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This study explores a relationship between the |$\rm {CO}$| luminosity-full width at half-maximum linewidth linear relation (i.e. the |$\rm {CO}$| LFR) and mean galaxy property of the local star-forming galaxy sample in the xCOLDGASS data base, via a mathematical statement. The whole data base galaxies were separated into two subsamples based on their stellar masses and redshifts, being a help to examine the dependence issue of the |$\rm {CO}$| LFR. Selecting the galaxy data with a stringent requirement was also implemented in order to assure the validly of the |$\rm {CO}$| LFR. An algorithm of the linear regression was conducted with the data of the subsample. An assessment about the linear correlation manifested a valid |$\rm {CO}$| LFR occurs in the selected galaxy of the subsample, and the intercept of the |$\rm {CO}$| LFR may be related with the mean galaxy properties such as the molecular gas fraction and galaxy size. For the finding on the intercept of the |$\rm {CO}$| LFR, we aligned that intercept with those galaxy properties via the involvement of a |$\psi$| parameter. On evaluating the |$\psi$| value with our local star-forming galaxy sample, we numerically determined a relationship between the statistical result and the galaxy property in a different stellar mass range. It also shows a possible method on estimating galaxy property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rings and gaps are routinely observed in the dust continuum emission of protoplanetary discs (PPDs). How they form and evolve remains debated. Previous studies have demonstrated the possibility of spontaneous gas rings and gaps formation in wind-launching discs. Here, we show that such gas substructures are unstable to the Rossby wave instability (RWI) through numerical simulations. Specifically, shorter wavelength azimuthal modes develop earlier, and longer wavelength ones dominate later, forming elongated (arc-like) anticyclonic vortices in the rings and (strongly magnetized) cyclonic vortices in the gaps that persist until the end of the simulation. Highly elongated vortices with aspect ratios of 10 or more are found to decay with time in our non-ideal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulation, in contrast with the hydro case. This difference could be caused by magnetically induced motions, particularly strong meridional circulations with large values of the azimuthal component of the vorticity, which may be incompatible with the columnar structure preferred by vortices. The cyclonic and anticyclonic RWI vortices saturate at moderate levels, modifying but not destroying the rings and gaps in the radial gas distribution of the disc. In particular, they do not shut-off the poloidal magnetic flux accumulation in low-density regions and the characteristic meridional flow patterns that are crucial to the ring and gap formation in wind-launching discs. Nevertheless, the RWI and their associated vortices open up the possibility of producing non-axisymmetric dust features observed in a small fraction of PPDs through non-ideal MHD, although detailed dust treatment is needed to explore this possibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a prevalent disorder of the central nervous system, marked by the degeneration of dopamine (DA) neurons in the ventral midbrain. In the pathogenesis of PD, inflammation hypothesis has been concerned. This study aims to investigate clinical indicators of peripheral inflammation in PD patients and to explore the diagnostic value of neutrophilto-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), albumin-to-fibrinogen ratio (AFR), and lymphocyteto- monocyte ratio (LMR) in assessing PD risk. Methods: This study included 186 patients with PD and 201 matched healthy controls (HC) with baseline data. Firstly, the differences of hematological indicators between PD group and healthy participants were compared and analyzed. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were then conducted. Smooth curve fitting was applied to further validate the relationships between NLR, LMR, AFR, and PD. Subsequently, subgroup analysis was conducted in PD group according to different duration of disease and Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) stage, comparing differences in clinical indicators. Finally, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was employed to assess the diagnostic value of NLR, LMR, and AFR in PD. Results: Compared to the HC group, the PD group showed significantly higher levels of hypertension, diabetes, neutrophil count, monocyte count, CRP, homocysteine, fibrinogen, and NLR. Conversely, levels of LMR, AFR, lymphocyte count, HDL, LDL, TG, TC, uric acid, and albumin were significantly lower. The multivariate regression model indicated that NLR (OR = 1.79, 95% CI: 1.39-2.31, p < 0.001), LMR (OR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.66-0.85, p < 0.001), and AFR (OR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.73-0.85, p < 0.001) were significant factors associated with PD. Smooth curve fitting revealed that NLR was positively linked to PD risk, whereas AFR and LMR were inversely associated with it. In ROC curve analysis, the AUC of AFR was 0.7290, the sensitivity was 63.98%, and the specificity was 76.00%. The AUC of NLR was 0.6200, the sensitivity was 50.54%, and the specificity was 71.50%. The AUC of LMR was 0.6253, the sensitivity was 48.39%, and the specificity was 73.00%. The AUC of the combination was 0.7498, the sensitivity was 74.19%, and the specificity was 64.00%.Conclusion: Our findings indicate that NLR, LMR, and AFR are significantly associated with Parkinson's disease and may serve as diagnostic markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cluster headache (CH) is a common primary headache that severely impacts patients' quality of life, characterized by recurrent, severe, unilateral headaches often centered around the eyes, temples, or forehead. Distinguishing CH from other headache disorders is challenging, and its pathogenesis remains unclear. Notably, patients with CH often experience high levels of depression and suicidal tendencies, necessitating increased clinical attention. This comprehensive assessment combines various reports and the latest scientific literature to evaluate the current state of CH research. It covers epidemiology, population characteristics, predisposing factors, and treatment strategies. Additionally, we provide strategic insights into the holistic management of CH, which involves continuous, individualized care throughout the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation stages. Recent advances in the field have revealed new insights into the pathophysiology of CH. While these findings are still evolving, they offer a more detailed understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying this disorder. This growing body of knowledge, alongside ongoing research efforts, promises to lead to the development of more targeted and effective treatments in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a multiagent cooperative