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Polyester-ether glycol was synthesized with poly(polyol adipate) as starting agent, epoxy alkane as the polymerization monomer, and alkali metal as catalyst. The effects of catalyst dosage on the polymerization was discussed, and its structure was characterized by FTIR and GPC. The self-made polyester-ether glycol was used to prepare polyurethane high-resilience foam and polyurethane elastomer, and the effects of polyester-ether glycol on their mechanical properties were studied. The results showed that the optimum catalyst concentration was 0.6%. When polyester-ether glycol was applied to polyurethane high resilience foam with the addition amount of 15%, it had a significant effect on improving the mechanical properties of the products. Compared with traditional propylene glycol polyether, polyurethane synthesized with polyester-ether glycol had significant advantages in mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Humans can be exposed to multiple pollutants in the air and surface water. These environments are non-static, trans-boundary and correlated, creating a complex network, and significant challenges for research on environmental hazards, especially in real-world cancer research. This article reports on a large study (377 million people in 30 provinces of China) that evaluated the combined impact of air and surface water pollution on cancer. We formulate a spatial evaluation system and a common grading scale for co-pollution measurement, and validate assumptions that air and surface water environments are spatially connected and that cancers of different types tend to cluster in areas where these environments are poorer. We observe "dose–response" relationships in both the number of affected cancer types and the cancer incidence with an increase in degree of co-pollution. We estimate that 62,847 (7.4%) new cases of cancer registered in China in 2016 were attributable to air and surface water pollution, and the majority (69.7%) of these excess cases occurred in areas with the highest level of co-pollution. The findings clearly show that the environment cannot be considered as a set of separate entities. They also support the development of policies for cooperative environmental governance and disease prevention. Dissecting the associations between exposure to environmental pollution and cancer risk remains crucial. Here, the authors evaluate the impact of air and water pollution on cancer incidence in China using a spatial evaluation system and show that most excess cancer cases occurred in areas with the highest level of co-pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the role of cancer stem cells (CSCs) and the transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) signaling pathway in angiosarcoma (AS), a malignant soft tissue tumor. The study found that CSCs markers, such as CD29, CD133, and Nestin, were highly expressed in AS, suggesting their involvement in the development of the disease. Additionally, the TGF-β1 signaling pathway was found to promote tumor invasion and metastasis, as well as the expression of programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), which may lead to immune suppression. The inhibition of TGF-β1 was shown to downregulate PD-L1 expression and inhibit cell proliferation. The findings suggest that targeting both TGF-β1 and PD-L1 pathways could be a promising therapeutic approach for AS treatment. [Extracted from the article]

(Ultra)high‐pressure metamorphic rocks provide valuable insights into the properties of slab‐derived fluids. Here, we report CH4‐rich fluid inclusions in garnet of a metapelite from the Zermatt‐Saas ophiolite, western Alps. Two types of metapelite, a CH4‐bearing pelitic schist and a calcareous pelitic schist, were investigated to unravel favorable P‐T‐fO2 conditions for preservation of CH4 in high‐pressure metapelite. In the CH4‐bearing pelitic schist, CH4‐rich fluid inclusions exclusively occur in the core of garnet (GrtI) rather than the rim (GrtII). GrtI records P‐T conditions of ∼2.85 GPa and ∼555°C, whereas GrtII records a prograde P‐T path from ∼1.75 GPa at 510°C to ∼2.0 GPa at 530°C. Compositional profile of garnet in the calcareous pelitic schist reflects a prograde metamorphic path from ∼1.9 GPa at 510°C to ∼2.12 GPa at 545°C. CH4‐rich fluid formation may primarily rise from graphite reduction at high‐pressure reduced conditions (ΔFMQ −3.5 to −4, 2.85 GPa, ∼550°C), while graphite and carbonates stabilize in a relatively oxidized environment (ΔFMQ ∼0, 2.12 GPa, 545°C). The initial redox budget of subducted sediments is primarily controlled by the amount of sedimentary carbonate and organic carbon, which plays the most important role in deciding the carbon speciation at different subduction depths. CH4 formation in COH fluids could primarily be attributed to the reduction of graphite. Subducted metasediments act as conduits for transporting non‐oxidized fluids to arc magmas, which provides crucial evidence to support the heterogeneity for slab‐derived COH fluids and offers new insights into the deep carbon cycle. Plain Language Summary: Subducting slab releases COH fluids at different depths, which can metasomatize and enrich the overlying mantle wedge and lead to changes in the nature of the arc magma source. However, due to the complex redox state of the subduction zone, the properties of the COH fluids released from the slab are not well understood. Carbon, as a crucially redox‐sensitive element, its speciation serves as a significant indicator of the redox state within the subducting slab. We discovered numerous graphite and CH4 fluid inclusions within garnet in high‐pressure metasedimentary rocks. These findings suggest that subducting slabs may possess more reduced properties, potentially releasing non‐oxidized fluids. We also selected another metapelite sample without methane but with graphite and carbonate for comparative analysis. We determined P‐T conditions of the metamorphic peak stage through detailed thermodynamic modeling and estimated the oxygen fugacity at this stage. Our findings show that graphite and methane are stable in a highly reduced environment, whereas coexistence of graphite and carbonate occurs in a more oxidized environment. The formation of CH4 likely results from the reduction of graphite with fluid. These observations highlight the heterogeneity of slab‐derived fluids and the complex redox properties of the subducting slab. Key Points: CH4‐rich fluid inclusions can be preserved in high‐pressure metapelite from oceanic subduction zoneCH4 formation in COH fluids could primarily be attributed to the reduction of graphiteLow‐redox budget carbon‐bearing sediments are favorable for forming a reduced condition as the slab descends, facilitating CH4 generation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ensemble methods such as bagging and random forests are ubiquitous in various fields, from finance to genomics. Despite their prevalence, the question of the efficient tuning of ensemble parameters has received relatively little