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In this paper, a sandwich structure metamaterial was designed, in which the substrate is radio frequency (RF) F4B, and the metal pattern of copper is prepared by the substrate on both sides. Analyzed the transmission of the structure, and the quad-band and reciprocal electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT)-like phenomena of the structure were obtained. The physical mechanism of the EIT-like phenomenon was explained by the electric field distribution. Discussing the size of the structure, the influence of structure parameters on EIT-like phenomena was further illustrated. By comparing the measured results with the calculated results in a microwave anechoic chamber, the results are in good agreement. This structure has potential applications in multi-band filtering, sensing, and other fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The easy-plane FeSi3.5 composite with excellent magnetic properties and power loss is proposed. The magnetic properties and power loss of the easy-plane FeSi3.5 composite are studied by using the none easy-plane FeSi3.5 composite as a control. This easy-plane FeSi3.5 composite has an initial permeability of 62, resonance frequencies of 100 MHz and 1.5 GHz, and frequency stability of 40 MHz. In addition, the easy-plane FeSi3.5 composite has also excellent loss properties, with a high-frequency power loss of only 108.12 kW/m3. The three kinds of power loss of the easy-plane FeSi3.5 composite are reduced compared with the none easy-plane FeSi3.5 composite through loss separation, especially the eddy current loss and the excess loss. The eddy current loss and the excess loss of the easy-plane FeSi3.5 composite are only 0.03 and 12.93 kW/m3 at 500 kHz, which reduce by 99.44% and 92% compared with the none easy-plane FeSi3.5 composite. Effective reduction of power loss and significant improvement of magnetic properties are important for solving the problem of power loss encountered by power electronic devices at the kHz band. Therefore, the application of the easy-plane FeSi3.5 composite with excellent power loss and high-frequency magnetic properties becomes a novel approach to meet the practical application of power electronics. The method that increases the working frequency and decreases the maximum magnetic flux density keeping the energy transformation efficiency constant is a new method to reduce power loss at the wide frequency band. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides with 2H-phases, as a unique platform of valleytronics, display valley polarization and the well-known anomalous valley Hall effect when stacking with 2D magnetic substrates. In this study, we employ first-principles calculations to investigate the magnetic states, band structures, and magnetic proximity-dependent valley properties of 2D van der Waals heterostructures Cr2Ge2Te6/2H-MX2 (M = Mo, W, and X = S, Se, Te). Our findings reveal that the heterostructures possess stacking-dependent spontaneous valley polarization as well as pristine perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. Additionally, the Berry curvature and circular polarization demonstrate the presence of spin–momentum coupling characteristics, while the calculated non-zero Hall voltage indicates that the anomalous valley Hall effect can be achieved in valley-polarized systems. Furthermore, due to the strain effect and the electronic polarization at the interface, Cr2Ge2Te6/2H-MX2 heterostructures undergo the transition from semiconductors to semimetals upon substitution of early chalcogen elements. These calculations provide valuable insights for practical applications of valleytronics in 2D van der Waals heterostructure systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Realization of microwave-absorbing materials with "small thickness, light weight, broad bandwidth, and low reflectivity" is an invariable topic. In this paper, Sm2Fe14BHx/polyurethane (SFBH/PU) composites with planar anisotropy were prepared by reduction–diffusion (R/D) and water bath hydrogenation (WBH) process. A minimum reflection loss (RL) value reaches −59.7 dB at the perfect matching frequency of 13.79 GHz with a thickness of only 1.035 mm. Compared with unhydrogenated SFB, the bandwidth and reflectivity are significantly improved. It is mainly attributed to the fact that introduction of hydrogen atoms effectively modulates the electromagnetic parameters and increases the Snoek limit ((μ i − 1) f r) , which leads to the improvement of the high-frequency microwave absorption performance. In addition, the bandwidth equation is derived and simplified from the perspective of the reflected wave at the interface, which is in good agreement with the measured results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The impact of concurrent sepsis on the prognosis in patients with non-traumatic hemorrhagic brain injury (HBI) remains unclear, and the appropriate hemoglobin (HGB) level in HBI patients with sepsis has not been investigated. This study aimed to investigate the impact of sepsis in HBI and the prognosis of patients with different HGB trajectories with/without sepsis. Methods: The association between sepsis and prognosis (including neurologic outcome and 28-day mortality) in patients with non-trauma HBI was investigated, and multivariate logistic model, propensity score matching (PSM), and inverse-probability-weighted regression adjustment (IPWRA) were used to reach a causal relationship. Group-based trajectory analysis was adopted to explore the associations between HGB trajectories and outcomes. Results: A total of 3,040 patients were included. Compared with the HBI-without-sepsis group, the HBI-with-sepsis group had higher 28-day mortality and worse neurological outcomes. After adjusting for confounders, the association between sepsis and mortality remains significant in multivariate logistic model (OR 2.31, 95%CI 1.77–3.01), PSM analysis (212/942 vs. 130/942, p < 0.001) and IPWRA model (ATE 0.073, 95%CI 0.04–0.09). Based on 72-h HGB data, four HGB-trajectories were identified. In HBI-without-sepsis cohort, OR for mortality decreased from HGB-traj2 (OR: 0.56, 95% CI 0.33—0.96) to HGB-traj4 (0.26, 95% CI 0.11—0.59), referred to HGB-traj1. But this decreasing trend became non-significant in HBI-with-sepsis cohort. Sensitivity analyses showed similar results. Conclusion: In HBI, concurrent sepsis was associated with higher mortality rate. Furthermore, there was an inverse gradient relationship between HGB level and mortality in HBI patients without sepsis, while this association became non-significant in those with sepsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strawberry is an important cash crop, but postharvest diseases would cause varying degrees of loss. Although hot air (45°C, 3 h) and antagonistic yeast (Pichia guilliermondii) treatments are effective in reducing pathogen attack, little is known about the relationship between postharvest disease and combination treatment methods in strawberry fruit. In our study, strawberries treated with P. guilliermondii in combination with hot air were tested for grey mould, soft rot and anthracnose. It is shown that the combination treatment was more efficacious than either P. guilliermondii or hot air applied individually in (i) controlling grey mould, soft rot and anthracnose (ii). maintaining the quality of strawberries (including weight loss, firmness and high SSC/TA without excessive reduction of AA content) and (iii) increasing the antioxidant levels (as indicated by higher activities of SOD, CAT, POD, the content of TPC and OPC). Therefore, these findings provide foundational data to help elucidate the mechanisms by that combination treatment can enhance the shelf life of strawberries during storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Steel surface defect detection plays a critical role in ensuring the quality of steel production. However, challenges such as low contrast in defect visibility and the irregularity and variability of defect patterns often affect the performance of existing detection methods. To address these challenges, we propose a novel approach based on multi-scale and dynamic snake convolution-based YOLOv9 (MDSC-YOLOv9) for steel surface defect detection. By leveraging multi-scale and dynamic snake convolutions, MDSC-YOLOv9 has strong feature representative ability and sensitivity to narrow and elongated defect patterns. We introduce an adaptive multi-scale Retinex with color restoration for image preprocessing, which enhances the content of image information, generating more diverse and robust training data. Furthermore, the locally enhanced positional encoding (LePE) attention module and the upsampling Dysample module are integrated into the multi-scale and dynamic snake convolution feature fusion network of MDSC-YOLOv9 to further enhance the feature information of small targets and reduce the information loss during upsampling. Experimental results on both the NEU-DET and GC10-DET datasets demonstrate that our approach outperforms existing methods in terms of accuracy and has strong