search algorithm for identifying an unknown number of targets. The objective is to determine a collection of observation points and corresponding safe paths for agents, which involves balancing the detection time and the number of targets searched. A Bayesian framework is used to update the local probability density function of the targets when the agents obtain information. We utilize model predictive control and establish utility functions based on the detection probability and decrease in information entropy. A target detection algorithm is implemented to verify the target based on minimum‐risk Bayesian decision‐making. Then, we improve the search algorithm with the target detection algorithm. Several simulations demonstrate that compared with other existing approaches, the proposed approach can reduce the time needed to detect targets and the number of targets searched. We establish an experimental platform with three unmanned aerial vehicles. The simulation and experimental results verify the satisfactory performance of our algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Exploration of the benefits and timing of surgical decompression in spinal cord injury (SCI) has been a research hotspot. However, despite the higher volume and increasing emphasis on quality there remains no bibliometric view on SCI and surgical decompression. In this study, we aimed to perform bibliometric analysis to reveal the core countries, affiliations, journals, authors, and developmental trends in SCI and surgical decompression across the past 50years. Methods: Articles and reviews were retrieved from web of science core collection between 1975 and 2024. The bibliometrix package in R was used for data analysis and visualizing. Results: A total of 8,688 documents were investigated, indicating an ascending trend in annual publications. The USA and China played as the leaders in scientific productivity. The University of Toronto led in institutional productions. Core authors, such as Michael G. Fehlings, showed high productivity, and occasional authors showed widespread interests. Core journals like Spine and Spinal Cord served as beacons in this field. The interaction of core authors and international collaboration accentuated the cross-disciplinary feature of the field. Prominent documents emphasized the clinical significance of early decompression in 24h post SCI. Conclusion: Based on comprehensive bibliometric analysis and literature review, we identified the hotspots and future directions of this field: (1) further investigation into the molecular and cellular mechanisms to provide preclinical evidence for biological effects of early surgical decompression in SCI animal models; (2) further evaluation and validation of the optimal time window of surgical decompression based on large cohort, considering the inherent heterogeneity of subpopulations in complicated immune responses post SCI; (3) further exploration on the benefits of early decompression on the neurological, functional, and clinical outcomes in acute SCI; (4) evaluation of the optimal surgical methods and related outcomes; (5) applications of artificial intelligence-based technologies in spinal surgical decompression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Natural plants are valuable resources for exploring new bioactive compounds. Artemisia vulgaris L. is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb that has been historically used for treating multiple diseases. Active compounds isolated and extracted from A. vulgaris L. typically possess immunomodulatory and antiinflammatory properties. Artemvulactone E (AE) is a new sesquiterpene lactone isolated and extracted from A. vulgaris L. with unclear biological activities. Methods: The immunoregulatory effects of AE on macrophages were assessed by ELISA, RT-qPCR, immunofluorescence, and western blot assay. The effect of AE on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) -relates signaling pathways was examined by western blot assay. In zebrafish models, the larvae were yolk-microinjected with LPS to establish inflammation model and the effect of AE was evaluated by determining the survival rate, heart rate, yolk sac edema size, neutrophils and macrophages infiltration of zebrafish. The interaction between AE and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) was examined by molecular docking and dynamic stimulation. Results: AE reduced the expression and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-a and IL-6), inflammatory mediators iNOS and COX-2, as well as decreases the production of intracellular NO and ROS in LPS-stimulated macrophages. In addition, AE exerted its anti-inflammatory effect synergistically by inhibiting MAPK/JAK/STAT3-NF-B signaling pathways. Furthermore, AE enhanced the survival rate and attenuated inflammatory response in zebrafish embryos treated with LPS. Finally, the molecular dynamics results indicate that AE forms stable complexes with LPS receptor TLR4 through the Ser127 residue, thus completely impairing the subsequent activation of MAPK-NF-B signaling. Conclusion: AE exhibits notable anti-inflammatory activity and represents as a potential agent for treating inflammation-associated diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study theoretically the Josephson diode effect (JDE) when realized in a system composed of parallel-coupled double-quantum dots (DQDs) sandwiched between two semiconductor nanowires deposited on an s-wave superconductor surface. Due to the combined effects of proximity-induced superconductivity, strong Rashba spin–orbit interaction, and the Zeeman splitting inside the nanowires, a pair of Majorana bound states (MBSs) may possibly emerge at opposite ends of each nanowire. Different phase factors arising from the superconductor substrate can be generated in the coupling amplitudes between the DQDs and MBSs prepared at the left and right nanowires, and this will result in the Josephson current. We find that the critical Josephson currents in positive and negative directions are different from each other in amplitude within an oscillation period with respect to the magnetic flux penetrating through the system, a phenomenon known as the JDE. It arises from the quantum interference effect in this double-path device, and it can hardly occur in the system of one QD coupled to MBSs. Our results also show that the diode efficiency can reach up to 50 % , but this depends on the overlap amplitude between the MBSs, as well as the energy levels of the DQDs adjustable by gate voltages. The present model is realizable within current nanofabrication technologies and may find practical use in the interdisciplinary field of Majorana and Josephson physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study explores the diagnostic value of combining fractional-order calculus (FROC) diffusion-weighted model with simultaneous multi-slice (SMS) acceleration technology in distinguishing benign and malignant breast lesions. Methods: 178 lesions (73 benign, 105 malignant) underwent magnetic resonance imaging with diffusion-weighted imaging using multiple b-values (14 