Search

We present a comprehensive analysis of oscillations of the helium-rich white dwarf DBV star EPIC 248705247 (SDSS J102106.69+082724.8). We extract the light curves from 79.7 days of K2 Campaign 14 data and identify 21 independent frequencies, including three complete and three incomplete dipole modes, with an average frequency splitting of 20.37 ± 0.40 μ Hz. Our analyses reveal a rotation period of EPIC 248705247 of approximately 6.82 ± 0.07 hr, making it one of the most rapidly rotating DBV stars currently known. We utilize the White Dwarf Evolution Code (WDEC) to compute models to look for the seismic best-fitted model, yielding the following stellar parameters: M / M ⊙ = 0.650 ± 0.003, T eff = 23,660 ± 68 K, log (M env / M *) = − 2.01 ± 0.01 and log (M He / M *) = − 4.90 ± 0.05 . We also explore the phenomenon of mode trapping, as well as the potential influence of a weak magnetic field. We find that this star is located near the red edge of the theoretical instability strip of DBVs. Hence, our asteroseismological analysis of EPIC 248705247 provides the properties and behaviors of a rapidly rotating DBV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) plays a pivotal role in anti-aging research. Developing advanced detection platforms for MMP-2 with high specificity, sensitivity, and accessibility is crucial. This study introduces a novel electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensor for MMP-2 determination, leveraging the CRISPR/Cas13a system and Exponential Amplification Reaction (EXPAR). The biosensor operates by utilizing the T7 RNA polymerase to transcribe RNA from a DNA template upon MMP-2 interaction. This RNA activates Cas13a, leading to signal amplification and ECL detection. The incorporation of the "photoswitch" molecule [Ru(phen)2dppz]2+ streamlines the process by eliminating the need for extensive electrode modification and cleaning. Under optimized conditions, the biosensor achieved an impressive detection limit of 12.8 aM for MMP-2. The platform demonstrated excellent selectivity, reproducibility, and stability, making it highly suitable for detecting MMP-2 in complex biological samples. This innovative approach shows great potential for applications in molecular diagnostics and anti-aging research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wave-powered boats can harness wave energy to drive hydrofoils to generate propulsion, and the arrangement position between dual hydrofoils has an obvious effect on the magnitude of propulsion generated. In this paper, the effects of the arrangement position between dual hydrofoils on the propulsion of wave-powered boats are studied. An instantaneous equivalent model of dual hydrofoils based on the local frame at the equivalent position is developed according to the relative motion principle, and the propulsion of the rear hydrofoil is calculated, and the reliability of the equivalent model results was verified through experiments. Through the augment optimization calculation based on the validated model mentioned above, the propulsion of the rear hydrofoil with different arrangement positions is obtained and the corresponding positions of the hydrofoil with larger propulsion are listed. Subsequently, a fluid-structure coupling model is established on the basis of the results obtained from the optimization calculation, and the dynamic response of the wave-powered boat is solved under different arrangement positions. It is evident that different horizontal and vertical arrangement positions of the dual hydrofoils have different effects on the propulsion performance. This is primarily due to the different influences of the wake vortices generated by the front hydrofoil acting on the rear hydrofoil, causing different fluctuations during its rotation process, thereby affecting propulsion. Overall, a reasonable arrangement position can effectively improve the propulsion of the wave-powered boat. The relevant research in this paper can provide a reference for similar hydrofoil arrangement designs of the wave-powered boat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to comprehend the intention conveyed through human body movements is crucial for effective interpersonal interactions. If people can't understand the intention behind other individuals' isolated or interactive actions, their actions will become meaningless. Psychologists have investigated the cognitive processes and neural representations involved in understanding action intention, yet a cohesive theoretical explanation remains elusive. Hence, we mainly review existing literature related to neural correlates of action intention, and primarily propose a putative Three-stage Dynamic Brain-cognitive Model of understanding action intention, which involves body perception, action identification and intention understanding. Specifically, at the first stage, body parts/shapes are processed by those brain regions such as extrastriate and fusiform body areas; During the second stage, differentiating observed actions relies on configuring relationships between body parts, facilitated by the activation of the Mirror Neuron System; The last stage involves identifying various intention categories, utilizing the Mentalizing System for recruitment, and different activation patterns concerning the nature of the intentions participants dealing with. Finally, we delves into the clinical practice, like intervention training based on a theoretical model for individuals with autism spectrum disorders who encounter difficulties in interpersonal communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lack of precise spatiotemporal gene modulation and therapy impedes progress in medical applications. Herein, a 980 nm near‐infrared (NIR) light‐controlled nanoplatform, namely URMT, is developed, which can allow spatiotemporally controlled photodynamic therapy and trigger the enzyme‐activated gene expression regulation in tumors. URMT is constructed by engineering an enzyme‐activatable antisense oligonucleotide, which combined with an upconversion nanoparticle (UCNP)‐based photodynamic nanosystem, followed by the surface functionalization of triphenylphosphine (TPP), a mitochondria‐targeting ligand. URMT allows for the 980 nm NIR light‐activated generation of reactive oxygen species, which can induce the translocation of a DNA repair enzyme (namely apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1, APE1) from the nucleus to mitochondria. APE1 can recognize the basic apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) sites in DNA double‐strands and perform cleavage, thereby releasing the functional single‐strands for gene regulation. Overall, an augmented antitumor effect is observed due to NIR light‐controlled mitochondrial damage and enzyme‐activated gene regulation. Altogether, the approach reported in this study offers high spatiotemporal precision and shows the potential to achieve precise and specific gene regulation for targeted tumor treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the goals of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality have been established, forest carbon sinks have garnered significant attention. As a fundamental component of forest carbon sinks, the quality of forest land significantly influences the carbon sink capacity of forests. This study utilized Kaizhou District, Chongqing City, a typical forest area as a case study, and used the correction method, factor method, CASA model, landscape ecology indexes, and canonical correlation analysis to evaluate the level of forest land quality and reveal the spatial distribution pattern and influencing mechanisms of forest land quality. The results showed that: (i) The quality index of public welfare forest land was distributed in [37.89, 148.15], and each quality level was diversified in space. The quality index of commodity forest land was distributed in [40.00, 92.67], and some high-quality forest land appeared in the transition zone of each region; (ii) The forest land quality index and the amount of net primary productivity passed the correlation test. Primary net productivity was higher on forest land with a high-quality index and lower on forest area with a low-quality index; (iii) public welfare forest land was mainly positively affected by community structure, average annual precipitation, average annual temperature, and soil moisture. Commodity forest land was mainly positively affected by average annual temperature, soil moisture, and slope aspect. However, landform had a significant negative impact on the two types of forest land. Given these findings, we also proposed a series of measures aimed at promoting the sustainable development of research on regional forest land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) outperform lithium-ion batteries in the aspect of energy density as they use lithium metal as the anode that has extremely high energy density and low potential. However, the development of LMBs is hampered by