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A dual-channel thermal emitter, which is composed of an InAs layer atop an aluminum grating backed with a continuous aluminum film, is proposed and studied. Two resonant absorption and emission peaks are achieved at different wavelengths, leading to the achievement of dual-channel strong nonreciprocal radiations at two different wavelengths for an applied magnetic field of 2 T when the angle of incidence is 17°. The physical origin is revealed through illustrating the electromagnetic field distributions at both resonances and also verified through impedance matching. In addition, the perfect nonreciprocity remains stable within a wide range of structure parameters, lowering the cost of manufacture. Moreover, the nonreciprocal radiations for different incident angles and different magnetic fields are also investigated in detail. The concept and conclusions proposed here will be interesting for the development of novel energy conversion and capture devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Winter rapeseed, the sole overwintering oilseed crop in northern China, emphasizes winter resilience, yet epigenetic regulatory mechanisms governing overwintering memory remain poorly understood. Results: In this study, the root collar tissues from the robust cold-resistant variety Longyou-7 were sampled during the pre-winter period (S1), overwintering periods (S2–S5), and re-greening period (S6), to analyze overall genomic DNA methylation levels using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The result showed that DNA methylation level exceeded 80% in the S1 stage. Throughout the overwintering periods, methylation levels displayed a decreasing trend in S3, followed by an increase in S5, and a pronounced decrease in S6. Consequently, S1, S3, S5, and S6 periods were chosen for whole-genome bisulfite sequencing analyses to elucidate the overwintering memory mechanisms of Longyou-7. The result revealed that DNA methylation primarily occurs in the CG context in Longyou-7. However, methylation of mC sites is most prevalent in the CHH type, gradually decreasing during overwintering periods. Analysis of methylation patterns in specific genomic regions of Longyou-7 showed that the highest methylation levels in the intergenic region. Moreover, mC sites in repeats and transposon elements are distributed differently across the three contexts. Subsequently, differentially methylated regions and promoters of Longyou-7 were identified during various periods compared to the S1 stage, followed by joint analysis with transcriptome sequencing. Functional enrichment analysis highlighted the involvement of most overlapping genes in the MAPK signaling pathway, plant hormone signal transduction, and starch and sucrose metabolism pathways. Changes in candidate gene expression within these three pathways correlated closely with DNA methylation levels. Conclusions: Our findings underscored the critical role of DNA methylation in regulating the expression of overwintering memory genes in winter rapeseed. These results offer a comprehensive insights into the epigenetic regulatory mechanisms governing winter rapeseed's overwintering memory, while identified overwintering memory genes served as crucial genetic resources for multifaceted breeding of winter-resistant varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoporosis remains incurable. The most widely used antiresorptive agents, bisphosphonates (BPs), also inhibit bone formation, while the anabolic agent, teriparatide, does not inhibit bone resorption, and thus they have limited efficacy in preventing osteoporotic fractures and cause some side effects. Thus, there is an unmet need to develop dual antiresorptive and anabolic agents to prevent and treat osteoporosis. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), which is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, prevents the lysosomal degradation of TNF receptor-associated factor 3 (TRAF3), an NF-κB adaptor protein that limits bone resorption and maintains bone formation. We attempted to covalently link HCQ to a hydroxyalklyl BP (HABP) with anticipated low antiresorptive activity, to target delivery of HCQ to bone to test if this targeting increases its efficacy to prevent TRAF3 degradation in the bone microenvironment and thus reduce bone resorption and increase bone formation, while reducing its systemic side effects. Unexpectedly, HABP-HCQ was found to exist as a salt in aqueous solution, composed of a protonated HCQ cation and a deprotonated HABP anion. Nevertheless, it inhibited osteoclastogenesis, stimulated osteoblast differentiation, and increased TRAF3 protein levels in vitro. HABP-HCQ significantly inhibited both osteoclast formation and bone marrow fibrosis in mice given multiple daily PTH injections. In contrast, HCQ inhibited marrow fibrosis, but not osteoclast formation, while the HABP alone inhibited osteoclast formation, but not fibrosis, in the mice. HABP-HCQ, but not HCQ, prevented trabecular bone loss following ovariectomy in mice and, importantly, increased bone volume in ovariectomized mice with established bone loss because HABP-HCQ increased bone formation and decreased bone resorption parameters simultaneously. In contrast, HCQ increased bone formation, but did not decrease bone resorption parameters, while HABP also restored the bone lost in ovariectomized mice, but it inhibited parameters of both bone resorption and formation. Our findings suggest that the combination of HABP and HCQ could have dual antiresorptive and anabolic effects to prevent and treat osteoporosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to explore more spectrum resources to support sensors and their related applications, cognitive wireless sensor networks (CWSNs) have emerged to identify available channels being underutilized by the primary user (PU). To improve the detection accuracy of the PU signal, cooperative spectrum sensing (CSS) among sensor paradigms is proposed to make a global decision about the PU status for CWSNs. However, CSS is susceptible to Byzantine attacks from malicious sensor nodes due to its open nature, resulting in wastage of spectrum resources or causing harmful interference to PUs. To suppress the negative impact of Byzantine attacks, this paper proposes a beta distribution function (BDF) for CSS among multiple sensors, which includes a sequential process, beta reputation model, and weight evaluation. Based on the sequential probability ratio test (SPRT), we integrate the proposed beta reputation model into SPRT, while improving and reducing the positive and negative impacts of reliable and unreliable sensor nodes on the global decision, respectively. The numerical simulation results demonstrate that, compared to SPRT and weighted sequential probability ratio test (WSPRT), the proposed BDF has outstanding effects in terms of the error probability and average number of samples under various attack ratios and probabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study employs a hybrid numerical-experimental calibration method based on phenomena to determine the fracture parameters of the Modified Mohr–Coulomb (MMC) model. Using a self-developed VUMAT subroutine and the element deletion technique, the fracture process of a wide plate