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Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of cancer, enabling tumor cells to meet the high energy and biosynthetic demands required for their proliferation. High mobility group A1 (HMGA1) is a structural transcription factor and frequently overexpressed in human colorectal cancer (CRC). Here, we show that HMGA1 promotes CRC progression by driving lipid synthesis in a AOM/DSS-induced CRC mouse model. Using conditional knockout (Hmga1△IEC) and knock-in (Hmga1IEC-OE/+) mouse models, we demonstrate that HMGA1 enhances CRC cell proliferation and accelerates tumor development by upregulating fatty acid synthase (FASN). Mechanistically, HMGA1 increases the transcriptional activity of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1) on the FASN promoter, leading to increased lipid accumulation in intestinal epithelial cells. Moreover, a high-fat diet exacerbates CRC progression in Hmga1△IEC mice, while pharmacological inhibition of FASN by orlistat reduces tumor growth in Hmga1IEC-OE/+ mice. Our findings suggest that targeting lipid metabolism could offer a promising therapeutic strategy for CRC. Metabolic reprogramming is crucial for cancer progression. Here, the authors show that the high mobility group A1 (HMGA1) promotes colorectal cancer (CRC) in a AOM/DSS-induced mouse model, by enhancing lipid synthesis via upregulation of fatty acid synthase (FASN), and inhibiting FASN reduces tumor growth, suggesting potential therapeutic avenues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Giant salamander protein peptide is a peptide with rich functional properties. Giant salamander protein peptide KGEYNK (KK‐6) is a peptide with both antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory properties. The antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory mechanisms of KK‐6 are still unclear. When we studied the functional mechanism of KK‐6, we found that the antioxidant property of KK‐6 has a synergistic and promoting effect on anti‐inflammatory properties. RESULTS: KK‐6 enhances cellular resistance to LPS via the MAPK/NF‐κB signaling pathway, leading to increased levels of inflammatory factors: interleukin‐1β (764.81 ng mL−1), interleukin‐6 (1.06 ng mL−1) and tumor necrosis factor‐α (4440.45 ng mL−1). KK‐6 demonstrates potent antioxidant properties by activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway, resulting in elevated levels of antioxidant enzymes (glutathione peroxidase: 0.03 μg mL−1; superoxide dismutase: 0.589 μg mL−1) and a reduction in the concentration of the oxidative product malondialdehyde (967.05 μg mL−1). CONCLUSION: Our findings highlight the great potential of KK‐6, a peptide extracted from giant salamander protein, as a remedy for intestinal inflammation. Through its dual role as an antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory agent, KK‐6 offers a promising avenue for alleviating inflammation‐related damage and oxidative stress. This study lays the foundation for further exploration of giant salamander products and highlights their importance in health and novel food development. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Accurate evaluation of the axillary lymph node (ALN) status is needed for determining the treatment protocol for breast cancer (BC). The value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)‐based tumor heterogeneity in assessing ALN metastasis in BC is unclear. Purpose: To assess the value of deep learning (DL)‐derived kinetic heterogeneity parameters based on BC dynamic contrast‐enhanced (DCE)‐MRI to infer the ALN status. Study Type: Retrospective. Subjects: 1256/539/153/115 patients in the training cohort, internal validation cohort, and external validation cohorts I and II, respectively. Field Strength/Sequence: 1.5 T/3.0 T, non‐contrast T1‐weighted spin‐echo sequence imaging (T1WI), DCE‐T1WI, and diffusion‐weighted imaging. Assessment: Clinical pathological and MRI semantic features were obtained by reviewing histopathology and MRI reports. The segmentation of the tumor lesion on the first phase of T1WI DCE‐MRI images was applied to other phases after registration. A DL architecture termed convolutional recurrent neural network (ConvRNN) was developed to generate the KHimage (kinetic heterogeneity of DCE‐MRI image) score that indicated the ALN status in patients with BC. The model was trained and optimized on training and internal validation cohorts, tested on two external validation cohorts. We compared ConvRNN model with other 10 models and the subgroup analyses of tumor size, magnetic field strength, and molecular subtype were also evaluated. Statistical Tests: Chi‐squared, Fisher's exact, Student's t, Mann–Whitney U tests, and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis were performed. P < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The ConvRNN model achieved area under the curve (AUC) of 0.802 in the internal validation cohort and 0.785–0.806 in the external validation cohorts. The ConvRNN model could well evaluate the ALN status of the four molecular subtypes (AUC = 0.685–0.868). The patients with larger tumor sizes (>5 cm) were more susceptible to ALN metastasis with KHimage scores of 0.527–0.827. Data Conclusion: A ConvRNN model outperformed traditional models for determining the ALN status in patients with BC. Level of Evidence: 3 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stigma associated with functional neurological disorder (FND) is greater than that associated with other neurological conditions, seriously affecting the quality of life of patients and increasing the burden on caregivers. This article reviews the concept, the current situation and harms, the influence factors and intervention strategies of FND stigma. The aim is to further develop our country as a reference for the study of stigma in FND. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vocational education plays the role of a bridge connecting education and industry in the development of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao Greater Bay Area, and directly serves the needs of major industries in the region by cultivating high-quality skilled personnel. With the rapid development of science and technology and industries, vocational education not only needs to continuously update its curriculum content and teaching methods, but also needs to keep abreast of the times by adopting advanced teaching technologies and tools to keep pace with the development of the industries. This requires the vocational education quality assurance system to be constantly innovated and improved in terms of standardization, internationalization, informatization and intelligence. This paper discusses the construction of the quality assurance system of vocational education under the leadership of the qualifications framework, focusing on the analysis of the standardization and internationalization strategies, informatization and intelligence strategies, teacher team building and professional development strategies, as well as the strategies of school-enterprise cooperation and industry-teaching integration, with the aim of providing theoretical support and practical references for improving the quality of vocational education in the Greater Bay Area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vocational education has an irreplaceable role in cultivating high-quality talents adaptedtotheneeds of modern industries, promoting flexible employment in the labor market, and promotingthesustainable development of the regional economy. However, due to the differences in the education system, qualifications, and curriculum between regions, there are many problems in vocational education intheGreater Bay Area that need to be solved. Based on this, this paper analyzes in detail the functions androlesof the QF (qualifications framework) in vocational education, and by comparing and analyzingthecharacteristics and current situation of vocational education in each region, it provides several effectivepaths that are in line with the development of vocational education in the Greater Bay Area by constructinga highly efficient and synergistic system of vocational education and by promoting the development of regional economic integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CO2 conversion is gradually seen as a better way for society to effectively use carbon sources and avoid climate crisis associated with fossil CO2 emissions. And the decision to deploy CO2 technology scale should be relied on its environmental impact. In this work, life cycle assessment model evaluates the environmental performance of CO2 conversion by photocatalytic reaction process with two different catalysts (NiAl-LDH and Co-ZIF-9). Six impact categories considered in this analysis, including climate change, acidification potential, depletion of abiotic resources, eutrophication potential, ozone layer depletion potential, and photochemical oxidation potential. Results indicated that CO2 conversion with Co-ZIF-9 photocatalyst has a better environmental impact than the NiAl-LDH photocatalyst route. Moreover, the Co-ZIF-9 catalyst scenario also has a lower total environmental burden than the conventional CO production route. Sensitivity analysis shows that recycle performance of the catalyst is highly sensitive to the production process in two scenarios. This study could provide a framework for robust decisions in CO2 conversion by photocatalytic reaction, which is useful for policymakers to decide the feasibility of industrialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design speed of high-speed maglev trains is much higher than that of wheel-rail trains, and they will be subject to more operational safety threats under complex wind conditions. The present study uses the improved delayed detached eddy simulation method based on the shear stress transfer k–ω turbulence model to explore the effect of active flow control on the aerodynamic lateral force of a maglev train and examines the main aerodynamic performance differences caused by two active control forms (suction and blowing airflow), involving multiple active flow speeds. In the current scenario, blowing can reduce the lateral force coefficient of the head car by up to 15% while greatly increasing its transient instability, which can be attributed to direct and indirect changes in pressure distribution near the air slots and a larger range of the leeward surface. The suction is believed to suppress the downstream motion of the main vortex on the leeward side of the maglev train and weaken the turbulent kinetic energy of the wake, while the blowing effect reduces the dominance of the main vortex. The application of blowing is proved as an effective means of reducing the risk of operating a maglev train in a crosswind environment, while it requires a careful consideration of both train safety and energy efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(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]

Exploration has been made into 2-nitro-4-methylsulfonyltoluene (NMST) adsorption on coconut activated carbon from acetic acid. The results demonstrate that the adsorption of NMST on activated carbon augments with its concentration in acetic acid. NMST adsorption on activated carbon is also improved with temperature. Though NMST adsorption on per gram of carbon will decrease with carbon dosage, more NMST will be adsorbed. The kinetic study depicts that NMST adsorption on activated carbon is in good agreement with the pseudo-second-order kinetic equation. Both of the Langmuir and Freundlich equilibrium isotherm models are well fit for the experimental results, with R2 = 0.9994 and 0.9979, respectively. The adsorption thermodynamic parameters (ΔH, ΔG, ΔS) calculated with Van't Hoff equations indicate that NMST adsorption on carbon is spontaneous and endothermic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing deep learning-based change detection networks encounter challenges related to the temporal dependency inherent in dual-temporal images. In this study, a weight-shared dual-difference change detection network (DDCDNet) model is proposed based on feature extraction networks. The model employs feature discrimination modules fused with spatial and channel attention mechanisms at different hierarchical levels of the backbone network. In the encoding phase, the tiny version of the Swin Transformer is utilized as the backbone network, with a weightsharing strategy applied to extract feature information from bitemporal remote sensing images. The proposed model in this paper is experimented on the LEVIR-CDþand DSIFN datasets, achieving F1-scores (F1) of 87.71% and 85.79%, recalls of 83.87% and 81.17%, and IoU (Intersection over Union) scores of 78.11% and 75.12%, respectively. These results indicate that the proposed model significantly outperforms other comparative models, demonstrating a better