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Acoustic focusing and Bessel vortexes have great potential in medical ultrasound, particle trapping, and information processing. Based on the generalized Snell's law (GSL), metasurface focusing and Bessel vortexes were achieved by using in-plane phase profiles to shape wavefronts. Recent developments in acoustic metagratings (AMs) have demonstrated an extension of the GSL capable of switching transmitted and reflected vortexes that are determined by the parity of the number of wave propagation trips. However, these metagratings were designed with a certain one-dimensional phase gradient along the azimuthal direction, and the propagation of vortexes were generally fixed into cylindrical waveguides owing to energy divergence. The propagation and manipulation of acoustic vortexes in three-dimensional (3D) free space, caused by AMs with two-dimensional (2D) aperiodic phase gradients, still pose a great challenge. Here, we experimentally demonstrate two types of switchable acoustic lenses with focusing and Bessel vortexes. Based on the GSL extension, by separating and attaching 2D dual-layer aperiodic AMs in both lenses, the switch between the reflected focusing vortex and transmitted focusing/Bessel vortex with the same focus length and topological charge in 3D free space can be observed. The designed dual-layer AMs can realize the short-range and long-range focusing vortexes in 3D free space and also have the advantage of convenient function switching, which may pave the way for designing switchable focusing vortex lenses with practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acoustic asymmetric focusing (AAF) has attracted widespread attention owing to its great potential in medical ultrasound. The recent development of acoustic metamaterials and metasurfaces has provided various concepts to achieve AAF systems. Generally, the previously demonstrated AAF lenses were limited to one-dimensional structures, leading to difficulties in practical applications. The realization of AAF in three-dimensional (3D) space based on a two-dimensional (2D) device still remains a challenge. Here, we experimentally and numerically study a 2D AAF lens based on mode converters composed of two pairs of phased unit cells I and II and a step waveguide. Based on the phase profile of sound focusing and the step waveguide of mode converters, we experimentally design and demonstrate a type of 2D AAF lens and observe acoustic focusing and asymmetric transmission simultaneously in 3D space under the excitation of the zero-order wave. Both the phenomena arise from the phase modulation of the lens and the cutoff frequency of the first-order wave for the step waveguide, respectively. The fractional bandwidth (the ratio of the bandwidth to the center frequency) of the lens can reach about 0.14. The proposed 2D AAF lens, as well as its associated mode converter, paves the way for the asymmetric manipulation of sound in 3D space that has potential applications in practical sound devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlike acoustic metasurfaces that rely solely on phase gradients, acoustic metagratings (AMs) operate based on both phase gradients and grating diffraction, thus further extending the generalized Snell's law (GSL). In particular, AMs can achieve reversal of refraction and reflection based on the parity of the number of wave propagations inside the AMs. So far, discussions of this GSL extension have largely been applied to one-dimensional periodic AMs, while the designs of two-dimensional (2D) periodic AMs and their performance in three-dimensional (3D) space have been quite limited. Here, we study the GSL extension in 3D space and experimentally demonstrate a series of functional 2D periodic AMs. The designed AMs can achieve sound refraction/reflection under any incidence angle in 3D space, without restrictions to certain critical ranges; adjusting incident angles only enables the reversal of refraction and reflection. Additionally, we demonstrate two types of dual-layer sound lenses based on two AMs, whose reversal of refraction and reflection can be realized by simply attaching or separating the two AMs. Our work paves the way to complex 3D wavefront manipulation of AMs, which may find potential use in practical acoustic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve exercise performance, the supplement of nutrients has become a common practice before prolonged exercise. Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) has been shown to ameliorate oxidative stress damage, which may be beneficial in improving exercise capacity. Here, we assessed the effects of TMAO on mice with exhaustive swimming, analyzed the metabolic changes, and identified significantly altered metabolic pathways of skeletal muscle using a nuclear magnetic resonance-based (NMR-based) metabolomics approach to uncover the effects of TMAO improving exercise performance of mice. We found that TMAO pre-administration markedly prolonged the exhaustive time in mice. Further investigation showed that TMAO pre-administration increased levels of 3-hydroxybutyrate, isocitrate, anserine, TMA, taurine, glycine, and glutathione and disturbed the three metabolic pathways related to oxidative stress and protein synthesis in skeletal muscle. Our results provide a metabolic mechanistic understanding of the effects of TMAO supplements on the exercise performance of skeletal muscle in mice. This work may be beneficial in exploring the potential of TMAO to be applied in nutritional supplementation to improve exercise performance. This work will lay a scientific foundation and be beneficial to exploring the potential of TMAO to apply in nutritional supplementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to elucidate the mechanism of action of the active components of Coptidis rhizoma against porcine epidemic diarrhea and to provide a theoretical foundation for further development of novel anti-PED therapeutic agents based on Coptidis rhizoma. The potential targets of Coptidis rhizoma against PEDV were identified through a comprehensive literature review and analysis using the TCMSP pharmacological database, SwissDrugDesign database, GeneCards database, and UniProt database. Subsequently, the STRING database and Cytoscape 3.7.1 software were employed to construct a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network and screen key targets. Gene Ontology (GO) function and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were conducted on the identified targets. Molecular docking studies were performed using AutoDock 1.5.7 software to analyze the binding energy and modes of interaction between the active components of Coptidis rhizoma and the target proteins. The PyMOL 2.5.0a0 software was employed to visualize the docking results. Through comprehensive analysis, 74 specific targets of active components of Coptidis rhizoma against PEDV were identified. The core gene targets were screened, and an interaction network diagram was subsequently generated. Ultimately, 14 core targets were identified, with STAT3, ESR1, CASP3, and SRC exhibiting