based on graph theory and thermal-hydraulic modeling and has been validated against measured data collected from the substations. 88.5% of the modeled substation supply pressure has an error of less than 5%, and 82.1% of the modeled substation return pressure has an error of less than 5%. The platform carries out "model-based prediction" and "prediction-based decision-making" by incorporating state sensing, load forecasting, modeling, and model-based operation optimization. The platform is further applied to a target UCHS using coal-based combined heat and power (CHP) units and gas-fired boilers as heating sources and covering an area of 15 million m2. To ensure the accuracy, this study carries out online calibration with real-time operation data and tests the load distribution feature during the pilot heating season. During a two-day operation, the optimized heating sources load distribution scheme could reduce natural gas consumption by up to 31.2% when compared with existing experience-based operation. The operation cost during that operation period is also reduced by 2.6%, accordingly. • "Cyber-physical systems" idea is applied to urban centralized heating system. • A CPS-based control platform is developed and further tested in a real site. • The platform reduces overall energy consumption during pilot season testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial steam heating is a significant aspect of energy consumption in China, playing a crucial role in industrial energy efficiency. Historically, demand response research has predominantly focused on the electricity sector, with limited emphasis on steam supply. This study explores a novel Time-of-Use pricing approach for steam heating systems, anchored in the demand response theory of price incentives. It develops a peak-valley segmentation method by considering both the load differences between supply and demand and the thermal storage capacity of the pipeline system. Additionally, the paper delves into user response characteristics to formulate an optimized Time-of-Use pricing model for steam heating systems. Implemented in a Jiangsu-based case study, the model demonstrates significant efficiency improvements: it reduces the peak-valley load difference by up to 68.3% and cuts steam purchasing costs by ¥135,000. Furthermore, the alignment between the users' total steam load curve and the heat source's steam supply is enhanced by 18.8%, illustrating the model's effectiveness in balancing demand and supply. • Cluster analysis to extract steam user load characteristics. • Divide peak/valley times based on network storage and user traits. • Create a multi-objective Time-of-Use model for steam pricing optimization. • Carry out a case validation in an actual industrial park in Jiangsu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Surgery is the primary treatment for benign breast disease and causes some disruption to the normal physiology of the breast, even when this disruption is localised, it remains unclear whether it affects women's ability to breastfeed. There are only a few studies describing the experience of breastfeeding in women who have undergone benign breast disease (BBD) surgery. Methods: We retrospectively analysed data from patients aged 20–40 years in Guangdong, China, who underwent breast lumpectomy for BBD in our department between 01 January 2013 and 30 June 2019, with a follow-up date of 01 February 2022. Patients were included who had a history of childbirth between the time of surgery and the follow-up date. By collecting general information about this group of patients and information about breastfeeding after surgery, we described the breastfeeding outcomes of women of a fertile age who had previously undergone surgery for benign breast disease. Results: With a median follow-up of 5.9 years, a total of 333 patients met the inclusion criteria. From the breastfeeding data of the first child born postoperatively, the mean duration of 'exclusive breastfeeding' was 5.1 months, and the mean duration of 'any breastfeeding' was 8.8 months. The rate of 'ever breastfeeding' is 91.0%, which is lower than the national average of 93.7%, while the exclusive breastfeeding rate at six months was 40.8%, was higher than the 29.2% national average. The any breastfeeding rate at 12 months was 30.0%, which was well below the 66.5% national average. The common reason for early breastfeeding cessation was insufficient breast milk. A total of 29.0% of patients who had ever breastfed after surgery voluntarily reduced the frequency and duration of breastfeeding on the operated breast because of the surgery. Conclusions: There are some impacts of BBD surgery on breastfeeding and some may be psychological. Institutions should provide more facilities for mothers who have undergone breast surgery to help them breastfeed, such as conducting community education on breastfeeding after breast surgery, training professional postoperative lactation consultants in hospitals, and extending maternity leave. Families should encourage mothers to breastfeed with both breasts instead of only the non-operated breast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 7 is aberrantly overexpressed in many types of cancer and is an attractive target for cancer therapy due to its dual role in transcription and cell cycle progression. Moreover, CDK7 can directly modulate the activities of estrogen receptor (ER), which is a major driver in