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Based upon global-minimum searches and first-principles electronic structural calculations, we present the perfectly planar B6O50/−/2− (1–3) systems. Notably, the C2v B6O50/− (1–2) clusters mark a groundbreaking advancement as the first boron oxide clusters to feature a five-membered ring. Both structures exhibit remarkable similarity, each characterized by a central B3O2 ring surrounded by three terminal BO groups. However, a notable difference lies in the bond lengths within the B3O2 core, which are uniform in the former but uneven in the latter. Detailed canonical molecular orbital and AdNDP analyses reveal the delocalized π bonds over the B3O2 ring, affirming the π aromaticity of B6O5−. The Cs B6O52− (3) cluster showcases a chain-like arrangement with three terminal BO groups and a typical OBO group linked to a B2 core, emphasizing the crucial role of electrons in shaping the structure. Detailed chemical bonding analyses reveal the presence of dual three-center four-electron (3c–4e) π hyperbonds in 3, shedding further light on its unique bonding characteristics. Moreover, this study comprehensively extends the B(BO)n0/− (n = 1–5) series and provides valuable perspectives on their structural evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a theoretical investigation of thermoelectric transport properties of bismuth-based ternary chalcogenides Pt3Bi4X9 (X = S, Se), which has low thermal conductivity and promising zT as discovered in a recent experiment [Wang et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 146, 7352 (2024)], using density functional theory combined with the Boltzmann transport equation within rigid band approximation. We find that the high density of states of valence bands near the Fermi level yields high p-type Seebeck coefficient. The lower effective mass of electron in Pt3Bi4S9 leads to high mobility and long relaxation time, and hence the high n-type electrical conductivity. In contrast, the effective mass of electron is much higher than that of hole in Pt3Bi4Se9 due to the flatted conduction band, which in turn gives rise to higher p-type electrical conductivity. As a result, the p-type zT is much higher than n-type in Pt3Bi4Se9, with an optimal value of 0.5 at 300 K. Considering the experimental carrier concentration for Pt3Bi4S9 (−1.4 × 1019 cm−3) and Pt3Bi4Se9 (−0.898 × 1019 cm−3), calculated n-type zT at 773 K are 0.52 and 0.04, respectively, which are consistent well with the experimental values. Our calculations uncover the upper limit thermoelectric zT of Pt3Bi4X9 and also highlight them as promising thermoelectric materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metasurface that achieves extraordinary terahertz transmission (ETT) and local electric field enhancement (FE) holds significant potential for terahertz studies involving extremely low concentrations of target materials. In this study, we explore a composite aperture metasurface capable of both ETT and local FE. By inserting bow-tie apertures in the "minimum-resonance" zone between four adjacent rhombic lattices, a local FE factor is achieved. Notably, adjusting the configuration of the bow-tie aperture enhances the coupling between surface plasmons, thereby expanding the transmission bandwidth. Through parameter optimization, the metasurface achieves a peak transmission exceeding 95% and a transmittance above 80% in the frequency range of 2.44–3.65 THz, while simultaneously exhibiting a maximum local FE factor of 1005 at 3.45 THz. This approach offers a promising avenue for the design of metasurfaces for spectroscopy and biosensor applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon/carbon (Si/C) nanocomposites are considered as one of the most promising anode materials for lithium-ion batteries due to their high capacity and suitable lithiation potential. However, the complex and time-consuming preparation processes of silicon-based nanocomposites and the unexpected silicon carbide generated during high treatment make it difficult to achieve high-performance Si/C nanocomposites for practical applications. Herein, a silicon/carbon nanocomposite is successfully prepared through a facile and eco-friendly molten salt assisted precarbonization–reduction method using palygorskite (PAL) and sodium alginate as raw materials. Based on physical characterizations, it is demonstrated that the sodium alginate plays a key role in the successful preparation of Si/C nanocomposite, which not only boosts uniform embedding of PAL nanoparticles in the carbon matrix but also releases molten sodium salt to suppress the formation of unexpected SiC. When used as an alternative anode material for lithium-ion battery applications, the as-obtained Si/C composite delivers a high reversible specific capacity of 1362.7 mA h g−1 with an initial Coulombic efficiency of 70.3% at a current density of 200 mA g−1 and excellent long-term cycling stability. The findings here provide a facile and eco-friendly molten salt assisted precarbonization–reduction method for high-performance silicon/carbon anode materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The collective dynamics of active biopolymers is crucial for many processes in life, such as cellular motility, intracellular transport, and division. Recent experiments revealed fascinating self-organized patterns of diverse active filaments, while an explicit parameter control strategy remains an open problem. Moreover, theoretical studies so far mostly dealt with active chains with uniform stiffness, which are inadequate in describing the more complicated class of polymers with varying stiffness along the backbone. Here, using Langevin dynamics simulations, we investigate the collective behavior of active chains with homogeneous and heterogeneous stiffness in a comparative manner. We map a detailed non-equilibrium phase diagram in activity and stiffness parameter space. A wide range of phase states, including melt, cluster, spiral, polar, and vortex, are demonstrated. The appropriate parameter combination for large-scale polar and vortex formation is identified. In addition, we find that stiffness heterogeneity can substantially modulate the phase behaviors of the system. It has an evident destructive effect on the long-ranged polar structure but benefits the stability of the vortex pattern. Intriguingly, we unravel a novel polar–vortex transition in both homogeneous and heterogeneous systems, which is closely related to the local alignment mechanism. Overall, we achieve new insights into how the interplay among activity, stiffness, and heterogeneity affects the collective dynamics of active filament systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a high-order compressible multiphase fluid solver to investigate the shock wave dynamic characteristics in deep-water explosions with energetic material detonation. The spatial terms of the system equations are discretized using fifth-order weighted essentially non-oscillatory reconstruction in characteristic space and Lax–Friedrich's splitting, while the temporal terms are discretized using a third-order total variation diminishing (TVD) Runge–Kutta scheme. The multiphase interface is captured by the level-set method combining modified ghost fluid method , and a programmed burn model is proposed to describe the phase transition from unreacted material to gaseous products and the release of detonation chemical energy. The solver is validated through comparison with other literature results and experimental results. The early shock wave characteristics of trinitrotoluene (TNT) and RS211 charges at different water depths are investigated, and numerical results indicate that the peak value of relative pressure and wave speed increase approximately linearly with increasing water depth. The near-field explosions of cylindrical TNT charges under different water depth conditions are examined using two different initiation patterns, revealing that the shape of the explosive charge significantly influences near-field underwater explosions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamics of spin and charge-ordered phases in La1.67Sr0.33NiO4 single crystal have been investigated using high-frequency dielectric spectroscopy. The measurements were carried out in frequencies between 0.156 and 316 MHz and temperatures from 50 to 320 K. The intrinsic part of the response by excluding the Maxwell–Wagner relaxation region is obtained below TSDW ∼ 120 K. The intrinsic frequency-dependent real dielectric constant ɛ′ and conductivity σ′ can be well described in terms of the constant phase element revealing a complex charge-hopping process. Our results are in agreement with the spin-density-wave puddles' picture observed by the scanning micro-x-ray diffraction technique. These demonstrate that high-frequency dielectric spectroscopy can be utilized for investigating the various order phases in other transition metal oxides by considering their intrinsic responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional spintronics has become a hot topic in recent years due to its advantages and potential in manipulating electron spins. In this paper, the electronic structures and magnetic properties of the Janus NbSSe monolayer are calculated using first-principles and Monte Carlo methods. Our study shows that the ground state of the material is a ferromagnetic metal. Under carrier doping, it undergoes a second-order phase transition from metal to half-metal, achieving 100% spin polarization, and enhancing or weakening ferromagnetic coupling. The value of the magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy is 570.96 μeV, and doping with an appropriate concentration of holes can transform the easy magnetization axis from in-plane to out-of-plane. Since the out-of-plane mirror symmetry is