generalization ability across diverse datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Steel surface defect detection plays a critical role in ensuring the quality of steel production. However, challenges such as low contrast in defect visibility and the irregularity and variability of defect patterns often affect the performance of existing detection methods. To address these challenges, we propose a novel approach based on multi-scale and dynamic snake convolution-based YOLOv9 (MDSC-YOLOv9) for steel surface defect detection. By leveraging multi-scale and dynamic snake convolutions, MDSC-YOLOv9 has strong feature representative ability and sensitivity to narrow and elongated defect patterns. We introduce an adaptive multi-scale Retinex with color restoration for image preprocessing, which enhances the content of image information, generating more diverse and robust training data. Furthermore, the locally enhanced positional encoding (LePE) attention module and the upsampling Dysample module are integrated into the multi-scale and dynamic snake convolution feature fusion network of MDSC-YOLOv9 to further enhance the feature information of small targets and reduce the information loss during upsampling. Experimental results on both the NEU-DET and GC10-DET datasets demonstrate that our approach outperforms existing methods in terms of accuracy and has strong generalization ability across diverse datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is a non-invasive imaging technique, and automatic segmentation of retinal vessels is crucial for understanding ocular diseases and making informed clinical decisions. However, the automatic segmentation of retinal vessels in OCTA images is particularly challenging due to several inherent issues. Retinal vessels often exhibit low contrast against the surrounding tissue, making it difficult to distinguish them clearly. Additionally, the complex and irregular branching structures of retinal vessels, along with the presence of noise and artefacts in OCTA images, further complicate the segmentation task. To address these challenges, we propose a novel method, the spatial and multi-frequency domain-based segmentation network (SMFDNet), specifically designed for vessel segmentation in OCTA fundus images. This network effectively combines spatial and multi-frequency domain features to enhance the segmentation accuracy of retinal vessels. To demonstrate the superiority of our proposed network, we conduct experiments on the Retinal Vessels Images in OCTA (REVIO), Retinal OCT-Angiography Vessel Segmentation (ROSE) and Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography-500 (OCTA-500) datasets. The extensive experimental results show that our approach consistently outperforms state-of-the-art methods, particularly in handling low contrast and complex vessel structures. The codes are available at . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective This study aims to compare the therapeutic effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and continuous theta-burst stimulation (cTBS) treatment in schizophrenia patients with auditory verbal hallucinations (AVHs). Methods We enrolled 64 schizophrenia patients with AVHs who were treated with either rTMS (n  = 32) or cTBS (n  = 32), and we compared the clinical outcomes by evaluating parameters from motor evoked potentials, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Auditory Hallucination Rating Scale (AHRS), and MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB), as well as the changes of serum neurotrophic factors before and after the treatment. Results After the treatment, both treatments resulted in reduced PANSS scores, with the cTBS group showing more substantial symptom improvement across positive, negative, and general symptoms, highlighting the enhanced efficacy of cTBS. Cognitive functions assessed by MCCB also improved in both groups, with cTBS showing a generally higher therapeutic effect. Serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glial cell line–derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) increased following treatment in both groups, with a more notable increase after cTBS, while GABA and glutamate levels remained unchanged. Cardiovascular indices were unaffected by either treatment, suggesting no significant impact on cardiovascular health. Conclusions Our study found that both rTMS and cTBS treatment can exhibit therapeutic effects in the management of AVHs in patients with schizophrenia. However, cTBS treatment generally shows a higher therapeutic effect than rTMS treatment. Key messages What is already known on this topic – rTMS and cTBS are noninvasive neuromodulation techniques used to treat AVHs in schizophrenia. Although both methods have shown some efficacy in reducing AVHs, previous studies suggest that cTBS may have more profound and lasting effects on cortical excitability than traditional rTMS. However, the therapeutic differences between cTBS and rTMS and their specific impacts on clinical symptoms, cognitive functions, and neurotrophic factors in patients with schizophrenia have not been thoroughly compared. What this study adds – This study demonstrates that both cTBS and rTMS can reduce symptoms of schizophrenia-related AVHs, but cTBS generally provides a greater therapeutic benefit. Compared to rTMS, cTBS was associated with more significant improvements in clinical symptoms assessed by PANSS and AHRS, as well as cognitive functions assessed by MCCB. Additionally, both treatments increased serum levels of BDNF and GDNF, with a more notable increase following cTBS, while levels of GABA and glutamate remained unchanged. How this study might affect research, practice or policy – The findings suggest that cTBS could be a more effective treatment option for AVHs in patients with schizophrenia, particularly patients who do not adequately respond to rTMS, potentially guiding clinical decisions on neuromodulation therapies. This study also underscores the need for further research to optimize cTBS protocols and explore its long-term efficacy and safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Swine mycoplasma pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is the most prevalent and frequently occurring chronic respiratory disease in pigs worldwide. Pig breeds in China are more susceptible to Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, and understanding the reasons for their susceptibility is crucial for the prevention and control of swine Mycoplasma pneumonia, as well as for promoting the healthy development of the swine industry. Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae has limited biosynthesis and metabolism, and has harsh requirements for nutrients, thus it is necessary to add approximately 15%-20% porcine serum in medium during in vitro culture, and porcine serum plays an irreplaceable role in the growth and reproduction of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. In this study, growth titres of different Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae strains cultured in the serum medium from different Chinese pig breeds and introduced pig breeds were compared. Non-targeted metabolomics analysis of representative introduced and Chinese pig breeds, Large white pig and Bama miniature pig, respectively, screened of key serum metabolites. The results showed that, expression level of L-Asparagine in Bama miniature pigs was 15–18 times higher than in Large white pigs. Additionally, the contents of inositol and Arachidonic acid in Bama miniature pigs were significantly upregulated as well. A certain concentration of L-Asparagine significantly increased the growth titer, metabolic capacity and pathogenicity of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. In conclusion, Bama miniature pig and Large white pig are representative pig breeds that are susceptible and non-susceptible to Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae respectively. L-Asparagine is the essential factor and biomarker for the susceptibility of Chinese pigs to Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to explore the association of plasma metal concentrations with impaired cognitive function in different genotypes of ATG7 using multiple models. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in rural China among 994 individuals aged 30 years or older. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Genetic analysis focused on two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the autophagy-related gene ATG7 (rs2606757 and rs8154). Plasma concentrations of metals were quantified using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Restricted cubic splines were used to explore the association between serum metal concentration and the occurrence of mild cognitive impairment in individuals with various genotypes. Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) models were used to explore the interactions between individual metals. In a restricted cubic spline model, there is a nonlinear relationship between plasma concentration of Cd and the occurrence of cognitive impairment in individuals carrying the AA (P of Nonlinear = 0.008) and AT (P of Nonlinear = 0.007) genotypes at the rs2606757. However, in people carrying the TT genotype at the rs2606757 locus, the concentration of metals in plasma was not significantly associated with cognitive impairment (P of Nonlinear = 0.534). The results of the BKMR model are consistent with those of the restricted cubic spline model. The TT genotype at rs2606757 in ATG7 appears to confer greater cognitive resilience against Cd-induced cognitive damage. These findings highlight the importance of considering gene-environment interactions in the context of cognitive impairment and suggest potential avenues for preventing cognitive decline in individuals exposed to Cd. Further research is needed to elucidate the precise mechanisms underlying these interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency's requirements for the minimization of radioactive waste, nuclear facility components need to be cut into smaller blocks and packaged in waste containers during decommissioning. Therefore, it is important to increase the space utilization (SU) of the cut blocks in the containers while reducing the cutting time (CT). In engineering practice, increasing SU often leads to longer CTs, which poses a great challenge to improve the efficiency of the nuclear decommissioning process. To overcome this challenge and to determine the optimal operational parameters, this paper introduces a multi-objective optimization design method for cutting and packaging nuclear facility components. The goal is to increase SU while concurrently reducing CTs, ultimately minimizing the waste and reducing the decommissioning cost. First, we project the intricate three-dimensional (3D) irregular parts packing problem onto a two-dimensional plane to simplify the complexity inherent in 3D parts packing and to formulate a packing optimization model. Second, we employ the Morris method to perform global sensitivity analysis on critical parameters, including cutting angle, height, component radius, and plate thickness parameters, throughout the cutting process of nuclear facility components. This analysis produces global sensitivity indicators for each parameter, facilitating a precise assessment of the sensitivity values associated with different operational parameters. Finally, we formulate a multi-objective design optimization model for cutting and packing nuclear facility components that yields a series of alternative operating parameter solutions upon solving it. This methodology offers a resolution for the selection of optimal operational parameters in the decommissioning process of nuclear facility components, thereby attaining optimal outcomes in waste disposal and furnishing guidance for subsequent decommissioning activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advent of exascale supercomputers heralds a new era of scientific discovery, yet it introduces significant architectural challenges that must be overcome for MPI applications to fully exploit its potential. Among these challenges is the adoption of heterogeneous architectures, particularly the integration of GPUs to accelerate computation. Additionally, the complexity of multithreaded programming models has also become a critical factor in achieving performance at scale. The efficient utilization of hardware acceleration for communication, provided by modern NICs, is also essential for achieving low latency and high throughput communication in such complex systems. In response to these challenges, the MPICH library, a high-performance and widely used Message Passing Interface (MPI) implementation, has undergone significant enhancements. This paper presents four major contributions that prepare MPICH for the exascale transition. First, we describe a lightweight communication stack that leverages the advanced features of modern NICs to maximize hardware acceleration. Second, our work showcases a highly scalable multithreaded communication model that addresses the complexities of concurrent environments. Third, we introduce GPU-aware communication capabilities that optimize data movement in GPU-integrated systems. Finally, we present a new datatype engine aimed at accelerating the use of MPI derived datatypes on GPUs. These improvements in the MPICH library not only address the immediate needs of exascale computing architectures but also set a foundation for exploiting future innovations in high-performance computing. By embracing these new designs and approaches, MPICH-derived libraries from HPE Cray and Intel were able to achieve real exascale performance on OLCF Frontier and ALCF Aurora respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the extreme reflectivity requirements of radiative cooling coatings, these materials often employ ceramic nanoparticles such as TiO2 due to their high refractive index and scattering efficiency. However, the bandgap of TiO2 (3.2 eV) is lower than the energy of the most energetic solar light, leading to significant absorption in the UV range (0.25–0.4 μm) and subsequent oxidation aging and yellowing of particles and/or organic binders. To overcome the conflict between high reflective efficiency and UV durability, formulations using high-bandgap materials can be used despite their lower refractive index. In this work, we describe an optimized PRC-Al2O3 coating by adjusting the ratio of low refractive index alumina particles to sodium methylsilicate adhesive. The PRC-Al2O3 exhibits a high solar reflectance above 0.96 and a high mid-infrared emissivity of 0.92, enabling it to achieve a maximum theoretical cooling power of 109 W m−2. Following continuous UV irradiation with a power of 0.7 kW m−2 for 72 hours, only a marginal 0.2% decline in solar reflectance occurred compared to the unaged coatings. The resulting anti-aging cooling paint is scalable and can be spray-coated onto outdoor structures and containers, providing durable radiative cooling towards real-world applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) is the leading cause of global mortality, with its incidence rate rising year by year due to the prevalence of metabolic diseases. Existing primary and secondary prevention strategies for cardiovascular disease have limitations in identifying some high-risk groups, and 1.5-level prevention aims to achieve more precise intervention by early identification of subclinical target organ damage. This study introduces oral (tongue coating) microbiota as metabolic markers for the first time, in combination with multiple metabolic factors, to explore their potential in assessing subclinical target organ damage and optimizing cardiovascular risk stratification, in order to provide a new path for the early identification and intervention of CVD. Methods: This study is a prospective cohort study aimed at assessing the association between tongue coating microbiota characteristics and multiple metabolic factors with subclinical target organ damage, and identifying high-risk groups suitable for cardiovascular 1.5-level prevention. The study will be conducted in Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China, planning to include 5000-6000 eligible subjects, with inclusion criteria of age ≥18 years, excluding individuals with a history of CVD and other serious diseases. Baseline assessment includes demographic information, lifestyle (including dietary patterns), medical history, physical examination, and collection of tongue coating microbiota samples. Subjects will be followed up every 2 years, with the primary outcome being the first occurrence of coronary heart disease and stroke, and the secondary outcome being subclinical target organ damage. Discussion: This study focuses on cardiovascular 1.5-level prevention strategy, combining metabolic factors with tongue coating microbiota characteristics, aiming to optimize the risk assessment system for subclinical target organ damage. This approach can not only fill the gap in traditional risk assessment but also provide new ideas for the early identification and intervention of CVD. In the future, the feasibility and effectiveness of this strategy will be verified through multicenter studies, and it is expected to be promoted to a wider medical system, significantly improving the health management level of high-risk groups for CVD. Trial registration number: http://itmctr.ccebtcm.org.cn , identifier ITMCTR2024000616. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Triglyceride glucose (TyG) index and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) are indicators of insulin resistance. However, inadequate evidence indicates that the TyG index, AIP, and chronic pain are linked. Methods: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 1999 and 2004 were used. Directed acyclic graphs were used to identify 11 potential confounders. The TyG index and AIP were treated as continuous variables in the multivariate logistic regression models to assess their association with chronic pain. Furthermore, the nonlinear relationships between these indices and outcomes were investigated using restricted cubic spline plots. Subsequently, subgroup analyses were conducted for the sensitive populations. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to compare the relationships between indices and outcomes. Ultimately, two sensitivity analyses were performed. Results: This study identified nonlinear associations between the TyG index, AIP, and chronic pain in 16,996,513 Americans. The odds ratio and 95% confidence interval for the TyG index (per 1 standard deviation increase) was 1.17 (1.02, 1.33), and for AIP (per 1 standard deviation increase) was 1.19 (1.07, 1.34). According to the subgroup analyses, the relationships between exposure and outcome were more pronounced in the non-diabetic population. The TyG index and AIP performed similarly in assessing chronic pain in ROC curves. Additionally, the results of the two sensitivity analyses matched the conclusions of the main study. Conclusions: Nonlinear correlations between the TyG index, AIP, and chronic pain were identified among adults in the United States. This demonstrated that the TyG index and AIP displayed similar effectiveness in predicting the risk of chronic pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetic panvascular disease (DPD) is the leading clinical complication of diabetes mellitus (DM), characterized by atherosclerosis across multiple organ vessels. It is a major cause of high disability and mortality rates in DM. However, the pathological mechanisms and key mediators of DPD remain unclear. Methods: This study constructed a single-cell organotypic atlas of the vasculature containing 321,358 cells by integrating 14 single-cell datasets from 8 major mouse organs and tissues. A total of 63 cell types were identified, including 9 vascular cell subtypes, whereas the cell-to-cell interaction (CCI) patterns of the organotypic vasculature were systematically analyzed. Results: Endothelial cells (ECs) were identified as the major cell type involved in CCI within the vasculature, with their ligands interacting with receptors of various cell types, which contribute to multiple biological processes such as stem cell differentiation and immune regulation. Notably, the study examined the cellular communication characteristics of different EC subtypes. Additionally, the inter-organ communication between the heart and kidney—key tissues in DPD—was analyzed. The BMP signaling pathway emerged as a critical communication pathway leading to cardiorenal complications in DM, with SGLT2i having a regulatory role in BMP6 modulation. Conclusions: The study provides, for the first time, a single-cell analysis of the CCI patterns of the organotypic vasculature and highlights the central role of ECs. Moreover, the key role of BMP6 in diabetic cardiorenal complications is elucidated. These findings offer new insights into the mechanisms underlying DPD co-morbidities and provide a novel scientific basis for clinical prevention, treatment strategies for DPD, and the understanding of the action mechanism of SGLT2i. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: α5-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α5‐nAChR) participates in chronic stress-promoted lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) progression. Neuropilin and tolloid-like 2 (NETO2) contributes to fear expression and extinction, which is related to tumorigenesis. CHRNA5 (encoding α5‐nAChR) gene profiling revealed a reduction in NETO2 expression following CHRNA5 knockdown. Nevertheless, the connection between α5-nAChR and NETO2 in LUAD progression induced by chronic stress remains unclear. Methods: RNA-Seq and bioinformatics database were used for analyzing the expression as well as correlation of α5-nAChR, together with NETO2 in LUAD. α5-nAChR and NETO2 expression were detected using immunohistochemistry in LUAD tissue microarrays, chronic restraint stress (CRS) and chronic unpredictable stress (CUMS) mice tissues. In lung adenocarcinoma A549 and H1299 cells, the expression of α5-nAChR, NETO2, p-CAMKII, p-STAT3 and vimentin induced by acetylcholine/nicotine was examined by western blot. The interaction of α5-nAChR with NETO2 in lung adenocarcinoma cells was detected by Co-immunoprecipitation assay and modeled using molecular docking. EdU assay and colony formation assay were conducted to evaluate cell proliferation, while wound healing assay as well as transwell assay assessed the migration and invasion of lung adenocarcinoma cells. Results: α5-nAChR expression was related to NETO2 expression, low survival rate, staging as well as smoking status in LUAD dataset as well as tissue microarrays. The correlation between α5-nAChR and NETO2 was validated in nude mice xenograft tissues. α5-nAChR as well as NETO2 expression correlated in CRS and CUMS mice tissues. In vitro, acetylcholine/nicotine mediated NETO2, p-CAMKII, p-STAT3 and vimentin expression via α5-nAChR. α5-nAChR interacted with NETO2 as well as CAMKII in LUAD cells. α5-nAChR/NETO2 signaling contributed to LUAD cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Conclusions: The above results uncover a new chronic stress-promoted LUAD signaling pathway: α5-nAChR/NETO2 axis contributes to chronic stress-promoted LUAD cell proliferation, migration and invasion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrospraying is a facile approach to fabricate multifunctional superhydrophobic coatings, but poor durability of the coatings limits the applications. Here, a simple and universal strategy to simultaneously improve superhydrophobicity and durability of the electrosprayed coatings is reported. By comparatively studying "cold" substrate and "hot" substrate using different substrates and coating materials, etc., we demonstrate the ease and universality of substrate heating strategy for the simultaneous improvement of superhydrophobicity and durability. Substrate heating not only enhances the inter-particle cohesion within coatings and the adhesion between coatings and the substrate, but also can increase surface roughness. In particular, the coated stainless steel meshes from the "baseline" cocktail with a heating temperature of 100 °C (denoted as sample-100 °C) and without heating (denoted as sample-RT) are studied. Results show that sample-100 °C with simultaneous improvement of superhydrophobicity and durability presents much better performance in self-cleaning, anti-icing, and oil–water separation (as compared with sample-RT). This work not only provides a facile and effective strategy to simultaneously improve superhydrophobicity and durability of electrosprayed coatings, but also can be a good guideline for superhydrophobic coatings prepared by other spraying techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphorus (P) pollution from livestock farming poses significant environmental challenges, necessitating efficient P utilization. This study systematically investigated the effects of varying dietary P levels on growth, slaughter performance, nutrient digestion, and metabolism in Yunnan Semi-fine Wool Sheep during the growth phase. Forty-five sheep (30.33 ± 0.56 kg) were randomly assigned to five dietary P levels (0.40, 0.51, 0.68, 0.82, and 0.97%) over a 44-day trial, including a 14-day pre-feeding and 30-day formal trial period. Digestibility trials were conducted on days 22–27, and selected sheep were slaughtered for detailed analysis. Results showed no significant effects of dietary P on daily weight gain, feed-to-gain ratio, or organ indices (p > 0.05). However, dry matter intake, liver, and lung weights decreased linearly with increasing P levels (p < 0.05). Carcass traits such as left half carcass rate and net rib rate varied significantly (p < 0.05), showing quadratic trends. P levels also affected P, calcium, protein, and energy metabolism, as well as apparent digestibility of acid detergent fiber (p < 0.05). Using endogenous loss and comparative slaughter methods, the P maintenance requirement was determined as: Retained p = 0.5436 × Intake P – 0.0614 (R 2 = 0.83, p < 0.01). P requirements for growth were modeled as: P (g/kg EBW) = 30.95772 × EBW – 0.5031. The recommended dietary P level was 0.40%, with maintenance and growth requirements of 0.06 g/EBW and 5.34–6.19 g/kg EBW, respectively, providing a foundation for P reduction strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colorectal intraepithelial neoplasia is a precancerous lesion of colorectal cancer, which is mainly diagnosed using pathological images. According to the characteristics of lesions, precancerous lesions can be classified into four different grades, i.e., background, normal, low and high level. However, due to the continuity of lesion development, tissue in different stages has high similarity. Recently, visual transformers have achieved impressive results in different visual tasks, due to their capacity of capturing long-range dependencies. However, due to computational cost, transformer cannot well extract detailed feature, which is important for lesion grading. To accurately segment pathological tissues with high similarity, in this work, we embed the multi-head MLP mixer module in the transformer network to extract cell and edge information. Furthermore, we propose a hierarchical MLP decoder to facilitate multi-scale feature fusion. The proposed transformer, namely MLPFormer, achieves remarkable results against competitive baselines on the Histo-CRC Biopsy dataset. The experimental results demonstrate that MLPFormer significantly outperforms the competitive baselines, i.e., a 3% dice improvement is achieved over the SegFormer series. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oral microbiome dysbiosis is an important risk factor affecting the occurrence and progression of coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the dysbiosis on the tongue in patients with CAD is still unclear, and whether the oral alteration caused by these disorders can be identified by other tools for CAD diagnosis needs to be further explored. Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) is characterized as high spectral resolution, broad spectral range, and superior spatial resolution. Hyperspectral images contain high-dimensional data that generally require machine learning algorithms for feature identification and model construction. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the variation of tongue microbiota and the effectiveness of HSI models in CAD diagnosis. Methods: Between 2023 and 2024, we prospectively approached 276 patients with chest pain and exhibiting risk for CAD who underwent coronary artery angiography (CAG). And 190 patients were enrolled in this study. Tongue dorsum swabs were collected for subsequent 16sRNA sequencing and microbiome analysis. Tongue dorsum features were extracted from hyperspectral images. The HSI analysis incorporated a total of 4750 hyperspectral images from all patients. All images are divided into training set (N = 2555), internal test set (N = 1095) and external test set (N = 1095). A total of 31 models were constructed. 30 single machine learning algorithms were used to construct and test the CAD prediction models. Furthermore, the best performing fusion model was established. The efficacy of the model was evaluated employing several metrics, including area under the curve (AUC), decision curve analysis (DCA), calibration curve, accuracy (ACC), sensitivity (SE), specificity (SP), positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and F1 score. Results: The 16sRNA sequencing results indicated significant dysbiosis in the oral microbiota of patients with CAD, with decreased microbial abundance, network complexity and stability. The fusion model (GP-GB-SVM) demonstrated the highest performance, achieving an AUC of 0.92, ACC of 0.82, SE of 0.70, SP of 0.92, PPV of 0.88 and NPV of 0.79 in the internal test set and AUC of 0.86, ACC of 0.70, SE of 0.90, SP of 0.46, PPV of 0.60 and NPV of 0.90 in the external test set. Conclusion: These findings not only emphasize the significant alteration of microbiome colonized on the tongue dorsum in CAD patients but also demonstrate the tongue features associated with microbiome dysbiosis can be identified in hyperspectral images. Thereby the integration of HSI and machine learning provides novel insights into non-invasive diagnosis of CAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Aquaculture is an important source of antibiotics and ARGs in environmental waters. However, the occurrence of antibiotics and ARGs under different modes and stages of aquaculture has rarely been systematically studied. Methods: This paper uses qPCR, LC-MS, and High-Throughput sequencing across different culture modes and stages to investigate antibiotics, resistance genes, and microbial communities in the water bodies, and analyze contamination differences between these modes. Results: The quinolone and chloramphenicol were the main antibiotics, and the highest absolute abundance genes were quinolone resistance genes (qnrB) and quinolone resistance genes (sul1), with the mobile genetic element (MGE) intI1 , both of which exhibited a gradual seasonal increase. Microbial diversity also varies seasonally, especially with a gradual increase in the abundance of some pathogenic bacteria (Flavobacterium). Antibiotics and resistance genes were found at higher levels in fish ponds compared to shrimp and crab ponds, while they were lower in shrimp and crab ponds that utilized the ecological mode ponds than in the traditional culture mode ponds. Conclusion: Our study presents a comprehensive characterization of antibiotics and ARGs in aquaculture waters from various perspectives. Ecological aquaculture modes contribute to reducing antibiotic and resistance gene pollution in water bodies. These findings will support the optimization of aquaculture mode and antibiotic usage to the green and sustainable development of aquaculture finally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gastrointestinal amyloidosis (GIA) is a rare manifestation of amyloidosis, characterized by amyloid fibril deposition in the gastrointestinal tract, leading to a range of clinical symptoms. Early diagnosis is challenging due to the nonspecific nature of endoscopic and clinical findings. Objective: To analyze the clinical, endoscopic, and pathological characteristics of GIA and identify potential diagnostic markers for earlier detection. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 36 patients diagnosed with GIA based on histopathological findings, including Congo Red staining. Clinical, endoscopic, and pathological data were analyzed to identify correlations between lesion morphology, clinical symptoms, and amyloid deposition. Results: The cohort consisted of 22 males (61.1%) and 14 females (38.9%), with a mean age of 61.7 years. Endoscopic findings were diverse, with elevated lesions (57.1%) most common in the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine, and white patches (66.7%) prevalent in the duodenum. Histopathological analysis confirmed amyloid deposits in 62.8% of biopsy specimens. The small intestine exhibited the highest detection rate (100%), while the colorectum had the lowest (37.5%). Patients with elevated lesions may be asymptomatic, and among those with symptoms, abdominal pain is most common. Flat lesions are primarily associated with multiple symptoms, with abdominal discomfort, pain, distension, and acid reflux being the most frequent. The infiltration depth varied across different gastrointestinal tract segments, with the mucosal layer predominantly affected in the esophagus and stomach, whereas the submucosal layer more significantly involved in the duodenum and colon. Conclusion: Gastrointestinal amyloidosis presents with a wide range of clinical symptoms and endoscopic manifestations. Histopathological diagnosis through standardized biopsy is crucial, and attention should be given to the depth of tissue sampling, as it may play a significant role in reducing misdiagnosis. Highlights: • GIA can occur not only in affected areas, but also in normal mucosa. • The detection rate of GIA was highest in the duodenum, particularly in the mucosal area of the descending part, with villous atrophy being the most common morphology. • The lesion infiltration depth in GIA varies across different gastrointestinal tract segments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a complete map of the Mesozoic volcanic-plutonic complexes in the Taiwan Strait and its adjacent areas in terms of seismic profiles, ages, geochemistry, isotopic systematics, and published data. Two periods of igneous activity in the Taiwan Strait can be distinguished by seismic profiles: Jurassic (200.4–148.2 Ma); and Latest Jurassic/Cretaceous to Maastrichtian (144–66 Ma), of which the Cretaceous is the best preserved and could possibly be the most widespread. Mesozoic magmatic activity with the NE-striking distribution was migrating southeastward (oceanward). LA-MC-ICPMS zircon U – Pb dating yields the age data of 109.5 ± 0.4 Ma for PTDH1 granodiorite and 92.6 ± 0.4 Ma for PTDH4 rhyolite in the Taiwan Strait, respectively. The 581.66-m-thick Upper Jurassic volcanic rocks of the Chuan2 well are the thickest Mesozoic igneous rocks in the Taiwan Strait. The petrogenetic discrimination diagram of the Cretaceous volcanic-plutonic complexes along the coast of South China and the Taiwan Strait generally is belonging to volcanic arc or intraplate type calc-alkaline rock series. The high potassium calc-alkaline rock series of the Cretaceous volcanic-plutonic complexes that is most widely distributed in the coastal areas of South China and the Taiwan Strait. They are controlled by the subduction of the Palaeo-Pacific domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to design the modulation strategy of SiC motor controller for vehicles with low EMI, low device loss and low voltage/current ripple. The equivalent evaluation model of input voltage, output current and switching loss of the inverter under periodic spread spectrum modulation strategy is constructed, and the quantitative relationship between each parameter of spread spectrum modulation and the three indicators is established. The input/output performance and loss level of the inverter under different spread spectrum modulation strategies are evaluated. On this basis, based on