pipeline is thoroughly analyzed. This study investigates the impact of various crack shapes on the fracture response under tensile loading and the influence of surface crack size on the initiation location of a wide plate. These results demonstrate the calibrated MMC fracture model's accurate prediction of the toughness fracture behavior of X80 pipeline steel. Under equal area conditions of the dangerous section, circular cracks exhibit lower bearing capacity compared to elliptical cracks. Elliptical cracks predominantly propagate in the thickness direction, whereas circular cracks show nearly uniform growth in all directions. Furthermore, when the crack depth is less than half of the wall thickness, the damage accumulation value at the midpoint of the crack front is maximized; conversely, when the crack front is closer to the internal measurement point of the wide plate, the damage accumulation value is maximized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) frequently face challenges in obtaining financial assistance from traditional banks. Platform Supply Chain Finance (PSCF) has emerged as a promising solution for financing issues among SMEs, with an added focus on integrating sustainability aspects. This study focused on a two-tier supply chain as its primary research topic to find strategies to enhance supplier financial viability and improve the efficiency and profitability of the main manufacturing enterprise. In this study, we establish three distinct hypotheses corresponding to the three models involving supplier and manufacturer participation, encompassing parameters such as production batch size, pricing, and supply chain profit. First, it examined financing decisions through the lens of core enterprise-led platform finance. Second, it applied the Stackelberg game theory to investigate financing decisions in three distinct modes: traditional finance, platform internal finance, and external platform finance. Suppliers, manufacturers, and banks can be seen as participants in a Stackelberg game. In this game, suppliers act as leaders, making production and procurement decisions first, while manufacturers and banks act as followers, adjusting their behavior based on the suppliers' decisions. Finally, it performed a comparative analysis of decisions and supply chain efficiency across these modes. When the risk regulation cost coefficient falls below a certain threshold, suppliers are willing to set up their own PSCF and there is an optimal level of risk regulation effort within the interval (0, 1). We compare platform finance with traditional finance and find that the traditional finance model maximizes profits for suppliers, while the external financing model maximizes profits for manufacturers and the overall supply chain profit. Findings provide insights for platforms, suppliers, manufacturers, and banks to implement optimal financing and channel structures to increase their profits and promote the sustainable development of the financial supply chain. In addition, future research on blockchain platform models would be highly meaningful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Error transformation can be used to evaluate the kinematic performance of a parallel manipulator. However, the terminal error of redundantly actuated parallel manipulators is difficult to calculate from joint errors. This paper proposes a method to approximate the terminal error of a redundantly actuated parallel manipulator by taking the minimum terminal error among all corresponding nonredundant counterparts. The local Frobenius norm index (LFNI) is proposed to estimate the expectation of terminal error. Additionally, the global Frobenius norm index (GFNI) is introduced to describe the worst case of terminal error in the workspace, which is then used for the optimum design of a RPU-UPR-2UPU redundantly actuated parallel manipulator. After the optimum design, the average root mean square error of the manipulator is reduced. Furthermore, a control mode determination strategy for allocating force/position control to a certain chain is also proposed to minimize the terminal error, whose effectiveness is validated through simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rotating machinery is critical functional part of industrial mechanical equipment, and health status of rotating machinery is closely related to equipment stability, reliability and safety. Vibration signals for health prediction are often collected under operating conditions with variable loads and speeds, which makes health prediction more challenging. STFT-based time-frequency representation methods are widely used for the health prediction of rotating machinery. However, these methods lack specific learning mechanisms to effectively distinguish the time-frequency representations at different time points and frequency bands and highlight important feature information. To vanquish the weakness, this paper develops a novel dynamic adaptive time-frequency attention residual network (TFARNet) for rotating machinery intelligent health prediction. Firstly, a new adaptive STFT time-frequency attention (TFA) unit is developed to recalibrate time-frequency features, thereby enhancing important information and suppressing redundant information. Secondly, the TFA unit is inserted into the residual network, by stacking multiple residual blocks and TFA units to establish TFARNet and efficiently learn more discriminative features. Thirdly, label smoothing regularization and dynamic learning rate are employed to accelerate model convergence and optimize the model training process. Finally, three cases are carried out to evaluate the developed method. Compared with the other seven health prediction methods, the developed method can achieve higher prediction accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To analyze the efficacy of levonorgestrelintrauterine system, Drospirenone & ethinylestradiol tablets (II), and dydrogesterone in preventing the recurrence of endometrial polyps after hysteroscopic endometrial polypectomy. Methods: One hundred seventy patients who underwent hysteroscopic endometrial polypectomy in the Gynecology Department of Tianmen First People's Hospital in Hubei Province from January 2022 to June 2023 were randomly divided into the levonorgestrelintrauterine system group, Drospirenone & ethinylestradiol tablets (II) group, dydrogesterone group, and a control group. The recurrence rates, endometrial thickness, and menstrual volume changes at 6 and 12 months post-operation were compared among these four groups. Results: The recurrence rates in the levonorgestrelintrauterine system group, Drospirenone & ethinylestradiol tablets (II) group, and dydrogesterone group were lower than the control group, with statistical significance (P < 0.01), with the levonorgestrelintrauterine system group having the lowest recurrence rate. The endometrial thickness at 6 and 12 months post-operation in the levonorgestrelintrauterine system group, Drospirenone & ethinylestradiol tablets (II) group, and dydrogesterone group was thinner than that of the control group and thinner than pre-operation, with statistical significance (P < 0.01). The menstrual volume at 3 months post-operation in the levonorgestrelintrauterine system group, Drospirenone & ethinylestradiol