broken, we study the charge changes in the layer under the action of an external electric field. Due to the combined action of the external electric field and the built-in electric field, the layer exhibits a unique charge transfer mode. It is predicted that the Curie temperature of the material is about 156 K. When doped with 4.01 × 1013 cm−2 (0.04 holes per atom) concentration holes, the Curie temperature can reach about 350 K, indicating that the Curie temperature of the material can be reasonably controlled by regulating the carrier concentration. The coercive force calculated from the hysteresis loop is 0.01 T, and its hysteresis loss is low, showing its response to the external magnetic field. All of the above results indicate the application potential of this material in spin-electronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The calculation of the demagnetization field is crucial in various disciplines, including magnetic resonance imaging and micromagnetics. A standard method involves discretizing the spatial domain into finite difference cells and using demagnetization tensors to compute the field. Different demagnetization tensors can result in contributions from adjacent cells that do not approach zero, nor do their differences, even as the cell size decreases. This work demonstrates that in three-dimensional space, a specific set of magnetization tensors produces the same total demagnetization field as the Cauchy principal value when the cell size approaches zero. Additionally, we provide a lower bound for the convergence speed, validated through numerical experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photoexcitation is a powerful way to induce phase transition of strongly correlated materials and dynamically control terahertz (THz) devices integrated with photoinduced phase transition (PIPT) materials. To clarify controversies over the physical mechanism between electronic insulator-metal transition (IMT) and structural phase transition (SPT) of photoexcited vanadium dioxide (VO 2), the underlying atomic and electronic state changes during photoinduced monoclinic-to-rutile phase transition are illustrated, and the separation with different thresholds between the quasi-instantaneous IMT and the ultrafast SPT is discovered. Below the SPT threshold, there exist metastable states exhibiting the metal-like monoclinic phases, i.e., the strongest metallicity and weak monoclinic phases, when the bond lengths of the V–V pairs are closest. By analyzing the electronic transport properties of these metal-like monoclinic phases, the THz response of the whole phase transition process can be characterized for first time through the quantum-electromagnetic dispersion modeling method. The THz properties of the practical VO 2 film are simulated and the great alignments between the measurements and the simulations verify the proposed analysis method, which provides a powerful exploration path and insights for the theoretical analysis and design verification of PIPT materials and their optoelectronic THz devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-performance and stable spintronic devices have garnered considerable attention in recent years. Based on first-principle and Monte Carlo calculations, we demonstrate that under reasonable carrier doping, H-VSe2 exhibits 100% spin polarization, a magnetic anisotropy energy of 581 μeV, a tunable easy-axis, and a Curie temperature of 330 K. Moreover, Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interactions in H-VSe2 and magnetic hysteresis loops are determined theoretically for the first time, which provides more precise and comprehensive descriptions of its magnetic properties under finite temperatures and external magnetic field. This work suggests that H-VSe2 is a powerful candidate for spintronic devices, and it provides solid theoretical support for future experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigating the phonon-surface scattering mechanism is essential for the evaluation of thermal transport in nanostructures. The theoretical description to quantify this mechanism remains to be developed at the atomic scale. This work presents a phonon wave packet method to study the phonon-surface scattering behavior at rough surfaces. We obtain the specularity distribution dependent on phonon polarization, wavelength, and surface roughness. The reflection of the diffuse wave packet is primarily attributed to the surface shadowing effect at a higher incident angle, surface disorder, and surface-induced localized modes. Taking the wavevector-dependent specularity data as input, the thermal conductivity of silicon nanowires is calculated based on the Boltzmann Transport Equation. Our specularity model provides an accurate evaluation for predicting thermal conductivity. This work offers an atomic-level analysis for phonon-surface interaction, which is helpful for the understanding of thermal transport in nanostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential energy curves for dihalogens (F2, Cl2, and Br2) are calculated with the i-DMFT method proposed recently [Wang and Baerends, Phys. Rev. Lett. 128, 013001]. All electrons are correlated in a set of self-consistent-field eigenvalue equations, with the orbital occupation numbers obeying the Fermi–Dirac distribution. The only input is the dissociation energies of the molecules, which are usually available from an experimental database. The quality of the computed potential energy curve is examined by extracting spectroscopic parameters and rotation–vibration energy levels, which are compared with experiment data and other theoretical calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-damping magnetic insulators like LiFe5O8 have gained considerable attention in recent years for their exceptional properties such as low energy loss and high gyromagnetic ratio, making them suitable in microwave and spintronic fields. However, due to factors such as crystalline quality and stress, the damping behavior of LiFe5O8 thin films falls below expectations. In this work, we utilize miscut substrate to modulate the structure and magnetic properties of LiFe5O8 films. We found that miscut angles can improve the crystalline quality of the film. However, a miscut angle of 6° resulted in a phase transition from tetragonal to orthorhombic in the LiFe5O8 phase. In particular, the out-of-plane ferromagnetic resonance linewidth of the orthorhombic LiFe5O8 (LFO) film was significantly reduced compared to that of the tetragonal LFO film on a non-miscut substrate, which could be attributed to the structural change. The orthorhombic LFO film also exhibited lower damping and a higher in-plane remanence ratio, indicating superior microwave magnetic properties. These findings suggest that miscut strain could be a viable method for improving the microwave magnetism of LFO films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The isotope shifts in electron affinities of Pb were measured by Walter et al. [Phys. Rev. A 106, L010801 (2022)] to be −0.002(4) meV for 207–208Pb and −0.003(4) meV for 206–208Pb by scanning the threshold of the photodetachment channel Pb− ( S 3 / 2 ◦ 4 ) − Pb (3P0), while Chen and Ning reported 0.015(25) and −0.050(22) meV for the isotope shifts on the binding energies measured relative to 3P2 using the SEVI method [J. Chem. Phys. 145, 084303 (2016)]. Here we revisited these isotope shifts by using our second-generation SEVI spectrometer and obtained −0.001(15) meV for 207–208Pb and −0.001(14) meV for 206–208Pb, respectively. In order to aid the experiment by theory, we performed the first ab initio theoretical calculations of isotope shifts in electron affinities and binding energies of Pb, as well as the hyperfine structure of 207Pb−, by using the MCDHF and RCI methods. The isotope shifts in electron affinities of 207–208Pb and 206–208Pb are −0.0023(8) and −0.0037(13) meV for the 3P0 channel, respectively, in good agreement with Walter et al.'s measurements. The isotope shifts in binding energies relative to 3P1,2, −0.0015(8) and −0.0026(13) meV for 207–208Pb and 206–208Pb, respectively, are compatible with the present measurements. The hyperfine constant for the ground state of 207Pb− obtained by the present calculations, A ( S 3 / 2 ◦ 4 ) = − 1118 MHz, differs by a factor of 3 from the previous estimation by Bresteau et al. [J. Phys. B: At., Mol. Opt. Phys. 52, 065001 (2019)]. The reliability is supported by the good agreement between the theoretical and experimental hyperfine parameters of 209Bi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ion hydration plays a crucial role in numerous fundamental processes. Various spectroscopic methods are employed to investigate the slowing down of hydration bond dynamics in the proximity of both anions and cations. To date, most of these studies have primarily focused on the properties of binary systems. However, in comparison to ion–water binary systems, ternary systems that involve ions, water, and organic matter are more prevalent in nature and provide more realistic insights into biological processes. This study focuses on ion hydration in water and alcohol mixture using terahertz spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction (XRD). The results reveal a distinct behavior depending on the type of alcohol used. Specifically, the presence of both methanol and ethanol results in the disappearance of absorption peaks associated with NaCl hydrate at low temperatures. In contrast, tert-butanol does not exhibit such an effect, and isopropanol demonstrates a more complex response. By combining these terahertz spectroscopic findings with low-temperature XRD data, we gain insights into the formation, or lack thereof, of NaCl · 2H2O hydrate crystals. Crucially, our observations suggest a dominant correlation between the polarity of the