the most significant interactions. GO enrichment analysis revealed a total of 215 molecular items, including 48 biological function items, 139 biological process items, and 28 cellular component items. KEGG enrichment analysis identified 140 signaling pathways. Molecular docking analysis demonstrated that epiberberine and palmatine exhibited high binding affinity with STAT3 protein, worenine showed high binding affinity with ESR1 protein, obacunone exhibited high binding affinity with CASP3 protein, and epiberberine, obacunone, berberine, and berberruine exhibited high binding affinity with SRC protein. A network pharmacology and molecular docking technology approach was employed to screen six important active components of Coptidis rhizoma and four important potential targets against PEDV infection. The findings indicated that the active components of Coptidis rhizoma could serve as promising pharmaceutical agents for the prevention and control of PEDV, with significant potential for clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The need for minimally invasive Bentall surgery for the treatment of aortic lesions with aortic insufficiency is increasing; however, comparative studies on the safety of the minimally invasive Bentall procedure and sternotomy Bentall procedure are lacking. Methods. Clinical data of 56 patients who underwent the Bentall procedure performed by the same surgical team at our center between December 2018 and December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed and followed up for 6 months after discharge. After dividing the patients into a right anterior chest minimally invasive Bentall surgery (RAT-Bentall) group (n = 13) and a conventional sternotomy Bentall surgery (C-Bentall) group (n = 43), intraoperative and early postoperative clinical data and echocardiography at 6 months after discharge were compared. Results. Compared with the C-Bentall group, the RAT-Bentall group had a lower postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score [(3.00 ± 2.08) VS (5.77 ± 1.84), P < 0.001 ] and a shorter CSICU hospital stay [(1.90 ± 0.52) VS (2.51 ± 1.58) d, P < 0.001 ] and postoperative hospital stay [(7.62 ± 1.81) VS (10.42 ± 2.45) d, P = 0.035 ]. The incidence of postoperative complications and echocardiographic at 6-month follow-up after discharge was not statistically different between the two groups. Conclusion. The RAT-Bentall procedure is safe and effective. Compared with the sternotomy Bentall procedure, it can reduce postoperative pain as well as patients' CSICU and postoperative hospital stay. Therefore, this technology is worth promoting and applying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) has attracted interest because of its association with cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and evidence for the beneficial effects of TMAO is accumulating. This study investigates the role of TMAO in improving exercise performance and elucidates the underlying molecular mechanisms. Using C2C12 cells, we established an oxidative stress model and administered TMAO treatment. Our results indicate that TMAO significantly protects myoblasts from oxidative stress-induced damage by increasing the expression of Nrf2, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), NAD(P)H dehydrogenase (NQO1), and catalase (CAT). In particular, suppression of Nrf2 resulted in a loss of the protective effects of TMAO and a significant decrease in the expression levels of Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO1. In addition, we evaluated the effects of TMAO in an exhaustive swimming test in mice. TMAO treatment significantly prolonged swimming endurance, increased glutathione and taurine levels, enhanced glutathione peroxidase activity, and increased the expression of Nrf2 and its downstream antioxidant genes, including HO-1, NQO1, and CAT, in skeletal muscle. These findings underscore the potential of TMAO to counteract exercise-induced oxidative stress. This research provides new insights into the ability of TMAO to alleviate exercise-induced oxidative stress via the Nrf2 signaling pathway, providing a valuable framework for the development of sports nutrition supplements aimed at mitigating oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared with HLA‐DRB1*09:01:02:05, the alleles HLA‐DRB1*09:57 and HLA‐DRB1*09:58 each show one nucleotide change, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new type of double-dielectric layer two-port beam splitter grating based on sandwich structure is proposed. This grating has the characteristic of zeroth order elimination. The structural parameters of the grating are optimized by the rigorous coupled-wave analysis (RCWA) and simulated annealing algorithm (SAA) to achieve the best performance of the grating. For both TE and TM polarizations, the diffraction efficiencies of ±1st orders can reach 49.34% and 49.15%, respectively. Meanwhile, the efficiency of the zeroth order is about only 0.5% for both polarizations. This novel microstructure has the significant characteristic of zeroth order elimination. Moreover, this grating has a wide incident bandwidth and excellent manufacturing tolerance. The simplified modal method (SMM) is also used to study the specific process of energy coupling in the grating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A seven-port division is described via the connecting-slab-based reflective grating in this paper. The rigorous coupled wave analysis (RCWA) and simulated annealing algorithm (SAA) are chosen to analyze and optimize the performance of the grating. The total diffraction efficiency of TE and TM polarization is 96.75% and 95.53%, respectively. Besides, the target grating has good uniformity errors, which are reduced to 3.69% and 1.76% for TE and TM polarization, respectively. The modal method provides a physical explanation for the energy transformations within the target grating. Furthermore, the manufacturing tolerance is discussed for the seven-port division grating. Through analysis and discussion, various performances of the grating can be better demonstrated. Compared with most seven-port grating splitters reported previously, the grating in this paper achieves better diffraction efficiency uniformity and higher efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) connects everything with intelligence, while the increase in energy consumption generated by numerous electronic devices puts forward an impending demand on the power supply. Energy harvesting technology has emerged as a compelling innovation technology for the net zero emissions of the power supply for the AIoT. Although significant advances have been witnessed in energy harvesting, some issues such as poor electrical output, weak environmental adaptability, and low reliability are difficult to satisfactorily resolve. Mechanical intelligent energy harvesting can be defined as the system identifying the external excitation or its own state and reacting to it, rather than relying on electrical sensing elements or a central controller for certain adaptive or programmed functions. The adaptive and programmed functions exhibit great potential in solving the above‐mentioned issues that seriously restrict the development of the energy harvesting technology. Here, a generalized definition of mechanical intelligent energy harvesting is given critically and the design methodology is elaborated. The typical reported energy harvesting systems with the characteristics of mechanical intelligence are reviewed. The key research directions in mechanical intelligent energy harvesting are discussed. The mechanical intelligence is expected to revolutionize the development of the energy‐harvesting technology and pave the way for applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HLA‐B*40:01:83, carrying a single nucleotide substitution in exon 5 is described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MICB*002:06 differs from MICB*002:01:01 by one nucleotide change at nucleotide 33 in exon 1 from C to T. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As of 2020, 1 in 4 people in China is a domestic migrant. However, their lack of access to health care in destination cities has been largely neglected by the Chinese government until recently. Methods: Drawing on data from the 2010–2016 China Migrants Dynamic Survey, this study evaluated the impact of a pilot program of the Equalization of Basic Public Health Services launched in 2014 and focused on place of childbirth, an important indicator of delivery care. A difference-in-differences design was employed for statistical inference. Results: The migrant pilot program increased the likelihood of a migrant childbirth at a migration destination by about 4 to 8 percentage points, depending on the model specification. Further analyses revealed that this positive effect was short-term and benefited relatively better-off migrant families. Conclusion: The migrant pilot program improved delivery care for migrant women. The Chinese government needs to expand this pilot program to more cities and improve its benefits to better serve the massive migrant population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small-scale wave energy harvesting can be used for self-powered marine environmental monitoring, with the advantages of sustainability, convenience, and environmental protection. The low-frequency and strong random fluctuations of ocean wave motion are not conducive to electromechanical conversion. In this paper, we propose a mechanically modulated wave energy harvester embedded with interference-free triboelectric nanogenerators. The mass pendulum oscillates under irregular low-frequency wave excitation, and then the oscillation is mechanically modulated into a unidirectional high-speed rotation of four permanent magnet disks. The elastic parts on both sides of the mass pendulum are functionalized into multi-layered folding triboelectric nanogenerators, which neither increase the volume of the wave energy harvesting system nor affect the operation of the electromagnetic generator. The prototype was manufactured and the experimental results show that the sum of the average power of the prototype is 4.8 W under excitation at a frequency of 3 Hz and a inclination angle of 40°. The 0.47 F capacitor can be charged to 5 V in 80 s by the prototype under the wave excitation generated by push plate, and then used for self-powered marine environmental monitoring (illumination, temperature and pH) and wireless information transmission. [Display omitted] • The wave is mechanically modulated into high-speed unidirectional rotation. • The elastic part is functionalized as TENG, which works without interfering with EMG. • The magnetic disks are synchronized through magnetic coupling to improve efficiency. • Self powered environmental monitoring was demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The nonreciprocal efficiency exceeds 90 % at a wavelength of 11.763 μm under both TE and TM polarizations. • By adjusting the incident angle to 33° and applying a magnetic field intensity of 3 T, significant nonreciprocity can be achieved for two polarizations. • There are supplementary nonreciprocal peaks observed in TE and TM polarizations at wavelengths of 11.84 and 11.94 μm, respectively. Due to the significant application value of nonreciprocal thermal radiation in energy collection and conversion, it has always been an active research topic. The current research on polarization-independent nonreciprocal thermal radiation is characterized by low efficiency and a notable disparity in nonreciprocal efficiency between transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) polarizations. To address this issue, a polarization-independent nonreciprocal thermal radiation based on the two-dimensional grating structure is proposed, which is composed of silicon cylindrical grating ridges, magneto-optical materials InAs, and metal Ag. By the rigorous coupled-wave analysis (RCWA), the nonreciprocal efficiency exceeds 90 % at a wavelength of 11.763 μm under both TE and TM polarizations. Meanwhile, the difference in nonreciprocal efficiency between the two polarizations is less than 1 %. Through an examination of the magnetic field and electromagnetic distribution at resonance peaks that are polarization-independent, as well as an analysis of coupling mode theory, we have uncovered the underlying physical mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon. The device is capable of sustaining optimal performance across a wide range of structural parameters, offering a significant role for manufacturing applications. The research proposed in this article provides a novel approach for designing efficient polarization-independent nonreciprocal thermal radiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HLA‐A*31:01:53 differs from HLA‐A*31:01:02:01 by one nucleotide change at nucleotide 900 in exon 5 from G to A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gut microbial metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) has received increased attention due to its close relationship with cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. In previous studies, TMAO has shown both harmful and beneficial effects on various tissues, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain to be clarified. Here, we explored the effects of TMAO treatment on H2O2-impaired C2C12 myoblasts, analyzed metabolic changes and identified significantly altered metabolic pathways through nuclear magnetic resonance-based (NMR-based) metabolomic profiling. The results exhibit that TMAO treatment partly alleviated the H2O2-induced oxidative stress damage of cells and protected C2C12 myoblasts by improving cell viability, increasing cellular total superoxide dismutase capacity, improving the protein expression of catalase, and reducing the level of malondialdehyde. We further showed that H2O2 treatment decreased levels of branched-chain amino acids (isoleucine, leucine and valine) and several amino acids including alanine, glycine, threonine, phenylalanine and histidine, and increased the level of phosphocholine related to cell membrane structure, while the TMAO treatment partially reversed the changing trends of these metabolite levels by improving the