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Temperature is a crucial parameter in the spin-exchange optical pumping (SEOP) process of noble gas ( 3 He), but is hard to measure due to its confinement nature. In this paper, we conduct research upon the temperature and gas flow distribution within a sealed SEOP cell through computational fluid dynamics simulation. The simulation result shows that the external heat exchange of the initial heating of the cell becomes a cooling process in the presence of high pumping laser power absorbed by the alkali metal. The heat from the pumping laser would also cause the gas in the cell to reach a much higher temperature than the oven, with the hottest part appearing on the upper side of the cell. These predicted behaviors from the simulation are later confirmed by our experiment measurement, which strongly indicates that a gas flow and heat flow exist within the cell. These results help us to understand the temperature distribution of 3 He gas in the cell and provide references for the development and improvement of the future SEOP system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase of the number of the two-body recombination channels strongly challenges the numerical calculation of the accurate rates for the three-body recombination (TBR) process and its reverse process, collision-induced dissociation (CID), at ultracold temperatures. By taking the 4He–4He–20Ne collision system as an example, we have obtained the rates for its TBR and CID processes involving all four recombination channels, including the two-body states 4He2 (l = 0) and 4He20Ne (l = 0, 1, 2) with l the rotational quantum number. By using the adiabatic hyperspherical method, we have considered not only total angular momentum J = 0 but also J > 0 in the ultracold collision energies (E = 0.01 − 100 mK × kB). It is found that 4He2 (l = 0) is the major product after the TBR process in the ultracold limit (E ≤ 0.1 mK × kB). The TBR rate into 4He2 (l = 0) is nearly one order of magnitude larger than the sum of the other three products, 4He20Ne (l = 0, 1, 2). Moreover, the CID rates for the three 4He20Ne (l = 0, 1, 2) + 4He initial states are close to each other and are smaller than that for the 4He2 (l = 0) + 20Ne initial state. Additionally, we have, for the first time, performed the channel-resolved scattering calculation that can explain the above-mentioned findings quantitatively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unique biophysical and biochemical properties of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) and their recombinant derivatives, intrinsically disordered protein polymers (IDPPs) offer opportunities for producing multistimuli‐responsive materials; their sequence‐encoded disorder and tendency for phase separation facilitate the development of multifunctional materials. This review highlights the strategies for enhancing the structural diversity of elastin‐like polypeptides (ELPs) and resilin‐like polypeptides (RLPs), and their self‐assembled structures via genetic fusion to ordered motifs such as helical or beta sheet domains. In particular, this review describes approaches that harness the synergistic interplay between order‐promoting and thermoresponsive building blocks to design hybrid biomaterials, resulting in well‐structured, stimuli‐responsive supramolecular materials ordered on the nanoscale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Aerosols could significantly influence ecosystem carbon and water fluxes, potentially altering their interconnected dynamics, typically characterized by water‐use efficiency (WUE). However, our understanding of the underlying ecophysiological mechanisms remains limited due to insufficient field observations. We conducted 4‐yr measurements of leaf photosynthesis and transpiration, as well as 3‐yr measurements of stem growth (SG) and sap flow of poplar trees exposed to natural aerosol fluctuation, to elucidate aerosol's impact on plant WUE. We found that aerosol improved sun leaf WUE mainly because a sharp decline in photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) inhibited its transpiration, while photosynthesis was less affected, as the negative effect induced by declined PAR was offset by the positive effect induced by low leaf vapor pressure deficit (VPDleaf). Conversely, diffuse radiation fertilization (DRF) effect stimulated shade leaf photosynthesis with minimal impact on transpiration, leading to an improved WUE. The responses were further verified by a strong DRF on SG and a decrease in sap flow due to the suppresses in total radiation and VPD. Our field observations indicate that, contrary to the commonly assumed coupling response, carbon uptake and water use exhibited dissimilar reactions to aerosol pollution, ultimately enhancing WUE at the leaf and canopy level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modulating the heterojunction interface is an effective way to improve the electrocatalytic efficiency of water electrolysis, and the metal centers with preferred crystal plane orientation offer the potential to enhance the interfacial charge transfer and electrode reaction kinetics. In this study, a Co/CoP modified hydrogen evolution electrode with selective exposure of the metal-centered Co(002) crystal face was prepared using a one-step electrodeposition method by adjusting the P/Co molar ratio. Results demonstrate that the preferential orientation of Co(002) crystal face in Co/CoP leads to an increased electrochemical active surface area, significantly reduced interfacial impedance and Tafel slope. Moreover, it brings the d-band center closer to the Fermi level, which is thermodynamically favorable for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Under optimized conditions, Co/CoP exhibits overpotentials of 85 mV and 183 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and 100 mA cm−2, respectively. After long-term and cyclic stability tests, no significant activity decay is observed, demonstrating excellent hydrogen evolution activity and cyclic stability. [Display omitted] • The Co/CoP heterojuncions exposed Co(002) crystal face were prepared. • Interfacial charge transfer and kinetics of Co(002)/CoP for HER were accelerated. • The η 10 and η 100 of Co(002)/CoP was 85 mV and 183 mV, respectively. • DFT certified that the Co(002)/CoP had suitable energy barriers and d-band center. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the prescribed performance tracking control problem is studied for interconnected nonlinear time‐delay systems with sensor and actuator faults. Based on the dynamic gain technique and the backstepping control method, a delay‐independent adaptive state feedback controller is designed. Besides, by embedding a smooth function into the controller, the unknown external disturbances, sensor and actuator faults are successfully compensated. Furthermore, we can deal with the asymmetric prescribed performance control with semi‐global or global requirements uniformly by selecting the initial value of the the scaling function. Based on Lyapunov theory, it is proved that the system output of each subsystem can closely track the desired signal and the boundedness of all signals in the closed‐loop systems can be ensured under the proposed control method. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy is proved by two simulation examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On February 26, 2018 and July 24, 2021, the Chinese government respectively issued two significant regulatory policies to address the problems caused by off-campus training institutions in terms of students' extra-curricular and family financial burdens. These policies have had a tremendous and far-reaching impact on the off-campus training industry in China. With the help of these two events, we explored the role of industry-level regulatory policies in shaping and forming organizational culture. This paper adopts a text analysis method, combined with the dimensions of the Denison Organizational Culture Survey (DOCS) and MAXQDA 18 software, to obtain data on corporate culture. Then, the approaches of regression discontinuity in time (RDiT) and regression discontinuity (RD) designs with multiple cutoffs are used to estimate the policy treatment effect. This empirical research suggests that regulatory policies have a significant impact on corporate culture. Moreover, regulatory policies of varying degrees of strictness have differential effects on different dimensions of corporate culture. The research findings contribute to the theories of corporate culture and can guide enterprises to evaluate the impact of policies on corporate culture more clearly, thereby enabling them to make wiser operation decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular hydrogen is an emerging broad-spectrum antioxidant molecule that can be used to treat myocardial infarction (MI). However, with hydrogen inhalation, the concentration that can be reached within target organs is low and the duration of action is short, which makes it difficult to achieve high dose targeted delivery of hydrogen to the heart, seriously limiting the therapeutic potential of hydrogen for MI. As a result of reactions with the internal environment of the body, subcutaneous implantation of magnesium slices leads to continuous endogenous hydrogen production, leading to a higher hydrogen concentration and a longer duration of action in target organs. In this study, we propose magnesium implant-based hydrogen therapy for MI. After subcutaneous implantation of magnesium slices in the dorsum of rats, we measured hydrogen production and efficiency, and evaluated the safety of this approach. Compared with hydrogen inhalation, it significantly improved cardiac function in rats with MI. Magnesium implantation also cleared free radicals that were released as a result of mitochondrial dysfunction, as well as suppressing cardiomyocyte apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The qRT-PCR technique has been regarded as an important tool for assessing gene expression diversity. Selection of appropriate reference genes is essential for validating deviation and obtaining reliable and accurate results. Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn) is a common aquatic plant with important aesthetic, commercial, and cultural values. Twelve candidate genes, which are typically used as reference genes for qRT-PCR in other plants, were selected for this study. These candidate reference genes were cloned with, specific primers designed based on published sequences. In particular, the expression level of each gene was examined in different tissues and growth stages of Lotus. Notably, the expression stability of these candidate genes was assessed using the software programs geNorm and NormFinder. As a result, the most efficient reference genes for rootstock expansion were TBP and UBQ. In addition, TBP and EF-1α were the most efficient reference genes in various floral tissues, while ACT and GAPDH were the most stable genes at all developmental stages of the seed. CYP and GAPDH were the best reference genes at different stages of leaf development, but TUA was the least stable. Meanwhile, the gene expression profile of NnEXPA was analyzed to confirm the validity of the findings. It was concluded that, TBP and GAPDH were identified as the best reference genes. The results of this study may help researchers to select appropriate reference genes and thus obtain credible results for further quantitative RT-qPCR gene expression analyses in Lotus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the almost unlimited resource and acceptable performance, Sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) have been regarded as a promising alternative for lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) for grid‐scale energy storage. As the key material of SIBs, hard carbon (HC) plays a decisive role in determining the batteries' performance. Nevertheless, the micro‐structure of HCs is quite complex and the random organization of turbostratically stacked graphene layers, closed pores, and defects make the structure‐performance relationship insufficiently revealed. On the other hand, the impending large‐scale deployment of SIBs leads to producing HCs with low‐cost and abundant precursors actively pursued. In this work, the recent progress of preparing HCs from different precursors including biomass, polymers, and fossil fuels is summarized with close attention to the influences of precursors on the structural evolution of HCs. After a brief introduction of the structural features of HCs, the recent understanding of the structure‐performance relationship of HCs for sodium storage is summarized. Then, the main focus is concentrated on the progress of producing HCs from distinct precursors. After that, the pros and cons of HCs derived from different precursors are comprehensively compared to conclude the selection rules of precursors. Finally, the further directions of HCs are deeply discussed to end this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there has been a growing prevalence of deep learning in various domains, owing to advancements in information technology and computing power. Graph neural network methods within deep learning have shown remarkable capabilities in processing graph-structured data, such as social networks and traffic networks. As a result, they have garnered significant attention from researchers.However, real-world data often face challenges like data sparsity and missing labels, which can hinder the performance and generalization ability of graph convolutional neural networks. To overcome these challenges, our research aims to effectively extract the hidden features and topological information of graph convolutional neural networks. We propose an innovative model called Adaptive Feature and Topology Graph Convolutional Neural Network (AAGCN). By incorporating an adaptive layer, our model preprocesses the data and integrates the hidden features and topological information with the original data’s features and structure. These fused features are then utilized in the convolutional layer for training, significantly enhancing the expressive power of graph convolutional neural networks.To evaluate the effectiveness of the adaptive layer in the AAGCN model, we conducted node classification experiments on real datasets. The results validate its ability to address data sparsity and improve the classification performance of graph convolutional neural networks.In conclusion, our research primarily focuses on addressing data sparsity and missing labels in graph convolutional neural networks. The proposed AAGCN model, which incorporates an adaptive layer, effectively extracts hidden features and topological information, thereby enhancing the expressive power and classification performance of these networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The effects of different grilling temperatures (220 °C, 250 °C, 280 °C, 310 °C) reaching the central temperature of 70 °C on heterocyclic amines (HAs) formation, moisture content, cooking loss, texture, colour, and sensory properties of grilled grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) were investigated. The grilling condition significantly (P < 0.05) affected cooking loss, moisture content, heterocyclic amines (HAs) formation, texture, colour and sensory properties. The results showed that 5 kinds of free and 9 kinds of protein‐bound heterocyclic amines were detected. The total amount of protein‐bound heterocyclic amines was much higher than that of the free state. Harman and Norharman, belonging to β‐carboline, constituted over 80% of the total content of heterocyclic amines. Considering the HAs formation and quality attributes, when the grilling condition was 280 °C for 10 min, the total content of HAs was the lowest, and the fish had moderate moisture content, firm texture, bright colour, and high sensory evaluation score. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an overview of the trade in artists' materials in Canton between 1750 and 1842. Through an investigation of China's foreign trade archives and records, this study gives a picture of international trade in artists' materials, particularly pigments, during this period in Canton. Furthermore, it reveals a close trade in Western modern pigments between the West and China. The results of this research may be helpful to conservators and conservation scientists conducting treatments or technical studies on Chinese export paintings of this period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the combination of minimally invasive methods for the treatment of incompetent great saphenous vein and perforating veins. Methods: Between December 2019 and October 2020, F-care radiofrequency ablation combined with ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy and residual perforator ligation and concomitant microphlebectomy were adopted for all eligible patients. The clinical symptoms scores, complications, and quality of life were recorded. Results: 49 patients (64 limbs) with a mean age of 63.29 ± 10.14 years, and 60.9% 4 were male. The 1-year truncal closure rate was 63/64 (98.4%). 1 A significant improvement in the Venous Disability Score, the Venous Segmental Disease Score, the Venous Clinical Severity Score and Chronic Venous Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire Score, at 12 months after the combination of minimally invasive treatment, were observed in the study. One patient developed intermuscular vein thrombosis that was successfully managed with rivaroxaban. Conclusions: The combination of minimally invasive methods is a safe and effective method for the treatment of lower extremity varicose veins. Further large-scale, prospective, multi-center studies are needed to further verify the findings of this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) show great potential in self-centering structures because of their appealing superelastic feature and good energy dissipation capability. The mechanical properties of SMA bars have been extensively studied over the past decades. However, the characteristics of smooth surface and poor machinability of the SMA bars, especially the widely used nickel–titanium SMAs, bring challenges to the anchorage systems in practical applications. This existing limitation is especially prominent for SMA bars designed to be used at the critical deformation locations of structural members or in seismic devices experiencing extreme working conditions. For this reason, this paper develops a novel hybrid threaded-swaged anchorage system to overcome the limitations of the current SMA mechanical splices. The uniaxial behavior of the threaded-swaged anchorage systems under different loading conditions was investigated experimentally with emphasis on the seismic application-oriented responses. Furthermore, the influence of eccentricity on the anchorage system was also considered to evaluate the SMA bars with large end rotation induced by the rocking behavior of the self-centering structures during earthquake shaking. Test results reveal that the performance of the proposed anchorage system is satisfactory with stable behavior under different loading conditions, which can provide a promising anchorage solution for SMA bars used in seismic resilient design. Moreover, a practical design method for this anchorage system is proposed for implementation in seismic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractExploring metal phosphonates with new crystal structures is of significance for the development of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). In