uncontrollable Li plating morphology and inferior Coulombic efficiency (CE) during cycling. In the past decade, electrolyte development has been recognized as one of the most effective strategies to tackle these two challenges. Much progress has been made through designing advanced electrolytes, especially ether-based electrolytes, in developing LMBs. Herein, we focus on summarizing the use of additives in ether-based electrolytes to enable high-performance LMBs. The impact of additives in electrolytes on lithium metal anode (LMA) protection, cathode protection, extreme temperature operation, and fast charging for LMBs are systematically discussed. The review reveals the significance of additive engineering in developing advanced electrolytes for high-energy–density LMBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gaseous ethylene (ET) and the oxylipin‐derived jasmonic acid (JA) in plants jointly regulate an arsenal of pathogen responsive genes involved in defending against necrotrophic pathogens. The APETALA2 (AP2)/ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR (ERF) transcription factor ORA59 is a major positive regulator of the ET/JA‐mediated defense pathway in Arabidopsis thaliana. The Arabidopsis agmatine coumaroyltransferase (AtACT) catalyzes the formation of hydroxycinnamic acid amides (HCAAs) which are effective toxic antimicrobial substances known as phytoalexins and play an important role in plant defense response. However, induction and regulation of AtACT gene expression and HCAAs synthesis in plants remain less understood. Through gene coexpression network analysis, we identified a list of GCC‐box cis‐element containing genes that were coexpressed with ORA59 under diverse biotic stress conditions and might be potential downstream targets of this AP2/ERF‐domain transcription factor. Particularly, ORA59 directly binds to AtACT gene promoter via the GCC‐boxes and activates AtACT gene expression. The ET precursor 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylic acid (ACC)‐treatment significantly induces AtACT gene expression. Both ORA59 and members of the class II TGA transcription factors are indispensable for ACC‐induced AtACT expression. Interestingly, the expression of AtACT is also subject to the signaling crosstalk of the salicylic acid‐ and ET/JA‐mediated defense response pathways. In addition, we found that genes of the phenylpropanoid metabolism pathway were specifically induced by Botrytis cinerea. Taking together, these evidence suggest that the ET/JA signaling pathway activate the expression of AtACT to increase antimicrobial HCAAs production through the transcription factor ORA59 in response to the infection of necrotrophic plant pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This paper investigated the link between non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (NHHR) and diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in adult diabetic patients and identified the optimal NHHR value for impacting DKD. Methods: This cross-sectional research made use of records from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) executed between 2005 and 2016. The link of NHHR to DKD risk was analyzed by logistic regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) models. The stability and reliability of the results were assessed by subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis. Results: In total, 4,177 participants were involved. As a continuous variable, NHHR was markedly connected to an increased risk of DKD (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.02, 1.12, P < 0.01). When NHHR was grouped in quartiles, relative to the reference set, the highest NHHR group was also linked to a heightened risk of DKD (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.01, 1.50, P < 0.05). The outcome of RCS show a "J" shaped correlation between NHHR and DKD risk (P for nonlinear = 0.0136). The risk of developing DKD was the lowest when NHHR equals 2.66. Subgroup analysis revealed that the link of NHHR to DKD persisted in participants aged below 40, females, non-smokers, and those without hyperuricemia. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated a certain robustness in this association. Conclusion: A meaningful link is present between NHHR and DKD. An NHHR value of around 2.66 could represent the ideal cutoff for assessing DKD risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a rare and life-threatening serious infectious disease, characterized by acute onset and rapid progress, leading to extensive necrosis of skin, soft tissue as well as fascia by a variety of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, localized on external genitalia, scrotum, groin and perianal areas in males. There exist numerous common etiologies for NF, yet NF induced by malignant neoplasms is exceedingly rare. Several studies have reported that NF may be associated with tumor site (rectal/sigmoid colon cancer) and blood supply dysfunction caused by targeted therapy drugs (bevacizumab, aflibercept, ramucirumab). The perforation of colorectal cancer poses a unique risk factor for NF. However, in our two cases, the patient with rectal cancer received CapeOX (oxaliplatin + capecitabine) + bevacizumab + tislelizumab for 3 cycles without perforation but did develop NF. One month after debridement, the patient continued immunotherapy with tislelizumab alone for the fourth cycle and maintained for an additional 3 cycles without any recurrence of NF. Therefore, does the occurrence of NF correlate with the tumor site (rectum) and targeted immunotherapy? Another patient with hepatocellular carcinoma also developed NF after receiving 2 cycles of lenvatinib + sintilimab treatment. The third cycle of sintilimab immunotherapy was administered on the 13th day after operation, which was subsequently maintained for an additional 2 cycles without recurrence of NF. The absence of a direct correlation between hepatocellular carcinoma and rectal tumor location as well as immunotherapy, suggests that NF may be closely linked to targeted therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of the digital economy, the power demand for data centers (DCs) is rising rapidly, which presents a challenge to the economic and low‐carbon operation of the future distribution system. To this end, this paper fully considers the multiple flexibility of DC and its impact on the active distribution network, and establishes a collaborative planning model of DC and active distribution network. Differing from most existing studies that apply robust optimization or stochastic optimization for uncertainty characterization, this study employs a novel interval optimization approach to capture the inherent uncertainties within the system (including the renewable energy source (RES) generation, electricity price, electrical loads, emissions factor and workloads). Subsequently, the planning model is reformulated as the interval multi‐objective optimization problem (IMOP) to minimize economic cost and carbon emission. On this basis, instead of using a conventional deterministic‐conversion approach, an interval multi‐objective optimization evolutionary algorithm based on decomposition (IMOEA/D) is proposed to solve the proposed IMOP, which is able to fully preserve the uncertainty inherent in interval‐typed information and allow to obtain an interval‐formed Pareto front for risk‐averse decision‐making. Finally, an IEEE 33‐node active distribution network is utilized for simulation and analysis to confirm the efficacy of the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antibiotic resistance crisis has seriously jeopardized public health and human safety. As one of the ways of horizontal transfer, transformation enables bacteria to acquire exogenous genes naturally. Bisphenol compounds are now widely used in plastics, food, and beverage packaging, and have become a new environmental pollutant. However, their potential relationship with the spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the environment remains largely unexplored. In this study, we aimed to assess whether the ubiquitous bisphenol S (BPS) could promote the transformation of plasmid-borne ARGs. Using plasmid pUC19 carrying the ampicillin resistance gene as an extracellular ARG and model microorganism E. coli DH5α as the recipient, we established a transformation system. Transformation assays revealed that environmentally relevant concentrations of BPS (0.1–10 μg/mL) markedly enhanced the transformation frequency of plasmid-borne ARGs into E. coli DH5α up to 2.02-fold. Fluorescent probes and transcript-level analyses suggest that BPS stimulated increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, activated the SOS response, induced membrane damage, and increased membrane fluidity, which weakened the barrier for plasmid transfer, allowing foreign DNA to be more easily absorbed. Moreover, BPS stimulates ATP supply by activating the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, which