b-values, highest 3000 s/mm2). Independent samples t-test or Mann-Whitney U test compared image quality scores, FROC model parameters (D,,), and ADC values between two groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified independent variables and constructed nomograms. Model discrimination ability was assessed with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and calibration chart. Spearman correlation analysis and Bland-Altman plot evaluated parameter correlation and consistency. Results: Malignant lesions exhibited lower D, and ADC values than benign lesions (P < 0.05), with higher values (P < 0.05). In SSEPI-DWI and SMS-SSEPI-DWI sequences, the AUC and diagnostic accuracy of D value are maximal, with D value demonstrating the highest diagnostic sensitivity, while value exhibits the highest specificity. The D and combined model had the highest AUC and accuracy. D and ADC values showed high correlation between sequences, and moderate. Bland-Altman plot demonstrated unbiased parameter values. Conclusion: SMS-SSEPI-DWI FROC model provides good image quality and lesion characteristic values within an acceptable time. It shows consistent diagnostic performance compared to SSEPI-DWI, particularly in D and values, and significantly reduces scanning time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three heterostructures stacked with Janus group-III chalcogenides (X2SY; X = In, Ga and Y = Se, Te) and g-C2N monolayers are screened for solar cells based on the calculated electronic properties, optical absorption, power conversion efficiency, and nonadiabatic molecular dynamics (NAMD) simulations. A total of 114 different configurations of 14 heterostructures from the various stacking models of X2SY and g-C2N monolayers are considered. The power conversion efficiencies of the Ga2STe/In2STe, g-C2N/Ga2STe, and g-C2N/In2STe heterostructures with optimal stacking patterns are 14.06%, 10.01%, and 11.30%, respectively. Moreover, the power conversion efficiency of Ga2STe/In2STe can be enhanced to 20.79% under −4% compressive biaxial strain. The NAMD results demonstrate that all three heterostructures have a short interlayer carrier transfer time and a long electron–hole recombination time, which supports the high efficiency of carrier utilization in these heterostructures. Moreover, the long electron–hole recombination process and short electron/hole transfer process for g-C2N/In2STe are favorable for achieving a high power conversion efficiency. Therefore, this heterostructure is a promising material in the applications of solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies investigating the relationship between dietary vitamin B1 intake and risk of Hyperuricemia (HU) are scarce, the present study aimed to examine the association of dietary vitamin B1 intake and HU among adults. This cross-sectional study included 5750 adults whose data derived from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from March 2017 to March 2020. The dietary intake of vitamin B1 was assessed using 24-h dietary recall interviews. The characteristics of study participants were grouped into five levels according to the levels of vitamin B1 quintile. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of HU, according to the vitamin B1 intake quintile for male and female separately. The dose–response relationship was determined by the restricted cubic spline (RCS). Smoothed curve fitting was used to assess serum uric acid concentration versus dietary vitamin B1 intake in the study population. The prevalence of hyperuricemia was 18.90% (20.15% and 17.79% for males and females, respectively) in the United States from March 2017 to March 2020. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that in the male population, the HU ratio (OR) of vitamin B1 intake in Q2 to Q5 compared with the lowest quintile (Q1) was 0.75 (95% CI 0.52, 1.09), 0.70 (95% CI 0.48, 1.02), 0.66 (95% CI 0.44, 0.99) and 0.55 (95% CI 0.34, 0.90). The P for trend was 0.028. In women, the ORs for vitamin B1 intake Q2 to Q5 were 0.87 (95% CI 0.64, 1.19), 0.97 (0.68–1.38), 1.05 (0.69–1.60) and 0.75 (0.42–1.34), respectively. The P for trend was 0.876. The RCS curve revealed a linear relationship between vitamin B1 intake and the risk of hyperuricemia in men (P nonlinear = 0.401). Smoothed curve fitting demonstrated a negative association between vitamin B1 intake and serum uric acid concentration in men, whereas there was no significant association between dietary vitamin B1 intake and the risk of hyperuricemia in women. In the US adult population, dietary vitamin B1 intake was negatively associated with hyperuricemia in males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: High BMI (Body Mass Index) is a significant factor impacting health, with a clear link to an increased risk of leukemia. Research on this topic is limited. Understanding the epidemiological trends of leukemia attributable to high BMI risk is crucial for disease prevention and patient support. Methods: We obtained the data from the Global Burden of Disease Study, analyzing the ASR (age-standardized rates), including ASDR (age-standardized death rate) and age-standardized disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) rate, and estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) by gender, age, country, and region from 1990 to 2019. Results: In 2019, deaths and DALYs have significantly increased to 21.73 thousand and 584.09 thousand. The global age-standardized death and DALYs rates have slightly increased over the past 30 years (EAPCs: 0.34 and 0.29). Among four common leukemia subtypes, only CML (Chronic Myeloid Leukemia) exhibited a significant decrease in ASDR and age-standardized DALYs rate, with EAPC of -1.74 and -1.52. AML (Acute Myeloid Leukemia) showed the most pronounced upward trend in ASDR, with an EAPC of 1.34. These trends vary by gender, age, region, and national economic status. Older people have been at a significantly greater risk. Females globally have borne a higher burden. While males have shown an increasing trend. The regions experiencing the greatest growth in ASR were South Asia. The countries with the largest increases were Equatorial Guinea. However, It is worth noting that there may be variations among specific subtypes of leukemia. Regions with high Socio-demographic Index (SDI) have had the highest ASR, while low-middle SDI regions have shown the greatest increase in these rates. All ASRs values have been positively correlated with SDI, but there has been a turning point in medium to high SDI regions. Conclusions: Leukemia attributable to high BMI risk is gradually becoming a heavier burden globally. Different subtypes of leukemia have distinct temporal and regional patterns. This study's findings will provide information for analyzing the worldwide disease burden patterns and serve as a basis for disease prevention, developing suitable strategies for the modifiable risk factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This meta-analysis aims to identify whether patients with sepsis who have persistent tachycardia despite initial resuscitation can benefit