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Studying ionic wind is crucial for deepening our comprehension of electrical discharge processes and refining their application in industrial technologies. This research investigates the behavior of needle–needle electrode using high-speed schlieren imaging techniques, focusing on the dynamics of ionic wind and its influence on spark discharge channel formation. Observations indicate that the ionic wind generated during corona discharge provides a structured pathway that significantly guides the development of spark discharge channels, particularly evident in horizontal configurations. Our findings reveal that the velocity and density of the ionic wind increase with decreasing curvature radius of the needle tip, thereby enhancing its guiding effect. Furthermore, the spark discharge channel forms through the convergence of positive and negative streamers, which meet near the cathode, leading to substantial disturbances in the surrounding flow field post-discharge. This research highlights the intricate relationship between corona and spark discharges, demonstrating the critical role of ionic wind in influencing discharge channel morphology and offering insights for future applications in plasma and electrostatic-based technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to design a VEGFR-targeting peptide–drug conjugate with the ability to decrease tumor burden and suppress tumor angiogenesis, and to further evaluate the therapeutic effect of anti-PD-1 antibody in HCC therapy. A VEGFR-targeting peptide VEGF125 − 136 (QR) was conjugated with a lytic peptide (KLU) to form a peptide–drug conjugate QR-KLU. And the efficacy of QR-KLU in combination with anti-PD-1 antibody for HCC therapy in vivo and in vitro were evaluated. QR-KLU inhibited the proliferation and migration of mouse HCC cell line (Hepa1–6) cells under normoxic and hypoxic conditions in a dose-dependent manner. In the subcutaneous Hepa1–6 tumor model, QR-KLU combined with the anti-PD-1 antibody substantially inhibited tumor growth, promoted tumor necrosis, and prolonged the survival time of tumor-bearing mice. QR-KLU substantially inhibited hypoxia-induced expression of VEGF, promoted tumor vascular normalization, and increased cluster of differentiation 8+ (CD8+) T cell infiltration in the tumor. In addition, QR-KLU and anti-PD-1 antibody demonstrated a strong synergistic effect in promoting the activation of intratumoral CD8+ T cells, reducing the expression of immune-inhibitory factors, and increasing the expression of immune-stimulatory factors. This study proposed a novel approach for enhancing the efficacy of anti-PD-1 antibody using a VEGFR-targeting peptide–drug conjugate in HCC therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthy lifestyle reduces the risk of inflammation-related diseases. This study assessed how lifestyle changes affect inflammatory cytokines over 2 months. Involving 179 apparently healthy participants recruited from community, collecting data on lifestyles (smoking, alcohol, BMI, daily activity, sleep, diet) and measured inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-17A, CRP, IL-8, IL-18, IFN-γ) plus pepsinogens (PG I, PG II) at the baseline and 2-month follow-up. The combined adverse lifestyle score is the sum of scores across six lifestyles, with higher scores indicating more adverse lifestyle factors. Use multiple linear regression and mixed linear models to analyze the relationship between the changes in lifestyle and inflammatory cytokines (follow-up values minus baseline values). For every 1-point increase in combined adverse lifestyle score, IL-17A increased by 0.98 (95% CI 0.23, 1.73) pg/mL, IFN-γ increased by 1.79 (95% CI 0.39, 3.18) pg/mL. Decreased changes in daily activity were associated with higher IL-17A (β = 1.83, 95% CI 0.53, 3.13) and IFN-γ (β = 2.59, 95% CI 0.9, 4.98). Excluding daily activity, changes in combined adverse lifestyle scores were not associated with changes in inflammatory cytokines. Lifestyle improvements at 2-month intervals may reduce TNF-α, IL-17A and IFN-γ, with daily activity making the greatest contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: Data analysis revealed that an appropriate amount of BPG can enhance the mechanical properties of cementitious materials, with compressive strength increasing by an average of 7–30%. The mechanical properties and underlying mechanisms of BPG-based cementitious materials were summarized. This study analyzed the mechanisms of the conversion and utilization of elements of impurities in BPG, as well as the solidification mechanisms of hazardous elements. The mechanisms of synergistic utilization between BPG and silica–alumina-based solid waste, as well as alkaline solid waste, are summarized, showcasing innovative waste management strategies. A sustainable solution for promoting the collaborative low-carbon development of various industrial solid wastes using BPG is proposed. Industrial byproduct gypsum (BPG) is a secondary product that is mainly composed of calcium sulfate discharged during industrial production. BPG primarily consists of desulfurized gypsum, phosphogypsum, and titanium gypsum, which account for 88% of the total BPG in China. The large-scale utilization of these three types of solid waste is crucial for the safe disposal of BPG. BPG contains various impurities and harmful elements, limiting its applications. The continuous accumulation of BPG poses a serious threat to the safety of the environment. Based on a literature review (2021–2023), it was found that 52% of BPG is used in the preparation of cementitious materials, and the addition of BPG results in an average improvement of 7–30% in the mechanical properties of cementitious materials. Moreover, BPG has a positive impact on the immobilization of hazardous elements in raw materials. Therefore, the utilization of BPG in cementitious materials is beneficial for its large-scale disposal. This study primarily reviews the effects and mechanisms of BPG on the mechanical properties of cementitious materials and the solidification of hazardous elements. Most importantly, the review reveals that BPG positively influences the hydration activity of silica–alumina-based solid waste (such as steel slag and blast furnace slag) and alkaline solid waste (such as carbide slag and red mud). This improves the proportion of solid waste in cement and reduces production costs and carbon emissions. Finally, this article summarizes and proposes the application of BPG in cementitious materials. The application of BPG + silica–alumina solid waste + alkaline solid-waste-based cementitious materials is expected to realize a new type of green ecological chain for the joint utilization of multiple industrial solid wastes and to promote the low-carbon sustainable development of industrial clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The swelling behavior of red-bed rocks is a significant factor in the abnormal uplift of subgrades for high-speed railways constructed on the red stratum in the Sichuan Basin, China. The prime objective of this paper is to investigate the impact of mineralogical composition, moisture content, and overburden load on the time-dependent unconfined and oedometric swelling behavior of red-bed siltstone in the context of differences in the slake durability. Twenty samples were prepared for the swelling test, with eleven used for the unconfined swelling and slake index tests and nine for the oedometric swelling test. The temporal dependency of swelling is characterized by the viscosity coefficient of water absorption in a proposed swelling model. Results indicate that the swelling deformation of red-bed rocks is due to a combination of hydration swelling within the rock matrix and crack expansion caused by air breakage. In the unconfined swelling test, the final axial swelling strain of red-bed rocks decreases linearly with increasing slake index, while the viscosity coefficient increases exponentially with the slake index. In the oedometric swelling test, red-bed rocks with lower slake durability show greater sensitivity to lateral constraint and overburden load compared to those