attention. This article introduces a cross-validation method, Extrapolated Cross-Validation (ECV), for tuning the ensemble and subsample sizes in randomized ensembles. Our method builds on two primary ingredients: initial estimators for small ensemble sizes using out-of-bag errors and a novel risk extrapolation technique that leverages the structure of prediction risk decomposition. By establishing uniform consistency of our risk extrapolation technique over ensemble and subsample sizes, we show that ECV yields δ-optimal (with respect to the oracle-tuned risk) ensembles for squared prediction risk. Our theory accommodates general predictors, only requires mild moment assumptions, and allows for high-dimensional regimes where the feature dimension grows with the sample size. As a practical case study, we employ ECV to predict surface protein abundances from gene expressions in single-cell multiomics using random forests under a computational constraint on the maximum ensemble size. Compared to sample-split and K-fold cross-validation, ECV achieves higher accuracy by avoiding sample splitting. Meanwhile, its computational cost is considerably lower owing to the use of the risk extrapolation technique. for this article are available online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulsed electric field (PEF) is an up-to-date non-thermal processing technology with a wide range of applications in the food industry. The inactivation effect of PEF on Escherichia coli was different under different conditions. The E. coli inactivated number was 1.13 ± 0.01 lg CFU/mL when PEF was treated for 60 min and treated with 0.24 kV/cm. The treatment times were found to be positively correlated with the inactivation effect of PEF, and the number of E. coli was reduced by 3.09 ± 0.01 lg CFU/mL after 100 min of treatment. The inactivation assays showed that E. coli was inactivated at electrical intensity (0.24 kV/cm) within 100 min, providing an effective inactivating outcome for Gram-negative bacteria. The purpose of this work was to investigate the cellular level (morphological destruction, intracellular macromolecule damage, intracellular enzyme inactivation) as well as the molecular level via transcriptome analysis. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (TFESEM) and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) results demonstrated that cell permeability was disrupted after PEF treatment. Entocytes, including proteins and DNA, were markedly reduced after PEF treatment. In addition, the activities of Pyruvate Kinase (PK), Succinate Dehydrogenase (SDH), and Adenosine Triphosphatase (ATPase) were inhibited remarkably for PEF-treated samples. Transcriptome sequencing results showed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to the biosynthesis of the cell membrane, DNA replication and repair, energy metabolism, and mobility were significantly affected. In conclusion, membrane damage, energy metabolism disruption, and other pathways are important mechanisms of PEF's inhibitory effect on E. coli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among all industrial accident-induced diseases, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are most prominently observed among nurses. The physical load of everyday tasks involved in nursing work was assessed in this study using a developed risk index, whereby the physical burden was evaluated using the exposure duration and work intensity levels. This survey targeted nine small, medium and large-sized hospitals in South Korea and categorized representative nursing tasks into six groups. The subtasks within these six categories (evaluated as high risk) included changing a patient's posture and assisting with walkers or wheelchairs, transporting/handling drug carts, bathing patients, replacing bedding, traction therapy, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and artificial manual breathing unit, and computer work. The risk index ratio was significantly different by task type for each task. We demonstrated that the risk index developed in this study can be used to evaluate MSDs in hospitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astatine-211 (211At) has emerged as a promising radionuclide for targeted alpha therapy of cancer by virtue of its favorable nuclear properties. However, the limited in vivo stability of 211At-labeled radiopharmaceuticals remains a major challenge. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current strategies for 211At radiolabeling, including nucleophilic and electrophilic substitution reactions, as well as the recent advances in the development of novel bifunctional coupling agents and labeling approaches to enhance the stability of 211At-labeled compounds. The preclinical and clinical applications of 211At-labeled radiopharmaceuticals, including small molecules, peptides, and antibodies, are also discussed. Looking forward, the identification of new molecular targets, the optimization of 211At production and quality control methods, and the continued evaluation of 211At-labeled radiopharmaceuticals in preclinical and clinical settings will be the key to realizing the full potential of 211At-based targeted alpha therapy. With the growing interest and investment in this field, 211At-labeled radiopharmaceuticals are poised to play an increasingly important role in future cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the wide application of cemented carbide, W and Co, the main raw materials for preparing cemented carbide, are depleted increasingly. Therefore, it is more and more important to prepare regenerated cemented carbide by recycling WC scrap. However, in the preparation of regenerated cemented carbide, there will be problems such as the introduction of impurity elements, discontinuous growth of grains, and high porosity. To optimize the mechanical properties of the regenerated cemented carbide, the modification of regenerated cemented carbide by adding rare earth oxides has been studied. It is found that the addition of rare earth can effectively inhibit the growth of WC grains and the formation of pores, thus avoiding the abnormal growth of WC grains. With the increase in the rare earth oxide content, the relative density, hardness, and bending strength of regenerated cemented carbide show a trend of increasing first and then decreasing. Among them, the addition of 0.5% Y2O3 has the optimal effect on improving the mechanical properties of regenerated cemented carbides. The relative density, hardness, and strength have been increased by 1.24, 9.43, and 11.37%. When the content of rare earth is more than 0.7%, the comprehensive properties of regenerated cemented carbide begin to decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inconel 718 has excellent thermal and chemical properties and is widely used in the manufacture of aerospace parts; however, there are some problems in the machining of Inconel 718, such as a large milling force, serious tool wear, and poor surface quality. In this research, a type of longitudinal–torsional ultrasonic milling (LTUM) tool is designed based on theoretical computations and FEM simulation analysis. To verify the design rationality of the developed LTUM tool, milling experiments are performed. It is verified that the LTUM tool can realize an elliptical vibration path at the tool tip. The resonance frequency of the tool is 21.32 kHz, the longitudinal amplitude is 6.8 µm, and the torsional amplitude is 1.4 µm. In the milling of Inconel 718, the experimental data of LTUM are compared with those of conventional milling (CM). The comparative experiments show that the LTUM tool can effectively lessen the milling force and tool wear in the milling of Inconel 718, improve the surface quality, inhibit the generation of burrs, and improve the chip breaking ability. The application potential of the LTUM tool in high-performance milling of Inconel 718 parts is proven. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Propelled by emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and deep learning, the essence and scope of cartography have significantly expanded. The rapid progress in neuroscience has raised high expectations for related disciplines, furnishing theoretical support for revealing and deepening the essence of maps. In this study, CiteSpace was used to examine the confluence of cartography and neural networks over the past decade (2013–2023), thus revealing the prevailing research trends and cutting-edge investigations in the field of machine learning and its application in mapping. In addition, this analysis included the systematic categorization of knowledge clusters arising from the fusion of cartography and neural networks, which was followed by the discernment of pivotal clusters in the field of knowledge mapping. Crucially, this study diligently identified the critical studies (milestones) that have made significant contributions to the development of these elucidated clusters. Timeline analysis was used to track these studies' origins, evolution, and current status. Finally, we constructed collaborative networks among the contributing authors, journals, institutions, and countries. This mapping aids in identifying and visualizing the primary contributing factors of the evolution of knowledge mapping encompassing cartography and neural networks, thus facilitating interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research and investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the crucial role of the structure in neutron star (NS) research, parameterized TOV (PTOV) equations are used to calculate the static NS sequence with five parameters including α , β , σ , γ and χ , which represent the five factors that impact the NS structure. In order to promote the efficiency in the combination of astronomical observations and the theory, we investigate the meticulous influences of the five factors on NS structure with various hyperons in this work. Results show that the maximum masses of NSs are reduced with the free parameters, respectively, whereas the variation trend of corresponding radii is wavy in some cases. Especially, when hyperons are included, the macroscopic properties of NSs, except redshift, are relatively smaller than those in conventional NS matter. The effects on conventional NSs and hyperonic NSs are quite different in the high NS mass area but diminish when the stellar mass is lower than approximately 1.5 times solar mass. Finally, comparing with observations, we predict constraints on the free parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fine-grained WC-15wt%Al0.5CoCrFeNi cemented carbide was prepared through a vacuum and gas pressure sintering. For achieving high surface integrity, diamond wheel grinding serves as the primary molding process for the machining of WC cemented carbide. To reveal the influence of grinding on the surface integrity of fine-grained WC-HEA cemented carbide, studies were conducted on grinding force, surface microstructure, surface roughness, residual stress, microhardness, and bending strength. The morphological analysis of the ground surface indicated a transition in the material removal mechanism of WC-HEA cemented carbide from ductile removal to brittle removal, with brittle removal becoming predominant as the depth of grinding increases. With the increasing depth of grinding, the grinding force increases, and the grinding force increases while the surface roughness decreases. Correspondingly, there is an improvement in both hardness and bending strength. Additionally, grinding induces high residual compressive stress on the surface, with a maximum compressive stress of 1795 MPa. The bending strength of the material is found to be dependent on the residual stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During subsequent machining of laser cladded workpiece, the stress transferred in depth direction is different from the conventional cast workpiece due to the geometrical discontinuity, resulting in the stress difference and strain discontinuity at the interface between the cladding layer and substrate. Distinguishing from the traditional finite element method model, this paper establishes a model with an inclined interface to investigate the thickness ratio, i.e., the ratio of the removal thickness in subsequent machining to cladding thickness on the machining-induced stress and strain. The results show that the maximum thickness ratio is 0.352 when the removal thickness is 0.1 mm. The change in interfacial shear stress energy dissipation due to interfacial inclination makes this result 22.8% lower than a traditional model with a horizontal interface. With the help of the presented model, the effect of removal thickness on machining-induced stress and strain evolution was investigated. The results show that an increase in the removal thickness will lead to an increase in machining-induced stress and strain. The stress difference and strain increment at the interface increase proportionally with the removal thickness, implying that variations in removal thickness will have a consequential impact on the maximum thickness ratio. Thus, the interaction of material removal thickness and thickness ratio on PEEQ increment at the interface was further analyzed. The response surface results indicate that an increase in the removal thickness leads to a corresponding increase in the maximum thickness ratio, albeit with a minor degree of influence. Therefore, the challenge of fixing the maximum thickness ratio in actual machining due to multi-step processes can be resolved through micro-adjustments. Simultaneously, in engineering applications, workpiece surface defects exhibit varying depths and require different removal amounts after cladding. This study provides further theoretical guidance for repairing and remanufacturing surface defects with diverse depths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is an editorial introducing a special issue titled "Effects of Environmental Organic Pollutants on Environment and Human Health: The Latest Updates." The issue focuses on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which are harmful to the environment and human health. The articles in the issue cover a range of topics, including the pollution characteristics and risk assessment of VOCs in different cities, the effects of exposure to POPs on health, and the ecological risks associated with organic pollutants. The research presented in this special issue provides valuable information for policymakers and researchers in the field. [Extracted from the article]