tablets (II) group, and dydrogesterone group was significantly less than the control group, and less than the pre-operation volume. Conclusion: Dydrogesterone, drospirenone & ethinylestradiol tablets (II), and levonorgestrelintrauterine system all play a role in preventing the recurrence of endometrial polyps, but levonorgestrelintrauterine system is significantly better than dydrogesterone and Drospirenone & ethinylestradiol tablets (II) in terms of postoperative recurrence rate, endometrial thickness, menstrual changes, and compliance, and is worth promoting in clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) might have great effect on ecological security and human health. Oceans are important reservoirs that receive tremendous amounts of pollutants globally. However, information on the proliferation of ARGs in seawater is still limited. This study performed field sampling to investigate the occurrence and distribution of ARGs in seawater of the South China Sea, which is the deepest and largest sea in China. The results showed that the total absolute abundances of ARGs in seawater samples ranged from 2.1 × 103 to 2.3 × 104 copies/mL, with an of 5.0 × 103 copies/mL and a range of 2.2 × 103–1.8 × 104 copies/mL for those with mobile genetic elements (MGEs). Genes resistant to multidrug, aminoglycoside, tetracycline, and fluoroquinolone antibiotics accounted for 77.3%–88.6% of total ARGs in seawater. Proteobacteria and Cyanobacteria represented 32.1%–56.2% and 30.4%–49.5% of microbial community, respectively. Prochlorococcus_MIT9313 and Clade_la were the prevalent genera in seawater of the South China Sea. Complex co-occurrence relationship existed among ARGs, MGEs, and bacteria. Anthropogenic activities had critical influence on ARGs and MGEs. Hospital wastewater, wastewater treatment plant effluent, sewage, aquaculture tailwater, and runoff were determined as the important sources of ARGs in seawater of the South China Sea based on positive matrix factorization analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medical image analysis tasks are characterized by high-noise, volumetric, and multi-modality, posing challenges for the model that attempts to learn robust features from the input images. Over the last decade, deep neural networks (DNNs) have achieved enormous success in medical image analysis tasks, which can be attributed to their powerful feature representation capability. Despite the promising results reported in numerous literature, DNNs are also criticized for several pivotal limits, with one of the limitations is lack of safety. Safety plays an important role in the applications of DNNs during clinical practice, helping the model defend against potential attacks and preventing the model from silent failure prediction. The recently proposed neural ordinary differential equation (NODE), a continuous model bridging the gap between DNNs and ODE, provides a significant advantage in ensuring the model’s safety. Among the variants of NODE, the neural memory ordinary differential equation (nmODE) owns the global attractor theoretically, exhibiting superiority in prompting the model’s performance and robustness during applications. While NODE and its variants have been widely used in medical image analysis tasks, there is a lack of a comprehensive review of their applications, hindering the in-depth understanding of NODE’s working principle and its potential applications. To mitigate this limitation, this paper thoroughly reviews the literature on the applications of NODE in medical image analysis from the following five aspects: segmentation, reconstruction, registration, disease prediction, and data generation. We also summarize both the strengths and downsides of the applications of NODE, followed by the possible research directions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first review regards the applications of NODE in the field of medical image analysis. We hope this review can draw the researchers’ attention to the great potential of NODE and its variants in medical image analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dual‐polarization programmable metasurfaces can flexibly manipulate electromagnetic (EM) waves while providing approximately twice the information capacity. Therefore, they hold significant applications in next‐generation communication systems. However, there are three challenges associated with the existing dual‐polarization programmable metasurfaces. This article aims to propose a novel design to address them. First, the design overcomes the challenge of element‐ and polarization‐independent controls, enabling more powerful manipulations of EM waves. Second, by using more energy‐efficient tunable components and reducing their number, the design can be nearly passive (maximum power consumption of 27.7 mW), leading to a significant decrease in the cost and power consumption of the system (at least two orders of magnitude lower than the power consumption of conventional programmable metasurfaces). Third, the design can operate in a broad bandwidth, which is attractive for practical engineering applications. Both the element and array of the metasurface are meticulously designed, and their performance has been carefully studied. The experiments demonstrate that 2D wide‐angle beam scanning can be realized. Moreover, secure communication based on directional information modulation can be implemented by exploiting the metasurface and an efficient discrete optimization algorithm, showing its programmable, multiplexing, broadband, green, and secure features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: An association has been observed between primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and systemic rheumatic diseases (SRDs) in observational studies, however the exact causal link remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the causal effects of PBC on SRDs through Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Methods: The genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary data were obtained from MRC IEU OpenGWAS and FinnGen databases. Independent genetic variants for PBC were selected as instrumental variables. Inverse variance weighted was used as the main approach to evaluate the causal effects of PBC on Sjögren syndrome (SS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), systemic sclerosis (SSc), mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) and polymyositis (PM). Horizontal pleiotropy and heterogeneity were measured by MR‒Egger intercept test and Cochran's Q value, respectively. Results: PBC had causal effects on SS (OR = 1.177, P = 8.02e-09), RA (OR = 1.071, P = 9.80e-04), SLE (OR = 1.447, P = 1.04e-09), SSc (OR = 1.399, P = 2.52e-04), MCTD (OR = 1.306, P = 4.92e-14), and PM (OR = 1.416, P = 1.16e-04). Based on the MR‒Egger intercept tests, horizontal pleiotropy was absent (all P values > 0.05). The robustness of our results was further enhanced by the leave-one-out method. Conclusions: Our research has provided new insights into PBC and SRDs, indicating casual effects on various SRDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sn–Pb mixed perovskite, renowned for its narrow band gap and exceptional photoelectric properties, has garnered significant attention in photodetection, particularly as a