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Time-of-use (TOU) tariff has been implemented in the manufacturing industry to improve energy efficiency by regulating the electricity imbalance between supply and demand. Besides, not-all-machine (NAM) option is another way of energy-saving by using only a subset of all the available machines. This study investigates a robust identical parallel machine scheduling problem with a two-stage TOU tariff and NAM option. Only interval bounds on job processing times are known. The problem is first formulated into a min–max regret model to maximise the robustness. Based on problem properties, both an iterative relaxation-based exact algorithm and a memetic differential evolution-based heuristic are developed to solve the problem. Computational experiments on 240 randomly generated instances with up to 20 jobs are conducted to evaluate the performance of the developed methods. Besides, 900 large-sized randomly generated instances with up to 150 jobs are tested for sensitivity analysis and to identify managerial insights for achieving energy-efficient schedules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the acoustic emission (AE) time-varying and frequency spectrum characteristics of coal and rock deformation and failure in deep mines under high temperature and high stress, and then reveal the acoustic precursor characteristics of coal and rock deformation and fracture. In this paper, the time series of AE signals under different thermal-mechanical conditions are tested and analyzed by four experimental unconstrained heating, uniaxial compression, graded loading, and temperature-pressure coupling. It is found that the AE signals increase gradually with the increase of temperature and load. Based on this, the AE frequency domain characteristics of coal rock fracture process under staged loading and thermal-pressure coupling conditions were analyzed. The results showed that the AE signals coexisted in the high and low frequency bands, the amplitude of the high-frequency signals changed slightly, and the low-frequency high-amplitude phenomenon appeared. Finally, the time-frequency acoustic signal characteristics are tested before and after the rock burst in the coal mine site. The laws of space-time evolution of microearthquake energy and frequency before and after rock burst are studied. It is found that the phenomenon of “lack of earthquake” begins to appear three days before the rock burst. The amplitude of the signal increased at the pre-seismic time, and the low-frequency signal developed. Based on this, the precursor characteristics of unstable fracture of impact ground pressure were discussed. The research of this paper will provide theoretical support and practical basis for the monitoring and early warning of coal and rock dynamic disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micromixing in chemical reactors can be characterized through test reactions that are sensitive to mixing. A new pair of parallel competitive reactions, including acid–base neutralization and diethyl oxalate hydrolysis, is proposed in this work. It has clear principles and high sensitivity to micromixing with quantitative accuracy and operational simplicity. The measurement results obtained from stopped‐flow spectra show that the alkaline hydrolysis of diethyl oxalate follows second‐order kinetics, and the rate constant conforms to the Arrhenius equation k2 = 2.331 × 108 exp(−26.92 × 103/RT) (L/mol/s). The estimated half‐life of hydrolysis is approximately 3 × 10−4 s under the selected concentration combinations, which provides significant advantages for the micromixing assessment in the strong turbulent fluid environment. In the same stirred tank, the critical feed time of new test reaction is shorter than that of the Villermaux–Dushman reaction. Overall, this work provides practical ideas for screening other desired esters for fast hydrolysis to construct more test reactions for micromixing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking the Sanya River Mouth Channel project as a case study, this research explores the minimum brine temperature required for the pipe-jacking freezing method during staged freezing. Based on the heat transfer theory of porous media, a three-dimensional model of the actual working conditions was established using COMSOL 6.1 finite element software. By adjusting the brine cooling scheme, the development and distribution patterns of the freezing curtain under different brine temperatures were analyzed. The results indicate that as the staged freezing brine temperature increases, the thickness of the freezing curtain decreases linearly, and the closure of isotherms is inhibited. When the brine temperature is −8 °C, the thickness of the freezing curtain meets the minimum requirement and effectively achieves the freezing effect under both low and high seepage flow conditions. Additionally, seepage significantly affects the formation of the freezing curtain, causing it to shift towards the direction of seepage, with the degree of shift becoming more pronounced as the seepage velocity increases. When the seepage velocity is so high that the thickness of the freezing curtain on one side is less than 2 m, the impact of seepage on the freezing curtain can be reduced by decreasing the hydraulic head difference in the freezing area or by increasing the arrangement of freezing pipes, thereby enhancing the freezing effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The comprehensive reform of agricultural water prices is an important component of China's agricultural water conservation strategy and is highly important for ensuring national water security and sustainable agricultural development. Given the difficulty in raising water prices due to the limited carrying capacity of farmers in the reform, there is a pressing need to consider the implementation of agricultural water price sharing as a potentially viable strategy. Based on the grain production data from 2000 to 2018, the proportion of agricultural water prices borne by farmers and governments in different regions were calculated via the C-D production function method and the "Mitchell scoring + Expert scoring" method in the study. The results revealed that the average sharing coefficient of irrigation benefits for grain crops in China is 0.245. The sharing proportion of agricultural water prices for farmers in seven major geographical regions are ranked as follows: Northwest China (0.467) > Central China (0.427) > Southwest China (0.389) > Northeast China (0.358) > North China (0.319) > East China (0.312) > South China (0.163), while the sharing proportion of the government is 0.533, 0.573, 0.611 0.642, 0.681, 0.688, and 0.837. We proposed a systematic approach that directly ties cost distribution to the benefits received, and determined the proportion of agricultural water prices shared by farmers and governments, which is in line with the farmers' economic interests and psychological demands. Furthermore, suggestions were proposed regarding the implementation of a rational agricultural water price-sharing policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, naturally dispersed ash components in bio-carbon composites were prepared from waste spent mushroom substrate. Two kinds of deashing treatments were used to study the role of soluble and poorly soluble ash in the adsorption of NH4+ and increase specific surface area. The role of ash components on pore structure and the adsorption of ammonia nitrogen were systematically investigated. It is revealed that the relationship of ammonium adsorption capacity of three ACs is MAC > MAC-W > MAC-A at the varied pH conditions. Specifically, the ammonia nitrogen adsorption capacity of MAC increases 108.9% as compared with MAC-A. The bigger pore structure and BET of carbon was obtained after absorption due to naturally dispersed ash components exchanged with NH4+. What is more, Na+, K+, and Ca2+ in the ash have a greater effect on the adsorption of ammonia nitrogen of ACs. The struvite formation will consume the Mg2+ and NH4+ ion, leading to the enhanced adsorption properties via chemical deposition. This work provides a new perspective on dispersed ash components in bio-carbon from the low-valued biomass for the ammonia nitrogen removal and specific surface area augment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Osteosarcoma is a rare and aggressive bone cancer, with targeted therapy using VEGFR-TKIs (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors) emerging as a promising treatment option. Research design and methods: This meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy and safety of VEGFR-TKIs in osteosarcoma treatment, analyzing studies from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases until 18 September 