with higher slake durability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bowl-shaped LiMn0.6Fe0.4PO4/C composites were created in this search with the use of hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) as the organic carbon source, dispersion, and reductive agent in a carbothermal reduction process. The homogeneous coating of amorphous carbon on the primary particles made possible by the use of CTAB inhibits the overgrowth of primary particles throughout the synthesis process. Moreover, the difficulty of the droplet to maintain a spherical shape causes deformation when droplet size, density, and surface tension are reduced, and the deformation of the droplets' original spherical shape can be attributed to the bowl-shaped morphology. The bowl-shaped secondary particles could further increase the specific surface area of LiMn0.6Fe0.4PO4/C composites. The smaller primary particles and bowl-shaped secondary particles shorten the Li+ transport channel and increase the number of Li+ transport sites. All these factors contribute to the outstanding specific capacity (159.2 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C and 108.8 mAh g−1 at 15 C) and considerable cycling stability (95.1% of capacity retention after 1000 cycles at 1 C). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive fossil fuel consumption has led to a rapid increase in CO2 concentration, posing a threat to the global environment. The electrochemical conversion of CO2 back into valuable carbon-containing products offers a promising solution; however the lack of efficient electrocatalysts remains a challenge for high-efficiency CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR). Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as promising electrocatalysts owing to their superior activity and well-defined active sites and are recognized as model electrocatalysts for the fundamental study of electrocatalytic reaction mechanisms. In this review, focusing on the roles of metals and the coordination environment, we have discussed the molecular engineering of MOF electrocatalysts for the CO2RR, including regulation of metal nodes, modulation of surrounding organic ligands, and post-modification of MOFs. In addition, stability of MOFs and transformation strategies through the wet chemistry method and pyrolysis treatment to obtain MOF derivatives are summarized. Metal centers and the coordination environment of N atoms and other heteroatoms of MOF derivatives are discussed for their performance in the CO2RR. Furthermore, computational simulations and advanced characterization studies are also summarized to understand the correlation between the structure and performance of MOFs and their derivatives. By overviewing the progress and current challenges of MOF electrocatalysts and their derivatives for the CO2RR, we are aiming to provide insights into design principles and propose future directions for high-efficiency electrocatalysts, paving the way toward carbon neutrality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global aging is rapidly accelerating, which significantly influences the health systems worldwide. Frailty emerges as the most conspicuous hallmark of aging, imposing novel global health challenges. Characterized by a multifaceted decline across physiological system, frailty diminishes an individual's capacity to maintain equilibrium in the presence of stressors, which leads to adverse outcomes such as falls, delirium, and disability. Several screening tools and interventions have been developed to mitigate the harm caused by frailty to human health, but research on frailty in mainland China commences belatedly with scant studies conducted. Therefore, it is imperative to explore screening methods and treatment modalities tailored to the Chinese context, thereby enhancing the older adults' quality of life and advancing social medicine. This review aims to elucidate the evolution, diagnosis, and management of frailty, alongside the challenges it poses, with the overarching goal of guiding future diagnostic and therapeutic endeavors. Specifically, we summarized the mechanisms of frailty and intervention strategies in elderly people, and meanwhile, we evaluated the advantages and disadvantages of different measurement tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The submerged entry nozzle (SEN) is an indispensable functional structural ceramic in the current continuous casting production. The stability and safety of the SEN is very important during the casting process. In this article, the functional failure of the SEN during the continuous casting process of the bearing steel GCr15 is studied. The results show that the functional failure of the SEN during the bearing steel GCr15 casting process is caused by the clogging inside the SEN which is led by the low cleanliness and the high impurities n the molten steel. The clogging in the SEN can be divided into solidified steel area, loose area, dense area, and surface area. To improve the castability of bearing steel or other high‐cleanliness steel, it is necessary to strengthen the refining process and treatment effect, strengthen the sealing and the effect of the protective casting of the molten steel, and moderate optimization of nozzle materials or the application of external fields on the SEN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microwave deicing is an efficient and environment-friendly technology for asphalt pavement. Previous studies have shown that silicon carbide can improve the deicing efficiency of pavement, but the influence of drastic temperature change during microwave deicing on the temperature stress and temperature fatigue life is undefined. In this study, the temperature stress during heating and cooling were analysed by numerical simulation, and the mechanism of stress change was discussed. Finally, the temperature fatigue performance of pavement was evaluated. The simulation results showed that an increase in the temperature rising rate did not necessarily increase the temperature stress, and there was no stress accumulation after microwave deicing. The temperature stress was affected by both the temperature change rate and the heat transfer performance, and good heat transfer performance of asphalt mixture could reduce the temperature stress. Besides, the drastic temperature change did not necessarily reduce the temperature fatigue life of pavement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid and orderly heat transfer of asphalt pavement has emerged as a crucial focus in solving the high temperature problem of pavement. At present, it is not comprehensive and accurate to characterize the heat transfer capacity of asphalt pavement only by thermal conductivity. In order to further investigate the heat transfer characteristic, the entransy was selected to characterize the heat transfer capacity of asphalt pavement. The heat transfer model was constructed using COMSOL. The temperature and heat flux were analyzed by entransy dissipation, and the heat transfer characteristics of asphalt pavement was determined. The results show that the entransy dissipation in the heat transfer process mainly occurs in the surface layer, where the entransy dissipation was 4.11 times that of the base layer, resulting in the heat accumulation and an increase in the surface temperature. There is still a big difference of entransy dissipation under the same thermal conductivity of surface layer. The entransy dissipation of the upper surface layer was 2.61 times that of the lower surface layer at 11:00. In addition, the thermal conductivity has a greater influence on the entransy dissipation than the heat capacity and density. The increase of thermal conductivity can reduce the entransy dissipation, thereby improving the heat transfer capacity of the pavement. When the thermal conductivity of the upper surface layer increased from 1 to 3 W m−1 K−1), the entransy dissipation decreased by 37.94%. What is more, the larger gradient distribution of the thermal conductivity between different surface layer in asphalt pavement would increase the entransy dissipation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mineral