promotes flagellar motility and expands the search for foreign DNA. Overall, these findings provide important insight into the role of bisphenol compounds in facilitating the horizontal spread of ARGs and emphasize the need to monitor the residues of these environmental contaminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Breast cancer (BC) poses significant burdens on women globally. While past research suggests a potential link between bone mineral density (BMD) and BC risk, findings remain inconsistent. Our study aims to elucidate the causal relationship between BMD and BC in East Asians using bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR). Methods: Genetic association data for bone mineral density T-scores (BMD-T) and Z-scores (BMD-Z) (Sample size = 92,615) and BC from two different sources (Sample size1 = 98,283; Sample size2 = 79,550) were collected from publicly available genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with BMD-T and BMD-Z as phenotype-related instrumental variables (IVs) were used, with BC as the outcome. As the primary means of causal inference, the inverse variance weighted (IVW) approach was employed. Heterogeneity analysis was conducted using Cochran's Q test, while MR-Egger regression analysis was implemented to assess the pleiotropic effects of the IVs. Sensitivity analyses were performed using methods such as MR-Egger, weighted median, and weighted mode to analyze the robustness and reliability of the results. The MR-PRESSO method and the RadialMR were used to detect and remove outliers. The PhenoScanner V2 website was utilized to exclude confounding factors shared between BMD and BC. Besides, the Bonferroni correction was also used to adjust the significance threshold. Then, the meta-analysis method was applied to combine the MR analysis results from the two BC sources. Finally, a reverse MR analysis was conducted. Results: The results of the IVW method were consolidated through meta-analysis, revealing a positive correlation between genetically predicted BMD-T ( , , ) and BMD-Z ( , , ) with increased BC risk. The Cochran's test and MR-Egger regression suggested that neither of these causal relationships was affected by heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy. The sensitivity analyses supported the IVW results, indicating the robustness of the findings. Reverse MR analysis showed no causal relationship between BC and BMD. Conclusion: Our MR study results provide evidence for the causal relationship between BMD and BC risk in East Asian populations, suggesting that BMD screening is of great significance in detecting and preventing BC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the efficacy of neuronavigation-assisted stereotactic drilling drainage compared with that of craniotomy in the treatment of massive intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) in elderly patients. This was a randomized, controlled, blind endpoint clinical study. Elderly patients with massive ICH treated at our neurosurgery department, without the formation of brain herniation preoperatively, all underwent neurosurgical intervention. Patients were randomly assigned to two groups: the minimally invasive surgery (MIS) group, which received neuronavigation-assisted stereotactic drilling drainage, and the craniotomy haematoma removal surgery (CHRS) group. Patient characteristics, surgical anaesthesia methods, surgery duration, intraoperative bleeding volume, duration of ICU stay duration of hospital stay, complications, and modified Rankin scale (mRS) scores at 90 days posttreatment were compared between the two groups. Statistical analysis was performed on the collected data. A total of 67 patients were randomly assigned, with 33 (49.25%) in the MIS group and 34 (50.75%) in the CHRS group. Compared with the CHRS group, the MIS group had advantages, including the use of local anaesthesia, shorter surgery duration, less intraoperative bleeding, shorter ICU stay, and fewer complications (P < 0.05). The MIS group had a significantly improved patient prognosis at 90 days (mRS 0–3). However, there were no significant differences in hospital stay or 90-day survival rate between the two groups (P > 0.05). For elderly patients with massive ICH without brain herniation, stereotactic drilling drainage is a simple surgical procedure that can be performed under local anaesthesia. Patients treated with this approach seem to have better outcomes than those treated with craniotomy. In clinical practice, neuronavigation-assisted stereotactic drilling drainage is recommended for surgical treatment in elderly patients with massive ICH without brain herniation. Clinical trial registration number: NCT04686877 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound has a long history as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool. Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS), whose intensity is below 300 mW/cm2, has been widely used in orthopedic rehabilitation treatment. However, the detailed bioeffects and underlying mechanisms of LIPUS treatment need to be explored. OBJECTIVE: To make a comprehensive view of the field, bibliometric and visualization analysis was used to reveal the global research trends of LIPUS in orthopedics and rehabilitation treatment between 1994 and 2023. METHODS: All literature data on LIPUS were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database. VOSviewer and CiteSpace were applied for the bibliometric and visualization analysis. RESULTS: A total of 760 publications were included. The distribution of publications generally showed an unstable rising trend. China had the highest number of publications (28.0%), and Chong Qing Medical University was the organization with the highest number of publications (5.8%). Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology had the highest number of publications (8.8%), while BMJ-British Medical Journal had the highest impact factor among the retrieved journals. Ling Qin from the Chinese University of Hong Kong was the most active researcher. Our overlay visualization map showed that the keywords such as pain, knee osteoarthritis, apoptosis, chondrocytes, cartilage, and autophagy, which link to osteoarthritis, have becoming the new research trends and hotspots. CONCLUSION: LIPUS is a popular and increasingly important area of orthopedic rehabilitation, and collaboration of authors from different countries should be further strengthened. Predictably, clinical application of LIPUS on chronic inflammation-related diseases and regenerative medicine, and in-depth biological mechanisms are the orientations of LIPUS in orthopedic rehabilitation treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addressing the challenge of blood glucose fluctuations triggered by the ingestion of pea starch, we have adopted an eco-friendly strategy utilizing microwave irradiation to synthesize the novel pea starch–tea polyphenol complexes. These complexes exhibit high swelling capacity and low solubility, and their thermal profile with low gelatinization temperature and enthalpy indicates adaptability to various processing conditions. In vitro digestion studies showed that these complexes have a small amount of rapidly digestible starch and a large amount of resistant starch, leading to a slower digestion rate. These features are particularly advantageous for diabetics, mitigating glycemic excursions. Structurally, the pea starch–tea polyphenol complexes exhibited a B + V-shaped dense network with low crystallinity, high orderliness, and a prominent double helix content, enhancing its stability and functionality in food applications. In summary, these innovative complexes served as a robust platform for developing low glycemic index foods, catering to the nutritional needs of diabetics. It offers an environmentally sustainable approach to food processing, fostering human well-being and propelling innovation in the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advancement of urbanization and acceleration of global warming, extreme weather and climate events are becoming increasingly frequent and severe, and climate risk continues to rise. Each community is irreplaceable and important in coping with extreme climate risk and improving urban resilience. In this study, the Dongsi Community in the functional core area of Beijing was explored, and the risk assessment of high temperatures and rainstorm waterlogging was implemented at the community scale. Local navigation observations were integrated into a theoretical framework for traditional disaster risk assessment. The risk assessment indicator system for community-scale high-temperature and rainstorm waterlogging disasters was established and improved from a microscopic perspective (a total of 22 indicators were selected from the three dimensions of hazard, exposure, and vulnerability). Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology was used to integrate geographic information, meteorological, planning, municipal, socioeconomic and other multisource information layers, thus enabling more detailed spatial distribution characteristics of the hazard, exposure, vulnerability, and risk levels of community-scale high temperatures and rainstorm waterlogging to be obtained. The results revealed that the high-risk area and slightly high-risk area of high-temperature disasters accounted for 13.5% and 15.1%, respectively. The high-risk area and slightly high-risk area of rainstorm waterlogging disasters accounted for 9.8% and 31.6%, respectively. The high-risk areas common to high temperatures and waterlogging accounted for 3.9%. In general, the risk of high-temperature and rainstorm waterlogging disasters at the community scale showed obvious spatial imbalances; that is, the risk in the area around the middle section of Dongsi Santiao was the lowest, while a degree of high temperatures or rainstorm waterlogging was found in other areas. In particular, the risk of high-temperature and rainstorm waterlogging disasters along Dongsi North Street, the surrounding areas of Dongsi Liutiao, and some areas along the Dongsi Jiutiao route was relatively high. These spatial differences were affected to a greater extent by land cover (buildings, vegetation, etc.) and population density within the community. This study is a useful exploration of climate risk research for resilient community construction, and provides scientific support for the planning of climate-adaptive communities, as well as the proposal of overall adaptation goals, action frameworks, and specific planning strategies at the community level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is an economically important forage legume. As a result of the extensive and intensive cultivation of alfalfa planting and the gradual expansion of planting areas, pest occurrence has increased in frequency. Aphids are one of the main pests that threaten the growth and productivity of alfalfa. After an aphid outbreak, alfalfa yield and quality are commonly greatly reduced. At present, there are few studies on alfalfa plants infested with aphids, so it is imperative to study the regulatory mechanisms of aphid infestation tolerance in alfalfa. In this study, alfalfa plants from the variety "Wudi" were investigated, and pea aphids were selected for inoculation. The transcriptome and metabolome data were analyzed at three time points (0 d, 1 d, and 4 d), revealing 3458 differentially expressed genes and 358 differential metabolites. Trend analysis of DEGs and DAMs revealed that the former were significantly enriched in three distinct trends, whereas the latter were significantly enriched in only one. Moreover, 117 important hub genes associated with alfalfa response to aphid infestation were screened by WGCNA. By mapping DEGs and DAMs to KEGG pathways, it was found that the "phenylpropanoid biosynthesis", "flavonoid biosynthesis", and "isoflavonoid biosynthesis" pathways play an important role in alfalfa responses to aphid infestation. These results further elucidate the regulatory mechanism of alfalfa in response to aphid infestation and provide valuable information for breeding new aphid-resistant plant varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land subsidence, the loss of elevation of the earth's surface caused by natural and human-induced factors, has become a significant global concern. It poses substantial threats to urban planning, construction, and sustainable development. Monitoring and predicting regional land subsidence are particularly crucial. Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) and deep learning provide valuable insights into monitoring and predicting land subsidence. However, methods for accurate and long-term monitoring and predicting time series land subsidence still have limitations. Firstly, most models only utilize historical data and overlook the combined effects of various factors, including human activities and urbanization. Secondly, the spatiotemporal correlation of subsidence across different locations and times is underestimated. Thirdly, the nonlinearity of land subsidence is not adequately addressed. To address these challenges, this study assesses land deformation patterns from January 2018 to December 2022, using Sentinel-1 InSAR data processed through Small Baseline Subset-InSAR (SBAS-InSAR). The result shows that the annual average deformation rate ranged from -6.39 to 8.27 mm/year, with maximum cumulative subsidence and uplift of 27.62 mm and 36.62 mm, respectively. Subsequently, a GeoTemporal Transformer (GTformer) model based on the Transformer model is proposed. It captures nonlinearities and spatiotemporal correlations between land subsidence and influencing factors by generating spatiotemporal distance matrices. The results demonstrate the efficacy of the GTformer model in improving prediction accuracy by incorporating urbanization factors and constructing spatiotemporal distance matrices. Compared with traditional machine learning models, the R2 of GTformer has increased by at least 14.6%, and compared with the standard Transformer, it has increased by 4%. The predictions closely align with observed subsidence patterns, highlighting the reliability. Moreover, this study underscores the critical role of urbanization factors in land subsidence mechanisms. The GTformer model provides a novel approach that integrates multiple factors and spatiotemporal correlation to predict land subsidence. The methodology offers a valuable tool for urban planners and decision-makers to effectively manage urban development and mitigate geological disaster risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourism as a nontradable sector affects regional price indexes. However, the effect of tourism on urban housing prices has not been sufficiently studied. This study uses panel data for prefecture-level cities in China to empirically examine the effect of tourism development on urban housing prices. The findings indicate that tourism development can increase urban housing prices, and the effect mainly comes from domestic tourism. This conclusion is not only derived from the instrumental variable method considering endogenous problems but also verified by multiple robust methods including quantile regression. Meanwhile, the study innovatively identifies the mediating role of investment effect, income effect, and public service effect in the impact of tourism on urban housing prices. It further shows the heterogeneity of cities, with more significant effect of tourism on urban housing price in small- and medium-sized cities, noncentral cities, central and western cities, and nontourist cities. This study reveals the commonality and particularity of the impact of tourism development on urban housing price. It not only enriches the research on tourism economics from the perspectives of the relationship between tourism and real estate but also further enriches the relevant conclusions and theoretical mechanism of the impact of tourism on housing prices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background PREDICT is a web-based tool for forecasting breast cancer outcomes. PREDICT version 3.0 was recently released. This study aimed to validate this tool for a large population in mainland China and compare v3.0 with v2.2. Methods Women who underwent surgery for nonmetastatic primary invasive breast cancer between 2010 and 2020 from the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University were selected. Predicted and observed 5-year overall survival (OS) for both v3.0 and v2.2 were compared. Discrimination was compared using receiver-operator curves and DeLong test. Calibration was evaluated using calibration plots and chi-squared test. A difference greater than 5% was deemed clinically relevant. Results A total of 5424 patients were included, with median follow-up time of 58 months (IQR 38-89 months). Compared to v2.2, v3.0 did not show improved discriminatory accuracy for 5-year OS (AUC: 0.756 vs 0.771), same as ER-positive and ER-negative patients. However, calibration was significantly improved in v3.0, with predicted 5-year OS deviated from observed by −2.0% for the entire cohort, −2.9% for ER-positive and −0.0% for ER-negative patients, compared to −7.3%, −4.7% and −13.7% in v2.2. In v3.0, 5-year OS was underestimated by 9.0% for patients older than 75 years, and 5.8% for patients with micrometastases. Patients with distant metastases postdiagnosis was overestimated by 10.6%. Conclusions PREDICT v3.0 reliably predicts 5-year OS for the majority of Chinese patients with breast cancer. PREDICT v3.0 significantly improved the predictive accuracy for ER-negative groups. Furthermore, caution is advised when interpreting 5-year OS for patients aged over 70, those with micrometastases or metastases postdiagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the classic molecular model of nacreous layer formation, unusual acidic matrix