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We report the preliminary demonstration of continuous wave (cw) GaSb-based interband cascade lasers (ICLs) with hybrid cladding layers at high temperatures up to 80 °C near a wavelength of 3.72 μm. These ICLs have narrow-ridge widths of 7–11 μm with improved thermal dissipation compared to broad-area devices. They delivered a cw output power of more than 30 mW/facet at 20 °C and had a cw threshold current density of 270 A/cm2 with a voltage efficiency of 78% at 300 K. The obtained voltage efficiency of 78% is the highest ever reported among cw GaSb-based ICLs at room temperature, indicating an advantage of efficient carrier transport in the ICL with the hybrid cladding layers. The dependence of device performance on the narrow-ridge width and cavity length was investigated. The results suggested ways to further improve future devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study employed a lumped vapor model to investigate the depressurization dynamics during the thermodynamic venting process in a cryogenic liquid hydrogen storage tank under microgravity conditions. The effects of different control strategies-such as flow distribution, circulation flow rate, spray angle, and throttle valve switching time-on the performance of the thermodynamic venting system (TVS) were studied. Building on this foundation, the control strategies are refined across various filling rates and heat loads. The findings indicate that directing the flow towards the upper nozzle proximate to the vapor enhances the depressurization rate and augments the utilization of cooling capacity. The optimal circulation flow rate matches the heat entering the air pillow, and increases with higher heat load and lower filling rate. When the injection angle is 60°, the TVS achieves optimal performance with the fastest depressurization rate and no thermal stratification. The throttle valve opens during the early depressurization stage and closes when the pressure drops to the critical pressure Pcr, resulting in better performance. A lower filling rate and higher heat load lead to an increase in Pcr. This study provides a solid foundation for optimizing TVS control under various conditions, ultimately extending the storage duration of propellants in orbit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the considerable progress in mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs)-based novel intervention of multiple sclerosis (MS), yet the disease-modifying effect of VCAM-1− MSCs and novel VCAM-1+ counterpart is largely obscure. In this study, we took advantage of the EAE mouse model and VCAM-1+ human umbilical cord-derived MSCs (hUC-MSCs) for the evaluation of the therapeutic effect of systematic MSCs infusion. On the one hand, we compared the protective effect of VCAM-1− and VCAM-1+ hUC-MSCs against the clinical symptoms, demyelination, active glia cells and neuroinflammation in EAE mice by conducting multifaceted detections upon spinal cord and brain tissues. On the other hand, we conducted RNA-sequencing (RNA-SEQ) and multidimensional bioinformatics analyses for the evaluation of the transcriptomic features of spinal cord tissue in EAE mice after systematic hUC-MSCs infusion. Compared to those with VCAM-1− hUC-MSCs injection, VCAM-1+ mice showed further remission in clinical manifestations, and in particular, the inflammatory infiltration and active glial cells. Mice in all groups revealed conservations in overall gene expression profiling and somatic mutation spectrum. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between EAE mice and those with hUC-MSCs infusion were mainly involved in neuroinflammation and inflammatory response. Our findings indicated the feasibility of VCAM-1+ hUC-MSCs for multiple sclerosis treatment, which would supply new references for the development of novel VCAM-1+ MSCs-based cytotherapy in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aims to investigate the relationship between urinary creatinine (UCr) and the risk and severity of Diabetic Kidney Disease (DKD) in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). The goal is to establish UCr as a potential biomarker for early DKD detection and severity assessment. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional analysis was conducted using medical records of T2DM patients. Patients were classified into groups with and without DKD, and relevant clinical data, including demographic, blood, and urine parameters, were collected. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis evaluated the association between UCr levels and DKD. Curve fitting and threshold effect model were used to further evaluate the relationship between UCr and the incidence and severity of DKD. Results: A total of 302 T2DM patients were analyzed, with 137 diagnosed with DKD. Significant differences in clinical parameters were observed between the DKD and non-DKD groups, particularly in UCr, urine albumin levels, and eGFR. UCr levels demonstrated a strong association with DKD. Moreover, a non-linear relationship was identified, with specific inflection points indicating different correlation patterns of UCr with DKD occurrence and progression. Conclusion: The findings of this study highlight the potential of UCr as a valuable biomarker for early detection and assessment of DKD in T2DM patients. Incorporating UCr measurements into routine clinical practice could enhance early identification of patients at risk for kidney complications, leading to timely intervention and improved patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing frequency of extreme weather events such as heavy rainstorm disasters, the stable operation of power systems is facing significant challenges. This paper proposes a two-stage restoration strategy for the distribution networks (DNs). First, a grid-based modeling approach is developed for urban DNs and transportation networks (TNs), capturing the dynamic evolution of heavy rainstorm disasters and more accurately modeling the impact on TNs and DNs. Then, a two-stage restoration strategy is designed for the DN by coordinating soft open points (SOPs) and mobile energy storage systems (MESSs). In the disaster progression stage, SOPs are utilized to enable the flexible reconfiguration and islanding of the DN, minimizing load loss. In the post-disaster recovery stage, the MESS and repair crew are optimally dispatched, taking into account the state of the TN to expedite power restoration. Finally, the experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method reduces load loss during restoration by 8.09% compared to approaches without precise TN and DN modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grain refinement is of very important significance for improving the microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg alloys. This work investigated how the addition of various amounts of Y element affected the microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg-9Al-1Zn alloy. It was found that the grain size of Mg-9Al-1Zn alloy decreases as Y element content increases. When 1.2 wt.% Y element content was added, the grain size of Mg-9Al-1Zn alloy could be reduced from 334.2 μm to 134.6 μm, and grain refinement efficiency of 60% was achieved. HRTEM analysis demonstrated a good orientation relationship between the Al2Y phase and the Mg interface, and therefore, it was determined that the Al2Y phase can be used as a heterogeneous nucleation site for α-Mg grains, which promotes the grain refinement of α-Mg grain. Furthermore, the addition of Y element can also significantly refine the eutectic Mg17Al12 phase of the Mg-9Al-1Zn alloy. In this way, the mechanical properties of the Mg-9Al-1Zn alloy are significantly enhanced. It was found that the YS and UTS of the Mg-9Al-1Zn alloy reached 87 MPa and 154 MPa with the addition of 0.9 wt.