Search

In this study, we used the numerical simulation tool FLUENT to numerically simulate the combustion of ammonia-hydrogen fuel in the combustion chamber of a 9E heavy-duty gas turbine, and analysed the effects of different hydrogen blending ratios on the stability of ammonia combustion and NOx emissions. We found that an increase in the hydrogen mixing ratio in the fuel during the ammonia-hydrogen mixture combustion process contributes to the reduction of NOx emissions and has a positive effect on combustion stability. The key highlights of our research include. (see Fig. 3–6 and 10 and 11) • Ammonia-hydrogen combustion simulation of the 9E heavy duty gas turbine. • Increase in the proportion of hydrogen leads to an increase in the maximum temperature produced by combustion. • The high temperature zone moves closer to the fuel inlet as hydrogen increases. • The increase in hydrogen has little effect on the flow field in the combustion chamber. • Increased hydrogen ratio effectively reduces NOx emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On specific railway lines, trains are faced with the challenge of low-temperature environments. However, it is still unclear how the low-temperature service environment affects the friction-induced wear and vibration behavior at the train braking interface. Similarly, the impact of the brake pad friction block shape under low temperatures on this behavior is not well understood. This lack of knowledge adversely affects the operation, maintenance, and use of brake pads in low-temperature environments. Therefore, test samples of friction blocks were designed and processed based on several commonly used friction block shapes for trains (ellipse, triangle, and pentagon). Parking brake tests were conducted on a self-developed test bench with controllable temperature, exploring how different shapes affect friction-induced wear, vibration, and noise at the train braking interface under low temperatures (− 20 °C). The results showed that under the effects of low-temperature environments, the shape of the friction block significantly affects the friction-induced wear and vibration noise of the braking interface. Among them, the elliptical friction block has a smaller eccentric wear angle, a smaller and evenly distributed contact plateau area, relatively minor surface wear, and produces low-intensity vibration noise with small fluctuations. In contrast, the triangular and pentagonal friction blocks have larger eccentric wear angles, larger and concentrated contact plateau areas, relatively severe surface wear, and generate high-intensity vibration noise with large fluctuations. Analyzing the reasons, it is found that under the combined effects of low-temperature conditions and different shapes, the friction-induced wear on the surface of the friction block changes, thus exciting different intensities of vibration and noise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human neck is a unique mechanical structure, highly flexible but fatigue prone. The rising prevalence of neck pain and chronic injuries has been attributed to increasing exposure to fatigue loading in activities such as prolonged sedentary work and overuse of electronic devices. However, a causal relationship between fatigue and musculoskeletal mechanical changes remains elusive. This work aimed to establish this relationship through a unique experiment design, inspired by a cantilever beam mechanical model of the neck, and an orchestrated deployment of advanced motion-force measurement technologies including dynamic stereo-radiographic imaging. As a group of 24 subjects performed sustained-till-exhaustion neck exertions in varied positions--neutral, extended, and flexed, their cervical spine musculoskeletal responses were measured. Data verified the occurrence of fatigue and revealed fatigue-induced neck deflection which increased cervical lordosis or kyphosis by 4-5° to 11°, depending on the neck position. This finding and its interpretations render a renewed understanding of muscle fatigue from a more unified motor control perspective as well as profound implications on neck pain and injury prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition resulting from the interaction between environmental factors and hereditary components, profoundly affecting offspring development. Although the etiology of this disease remains unclear, aberrant in utero androgen exposure is considered one of the pivotal pathogenic factors. Herein, we demonstrate the intergenerational inheritance of PCOS-like phenotypes in F2 female offspring through F1 males caused by maternal testosterone exposure in F0 mice. We found impaired serum hormone expression and reproductive system development in prenatal testosterone-treated F1 male and F2 female mice (PTF1 and PTF2). In addition, downregulated N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methyltransferase and binding proteins induced mRNA hypomethylation in the PTF1 testis, including frizzled-6 (Fzd6). In the PTF2 ovary, decreased FZD6 protein expression inhibited the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway and activated Forkhead box O3 (FoxO3) phosphorylation, which led to impaired follicular development. These data indicate that epigenetic modification of the mTOR signaling pathway could be involved in the intergenerational inheritance of maternal testosterone exposureinduced impairments in the PTF2 ovary through male PTF1 mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An individual's quality of life is greatly affected by Parkinson's disease (PD), a prevalent neurological degenerative condition. Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is a prominent non-motor symptom commonly associated with PD. Previous studies have shown a close relationship between PD and RBD. In addition to being a prodromal symptom of PD, RBD has a major negative impact on the prognosis of PD patients. This intrinsic connection indicates that there is a bidirectional relationship between PD and RBD. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the pathological mechanism related to PD and RBD, including the α-synuclein pathological deposition, abnormal iron metabolism, neuroinflammation, glymphatic system dysfunction and dysbiosis of the gut microbiota. Increasing evidence has shown that RBD patients have the same pathogenic mechanisms that underlie PD, but relatively little research has been done on how RBD contributes to PD progression. Therefore, a more thorough investigation is warranted to characterise how RBD affects the course of PD, in order to prepare for future therapeutic trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Acquired brain injury (ABI) is a major cause of global disability. Many ABI patients exhibit oculomotor dysfunctions that impact their daily life and rehabilitation outcomes. Current clinical tools for oculomotor function (OMF) assessment are limited in their usability. In this proof-of-principle study, we aimed to develop an efficient tool for OMF screening and to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and relevance in a small sample of ABI and control participants. Methods: We created the Rehabilitation Oculomotor Screening Evaluation (ROSE) by reviewing existing OMF assessments. ROSE was pilot-tested on ABI patients (n = 10) and age-matched controls (n = 10). Data regarding the characteristics of the assessment, such as the duration, level of participant comprehension, and participant experience were also collected. Results: ROSE takes <20 min ( x ¯ = 12.5), is easy to complete (agreement x ¯ = 4.6/5), and is well-accepted ( x ¯ = 4.8/5). Patients scored higher in all subtests and total score ( x ¯ = 34.8 for ABI vs. 8.9 for controls). Most subtests did not provoke any symptoms, especially for controls. There were no significant between-group differences in symptom provocation. This proof-of-principle study shows that ROSE is feasible, acceptable, and relevant for adult ABI patients. Conclusions: ROSE needs further evaluation for reliability testing and validation in larger samples and diverse neurological conditions. Establishing norms for various ages, sexes, and populations should be considered for the deployment of ROSE as an OMF clinical tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sandwich structures are widely used in various fields. Curved sandwich structures have attracted the attention of researchers owing to their superior stiffness and strength. With the application of the structures in engineering, it is required that the structures can not only meet the needs of mechanical loads but also can cope with thermal, acoustic, optical, and electrical loads. Sound insulation is one of the most common problems in the fields of aerospace, transportation, and architecture, so it is imperative to research new structures with good mechanical and acoustic properties. In this paper, a composite structure which is coupled with curve shell sandwich structure and acoustic metamaterials is proposed to obtain good mechanical and acoustic properties. Based on the harmonic expansion method and principle of virtual work, the theoretical model is established and the sound transmission loss (STL) performance is studied. Then, the effects