dust plays an important role in Earth's climate system, yet it is difficult to identify dust imprints in paleofluvial sediments, especially on orbital timescales. Here, we present high‐resolution authigenic carbonate Ca–Mg–Sr compositions in a fluvial sequence under the transport pathway of Asian dust. The Mg/Ca, Sr/Ca, and Mg/Sr ratios exhibit distinct transitions in both secular trends and orbital cycles at ∼8 Ma. Before ∼8 Ma, given similar Mg and Sr partitioning behaviors during carbonate formation, hydroclimate changes yielded strong orbital signals in the Sr/Ca and Mg/Ca ratios but no detectable signals in the Mg/Sr ratios. After ∼8 Ma, given the strengthened input of Mg‐rich dust during cold‒dry periods, the Mg/Sr and Mg/Ca ratios clearly exhibited orbital signals, but the Sr/Ca ratio did not. Such transitions in carbonate composition corroborate the dust‐induced changes in fluvial hydrochemistry, offering an innovative methodology for detecting orbital dust cycles in paleofluvial systems. Plain Language Summary: A set of criteria, that is, transport and sedimentation dynamics, the surface morphology of quartz grains and provenance indices, were employed to recognize eolian deposits in past fluvial sediments. However, distinguishing eolian dust at orbital scales poses a challenge, as high‐resolution records that meet these criteria are difficult to reconstruct. Here, we present high‐resolution records of authigenic carbonate compositions from Neogene fluvial sediments in the Linxia Basin, a key downwind catchment area for Asian dust. The carbonate elemental compositions, in conjunction with sedimentary Sr‒Nd isotopes, exhibit a long‐term two‐stage evolution marked by a pivotal shift at ∼8 Ma. This transition is most likely attributed to an increase in Asian dust deposition since that time. On orbital timescales, the periodic fluctuations in extrabasinal dust flux, characterized by Mg‐rich but Sr‐poor components (mostly dolomite), have led to pronounced alterations in the orbital patterns of carbonate Ca‐Mg‐Sr compositions since ∼8 Ma. Our findings indicate that carbonate Ca‐Mg‐Sr compositions can offer a straightforward and innovative approach for pinpointing eolian dust activity on orbital timescales when extrabasinal dust can be appropriately distinguished. Key Points: A close examination of carbonate compositions offers a new method for identifying orbital dust cycles within continental fluvial systemsThe authigenic carbonate composition in a fluvial sequence in NE Tibet shows a distinct orbital transition at ∼8 MaMg‐rich dust markedly altered the river chemistry during the cold/arid stages, with a less pronounced effect during the warm/humid stages [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquid-phase sintering of Cu–30 wt.% Co alloy, involving liquid Cu coexisting with solid Co particles, was performed with and without a 12 T magnetic field. The microstructure evolution and coarsening behavior of polycrystalline Co particles during the sintering were investigated. The Co particle size increased with increasing sintering time, both with and without the high magnetic field; however, the application of the high magnetic field led to larger Co particles through a higher coarsening velocity. Additionally, under the high magnetic field, chain-like Co particle structures were formed. The coarsening and chain-like structure of the polycrystalline Co particles in the high magnetic field could be linked to the alignment of the magnetic domains in the particles and the induction of magnetic dipole–dipole interactions between particles, which promoted contact between Co particles. This study provides guidance and reference for the use of high magnetic fields to control liquid-phase sintering of polycrystalline particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR) facilitates and enables societal benefits from satellite oceanography, supporting operational and experimental satellite missions, developing new and improved ocean observing capabilities, engaging users by developing and distributing fit-for-purpose data, applications, tools, and services, and curating, translating, and integrating diverse data products into information that supports informed decision making. STAR research, development, and application efforts span from passive visible, infrared, and microwave observations to active altimetry, scatterometry, and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) observations. These efforts directly support NOAA's operational geostationary (GEO) and low Earth orbit (LEO) missions with calibration/validation and retrieval algorithm development, implementation, maintenance, and anomaly resolution, as well as leverage the broader international constellation of environmental satellites for NOAA's benefit. STAR's satellite data products and services enable research, assessments, applications, and, ultimately, decision making for understanding, predicting, managing, and protecting ocean and coastal resources, as well as assessing impacts of change on the environment, ecosystems, and climate. STAR leads the NOAA Coral Reef Watch and CoastWatch/OceanWatch/PolarWatch Programs, helping people access and utilize global and regional satellite data for ocean, coastal, and ecosystem applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Dupilumab has shown good effectiveness and safety in patients with moderate‐to‐severe atopic dermatitis. However, there is a lack of clinical data that focuses solely on the treatment response for the endpoint to observe the short‐term goal (12 weeks) in the treatment‐to‐target (T2T) concept. Study on predictors of early treatment response is also limited. Objective. To evaluate the early effectiveness and safety of dupilumab in the treatment of moderate‐to‐severe atopic dermatitis and to identify possible predictors of response. Methods. Using a retrospective study method, patients with moderate‐to‐severe atopic dermatitis who received dupilumab for ≥12 weeks at the Southwest Hospital between September 2019 and April 2022 were included. Results. Totally 16.25% of patients achieved EASI75 after 4 weeks and 53.75% achieved EASI75 after 12 weeks. SCORAD, EASI, and NRS were 50.17 ± 17.35, 13.51 ± 12.33 and 7.10 ± 1.82 in turn at baseline, and decreased to 29.94 ± 15.01, 6.97 ± 7.92, 3.64 ± 1.39 and 14.96 ± 10.31, 3.05 ± 4.16, 2.19 ± 1.09 after 4 and 12 weeks, respectively, with statistically significant differences (p < 0.01). After 12 weeks, the changes in peripheral blood eosinophil count (decreased from (0.60 ± 0.43) ∗ 10^9/L to (0.30 ± 0.21) ∗ 10^9/L), total IgE level (decreased from 547.00 (179.00, 2167.50) IU/ml to 216.50 (106.00, 825.00) IU/ml), and LDH (decreased from (166.11 ± 171.59) IU/L to (67.54 ± 70.68) IU/L) from baseline were significant (p < 0.01). Elevated peripheral blood eosinophil counts might be associated with an inadequate response to dupilumab (SCORAD12w: p = 0.007; EASI12w: p = 0.003; NRS12w: p = 0.030). The most common adverse events were reactions at the injection site (6/80) and conjunctivitis (4/80). Conclusion. Dupilumab showed good early effectiveness and safety in real‐world practice in Chinese patients with moderate‐to‐severe atopic dermatitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Thoracolumbar vertebral fractures are common pathological fractures caused by osteoporosis in the elderly. These fractures are challenging to detect. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of Hounsfield units for osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral non-compression fractures in elderly patients with low-energy fractures. Methods: The retrospective case-control study included elderly patients diagnosed with osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral fractures and non-fractured patients who underwent computed tomography examinations for lumbar vertebra issues during July 2017 and June 2020. Results: This study included 216 patients with fractures (38 males and 178 females; average age: 77.28± 8.68 years) and 124 patients without fractures (21 males and 103 females; average age: 75.35± 9.57 years). The difference in Hounsfield units of the target (intermediate) vertebral body significantly differed between the two groups (54.74 ± 21.84 vs 5.86 ± 5.14; p< 0.001). The ratios of Hounsfield units were also significantly different between the two groups (1.38 ± 1.60 vs 0.13 ± 0.23; p< 0.001). The cut-off value for the difference in Hounsfield units to detect osteoporotic spine fractures was 25.35, with high sensitivity (98.5%), specificity (99.9%), and the area under the curve (AUC) (0.999, 95% CI: 0.999– 1). The cut-off value for the odds ratio of Hounsfield units was 0.260, with high sensitivity (99.1%), specificity (92.7%), and AUC (0.970, 95% CI: 0.949– 0.992). Conclusion: The difference between Hounsfield units and the odds ratio of Hounsfield units might help diagnose osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral non-compression fractures in elderly patients with low-energy fractures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The eutectic high entropy alloys with large amounts of Al and Cr have exhibited superior oxidation resistance. Here, we confirmed that Si could further enhance the oxidation resistance by forming a continuous oxidation layer in Fe36Ni36Al15Cr10Si2Mo1 alloy. Si promoted the outward diffusion and transformation of Al which effectively enhanced the oxidation resistance. The FeCr2O4 spinel and silicate formed by the solid-state reaction also contributed to the oxidation resistance. The thermodynamic and kinetic factors were then discussed to understand the inherent oxidation mechanism of the dual-phase Fe36Ni36Al15Cr10Si2Mo1 alloy, which provide new insights into the dual-phase alloy design and oxidation resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vessel segmentation in fundus images is crucial for diagnosing eye diseases. The rapid development of deep learning has greatly improved segmentation accuracy. However, the scale of the retinal blood-vessel structure varies greatly, and there is a lot of noise unrelated to blood-vessel segmentation in fundus images, which increases the complexity and difficulty of the segmentation algorithm. Comprehensive consideration of factors like scale variation and noise suppression is imperative to enhance segmentation accuracy and stability. Therefore, we propose a retinal vessel segmentation method based on multi-scale feature extraction and decoupled representation. Specifically, we design a multi-scale feature extraction module at the skip connections, utilizing dilated convolutions to capture multi-scale features and further emphasizing crucial information through channel attention modules. Additionally, to separate useful spatial information from redundant information and enhance segmentation performance, we introduce an image reconstruction branch to assist in the segmentation task. The specific approach involves using a disentangled representation method to decouple the image into content and style, utilizing the content part for segmentation tasks. We conducted experiments on the DRIVE, STARE, and CHASE_DB1 datasets, and the results showed that our method outperformed others, achieving the highest accuracy across all three datasets (DRIVE:0.9690, CHASE_DB1:0.9757, and STARE:0.9765). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photoactive conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs) as heterogeneous photocatalysts provide a sustainable alternative to classical metal‐based semiconductor photosensitizers. However, previously reported CMPs are typically synthesized through metal catalyzed coupling reactions, which bears product separation, but also increases the price of materials. Herein, a new type of sp2 carbon linked DCM‐CMPs are successfully designed and synthesized by organic base catalyzed Knoevenagel reaction using 2,6‐Dimethyl‐4H‐pyran‐4‐ylidene‐malononitrile and aromatic polyaldehydes as monomers. The new polymers feature inherent porosity, excellent stability, and fully π‐conjugated skeleton with broad visible‐light absorption. They effectively induce the synthesis of benzimidazole compounds under light irradiation, and exhibit wide substrate adaptability with outstanding recyclability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Rapid efficacy is an important item to psoriasis patients. Risankizumab, a humanised immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody that inhibits IL‐23, has demonstrated early and sustained efficacy in patients with moderated‐to‐severe psoriasis. Effectiveness data in real world, particularly regarding short‐term response, however, are scarce. Objective. To explore the short‐term effectiveness of risankizumab in patients with moderate‐severe psoriasis in normal clinical practice. Methods. This was an observational, retrospective, multicentre study carried out at thirteen hospitals in Valencia, Spain. It was conducted on a sample of adult outpatients over 18 years of age, diagnosed with moderate‐to‐severe psoriasis who received at least one subcutaneous injection of 150 mg of risankizumab. Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) was used to assess the short‐term (4 weeks) effectiveness of risankizumab. Results. One hundred and sixteen patients (63.8% men) with a mean age (standard deviation (SD)) of 50 (16) years were included in the study. 90.6% were overweight or obese, and 22.7% were biologic‐naïve. The mean (SD) PASI score decreased from 11.9 (7.2) at the baseline to 3.3 (2.7) at week 4, with a median (SD) PASI score reduction of 8.6 (2.3) (p < 0.05). The absolute PASI score of <2 was reached by 52.6% of patients. Overall, PASI scores of 75, 90, and 100 were achieved in 56%, 37.1%, and 25.9% of patients, respectively, at week 4. PASI 90 was achieved by a significantly higher proportion of naïve patients than biologic‐experience failure patients (59.3% vs. 30.3%; p = 0.01). Conclusion. This study, which reflects our initial risankizumab experience in a real‐life setting, seems to show quick effectiveness in psoriasis treatment after one single dose. This trial is registered with NCT04862286. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen‐bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) are emerging porous materials that show high structural flexibility, mild synthetic conditions, good solution processability, easy healing and regeneration, and good recyclability. Although these properties give them many potential multifunctional applications, their frameworks are unstable due to the presence of only weak and reversible hydrogen bonds. In this work, the development history and synthesis methods of HOFs are reviewed, and categorize their structural design concepts and strategies to improve their stability. More importantly, due to the significant potential of the latest HOF‐related research for addressing energy and environmental issues, this work discusses the latest advances in the methods of energy storage and conversion, energy substance generation and isolation, environmental detection and isolation, degradation and transformation, and biological applications. Furthermore, a discussion of the coupling orientation of HOF in the cross‐cutting fields of energy and environment is presented for the first time. Finally, current challenges, opportunities, and strategies for the development of HOFs to advance their energy and environmental applications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covalent organic framework (COF) nanosheets have recently garnered great attention as a new class of functional materials. As one of the sustainable processes, however, the photocatalytic organic synthesis in water has not been investigated using COF nanosheets as a photocatalyst to date. Herein, we reported the synthesis of a fully conjugated COF nanosheets with carboxyl functional group through a cooperative strategy of chemical exfoliation and group transformation. The new COF nanosheets was found to be an efficient heterogeneous photocatalyst for a wide range of organic synthesis including selective oxidation of sulfides and oxidative coupling of benzylamines in water under visible–light illumination. This work contributes a new roadmap for the design and synthesis of functional COF–based nanosheets, but also further extends the application boundary of the ultrathin