breast cancer. Breast cancer cells have exhibited high sensitivity to CDK7 inhibition in pre-clinical studies. Methods: In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of the latest insights into CDK7 biology and recent advancements in CDK7 inhibitor development for breast cancer treatment. We also discuss the current application of CDK7 inhibitors in different molecular types of breast cancer to provide potential strategies for the treatment of breast cancer. Results: Significant progress has been made in the development of selective CDK7 inhibitors, which show efficacy in both triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and hormone receptor-positive breast cancer (HR+). Moreover, combined with other agents, CDK7 inhibitors may provide synergistic effects for endocrine therapy and chemotherapy. Thus, high-quality studies for developing potent CDK7 inhibitors and investigating their applications in breast cancer therapy are rapidly emerging. Conclusion: CDK7 inhibitors have emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy and have demonstrated significant anti-cancer activity in different subtypes of breast cancer, especially those that have been resistant to current therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To investigate the value of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and red blood cell distribution width (RDW) in evaluating the prognosis of children with severe pneumonia (SP). Methods. A retrospective analysis of the data of 91 children with SP admitted to our hospital from March 2018 to March 2021. According to the survival status after 28 days of treatment, all children were divided into the survival group (n = 59) and the death group (n = 32). The clinical data and laboratory indicators of the patients were recorded. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors of prognosis, and the ROC curve was used to analyze the predictive value of each index. Results. The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score and CURB-65 score of the death group were higher than those of the survival group (P < 0.05). The RDW, NLR, PLR, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, procalcitonin blood lactic acid (Lac) of the death group, were higher than those of the survival group, and LYM was lower than the survival group (P < 0.05). Multivariate regression analysis showed that APACHE II score, RDW, NLR, PLR, and Lac were all independent risk factors for poor prognosis in children with SP (P < 0.05). The AUC of NLR, PLR, and RDW for evaluating the prognosis of children with SP were 0.798, 0.781, and 0.777, respectively. The sensitivity was 56.25%, 90.63%, and 56.25%, respectively, and the specificity was 89.83%, 55.93%, and 91.53%, respectively. The AUC of NLR, PLR, and RDW combined to evaluate the prognosis of children with SP was 0.943. When the best cut-off value was 0.8528, the sensitivity was 93.75%, and the specificity was 91.53%. Conclusion. NLR, PLR, and RDW have certain predictive value for the prognosis of children with SP; the combination of the three indicators has a higher value in evaluating the prognosis of children with SP, which can better guide the prognostic treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Qiweibaizhu decoction (QBD), a classic Chinese herbal formula, has been widely used for treating diarrhea in infants and children with spleen deficiency syndrome for centuries, but its mechanism of action remains unclear. The gut microbiota, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and intestinal mucus are closely associated with diarrhea. Methods. In this study, the composition of the gut microbiota in diarrheal rats was analyzed by 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing. The concentrations of colon SCFAs were determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The expression of mucin 2 (MUC2) in the colon was detected by immunofluorescence. Results. Diarrhea significantly changed the diversity and structure of the gut microbiota and disrupted the mucus barrier in juvenile rats. QBD did not significantly change the diversity and structure of the intestinal flora, but it enhanced the increasing tendencies of Verrucomicrobia and Akkermansia and decreased the abundance of Turicibacter (P = 0.037) and Flavonifractor (P = 0.043). QBD tends to repair the mucus layer and promote MUC2 expression in juvenile rats with diarrhea. Moreover, S. boulardii significantly increased the abundance of Parasutterella (P = 0.043). In addition, QBD treatment tends to increase the propionic acid concentration during diarrhea, but its levels of acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, and total SCFAs were lower than those in the S. boulardii group. Conclusion. S. boulardii significantly increased the abundance of Parasutterella, leading to increased production of acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid, consequently leading to alleviation of diarrhea. In comparison, QBD affected diarrhea via regulation of the intestinal flora, especially by increasing the abundance of Verrucomicrobia and Akkermansia, resulting in mucus barrier repair, protection of the intestines, and treatment of diarrhea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using high pressure microfluidization, we prepared micro-fibrillated soybean cellulose (MFSC) and analyzed its morphology and structure. MFSC was then incorporated into low-methoxyl pectin (PC) to