this work, two new copper phosphonates, [tetraauqa-1,4-phenylenebis(hydroxymethylene))bisphosphonate biscopper(II)] bishydrate [Cu2(H2L)(H2O)4]·2H2O (1) and 1,4-phenylenebis(hydroxymethylene))bisphosphonate-(4,4’-bipy) copper(II) [Cu(H4L)(4,4’-bipy)] (2) (4,4’-bipy = 4,4’-bipyridine), have been synthesized from a hydroxy functionalized bisphosphonate ligand, H6L = (1,4-phenylenebis(hydroxymethylene))bis(phosphonic acid). The introduction of a hydroxy group can regulate the crystal structures. The bisphosphonate ligand in 1 is hexadentate, binding six copper ions with its six phosphonate oxygen atoms and two hydroxy oxygen atoms, forming a three-dimensional framework structure with rectangle channels running along the b-direction. For 2, the bisphosphonate ligands are double deprotonated and chelate or bridge two copper ions, showing a two-dimensional layered crystal structure. These compounds have interesting fluorescence properties with emission maxima (307 and 410 nm) lying in the blue region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular diseases are the top cause of death in China. Manual segmentation of cardiovascular images, prone to errors, demands an automated, rapid, and precise solution for clinical diagnosis.The paper highlights deep learning in automatic cardiovascular image segmentation, efficiently identifying pixel regions of interest for auxiliary diagnosis and research in cardiovascular diseases.In our study, we introduce innovative Region Weighted Fusion (RWF) and Shape Feature Refinement (SFR) modules, utilizing polarized self-attention for significant performance improvement in multiscale feature integration and shape fine-tuning. The RWF module includes reshaping, weight computation, and feature fusion, enhancing high-resolution attention computation and reducing information loss. Model optimization through loss functions offers a more reliable solution for cardiovascular medical image processing.Our method excels in segmentation accuracy, emphasizing the vital role of the RWF module. It demonstrates outstanding performance in cardiovascular image segmentation, potentially raising clinical practice standards.Our method ensures reliable medical image processing, guiding cardiovascular segmentation for future advancements in practical healthcare and contributing scientifically to enhanced disease diagnosis and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Perioperative hypotension is frequently observed following the initiation of general anesthesia administration, often associated with adverse outcomes. This study assessed the effect of subclavian vein (SCV) diameter combined with perioperative fluid therapy on preventing post-induction hypotension (PIH) in patients with lower ASA status. Methods: This two-part study included patients aged 18 to 65 years, classified as ASA physical status I or II, and scheduled for elective surgery. The first part (Part I) included 146 adult patients, where maximum SCV diameter (dSCVmax), minimum SCV diameter (dSCVmin), SCV collapsibility index (SCVCI) and SCV variability (SCVvariability) assessed using ultrasound. PIH was determined by reduction in mean arterial pressure (MAP) exceeding 30% from baseline measurement or any instance of MAP < falling below 65 mmHg for ≥ a duration of at least 1 min during the period from induction to 10 min after intubation. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was employed to determine the predictive values of subclavian vein diameter and other relevant parameters. The second part comprised 124 adult patients, where patients with SCV diameter above the optimal cutoff value, as determined in Part I study, received 6 ml/kg of colloid solution within 20 min before induction. The study evaluated the impact of subclavian vein diameter combined with perioperative fluid therapy by comparing the observed incidence of PIH after induction of anesthesia. Results: The areas under the curves (with 95% confidence intervals) for SCVCI and SCVvariability were both 0.819 (0.744–0.893). The optimal cutoff values were determined to be 45.4% and 14.7% (with sensitivity of 76.1% and specificity of 86.7%), respectively. Logistic regression analysis, after adjusting for confounding factors, demonstrated that both SCVCI and SCVvariability were significant predictors of PIH. A threshold of 45.4% for SCVCI was chosen as the grouping criterion. The incidence of PIH in patients receiving fluid therapy was significantly lower in the SCVCI ≥ 45.4% group compared to the SCVCI < 45.4% group. Conclusions: Both SCVCI and SCVvariability are noninvasive parameters capable of predicting PIH, and their combination with perioperative fluid therapy can reduce the incidence of PIH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inadequate endometrial receptivity often results in embryo implantation failure and miscarriage. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a key signaling molecule secreted during early embryonic development, which regulates embryonic maternal interface signaling and promotes embryo implantation. This study aimed to examine the impact of hCG on endometrial receptivity and its underlying mechanisms. An exploratory study was designed, and endometrial samples were obtained from women diagnosed with simple tubal infertility or male factor infertile (n = 12) and recurrent implantation failure (RIF, n = 10). Using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blotting, luteinizing hormone (LH)/hCG receptor (LHCGR) levels and autophagy were detected in the endometrial tissues. Subsequently, primary endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) were isolated from these control groups and treated with hCG to examine the presence of LHCGR and markers of endometrial receptivity (HOXA10, ITGB3, FOXO1, LIF, and L-selectin ligand) and autophagy-related factors (Beclin1, LC3, and P62). The findings revealed that the expressions of receptivity factors, LHCGR, and LC3 were reduced in the endometrial tissues of women with RIF compared with the control group, whereas the expression of P62 was elevated. The administration of hCG to ESCs specifically activated LHCGR, stimulating an increase in the endometrial production of HOXA10, ITGB3, FOXO1, LIF and L-selectin ligands. Furthermore, when ESCs were exposed to 0.1 IU/mL hCG for 72 h, the autophagy factors Beclin1 and LC3 increased within the cells and P62 decreased. Moreover, the apoptotic factor Bax increased and Bcl-2 declined. However, when small interfering RNA was used to knock down LHCGR, hCG was less capable of controlling endometrial receptivity and autophagy molecules in ESCs. In addition, hCG stimulation enhanced the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and mTOR proteins. These results suggest that women with RIF exhibit lower levels of LHCGR and compromised autophagy function in their endometrial tissues. Thus, hCG/LHCGR could potentially improve endometrial receptivity by modulating autophagy and apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The separated flow past a 6:1:1 spheroid is numerically investigated by means of the scale-adaptive simulation technique. The Reynolds number based on the free-stream velocity and the diameter at middle-section of the spheroid is located in the subcritical regime, i.e., Re = 3900. In comparison with the circular cylinder at the same Reynolds number, about 35% drag reduction is acquired by the spheroid, and the fluctuations of lift and drag are suppressed effectively. According to the detailed comparison, the satisfactory drag reduction and suppression of fluctuating force obtained by the spheroid are closely associated with the higher base-pressure and lower turbulent fluctuations in the near wake. Abundant contrasts of the different spanwise sections are presented to reveal the mechanism of constrained flow and apex effect of the spheroid. In addition, in order to provide reliable data for testing and developing turbulence models, a large number of turbulence statistics are computed and compared with previous data of the circular cylinder and sphere at comparable Reynolds numbers. Lower Reynolds stress peaks and less vigorous coherent structures indicate that the three-dimensional force and constrained flow caused by the spheroid can lead to the formation of steady shear layer and vortex separation. Furthermore, proper orthogonal decomposition and dynamic mode decomposition are employed to understand the large-scale wake flow structures behind the spheroid. The modal analysis results confirm that the wake of the spheroid is more stable than the circular cylinder, reconfirming the effective flow control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A geometrically exact Kirchhoff beam formulation (GEKBF) established on the Lie group SO(3) for simulating the dynamics of a slender beam is proposed. The kinematic description, dynamic equilibrium equations and their linearization are derived in this framework. Then, a second-order interpolation function for the torsion angle is introduced to improve the convergence of the element. Next, the rotation vector parameterization is developed to reduce the geometric nonlinearity caused by the rotation of the rigid body. In addition, the influence of the reference frame is considered, and the derivation of the elastic force and Jacobian matrix is simplified using the spatial-parallel transport. The semi-discrete equations of motion are in the form of a second-order ordinary differential equation on Lie group, which are solved using the Lie group generalized α-method. Finally, the accuracy of the proposed formulation is verified using several numerical examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Despite extensive research, no definitive cure or effective disease‐modifying treatment for PD exists to date. Therefore, the identification of novel