Due to the low rigidity of the boring bar with a large length-to-diameter ratio, chatter easily occurs during deep hole boring. In this paper, an ultrasonic vibration boring bar with a length-to-diameter ratio greater than 10 is designed to suppress the chatter during the boring operation of deep holes. First, the dynamic model of the boring operation is built to guide the design of the ultrasonic vibration boring bar. Then, the optimal design of structure parameter of the ultrasonic vibration boring bar is performed by the finite element method, and then the optimized boring bar is manufactured. Finally, the vibration performance test and cutting experiments are carried out to verify the machining capability of the bar. The experimental results show that the ultrasonic vibration boring bar can reduce the cutting force by about 35%, improve the system stability, and increase the quality of the relative machined surface by about 43%, which demonstrate the feasibility of chatter suppression of the developed ultrasonic vibration boring bar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To analyze the spatial distribution characteristics, efficiency, and influencing factors of pension institutions in Dongguan, so as to provide reference for optimizing the resource allocation of pension institutions in Dongguan. Methods The resource allocation data of pension institutions in Dongguan were obtained by questionnaire survey, and the spatial distribution characteristics and efficiency of pension institutions were analyzed and evaluated based on GIS and three-stage DEA model. Results There was a good spatial coupling between the resources of pension institutions in Dongguan and the elderly population over 60 years old; the lowest occupancy rate was 12.50%, the highest was 100.005%, and the phenomenon of "difficulty in finding a bed" and "half of the beds were vacant" coexisted. In the third stage, the average comprehensive efficiency decreased from 0.679 to 0.635, and environmental factors had a great influence on the efficiency of resource allocation in Dongguan. There were great differences in the efficiency of pension institutions in different areas. The comprehensive efficiency of urban areas was 0.784, which exceeded the average level of the whole city (0.635). The comprehensive efficiency of the eastern industrial park was only 0.439, which did not reach the average level of the whole city. The per capita regional GDP and the level of aging had a negative impact on efficiency. Conclusion It is suggested to rationally allocate the resources of pension institutions, optimize regional development planning, promote the upgrading of institutional pension services, improve the efficiency of resource allocation, and provide improved reference scheme for improving the service level of pension institutions in Dongguan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogels are prevailing drug delivery depots to improve antitumor efficacy and reduce systemic toxicity. However, the application of conventional free drug‐loaded hydrogel is hindered by poor drug penetration in solid tumors. Here, an injectable ferritin‐based nanocomposite hydrogel is constructed to facilitate tumor penetration and improve cancer chemoimmunotherapy. Specifically, doxorubicin‐loaded human ferritin (Dox@HFn) and oxidized dextran (Dex‐CHO) are used to construct the injectable hydrogel (Dox@HFn Gel) through the formation of pH‐sensitive Schiff‐base bonds. After peritumoral injection, the Dox@HFn Gel is retained locally for up to three weeks, and released intact Dox@HFn gradually, which can not only facilitate tumor penetration through active transcytosis but also induce immunogenic cell death (ICD) to tumor cells to generate an antitumor immune response. Combining with anti‐programmed death‐1 antibody (αPD‐1), Dox@HFn Gel induces remarkable regression of orthotopic 4T1 breast tumors, further elicits a strong systemic anti‐tumor immune response to effectively suppress tumor recurrence and lung metastasis of 4T1 tumors after surgical resection. Besides, the combination of Dox@HFn GelL with anti‐CD47 antibody (αCD47) inhibits postsurgical tumor recurrence of aggressive orthotopic glioblastoma tumor model and significantly extends mice survival. This work sheds light on the construction of local hydrogels to potentiate antitumor immune response for improved cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been shown to improve gut dysbiosis in dogs; however, it has not completely been understood in police dogs. This study aimed to investigate the effects of FMT on performance and gut microflora in Kunming police dogs. Twenty Wolf Cyan dogs were randomly assigned to receive physiological saline or fecal suspension at low, medium, or high doses through oral gavage for 14 days. Growth performance, police performance, serum biochemical profiling, and gut microflora were determined 2-week post-FMT. Dogs after FMT treatment were also subjected to an hour road transportation and then were evaluated for serum stress indicators. Overall, FMT enhanced the growth performance and alleviated diarrhea rate in Kunming dogs with the greatest effects occurring in the low dose FMT (KML) group. The improvement of FMT on police performance was also determined. These above alterations were accompanied by changed serum biochemical parameters as indicated by elevated total protein and albumin and reduced total cholesterol and glycerol. Furthermore, the serum stress indicators after road transportation in dog post-FMT significantly decreased. Increased bacterial diversity and modified bacterial composition were found in the feces of dogs receiving FMT. The fecal samples from FMT dogs were characterized by higher abundances of the genera Lactobacillus, Prevotella, and Fusobacterium and lower concentrations of Cetobacterium, Allobaculum, Bifidobacterium, and Streptococcus. The present study supports a potential benefit of FMT on police performance in Kunming dogs. Key points: • FMT improves the growth performance and reduces diarrhea rates in Kunming police dogs. • FMT alleviates the serum stress profiles after road transportation in Kunming police dogs. • FMT modifies the gut microbiota composition of Kunming police dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through literature research, the unplugging mechanism of various wellbore unplugging fluids was analyzed, and the application progress, advantages and disadvantages of various types of commonly used wellbore deplugging fluids were summarized. The research progress of new deplugging working fluids such as organic deplugging working fluid, organic slow-release microlactic acid deplugging working solution and composite deplugging