COF nanosheets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study intends to examine the reading process in Chinese of two young heritage language learners through the use of retrospective miscue analysis (RMA). Retrospective miscue analysis involves both the author and the reader in reflectively discussing the reader's oral reading miscues—responses that differ from the actual text. This study confirms the notion that reading is an active sense-making process where the graphophonic, syntactic, and semantic cues as well as translanguaging skills function interdependently to assist heritage language readers with meaning construction. Strategies of sampling, predicting, substituting, and correcting are also evident in their reading. These active but "invisible" reading behaviors are not available through asking comprehension questions. Instead, they are obtained from the reflective conversations between the researcher and the students. Retrospective miscue analysis helps readers gain a deeper understanding of the reading process and enhances their metacognitive skills. This study also includes language and reading behaviors that are unique to Chinese heritage language learners as well as implications for parents and teachers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AlCrFeNi multi-component alloys with excellent mechanical properties have been designed and extensively investigated in recent years. The massive fabrication of sheets will be an effective way for industrial application, where hot rolling is the inevitable process. After hot rolling, the mechanical properties could be further tailored. In this study, the effects of heat treatments on a dual-phase Al17Cr10Fe36Ni36Mo1 hot-rolled plate were systematically investigated, including: (i) annealing (700 °C, 850 °C, 1000 °C and 1150 °C for 1 h, respectively), (ii) solution and single aging (1150 °C for 1 h and 700 °C for 4 h), (iii) solution and double aging (1150 °C for 1 h, 700 °C for 4 h and 650 °C for 1 h). The B2 precipitates with varied morphologies were observed in the FCC matrix of the hot-rolled alloy after a heat treatment range from 700 °C to 1000 °C for 1 h, and the BCC particles in the B2 matrix were dissolved when the heat treatment temperature was higher than 1000 °C. The hot-rolled alloy heat treated at 700 °C for 1 h had the highest yield strength, and the hot-rolled alloy treated at 1150 °C for 1 h showed the lowest yield strength. After a solution at 1150 °C for 1 h, aging at 700 °C for 4 h and 650 °C for 1 h, the L12 phase and BCC particles were precipitated in the FCC and B2 matrices, and B2 nanoprecipitates were observed around the FCC grain boundaries. The solution and double aging alloy exhibit the tensile strength of 1365.7 ± 9.5 MPa, a fracture elongation of 14.2 ± 1.5% at 20 °C, a tensile strength of 641.4 ± 6.0 MPa, and a fracture elongation of 16.9 ± 1.0% at 700 °C, showing great potential for application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continuum macroscopic transport approach combined with a tabulated thermodynamic phase transformation path is established to predict the macrosegregation in Fe‐1.05 wt% C‐1.65 wt% Cr hypereutectoid steel castings. A combined partial‐equilibrium (PE) and para‐equilibrium (PA) thermodynamic approximation is developed to retrieve the phase transformation path in steels. PA routine is performed on both austenite to stoichiometric cementite transition and austenite to α‐ferrite transition in eutectoid transformation. The approach is also applied to a hypoeutectoid alloy to predict austenite to α‐ferrite transition as well as δ‐ferrite to austenite transition in mushy zone. Thermodynamic properties in macroscopic transport approach are updated by group interpolation from tabulated phase transformation path. Results show that the interaction between substitutional solute Cr and interstitial C weakens the segregation of C and the amount of cementite in the center of casting, making the C distribution more consistent with that obtained by original position statistical distribution analysis in GCr15SiMn alloy castings. This implies that including the contribution of more components can make the estimate more reasonable. The results indicate the potential of macroscopic transport prediction coupled with tabulated phase transformation path through PE + PA approximation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zero-shot learning (ZSL) trains classifiers on seen classes and utilizes class-level semantic attributes to recognize unseen classes. In recent years, feature generation methods have been employed to address the data imbalance issue in ZSL by synthesizing samples of unseen classes. Nevertheless, the current generation methods solely rely on training the generator using seen classes, resulting in synthesized visual features that are inevitably biased toward seen classes and lack discriminative information. In this paper, we propose an effective ZSL method, termed zero-shot learning via categorization-relevant disentanglement and discriminative samples synthesis. To mitigate the category bias problem, we incorporate a domain discriminator and a semantic decoder into the generative network. By maximizing the decision boundary between categories, distinguishing unseen classes and promoting the alignment of synthetic features with their corresponding semantic embeddings, to enhance semantic consistency. In addition, to reduce the interference of redundant information in visual features, we propose a batch recombining-based disentangling method. The original visual features are projected into categorization-irrelevant and categorization-relevant representations through a conditional encoder, and a correlation penalty is employed to ensure the independence between the two component representations. The categorization-irrelevant representation is reorganized and spliced with the categorization-relevant representation, and disentanglement is achieved by calculating the difference between the post-reorganized and pre-reorganized representations. Finally, we train a classifier using the categorization-relevant representations to improve classification accuracy. Experiments are conducted on four publicly available ZSL datasets, and the proposed method achieves superior results, demonstrating its effectiveness in addressing the challenges of ZSL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ultrathin linear to circular polarization converter based on bi-functional metasurface is designed for simultaneous manipulation of reflection and transmission polarization conversion. The unit cell consists of a square ring and a central slant dipole loaded with two U-shaped stubs. The simulated results demonstrate that the proposed converter can transform the x(y)-polarized incident wave into left(right)-handed circularly polarized wave in the reflection mode, whereas into right(left)-handed circularly polarized wave in the transmission mode. Compared with other polarization converters, the proposed design can simultaneously provide reflection and transmission polarization conversion with opposite rotational directions in the range of 24.58–26.64 GHz. Besides, the angular stability of 3 dB axial ratio is up to 45° for two different working modes in the frequency range of 24.58–25.18 GHz. Furthermore, this design is built on a single metallic layer and a substrate in thickness 0.254 mm, making it easier to be fabricated and integrated. The experimental results demonstrate a good agreement with simulated ones. It is envisaged that the metasurface provides a new avenue for applications in polarization-controlled devices and microwave communications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To separate the resting-state network of patients with dental pain using independent component analysis (ICA) and analyze abnormal changes in functional connectivity within as well as between the networks. Patients and Methods: Twenty-three patients with dental pain and 30 healthy controls participated in this study. We extracted the resting-state functional network components of both using ICA. Functional connectivity differences within 14 resting-state brain networks