2023, involving 14 trials with 447 patients. Results: Results indicated that monotherapy with VEGFR-TKIs had an objective response rate(ORR) of 16% (95% CI = 9–24%) and a disease control rate(DCR) of 65% (95% CI = 57–73%). The average progression-free survival(PFS) was 4.27 months(95% CI = 3.21–5.34), with overall survival(OS) at 9.26 months(95% CI = 7.75–10.77). Combined treatments led to an ORR of 7% (95% CI = 2–12%) and a DCR of 71% (95% CI = 54–88%), with PFS of 5.62 months(95% CI = 3.57–7.74) and OS of 11.84 months(95% CI = 9.26–14.43). Treatment-related adverse events occurred in 83% (95% CI = 74–92%), with severe events in 32% (95% CI = 3–61%). Conclusions: In conclusion, VEGFR-TKIs demonstrate effectiveness and tolerability in osteosarcoma treatment, providing significant disease control and survival advantages despite notable adverse event risks. Registration: PROSPERO (CRD42024579648) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study builds upon the research progress in the theories of CBM desorption, diffusion, and seepage flow to explore the production mechanisms of deep coalbed methane (CBM) in the Daing-Jixian block, aiming to achieve scientific and reasonable control of gas wells. Theoretical analysis suggests that CBM adsorption belongs to liquid–solid interfacial adsorption, encompassing four stages: liquid phase adsorption—liquid phase desorption—composite desorption—gas phase desorption. Most of the desorbed gas is driven by a pressure differential in a Darcy's flow process. By calculating the Knudsen number (Kn) under various temperature, pressure, and fracture diameter conditions, the flow state can be identified. Whole-diameter CT scanning reveals a multi-scale pore-fracture system ranging from millimeters to micrometers to nanometers. Calculations show that during the gas well drainage and depressurization process, fractures of millimeter scale and larger exhibit Darcy's flow, while micron-scale fractures maintain Darcy's flow status above a reservoir pressure of 5 MPa; other scales primarily exhibit non-Darcy flow without significant macroscopic movement. In summary, starting from the fundamental mechanisms of the original multiscale tri-level pore-permeability system of the coal reservoir, through the post-fracturing transformation forming three diversion zones of high, medium, and low conductive regions, and transitioning from primarily free gas to desorbed gas in three production stages, an ideal comprehensive production model schematic for the study area has been established, providing theoretical support for on-site production management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Immunogenic cell death (ICD) is defined as cell death sufficient to activate an adaptive immune response in an immunocompetent host. Cuproptosis is induced by increased intracellular toxicity due to copper ion accumulation. ICD and cuproptosis have great potential in regulating the growth and proliferation of cancer cells. Methods: We used transcriptome data from TCGA database to identify two subtypes based on consensus clustering and explored the differences between the two groups. We further combined ICD- and cuproptosis-related genes to develop a signature and predict OS, immune status, and treatment responses in HCC patients. An ICGC cohort was used for external validation. Results: Patients in the groups with high expression of ICD- and cuproptosis-related genes had higher levels of immune cell infiltration and a better immunotherapeutic response. Eight related genes (BAX, HSP90AA1, IFNB1, LY96, NT5E, LIPT1, DLAT, and CDKN2A) were screened for the prognostic signature. The survival analysis revealed that patients in the low-risk group were less likely to die at an early stage than were those in the high-risk group. The signature also showed better results in predicting immune cell infiltration and the treatment response. Conclusions: Our study revealed that the prognostic signature constructed by combining ICD- and cuproptosis-related genes performs well in predicting the survival of patients with HCC and is closely associated with immune cell infiltration and immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the accuracy of a digital template on the three-dimensional accuracy of edentulous implantation through a retrospective study to provide more clinical evidence for the use of digital templates in edentulous patient. Materials and methods: This study evaluates the efficacy of a digital surgical template in edentulous jaws, comparing preoperative plans with postoperative outcomes across four metrics: platform, apex, depth, and angular deviations. Utilizing a patient with an edentulous maxilla as a case study, this research employs CBCT for preoperative and postoperative assessments, with deviations analyzed via 3-Shape software. Comparing these deviations with average deviations in lierature. Results: The average platform deviations at positions 12, 14, 16, 22, 24, 26 were 0.98 ± 0.03 mm, 1.43 ± 0.02 mm, 1.27 ± 0.04 mm, 1.35 ± 0.03 mm, 1.34 ± 0.02 mm, and 1.42 ± 0.03 mm, respectively. The average apex deviations were 1.28 ± 0.02 mm, 1.39 ± 0.03 mm, 1.47 ± 0.04 mm, 1.26 ± 0.04 mm, 1.40 ± 0.04 mm, and 1.48 ± 0.03 mm, respectively, the average angular deviations were 3.50°± 0.08°, 2.87°± 0.07°, 3.49°± 0.06°, 3.36°± 0.10°, 3.41°± 0.13°, and 3.69°± 0.11°, and average depth deviations were 0.29 ± 0.03 mm, 0.26 ± 0.05 mm, 0.59 ± 0.05 mm, 0.28 ± 0.04 mm, 0.47 ± 0.02 mm, 0.53 ± 0.03 mm. Compared with a total mean deviation of 1.2 mm (1.04 mm to 1.44 mm) of platform deviation, 1.4 mm (1.28 mm to 1.58 mm) of apex deviation, angular deviation of 3.5°(3.0° to 3.96°) and depth deviation of 0.2 mm (-0.25 mm to 0.57 mm) reported in literature. While all measured deviations fell within clinically acceptable limits, certain parameters exceeded the benchmarks, suggesting areas for improvement in digital surgical planning and execution. Conclusions: This study indicates that while all measured deviations fell within clinically acceptable limits, certain parameters exceeded the benchmarks, suggesting areas for improvement in digital surgical planning and execution. Based on these data, the potential of digital guide plates to fulfill precision requirements in edentulous jaw implantation can be proved, contributing valuable insights into the optimization of implant surgery protocols. Clinical relevance: Now, the digital template is accepted by many doctors. However, clinical research has not thoroughly verified whether the new digital technology is more accurate than traditional technology. So, this study aims to explore the effect of a whole-process digital template on edentulous implantation and provide more clinical evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the number of complex tasks and applications in Internet of Things (IoT) grows rapidly, the limited computing resources of IoT devices inevitably become insufficient to meet the required quality of service (QoS). Unmanned aerial Vehicle (UAV) -based mobile edge computing (MEC) offers a solution to ensure Qos stability and extend network coverage. In this paper, we consider a multi-UAV aided MEC system and propose an improved particle swarm optimization algorithm based on individual differential evolution and random particle generation (DE-PSO) to address the parameter coupling problem of non-convex objective function. Additionally, we propose a Trajectory Task and Power Two Floor Algorithm (TTPTFA) to minimize the energy expenditure (EE) and user latency through joint optimization of the UAV trajectory, the user and server tasks, and the communication resources. The simulation results show that the TTPTFA algorithm significantly reduces user waiting time compare to the computation uploading method (ToDeTaS) based on UAV deployment, with maintaining the same total computing and data transmission energy expenditure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are conflicting proposals about the underlying structure of the theory of mind (ToM) construct. The lack of clarity impedes attempts to understand relationships between ToM and other cognitive abilities. This study investigated the nature of the ToM construct and its relation to cognitive variables by administering a battery of ToM measurements along with measurements of executive function and general vocabulary to 207 (M age = 19.26) adult participants. Associations between ToM tasks were statistically significant after controlling for covariates, but, for the most part, very weak in magnitude. The strongest relationship was between the Strange Stories and Higher-Order False Belief measurements. Previous theoretical analysis proposes those instruments are conceptually linked by a perspective taking requirement that entails representing another's mental state. Results from a factor analysis