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Several methods have been developed to computationally predict cell-types for single cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) data. As methods are developed, a common problem for investigators has been identifying the best method they should apply to their specific use-case. To address this challenge, we present CHAI (consensus Clustering tHrough similArIty matrix integratIon for single cell-type identification), a wisdom of crowds approach for scRNAseq clustering. CHAI presents two competing methods which aggregate the clustering results from seven state-of-the-art clustering methods: CHAI-AvgSim and CHAI-SNF. CHAI-AvgSim and CHAI-SNF demonstrate superior performance across several benchmarking datasets. Furthermore, both CHAI methods outperform the most recent consensus clustering method, SAME-clustering. We demonstrate CHAI's practical use case by identifying a leader tumor cell cluster enriched with CDH3. CHAI provides a platform for multiomic integration, and we demonstrate CHAI-SNF to have improved performance when including spatial transcriptomics data. CHAI overcomes previous limitations by incorporating the most recent and top performing scRNAseq clustering algorithms into the aggregation framework. It is also an intuitive and easily customizable R package where users may add their own clustering methods to the pipeline, or down-select just the ones they want to use for the clustering aggregation. This ensures that as more advanced clustering algorithms are developed, CHAI will remain useful to the community as a generalized framework. CHAI is available as an open source R package on GitHub: https://github.com/lodimk2/chai. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fever of unknown origin (FUO) can be caused by many factors and usually presents as a high fever without a clear diagnosis. Although some treatments may relieve symptoms, they do not stabilise the condition and relapses are commonly reported. In this case, a 20-year-old male complained of recurring high fever (around 39-40 degrees Celsius) without reason for over two years. He had been hospitalised many times without a clear diagnosis. Applying fang zheng 方证 differentiation, the patient was prescribed Chai Ling Tang (Bupleurum and Poria Decoction) combined with Wai Tai Fu Ling Yin (Poria Decoction) as well as Ban Xia Hou Po Tang (Pinellia and Magnolia Bark Decoction). After three months of medication, the patient’s temperature stabilised, his body weight slowly increased and his other symptoms also improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Journal of Kidney Care was saddened to learn of the death of editorial board member Mee Onn Chai. Deepa Kariyawasam, reflects on a great pharmacist who significantly enhanced support for patients with kidney disease across South London and Kent [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Synesis is the property of Synesis and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The editorial in "Molecules" honors Professor Zhifang Chai for his significant contributions to actinoid chemistry and radiochemistry. Prof. Chai led efforts to develop a strategic plan for the future of radiochemistry in China, resulting in a comprehensive book that addresses various challenges and potential solutions in the field. He also oversaw the creation of an encyclopedia volume on nuclear techniques, providing a valuable resource for researchers. Prof. Chai's initiatives have played a key role in revitalizing radiochemistry in China, leading to increased research institutions and opportunities for young talents in the field. [Extracted from the article]

India's tea big business houses are full of fascinating business success stories. Tea might just be an ordinary daily life FMCG product but the business behind it has a huge impact on Indian economy and also has a vital impact on structuring Indian consumer market evidenced back from its entrance at British rule to today's modern era. The Indian tea industry has expanded itself to own a wide range of global tea brands and has advanced to be the most technologically equipped tea industries around the globe. Sipping tea and conversations about cricket, politics and cinemas from the local tea points to the corporate board room discussions on vital business strategies tea has become synonymous to the Indian way of living. Ever since Covid pandemic the Gen Z and Millennial are more health conscious no were days and have started investing in a healthy lifestyle which has increased the demands of black tea, chamomile tea, green tea. Making it a big reason of the emerging new forms of businesses titled as chai start-ups in the Indian tea industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the suitable methods for evaluating water quality is the use of water quality indicators. Qualitative indicators are a powerful management tool for different levels of decision-making. With the availability of satellite images, besides the use of field data, it is possible to study the quality of surface water with greater power and increase the dimensions and scope of the work and reduce the cost of the study. Therefore, in this research, considering Taking the mentioned cases and with the aim of investigating the spatial-temporal changes in the water quality of Yamchi Dam under the Balkhali Chai river basin and using the WQI water quality index and remote sensing, a quantitative study has been done in the area of the informed case. The area investigated in this research is under the river basin leading to Yamchi dam located in Ardabil province. Yamchi dam is closed on the path of Balkhali Chai river from the main branches of Qara-Su river. The main branches of Yamchi Dam are one of the important dams due to passing through important residential areas such as Nair and villages in the region, as well as the location of some industrial and recreational centers near the boundaries of these rivers and because of the provision of drinking water and agriculture in the region. The region is Azerbaijan. Due to the prevailing conditions and serious threats caused by industrial effluents and domestic sewage, it is always under the threat of pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A reconstruction of the tectonothermal evolution of the Laojunshan–Song Chai granite gneiss massif (North Vietnam, South China) was