alcohol molecules and its impact on the Na+ hydration. Strongly polar alcohols preferentially solvating the Na+ ion lead to the failure of hydrate formation, while weakly polar alcohols do not have this effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, an energy decomposition analysis (EDA) method with the strategy of density matrix, called DM-EDA, is proposed on the basis of single reference electronic structure calculations. Different from traditional EDA methods, instead of an intermediate state wave function, the EDA terms in DM-EDA are expressed in the forms of the density matrix. This method can be carried out with various kinds of density matrices. With the efficient implementation, DM-EDA not only greatly improves the computational efficiency but also provides quantitative knowledge of intermolecular interactions with a large number of monomers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thin films of amorphous silicon (a-Si) coated on metals such as nickel (Ni) are one of the most promising anode architectures for high-energy-density lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. The performance and longevity of batteries with this type of electrode depend on the integrity of the Ni/a–Si interface. The integrity of the a-Si /Ni bonded interface during cycling is critical, but the experimental characterization of interfacial failure of this material system is highly challenging and there is a sparsity of interface strength data in the literature. Here, we describe a laser spallation (LS) technique to characterize the interfacial adhesion strength of Ni/a–Si multilayer films created by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The LS technique enables the non-contact measurement of the tensile interfacial strength with high precision when compared to conventional methods for characterizing adhesion. Interferometric measurement combined with finite element analysis shows that the Ni/a–Si interface, created via the CVD of a-Si on Ni surfaces can withstand ≈46–72 MPa in tension before failure initiation. To ensure successful and precise characterization of interfacial adhesion strength using LS, we further develop a design criterion for multi-layer samples by analyzing the thin-film mechanics. Our study provides insights into the strength of the Ni/a–Si interface that governs the performance and durability of high-energy-density anodes and offers design guidelines for improving thin-film electrode integrity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loop formation in complex environments is crucially important to many biological processes in life. In the present work, we adopt three-dimensional Langevin dynamics simulations to investigate passive and active polymer looping kinetics in crowded media featuring polymer–crowder attraction. We find polymers undergo a remarkable coil–globule–coil transition, highlighted by a marked change in the Flory scaling exponent of the gyration radius. Meanwhile, looping time as a function of the crowder's volume fraction demonstrates an apparent non-monotonic alteration. A small number of crowders induce a compact structure, which largely facilitates the looping process. While a large number of crowders heavily impede end-to-end diffusion, looping kinetics is greatly inhibited. For a self-propelled chain, we find that the attractive crowding triggers an unusual activity effect on looping kinetics. Once a globular state is formed, activity takes an effort to open the chain from the compact structure, leading to an unexpected activity-induced inhibition of looping. If the chain maintains a coil state, the dominant role of activity is to enhance diffusivity and, thus, speed up looping kinetics. The novel conformational change and looping kinetics of both passive and active polymers in the presence of attractive crowding highlight a rather distinct scenario that has no analogy in a repulsive crowding counterpart. The underlying mechanism enriches our understanding of the crucial role of attractive interactions in modulating polymer structure and dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermally stimulated discharge (TSD) technique is a traditional method in dielectric research, especially for electrets. However, in conventional open-circuit and short-circuit TSD techniques, it is difficult to distinguish the surface charge and body charge of dielectric materials. In particular with the test of polymer electrets, the deformation of the polymer film may take place during the measurement process, which will affect the accuracy of the experiment results. In this paper, a glass-assisting TSD (GA-TSD) technique is proposed to solve the above problems. The feasibility of the experimental technique is verified with the GA-TSD spectra of fluorinated ethylene-propylene copolymer electret films. In addition, their theory analysis is also accomplished. The influences of glass thickness, glass dielectric property, and metallizing on the glass on GA-TSD spectra are investigated. The results prove that the GA-TSD spectra can clearly distinguish the difference between surface charge and body charge according to the current direction. The quartz glass with the lowest dielectric constant is best suitable for the GA-TSD technique. The influence of the glass thickness and metallizing on the glass on GA-TSD spectra is little. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The question of whether there exists a finite mobility in the standard Holstein model with one vibrational mode on each site remains unclear. In this Communication, we approach this problem by employing the hierarchical equation of motion method to simulate model systems where the vibrational modes are dissipative. It is found that, as the friction becomes smaller, the charge carrier mobility increases significantly and a friction-free limit cannot be obtained. The current autocorrelation functions are also calculated for the friction-free Holstein model, and converged results cannot be obtained with an increase in the number of sites. Based on these observations, we conclude that a finite mobility cannot be defined for the standard Holstein model in the parameter regime explored in this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cavity quantum electrodynamics (CQED) and its extensions are widely used for the description of exciton–polariton systems. However, the exciton–polariton models based on CQED vary greatly within different contexts. One of the most significant discrepancies among these CQED models is whether one should include direct intermolecular interactions in the CQED Hamiltonian. To answer this question, in this article, we derive an effective dissipative CQED model including free-space dipole–dipole interactions (CQED-DDI) from a microscopic Hamiltonian based on macroscopic quantum electrodynamics. Dissipative CQED-DDI successfully captures the nature of vacuum fluctuations in dielectric media and separates them into free-space effects and dielectric-induced effects. The former include spontaneous emissions, dephasings, and dipole–dipole interactions in free space; the latter include exciton–polariton interactions and photonic losses due to dielectric media. We apply dissipative CQED-DDI to investigate the exciton–polariton dynamics (the population dynamics of molecules above a plasmonic surface) and compare the results with those based on the methods proposed by several previous studies. We find that direct intermolecular interactions are a crucial element when employing CQED-like models to study exciton–polariton systems involving multiple molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigating high-performance and stable spintronics devices has been a research hotspot in recent years. In this paper, we employed first-principles methods and Monte Carlo (MC) simulations to explore the structure, electronic, and magnetic properties of monolayer NbSe2, as well as its behavior under carrier concentration modulation. The research on the electronic structure reveals that by introducing an appropriate amount of holes, the material can undergo a transition from metal to a half-metal state, achieving 100% high spin polarization. Investigation of magnetic crystalline anisotropy shows that the magnetic crystal anisotropy energy of 1210 μeV in out-of-plane is beneficial to maintain ferromagnetic order at high temperatures. In addition, doping with suitable carriers can effectively enhance or strengthen the ferromagnetic coupling in NbSe2 so that the magnetization easy axis is shifted. This reveals the potential application prospects of NbSe2 in electronically controlled spintronic devices. Analysis of the Fermi surface shows that both holes and electron doping increase the Fermi velocity of the material. The effect of hole doping is particularly significant, indicating its potential application in Fermi velocity engineering. Under the theoretical framework of the extended two-dimensional Ising model, based on MC simulation, the Curie temperature (TC) of NbSe2 is predicted to be 162 K. The effects of carrier concentration and the magnetic field on the magnetic and thermal properties of monolayer NbSe2 are simulated. The results show that appropriately increasing the hole doping concentration and magnetic field is conducive to obtaining ferromagnetic half-metallic materials with TC higher than room temperature, which provides theoretical support for experimental preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Infection is the cause of diarrhoea, and rotaviruses and adenoviruses are important pathogens in children. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 144,067 children with diarrhoea between 2014 and 2023 in China. We used the colloidal gold method to detect intestinal adenovirus and rotavirus A antigens in faeces. The epidemiological characteristics of these viruses and the impact of meteorological factors on them were analysed before and after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Results: During this decade, the positive rate of adenovirus infection was 6.41%, while the positive rate of rotavirus A infection was 11.81%, higher than that of adenovirus infection. The positive rate of adenovirus and rotavirus A coinfection was 1.92%. The positive rates of adenovirus, rotavirus A and coinfection showed a fluctuating trend, and suddenly decreased in 2020. There was an apparent decrease of positive rate of rotavirus A, with a decrease of 57.27%, during 2020–2023. Surprisingly, the positive rate of adenovirus infection exceeded that of rotavirus A infection in 2021 and 2023. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the proportion of female patients and children over two years of age infected with adenovirus or rotavirus A increased, while the proportion of cases in winter decreased. In addition, we found that the positive rate of rotavirus A infection was related to average temperature and sunshine, and the positive rate of adenovirus and rotavirus A coinfection was only related to sunshine. However, these correlations disappeared during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions: This study revealed the recent prevalence of adenovirus and rotavirus A infections in children with diarrhoea in south-central China and provided a theoretical basis for the prevention and control of viral diarrhoea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Posaconazole enteric-coated tablet and oral suspension are two oral drugs in the treatment of invasive fungal infections (IFIs). This study compared the effectiveness and safety between posaconazole enteric-coated tablet and oral suspension, and provided a real world basis for the clinical practice. A retrospective cohort study was performed on IFIs patients treated with posaconazole enteric–coated tablet or oral suspension. The primary endpoints were in-hospital mortality, treatment discontinuation rate and clinical effective rate. The secondary endpoints were adverse events incidence (liver dysfunction, renal dysfunction and hypokalemia). One hundred and forty-four patients were totally included and divided into enteric-coated tablet group (n = 46) and oral suspension group (n = 98). There was no significant difference in effectiveness and safety between two groups. The female (OR = 0.130, P = 0.018) and diabetes mellitus (OR = 4.242, P = 0.003) were independently associated with combined in-hospital mortality/treatment discontinuation rate. The renal replacement therapy (OR = 10.071, P = 0.006), hypoalbuminemia (OR = 6.646, P = 0.002) and posaconazole duration (OR = 1.119, P = 0.002) were risk factors for liver dysfunction. The posaconazole enteric-coated tablet has comparable effectiveness and safety with oral suspension in IFIs, which need large-scale cases studies to confirm in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights This paper propose a random fiber distribution generation algorithm based on lattice partition, which addresses the issue of limited increase in fiber volume fraction caused by the random movement of fibers in previous methods. By partitioning the representative volume element (RVE) window into lattices and moving fibers directionally, the proposed algorithm significantly increases the number of fibers within the RVE window. The generated fiber distribution achieves a fiber volume fraction of up to 80%, with an average execution time of 243.4 s. The influence of algorithm parameters on the randomness of fiber distribution is examined through statistical analysis of the generated distributions. Finite element models with various parameters are established to predict the elastic properties of the composites. The average relative error between the predicted values and the experimental results is 8.6%, demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. This algorithm offers a simple and effective approach for generating fiber distributions in the numerical study of the micromechanics of composites. A new lattice‐partition method is proposed to generate fiber distributions. The fiber volume fraction of generated fiber distribution is up to 80%. The randomness of fiber distribution is analyzed through statistical analysis. The algorithm predicts elastic properties with an average relative error of 8.6%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) is the endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ sensor for store‐operated calcium entry and is closely associated with carcinogenesis and tumor progression. Previously, we found that STIM1 is upregulated in melanoma cells resistant to the serine/threonine‐protein kinase B‐raf inhibitor vemurafenib, although the mechanism underlying this upregulation is unknown. Here, we show that vemurafenib resistance upregulates STIM1 through an epidermal growth factor (EGF)/epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)‐Yes‐associated protein 1 (YAP1)/TEA domain transcription factor 2 (TEAD2) signaling axis. Vemurafenib resistance can lead to an increase in EGF and EGFR levels, causing activation of the EGFR signaling pathway, which promotes YAP1 nuclear localization to increase the expression of STIM1. Our findings not only reveal the mechanism by which vemurafenib resistance promotes STIM1 upregulation, but also provide a rationale for combined targeting of the EGF/EGFR‐YAP1/TEAD2‐STIM1 axis to improve the therapeutic efficacy of BRAF inhibitor in melanoma patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the vortex-induced vibration (VIV) of a flexible cable in the uniform flow, experiments were conducted using a flexible cable with an external diameter of 80 mm and a length of 10.48 m in the wind tunnel. The characteristics of multi-modal VIV, time-frequency and traveling wave behavior of the flexible cable were analyzed. Moreover, the effects of twist direction, diameter and the single/double helical wire on the VIV characteristics of the flexible cable were investigated. It is found that the flexible cable experiences single and multi-modal VIVs in uniform flow at different incoming wind speeds, respectively. For the multi-modal VIV of the flexible cable, the vibration over the time history is dominated by two adjacent modal frequencies and shows a phenomenon of beat vibration. The multi-modal VIV responses of the flexible cable show a mix of standing and traveling wave behaviors, in which the effects of standing wave are more pronounced near both ends and the effects of traveling wave are more dominant in the middle region of the flexible cable. The twist direction of the helical wire has little effect on the VIV responses of the flexible cable. The VIV amplitudes of the flexible cable can be reduced by a single helical wire. With the diameter of the helical wire increases, the suppression effects of the single or double helical wire on the VIV of the flexible cable can be improved. Particularly, the double helical wire with diameter 0.10D can effectively suppress the VIV of the flexible cable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we classify the simple Harish-Chandra modules over the superconformal current algebra g ˆ , which is the semi-direct sum of the N = 1 superconformal algebra with the affine Lie superalgebra g ˙ ⊗ A ⊕ C C 1 , where g ˙ is a finite-dimensional simple Lie algebra, and A is the tensor product of the Laurent polynomial algebra and the Grassmann algebra. As an application, we can directly get the classification of the simple Harish-Chandra modules over the N = 1 Heisenberg-Virasoro algebra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The colloidal gold nanoparticle (AuNP)‐based colorimetric lateral flow assay (LFA) is one of the most promising analytical tools for point‐of‐care disease diagnosis. However, the low sensitivity and insufficient accuracy still limit its clinical application. In this work, a machine learning (ML)‐optimized colorimetric LFA with ultrasound enrichment is developed to achieve the sensitive and accurate detection of tau proteins for early screening of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The LFA device is integrated with a portable ultrasonic actuator to rapidly enrich microparticles using ultrasound, which is essential for sample pre‐enrichment to improve the sensitivity, followed by ML algorithms to classify and predict the enhanced colorimetric signals. The results of the undiluted serum sample testing show that the protocol enables efficient classification and accurate quantification of the AD biomarker tau protein concentration with an average classification accuracy of 98.11% and an average prediction accuracy of 99.99%, achieving a limit of detection (LOD) as sensitive as 10.30 pg mL−1. Further point‐of‐care testing (POCT) of human plasma samples demonstrates the potential use of LFA in clinical trials. Such a reliable lateral flow immunosensor with high precision and superb sensing performance is expected to put LFA in perspective as an AD clinical diagnostic platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Both mistletoes and their hosts are challenged by increasing drought, highlighting the necessity of understanding their comparative hydraulic properties. The high transpiration of mistletoes requires efficient water transport, while high xylem tensions demand strong embolism resistance, representing a hydraulic paradox. This study, conducted across four environments with different aridity indices in Yunnan, China, examined the xylem traits of 119 mistletoe–host species pairs. Mistletoes showed lower water use efficiency, indicating a more aggressive water use. They also showed lower hydraulic efficiency (lower vessel diameter and theoretical hydraulic conductivity) but higher safety (lower