suggested an underlying ToM structure—a protagonist perspective factor. The Strange Stories, Higher-Order False Belief, and Frith-Happé Animation tasks loaded onto the factor. Its defining feature is the ascription of mental states to predict and explain protagonists' actions that take place within a narrative structure. It is related more strongly to vocabulary than executive function and it provides grounds for future research on the role of narrative processing in ToM reasoning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cucurbitacin B (CuB) is a natural triterpenoid with diverse pharmacological effects including potent anticancer activity. However, its oral bioavailability is hampered by limited metabolism in vivo. We characterized CuB's in vivo metabolism in rats to uncover bioactive metabolites retaining therapeutic potential, using a robust UHPLC-Q-TOF–MS/MS workflow. This workflow combined molecular networking, fragmentation filtering, and mass defect filtering to identify CuB metabolites in rat urine, plasma, and feces following oral administration. Thirteen metabolites were identified and seven were confirmed. Major phase I transformations involved hydrolysis, reduction, epoxidation, and amination. Phase II conjugation included cysteine, glutathione, glucuronide, and gluconic acid conjugates. Notably, one of the main metabolites formed was the cysteine conjugate CuB-Cys. CuB-Cys maintained similar in vitro antiproliferative activity to CuB on HepG2, MCF-7, and PANC-1 cancer cell lines. However, it demonstrated lower cytotoxicity towards non-cancerous L02 cells, highlighting improved therapeutic selectivity. Mechanistically, CuB-Cys induced greater apoptotic signaling in HepG2 cells than CuB via enhanced caspase activation and disrupted BAX-Bcl-2 balance. This represents the first systematic characterization of CuB's in vivo metabolic pathway. The identification and confirmation of CuB-Cys provide insight for drug development efforts aiming to maintain therapeutic efficacy while reducing toxicity, via metabolite-based approaches. Our findings shed light on strategies for improving CuB's clinical potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estrogen is a necessary sex steroid and potent neuroprotective hormone. It plays a multifaceted role beyond the reproductive system, extending its influence to the brain, skeletal muscle, and other organs. Estrogen's role in cognition, mood, autonomic regulation, and neuroprotection involves interactions with neurotransmitters, neuromodulators in a distributed manner. Notably, the impact of estrogen on mitochondrial metabolism in skeletal muscle is particularly significant due to a unique modulated bioenergetic profiles, synaptic plasticity, and neuronal health. The deficiency of estrogen in menopause has been linked to changes in brain structure, connectivity, energy metabolism. Therewith, these are crucial factors in cognitive function and the risk of Alzheimer's diseases. Besides, it leads to endocrine and metabolic dysfunction, resulting in osteoporosis, metabolic syndrome, and a tendency toward decreased muscle mass and strength. Estrogen's influence on mitochondrial function is particularly relevant to aging, as it affects the production of ATP and the overall metabolic health of the brain. Estrogen decline in women skeletal muscle mass is usually related to sarcopenia, a prevalent disease observed in vulnerable elderly individuals. Therefore, estrogen is considered to play a crucial role in skeletal muscle homeostasis and motor ability, although the exact mechanism remains unclear. This paper reviews the literature on the impact of estrogen on postmenopausal skeletal muscle diseases and the underlying molecular mechanisms, especially in terms of mitochondrial metabolism. In summary, estrogen plays an important role in the health of skeletal muscle in postmenopausal women, and its impact on mitochondrial function and homeostasis offers potential targets for the development of new strategies to treat sarcopenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the article was to assess the effect of dietary probiotic addition on cattle growth performance and serum indexes by Meta-analysis. Retrieve articles related to the impact of probiotics on cattle growth performance collected from PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI, Vipp database, and Wanfang databases from January 2007 to March 2024. According to the requirements of this study, 15 randomized controlled trial articles were selected, including five in English and 10 in Chinese. EndNote X9 software and RevMan 5.3 software were used to manage literature, and meta-analysis was performed on the extracted data. The main focus was on analyzing the effects of probiotics on various growth and serum indexes in cattle, and subgroup analysis was conducted on the effects of single probiotics and composite probiotics on cattle growth performance. The results showed that adding probiotics in daily feeding had a certain impact on the growth performance of cattle, significantly improving their average daily weight gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and had no significant effect on feed to weight ratio (F/G). The concentrations of total protein (TP), albumin (ALB) and blood glucose (GLU) were increased, but the concentrations of globulin (GLB) and urea nitrogen (BUN) were not significantly affected. The study indicates that the addition of probiotics in daily feeding can enhance the growth performance of cattle and improve serum indexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use is a common problem among older patients. This study aimed to compare the prevalence of PIMs in older patients with newly diagnosed non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and to identify the correlates of PIMs. Research design and methods: A secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study was conducted. Patients were enrolled from January 2014 to December 2020 and information were extracted from patients' electronic medical records (EMRs). We evaluated the PIMs using four different PIM criteria. The concordance among the four PIM criteria was calculated using kappa tests. The possible risk factors associated with PIMs were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of at least one PIM identified by the four criteria ranged from 25.1% to 48.2% among 514 patients. There was moderate consistency between the GO-PIM scale and the AGS/Beers criteria, while poor consistency with the other criteria (the STOPP criteria and the Chinese criteria). Polypharmacy was found to be significantly associated with the occurrence of PIMs in all criteria (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our results showed a high prevalence of PIMs in older patients with NSCLC, which was significantly associated with polypharmacy, and the consistency across the four criteria was poor-to-moderate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depression is associated with alterations in prosody when speaking (e.g., less variation in pitch, slowed speech rate), but less is known about its impact on emotional prosody. This is particularly important to investigate in parent–child contexts, as parental expression of emotion may contribute to the intergenerational transmission of depression risk. The current study asked mothers of preschool-aged children (with and without a history of major depressive disorder during their child's lifetime) to produce child-relevant sentences in neutral, angry, and happy tones of voice. We examined whether groups' portrayals were acoustically or perceptually different, in speech analyses and listener ratings. Mothers with a history of depression expressed happiness with less range in pitch and a slower speech rate (slower, more monotonous voice) than mothers with no history of depression. Across groups, happy exemplars with less range in pitch were rated as less emotionally intense, recognizable, and authentically happy by listeners; slower speech rate was associated with opposite perceptual ratings. However, listeners' ratings did not differ by depression group as a whole. Results suggest that a history of depression may influence maternal vocal expression of happiness, but that its impact on listeners' perceptions may depend on mothers' idiosyncratic use of acoustic cues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Social–Environmental System (SES) framework is crucial in understanding the intricate interplay between human societies and their environmental contexts. Despite its significance, existing SES delineation methods often rely on subjective judgment and struggle with the non-linear, multi-scale nature of SES data, leading to challenges in effective resource management and policymaking. This research addresses these gaps by proposing