carried out, based on summaries of the latest isotopic and fission-track dating results. The recorded wide range (420–465 Ma) of the age of granite gneiss rocks testifies to the long-term existence of a partially molten layer at a depth of 20–30 km for several tens of Ma. By the Devonian–early Carboniferous, a section of the excessively thickened crust was denudated, the massif was exhumated to the level of the upper crust, and isotope systems were "frozen". The rate of uplift of the rocks of the massif is estimated to be about 0.2–0.5 mm/year. In the further history of the granite gneiss massif, episodes of repeated burial to a depth of about 13 km are recorded, associated with the Indosinian collision. The rocks have experienced metamorphism of the amphibolite-green schist facies, accompanied by tectonic transport in the form of a thrust sheet. Over the next 200 Ma, the uplift of the massif and the erosion of the overlying strata occurred in discrete pulses, during a sequence of active tectonic events. Thus, the thermochronological and P-T history of the Laojunshan–Song Chai massif is a kind of chronicle of regional tectonic–thermal events. In the history of the massif, traces of two orogenic cycles associated with the collision of the Cathaysia and Yangtze blocks in the Lower Paleozoic and the Indosinian collision in the Triassic are recorded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Science Technology & Engineering is the property of Chinese Society of Technology Economics and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Hydrological models serve as effective tools for managing water sources and assessing water components. Although basin hydrological models have been developed, selecting suitable software for modeling specific areas remains challenging. Hence, it's essential to opt for software capable of simulating the hydrological cycle with a simple structure and minimal input parameters. In northwest Iran, AWBM and ARCSWAT software were employed for simulation. AWBM is a simplistic program estimating runoff using precipitation and evaporation indicators, while ARCSWAT is a semi-distributed software for continuous flow simulation. ARCSWAT necessitates various inputs, including geological, land use, and slope maps, along with precipitation, temperature, relative humidity, and radiation statistics. The runoff simulation results during calibration and validation periods were assessed using two statistical indices: Nash Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) and the coefficient of determination (R2). A comparison of the statistical indicators revealed NSE values of 0.83 and 0.7 for calibration and validation periods, respectively, and R2 values of 0.83 and 0.8 for calibration and validation periods, respectively, for the semi-distributed SWAT model. In contrast, for the AWBM integrated model in the basin, NSE values were 0.63 and 0.48, and R2 values were 0.48 and 0.48 for calibration and validation periods, respectively, indicating better results in runoff simulation at the monthly time scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction The study of surface water quality control in water resources and environment management programs is very important. Surface water is one of the most important water sources that have crucial impact on agricultural, industrial, drinking and electricity production activities. Due to insufficient water sources with good quality and the increase in population growth rate and as a result of the increase in demand, the study of water quality parameters is very important. The Water Quality Index (WQI) serves as a prominent indicator in classifying surface water quality. Moreover, in recent years, the TOPSIS method has gained traction for evaluating water quality. This approach, known for its simplicity, is increasingly utilized in prioritizing river water and assessing its quality. Through this index, various components of water quality are condensed into a single numerical value, effectively expressing overall water quality. To ascertain the weight index, Shannon's entropy method was employed. Furthermore, to assess water suitability for drinking, agriculture, and industrial purposes, Schuler, Wilcox, and Piper diagrams were utilized. These diagrams provide valuable insights into the quality of water, aiding in decision-making processes regarding its utilization across different sectors. Therefore, the results of this study also confirmed the effectiveness of the TOPSIS method in identifying contaminated stations. Materials and Methods This research focuses on evaluating the water quality of three stations within the Aji Chai river watershed on an annual basis. These stations are identified as Arzanag, Akhola, and Markid. The assessment spans the years 2003 to 2021 and aims to classify water quality for both drinking and agricultural purposes. Utilizing the standards set forth by the World Health Organization, the surface water quality index of the Aji Chai basin is investigated to ascertain its suitability for drinking purposes. Shannon's entropy theory was used to prevent expert judgments in determining the weight of each parameter. TOPSIS method was used to classify eleven qualities including TDS, EC, pH, HCO3-, Cl-, SO42-, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+ and TH. In all the three stations water quality were ranked, based on TOPSIS numerical values. Also, in order to check the quality of drinking, agricultural and industrial water, Schuler, Wilcox and Piper diagrams were used. Results and Discussion The initial findings from the %RE error analysis revealed that throughout the entire statistical period (2003 -2021), the %RE values were consistently close to zero, with the majority being positive. This suggests that the total number of cations surpasses the total number. In terms of the Shannon water quality index, the results indicate that Markid station exhibited the highest index value at 945.92, while Arzanag station displayed the lowest value at 127.365 among the surveyed stations. The results of the water quality index showed that Arzanag and Akhola stations are in an average condition (100 < EWQI < 150) and Markid station is in a very poor condition (EWQI > 200). According to Schuler's diagram, it was found that the water of Arzanag station is in the average level in terms of water quality, which is in a good position in terms of quality compared