% of Y element—24% and 43% higher than the Mg-9Al-1Zn alloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fujian Province is an important soil and water conservation region in hilly South China. However, there has been limited attention paid to the assessment of water production and soil conservation at the provincial level, and the distribution patterns of ecosystem services under different environmental gradients in hilly regions have not been revealed. This study evaluated the spatiotemporal characteristics of water yield and soil conservation based on the InVEST model in 2000, 2010, and 2020, and explored their differences under six environmental gradients: elevation, slope, terrain position index, geomorphy, LULC, and NDVI. The results and statistics of the InVEST model showed significant spatial differentiation and temporal change in water yield; the distribution and changes in water yield and soil conservation both exhibited obvious clustering characteristics of cold and hot spots (low and high values); and the differences in distribution and change in water yield in different cities were higher than those in soil conservation. The distribution index and Geodetector showed that there were spatiotemporal differences in distribution and change characteristics of water yield and soil retention in different environmental gradients; the distribution and change differences in water yield were generally lower than those of soil conservation and the degree of distribution and change in water yield and soil conservation were generally more sensitive to the response of terrain factors (slope, TPI, and DEM). The high-value important regions of water yield and soil conservation were 1000 to 2160 m for DEM, 25° to 70.2° for slope, 0.81 to 1.42 for TPI, medium mountain for geomorphy, forest land for LULC, and 0.9 to 0.92 for NDVI, which indicates mountainous regions with high altitude, steep slopes, significant terrain changes, and high forest vegetation coverage. This study indicates that ecosystem services exhibit spatiotemporal differences in distributions across different environmental gradients, and attention should be paid to adapting to local conditions in ecological environment development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the stability of rock layers and the change in volumetric water content at different stages of mining under an environment of heavy rainfall, a self-developed large-scale open-pit-to-underground-mining similar physical model was used, and the intensity of continuous rainfall was set at 40 mm/h. The results of this study show that fissures accelerated the instability of rock strata, and when spreading to different rock strata, they were prone to form subsidence cracks and produce collapse zones. The volumetric water content is closely related to the stability of the rock formation. An 'arch-shaped collapse zone' was formed in an interval of (0.9~1.8 m), and a convex spreading zone of volumetric water content was formed in an interval of (1.2~1.6 m). The infiltration line shows different diffusion patterns in different mining stages. In the early stage of mining, the volumetric water content infiltration line is roughly parallel to the slope; in the middle stage of mining, the infiltration line diffuses parallel to the two ends of the interface with the slope and diffuses convexly in the middle; in the late stage of mining, the infiltration line shows a pattern of rapid diffusion in the lower area, rapid diffusion in the middle area, and slow diffusion in the middle area. Therefore, in the process of the mining stage, it is necessary to focus on mining area fissure changes and monitor the point water content for sudden changes and other indicators. This study has certain guiding significance for safe production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The retrosplenial cortex (RSP) is a complex brain region with multiple interconnected subregions that plays crucial roles in various cognitive functions, including memory, spatial navigation, and emotion. Understanding the afferent and efferent connectivity of the RSP is essential for comprehending the underlying mechanisms of its functions. Here, via viral tracing and fluorescence micro-optical sectioning tomography (fMOST), we systematically investigated the anatomical organisation of the upstream and downstream circuits of glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons in the dorsal and ventral RSP. The cortical connections of the RSP show laminar organisation in which the input neurons are distributed more in the deeper layers of the upstream cortex. Although different types of neurons have similar upstream circuits, GABAergic neurons show bidirectional connections with the hippocampus, whereas glutamatergic neurons only show unidirectional connections. Moreover, GABAergic neurons receive more inputs from the primary sensory cortex than from the prefrontal cortex and association cortex. The dorsal and ventral subregions have preferred circuits such that the dorsal RSP exhibits spatially topological connections with the dorsal visual cortex and lateral thalamus. The systematic study on long-range connections across RSP subregions and cell types may provide useful information for future revealing of RSP working mechanisms.Dissection of long-range circuits of the mouse intermediate retrosplenial cortex reveals preferred circuits of glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons and spatially topological connections in dorsal and ventral subregions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The retrosplenial cortex (RSP) is a complex brain region with multiple interconnected subregions that plays crucial roles in various cognitive functions, including memory, spatial navigation, and emotion. Understanding the afferent and efferent connectivity of the RSP is essential for comprehending the underlying mechanisms of its functions. Here, via viral tracing and fluorescence micro-optical sectioning tomography (fMOST), we systematically investigated the anatomical organisation of the upstream and downstream circuits of glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons in the dorsal and ventral RSP. The cortical connections of the RSP show laminar organisation in which the input neurons are distributed more in the deeper layers of the upstream cortex. Although different types of neurons have similar upstream circuits, GABAergic neurons show bidirectional connections with the hippocampus, whereas glutamatergic neurons only show unidirectional connections. Moreover, GABAergic neurons receive more inputs from the primary sensory cortex than from the prefrontal cortex and association cortex. The dorsal and ventral subregions have preferred circuits such that the dorsal RSP exhibits spatially topological connections with the dorsal visual cortex and lateral thalamus. The systematic study on long-range connections across RSP subregions and cell types may provide useful information for future revealing of RSP working mechanisms.Dissection of long-range circuits of the mouse intermediate retrosplenial cortex reveals preferred circuits of glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons and spatially topological connections in dorsal and ventral subregions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the expressiveness and realism of illustration images, the experiment innovatively combines the attention mechanism with the cycle consistency adversarial network and proposes an efficient style transfer method for illustration images. The model comprehensively utilizes the image restoration and style transfer capabilities of the attention mechanism and the cycle consistency adversarial network, and introduces an improved attention module, which can adaptively highlight the key visual elements in the illustration, thereby maintaining artistic integrity during the style transfer process. Through a series of quantitative and qualitative experiments, high-quality style transfer is achieved, especially while retaining the original features of the illustration. The results show that when running on the Monet2photo dataset, when the system iterates to 72 times, the loss function value of the research method approaches the target value of 0.00. On the Horse2zebra dataset, as the sample size increases, the research method has the smallest FID value, and the value approaches 40.00 infinitely. With the change of peak signal-to-noise ratio, the accuracy of the research algorithm has been greater than 95.00%. Practical application found that the color of the image obtained by the research method is more gorgeous and the line features are more obvious. The above results all show that the research method has achieved more satisfactory results in the task of style transfer of illustration images, especially in terms of the accuracy of style transfer and the retention of image details. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gannan is the largest navel orange production area in China. Most studies have primarily focused on the effects of either soil or topographic factors on the quality of navel oranges. However, there has been a lack of research exploring the relationship between navel orange quality and multiple environmental factors (meteorological, topographic, and soil). This study focused on Gannan navel oranges, selecting standard orchards in the core navel orange-producing area as the research region. It employed the Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR) method to investigate the extent of the impact of environmental factors on fruit quality. The results indicated that the effect of soil factors on fruit shape and fruit flavor was greater than that of meteorological and topographic factors in the Gannan area. And the fruit peel is more uniformly influenced by environmental factors. Based on the degree of impact of various environmental factors, multiple regression equations for fruit quality have been established to identify the optimal conditions conducive to the comprehensive development of Gannan navel oranges. These findings help determine the optimal planting areas for Gannan navel oranges, providing practical evidence for the future development of navel oranges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Volenrelaxin is a half-life-extended recombinant human relaxin protein developed for improving kidney perfusion and cardiorenal function. This study assessed the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of volenrelaxin following single- and multiple-ascending doses (SAD and MAD) administration. Methods In this Phase 1, four-part, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled SAD and MAD study in healthy participants, SAD participants (n  = 56) received an intravenous or subcutaneous dose of volenrelaxin or placebo in a dose-ascending manner. MAD participants (n  = 77) received volenrelaxin or placebo subcutaneously once weekly for 5 weeks. Effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) and measured glomerular filtration rate (mGFR) were determined by para-aminohippurate and iohexol clearance, respectively. Results Volenrelaxin demonstrated an extended half-life and increased acute and chronic placebo-adjusted ERPF change from baseline by 50% and 44%, respectively (P  < .0001). mGFR was unchanged, while filtration fraction and afferent/efferent renal arteriolar resistances were reduced. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures decreased, and pulse rate increased with increasing volenrelaxin exposures, demonstrating maximal model-derived placebo-adjusted changes (90% confidence interval) of –6.16 (–8.04, –4.28) mmHg, –6.10 (–7.61, –4.58) mmHg and +4.39 (+3.38, +5.39) bpm, respectively. Adverse events were mild, with no difference in orthostatic hypotension between volenrelaxin and placebo. Conclusion Volenrelaxin was well-tolerated, safe and suitable for weekly subcutaneous dosing. Volenrelaxin showed a sustained improvement in kidney perfusion upon repeated dosing, supporting further clinical development in chronic kidney disease and chronic heart failure. Clinical trial registration NCT04768855. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anxiety disorder is a major symptom of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with a comorbidity rate of ~40%. However, the neural mechanisms of the emergence of anxiety in ASD remain unclear. In our study, we found that hyperactivity of basolateral amygdala (BLA) pyramidal neurons (PNs) in Shank3 InsG3680 knock-in (InsG3680+/+) mice is involved in the development of anxiety. Electrophysiological results also showed increased excitatory input and decreased inhibitory input in BLA PNs. Chemogenetic inhibition of the excitability of PNs in the BLA rescued the anxiety phenotype of InsG3680+/+ mice. Further study found that the diminished control of the BLA by medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and optogenetic activation of the mPFC-BLA pathway also had a rescue effect, which increased the feedforward inhibition of the BLA. Taken together, our results suggest that hyperactivity of the BLA and alteration of the mPFC-BLA circuitry are involved in anxiety in InsG3680+/+ mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweet syndrome (SS), which is characterised by fever and erythematous tender skin lesions, has been shown to be associated with lymphoma. However, there are limited reported experiences on the wound care of SS in patients with lymphoma. This case report presents the wound care of SS in a patient with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALK+ALCL). A 42-year-old male was referred to the The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine Hospital with redness and pain in the left shoulder and abdomen following chemotherapy for ALK+ALCL in early 2021. Physical examination found lesions in the abdomen and shoulder. The lesions were ruptured on day 5 and found to be composed of necrotic tissues. After debridement, the wounds were successively treated with silver ion antibacterial dressing, Mepilex Border Lite (Mölnlycke Health Care, Sweden), silver sulfadiazine gauze, Shengji ointment (a traditional Chinese therapy), UrgoTül (Urgo Medical, France), and fire needling therapy (another traditional Chinese therapy). At three months later, the wound in the abdomen was healed, but the shoulder wound was still unhealed. Based on the physiological manifestations and current treatment process, the patient was diagnosed with SS after multidisciplinary consultation. Prednisone tablets were then administered and the shoulder wound completely healed after two months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a crucial role in gene regulation and the development of keloid. This research aimed to identify and verify miRNAs associated with keloids by microarray analysis and in vitro experiments, shedding light on seeking for potential therapeutic molecular targets. In this study, the weighted gene co-expression network analysis was performed based on the GSE113620. The key miRNA module most relevant to the keloid was further screened to identify hub miRNAs, and then hub miRNAs was verified by the microarray analysis and qRT-PCR experiments. Additionally, targeted genes of hub miRNAs were predicted and verified. Gene ontology (GO) analysis and KEGG enrichment analysis were also conducted. Five miRNA modules were divided, and the blue module exhibited the highest correlation with keloids. Then, hsa-miR-127-3p, hsa-miR-214-3p, hsa-miR-155-5p, hsa-miR-409-5p, and hsa-miR-542-5p were identified as the hub miRNAs. Subsequently, the microarray analysis and qRT-PCR results demonstrated that the expression of five miRNAs were upregulated in keloid tissues. The GO analysis revealed that the target genes of these miRNAs were mainly enriched in biological processes including gene transcription, protein phosphorylation and the MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) cascade, and the KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway were significantly enriched. In conclusion, these five miRNAs (hsa-miR-127-3p, hsa-miR-155-5p, hsa-miR-214-3p, hsa-miR-409-5p, and hsa-miR-542-5p) play vital roles in the pathogenesis of keloid and might be potential therapeutic targets. These miRNAs might regulate genes enriched in gene transcription, protein phosphorylation, the MAPK cascade, and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we provide an ~47.0‐kyr mercury (Hg) deposition record derived from a lacustrine sedimentary sequence in Dahu swamp in the eastern Nanling Mountains, China. The results indicate that organic matter (OM) input played a role in Hg accumulation, whereas the contribution of