a novel, reproducible framework for SES boundary delineation that integrates both vector and raster data, utilizing advanced spatial optimization techniques and dimension reduction algorithms like UMAP to manage the non-linear characteristics of SES. The framework also leverages the SKATER algorithm for precise regionalization, ensuring spatial continuity and compactness while allowing user control over region selection and data dimensions. Applied to the Rio Grande/Bravo Basin, this approach demonstrates the practical utility and computational efficiency of the proposed method, offering a scalable solution adaptable to various regions. While focusing on this transboundary area, the study underscores how its framework can be generalized globally for addressing socio-environmental challenges while maintaining flexibility to accommodate local and regional specificities. The framework's reliance on open-source tools further enhances its accessibility and reproducibility, making it a valuable contribution to SES research and practical environmental management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: We aim to investigate the causal effect of blood lipids mediating sodium‐glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibition in cardiovascular disease (CVD) using Mendelian randomization (MR). Methods and results: A two‐sample two‐step MR study was conducted to evaluate the association of SGLT2 inhibition with CVDs and the mediation effects of blood lipids linking SGLT2 inhibition with CVDs. Genetic instruments for SGLT2 inhibition were identified as genetic variants, which were associated with the expression of the SLC5A2 gene and glycated haemoglobin level (HbA1c). SGLT2 inhibition was associated with reduced risk of heart failure (HF) (OR 0.44 [95% CI 0.32–0.61]; P = 6.0 × 10−7), atrial fibrillation (AF) (0.47 [0.37–0.61]; P = 1.81 × 10−8), coronary artery disease (CAD) (0.47 [0.30–0.73]; P = 7.46 × 10−4), myocardial infarction (MI) (0.30 [0.15–0.61]; P = 7.44 × 10−4), any stroke (AS) (0.28 [0.18–0.42]; P = 1.14 × 10−9), and ischaemic stroke (IS) (0.27 [0.17–0.44]; P = 1.97 × 10−7). Our results indicated that the proportion mediated of the mediating effect of total cholesterol was 1.7% (OR 0.99 [95% CI 0.98, 0.99], P = 0.004), 4.7% (0.96 [0.95, 0.98], P = 0.002), and 2.7% (0.97 [0.95, 0.98], P = 0.002) in the association between SGLT2 inhibition and the risk of HF, CAD, and MI, respectively. For low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, the proportion mediated of the mediating effect was 2.2% for HF (OR 0.98 [95% CI 0.98, 0.99], P = 0.003), 8.6% for CAD (0.93 [0.91, 0.95], P = 5.74 × 10−4), and 5.0% for MI (0.95 [0.94, 0.96], P = 6.97 × 10−4). For non‐high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, the proportion mediated of the mediating effect was 3.4% for HF (OR 0.98 [95% CI 0.97, 0.98], P = 4.42 × 10−6), 11.8% for CAD (0.92 [0.90, 0.93], P = 7.23 × 10−8), 5.7% for MI (0.94 [0.92, 0.95], P = 8.17 × 10−7), 1.5% for AS (0.98 [0.98, 0.99], P = 0.001), and 1.4% for IS (0.98 [0.98, 0.99], P = 0.004). Conclusions: Our study showed the association of SGLT2 inhibition with the reduced risk of CVDs and blood lipids might mediate this association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BoORP3a, an oxysterol-binding protein, located in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), may function in cuticular wax deposition in ornamental kale. In this study, we investigated its regulation of the key components of cuticular wax and lipids, metabolic pathways, and potential target genes. HS–SPME/GC–MS identified 34 and 31 volatile organic compounds in wild-type and the BoORP3a-overexpressing plant OE-ORP3a-7, respectively, primarily including alkane, ketone, ester, and alcohol. Hentriacontane, 15-nonacosanone, and > C20 alkanes were more abundant in OE-ORP3a-7, which may result in more cuticular wax in this plant. RNA sequencing identified 223 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between wild-type and OE-ORP3a-7, comprising 119 upregulated and 104 downregulated DEGs. The KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that the downregulated DEGs in OE-ORP3a-7 were involved in glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, SNARE (Soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor) interactions in vesicular transport, fatty acid biosynthesis, and glycerolipid metabolism; the upregulated DEGs were involved in steroid biosynthesis, fatty acid degradation, alpha-linolenic acid metabolism, and sphingolipid metabolism. Bo1g106990, Bo1g123670, and Bo9g166090 were identified as key DEGs in lipid-related pathways. We speculate that BoORP3a regulates several lipid metabolisms and may coordinate lipid turnover and remodeling. The results of this study will enrich the functionality of the ORPs family, provide new insights into plant wax research, and have significant implications for ornamental kale breeding.Key message: Integrating metabolite and transcriptomic identified differentially volatile organic compounds and expressed lipid-related genes between the wild-type and the BoORP3a-overexpression plant, revealing the lipid and cuticular wax component variation regulated by the BoORP3a. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate detection and analysis of bubble size and shape in bubbly flow are critical to understanding mass and heat transfer processes. Convolutional neural networks have limitations in different bubble images due to their dependence on large amounts of labeled data. A new foundational Segment Anything Model (SAM) recently attracts lots of attention for its zero‐shot segmentation performance. Herein, we developed a novel image processing method named bubSAM, which achieves efficient and accurate bubble segmentation and shape reconstruction based on SAM. The segmentation performance of bubSAM is 30% higher than that of SAM, and its accuracy reaches 90% under different bubbly flow conditions. The accuracy of bubble shape reconstruction (BSR) algorithm in bubSAM is about 30% higher than that of typical ellipse fitting method, thus better restoring the geometric shape of bubbles. BubSAM can provide great support for understanding gas–liquid multiphase flow and design of industrial multiphase reactors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Pleurotus ostreatus spent mushroom substrate has high production but low utilization, and it is rarely fed to ruminants. This study evaluated the effects of the substrate on feed utilization and liver serum indices from the perspective of duodenal microorganisms. The results showed that the substrate had a complex effect on apparent digestibility, with the highest digestibility observed at the 10% replacement level. The addition of the substrate also influenced serum alanine aminotransferase levels. Although it did not affect the richness and diversity of duodenal microorganisms, the substrate was susceptible to contamination by Trichoderma, which could alter the intestinal microbiota structure. In conclusion, Pleurotus ostreatus spent mushroom substrate can be used in ruminant feeding, but its proportion should be controlled, with the optimal replacement level identified as 10% in this study. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Pleurotus ostreatus spent mushroom substrate (P.SMS), which is characterized by high production but low utilization, on feed utilization and liver serum indices from the perspective of duodenal microorganisms. Forty-five 3-month-old Hu sheep were randomly assigned to five groups and fed diets in which whole-plant corn silage (WPCS) was substituted with P.SMS at levels of 0% (Con), 5% (PSMS5), 10% (PSMS10), 15% (PSMS15), or 20% (PSMS20). The results indicated that the addition of P.SMS complexly influenced the apparent digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, and crude protein, with PSMS10 showing the highest digestibility of these nutrients. P.SMS inclusion significantly affected serum alanine aminotransferase levels, with PSMS5 showing higher levels than both the Con and PSMS20 groups (p < 0.05). Importantly, the inclusion of P.SMS did not affect the richness and diversity of duodenal microorganisms. Significant differences in the phyla Verrucomicrobiota and Spirochaetota were observed between the Con and PSMS20 groups. The observed trend towards an increase in the genus Trichoderma (p = 0.057) suggests that P.SMS is susceptible to contamination by this genus, which in turn affects the structure of the intestinal flora. Furthermore, functional gene predictions indicated differences in amino acid metabolism among the groups (p < 0.05). In conclusion, feeding with 10% P.SMS resulted in the highest digestibility without adversely affecting the structure of the duodenal community or liver