to the other two stations, while the water of Akhola station is in a good position. In the range of poor quality, Markid water was undrinkable, which ranked worst among the three stations. According to the Wilcox diagram, it was found that the water quality of Markid is very poor, which is even outside the boundary of the Wilcox diagram, while the water of Arzanag station was ranked 1st in terms of quality. Arzanag water is in C4S2 class in terms of quality. Finally, the water class of Akhola station was placed in the C4S4 class (in the Wilcox chart), which shows very low water quality. According to the TOPSIS method, the first priority in terms of water quality pollution belonged to Markid station. Two other stations, including Akhola and Arzanag, were ranked second and third in this respect. Therefore, the most important station in this basin is Markid station. Conclusion The results of Shannon water quality index showed that among the stations, the highest index value is related to Markid station with a value of 945.92 and the lowest one is related to Arzanag station with a value of 127.365. According to Schoeller diagram, it was found that the water quality of Arzanag station is average, compared to the other two stations, it was in the right place and the water of Akhola station was in the range of poor quality. The quality of Markid water was found to be undrinkable, which was the worst one among all the three stations. The range of TOPSIS values in different stations is between 0.054 and 0.894, which belonged to the Arzanag and Markid stations, respective ly. According to the results of the Arzanag station, the best water quality condition and the Markid station were assigned the worst water quality condition among all the three stations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, there is urban expansion and development of transportation routes for commercial transportation, and it drives prosperity to rural communities resulting in the villages becoming more prosperous. This may alter the original way of living in harmony with nature, and over time, the knowledge of plant usage passed down through generations may be lost to future generations. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the ethnobotanical practices of the Lao Isan ethnic groups in the area of Na Ngam Village Pho Chai District, Roi Et Province, focusing on their specific uses. Data were collected by interviewing 37 individuals aged 20 years and older between July 2022 and July 2023. Results revealed that there were 317 plant species utilized, belonging to 243 genera and 89 families. These plants were further categorized into 12 groups based on their traditional uses. In the food and spice category, 201 species of plants were used the most, followed by 154 species for medicinal herbs. In terms of the Cultural Important Index, it was found that Oryza sativa had the highest Cl value of 5.35. Meanwhile, constipation syndrome, with the highest Index of 0.93, was associated with Zingiber officinale, which is a medicinal plant with a reported accuracy level (%FL) that covers the most use in treating disease symptoms within this area. Therefore, this knowledge of local wisdom can be considered important and useful information for future generations and can be applied in other scientific fields for sustainable benefits in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the importance of fractured rock aquifers in the hydrogeologic process, this research aimed to analyze the flow regime, internal degree of karstification, and estimate storage volume in fractured rock aquifers of the Germi Chai Basin in northwest Iran, which is attributed to its active tectonics, erosion, and the lithological diversity. Given the geological setting, the hypothesis is that this basin is characterized by a high degree of karstification and diffuse or intermediate flow regime leading to variation in discharge flow rate. The hydrodynamic and hadrochemical analysis was conducted on 9 well-distributed springs across the basin from 2019 to 2020. The maximum flow rate in most of the springs appeared in the early wet season despite their different levels of fluctuations on the monthly discharge time series. Analyzing the spring recession curve form revealed an aquifer containing multiple micro-regimes with α recession coefficients and a degree of karstification ranging between 0.001 to 0.06 and 0.55 to 2.61, respectively. These findings indicated a dominant diffuse and intermediate flow system resulting from the development of a high density of fractures in this area. The electrical conductivity of the spring changes inversely proportional to the change in flow discharge, indicating the reasonable hydrological response of the aquifer to rainfall events. Hydrograph analysis revealed that the delay time of spring discharge after rainfall events mostly varies between 10 to 30 days. The total dynamic storage volume of the spring for a given period (2019–2020) was estimated to be approximately 1324 million cubic meters reflecting the long-term drainage potential and high perdurability of dynamic storage. Estimating the maximum and minimum ratio revealed that the springs recharging system in Germi Chai Basin comes under the slow aquifers category. This finding provides valuable insight into the hydrogeological properties of fractured rock aquifers contributing to effective water management strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Floods are considered one of the most important and abundant geomorphic hazards in the country, which cause a lot of damage every year. Aji Chai basin, located in East Azerbaijan province, witnesses devastating floods every year due to its large area and special topographical conditions. Therefore, the main aim of this study is to prepare a flood hazard potential map in this basin. To achieve this aim, 18 parameters effective in the occurrence of this hazard and two statistical methods of frequency ratio (FR) and statistical index (SI) have been used. The investigated parameters were Elevation, Slope, Aspect, Rainfall, Distance to the river, River density, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, land use, Distance to bridge, Distance to dam, lithology, hydrological soil groups, Topographic wetness index, Sediment transport index, Stream power index, Drainage texture, Geomorphology and earth curvature. The location of the past