coat lactic acid bacteria (LAB) by ionotropic gelation, and the effects of PC-MFSC microgel on LAB survival in a simulated gastrointestinal tract were investigated. Particle size analysis showed that the MFSC particle size decreased significantly with increasing jet pressure. Transmission electron microscopy analysis indicated that many cellulosic microfibers appeared at 150 MPa. Infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the crystal structure changed from β-cellulose I type to II type with increasing jet pressure, but excessive pressure (200 MPa) damaged the crystalline structure of MFSC. Scanning microscopy indicated that cellulosic microfibers not only promoted a compact pectin gel morphology but also adhered to and coated the LAB in the pectin gel. MFSC-150 stabilized the pectin gel network, preventing the weakening of the gel under low pH conditions. Compared with other PC-MFSCs, PC-MFSC-150 microgel significantly decreased LAB susceptibility to gastrointestinal juice and increased the viability of LAB. • Jet pressure was the key factor determining the micro-structure of MFSC. • High pressure (150 MPa) could degrade cellulose into semi-crystalline microfibre. • Semi-crystalline microfibre stabilized the pectin gel network in low pH condition. • PC-MFSC-150 microgel improved the tolerance of LAB in gastrointestinal fluid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The effects of intravenous glucocorticoids on postoperative delirium (POD) in adult patients undergoing major surgery remain controversial. Therefore, we conducted this meta-analysis to assess whether intravenous glucocorticoids can decrease POD incidence in the entire adult population undergoing major surgery and its association with patients age, type of surgery, and type of glucocorticoid. Methods: We searched the relevant literature published before November 3, 2023, through Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. The primary outcome was POD incidence. The risk ratio for the primary outcome was calculated using the Mantel–Haenszel method. The secondary outcomes included 30-day mortality, length of hospital stay, ICU duration, mechanical ventilation duration, and occurrence of glucocorticoid-related adverse effects (e.g., infection and hyperglycemia). This meta-analysis was registered in PROSPERO: CRD42022345997. Results: We included eight randomized controlled studies involving 8972 patients. For the entire adult population undergoing major surgery, intravenous glucocorticoids reduced the POD incidence (risk ratio = 0.704, 95% confidence interval, 0.519–0.955; P = 0.024). However, subgroups defined by type of surgery showed differential effects of glucocorticoids on POD. Intravenous glucocorticoids can not reduce POD incidence in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery (risk ratio = 0.961, 95% confidence interval, 0.769–1.202; P = 0.728), with firm evidence from trial sequential analysis. However, in major non-cardiac surgery, perioperative intravenous glucocorticoid reduced the incidence of POD (risk ratio = 0.491, 95% confidence interval, 0.338–0.714; P < 0.001), which warrants further studies due to inconclusive evidence by trial sequence analysis. In addition, the use of glucocorticoids may reduce the mechanical ventilation time (weighted mean difference, -1.350; 95% confidence interval, -1.846 to -0.854; P < 0.001) and ICU duration (weighted mean difference = -7.866; 95% confidence interval, -15.620 to -0.112; P = 0.047). Conclusions: For the entire adult population undergoing major surgery, glucocorticoids reduced the POD incidence. However, the effects of glucocorticoids on POD appear to vary according to the type of surgery. In patients receiving major non-cardiac surgery, glucocorticoid may be an attractive drug in the prevention of POD, and further studies are needed to draw a definitive conclusion. In cardiac surgery, intravenous glucocorticoids have no such effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastrointestinal responsive polymeric nanospheres (NPs) based on hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate were prepared using spontaneous emulsification solvent diffusion method for improved oral administration of insulin. The NPs prepared under optimized conditions have an encapsulation efficiency of 90% and a particle size of about 200 nm. In vitro drug release experiments demonstrated that the NPs exhibited a gradient release profile of loaded drug when the pH value gradually increased from 3.0 to 7.4. Enzyme resistance experiments showed that under simulated gastrointestinal conditions, the NPs protected more than 60% of the drug from being degraded by trypsin. The oral hypoglycemic experiments revealed that insulin-loaded NPs could significantly reduce blood glucose levels in diabetic rats with a relative bioavailability of 8.6%. Ex vivo imaging investigation of rat tissues showed that the drug-loaded NPs could promote the absorption of insulin in the ileum and colon. The work described here suggests that the gastrointestinal responsive polymeric NPs may be promising candidates for improving gastrointestinal tract delivery of hydrophilic biomacromolecules. Accordingly, the results indicated that hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate NPs with gastrointestinal stimuli responsiveness could be a promising candidate for oral insulin delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flavonoids, a vast