function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the ruminal degradation and intestinal digestion of nutrients of two cultivars of oat grains (CDC Nasser and CDC Seabiscuit) in comparison with a barley grain (CDC Meredith that was considered the control treatment) in dairy cows. Nasser showed higher rumen undegradable protein (RUP; P < 0.01) and intestinal digestible protein (P < 0.01) than Seabiscuit or control. However, the total digestible protein was not different among grain varieties (P = 0.25). The in vitro intestinal digestibility of RUP (dIBP) for Nasser was higher than control (P = 0.02); however, the dIBP in Seabiscuit did not differ from other cultivars. The intestinal digestible rumen bypass starch and total digestible starch were lower in the oat grain varieties than in the control (P < 0.01). The truly absorbed protein supplied to the small intestine (DVE) was highest for control, intermediate for Seabiscuit, and lowest for Nasser (P < 0.01). Moreover, control showed a higher estimated feed milk value than oat varieties (P < 0.01). In conclusion, Seabiscuit shared similar rumen degradation and intestinal digestibility with control suggesting that Seabiscuit oat grain could in some extension replace barley grain in diets for dairy cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Though obstruction-free progress property is weaker than other non-blocking properties including lock-freedom and wait-freedom, it has advantages that have led to the use of obstruction-free implementations for software transactional memory (STM) and in anonymous and fault-tolerant distributed computing. However, existing work can only verify obstruction-freedom of specific data structures (e.g., STM and list-based algorithms). In this paper, to fill this gap, we propose a program logic that can formally verify obstruction-freedom of practical implementations, as well as verify linearizability, a safety property, at the same time. We also propose informal principles to extend a logic for verifying linearizability to verifying obstruction-freedom. With this approach, the existing proof for linearizability can be reused directly to construct the proof for both linearizability and obstruction-freedom. Finally, we have successfully applied our logic to verifying a practical obstruction-free double-ended queue implementation in the first classic paper that has proposed the definition of obstruction-freedom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammation plays an integral role in the formation, growth, and progression to rupture of unruptured intracranial aneurysms. Aneurysm wall enhancement (AWE) in high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI) has emerged as a surrogate biomarker of vessel wall inflammation and unruptured intracranial aneurysm instability. We investigated the correlation between anti-inflammatory drug use and three-dimensional AWE of fusiform intracranial aneurysms (FIAs). We retrospectively analyzed consecutive patients with FIAs in our database who underwent 3T HR-MRI at three Chinese centers. FIAs were classified as fusiform-type, dolichoectatic-type, or transitional-type. AWE was objectively defined using the aneurysm-to-pituitary stalk contrast ratio in three-dimensional space by determining the contrast ratio of the average signal intensity in the aneurysmal wall and pituitary stalk on post-contrast T1-weighted images. Data on aneurysm size, morphology, and location, as well as patient demographics and comorbidities, were collected. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine factors independently associated with AWE of FIAs on HR-MRI. In total, 127 FIAs were included. In multivariate analysis, statin use (β = -0.236, P = 0.007) was the only independent factor significantly associated with decreased AWE. In the analysis of three FIA subtypes, the fusiform and transitional types were significantly associated with statin use (rs = -0.230, P = 0.035; and rs = -0.551, P = 0.010; respectively). It establishes an incidental correlation between the use of statins daily for ≥ 6 months and decreased AWE of FIAs. The findings also indicate that the pathophysiology may differ among the three FIA subtypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An electrochemical–thermal tandem reaction system was designed in this work and enabled the highly efficient synthesis of propylene oxide (PO) at 1 atm without the use of H2O2. The electrochemical part produced OOH− through a 2e− oxygen reduction reaction, which migrated and distributed in the full space of a chamber filled with a mixture of solid electrolyte particles and modified TS-1 (m-TS-1) catalysts. Mediated by the relay of OOH− and protic solvent methanol, full space tandem reactions were achieved with a high PO selectivity of 95.2% and a productivity of 319.75 mmol gecat−1 h−1. A mechanistic study revealed that the m-TS-1 catalysts accepted the migrated OOH− and formed a Ti-OOH intermediate, which played a key role in relaying the tandem reactions for an efficient propylene epoxidation reaction. Techno-economic analysis and life-cycle assessment revealed favorable figures for the proposed process compared to the conventional process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As a feed additive, medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs)/medium-chain fatty acid triglycerides (MCTs) have been used in ruminant production, but mostly added in the form of mixed esters. Studies have shown that MCTs may have a positive effect on feed intake or oxidative stress in animals, but it is unclear which MCT could play a role, and the mechanism has not been elucidated. In this study, the effects of individual MCT on growth performance, serum intake-related hormones, and oxidative stress indices in finishing bulls were investigated and further studied the effects of MCT supplementation on gastrointestinal tract bacteria and rumen fluid metabolomics. Results: Four ruminally fistulated Yanbian cattle (bulls) were selected in 4 × 4 Latin square designs and allocated to four treatment groups: a control group (CON) fed a basal diet (total mixed ration, TMR), three groups fed a basal diet supplemented with 60 g/bull/day glycerol monocaprylin (GMC, C8), glycerol monodecanoate (GMD, C10), and glycerol monolaurate (GML, C12), respectively. Compared with the CON group, GMD tended to increase the dry matter intake (DMI) of finishing bulls (P = 0.069). Compared with the CON group, GMD significantly increased the concentration of ghrelin O-acyl transferase (GOAT), total ghrelin (TG), acylated ghrelin (AG), and orexins (P < 0.05) and significantly decreased the concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), malondialdehyde, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in the serum of finishing bulls (P < 0.05). Compared with the CON group, GMD and GML significantly increased the concentrations of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), glutathione reductase (GR), and nitric oxide (NO) in the serum of finishing bulls (P < 0.05). Compared with the CON group, there were 5, 14, and 6 significantly different bacteria in the rumen digesta in the C8, C10, and C12 groups, respectively; there were 3, 10, and 5 significantly different bacteria in the rumen fluid in the C8, C10, and C12 groups, respectively; and only one differential bacteria (genus level) in the feces among the four treatment groups. Compared with the CON group, there were 3, 14, and 15 significantly differential metabolites identified under positive ionization mode in the C8, C10, and C12 groups, respectively, while under negative ionization mode were 3, 11 and 14, respectively. Correlation analysis showed that there was a significant correlation between DMI, GOAT, AG, GSH-PX, LPS, gastrointestinal tract bacteria, and rumen fluid metabolites. Conclusions: Our findings revealed that different types of MCTs have different application effects in ruminants. Among them, GMD may improve the feed intake of finishing bulls by stimulating the secretion of AG. GMD and GML may change gastrointestinal tract microorganisms and produce specific rumen metabolites to improve the oxidative stress of finishing bulls, and ghrelin may also be involved. This study enlightens the potential mechanisms by which MCT improves feed intake and oxidative stress in finishing bulls. 