inorganic weathering detritus had a negligible impact. On the other hand, evolution of the plant community and wildfire events were also important factors affecting Hg accumulation. Compared to arboreal plants, lower (herbs and ferns) plants had stronger absorption and enrichment ability for Hg thus favoring enhanced Hg accumulation in the sediments. We therefore infer that Hg deposition in Dahu sediments was greatly controlled by changes in climatic conditions. Relatively dry and cold climatic conditions, which resulted in reduced arboreal plant communities and increased lower plants, would favor an increased Hg accumulation rate; furthermore, dry conditions may cause more wildfire events thus leading to enhanced release of Hg into the environment and increased contribution of Hg to the sediments, whereas relatively wet and warm conditions would result in the opposite situation. The record of Hg deposition demonstrates a synchronous orbital‐scale variation trend with the intensity of the East Asian summer monsoon. Period analysis reveals several millennial‐ and centennial‐scale cycles similar to solar insolation, together with several millennial events of increased Hg concentration and accumulation rate, which coincided with the corresponding Heinrich events, suggesting joint impacts of solar irradiation and the action of melting water as well as changes in zonal atmospheric circulation on Hg accumulation in Dahu sediments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mountainous precipitation has different characteristics due to differences in climatic or topographical backgrounds. However, the variation characteristics of modern precipitation in the Nanling Mountains, which are located at the front edge of the Asian summer monsoon, remain poorly understood. Based on monthly precipitation data from twenty-two meteorological stations from 1959 to 2019, we analysed the spatiotemporal characteristics of seasonal and annual precipitation and discussed the possible driving mechanisms in the study region. Annual, spring, summer, and winter precipitation increased, while autumn precipitation decreased from 1959 to 2019; these variation trends will continue as inferred from the Hurst index of the R/S analysis. Annual and seasonal precipitation exhibit periods within a scale of 2–8 years, and their mutation times mostly occurred in the 1980s and 2010s. Spatially, the peak centre of precipitation shifted gradually from the south to the north from spring to winter, as it was influenced by variations in the water vapour source. The eastern and northern weather stations with bimodal patterns of monthly precipitation within the year have longer flood seasons than the southern and western stations with unimodal patterns. Due to the loss of water vapour during northwards and upwards migration, significant negative correlations existed between latitude and annual/spring/summer precipitation, as well as between altitude (below 500 m) and annual/spring precipitation. Regional comparisons revealed that mountainous precipitation exhibited significantly decreasing trends with increasing latitude in China. This study further demonstrated the vital roles of the Asian summer monsoon, sunspots, and ENSO forcings in regulating annual precipitation variations in the study region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human ANP32A/B (huANP32A/B) poorly support the polymerase activity of avian influenza viruses (AIVs), thereby limiting interspecies transmission of AIVs from birds to humans. The SUMO-interacting motif (SIM) within NS2 promotes the adaptation of AIV polymerase to huANP32A/B via a yet undisclosed mechanism. Here we show that huANP32A/B are SUMOylated by the E3 SUMO ligase PIAS2α, and deSUMOylated by SENP1. SUMO modification of huANP32A/B results in the recruitment of NS2, thereby facilitating huANP32A/B-supported AIV polymerase activity. Such a SUMO-dependent recruitment of NS2 is mediated by its association with huANP32A/B via the SIM-SUMO interaction module, where K68/K153-SUMO in huANP32A or K68/K116-SUMO in huANP32B interacts with the NS2-SIM. The SIM-SUMO-mediated interactions between NS2 and huANP32A/B function to promote AIV polymerase activity by positively regulating AIV vRNP-huANP32A/B interactions and AIV vRNP assembly. Our study offers insights into the mechanism of NS2-SIM in facilitating AIVs adaptation to mammals. This study reveals how avian influenza viruses adapt to human hosts. It shows that viral infection upregulates human ANP32A/B SUMOylation, which recruits the viral NS2 protein, boosting polymerase activity and aiding early infection in human cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tibetan Plateau is credited as the "Third Pole" after the Arctic and the Antarctic, and lakes there represent a pristine habitat ideal for studying microbial processes under climate change. Results: Here, we collected 169 samples from 54 lakes including those from the central Tibetan region that was underrepresented previously, grouped them to freshwater, brackish, and saline lakes, and generated a genome atlas of the Tibetan Plateau Lake Microbiome. This genomic atlas comprises 8271 metagenome-assembled genomes featured by having significant phylogenetic and functional novelty. The microbiomes of freshwater lakes are enriched with genes involved in recalcitrant carbon degradation, carbon fixation, and energy transformation, whereas those of saline lakes possess more genes that encode osmolyte transport and synthesis and enable anaerobic metabolism. These distinct metabolic features match well with the geochemical properties including dissolved organic carbon, dissolved oxygen, and salinity that distinguish between these lakes. Population genomic analysis suggests that microbial populations in saline lakes are under stronger functional constraints than those in freshwater lakes. Although microbiomes in the Tibet lakes, particularly the saline lakes, may be subject to changing selective regimes due to ongoing warming, they may also benefit from the drainage reorganization and metapopulation reconnection. Conclusions: Altogether, the Tibetan Plateau Lake Microbiome atlas serves as a valuable microbial genetic resource for biodiversity conservation and climate research. 9n3SXpnTm6EbgSwcGAa_6c Video Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gannan is the largest navel orange production area in China. Most studies have primarily focused on the effects of either soil or topographic factors on the quality of navel oranges. However, there has been a lack of research exploring the relationship between navel orange quality and multiple environmental factors (meteorological, topographic, and soil). This study focused on Gannan navel oranges, selecting standard orchards in the core navel orange-producing area as the research region. It employed the Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR) method to investigate the extent of the impact of environmental factors on fruit quality. The results indicated that the effect of soil factors on fruit shape and fruit flavor was greater than that of meteorological and topographic factors in the Gannan area. And the fruit peel is more uniformly influenced by environmental factors. Based on the degree of impact of various environmental factors, multiple regression equations for fruit quality have been established to identify the optimal conditions conducive to the comprehensive development of Gannan navel oranges. These findings help determine the optimal planting areas for Gannan navel oranges, providing practical evidence for the future development of navel oranges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to introduce and assess the safety and feasibility of single incision laparoscopic totally preperitoneal hernioplasty (SIL-TPP) for bilateral inguinal hernia repair. Method: Forty-two SIL-TPP procedures for bilateral inguinal hernia repair were conducted from June 2018 to July 2022 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University using standard laparoscopic instruments and a single-port device. Clinical data such as demographic intraoperative parameters and short-term postoperative outcomes were collected and