flood points in the area was used to determine the parameters weight and implement the research models. The final maps were prepared from the product of the weights of each parameter class in their information layers and were classified into five classes using the Natural Breaks tool. Study the final maps showed that hazard zones spatial distribution patterns were similar in both models. In this way, the areas downstream of the basin and around the main streams of the area are the most dangerous zones. The accuracy evaluation of the results of both models with the ROC curve showed that the values of the area under the curve for SI and FR models were 0.945 and 0.919, respectively, which shows the excellent performance of both models in preparing flood hazard maps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fowl adenovirus serotype 4 (FAdV-4) is the main pathogen of hepatitis-hydropericardium syndrome (HHS), which brings huge economic losses to the poultry industry worldwide. Fiber-1 protein plays an important role in viral infection and pathogenesis by binding directly to cellular receptors of FAdV-4. In particular, the knob domain of fiber-1 protein has been reported to induce the production of neutralizing antibodies and arouse protection against the lethal challenge of chickens with FAdV-4. Methods: The fiber-1 knob (F1K) protein was expressed in a prokaryotic expression system and purified using Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against FAdV-4 were generated by immunizing BALB/c mice with the purified F1K protein and screened using a series of immunoassays. Potential B cell epitopes on the knob domain of fiber-1 protein were mapped using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and dot-blot. Precious location and crucial amino acids of the identified epitopes were determined using peptide array scanning, truncations and alanine-scanning mutagenesis. The epitopes were analyzed and visualized on the knob trimer of FAdV-4 fiber-1 protein using the PyMOL software. Results: Water-soluble recombinant fiber-1 knob (F1K) protein was obtained with the assistance of chaperone. Four monoclonal antibodies (5C10, 6F8, 8D8, and 8E8) against FAdV-4 were generated and characterized using indirect ELISA, Western blot, dot-blot, and immunological fluorescence assay (IFA). The mAbs were demonstrated to be from different hybridoma cell lines based on the sequences of the variable regions. Meanwhile, three distinct novel linear B-cell epitopes (319SDVGYLGLPPH329, 328PHTRDNWYV336, and 407VTTGPIPFSYQ417) on the knob domain of fiber-1 protein were identified and the key amino acid residues in the epitopes were determined. Structural analysis showed that the two adjacent epitopes 319SDVGYLGLPPH329 and 328PHTRDNWYV336 were exposed on the surface of the fiber-1 knob trimer, whereas the epitope 407VTTGPIPFSYQ417 was located inside of the spatial structure. Conclusion: This was the first identification of B-cell epitopes on the knob domain of fiber-1 protein and these findings provided a sound basis for the development of subunit vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostic methods to control FAdV infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete mitochondrial genome of Pealius mori (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) was determined in this study. The mitogenome was 15,654 bp long with 37 typical Insecta mitochondrial genes and one non-coding control region. Its gene content and order were different to other Hemiptera mitochondrial genomes. The overall nucleotide composition of the mitogenome was 42.62% A, 32.73% T, 11.12% G and 13.54% C, with an A + T bias of 75.34%. Phylogenetic analyses of 14 species in Aleyrodidae, 2 species in Lepidoptera and 1 species in Thysanoptera by Maximum Likelihood showed that P. mori China had been more closely related to P. mori France, closely related to Pealius machili. This result well supported the taxonomic position of Aleyrodidae and their close relationship with the Pealius category. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dispersed growth of the metropolis has led to the surrounding towns being exposed to development and integrated into the cities. As towns and cities merge, spatial relationships have become intricate, resulting in significant changes in physical, economic, sociocultural, and environmental aspects. The metropolis of Tabriz is no exception to this phenomenon. Therefore, the primary aim of the study is to identify and analyze the factors influencing the integration of neighboring towns into the metropolis of Tabriz. In this research, a descriptive-exploratory method and questionnaire survey were employed. The research's statistical population, consisting of urban and rural experts and specialists, was comprised of 30 individuals. Data analysis was conducted using the structural equations method with the SPSS and Amos software. The findings revealed three latent exogenous constructs: "internal factors, " "proximity to the metropolis, " and "external factors, " which highlight the key aspects of village integration into the metropolis. Notably, proximity factors to the metropolis exhibited the highest loading at 0.89. The study concluded that economic factors, physical characteristics, and sociocultural parameters have a significant impact on the integration of villages into the metropolis, while internal factors within the villages have a lesser influence. According to experts, economic factors play a crucial role in the annexation of towns to the city, prompting low-income individuals from various city areas to migrate to these parts and merge them into the city. Therefore, it is evident that organizing the integration of towns into the city can positively impact the expansion and development of the metropolis of Tabriz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the extended Bogoliubov–de Gennes theory, the inhomogeneous stripe order and Majorana bound states are demonstrated in s -wave superconducting systems with Rashba spin–orbit interaction when the in-plane Zeeman field is applied. For a fully open square sample, topological phase transitions can be driven by the Zeeman field, and the stripe phase with spatially oscillating order parameter shows up across a critical field strength. The topological channels arise in this phase, which can be utilized to create and manipulate Majorana zero