of the geometry of the structure and material parameters on the STL of the structure are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the potential connections between marginal cord insertion during the first trimester and furcate cord insertion later in pregnancy. Methods: This is a prospective study of screening data on the cord insertion site in 3178 singleton pregnancies. The cord insertion site was examined in two stages. The first stage was screening for the cord insertion site between 10–13 weeks of gestation, the purpose is to determine the category of umbilical cord insertion. The second stage, performed at 22–28 weeks of gestation, was to follow up on the relationship between the cord insertion site and the placenta and to identify any changes in the category of umbilical cord insertion. This was performed to diagnose or exclude furcate cord insertion by identifying whether the umbilical cord trunk separated or branched before it reached the placenta. Factors influencing progression to furcate cord insertion and perinatal complications were assessed. Results: Fourteen cases (0.44%) with progression to furcate cord insertion, all of which showed marginal cord insertion on ultrasound in the first trimester (p < 0.001). without progression to furcate cord insertion, there were no changes in the category of umbilical cord insertion in 3050 cases (96.40%) compared to the early pregnancy. 114 cases (3.60%) with changes in the category of umbilical cord insertion that was not consistent with furcate cord insertion. A total of 14 cases progressed to furcate cord insertion, all showed the cord insertion site were in close proximity, and 11 (78.57%) cases showed a low insertion site (p < 0.001). Regarding the choice of mode of delivery, elective caesarean delivery was done in 8/14 (57.14%). The incidences of spontaneous vaginal delivery were 5/14 (35.71%) (p < 0.001). One (7.14%) case of progression to furcate cord insertion due to haematoma at the root of the umbilical cord ended with an emergency caesarean section. In terms of perinatal complications, marginal cord insertion that progressed to furcate cord insertion had higher incidences of SGA infants, abnormal placental morphology, retention of the placenta, and cord-related adverse pregnancy outcomes than not progressed to furcate cord insertion (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Marginal cord insertion in the first trimester has the potential to progress to furcate cord insertion. We suggest that ultrasound-diagnosed marginal cord insertion in the first trimester should be watched carefully in the second trimester, which is clinically useful to accurately determine the category of cord insertion and to improve the rate of prenatal diagnosis of furcate cord insertion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present an underdetermined estimation algorithm for two-dimensional (2-D) direction of arrival (DOA) based on three-parallel co-prime arrays. By exploiting the correlation among the received signals in both the time and spatial domains, a conjugate augmented spatial–temporal virtual array is constructed, which significantly increases the degrees of freedom (DOF) and expands the array aperture, effectively filling the holes within the physical array. By vectorizing the covariance matrix obtained from the spatial–temporal virtual array, we can transform the 2-D DOA estimation problem into a one-dimensional (1-D) sparse recovery problem. Thereafter, the excellent gridless methods: sparse and parametric approach (SPA) and the matrix pencil and pairing (MAPP), are adopted to efficiently resolve the 1-D sparse recovery problem, enabling the automatic pairing of the 2-D angles. And simulation results are provided to validate the enhanced accuracy of the proposed algorithm in comparison with other existing methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a traditional method of waste treatment, municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) has become one of the main methods of urban waste treatment. However, as a byproduct of MSWI, a large amount of MSWI bottom ash is not reused in current practice. This study innovatively posits MSWI bottom ash as an eco-friendly adsorbent rather than a pollutant, exploring its potential application as a permeable subgrade material. The results reveal that MSWI bottom ash exhibits promising properties to serve as a permeable subgrade material to achieve the permeability and improve the sustainability for subgrade. Due to the arrangement of its particles, it shows excellent performance in shear strength and permeability, which are comparable to or surpass those of sandy soils. The average pore width of 14.200 nm allows heavy metal substances to be encapsulated within the matrix, significantly reducing their leachability, thereby aligning with environmental friendliness standards. Its adsorption capacity is about 6.60 mg/g, and the adsorption capacity per volume is 3.66 times and 2.04 times that of fly ash and clay, respectively. The mechanism analysis shows that the adsorption process is monolayer heterogeneous adsorption. This paper presents a novel perspective on reusing MSWI bottom ash and provides evidence supporting its effective utilization as a permeable subgrade material, offering substantial environmental benefits through enhanced adsorption ability. Implications: Municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) is a common method for municipal solid waste treatment, while the MSWI bottom ash is often not reused. This paper explored the explores the feasibility of using MSWI bottom ash as a permeable road base material. The results show that the particle arrangement enables excellent shear strength and permeability, comparable to sandy soil. It meets safety requirements for the leaching of heavy metals and acts as an adsorbent for pollutants leaching from permeable pavements. Furthermore, the mechanisms underlying these behaviors of MSWI were confirmed by microstructural and mineralogical analyses. These indicate that MSWI bottom ash has great potential as a permeable road base material. This paper provides a clear understanding of the physical, mechanical and environmental properties of MSWI bottom ash, which can promote its reuse in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic anion transporter 3 (OAT3), expressed at the basolateral membrane of kidney proximal tubule cells, facilitates the elimination of numerous metabolites, environmental toxins, and clinically important drugs. An earlier investigation from our laboratory revealed that OAT3 expression and transport activity can be upregulated by SUMOylation, a post-translational modification that covalently conjugates SUMO molecules to substrate proteins. Topotecan is a semi-synthetic derivative of the herbal extract camptothecin, approved by the FDA to treat several types of cancer. Ginkgolic acid (GA) is one of the major components in the extract of Ginkgo biloba leaves that has long been used in food supplements for preventing dementia, high blood pressure, and supporting stroke recovery. Both topotecan and GA have been shown to affect protein SUMOylation. In the current study, we tested our hypothesis that topotecan and GA may regulate OAT3 SUMOylation, expression, and transport function. Our data show that the treatment of OAT3-expressing cells with topotecan or GA significantly decreases the SUMOylation of OAT3 by 50% and 75%, respectively. The same treatment also led to substantial reductions in OAT3 expression and the OAT3-mediated transport of estrone sulfate, a prototypical substrate. Such reductions in cell surface expression of OAT3 correlated well with an increased rate of OAT3 degradation. Mechanistically, we discovered that topotecan enhanced the association between OAT3 and the SUMO-specific protease SENP2, a deSUMOylation enzyme, which contributed to the significant decrease in OAT3 SUMOylation. In conclusion, this study unveiled a novel role of topotecan and GA in inhibiting OAT3 expression and transport activity and accelerating OAT3 degradation by suppressing OAT3 SUMOylation. During comorbidity therapies, the use of topotecan or Ginkgo biloba extract could potentially decrease the transport activity of OAT3 in the kidneys, which will in turn affect the therapeutic efficacy and toxicity of many other drugs that are substrates for the transporter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traffic pattern identification and accident evaluation are essential for improving traffic planning, road safety, and traffic management. In this paper, we establish classification and regression models to characterize the relationship between traffic flows and different time points and identify different patterns of traffic flows by a negative binomial model with smoothing splines. It provides mean response curves and Bayesian credible bands for traffic flows, a single index, and the log-likelihood difference, for traffic flow pattern recognition. We further propose an impact measure for evaluating the influence of accidents on traffic flows based on the fitted negative binomial model. The proposed method has been successfully applied to real-world traffic flows, and it can be used for improving traffic