potential alternative to near-infrared materials. However, the photodetector often suffers from unfavorable energy band arrangements at the heterogeneous interface between the perovskite and the electrode, which seriously hinder the further improvement of device performance. Here, a broadband, high-performance photodetector based on the Sn–Pb mixed perovskite has been achieved through fine-tuning of the energy band alignment at the perovskite/electrode interface. The resultant photodetector demonstrates an impressive broadband response spanning 367 to 1200 nm. At 395 nm, it achieves remarkable metrics: an ultra-high responsivity of 1.2 × 103 A W−1 and an outstanding detectivity of 4.4 × 1013 Jones, accompanied by a fast rise/fall time of 2.4 ms/5.4 ms. In particular, the sub-bandgap states of the Sn–Pb mixed perovskite enable the photoresponse beyond the bandgap limit. At 1200 nm, its responsivity and detectivity reach leading levels of 24.73 A W−1 and 1.01 × 1012 Jones, respectively. Moreover, it exhibits exceptional flexibility, enduring over 500 bending cycles without encapsulation while maintaining a decent photoelectric response. These findings underscore the critical role of optimizing interface contact in realizing high-performance, broadband perovskite photodetectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beyond 5G networks provide solutions for next-generation communications, especially digital twins networks (DTNs) have gained increasing popularity for bridging physical and digital space. However, current DTNs pose some challenges, especially when applied to scenarios that require efficient and multimodal data processing. Firstly, current DTNs are limited in communication and computational efficiency, since they require to transmit large amounts of raw data collected from physical sensors, as well as to ensure model synchronization through high-frequency computation. Second, current models of DTNs are domain-specific (e.g. E-health), making it difficult to handle DT scenarios with multimodal data processing requirements. Finally, current security schemes for DTNs introduce additional overheads that impair the efficiency. Against the above challenges, we propose a large language model (LLM) empowered DTNs framework, LLM-Twin. First, based on LLM, we propose digital twin semantic networks (DTSNs), which enable more efficient communication and computation. Second, we design a mini-giant model collaboration scheme, which enables efficient deployment of LLM in DTNs and is adapted to handle multimodal data. Then, we designed a native security policy for LLM-twin without compromising efficiency. Numerical experiments and case studies demonstrate the feasibility of LLM-Twin. To our knowledge, this is the first to propose an LLM-based semantic-level DTNs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamic mechanical strength of the extracellular matrix (ECM) has been demonstrated to play important role in determining the cell behavior. Growing evidences suggest that the gradual stiffening process of the matrix is particularly decisive during tissue development and wound healing. Herein, a novel strategy to prepare hydrogels with gradually enhanced mechanical strength is provided. Such hydrogels could maintain the dynamic properties at their initial states, such as self‐healing and shear‐thinning properties. With subsequent slow covalent crosslinking, the stability and mechanical properties would be gradually improved. This method is useful for sequence programmability and oxidation strategies, which has provided an alternated tool to study cell behavior during dynamic increase in mechanical strength of ECM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread use of polymers has made our lives increasingly convenient by offering a more convenient and dependable material. However, the challenge of efficiently decomposing these materials has resulted in a surge of polymer waste, posing environment and health risk. Currently, landfill and incineration treatment approaches have notable shortcomings, prompting a shift towards more eco-friendly and sustainable biodegradation approaches. Biodegradation primarily relies on microorganisms, with research focusing on both solitary bacterial strain and multi-strain communities for polymer biodegradation. Furthermore, directed evolution and rational design of enzyme have significantly contributed to the polymer biodegradation process. However, previous reviews often undervaluing the role of multi-strain communities. In this review, we assess the current state of these three significant fields of research, provide practical solutions to issues with polymer biodegradation, and outline potential future directions for the subject. Ultimately, biodegradation, whether facilitated by single bacteria, multi-strain communities, or engineered enzymes, now represents the most effective method for managing waste polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) patients are still at risk of postoperative ischemic complications (PICs) after surgery. In addition, the proportion of patients receiving antiplatelet therapy (APT) in ICH patients increased significantly with age. This study aims to evaluate the impact of preoperative antiplatelet therapy on PICs in ICH patients. This is a cohort study that retrospectively analyzed the data of ICH patients who underwent surgical treatment. PICs rate was compared between patients with preoperative ATP and those without preoperative ATP. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to evaluate the impact of preoperative APT on PICs. In addition, Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis and the impact of PICs on patients' postoperative outcomes was evaluated. A total of 216 patients were included in this study. There were 47 patients (21.76%) with preoperative APT; 169 patients (78.24%) without preoperative APT. The incidence of PICs in the APT group was significantly higher when compared with that in the nAPT group (36.17% vs. 20.71%, p = 0.028＜0.05). Furthermore, significant differences were both observed in multivariate analysis (p = 0.035＜0.05) and survival analysis (log rank χ2 = 5.415, p = 0.020＜0.05). However, there was no significant difference between the outcomes of patients suffering from PICs and that of patients not suffering from PICs (p = 0.377 > 0.05). In conclusion, preoperative APT may be a risk factor for PICs in ICH patients undergoing surgical treatment significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital coding and programmable metasurfaces stand out as promising candidates in future wireless communications due to their low costs and fast‐action reprogrammable capability. However, 2 significant obstacles, namely integration and power consumption, must be addressed before large‐scale engineering application of the programmable metasurface. This work proposes an easy‐integration and energy‐saving meta‐system and demonstrates its application in wireless communications. The meta‐system features a hybrid architecture and consists of a programmable feed array and a metasurface lens. The feed array comprises 3 subarrays, in which active elements are doped with passive elements and interconnected configurations are used to efficiently reduce the number of active elements by one‐third. The