modes. Interestingly, (quasi-)one-dimensional channels with diminished pairing amplitude can be formed in narrow arms of a square loop, accompanied by the reconstruction of energy spectra of the condensate and the realization of robust Majorana zero-energy states at the ends of channels. The associated evolution of topological phases and the location of Majorana zero modes are highly sensitive to the field direction. Moreover, the effects of the rectangular aspect-ratio and the off-centered hole as well as the surface defects on Majorana end modes are explored in Rashba asymmetric loops. In comparison, the field-dependent evolution processes of low-energy levels behave more complicated because the emergence of confined topological channels can be effectively tuned by the length and width of loop arms as well as the size and position of an introduced small indentation at the outer edge. Rich patterns of Majorana corner-like states are generated for such asymmetric systems. Our theoretical predictions may shed new light on the tunability of Majorana zero modes and provide useful guidance for future experiments and applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phase field modeling and computer simulations were conducted to uncover the fundamental mechanism behind the peak in damping capacity observed in BaTiO3-reinforced composites, considering both insulating and conductive cases. The damping capacity curve obtained from these simulations, which varies with temperature, reveals dual peaks near Tc for both cases. The first peak, labeled Peak I, occurs below Tc and is attributed to temperature-induced domain reorientation. The second peak, labeled Peak II, occurs above Tc and arises from stress-induced phase transitions between paraelastic and ferroelastic states. This transition results in a double-loop strain–stress hysteresis, akin to the polarization-field hysteresis observed in ferroelectric systems at and above Tc. Between Peak I and Peak II, there is a dip in damping capacity just below Tc, caused by the diminished ferroelasticity of BaTiO3 particles near this critical temperature. In composite materials, the dual peaks merge into a single peak due to the heterogeneous nature of Tc, influenced by various factors that either raise or lower Tc. This convergence aligns with experimental observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work theoretically studied the spectral line shape of H2O perturbed by Ar in the temperature range of 20–300 K for the pure rotational lines below 360 cm−1, as well as three lines (31, 2 ← 44, 1, 54, 2 ← 41, 3, and 73, 5 ← 60, 6) in the v2 band. In order to perform precise dynamical calculations at low collision energies, a full-dimensional long-range potential energy surface was constructed for the H2O–Ar system for the first time to correct the long range of our newly developed intermolecular potential energy surface. Subsequently, the six line-shape parameters (pressure-broadening and -shifting parameters, their speed dependencies, and the complex Dicke parameters) were determined from the generalized spectroscopic cross section by the full quantum time-independent close-coupling approach on this new potential energy surface. Our theoretical results are in good agreement with the available experimental observations. Furthermore, the influence of the speed-dependence and Dicke narrowing effects on the line contour was revealed by comparing the differences among the Hartmann–Tran, quadratic-speed-dependent Voigt, and Voigt profiles. The temperature dependence of each line-shape parameter was further parameterized using the triplet-power-law for three pure rotational 61, 6 ← 52, 3, 41, 4 ← 32, 1, and 31, 3 ← 22, 0 lines. These line-shape parameters will provide a comprehensive set of theoretical references for subsequent experimental measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite recent advances in multi-view hair reconstruction, achieving strand-level precision remains a significant challenge due to inherent limitations in existing capture pipelines. We introduce GroomCap, a novel multi-view hair capture method that reconstructs faithful and high-fidelity hair geometry without relying on external data priors. To address the limitations of conventional reconstruction algorithms, we propose a neural implicit representation for hair volume that encodes high-resolution 3D orientation and occupancy from input views. This implicit hair volume is trained with a new volumetric 3D orientation rendering algorithm, coupled with 2D orientation distribution supervision, to effectively prevent the loss of structural information caused by undesired orientation blending. We further propose a Gaussian-based hair optimization strategy to refine the traced hair strands with a novel chained Gaussian representation, utilizing direct photometric supervision from images. Our results demonstrate that GroomCap is able to capture high-quality hair geometries that are not only more precise and detailed than existing methods but also versatile enough for a range of applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Deep partial-thickness burns have a significant impact on both the physical and mental health of patients. Our previous study demonstrated human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) could enhance the healing of severe burns in small animal burn models, such as rats. Furthermore, our team has developed a deep partial-thickness burn model in Bama miniature pigs, which can be utilized for assessing drug efficacy in preclinical trials for wound healing. Therefore, this study further determine the optimal dosage of hUCMSCs in future clinical practice by comparing the efficacy of low-to-high doses of hUCMSCs on deep partial-thickness burn wounds in Bama miniature pigs. Materials and methods: The male Bama miniature pigs (N = 8, weight: 23–28 kg and length: 71–75 cm) were used to establish deep partial-thickness burn models, which used a continuous pressure of 1 kg and contact times of 35 s by the invented electronic burn instrument at 100℃ to prepare 10 round burn wounds with diameter of 5 cm according to our previous report. And then, 0 × 10^7, 1 × 10^7, 2 × 10^7, 5 × 10^7 and 1 × 10^8 doses of hUCMSCs were respectively injected into burn wounds of their corresponding groups. After treatment for 7, 14 and 21 days, the burned wound tissues were obtained for histological evaluation, including