5d9kULzJFQsQ3ajLfa--XD Video Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanical control is fundamental for cellular localization within a tissue, including for tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). While the innate immune sensing pathways cGAS-STING and RLR-MAVS impact the pathogenesis and therapeutics of malignant diseases, their effects on cell residency and motility remain incompletely understood. Here, we uncovered that TBK1 kinase, activated by cGAS-STING or RLR-MAVS signaling in macrophages, directly phosphorylates and mobilizes Zyxin, a key regulator of actin dynamics. Under pathological conditions and in STING or MAVS signalosomes, TBK1-mediated Zyxin phosphorylation at S143 facilitates rapid recruitment of phospho-Zyxin to focal adhesions, leading to subsequent F-actin reorganization and reduced macrophage migration. Intratumoral STING-TBK1-Zyxin signaling was evident in TAMs and critical in antitumor immunity. Furthermore, myeloid-specific or global disruption of this signaling decreased the population of CD11b+ F4/80+ TAMs and promoted PD-1-mediated antitumor immunotherapy. Thus, our findings identify a new biological function of innate immune sensing pathways by regulating macrophage tissue localization, thus providing insights into context-dependent mitigation of antitumor immunity. Synopsis: Although the role of innate immune sensing pathways is well-studied in the pathogenesis of malignancies, whether they influence immune cell migration is not known. This study shows that innate immune signaling via cGAS-STING or RLR-MAVS regulates tumor-associated macrophage tissue residency through activation of the TBK1-Zyxin axis. STING signalosomes recruit and directly phosphorylate Zyxin, thus promoting its localization to focal adhesions. TBK1-Zyxin-mediated chemo-mechanical signaling enhances macrophage adhesion in response to cGAS-STING or RLR-MAVS signaling. STING-TBK1-Zyxin signaling activation in mouse intratumoral tumor-associated macrophages detains TAMs in the tumor and reduces antitumor immunity responses. Myeloid-specific or global inhibition of cGAS-STING-TBK1-Zyxin signaling facilitates antitumor immunotherapy. Innate immune sensing pathways activate the TBK1 kinase for phosphorylation of the actin dynamics regulator Zyxin to trap macrophages in the tumor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we consider a poverty alleviation (PA) agricultural product supply chain with an e-commerce platform, a farmer in poor areas, and a farmer in other general areas, where the platform with corporate social responsibility and consumers both have supporting preferences for poor areas. We investigate the optimal strategies by further considering logistics cost difference between the poor areas and other areas. The results indicate that the platform and consumers' supporting preferences are both beneficial to improve the poor farmer's profit, while they may decrease the sales quantity and the price of general agricultural products. In addition, the high logistics cost of poor areas has negative impacts on the sales of PA agricultural products and the poor farmer's profit. By virtue of some numerical analysis, we further discover that the platform's profit improves with its supporting preference only when consumers' supporting preference is relatively large, or when the platform and consumers' supporting preferences are both relatively small. In addition, the consumer surplus always improves with supporting preference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the article was to assess the effect of dietary probiotic addition on cattle growth performance and serum indexes by Meta-analysis. Retrieve articles related to the impact of probiotics on cattle growth performance collected from PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI, Vipp database, and Wanfang databases from January 2007 to March 2024. According to the requirements of this study, 15 randomized controlled trial articles were selected, including five in English and 10 in Chinese. EndNote X9 software and RevMan 5.3 software were used to manage literature, and meta-analysis was performed on the extracted data. The main focus was on analyzing the effects of probiotics on various growth and serum indexes in cattle, and subgroup analysis was conducted on the effects of single probiotics and composite probiotics on cattle growth performance. The results showed that adding probiotics in daily feeding had a certain impact on the growth performance of cattle, significantly improving their average daily weight gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and had no significant effect on feed to weight ratio (F/G). The concentrations of total protein (TP), albumin (ALB) and blood glucose (GLU) were increased, but the concentrations of globulin (GLB) and urea nitrogen (BUN) were not significantly affected. The study indicates that the addition of probiotics in daily feeding can enhance the growth performance of cattle and improve serum indexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cognitive impairments, which can be caused by neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular disease, represent a growing global health crisis with far‐reaching implications for individuals, families, healthcare systems, and economies worldwide. Notably, neurodegenerative‐induced cognitive impairment often presents a different pattern and severity compared to cerebrovascular‐induced cognitive impairment. With the development of computational technology, machine learning techniques have developed rapidly, which offers a powerful tool in radiomic analysis, allowing a more comprehensive model that can handle high‐dimensional, multivariate data compared to the traditional approach. Such models allow the prediction of the disease development, as well as accurately classify disease from overlapping symptoms, therefore facilitating clinical decision making. This review will focus on the application of machine learning‐based radiomics on cognitive impairment caused by neurogenerative and cerebrovascular disease. Within the neurodegenerative category, this review primarily focuses on Alzheimer's disease, while also covering other conditions such as Parkinson's disease, Lewy body dementia, and Huntington's disease. In the cerebrovascular category, we concentrate on poststroke cognitive impairment, including ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, with additional attention given to small vessel disease and moyamoya disease. We also review the specific challenges and limitations when applying machine learning radiomics, and provide our suggestion to overcome those limitations towards the end, and discuss what could be done for future clinical use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: POCD is a common complication among patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), it is linked to loss of independence and reduced quality of life. Aim: To examine the association between postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD), postoperative delirium (POD) and interleukin‐6 (IL‐6). Design: A prospective cohort study. Methods: Patients who underwent elective isolated CABG were enrolled. POCD was assessed by a set of cognitive function tools. Delirium was assessed using the CAM‐ICU. The logistic regression analyses were used to identify the predictive value of POD or IL‐6 on POCD. The path analysis was used to analyse the relationship among POD, IL‐6 and POCD. Results: A total of 212 patients were enrolled, with 25.0% of patients developing POD and 32.5% developing POCD. The multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that patients with POD had a four‐fold increased hazard of POCD (OR = 3.655), and patients with IL‐6 ≥ 830.50 pg/mL at the 6th hours after surgery had a 5‐fold increased risk of experiencing POCD (OR = 5.042). However, the mediation effect of POD between IL‐6 and POCD was not statistically significant (β = 0.059, p =.392). Conclusions: POD and IL‐6 at the 6th hour after surgery (≥830.50 pg/mL) are two potent predictors for POCD, while POD did not play a mediation effect between IL‐6 and POCD. Relevance to Clinical Practice: Early identification of risk factors (e.g., delirium assessment and testing for serum IL‐6 levels) by clinical nurses for POCD may contribute to the clinical practice for the targeted prevention nursing strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uniform support from the surrounding soil is important for maintaining the stable operation of buried pipelines. For segmented prestressed concrete cylinder pipe (PCCP), localized soil voids around the joint due to leakage or engineering activities make the pipe unsupported partially and threaten its integrity and strength. In this paper, the impact of a localized soil void on a pipe joint is qualitatively assessed using a beam-on-elastic-spring approximation model. It further provides quantitative analysis through a nonlinear finite element (FE) model of PCCPs and the surrounding soil. The derived algebraic solutions indicate that a unilateral local void induces shear force and rotation at the joint, whereas shear force becomes negligible when the void spans the joint, leading to increased rotation. Moreover, the rotation angle shows a positive correlation with soil load and a negative