from ultrashort-acting β-blockers. Materials and methods: Relevant studies from MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, and Embase were searched by two independent investigators. RevMan version 5.3 (Cochrane Collaboration) was used for statistical analysis. Results: A total of 10 studies were identified and incorporated into the meta-analysis. The results showed that the administration of ultrashort-acting β- blockers (esmolol/landiolol) in patients with sepsis with persistent tachycardia despite initial resuscitation was significantly associated with a lower 28-day mortality rate (risk ratio [RR], 0.73; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.57-0.93; and p<0.01). Subgroup analysis showed that the administration of esmolol in patients with sepsis was significantly associated with a lower 28-day mortality rate (RR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.55-0.84; and p<0.001), while there was no significant difference between the landiolol and control groups (RR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.41-2.34; and p = 0.96). No significant differences between the two groups were found in 90-day mortality, mean arterial pressure (MAP), lactate (Lac) level, cardiac index (CI), and troponin I (TnI) at 24 h after enrollment. Conclusion: The meta-analysis indicated that the use of esmolol in patients with persistent tachycardia, despite initial resuscitation, was linked to a notable reduction in 28-day mortality rates. Therefore, this study advocates for the consideration of esmolol in the treatment of sepsis in cases where tachycardia persists despite initial resuscitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Size-based particle filtration has become indispensable in numerous biomedical and environmental applications. In this study, bioinspired by the filter-feeding mechanism (lobe filtration) of manta rays, we designed a U-shaped biomimetic gill rake filter that combined lobe filtration and Dean flow to filter monodisperse suspensions, bi-disperse suspensions and yeast cells. Compared with other equipment using the inertial focusing technology, our equipment can perform high-throughput (up to 8 mL min-1) and high-efficiency filtration of particles (maximum filtration efficiencies of 96.08% and 97.14% for 10 and 15 µm monodisperse suspensions at the optimum flow rate of 6 mL min-1). The complex velocity field of the micro-fluidic flow within the filter is numerically simulated, and in combination with experiments, a threshold for the flow rate is identified. When the inlet flow rate exceeds the threshold value, the efficiency of particle filtration is increased rapidly. Afterwards, by analysing the filtration mechanism, we develop three novel filtration processes. The equilibrium positions of the particles and yeast cells in the main channel are close to the outer wall at high flow rate, which diminishes the likelihood of particles and yeast cells entering the side channel. This configuration establishes a self-cleaning mechanism, ensuring prolonged and efficient operation of the filter with high-throughput processing. Furthermore, the influence of the filter lobe angle and channel width on the filtration efficiency and outlet flow rate ratio are explored, and an optimisation plan is prepared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Poly(lactide acid) (PLA) foams have shown considerable promise as eco-friendly alternatives to nondegradable plastic foams, such as polystyrene (PS) foams. Nevertheless, PLA foam typically suffers from low heat-resistance and poor cellular structure stemming from its inherent slow crystallization rate and low melt strength. In this study, a high-performance PLA foam with well-defined cell morphology, exceptional strength and enhanced heat-resistance was successfully fabricated via a core-back microcellular injection molding (MIM) process. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results revealed that the added hydrazine-based nucleating agent (HNA) significantly increased the crystallization temperature and accelerated the crystallization process of PLA. Remarkably, the addition of a 1.5 wt% of HNA led to a significant reduction in PLA's cell size, from 43.5 µm to 2.87 µm, and a remarkable increase in cell density, from 1.08×107 cells/cm3 to 2.15×1010 cells/cm3. This enhancement resulted in a final crystallinity of approximately 55.7% for the PLA blend foam, a marked improvement compared to the pure PLA foam. Furthermore, at 1.5 wt% HNA concentration, the tensile strength and tensile toughness of PLA blend foams demonstrated remarkable improvements of 136% and 463%, respectively. Additionally, the Vicat softening temperature of PLA blend foam increased significantly to 134.8 °C, whereas the pure PLA foam exhibited only about 59.7 °C. These findings underscore the potential for the preparation of lightweight injection-molded PLA foam with enhanced toughness and heat-resistance, which offers a viable approach for the production of high-performance PLA foams suitable for large-scale applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blasting is a prevalent technique in deep rock excavation, with the state of rock fragmentation under high in-situ stress conditions being distinct from that under low in-situ stress conditions. A new material point method framework utilizing the generalized interpolated material point and convective particle domain interpolation functions was implemented to simulate the single-hole blasting process, analyze the stress distribution around the blasting hole, and elucidate the mechanism of how ground stress influences the expansion of blasting cracks through the interaction with the blasting load. In addition, the dynamic relaxation method realizes the stress's initialization. It was concluded that the in-situ stress can increase the compressive stress induced by blasting load, whereas it decreases the caused tensile stress. With the increase in the ground stress, the scale of the cracks decreases. Under the non-isobaric condition, the blast-induced cracks preferentially expand along the high stress with the increase in the stress difference between the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, and the blast-induced cracks are suppressed to the greatest extent in the direction of the minimum ground stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper innovates a method for visualizing and quantifying color differences using relative hue and relative color concentration. Firstly, the relative hue and relative color concentration are proposed to solve the problem that conventional chromaticity parameters can't characterize color difference. Secondly, the color difference visualization and quantification method realized by weighting algorithm and VB programming can replace the conventional qualitative assessment by human eyes, which greatly improves the accuracy and repeatability. Finally, this paper takes the color difference problem of 2 a‐Si products as an example, and uses the method of this paper to test and analyze, and easily clarifies the cause of color difference as the uneven thickness