analysed. Results: SIL-TPP was successful in 42 bilateral inguinal hernia patients, and no conversion occurred. Of these 42 patients, 38 were males and 4 were females. The average age was 57.4 ± 17 years. The participants' mean BMI was 22.67 ± 2.19 kg/m2 (range from 18.65 to 28.71 kg/m2). There were 4 types of bilateral hernias. The percentage of patients who underwent surgery before the SIL-TPP procedure in the same region was 21.43% (9/42). The mean operative time was 114 ± 34.24 min (range, 70–215 min). A total of 11 intraoperative complications occurred in 42 bilateral inguinal hernia patients, including unintentional peritoneum tears and hernia sac tears. No major complications occurred in the study. The postoperative complication rate was 2.38% (1/42). One patient experienced intestinal obstruction after the operation that resolved spontaneously without treatment. The surgical time in the SIL-TPP group decreased gradually as the number of operations increased. Moreover, the operation time trend decreased linearly (P < 0.0001, R²=0.42). Conclusion: SIL-TPP is a safe and feasible procedure for treating bilateral inguinal hernias. The SIL-TPP procedure requires distinct skills and has specific advantages in treating bilateral hernias. Large-scale randomized controlled studies comparing SIL-TPP with conventional single-port and three-port laparoscopic TEP for bilateral inguinal hernia are needed to confirm these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Injectable poly-D,L-lactic acid (PDLLA), under the brand name of AestheFill (REGEN Biotech, Inc. Seoul, South Korea), is a biocompatible, biodegradable, and biostimulatory product utilized to correct soft tissue volume loss. Its efficacy and safety have not been fully studied in a large cohort. Objectives The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a novel dermal filler injectable, poly-D,L-lactic acid. Methods This was an evaluator-blinded, multicenter, randomized controlled trial to compare the efficacy and safety of PDLLA vs hyaluronic acid in the correction of the nasolabial fold. Two hundred and sixty patients with moderate to severe nasolabial folds were enrolled and randomized to the treatment group (PDLLA) or control group (hyaluronic acid). Each patient received a PDLLA or hyaluronic acid injection for nasolabial fold augmentation and was followed for 52 weeks. The Wrinkle Severity Rating Scale (WSRS) and Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) were applied to evaluate topical nasolabial fold augmentation and overall improvement, respectively. Results At 24 weeks, 67.6% of patients in the PDLLA group had an at least 1-grade improvement on the WSRS, compared to 60.9% of patients in the control group with an at least 1-grade improvement on the WSRS (P <.05). At each visit, the PDLLA group showed more improvement on the baseline WSRS than the control group. PDLLA was safe and well tolerated, with no severe adverse events. Conclusions PDLLA shows noninferior efficacy in correcting nasolabial folds compared to hyaluronic acid. Level of Evidence: 2 (Therapeutic) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: As global population ages, frailty has surfaced as a major public health challenge. Given the heterogeneity of frailty in the clinical presentation, it is imperative to develop personalised diagnostic and treatment strategies. The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) constitution offers notable advantages in discerning individual differences. This study aims to elucidate the association between TCM constitutions and frailty, providing insights into the application of TCM for the frailty management. Methods: An observational study was conducted at Huadong hospital from July 2022 to November 2023. A total of 241 older patients were recruited. Each patient underwent assessments for the TCM constitution and frailty status. Comprehensive data collection encompassed medical history, biochemical indicators, bone mineral density (BMD), body composition and physical performance metrics. Plasma samples were also collected to detect levels of inflammatory factors and lymphogenesis‐related factors, including IL‐1β, TNF‐α, VEGF‐C, ANGPTL4 and ACV‐A. Multi‐level statistical analysis was used to establish the relationship of TCM constitutions with frailty. Results: Amongst all participants, 54 individuals were classified as non‐frail, 90 individuals as pre‐frail and 97 individuals as frail. Regression analysis indicated that frailty was closely associated with four imbalanced TCM constitutions: Qi deficiency, phlegm dampness, blood stasis and Qi depression. Subsequent analysis demonstrated that Qi deficiency was associated with decreased BMD, phlegm dampness with elevated high‐density lipoprotein levels, Blood stasis with elevated blood glucose levels, and Qi depression with both decreased BMD and elevated low‐density lipoprotein levels. Furthermore, individuals characterised by imbalanced TCM constitutions exhibited inferior handgrip strength, walking pace, lower limb strength and higher levels of inflammatory factors and lymphogenesis‐related factors compared to those with balanced TCM constitution. Conclusion: Frailty is independently associated with Qi deficiency, phlegm dampness, blood stasis and Qi depression. Personalised diagnostic approaches based on the TCM constitution may offer valuable insights for directing treatment for older patients with frailty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Applications of blockchain in supply chain management (SCM) have received extensive attention among academics and industrial practitioners. Most current blockchain-related review papers focus on the values, methodologies, barriers, trends, and challenges of blockchain applications in the supply chain (SC) context. Despite some papers discussing blockchain's role in SCs from a specific perspective, the existing review papers mainly concentrate on blockchain's influence on one of the three critical SC flows. Hence, this study comprehensively reviews 251 academic papers to capture the precise impacts of blockchain on the material, information, and money flows in SCM. Following the above analyses, a conceptual framework is put forward to accentuate blockchain's influence on SCM. By unveiling a comprehensive research landscape, this study offers valuable viewpoints and vital information for scholars and practitioners to better identify research frontiers and themes of blockchain applications in SCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) offer a potential solution to the antibiotic crisis owing to their antimicrobial properties, and the human gut biome may be a source of these peptides. However, the potential AMPs and AMP resistance genes (AMPRGs) of gut microbes in different age groups have not been thoroughly assessed. Here, we investigated the potential development of AMPs and the distribution pattern of AMPRGs in the gut microbiome at different ages by analyzing the intestinal metagenomic data of healthy individuals at different life stages (CG: centenarians group n = 20; OAG: older adults group: n  = 15; YG: young group: n  = 15). Age-related increases were observed in the potential AMPs within the gut microbiome, with centenarians showing a greater diversity of these peptides. However, the gut microbiome of the CG group had a lower level of AMPRGs compared to that of the OAG group, and it was similar to the level found in the YG group. Additionally, conventional probiotic strains showed a significant positive correlation with certain potential AMPs and were associated with a lower detection of resistance genes. Furthermore, comparing potential AMPs with existing libraries revealed limited similarity, indicating that current machine learning models can identify novel peptides in the gut microbiota. These results indicate that longevity may benefit from the diversity of AMPs and lower resistance genes. Our findings help explain the age advantage of the centenarians and identify the potential for antimicrobial peptide biosynthesis in the human gut microbiome, offering insights into the development of antimicrobial peptide resistance and the screening of probiotic strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To design a multi-epitope antigen of norovirus (NoV) based on bioinformatics technology and to prepare and characterize it. Methods: Bioinformaties methods were used to construct and analyze the JNoV multi-epitope antigen NoV-ZH. Recombinant proteins were prepared and characterized by prokaryotic expression system, and monoclonal antibodies were prepared by animal immunization and hybridoma technology, and initially applied in colloidal gold platform. Results:The designed multi-epitope antigen had a large proportion of random curls in the secondary structure, with theoretical molecular mass and isoelectric point (PI) of 13.1 ku and 7.16, which were stable and hydrophilic. It had good immunogenicity and could activate humoral and cellular immune responses. The proteins prepared by ligating pET-28a( + ) and pET-32a vectors with antigenic sequences were expressed as inclusion body proteins and soluble proteins, respectively. A pair of paired antibodies was obtained by animal immunization and hybridoma technique, and applied to colloidal gold test strips with a sensitivity of 0.5 ng/ml, and the test strips could specifically bind two genotypes of NoV recombinant capsid proteins. Conclusion:The successful preparation and characterization of multi-epitope antigen of norovirus provides a reference for the subsequent exploration of NoV universal detection targets and the development of diagnostic raw materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Double wavelength emitting phosphors with hypersensitive thermal response are important for optical/thermal sensors and multiplexing optical data storage technology. However, it is a daunting challenge to develop multicolor electron‐trapping materials with superheat sensitivity and anomalous quenching luminescence characteristics for information storage. Here, based on the selection of host lattice and the control of doping ion types, we have designed Mn2+‐ and/or Cr3+‐activated persistent materials with excellent fluorescence properties. Among these phosphors, Mn,Cr co‐activated biphasic mixture exhibits not only sensitive anomalous thermosensitive fluorescence properties but also multicolor and multimode fluorescence emission characteristics derived from Mn and Cr simultaneously. The corresponding multimode fluorescence mechanism is proposed based on afterglow energy transfer and deepening trap effect. Especially, based on the excellent fluorescence performances, these phosphors as information storage medium demonstrate multilevel information storage by a combination of the trap multiplexing and wavelength multiplexing technologies. The study here provides not only the ideas for designing and synthesizing new electronic materials but also a material foundation for the fourth generation of optical information storage and encryption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The lips are one crucial determinant of facial attractiveness. Current studies investigating lip attractiveness were mostly conducted in Caucasians, and the results could not directly apply to Asians. Aside from lip proportions, lip contours play an important role in attractiveness but it is unclear how people perceive different lip contours. The aim of this study was to investigate the aesthetic perception of various lip shapes by Chinese to identify the most attractive lip morphology for women and men, respectively. Methods: 303 Chinese participants were invited to rate the attractiveness of identical lip images with different contours and proportions in a young female and a young male. Stratified analyses were performed to assess the effect of gender, age and occupation on the preference of lip shapes. Results: The lips that were rated to be most attractive had a flat upper vermilion border, an M-shaped oral fissure and a U-shaped lower vermilion border in both genders. Most respondents considered an upper-to-lower vermilion proportion of 1:1 to be more attractive, regardless of the gender of the lip models, and the lip thickness-to-width proportions of 1:2 and 1:2.5 were perceived most attractive for female and male, respectively. Conclusions: This study adds to our understanding of how lip contours contribute to attractiveness and that Chinese have distinctive aesthetic preferences for lip morphology, which possibly stem from racial characteristics and cultural differences. With such knowledge, practitioners may better tailor the treatment strategy when performing lip rejuvenation procedures. Level of Evidence III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A directional valve is a core component of the electro-hydraulic shakers in fatigue testing machines, controlling the cylinder or motor that drives the piston for reciprocating linear or rotary motion. In this article, a high-speed rotating directional valve with a symmetrical flow channel layout is designed to optimize the force on the valve core of the directional valve. A comparative analysis is conducted on the flow capacity of valve ports with different shapes. A steady-state hydrodynamic mathematical model is established for the valve core, the theoretical analysis results of which are verified through a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation of the fluid domain inside the directional valve. A prototype of the rotatory directional valve is designed and manufactured, and an experimental platform is built to measure the hydraulic force acting on the valve core to verify the performance of the valve. The displacement curves at different commutation frequencies are also obtained. The experimental results show that the symmetrical flow channel layout can significantly optimize the hydraulic force during the movement of the valve core. Under a pressure of 1 MPa, the hydraulic cylinder driven by the prototype can achieve a sinusoidal curve output with a maximum frequency of 60 Hz and an amplitude of 2.5 mm. The innovation of this design lies in the creation of a directional valve with a symmetric flow channel layout. The feasibility of the design is verified through modeling, simulation, and experimentation, and it significantly optimizes the hydraulic forces acting on the spool. It provides us with the possibility to further improve the switching frequency of hydraulic valves and has important value in engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The western Guangdong Province (WGDP) in China, influenced by both the East Asian and the Indian summer monsoon, is a pivotal region for exploring the Asian summer monsoon (ASM) evolution. So far, there still lacks detail studies on late Holocene climatic/environmental changes here. In this study, multiple magnetic parameters were measured on the lake sediments of Hedong section in this area. Results indicated a dominance of pseudo-single-domain detrital (titano-)magnetite or maghemite mixed with paramagnetic and anti-ferromagnetic minerals in sediments, and the impacts of authigenic greigite, bacterial activity, post-depositional dissolution, and dilution effects were trivial. Changes in rainfall-induced surface erosion intensity were determined as a role in sediment magnetic properties. Intensified surface erosion deduced by increased rainfall favored enhanced concentrations and more coarse-grained magnetic minerals in sediments, and vice versa. Thus, the magnetic parameters can be used to reflect varying ASM strength in the past ~4300 years. They revealed four relatively humid (strengthened ASM) (i.e., 4300–4000 cal. yr BP, 3500–3130 cal. yr BP, 2640–1950 cal. yr BP, and 1250–850 cal. yr BP), and three dry periods (weakened ASM) (i.e., 4000–3500 cal. yr BP, 3130–2640 cal. yr BP, and 1950–1250 cal. yr BP) which coincided with the Bond events 3, 2, and 1 respectively. In combination with the three significant cycles (i.e., 1250-, 75-, and 65-year) revealed by spectral analysis on SIRM record, we inferred both the external forcing (e.g., solar activity) and internal hemispheric-scale atmospheric processes (e.g., ENSO, North Atlantic Oscillation) have played an integral role in late Holocene climate changes in the study region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African horse sickness (AHS) is