proteins rich in aspartic acid (Asp) residues are essential for nacre nucleation due to their great affinity for binding calcium. However, the acidic matrix proteins discovered in the nacreous layer so far have been weakly acidic with a high proportion of glutamate. In the present study, several silk-like matrix proteins, including the novel matrix protein HcN57, were identified in the ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid-soluble extracts of the nacreous layer of Hyriopsis cumingii. HcN57 is a highly repetitive protein that consists of a high proportion of alanine (Ala, 34.4%), glycine (Gly, 22.5%), and serine (Ser, 11.4%). It forms poly Ala blocks, GlynX repeats, an Ala-Gly repeat, and a Ser-Ala-rich region, exhibiting significant similarity to silk proteins found in spider species. The expression of HcN57 was specifically located in the dorsal epithelial cells of the mantle pallium and mantle center. Notably, expression of HcN57 was relatively high during nacreous layer regeneration and pearl nacre deposition, suggesting HcN57 is a silk matrix protein in the nacreous layer. Importantly, HcN57 also contains a certain content of Asp residues, making it an unusual acidic matrix protein present in the nacreous layer. These Asp residues are mainly distributed in three large hydrophilic acidic regions, which showed inhibitory activity against aragonite deposition and morphological regulation of calcite in vitro. Moreover, HcN57-dsRNA injection resulted in failure of nacre nucleation in vivo. Taken together, our results show that HcN57 is a bifunctional silk protein with poly Ala blocks and Gly-rich regions that serve as space fillers within the chitinous framework to prevent crystallization at unnecessary nucleation sites and Asp-rich regions that create a calcium ion supersaturated microenvironment for nucleation in the center of nacre tablets. These observations contribute to a better understanding of the mechanism by which silk proteins regulate framework construction and nacre nucleation during nacreous layer formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the computational mechanisms that underlie the encoding and decoding of environmental stimuli is a crucial investigation in neuroscience. Central to this pursuit is the exploration of how the brain represents visual information across its hierarchical architecture. A prominent challenge resides in discerning the neural underpinnings of the processing of dynamic natural visual scenes. Although considerable research efforts have been made to characterize individual components of the visual pathway, a systematic understanding of the distinctive neural coding associated with visual stimuli, as they traverse this hierarchical landscape, remains elusive. In this study, we leverage the comprehensive Allen Visual Coding—Neuropixels dataset and utilize the capabilities of deep learning neural network models to study neural coding in response to dynamic natural visual scenes across an expansive array of brain regions. Our study reveals that our decoding model adeptly deciphers visual scenes from neural spiking patterns exhibited within each distinct brain area. A compelling observation arises from the comparative analysis of decoding performances, which manifests as a notable encoding proficiency within the visual cortex and subcortical nuclei, in contrast to a relatively reduced encoding activity within hippocampal neurons. Strikingly, our results unveil a robust correlation between our decoding metrics and well-established anatomical and functional hierarchy indexes. These findings corroborate existing knowledge in visual coding related to artificial visual stimuli and illuminate the functional role of these deeper brain regions using dynamic stimuli. Consequently, our results suggest a novel perspective on the utility of decoding neural network models as a metric for quantifying the encoding quality of dynamic natural visual scenes represented by neural responses, thereby advancing our comprehension of visual coding within the complex hierarchy of the brain. Author summary: Understanding how the brain processes visual information is a crucial area of neuroscience research. One of the main challenges is studying how the brain handles dynamic natural visual scenes. Although there has been progress in studying parts of the visual pathway, we still do not fully understand how different areas of the brain work together to process these scenes. Here we used the comprehensive Allen Visual Coding—Neuropixels dataset and advanced deep learning models to explore how the brain encodes and decodes visual information. We found that our model could accurately interpret visual scenes based on neural activity from various regions of the brain. Our findings show a strong link between our decoding results and established brain hierarchy indexes. This not only supports existing knowledge about visual coding but sheds light on the role of deeper brain regions in processing visual scenes. Our study suggests that decoding neural network models can be a valuable tool for understanding how the brain encodes visual information, providing new insights into the complex workings of the visual system in the brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decades, feature-based statistical machine learning and deep neural networks have been extensively utilized for automatic sleep stage classification (ASSC). Feature-based approaches offer clear insights into sleep characteristics and require low computational power but often fail to capture the spatial–temporal context of the data. In contrast, deep neural networks can process raw sleep signals directly and deliver superior performance. However, their overfitting, inconsistent accuracy, and computational cost were the primary drawbacks that limited their end-user acceptance. To address these challenges, we developed a novel neural network model, MLS-Net, which integrates the strengths of neural networks and feature extraction for automated sleep staging in mice. MLS-Net leverages temporal and spectral features from multimodal signals, such as EEG, EMG, and eye movements (EMs), as inputs and incorporates a bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (bi-LSTM) to effectively capture the spatial–temporal nonlinear characteristics inherent in sleep signals. Our studies demonstrate that MLS-Net achieves an overall classification accuracy of 90.4% and REM state precision of 91.1%, sensitivity of 84.7%, and an F1-Score of 87.5% in mice, outperforming other neural network and feature-based algorithms in our multimodal dataset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Antenatal depression is a significant public health issue affecting pregnant women both globally and in China. Using data from a mobile app-based screening programme, this study explored the prevalence and factors associated with antenatal depressive symptoms across different trimesters in Shenzhen. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on pregnant women who gave birth in any hospital in Shenzhen between July 2021 and May 2022 and underwent depression screening using an official maternal and infant health mobile app at least once during pregnancy. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), with cut-off scores of 5 and 10 for mild and high level of symptoms, respectively. The prevalence for each trimester was determined by calculating the proportion of women scoring 5 or higher. A variety of sociodemographic, obstetric, psychological, and lifestyle factors were assessed for their association with depressive symptoms. Chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression were performed to identify significant predictors. Results: A total of 110,584 pregnant women were included in the study, with an overall prevalence of depressive symptoms of 18.0% and a prevalence of high-level symptoms of 4.2%. Depressive symptoms were most prevalent in the first trimester (10.9%) and decreased in the second (6.2%) and third trimesters (6.3%). Only a small proportion (0.4%) of women showed persistent depressive symptoms across all trimesters. Anxiety symptoms in early pregnancy emerged as the most significant predictor of depressive symptoms. Other factors linked to an increased risk throughout pregnancy include lower marital satisfaction, living with parents-in-law, experience of negative life events, as well as drinking before and during pregnancy. Factors associated with a reduced risk throughout pregnancy include multiparity and daily physical activity. Conclusions: This large-scale study provides valuable insights into the prevalence and factors associated with antenatal depressive symptoms in Shenzhen. The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions for high-risk groups and the integration of mental health care into routine antenatal services. Continuous, dynamic monitoring of depressive symptoms for pregnant women and ensuring at-risk women receive comprehensive follow-up