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Iodine‐based Sn‐Pb mixed perovskite single crystals (SCs) are promising candidates for near‐infrared (NIR) narrowband photodetectors due to their low bandgaps. However, they are highly defective when grown in ambient air due to the extremely poor air stability of Sn2+ ions in precursor solutions. It is discovered that the oxidation of Sn2+ to Sn4+ ions not only consumes Sn2+ ions but also increases the precursor solution viscosity. The increased viscosity slows down the solute diffusion and hinders the anisotropic growth of SCs, leading to Sn‐Pb perovskite SCs with curved convex surfaces and unevenly distributed composition. By preventing the solute‐diffusion‐limited growth mode with hypophosphorous acid (H3PO2), high‐quality Sn‐Pb perovskite SCs can be robustly grown in ambient air with low trap density of 6.58 × 109 cm−3 and high carrier mobility‐lifetime product (µτ) of 1.5 × 10−3 cm2 V−1. Accordingly, a series of filterless NIR narrowband photodetectors with gradually tuned detection centers and dual detection modes has been achieved, delivering a maximum external quantum efficiency of 15.2% and detectivity of 1.19 × 1010 Jones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Global climate change has led to increases in the temperature and decreases in the number of frost days in northern China, facilitating a shift from a single cropping system (SCS, spring maize) to a double cropping system (DCS, winter wheat-summer maize rotation). Methods: Therefore, under the current climate conditions, DCS expansion should be evaluated, and new planting schemes should be explored. In this paper, we identified the areas with potential for DCS in northern China considering an annual accumulated temperature of >0°C. The World Food Studies simulation model was used to simulate the yield, irrigation requirement (IR), and net income under various crop management conditions when considering the maximum yield and water use efficiency (WUE) of crops. Results: Our results indicated that the potential DCS area increased by approximately 31.51 × 104 km2 in northern China, with the primary DCS areas being located in the provinces of Gansu, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Hebei, and Liaoning. Regarding variety selection, winter wheat and summer maize varieties with early and mid-early maturation were found to be favored for the potential DCS areas. The sowing dates corresponding to the maximum WUEs of the crops were later than those corresponding to the maximum yields. In the potential DCS areas, under the maximum yield condition, the average unit total yield, IR, and net income increased to 2700 kg ha−1, 305 mm, and 607 USD ha−1, respectively, whereas under the maximum WUE condition, increases of 2862 kg ha−1, 284 mm, and 608 USD ha−1, respectively, were observed. The average unit total yield of the DCS was 15927 and 13793 kg ha−1 under the maximum yield and maximum WUE condition, respectively. Discussion: Our findings may clarify the effects of climate change on agricultural production patterns and indicate suitable crop management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to analyze the influence of a water medium on the forming process and penetration performance of a shaped charge jet, a comparative study was carried out on an underwater shaped charge jet (USCJ) and a shaped charge jet (SCJ) in air. The virtual mass hypothesis is proposed to analyze the forming mechanism of USCJs. The arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian algorithm is adopted to carry out a series of simulation calculations considering the impact of standoff height and liner cone angle. The penetration test of the shaped charge jet in two media is carried out, and the experimental results verify the effectiveness of the theory and simulation. The differences of SCJ formation and penetration in air and water are analyzed. The results demonstrate that the USCJ exhibits a higher jet head velocity, higher cumulative kinetic energy, and a greater penetration ability than those of the jet in air. The depth of penetration (DOP) initially increases and subsequently decreases with an increase in the standoff height. The optimal standoff height of the USCJ is approximately 4–4.5 times greater than the charge diameter, whereas the SCJ in air is approximately 3.5–4 times greater than the charge diameter. Additionally, the DOP of the jet decreases at the optimal standoff height with an increase in the cone angle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Membranous nephropathy (MN) is a leading cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults and is associated with high rates of end-stage renal disease. Early detection and precise interventions are crucial for improving patient prognosis and quality of life. However, the current diagnosis primarily relies on renal biopsies and traditional biomarkers, which have limitations. Additionally, targeted therapeutic strategies are lacking. Exosomes, small vesicles that facilitate intercellular communication, have emerged as potential noninvasive diagnostic markers due to their stability, diverse cargo, and rapid detectability. They also hold promise as carriers for gene and drug delivery, presenting innovative opportunities in renal disease prognosis and treatment. However, research on exosomes in the context of idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) remains limited, with a focus on exploring urinary exosomes as IMN markers. In this review, we summarize the current status of MN diagnosis and treatment, highlight the fundamental characteristics of exosomes, and discuss recent advancements in their application to IMN diagnosis and therapy. We provide insights into the clinical prospects of exosomes in IMN and acknowledge potential challenges. This article aims to offer forward-looking insights into the future of exosome-mediated IMN diagnosis and treatment, indicating a revolutionary transformation in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China is the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the world, and agricultural GHG emission accounts for nearly a fifth of the total emission in China. To understand the carbon absorption and emission characteristics of agricultural production systems in those arid oasis areas, a typical representative city in northwestern China, Zhangye City, was selected for study.The emission factor method was used to analyze and calculate the characteristics of changing carbon emission dynamics in the whole agricultural production system in Zhangye city region (38,592 km2) from 2010 to 2021.The results revealed that carbon emissions during agricultural planting mainly come from fertilizers, which account for the highest proportion (47.9%) of total carbon emissions in agricultural planting. Animal enteric fermentation emissions from local livestock farming are the main contributor (86%) to GHG emissions. The annual average carbon absorption intensity is 4.4 t C-eq ha−1 for crop and 2.6 t C-eq ha−1 for the agricultural production system. The ratio of total carbon emissions from agricultural production to carbon sequestration of crops is 1:1.7. We find that the total carbon sequestration slightly exceeds its total carbon emissions in the study region, with an annual average of 41% for its sustainable development index. Carbon emissions of the agricultural production system in this oasis area are mainly driven by the livestock industry, mostly CH4 emissions from cattle raising.Reducing the local carbon emissions from the livestock industry, typically the cattle raising, will play a crucial role in reducing carbon emissions from this local agricultural production system and maintaining its net positive carbon balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadmium (Cd) exerts a toxic influence on numerous crucial growth and development processes in plants, notably affecting seed germination rate, transpiration rate, chlorophyll content, and biomass. While considerable advances in Cd uptake and detoxification of plants have been made, the mechanisms by which plants adapt to and tolerate Cd toxicity remain elusive. This review focuses on the relationship between Cd and plants and the prospects for phytoremediation of Cd pollution. We highlight the following issues: (1) the present state of Cd pollution and its associated hazards, encompassing the sources and distribution of Cd and the risks posed to human health; (2) the mechanisms underlying the uptake and transport of Cd, including the physiological processes associated with the uptake, translocation, and detoxification of Cd, as well as the pertinent gene families implicated in these processes; (3) the detrimental effects of Cd on plants and the mechanisms of detoxification, such as the activation of resistance genes, root chelation, vacuolar compartmentalization, the activation of antioxidant systems and the generation of non-enzymatic antioxidants; (4) the