management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cylindrical structures are used in various fields owing to their good mechanical properties. At the same time, the requirements for their acoustic performances continue to increase in the application of cylindrical shell structures. Thus, the acoustic performance and application in sound insulation attract increasing attention. Sandwich cores have been inserted into cylindrical structures to improve the sound insulation performance of the structure. To improve both mechanical and acoustic properties of the cylindrical sandwich structure, a frame structure that strengthens the internal nodes of the pyramidal truss core was added. A theoretical model corresponding to the structure was established to study the sound insulation performance of the structure. The influences of the overall thickness of the structure, number of lattice unit cells, material density, and angle of incident sound waves on the sound insulation performance were analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamic characteristics of a high-contact-ratio (HCR) spur-gear system having rough surfaces generated by shot peening (SP) were studied, with specific emphasis on characterisation of the gear-surface topography as well as modelling of the gear backlash and static transmission error. Accordingly, a four-degree-of-freedom dynamic model was established. Simulation experiments were then conducted using surface roughness, rotational velocity, input torque, and shaft-bearing stiffness as the variables. The results show that the dynamic characteristics of the gear system tend toward instability with increasing surface roughness. The models developed in this study outline a method for building indirect relationships between the vibration, dynamics, and tooth-surface microscopic features. This research thus provides a theoretical basis for designing the tooth-surface topography of HCR gears in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractCylindrical sandwich structure with excellent mechanical properties has attracted extensive attention from researchers and been applied in various fields. The cylindrical sandwich structure meets the mechanical requirements of the application and new requirements emerge at this time. The structure should have multifunctionality which can withstand multiple different loads simultaneously. To improve its sound insulation ability while maintaining its mechanical properties, membrane-type metamaterials are introduced into cylindrical sandwich structure in this article. A theoretical model according to the harmonic expansion method is established. Then, the sound transmission loss (STL) of the structure is predicted. Besides, the influence of boundary conditions on its STL is analyzed and the sound insulation mechanism of the structure is investigated by discussing various parameters effect on the STL curve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the bioactive components and mechanism of action of moist exposed burn ointment (MEBO) for treatment of diabetic foot ulcers using network pharmacology (NP) and molecular docking technology Methods: Through pharmacology database of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) systems (TCMSP), analysis platform and symptom mapping (SymMap) database, the bioactive components of MEBO were screened for and protein binding to bioactive components was predicted. Proteins related to Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) were collected from GeneCards, OMIM, PharmGkb and TTD disease databases. With R language software, the binding proteins of bioactive components of MEBO intersected with the proteins related to occurrence of DFU. Proteins of DFU linked to treatment with MEBO were subjected to analysis using gene ontology (GO) and KEGG with R language software. AutoDock and PyMOL software were employed to dock active components of MEBO and major proteins of DFU. Targeted binding potential of bioactive compounds in MEBO to core proteins of DFU was analyzed. Results: One hundred and five (105) bioactive ingredients and 246 likely therapeutic proteins were obtained. Proteins were mainly involved in biological processes in wound healing, oxidative stress, and lipopolysaccharide. The enriched signaling pathway focused on lipid metabolism and the process of atherosclerosis which involved PI3K and Akt, advanced glycation end-products (AGE)-receptor (RAGE) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). The absolute values of these proteins were screened out with a docking score greater than 5 kcal/mol. Conclusion: The biological effects of MEBO are related to multiple proteins and multiple signaling pathways. Therefore, healing effect of MEBO on DFU occurs via multiple pathways. The biological characteristics of MEBO need to be fully elucidated in further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Looming motion interacts with threatening emotional cues in the initial stages of visual processing. However, the underlying neural networks are unclear. The current study investigated if the interactive effect of threat elicited by angry and looming faces is favoured by rapid, magnocellular neural pathways and if exogenous or endogenous attention influences such processing. Here, EEG/ERP techniques were used to explore the early ERP responses to moving emotional faces filtered for high spatial frequencies (HSF) and low spatial frequencies (LSF). Experiment 1 applied a passive-viewing paradigm, presenting filtered angry and neutral faces in static, approaching, or receding motions on a depth-cued background. In the second experiment, broadband faces (BSF) were included, and endogenous attention was directed to the expression of faces. Our main results showed that regardless of attentional control, P1 was enhanced by BSF angry faces, but neither HSF nor LSF faces drove the effect of facial expressions. Such findings indicate that looming motion and threatening expressions are integrated rapidly at the P1 level but that this processing relies neither on LSF nor on HSF information in isolation. The N170 was enhanced for BSF angry faces regardless of attention but was enhanced for LSF angry faces during passive viewing. These results suggest the involvement of a neural pathway reliant on LSF information at the N170 level. Taken together with previous reports from the literature, this may indicate the involvement of multiple parallel neural pathways during early visual processing of approaching emotional faces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Samples with different surface microstructures and elemental composition were fabricated by pulsed lasers with different pulse duration, including the millisecond laser remelting (RE), the bioceramic coating (BC), and nanosecond laser processing (NL) samples. The morphologies, chemical elements, phases, and valences of these samples were analyzed and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The contact angles of the samples were measured in air and under water. Their cell activity and behavior were analyzed by cell proliferation and cytoskeleton staining experiments. The results show that the hydrophilicity and aerophobicity increase after laser treatment, and the wetting behavior of underwater bubbles is strongly related to the wettability of the sample in the air. None of the samples examined in the experiment are cytotoxic. During the initial culture, the greater unevenness of the BC and NL sample surfaces hinders the initial expansion of the cells. In contrast, the cell spreading area of the ground (G) and the RE samples is larger. The inclined sidewall in the V-shaped structure weakens the energy barrier in the groove-ridge combination (NL sample), allowing cells that rarely adhere to the sidewall to adhere successfully. In addition, the orderly distribution of adhesion sites created by laser processing further promotes cell adhesion on the inclined sidewalls. When the cells have been cultured to Day 7, the NL sample forms a clear directional distribution of cells with its unique V-shaped structure mimicking the placoid scale on the shark skin surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) can cause sinus obstruction and stenosis, with potentially fatal consequences. High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HRMRI) can diagnose CVST qualitatively, although quantitative screening methods are lacking for patients refractory to anticoagulation therapy and who may benefit from endovascular treatment (EVT). Thus, in this study, we used radiomic features (RFs) extracted from HRMRI to build machine learning models to predict response to drug therapy and determine the appropriateness of EVT. Materials and methods: RFs were extracted from three-dimensional T1-weighted motion-sensitized driven equilibrium (MSDE), T2-weighted MSDE, T1-contrast, and T1-contrast MSDE sequences to build radiomic signatures and support vector machine (SVM) models for predicting the efficacy of standard drug therapy and the necessity of EVT. Results: We retrospectively included 53 patients with CVST in a prospective cohort study, among whom 14 underwent EVT after standard drug therapy failed. Thirteen RFs were selected to construct the RF signature and CVST-SVM models. In the validation dataset, the sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve performance for the RF signature model were 0.833, 0.937, and 0.977, respectively. The radiomic score was correlated with days from symptom onset, history of dyslipidemia, smoking, fibrin degradation product, and D-dimer levels. The sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve for the CVST-SVM model in the validation set were 0.917, 0.969, and 0.992, respectively. Conclusions: The CVST-SVM model trained with RFs extracted from HRMRI outperformed the RF signature model and could aid physicians in predicting patient responses to drug treatment and identifying those who may require EVT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vonoprazan-amoxicillin (VA) dual therapy has recently been proposed to eradicate Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) with controversial results. We, therefore, conducted a meta-analysis to assess the effect of this therapy for H. pylori eradication. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science database from inception until November 2022, collecting randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing VA dual therapy with other regimens for H. pylori eradication. Pooled relative risks (RRs) were calculated using random effects model. Results: Five RCTs were ultimately included. Compared with the vonoprazan-amoxicillin-clarithromycin (VAC) triple therapy, the eradication rate of VA dual therapy was lower in intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis (n = 3 RCTs, RR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.88–0.99, P = 0.03), but there was no significant difference between them in the per-protocol (PP) analysis (RR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.91–1.01, P = 0.11). For clarithromycin-resistant H. pylori strains, the eradication rate of VA dual therapy was significantly higher than that of the VAC triple therapy (n = 2 RCTs, RR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.03–1.39, P = 0.02). Compared with the PPI-based triple therapy (PAC), VA dual therapy had a superior eradication rate (n = 2 RCTs, ITT analysis: RR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.04–1.23, P = 0.003; PP analysis: pooled RR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.06–1.22, P = 0.0004). Compared with VAC or PAC triple therapy, VA dual therapy has a similar incidence of total adverse events and compliance. Conclusions: VA dual therapy had a similar effect compared to VAC triple therapy and was superior to PAC triple therapy. Future RCTs are needed to ascertain the optimal dosage and duration of vonoprazan and amoxicillin, and the effect of VA dual therapy compared with the mainstream regimens recommended by current guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Streptococcus suis is a major swine pathogen that can be transmitted to humans by close contact with infected or carrier pigs. Among the 29 true serotypes, serotype 2 is the most significant due to its high prevalence in diseased pigs and its association with human clinical cases. The co-existence of strong and weak virulent strains of SS2 (Streptococcus suis serotype 2) complicates the surveillance, coupled with the fact that traditional methods based on serologic tests or multiple PCR are laborious and time-consuming, posing challenges to the prevention and control of streptococcosis. Therefore, developing a new method to rapidly detect S. suis serotype 2 and virulent strains thereof is extremely essential. In this study, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) was performed among 137 S. suis strains covering all the true serotypes to explore its potential for identifying SS2 strains with strong virulence. By comparing mass spectrometry data with those of bacterial phenotypic and genomic properties, our study reveals, for the first time, the strong correlations between mass spectra patterns and the phenotypes (of serotype and virulence). In addition, machine learning-based classifiers have more than 90% accuracy in making correct judgments. Overall, the promising potential of MALDI-TOF MS for virulent SS2 detection was proven, and the corresponding methods disclosed in this study will pave the way for high speed-specific causative agent identification among more extensive bacterial species. IMPORTANCE To the best of our knowledge, this study reveals a strong correlation between mass spectra pattern and virulence phenotype among S. suis for the first time. In order to make the findings applicable and to excavate the intrinsic information in the spectra, the classifiers based on the machine learning algorithms were established, and RF (Random Forest)-based models have achieved an accuracy of over 90%. Overall, this study will pave the way for virulent SS2 (Streptococcus suis serotype 2) rapid detection, and the important findings on the association between genotype and mass spectrum may provide a new idea for the genotype-dependent detection of specific pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) technology has been increasingly applied to power line carrier communication (PLC). Discrete Fourier Transformation (DFT)‐based channel estimation algorithm is suitable for OFDM‐based PLC due to its low complexity. In view of the problem that the traditional DFT channel estimation does not consider the influence of noise inside cyclic prefix (CP), an improved DFT channel estimation based on signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) estimation is proposed. First, least‐square (LS) algorithm is performed and the frequency domain channel estimation is converted to the time domain through inverse DFT, and the average SNR of the system is estimated according to the pilot sequence. Second, the substitute SNR for each sample point inside CP is defined and used to filter impulse noise inside CP. Third, the average SNR is converted into the threshold of the useful signal energy inside CP, and the widespread background noise inside CP is filtered. The simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can obtain more accurate channel estimation than other DFT channel estimation algorithms because it can effectively filter out noise inside CP. In addition, compared with other similar algorithms, the proposed algorithm dose not result in a significant increase in complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Honeycomb sandwich structures have been widely used in the field of engineering owing to their outstanding mechanical properties. However, for a honeycomb sandwich structure with large spatial periodicity, there is a low-frequency sound insulation valley. Here, the sound transmission across locally resonant honeycomb sandwich meta-structures was investigated to overcome this sound-insulation valley. An analytical model was developed based on the space-harmonic approach and the low-frequency sound insulation valley was determined analytically and numerically. The results indicate that the resonator distributed at the center of the face panel has a significant impact on the sound transmission performance of the honeycomb sandwich structure, whereas the resonator distributed on the wall of the honeycomb core does not contribute to overcoming this sound-insulation valley. Based on the research results, a design strategy for overcoming this sound-insulation valley was determined by tuning the damping parameter and constructing graded resonators. Moreover, sound transmission under the excitation of oblique incidence sound waves was also investigated. Compared with the method of filling porous materials, the proposed design method is more effective, and more importantly, the mass of the resonator is only 1.23% of that of the porous materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: AFP appears to be negative in about 30% of overall hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Our study aimed to develop a nomogram model to diagnose AFP-negative HCC (AFPN-HCC). Patients and methods: The training set included 294 AFPN-HCC patients, 159 healthy objects, 63 patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB), and 64 patients with liver cirrhosis (LC). And the validation set enrolled 137 healthy controls objects, 47 CHB patients and 45 patients with LC. LASSO, univariate, and multivariable logistic regression analysis were performed to construct the model and then transformed into a visualized nomogram. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, the calibration curve, decision curve analysis (DCA), and clinical impact curve (CIC) were further used for validation. Results: Four variables including age, PIVKA-II, platelet (PLT) counts, and prothrombin time (PT) were selected to establish the nomogram. The area under the curve (AUC) of the ROC to distinguish AFPN-HCC patients was 0.937(95% CI 0.892–0.938) in training set and 0.942(95% CI 0.921–0.963) in validation set. We also found that the model had high diagnostic value for small-size HCC (tumor size < 5 cm) (AUC = 0.886) and HBV surface antigen-positive AFPN-HCC (AUC = 0.883). Conclusions: Our model was effective for discrimination of AFPN-HCC from patients with benign liver diseases and healthy controls, and might be helpful for the diagnosis for AFPN-HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoporosis is one of the common orthopaedic diseases, characterised by increased bone fragility due to reduced bone mass and microstructural degeneration, posing a great threat to patients' quality of life and safety. In recent years, Chinese medicine (natural) has had a unique advantage in the treatment of osteoporosis and has shown good efficacy. Autophagy is an inherent cellular survival mechanism for the removal and recycling of damaged proteins and organelles and plays an important role in maintaining the stability of the intracellular environment and organ function. Therefore, this article aims to provide a comprehensive review of these Chinese medicines (natural) for the treatment of osteoporosis through autophagy. They have been intensively studied and reported to have effects such as promoting osteogenesis and anti-bone resorption. The Chinese medicines include plants such as Cistanche deserticola, Epimedium, Curculigo orchioides Gaertn, Achyranthes bidentata Blume, Leonurus japonicus Houtt, Ginseng, Chuanxiong Rhizome, Eucommia ulmoides, Morindae Officinalis Radix, Curcuma longa, Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma et Radix, Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge, Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge and Pueraria Lobata, thus providing evidence for the use of alternative herbal therapies for the effective treatment of osteoporosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To investigate the effect of preoperative high-intensity strength training combined with balance training on the knee function of end-stage knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods: A prospective study was conducted on end-stage KOA patients awaiting TKA. The patients were divided into an experimental group and a control group according to whether they received a preoperative training intervention. The differences in knee flexor–extensor strength, knee range of motion (ROM), timed up and go (TUG) test result, stair ascend/descend test result, Knee Society score (KSS) and Berg balance scale (BBS) score were assessed in both groups at baseline (T1), before operation (T2), 3 months after operation (T3), and 1 year after operation (T4). Results: After high-intensity strength training and balance training, the knee flexor–extensor strength, TUG test result, stair ascend/descend test result, and KSS were all significantly improved at T2 in the experimental group over the control group. At T3, the knee ROM, knee flexor–extensor strength, TUG test result, BBS score, and KSS clinical and functional scores were all significantly superior in the experimental group. The experimental group enjoyed a superiority in KSS clinical and functional scores until T4. Group × time and between-group interactions were found in all assessment indicators in both groups (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Preoperative high-intensity strength training combined with balance training can enhance the knee flexor–extensor strength and balance of patients with end-stage KOA in the short term and help improve early outcomes after KOA. Trial registration ChiCTR2000032857, 2020-05-13. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The contralateral seventh cervical (cC7) nerve root transfer represents a cornerstone technique in treating total brachial plexus avulsion injury. Traditional cC7 procedures employ the entire ulnar nerve as a graft, which inevitably compromises its restorative capacity. Objective: Our cadaveric study seeks to assess this innovative approach aimed at preserving the motor branch of the ulnar nerve (MBUN). This new method aims to enable future repair stages, using the superficial radial nerve (SRN) as a bridge connecting cC7 and MBUN. Methods: We undertook a comprehensive dissection of ten adult cadavers, generously provided by the Department of Anatomy, Histology, and Embryology at Fudan University, China. It allowed us to evaluate the feasibility of our proposed technique. For this study, we harvested only the dorsal and superficial branches of the ulnar nerve, as well as the SRN, to establish connections between the cC7 nerve and recipient nerves (both the median nerve and MBUN). We meticulously dissected the SRN and the motor and sensory branches of the ulnar nerve. Measurements were made from the reverse point of the SRN to the wrist flexion crease and the coaptation point of the SRN and MBUN. Additionally, we traced the MBUN from distal to proximal ends, recording its maximum length. We also measured the diameters of the nerve branches and tallied the number of axons. Results: Our modified approach proved technically viable in all examined limbs. The distances from the reverse point of the SRN to the wrist flexion crease were 8.24 ± 1.80 cm and to the coaptation point were 6.60 ± 1.75 cm. The maximum length of the MBUN was 7.62 ± 1.03 cm. The average axon diameters in the MBUN and the anterior and posterior branches of the SRN were 1.88 ± 0.42 mm、1.56 ± 0.38 mm、2.02 ± 0.41 mm,respectively. The corresponding mean numbers of axons were 1426.60 ± 331.39 and 721.50 ± 138.22, and 741.90 ± 171.34, respectively. Conclusion: The SRN demonstrated the potential to be transferred to the MBUN without necessitating a nerve graft. A potential advantage of this modification is preserving the MBUN's recovery potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wave propagation in the viscoacoustic media is physically dispersive and dissipated. Completely excluding the numerical dispersion error from the physical dispersion in the viscoacoustic wave simulation is indispensable to understanding the intrinsic property of the wave propagation in attenuated media for the petroleum exploration geophysics. In recent years, a viscoacoustic wave equation characterized by fractional Laplacian gains wide attention in geophysical community. However, the firstorder form of the viscoacoustic wave equation, often solved by the conventional staggered-grid pseudospectral method, suffers from the numerical dispersion error in time due to the low-order finitedifference approximation. It is challenging to completely eliminate the error because the viscoacoustic wave equation contains two temporal derivatives, which stem from the time stepping and the amplitude attenuation terms, respectively. To tackle the issue, we derive two exact first-order k-space viscoacoustic formulations that can fully exclude the numerical error from the physical dispersion. For the homogeneous case, two formulations agree with the viscoacoustic analytical solution very well and have the same efficiency. For the heterogeneous case, our second k-space formulation is more efficient than the first one because the second formulation significantly reduces the number of the wavenumber-space mixed-domain operators, which are the expensive part of the viscoacoustic k-space simulation. Numerical cases validate that the two first-order k-space formulations are effective and efficient alternatives to the current staggered-grid pseudospectral formulation for the viscoacoustic wave simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When solving the Helmholtz equation numerically, the accuracy of numerical solution deteriorates as the wave number k increases, which is known as "pollution effect" and which is directly related to the phase difference between the exact and numerical solutions, caused by the numerical dispersion. In this paper, we propose a dispersion analysis for the continuous interior penalty finite element method (CIP-FEM) and derive an explicit formula of the penalty parameter for the pth order CIP-FEM on tensor product (Cartesian) meshes, with which the phase difference is reduced from O (k(kh)2p) to O (k(kh)2p+2). Extensive numerical tests show that the pollution error of the CIP-FE solution is also reduced by two orders in kh with the same penalty parameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The material and surface morphology of bone implants can influence cellular activity and proliferation properties. The preparation of biomimetic microtextures on the hydroxyapatite (HA) bio-coated surface can enhance the biological properties of the implant. In this study, a nanosecond laser was used to prepare microtextures on the surface of HA coatings, and the effect of laser parameters on the ablation morphology was investigated by micromorphological observation and response surface methods. The ablation morphology was found to be better when the laser repetition frequency was 20 kHZ, the scanning speed was 300 mm/s and the number of scans was 7. Microtextures imitating fish scales and crocodile skin of different sizes were prepared on the surface of HA coatings using this laser parameter. The biological properties of the microtextures were investigated using CCK-8 tests and cell adhesion tests and the nanosecond laser-prepared mimetic microtextures were found to promote cell proliferation. A 0.1 mm radius of the mock fish scale microtexture had optimal cellular activity, where the tentacles of the cells could fully extend to the surface of the microstructure, which facilitated cell adhesion and proliferation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, eleven