integrity of the cell membranes. This study indicates that the TMAO treatment may be a promising strategy to alleviate oxidative stress damage in skeletal muscle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-quality multiple sequence alignments can provide insights into the architecture and function of protein families. The existing MSA tools often generate results inconsistent with biological distribution of conserved regions because of positioning amino acid residues and gaps only by symbols. We propose RPfam, a refiner towards curated-like MSAs for modeling the protein families in the Pfam database. RPfam refines the automatic alignments via scoring alignments based on the PFASUM matrix, restricting realignments within badly aligned blocks, optimizing the block scores by dynamic programming, and running refinements iteratively using the Simulated Annealing algorithm. Experiments show RPfam effectively refined the alignments produced by the MSA tools ClustalO and Muscle with reference to the curated seed alignments of the Pfam protein families. Especially RPfam improved the quality of the ClustalO alignments by 4.4% and the Muscle alignments by 2.8% on the gp32 DNA binding protein-like family. Supplementary Table is available at http://www.worldscinet.com/jbcb/. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction between acridine orange (AO) and cucurbit[10]uril, Q[10] affords the ternary complex 2AO@Q[10]. Subsequent addition of dodine (DD) displaces AO from the Q[10] cavity, and results in a fluorescent output. The effect of 20 different pesticides, as well as a number of common interferents, on the fluorescent output is presented. Results revealed that the system is capable of the selective recognition of DD, with a limit of detection (LOD) for DD of 1.12×10−7 M. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saline soils are a major challenge in agriculture, and salinization is increasing worldwide due to climate change and destructive agricultural practices. Excessive amounts of salt in soils cause imbalances in ion distribution, physiological dehydration, and oxidative stress in plants. Breeding and genetic engineering methods to improve plant salt tolerance and the better use of saline soils are being explored; however, these approaches can take decades to accomplish. A shorter-term approach to improve plant salt tolerance is to be inoculated with bacteria with high salt tolerance or adjusting the balance of bacteria in the rhizosphere, including endosymbiotic bacteria (living in roots or forming a symbiont) and exosymbiotic bacteria (living on roots). Rhizosphere bacteria promote plant growth and alleviate salt stress by providing minerals (such as nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium) and hormones (including auxin, cytokinin, and abscisic acid) or by reducing ethylene production. Plant growth-promoting rhizosphere bacteria are a promising tool to restore agricultural lands and improve plant growth in saline soils. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms of plant growth-promoting bacteria under salt stress and their applications for improving plant salt tolerance to provide a theoretical basis for further use in agricultural systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Within the class Enoplea, the earliest-branching lineages in the phylum Nematoda, the relatively highly conserved ancestral mitochondrial architecture of Trichinellida is in stark contrast to the rapidly evolving architecture of Dorylaimida and Mermithida. To better understand the evolution of mitogenomic architecture in this lineage, we sequenced the mitogenome of a fish parasite Pseudocapillaria tomentosa (Trichinellida: Capillariidae) and compared it to all available enoplean mitogenomes. Results: P. tomentosa exhibited highly reduced noncoding regions (the largest was 98 bp), and a unique base composition among the Enoplea. We attributed the latter to the inverted GC skew (0.08) in comparison to the ancestral skew in Trichinellidae (-0.43 to -0.37). Capillariidae, Trichuridae and Longidoridae (Dorylaimida) generally exhibited low negative or low positive skews (-0.1 to 0.1), whereas Mermithidae exhibited fully inverted low skews (0 to 0.05). This is indicative of inversions in the strand replication order or otherwise disrupted replication mechanism in the lineages with reduced/inverted skews. Among the Trichinellida, Trichinellidae and Trichuridae have almost perfectly conserved architecture, whereas Capillariidae exhibit multiple rearrangements of tRNA genes. In contrast, Mermithidae (Mermithida) and Longidoridae (Dorylaimida) exhibit almost no similarity to the ancestral architecture. Conclusions: Longidoridae exhibited more rearranged mitogenomic architecture than the hypervariable Mermithidae. Similar to the Chromadorea, the evolution of mitochondrial architecture in enoplean nematodes exhibits a strong discontinuity: lineages possessing a mostly conserved architecture over tens of millions of years are interspersed with lineages exhibiting architectural hypervariability. As Longidoridae also have some of the smallest metazoan mitochondrial genomes, they contradict the prediction that compact mitogenomes should be structurally stable. Lineages exhibiting inverted skews appear to represent the intermediate phase between the Trichinellidae (ancestral) and fully derived skews in Chromadorean mitogenomes (GC skews = 0.18 to 0.64). Multiple lines of evidence (CAT-GTR analysis in our study, a majority of previous mitogenomic results, and skew disruption scenarios) support the Dorylaimia split into two sister-clades: Dorylaimida + Mermithida and Trichinellida. However, skew inversions produce strong base composition biases, which can hamper phylogenetic and other evolutionary studies, so enoplean mitogenomes have to be used with utmost care in evolutionary studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HLA‐C*03:566 differs from HLA‐C*03:04:01:02 by one nucleotide substitution at nucleotide 92 in exon 2 from A to G. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identification of the novel HLA‐DQB1*04:90 allele that differs from DQB1*04:01:01:01 at nucleotide 183 in exon 2 from A to T. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adenomyosis is a common disease that affects many premenopausal women. Two patients with adenomyosis, aged 51 and 42 years, presented with dysmenorrhea and increased menstrual volume. They refused laparoscopy or laparotomy surgery and were not eligible for the levonorgestrel‐releasing intrauterine system (LNG‐IUS). The first patient underwent endometrial ablation and subcutaneous etonogestrel (ENG)‐releasing implant placement at the same time. Her symptoms of dysmenorrhea and heavy menstruation improved significantly. When serum follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol (E2) levels suggested menopause, the ENG‐releasing implant was removed. However, her abdominal pain recurred and was relieved by medication. For the second patient, an ENG‐releasing implant was placed first, and her dysmenorrhea and heavy menstrual volume were relieved. However, the bleeding pattern changed from regular bleeding to prolonged bleeding, which troubled the patient. Endometrial ablation was performed 4 months later to solve the problem. Both patients had improved symptoms and were satisfied with the treatment. For patients with adenomyosis who refuse surgery and are not candidates for the use of LNG‐IUS, an ENG‐releasing implant combined with endometrial ablation may be an effective alternative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Preeclampsia (PE) is a common hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. Recent studies have suggested that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play a pathological role in PE. Herein, this study aimed to investigate the action and mechanism of circ_0037078 in PE process. Methods: The quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR) and Western blot were used to determine the expression levels of RNAs and genes. Cell proliferation, migration, invasion and angiogenesis were evaluated by using cell counting kit‐8 (CCK‐8), colony formation, transwell, and tube formation assays, respectively. The target relation between miR‐576‐5p and IL1RAP (Interleukin‐1 receptor accessory protein) and circ_0037078 was predicted by bioinformatics analysis and verified by dual‐luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays. Results: Circ_0037078 expression was higher in placental tissues of patients with PE than that of normal control. Knockdown of circ_0037078 led to an enhancement of the proliferation, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis in trophoblast cells. Mechanistically, circ_0037078 acted as a sponge for miR‐576‐5p, thus elevating the expression of IL1RAP, which was targeted by IL1RAP. Further rescue experiments suggested that miR‐576‐5p inhibition reversed the effects of circ_0037078 knockdown on above behaviors of trophoblast cells. Moreover, miR‐576‐5p overexpression enhanced the proliferative, migratory, invasive, angiogenic phenotypes of trophoblast cells, which were attenuated by IL1RAP up‐regulation. Conclusion: Circ_0037078 knockdown promotes trophoblast cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis in vitro by miR‐576‐5p/IL1RAP axis, providing a novel insight into the etiology of PE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HLA‐A*30:211 differs from HLA‐A*30:01:01:01 by one nucleotide change at nucleotide 344 in exon 3 from G to C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HLA‐A*02:1103 differs from HLA‐A*02:01:01:01 by one nucleotide change at nucleotide 811 in exon 4 from G to A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Base composition skews (G−C/G+C) of mitochondrial genomes are believed to be primarily driven by mutational pressure, which is positively correlated with metabolic rate. In marine animals, metabolic rate is also positively correlated with locomotory capacity. Given the central role of mitochondria in energy metabolism, we hypothesised that selection for locomotory capacity should be positively correlated with the strength of purifying selection (dN/dS), and thus be negatively correlated with the skew magnitude. Therefore, these two models assume diametrically opposite associations between the metabolic rate and skew magnitude: positive correlation in the prevailing paradigm, and negative in our working hypothesis. We examined correlations between the skew magnitude, metabolic rate, locomotory capacity, and several other variables previously associated with mitochondrial evolution on 287 crustacean mitogenomes. Weakly locomotory taxa had higher skew magnitude and ω (dN/dS) values, but not the gene order rearrangement rate. Skew and ω magnitudes were correlated. Multilevel regression analyses indicated that three competing variables, body size, gene order rearrangement rate, and effective population size, had negligible impacts on the skew magnitude. In most crustacean lineages selection for locomotory capacity appears to be the primary factor determining the skew magnitude. Contrary to the prevailing paradigm, this implies that adaptive selection outweighs nonadaptive selection (mutation pressure) in crustaceans. However, we found indications that effective population size (nonadaptive factor) may outweigh the impact of locomotory capacity in sessile crustaceans (Thecostraca). In conclusion, skew magnitude is a product of the interplay between adaptive and nonadaptive factors, the balance of which varies among lineages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acoustic metagratings (AMs) have provided diverse routes for sound modulations based on high-efficiency diffractions created by periodic supercell structures. The emergence of the extension of the generalized Snell's law (GSL), covering both acoustic diffractions and phase modulations, has promoted the design of the AMs with aperiodic phase profiles, which have a great potential in designing high-performance multifunctional devices. However, the realization of reflected aperiodic AMs and its associated multifunctional devices remain a challenge. To overcome this, we here theoretically design and experimentally demonstrate a class of reflected aperiodic AMs and multifunctional acoustic lenses. By using the extension of the GSL, we can overcome the limitations of the GSL (such as the phase gradient and the incident critical angle) and experimentally demonstrate theoretical predictions of sound reflections created by the aperiodic AMs with arbitrary phase gradients under a full-angle incidence. Additionally, we experimentally design a multifunctional reflected lens composed of two selected aperiodic AMs. Interestingly, by simply adjusting the incident angle of sound, we can realize the transformation between the beam splitting and the Bessel-like beam without changing the structure of the lens. Our work paves a way for modulating sound reflections and designing reflected multifunctional devices with promising applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the thick soil layer, short backfill time, and low degree of consolidation of the soil-rock mixture backfill in Chongqing city, metro train tunnels passing through this type of strata are prone to large settlements during operation, which greatly affects the stability of the tunnel and the safety of metro train operations. In response to this problem, the dynamic triaxial test of the soil-rock mixture backfill under cyclic loading was carried out to study the dynamic characteristics of the soil-rock mixture backfill under cyclic loading. The effect of initial consolidation degree, effective consolidation confining pressure, and rock content on the stiffness softening of soil-rock mixture backfill was analyzed. The results show that the initial consolidation degree, effective consolidation confining pressure, and rock content are all important factors affecting the stiffness of soil-rock mixture backfill under cyclic loading. As the number of cycles increases, the lower the initial consolidation degree and effective consolidation confining pressure, the faster the attenuation of the softening index, and the larger the amplitude. As the rock content increases, the softening index increases and the stiffness of the backfill changes from softening to hardening. Based on the test data, the softening-hardening model of the soil-rock mixture is established, which is in good agreement with the field test results. This study can provide a reference for predicting and controlling the postconstruction settlement of the metro tunnel in the soil-rock mixture backfill. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrasonic vibration systems are widely used in the field of material processing, their performance and stability are crucial for practical applications. The effect of force load on the output amplitude of ultrasonic vibration systems directly impacts the system's efficiency and stability. This study aims to explore the influence of force load on output amplitude during processing. Firstly, an electromechanical equivalent model of the ultrasonic vibration system under force load was established to determine the key parameters in the output amplitude model. Subsequently, the electromechanical conversion process of the ultrasonic vibration system was studied, and a model of the system's output amplitude under force load was developed. Finally, parameters of the equivalent model were determined through ultrasonic cutting load simulation experiments, and the output amplitude model was validated. The experimental results indicate that the effect of force load on the system's equivalent circuit is mainly reflected in the dynamic resistance R1, and the established amplitude model shows a high degree of agreement with the experimental values, verifying the model's accuracy. This study provides important guidance for optimizing the design of ultrasonic vibration systems, improving their performance and stability, and advancing the development of ultrasonic technology in practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To determine whether exposure to an epidemic is associated with better health behaviors. Methods Using nationally representative survey data collected in 2011 and 2014, we identified middle-aged and older Chinese adults whose communities experienced an outbreak of the 2002–2004 severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). We estimated logistic models of health behaviors in the years after the SARS epidemic. Results Compared to those who lived in communities not hit by the epidemic, respondents who lived in communities with a SARS outbreak in 2002–2004 were more likely to get a physical examination in 2010–2011 and have their blood pressure checked and participate in regular physical exercise in the years following the SARS epidemic. These associations varied by gender and rural–urban residence. Discussion Exposure to the SARS epidemic could be positively associated with health behavior among middle-aged and older Chinese adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel metal–organic framework (MOF) [Cu3L(2,6‐NDC)2]·0.5DMF (MOF‐Cu‐1) was synthesized by solvothermal reaction of copper nitrate trihydrate with 2,6‐naphthalenedicarboxylic acid (2,6‐H2NDC) and amino tridentate N‐donor containing ligand of N1‐(4‐(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)benzyl)‐N1‐(2‐aminoethyl)ethane‐1,2‐diamine (L). MOF‐Cu‐1 is a three‐dimensional (3D) framework with one‐dimensional (1D) channels. Because of the high stability of the framework and the existence of amino functional groups, MOF‐Cu‐1 presents excellent heterogeneous catalytic activity for ring‐opening reaction of epoxides by amines and reusability for four cycles with negligible loss of efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gestodene (GES) is widely used in human therapy and animal husbandry and is frequently detected in aquatic environments. Although GES adversely affects aquatic organisms at trace levels, its effects on the reproductive biology of fish remain inconclusive. In this study, female zebrafish (Danio rerio) were exposed to environmentally relevant levels of GES for the evaluation of the effects of GES on the reproductive system by using endpoints including gene expression, plasma steroid concentrations, histological and morphological analyses, copulatory behavior, and reproductive output. Adult female zebrafish exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of GES (4.0, 40.2, and 372.7 ng/L) for 60 d demonstrated stagnant ovarian oocyte development, evidenced by an increase in the percentage of perinuclear and atretic oocytes and a decrease in the percentage of late vitellogenic oocytes. GES-exposed females were less attractive to males and had lower copulatory intimacy than females in control. Consequently, spawning (44.3–49.2 %) and egg fertilization rates (27.9–32.0 %) were decreased. The decreased survival of fertilized eggs and hatching rates were accompanied by increased malformations. These negative effects were associated with abnormal transcriptional levels of gonadal steroid hormones, which were regulated by genes (Hsd17β3 , Hsd11β2 , Hsd20β , Cyp19a1a , and Cyp11b). Overall, our findings suggest that GES impairs the reproductive system of zebrafish, which may threaten population stability. [Display omitted] • Maternal exposure to GES affects early development of zebrafish inter-generation. • GES inhibits oocyte maturation in female zebrafish. • Chronic GES exposure causes adult female zebrafish to stop ovulating. • GES can impact the population and health of the next generation of zebrafish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the help of the high‐spatial‐resolution total electron content (TEC) data obtained by Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionospheric Sounding on board the Mars Express (MEx) during June 2005 to September 2007, the detailed configurations of the Martian nightside ionosphere in crustal magnetic field cusp regions are researched in this paper. It is found that double‐peak structures of orbital observed TEC values frequently appeared when MEx was crossing through the strong crustal magnetic field cusp regions. This observational result implies that the Martian nightside TECs in the periphery of the cusp regions are generally higher than those in the central areas of the cusp regions, a phenomenon never reported before. By combining the TEC data with the in‐situ electron flux data obtained by the Analyzer of Space Plasma and Energetic Atoms‐3 (ASPERA‐3), it is found that the difference between the fluxes of the electrons precipitating in the central and peripheral areas of the cusp regions can be responsible for the observed TEC double‐peak structures. Plain Language Summary: Martian ionosphere on the nightside is an area far from well understood. According to previous researches, in areas with strong crustal magnetic fields, the Martian nightside ionosphere would be denser in cusp regions. However, in this research, we find that the Martian nightside total electron contents (TECs) in the center of the crustal magnetic cusp regions are generally lower than those in the periphery of the cusp regions. As far as we know, this phenomenon was never found before. By combining the TEC data with the observations on the precipitating