therapeutic agents with neuroprotective properties is of utmost importance. Here, we aimed to investigate the potential neuroprotective effects of Carpesii fructus extract (CFE) in both cellular and Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) models of PD. Methods: The neuroprotective effect of CFE in H2O2‐ or 6‐OHDA‐induced PC‐12 cells and α‐synuclein‐overexpressing PC‐12 cells were investigated by determining the cell viability, mitochondrial damage, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, apoptosis, and α‐synuclein expression. In NL5901, BZ555, and N2 worms, the expression of α‐synuclein, motive ability, the viability of dopaminergic neurons, lifespan, and aging‐related phenotypes were investigated. The signaling pathway was detected by Western blotting and validated by employing small inhibitors and RNAi bacteria. Results: In cellular models of PD, CFE significantly attenuated H2O2‐ or 6‐OHDA‐induced toxicity, as evidenced by increased cell viability and reduced apoptosis rate. In addition, CFE treatment suppressed ROS generation and restored mitochondrial membrane potential, highlighting its potential as a mitochondrial protective agent. Furthermore, CFE reduced the expression of α‐synuclein in wide type (WT)‐, A53T‐, A30P‐, or E46K‐α‐synuclein‐overexpressing PC‐12 cells. Our further findings reveal that CFE administration reduced α‐synuclein expression and improved its induced locomotor deficits in NL5901 worms, protected dopaminergic neurons against 6‐OHDA‐induced degeneration in BZ555 worms, extended lifespan, delayed aging‐related phenotypes, and enhanced the ability of stress resistance in N2 worms. Mechanistic studies suggest that the neuroprotective effects of CFE may involve the modulation of the MAPK signaling pathway, including ERK, JNK, and p38, whereas the interference of these pathways attenuated the neuroprotective effect of CFE in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion: Overall, our study highlights the potential therapeutic value of CFE as a neuroprotective agent in the context of PD. Furthermore, elucidation of the active compounds of CFE will provide valuable insights for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boreal summer intraseasonal oscillation (BSISO) is a primary source of predictability for summertime weather and climate on the subseasonal-to-seasonal (S2S) time scale. Using the GFDL SPEAR S2S prediction system, we evaluate the BSISO prediction skills based on 20-yr (2000–19) hindcast experiments with initializations from May to October. It is revealed that the overall BSISO prediction skill using all hindcasts reaches out to 22 days as measured by BSISO indices before the bivariate anomalous correlation coefficient (ACC) drops below 0.5. Results also show that the northeastward-propagating canonical BSISO (CB) event has a higher prediction skill than the northward dipole BSISO (DB) event (28 vs 23 days). This is attributed to CB's more periodic nature, resulting in its longer persistence, while DB events are more episodic accompanied by a rapid demise after reaching maximum enhanced convection over the equatorial Indian Ocean. From a forecaster's perspective, a precursory strong Kelvin wave component in the equatorial western Pacific signifies the subsequent development of a CB event, which is likely more predictable. Investigation of individual CB events shows a large interevent spread in terms of their prediction skills. For CB, the events with weaker and fluctuating amplitude during their lifetime have relatively lower prediction skills likely linked to their weaker convection–circulation coupling. Interestingly, the prediction skills of individual CB events tend to be relatively higher and less scattered during late summer (August–October) than those in early summer (May–July), suggestive of the seasonal modulation on the evolution and predictability of BSISO. Significance Statement: The advance of subseasonal-to-seasonal (S2S) prediction largely depends on dynamical models' ability to predict some major intrinsic modes in the climate system, including the boreal summer intraseasonal oscillation (BSISO). Using a newly developed S2S prediction system, we thoroughly evaluated its performance in predicting BSISO, and revealed the skill dependence on the BSISO propagation diversity. Here we provide physical explanations of what influences the BSISO predictions and identify different precursory signals for two types of BSISO, which have important implications for operational forecasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of science and technology, multifunctional wearable devices have become a major trend in medical field. There is an urgent need to fabricate multifunctional materials with thermal insulation, mechanical flexibility, piezoresistance, and adjustable heating behavior to cope with the thermal management and health monitoring of human body in the harsh environment. To address this issue, three-dimensional melamine-based carbon foams (CMF) have been developed, with sericin-functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and in situ-grown carbon nanofibers (CNFs) in the CMF skeleton. The strategy of hierarchical porous micro-nanostructure enhanced the synergistic effect between CNTs and CNFs, resulting in exceptional resilience at 0–80 % compressive strain and cyclic stability at 20 % strain. Such carbon foam composites demonstrated excellent piezoresistive sensing performance, wide pressure range (0–20 kPa), high sensitivity (S = 0.11 kPa−1), and quick response (response/recovery time of 150/120 ms). They also showed good thermal insulation and Joule heating properties, particularly in presenting strain-dependent Joule heating mode at low voltage. Such amazing characteristics provide inspiration for temperature regulation of flexible, energy-efficient heating devices, and make them promising for smart sportswear, human-machine interfaces, and wearable medical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, researchers have been concerned with the seismic resilience of structures under salt-erosion environments. As an important part of the resilience assessment, loss estimation, particularly considering the structural loss caused by salt erosion, become a research hotspot. This study presents a methodology to develop loss estimation for deteriorating reinforced concrete (RC) structures by combining it with a quantitative analysis method. The replacement cost of a deteriorated structure was defined to establish a deteriorating reinforcement model based on the loss of a corroded section. The deteriorating reinforcement model was further utilized to establish a post-earthquake loss estimation function of the structure owing to chloride-induced corrosion by considering the cumulative effect of chloride erosion and earthquakes on deteriorating RC structures. Sigmoidal functions were used to simulate post-earthquake recovery paths depending on the extent of damage after an earthquake. Then, the structural resilience was estimated by combining it with a time-varying function. Finally, the resilience assessment calculation of a three-story RC structure example model was considered, and the applicability of the research method established in this study was verified. The calculation results show that the structural loss increased with an increase in the chloride erosion time at any specific PGA and led to a gradual decrease in the structural resilience. Reinforcement corrosion has a significant effect on structural resilience under earthquakes, and ignoring the effect of chloride salts on a structure can lead to an overestimation of resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current challenges in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) include long acquisition times and motion artifacts. To address these issues, under-sampled k-space acquisition has gained popularity as a fast imaging method. However, recovering fine details from under-sampled data remains challenging. In this study, we introduce a pioneering deep learning approach, namely DCT-Net, designed for dual-domain MRI reconstruction. DCT-Net seamlessly integrates information from the image domain (IRM) and frequency domain (FRM), utilizing a novel Cross Attention Block (CAB) and Fusion Attention Block (FAB). These innovative blocks enable precise feature extraction and adaptive fusion across both domains, resulting in a significant enhancement of the reconstructed image quality. The adaptive interaction and fusion mechanisms of CAB and FAB contribute to the method's effectiveness in capturing distinctive features and optimizing image reconstruction. Comprehensive ablation studies have been conducted to assess the contributions of these modules to reconstruction quality and accuracy. Experimental results on the FastMRI (2023) and Calgary-Campinas datasets (2021) demonstrate the superiority of our MRI reconstruction framework over other typical methods (most are illustrated in 2023 or 2022) in both qualitative and quantitative evaluations. This holds for knee and brain datasets under 4× and 8× accelerated imaging scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among large-span bridges, arch bridges have relatively high stiffness, which may lead to large dynamic amplification factors (DAFs). The DAFs suggested by current codes mostly originate from common simply supported beam bridges. Previous DAF studies on dynamic vehicle–bridge solutions for arch bridges have mainly focused on one or two side-by-side vehicles. However, complex traffic flows with randomness rather than one or two vehicles act on bridges. DAFs that consider the effects of random traffic flows have not previously been reported. In this study, a random traffic–bridge vibration solution was established to explore the DAFs of arch bridge components. The randomness of the traffic parameters and road roughness was explored. The randomness of the external excitation, including traffic flow and road roughness, resulted in random dynamic responses and DAFs of the arch bridge components. Normal distributions could be used to fit the DAF distributions of each arch bridge component under random vehicle spacing, weight, speed, and road roughness. Under random traffic parameters, the coefficients of variation of the DAFs exceeded the 5% accepted level. The shortest suspenders were more sensitive to the randomness of the traffic flow parameters. Both the mean and coefficient of variation of the DAFs increased with worsening of the road conditions. The influence of the randomness of the road roughness on the DAFs of arch bridges must be considered, particularly for the shortest suspender. The 95% upper confidence limits of the DAFs for all components may be greater than the suggested values in the code. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: Recent advances and design strategies for molecular machines working as collectives in building smart responsive materials and micro/nanoscale operations are summarized in this review. The modulation of collective behaviors characteristics and properties is summarized in focus, including reversibility, amplification, anisotropy and reconfigurability of smart materials, as well as reconfigurability, orthogonality and logical control of swarming. Experiences and paradigms in the field of micro/nanorobotics in collective construction, control strategies, and model transformations are expected to provide guidance for molecular machines to build reconfigurable, multi-dimensional, and multi-modularity advanced collectives. Molecular machines are key to cellular activity where they are involved in converting chemical and light energy into efficient mechanical work. During the last 60 years, designing molecular structures capable of generating unidirectional mechanical motion at the nanoscale has been the topic of intense research. Effective progress has been made, attributed to advances in various fields such as supramolecular chemistry, biology and nanotechnology, and informatics. However, individual molecular machines are only capable of producing nanometer work and generally have only a single functionality. In order to address these problems, collective behaviors realized by integrating several or more of these individual mechanical units in space and time have become a new paradigm. In this review, we comprehensively discuss recent developments in the collective behaviors of molecular machines. In particular, collective behavior is divided into two paradigms. One is the appropriate integration of molecular machines to efficiently amplify molecular motions and deformations to construct novel functional materials. The other is the construction of swarming modes at the supramolecular level to perform nanoscale or microscale operations. We discuss design strategies for both modes and focus on the modulation of features and properties. Subsequently, in order to address existing challenges, the idea of transferring experience gained in the field of micro/nano robotics is presented, offering prospects for future developments in the collective behavior of molecular machines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Heat stress (HS) damages the intestines, disrupting gut microbiota and immune balance. l‐Theanine (LTA), found in tea, alleviates oxidative stress and cell apoptosis under HS; however, its effects on gut microbiota and immunity under HS remain unclear. To investigate this, we administered LTA doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg·kg−1·d−1 to C57BL/6J mice. On day 44, the model group and LTA intervention group were subjected to continuous 7‐day HS treatment for 2 h per day. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that LTA intervention improved food intake, body weight, and intestinal epithelium, and reduced the water intake of heat‐stressed mice. It increased the abundance of Turicibacter, Faecalibaculum, Bifidobacterium, and norank_f_Muribaculaceae, while reducing that of Lachnoclostridium and Desulfovibrio. LTA intervention also increased the concentrations of amino acid and lipid metabolites, regulated macrophage differentiation stimulated by gut microbiota and metabolites, reduced the antigen presentation by macrophages to the specific immune system, promoted B‐cell differentiation and sIgA secretion, inhibited pro‐inflammatory factors, and enhanced intestinal defense. Mechanistically, LTA downregulated heat shock protein 70 expression and the TLR4/NF‐κB/p38 MAPK signaling pathway, restoring gut microbiota and immune balance. CONCLUSION: We suggest that LTA can alleviate HS by modulating gut microbiota, metabolites, and immunity, indicating its potential as a natural active ingredient for anti‐HS food products. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with an increased risk of premature death. Whether multifactorial risk factor modification could attenuate T2D-related excess risk of death is unclear. We aimed to examine the association of risk factor target achievement with mortality and life expectancy among patients with T2D, compared with individuals without diabetes. Methods: In this longitudinal cohort study, we included 316 995 participants (14 162 with T2D and 302 833 without T2D) free from cardiovascular disease (CVD) or cancer at baseline between 2006 and 2010 from the UK Biobank. Participants with T2D were categorised according to the number of risk factors within target range (non-smoking, being physically active, healthy diet, guideline-recommended levels of glycated haemoglobin, body mass index, blood pressure, and total cholesterol). Survival models were applied to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) for mortality and predict life expectancy differences. Results: Over a median follow-up of 13.8 (IQR 13.1–14.4) years, deaths occurred among 2105 (14.9%) participants with T2D and 18 505 (6.1%) participants without T2D. Compared with participants without T2D (death rate per 1000 person-years 4.51 [95% CI 4.44 to 4.57]), the risk of all-cause mortality among those with T2D decreased stepwise with an increasing number of risk factors within target range (0–1 risk factor target achieved: absolute rate difference per 1000 person-years 7.34 [4.91 to 9.78], HR 2.70 [2.25 to 3.25]; 6–7 risk factors target achieved: absolute rate difference per 1000 person-years 0.68 [-0.62 to 1.99], HR 1.16 [0.93 to 1.43]). A similar pattern was observed for CVD and cancer mortality. The association between risk factors target achievement and all-cause mortality was more prominent among participants younger than 60 years than those 60 years or older (P for interaction = 0.012). At age 50 years, participants with T2D who had 0–1 and 6–7 risk factors within target range had an average 7.67 (95% CI 6.15 to 9.19) and 0.99 (-0.59 to 2.56) reduced years of life expectancy, respectively, compared with those without T2D. Conclusions: Individuals with T2D who achieved multiple risk factor targets had no significant excess mortality risk or reduction in life expectancy than those without diabetes. Early interventions aiming to promote risk factor modification could translate into improved long-term survival for patients with T2D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the complexity and uncertainty of meteorological systems, traditional precipitation forecasting methods have certain limitations. Therefore, based on the common characteristics of meteorological data, a precipitation forecasting model named MultiPred is proposed, with the goal of continuously predicting precipitation for 4 h in a specific region. This model combines the multimodal fusion method with recursive spatiotemporal prediction models. The training and testing process of the model roughly involves using spatial feature extraction networks and temporal feature extraction networks to generate preliminary predictions for multimodal data. Subsequently, a modal fusion layer is employed to further extract and fuse the spatial features of the preliminary predictions from the previous step, outputting the predicted precipitation values for the target area. Experimental tests and training were conducted using ERA5 multi-meteorological modal data and GPM satellite precipitation data from 2017 to 2020, covering longitudes from 110° to 122° and latitudes from 20° to 32°. The training set used data from the first three years, while the validation set and test set each comprised 50% of the data from the fourth year. The initial learning rate for the experiment was set to 1 × 10−4, and training was performed for 1000 epochs. Additionally, the training process utilized a loss function composed of Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Mean Squared Error (MSE), and Structural Similarity Index (SSIM). The model was evaluated using the Critical Success Index (CSI), Probability of Detection (POD), and the Heidke Skill Score (HSS). Experimental results demonstrate that MultiPred excels in precipitation forecasting, particularly for light precipitation events with amounts greater than or equal to 0.1 mm and less than 2 mm. It achieves optimal performance in both light and heavy precipitation forecasting tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein annotation has long been a challenging task in computational biology. Gene Ontology (GO) has become one of the most popular frameworks to describe protein functions and their relationships. Prediction of a protein annotation with proper GO terms demands high-quality GO term representation learning, which aims to learn a low-dimensional dense vector representation with accompanying semantic meaning for each functional label, also known as embedding. However, existing GO term embedding