the carrier frequency distribution characteristics of periodic signal spread spectrum modulation, a "secondary frequency modulation" strategy is proposed to reduce the inverter-conducted EMI to a greater extent under the limited spread spectrum range. Experimental results show that compared with the single periodic signal spread spectrum modulation, the "secondary frequency modulation" strategy can reduce the peak value of inverter-conducted EMI to a greater extent without increasing the ripple and loss of the inverter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reasonably configuring the concentration distribution of the mixture to achieve partially premixed combustion has been proven to be an effective method for improving energy utilization efficiency. However, due to the significant influence of concentration non-uniformity and flow field disturbances, the combustion behavior and mechanisms of partially premixed combustion have not been fully understood or systematically analyzed. In this study, the partially premixed combustion characteristics of methane–hydrogen–air mixtures in a confined space were investigated, focusing on the combustion behavior and key parameter variation patterns under different equivalence ratios (0.5, 0.7, 0.9) and hydrogen contents (10%, 20%, 30%, 40%). The global equivalence ratio and degree of partial premixing of the mixture were controlled by adjusting the fuel injection pulse width and ignition timing, thereby regulating the concentration field and flow field distribution within the combustion chamber. The constant-pressure method was used to calculate the burning velocity. Results show that as the mixture formation time decreases, the degree of partial premixing increases, accelerating the heat release process, increasing burning velocity, and shortening the combustion duration. It exhibits rapid combustion characteristics, particularly during the initial combustion phase, where flame propagation speed and heat release rate increase significantly. The burning velocity demonstrates a distinct single-peak profile, with the peak burning velocity increasing and its occurrence advancing as the degree of partial premixing increases. Additionally, hydrogen's preferential diffusion effect is enhanced with increasing mixture partial premixing, making the combustion process more efficient and concentrated. This effect is particularly pronounced under low-equivalence-ratio (lean burn) conditions, where the combustion reaction rate improves more significantly, leading to greater combustion stability. The peak of the partially premixed burning velocity occurs almost simultaneously with the peak of the second-order derivative of the combustion pressure. This phenomenon highlights the strong correlation between the combustion reaction rate and the dynamic variations in pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal treatment of rice starch, which is the main ingredient in rice noodles and has cooling-set gelling behavior, can disrupt hydrogen bonding, leading to a compromised gel structure. This can lead to a softer texture and reduced textural attributes and cooking characteristics of rice noodles. This study investigated how thermal sterilization and curdlan integration affect the rheological characteristics, microstructure, and quality of rice noodles. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, kinetic analysis, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed that the incorporation of curdlan, a thermally set polysaccharide gel, enhances hydrogen bonding, accelerates gel formation, and yields a denser gel structure to rice noodles. This enhancement improves solid-like behavior, storage modulus, textural properties, and cooking characteristics. Compared to pure rice noodles subjected to thermal sterilization, rice noodles incorporating 2.0% curdlan showed reductions of 74.71% in cooking breakage rate and 68.18% in cooking loss rate. Conversely, hardness and springiness increased by 19.82% and 18.75%, respectively. This study offers valuable insights for developing high-quality fresh rice noodles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eothenomys miletus is an endemic species that inhabits the Hengduan Mountain regions (HDR) and serves as one of the primary hosts for plague and hantaviruses. While the physiological characteristics of E. miletus have been extensively studied, the molecular aspects, particularly the migration direction of E. miletus , remain unclear. In the present study, we utilized genomic data to investigate the migration direction of four populations: Ailaoshan (ALS), Jiangchuan (JC), Lijiang (LJ), and Deqin (DQ), which are distributed from south to north within the HDR. Our results indicated that the ALS population is positioned at the base of the phylogenetic tree, and admixture analysis revealed that the ALS population is more closely related to the JC and DQ populations. Integrate the molecular genetic structure, fossil records of E. miletus as well as the results of our research, we inferred that the migration direction of E. miletus may have been from south to north, suggesting that the DQ and JC populations may have originated from the migration of ALS. However, the migration patterns and origins of the LJ population require further investigation and discussion. Additionally, we focused on identifying genomic signatures of selection and local adaptation among the different populations. We identified three selected genes associated with the olfactory placode in DQ: Six1 , Six4 , and Sox2. We hypothesized that these genes may be linked to the DQ population's adaptation to the region's microclimate. In summary, the present study is the first to employ genomics to explore the migration direction of E. miletus , which is crucial for future research on the origins of Eothenomys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cuproptosis, a newly suggested mechanism of controlled cellular demise, which has been extensively associated with aspects of occurrence and development in breast cancer. The aim of this study was to conduct a comprehensive multi-group bioinformatics analysis based on the expression of cuproptosis-related genes (CRGs) to identify novel breast cancer subtypes to guide clinical practice. We collected TCGA-BRCA and GSE42568 datasets to investigate the expression patterns of CRGs in breast cancer. Consensus cluster analysis was performed to identify distinct subtypes. Subsequently, an investigation was carried out to examine the disparities between CRGclusters through functional enrichment analysis. Finally, we examined microsatellite instability, tumor mutation burden, drug sensitivity, infiltration of immune cells and cancer cell stemness across different CRGclusters. We identified two subtypes, where CRGcluster S2 exhibits a poorer prognosis compared to CRGcluster S1. Moreover, CRGcluster S2 demonstrated lower immune infiltration scores, higher cancer cell stemness index, and increased tumor mutation burden relative to CRGcluster S1, with the most frequently mutated gene being ATP7A. Notably, breast cancer chemotherapy drugs such as docetaxel, doxorubicin, and paclitaxel exhibited reduced sensitivity towards CRGcluster S2 when compared to CRGcluster S1. We have identified two CRGclusters in breast cancer that could serve as potential therapeutic targets and warrant further investigation in clinical trial studies for breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The interaction between the materials themselves and cancer cells are rarely explored. Therefore, the biological roles of raw single wall carbon nanohorn (SWCNH) on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in the apoptosis of CNE2 were explored. Methods: Therefore, ERS of CNE2 cells was induced by SWCNH, and 4-phenylbutyrate (4-PBA) was selected as a inhibitor of ERS. CNE2 cells were co-cultured with SWCNH, 4-PBA and SWCNH+4-PBA, respectively. Furthermore, the apoptotic status of CNE2 cells and its ROS (Reactive oxygen species) levels were determined. Moreover, the apoptotic protein expression of caspase 3 (cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase 3), the expression levels of ER pathway protein eIF2α, ATF4 and CHOP, or the OS (Oxidative stress)-related proteins NQO1, GCLC, HO-1, and Nrf2 was detected, respectively. Results: CNE2 apoptotic rate, ROS levels, the caspase 3 or ER pathway proteins ATF4 and CHOP expression, even the NQO1, GCLC, HO-1, and Nrf2 levels of oxidative stress-related proteins in the groups of SWCNH and SWCNH+4-PBA were higher compared to the control group. Moreover, these indicators were higher compared to the group of SWCNH+4-PBA (p < 0.05). Discussion: ER stress is the key possible mechanism of CNE2 apoptosis induced by SWCNH. After injury of ERS, SWCNH causes oxidative stress injury, which may eventually lead to apoptosis of CNE2 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) offer an environmentally friendly and sustainable approach to combat pathogens and enhance crop production. The biocontrol activity of PGPR depends on their ability to colonize plant roots and synthesize antimicrobial compounds that inhibit pathogens. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying these processes remain unclear. In this study, we isolated and characterized Bacillus velezensis 118, a soil isolate that exhibits potent biocontrol activity against Fusarium wilt of banana. Deletion of sigX, encoding an extracytoplasmic function (ECF) sigma factor previously implicated in controlling biofilm architecture in B. subtilis, reduced biocontrol efficacy. The B. velezensis 118 sigX mutant displayed reduced biofilm formation but had only a minor defect in swarming motility and a negligible impact on lipopeptide production. These findings highlight the importance of regulatory processes important for root colonization in the effectiveness of Bacillus spp. as biocontrol agents against phytopathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is associated with microvascular obstruction (MVO). However, its association with new-onset atrial arrhythmias after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is unclear. We investigated the correlation of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)-measured EAT with MVO and its effect on new-onset atrial arrhythmias after PCI in patients with STEMI. This study employed a single-centre retrospective design. Patients diagnosed with STEMI who underwent CMR after PCI between January 2019 and January 2023 were consecutively included and followed-up regularly. Participants were categorised based on whether they developed new-onset atrial arrhythmia after PCI. In comparison to the non-arrhythmia group, the atrial arrhythmia group exhibited higher values for age, heart rate, peak hs-TnT, peak NT-proBNP, EATV, LAES, LAED, and MVO, alongside reduced LVEF. A positive association was identified between EATV and MVO. Univariate analysis using logistic regression revealed that age, heart rate, hs-TnT level, NT-proBNP level, LVEF, EATV, LAES, LAED, and MVO were significant risk factors for atrial arrhythmia. Multivariate logistic regression analysis further identified age, LAES, EATV, and MVO as independent predictors of atrial arrhythmia. ROC curve analysis produced AUC values of 0.690 for age, 0.584 for LAES, 0.607 for MVO, and 0.769 for EATV. The EATV demonstrated a strong positive relationship with MVO after PCI in patients with STEMI. Age, LAES, EATV, and MVO were independent predictors of new-onset atrial arrhythmias and exhibited substantial prognostic significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Change of direction (COD) skills are crucial for athletic performance in sports such as table tennis. Improving COD can enhance overall agility and responsiveness during competition. Objective: To investigate the effects of an 8-week multi-directional movement training combined with balance training on the COD performance of young table tennis players. Methods: Thirty young table tennis players from the same team were randomly assigned to two groups: the multi-directional movement training combined with the balance training group (MB, n = 15) and the control group (CON, n = 15). The MB group underwent balance training on unstable surfaces, while the CON group performed the same balance exercises on stable ground. Both groups participated in the same multi-directional movement training program, which was conducted three times a week with 24–48 h of recovery between sessions for a duration of 8 weeks. Results: Significant group effects were observed in the modified agility test, non-dominant leg, dominant leg, and push block side lunge right test (p < 0.05). No significant group effects were found for the hexagon agility test, 3 m side slide test, A-movement test, or the whole table variable speed pendulum test (p > 0.05). Significant time-by-group interactions were noted for all variables (p < 0.05), indicating that improvements over time differed between the MB and CON groups. In the MB group, significant improvements were observed across all tests post-intervention, with high effect sizes (Partial η2 values ranging from 0.361 to 0.815). In contrast, the CON group showed significant time effects in only a few tests, including the 3 m side slide test, A-movement test, modified agility test, and push block side lunge right test (p < 0.05), with no significant time effects for other variables. Conclusion: This study aimed to explore whether multi-directional movement training, when combined with balance exercises, could improve COD skills in young table tennis players. The results will inform future training strategies for enhancing agility and movement efficiency in table tennis athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cocktail therapy significantly reduces the development of resistance to individual medications due to viral mutations. However, for effective inhibition of a particular virus, a customized approach to combination pharmacotherapy may be essential. Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is a member of the Coronaviridae family, whose genome consists of a single strand of positive-sense RNA and has evolved into multiple epidemic lineages with no available drugs in clinical practice. In this study, we found that the nucleoside analog gemcitabine decreased the titer of PEDV, with a median effective concentration (EC50) of 3.12 μM, thereby inhibiting viral replication. The natural product baicalein acts by targeting the early entry stage and directly inactivates the virus, with an EC50 of 5.02 μM. A notable synergistic effect was observed with the combination of 1 μM gemcitabine and 1.5 μM baicalein. This study demonstrated that the strategic use of a drug combination targeting both the replication and entry phases of the PEDV lifecycle can effectively inhibit viral proliferation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atherosclerosis, with its complex pathogenesis, is a leading underlying cause of many cardiovascular diseases, which are increasingly prevalent in the population. Sphingolipids play an important role in the development of atherosclerosis. Key metabolites and enzymes in sphingolipid metabolism influence the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in a variety of ways, including inflammatory responses and oxidative stress. Thus, an investigation of sphingolipid metabolism-related metabolites and key enzymes may provide novel insights and treatment targets for atherosclerosis. This review discusses various mechanisms and research progress on the relationship between various sphingolipid metabolites, related enzymes, and atherosclerosis. Finally, we look into the future research direction of phytosphingolipids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skeletal muscle atrophy is a major comorbidity associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease caused by exposure to cigarette smoke (CS). CS-activated macrophages and pyroptosis play an important role in skeletal muscle atrophy, but its specific molecular mechanism remains unclear. This study investigated the role and mechanisms of pyroptosis and activated macrophages in CS-induced skeletal muscle atrophy. Methods: In the in vivo model, mice were exposed to either CS or air for 24 weeks, and in the in vitro model, C2C12 murine skeletal muscle cells were co-cultured with macrophages in Transwell chambers. Western blotting, real-time PCR, ELISA, and other methods were used to detect pyroptosis-related markers to investigate the mechanism of CSE-activated macrophages on skeletal muscle atrophy and pyroptosis. Results: In vivo, CS-induced atrophy of the mouse gastrocnemius muscle was accompanied by increased expression of pyroptosis-related markers, including NLRP3 inflammasome, cleaved Caspase-1, the GSDMD N-terminal domain, and interleukin (IL)-18. In vitro, CS extract (CSE)-activated macrophages mediates pyroptosis of skeletal muscle cells and induces myotube atrophy. Further studies demonstrated that macrophage-derived TNF-α is the initiating factor of skeletal muscle pyroptosis, and this process appears to be mediated through TNF-α activating the TNFR1/NLRP3/caspase-1/GSDMD signaling pathway. Conclusion: TNF-α released by CSE-activated macrophages can promote skeletal muscle pyroptosis by activating the TNFR1/NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD signaling pathway, which likely contributes to skeletal muscle atrophy. These findings provide more insight into the mechanisms underlying skeletal muscle atrophy in COPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glioma-associated epilepsy (GAE) is a common neurological symptom in glioma patients, which can worsen the condition and increase the risk of death on the basis of primary injury. Given this, accurate prediction of GAE is crucial, and this study aims to develop and validate a GAE warning recognition prediction model. Methods: We retrospectively collected MRI scan imaging data and urine samples from 566 glioma patients at the Xiangyang Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and Science from August 2016 to December 2023. Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression and multivariate logistic regression analysis are used to determine independent risk factors for GAE. The nomogram and decision tree GAE visualization prediction model were constructed based on independent risk factors. The discrimination, calibration, and clinical usefulness of GAE prediction models were evaluated through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA), respectively. Results: In the training and validation datasets, the incidence of GAE was 34.50% and 33.00%, respectively. Nomogram and decision tree were composed of five independent radiomic predictors and three differential protein molecules derived from urine. The discrimination rate of area under the curve (AUC) was 0.897 (95% CI: 0.840– 0.954), slightly decreased in the validation data set, reaching 0.874 (95% CI: 8.817– 0.931). The calibration curve showed a high degree of consistency between the predicted GAE probability and the actual probability. In addition, DCA analysis showed that in machine learning prediction models, decision trees have higher overall net returns within the threshold probability range. Conclusion: We have introduced a machine learning prediction model for GAE detection in glioma patients based on multiomics data. This model can improve the prognosis of GAE by providing early warnings and actionable feedback and prevent or reduce pathological damage and neurobiochemical changes by implementing early interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Harnischia generic complex, a significant assemblage within the tribe Chi-ronomini, extensive global sampling and the integration of multi-characteristic data for comprehensive analysis are essential to elucidate the phylogenetic relationships within the Harnischia generic complex. We sequenced, assembled, and annotated the mitochondrial genomes of a single species each from the genera Parachironomus Lenz, Robackia Saether and Saetheria Jackson. Additionally, we incorporated 26 previously published mitogenomes into our analysis to delve deeper into the characteristics of these mitogenomes. Our findings indicate the close affinity between (Cryptochironomus + Demicryptochironomus) and (Harnischia + Microchironomus), aligning consistently with previous research outcomes showing that the Harnischia generic complex and Chironomus are phylogenetically close, and their clade forms a sister group with the Polypedilum generic complex. Based on mitochondrial genome data, Robackia is identified as the basal taxon being relatively primitive, with Parachironomus and Saetheria also appearing as primitive within the complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/Background Kawasaki disease (KD) is the common acute, self-limiting vasculitis in children, often affecting coronary arteries, which may lead to coronary artery dilation, stenosis, or in severe cases, myocardial infarction. This study aimed to identify new approaches for reducing or preventing coronary artery lesions (CAL) in KD patients by analyzing specific serological markers across various paediatric groups. Methods Clinical data were collected from 100 children diagnosed with Kawasaki disease (KD) admitted at First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University between May 2023 and June 2024. These children were divided into two groups based on coronary artery injury status: Occurrence group (n = 31) and Non-occurrence group (n = 69). Additionally, data from 100 children with acute upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) and 100 healthy children who underwent routine physical examination during the same period (Healthy group) were included for comparison. Serum levels of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), D-dimer (D-D), albumin (ALB), and T-cell subsets were measured and compared across groups to evaluate their clinical utility in diagnosing coronary artery damage in KD. Results NT-proBNP and D-D levels were highest in KD children with coronary artery injury and lowest in the healthy group, while ALB levels were lowest in KD children with coronary artery injury and highest in the healthy group, with statistically significant differences (p < 0.001). Analysis of T-cell subsets revealed that cluster of differentiation (CD)3+, CD4+, and CD4+/CD8+ levels were highest in the Healthy group, while CD8+ levels were highest in the Occurrence group, with statistically significant differences (p < 0.001). The combined diagnostic model demonstrated an area under the curve (AUC) value of 0.885 (95% CI: 0.829–0.941), showing higher specificity and AUC value compared to each marker individually. Conclusion The combination of serum NT-proBNP, D-D, ALB, and T-cell subsets offers valuable predictive insights for coronary artery damage in KD children and may serve as an auxiliary diagnostic tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The direct current (DC) cable serves as the link for energy output in photovoltaic (PV) systems. Its degradation can cause arcs, which easily lead to fire accidents. Locating arc faults, however, is challenging. To cope with it, this paper proposes an arc location method based on time reversal. The method has been tried to locate system fault. However, its application in the arc fault location of photovoltaic systems is seldom discussed and needs further research. For this purpose, the voltage waveforms of an arc fault collected at one of the cable ends is reversed. This transformation derives a symmetrical arc fault signal. Afterwards, the reversed signal is injected back into the cable to trace the fault location, which is a symmetrical process of the arc fault signal travelling from its origin to the detection point. Utilizing the energy-focusing characteristics of time reversal, the position with the highest energy in the derived waveform corresponds to the actual fault location. To verify the proposed method, a DC arc fault test is performed to obtain the wave characteristics. The Paukert arc model is chosen based on the tested result. A PV system containing a DC cable with an arc fault is simulated with Simulink with the affecting factors, i.e., grounded resistance, cable length, fault location and sampling frequency. The simulated results demonstrate that the localization error is within 5% in the worst case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the existence of periodic and solitary wave solutions in a generalized KdV equation with an arbitrarily high-order convection term which introduces a time delay in the nonlinearity. For the equation with two different local generic delay kernels, by applying geometric singular perturbation theory and analyzing the perturbation of a hyper-elliptic Hamiltonian system of arbitrary higher degree, we respectively prove the existence of one or two periodic wave solutions with certain wave speed in an open interval, depending on the degree. The existence of solitary wave solutions with certain wave speeds is also established by Melnikov’s method. Our results demonstrate that distributed delays and the degree of nonlinear term can influence the existence and number of traveling wave solutions with particular wave speeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is devoted to the bifurcations and exact traveling wave solutions in a model of slightly dispersive quasi-incompressible hyperelastic materials by introducing a very general response function for the Cauchy stress tensor of dispersive hyperelastic solids, which was recently established by Saccomandi and Vergor [1]. By using the method of dynamical systems, we study the bifurcations of phase portraits and dynamical behaviors of solutions for the corresponding traveling wave system, which is a planar dynamical system. In addition to the results on the existence of solitary wave and kink wave solutions that has been proved, we not only find more traveling wave solutions, such as periodic wave and anti-kink wave solutions, but also obtain the exact explicit parametric representations and bifurcations of all possible traveling wave solutions under various parameter conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge graphs have shown great potential in alleviating the data sparsity problem in recommendation systems. However, existing graph-attention-based recommendation methods primarily focus on user–item–entity interactions, overlooking potential relationships between users while introducing noisy entities and redundant high-order information. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a graph-attention-based recommendation method that enhances user features using knowledge graphs (KGAEUF). This method models user relationships through collaborative propagation, links entities via similar user entities, and filters highly relevant entities from both user–entity and user–relation perspectives to reduce noise interference. In multi-layer propagation, a distance-aware weight allocation mechanism is introduced to optimize high-order information aggregation. Experimental results demonstrate that KGAEUF outperforms existing methods on AUC and F1 metrics on the Last.FM and Book-Crossing datasets, validating the model's effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]