capability of identifying temporal changes in buildings, excellent generalization capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coilia nasus, a migratory fish species found in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and along offshore areas of China, possesses considerable aquacultural and economic potential. However, the species faces challenges due to significant variation in the gonadal development rate among females, resulting in inconsistent ovarian maturation times at the population level, an extended reproductive period, and limitations on fish growth rate due to ovarian prematurity. In the present study, we combined genome-wide association study (GWAS) and comparative transcriptome analysis to investigate the potential single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and candidate genes associated with population-asynchronous ovarian development in C. nasus. Genotyping of the female population based on whole-genome resequencing yielded 2 120 695 high-quality SNPs, 39 of which were suggestively associated with ovarian development. Of note, a significant SNP peak on LG21 containing 30 suggestively associated SNPs was identified, with cpne5a determined as the causal gene of the peak. Therefore, single-marker and haplotype association analyses were performed on cpne5a, revealing four genetic markers (P<0.05) and seven haplotypes (r2>0.9) significantly associated with the phenotype. Comparative transcriptome analysis of precociously and normally maturing individuals screened out 29 and 426 overlapping differentially expressed genes in the brain and ovary, respectively, between individuals of different body sizes. Integrating the GWAS and transcriptome analysis results, this study identified genes and pathways related to hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis hormone secretion, extracellular matrix, angiogenesis, and gap junctions involved in population-asynchronous ovarian development. The insights gained from this study provide a basis for a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying ovarian development in fish and may facilitate the genetic breeding of C. nasus strains exhibiting population-synchronous ovarian development in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fine regulation of catalysts by the atomic-level removal of inactive atoms can promote the active site exposure for performance enhancement, whereas suffering from the difficulty in controllably removing atoms using current micro/nano-scale material fabrication technologies. Here, we developed a surface atom knockout method to promote the active site exposure in an alloy catalyst. Taking Cu3Pd alloy as an example, it refers to assemble a battery using Cu3Pd and Zn as cathode and anode, the charge process of which proceeds at about 1.1 V, equal to the theoretical potential difference between Cu2+/Cu and Zn2+/Zn, suggesting the electricity-driven dissolution of Cu atoms. The precise knockout of Cu atoms is confirmed by the linear relationship between the amount of the removed Cu atoms and the battery cumulative specific capacity, which is attributed to the inherent atom-electron-capacity correspondence. We observed the surface atom knockout process at different stages and studied the evolution of the chemical environment. The alloy catalyst achieves a higher current density for oxygen reduction reaction compared to the original alloy and Pt/C. This work provides an atomic fabrication method for material synthesis and regulation toward the wide applications in catalysis, energy, and others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural rubber (NR) is widely used in various fields including aerospace, military industry and transportation due to its superior elasticity and comprehensive mechanical properties. Nonetheless, the commercial NR prepared by different methods usually exhibits different mechanical properties, primarily due to variations in processing conditions during the conversion from latex to bulk rubber material. Consequently, this poses challenges in scientific research and industrial production of NR. In order to assess the properties of various commercially available NR and identify key structural and compositional components, this study systematically compares and analyzes four representative NR raw materials: air dried sheet (ADS), ribbed smoked sheets (RSS), constant viscidity NR (CV), and whole field latex rubber (WF). The investigation focuses on evaluating their static mechanical behavior, SIC behavior, wear resistance, and fatigue resistance. The findings indicate that protein and gel content exhibit a crucial influence on the NR properties. These constituents contribute to the formation of a high-crosslinking density region, generating a heterogeneous network structure within the rubber. This structure amplifies strains during deformation, leading to earlier and stronger strain-induced crystallization (SIC). Among the four commercial NR brands, RSS demonstrates superior overall mechanical and dynamic properties owing to its high protein and gel content. This study serves as a valuable reference for comprehending the differences in properties among various commercial NR, thereby offering guidance for the actual processing and selection of NR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metallic copper is widely used as current collector (CC) for graphite anode of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to its high electrical conductivity and electrochemical stability. However, the large volume density of commercial copper foil (∼8.9 g·cm−3) limits the increase of energy density of battery. Here, copper-coated porous polyimide (Cu@PPI) was prepared by vacuum evaporation as collector for the graphite anode. The sandwich structure connects the copper metal on both sides of the collector with excellent electrical conductivity. Compared to commercial Cu foil, Cu@PPI has lighter mass (≤3.9 mg for disc of 12 mm diameter versus 9.9 mg of ∼10 µm Cu foil) and lower volume density (≤3.3 g·cm−3). In addition, the porous structure allows of better adhesion of reactive substances and electrochemical properties than pure Cu foils. It is estimated that the energy density of Cu@PPI should be much higher than that of Cu foil. This strategy should be applicable for other current collectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The clinical manifestations of nonclassical 11beta-hydroxylase deficiency are very similar to those of