and appropriate psychological or psychiatric care are crucial for effectively addressing antenatal depression and improving maternal and infant health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nickel-based superalloys have been widely used in the aerospace industry, and regulating the reinforcing phases is the key to improving the high-temperature strength of the alloy. In this study, a series of aging treatments (650 °C, 750 °C, 850 °C and 950 °C for 8 h) were designed to study different thermal deformation behaviors and microstructure evolutions for a novel nickel-based superalloy. Among the aged samples, the 950 °C aged sample achieved the peak stress of ~323 MPa during the thermal deformation and the highest microhardness of ~315 HV after thermal compression, which were the greatest differences compared to before deformation. In addition, the grains of the 950 °C sample exhibit deformed fibrous shapes, and the grain orientation is isotropic, while the other samples exhibited isotropy. In the 850 °C and 950 °C high-temperature aging samples, the γ′ precipitate (about 20 nm in size) is gradually precipitated, which inhibits the movement of dislocation in the grain during compression, thus inhibiting the occurrence of dynamic recrystallization and improving the high-temperature mechanical properties of the alloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Muscle development plays a pivotal role in the growth process of chickens. Clarifying the mechanisms of muscle development holds significant scientific and economic value. In this study, transcriptome sequencing was conducted on muscle tissues from two broilers with differing growth rates, identifying Insulin–like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1) as a potential participant in chicken muscle development via bioinformatics analysis. The identified genes were further validated using overexpression and knockdown approaches. It was found that IGF2BP1 is highly expressed in chicken muscle tissues, and the experimental results indicated that IGF2BP1 expression promotes the proliferation and differentiation of chicken primary myoblasts (CPMs). These findings offer new insights into the regulation of muscle development. Muscle development is a multifaceted process influenced by numerous genes and regulatory networks. Currently, the regulatory network of chicken muscle development remains incompletely elucidated, and its molecular genetic mechanisms require further investigation. The Longsheng-Feng chicken, one of the elite local breeds in Guangxi, serves as an excellent resource for the selection and breeding of high-quality broiler chickens. In this study, we conducted transcriptome sequencing of the pectoral muscles of Longsheng-Feng chickens and AA broiler chickens with different growth rates. Through comprehensive bioinformatics analysis, we identified differentially expressed genes that affect muscle growth and showed that IGF2BP1 is a key participant in chicken muscle development. Subsequently, we employed QRT-PCR, EdU staining, and flow cytometry to further investigate the role of IGF2BP1 in the proliferation and differentiation of chicken myogenic cells. We identified 1143 differentially expressed genes, among which IGF2BP1 is intimately related to the muscle development process and is highly expressed in muscle tissues. Overexpression of IGF2BP1 significantly promotes the proliferation and differentiation of chicken primary myoblasts, while knockdown of IGF2BP1 significantly inhibits these processes. In summary, these results provide valuable preliminary insights into the regulatory roles of IGF2BP1 in chicken growth and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anomalous photovoltaic effect inherent in ferroelectric materials brings promising opportunities for self-powered photoelectric detectors. However, the photoelectric detection performances in photoferroelectrics are limited by the low photocurrent output due to the recombination and low separation ability of photogenerated carriers. This work proposes a heterogeneous integration technology for self-powered photoelectric detectors by designing a P-type/N-type/P-type (PNP) ferroelectric junction with sandwich structure, in which not only the photogenerated carrier separation is strengthened due to the enhanced polarization derived from the interface compressive stress, but also the carrier recombination is suppressed by the built-in electric field in the depletion layer. Thus, the photocurrent output in the PNP heterojunction is increased by more than seven times at 0 V bias compared with N-type ferroelectric film and exhibits excellent responsivity and detectivity. The temperature stability for repeatable time-resolved self-powered photocurrent demonstrates applicability in high temperature environments. This work provides a feasible strategy for high-performance self-powered photoelectric detectors by heterogeneous integration in photoferroelectrics, promoting ferroelectric photonic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogel coatings, with natural tissue‐like mechanical and biological compatibility, demonstrate promise for bulk material applications. However, existing coating methods lack efficiency and control, especially when dealing with complex geometries, diverse substrate materials, and varying sizes. In this study, an enzyme‐immobilized surface‐catalyzed cross‐link approach is proposed for the growth of hydrogel coatings on multiple substrates, accommodating various materials and shapes. The hydrogel coating is formed through the catalytic action of interface‐immobilized enzymes, which induce the crosslinking of hyaluronic acid, and its mechanical properties are further enhanced by introducing a secondary polyacrylamide network. This approach enables the controlled growth of conformal double network hydrogel coatings with a desired thickness on a wide range of substrate surfaces and devices. Notably, the hydrogel coating exhibits remarkable lubricity and anti‐thrombotic properties, especially desire for medical intervention devices. This advancement offers a universal route to impart biocompatible soft interfaces to bulk materials or devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monascus pigments (MPs) and monacolin K (MK) are important secondary metabolites produced by Monascus spp. This study aimed to investigate the effect of soybean protein isolate (SPI) on the biosynthesis of MPs and MK based on the analysis of physiological indicators, transcriptomes, and metabolomes. The results indicated that the growth, yellow MPs, and MK production of Monascus pilosus MS-1 were significantly enhanced by SPI, which were 8.20, 8.01, and 1.91 times higher than that of the control, respectively. The utilization of a nitrogen source, protease activity, the production and utilization of soluble protein, polypeptides, and free amino acids were also promoted by SPI. The transcriptomic analysis revealed that the genes mokA, mokB, mokC, mokD, mokE, mokI, and mokH which are involved in MK biosynthesis were significantly up-regulated by SPI. Moreover, the glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, pyruvate metabolism, fatty acid degradation, tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and amino acid metabolism were effectively up-regulated by SPI. The metabolomic analysis indicated that metabolisms of amino acid, lipid, pyruvate, TCA cycle, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, starch and sucrose, and pentose phosphate pathway were significantly disturbed by SPI. Thus, MPs and MK production promoted by SPI were mainly attributed to the increased biomass, up-regulated gene expression level, and more precursors and energies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Circular RNA (circRNA) has been found to mediate ulcerative colitis (UC) progression by regulating intestinal mucosal barrier function. However, the role of circSOD2 in UC process and its underlying molecular mechanism still need to be further elucidated. Methods: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced Caco2 cells were used to mimic UC cell models. CircSOD2, miR‐378g, and Snail1 levels were determined by quantitative real‐time PCR. Cell viability was detected using MTT assay, and inflammatory cytokine levels were measured using ELISA. The intestinal mucosal barrier function was evaluated by testing transepithelial electrical resistance and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)‐dextran permeability. Snail1 and tight junction‐related markers (Zo‐1 and Claudin2) protein levels were examined using western blot. The interaction between miR‐378g and circSOD2 or Snail1 was confirmed by dual‐luciferase reporter assay. Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) was used to induce UC rat models in vivo. Results: CircSOD2 was overexpressed in UC patients, and its knockdown significantly increased cell viability, transepithelial electrical resistance, and tight junction‐related protein expression, while reduced inflammation cytokine levels and the permeability of FITC‐dextran in LPS‐induced Caco2 cells. In terms of mechanism, circSOD2 sponged miR‐378g to positively regulate Snail1 expression. MiR‐378g inhibitor reversed the effect of circSOD2 knockdown on intestinal mucosal barrier injury and Snail1 expression in LPS‐induced Caco2 cells. In DSS‐induced UC rat models, circSOD2 knockdown also could repair the intestinal mucosal barrier injury through regulating miR‐378g/Snail1 axis. Conclusion: CircSOD2 could destroy intestinal mucosal barrier function in LPS‐induced Caco2 cells and DSS‐induced UC rats by miR‐378g/Snail1 axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes mellitus, a significant global public health challenge, severely impacts human health worldwide. The organoid, an innovative in vitro three-dimensional (3D) culture model, closely mimics tissues or organs in vivo. Insulin-secreting islet organoid, derived from stem cells induced in vitro with 3D structures, has emerged as a potential alternative for islet transplantation and as a possible disease model that mirrors the human body's in vivo environment, eliminating species difference. This technology has gained considerable attention for its potential in diabetes treatment. Despite advances, the process of stem cell differentiation into islet organoid and its cultivation demonstrates deficiencies, prompting ongoing efforts to develop more efficient differentiation protocols and 3D biomimetic materials. At present, the constructed islet organoid exhibit limitations in their composition, structure, and functionality when compared to natural islets. Consequently, further research is imperative to achieve a multi-tissue system composition and improved insulin secretion functionality in islet organoid, while addressing transplantation-related safety concerns, such as tumorigenicity, immune rejection, infection, and thrombosis. This review delves into the methodologies and strategies for constructing the islet organoid, its application in diabetes treatment, and the pivotal scientific challenges within organoid research, offering fresh perspectives for a deeper understanding of diabetes pathogenesis and the development of therapeutic interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sodium alginate, a bio-friendly and abundant precursor of biochar (BC), was employed to prepare biochar@Co catalysts (BC@Co). A series of catalysts was synthesised at different temperatures via a one-step carbothermal method with the aim of activating peroxymonosulfate (PMS) to degrade methylene blue (MB). For the BC@Co-T (T = 500–900 °C) catalysts, the degradation process of MB by PMS was consistent with the first-order reaction kinetics model, with reaction rate constants of 0.0471–0.8041 min−1. In particular, the composite prepared at 900 °C (BC@Co-9) delivered the best PMS activation performance. Using the BC@Co-9–PMS system, the effects of various factors, including the catalyst dosage, PMS concentration, and coexisting ions, on the MB degradation rate were investigated. Under the optimal conditions of 0.005 g L−1 BC@Co-9 and 0.6 mmol L−1 PMS, the degradation rate of MB reached 100% in 18 min. Quenching experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurements showed that 1O2 and ˙O2− were predominantly responsible for the degradation of MB in the BC@Co-9–PMS system. This study explored the application of sodium alginate as a recycled material and provides a feasible strategy for designing and fabricating environmentally friendly and efficient catalysts for the activation of PMS to degrade organic dyestuffs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sperm storage capacity (SSC) determines the duration of fertility in hens and is an important reproduction trait that cannot be ignored in production. Currently, the genetic mechanism of SSC is still unclear in hens. Therefore, to explore the genetic basis of SSC, we analyzed the uterus-vagina junction (UVJ) of hens with different SSC at different times after insemination by RNA-seq and Ribo-seq. Results: Our results showed that 589, 596, and 527 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), 730, 783, and 324 differentially translated genes (DTGs), and 804, 625, and 467 differential translation efficiency genes (DTEGs) were detected on the 5th, 10th, and 15th days after insemination, respectively. In transcription levels, we found that the differences of SSC at different times after insemination were mainly reflected in the transmission of information between cells, the composition of intercellular adhesion complexes, the regulation of ion channels, the regulation of cellular physiological activities, the composition of cells, and the composition of cell membranes. In translation efficiency (TE) levels, the differences of SSC were mainly related to the physiological and metabolic activities in the cell, the composition of the organelle membrane, the physiological activities of oxidation, cell components, and cell growth processes. According to pathway analysis, SSC was related to neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, histidine metabolism, and PPAR signaling pathway at the transcriptional level and glutathione metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation, calcium signaling pathway, cell adhesion molecules, galactose metabolism, and Wnt signaling pathway at the TE level. We screened candidate genes affecting SSC at transcriptional levels (COL4A4, MUC6, MCHR2, TACR1, AVPR1A, COL1A1, HK2, RB1, VIPR2, HMGCS2) and TE levels(COL4A4, MUC6, CYCS, NDUFA13, CYTB, RRM2, CAMK4, HRH2, LCT, GCK, GALT). Among them, COL4A4 and MUC6 were the key candidate genes differing in transcription, translation, and translation efficiency. Conclusions: Our study used the combined analysis of RNA-seq and Ribo-seq for the first time to investigate the SSC and reveal the physiological processes associated with SSC. The key candidate genes affecting SSC were screened, and the theoretical basis was provided for the analysis of the molecular regulation mechanism of SSC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalysis is one of the most promising pathways to relieve the environmental contamination caused by the rapid development of modern technology. In this work, we demonstrate a green manufacturing process for the 3D/3D rod-shaped bamboo charcoal/Bi2WO6 photocatalyst (210BC-BWO) by controlled carbonization temperature. A series of morphology characterization and properties investigations (XRD, SEM, UV–vis DRS, transient photocurrent response, N2 absorption-desorption isotherms) indicate a 210BC-BWO photocatalyst with higher charge separation efficiency, larger surface area, and better adsorption capacity. The excellent photocatalytic performance was evaluated by degrading rhodamine B (RhB) (98.5%), tetracycline hydrochloride (TC-HCl) (77.1%), and H2 evolution (2833 μmol·g−1·h−1) coupled with furfuryl alcohol oxidation (3097 μmol·g−1·h−1) under visible light irradiation. In addition, the possible mechanisms for degradation of organic pollutants, H2 evolution, and furfuryl alcohol oxidation were schematically investigated, which make it possible to exert photocatalysis by increasing the active radical. This study shows that the combination of bamboo charcoal and bismuth tungstate can be a powerful photocatalyst that rationally combines H2 evolution coupled with furfuryl alcohol oxidation and degradation of pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Meloidogyne incognita is one of the most widely distributed plant‐parasitic nematodes and causes severe economic losses annually. The parasite produces effector proteins that play essential roles in successful parasitism. Here, we identified one such effector named MiCE108, which is exclusively expressed within the nematode subventral esophageal gland cells and is upregulated in the early parasitic stage of M. incognita. A yeast signal sequence trap assay showed that MiCE108 contains a functional signal peptide for secretion. Virus‐induced gene silencing of MiCE108 impaired the parasitism of M. incognita in Nicotiana benthamiana. The ectopic expression of MiCE108 in Arabidopsis suppressed the deposition of callose, the generation of reactive oxygen species, and the expression of marker genes for bacterial flagellin epitope flg22‐triggered immunity, resulting in increased susceptibility to M. incognita, Botrytis cinerea, and Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst) DC3000. The MiCE108 protein physically associates with the plant defense protease RD21A and promotes its degradation via the endosomal‐dependent pathway, or 26S proteasome. Consistent with this, knockout of RD21A compromises the innate immunity of Arabidopsis and increases its susceptibility to a broad range of pathogens, including M. incognita, strongly indicating a role in defense against this nematode. Together, our data suggest that M. incognita deploys the effector