correlation with pipe diameter. Numerical analysis reveals that void elongation along the pipe length has a more pronounced effect on structural response than void depth and angle. When the void length reaches 2.5 m, the maximum principal stress on the mortar layer of the PCCP increases approximately eight-fold compared to the scenario without voids. Due to the rigidity and safety factor of the PCCP, small voids in the bedding typically do not cause immediate pipe damage or joint leakage; however, they can significantly alter the stress distribution within both the pipe and surrounding soil. As the void develops, the soil may collapse and compromise support, leading to additional secondary disaster risks and potential threats to pipeline safety. This research emphasizes the importance of effective pipe-soil interactions and provides theoretical insights for developing repair strategies for PCCP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Women undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) often utilize acupuncture to enhance pregnancy outcomes. Yet, the optimal timing for acupuncture sessions and the relationship between dosage and effect remain uncertain. Objectives: To investigate the impact of the timing and dosage of acupuncture on pregnancy outcomes, drawing on existing research. Methods: A comprehensive search of eight databases was conducted from their inception to January 14th, 2023, without restrictions on language. Only randomized controlled trials comparing acupuncture with either sham acupuncture or no adjuvant treatment were selected for inclusion. This meta-analysis assessed the efficacy of acupuncture in IVF-ET, analyzing the influence of varied timing and dosage on pregnancy outcomes. Subgroup analyses were undertaken to address any heterogeneity across the studies. Results: A total of 38 RCTs involving 5,991 participants were analyzed. In infertile women undergoing IVF fresh cycles, acupuncture performed during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) significantly increased the clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) (relative risk [RR] = 1.33, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07–1.65, p = 0.01), whereas acupuncture administered either before COH or on the day of ET did not demonstrate reproductive benefits. Regarding frozen cycles, acupuncture before freeze-thaw embryo transfer (FET) significantly enhanced the CPR (RR = 1.71, 95% CI: 1.36–2.16, p < 0.00001) and live birth rate (LBR) (RR = 2.40, 95% CI: 1.20–4.79, p = 0.01). Improvements in CPR were observed across all dosage groups, but only the high-dosage group showed a significant increase in LBR (RR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.05–2.92, p = 0.03). Conclusions: Timing and dosage of acupuncture are crucial factors affecting pregnancy outcomes in IVF-ET. For women undergoing IVF fresh cycles, acupuncture during COH yielded more significant reproductive benefits. In addition, acupuncture before freeze–thaw embryo transfer (FET) was associated with improved pregnancy outcomes in frozen cycles. Furthermore, higher dosages of acupuncture were linked to more favorable outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, it is demonstrated that the AlGaN high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) based on silicon wafer exhibits excellent high-temperature performance. First, the output characteristics show that the ratio of on-resistance (RON) only reaches 1.55 when the working temperature increases from 25 °C to 150 °C. This increase in RON is caused by a reduction in optical phonon scattering-limited mobility (μOP) in the AlGaN material. Moreover, the device also displays great high-performance stability in that the variation of the threshold voltage (ΔVTH) is only 0.1 V, and the off-state leakage current (ID,off-state) is simply increased from 2.87 × 10−5 to 1.85 × 10−4 mA/mm, under the operating temperature variation from 25 °C to 200 °C. It is found that the two trap states are induced at high temperatures, and the trap state densities (DT) of 4.09 × 1012~5.95 × 1012 and 7.58 × 1012~1.53 × 1013 cm−2 eV−1 are located at ET in a range of 0.46~0.48 eV and 0.57~0.61 eV, respectively, which lead to the slight performance degeneration of AlGaN HEMT. Therefore, this work provides experimental and theoretical evidence of AlGaN HEMT for high-temperature applications, pushing the development of ultra-wide gap semiconductors greatly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Correlation between echocardiographic and pathoanatomic variables and their prognostic value in murine cardiomyopathy models remain unknown. Using echocardiography, morphometrics, and survival monitoring, we characterized transgenic (TG) mice with dilated cardiomyopathy due to cardiac overexpression of β2‐adrenoceptors focusing on predicting heart failure (HF) risk and HF mortality. In 12‐month‐old non‐TG and TG mice, echocardiography was performed to determine left ventricular (LV) dimensions (d), wall thickness (h), and fractional shortening (FS). Animals were monitored for 3 months for survival. Organ weights and pathological events indicating left HF were determined. TG mice (n = 76) had reduced FS and enlarged LV, and 79% died of HF or likely arrhythmias during the follow‐up period while all non‐TG mice (n = 26) survived. These mice with left HF also had pulmonary congestion and hypertrophy/dilatation of the right ventricle (RV). Weights of lungs, RV, and atria were intercorrelated (r = 0.79–0.83) and also negatively correlated with FS × (h/d) index (r = −0.502 to −0.609). By FS × (h/d) tertiles, TG mice of low tertiles were identified with the highest mortality (96%) largely due to HF (76%). In conclusion, in aged cardiomyopathy mice a good correlation existed between echocardiographic and pathoanatomic variables. Echocardiography‐derived LV function and remodeling were useful in identifying a subgroup of TG mice with a high risk of HF and HF fatality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inhomogeneous dispersion caused by carbon nanotube (CNT) agglomeration in composites still needs to be explored, though mechanical properties of the polymer materials can be improved significantly if CNTs were added as a reinforcement. In this work, to explore an effective way to solve the agglomeration problem of CNTs within polycaprolactam (Nylon66), a functionalization strategy to enhance the intermolecular interaction between the caprolactam (CPL) unit molecule and (7,3) single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) was investigated theoretically at the molecular level. Molecular moving behavior and intermolecular interaction energy indicate that the surface functionalization, especially with the –NH2 group, is an effective way to strengthen the interaction between CPL and (7,3) SWCNTs, which highlights the key role of controlled surface functionalization of CNTs in improving its dispersion degree in polycaprolactam. This can be explained by a small interfacial charge-transfer amount, which occurs from the occupied valence band maximum of (7,3) SWCNTs to the occupied highest occupied molecular orbital of the CPL molecule. In this case, the dipole moment of involved molecules plays an important role in the interfacial interaction strength and then increased intermolecular interaction between CPL and functionalized (7,3) SWCNTs, especially incorporating the –NH2 group with larger dipole moment, can be understood. Our results for the functionalization effects on the physical adsorption behavior of organic molecules around (7,3) SWCNTs can provide more useful information for further design and optimization of a SWCNT-based reinforcement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fire safety has always been an important research topic in safety science. MXene nanosheets are considered one of the most promising flame retardants due to their unique physical structure and chemical properties. Chemical modification or synergistic use with other flame retardants can enhance their flame retardancy. Currently, there are various methods for preparing MXene nanosheets with advantages and disadvantages. This paper summarizes the research progress of MXene nanosheets in polyurethane, polylactic acid, polyimide, epoxy resin, cotton fabric, and wood, based on the fire-retardant mechanism. With the increasing demand for engineering applications, the multifunctionalization of MXene nanosheet-based composites will become a crucial development direction. These materials will play a significant role in safety protection across various fields, such as fire-retardant, thermal protection, electromagnetic shielding, and corrosion protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wire breakage in prestressed cylinder concrete pipes (PCCPs) due to various factors, such as