an acute, fatal, contagious disease of animals of the family Equidae and is caused by infection with the African horse sickness virus (AHSV). Based on the outer capsid protein VP2, AHSV is classified into nine serotypes (AHSV−1 to −9) with little or no serological cross-reactivity between them. In 2020, AHS outbreaks caused by AHSV−1 were reported in Thailand and Malaysia, marking the first occurrences of AHS in Southeast Asia. However, little is known about the antigenic profile of AHSV−1 VP2. In this study, a recombinant VP2 protein was expressed in Escherichia coli and used as an immunogen, and three monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), designated 7D11, 10A9, and 9E7, against AHSV−1 VP2, were generated. These three mAbs were then successfully used in IFA, WB, and ELISA for the detection of AHSV−1 VP2. Two overlapping linear epitopes, 670NEFDFE675 (E670–675) recognized by 9E7 and 670NEFDF674 (E670–674) recognized by 7D11 and 10A9, were identified through truncation of GST-fused VP2. Amino acid sequence alignment shows that the 670NEFDFE675 motif is completely conserved within AHSV−1 but is highly divergent in other AHSV serotypes. Our studies provide an important tool for basic research into AHSV−1 and for the diagnosis of AHSV−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a novel reliable model predictive control (MPC) method for active vibration control of structure with nonprobabilistic uncertainties. First, the framework of reliable MPC is established by integrating nonprobabilistic reliability constraints into nominal MPC. Based on the first‐order Taylor expansion and first‐passage theory, an efficient nonprobabilistic reliability analysis method that is suitable for online computation is proposed. A nonprobabilistic Kalman filter is further proposed for determine system states and their uncertain region. Unlike most robust MPC approaches, the proposed reliable MPC focuses on the satisfaction of state constraints in terms of structural reliability and is more suitable for structures with stringent safety requirements. Compared to existing reliability‐based vibration control methods, reliable MPC requires no knowledge of disturbance and exhibits greater adaptability to load environments. The effectiveness and superiority of the proposed reliable MPC are validated through a numerical example and an engineering case study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing efficient photocatalysts that respond to near-infrared (NIR) light holds significant scientific importance for improving the utilization of solar energy. In this study, the photocatalyst β-NaLuF4:Yb3+/Tm3+@TiO2 that simultaneously responds to both ultraviolet (UV) and NIR light is successfully synthesized. Instead of the conventional use of β-NaYF4:Yb3+/Tm3+, β-NaLuF4:Yb3+/Tm3+ upconversion (UC) nanoparticles (NPs) are employed as the NIR-UV light converter to achieve stronger UV UC luminescence. The data indicate that the photocatalytic degradation efficiency and rate of β-NaLuF4:Yb3+/Tm3+@TiO2 synthesized in this work are superior to those of NIR-driven photocatalysts based on β-NaYF4:Yb3+/Tm3+ under both NIR and sunlight irradiation. Further analysis of the UC emission spectra and the decay curves of the samples reveals an effective fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) process between β-NaLuF4:Yb3+/Tm3+ and TiO2 after the combination, which makes the NIR-driven photocatalytic reactions happen. All results confirm that the present β-NaLuF4:Yb3+/Tm3+@TiO2 is an exceptionally efficient photocatalyst, owing to its responsiveness to both UV and NIR light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ginsenoside compound K (CK) holds significant potential for application in the pharmaceutical industry, which exhibits numerous pharmacological activity such as cardioprotective and antidiabetic. However, the difficult separation technique and limited yield of CK hinder its widespread use. The study investigated the process of converting ginsenoside CK using β-glucosidase. It aimed to determine the specific site where the enzyme binds and the most favorable arrangement of the enzyme. Molecular docking was also employed to determine the interaction between β-glucosidase and ginsenosides, indicating a strong and spontaneous contact force between them. The effectiveness of the conversion process was further improved using a "green" deep eutectic solvent (DES). A univariate experimental design was used to determine the composition of DES and the optimal hydrolysis conditions for β-glucosidase to convert ginsenoside Rb1 into ginsenoside CK. The employment of β-glucosidase enzymatic hydrolysis in the synthesis of rare ginsenoside CK applying the environmentally friendly solvent DES is not only viable and effective but also appropriate for industrial use. The characterization methods confirmed that DES did not disrupt the structure and conformation of β-glucosidase. In ChCl:EG = 2:1 (30%, v/v), pH 5.0 of DES buffer, reaction temperature 50 ℃, enzyme substrate mass ratio 1:1, after 36 h of reaction, the CK yield was 1.24 times that in acetate buffer, which can reach 86.2%. In this study, the process of using β-glucosidase enzymatic hydrolysis and producing rare ginsenoside CK in green solvent DES is feasible, efficient and suitable for industrial production and application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnesium alloys with a high volume fraction of secondary phases exhibit inferior formability. Therefore, investigating their thermal deformation characteristics is critical for optimizing thermal processing techniques. In this work, isothermal compression experiments were performed on a Mg-15Gd-8Y-6Al-0.3Mn alloy with an elastic modulus of 51.3 GPa with a substantial volume of aluminum-rare earth (Al2RE) phases. The rheological behavior and microstructural evolution of the material were systematically investigated at varying temperatures (350–500 °C) and strain rates (0.001–1.000 s−1). The calculated thermal processing diagram indicates that the unstable region gradually enlarges with increased strain, and all unstable regions appear within the high-strain-rate, low-temperature domain. The ideal thermal processing range of the alloy is 350–500 °C at strain rates ranging from 0.001 to 0.016 s−1. Particle-stimulated nucleation and discontinuous dynamic recrystallization are both verified to be responsible for the recrystallized microstructure of the alloy. The recrystallized grains exhibit a relatively random crystallographic orientation. As recrystallization proceeds, the texture gradually transitions from a typical [0001] texture in the compression direction to a random texture accompanied by decreased texture intensity. This work sheds new light on the thermo-mechanical processing of high-modulus Mg alloys, which could help design suitable processing techniques for related materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fillers are popular substances for the correction of tear trough deformity. Despite well-documented complications increasing gradually, standardized treatment algorithm for deformity secondary to improper injection is still limited. Methods: Between April 2020 and April 2023, a total of 22 patients with filler-associated tear trough deformity with static bulges or dynamic swells after injection of tear trough were enrolled. For patients who received hyaluronic acid (HA) and unknown fillers, hyaluronidase dissolution was performed. For patients who received non-HA fillers and unknown fillers that failed to dissolve, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination was conducted. Surgical approaches were selected based on the filler distribution and the condition of the lower eyelid. Ligament releasement and fat transposition were accomplished when fillers were excised. Aesthetic outcomes were evaluated by double-blind examiners using the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale after patients were followed up. Results: In total, the study included 3 patients with simple static deformities, 1 patient with simple dynamic, and 18 patients with both. Fourteen patients underwent transconjunctival surgery and 8 patients underwent transcutaneous surgery, among which 18 patients underwent hyaluronidase dissolution and 8 patients underwent MRI prior to surgery. A total of 4 patients with self-limited complications recovered after conservative treatment. 