practical application of phytoremediation and the impact of incorporating exogenous substances on the Cd tolerance of plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we consider the existence and iterative approximation of solutions for a class of nonlinear fourth-order integro-differential equations (IDEs) with Navier boundary conditions. We first prove the existence and uniqueness of analytical solutions for a linear fourth-order IDE, which has rich applications in engineering and physics, and then we establish a maximum principle for the corresponding operator. Based upon the maximum principle, we develop a monotone iterative technique in the presence of lower and upper solutions to obtain iterative solutions for the nonlocal nonlinear problem under certain conditions. Some examples are presented to illustrate the main results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Misunderstanding the driver behavior in the next short time is the primary reason of the false warning for the lane departure warning system. This paper proposes a learning-based evaluation to predict whether the driver notices the deviation of the vehicle and takes corrective actions. First, statistical Gaussian model and K-means clustering method are utilized to classify driving style of drivers and determine warning areas based on key driving parameters extracted in driving scenarios. Then, according to the vehicle trajectory in the warning area and the time of lane crossing (TLC) value of the two warning area boundaries, an advanced horizontal dual-area warning (HDAW) model that is trained by bi-direction long short-term memory (BiLSTM) originated from recurrent neural network (RNN) is applied to predict the lane departure and corrective behavior of driver. The personalized warning strategy is finally developed by considering driver characteristics, which allows the warning system to adapt to different driving styles of drivers. Natural driving data from 57 drivers in the experimental driving simulator are collected to train personalized prediction and verify proposed evaluation method. The recent directional sequence of piecewise lateral slopes (DSPLS) and traditional TLC are also researched and compared. Experimental results show that the proposed approach has as low as false alarm rate of 3.97% and can improve prediction accuracy approximately 41.39% over DSPLS method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, sugars in root cortical cells could be exported as glucose or sucrose into peri‐arbuscular space for use by AM fungi. However, no sugar transporter has been identified to be involved in sucrose export. An AM‐inducible SWEET transporter, GmSWEET6, was functionally characterised in soybean, and its role in AM symbiosis was investigated via transgenic plants. The expression of GmSWEET6 was enhanced by inoculation with the cooperative fungal strain in both leaves and roots. Heterologous expression in a yeast mutant showed that GmSWEET6 mainly transported sucrose. Transgenic plants overexpressing GmSWEET6 increased sucrose concentration in root exudates. Overexpression or knockdown of GmSWEET6 decreased plant dry weight, P content, and sugar concentrations in non‐mycorrhizal plants, which were partly recovered in mycorrhizal plants. Intriguingly, overexpression of GmSWEET6 increased root P content and decreased the percentage of degraded arbuscules, while knockdown of GmSWEET6 increased root sugar concentrations in RNAi2 plants and the percentage of degraded arbuscules in RNAi1 plants compared with wild‐type plants when inoculated with AM fungi. These results in combination with subcellular localisation of GmSWEET6 to peri‐arbuscular membranes strongly suggest that GmSWEET6 is required for AM symbiosis by mediating sucrose efflux towards fungi. Summary statement: GmSWEET6 is localised to the peri‐arbuscular membranes and essential for stabilisation of AM symbiosis by mediating sucrose efflux towards AM fungi in soybean. Soybean growth and sugar allocation are affected by GmSWEET6 overexpression and RNA interference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, there is a growing acknowledgment of Indigenous Peoples' rights to control data related to their communities. This is seen in the development of Indigenous Data Governance standards. As health data collection increases, it's crucial to apply these standards in research involving Indigenous communities. Our study, therefore, aims to systematically review research using routinely collected health data of Indigenous Peoples, understanding the Indigenous Data Governance approaches and the associated advantages and challenges. We searched electronic databases for studies from 2013 to 2022, resulting in 85 selected articles. Of these, 65 (77%) involved Indigenous Peoples in the research, and 60 (71%) were authored by Indigenous individuals or organisations. While most studies (93%) provided ethical approval details, only 18 (21%) described Indigenous guiding principles, 35 (41%) reported on data sovereignty, and 28 (33%) addressed consent. This highlights the increasing focus on Indigenous Data Governance in utilising health data. Leveraging existing data sources in line with Indigenous data governance principles is vital for better understanding Indigenous health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the deformation characteristics of a ring-stiffened cylindrical shell induced by shock waves and coalesced bubbles in double-charge underwater explosions. A numerical model for coupling underwater multi-point explosion loads with the cylindrical shell is established by the Arbitrary Lagrange Euler method, and underwater explosion experiments with double charges are also conducted. The numerical model's effectiveness is validated by comparing shock wave superposition characteristics, bubble coalescence processes, and bubble pulsation periods with the experimental results. Based on the numerical model, the influences of detonation intervals and layout angles of charge on shock wave superposition effects, temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of shock waves, and the evolution process of coalesced bubbles in underwater explosions with double charges are explored. Additionally, the deformation characteristics of cylindrical shells induced by shock waves and coalesced bubbles for double charges with different detonation intervals and layout angles of charge are analyzed. The results indicate that double charges can induce more substantial deformation on the cylindrical shell at a specific detonation interval than a single charge with equal total mass. During the shock wave phase, the cylindrical shell's deformation decreases nonlinearly with an increased layout angle. Conversely, during the bubble load phase, the deformation of the cylindrical shell shows an approximately linear decrease with an increase in layout angle. A critical angle exists, below which the impact of double charges on the cylindrical shell is more substantial when detonated with an interval than simultaneous detonation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bamboo leaves contain high concentrations of various biologically active compounds, such as polyphenols and volatiles, making them attractive as raw resources for antioxidant additives in the food industry. Here, we investigated the total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) of four bamboo leaf extracts from two species (Phyllostachys edulis and Chimonocalamus delicatus) at two growth stages (first and second years). Antioxidant capacity was determined based on the radical-scavenging capacity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS+). We also assessed the antifungal capacity based on mycelial growth inhibition of Colletotrichum musae (C. musae), Botrytis cinerea (B. cinereain), and Alternaria alternata (A. alternata). Pearson's correlation coefficients showed that the TPC was significantly (p < 0.01) negatively correlated with the half-maximal inhibitory concentrations against DPPH and ABTS+, whereas the TFC was positively correlated with C. musae and B. cinereain growth inhibition, which suggest that TPC and TFC might be the major contributors to the antioxidant and antifungal capacities of bamboo leaves, respectively. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of bamboo leaves were also analyzed using gas chromatography–ion mobility spectrometry. The VOCs included twenty-four aldehydes, eleven alcohols, four furans, seven esters, fifteen terpenes, three ketones, one pyrazine, and thirty unidentified compounds. Principal component analysis, partial least squares discriminant analysis, and hierarchical cluster analysis were performed to assess the differences in the volatile profiles of the four bamboo leaf samples, from which 23 discriminatory VOCs with variable importance in the projection values > 1 were screened, and part of them were impacted by species or growth stage. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for the use of bamboo leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the brush method was used to construct structural color layers on the surface of European beech wood, which has wide rays. The purpose was to expand the research on the structural color modification of wood surfaces and to promote its industrial application. By comparing the structural color layers constructed through brushing on beech wood and glass surfaces, the construction speed on the wood surface was significantly faster than that on the glass surface, which was mainly attributed to the porous structure and hydrophilicity of the wood, which made the solvents to be absorbed quickly, greatly improving construction efficiency. At the same time, the wide-ray regions of the European beech wood showed distinct and excellent structural color modification effects. This specific effect was not only reflected in faster construction speeds than other regions, but also in a complete and full-color block. Moreover, by changing the particle size, raw material, and structure of the microspheres, and by brushing several times, the special construction phenomenon and decorative effect still existed. By characterizing the surface morphology and roughness of beech wood, it was found that the surface of the wide rays was flatter than other anatomical structural regions, which was more conducive to the self-assembly of microspheres and the formation of a structural color layer. The results of this study will help to advance the development of technologies such as structural color-selective modification of wood surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical characteristics of acute asthma exacerbations (AEs) with community‐acquired pneumonia (CAP) in adults and establish a CAP prediction model for hospitalized patients with AEs. Methods: We retrospectively collected clinical data from 308 patients admitted to Beijing Luhe Hospital, Capital Medical University, for AEs from December 2017 to August 2021. The patients were divided into CAP and non‐CAP groups based on whether they had CAP. We used the Lasso regression technique and multivariate logistic regression analysis to select optimal predictors. We then developed a predictive nomogram based on the optimal predictors. The bootstrap method was used for internal validation. We used the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA) to assess the nomogram's discrimination, accuracy, and clinical practicability. Results: The prevalence of CAP was 21% (65/308) among 308 patients hospitalized for AEs. Independent predictors of CAP in patients hospitalized with an AE (P < 0.05) were C‐reactive protein > 10 mg/L, fibrinogen > 4 g/L, leukocytes > 10 × 109/L, fever, use of systemic corticosteroids before admission, and early‐onset asthma. The AUC of the nomogram was 0.813 (95% CI: 0.753–0.872). The concordance index of internal validation was 0.794. The calibration curve was satisfactorily consistent with the diagonal line. The DCA indicated that the nomogram provided a higher clinical net benefit when the threshold probability of patients was 3% to 89%. Conclusions: The nomogram performed well in predicting the risk of CAP in hospitalized patients with AEs, thereby providing rapid guidance for clinical decision‐making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a malignant tumour that seriously threatens the life and health of people worldwide. This research was carried out to investigate the role of Rhotekin 2 (RTKN2) in LUAD progression. Methods and Results: The GEPIA online database was used to analyse abnormally expressed genes in lung adenocarcinoma and RTKN2 expression in various cancers. Cell proliferation was detected with CCK-8 and colony formation assays. Transwell assays were carried out to assess cell migration and invasion. The extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) and oxygen consumption rate (OCR) were evaluated by a Seahorse XFe96 analyser. The interaction between RTKN2 and p65 was confirmed using a coimmunoprecipitation assay. RTKN2 expression was detected with qPCR, immunohistochemistry, and western blot assays. The p65 levels in the cytoplasm and nucleus were determined by western blot assays. RTKN2 levels were prominently decreased in LUAD tissues and cell lines. RTKN2 overexpression suppressed LUAD cell growth, invasion, migration, and glycolysis, while RTKN2 knockdown showed the opposite effects. Additionally, p65 could be negatively regulated by RTKN2. RTKN2 overexpression increased p65 levels in the cytoplasm but decreased p65 levels in the nucleus. Furthermore, blocking the NF-κB signalling pathway neutralized the effect of RTKN2 silencing in LUAD cells. Conclusion: RTKN2 inhibited the malignant behaviour and glycolysis of LUAD cells by blocking the NF-κB signalling pathway, implying that RTKN2 could be a cancer suppressor in LUAD progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obtaining a high‐quality Al/Fe joint remains a challenging task, due to formation of the various defects associated with melting phenomenon. Herein, a new strategy, lowering of initial temperature of the welded plates, is proposed to suppress the undesirable melting zone. Contrast experiments are conducted at low temperature (−50 °C) and room temperature (25 °C), respectively, and the microstructures and mechanical properties of the achieved joints are carefully investigated. It is found that this strategy is an effective way to improve the quality of Al/Fe joint, where the melting‐related defects are significantly reduced, and the bonding strength is increased by 18% when compared to the traditional method. In addition, the lowering of initial temperature enables to preserve the original properties of the parent metals by mitigating the impact‐induced grain structure evolution. This phenomenon is first demonstrated in this work and can be employed as a processing strategy to develop an advanced Al/Fe joint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the discharge of major pollutants in China's wastewater has been decreasing but remains at a high level. Controlling the discharge of pollutants in sewage is of great importance for protecting water quality and maintaining ecological balance. Based on data collected from 31 provinces in China from 2011 to 2020 (except 2018), this study analyzes the spatiotemporal variation emissions of the wastewater pollutants: chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP). The entropy method was used to evaluate the effectiveness of water pollution control in different provinces. Our results revealed that the total emission per gross domestic product (GDP) for COD, NH3-N, TN and TP in China decreased by 50.7%, 81.9%, 65.4% and 70.8%, respectively. In terms of regional annual emission differences, the Northwest region was the lowest compared with other regions, accounting for 4.87%-6.59% of the national pollutant emissions, and the Central China region was the highest, accounting for 22.4%-26.05% of the national pollutant emissions. The average value of pollutant emissions per unit of GDP decreased year-to-year overall, but Guangxi and Tibet showed a trend of first decreasing and then increasing. The correlation results indicated a significant correlation (0.977) between TN and TP emissions in wastewater in China during 2011–2020. Through clustering and Multidimensional Scaling model (MDS) analysis, Beijing and Shanghai have been performing well in controlling water pollution discharge, while the provinces of Tibet and Guangxi must still increase their efforts in water pollution control. Furthermore, these results demonstrate the experience and achievements of the Chinese government in the treatment of wastewater pollution and provide a useful reference for treatment of wastewater pollution in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of China's commitment to the "double carbon" goal, promoting agricultural carbon emission reduction is currently an important research topic. Assessing the carbon sequestration level of crops has a positive impact on enhancing agricultural carbon sinks and reducing carbon emissions. The carbon budget for agricultural planting on the arid oasis of Jinchang, northwest China, is quantitatively calculated from 2018 to 2020. The average value of total carbon absorption by crops in Jinchang was greater than the average value of total carbon emissions in the past three years. In 2020, the total carbon absorption was the highest (1,744,725 t CO2-eq), and the carbon emission was 102,641 t CO2-eq. The crops had a strong carbon absorption function. Among the investigated crops, the largest average annual carbon sequestration was found in corn, which accounted for 45% of the total carbon sequestration in the city. Among the carbon emission pathways, chemical fertilizer and agricultural film were the main carbon sources, accounting for more than 40% of total carbon emissions. The carbon budget analysis in the region clearly showed that the structure of