corrosion, hydrogen embrittlement, material defects and overload, may lead to structural failure. Real-time detection of acoustic waves generated by wire breakage is possible using fiber optic sensors. Accurate determination of the first arrival time (FAT) of acoustic wave is vital for localizing wire breakages. A novel method based on the Bayesian optimal detector is proposed to automatically identify the FAT of near-wall acoustic wave. The FATs are subsequently fed into a localization model of wire breakage. The localization results are compared for the FAT of the proposed method and human subjective picking via model tests. The results show that compared with human subjective picking, the wire breakage localization of the proposed method can ensure the accuracy of the results. The maximum errors of the longitudinal and circumferential positions of the proposed method are 0.15 m and 0.02 m, respectively. The experimental results demonstrate that the FATs determined by the Bayesian optimal detector enable the accurate localization of wire breakage with noisy measurements. The proposed method overcomes the limitation of traditional picking methods in determining the FAT, which provides a promising tool for real-time monitoring of wire breakage in PCCPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STUDY QUESTION What is the molecular landscape underlying the functional decline of human testicular ageing? SUMMARY ANSWER The present study provides a comprehensive single-cell transcriptomic atlas of testes from young and old humans and offers insights into the molecular mechanisms and potential targets for human testicular ageing. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Testicular ageing is known to cause male age-related fertility decline and hypogonadism. Dysfunction of testicular cells has been considered as a key factor for testicular ageing. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Human testicular biopsies were collected from three young individuals and three old individuals to perform single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). The key results were validated in a larger cohort containing human testicular samples from 10 young donors and 10 old donors. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS scRNA-seq was used to identify gene expression signatures for human testicular cells during ageing. Ageing-associated changes of gene expression in spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) and Leydig cells (LCs) were analysed by gene set enrichment analysis and validated by immunofluorescent and functional assays. Cell–cell communication analysis was performed using CellChat. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE The single-cell transcriptomic landscape of testes from young and old men was surveyed, revealing age-related changes in germline and somatic niche cells. In-depth evaluation of the gene expression dynamics in germ cells revealed that the disruption of the base-excision repair pathway is a prominent characteristic of old SSCs, suggesting that defective DNA repair in SSCs may serve as a potential driver for increased de novo germline mutations with age. Further analysis of ageing-associated transcriptional changes demonstrated that stress-related changes and cytokine pathways accumulate in old somatic cells. Age-related impairment of redox homeostasis in old LCs was identified and pharmacological treatment with antioxidants alleviated this cellular dysfunction of LCs and promoted testosterone production. Lastly, our results revealed that decreased pleiotrophin signalling was a contributing factor for impaired spermatogenesis in testicular ageing. LARGE SCALE DATA The scRNA-seq sequencing and processed data reported in this paper were deposited at the Genome Sequence Archive (https://ngdc.cncb.ac.cn/), under the accession number HRA002349. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Owing to the difficulty in collecting human testis tissue, the sample size was limited. Further in-depth functional and mechanistic studies are warranted in future. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS These findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the cell type-specific mechanisms underlying human testicular ageing at a single-cell resolution, and suggest potential therapeutic targets that may be leveraged to address age-related male fertility decline and hypogonadism. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2022YFA1104100), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32130046, 82171564, 82101669, 82371611, 82371609, 82301796), the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province, China (2022A1515010371), the Major Project of Medical Science and Technology Development Research Center of National Health Planning Commission, China (HDSL202001000), the Open Project of NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics (KF202001), the Guangdong Province Regional Joint Fund-Youth Fund Project (2021A1515110921, 2022A1515111201), and the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2021M703736). The authors declare no conflict of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An approach to estimate the dynamic characteristic of multilayered three-dimensional cubic quasicrystal cylindrical shells, annular plates, and truncated conical shells with different boundary conditions is presented. These investigated structures can be in a vacuum, totally filled with quiescent fluid, and subjected to internal flowing fluid where the fluid is incompressible and inviscid. The velocity potential, Bernoulli's equation, and the impermeability condition have been applied to the shell–fluid interface to obtain an explicit expression, from which the fluid pressure can be converted into the coupled differential equations in terms of displacement functions. The state-space method is formulated to quasicrystal linear elastic theory to derive the state equations for the three structures along the radial direction. The mixed supported boundary conditions are represented by means of the differential quadrature technique and Fourier series expansions. A global propagator matrix, which connects the field variables at the internal interface to those at the external interface for the whole structure, is further completed by joint coupling matrices to overcome the numerical instabilities. Numerical examples show the correctness of the proposed method and the influence of the semi-vertical angle, different boundary conditions, and the fluid debit on the natural frequencies and mode shapes for various geometries and boundary conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Municipal sewage treatment plants yield lots of sewage sludge, which has complex composition, and improper disposal may cause environmental pollution problem. Therefore, proper sludge treatment is important to solve this problem. Traditional sludge disposal methods such as incineration and landfill have the drawbacks of high energy consumption and soil pollution problem. Anaerobic carbon fixation is a new sludge disposal method, which has good application prospect. This study adopted anaerobic carbon fixation to treat dreed sludge. The thermogravimetric analysis was carried out to assess the effects of process parameters (carbonization temperature and time) on the degree of anaerobic carbon fixation of dreed sludge. The influence of process parameters on the physicochemical properties, nutrient indicators, heavy metal content and seed germination index of sludge were investigated. Taking seed germination index as evaluation indicator, the optimum conditions were determined by extreme difference analyses of orthogonal tests. The results indicated that high carbonization temperature and long carbonization time were crucial to ensure that anaerobic carbon fixation of sludge fully competed. Process parameters had significant effects on the properties of sludge. Various performance indicators of sludge treated by anaerobic carbon fixation could meet the standard of municipal sewage treatment plant sludge disposal for landscaping purpose (GB/T 23486--2009), so the treated sludge could be used as landscaping substrate. The optimum carbonization temperature and time were determined as 600 °C and 1.5 h, respectively. In this condition, sludge anaerobic carbon fixation fully competed and the content of toxic and harmful substances such as soluble salts and water-soluble heavy metals in treated sludge were low, which was conductive to seed germination. Seed germination index reached 138. 79%, far higher than the national production quality standard (70%). As a result, anaerobic carbon fixation treatment and effective process parameters adjustment open up new possibility for sludge resource utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]