meta‐lens acts as a passive phase shifter to enhance the beamforming performance, further reducing the number of active elements. Moreover, the meta‐system can switch between different modes to achieve various functions. In particular, the maximum power consumption of the meta‐system is only 54 mW, which can be considered nearly passive. A wireless communication experiment is presented, where the meta‐system simultaneously serves as the direct digital modulator and the transmitting antenna. Owing to the low cost, high integration, and nearly passive and programmable features, the meta‐system has remarkable potential for future applications in wireless communications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A weakly nonlinear theoretical model is established for the two-dimensional incompressible Rayleigh–Taylor–Kelvin–Helmholtz instability (RT–KHI). The evolution of the perturbation interface is analytically studied by the third-order solution of the planar RT–KHI induced by a single-mode surface perturbation. The difference between the weakly nonlinear growth for Rayleigh–Taylor instability (RTI), Kelvin–Helmholtz instability (KHI), and RT–KHI in plane geometry is discussed. The trend of bubble and spike amplitudes with the Atwood number and the Richardson number is discussed in detail. The bubble and spike amplitudes of RT–KHI change from the KHI case to the RTI case as the Richardson number increases. The deflecting distance of bubble and spike vertices becomes smaller compared to the KHI case as the Richardson number increases. The dependence of the nonlinear saturation amplitude of RT–KHI on the Atwood number, the Richardson number, and the initial perturbation is obtained. The Richardson number is as vital to the nonlinear saturation amplitude as the Atwood number. It is found that the variation of the nonlinear saturation amplitude with the Atwood number at different Richardson numbers is divided into three parts, namely, "RTI-like part," "transition part," and "KHI-like part." In the transition part, the trend of the nonlinear saturation amplitude increasing with the Atwood number is completely opposite to the RTI and KHI cases. Finally, the theory is compared to the numerical simulation under identical initial conditions and displays good correspondence in the linear and weakly nonlinear stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The supraclavicular artery island (SAI) flap is commonly used in the reconstruction of head and neck defects. However, the safety of SAI flaps for neck irradiated patient needs to be verified. To investigate the safety of using the SAI flap for patients who have undergone neck radiotherapy, as well as the risk factors for flap complications. Materials and Methods: Sixty-one patients (16 irradiated and 45 nonirradiated) with SAI flap-reconstructed head and neck defects were included, and relevant data were collected retrospectively. The gender, age, body mass index, presence of diabetes mellitus, preoperative albumin level, and flap size between irradiated and nonirradiated patients had no significant difference. Results: No significant difference was observed in the incidence of complications (total, mild, or severe) between the radiotherapy and nonradiotherapy groups. In univariate analysis, preoperative radiotherapy was not associated with postoperative complications of the SAI flap procedure (P = 1.00), while a low preoperative albumin level was a significant risk factor for postoperative complications (P <.05). Conclusions: Our data suggest that preoperative radiotherapy does not increase the risk of SAI flap postoperative complications compared with surgical reconstruction alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional (2D) coordination polymers have attracted great attention for catalysis because of their abundant exposed active sites. Here, we show that bending the local structure of 2D coordination polymers can inverse the electrocatalytic selectivity. A series of ultrathin nanosheets based on isoreticular/isostructural/isomeric 2D Cu(I) triazolate coordination polymers were successfully prepared. By introducing an amino group on the triazolate ligand, the shape of the 2D layer transforms from planar into wavy, which inverses the electrocatalytic selectivity from the HER (selectivity ∼ 80%) to the CO2RR (selectivity ∼ 76%, C2H4 up to 52%). Computational simulations showed that the wavy structure allows the amino groups to form attractive hydrogen-bonding interactions with the key reaction intermediates of the CO2RR for C2H4 and steric hindrance with the key reaction intermediates of the HER, giving lower and higher reaction energy barriers, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional wireless communication schemes indiscriminately transmit information into the whole space and pose inherent security risks. Recently, directional information modulation (DIM) has attracted enormous attention as a promising technology. DIM generates correct constellation symbols in the desired directions and distorts them in undesired directions, thus ensuring the security of the transmitted information. Although several DIM schemes have been reported, they suffer from defects of bulkiness, energy consumption, high cost, and inability to support two-dimensional (2D) and high-order modulations. Here, we propose a DIM scheme based on a 2-bit programmable metasurface (PM) that overcomes these defects. A fast and efficient discrete optimization algorithm is developed to optimize the digital coding sequences, and the correct constellation symbols can be generated and transmitted in multi-directional beams. As a proof-of-concept, three sets of constellation diagrams (8 phase shift keying (PSK), 16 quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), and 64QAM) are realized in the multi-channel modes. This work provides an important route of employing DIM for ensuring physical-layer security and serves as a stepping stone toward endogenous secure communications. The authors showcase a directional information modulation scheme based on a programmable metasurface, which opens a new route to ensure physical-layer security and serves as a stepping stone toward endogenous secure communications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is the progressive form of liver steatosis, the most common liver disease, and substantially increases the mortality rate. However, limited therapies are currently available to prevent MASH development. Identifying potential pharmacological treatments for the condition has been hampered by its heterogeneous and complex nature. Here, we identified a hepatic nonneuronal cholinergic signaling pathway required for metabolic adaptation to caloric overload. We found that cholinergic receptor nicotinic alpha 2 subunit (CHRNA2) is highly expressed in hepatocytes of mice and humans. Further, CHRNA2 is activated by a subpopulation of local acetylcholine-producing macrophages during MASH development. The activation of CHRNA2 coordinates defensive programs against a broad spectrum of MASH-related pathogenesis, including steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis. Hepatocyte-specific loss of CHRNA2 signaling accelerates the disease onset in different MASH mouse models. Activation of this pathway via pharmacological