were analyzed at the voxel level. Directional interactions between networks were analyzed using Granger causality analysis. Subsequently, functional connectivity values and causal coefficients were assessed for correlations with clinical parameters. Results: Compared to healthy controls, we found enhanced functional connectivity in the left superior temporal gyrus of anterior protrusion network and the right Rolandic operculum of auditory network in patients with dental pain (p< 0.01 and cluster-level p< 0.05, Gaussian random field corrected). In contrast, functional connectivity of the right precuneus in the precuneus network was reduced, and were significantly as well as negatively correlated to those of the Visual Analogue Scale (r=− 4.93, p=0.017), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (r=− 0.46, p=0.027), and Hamilton Depression Scale (r=− 0.563, p< 0.01), using the Spearman correlation analysis. Regarding the causal relationship between resting-state brain networks, we found increased connectivity from the language network to the precuneus in patients with dental pain (p< 0.05, false discovery rate corrected). However, the increase in causal coefficients from the verbal network to the precuneus network was independent of clinical parameters. Conclusion: Patients with toothache exhibited abnormal functional changes in cognitive-emotion-related brain networks, such as the salience, auditory, and precuneus networks, thereby offering a new imaging basis for understanding central neural mechanisms in dental pain patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the reactions of nonacarbonyldiiron with 8‐alkynyloxyquinoline ligands (L1‐L3) and their resultant iron carbonyl complexes (1a, 1b, 2, and 3) are described. The complexes including the ligands were fully characterized by using a variety of spectroscopic techniques. The four complexes were also crystallographically determined. In the reactions, the quinoline N atom underwent cyclization to form a quinolinium skeleton while the C‐H bond of the quinoline at position 2 or the substituted methyl group was cleaved to form Fe‐C bond(s). Meanwhile, the alkynyl triple bond was reduced to a single bond (1a) or double bonds (1b, 2, and 3) to further coordinate the iron in σ‐bonds or η‐bonds. Particularly, pathways of hydrogenation (1a and 2) and/or dehydrogenation (1b and 3) were accompanied by the reactions. Moreover, the oxidation states of the iron centers in these complexes were identified through analyses of their bond formation, FTIR and NMR spectroscopic signals (1H NMR and DEPT‐135) in combination with their diamagnetic nature, that is, iron (0) for 2 and iron (I) for the rest of the diiron complexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the growth in the number of older drivers and accidents, there is still a lack of clarity about the risk of elderly-related accidents in China. Cognitive function is an important factor affecting driving behavior. This study links cognitive function and driving behavior, aiming to explore the micro cognitive driving behavior characteristics of older drivers. An emergency event of sudden lane-changing of the leading vehicle is set in a driving simulator. 18 younger and 20 older drivers participate in the testing and their driving behavior data are used to build trajectory graphs. It can be observed that older drivers have more risk of behavioral changes. Further, the subjects' collision avoidance responses are divided into perception, judgment, and operation stages to reveal the mechanism of cognitive action on driving response. In contrast to the younger, older drivers have longer braking reaction time, smaller braking speed, larger minimum braking acceleration, and smaller maximum steering wheel speed. Based on these characteristics of older drivers, some age-appropriate vehicle designs and interventions have been proposed to improve their driving safety. This study contributes to better understanding the essence of risky driving behavior of older adults, and provides a basis for the formulation of management measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the efficiency and accuracy of multitarget detection of soldering defects on surface-mounted components in Printed Circuit Board (PCB) fabrication, we propose a sample generation method using Stable Diffusion Model and ControlNet, as well as a defect detection method based on the Swin Transformer. The method consists of two stages: First, high-definition original images collected in industrial production and the corresponding prompts are input to Stable Diffusion Model and ControlNet for automatic generation of nonindependent samples. Subsequently, we integrate Swin Transformer as the backbone into the Cascade Mask R-CNN to improve the quality of defect features extracted from the samples for accurate detection box localization and segmentation. Instead of segmenting individual components on the PCB, the method inspects all components in the field of view simultaneously over a larger area. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our method in scaling up nonindependent sample datasets, thereby enabling the generation of high-quality datasets. The method accurately recognizes targets and detects defect types when performing multitarget inspection on printed circuit boards. The analysis against other models shows that our improved defect detection and segmentation method improves the Average Recall (AR) by 2.8% and the mean Average Precision (mAP) by 1.9%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generalized zero-shot learning (GZSL) aims to simultaneously recognize both seen classes and unseen classes by training only on seen class samples and auxiliary semantic descriptions. Recent state-of-the-art methods infer unseen classes based on semantic information or synthesize unseen classes using generative models based on semantic information, all of which rely on the correct alignment of visual–semantic features. However, they often overlook the inconsistency between original visual features and semantic attributes. Additionally, due to the existence of cross-modal dataset biases, the visual features extracted and synthesized by the model may also mismatch with some semantic features, which could hinder the model from properly aligning visual–semantic features. To address this issue, this paper proposes a GZSL framework that enhances the consistency of visual–semantic features using a self-distillation and disentanglement network (SDDN). The aim is to utilize the self-distillation and disentanglement network to obtain semantically consistent refined visual features and non-redundant semantic features to enhance the consistency of visual–semantic features. Firstly, SDDN utilizes self-distillation technology to refine the extracted and synthesized visual features of the model. Subsequently, the visual–semantic features are then disentangled and aligned using a disentanglement network to enhance the consistency of the visual–semantic features. Finally, the consistent visual–semantic features are fused to jointly train a GZSL classifier. Extensive experiments demonstrate that the proposed method achieves more competitive results on four challenging benchmark datasets (AWA2, CUB, FLO, and SUN). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic migraine (CM) is a debilitating neurofunctional disorder primarily affecting females, characterized by central sensitization. Central sensitization refers to the enhanced response to sensory stimulation, which involves changes in neuronal excitability, synaptic plasticity, and neurotransmitter release. Environmental enrichment (EE) can increase the movement, exploration, socialization and other behaviors of mice. EE has shown promising effects in various neurological disorders, but its impact on CM and the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine whether EE has the potential to serve as a cost-effective intervention strategy for CM. Methods: A mouse CM model was successfully established by repeated administration of nitroglycerin (NTG). We selected adult female mice around 8 weeks old, exposed them to EE for 2 months, and then induced the CM model. Nociceptive threshold tests were measured using Von Frey filaments and a hot plate. The expression of c-Fos, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and inflammatory response were measured using WB and immunofluorescence to evaluate central sensitization. RNA sequencing was used to find differentially expressed genes and signaling pathways. Finally, the expression of the target differential gene was investigated. Results: Repeated administration of NTG can induce hyperalgesia in female mice and increase the expression of c-Fos and CGRP in the trigeminal nucleus caudalis (TNC). Early exposure of mice to EE reduced NTG-induced hyperalgesia in CM mice. WB and immunofluorescence revealed that EE inhibited the overexpression of c-Fos and CGRP in the TNC of CM mice and alleviated the inflammatory response of microglia activation. RNA sequencing analysis identified that several central sensitization-related signaling pathways were altered by EE. VGluT1, a key gene involved in behavior, internal stimulus response, and ion channel activity, was found to be downregulated in mice exposed to EE. Conclusion: EE can significantly ameliorate hyperalgesia in the NTG-induced CM model. The mechanisms may be to modulate central sensitization by reducing the expression of CGRP, attenuating the inflammatory response, and downregulating the expression of VGluT1, etc., suggesting that EE can serve as an effective preventive strategy for CM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) that promote the growth of beneficial gut microbes in infants are abundant in human milk. Streptococcus, one of the dominant genera in human milk microbiota, is also highly prevalent in the infant gut microbiota, possibly due to its adeptness at utilizing HMOs. While previous studies have mainly focused on HMO interactions with gut bacteria like Bifidobacterium and Bacteroides spp., the interaction with Streptococcus spp. has not been fully explored. In this study, Streptococcus spp. was isolated from human milk and identified to exhibit extensive capabilities in utilizing HMOs. Their consumption rates of 2′-fucosyllactose (2′-FL), 6′-sialyllactose (6′-SL), and lacto-N-tetraose (LNT) closely matched those of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis ATCC 15697. Furthermore, we assessed the safety-related genes in the genomes of the Streptococcus species capable of utilizing HMOs, revealing potential virulence and resistance genes. In addition, no haemolytic activity was observed. These findings expand the knowledge of metabolic interactions and networks within the microbiota of human milk and the early life human gut. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diminishing marginal effect during microwave heating and lower heat transfer efficiency in asphalt mixture limit the improvement in microwave heating property. In order to minimize the diminishing marginal effect and improve the heat transfer efficiency, a shell–core microwave-enhanced aggregate (SMEA) with different electromagnetic parameters and thermal conductivity was designed based on the principle of equivalent electromagnetic parameters. A three-phase model was established using COMSOL to investigate the influences of the core and shell radius ratio of SMEA (R1/R2) on the electromagnetic intensity and temperature distribution. The results demonstrated that SMEA improved the impedance matching between asphalt mixture and air by extending the microwave propagation path through the cavity resonance of SMEA. The heat generated by SMEA during the microwave heating was concentrated on its surface. The value of R1/R2 influenced the microwave heating efficiency by affecting the distribution of electromagnetic and temperature fields. The optimum R1/R2 was 0.5, where the electromagnetic loss of asphalt mixture containing SMEA was 7.05% higher than that of asphalt mixture with ordinary microwave-enhanced aggregate, and the heat transfer efficiency from SMEA to non-microwave enhanced structure increased by 10.03%. The laboratory experiments also verified the SMEA can improve the microwave heating efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The acquisition cycle of remote sensing images is slow, and the labelling process encounters challenges, which have become prominent with the rapid development of remote sensing image object detection research. Therefore, this article provides a way to make the model better capture the diversity and contextual relationships in the data, and solve this problem by more than just data augmentation. Specifically, this method is a few‐shot object detection method for remote sensing based on global context combined with implicit knowledge decoupled head (GC‐IKDH). This method first uses a segmentation strategy to convert high‐resolution images into low‐resolution images and expands the sample size through a generative model. Secondly, GC attention is introduced to generate a GC vector by weighting and averaging the information of each position in the input sequence, which helps the model better understand the semantics of the input sequence. Finally, an IKDH is added to improve the model head, which is used to learn specific features in the data so that the model can better handle the diversity in the data. Experimental results show that GC attention and IKDH boosting provide a good performance boost to the baseline model. Compared with other few‐shot samples, this method achieves state‐of‐the‐art performance under different shot settings and highly competitive results on two benchmark datasets (NWPU VHR‐10 and DIOR). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The industrial byproduct gypsum is a general term for byproducts discharged from industrial production with calcium sulfate as the main ingredient. Due to the high number of impurities and production volume, the industrial byproduct gypsum is underutilized, leading to serious environmental problems. At present, only desulfurization gypsum and phosphogypsum have been partially utilized in cementitious materials, cement retarders, etc., while the prospects for the utilization of other byproduct gypsums remain worrying. This paper mainly focuses on the sources and physicochemical properties of various types of gypsum byproducts and summarizes the application scenarios of various gypsums in construction materials. Finally, some suggestions are proposed to solve the problem of the industrial byproduct gypsum. This review is informative for solving the environmental problems caused by gypsum accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the characteristics of Lactobacillus helveticus-derived whey-calcium chelate (LHWCC) and its effect on the calcium absorption and bone health of rats. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy showed that carboxyl oxygen atoms, amino nitrogen atoms, and phosphate ions were the major binding sites with calcium in LHWCC, which has a sustained release effect in simulated in vitro digestion. LHWCC had beneficial effects on serum biochemical parameters, bone biomechanics, and the morphological indexes of the bones of calcium-deficient rats when fed at a dose of 40 mg Ca/kg BW for 7 weeks. In contrast to the inorganic calcium supplement, LHWCC significantly upregulated the gene expression of transient receptor potential cation V5 (TRPV5), TRPV6, PepT1, calcium-binding protein-D9k (Calbindin-D9k), and a calcium pump (plasma membrane Ca-ATPase, PMCA1b), leading to promotion of the calcium absorption rate, whereas Ca3(PO4)2 only upregulated the TRPV6 channel in vivo. These findings illustrate the potential of LHWCC as an organic calcium supplement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) can enter the human body in various ways and have adverse effects on human health. Human lungs and eyes are exposed to the air for a long time and are the first to be exposed to PM2.5. The "liquid immersion exposure method" has some limitations that prevent it from fully reflecting the toxic effects of particulate matter on the human body. In this study, the collected PM2.5 samples were chemically analyzed. An air–liquid interface (ALI) model with a high correlation to the in vivo environment was