of Panel SINx film layer and the slow settling rate of LED phosphor. Combined with principle analysis, optical simulation, and experimental verification, this paper finally proposes an improvement plan to solve the stubborn color difference problem of a‐Si products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum, Lingzhi) has long been listed as a premium tonic that can be used to improve restlessness, insomnia, and forgetfulness. We previously reported that a rat model of sporadic Alzheimer's disease (sAD) that was induced by an intracerebroventricular injection of streptozotocin (ICV-STZ) showed significant learning and cognitive deficits and sleep disturbances. Treatment with a G. lucidum spore extract with the sporoderm removed (RGLS) prevented learning and memory impairments in sAD model rats. Method: The present study was conducted to further elucidate the preventive action of RGLS on sleep disturbances in sAD rats by EEG analysis, immunofluorescence staining, HPLC-MS/MS and Western blot. Results: Treatment with 720 mg/kg RGLS for 14 days significantly improved the reduction of total sleep time, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep time, and non- REM sleep time in sAD rats. The novelty recognition experiment further confirmed that RGLS prevented cognitive impairments in sAD rats. We also found that RGLS inhibited the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)/Nod-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammatory pathway in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in sAD rats and ameliorated the lower activity of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic neurons in the parabrachial nucleus (PBN). Discussion: These results suggest that inhibiting the neuroinflammatory response in the mPFC may be a mechanism by which RGLS improves cognitive impairment. Additionally, improvements in PBN-GABAergic activity and the suppression of neuroinflammation in the mPFC in sAD rats might be a critical pathway to explain the preventive effects of RGLS on sleep disturbances in sAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Ganoderma lucidum: (G. lucidum, Lingzhi) is a medicinal and edible homologous traditional Chinese medicine that is used to treat various diseases, including Alzheimer's disease and mood disorders. We previously reported that the sporoderm-removed G. lucidum spore extract (RGLS) prevented learning and memory impairments in a rat model of sporadic Alzheimer's disease (sAD), but the effect of RGLS on depression-like behaviors in this model and its underlying molecular mechanisms of action remain unclear. Method: The present study investigated protective effects of RGLS against intracerebroventricular streptozotocin (ICV-STZ)-induced depression in a rat model of sAD and its underlying mechanism. Effects of RGLS on depressionand anxiety-like behaviors in ICV-STZ rats were assessed in the forced swim test, sucrose preference test, novelty-suppressed feeding test, and open field test. Results: Behavioral tests demonstrated that RGLS (360 and 720 mg/kg) significantly ameliorated ICV-STZ-induced depression- and anxiety-like behaviors. Immunofluorescence, Western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results further demonstrated that ICV-STZ rats exhibited microglia activation and neuroinflammatory response in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), and RGLS treatment reversed these changes, reflected by the normalization of morphological changes in microglia and the expression of NF-κB, NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1 and proinflammatory cytokines. Golgi staining revealed that treatment with RGLS increased the density of mushroom spines in neurons. This increase was associated with elevated expression of brain-derived neurotrophic protein in the mPFC. Discussion: In a rat model of ICV-STZ-induced sAD, RGLS exhibits antidepressantlike effects, the mechanism of which may be related to suppression of the inflammatory response modulated by the NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway and enhancement of synaptic plasticity in the mPFC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of coherent airflow structures capable of setting gravel‐sized particles in motion is studied theoretically and experimentally. Specifically, a micromechanical model based on energy conservation is proposed to describe the incipient motion of large‐particles ranging from rocking (incomplete entrainment) to incipient rolling (full entrainment). Wind tunnel experiments were conducted on an aerodynamically rough bed surface under near‐threshold airflow conditions. Synchronous signals of airflow velocities upwind of the test particles and particle displacement are measured using a hot film anemometer and a laser distance sensor, respectively, from which coherent airflow structures (extracted via quadrant analysis) and particle movements are interlinked. It is suggested that the incipient motion of gravel‐sized particles (rocking and rolling) may result from sufficiently energetic sweep events corresponding to aerodynamic drag forces in excess of the local micro‐topography resistance. However, full entrainment in rolling mode should satisfy the presented work‐based criterion. Furthermore, using an appropriate probabilistic frame, the proposed criterion may be suitable for describing processes of energy transfer from the wind to the granular soil surface, ranging from the creep transport of gravels to the "mechanical sieving" of mega‐ripples, as well as the transport of light anthropogenic debris (such as plastics). Plain Language Summary: Entrainment of particles from a particle bed is a key problem in wind‐driven sediment transport. Most existing models define critical entrainment conditions as those at which a bed particle begins to move. Such conditions are typically met during the passing of turbulent flow structures. However, the energy transferred from the structure to the particle may not be sufficient to leapfrog over neighboring bed grains. In this case, the particle will eventually fall back into its bed pocket. Here, we experimentally evaluate an alternative work‐based criterion for particle entrainment during the passing of turbulent flow structures. Our results indicate that sweeps of sufficient turbulent energy are predominantly responsible for particle entrainment. Key Points: Coherent airflow sweep structures exerting sufficient drag force can set coarse particles in motionA work‐based criterion has been established to define the full aerodynamic entrainment of coarse particlesThe proposed criterion agrees with wind tunnel experimental observations [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiotherapy stands as a cornerstone in the treatment of numerous malignant tumors, including non-small cell lung cancer. However, the critical challenge of amplifying the tumoricidal effectiveness of radiotherapy while minimizing collateral damage to healthy tissues remains an area of significant research interest. Radiosensitizers, by methods such as amplifying DNA damage and fostering the creation of free radicals, play