vulnerability index and higher conduit wall reinforcement, vessel grouping index, and wood density) compared with their hosts, supporting the trade‐off between efficiency and safety. Environmental variation across sites significantly affected xylem trait comparisons between mistletoes and hosts. Additionally, the xylem traits of mistletoes were strongly influenced by host water supply efficiency. The overall xylem trait relationships in mistletoes and hosts were different. These findings stress the impact of host and site on the hydraulic traits of mistletoes, and suggest that mistletoes may achieve high transpiration by maintaining high stomatal conductance under low water potentials. This study illuminates the distinctive adaptation strategies of mistletoes due to their parasitic lifestyle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuous high ambient temperature in hot summer months leads to a sharp decline in turf quality of cool‐season turfgrass. Verticillium dahliae Aspf2‐like protein (VDAL) is a secretory protein of V. dahliae that can improve crop yield and resistance to disease, but its role in improving heat tolerance of cool‐season turfgrass has not been reported so far. The objectives of this study were to explore the effect and mechanism of foliar application of VDAL on improving heat tolerance in cool‐season creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) and to further examine the advantage of foliar spraying with VDAL in mitigating summer bentgrass decline (SBD) in the US transition zone or other regions with similar climate. The results demonstrated that the optimal dose of VDAL for improving thermotolerance of two creeping bentgrass cultivars (heat‐tolerant 13 M and heat‐sensitive Seaside II) was screened as 0.2 g L−1 based on analyses of chlorophyll content, photochemical efficiency of PSII, and cell membrane stability under controlled heat stress conditions. Foliar application of the optimal dose of VDAL significantly restricted chlorophyll loss under heat stress and also alleviated heat‐induced declines in net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, and water use efficiency. In addition, overaccumulations of superoxide anion radical and hydrogen peroxide could be significantly alleviated by the exogenous application of VDAL through improving the activity of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase in two cultivars. A further 2‐year field trial showed that foliar application of VDAL improved turf quality, chlorophyll content, photochemical efficiency, and cell membrane stability of the two cultivars during hot summer months of 2022 and 2023. The results indicate that the appropriate dose of VDAL plays a positive role in photosynthetic performance and antioxidant capacity for thermotolerance of creeping bentgrass, and foliar application of VDAL could be considered an effective approach for alleviating SBD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dried blood spot (DBS) technique has become a new popular topic in anti-doping field in recent years due to its advantages of sample stability and easy operation. It can be employed as a supplementary method to routine urine analysis. However, the small volume of DBS samples (usually 10–20 μL) significantly reduces the application value of this technique. Therefore, the development of sensitive detection methods for the analysis of prohibited substances in DBS is particularly important. In this study, based on the characteristics of low molecular mass peptide (LMMP) drugs, systematic optimization strategies were utilized for the first time to establish a sensitive detection method for LMMPs in DBS. Without using DMSO to enhance mass spectrometry ionization efficiency of peptides, the limits of detection (LOD) ranged between 0.05 and 3.74 ng/mL, significantly better than the previously reported method (0.5–20 ng/mL). This method was validated according to the guidelines of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), and corresponding post-administration study was conducted, demonstrating that the method could be applied to routine analysis of LMMP drugs in DBS. Moreover, since DMSO is not involved, this method also has the potential to simultaneously detect both LMMP and small molecular drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Sarcomas with muscle differentiation (for example, rhabdomyosarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, and pleomorphic sarcoma) are uncommon in the adult bladder. Case presentation: In this case report, we describe a 69-year-old Chinese male patient who presented to the urology outpatient clinic because of intermittent full-course macroscopic hematuria for 10 days. A B ultrasound indicated hypoechoic nodules in the right upper wall of the bladder. Transurethral resection of the bladder tumor and cystoscopic multipoint random biopsy was performed. Postoperative pathological findings showed pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma of the adult bladder. Later, he was transferred to the Department of Medical Oncology of our hospital for further postoperative chemotherapy. The chemotherapy regimen used was intravenous chemotherapy of dacarbazine with doxorubicin. The patient in this case has survived for 12 months postoperatively. Conclusion: From this case, our elderly patient with early pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma of the urinary bladder received transurethral resection of bladder tumor and postoperative chemotherapy, and there had been no recurrence 12 months postoperatively. The aforementioned treatment modality may offer a favorable prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prolyl-4-hydroxylase subunit alpha3 (P4HA3) is a triple helical procollagen synthesis protein. The role of P4HA3 in cancer development is not well known and lacks comprehensive analyses among human cancers. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between P4HA3 expression and anti-tumor immunity and its prognostic value in pan-cancer. P4HA3 expression was analyzed from TIMER2.0, GTEx, GEPIA2.0 and TCGA databases. Genetic and DNA methylation alterations, survival analysis and proteins co-expression analysis of P4HA3 in cBio Cancer Genomics Portal, TCGA, GSCA and TIMER2.0. The correlation between P4HA3 expression and immune infiltration was analyzed by TIDE, XCELL, MCPCOUNTER, and EPIC. We performed EdU and transwell experiments to evaluate the influence of P4HA3 on the proliferation, migration and invasion abilities of different tumors. Patients derived xenograft (PDX) and subcutaneous transplantation models were utilized to explore the correlation between P4HA3 and immunotherapy response in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Among 33 types of cancers, P4HA3 had generally different expression between different tumors, further analysis showed that the expression of P4HA3 was correlated with the cells infiltration of the tumor microenvironment (TME). The expression of P4HA3 was positively with the cell proliferation markers and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers. Moreover, P4HA3 deficiency inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion abilities of tumor cells, and promoted anti-tumor immunotherapy of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor. This pan-cancer analysis of P4HA3 provides a comprehensive understanding of its oncogenic and prognosis role in different cancers, P4HA3 abnormal expression could be a useful biomarker for predicting the effectiveness of immunotherapy in cancer patients. Author summary: The results in this study presented the close correlation and the significant prognostic value of P4HA3 aberrant expression among diverse human tumors. Because the expression of P4HA3 was up-regulated in various of tumors and correlated with worse survival prognosis, we thought that P4HA3 possibly become a new therapeutic target for cancers. More importantly, our research provided a significant perspective in the important role of P4HA3 in anti-tumor immunotherapy and CAFs infiltration. The aberrant expression of P4HA3 might modulate tumor metabolic activity, immune cells and EMT processes in cancers. Future prospective research focusing on P4HA3 and TME could be useful for providing an immuno-based and metabolic-based anti-tumor therapeutic strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Helicopter parenting is a distinctive, intrusive parenting approach characterized by high involvement, elements of control, and limited autonomy granted. It may impact adult children's engagement in partner‐controlling and partner‐controlled behaviors. However, little research has assessed the patterns of parent–child perception differences regarding helicopter parenting and their connections to these behaviors. This study aimed to identify profiles of informant discrepancies regarding helicopter parenting within Chinese families and explore their associations with adult children's partner‐controlling and partner‐controlled behaviors. Matched data from fathers, mothers, and adult children in one hundred and ninety‐six intact families were included. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was conducted, identifying four profiles: parents over child (13.78%), child moderately over mother and moderately under father (17.35%), no consistent disagreements (49.49%), and child over parents (19.39%). Children whose perceptions aligned with their parents reported fewer partner‐controlling and partner‐controlled behaviors, compared to those whose perceptions exceeded their parents'. Similarly, children whose perceptions were lower than their parents' also reported fewer partner‐controlled behaviors compared to those with higher perceptions. The findings provide evidence for understanding dynamic patterns of informant discrepancies regarding helicopter parenting in Chinese families and support the development of family‐based interventions to address partner‐controlling and partner‐controlled behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Community-based participatory research (CBPR) is a collaborative research approach that engages academic researchers and community stakeholders as equal partners in all research steps to address community concerns and achieve health equity. The CBPR approach has been widely used in vaccination promotion programmes. However, the elements and steps of CBPR-based programmes varied among studies. The purpose of this scoping review was to synthesize the elements and steps, and establish an implementation framework to guide the utilisation of CBPR approaches in vaccination promotion. Methods: This scoping review was performed in accordance with Arksey and O'Malley's five-stage framework. A systematic search was conducted on a set of electronic databases and grey literature sources. The retrieved articles were screened according to the criteria of CBPR and vaccination promotion, and data were extracted and recorded on a calibrated and predefined form in terms of study characteristics and CBPR components. Two authors worked independently to complete literature search, study selection, and data extraction. A narrative summary was used in categorising characteristics, and the contents of the included studies were summarised through qualitative analysis. Results: A total of 8557 publications were initially screened, and 23 articles were finally included. According to the CBPR conceptual model, the elements in each CBPR component specifically for vaccination promotion included (1) the establishment of community–academic partnership (CAP)s, (2) community capacity building by partner training vaccination knowledge, research literacy, and service abilities and skills, (3) development and implementation of community-based intervention and (4) Outcome evaluation. A CAP was established between academic researchers or institutes and eight types of partners, including community service organisation–related non-government organisations (NGOs), health service institution–related NGOs, religious organisations, government agencies, educational institutions, media agencies, business agencies, and community representatives. The maintenance of CAP was achieved with four key strategies, namely, strengthening communication, forming management groups, sharing resources and information, and providing incentives. Twelve studies provided comprehensive insights into the strategies employed for intervention development, utilising either quantitative surveys, qualitative methods or a combination of both approaches. The contents of interventions included health service supports, health education activities, social marketing campaigns, community mobilisation, interactive discussions, vaccination reminders and incentives. As for outcome evaluation, vaccination rate and the effectiveness of interventions were assessed. A considerable increase was observed in 95.7% of the included studies (22/23), and the highest increase (92.9%) was attained after the intervention. An implementation framework was generated to summarise the elements and steps of CBPR approaches for vaccination promotion. Conclusions: This review summarised current evidence and generated an implementation framework to elucidate the elements and steps in the development and application of CBPR approaches in vaccination promotion. CBPR approaches are recommended for future vaccination promotion programmes, involving community stakeholders and research professionals, to ensure equitable access to vaccinations across diverse populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY Monomeric flavan‐3‐ols and their oligomeric forms, proanthocyanidins (PAs), are closely related to the bitterness of tea beverages. Monomeric flavan‐3‐ols are characteristic flavor compounds in tea. Increasing the content of PAs and anthocyanins enhances the resistance of tea plants to pathogen invasion but decreases the quality of tea beverages. MATE family transporters play a critical role in transferring monomeric flavan‐3‐ols and anthocyanins into vacuoles for storage or subsequent condensation into PAs. Their activities modulate the ratio of monomeric flavan‐3‐ols to PAs and increase anthocyanin content in tea plants. In this study, it was observed that the gene expression and protein phosphorylation level of the MATE transporter CsTT12, a vacuole‐localized flavonoid transporter, were notably upregulated following exogenous sucrose treatment, promoting PA synthesis in tea plants. Further analysis revealed that overexpression of CsTT12 and CsTT12S17D significantly increased the content of anthocyanins and PAs in plants, whereas CsTT12S17A did not. In CsTT12 knockdown plants, PA's accumulation decreased significantly, while monomeric catechin content increased. Moreover, phosphorylation modification enhanced the vacuolar membrane localization of CsTT12, whereas dephosphorylation weakened its vacuolar membrane localization. This study uncovers the crucial role of phosphorylation in flavonoid biosynthesis and provides insights into balancing quality improvements and resistance enhancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) often have chronic low-grade inflammation in the intestinal mucosa. Some dietary components are known to be associated with inflammation. However, there is currently limited research on the relationship between dietary inflammatory potential and the risk of IBS. Methods: A total of 129,408 participants in the UK Biobank were included in this study. Energy-Adjusted Dietary Inflammatory Index (E-DII) based on 26 nutrients and the Empirical Dietary Inflammatory Pattern (EDIP) based on 17 food groups were constructed, and on the basis of the tertiles, the continuous score was categorized into proinflammatory, neutral, and antiinflammatory categories. Associations between IBS and E-DII and EDIP were investigated by multivariable Cox proportional hazard models. Potential confounders including sociodemographic, lifestyle, body mass index (BMI), psychological state, type 2 diabetes, and thyroiditis were adjusted. In addition, subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis were also performed. Finally, a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was employed to explore the independent causality of nutrients and dietary-derived serum antioxidants with IBS. Results: In the cohort study, over a median follow-up period of 13.26 years, 2421(1.87%) participants developed IBS. In the E-DII categories, after adjusting for the confounders, individuals in the proinflammatory diet category had a higher risk of IBS compared with the antiinflammatory category (HR 1.15, 95% CI 1.03–1.28, p = 0.015, p trend = 0.017) and neutral category (HR 1.13, 95% CI 1.01–1.26, p = 0.030, p trend = 0.017). In the EDIP categories, after adjusting for the confounders, individuals in the proinflammatory diet category had a higher risk of IBS compared with antiinflammatory category (HR 1.19, 95% CI 1.06–1.33, p = 0.002, p trend = 0.002) but no significant association compared with neutral category (HR 1.10, 95% CI 0.99–1.23, p = 0.067, p trend = 0.002). In the MR analysis, genetically determined intake levels of 16 nutrients and 6 dietary sources of circulating antioxidants did not have a causal effect on IBS. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that proinflammatory dietary components are independent risk factors for IBS. However, there is no causal relationship between individual nutrient intake or serum antioxidants from dietary sources and IBS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) and urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB) share histomorphological and therapeutic features but distinct epidemiologic and clinicopathologic characteristics. We examined alterations of chromatin regulatory genes in molecular subtypes, clonal relatedness, and T‐cell receptor (TCR) diversity in UTUC and UCB. Materials and Methods: Targeted next‐generation sequencing or whole‐exome DNA sequencing and TCR sequencing were conducted with 34 UTUC and 49 UCB specimens from 63 patients. Tumors were subtyped based on the expression of CK5 and GATA3. Results of tissue microarray of 78 muscle‐invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) samples were used as prognostic factors of different subtypes of MIBC. Results: Chromatin regulatory genes were frequently mutated in both UTUC and UCB. Rapid relapse and progression of non‐MIBC are correlated with alterations of KMT2C and EP300. Frequency of alterations in chromatin regulatory genes is higher in UTUC patients with SBS22 and SBS2 signatures and lower in UCB patients with SBS2 and SBS6 signatures. GATA3 and CK5 double‐positive patients with higher frequencies of SMARCA4, ARID1A, and EP300 mutations have better prognoses than patients with basal subtypes. Although UTUC and UCB in the same patient can be either clonally related or developed independently, mutated genes in chromatin pathway were enriched in the related clones. Compared to UTUC, UCB had more deleterious mutations in DNA damage repair (DDR) genes, higher levels of tumor mutation burden (TMB) and copy number variations (CNVs), as well as higher TCR clonality and lower TCR diversity. Conclusions: Since genetic alterations of the chromatin pathway genes are important in both UTUC and UCB, they could serve as potential biomarkers for predicting disease progression and therapeutic targets. Differences in mutation frequencies of DDR pathway, TMB, CNV, and TCR might be the contributing factors for the distinct responses to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) between UTUC and UCB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) seriously affects the daily life of people. The whole