established based on human lung epithelial cells (A549) and immortalized human corneal epithelial cells (HCE-T). The VITROCELL Cloud 12 system was used to distribute PM2.5 on the cells evenly. After exposure for 6 h and 24 h, cell viability, apoptosis rate, reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, expression of inflammatory factors, and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage were measured. The results demonstrated significant dose- and time-dependent effects of PM2.5 on cell viability, cell apoptosis, ROS generation, and DNA damage at the ALI, while the inflammatory factors showed dose-dependent effects only. It should be noted that even short exposure to low doses of PM2.5 can cause cell DNA double-strand breaks and increased expression of γ-H2AX, indicating significant genotoxicity of PM2.5. Increased abundance of ROS in cells plays a crucial role in the cytotoxicity induced by PM2.5 exposure These findings emphasize the significant cellular damage and genotoxicity that may result from short-term exposure to low levels of PM2.5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A dual-band circular polarized antenna with broad bandwidth is proposed. Two circular grooves with different radii are carved on the ground to generate two frequency bands. Two rectangular slots are engraved on the outside of the circular groove. By adjusting the length of the two slots, this antenna can radiate right-handed circularly polarized (RHCP) waves at two frequency bands, which can cover GPS L5 (1.176 GHz), L2 (1.227 GHz), L1 (1.575 GHz), BDS, GALILEO, and GLONASS bands. The measured −10 dB bandwidth is 46.3 % (1.13–1.81 GHz) and 3 dB axial ratio bandwidths are 15.6 % (1.11–1.30 GHz) and 17.8 % (1.38–1.65 GHz). The measured gains are 2.51 dBi and 2.67 dBi at 1.2 GHz and 1.56 GHz, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The disposal of electroplating sludge (ES) is a major challenge for the sustainable development of the electroplating industry. ESs have a significant environmental impact, occupying valuable land resources and incurring high treatment costs, which increases operational expenses for companies. Additionally, the high concentration of hazardous substances in ES poses a serious threat to both the environment and human health. Despite extensive scholarly research on the harmless treatment and resource utilization of ES, current technology and processes are still unable to fully harness its potential. This results in inefficient resource utilization and potential environmental hazards. This article analyzes the physicochemical properties of ES, discusses its ecological hazards, summarizes research progress in its treatment, and elaborates on methods such as solidification/stabilization, heat treatment, wet metallurgy, pyrometallurgy, biotechnology, and material utilization. It provides a comparative summary of different treatment processes while also discussing the challenges and future development directions for technologies aimed at effectively utilizing ES resources. The objective of this text is to provide useful information on how to address the issue of ES treatment and promote sustainable development in the electroplating industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemotherapy alters the prognostic biomarker histopathological growth pattern (HGP) phenotype in colorectal liver metastases (CRLMs) patients. We aimed to develop a CT-based radiomics model to predict the transformation of the HGP phenotype after chemotherapy. This study included 181 patients with 298 CRLMs who underwent preoperative contrast-enhanced CT followed by partial hepatectomy between January 2007 and July 2022 at two institutions. HGPs were categorized as pure desmoplastic HGP (pdHGP) or non-pdHGP. The samples were allocated to training, internal validation, and external validation cohorts comprising 153, 65, and 29 CRLMs, respectively. Radiomics analysis was performed on pre-enhanced, arterial phase, portal venous phase (PVP), and fused images. The model was used to predict prechemotherapy HGPs in 112 CRLMs, and HGP transformation was analysed by comparing these findings with postchemotherapy HGPs determined pathologically. The prevalence of pdHGP was 19.8% (23/116) and 45.8% (70/153) in chemonaïve and postchemotherapy patients, respectively (P < 0.001). The PVP radiomics signature showed good performance in distinguishing pdHGP from non-pdHGPs (AUCs of 0.906, 0.877, and 0.805 in the training, internal validation, and external validation cohorts, respectively). The prevalence of prechemotherapy pdHGP predicted by the radiomics model was 33.0% (37/112), and the prevalence of postchemotherapy pdHGP according to the pathological analysis was 47.3% (53/112; P = 0.029). The transformation of HGP was bidirectional, with 15.2% (17/112) of CRLMs transforming from prechemotherapy pdHGP to postchemotherapy non-pdHGP and 30.4% (34/112) transforming from prechemotherapy non-pdHGP to postchemotherapy pdHGP (P = 0.005). CT-based radiomics method can be used to effectively predict the HGP transformation in chemotherapy-treated CRLM patients, thereby providing a basis for treatment decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study intends to explore the role and molecular mechanism of hsa_circ_0005519 in acute kidney injury (AKI). Methods: We conducted reverse transcription-qPCR for human serum to determine levels of hsa_circ_0005519 in AKI patients and healthy controls. Hsa_circ_0005519 was inhibited for expression in HK-2 cells using specific siRNAs. A number of techniques, MTT and ELISA assays, were used to analyze the potential role of hsa_circ_0005519 in cell viability, oxidative stress, and inflammation of LPS-induced HK-2 cells. results: The serum of patients with AKI exhibited a significant increase in hsa_circ_0005519 expression, compared with healthy controls. Hsa_circ_0005519 was knockdown by siRNA, and its knockdown led to cell viability increase in LPS-induced HK-2 cells. Inhibition of hsa_circ_0005519 can reverse the TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β increase in LPS-induced HK-2 cells. Inhibiting hsa_circ_0005519 led to downregulation of MPO and MDA levels. MiR-98-5p was a downstream miRNA for hsa_circ_0005519. MiR-98-5p can offset the effects of hsa_circ_0005519 on LPS-induced HK-2 cells. IFG1R was a target gene for miR-98-5p. Conclusions: These findings indicate that the highly expressed hsa_circ_0005519 plays a promoting role in AKI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asphalt pavement cooling can alleviate urban heat island effect and promote sustainable urbanization. However, the current design of cooling pavement cannot meet the needs of efficient cooling due to the lack of optimization index. The goal of this study is to make the optimization design of cooling pavement more scientific by applying the entransy dissipation theory. The entransy balance equation of pavement was established. Then taking the gradient heat conduction pavement as the research object, the cooling mechanism was analyzed by using the entransy dissipation thermal resistance (Rg). Finally, according to the cooling mechanism, the optimized pavement was established with Rg as the optimization index, and the temperature and thermal effect of pavement before and after optimization were evaluated. The results indicated that resistance exists in the heat transfer process, which was defined as Rg. Gradient heat conduction pavement could realize cooling by increasing the Rg. The Rg of gradient heat conduction pavement was 1.30 times that of ordinary pavement. However, the temperature could only be reduced by 0.6 °C compared with that of the ordinary pavement. On the contrary, the optimized pavement could lower the temperature by 3.8 °C compared with that of the ordinary pavement, and the heat dissipation and absorption were 24.42% higher and 15.08% lower than those of the gradient heat conduction pavement. The cooling effect of optimized pavement was verified by an indoor irradiation test. In conclusion, the optimized pavement can be built with a good cooling effect by using Rg as optimization index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]