MiCE108 to target Arabidopsis cysteine protease RD21A and affect its stability, thereby suppressing plant innate immunity and facilitating parasitism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In computer vision, Siamese network-based visual object tracking algorithms employ a strategy of detecting the target in the vicinity of the previous tracking result, effectively avoiding redundant computations. Nonetheless, the efficacy of such algorithms may be compromised during long-term tracking scenarios, wherein the target may resurface after a prolonged absence of the search region, leading to tracking failures or drift. This issue is particularly relevant in long-term tracking tasks, wherein target disappearance is common and can result in degraded performance. As a solution to this problem, we propose a novel visual object tracking (VOT) algorithm using a joint tracking and detection (JTD) strategy to handle target disappearance. We design a discriminator in our algorithm to judge the target disappearance and enable switching between global and local searches. The proposed algorithm was evaluated on the long-term tracking datasets(OxUvA, UAV20L, and LaSOT), and the results showed that our algorithm could solve the problem of tracking failure caused by target disappearance and improve the robustness and precision of the tracker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Internet of Things (IoT) has revolutionized connected devices, with applications in healthcare, data analytics, and smart cities. For time-sensitive applications, 5G wireless networks provide ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC) and fog computing offloads IoT processing. Integrating 5G and fog computing can address cloud computing's deficiencies, but security challenges remain, especially in Authentication and Key Agreement aspects due to the distributed and dynamic nature of fog computing. This study presents an innovative mutual Authentication and Key Agreement protocol that is specifically tailored to meet the security needs of fog computing in the context of the edge–fog–cloud three-tier architecture, enhanced by the incorporation of the 5G network. This study improves security in the edge–fog–cloud context by introducing a stateless authentication mechanism and conducting a comparative analysis of the proposed protocol with well-known alternatives, such as TLS 1.3, 5G-AKA, and various handover protocols. The suggested approach has a total transmission cost of only 1280 bits in the authentication phase, which is approximately 30% lower than other protocols. In addition, the suggested handover protocol only involves two signaling expenses. The computational cost for handover authentication for the edge user is significantly low, measuring 0.243 ms, which is under 10% of the computing costs of other authentication protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we report a coherent beam combining (CBC) system that involves two thulium-doped all-polarization maintaining (PM) fiber chirped pulse amplifiers. Through phase-locking the two channels via a fiber stretcher by using the stochastic parallel gradient descent (SPGD) algorithm, a maximum average power of 265 W is obtained, with a CBC efficiency of 81% and a residual phase error of λ/17. After de-chirping by a pair of diffraction gratings, the duration of the combined laser pulse is compressed to 690 fs. Taking into account the compression efficiency of 90% and the main peak energy proportion of 91%, the corresponding peak power is calculated to be 4 MW. The laser noise characteristics before and after CBC are examined, and the results indicate that the CBC would degrade the low frequency relative intensity noise (RIN), of which the integration is 1.74% in [100 Hz, 2 MHz] at the maximum combined output power. In addition, the effects of the nonlinear spectrum broadening during chirped pulse amplification on the CBC efficiency are also investigated, showing that a higher extent of pulse stretching is effective in alleviating the spectrum broadening and realizing a higher output power with decent combining efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fresh-cut potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) are susceptible to browning and microbial contamination during storage. In this study, the effects of trans-2-hexenal (E2H), ascorbic acid (VC), dimethyl dicarbonate (DMDC), and the combined treatment of E2H, VC, and DMDC on quality deterioration in fresh-cut potatoes were investigated. The response surface methodology (RSM) demonstrated that E2H, VC, and DMDC concentrations of 0.010%, 0.65%, and 240 mg/L, respectively, were the optimum conditions for fresh-cut potato preservation. Further analysis showed that the combined treatment of E2H, VC, and DMDC was the most effective method of reducing quality deterioration in potatoes compared to the control and individual treatments. Furthermore, the combined treatment of E2H, VC, and DMDC could decrease the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) via improving antioxidant enzyme activities. Meanwhile, energy-metabolism-related enzyme activities and glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) activity were enhanced, while γ-aminobutyric acid transaminase (GABA-T) activity was reduced via the combined treatment of E2H, VC, and DMDC, which contributed to maintaining high energy levels and GABA content in potatoes. These findings suggested that the combined treatment of E2H, VC, and DMDC could protect membrane integrity through enhancing antioxidant capacity, energy levels, and GABA content to maintain quality in fresh-cut potatoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While radiation therapy remains pivotal in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) treatment, the perplexing phenomenon of post-radiation metastasis presents a formidable clinical challenge. This study investigates the role of fibrinogen-like protein 1 (FGL1) in driving ESCC metastasis following radiation exposure. Methods: FGL1 expression in post-radiation ESCC cells was meticulously examined using qRT-PCR, western blotting, and immunofluorescence. The impact of FGL1 on ESCC cell invasion and migration was assessed through Transwell and wound healing assays. In vivo, the metastatic potential of ESCC in response to FGL1 was scrutinized using nude mice models. Comprehensive RNA sequencing and functional experiments elucidated the intricate mechanism associated with FGL1. Results: Radiation induced upregulation of FGL1 in ESCC cells through FOXO4, intensifying ESCC cell invasion and migration. Targeted knockdown of FGL1 effectively alleviated these characteristics both in vitro and in vivo. FGL1 depletion concurrently suppressed IMPDH1 expression. Rescue experiments underscored that IMPDH1 knockdown robustly reversed the pro-invasive effects induced by FGL1 in ESCC cells. ESCC tissues exhibited heightened IMPDH1 mRNA levels, demonstrating a correlation with patient survival. Conclusions: Radiation-induced upregulation of FGL1 propels ESCC metastasis through IMPDH1, proposing a potential therapeutic target to mitigate post-radiotherapy metastasis in ESCC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Head and neck cancer is the sixth most common type of cancer worldwide, wherein the immune responses are closely associated with disease occurrence, development, and prognosis. Investigation of the role of immunogenic cell death-related genes (ICDGs) in adaptive immune response activation may provide cues into the mechanism underlying the outcome of HNSCC immunotherapy. Methods: ICDGs expression patterns in HNSCC were analyzed, after which consensus clustering in HNSCC cohort conducted. A 4-gene prognostic model was constructed through LASSO and Cox regression analyses to analyze the prognostic index using the TCGA dataset, followed by validation with two GEO datasets. The distribution of immune cells and the response to immunotherapy were compared between different risk subtypes through multiple algorithms. Moreover, immunohistochemical (IHC) analyses were conducted to validate the prognostic value of HSP90AA1 as a predictor of HNSCC patient prognosis. In vitro assays were performed to further detect the effect of HSP90AA1 in the development of HNSCC. Results: A novel prognostic index based on four ICDGs was constructed and proved to be useful as an independent factor of HNSCC prognosis. The risk score derived from this model grouped patients into high- and low-risk subtypes, wherein the high-risk subtype had worse survival outcomes and poorer immunotherapy response. IHC analysis validated the applicability of HSP90AA1 as a predictor of prognosis of HNSCC patients. HSP90AA1 expression in tumor cells promotes the progression of HNSCC. Conclusions: Together, these results highlight a novel four-gene prognostic signature as a valuable tool to assess survival status and prognosis of HNSCC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]