methods, which mainly take into account ancestral co-occurrence information, have yet to capture the full topological information in the GO-directed acyclic graph (DAG). In this study, we propose a novel GO term representation learning method, PO2Vec, to utilize the partial order relationships to improve the GO term representations. Extensive evaluations show that PO2Vec achieves better outcomes than existing embedding methods in a variety of downstream biological tasks. Based on PO2Vec, we further developed a new protein function prediction method PO2GO, which demonstrates superior performance measured in multiple metrics and annotation specificity as well as few-shot prediction capability in the benchmarks. These results suggest that the high-quality representation of GO structure is critical for diverse biological tasks including computational protein annotation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Northern China Domain is located between the Central Asian Orogenic Belts to the north and the Kunlun–Qinling belt to the south, and it comprises the North China, Alxa and Tarim blocks. The relationships among the Northern China domain and the southern tectonic elements such as the Qaidam Basin/Terrane are debated because of the major modification by crustal deformation in the late Mesozoic–Cenozoic. To address this issue, we conducted a palaeomagnetic and high-precision radiometric dating study of Triassic volcanic rocks and Middle Jurassic strata in the Qaidam Terrane. Our objective was to determine the relationship between the Qaidam Terrane with the Tarim Block and the North China Block (NCB) during the late Palaeozoic and early Mesozoic. Four volcanic samples yielded zircon U-Pb ages of 236–243 Ma. The characteristic remanent magnetizations (Middle Triassic: D  = 40.2°, I  = 54.6°, α95 = 3.4°; Middle Jurassic: D  = 27.4°, I  = 48.0°, α95 = 7.9°) passed the fold and reversal tests, and yielded Middle Triassic and Middle Jurassic palaeopole positions at 57.6° N, 178.2° E, A 95 = 4.0° and 65.8° N, 197.6° E, A 95 = 7.8°, respectively. Based on these new poles, combined with other reliable data, we compared the apparent polar wander path (APWP) of the Qaidam Terrane with those of the NCB and Tarim Block. The results show that, from the Carboniferous through Early Cretaceous, the APWP of the Qaidam Terrane resembles that of the Tarim Block, but it is quite different from that of the NCB. Combined with other reported evidence, we conclude that the Qaidam Terrane was an independent dynamic unit during the late Palaeozoic until its connection with the Tarim Block, which was followed by continuous eastward motion. During this process, the connection between the Qaidam Terrane and the NCB–Alxa blocks occurred in the Middle Triassic, and subsequently the Qaidam Terrane underwent multiple tectonic responses to collisions with the Qiangtang Terrane, Lhasa Terrane and the India Plate, before the formation of its modern tectonic configuration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of electrical auditory brainstem response (EABR) on the integrity evaluation of auditory pathway and the prediction of postoperative effect of cochlear implantation in patients with different etiology of hearing loss. Methods: A total of 580 patients with neuropathic deafness who underwent cochlear implantation surgery from August 2011 to December 2020 were selected for EABR test. The preoperative EABR waveform was analyzed, and parameters such as V wave amplitude, threshold, latency and interval of each wave, and slope of V wave I/O curve were measured. Neural response telemetry (NRT) test was performed during MAP 1 month after operation, and C and T values of the machine were recorded. Results: The total EABR extraction rate was 98.45% among 580 patients, including 100% for the normal structure group and enlarged vestibular aqueduct group (LVAS), 92.44% for other malformed group. The average threshold of V wave in patients with normal cochlear structure was significantly better than the malformation groups (p < 0.05). The total extraction rate of NRT was 78.62%, including 99.72% in the group with normal structure, 95.65% in the LVAS group, 1.85–88.24% in the group with other malformations, and 0% in the cochlear ossification group. The correlation analysis showed a statistically significant correlation between the average preoperative EABR threshold and the C value of NRT. Conclusions: Preoperative EABR could evaluate the integrity of auditory conduction pathway of patients with cochlear implantation and predict the postoperative hearing rehabilitation effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the well known parareal algorithm, we formulate and analyse a novel class of parareal exponential schemes with improved uniform accuracy for highly oscillatory system q ¨ + 1 ε 2 M q = 1 ε μ f (q) with μ = 0 or 1. The solution of this considered system propagates waves with wavelength at O (ε) in time and the value of μ corresponds to the strength of nonlinearity. This brings significantly numerical burden in scientific computation for highly oscillatory systems with 0 < ε ≪ 1 . The new proposed algorithm is formulated by using some reformulation approaches to the problem, Fourier pseudo-spectral methods, and parareal exponential integrators. The fast Fourier transform is incorporated in the implementation. We rigorously study the convergence, showing that for nonlinear systems, the algorithm has improved uniform accuracy O (ε (2 k + 3) (1 - μ) Δ t 2 k + 2 + ε 5 (1 - μ) δ t 4) in the position and O (ε (2 k + 3) (1 - μ) - 1 Δ t 2 k + 2 + ε 4 - 5 μ δ t 4) in the momenta, where k is the number of parareal iterations, and Δ t and δ t are two time stepsizes used in the algorithm. The energy conservation is also discussed and the algorithm is shown to have an improved energy conservation. Numerical experiments are provided and the numerical results demonstrate the improved uniform accuracy and improved energy conservation of the obtained integrator through four Hamiltonian differential equations including nonlinear wave equations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal-free catalysts are made by the elements with infinite reserve in nature and, therefore, show the potential for large-scale applications in energy devices including metal–air batteries. The construction of metal–air batteries prefers using self-supporting catalysts with favorable activity as well as fast kinetics. However, it is challenging due to the limited electropositivity of metal-free catalysts for O–O bond formation in oxygen evolution reaction (OER), scaling relationship restrictions between OER and oxygen reduction reaction, and difficulty in porosity construction on the monolith electrode surface. In this contribution, through developing a facile methodology of quenching high-temperature carbon clothes in liquid nitrogen, a self-supported carbon cloth with bifunctional active graphene skin and fast kinetics is well constructed to serve as the air cathode in metal–air batteries. Regulated oxygen species and three-dimensionally hierarchical porosity are well constructed on the carbon fiber surfaces, contributing high intrinsic activity and prominently enhanced kinetics, which leads to favorable performances in aqueous as well as flexible rechargeable zinc–air batteries. The work proposed a promising strategy in the rational design and smart synthesis of fast-kinetic monolith electrodes, which refreshes concepts and strategies of advanced material fabrication, and also bridges material science and practical energy devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ferroelectric domain plays an important role in determining the piezoelectric performance of ferroelectric ceramics. Herein, LiNbO 3 (LN) is used as an additive to tune the ferroelectric domain of 0.49Pb(Ni 1/3 Nb 2/3)O 3 -0.2Pb(In 1/2 Nb 1/2)O 3 -0.31PbTiO 3 (PNN-PIN-PT) ceramics. PNN-PIN-PT-0LN ceramic exhibits the ordered tetragonal phase (90 °) domain wall and rhombohedral phase (71 ° and 109 °) domain wall. Incorporating LN into the system leads to the transformation of the majority of structured macro-domains into random micro-domains with smaller sizes, which disrupt their long-range ordered ferroelectric domains, resulting in significant piezoelectric enhancement. Compared to PNN-PIN-PT-0LN ceramics, PNN-PIN-PT-1.8LN ceramics exhibit giant piezoelectric responses with d 33 = 1112 pC/N, d 31 =521 pC/N, d 33 * =1220 pm/V (@ E = 5 kV/cm), ε r = 12092. These findings shed light on a specific aspect of domain engineering in piezoelectric materials, thus contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of the underlying factors that give rise to the phenomenon of giant piezoelectricity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) is commonly based on the subjective evaluation by experienced psychiatrists using clinical scales. Hence, it is particularly important to find more objective biomarkers to aid in diagnosis and further treatment. Alpha-band activity (7-13 Hz) is the most prominent component in resting electroencephalogram (EEG), which is also thought to be a potential biomarker. Recent studies have shown the existence of multiple sub-oscillations within the alpha band, with distinct neural underpinnings. However, the specific contribution of these alpha sub-oscillations to the diagnosis and treatment of MDD remains unclear. In this study, we recorded the resting-state EEG from MDD and HC populations in both open and closed-eye state conditions. We also assessed cognitive processing using the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB). We found that the MDD group showed significantly higher power in the high alpha range (10.5–11.5 Hz) and lower power in the low alpha range (7–8.5 Hz) compared to the HC group. Notably, high alpha power in the MDD group is