working fluid was introduced. The problems existing in the preparation and practical application of plugging fluids were analyzed, and the development trend of unplugging liquids in the future was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ginkgo biloba L. an ancient relict plant known as a 'living fossil', has a high medicinal and nutritional value in its kernels and leaves. Ginkgolides are unique diterpene lactone compounds in G. biloba , with favorable therapeutic effects on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Thus, it is essential to study the biosynthesis and regulatory mechanism of ginkgolide, which will contribute to quality improvement and medication requirements. In this study, the regulatory roles of the JAZ gene family and GbCOI1/GbJAZs/GbMYC2 module in ginkgolide biosynthesis were explored based on genome and methyl jasmonate-induced transcriptome. Firstly, 18 JAZ proteins were identified from G. biloba , and the gene characteristics and expansion patterns along with evolutionary relationships of these GbJAZs were analyzed systematically. Expression patterns analysis indicated that most GbJAZs expressed highly in the fibrous root and were induced significantly by methyl jasmonate. Mechanistically, yeast two-hybrid assays suggested that GbJAZ3/11 interacted with both GbMYC2 and GbCOI1, and several GbJAZ proteins could form homodimers or heterodimers between the GbJAZ family. Moreover, GbMYC2 is directly bound to the G-box element in the promoter of GbLPS , to regulate the biosynthesis of ginkgolide. Collectively, these results systematically characterized the JAZ gene family in G. biloba and demonstrated that the GbCOI1/GbJAZs/GbMYC2 module could regulate ginkgolides biosynthesis, which provides a novel insight for studying the mechanism of JA regulating ginkgolide biosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hard machining, as one of the sustainable manufacturing technologies, tends to introduce highly coupled thermomechanical loads into the machined surface layer, which causes materials to suffer from severe plastic deformation underneath and, thus, the alteration of the mechanical properties. In this paper, a systemic investigation was performed on the correlation of processing parameters, plastic deformation, and mechanical properties of machined surface layer for hardened H13 steel, where the cutting parameters and tool micro-geometry are varied. The plastic deformation layer was composed of an amorphous structure and plastically deformed grain. Compared to cutting parameters, edge micro-geometry significantly influences the depth of the plastic deformation layer. The automated ball indentation (ABI) technique was utilized to evaluate the mechanical properties of the machined surface layers. Finally, the relationship between processing parameters, depth of plastic deformation, and mechanical properties was revealed. The experimental findings provide a solid foundation for processing parameter selection to improve the functional performance of manufactured components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been shown to improve gut dysbiosis in dogs; however, it has not completely been understood in police dogs. This study aimed to investigate the effects of FMT on performance and gut microflora in Kunming police dogs. Twenty Wolf Cyan dogs were randomly assigned to receive physiological saline or fecal suspension at low, medium, or high doses through oral gavage for 14 days. Growth performance, police performance, serum biochemical profiling, and gut microflora were determined 2-week post-FMT. Dogs after FMT treatment were also subjected to an hour road transportation and then were evaluated for serum stress indicators. Overall, FMT enhanced the growth performance and alleviated diarrhea rate in Kunming dogs with the greatest effects occurring in the low dose FMT (KML) group. The improvement of FMT on police performance was also determined. These above alterations were accompanied by changed serum biochemical parameters as indicated by elevated total protein and albumin and reduced total cholesterol and glycerol. Furthermore, the serum stress indicators after road transportation in dog post-FMT significantly decreased. Increased bacterial diversity and modified bacterial composition were found in the feces of dogs receiving FMT. The fecal samples from FMT dogs were characterized by higher abundances of the genera Lactobacillus, Prevotella, and Fusobacterium and lower concentrations of Cetobacterium, Allobaculum, Bifidobacterium, and Streptococcus. The present study supports a potential benefit of FMT on police performance in Kunming dogs. Key points: • FMT improves the growth performance and reduces diarrhea rates in Kunming police dogs. • FMT alleviates the serum stress profiles after road transportation in Kunming police dogs. • FMT modifies the gut microbiota composition of Kunming police dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impact, tensile, and fatigue tests were performed in In783 alloy serving 4000, 23,000 and 48,000 h. The microstructure was then analysed by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to probe the relationship between microstructure and properties. The results show that a new Ni5Al3 phase is found, which grows gradually in β phase with serving time increasing, destroying the martensitic structure of the β phase, and degenerating the toughness of the β phase (approximately 13.88% reduction). Therefore, the degradation of the β phase results in a sharp dropping of the resistance to stress accelerated grain boundary oxygen (SAGBO) during serving; thus, the intergranular fracture morphology degree increases with duration of service (almost 40% increase from the fractured surface). In addition, the strength of alloy will be gradually enhanced when the γ ′ phase becomes relatively bulky with serving time increasing due to considerable distortion of the dislocations as a result of the spacing of individual particles, in which any movement of the dislocation will have to overcome a larger number of obstacles per unit length. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Preoperative prediction of microvascular invasion (MVI) using a noninvasive method remain unresolved, especially in HBV-related in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). This study aimed to build and validate a preoperative prediction model for MVI in HBV-related ICC. Methods: Patients with HBV-associated ICC undergoing curative surgical resection were identified. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the independent risk factors of MVI in the training cohort. Then, a prediction model was built by enrolling the independent risk factors. The predictive performance was validated by receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC) and calibration in the validation cohort. Results: Consecutive 626 patients were identified and randomly divided into the training (418, 67%) and validation (208, 33%) cohorts. Multivariate analysis showed that TBIL, CA19-9, tumor size, tumor number, and preoperative image lymph node metastasis were independently associated with MVI. Then, a model was built by enrolling former fiver risk factors. In the validation cohort, the performance of this model showed good calibration. The area under the curve was 0.874 (95% CI: 0.765–0.894) and 0.729 (95%CI: 0.706–0.751) in the training and validation cohort, respectively. Decision curve analysis showed an obvious net benefit from the model. Conclusion: Based on clinical data, an easy model was built for the preoperative prediction of MVI, which can assist clinicians in surgical decision-making and adjuvant therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CCK as brain-gut peptide, binds to its receptor (CCKR) and participates in physiological processes such as feeding and digestion in animals. In order to study the function of CCKs and CCKRs in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) in feeding activities, the coding sequences of CCK1, CCK2, CCK1R and CCK2R were cloned in this study. Their lengths were 414, 387, 1368 and 1359 bp, and their encodes were 137, 128, 455 and 452 amino acids, respectively. Fluorescence quantitative results showed that both CCK1 and CCK2 were highly expressed in brain, followed by intestinal, while CCK1R and CCK2R were highly expressed in gallbladder and brain, respectively. Within 24h after ingestion, the relative expressions of CCK1, CCK2, CCK1R and CCK2R increased first and then decreased. The relative expression of CCK1, CCK1R and CCK2R reached the highest value at 3h after ingestion, while the relative expression of CCK2 was at 12h after ingestion. The relative expression reached the highest value (P<0.05). During fasting, the relative expression of CCK1, CCK1R and CCK2R was significantly increased on the 14th day of fasting (P<0.05). The relative expression trends of CCK1, CCK1R and CCK2R after refeeding were similar to those after meals, showing a trend of first increasing and then decreasing. However, there was no significant change in the relative expression of CCK2 during fasting and refeeding. In conclusion, the results of this study indicated that CCK1 can be combined with CCK1R and CCK2R to act as a satiety signal factor to regulate physiological processes such as feeding and digestion of largemouth bass by suppressing appetite; CCK2 may act as a short-term appetite factor to regulate feeding. Activity. The results of this study can provide a theoretical basis for the regulation of feeding activities of largemouth bass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Burnishing is a way to realize surface strengthening by plastic deformation behavior. How to characterize the severe plastic deformation in subsequent burnishing process and how to make the severe plastic deformation more reasonable and effective for the improvement of machined surface integrity have become key problems. This work studied the relationships among plastic deformation behaviors, strain energy, and improved surface integrity ratio in subsequent burnishing with different initial surface conditions. To achieve this purpose, a numerical strain energy model was first established and then utilized to analyze the material flow behaviors and plastic deformation mechanism. The results indicated that the strain energy density decreases first and then increases, while the strain energy and corresponding energy efficiency gradually increases with the increase of turning feed, i.e., surface residue. As a result, the plastic deformation in subsequent burnishing first increases and then decreases with the increase of surface residue and reached the severest when the turning feed is 0.35 mm/r. Even though the turning-induced surface integrity can be further improved by the subsequent burnishing, the improved surface integrity ratio showed a downward trend with the increase of the turning feed, which ever increased the machining efficiency for the process chain. It is expected to improve both the energy efficiency ratio and improved surface integrity ratio, so as to improve the sustainability of the subsequent burnishing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/purpose: Riehl's melanosis is a difficult‐to‐treat condition characterized by persisting dermal hyperpigmentation. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a histology‐specific targeted therapy for Riehl's melanosis. Methods: Skin biopsy samples of Riehl's melanosis were assessed to identify histology‐specific targets for treatment. Subsequently, the efficacy of a combination involving a fractional picosecond laser and a pulsed dye laser (PDL) targeting the dermal melanin and vessels, respectively, was evaluated. Clinical improvement was assessed using the dermal pigmentation area and severity index (DPASI). The treatment outcomes were compared to those of a control, in this case a single laser treatment solely targeting pigmentation. Results: Histological and immunohistochemical analyses identified dermal melanin pigment and dilated vessels as treatment targets for Riehl's melanosis. The combined treatment of the fractional picosecond laser and PDL showed a significant reduction of the DPASI scores, which was significantly better than the control group. Patients who underwent the combined laser treatment indicated high levels of satisfaction with no adverse events except of transient erythema and oedema. Conclusion: The combined treatment of a fractional picosecond laser and a PDL was more effective for Riehl's melanosis compared to single laser treatment. The treatment targets both dermal pigmentation and dilated vessels, offering promising results for those working to manage Riehl's melanosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an emerging grinding equipment, roller presses are widely used in Cement industry. The current problem with roller press is that the rolls surface is prone to wear and needs to be replaced regularly. This greatly reduces the service life of the roller press and affects the development of the roller press. Therefore, how to reduce the wear on the surface of the roller press and increase the service life of the roller press is an urgent problem that needs to be solved for the current roller press. Current research mainly focuses on the mechanism research of roller press wear and the optimization of rolls surface structure. In this paper, the extrusion force between the stud-lining and the material is calculated by analyzing the stress of the studded rolls under actual working conditions and the compression and rebound characteristics of material layer. The failure modes of studded rolls are mainly divided into two parts. On the one hand, it is fatigue cracking of the roller shaft and stud-lining. On the other hand, it is cracking at the contact between the stud-lining and the stud, and the fracture of the stud. Because the failure modes of the studded rolls are divided into two parts, the studded rolls are divided into two parts for simulation by using ANSYS 18.0. Firstly, the static analysis is carried out on the roller shaft and the stud-lining, and the distribution cloud diagram of the stress and contact pressure