electrons, we further find that the difference between the flux of the electrons precipitating in the center and periphery of the cusp regions can be responsible for this phenomenon. Our study shows a more detailed TEC structure in the cusp regions and suggests that the effects of the Martian crustal magnetic fields on the nightside ionosphere and plasma transfer are very complicated and need more researches. Key Points: Patterns of total electron content (TEC) near strong crustal magnetic fields in the Martian nightside ionosphere are investigatedDouble‐peaked TEC structures are observed ∼50% of the time in the open magnetic field regionsThe TEC double‐peak structures are associated with inhomogeneous patterns of precipitating electrons in these regions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new tetrapyrazole-modified tetraphenylethene (TPE) ligand L was designed and found to display "turn-on" fluorescence when it combines with Ag+ ions in dilute solution by restricting intramolecular rotation of TPE. A series of Ag complexes 1–7 were obtained, and they exhibit excellent fluorescence properties in the solid state. Compared with PF6−, the silver complex with the CF3SO3− anion can further enhance its fluorescence due to the transformation of its structure from Ag2L (2) to Ag4L2 (3). As zero-dimensional complexes, 1 and 3 have excellent piezochromic properties with a color change from blue to green. Furthermore, structural changes of 1 and 3 to the corresponding three-dimensional frameworks 4 and 5 occur upon immersing in ethanol. In addition, 1 can act as a potential fluorescent probe for sensing nitrile compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new cadmium(II) luminescent coordination polymers (CPs), [Cd(L)Cl2]·3DMF (1) and [Cd(L)(DMA)(H2O](ClO4)2·5DMA (2) (L = 1,1,2,2-tetrakis(4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl)ethene, DMF = N,N-dimethylformamide, DMA = N,N-dimethylacetamide), were synthesized under solvothermal conditions. Crystallographic analyses reveal that 1 and 2 have different two-dimensional (2 D) network structures. Both 1 and 2 show mechanochromic properties with fluorescent color change from blue to blue-green under UV light. In addition, 1 can be potentially utilized as mechanochromic material as well as a sensor for detection of DMF, exhibiting reversible mechanochromic luminescence with color changes and self-repairing behavior by grinding and soaking in DMF under UV irradiation. Furthermore, 1 can act as potential fluorescence materials for sensing Fe(III). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C*01:213 differs from C*01:02:01:01 by one nucleotide change at nucleotide 655 in exon 4 from T to G. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HLA‐C*03:561 differs from HLA‐C*03:02:02:01 by one nucleotide change in exon 4 at position 862 (G>A). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A positive relationship between subjective social status (SSS) and health has been documented in many countries, however, many studies rely on non-representative, cross-sectional samples. Potential mechanisms underlying the association between SSS and health have been proposed but empirical investigation remains scarce. Capitalizing on nationally representative data from the 2010–2016 China Family Panel Studies (CFPS), this study examines the longitudinal association between SSS and self-rated health in Chinese adults 20–70 years old. Estimates from lagged dependent variable models confirm a linear relationship between current SSS and self-rated health two years later over a 6-year follow-up period, after adjusting for education, occupation, income, and other demographic controls. This relationship remains robust after adjusting for additional indicators of objective socioeconomic status (SES) including household wealth, education of the spouse, parental literacy, and political capital. Mediation analysis shows that a large proportion (about 60%) of this association can be explained by such psychosocial factors as future prospects, life satisfaction, and mental illness. For Chinese adults, SSS is an important predictor of health not because it is a comprehensive measure of multidimensional SES, but because of a salient psychosocial pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of percutaneous lumbar foraminoplasty for unilateral stenosed nerve root canals. Methods: The article is a retrospective analysis. From May 2016 to April 2017, 32 patients with lumbar spinal stenosis syndrome (unilateral stenosed nerve root canals) were treated with percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal lumbar discectomy (PETLD). The study included 15 men and 17 women, with an average age of 53.8 ± 15.4 years, ranging from 24 to 78 years. The indexes used for preoperative and postoperative 1 day, 3 months, and final follow up were the visual analogue scale (VAS) for lumbar and leg, the Oswestry disability index (ODI), and the modified Macnab criteria. All patients were followed up for an average 6 months after the operation. Results: The average operative time was 75.82 ± 10.58 min, the average blood loss was 15.83 ± 3.75 mL, and the average hospital stay after surgery was 6.2 ± 4.6 days. The VAS score (leg) decreased from 6.94 ± 0.50 preoperatively to 1.16 ± 0.45 at the final follow up (P < 0.05) and ODI were obviously improved, from preoperative evaluation of 80.19 ± 5.55 to 9.44 ± 1.16 at the final follow up (P < 0.05). However, the postoperative VAS score (lumbar) did not show an improvement, reducing from 1.78 ± 0.49 preoperatively to 1.62 ± 0.55 at the final follow‐up (P > 0.05). According to the modified Macnab criteria, the outcome showed that the excellent and good rate was 90.6%. There were three patients with hip soreness, and nerve root symptoms were relieved. Conclusion: Percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal lumbar discectomy has a satisfactory clinical effect in the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis syndrome, especially for unilateral stenosed nerve root canals, and in decompressing the lateral recess and relieving the nerve root symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small-scale wind energy harvesting, which can replace batteries to power small electronic devices and realize self-powered systems, has been extensively studied. To improve the working wind-speed range and output power of small-scale wind energy generation systems, we propose a synergetic hybrid piezoelectric and triboelectric mechanism for galloping wind energy harvesting. In this mechanism, a piezoelectric energy harvester (PEH) works in the vibration area and starts working at low wind speeds, while triboelectric nanogenerators work at the vibration boundaries and cooperate with the PEH at high wind speeds. The triboelectric nanogenerator boundaries can (1) constrain the maximum deformation of the beam at high wind speeds to avoid damage to the PEH, (2) increase the vibration frequency to enhance the electromechanical conversion efficiency, and (3) allow the PEH to have a low equivalent stiffness to work effectively at low wind speeds. A dynamic model