agricultural cropping and the planting area proportion of crops significantly affected the carbon balance of the whole agricultural region and that increasing the proportion of the area planted with corn was beneficial in enhancing regional carbon sequestration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hollow glass microspheres (HGMs), as a reinforcing material to prepare lightweight high-performance composites, have excellent mechanical properties. However, the composites prepared by simply mixing hollow glass microspheres with polymer resin have poor performance. In this study, compound coupling agent-modified HGM/EP composites were prepared by casting process with two silane coupling agents as compound coupling agents. Scanning electron microscopy and infrared (IR) spectroscopy were used to characterize the treated HGM. Meanwhile density, water absorption behavior, and mechanical properties of the modified HGM-filled epoxy composites were examined. It is found that the compound coupling agent could effectively improve the interfacial bonding between HGM and the matrix resin. A new chemical bond was formed between HGM and EP, which was confirmed by IR spectroscopy. Compared with their untreated counterparts, the composites treated with the complex coupling agent exhibited excellent mechanical properties, along with lower density and lower water absorption. The composites prepared by treating hollow glass microspheres with mixed coupling agents showed improved properties in all the cases. The mechanical properties of the composites prepared using No. HGM-1 reached the maximum with tensile strength of 36.38 MPa, tensile modulus of 2.383 GPa, flexural strength of 49.82 MPa, flexural modulus of 1.558 GPa, and compressive strength of 98.14 MPa. Our strategy opens a new way to fabricate composites with enhanced mechanical performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autonomous-rail rapid transit (ART) is a new medium-capacity rapid transportation system with punctuality, comfort and convenience, but low-cost construction. Combined velocity planning is a critical approach to meet the requirements of energy-saving and punctuality. An ART velocity pre-planning and re-planning strategy based on the combination of punctuality dynamic programming (PDP) and pseudospectral (PS) method is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the longitudinal dynamics model of ART is established by a multi-particle model. Secondly, the PDP algorithm with global optimal characteristics is adopted as the pre-planning strategy. A model for determining the number of collocation points of the real-time PS method is proposed to improve the energy-saving effect while ensuring computation efficiency. Then the enhanced PS method is utilized to design the velocity re-planning strategy. Finally, simulations are conducted in the typical scenario with sloping roads, traffic lights, and intrusion of the pedestrian. The simulation results indicate that the ART with the proposed velocity trajectory optimization strategy can meet the punctuality requirement, and obtain better economy efficiency compared with the punctuality green light optimal speed advisory (PGLOSA). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strength training is recommended by the American Physical Therapy Association to improve muscle strength, mobility, and balance following knee replacement. Few studies have focused on the direct effects of strength training on functional ambulation, and potential dose–response relationships between strength training parameters and the effect remain unclear. The aim of this systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression was to evaluate the effects of strength training on functional ambulation following knee replacement (KR). We also aimed to explore potential dose–response relationships between strength training parameters and performance in functional ambulation. A systematic literature search of eight online databases was performed on March 12, 2023, for randomized controlled trials evaluating the effects of strength training on functional ambulation by six-minute walk test (6MWT) or timed-up and go test (TUG) after KR. Data were pooled by random-effect meta-analyses and presented as weighted mean difference (WMD). A random-effect meta-regression was performed for four predetermined training parameters, namely, duration (weeks), frequency (sessions per week), volume (time per session), and initial time (after surgery) separately to explore dose–response relationships with WMD. Fourteen trials encompassing 956 participants were included in our study. Meta-analyses showed an improvement in 6MWT performance after strength training (WMD: 32.15, 95% CI 19.44–44.85) and a decrease in time to complete TUG (WMD: − 1.92, 95% CI − 3.43 to − 0.41). Meta-regression revealed a dose–response relationship only between volume and 6MWT, with a decreasing trend (P = 0.019, 95% CI − 1.63 to − 0.20). Increasing trends of improvement in 6MWT and TUG were observed with increasing training duration and frequency. A slight decreasing trend of improvement was observed in 6MWT with postponed initial time, while an opposite trend was observed in TUG. Based on existing studies, moderate-certainty evidence suggests that strength training could increase 6MWT distance, and low-certainty evidence shows that strength training could decrease the time to complete TUG after KR. Meta-regression results only suggested a dose–response relationship between volume and 6MWT with a decreasing trend. Registration: PROSPERO: CRD42022329006. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate plant growth and development and plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Although extensive studies show that miR159 family members regulate leaf and flower development in Arabidopsis thaliana, the roles of miRNAs in soybean (Glycine max) are poorly understood. Here, we identified six MIR159 genes in soybean, MIR159a–MIR159f, and investigate their expression patterns in plants under low-phosphorus (low-P), NaCl, or abscisic acid (ABA) treatments. In soybean leaves, MIR159e and MIR159f expression was induced by low-P treatment, while in roots, MIR159b, MIR159c, MIR159e, and MIR159f expression was upregulated. In flowers, low-P led to upregulation of MIR159a, MIR159b, MIR159c, and MIR159f but downregulation of MIR159d and MIR159e. In soybean nodules, MIR159b was upregulated but MIR159a, MIR159c, and MIR159d was downregulated under P deficiency. NaCl treatment induced MIR159a, MIR159b, MIR159c, and MIR159e expression in leaves and MIR159a–MIR159f expression in roots. ABA treatment upregulated MIR159a, MIR159b, and MIR159c but downregulated MIR159d, MIR159e, and MIR159f in leaves. These results suggest that miR159 family members function in plant abiotic stress responses. Moreover, total P content in leaves was significantly lower in plants overexpressing MIR159e than in the wild type, suggesting that miR159e may regulate P absorption and transport in soybean plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interface characteristics and formation mechanism of explosive welded waveform structures still lack a detailed and in-depth research. Thus, a combination of advanced characterization and numerical simulation methods were performed in this study to investigate the phase constitution, texture distribution, 3D interface morphology and wave formation mechanism of Sn/Cu explosive welded interface. The microstructure analyses indicated that the typical waveform structures composed of fine crystal band and elongated grains zone were formed at the Sn/Cu joining interface. The dynamic recrystallized structures and local high strain at the waveform were attributed to severe rheological deformation and rapid solidification of liquid metals. In addition, the S, copper, brass and fiber deformation textures and the cube and gross recrystallization textures were found. The CT results indicated the 3D Sn/Cu joining interface morphology presents a regular convex waveform feature, which is related to periodic pulse load caused by explosive detonation. Furthermore, based on the simulation results, the 2D joining interface presents similar experimental waveform structure, and the 3D interface evolution characteristic was consistent with the shock wave propagation characteristics on the flying plate to some extent, which was in good agreement with the experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mutations of DNA organisms are introduced by replication errors. However, SARS-CoV-2, as an RNA virus, is additionally subjected to rampant RNA editing by hosts. Both resources contributed to SARS-CoV-2 mutation and evolution, but the relative prevalence of the two origins is unknown. We performed comparative genomic analyses at intra-species (world-wide SARS-CoV-2 strains) and inter-species (SARS-CoV-2 and RaTG13 divergence) levels. We made prior predictions of the proportion of each mutation type (nucleotide