HE staining for histopathological changes, immunohistochemistry for neutrophil (MPO+) infiltration and microvessel (CD31+) quantity, as well as Masson staining for collagen deposition. The levels of inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-10 and angiogenesis factors angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), as well as collagen type-I/type-III of the wound tissues were quantified by ELISA. Results: All of doses hUCMSCs can significantly increase wound healing rate and shorten healing time of the deep partial-thickness burn pigs in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, all of doses hUCMSCs can significantly promote epithelialization and decreased inflammatory reaction of wound, including infiltration of inflammatory cells and levels inflammatory factors. Meanwhile, the amounts of microvessel were increased in all of doses hUCMSCs group than those in the burn group. Furthermore, the collagen structure was disordered and partially necrotized, and ratios of collagen type-I and type-III were significantly decreased in burn group (4:1 in normal skin tissue), and those of all hUCMSCs groups were significantly improved in a dose-dependent manner. In a word, 1 × 10^8 dose of hUCMSCs could regenerate the deep partial-thickness burn wounds most efficaciously compared to other dosages groups and the burn group. Conclusion: This regenerative cell therapy study using hUCMSCs demonstrates the best efficacy toward a high dose, that is dose of 1 × 10^8 of hUCMSCs was used as a reference therapeutic dose for treating 20 cm2 deep partial-thickness burns wound in future clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mulching could effectively improve the soil hydrothermal environment, improve changes in the soil structure, increase entropy, and conserve soil moisture to solve the problem of grain reduction caused by perennial drought in Northwest China. Thus, a two-growing-season field experiment (2021–2022) with five treatments (PM1, biodegradable plastic film mulching; PM2, plastic film mulching; SM1, straw strip mulching; SM2, crushed corn straw full mulching; and CK, no mulching as the control) was conducted to investigate the effects of different mulching materials on the soil hydrothermal environment, soil aggregate distribution, stability, and tuber yield of rainfed potato farmland in Northwest China. Over two growing seasons, mulching planting, on average, increased (p < 0.05) the soil moisture at the 0–200 cm depth by 9.0% relative to CK (SM2 (11.6%) > SM1 (10.3%) > PM2 (8.6%) > PM1 (7.0%)). The mulching treatments significantly regulated the soil temperature during the whole growth period, in which plastic mulching significantly increased the soil temperature of the 0–25 cm soil depth during the whole growth period by 2.1 °C (PM2 (2.1 °C) > PM1 (2.0 °C)); meanwhile, straw mulching significantly reduced the soil temperature by 1.4 °C (SM2 (0.9 °C) > SM1 (0.6 °C)). All mulching treatments improved the soil macroaggregate content and soil aggregate stability in all soil depths from 0 to 40 cm, with increases of 31.4% and 27.1% in the mean weight diameter (MWD) and 22.6% and 21.2% in the geometric mean diameter (GWD) compared with CK, respectively. Straw and plastic mulching significantly increased the fresh tuber yield by 12.5% and 12.6% compared with CK, respectively. The increases were greatest in SM2 and PM2. Crushed corn straw full mulching is difficult to sow and harvest; therefore, straw strip mulching could improve the soil hydrothermal environment, increase production, and provide an environmentally friendly technology for dryland potato production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As artificial intelligence (AI) advances rapidly, it has been incorporated into formal education to facilitate subject-based learning. Integration of AI technologies to support learning requires teachers to intentionally design AI-assisted learning. However, there have been a limited number of empirical studies investigating teachers' behavioural intentions to design AI-assisted learning. To explore the predictors of teachers' behavioural intentions to design AI-assisted learning and examine the structural relationships among these factors, the authors constructed a structural model of AI literacy, Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK), technostress, school support, teacher agency, teacher autonomy and behavioural intentions. Data from 312 K–12 in-service teachers in China were analysed. The results suggest that TPACK, school support, teacher agency and teacher autonomy positively predict teachers' behavioural intentions to design AI-assisted learning. However, AI literacy and technostress were not statistically associated with teachers' behavioural intentions. On the other hand, TPACK significantly mediated AI literacy and teachers' behavioural intentions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing marine carbon sequestration through nearshore aquaculture is a novel scientific approach to addressing global climate change and facilitating low-carbon development. Scientifically estimating the quantity and price of China's marine fisheries carbon sinks provides a crucial foundation for promoting marine carbon trading. In this article, firstly, the long-term carbon storage capacity of China's marine carbon sequestration fishery available from 1979 to 2022 for carbon trading is calculated. And then a transcendental logarithmic production function model incorporating ridge regression analysis, and an accounting equation for estimating the shadow price of China's marine fisheries carbon sequestration are established. Simultaneously, the distortion level of China's marine fisheries carbon sequestration prices from 2015 to 2022 is measured, and the reasons and economic effects of the distortion in prices are analyzed. The research results show that: 1) The capacity of a net carbon sequestration in China's marine carbon sequestration fishery for carbon trading, ranged from 78,869.01 tons in 1979 to 1,232,762.27 tons in 2022, with an average annual capacity of 592,472.07 tons and an average annual growth rate of 7.48%; 2) The price of China's marine fisheries carbon sinks increased from 39.46 CNY in 1979 to 375.96 CNY in 2022, with an average annual growth rate of 6.00%. The average annual price was 167.87 CNY; 3) There were varying degrees of distortion in China's marine