group of polyphenols widely distributed in plants, are known to possess a range of biological activities and potential anti-tumor effects. X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) promotes the progression of leukemia by preventing tumor cells undergoing apoptosis. The present study investigated the potential effects and underlying mechanisms of pure total flavonoids from Citrus paradisi Macfad (PTFC) on human U937 cells, and explored the effects of short hairpin (sh)RNA-mediated XIAP knockdown on the anti-cancer effects of PTFC. Western blotting was used to determine level of apoptosis-associated effectors following PTFC treatment. A lentiviral vector of RNA interference of XIAP gene was constructed to downregulate XIAP expression. MTT assay and flow cytometry were used to determine the effects of PTFC separately or combined with XIAP-shRNA on inhibition and apoptosis of U937 cells, respectively. Treatment with PTFC effectively inhibited leukemic cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. PTFC induced apoptosis of U937 cells in a dose-dependent manner, at a particular concentration range, by decreasing XIAP expression levels and activating caspases-3, -7 and -9. PTFC treatment combined with XIAP-shRNA additionally demonstrated a marked increase in cell apoptosis, compared with PTFC or XIAP-shRNA alone (P<0.05). Therefore, these findings suggest that PTFC inhibits growth and induces apoptosis in U937 cells in vitro. Furthermore, suppression of XIAP expression enhances these effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrated energy system (IES) in industrial parks is pivotal to China's carbon neutrality path, where steam plays a critical role as an energy carrier and raw materials in the production process. Utilization of the thermal inertia of steam systems may become a means to address challenges in industrial park IES dispatch. However, researchers have less discussed the dynamic modeling and inertia quantification of industrial steam systems compared to district heating. This work proposes a dynamic hydraulic analytical model (DHAM) of steam systems reflecting the spatial and temporal transportation of steam by introducing the reference temperature and momentum linearization assumptions. Further, a steam thermal inertia model (STIM) which comprises five storage key parameters and two indexes, is developed to quantify the thermal inertia based on DHAM. Validation results of DHAM in an industrial park demonstrate that the relative error is less than 3%, achieving high accuracy. Whilst the thermal inertia of a 163-node steam system in two operation conditions is quantified and compared. Results show that the net heat storage of the steam system could reach 7440.30 kg while the positive utilization rate in both scenarios never rises above 3%. It indicates that the thermal inertia as virtual storage can fully cover the dispatching demand while is not utilized and lacks the regulation strategy of active charging in operation. DHAM and STIM proposed in this study lay the quantitative basis for steam system analysis and operation optimization of industrial park IES. • A dynamic hydraulic analytical model is established for the steam system simulation. • A steam thermal inertia model (STIM) is proposed to quantify the steam system inertia. • The STIM comprehensively evaluates the storage potential and utilization rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A totally implanted venous access port (TIVAP) in the upper arm is a safe and cost-effective vascular access device and is widely used in breast cancer patients. Traditional tunnelling technique increases the operation time and has an unsatisfied cosmetic effect, so we explored the feasibility, cosmetic effect and complications of an upper arm port with a novel incision in this retrospective study. Methods: We reviewed 489 cases of totally implantable venous access port implantation in the upper arm with two types of incisions in our centre from 1 January 2018 to 30 January 2022. The patients were divided into two different incision groups including the puncture site incision group (n = 282) and the conventional tunnelling group (n = 207). The comparison of the results was collected between the two groups, and contributing factors were analyzed for major complications. Results: A total of 489 patients were successfully implanted with arm ports using the puncture site incision technique (n = 282, 57.7%) and conventional tunnelling technique (n = 207, 42.3%). The average operation time of the two types of incisions was 36.5 ± 15 min in the puncture site incision group and 55 ± 18.1 min in the tunnel needle group (P < 0.05). In terms of complications, 33 catheter-related complications occurred (6.4%), including 9 cases of infection, 15 cases of catheter-related thrombosis and 7 cases of skin exposure. Fourteen patients in the puncture site incision group developed complications compared with 17 in the traditional incision group. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of overall complication events (5.0% and 8.2%, P = 0.145) while the same result was found in each complication event. Weight, total cholesterol and diabetes were found to be associated with device-related infections in the univariate Cox proportional hazard regression models. Diabetes was found to be associated with device-related infections in multivariate analysis while hypertension was associated with thrombosis. Conclusions: The puncture site incision method is a novel technique with a better cosmetic appearance and less operation time than the traditional tunnelling technique, providing a comparable overall rate of complications. It offers a preferable choice for clinicians when dealing with different situations of patients. It is worthy of being used and promoted for patients requiring the totally implanted venous access port in the upper arm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) model is widely used to mimic human focal ischemic stroke in order to study ischemia/reperfusion brain injury in rodents. In tMCAO model, intraluminal suture technique is widely used to achieve ischemia and reperfusion. However, variation of infarct volume in this model often requires large sample size, which hinders the progress of preclinical research. Our previous study demonstrated that infarct volume was related to the success of reperfusion although the reason remained unclear. The aim of present study is to explore the relationship between focal thrombus formation and model reproducibility with respect to infarct volume. We hypothesize that suture-induced thrombosis causes infarct volume variability due to insufficient reperfusion after suture withdrawal. Seventy-two adult male CD-1 mice underwent 90 minutes of tMCAO with or without intraperitoneal administration of heparin. Dynamic synchrotron radiation microangiography (SRA) and laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) were performed before and after tMCAO to observe the cerebral vascular morphology and to measure the cerebral blood flow in vivo. Infarct volume and neurological score were examined to evaluate severity of ischemic brain injury. We found that the rate of successful reperfusion was much higher in heparin-treated mice compared to that in heparin-free mice according to the result of SRA and LSCI at 1 and 3 hours after suture withdrawal (p<0.05). Pathological features and SRA revealed that thrombus formed in the internal carotid artery, middle cerebral artery or anterior cerebral artery, which blocked reperfusion following tMCAO. LSCI showed that cortical collateral circulation could be disturbed by thrombi. Our results demonstrated that suture-induced thrombosis was a critical element, which affects the success of reperfusion. Appropriate heparin management provides a useful approach for improving reproducibility of reperfusion model in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the existence of traveling wave solutions for n-dimensional delayed reaction-diffusion systems. By using Schauder's fixed point theorem, we establish the existence result of a traveling wave solution connecting two steady states by constructing a pair of upper-lower solutions that are easy to construct. As an application, we apply our main results to a four-dimensional delayed predator-prey system and obtain the existence of traveling wave solutions. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saccharomyces cerevisiae (strain JH301) cells were micro-encapsulated in microcrystalline cellulose and Hongqu rice distiller's grain peptides (HRP) and subjected to fluidized bed drying. The effect of HRP on the viability of yeast in response to thermal drying was investigated. The moisture-viability profiles showed that HRP reduced the drying rate of yeast cells and increased viability in a concentration-dependent manner. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that HRP protected the morphology of the yeast cells, which presented a normal smooth structure and compact shape after thermal drying. The results of low-field 1H nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared spectroscopy revealed that HRP controls the binding water of yeast powder as opposed to interacting with the membrane surface proteins, further reducing the damage to phospholipids in the cell membrane during drying. Flow cytometry and confocal laser scanning microscopy confirmed that 3% HRP could reduce the proportion of membrane-damaged cells by nearly 19%. After drying, the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids in the cell membrane of JH301-3% HRP was 10.36% higher than that of JH301 in the absence of HRP, achieving increased membrane integrity and higher ATPase activity after rehydration. • Hongqu rice peptide (HRP) increased viability of yeast cells after drying. • HRP increased the proportion of bound water in yeast powder after drying. • JH301 + 3% HRP had greater membrane integrity than JH301. • HRP reduced the oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids in cell membrane. • Water distribution and membrane integrity determine the survival of yeast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neural stem cells (NSCs) show therapeutic potential for ischemia in young-adult animals. However, the effect of aging on NSC therapy is largely unknown. In this work, NSCs were transplanted into aged (24-month-old) and young-adult (3-month-old) rats at 1 day after stroke. Infarct volume and neurobehavioral outcomes were examined. The number of differentiated NSCs was compared in aged and young-adult ischemic rats and angiogenesis and neurogenesis were also determined. We found that aged rats developed larger infarcts than young-adult rats after ischemia (P<0.05). The neurobehavioral outcome was also worse for aged rats comparing with young-adult rats. Brain infarction and neurologic deficits were attenuated after