plant of Artemisia ordosica Krasch. (AOK) has been used in folk medicine. This study aimed to investigate the in vivo anti-RA effects of AOK extract (AOKE) on collagen-induced arthritis in rats. Methods AOKE (400, 200, or 100 mg/kg) was administered orally to animals for 30 days. Body weight, paw swelling, arthritis index, thymus, and spleen indices, and pathological changes were assessed for effects of AOKE on RA. Furthermore, the inflammatory cytokines in rat serum were detected. In addition, the expressions of STAT3, Caspase-3, Galectin-3, and S100A9 in synovial tissue were researched using immunohistochemistry. Key findings The AOKE significantly reduced the arthritis indices, paw swelling, spleen, and thymus indices. Meanwhile, AOKE (400 mg/kg) decreased the levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-17A, and increased the level of IL-10 in rat serum. Histopathological examination showed that AOKE reduced inflammatory cell infiltration and cartilage erosion. Then, AOKE decreased the expressions of STAT3, Galectin-3, S100A9, and increased the expression of Caspase-3. Conclusion AOKE had interesting anti-RA activity in rats, which deserved further research for the development and clinical use of this medicinal resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within this manuscript, we provide a novel Fano resonance-driven micro-nanosensor. Its primary structural components are a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) waveguide, a shield with three disks, and a T-shaped cavity (STDTC). The finite element approach was used to study the gadget in theory. It is found that the adjustment of the structure and the change of the dimensions are closely related to the sensitivity (S) and the quality factor (FOM). Different model structural parameters affect the Fano resonance, which in turn changes the transmission characteristics of the resonator. Through in-depth experimental analysis and selection of appropriate parameters, the sensor sensitivity finally reaches 3020 nm/RIU and the quality factor reaches 51.89. Furthermore, the installation of this microrefractive index sensor allows for the quick and sensitive measurement of glucose levels. It is a positive contribution to the field of optical devices and micro-nano sensors and meets the demand for efficient detection when applied in medical and environmental scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the limitations in the prediction accuracy of the remaining useful life (RUL) of lithium-ion batteries, stemming from model accuracy, particle degradation, and insufficient diversity in the particle filter (PF) algorithm, this paper proposes a battery RUL prediction method utilizing a randomly perturbed unscented particle filter (RP-UPF) algorithm, based on the constructed battery capacity degradation model. The method utilizes evaluation metrics adjusted R-squared (Radj2) and the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) to select the battery capacity decline model C5 with a higher goodness of fit. The initial values for constructing the C5 model are obtained using the relevance vector machine (RVM) and nonlinear least squares methods. Based on the constructed battery capacity decline model C5, the RP-UPF algorithm is employed to estimate the posterior parameters and iteratively approach the true battery capacity decline curve, thereby predicting the battery's RUL. The research results indicate that, using battery B0005 as an example and starting the prediction from the 50th cycle, the RUL prediction results obtained with the RP-UPF algorithm demonstrate reductions in absolute error, relative error, and probability density function (PDF) width of 2%, 2.71%, and 10%, respectively, compared to the PF algorithm. Similar conclusions were drawn for batteries B0006 and B0018. Under the constructed battery capacity degradation model C5, the RP-UPF algorithm shows higher prediction accuracy for battery RUL and a narrower PDF range compared to the PF algorithm. This approach effectively addresses the issue of particle weight degradation in the PF algorithm, providing a more valuable reference for battery RUL prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The waveguide chip with a phase measurement function has garnered significant attention in the field of imaging optics, emerging as a crucial component in optical interferometric imaging systems. Enhancing the working bandwidth of these waveguide chips is essential for improving the imaging quality of interferometric systems. However, most existing designs primarily focus on narrow bands, with no reported research on broadband designs. This paper introduces a novel broadband waveguide chip design that incorporates a phase measurement function. We explore the fundamental structure and working principle of this innovative design. Fabricated on a silicon substrate, the chip features a silicon dioxide cladding layer and a germanium-doped silicon dioxide core layer, strategically optimized for performance. Utilizing the Beam Propagation Method (BPM), we conduct detailed simulations to determine the optimal device parameters. The simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of our design, showing a phase measurement deviation of approximately 5° at a center wavelength of 1550 nm across a 300 nm wavelength range. The loss of the device is approximately 0.8 dB. These findings provide a solid foundation for future experimental implementations and fabrications, offering both a theoretical framework and technical reference for advancing the practical use of broadband waveguide chips with phase measurement functions in optical interferometric imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Microdissection testicular sperm extraction is an effective method to retrieve sperm from non‐obstructive azoospermia patients. However, its successful rate is less than 50%. Objectives: To identify the predictive value of circular RNAs in serum for sperm retrieval rate in non‐obstructive azoospermia patients. Materials and methods: 180 non‐obstructive azoospermia patients were recruited in this study, including 84 individuals with successful sperm retrieval and 96 individuals with failed sperm retrieval. Our study contained two phases. First, 20 patients, selected from the 180 patients, were included in screening cohort. In this cohort, the top 20 circular RNAs from our previous testicular circRNA profiles were verified between successful and failed sperm retrieval groups using real‐time polymerase chain reaction. Six circular RNAs with the most significantly different expressions were selected for further verification. Second, the 180 patients were included as discovery cohort to verify the six circular RNAs. Circular RNAs were extracted from serum in each participant. Logistic regression analysis was further performed to identify the predictive value and the area under the curve analysis was used to evaluate diagnostic efficiency, sensitivity, and specificity. Results: Six circular RNAs including hsa_circ_0058058, hsa_circ_0008045, hsa_circ_0084789, hsa_circ_0000550, hsa_circ_0007422, and hsa_circ_0004099 showed aberrant expressions between the successful and failed sperm retrieval group. In addition, both single‐circular RNA panels and multi‐circular RNA panels were finally verified to be significant in predicting sperm retrieval rate. Notably, multi‐circular RNAs panels demonstrated better predictive abilities compared with single‐circRNA panels, and the combined panel of six‐circular RNAs (risk score = 1.094×hsa_circ_0058058+0.697×hsa_circ_0008045+0.718×hsa_circ_0084789‐0.591×hsa_circ_0000550‐0.435×hsa_circ_0007422‐1.017×hsa_circ_0004099‐1.561) exhibited the best predictive ability in the present study with an AUC of 0.977, a sensitivity of 91.7% and a specificity of 86.5%. A higher risk score indicated a higher risk of failure in sperm retrieval. Discussion and conclusion: Our study was the first to report that testis‐derived circular RNAs in serum have the ability to predict sperm retrieval rate in non‐obstructive azoospermia patients, whether it is a single‐circular RNA or a combination of multi‐circular RNAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roxadustat, an oral inhibitor of hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase domain enzymes, has been approved for the treatment of renal anemia. However, there is a lack of study on its pharmacokinetics in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) with early posttransplant anemia (PTA). Therefore, the aim of this study is to elucidate the pharmacokinetic characteristics of roxadustat in KTRs with early PTA and optimize the dosing regimen. A population pharmacokinetic (PopPK) analysis was performed based on 72-hour full concentration-time profiles collected from 52 Chinese KTRs. Covariates influencing exposure were assessed using stepwise covariate modelling. Monte Carlo simulations were conducted to recommend the dosing regimen for patients with different levels of covariates. PopPK analysis showed that the concentration-time data can be fully described by a two-compartment model. Body weight (BW) and direct bilirubin (DBIL) levels significant affected the apparent clearance of roxadustat. Based on the established model and the estimated exposures of roxadustat by Monte Carlo simulations, a recommended dosing regimen for KTRs with early PTA at varying BW and DBIL levels were developed. Roxadustat at 100 mg three times weekly were suitable for the majority of KTRs with a DBIL level around 3 μmol/L and BW between 50 and 75 kg. The required dose may need to be increased with higher BW and lower DBIL levels, while decreased with lower BW and higher DBIL levels. It was the first PopPK analysis of roxadustat in KTRs with early PTA, which provide a research basis for optimizing the dosing regimen. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STUDY QUESTION Is there an association between male creatinine levels and time to pregnancy (TTP) in couples planning pregnancy? SUMMARY ANSWER Low and high male creatinine concentrations were associated with reduced couple fecundity. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Abundant evidence suggests male creatinine dysfunction is associated with infertility in males with kidney diseases. However, the association of preconception creatinine levels with reduced fecundity among general reproductive-aged couples lacks evidence from an in-depth population study. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Based on the population-based cohort study from the National Free Preconception Check-up Projects, 4 023 204 couples were recruited and met the inclusion criteria from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2017. They were planning pregnancy and were followed up every 3 months until achieving pregnancy as detected by gynaecological ultrasonography or were followed up for 1 year for the analysis of TTP. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Cox regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CI for creatinine deciles. Restricted cubic spline regression was adopted for the dose–response relationship of creatinine with HRs. R statistical software was used for data analysis. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Of the included participants, 2 756 538 (68.52%) couples successfully conceived. The median male serum creatinine was 81.50 μmol/l. Compared with the reference group (78.00–81.49 μmol/l) including the median creatinine, fecundity in the first (≤64.89 μmol/l), second (64.90–69.99 μmol/l), third (70.00–73.99 μmol/l), and tenth (≥101.00 μmol/l) deciles decreased by 8%, 5%, 2%, and 1%, respectively (Decile 1 Adjusted HR 0.92, 95% CI 0.91–0.92; Decile 2 Adjusted HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.95–0.96; Decile 3 Adjusted HR 0.98, 95% CI 0.97–0.99; Decile 10 Adjusted HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.98–0.99). An inverse-U-shaped association was consistently presented among males such that non-inferiority for fecundity was shown when creatinine was in the 81.66–104.90 μmol/l range (P for non-linearity < 0.001). For males over 40 years old, the risk of fecundity impairment was more obvious and the recommended range of creatinine levels for TTP was reduced and more narrow, compared with that for younger males. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Not including the time couples spend preparing for pregnancy before enrolment would lead to an overestimation of fecundity; additionally some couples place pregnancy plans on hold due to special emergencies, which would not have been recognized. Due to the lack of information regarding semen quality, psychological factors, sexual intercourse frequencies, and hazardous environmental factors, we could not adjust for these factors. Some variates were self-reported and dichotomized, which were prone to bias. Direct variables reflecting muscle mass and impaired kidney function were lacking. Thus, extrapolation should be done with caution. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Male creatinine is associated with couples' fecundity and the relationship varied by age. This study provides a better understanding of the potential implications and significance of different creatinine levels and their association with the clinical significance regarding couples' fecundity. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This research has received funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 81872634), the Basic Research Funds of Central Public Welfare Research Institutes of China (Grant No. 2023GJZ03), the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2016YFC1000307), and the Project of National Research Institute for Family Planning (Grant No. 2018NRIFPJ03), People's Republic of China. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eukaryotic initiation factor 4A-3 (EIF4A3) is a key component of the exon junction complex (EJC) and is extensively involved in RNA splicing, inducing mRNA decay, and regulating the cell cycle and apoptosis. However, the potential role of EIF4A3 in EC has not been comprehensively investigated and remains unknown. Here, we report that the expression level of EIF4A3 is dramatically elevated in endometrial cancer (EC) samples compared with normal EC samples via bioinformatics analysis and immunohistochemistry analysis, and that high expression of EIF4A3 promotes the proliferation, migration, and invasion of EC cells. Mechanistically, we found that high EIF4A3 expression stabilized cell division cyclin 20 (CDC20) mRNA, and high EIF4A3 expression induced pro-carcinogenic effects in EC cells that were efficiently antagonized upon knockdown of CDC20, as well as Apcin, an inhibitor of CDC20. These findings reveal a novel mechanism by which high expression of EIF4A3 induces CDC20 upregulation, thus leading to EC tumorigenesis and metastasis, indicating a potential treatment strategy for EC patients with high EIF4A3 expression using Apcin. Key messages: The expression level of EIF4A3 was dramatically elevated in endometrial cancer (EC) samples compared with normal endometrial cancer samples. High EIF4A3 expression stabilized CDC20 mRNA, and high EIF4A3 expression induced pro-carcinogenic effect in EC cells which was efficiently antagonized upon knockdown of CDC20. Apcin, an inhibitor of CDC20, could effectively counteract high expression of EIF4A3 inducing EC tumourigenesis and metastasis, indicating the potential treatment strategy for EC patients with EIF4A3 high expression by using Apcin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endometriosis is a multifactorial gynecological disease, with angiogenesis as a key hallmark. The role of exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) in endometriosis is not well understood. This study investigates differentially expressed exosomal miRNAs linked to angiogenesis in endometriosis, clarifies their molecular mechanisms, and identifies potential targets. Primary endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) were cultured, and exosomes were extracted. In a co-culture system, ESC-derived exosomes were taken up by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Endometriosis implant-ESC-derived exosomes (EI-EXOs) significantly promoted HUVEC proliferation, migration and tube formation compared to normal endometrium-exosomes (NE-EXOs), a finding consistent in vivo in mice. MiRNA sequencing and bioinformatics identified differentially expressed miR-21-5p from EI-EXOs, confirmed by RT-qPCR. The miR-21-5p inhibitor or GW4869 attenuated EI-EXO-induced HUVEC proliferation, migration, and tube formation. TIMP3 overexpression diminished the pro-angiogenic effect of EI-EXOs, which was reversed by adding EI-EXOs or upregulating miR-21-5p. These findings validate the crosstalk between ESCs and HUVECs mediated by exosomal miR-21-5p, and confirm the miR-21-5p-TIMP3 axis in promoting angiogenesis in endometriosis. Key messages: ESC-derived exosomes were found to be taken up by recipient cells, i.e. HUVECs. Functionally, endometriosis implant-ESC-derived exosomes (EI-EXOs) could significantly promote the proliferation, migration and tube formation of HUVECs compared to normal endometrium-exosomes (NE-EXOs). Through miRNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis, differentially expressed miR-21-5p released by EI-EXOs was chosen, as confirmed by qRT-PCR. miR-21-5p inhibitor or GW4869 was found to attenuate the proliferation, migration, and tube formation of HUVECs induced by EI-EXOs. In turn, TIMP3 overexpression diminished the pro-angiogenic effect of EI-EXOs, and this angiogenic phenotype was reversed once EI-EXOs were added or miR-21-5p was upregulated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bulk chemical composition analysis is a primary and pivotal analytical task for extraterrestrial geological samples (e.g., lunar soil, asteroids, or meteoroids). However, the analysis of mg-level consumption of extraterrestrial geological samples poses a significant challenge to existing analytical techniques. In this study, a new method was developed for trace element determination in bulk extraterrestrial geological samples prepared as lithium borate glasses, following customized procedures for X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis with a 10 mg sample by femtosecond LA-ICP-MS. All thirty-two trace elements in the borate glass samples were evenly distributed with homogeneity indices (H) < Hcrit. For the borate glass samples, Si was more suitable as an internal standard for Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn, whereas Al was better for the others. The femtosecond laser greatly reduces the influence of matrix effects, making calibration with non-matrix-matched external standards (NIST 612 and 614) accurate. Although the mass ratio of the flux and sample was as high as 35 : 1, the analytical results of 32 trace elements in six silicate rock reference materials (covering mafic to felsic rock types) using the developed technique were consistent with the reference values within 10% for most elements, and analytical precision (RSD) was also within 10% for most elements. Finally, one lunar basalt (NWA14526) and one shergottite (NWA13190) were assayed using the proposed method, and a comparison with the results of solution nebulization (SN)-ICP-MS confirmed the reliability of the method. The proposed method, combined with XRF, achieved the rapid, simultaneous, and accurate determination of major and trace elements in the same small sample aliquot (10 mg), which is highly suitable for the analysis of extraterrestrial geological samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]