fisheries carbon sequestration prices from 2015 to 2022, which decreased annually with the construction of China's own carbon trading market and the practice of trading. To realize the value of marine fisheries carbon sequestration, it is necessary to actively promote the development of voluntary emission reduction markets, develop carbon trading futures markets, and strengthen the dynamic monitoring system for resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Imageless computer navigation systems have the potential to improve the accuracy of acetabular cup position in total hip arthroplasty (THA). Popular imageless navigation methods include locating the patient in a three-dimensional space (registration method) while using a baseline to angle the acetabular cup (reference plane). This study aims to compare the accuracy of different methods for determining postoperative acetabular cup positioning in THA via the direct anterior approach. (2) Methods: Fifty-one participants were recruited. Optical and inertial sensor imageless navigation systems were used simultaneously with three combinations of registration methods and reference planes: the anterior pelvic plane (APP), the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) and the table tilt (TT) method. Postoperative acetabular cup position, inclination, and anteversion were assessed using CT scans. (3) Results: For inclination, the mean absolute error (MAE) was lower using the TT method (2.4° ± 1.7°) compared to the ASIS (2.8° ± 1.7°, p = 0.17) and APP method (3.7° ± 2.1°, p < 0.001). For anteversion, the MAE was significantly lower for the TT method (2.4° ± 1.8°) in contrast to the ASIS (3.9° ± 3.2°, p = 0.005) and APP method (9.1° ± 6.2°, p < 0.001). (4) Conclusion: A functional reference plane is superior to an anatomic reference plane to accurately measure intraoperative acetabular cup inclination and anteversion in THA using inertial imageless navigation systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The impact of maternal surgery combined with general anesthesia on neuroinflammation and the development of learning and memory impairment in offspring remains unclear. This study utilized a pathogen-free laparotomy model to investigate these changes during the second trimester, as well as their response to anti-inflammatory therapy. Methods: C57BL/6 pregnant mice at the 14.5-day embryo stage (E 14.5) were either exposed to sevoflurane anesthesia alone or underwent laparotomy procedure. The neuroinflammatory response was evaluated at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days postnatal (P7, P14, P21, P28). Tau phosphorylation and cognitive ability were assessed at P28 and P30, respectively. The impact of perioperative administration of ibuprofen (60 mg/kg) on these aforementioned changes was subsequently evaluated. Results: In the laparotomy group, levels of inflammatory factors (IL-4, IL-8, IL-17A, TGF-ß, M-CSF, CCL2) in the brains of offspring mice, including the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, remained consistently elevated from P7 to P28. At P14, while the majority of inflammatory cytokine has no statistical difference, there was still a significant reactivation of inflammatory cytokines observed in the frontal cortex and hippocampus at P28. Furthermore, abnormal phosphorylation of tau and deficits in learning and memory were observed at P28 and P30. Administration of perioperative ibuprofen led to improvements in cognitive performance, reduction of systemic inflammation, and inhibiting abnormal phosphorylation of tau in the frontal cortex and hippocampus. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that cognitive dysfunction is correlated with elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines and tau phosphorylation. Cognitive impairment and tau phosphorylation after laparotomy can persist at least until P28. Anti-inflammatory medications have been shown to enhance cognitive function by rapidly reducing inflammation in the brain, while also impacting neurological changes. This discovery may have implications for the development of treatment strategies aimed at managing cognitive impairment in post-operative patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiographic landmark annotation determines patients' anatomical parameters and influences diagnoses. However, challenges arise from ambiguous region-based definitions, human error, and image quality variations, potentially compromising patient care. Additionally, AI landmark localization often presents its predictions in a probability-based heatmap format, which lacks a corresponding clinical standard for accuracy validation. This Data Descriptor presents a clinical benchmark dataset for pelvic tilt landmarks, gathered through a probabilistic approach to measure annotation accuracy within clinical environments. A retrospective analysis of 115 pelvic sagittal radiographs was conducted for annotating pelvic tilt parameters by five annotators, revealing landmark cloud sizes of 6.04 mm-17.90 mm at a 95% dataset threshold, corresponding to 9.51°–16.55° maximum angular disagreement in clinical settings. The outcome provides a quantified point cloud dataset for each landmark corresponding to different probabilities, which enables assessment of directional annotation distribution and parameter-wise impact, providing clinical benchmarks. The data is readily reusable for AI studies analyzing the same landmarks, and the method can be easily replicated for establishing clinical accuracy benchmarks of other landmarks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing marine carbon sequestration through nearshore aquaculture is a novel scientific approach to addressing global climate change and facilitating low-carbon development. Scientifically estimating the quantity and price of China's marine fisheries carbon sinks provides a crucial foundation for promoting marine carbon trading. In this article, firstly, the long-term carbon storage capacity of China's marine carbon sequestration fishery available from 1979 to 2022 for carbon trading is calculated. And then a transcendental logarithmic production function model incorporating ridge regression analysis, and an accounting equation for estimating the shadow price of China's marine fisheries carbon sequestration are established. Simultaneously, the distortion level of China's marine fisheries carbon sequestration