of the roller shaft and the stud-lining is obtained, and the stress concentration area is optimized. After optimization, the contact pressure between the roller shaft and the stud-lining is reduced by about 50%. The maximum equivalent stress of the roller shaft and stud-lining has also been reduced. Secondly, a static analysis was conducted on the stud-lining and studs. Since the stud-lining of the studded rolls are composed of stud holes arranged in a certain order. Therefore, stress concentration is prone to occur around the stud hole. The simulation experiment was carried out by changing the optimization schemes such as the assembly method of the stud and the stud-lining, the distance between the studs, and the length of the stud. To reduce the stress concentration of stud and stud-lining. After optimizing the model of the stud and stud-lining, the maximum equivalent stress of the stud-lining and stud decreased by about 10% and 25% respectively. Through the optimized design of roller shafts, stud-lining and studs. The service life of the studded rolls can be effectively improved and the production cost can be reduced. This can provide a reference for the design of the studded rolls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification and classification of obstacles in navigable and non-navigable regions, as well as the measurement of distances, are crucial topics of investigation in the field of autonomous navigation for unmanned surface vehicles (USVs). Currently, USVs mostly rely on LiDAR and ultrasound technology for the purpose of detecting impediments that exist on water surfaces. However, it is worth noting that these approaches lack the capability to accurately discern the precise nature or classification of those obstacles. Nevertheless, the limited optical range of unmanned vessels hinders their ability to comprehensively perceive the entirety of the surrounding information. A cooperative USV-UAV system is proposed to ensure the visual perception ability of USVs. The multi-object recognition, semantic segmentation, and obstacle ranging through USV and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) perspectives are selected to validate the performance of a cooperative USV-UAV system. The you only look once-X (YOLOX) model, the proportional–integral–derivative-NET (PIDNet) model, and distance measurements based on a monocular camera are utilized to realize these problems. The results indicate that by integrating the viewpoints of USVs and UAVs, a collaborative USV-UAV system, employing the aforementioned methods, can successfully detect and classify different objects surrounding the USV. Additionally, it can differentiate between navigable and non-navigable regions for unmanned vessels through visual recognition, while accurately determining the distance between the USV and obstacles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crystallization behavior of polyamide 6,6 (PA66) under complex flow field is of great importance for its final mechanical properties. Poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) was applied as crystallization modifying agency to improve processability of PA66. The regulation nature on hydrogen bonds (H-bonds) interaction of PVP was studied upon cooling process. As revealed by in situ FTIR, the sample with 5 wt% PVP displays decreased enthalpy change (ΔH) for both the generation of H-bonds and the transition of H-bonds from "disordered" to "ordered" state, which illustrates the molecular mechanism for the regulation of crystallzation behavior. Moveover, 2D-WAXD is applied to reveal the evolution of microstructure for sample under external injection field. Hermans orientation factor (fH) decreases obviously with the addition of PVP, because the relaxation of chain segments is promoted as well the crystallization is retarded. The above crystallization and microstructure changes during the processing provokes the improvement of processability without the apparent sacrifice of mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to improve the solubility and dissolution rate of finasteride (FIN) by searching for an optimal carrier to prepare the FIN carrier solid dispersions (SDs) and to invent a new solvent evaporation instrument for solid dispersion preparation. Methods: The solubility parameter was first used as a criterion to choose out the optimal carriers for FIN SDs, which has wonderful compatibility between the drug and carrier. Different carriers (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), polyethylene glycol (PEG 4000), and polyethylene oxide N-60 K (PEO)) were selected with different FIN-to-carrier ratios (1:1, 1:2.5, 1:5, 1:7.5, and 1:10, w/w). The FIN SDs were prepared by a new instrument with the cyclone separation principle which is named cyclone-enhanced nitrogen blower. The prepared SDs were then characterized by solubility, DSC, PXRD, FT-IR, dissolution, cumulative dissolution velocity, and stability studies. Results: The results of solubility parameters and kinetic solubility were consistent. All three FIN SDs were successfully synthesized by the new method of nitrogen-blowing solvent evaporation with cyclone enhancement. FT-IR revealed significant intermolecular interactions which are formed by hydrogen bonds between the amide group on ring A of FIN and the hydroxyl group of HPMC. PXRD and DSC analysis indicated that the morphological structure of the FIN was converted into an amorphous or a molecular solution state and lost its original crystallographic structure when FIN was combined with dispersion carriers. The SDs prepared using the new method exhibited good stability, as demonstrated by the stability studies. Furthermore, the FIN-HPMC solid dispersion system in a mass ratio of 1:5 showed the best improvement in solubility and dissolution rate. Conclusions: The solid dispersion system of FIN and HPMC in a mass ratio of 1:5 was the most promising combination to improve dissolution among all tested systems. Moreover, the new instrument of cyclone-enhanced nitrogen blower is an effective and high-throughput way for the preparation of SDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Noodles have been a staple food in Asian countries for more than 4,000 years, and almost 40% of wheat cultivated in Asia is consumed in the form of noodles. Existing standard for inspection and evaluation systems focus on the quality of ingredients, dough, semi-finished and final products of flour products with high moisture content (such as bread). However, Asian noodles are flour products with low moisture content, and no unified method is available for evaluating the quality of noodle-making process. This review summarizes the current process of making Asian noodles and the various methods to evaluate the quality of ingredients, semi-finished, and finished products. The methods for analyzing the quality of special flour, processing of crumbly dough and dough sheets, dried, semi-dried and cooked Asian noodles are also described. Overall, important directions and recommendations for the research and development in terms of efficient