90.9% of patients expressed satisfaction or high satisfaction with the treatment results. Conclusion: Filler-associated tear trough deformities could be classified into static and dynamic deformities, which could appear separately or simultaneously. Treatment of deformities should be based on characteristics of fillers, in which MRI could serve as a promising tool. Level of Evidence IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the influence of digital government initiatives on corporate total factor productivity (TFP). Employing a difference-in-differences (DID) methodology and analyzing data from publicly listed companies spanning the period 2010 to 2020, we investigate the impact of digital governance on corporate TFP. Our findings reveal a noteworthy positive effect, with an average TFP increase of 5%. Further exploration through heterogeneity analysis indicates that this impact is particularly pronounced in regions with robust network infrastructure, increased marketization, and decreased economic uncertainty, particularly among privately-owned enterprises. Moreover, we identify key mechanisms through which digital governance fosters this enhancement in TFP, including the facilitation of technological innovation, efficient allocation of high-skilled labor, and improved investment efficiency. Our research underscores the significant role of digital government initiatives in bolstering corporate TFP and contributes to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying this relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine the effect of aspirin on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence and survival after thermal ablation. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of aspirin in combination with thermal ablation. The clinical data were collected for the enrolled patients. Progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and adverse events were analyzed. Results: A total of 174 patients with HCC were enrolled. The median PFS was 11.1 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.1− 14.0) months for patients who took aspirin and 8.6 (95% CI: 5.5− 11.8) months for patients who did not take aspirin. The median OS of patients in the aspirin group was 76.7 (95% CI: 58.1− 95.3) months and that in the non-aspirin group was 53.5 (95% CI: 42.7− 64.3) months. In patients with non-viral HCC, OS was significantly better for the aspirin group (P = 0.03) after ablation. The PFS of patients who underwent ablation alone in the aspirin group was obviously superior to that of patients in the non-aspirin group (P = 0.002). Stratified Cox regression analysis demonstrated that aspirin use after ablation might be a protective factor in specific HCC patient subgroups. The incidence of major adverse events did not significantly differ between the two groups. Conclusion: Low-dose aspirin use was associated with better OS in patients with non-viral HCC after thermal ablation. In patients who received thermal ablation alone, the administration of low-dose aspirin could improve PFS. Aspirin use might be a protective factor in some patients after ablation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the development of a rapid and portable method for detecting Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA using enzymatic recombinase amplification (ERA) combined with the CRISPR-Cas12a system. EBV DNA detection is important for screening and monitoring diseases related to EBV infection, such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The study optimized the ERA and CRISPR-Cas12a systems to improve sensitivity and specificity. The integrated ERA-Cas12a system was able to detect EBV as low as 20 copies/µL with high specificity. This method offers a practical solution for the detection of EBV infections and may have clinical applicability for screening and diagnosing related diseases. [Extracted from the article]

Background: The prognostic analysis of lung invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma (IMA) is deficient due to the lack of a universally recommended histological grading system, leading to unregulated treatment approaches. Objective: We aimed to examine the clinical trajectory of IMA and assess the viability of utilizing the existing grading system for lung invasive non-mucinous adenocarcinoma in the context of IMA. Methods: We retrospectively collected clinicopathological data from 265 IMA patients. Each case re-evaluated the tumor grade using the following three classification systems: the 4th Edition of the World Health Organization classification system, the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) grading system, and a two-tier grading system. We performed a comparative analysis of these grading systems and identified the most effective grading system for IMA. Results: The study comprised a total of 214 patients with pure IMA and 51 patients with mixed IMA. The 5-year overall survival (OS) rates for pure IMA and mixed IMA were 86.7% and 57.8%, respectively. All three grading systems proved to be effective prognostic classifiers for IMA. The value of area under the curve at 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS was highest for the IASLC grading system compared with the other grade systems and the clinical stage. The IASLC classification system was an independent prognostic predictor (p = 0.009, hazard ratio 2.243, 95% confidence interval 1.219–4.127). Conclusion: Mixed IMA is more aggressive than pure IMA, with an OS rate on par with that of high-grade pure IMA. The IASLC grading system can better indicate prognosis and is recommended for lung IMA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates an original equipment manufacturer's (OEM's) outsourcing choice between a competing manufacturer (CP) and a non‐competing manufacturer (NP). We develop a benchmark self‐produce strategy and two outsourcing strategies to differentiate two manufacturing service providers, and examine the optimal strategy alongside an analysis of the respective incentives (e.g., a lump‐sum payment) from the two service providers. The optimal strategy depends on the difference in production efficiency, degree of product substitution, and joint effect of the transfer payments. The transfer payments contribute to a greater range of Pareto improvements, increasing the possibility of outsourcing cooperation while highlighting the role of competition intensity on the model and outsourcing cooperation partner. Effect analysis shows that in the absence of transfer payment, the optimal strategy is beneficial to social welfare. With transfer payment, the optimal strategy is changed and the firms will be more profitable, but at the expense of customers' surplus, which may result in worse social welfare. An extended analysis of mixed strategies, in which the OEM produces part of the products and outsources the rest to CP/NP, shows that while the mixed‐CP strategy can be an optimal choice, the mixed‐NP strategy will degenerate to either self‐produce or complete outsourcing to NP under certain conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MgAl2O4-CaAl12O19 composites have attracted much attention because of their excellent properties, which have applications in some special high-temperature industries. In this paper, with ore powders of bauxite, dolomite and magnesite as raw materials, MgAl2O4-CaAl12O19 composites were obtained by using solid-phase sintering process at 1100-1500 °C for 2 h. The effects of the content of bauxite and sintering temperature on phase composition, microstructure and mechanical properties of the composites were studied. The optimal densification was observed when the sintering temperature was 1500 °C and the bauxite content was the largest, with a bulk density of 2.68 g⋅cm-3 and an apparent porosity of 11%. The corresponding flexural strength was 113.63 MPa, when the mass ratio of MgAl2O4 and CaAl12O19 was 1.82. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]