prices from 2015 to 2022 is measured, and the reasons and economic effects of the distortion in prices are analyzed. The research results show that: 1) The capacity of a net carbon sequestration in China's marine carbon sequestration fishery for carbon trading, ranged from 78,869.01 tons in 1979 to 1,232,762.27 tons in 2022, with an average annual capacity of 592,472.07 tons and an average annual growth rate of 7.48%; 2) The price of China's marine fisheries carbon sinks increased from 39.46 CNY in 1979 to 375.96 CNY in 2022, with an average annual growth rate of 6.00%. The average annual price was 167.87 CNY; 3) There were varying degrees of distortion in China's marine fisheries carbon sequestration prices from 2015 to 2022, which decreased annually with the construction of China's own carbon trading market and the practice of trading. To realize the value of marine fisheries carbon sequestration, it is necessary to actively promote the development of voluntary emission reduction markets, develop carbon trading futures markets, and strengthen the dynamic monitoring system for resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing marine carbon sequestration through nearshore aquaculture is a novel scientific approach to addressing global climate change and facilitating low-carbon development. Scientifically estimating the quantity and price of China's marine fisheries carbon sinks provides a crucial foundation for promoting marine carbon trading. In this article, firstly, the long-term carbon storage capacity of China's marine carbon sequestration fishery available from 1979 to 2022 for carbon trading is calculated. And then a transcendental logarithmic production function model incorporating ridge regression analysis, and an accounting equation for estimating the shadow price of China's marine fisheries carbon sequestration are established. Simultaneously, the distortion level of China's marine fisheries carbon sequestration prices from 2015 to 2022 is measured, and the reasons and economic effects of the distortion in prices are analyzed. The research results show that: 1) The capacity of a net carbon sequestration in China's marine carbon sequestration fishery for carbon trading, ranged from 78,869.01 tons in 1979 to 1,232,762.27 tons in 2022, with an average annual capacity of 592,472.07 tons and an average annual growth rate of 7.48%; 2) The price of China's marine fisheries carbon sinks increased from 39.46 CNY in 1979 to 375.96 CNY in 2022, with an average annual growth rate of 6.00%. The average annual price was 167.87 CNY; 3) There were varying degrees of distortion in China's marine fisheries carbon sequestration prices from 2015 to 2022, which decreased annually with the construction of China's own carbon trading market and the practice of trading. To realize the value of marine fisheries carbon sequestration, it is necessary to actively promote the development of voluntary emission reduction markets, develop carbon trading futures markets, and strengthen the dynamic monitoring system for resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chondromalacia, characterized by the softening of cartilage, is a prevalent condition affecting joint health with complex etiology. The immune system's role in its pathogenesis has been implicated but remains to be fully elucidated. To address a critical knowledge gap, we conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis of 731 immune cell phenotypes, assessing parameters like fluorescence, cell count, and morphology. After sensitivity and pleiotropy checks, and applying a false discovery rate correction, our study linked 17 phenotypes to chondromalacia (p <.05). Among them, seven immune cell phenotypes were found to have a protective effect against chondromalacia (IVW: p <.05, OR <1), while 10 were considered risk factors (IVW: p <.05, OR >1). Despite the constraints of sample size and possible genetic differences among populations, our research has identified a notable genetic correlation between specific immune cell indicators and chondromalacia. This breakthrough sheds light on the pathophysiological mechanisms of the condition. The identification of protective and risk-associated immune cell phenotypes provides a foundation for further exploration of immunological mechanisms in chondromalacia and may pave the way for targeted interventions. Future research is warranted to validate these findings and explore their clinical implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the discovery of a novel variant of the thiopurine S-methyltransferase (TPMT) gene in a Malay individual. The TPMT gene is important for the metabolism of thiopurine drugs used in the treatment of various conditions. The variant, which involves an in-frame deletion and insertion event, was found to be specific to the Malay population and was not present in major genomic databases. The study highlights the importance of genetic testing in optimizing drug therapy and calls for further investigation into the variant's clinical implications. [Extracted from the article]

Peptoniphilus asaccharolyticus is a gram-positive anaerobic coccus that can cause infections in immunocompromised individuals. P. asaccharolyticus causing empyema has not been reported earlier. Here, we present a novel case of empyema caused by P. asaccharolyticus. A 72-year-old male had a constant fever with difficulty breathing. A chest computed tomography scan revealed infiltration in the right lower lobe and pleural effusion. Following hospital admission, pleural fluid drainage was conducted, and the culture isolated P. asaccharolyticus. Initially treated with piperacillin/tazobactam, the patient experienced excessive thick sputum production, prompting a tracheostomy. Subsequent sputum cultures identified Acinetobacter baumannii. After transitioning to cefoperazone/sulbactam for antibiotic treatment and continued pleural effusion drainage, recovery was achieved. Empyema can be caused by P. asaccharolyticus and further complicated by a secondary infection with A. baumannii. Management should include appropriate antibiotic therapy, pleural drainage, vigilant monitoring, and supportive care. We aim to raise clinicians' awareness of the potential for P. asaccharolyticus to cause empyema in immunocompromised patients and to provide early treatments, thereby improving morbidity and mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]