NSC transplantation in both aged and young-adult rats. The number of survived NSCs in aged rats was similar to that of the young-adult rats (P>0.05) and most of them were differentiated into glial fibrillary acidic protein+ (GFAP+) cells. More importantly, angiogenesis and neurogenesis were greatly enhanced in both aged and young-adult rats after transplantation compared with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) control (P<0.05), accompanied by increased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Our results showed that NSC therapy reduced ischemic brain injury, along with increased angiogenesis and neurogenesis in aged rats, suggesting that aging-related microenvironment does not preclude a beneficial response to NSCs transplantation during cerebral ischemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human Ether-à-go-go-Related Gene (hERG) encodes a protein responsible for forming the alpha subunit of the IKr channel, which plays a crucial role in cardiac repolarization. The proper functioning of hERG channels is paramount in maintaining a normal cardiac rhythm. Inhibition of these channels can result in the prolongation of the QT interval and potentially life-threatening arrhythmias. Cardiotoxicity is a primary concern in the field of drug development. N-n-Butyl haloperidol iodide (F2), a derivative of haloperidol, has been investigated for its therapeutic potential. However, the impact of this compound on cardiac toxicity, specifically on hERG channels, remains uncertain. This study employs computational and experimental methodologies to examine the inhibitory mechanisms of F2 on hERG channels. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations commonly used techniques in computational biology to predict protein-ligand complexes' binding interactions and stability. In the context of the F2-hERG complex, these methods can provide valuable insights into the potential binding modes and strength of interaction between F2 and the hERG protein. On the other hand, electrophysiological assays are experimental techniques used to characterize the extent and nature of hERG channel inhibition caused by various compounds. By measuring the electrical activity of the hERG channel in response to different stimuli, these assays can provide important information about the functional effects of ligand binding to the channel. The study's key findings indicate that F2 interacts with the hERG channel by forming hydrogen bonding, π-cation interactions, and hydrophobic forces. This interaction leads to the inhibition of hERG currents in a concentration-dependent manner, with an IC 50 of 3.75 μM. The results presented in this study demonstrate the potential cardiotoxicity of F2 and underscore the significance of considering hERG channel interactions during its clinical development. This study aims to provide comprehensive insights into the interaction between F2 and hERG, which will may guid us in the safe use of F2 and in the development of new derivatives with high efficiency while low toxicity. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

District heating system (DHS) is a major part of urban energy system. DHS consists of primary and secondary loop. Compared to the primary loop, the secondary loop is closer to the heating user side. The operation control of heating substation and its corresponding secondary loop is a challenging topic. At present, the existing control of secondary loop is a manual and intermittent regulation process of its water supply temperature regardless of the weather condition, leading to either overheating or insufficient heating on the user side. Intelligent operation control of secondary loop has become a major focus of DHS digitalization. This paper proposes a new method of secondary loop operation control via a data-driven approach by dividing the process into two parts: primary loop valve opening (PLVO) prediction and corresponding secondary loop supply temperature (SLST) prediction. The goal is to provide both a time sequence of enhanced valve opening and its expected supply water temperature. Both models are trained with multilayer perceptron (MLP) and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) methods with consideration of the impact of input and prediction length. A demo heating substation and its secondary loop in Zhengzhou city are selected to illustrate the effectiveness of this approach. The application results show that the enhanced PLVO strategy proposed in this paper could reduce the supply water temperature deviation from the expected SLST and adapt to the change of ambient conditions. Compared with the existing operation strategy, the proposed approach reduces the supply water temperature deviation from 12.68% to 3.18% in an overheating scenario and from 6.18% to 3.87% in an insufficient heating scenario. It indicates that the proposed PLVO strategy could overcome the issue of overheating and insufficient heating in existing DHS. The results from this study could provide a basis for flexible and energy-saving operation of decentralized heating systems demanding a delicate and dynamic control of its secondary loop. • Secondary loop operation control is critical to district heating systems. • We propose a data-driven approach to control secondary loop supply temperature. • This new control strategy reduces overheating and avoids insufficient heating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]