processing and quality control of Asian noodles are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epimedii folium (EF) is an effective herbal medicine in osteoporosis treatment, but the clinical utilization of EF has been limited due to potential hepatotoxicity. The previous studies identified that baohuoside I (BI), the main active component of EF, was relevant to EF-induced liver injury. However, the mechanisms of BI causing direct injury to hepatocytes remain unclear. Here, we reveal that BI inhibits FXR-mediated signaling pathway via targeting estrogen receptor α (ER α), leading to the accumulation of bile acids (BAs). Targeted bile acid analyses show BI alters the BA composition and distribution, resulting in impaired BA homeostasis. Mechanistically, BI induces FXR-dependent hepatotoxicity at transcriptional level. Additionally, ER α is predicted to bind to the FXR promoter region based on transcription factor binding sites databases and we further demonstrate that ER α positively regulates FXR promoter activity and affects the expression of target genes involved in BA metabolism. Importantly, we discover that ER α and its mediated FXR transcription regulation might be involved in BI-induced liver injury via ligand-dependent ER α degradation. Collectively, our findings indicate that FXR is a newly discovered target gene of ER α mediated BI-induced liver injury, and suggest BI may be responsible for EF-induced liver injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about the association between surface water quality and cancer incidence, especially in China. Drinking water quality has been linked to the incidence of several cancers in individual-level studies. However, few studies have attempted to examine multiple pollutants and multiple cancers at population level. This study used water monitoring and population-level cancer data from across China to examine spatial associations between water pollutants and types of cancer. We found a "dose–response" relationship between the number of pollutants present at high levels and cancer incidence. These results provide evidence of a nationwide spatial association between water quality and cancer in China. The precise relationship varies with cancers and pollutants. However, the overall consistency of the "dose–response" relationship suggests that surface water quality is an important factor in cancer incidence. Our findings highlight new issues such as the changing effects when different pollutants co-exist and an increasing number of new cancer cases partially attributable to poor water quality. Our work also points to some ways to deal with these challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coated carbide tools are widely used in the processing of nickel-based superalloys due to their excellent wear resistance, high strength, and good hardness at high temperatures. In this paper, the high-speed milling experiments and finite element simulation of Inconel 718 are carried out by using PVD TiAlN-coated carbide tools. Simulations of tool temperature, cutting force, and chip morphology were performed to analyze the effect of cutting speed on the degree of sawtooth chip formation and the effect of sawtooth chip formation on the cutting force and tool wear. The results show that the cutting temperature mainly focuses on the rake face, and with the cutting speed increasing from 60 to 120 m/min, the maximum temperature of the rake face increases from 580 to 660 ℃. The maximum temperature region (MTR) on the rake face gradually approaches the tool nose with a decrease in the cutting speed. The generation of sawtooth chips leads to fluctuations in the cutting force component. As the cutting speed increases, the degree of chip sawing increases. The effect of the sawtooth chip on the fluctuation of the cutting force will also increase, thus increasing the degree of tool wear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chinese Journal of Polymer Science has published a special issue on Functional Polymer Materials, highlighting the significant role of polymer materials in various fields such as industry, medicine, energy, and the environment. The issue features research papers from 12 young scholars covering topics such as thermal conduction, flame retardancy, electromagnetic wave absorption, water harvesting, holographic imaging, and electromagnetic interference shielding. The papers provide scientific analyses and innovative ideas, offering valuable knowledge and inspiration. The journal aims to stimulate further research interest in functional polymer materials and advance the field of polymer science. [Extracted from the article]

Well-defined polypropylene grafted silica nanoparticles (PP-g-SiO2) were prepared through the reaction of maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (PP-g-MAH) with amino-functionalized silica (SiO2-NH2) by the 'grafting-to' method. The grafting density of PP-g-SiO2 is found to be controlled by the concentration of silane coupling agent 3-[2-(2-aminoethylamino) ethyl amino] propyl trimethoxy silane (TAMS). The maximum grafting density of grafted PP-g-MAH chains with molecular weight of 9100 g/mol could reach 0.34 chains/nm2, when the critical concentration of TAMS was 0.0194 mol/L. The critical concentration of TAMS can be explained by the maximum amounts of primary amino groups, which can totally react with PP-g-MAH on the surface of SiO2-NH2, when the silane monolayer is formed. The synthesized PP-g-SiO2 with different molecular weights was mixed with PP by solution mixing to form a series of nanocomposites. The crystallization temperature (Tc) of nanocomposites increased significantly with the particle loading. The PP-g-SiO2 with high molecular weight of grafted chains exhibits a high nucleation ability at 1 wt% nanoparticle loading in PP/PP-g-SiO2 nanocomposites. In summary, we provide an effective method to synthesize the well-defined PP-g-SiO2 with controlled grafting density, which shows excellent nucleation ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ti1-xAlxN coating is formed by replacing some Ti atoms in TiN with Al atoms, and their properties are closely related to Al content (0 < x < 1). Recently, Ti1-xAlxN-coated tools have been widely used in the machining of Ti-6Al-4V alloy. In this paper, the hard-to-machine material Ti-6Al-4V alloy is used as the study material. Ti1-xAlxN-coated tools are used for milling experiments. The evolution of the wear form and the wear mechanism of Ti1-xAlxN-coated tools are studied, and the influence of Al content (x = 0.52, 0.62) and cutting speed on tool wear are analyzed. The results show that the wear on the rake face changes from the initial adhesion and micro-chipping to coating delamination and chipping. Wear on the flank face varies from the initial adhesion and grooves to boundary wear, build-up layer, and ablation. The main wear mechanisms of Ti1-xAlxN-coated tools are dominated by adhesion, diffusion, and oxidation wear. Ti0.48Al0.52N coating protects the tool well and extends its service life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]