a pivotal role in enhancing the destructive impact of radiotherapy on tumors. Over recent decades, nanodimensional radiosensitizers have emerged as a notable advancement. Their mechanisms include cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase, combating tumor hypoxia, and others, thereby enhancing the efficacy of radiotherapy. This review delves into the evolving landscape of nanomaterials used for radiosensitization in non-small cell lung cancer. It provides insights into the current research progress and critically examines the challenges and future prospects within this burgeoning field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An I2‐promoted [3+2] cyclization reaction between thiocarbamates with enaminones has been developed for the synthesis of thiazol‐2(3H)‐one derivatives. This protocol involves C−S and C−N bond formation and exhibits good functional group tolerance. The reaction proceeded well at room temperature and provided up to 98% yield of the desired products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) is resistant to almost all antibiotics. Eravacycline, a newer treatment option, has the potential to treat CRAB infections, however, the mechanism by which CRAB isolates develop resistance to eravacycline has yet to be clarified. This study sought to investigate the features and mechanisms of eravacycline heteroresistance among CRAB clinical isolates. A total of 287 isolates were collected in China from 2020 to 2022. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of eravacycline and other clinically available agents against A. baumannii were determined using broth microdilution. The frequency of eravacycline heteroresistance was determined by population analysis profiling (PAP). Mutations and expression levels of resistance genes in heteroresistant isolates were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), respectively. Antisense RNA silencing was used to validate the function of eravacycline heteroresistant candidate genes. Twenty- five eravacycline heteroresistant isolates (17.36%) were detected among 144 CRAB isolates with eravacycline MIC values ≤4 mg/L while no eravacycline heteroresistant strains were detected in carbapenem-susceptible A. baumannii (CSAB) isolates. All eravacycline heteroresistant strains contained OXA-23 carbapenemase and the predominant multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was ST208 (72%). Cross-resistance was observed between eravacycline, tigecycline, and levofloxacin in the resistant subpopulations. The addition of efflux pump inhibitors significantly reduced the eravacycline MIC in resistant subpopulations and weakened the formation of eravacycline heteroresistance in CRAB isolates. The expression levels of adeABC and adeRS were significantly higher in resistant subpopulations than in eravacycline heteroresistant parental strains (P < 0.05). An ISAba1 insertion in the adeS gene was identified in 40% (10/25) of the resistant subpopulations. Decreasing the expression of adeABC or adeRS by antisense RNA silencing significantly inhibited eravacycline heteroresistance. In conclusion, this study identified the emergence of eravacycline heteroresistance in CRAB isolates in China, which is associated with high expression of AdeABC and AdeRS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted pharmacokinetic research wherein salcaprozate sodium (SNAC) was utilized as a penetration enhancer by incorporating it into pancreatic kininogenase (PK) to improve the bioavailability of pancreatic kininogenase enteric‐coated tablets. We conducted in vitro studies on PK using the Caco‐2 cell model and quantified PK levels using the enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. We conducted methodological verification by blending SNAC and PK powders into enteric‐coated capsules, and studied the pharmacokinetic characteristics. Based on the PK transport assay, the cumulative permeation rates of the test group that employed a SNAC to PK ratio of 32:1, 16:1, 8:1, 4:1, and 2:1 were 13.574%, 7.597%, 10.653%, 3.755%, and 2.523%, respectively. We conducted a uniformity test on the powder that contained a blend of SNAC and PK. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) for both the power containing SNAC and the power not containing SNAC were less than 10%. Based on the methodological verification, in vivo pharmacokinetic study of PK met the experimental requirements. As indicated by the results of in vivo pharmacokinetic research on rats, the test group (This group used SNAC) had a PK AUC0–12 h of 5679.747 ng/L*h and t1/2 of 4.569 h, while the control group (This group did not use SNAC) had a PK AUC0–12 h of 4639.665 ng/L*h and t1/2 of 3.13 h. This study has established a low‐cost, environmentally friendly, and safe SNAC synthesis route with high process yield suitable for industrial production. SNAC demonstrates an absorption‐enhancing effect on PK, and the optimal ratio of SNAC to PK is determined to be 32:1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The blazar sequence, including negative correlations between radiative luminosity L rad and synchrotron peak frequency ν, and between Compton dominance Y and ν, is widely adopted as a phenomenological description of spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of blazars, although its underlying cause is hotly debated. In particular, these correlations turn positive after correcting Doppler boosting effect. In this work, we revisit the phenomenological and intrinsic blazar sequence with three samples, which are historical sample (SEDs are built with historical data), quasi-simultaneous sample (SEDs are built with quasi-simultaneous data) and Doppler factor corrected sample (a sample with available Doppler factors), selected from literature. We find that phenomenological blazar sequence holds in historical sample, but does not exist in quasi-simultaneous sample, and intrinsic correlation between L rad and ν becomes positive in Doppler factor corrected sample. We also analyse if the blazar sequence still exists in subclasses of blazars, i.e. flat-spectrum radio quasars and BL Lacertae objects, with different values of Y. To interpret these correlations, we apply a simple scaling model, in which physical parameters of the dissipation region are connected to the location of the dissipation region. We find that the model generated results are highly sensitive to the chosen ranges and distributions of physical parameters. Therefore, we suggest that even though the simple scaling model can reproduce the blazar sequence under specific conditions that have been fine-tuned, such results may not have universal applicability. Further consideration of a more realistic emission model is expected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate higher-order topological states in honeycomb lattice with Y-Kekulé distortions that preserve C6v crystalline symmetry. The gapped states in expanded and shrunken distortions are adiabatically connected to isolated hexamers and Y-shaped tetramer states, respectively, where the former possesses nontrivial higher-order topology characterized