non-classical 21-hydroxylase deficiency. For this study, we investigated the relationship between the clinical and molecular features of congenital adrenal hyperplasia caused by 11beta-hydroxylase deficiency and reviewed the related literature, which are expected to provide assistance for the clinical diagnosis and analysis of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Methods: Clinical data for 10 Chinese patients diagnosed with congenital adrenal hyperplasia in our hospital from 2018 to 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. We examined the effects of gene mutations on protease activity and constructed three-dimensional structure prediction models of proteins. Results: We describe 10 patients with 11beta-hydroxylase gene mutations (n = 5, 46,XY; n = 5, 46,XX), with 10 novel mutations were reported. Female patients received treatment at an early stage, with an average age of 2.08 ± 1.66 years, whereas male patients received treatment significantly later, at an average age of 9.77 ± 3.62 years. The most common CYP11B1 pathogenic variant in the Chinese population was found to be c.1360C > T. All mutations lead to spatial conformational changes that affect protein stability. Conclusions: Our study found that there was no significant correlation between each specific mutation and the severity of clinical manifestations. Different patients with the same gene pathogenic variant may have mild or severe clinical manifestations. The correlation between genotype and phenotype needs further study. Three-dimensional protein simulations may provide additional support for the physiopathological mechanism of genetic mutations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the ovarian reserve (OR) in women with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), especially SLE-associated APS, and to determine the association between OR and clinical and laboratory parameters. We compared the antral follicle count (AFC), anticardiolipin antibody, and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), inhibin B (INHB), antiphospholipid (aPL) antibody, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), progesterone (P), testosterone (T), and estradiol (E2) among patients with primary APS (PAPS), SLE-APS, and SLE who were treated at Jinhua Central Hospital between 2017 and 2020. We conducted correlations and logistic regression analyses to identify the risk factors of OR failure in women with APS. Serum AMH were positively correlated with AFC and INHB in APS patients, and low AMH was independent risk factor for OR decline in APS patients. The ROC curve showed a high accuracy for AMH in the prediction of OR failure. Compared to healthy subjects (HS), patients with PAPS, SLE-APS, and SLE exhibited lower serum AMH, AFC, INHB, and E2 levels and higher FSH and levels (p<0.05). Of all the patients, those with SLE-APS manifested the lowest serum AMH, AFC, INHB, and E2 levels and the highest FSH levels (p<0.05). APS and SLE patients showed lower indications of OR, including AFC and AMH, compared to HS. SLE-APS patients also appeared to have a lower OR than either SLE or PAPS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: To ensure the efficient use of chemotherapy drugs, chemotherapy wastage is an area that can be investigated. This study aims to quantify current parenteral chemotherapy wastage and estimate parenteral chemotherapy wastage when dose banding is executed, using a chemotherapy wastage calculator in an ambulatory cancer centre. The study also examines the variables that significantly predict the total cost of chemotherapy wastage, investigates the reasons for wastage, and explores opportunities to reduce wastage. Methods: Data were collected from the pharmacy in National Cancer Centre Singapore over 9 months retrospectively. Chemotherapy wastage is the sum of wastage in the preparation phase and potential wastage in the administration phase. The calculator was created using Microsoft Excel and generated chemotherapy wastage in terms of cost and amount (mg) and analysed the reasons for potential wastage. Results: The calculator reported a total of 2.22 million mg of chemotherapy wastage generated over 9 months, amounting to $2.05 million (Singapore Dollars, SGD). Regression analysis found that the cost of drug was the only independent variable that significantly predicted the total cost of chemotherapy wastage (P = 0.004). The study also identified low blood count (625 [29.06%]) as the top reason for potential wastage and no-show ($128,715.94 [15.97%]) as the reason that incurred the highest cost of potential wastage. Conclusion: The pharmacy has generated a considerable amount of chemotherapy wastage over 9 months. Interventions in both the preparation and administration phases are required to reduce chemotherapy wastage. The use of the chemotherapy wastage calculator in pharmacy operations could guide efforts to reduce chemotherapy wastage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the association between internet use and Chinese migrant older adults' life satisfaction based on the displacement hypothesis. Using 2016 and 2018 China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) data, we find that internet use is significantly associated with lower life satisfaction. The association is stronger in the female, age 71 and above and low‐income groups. Mediation analysis suggests that social capital has a significant mediating effect in linking internet use and life satisfaction, accounting for about 25% of the total effect of internet use. Based on the findings, we recommend appropriate interventions for internet use and promote social inclusion of migrant older adults, so as to further improve their quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Pulmonary fibrosis (PF), a type of interstitial pneumonia with complex etiology and high mortality, is characterized by progressive scarring of the alveolar interstitium and myofibroblastic lesions. In this study, we screened for potential biomarkers in PF and clarified the role of the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA network in the inhibitory effect of SRL-4 on PF. Methods: Healthy male SPF SD rats were randomly divided into three groups, namely, CON, MOD, and SRL-4. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses were performed to determine the biological functions of the target genes. A visualized lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA network was constructed using Cytoscape, while key genes in the network were identified using the cytoNCA plugin. Results: Seventy-four differentially expressed lncRNAs and 118 differentially expressed mRNAs were identified. Gene Ontology analysis revealed that the target genes were mainly enriched in the cell membrane and in response to organic substances, while Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis showed that the target genes were mainly enriched in the AMPK, PPAR, and cAMP signaling pathways. We elucidated a ceRNA axis, namely, Plcd3-OT1/rno-miR150-3p/Fkbp5, with potential implications in PF. Key genes, such as AABR07051308.1-201, F2rl2-OT1, and LINC3337, may be important targets for the treatment of PF, while the AMPK, PPAR, and cAMP signaling pathways are potential key targets and important pathways through which SRL-4 mitigates PF. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that SRL-4 improves PF by regulating the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our previous study reported that the metabolite of Bacillus subtilis BS-Z15 n-butanol site could reduce body weight gain in mice, showing anti-obesity effects. This study further demonstrated the effects of purified mycosubtilin on the body weight gain and gut microbiota of Kunming mice. 30 male Kunming white mice were randomly selected into three groups at four weeks of age: Control (group A), gavage-administered with saline daily; n-butanol site treated (group B), gavage-administered with n-butanol site metabolites (90 mg/kg); and mycosubtilin treated (group C), gavage-administered with mycosubtilin (6 mg/kg). Different groups' gut microbiota compositions were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing technology. The results showed that the effects of mycosubtilin and n-butanol sites were consistent; the treatment groups showed a significant reduction in body weight gain as well as triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein contents as compared to the control group (P <0.05). Moreover, the size and contents of epididymal adipocytes were also significantly reduced (P <0.05), and the gavage administration of mycosubtilin could significantly increase the expression levels of lipolysis gene adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) in the mice liver. Mycosubtilin and n-butanol site treatments could significantly alter the composition of the gut microbiota as compared to the physiologic saline treatment. B. subtilis BS-Z15 metabolites may regulate weight gain primarily by mycosubtilin, according to these findings. The mycosubtilin might reduce weight gain in mice by regulating lipid metabolism, thereby reducing fat accumulation and altering the composition of gut microbiota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular oxygen‐mediated C−H bond alkylation of cyclic aldimines has been reported, which avoids the use of transition metals and additional oxidants. This method allows straightforward access to a series of cyclic aldimine derivatives through a free radical course. Furthermore, this transformation features mild conditions, excellent yields and good functional group tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the flexural performance of reinforced concrete (RC) beams strengthened by FRP-reinforced geopolymer matrix (FRGM) through a comprehensive numerical analysis. A two-dimensional (2D) finite element (FE) model is developed to simulate the behavior of the FRGM-strengthened RC beams, including the failure modes, load-deflection curves, and interfacial slips. The settings of the FE model, such as material properties, boundary conditions and interfacial bond properties between the FRGM and RC beams, are firstly validated by comparing the predicted results with the existing experimental data from previous publication. Subsequently, a parametric analysis involving 200 specimens is conducted to evaluate the effects of FRGM thickness, sectional area, location and type of the FRP rebar. The results indicate that the uniaxial compressive behaviors of geopolymer mortar and interfacial properties can be accurately described by the parabolic curve and bilinear traction-separation curve, respectively. The failure mode and load-carrying capacity of the specimens are primarily influenced by the axial strength of the reinforced FRP rebar. Additionally, the interfacial slip distributions transform from an inverse tangential shape to a sawtooth shape depending on the cracking pattern of the specimen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A unified discrete gradient structure of the second order nonuniform integral averaged approximations for the Caputo fractional derivative and the Riemann--Liouville fractional integral is established in this paper. The required constraint of the step-size ratio is weaker than that found in the literature. With the proposed discrete gradient structure, the energy stability of the variable step Crank--Nicolson type numerical schemes is derived immediately, which is essential to the longtime simulations of the time fractional gradient flows and the nonlinear integro-differential models. The discrete energy dissipation laws fit seamlessly into their classical counterparts as the fractional indexes tend to one. In particular, we provide a framework for the stability analysis of variable step numerical schemes based on the scalar auxiliary variable type approaches. The time fractional Swift--Hohenberg model and the time fractional sine-Gordon model are taken as two examples to elucidate the theoretical results at great length. Extensive numerical experiments using the adaptive time-stepping strategy are provided to verify the theoretical results in the time multiscale simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been shown to play an important role in osteoarthritis (OA). Objective: This study was aimed at assessing the relationship of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP) concentrations in the serum/synovial fluid (SF) with disease severity of primary knee osteoarthritis (pkOA). Methods: Patients with pkOA together with healthy individuals were consecutively recruited from our hospital. The levels of GRP78 and CHOP in serum / SF were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The levels of IL-6 and MMP-3 were also examined. Radiographic progression of pkOA was evaluated based on Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) grades. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were used to assess the diagnostic value of GRP78/CHOP levels with regard to K-L grades. The assessment of clinical severity was conducted using the visual analogue scale (VAS), Oxford knee score (OKS), and Lequesne algofunctional index (LAI). Results: A total of 140 pkOA patients and 140 healthy individuals were included. Serum GRP78 and CHOP levels in pkOA patients were not significantly different from those in healthy individuals. The SF GRP78 and CHOP levels in healthy controls were not detected due to ethical reasons. Compared to those with K-L grade 2 and 3, the pkOA patients with K-L grade 4 had higher GRP78 and CHOP levels in the SF with statistical significance. In addition, the pkOA patients with K-L grade 3 exhibited drastically upregulated GRP78 and CHOP concentrations in the SF compared to those with K-L grade 2. Positive correlations of GRP78 and CHOP levels with K-L grades, IL-6, and MMP-3 levels in the SF were observed. ROC curve analysis indicated that both GRP78 and CHOP levels may act as decent indicators with regard to OA. GRP78 and CHOP concentrations in the SF were positively correlated with VAS/LAI score and negatively associated with OKS score. Conclusion: The study indicated that GRP78 and CHOP levels in the SF but not the serum were positively correlated with disease severity of pkOA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

3D object representation learning is a fundamental challenge in computer vision to infer about the 3D world. Recent advances in deep learning have shown their efficiency in 3D object recognition, among which viewbased methods have performed best so far. However, feature learning of multiple views in existing methods is mostly performed in a supervised fashion, which often requires a large amount of data labels with high costs. In contrast, self-supervised learning aims to learnmulti-view feature representations without involving labeled data. To this end, we propose a novel self-supervised framework to learn Multi-View Transformation Equivariant Representations (MV-TER), exploring the equivariant transformations of a 3D object and its projected multiple views that we derive. Specifically, we perform a 3D transformation on a 3D object and obtain multiple views before and after the transformation via projection. Then, we train a representation encoding module to capture the intrinsic 3D object representation by decoding 3D transformation parameters from the fused feature representations of multiple views before and after the transformation. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposedMV-TER significantly outperforms the state-of-the-art view-based approaches in 3D object classification and retrieval tasks and show the generalization to real-world datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Emerging evidence reveals that SARS-CoV-2 possesses the capability to disrupt the gastrointestinal (GI) homeostasis, resulting in the longterm symptoms such as loss of appetite, diarrhea, gastroesophageal reflux, and nausea. In the current review, we summarized recent reports regarding the long-term effects of COVID-19 (long COVID) on the gastrointestine. Objective: To provide a narrative review of abundant clinical evidence regarding the development and management of long-term GI symptoms in COVID19 patients. Results: Long-term persistent digestive symptoms are exhibited in a majority of long-COVID patients. SARS-CoV-2 infection of intestinal epithelial cells, cytokine storm, gut dysbiosis, therapeutic drugs, psychological factors and exacerbation of primary underlying diseases lead to long-term GI symptoms in COVID-19 patients. Interventions like probiotics, prebiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, and antibiotics are proved to be beneficial in preserving intestinal microecological homeostasis and alleviating GI symptoms. Conclusion: Timely diagnosis and treatment of GI symptoms in long-COVID patients hold great significance as they may contribute to the mitigation of severe conditions and ultimately lead to the improvement of outcomes of the patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The alpine meadow is one of the most important ecosystems in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), and critically sensitive to climate change and human activities. Thus, it is crucial to precisely reveal the current state and predict future trends in the carbon budget of the alpine meadow ecosystem. The objective of this study was to explore the applicability of the Biome-BGC model (BBGC) in the Qinghai Lake Basin (QLB), identify the key parameters affecting the variation of net ecosystem exchange (NEE), and further predict the future trends in carbon budget in the QLB. Results: The alpine meadow mainly acted as carbon sink during the growing season. For the eco-physiological factors, the YEL (Yearday to end litterfall), YSNG (Yearday to start new growth), CLEC (Canopy light extinction coefficient), FRC:LC (New fine root C: new leaf C), SLA (Canopy average specific leaf area), C:Nleaf (C:N of leaves), and FLNR (Fraction of leaf N in Rubisco) were confirmed to be the top seven parameters affecting carbon budget of the alpine meadow. For the meteorological factors, the sensitivity of NEE to precipitation was greater than that to vapor pressure deficit (VPD), and it was greater to radiation than to air temperature. Moreover, the combined effect of two different meteorological factors on NEE was higher than the individual effect of each one. In the future, warming and wetting would enhance the carbon sink capacity of the alpine meadow during the growing season, but extreme warming (over 3.84 ℃) would reduce NEE (about 2.9%) in the SSP5-8.5 scenario. Conclusion: Overall, the alpine meadow ecosystem in the QLB generally performs as a carbon sink at present and in the future. It is of great significance for the achievement of the goal of carbon neutrality and the management of alpine ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Not all patients with GS 7 upgraded had a worse prognosis than those without GS upgraded. Only in patients with PSA 4.1-10ng/ml, clinical GS 7 upgraded was an independent risk factor affecting OS. Objective: To determine the clinical significance of Gleason score(GS) 7 upgraded on radical prostatectomy(RP) and its impact on the prognosis of patients. Patients and Methods: We used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database to study 8832 men diagnosed with M0 GS 3 + 4/4 + 3 prostate cancer (PCa) from 2010 to 2015 treated by RP. Logistic regression was used to analyze the effect of clinicopathological characteristics on the Gleason sore upgraded. Cox hazards regression analysis was performed to find significant factors of overall survival (OS). Results: A total of 6237 (70.6%) biopsy GS 3 + 4 patients and 2595(29.4%) biopsy GS 4 + 3 patients were included in the study. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis found that prostate-specific antigen (PSA) > 20ng/ml, T stage 3-4, lymph node metastasis are independent risk factors in predicting the incidence of GS upgraded after RP (all P < 0.05). Through multivariate analysis, we found that black race, GS upgraded, chemotherapy played significant roles in predicting poor OS (all P < 0.05). It was surprising to find that the biopsy GS upgraded in patients with PSA 0-4ng/ml and 4.1-10ng/ml had a significant association with poor OS (all P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that only in patients with PSA 4-10ng/ml, biopsy GS upgrade had a statistically important relationship with poor OS (P = 0.046). Conclusions: Not all patients with GS 7 upgraded had a worse prognosis than those without GS upgraded. Only in patients with PSA 4.1-10ng/ml, biopsy GS 7 upgraded was an independent risk factor affecting OS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sodium-sulfur (Na-S) batteries are attracting intensive attention due to the merits like high energy and low cost, while the poor stability of sulfur cathode limits the further development. Here, we report a chemical and spatial dual-confinement approach to improve the stability of Na-S batteries. It refers to covalently bond sulfur to carbon at forms of C-S/N-C= S bonds with high strength for locking sulfur. Meanwhile, sulfur is examined to be S1-S2 small species produced by thermally cutting S8 large molecules followed by sealing in the confined pores of carbon materials. Hence, the sulfur cathode achieves a good stability of maintaining a high-capacity retention of 97.64% after 1000 cycles. Experimental and theoretical results show that Na+ is hosted via a coordination structure (N···Na···S) without breaking the C-S bond, thus impeding the formation and dissolution of sodium polysulfide to ensure a good cycling stability. This work provides a promising method for addressing the S-triggered stability problem of Na-S batteries and other S-based batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Detecting tumor progression of glioma continues to pose a formidable challenge. The role of fibroblast activation protein (FAP) in gliomas has been demonstrated to facilitate tumor progression. Glioma-circulating biomarkers have not yet been used in clinical practice. This study seeks to evaluate the feasibility of glioma detection through the utilization of a serum FAP marker. Methods: We adopted enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique to quantify the relative FAP level of serum autoantibodies in a cohort of 87 gliomas. The correlation between preoperative serum autoantibody relative FAP levels and postoperative pathology, including molecular pathology was investigated. A series of FAP tests were conducted on 33 cases of malignant gliomas in order to ascertain their efficacy in monitoring the progression of the disease in relation to imaging observations. To validate the presence of FAP expression in tumors, immunohistochemistry was conducted on four gliomas employing a FAP-specific antibody. Additionally, the investigation encompassed the correlation between postoperative tumor burden, as assessed through volumetric analysis, and the relative FAP level of serum autoantibodies. Results: A considerable proportion of gliomas exhibited a significantly increased level of serum autoantibody relative FAP level. This elevation was closely associated with both histopathology and molecular pathology, and demonstrated longitudinal fluctuations and variations corresponding to the progression of the disease The correlation between the rise in serum autoantibody relative FAP level and tumor progression and/or exacerbation of symptoms was observed. Conclusions: The measurement of serum autoantibody relative FAP level can be used to detect the disease as a valuable biomarker. The combined utilization of its detection alongside MR imaging has the potential to facilitate a more accurate and prompt diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer. HCC with liver fluke infection could harbor unique biological behaviors. This study was aimed at investigating radiomics features of HCC with liver fluke infection and establishing a model to predict the expression of cytokeratin 7 (CK7) and cytokeratin 19 (CK19) as well as prognosis at the same time. A total of 134 HCC patients were included. Gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images of all patients were acquired. Radiomics features of the tumor were extracted and then data dimensionality was reduced. The radiomics model was established to predict liver fluke infection and the radiomics score (Radscore) was calculated. There were 11 features in the four-phase combined model. The efficiency of the combined model increased significantly compared to each single-phase MRI model. Radscore was an independent predictor of liver fluke infection. It was also significantly different between different expression of CK7/ CK19. Meanwhile, liver fluke infection was associated with CK7/CK19 expression. A cut-off value was set up and all patients were divided into high risk and low risk groups of CK7/CK19 positive expression. Radscore was also an independent predictor of these two biomarkers. Overall survival (OS) and recurrence free survival (RFS) of negative liver fluke infection group were significantly better than the positive group. OS and RFS of negative CK7 and CK19 expression were also better, though not significantly. Positive liver fluke infection and CK19 expression prediction groups harbored significantly worse OS and RFS, survival of positive CK7 expression prediction was unsatisfying as well. A radiomics model was established to predict liver fluke infection among HCC patients. This model could also predict CK7 and CK19 expression. OS and RFS could be foreseen by this model at the same time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between somatosensory functional changes and inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) exposure after impacted mandibular third