inhibition of acetylcholine degradation protects against MASH development. Our study uncovers a hepatic nicotinic cholinergic receptor pathway that constitutes a cell-autonomous self-defense route against prolonged metabolic stress and holds therapeutic potential for combatting human MASH. The complexity of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) has impaired the development of pharmacological treatments for the condition. This study shows that nicotinic acetylcholine receptor signaling serves as an intrinsic protective mechanism against extended metabolic stress in the liver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methanol is a promising alternative fuel due to its wide availability of raw materials, mature production processes, and low production cost. However, because of the low cetane number, methanol must include a more reactive fuel to assist with combustion when used in compression ignition (CI) engines. In this study, based on the optical CI engine platform, methanol is injected into the intake port, and diesel is directly injected into the cylinder to achieve dual-fuel combustion. The effects of the methanol energy ratios and diesel split injection strategies on combustion are investigated. The results show that the premixed blue flame was mainly concentrated in the near wall region, whereas the yellow flame produced by diesel combustion tended to concentrate in the central region as the methanol energy ratio increased. When the methanol energy ratio exceeded 50%, the ignition delay was significantly prolonged, while the flame area was greatly reduced. Meanwhile, the peak values for the cylinder pressure and heat release rate decreased significantly, indicating a significant deterioration in combustion. At the earlier diesel pre-injection timing at −58°, the overall dual-fuel combustion at each main injection timing exhibited low-temperature premixed combustion characteristics, with a lower peak exothermic rate and flame brightness. At the later pre-injection timing at −33°, the spray flame at all main injection timings could be observed, with higher peak heat release rates and indications of thermal efficiency. Combustion at later main injection timings was characterized by diffusion combustion, and the main injection timing could effectively regulate the combustion process through phase adjustment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The strong dynamic coupling effects among kinematic chains are not beneficial to the control of parallel mechanisms. This paper deals with the chain position optimization of a 4UPS−UPU parallel mechanism to reduce dynamic coupling effects among kinematic chains. Using the kinematic model, the Jacobian matrix is derived, and a method is proposed to transform it into a non-dimensional form and being independent of scaling factors. A singularity index is formulated based on the normalized determinant of the modified Jacobian matrix, guiding the optimization of chain positions at the base platform. Subsequently, the dynamic model is derived by using the principle of virtual work and a novel dynamic coupling index is proposed by taking both the inertia and centrifugal terms in the dynamic model into account. The neural network is then employed to enhance the calculation efficiency of the dynamic coupling index. Finally, the chain positions at the moving platform are optimized using Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm. This optimization process significantly reduces the dynamic coupling effects among kinematic chains in the parallel mechanism, thereby conferring advantageous benefits to its overall control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large language models (LLMs) are becoming a significant source of content generation in social networks, which is a typical complex adaptive system (CAS). However, due to their hallucinatory nature, LLMs produce false information that can spread through social networks, which will impact the stability of the whole society. The uncertainty of LLMs false information spread within social networks is attributable to the diversity of individual behaviors, intricate interconnectivity, and dynamic network structures. Quantifying the uncertainty of false information spread by LLMs in social networks is beneficial for preemptively devising strategies to defend against threats. To address these challenges, we propose an LLMs hallucination-aware dynamic modeling method via agent-based probability distributions, spread popularity and community affiliation, to quantify the uncertain spreading of LLMs hallucination in social networks. We set up the node attributes and behaviors in the model based on real-world data. For evaluation, we consider the spreaders, informed people, discerning and unwilling non-spreaders as indicators, and quantified the spreading under different LLMs task situations, such as QA, dialogue, and summarization, as well as LLMs versions. Furthermore, we conduct experiments using real-world LLM hallucination data combined with social network features to ensure the validity of the proposed quantifying scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the extent of inflammation is crucial for early disease detection, monitoring disease progression, and evaluating treatment responses. Over the past decade, researchers have demonstrated the need to understand the extent of inflammation through qualitative or quantitative characterization of tissue viscoelasticity using different techniques. In this scientific review, an examination of research on the association between elasticity and Viscosity in diseases, particularly as tissue inflammation progresses, is conducted. A review of utilizing mechanical rheological models to characterize quantitative viscoelastic parameters of normal and inflamed tissues is also undertaken. Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, we identified 14 full-text studies suitable for review out of 290 articles published from January 2000 to January 2024. We used PRISMA guidelines for the systematic review. In the review, three studies demonstrated the criterion used by the researchers in identifying the best rheological model. Eleven studies showed the clinical application of the rheological model in quantifying the viscoelastic properties of normal and pathological tissue. The review quantified viscoelastic parameters for normal and pathological tissue across various soft tissues. It evaluated the effectiveness of each viscoelastic property in distinguishing between normal and pathological tissue stiffness. Furthermore, the review outlined additional viscoelastic-related parameters for researchers to consider in future stiffness classification studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-sensor data fusion approaches based on deep learning are widely used for fault diagnosis of rotating machinery. Massive sensor data bring not only abundant information but also technical challenges for the fault diagnosis. The main challenge is how to discriminate the discrepancies between multi-sensor data and efficiently fuze these sensor data to improve diagnostic performance. To overcome the challenge, a novel multi-branch convolutional attention network (MBCAN) is proposed for fault diagnosis of the rotating machinery. In this method, a