negatively correlated with working memory performance in MCCB, whereas no such correlation was found in the HC group. Furthermore, using five established classification algorithms, we discovered that combining alpha oscillations with MCCB scores as features yielded the highest classification accuracy compared to using EEG or MCCB scores alone. Our results demonstrate the potential of sub-oscillations within the alpha frequency band as a potential distinct biomarker. When combined with psychological scales, they may provide guidance relevant for the diagnosis and treatment of MDD. • MDD group showed significantly higher power in the high alpha range and lower power in the low alpha range. • High alpha power in the MDD group is negatively correlated with working memory performance in MCCB. • Combining alpha oscillations with MCCB scores as features yielded the highest classification accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incorporating oxygen radicals on asphalt precursor boosts the formation of closed-pore with enhanced plateau capacity of hard carbon. [Display omitted] • Carbon radicals on asphalt precursor exhibit a propensity to form long-range, well-ordered graphitic structures with lower sodium storage capacities. • Incorporating oxygen radicals on asphalt precursor require higher energy for ordering the graphitic structures. • Incorporated oxygen radicals boosts the formation of closed-pore with a four-fold increase in plateau capacity for sodium ion storage. Hard carbon (HC) has emerged as a highly promising anode material for sodium ion batteries, drawing tremendous interest in producing this material with low-cost and easily accessible precursors. The determination of the crucial parameters of precursors influencing the formation of key structures, such as closed pores, in the HC is of paramount importance. Considering the potential role of free radicals in the structural evolution of the precursors, we, for the first time, delve into the impact of radical species on the development of closed pores by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, with petroleum asphalt as the model system. Our findings reveal that carbon centred radicals, with the g value close to that of the free electron (2.0023), exhibit a propensity to form long-range, well-ordered graphitic structures with lower sodium storage capacity. Conversely, the deliberately incorporated oxygen radicals with the g value over 2.005 require a higher energy for ordering the graphitic structures, leading to the creation of closed pores. As a result, the optimal sample showcases a four-fold increase in plateau capacity for sodium ion storage due to the pore filling process. Our research underscores the pivotal role of employing electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy studying the critical structural evolution of functional carbon materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lupus anticoagulant-hypoprothrombinemia syndrome (LAHPS) is a rare, acquired coagulopathy syndrome. Here, we aim to summarize the clinical features of LAHPS to improve the understanding of the disease. The clinical data of 52 patients with LAHPS retrieved through PubMed from 2019 to 2023, supplemented with a local case of a child with LAHPS, were retrospectively analyzed, and the clinical characteristics were summarized. 56.6% of LAHPS patients were female, the median age at onset was 13.0 years (range, 1.2–85 years), and the median activity of factor II was 18.0% (range, 0.1–69%). 64.2% of LAHPS patients experienced hemorrhage, with 29.4% having multisite hemorrhage and 20.6% experiencing both nonsevere and severe hemorrhage. Most of the reported cases were secondary to autoimmune diseases (60.6%), followed by infections (33.3%). Corticosteroids were administered to 79.3% of patients with hemorrhage, and 90.6% of patients with LAHPS showed improvement. In conclusion, LAHPS is most commonly observed in female patients, particularly those under 18 years of age. LAHPS is characterized by hemorrhage, occurring at various sites and with varying degrees of severity, but the majority of patients improve with appropriate treatment and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have implied that physical activity profoundly influences interpersonal adaptation. However, this effect and its mechanisms have not been directly verified, especially for adolescents. This study examines the association between physical activity and interpersonal adaptation in adolescents through self-esteem and psychological resilience after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Participants included 542 Chinese adolescents (aged 13–18 years; 242 boys and 300 girls). Adolescents in China anonymously completed a series of questionnaires, including the PARS-3 Scale of PE Activity Grade (PARS-3), the Self-esteem Scale (SES), the Resilience Scale for Adolescents (RSCA), and the Interpersonal Adaptation Scale. The results showed that physical activity positively correlated with self-esteem, psychological resilience, and interpersonal adaptation. Additionally, self-esteem and psychological resilience serially mediated the impact of physical activity on interpersonal adaptation. The findings highlight the positive impact of physical activity on adolescent interpersonal adaptation by strengthening positive psychological resources in the post-pandemic era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aging‐associated renal dysfunction promotes the pathogenesis of chronic kidney disease. Mitochondrial dysfunction in renal tubular epithelial cells is a hallmark of senescence and leads to accelerated progression of renal disorders. Dysregulated calcium profiles in mitochondria contribute to aging‐associated disorders, but the detailed mechanism of this process is not clear. In this study, modulation of the sirtuin 1/angiotensin II type 1 receptor (Sirt1/AT1R) pathway partially attenuated renal glomerular sclerosis, tubular atrophy, and interstitial fibrosis in D‐galactose (D‐gal)‐induced accelerated aging mice. Moreover, modulation of the Sirt1/AT1R pathway improved mitochondrial dysfunction induced by D‐gal treatment. Transient receptor potential channel, subtype C, member 3 (TRPC3) upregulation mediated dysregulated cellular and mitochondrial calcium homeostasis during aging. Furthermore, knockdown or knockout (KO) of Trpc3 in mice ameliorated D‐gal‐induced mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production, membrane potential deterioration, and energy metabolism disorder. Mechanistically, activation of the AT1R/PKA pathway promoted CREB phosphorylation and nucleation of CRE2 binding to the Trpc3 promoter (−1659 to −1648 bp) to enhance transcription. Trpc3 KO significantly improved the renal disorder and cell senescence in D‐gal‐induced mice. Taken together, these results indicate that TRPC3 upregulation mediates age‐related renal disorder and is associated with mitochondrial calcium overload and dysfunction. TRPC3 is a promising therapeutic target for aging‐associated renal disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a prevalent form of malignancy globally. Disulfidptosis is novel programmed cell death pathway based on disulfide proteins, may have a positive impact on the development of LUAD treatment strategies. To investigate the impact of disulfidptosis-related genes (DRGs) on the prognosis of LUAD, developed a risk model to facilitate the diagnosis and prognostication of patients. We also explored ACTN4 (DRGs) as a new therapeutic biomarker for LUAD. We investigated the expression patterns of DRGs in both LUAD and noncancerous tissues. To assess the prognostic value of the DRGs, we developed risk models through univariate Cox analysis and lasso regression. The expression and function of ACTN4 was evaluated by qRT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and in vitro experiments. The TIMER examined the association between ACTN4 expression and immune infiltration in LUAD. Ten differentially expressed DRGs were identified. And ACTN4 was identified as potential risk factors through univariate Cox regression analysis (P< 0.05). ACTN4 expression and riskscore were used to construct a risk model to predict overall survival in LUAD, and high-risk demonstrated a significantly higher mortality rate compared to the low-risk cohort. qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry assays indicated ACTN4 was upregulated in LUAD, and the upregulation was associated with clinicopathologic features. In vitro experiments showed the knockdown of ACTN4 expression inhibited the proliferation in LUAD cells. The TIMER analysis demonstrated a correlation between the expression of ACTN4 and the infiltration of diverse immune cells. Elevated ACTN4 expression was associated with a reduction in memory B cell count. Additionally, the ACTN4 expression was associated with m6A modification genes. Our study introduced a prognostic model based on DRGs, which could forecast the prognosis of patients with LUAD. The biomarker ACTN4 exhibits promise for the diagnosis and management of LUAD, given its correlation with tumor immune infiltration and m6A modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methyltransferase-like protein 7A (METTL7A) is an m6A RNA methyltransferase that has been linked to cancer prognosis and drug resistance. However, a comprehensive analysis of METTL7A is lacking. The expression of METTL7A, prognostic performance, correlation with microsatellite instability (MSI), tumor mutational burden (TMB), and immune infiltration was investigated in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Immunohistochemistry staining was applied to detect METTL7A in 6 tumors. METTL7A was significantly decreased in 19 cancers in TCGA including LUAD. Alterations of METTL7A include amplification and mutation, and epigenetic alterations