high-strength steel tube confined self-stressing concrete (HSTCSC) short columns were tested to study their strengthening mechanism and axial compression performance. The effects of different material strengths, crosssection types, and hollow ratios on the axial mechanical properties of the HSTCSC short columns were investigated using the finite element analysis method. Experimental results highlighted that the HSTCSC short columns presented the waist drum-type failure mode significantly, with a higher axial load-bearing capacity and deformation performance, and possess a large safety reserve. It was also found that the axial compression property of the HSTCSC short column could be improved significantly due to the joint action of the micro-expansion of the self-stressing concrete and the hoop constraint of the high-strength steel tube. Moreover, the circular cross-section HSTCSC short columns were found to result in better mechanical performance after yielding of the high-strength steel tubes, especially entering the strengthening section. Under the condition of equal steel content ratio and cross-section area, the single-layer circular HSTCSC short columns were found to have the largest load-bearing capacities after yielding the high-strength steel tubes, followed by the double-layer circular HSTCSC short columns, and then the double-layer square HSTCSC short columns. The hollow rate of the cross-section could also decrease the load-bearing capacity of the HSTCSC short column with both circular and square sections, although increasing the hollow rate could save material and reduce the weight of the structure. The finite element analysis results showed that the proposed finite element model could be employed to simulate the compressive behavior of HSTCSC short columns with high calculation accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: Recently, a large number of trials on proton pump inhibitor-amoxicillin-containing high-dose dual therapy (HDDT) versus bismuth-containing quadruple therapy (BQT) for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication have been published with controversial and inconsistent conclusions. The aim of this meta-analysis was to determine the effects of HDDT for H. pylori eradication compared to BQT. Design: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted. Methods: PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane library database were searched to collect all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effects of HDDT versus BQT to H. pylori eradication from inception to September 2022. Meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the pooled relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using a random-effects model. Quality of evidence was appraised using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation system. Trial sequential analysis (TSA) was performed to determine the reliability and conclusiveness. Results: A total of 14 RCTs with 5121 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that there was no statistical significance in the eradication rate between HDDT and BQT (intention-to-treat analysis: 86.7% versus 85.1%, RR = 1.01, 95% CI: 0.98–1.04; per-protocol analysis: 89.9% versus 89.4%, RR = 1.01, 95% CI: 0.98–1.03; moderate-quality evidence). The incidence of total adverse effects in HDDT group was significantly lower than in BQT group (5.9% versus 34.1%, RR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.34–0.50; low-quality evidence). No statistical significance was observed in compliance between HDDT and BQT (RR = 1.01, 95% CI, 1.00–1.03, p = 0.07; low-quality evidence). The TSA result for H. pylori eradication rate indicated that the effect was conclusive. Conclusions: Evidence from our updated meta-analysis suggests that HDDT is as effective as BQT in eradicating H. pylori, with fewer adverse effects and similar compliance. Registration: Open Science Framework registries (No: osf.io/th4vd) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the continuous-time counterpart of Q-learning for reinforcement learning (RL) under the entropy-regularized, exploratory diffusion process formulation introduced by Wang et al. (2020). As the conventional (big) Q-function collapses in continuous time, we consider its first-order approximation and coin the term "(little) q-function". This function is related to the instantaneous advantage rate function as well as the Hamiltonian. We develop a "q-learning" theory around the q-function that is independent of time discretization. Given a stochastic policy, we jointly characterize the associated q-function and value function by martingale conditions of certain stochastic processes, in both on-policy and off-policy settings. We then apply the theory to devise different actor{critic algorithms for solving underlying RL problems, depending on whether or not the density function of the Gibbs measure generated from the q-function can be computed explicitly. One of our algorithms interprets the well-known Q-learning algorithm SARSA, and another recovers a policy gradient (PG) based continuous-time algorithm proposed in Jia and Zhou (2022b). Finally, we conduct simulation experiments to compare the performance of our algorithms with those of PG-based algorithms in Jia and Zhou (2022b) and time-discretized conventional Q-learning algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a novel color medical image encryption method based on mean shift algorithm and fractional-order hyperchaotic system. Firstly, color medical images were divided into lesion area, detection area, and edge area by using mean shift clustering. Low-value pixels and zero-value pixels in the edge region are abandoned to improve the encryption efficiency. Secondly, the doctor-patient information is embedded into the pixel matrix of the lesion region by using discrete wavelet transform and singular value decomposition. Thirdly, the pixels of the lesion region and the detection region are processed by using fractional-order hyperchaotic system. Finally, the color medical image embedded with doctor-patient information can be quickly encrypted. Security analysis shows that the encryption method has not only strong robustness and security, but also good performance against various attacks. SPNA and CA results: (a) s1-DE-SPNA, (b) s2-DE-SPNA, (c) s3-DE-SPNA, (d) s4-DE-SPNA; (e) s1-DE-CA, (f) s2-DE-CA, (g) s3-DE-CA, (h) s4-DE-CA [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: Recently, a large number of trials on proton pump inhibitoramoxicillin- containing high-dose dual therapy (HDDT) versus bismuth-containing quadruple therapy (BQT) for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication have been published with controversial and inconsistent conclusions. The aim of this meta-analysis was to determine the effects of HDDT for H. pylori eradication compared to BQT. Design: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted. Methods: PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane library database were searched to collect all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effects of HDDT versus BQT to H. pylori eradication from inception to September 2022. Meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the pooled relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using a random-effects model. Quality of evidence was appraised using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation system. Trial sequential analysis (TSA) was performed to determine the reliability and conclusiveness. Results: A total of 14 RCTs with 5121 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that there was no statistical significance in the eradication rate between HDDT and BQT (intention-to-treat analysis: 86.7% versus 85.1%, RR = 1.01, 95% CI: 0.98-1.04; per-protocol analysis: 89.9% versus 89.4%, RR = 1.01, 95% CI: 0.98-1.03; moderate-quality evidence). The incidence of total adverse effects in HDDT group was significantly lower than in BQT group (5.9% versus 34.1%, RR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.34-0.50; low-quality evidence). No statistical significance was observed in compliance between HDDT and BQT (RR = 1.01, 95% CI, 1.00-1.03, 푝 = 0.07; low-quality evidence). The TSA result for H. pylori eradication rate indicated that the effect was conclusive. Conclusions: Evidence from our updated meta-analysis suggests that HDDT is as effective as BQT in eradicating H. pylori, with fewer adverse effects and similar compliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a clonal disease of plasma cells that remains, for the most part, incurable despite the advent of several novel therapeutics. The elevated expression of p27 and its association with cell-cycle arrest is speculated to be one of the major mechanisms by which MM cells escape the cytotoxic effects of therapeutic agents. In this study, we demonstrated that RBX1 silencing could inhibit MM cell growth and promote cell drug resistance. RBX1 directly interacted with and triggered the ubiquitination and degradation of p27, ultimately causing p27 reduction. Additionally, cell growth and apoptosis analysis indicated that the role of RBX1 in regulating myeloma cell proliferation and drug