molars (M3M) removal. We recruited 35 patients who underwent impacted M3M extraction near the IAN. The M3Ms were extracted by combined endoscopy, piezosurgery, and contra-angle high-speed turbine handpiece. All IAN canal perforations and exposed regions were recorded and measured by endoscopy after extraction and on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images before extraction. The patients were followed up 1, 7, and 35 days after surgery. A standardized quantitative sensory testing (QST) battery was performed on the lower lip skin. All of 35 cases had exposed IAN on CBCT images, 5 of which had no exposed IAN under endoscopy. For the other 30 cases, the endoscopy-measured IAN length and width were shorter than the CBCT measurements (P < 0.001). The warm and mechanical detection thresholds (MDT) on the operation side were significantly higher than the contralateral side after surgery (P < 0.05). Thermal sensory limen, MDT, and cold pain threshold were strongly correlated with the exposed IAN length and MDT also with the exposed IAN width one day after surgery. In conclusion, it was found that not all exposed IAN in CBCT images were real exposure after surgery. The intraoperative exposed IAN endoscopic measurements were smaller than by CBCT and strongly correlated with some QST parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The throttle valve is vital in the oil and gas production stage, designed to decrease natural gas pressure at the wellhead to match transportation pipeline standards. During this process, its flow rate sharply increases, leading to erosion by sand particles discharged from the well's bottom. To predict the cage throttle valve's service life, we established and validated an erosion model for its throttling trim through tests, calculating the erosion wear rate using CFD simulation software. Tests reveal that WC–Co cemented carbide displays typical brittle material traits; its highest erosion wear rate occurs at a 90° impact angle, with a velocity index of 2.4. Study findings indicate the most severe erosion at the smallest orifice of the cage, with the erosion wear rate increasing linearly as particle mass flow rate rises. Consequently, the throttle trim should be inspected and replaced within two years for low mass flow rates of sand particles, or within 3 to 6 months for high mass flow rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fertilizer-based biofortification is a strategy for combating worldwide malnutrition of zinc (Zn), iron (Fe) and selenium (Se). Field experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of foliar treatments on concentrations of Zn, Fe, Se, N and bioavailability of Zn and Fe in grains of three maize cultivars grown at three locations. We compared the efficacy of ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs), Zn complexed chitosan nanoparticles (Zn-CNPs), conventional ZnSO4 and a cocktail solution (containing Zn, Fe and Se). All treatments were foliar-applied at rate of 452 mg Zn L-1, plus urea. Applying ten-fold less Zn (at rate of 45.2 mg Zn L-1) plus urea in the form of ZnO-NPs, Zn-CNPs, or ZnSO4 resulted in no increase, or a negligible increase, in grain Zn concentration compared with deionized water. By contrast, among the different Zn sources plus urea applied by foliar sprays, conventional ZnSO4 was the most efficient in improving grain Zn concentration. Furthermore, foliar application of a cocktail solution effectively improved grain concentrations of Zn, Fe, Se and N simultaneously, without a grain yield trade-off. For example, the average grain concentrations were simultaneously increased from 13.8 to 22.1 mg kg-1 for Zn, from 17.2 to 22.1 mg kg-1for Fe, from 21.4 to 413.5 ug kg-1 for Se and from 13.8 to 14.7 g kg-1 for N by foliar application of a cocktail solution. Because grain yield was significantly negatively correlated with grain nutrient concentrations, themagnitude of increase in grain concentrations of Zn and Fe was most pronounced in the maize cultivar with the lowest grain yield (Zhengdan958 grown in Linyi). Foliar application of a cocktail solution also significantly decreased the phytic acid (PA) concentration, ratios of PA/Fe and PA/Zn in grains, indicating an increased bioavailability of Fe and Zn for human health. In conclusion, we found that a foliar application of a cocktail solution including Zn, Fe, Se and N was most effective for biofortification, but that the grains with the lowest yield contained the greatest concentration of these elements. This finding highlights the need to breed maize varieties that are capable of achieving both high grain yield and high grain nutritional quality to address food security and human health challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structure instability issues of the highly delithiated LiCoO2 have significantly hindered its high‐voltage applications (≥4.55 V vs Li/Li+). Herein, for the first time, multiple modifications of Li0.9Mg0.05CoO2 (L0.9M0.05CO) via a simple one‐step sintering synthesis are reported. A combination of the bulk Li/Co antisites, a Mg‐pillar enriched surface, and a thin MgO coating layer is achieved to maintain both the bulk and surface structural stability of L0.9M0.05CO upon cycling at an upper cut‐off voltage of 4.6 V. The bulk Li/Co antisites are discovered to enhance the H1‐3 phase evolution reversibility, the Mg pillars that substitute the Li sites effectively reinforces the surface structure, and the thin MgO coating layer can effectively prevent the cathode from severe side reactions. Benefiting from the reduced but reversible H1‐3 phase transition and the reinforced surface structure, L0.9M0.05CO shows an excellent cycle stability. This work provides a new structure modulation route for developing high‐voltage LiCoO2 cathodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chinese Journal of Polymer Science has published a special issue on dynamic polymer networks. These networks are able to change their states during their lifespan, allowing for self-healing, shape-morphing, and other desirable properties. The issue includes 23 original research articles covering topics such as dynamic covalent networks, supramolecular polymers, shape-shifting polymers, and functional device applications. The articles highlight advancements in the development of dynamic covalent polymer networks, which have the potential to revolutionize polymer science and contribute positively to society. [Extracted from the article]