by a Z6 invariant. Topological corner states exist in a flake structure with expanded distortion where the hexamers are broken at the corners. Our work reveals that honeycomb lattice with Y-Kekulé distortions serves as a promising platform to study higher-order topological states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic total occlusion (CTO) is one of the most severe and sophisticated vascular stenosis because of complete blockage, greater operation difficulty, and lower procedural success rate. This study proposes a hydraulic-driven soft robot imitating the earthworm's locomotion to assist doctors or operators in actively opening thrombi in coronary or peripheral artery vessels. Firstly, a three-actuator bionic soft robot is developed based on earthworms' physiological structure. The soft robot's locomotion gait inspired by the earthworm's mechanism is designed. Secondly, the influence of structure parameters on actuator deformation, stress, and strain is explored, which can help us determine the soft actuators' optimal structure parameters. Thirdly, the relationship between hydraulic pressure and actuator deformation is investigated by performing finite element analysis using the bidirectional fluid–structure interaction (FSI) method. The kinematic models of the soft actuators are established to provide a valuable reference for the soft actuators' motion control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gitelman Syndrome (GS) patients frequently exhibit disrupted glucose metabolism, attributed to hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia and heightened aldosterone. This study delved into the genetic underpinnings linked to insulin resistance and diabetes in a GS patient, contextualized within his family history. Methods: The hydrochlorothiazide and furosemide loading test were performed to ascertain the presence of GS. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) evaluated glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity. Whole-exome sequencing, validated by Sanger sequencing, was employed to confirm gene mutations, which were then tracked among the patient's relatives. Results: Symptoms and laboratory examination confirmed the clinical diagnosis of GS. Comprehensive whole-exome sequencing, augmented by Sanger sequencing validation, revealed a compound heterozygous mutation within the SLC12A3 gene (c.1108G>C in exon 9, c.676G>A in exon 5 and c.2398G>A in exon 20) in the patient. The OGTT affirmed diabetes and heightened insulin resistance, distinct from previous patients with GS we evaluated. Further genetic analysis identified a missense heterozygous mutation (c.97C>G in exon 1) within the PDX1 gene, inherited from the patient's diabetic mother without GS. Furthermore, the patient's brother, with impaired glucose tolerance but regular potassium levels, also bore this mutation, hinting at additional impacts of the PDX1 gene mutation on glucose metabolism regulation beyond the known impacts of GS. Conclusion: This study unveils unprecedented compound heterozygous mutations in the SLC12A3 and PDX1 genes in a GS patient. These findings illuminate the potential complex genetic factors influencing glucose metabolism disruptions in GS. Take-home message: This research uncovers a novel combination of SLC12A3 and PDX1 gene mutations in a Gitelman Syndrome patient, revealing intricate genetic factors that potentially disrupt glucose metabolism and shedding light on familial diabetes links. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, solar photovoltaic (PV) energy, as a clean energy source, has received widespread attention and experienced rapid growth worldwide. However, the rapid growth of PV power deployment also brings important challenges to the maintenance of PV panels, and in order to solve this problem, this paper proposes an innovative algorithm based on PA-YOLO. First, we propose to use PA-YOLO's asymptotic feature pyramid network (AFPN) instead of YOLOv7's backbone network to support direct interactions of nonadjacent layers and avoid large semantic gaps between nonadjacent layers. For the occlusion problem of dense targets in the dataset, we introduce a repulsive loss function, which successfully reduces the occurrence of false detection situations. Finally, we propose a customized convolutional block equipped with an EMA mechanism to enhance the perceptual and expressive capabilities of the model. Experimental results on the dataset show that our proposed model achieves excellent performance with an average accuracy (mAP) of 94.5%, which is 6.8% higher than YOLOv7. In addition, our algorithm also succeeds in drastically reducing the model size from 71.3 MB to 48.4 MB, which well demonstrates the effectiveness of the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cascade dual Z-schemes for photocatalytic overall water splitting for hydrogen production are constructed for trilayer Bi/HfSeTe/ZrSe2, Bi/HfSeTe/ZrSe2, and InAs3/HfSeTe/ZrSe2 heterostructures. Electronic properties are studied by first-principles calculations, and the photoexcited carrier pathway is explored by nonadiabatic molecular dynamics simulations. The arrow-up, arrow-down, and cascade arrangement of band alignments for the Bi/HfSeTe/ZrSe2 and InAs3/HfSeTe/ZrSe2 heterostructures are explored, and those for the HfSe2/ZrSe2/HfSe2 and ZrSe2/HfSe2/ZrSe2 sandwich heterostructures are also considered for comparison. The solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of 22.08% for the bilayer HfSeTe/ZrSe2 heterostructure can be raised to 40.52%, 39.47%, and 41.04% by the cascade dual Z-schemes with Bi/HfSeTe/ZrSe2, Bi/HfSeTe/ZrSe2, and InAs3/HfSeTe/ZrSe2. They can further be boosted to 41.53%, 41.12%, and 43.57% under 1%, 1%, and −2% biaxial strains, respectively. The nonadiabatic molecular dynamics simulations reveal that the activity of the photogenerated carriers can be well protected. Moreover, the Gibbs free energy changes demonstrated that the hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions driven by Bi/HfSeTe/ZrSe2 can spontaneously proceed. Therefore, the cascade dual Z-scheme provides an effective way to develop highly efficient photocatalysts for hydrogen generation from overall water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The efficacy of treatments targeting recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma are unsatisfactory in practice for patients with a ECOG PS score ≥ 2. Thus, this study retrospectively evaluated the safety and efficacy of a programmed cell death 1 inhibitor (tislelizumab) combined with an epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor (nimotuzumab) in treating patients with a PS score ≥ 2 who suffer from recurrent or metastatic oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Materials and methods: Fifteen patients were treated with tislelizumab (200 mg IV Q3W) and nimotuzumab (200 mg IV Q3W). Programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in tumor biopsies was assessed with immunohistochemistry. Whole-exome sequencing was used to evaluate treatment efficacy based on PDL1 expression and gene mutation. Results: At a median follow-up of 9.6 months, median overall survival was 10.1 months, and median progression-free survival was 4.0 months. Overall response rate was 40%, with 6/15 patients achieving partial response. Eight patients exhibited nine adverse events, eight out of nine being grade 2 and the remaining being grade 3. Whole-exome sequencing showed that DYNC1I2, THSD7A, and FAT1 mutations were associated with patient prognosis. Conclusion: Combination therapy involving tislelizumab plus nimotuzumab is a promising, low-toxicity treatment for recurrent or metastatic OSCC in patients with a PS score ≥ 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To properly predict the security posture of these networks, we provide a method based on machine learning algorithms to detect the security condition of power information networks. A perception model outlines the consequences of the abstracted perception problem. Sample data is initially pre-processed using linear discriminant analysis methods to optimise the data, get integrated features, and ascertain the best projection. To assess system safety posture and find mapping relationships with network posture values, the cleaned data is subsequently input into an RBF neural network as training data. The reliability of the suggested technique for network security posture analysis is finally shown by simulations using the KDD Cup99 dataset and attack data from power information networks, with detection rates frequently surpassing 90%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent experiments show that the desorption energy of H2 on a diamond-like carbon surface depends on the H2 coverage of the surface. We aim to quantitatively explain the coverage dependent H2 desorption energy measured by the experiments. We derive a math formula to calculate an effective H2 desorption energy based on the encounter desorption mechanism. The effective H2 desorption energy depends on two key parameters, the desorption energy of H2 on H2 substrate and the ratio of H2 diffusion barrier to its desorption energy. The calculated effective H2 desorption energy qualitatively agrees with the coverage dependent H2 desorption energy measured by the experiments if the values of these two parameters in literature are used in the calculations. We argue that the difference between the effective H2 desorption energy and the experimental results is due to the lack of knowledge about these two parameters. So, we recalculate these two parameters based on experimental data. Good agreement between theoretical and experimental results can be achieved if these two updated parameters are used in the calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing demand for petroleum, shale oil with considerable reserves has become an important part of global oil resources. The shale oil reservoir has a large number of nanopores and a complicated mineral composition, and the effect of nanopore confinement and pore type usually makes the effective development of shale oil challenging. For a shale oil reservoir, CO2 flooding can effectively reduce the oil viscosity and improve the reservoir properties, which can thus improve the recovery performance. In this study, the method of non-equilibrium molecular dynamics (NEMD) simulation is used to simulate the CO2 flooding process in the nanoscale pores of shale oil reservoir. The performance difference between the organic kerogen slit nanopore and four types of inorganic nanopores is discussed. Thus, the effects of nanopore type and displacement velocity on the nanoscale displacement behavior of CO2 are analyzed. Results indicate that the CO2 flooding process of different inorganic pores is different. In comparison, the displacement efficiency of light oil components is higher, and the transport distance is longer. The intermolecular interaction can significantly affect the CO2 displacement behavior in nanopores. The CO2 displacement efficiency is shown as montmorillonite, feldspar > quartz > calcite > kerogen. On the other hand, it is found that a lower displacement velocity can benefit the miscibility process between alkane and CO2, which is conducive to the overall displacement process of CO2. The displacement efficiency can significantly decrease with the increase in displacement velocity. But once the displacement velocity is very high, the strong driving force can promote the alkane to move forward, and the displacement efficiency will recover slightly. This study further reveals the microscopic oil displacement mechanism of CO2 in shale nanopores, which is of great significance for the effective development of shale oil reservoirs by using the method of CO2 injection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a necrotrophic plant pathogenic fungus with broad distribution and host range. Bioactive compounds derived from plant extracts have been proven to be effective in controlling S. sclerotiorum. In this study, the mycelial growth of S. sclerotiorum was effectively inhibited by maleic acid, malonic acid, and their combination at a concentration of 2 mg/mL, with respective inhibition rates of 32.5%, 9.98%, and 67.6%. The treatment of detached leaves with the two acids resulted in a decrease in lesion diameters. Interestingly, maleic acid and malonic acid decreased the number of sclerotia while simultaneously increasing their weight. The two acids also disrupted the cell structure of sclerotia, leading to sheet-like electron-thin regions. On a molecular level, maleic acid reduced oxalic acid secretion, upregulated the expression of Ss-Odc2 and downregulated CWDE10, Ss-Bi1 and Ss-Ggt1. Differently, malonic acid downregulated CWDE2 and Ss-Odc1. These findings verified that maleic acid and malonic acid could effectively inhibit S. sclerotiorum, providing promising evidence for the development of an environmentally friendly biocontrol agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medical abortion is a common medical procedure that women choose to terminate an unwanted pregnancy, but it often brings post‐abortion complications. Danggui (Angelica sinensis Radix)–Yimucao (Leonuri Herba), as a herbal pair (DY) in clinical prescriptions of traditional Chinese medicine, is often used in the treatment of gynecological diseases and has the traditional functions of tonifying the blood, promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis and regulating menstruation. In this study, serum lipidomics were adopted to dissect the mechanism of DY in promoting recovery after medical abortion. A total of 152 differential metabolites were screened by lipidomics. All metabolites were imported into MetaboAnalyst for analysis, and finally key metabolic pathways such as glycerophospholipid metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism and pentose and glucuronate interconversions were enriched. Our results indicated that metabolic disorders in abortion mice were alleviated by DY through glycerophospholipid metabolism, while prostaglandin and leukotriene metabolites might be the key targets of DY to promote post‐abortion recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]