revealed increased promoter methylation may result in down-regulation of METTL7A in LUAD. We also found that METTL7A was linked to both TMB and MSI in LUAD. METTL7A was increasingly correlated with invasive immune cells, while being negatively associated with Macrophages M0, Mast cells activated, activated memory CD4 T cells, CD8 T cells, and follicular helper T cells in several tumors. Additionally, METTL7A showed similar correlation with immune therapy-related genes across cancers. Our biological validation found that the protein levels of METTL7A were down-regulated in breast cancer (BRCA), endometrioid cancer (UCEC), colon cancer (COAD), prostate cancer (PRAD), and kidney clear cell carcinoma (KIRC), as detected by immunohistochemistry staining. Overall, our work indicates that METTL7A may serve as promising diagnostic and prognostic indicator of LUAD, and our work sheds light on the potential immunological and prognostic roles of METTL7A in human cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type 2 diabetic kidney disease (T2DKD) is a common microvascular complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and its incidence is significantly increasing. Microinflammation plays an important role in the development of T2DKD. Based on this, this study investigated the value of inflammatory markers including neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in the prediction of T2DKD. This was a cross-sectional survey study. A total of 90 patients with T2DM, who were hospitalized in the nephrology and endocrinology departments of the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from June 2021 to January 2022, were included and divided into three groups (A1, A2, A3) according to the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR). Observe and compare the basic information, clinical and laboratory data, and the inflammatory markers NLR, hs-CRP, MCP-1. Results revealed that high levels of NLR (OR = 6.562, 95% CI 2.060–20.902, P = 0.001) and MCP-1 (OR = 1.060, 95% CI 1.026–1.095, P < 0.001) were risk factors in the development of T2DKD. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the area under curve of NLR and MCP-1 in diagnosing T2DKD were 0.760 (95% CI 0.6577–0.863, P < 0.001) and 0.862 (95% CI 0.7787–0.937, P < 0.001). Therefore, the inflammatory markers NLR and MCP-1 are risk factors affecting the development of T2DKD, which of clinical value may be used as novel markers of T2DKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To describe our technique, namely, combined distal phalangeal fixation and nail bed repair with a V-Y volar advancement flap for Allen type III fingertip amputation. Methods: The clinical data of 16 patients (18 fingers) with Allen type III fingertip amputation who underwent this procedure were retrospectively studied. Distal phalangeal fixation and nail bed repair were performed first to transform the injury into a pulp defect, and then the volar V‒Y flap was applied to cover the defect. Postoperatively, humectant was applied to moisten the nail but no lamp heating was applied. The main indicators were patient self-reported appearance and daily use, static two-point discrimination, range of distal interphalangeal joint motion (range of DIPJ motion), complications and the Chinese Medical Association upper limb function evaluation trial standard for severed fingers (CMA evaluation). Results: The average follow-up time was 14.3 months. All 18 fingertips survived. One patient underwent a secondary surgery due to infection resulting in exposure of the bone of the fingertip. One patient developed a hooked nail. The appearance and daily use of the fingertip were satisfactory or acceptable for all the patients except for those who experienced the above two complications. After one year, the mean static two-point discrimination was 3.8 mm (range 2.5–4.6 mm). The range of DIPJ motion of the affected fingers was 90.7% of that of the unaffected side. According to the CMA evaluation, 13, 3 and 2 fingers showed excellent, good and average results, respectively. Conclusions: The combination of distal phalangeal fixation and nail bed suturing with a V-Y volar advancement flap is worthy of clinical application for Allen type III fingertip amputation. The technique is simple and straightforward. Level of evidence: Level III, Therapeutic study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the most economically developed metropolitan area in China's Yangtze River Delta, the rapid changing land use patterns of Suzhou-Wuxi-Changzhou (Su-Xi-Chang) metropolitan area have profound impacts on the ecosystem service value (ESV). Based on the patterns of land use change and the ESV change in Su-Xi-Chang metropolitan area from 2000 to 2020, we set up four scenarios: natural development scenario, urban development scenario, arable land protection scenario and ecological protection scenario, and simulated the impact of land use changes on the ESV in these scenarios. The results showed that: 1) the area of built-up land in the Su-Xi-Chang metropolitan area increased significantly from 2000 to 2020, and the area of other types of land decreased. Arable land underwent the highest transfer-out area, and was primarily converted into built-up land. The total ESV of Su-Xi-Chang metropolitan area increased initially then declined from 2000–2020, and the value of almost all individual ecosystem services decreased. 2) Population density, GDP per area, night lighting intensity, and road network density can negatively impact the ESV. 3) The total ESV loss under the natural development and urban development scenarios was high, and the expansion of the built-up land and the drastic shrinkage of the arable land contributed to the ESV decline under both scenarios. The total ESV under arable land protection and ecological protection scenarios increases, and therefore these scenarios are suitable for future land use optimization in Su-Xi-Chang. This study could provide a certain reference for land use planning and allocation, and offer guidance for the rational allocation of land resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extreme limited entry (XLE) method can enhance hydraulic fracture uniformity by elevating wellbore pressure to overcome reservoir heterogeneity. However, it increases surface pressure and decreases hydraulic fracturing efficiency. In this paper, the effects of stress shadow and heterogeneity of the lateral breakdown pressure on fracture propagation are numerically studied, from which an optimization method is proposed for the XLE design with the minimal requirement of fracturing pressure. Initially, the unconventional fracture model is applied to analyze fracture propagation in formations with homogeneous geomechanical parameters and various perforation designs. Fracture length distribution is correlated with perforation friction, revealing insights into the influence of geomechanical parameters and fracture spacing. Then, the uniformity of fracture propagation is assessed for different XLE designs by varying lateral breakdown pressures. Simulation results are utilized to develop a cross-plot of fracture length distributions vs normalized perforation frictions for optimizing an XLE design. In homogeneous reservoirs, decreasing perforation spacing and increasing perforation hole erosion rate slow down the reduction in the fracture length distribution span with perforation friction, necessitating a higher perforation friction for uniform fractures. In all simulated cases, a similar trend is observed when the distribution of fracture lengths is plotted vs the normalized perforation friction to the difference of breakdown pressure within one fracturing stage. It is recommended that this normalized value be maintained above 2 in an XLE design. This new plot makes the conventional horn-shaped plot more applicable to reservoirs with heterogeneous lateral breakdown pressures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, an electrochemical biosensor was constructed for the detection of fibrin, specifically by a simple two‐step approach, with a novel artificial enzyme (Tetrazyme) based on the DNA tetrahedral framework as signal probe. The multichannel screen‐printed electrode with the activated surface cannot only remove some biological impurities, but also serve as a carrier to immobilize a large number of antigen proteins. The DNA tetrahedral nanostructure was employed to ensure the high sensitivity of the probe for biological analysis. The hemin was chimeric into the G‐quadruplex to constitute the complex with peroxidase catalytic activity (hemin/G4‐DNAzyme), subsequently, Tetrazyme was formed through combining of this complex and DNA tetrahedral nucleic acid framework. The artificial enzyme signal probe formed by the covalent combination of the homing peptide (Cys‐Arg‐Glu‐Lys‐Ala, CREKA), which is the aptamer of fibrin and the new artificial enzyme is fixed on the surface of the multichannel carbon electrode by CREKA‐specific recognition, so as to realize the sensitive detection of fibrin. The feasibility of sensing platform was validated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and amperometric i–t curve (IT) methods. Effects of Tetrazyme concentration, CREKA concentrations and hybridization time on the sensor were explored. Under the best optimal conditions of 0.6 μmol/L Tetrazyme, 80 μmol/L CREKA, and 2.5 h reaction time, the immunosensor had two linear detection ranges, 10–40 nmol/L, with linear regression equation Y = 0.01487X − 0.011 (R2 = 0.992), and 50–100 nmol/L, with linear regression equation Y = 0.00137X + 0.6405 (R2 = 0.998), the detection limit was 9.4 nmol/L, S/N ≥ 3. The biosensor could provide a new method with great potential for the detection of fibrin with good selectivity, stability, and reproducibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]