substitution) under different scenarios and compared the observed versus the expected. C-to-T alteration, representing C-to-U editing, is far more abundant that all other mutation types. Derived allele frequency (DAF) as well as novel mutation rate of C-to-T are the highest in SARS-CoV-2 population, and C-T substitution dominates the divergence sites between SARS-CoV-2 and RaTG13. This is compelling evidence suggesting that C-to-U RNA editing is the major source of SARS-CoV-2 mutation. While replication errors serve as a baseline of novel mutation rate, the C-to-U editing has elevated the mutation rate for orders of magnitudes and accelerates the evolution of the virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Malignant spermatic cord tumors (SCT) are rare and currently, there is no consensus regarding the role of radiotherapy in their treatment. This study evaluated the effect of radiotherapy on the overall survival (OS) of patients with malignant SCT based on the large‐sample advantage of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Methods: Patients with malignant SCT recorded in the SEER database from 1975 to 2016 were included. All patients were divided into non‐radiation and radiation groups, and propensity score matching (PSM) (1:1) was performed for baseline covariates between the two groups. The overall survival rate between the two groups of patients was analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier curve. The effects of radiotherapy on patient prognosis were analyzed using univariate and multivariate COX regression analyses. Results: In total, 389 patients with malignant SCT were included. There were 285 (73.26%) and 104 (26.74%) patients who either did or did not receive radiotherapy, respectively. Kaplan–Meier curves before and after PSM showed no significant differences in OS between the two groups. Similarly, multivariate COX regression models before and after PSM showed that radiotherapy was not an independent risk factor for OS in patients with malignant SCT. Conclusions: Radiotherapy has no obvious advantage in improving the survival time of patients with malignant SCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Esmolol as one treatment of sepsis induced cardiomyopathy (SIC) is still controversial. The objective of this study is to evaluate cardiac function after reducing heart rate by Esmolol in patients with SIC using speck-tracking echocardiography. Methods: This study was a single-center, prospective, and randomized controlled study. A total of 100 SIC patients with a heart rate more than 100/min, admitted to the Intensive Care Department of Tianjin Third Central Hospital from March 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021, were selected as the research subjects. They were randomly divided into the Esmolol group (Group E) and the conventional treatment group (Group C), each with 50 cases. The target heart rate of patients in Group E was controlled between 80/min and 100/min. Speck-tracking echocardiography (STE) and pulse indicating continuous cardiac output monitoring (PICCO) were performed in both groups at 1 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, 96 h and 7 d after admission, with data concerning left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and global ejection fraction (GEF), left ventricular systolic force index (dP/dtmx) were obtained, respectively. Hemodynamics and other safety indicators were monitored throughout the whole process. These subjects were followed up to 90 d, with their mortality recorded at Day 28 and Day 90, respectively. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 21. Results: With 24 h of Esmolol, all patients in Group E achieved the target heart rate, and there was no deterioration of GLS, or adverse events. However, compared with those in Group C, their GLS, GEF and dP/dtmx were increased, and the difference was statistically significant (P > 0.05). Compared with patients in Group C, those in Group E had lower short-term mortality, and logistic regression analysis also suggested that Esmolol improved patient outcomes. Conclusion: In SIC patients, the application of Esmolol to lower heart rate decreased their short-term mortality while not making any impairment on the myocardial contractility. Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2100047513. Registered June 20, 2021- Retrospectively registered, http://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx. The study protocol followed the CONSORT guidelines. The study protocol was performed in the relevant guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Esmolol as one treatment of sepsis induced cardiomyopathy (SIC) is still controversial. The objective of this study is to evaluate cardiac function after reducing heart rate by Esmolol in patients with SIC using speck-tracking echocardiography. Methods: This study was a single-center, prospective, and randomized controlled study. A total of 100 SIC patients with a heart rate more than 100/min, admitted to the Intensive Care Department of Tianjin Third Central Hospital from March 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021, were selected as the research subjects. They were randomly divided into the Esmolol group (Group E) and the conventional treatment group (Group C), each with 50 cases. The target heart rate of patients in Group E was controlled between 80/min and 100/min. Speck-tracking echocardiography (STE) and pulse indicating continuous cardiac output monitoring (PICCO) were performed in both groups at 1 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, 96 h and 7 d after admission, with data concerning left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and global ejection fraction (GEF), left ventricular systolic force index (dP/dtmx) were obtained, respectively. Hemodynamics and other safety indicators were monitored throughout the whole process. These subjects were followed up to 90 d, with their mortality recorded at Day 28 and Day 90, respectively. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 21. Results: With 24 h of Esmolol, all patients in Group E achieved the target heart rate, and there was no deterioration of GLS, or adverse events. However, compared with those in Group C, their GLS, GEF and dP/dtmx were increased, and the difference was statistically significant (P > 0.05). Compared with patients in Group C, those in Group E had lower short-term mortality, and logistic regression analysis also suggested that Esmolol improved patient outcomes. Conclusion: In SIC patients, the application of Esmolol to lower heart rate decreased their short-term mortality while not making any impairment on the myocardial contractility. Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2100047513. Registered June 20, 2021- Retrospectively registered, http://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx. The study protocol followed the CONSORT guidelines. The study protocol was performed in the relevant guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to establish a nomogram for predicting community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in hospitalized patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). The retrospective cohort study included 1249 hospitalized patients with AECOPD between January 2012 and December 2019. The patients were divided into pneumonia-complicating AECOPD (pAECOPD) and non-pneumonic AECOPD (npAECOPD) groups. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and multivariate logistic regression were utilized to identify prognostic factors. A prognostic nomogram model was established, and the bootstrap method was used for internal validation. Discrimination and calibration of the nomogram model were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA). Logistic and LASSO regression analysis showed that C-reactive protein (CRP) >10 mg/L, albumin (Alb) <40 g/L, alanine transferase (ALT) >50 U/L, fever, bronchiectasis, asthma, previous hospitalization for pAECOPD in the past year (Pre-H for pAECOPD), and age-adjusted Charlson score (aCCI) ≥6 were independent predictors of pAECOPD. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of the nomogram model was 0.712 (95% CI: 0.682–0.741). The corrected AUC of internal validation was 0.700. The model had well-fitted calibration curves and good clinical usability DCA curve. A nomogram model was developed to assist clinicians in predicting the risk of pAECOPD. China Clinical Trials Registry: ChiCTR2000039959 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In China, utilization and evaluation of territorial space have become national strategic issues. Evaluating the rationality of urban, ecological, and agricultural space is significant in the development of territorial space and provides a theoretical basis for the optimization of provincial territorial space. The strategic positioning of Gansu Province as a national ecological environment safety barrier is significant to the protection of the ecological environment of northwest China. This study used the entropy method to evaluate the rationality of territorial space development in 14 cities in Gansu Province in 2019, using 50 indicators of urban, ecological, and agricultural space. Results reveal that in the evaluation of these three spaces, the most important influencing indicators are water supply penetration rate, proportion of desert area, and proportion of agricultural population, respectively. In the total evaluation of territorial space rationality, the city with the highest comprehensive index is Qingyang (2.0521), followed by Zhangye (1.5635), while Lanzhou (1.1553) has the lowest evaluation. In Gansu, cities with the best territorial spatial conditions are concentrated in the east, whereas those with poor territorial spatial environmental security are located in central Gansu and the Hexi Corridor. Collectively, these findings suggest that the equity and rationality of urban, ecological, and agricultural space in territorial space should be considered in territorial space planning strategies. The balance and harmony of these three spaces play a positive role in the sustainable development of the economy, society, and the environment in urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feed restriction after weaning is a common strategy used in commercial rabbit farms to improve feed efficiency, promote health, and reduce mortality. However, few studies have investigated the feed restrictions of Minxinan black rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Thus, the effects of feed restriction on growth and slaughter performance, intestinal morphology, and blood biochemical indices of Minxinan black rabbits were evaluated in this study. Rabbits in group A (control group) had ad libitum intake, while those in feed restriction groups (groups B, C, and D) were restricted to 80% of the average daily feed intake (ADFI) of group A the day before. The rabbits in group B were fed once per day at 8:00 am. Rabbits in groups C and D were fed twice per day at 8:00 am (50%) and 4:00 pm (50%) and 8:00 am (30%) and 4:00 pm (70%), respectively. The experimental period lasted for 8 weeks. Compared to that in group A, the diarrhea rate of group C was significantly decreased (P < 0.05), and the ADFI, feed conversion ratio, abdominal fat weight, abdominal fat rate, total protein, albumin, globulin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), low-density lipoprotein, and intestinal crypt depth of all feed restriction groups were significantly reduced (P < 0.01). Feed conversion ratio in group D was significantly better than that in groups B and C (P < 0.05). The efficiency index (EI) of groups C and D was higher than that of groups A and B (P < 0.01). Triglyceride levels in groups C and D were significantly lower than those in group A. The villus length to crypt depth of the duodenum and jejunum in group D was significantly higher than that in group A (P < 0.01). In conclusion, the following parameters can be improved by feed restriction: feed conversion ratio, diarrhea rate, abdominal fat rate, serum ALT, lipid indices and intestinal health of Minxinan black rabbits, and the EI of the farm. Feeding twice per day, 30% at 8:00 am and 70% at 4:00 pm, had the best comprehensive effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have presented strong evidence that C-to-U RNA editing is the driving force that fuels severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) evolution. The findings finally ended the long-term debate on the evolutionary driving force behind SARS-CoV-2 evolution. Here, we would first acknowledge the breakthroughs made by the recent works, such as using the global SARS-CoV-2 data to demonstrate the major mutation source of this virus. Meanwhile, we would raise a few concerns on the accuracy of their interpretation on C-to-U RNA editing. By re-analysing the SARS-CoV-2 population data, we found that the editing frequency on C-to-U sites did not perfectly correlate with the binding motif of the editing enzyme APOBEC, suggesting that there might be false-positive sites among the C-to-U mutations or the original data did not fully represent the novel mutation rate. We hope our work could help people understand the molecular basis underlying SARS-CoV-2 mutation and also be useful to guide future studies on SARS-CoV-2 evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, hollow glass microspheres (HGM) reinforced polypropylene (PP) composites were prepared. The effects of the type and content of HGM on the mechanical properties of the composite materials were investigated. It is found that the introduction of HGM leads to a decrease in the density of the composites, where the smallest density is 0.85 g cm−3. The tensile, bending, and impact strengths of the HGM/PP composites are slightly lower than those of pure PP resin. For a given type of HGM, as the filler content increases, the tensile properties of the HGM/PP composite decrease. A similar trend is observed in the impact strength, however, it is not observed in the bending performance. The mechanical properties of the HGM/PP composites are not only affected by the density of HGM fillers, but also by its content. The maximum bending modulus of the composites could be 24 % higher than that of the pure PP resins. In addition, the PP sample with HGM modified with γ‐aminopropyl triethoxysilane (KH550) showed promising interfacial bonding strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute renal failure due to crush syndrome is one of the leading causes of death in disasters. Ischemic Postconditioning (IPC) is a potentially effective strategy to protect against ischemic reperfusion injury, but a few studies noted its protective effect in crush induced acute kidney injury (AKI). Hence, this study investigated the optimal IPC strategy to prevent crush induced AKI and reveal related cellular mechanisms. Methods: The right lower extremities of rabbits were constantly compressed for 8 h and then performed five cycles of clamping and releasing the femoral artery and vein before depression using a clip. In terms of the duration of clamping and releasing, the animals were randomly divided into 5 groups, Control, IPC-5sec, IPC-30sec, IPC-1min, and IPC-5min groups; 6 rabbits for each group. Biomarkers of inflammation, renal function, renal tubular injury, and muscular injury, apoptosis, and cellular senescence in kidney were detected. Results: Six hours after decompression, the levels of Serum Creatine (SCr), Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), K+, and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) in IPC-1min and IPC-5min groups were lower than Control, with a statistically significant difference. The morphological study of Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS) staining demonstrated that 6 h after decompression, IPC-1min can attenuate renal tubular damage renal tubule. Meanwhile, the level of Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) in circulation in the IPC-30sec, IPC-1min, and IPC-5min groups was significantly decreased compared with the Control group, 2 h after decompression. On the other hand, the levels of serum Creatine Kinase (CK) and Myoglobin (Mb), and the morphological change of muscular damage detected by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining in IPC-1min-treated group were significantly lower than Control group 6 hours after decompression. Further results of the cellular mechanism showed that the apoptotic markers of Terminal deoxynucleotidyl Transferase-mediated dUTP Nick End Labeling (TUNEL) and Caspase3 and the cell senescent markers of senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-Gal) and nuclear LAMNB1 have changed significantly in the IPC-1min group, compared with the control group. Conclusions: Performing 5 cycles of 1-min IPC would be a convenient, time-saving, and effective method to prevent crush-induced AKI by attenuating the release of nephrotoxic substances after decompression and downregulation of the expression of apoptosis and cellular senescence biomarkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Using bipolar disorder (BD) as a control, we explored the possible developmental process of impaired glucose metabolism rhythm. Methods: In total, 441 subjects (77, 162, 134, 54, and 14 in the pre-diabetes [pre-DM], DM, BD, BD + pre-DM, and BD + DM groups, respectively) and 160 controls were included. All subjects were assessed using the Neuroticism Extraversion Openness Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI). The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid (HPT) axes were measured. Results: Cluster analysis showed that the BD, BD + DM, and DM groups were classified as the 'disease group, the BD + pre-DM group as the 'mixed period group', and the pre-DM group as the 'pre-disease group'. The conscientiousness factor scores of the NEO-FFI in the 'disease group' were higher than the norm but lower than the norm in the 'pre-disease group'. The scores of neurotic factors in the 'pre-disease' and 'mixed period' groups were both significantly higher than that in the 'disease group' (corrected p < 0.001). The incidences of the abnormal HPA axis decreased gradually from the 'pre-disease group' to the 'mixed period group' then to the 'disease group', while those of the HPT axis slightly increased at first and then significantly decreased. The overall prediction rate of the multiple logistic regression model was 92.7%. Conclusion: This study suggests that progression of pre-diabetes to DM is a continuous process from local abnormalities to rhythm disorder of glucose metabolism. This understanding can be applied to the whole course management and early intervention of DM and to the future development of optimised treatment based on rhythm regulation. Trial registration: Clinical trial registration number: ChiCTR1800019064. Name of trial registration: Identify and the optimization of treatment for non-infectious chronic diseases under the "stress-dysrhythmia" theory hypothesis (Registration date: 24/10/2018). The full trial protocol can be accessed at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (http://www.chictr.org.cn/). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a vehicle‐to‐vehicle (V2V) trajectory planning algorithm for two vehicles driving in an arc‐shaped road is represented, in which the characteristics of human drivers are taken into consideration. Safety constraints including vehicle stability, road boundaries, and vehicles collision avoidance are considered. The boundary constraint of the arc‐shaped road is realized with a potential field method. The potential field method is also employed to realize the vehicles collision avoidance constraint and vehicle distance margin. The concept of partial cooperative control is presented, which can depict the collaboration of the vehicles more accurately. The algorithm is designed with a partial cooperative control pattern, employing model predictive control (MPC). The effectiveness of the algorithm is verified by software simulation in a scenario of overtaking in arc‐shaped roads. The algorithm can accomplish the V2V collaboration trajectory planning task successfully. The performance of the algorithm representing different collaboration degrees and phases grouping in complex scenarios is also studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lane-changing is a critical issue for autonomous vehicles (AVs), especially in complex environments. In addition, different drivers have different handling preferences. How to provide personalized maneuvers for individual drivers to increase their trust is another issue for AVs. Therefore, a framework of human-like path planning is proposed in this paper, considering driver characteristics of visual-preview, subjective risk perception, and degree of aggressiveness. In the decision making module, a model is built to select the most suitable merging spot, with respect to safety factors and the driver’s degree of aggressiveness. And a novel environmental potential field (PF) suitable for arbitrary road structures is designed to describe the driver’s individual risk perception. In the trajectory planning module, a model predictive control (MPC) based path planner is designed according to the decisions in coincidence with the driver’s individual intentions of collision avoidance. Simulation results have demonstrated that the proposed path planner can provide with personalized trajectories for different combinations of driver preferences and steering characteristics, in scenarios of curved roads with different risks of collision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is an important complication of rhabdomyolysis (RM), but there is lack of effective treatments. Ulinastatin (UTI) is a broad-spectrum serine protease inhibitor isolated and purified from human urine with strong anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective actions. The aim of this research was to investigate the effect and potential mechanism of UTI on RM-induced AKI (RM-AKI). We established RM-induced AKI model and myoglobin (Mb)-stimulated NRK-52E cell model. In vivo, twenty-four rats were randomly divided into three groups (n = 8): control, RM-AKI, and RM-AKI + UTI. In vitro, the NRK-52E cells were divided into six groups according to the different treatment method. Mb-stimulated NRK-52E cells were treated with UTI or si-TLR4 transfection to characterize the mechanisms of UTI in RM-AKI. Indicators of the kidney injury, cell viability, cell cycle, oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway were assessed. In vivo and in vitro, UTI significantly decreased the expression of TLR4 and p65. In vivo, UTI significantly improved renal function and reduced inflammatory reaction and kidney injury. In vitro, UTI protected NRK-52E cells from Mb stimulation by suppressing cell cytotoxicity, cell cycle inhibition, overproduction of ROS, inflammation, and apoptosis. Additionally, UTI played a protective role by downregulating the TLR4 expression. The results indicate that UTI alleviates RM-AKI by suppressing the inflammatory response and apoptosis via inhibiting TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. Our study provides a new mechanism for the protective effect of UTI on RM-AKI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most lethal cancer types in the world. Currently, the molecular mechanisms and pathways underlying NSCLC oncogenesis are poorly understood. Using multiple Omics data, we systematically explored the differentially expressed circular RNAs (circRNAs) in NSCLC. We also investigated potential microRNA sponges (that absorb circRNAs) in NSCLC and downstream target genes with experimental verifications. hsa_circ_0003497 was down-regulated in NSCLC and played an inhibitory role in tumorigenesis. In contrast, miR-197-3p was up-regulated in NSCLC. hsa_circ_0003497 directly interacts with miR-197-3p and releases a target gene of miR-197-3p termed CTNND1 (a known tumor suppressor gene). Evolutionary analysis reveals fast evolution of this hsa_circ_0003497-miR-197-3p-CTNND1-NSCLC axis in mammals. This work clarified the biological functions and molecular mechanisms of how hsa_circ_0003497 suppresses NSCLC through miR-197-3p and CTNND1. We discovered molecular markers for the prognosis of NSCLC and provided potential intervention targets for its treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reduce the risk of vehicle instability caused by driver fatigues, a shared differential steering control method considering fatigue characteristics of the driver was proposed. First, a driver-vehicle model for describing the characteristics of driving fatigues was established. Then, a dynamic output feedback robust controller was designed considering the uncertainties of vehicle speed, neuromuscular stiffness and delay time. Besides, the pole configuration method was adopted to improve the stability of the driver-vehicle closed-loop system. Finally, the combination of PreScan\Carsim\Simulink platform and the driver-in-the-loop test platform were set up. Experimental results show that with the assistance of the shared steering control method, the path tracking error index under different fatigue states is reduced by more than 59. 53%, improving the path tracking performance of the vehicle. For mild and severely fatigued drivers, the indices of the physiological load and the psychological load are both reduced by more than 48. 92% with the assistance of the controller. Thus, different levels of personalized assisted driving are realized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pasteurella multocida is one of the most significant pathogens for a number of animals. In rabbits, the infection is generally associated with the P. multocida serogroups A and D, and the knowledge about the serogroup F is limited. In the present study, a P. multocida serogroup F isolate designated s4 was recovered from the lungs of rabbits died of respiratory disease in Fujian, in the southeast of China. The pathogenicity and genomic features of the s4 were then determined. Results: The serotype and sequence type of s4 were F:L3 and ST12, respectively. The s4 was pathogenic for rabbits, but it was a low virulent strain comparing to the previously reported highly pathogenic P. multocida serogroup F strains J-4103, C21724H3km7, P-4218 and HN07. The whole genome of the s4 was then sequenced to understand the genomic basis for pathogenicity. Particularly, a large-sized fragment of approximate 275 kb in length was truncated from the chromosome to form a plasmid. Moreover, the in-frame deletion of natC and N-terminal redundance of gatF would resulted in the production of a mutant L3 outer core structure that was distinct from those of the other P. multocida strains belonging to the lipopolysaccharide genotype L3. We deduced that these features detected in the genome of s4 might impair the pathogenicity of the bacterium. Conclusions: This study evaluated the pathogenicity and determined the genomic features of the rabbit sourced P. multocida serogroup F isolate s4, the observations and findings would helpful for the understanding of the pathogenicity variability and genetic diversity of P. multocida. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking air freezing (AF) as the reference, the effects of four types of multi‐compound freezing medium for cryogenic liquid quick‐freezing (immersion freezing, IF) on the freezing rate, quality and myofibrillar protein (MP) denaturation of red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) fillets during frozen storage (−18°C) from days 0 to 90 were studied. Samples were gathered on days 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 and 90 for analysis. The results showed that IF groups (IF‐1: 20% ethanol, 30% propylene glycol, 10% sodium chloride aqueous solution; IF‐2: 20% ethanol, 20% propylene glycol, 10% glycerol, 10% sodium chloride aqueous solution; IF‐3: 20% ethanol, 20% propylene glycol, 10% polyethylene glycol, 10% sodium chloride aqueous solution; IF‐4: 20% ethanol, 20% propylene glycol, 5% glycerol, 5% polyethylene glycol, 10% sodium chloride aqueous solution) significantly shortened the time to cross the formation zone of maximum ice crystals while the freezing rate was 6.13 times higher than the AF group after adding 30% propylene glycol as the freezing medium. Furthermore, compared with the AF group, the IF groups significantly reduced losses in the water‐holding capacity, the myofibrillar fragmentation index, microstructure damage, texture characteristics, drip loss and water migration (P < 0.05). In addition, the MP of IF groups had higher maximum transition temperatures (Tmax1 and Tmax2), total sulfhydryl content, Ca2+‐ATPase activity and relative α‐helix content compared with the AF group. In conclusion, IF could significantly increase the freezing rate of red drum fillets, and slow down quality deterioration and denaturation of MP during frozen storage for 90 days (−18°C). In particular, IF‐2 (20% ethanol, 20% propylene glycol, 10% glycerol, 10% sodium chloride aqueous solution) was found to be more suitable for the immersion freezing of marine fish among the four multi‐compound freezing medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Snow pea is a very important vegetable, and its postharvest storage characteristics vary with species. Few studies on the differences in its storage characteristics are available. In this study, postharvest changes in metabolic rate (respiration rate and water loss rate), membrane permeability (relative conductivity), nutrient contents (total sugar, amino acids, starch), lignin, cellulose, β-Glucosidase (β-GC) enzyme activity, texture properties, PG enzyme activity and their relationship were analyzed in large sweet broad peas and small snow peas. On the 8th day of storage, we found that the respiration rate and water loss rate were increased, total sugars and total amino acids were decreased significantly in these two legume vegetables, and that metabolic rate was slower with less nutrients consumed in large sweet broad peas than in small snow peas. Throughout the 8-day whole storage, the lignin and cellulose contents were always lower in large sweet broad peas than in small snow peas. With the increasing storage time, small snow peas were more susceptible to lignification and fibrosis, which was observed in their texture properties. The enzyme activities related to cellulose and pectin degradation (β-GC, PG) also showed the same trend during the storage. At the late stage of storage, the taste of large sweet broad peas was better than that of small snow peas. In conclusion, the storage period of large sweet broad peas was longer than that of the small snow peas, and its lignification degree was lower than that of the small snow peas. Meanwhile, senescence and lignin accumulation led to hardening of snow pea during postharvest storage. Our findings provide a theoretical reference for improving the postharvest storage quality of snow pea and extending the shelf life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the existence of positive steady states for a nonlocal reaction-diffusion model which describes the growth of a single phytoplankton species with nonlocal crowding effect caused by chemosensory aggregation in a water column. Our result shows that under some conditions, the nonlocal crowding effect is effective to the existence of steady states of phytoplankton populations. Based on a key boundedness Lemma, the main result is proved by fixed point index theory and some analytical techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Limited data were available about the burden of cardiovascular events (CVEs) during hospitalization in elderly patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). The aim was to assess the incidence, characteristics, predictive factors and outcomes of CVEs in elderly patients with CAP during hospitalization. Methods: This study was a multicenter, retrospective research on hospitalized elderly patients with CAP from the CAP-China network. Predictive factors for the occurrence of CVEs and 30-day mortality were identified by multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results: Of 2941 hospitalized elderly patients, 402 (13.7%) developed CVEs during hospitalization with the median age of 81 years old. Compared with non-CVEs patients, patients with CVEs were older, more comorbidities, and higher disease severity; use of glucocorticoids, leukocytosis, azotemia, hyponatremia, multilobe infiltration and pleural effusion were more common; the rate of clinical failure (CF), in-hospital mortality and 30-day mortality were higher, which significantly increased with age and the number of CVEs (p < 0.001). Multivariable logistic regression showed previous history of congestive heart failure (odds ratio [OR], 6.16; 95% CI, 4.14– 9.18), CF (OR, 4.69; 95% CI, 3.392– 6.48), previous history of ischemic heart disease (OR, 2.22; 95% CI, 1.61– 3.07), use of glucocorticoids (OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.39– 2.89), aspiration (OR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.26– 2.81), pleural effusion (OR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.25– 2.20), multilobe infiltration (OR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.15– 1.96), age (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.04– 1.07), and blood urea nitrogen (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01– 1.06) were independent predictors for the occurrence of CVEs, while level of blood sodium (OR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.97– 0.99) was protective factor. Renal failure (OR, 9.46; 95% CI, 4.17– 21.48), respiratory failure (OR, 9.32; 95% CI, 5.91– 14.71), sepsis/septic shock (OR, 7.87; 95% CI, 3.58– 17.31), new cerebrovascular diseases (OR, 5.94; 95% CI, 1.78– 19.87), new heart failure (OR, 4.04; 95% CI, 1.15– 14.14), new arrhythmia (OR, 2.38; 95% CI, 1.11– 5.14), aspiration (OR, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.09– 3.50), CURB-65 (OR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.21– 2.02), and white blood cell count (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.02– 1.09) were independent predictors for 30-day mortality in elderly patients with CAP, while lymphocyte count (OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.46– 0.87) was protective factor. Conclusion: Patients with CVEs had heavier disease burden and worse prognosis. Early recognition of risk factors is meaningful to strengthen the management in elderly patients with CAP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CELL DIVISION CONTROL PROTEIN48 (CDC48) is essential for membrane fusion, protein degradation, and other cellular processes. Here, we revealed the crucial role of CDC48B in regulating periclinal cell division in roots by analyzing the recessive gen1 mutant. We identified the GEN1 gene through map‐based cloning and verified that GEN1 encodes CDC48B. gen1 showed severely inhibited root growth, increased periclinal cell division in the endodermis, defective middle cortex (MC) formation, and altered ground tissue patterning in roots. Consistent with these phenotypes, CYCLIND 6;1(CYCD6;1), a periclinal cell division marker, was upregulated in gen1 compared to Col‐0. The ratio of SHRpro:SHR‐GFP fluorescence in pre‐dividing nuclei versus the adjacent stele decreased by 33% in gen1, indicating that the trafficking of SHORT‐ROOT (SHR) decreased in gen1 when endodermal cells started to divide. These findings suggest that the loss of function of CDC48B inhibits the intercellular trafficking of SHR from the stele to the endodermis, thereby decreasing SHR accumulation in the endodermis. These findings shed light on the crucial role of CDC48B in regulating periclinal cell division in roots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]