feature extractor with attention mechanism is established to extract fault-related features from the sensor data and reduce irrelevant noise interference hidden in the sensor data. Meanwhile, a multi-branch convolutional pathway is designed to enrich the features. Furthermore, a feature fusion module is constructed by defining an adaptive weighted fusion rule to fuze the extracted features. The performance of the MBCAN is verified on gearbox and centrifugal pump under different noise environments. The experimental results show that the proposed MBCAN has more excellent anti-noise ability and reliable diagnostic performance than other existing approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a novel artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled approach to the rapid screening and diagnosis of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) using bone marrow morphology. A convolutional neural network (CNN) with embedded attention mechanisms was developed to recognize APL in microscope images. The model was trained and evaluated using a large dataset of bone marrow smear images, achieving high accuracy and performance. The AI-assisted system, called CELLSEE, showed potential for improving the speed and accuracy of APL diagnosis, enabling early identification and treatment. The study highlights the importance of AI in medical diagnostics and its potential for reducing mortality rates in APL cases. [Extracted from the article]

This article presents a study conducted in China that explores the treatment satisfaction of individuals with type 2 diabetes who were treated with dulaglutide, a medication used to lower blood sugar levels. The study found that participants reported high levels of satisfaction with dulaglutide, indicating that it may be a beneficial treatment option for individuals with type 2 diabetes in the Chinese population. Factors such as longer treatment duration, lower HbA1c levels, weight loss, absence of adverse events, and the convenience and ease of use of the medication were associated with higher treatment satisfaction. The study suggests that high treatment satisfaction may lead to improved adherence and better clinical outcomes for individuals with type 2 diabetes. [Extracted from the article]

The color of red-skinned pear (Pyrus spp.) is primarily attributed to accumulation of anthocyanins, which provide nutritional benefits for human health and are closely associated with the commercial value of fruits. Here, we reported the functional characterization of a R2R3-MYB repressor PyMYB107, which forms an 'activator-repressor' loop to control anthocyanin accumulation in the red-skinned pear. PyMYB107 overexpression inhibited anthocyanin biosynthesis in both pear calli and fruits, while virus-induced gene silencing of PyMYB107 increased anthocyanin accumulation in pear fruits. Furthermore, ectopic expression of PyMYB107 decreased anthocyanin accumulation in tomato, strawberry and tobacco. PyMYB107 can competitively bind to PybHLH3 with PyMYB10/MYB114, thereby suppressing the transcriptional activation of key anthocyanin biosynthesis genes, PyANS and PyUFGT. Site-directed mutagenesis showed that mutations within the R3 domain and EAR motif of PyMYB107 eliminated its repressive activity. Additionally, PyMYB107 exhibited a comparable expression pattern to PyMYB10/MYB114 and was transcriptionally activated by them. Our finding advanced comprehension of the repression mechanism underlying anthocyanin accumulation, providing valuable molecular insights into improving quality of pear fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a highly pathogenic avian virus, H5 influenza poses a serious threat to livestock, the poultry industry, and public health security. Hemagglutinin (HA) is both the dominant epitope and the main target of influenza-neutralizing antibodies. Here, we designed a nanoparticle hemagglutinin influenza vaccine to improve the immunogenicity of the influenza vaccine. In this study, HA5 subtype influenza virus was used as the candidate antigen and was combined with the artificially designed double-branch scaffold protein I53_dn5 A and B. A structurally correct and bioactive trimer HA5-I53_dn5B/Y98F was obtained through secretion and purification using an insect baculovirus expression system; I53_dn5A was obtained by purification using a prokaryotic expression system. HA5-I53_dn5B/Y98F and I53_dn5A self-assembled into spherical nanoparticles (HA5-I53_dn5) in vitro with a diameter of about 45 nm. Immunization and serum test results showed that both HA5-I53_dn5B/Y98F and HA5-I53_dn5 could induce HA5-specific antibodies; however, the immunogenicity of HA5-I53_dn5 was better than that of HA5-I53_dn5B/Y98F. Groups treated with HA5-I53_dn5B and HA5-I53_dn5 nanoparticles produced IgG antibody titers that were not statistically different from those of the nanoparticle-containing adjuvant group. This production of trimerized HA5-I53_dn5B and HA5-I53_dn5 nanoparticles using baculovirus expression provides a reference for the development of novel, safe, and efficient influenza vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Verrucae vulgaris are highly contagious keratotic lesions occurring on the skin caused by human papillomavirus. Generally, verrucae vulgaris are harmless to the body, but when they occur in specific areas such as the face or soles of the feet, they can profoundly impact an individual's quality of life and necessitate therapeutic intervention. Although several pharmacological and physical topical treatments are available, the results are often unsatisfactory in terms of efficacy and cosmetic outcome. Verrucae which typically occur widely on the face are usually Verrucae Planae. When Verrucae vulgaris does occur, it usually presents as single or occasional multiple lesions, rather than covering almost the entire face. In immunocompromised situations, verruca vulgaris can exhibit rare proliferative behavior. In this report, we present a 17-year-old male adolescent who was successfully treated for generalized facial verrucae vulgaris by using a combination of curettage and photodynamic therapy (PDT). The patient's prolonged use of topical corticosteroids and tacrolimus ointment on the face for eczema over several years is believed to have led to a localized immunosuppressive state of the facial skin, which is considered a significant factor in the outbreak of verrucae vulgaris. Additionally, the patient has a history of acne and frequently scratched face. The appearance of the Koebner phenomenon following scratching is considered another potential reason. This treatment achieved complete resolution and improved the patient's pre-existing acne problem, resulting in a satisfactory cosmetic outcome without any notable adverse effects or recurrence during the follow-up period. This highlighted that pre-treatment with curettage before PDT enhanced the efficiency of verrucae vulgaris treatment and reduced the cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compared different doublet and triplet therapies for efficacy and safety in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC). PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were comprehensively searched for eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published from inception to October 