resistance resulted from p27 accumulation, which occurred in a Thr187 phosphorylation-dependent manner. Furthermore, the cell-cycle analysis demonstrated that RBX1 overexpression induced cells to enter the cell cycle (S-phase) and partially inhibited chemotherapeutic drugs-mediated cell cycle arrest. Notably, the forced expression of RBX1 also inhibited the cell adhesion-mediated elevation of p27 and induced the accumulation of adherent cells in apoptosis, especially the proteolytic cleavage of caspase-3. Additionally, RBX1 knockdown significantly inhibited myeloma development in SCID-Hu mice and in a human MM xenotransplant model. Overall, these in vitro and in vivo experiments indicated that the RBX1-p27 axis could be a central molecular mechanism by which RBX1 functions as a tumor promoter and stimulates cell growth in chemotherapeutic drugs treated MM cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider Fréchet sufficient dimension reduction with responses being complex random objects in a metric space and high-dimensional Euclidean predictors. We propose a novel approach, called the weighted inverse regression ensemble method, for linear Fréchet sufficient dimension reduction. The method is further generalized as a new operator defined on reproducing kernel Hilbert spaces for nonlinear Fréchet sufficient dimension reduction. We provide theoretical guarantees for the new method via asymptotic analysis. Intensive simulation studies verify the performance of our proposals, and we apply our methods to analyse handwritten digit data and real-world affective face data to demonstrate its use in real applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, we reviewed the specimens belonging to Rhopalopsole we have collected and compared them with the holotype and paratypes of Rhopalopsole vespertilio Chen & Du, 2017. We found that R. vespertilio should be synonymized with R. xui Yang, Li & Zhu, 2004. Additionally, a new species of the genus Rhopalopsole, R. nanlingasp. nov. from Guangdong Province of southwestern China, is described and illustrated. The new species is compared to the Rhopalopsole vietnamica west group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer blends made of plastic waste and manufactured by extrusion‐based melt blending are of particular importance for mechanical recycling in the context of tailoring material properties for value‐added applications. For both, property tailoring and for suppressing downcycling, it is inevitable to understand the thermomechanical degradation behavior of the blends, induced by melt‐blending. In this investigation, the thermomechanical degradation of polypropylene (PP) – polystyrene (PS) blends are analyzed for different blend compositions based on cross‐fractionation chromatography. This method allows for the first time to separate PP from PS with simultaneously analyzing the change in the molecular architecture distribution due to thermomechanical degradation. It is revealed that the melt‐blending induced degradation effect is primarily occurring in PP, where besides a reduction of chain length, significant chain irregularities are generated. It is observed that PP degradation is increasing with a growing proportion of PS. These new findings offer the first insights into the thermomechanical degradation of PP/PS blends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Fe 2 O 3 Nanomodified Pumice was synthesized by hydrothermal method. • Coupling Ozonation and modified pumice enhanced UASB was firstly applied to the treatment of landfill leachates. • Ozonation and Fe 2 O 3 Nanomodified Pumice make the start-up time of the reactor accelerated. • UASB process achieved efficient COD (93%) removal and methane productivity (58.23 d/L) Pumice, a material with good application prospects in adsorption and water treatment, has less research on its improvement. In this study, the positive benefits of anaerobic reaction were explored by loading iron oxide on pumice and combined with ozone advanced oxidation. In the experiment, the Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) reactor was enhanced with pretreatment from an ozone generator (6 L/min flow rate, delivering 500 ± 5 % mg/L of ozone) and the addition of 250 ml of Fe 2 O 3 Nanomodified Pumice (FP). The results showed that FP could play an active role in the formation of sludge particles. The addition of FP increased the level of interspecies electron transfer (DIET), improved the reaction of hydrolysis and acid production, methane production and the activity of dominant species. At the same time, the advanced oxidation of ozone and the improvement of FP on the decomposition ability avoid the accumulation of macromolecular volatile fatty acids and reduce the risk of reactor acidification. At the microbial level, the addition of FP better promoted the correlation between the three dominant strains of Firmicutes, Synergistota, and Desulfobacteriota, and promoted the connection between the reactions. Under these promoting effects, not only the start-up time of the reactor was accelerated, but also the anti-load capacity was improved, and the reactor could maintain a removal rate of more than 90 % at an organic load of 53.89 kgCOD / (m3 · d). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a response to a study titled "Pancreatic Enzyme Use Reduces Pancreatitis Frequency in Children With Acute Recurrent or Chronic Pancreatitis: A Report From INSPPIRE." The authors of the response express interest in the study but suggest that certain points need further clarification. They recommend including proton pump inhibitor (PPI) usage as a risk factor analysis, considering the impact of endoscopic or surgical treatment on reducing additional acute pancreatitis episodes, conducting a subgroup analysis on the duration of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) treatment, and comparing pain symptoms between the enzymes group and the no-enzymes group. The authors of the response appreciate the comments and state that their study has successfully examined the relationship between PERT use and recurrent acute pancreatitis episodes. [Extracted from the article]

Air-conditioners (ACs) can fully utilize the inherent characteristics of storing heat/cold in demand response (DR), achieving peak load shifting and renewable energy consumption. However, traditional control strategies based on compressor ON/OFF state require retrofitting of the internal components of ACs, making it challenging to implement directly through ACs' infrared control protocol. Given the widespread availability of infrared temperature-set-point (TSP) adjustment functions in existing ACs, this paper proposes a day-ahead optimal scheduling strategy of aggregate ACs under TSP control. Based on the second-order equivalent thermodynamic parameter (ETP) model, the TSP adjustment characteristics are considered to establish the equivalent energy storage (EES) model of ACs. On this basis, taking the overall optimization objectives of power system into account, the optimal scheduling model of aggregate ACs under TSP control is established to solve collaborative optimization problems for power generation and consumption. Case study demonstrates that, compared to optimal scheduling models based on traditional EES model, the proposed model exhibits superior peak load shifting effects and allows for smooth control of ACs through the issuance of control commands. • An optimal scheduling model of aggregate air-conditioners based on equivalent energy storage model is established. • Discrete temperature-set-point control realized through air-conditioners' infrared control protocol. • The aggregate air-conditioners' energy storage capacity and their potential in demand response are enhanced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the evolution of friction-induced vibration (FIV) and wear in high-speed train friction braking through experiments, theoretical analysis, and numerical simulation. Experimental tests revealed that vibration behavior transitions from high-frequency modes at high speeds to low-frequency stick-slip at lower speeds. Theoretical analysis indicated that brake disc speed, coefficient of friction (COF), and contact stiffness affect system stability. Specifically, the system experiences high-frequency vibrations at high speeds due to mode coupling, and the friction block surface primarily undergoes abrasive wear mechanisms. At lower speeds, the system demonstrates low-frequency stick-slip vibrations induced by the combined effects of mode coupling and negative friction velocity slope (NFVS) characteristics, and the friction block surface mainly experiences adhesive wear mechanisms. • FIV in high-speed train braking exhibits diverse mechanisms with speed changes. • The system stability is affected by brake disc speed, COF, and contact stiffness. • FIV is influenced by mode coupling and NFVS from high to low speeds. • The wear mechanism changes from abrasive to adhesive wear during deceleration. • FIV characteristics correlate with wear mechanisms on the friction block. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination of Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) and the pET expression system is used extensively for the expression of various recombinant proteins (RPs). However, RP overexpression often introduces a growth burden for the host, especially in the case of toxic proteins. The key to solving this problem is to reduce the host burden associated with protein overproduction, which is often achieved by regulating the expression or activity of T7 RNAP or growth-decoupled systems. However, these strategies mainly relieve or interrupt the robbing of host resources, and do not eliminate other types of host burdens in the production process. In this study, we constructed a production system based on a dynamic equilibrium to precisely relieve the host burden and increase the RP production. The system is composed of three modules, including the overexpression of basic growth-related genes (rRNA, RNAP core enzyme, sigma factors), prediction and overexpression of key proteins using the enzyme-constrained model ec_iECBD_1354, and dynamic regulation of growth-related and key protein expression intensity based on a burden-driven promoter. Using this system, the production of many high-burden proteins, including autolysis protein and E. coli membrane proteins, was increased to varying degrees. Among them, the cytosine transporter protein (CodB) was most significantly improved, with a 4.02-fold higher production compared to the wild strain. This system can effectively reduce the optimizing costs, and is suitable for developing various types of RP expression hosts rapidly. Key points: • The basic growth-related resources can relieve the host burden from recombinant protein. • The enzyme-constrained model can accurately predict key genes to improve yield. • The expression intensity can be dynamically adjusted with changes in burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the causal role of lipid or apolipoprotein traits in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and determine the effect of lipid‐lowering interventions on the disease. Methods: Two‐sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were conducted to evaluate the associations of high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C), triglycerides (TG), apolipoprotein (Apo)B and ApoA1 levels with risks for ICH, and those of LDL‐C‐ (HMGCR, PCSK9, and NPC1L1) and TG‐lowering targets (LPL and APOC3) with ICH. Results: Increased levels of ApoB was associated with a decreased risk of overall ICH (OR 0.623, 95% CI 0.413–0.940; p = 0.024) and lobar ICH (OR 0.579, 95% CI 0.342–0.979; p = 0.042). The inverse relationship remained stable in multivariable MR. In addition, elevated TGs showed a causal effect on lobar ICH in multivariable MR (OR 1.600, 95% CI 1.009–2.537; p = 0.046). The LDL‐C‐reducing genetic variation alleles at or near the HMGCR gene (mimicking the effect of statins) were predicted to increase the overall and deep ICH risk. Additionally, genetic variation at or near the APOC3 gene suggested that genetically reducing the activity of APOC3 (mimicking antisense anti‐apoC3 agents) was predicted to decrease lobar ICH. Interpretation: Genetically predicted elevated ApoB may have a protective effect on overall ICH and lobar ICH, whereas elevated TG was associated with a higher risk of lobar ICH conditional on LDL‐C and ApoB. MR analysis supports the conclusion that statins may increase the risk of overall and deep ICH independent of their lipid‐lowering effect. More specific lipid‐lowering targets may end up being the future. ANN NEUROL 2022;92:390–399 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The restoration and reconstruction of ecosystems is the basis of the landscape reconstruction of construction and demolition waste (CDW) landfills, in which landscape plants play a prominent role. To screen appropriate landscape plants that could survive and grow in a mixture of CDW and soils, the Fenghuangshan CDW landfill in Suzhou, China, was taken as an example to study restoration technology by plants. The growth and physiological parameters of ten herbaceous species with high ornamental values, healthy growth and easy maintenance in the green space of Suzhou were measured under a mixture of CDW and soils. A comprehensive evaluation was conducted with the membership function method. The results showed that Hemerocallis fulva, Panicum virgatum, Heliopsis helianthoides, Sedum aizoon and Carex oshimensis 'Evergold' were well adapted to the mixed environment of CDW and soil in Suzhou. Among them, Hemerocallis fulva ranked first with a comprehensive evaluation index of 0.87. It could be the best herbaceous species for landscape reconstruction of CDW landfills. The study is instructive for vegetation restoration in surrounding areas and provides a method for plant selection and evaluation for vegetation restoration of CDW landfills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gauge theories form the foundation of modern physics, with applications ranging from elementary particle physics and early-universe cosmology to condensed matter systems. We perform quantum simulations of the unitary dynamics of a U(1) symmetric gauge field theory and demonstrate emergent irreversible behavior. The highly constrained gauge theory dynamics are encoded in a one-dimensional Bose-Hubbard simulator, which couples fermionic matter fields through dynamical gauge fields. We investigated global quantum quenches and the equilibration to a steady state well approximated by a thermal ensemble. Our work may enable the investigation of elusive phenomena, such as Schwinger pair production and string breaking, and paves the way for simulating more complex, higher-dimensional gauge theories on quantum synthetic matter devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Poor blood supply can easily lead to expander extrusion and necrosis at the distal expanded flap. Botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) has been previously found to improve pedicled flap blood flow perfusion, but its effects on the blood supply of expanded skin remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of BTX-A on blood flow perfusion during and after expansion. Methods Eighteen Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a BTX-A group and a control group. BTX-A or normal saline was injected intradermally into the marked skin on the back immediately. Then expanders were implanted in the rats. One week later, inflation of the expander with normal saline was started and performed twice a week to reach an intracapsular pressure of 8 kPa. The skin blood flow was measured before each injection. After 4 weeks of expansion, the sample was harvested for histological staining to measure the diameter and density of blood vessels; meanwhile, a 2 cm× 8 cm expanded random flap was elevated and sutured in situ. Blood flow perfusion and flap survival were observed. Results Compared with the control group, the BTX-A group had more blood flow, a larger blood vessel diameter, and higher blood vessel density in the expanded skin. Additionally, the flap of the BTX-A group had good blood flow perfusion and a high proportion of flap survival area within 7 days after expanded flap transfer. Data were analyzed using an independent t-test. Conclusion Pre-surgical BTX-A treatment may increase angiogenesis and vasodilatation, with subsequent blood perfusion elevation during and after expansion, and obtain a greater proportion of survival area of the transferred expanded flap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNA-125b-5p (miR-125b-5p) is downregulated in patients with gestational hypertension signs. However, the role of miR-125b-5p in pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) remains unknown. The human placental microvascular endothelial cells (HPMECs) have undergone hypoxia and reoxygenation (H/R) treatment to establish PIH cellular model. Rats were performed with reduced uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP) operation to establish PIH animal model. MiR-125b-5p promoted viability while inhibited the apoptosis of H/R-treated HPMECs by downregulating BMF. MiR-125b-5p alleviated hypertensive symptoms and improved pregnancy outcomes in RUPP rats. MiR-125b-5p ameliorates H/R-induced HPMEC dysfunction and attenuates RUPP-induced hypertension in pregnant rats by downregulating BMF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Paraleuctra Hanson, 1941, is a widespread genus distributed in the east and west Nearctic and in much of the Palaearctic, with 27 valid species currently known. In China, although six Paraleuctra species have been reported, the differences among these species have not been fully explained. After checking a large number of specimens of this genus from Zhejiang Province, two junior synonyms are proposed for the species Paraleuctra orientalis (Chu, 1928). We recently examined specimens of the genus Paraleuctra Hanson, 1941, from Zhejiang Province and Sichuan Province, China, and two new synonyms are established based on morphological and molecular data. Paraleuctra sinica Yang and Yang, 1995, and Paraleuctra tianmushana Li and Yang, 2010, are synonymized with Paraleuctra orientalis (Chu, 1928). Additionally, we provide new images of Paraleuctra cervicornis Du and Qian, 2012, to facilitate identification of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]