is presented to characterize the synergetic hybrid piezoelectric–triboelectric wind energy harvester (SHPTWEH) and this is verified by experiments. The results show that the triboelectric nanogenerator boundaries greatly expand the effective working wind-speed range, and the total average power output by the prototype SHPTWEH was 0.24 mW at a wind speed of 14 m/s, which was 2.3 times that of the PEH alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we obtain an analytical representation of the density operator of an atom in a dissipative cavity when the reservoir is at zero temperature and the total number of excitations is N = 1. We also investigated the quantum speed limit time (QSLT) of the atom and the non-Markovianity in the dynamics process. The results show that the QSLT and the non-Markovianity can be effectively manipulated by the atom–cavity coupling and the reservoir parameters. Both of the atom–cavity coupling and the detuning can induce a sudden transition from Markovian to non-Markovian dynamics, and this transition is the main physical reason of the quantum speed-up process. The critical value of the sudden transition from no speed-up to speed-up the atom–cavity coupling and the reservoir parameters. The corresponding physical explanation is also provided for our results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel and ligand-free method was developed for the decarboxylative cross-coupling of alkynylcarboxylic acids with arylboronic acids. By using an environmentally friendly H2 O–poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-400) system as the reaction medium, a series of internal alkynes were synthesized in good yields and with remarkable selectivity. The Pd(OAc)2 –H2 O–PEG-400 catalytic system could be used for up to three cycles without any loss of activity, demonstrating the robustness of the approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability of cancer cells to form clusters is a characteristic feature in the development of metastatic tumours with drug resistance. Several studies demonstrated that clusters of circulating tumour cells (CTCs) have a greater metastatic potential to establish new tumours at secondary sites than single CTCs. However, the mechanism of cluster formation is not well understood. In this study, we investigated whether cancer stemness would contribute to cluster formation. We used a tumour sphere culture method to enrich cancer stem cells (CSCs) from colon cancer cells and found that during the second generation of sphere culture, clusters (between 3 and 5 cells) formed within the first 24 hours, whereas the rest remained as single cells. The clusters were analysed for stemness and metastatic potential, including gene expressions for cancer stemness (CD133 and Lgr5), epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (E‐cadherin and TGF‐β 1‐3) and hypoxia‐induced factors (HIF‐1α and HIF‐2α). The results showed that the clusters expressed higher levels of these genes and colon CSC surface markers (including CD24, CD44 and CD133) than the single cells. Among these markers, CD24 seemed the major contributor linking the cells into the clusters. These clusters also showed a stronger ability to both form colonies and migrate. Our data collectively suggest that colon cancer stemness contributes to cluster formation and that clustered cells exhibit a great metastatic potential. Our study thus provides a method to study the CTC clusters and derive insight into oncogenesis and metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Bucephalidae is a large family of digenean trematodes but most previous analyses of its phylogenetic position have relied on a single mitochondrial gene or morphological features. Mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) remain unavailable for the entire family. To address this, we sequenced the complete mitogenome of Dollfustrema vaneyi and analyzed the phylogenetic relationships with other trematodes. Results: The circular genome of Dollfustrema vaneyi spanned 14,959 bp and contained 12 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, and a major non-coding region. We used concatenated amino acid and nucleotide sequences of all 36 genes for phylogenetic analyses, conducted using MrBayes, IQ-TREE and PhyloBayes. We identified pronounced topological instability across different analyses. The addition of recently sequenced two mitogenomes for the Aspidogastrea subclass along with the use of a site-heterogeneous model stabilized the topology, particularly the positions of Azygiidae and Bucephalidae. The stabilized results indicated that Azygiidae was the closest lineage to Bucephalidae in the available dataset, and together, they clustered at the base of the Plagiorchiida. Conclusions: Our study provides the first comprehensive description and annotation of the mitochondrial genome for the Bucephalidae family. The results indicate a close phylogenetic relationship between Azygiidae and Bucephalidae, and reveal their basal placement within the order Plagiorchiida. Furthermore, the inclusion of Aspidogastrea mitogenomes and the site-heterogeneous model significantly improved the topological stability. These data will provide key molecular resources for future taxonomic and phylogenetic studies of the family Bucephalidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy harvesting from streets, squares, and other areas to supply power to equipment and systems in these environments is environmentally friendly and more convenient for functions requiring low power consumption. To harvest more pulsed mechanical energy and improve the quality of electrical output for immediate utilization, we propose a bidirectional energy harvesting floor with a sustained-release regulation mechanism (BEHF-SRM). The pulse and irregular excitation on the road can be converted into continuous unidirectional rotation of the working wheel and the reset motion of the system can also drive the work wheel unidirectional rotation, and the rotational kinetic energy is slowly converted into electrical energy. A dynamic model is established and validated experimentally. One person can easily light up 20 LED bulbs (rated power 1 W) by stepping on the prototype of BEHF-SRM. The prototype can continue to provide electricity for about 7 s after stepping on it. Self-powered automated pedestrian crosswalk warnings that can improve pedestrian safety was demonstrated based on BEHF-SRM. The results show that the proposed harvester has the potential to provide a sustainable, convenient, green, and zero carbon energy supply to smart transport and smart cities. • Energy harvesting floor with sustained-release regulation mechanism is proposed. • The dynamic model of the system is established and validated experimentally. • A person can light up 20 LED bulbs (rated power 1 W) by stepping on the prototype. • Self-powered automatic light warning for pedestrian crosswalks is realized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

B*15:664 differs from B*15:02:01:01 by one nucleotide change at nucleotide 755 in exon 4 from C to G. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]