2023. Interventions included abiraterone, apalutamide, enzalutamide, docetaxel, darolutamide, and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), either as doublet or triplet therapies. The outcomes examined were overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC)-free survival, time to symptomatic skeletal event (SSE), and toxicity. The surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) was determined to identify the preferred treatments. Ten RCTs were included. The combination of darolutamide, docetaxel, and ADT had the highest SUCRA of 84.3 for OS, followed by combined abiraterone, docetaxel, and ADT (SUCRA = 71.6). The highest SUCRAs for PFS were observed for triplet therapies (abiraterone, docetaxel, and ADT [SUCRA = 74.9], followed by enzalutamide, docetaxel, and ADT [SUCRA = 74.3]) and other androgen receptor axis-targeted therapy-based doublet therapies (SUCRAs: 26.5–59.3). Darolutamide, docetaxel, and ADT had the highest SUCRAs, i.e., 80.8 and 84.0 regarding CRPC-free survival and time to SSE, respectively. Regarding Grade >3 adverse events (AEs), the SUCRAs of triplet therapies (SUCRAs: 14.8–31.5) were similar to that of docetaxel and ADT (SUCRA = 39.5). Three studies had a low risk of bias in all categories; the remaining studies had at least an unclear risk of bias in at least one category. Triplet therapy demonstrated potentially enhanced effectiveness than doublet therapy in mHSPC, with acceptable safety concerns. Darolutamide might be the optimal option for triplet therapy in combination with docetaxel and ADT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Lafora disease (LD) is a syndrome of progressive myoclonic epilepsy and cumulative neurocognitive deterioration caused by recessively inherited genetic lesions of EPM2A (laforin) or NHLRC1 (malin). Neuropsychiatric symptomatology in LD is thought to be directly downstream of neuronal and astrocytic polyglucosan aggregates, termed Lafora bodies (LBs), which faithfully accumulate in an age‐dependent manner in all mouse models of LD. In this study, we applied home‐cage monitoring to examine the extent of neurobehavioral deterioration in a model of malin‐deficient LD as a means to identify robust preclinical endpoints that may guide the selection of novel genetic treatments. At 6 weeks, ∼6–7 months, and ∼12 months of age, malin‐deficient mice ("KO") and wild‐type (WT) littermates underwent a standardized home‐cage behavioral assessment designed to non‐obtrusively appraise features of rest/arousal, consumptive behaviors, risk aversion, and voluntary wheel‐running. At all timepoints, and over a range of metrics that we report transparently, WT and KO mice were essentially indistinguishable. In contrast, within WT mice compared across the same timepoints, we identified age‐related nocturnal hypoactivity, diminished sucrose preference, and reduced wheel‐running. Neuropathological examinations in subsets of the same mice revealed expected age‐dependent LB accumulation, gliosis, and microglial activation in cortical and subcortical brain regions. At 12 months of age, despite the burden of neocortical LBs, we did not identify spontaneous seizures during an electroencephalographic (EEG) survey, and KO and WT mice exhibited similar spectral EEG features. However, in an in vitro assay of neocortical function, paroxysmal bursts of network activity (UP states) in KO slices were more prolonged at 3 and 6 months of age, but similar to WT at 12 months. KO mice displayed a distinct response to pentylenetetrazole, with a greater incidence of clonic seizures and a more pronounced postictal suppression of movement, feeding, and drinking behavior. Together, these results highlight the clinicopathologic dissociation in a mouse model of LD, where the accrual of LBs may latently modify cortical circuit function and seizure threshold without clinically meaningful changes in home‐cage behavior. Our findings allude to a delay between LB accumulation and neurobehavioral decline in LD: one that may provide a window for treatment, and whose precise duration may be difficult to ascertain within the typical lifespan of a laboratory mouse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most serious and frequent complications among diabetes patients and presently constitutes vast the cases of end-stage renal disease worldwide. Tubulointerstitial fibrosis is a crucial factor related to the occurrence and progression of DN. Oridonin (Ori) is a diterpenoid derived from rubescens that has diverse pharmacological properties. Our previous study showed that Ori can protect against DN by decreasing the inflammatory response. However, whether Ori can alleviate renal fibrosis in DN remains unknown. Here, we investigated the mechanism through which Ori affects the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in diabetic rats and human proximal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) exposed to high glucose (HG) levels. Our results revealed that Ori treatment markedly decreased urinary protein excretion levels, improved renal function and alleviated renal fibrosis in diabetic rats. In vitro, HG treatment increased the migration of HK-2 cells while reducing their viability and proliferation rate, and treatment with Ori reversed these changes. Additionally, the knockdown of β-catenin arrested cell migration and reduced the expression levels of Wnt/β-catenin signaling-related molecules (Wnt4, p-GSK3β and β-catenin) and fibrosis-related molecules (α-smooth muscle actin, collagen I and fibronectin), and Ori treatment exerted an effect similar to that observed after the knockdown of β-catenin. Furthermore, the combination of Ori treatment and β-catenin downregulation exerted more pronounced biological effects than treatment alone. These findings may provide the first line of evidence showing that Ori alleviates fibrosis in DN by inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and thereby reveal a novel therapeutic avenue for treating tubulointerstitial fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering both electrokinetic remediation and phytoremediation have limitations, an electrokinetic phytoremediation (EP) system was constructed to obtain efficient and environmentally friendly remediation results. This study indicates that the electric field can promote the absorption of Cd by ryegrass with little impact on soil physicochemical properties under the condition of rotary switching electrodes, and the accumulation of Cd in the aboveground and underground parts of ryegrass increased by 145.2% and 93.7%, respectively. The DC electric field combined with ryegrass under rotary switching electrode mode proved to be the optimal condition for the remediation of Cd contaminated soil with a remediation efficiency of 66.7%. Moreover, the rotary switching of the electrodes alleviated the suppression of the growth of ryegrass by the DC electric field. During the EP remediation process, the electric field promoted the transformation of the residue state of Cd to the other forms, which accelerated the desorption rate of Cd from the soil and facilitated the migration of Cd into plants. In conclusion, EP is a green and efficient remediation technology for heavy metal contaminated soil with good application prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]