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Addressing the formidable challenges in spatial infrared dim target detection, this paper introduces an advanced detection approach based on the refinement of the YOLOv8 algorithm. In contrast to the conventional YOLOv8, our method achieves remarkable improvements in detection accuracy through several novel strategies. Notably, by incorporating a deformable convolutional module into the YOLOv8 backbone network, our method effectively captures more intricate image features, laying a solid foundation for subsequent feature fusion and detection head predictions. Furthermore, a dedicated small target detection layer, built upon the original model, significantly enhances the model’s capability in recognizing infrared small targets, thereby boosting overall detection performance. Additionally, we utilize the WIoU-v3 as the localization regression loss function, effectively reducing sensitivity to positional errors and leveraging the advantages of multi-attention mechanisms. To enrich the quantity and quality of the spatial infrared dim target dataset, we employ image enhancement techniques to augment the original dataset. Extensive experiments demonstrate the exceptional performance of our method. Specifically, our approach achieves a precision of 95.6%, a recall rate of 94.7%, and a mean average precision (mAP) exceeding 97.4%, representing substantial improvements over the traditional YOLOv8 algorithm. Moreover, our detection speed reaches 59 frames/s, satisfying the requirements for real-time detection. This achievement not only validates the efficacy and superiority of our algorithm in spatial infrared dim target detection, but also offers novel insights and methodologies for research and applications in related fields, holding immense potential for future applications.

Abstract In cross-country skiing competitions, the choice of pacing strategy is of decisive significance to athletes' performance. A reasonable pacing strategy is essential for athletes to improve their performance. In this paper, the mathematical models of cross-country skiing simulation and pacing optimization are established, including motion model, athlete power output model, and optimization model. The actual competition data of a Chinese athlete in Guyangshu 1.5 km track was compared with the model simulation results. The whole process time error is less than 3%, which verifies the accuracy of the motion and power output model. Gauss pseudo-spectral method is applied to the optimization model. By changing the distribution of athletes' power output, the racing time is minimized under the condition that the total energy output remains unchanged. Compared with the pacing strategy before optimization, the optimized racing time was shortened by 12.6 s, which verifies the effectiveness of the optimization model. Optimized results show that in the first significant uphill section, a recommendation is to use a more conservative strategy, while in the latter half of uphill sections the power output should be increased.

ObjectiveTo determine the pathogen and phylogenetic characteristics of an uncommon outbreak of recombinant norovirus infection in Daishan County in February 2022.MethodsFluorescence quantitative PCR was used to detect the norovirus in the eight anal swabs collected in the outbreak. In the positive samples， reverse transcription PCR were used to amplify the norovirus. Norovirus sequences were characterized by MEGA7 and Simplot.ResultsNorovirus GⅠ was identified in all eight anal samples. It was further determined to be recombinant norovirus GⅠ.6 ［P11］， with the recombination site at the ORF1-ORF2 junction. The sequence had the highest nucleotide identity （98.75%） to a GⅠ.6［P11］ strain collected in 2018 （GenBank accession number MT357995）.ConclusionAccording to the etiological identification and phylogenetic analysis， this outbreak is confirmed to be caused by the uncommon recombinant norovirus GⅠ.6 ［P11］ in China.

This paper discusses consensus control of nonlinear coupled parabolic PDE-ODE-based multi-agent systems (PDE-ODEMASs). First, a consensus controller of leaderless PDE-ODEMASs is designed. Based on a Lyapunov-based approach, coupling strengths are obtained for leaderless PDE-ODEMASs to achieve leaderless consensus. Furthermore, a consensus controller in the leader-following PDE-ODEMAS is designed and the corresponding coupling strengths are obtained to ensure the leader-following consensus. Two examples show the effectiveness of the proposed methods.

Using the largest semi-autogenous grinding mill in China as a model, collision energy was analyzed on the basis of the multi-layer kinematics of the steel balls. First, the kinematic equation of the steel balls was obtained by considering the multi-layer characteristics of the steel balls. Second, the collision energy of the inner-layer steel balls was addressed according to its kinematic characteristics. Finally, the total collision energy per unit time was obtained. Results show that the leaving angle decreases as the mill speed ratio increases and as the radius ratio increases, but the leaving velocity increases linearly. Moreover, a discontinuity point of the tangential collision velocity occurs at an angle factor β = 0, and the angle factor β is divided into two intervals: [−3, 0] and [0, 1.5]. The leaving angles corresponding to a tangential velocity equal to zero are calculated to be 1.185 and 0.7854 rad in the two intervals. In addition, the sum collision velocity increases when β is less than zero, but it decreases sharply above zero. The maximum total collision energy per unit time occurs at 84.2% of the mill speed corresponding to the optimal mill speed ratio.

We present a design for a two-dimensional omnidirectional acoustic absorber that can achieve 98.6% absorption of acoustic waves in water, forming an effective acoustic black hole. This artificial black hole consists of an absorptive core coated with layers of periodically distributed polymer cylinders embedded in water. Effective medium theory describes the response of the coating layers to the acoustic waves. The polymer parameters can be adjusted, allowing practical fabrication of the absorber. Since the proposed structure does not rely on resonances, it is applicable to broad bandwidths. The design might be extended to a variety of applications.

Recent explorations of topology in physical systems have led to a new paradigm of condensed matters characterized by topologically protected states and phase transition, for example, topologically protected photonic crystals enabled by magneto-optical effects. However, in other wave systems such as acoustics, topological states cannot be simply reproduced due to the absence of similar magnetics-related sound–matter interactions in naturally available materials. Here, we propose an acoustic topological structure by creating an effective gauge magnetic field for sound using circularly flowing air in the designed acoustic ring resonators. The created gauge magnetic field breaks the time-reversal symmetry, and therefore topological properties can be designed to be nontrivial with non-zero Chern numbers and thus to enable a topological sonic crystal, in which the topologically protected acoustic edge-state transport is observed, featuring robust one-way propagation characteristics against a variety of topological defects and impurities. Our results open a new venue to non-magnetic topological structures and promise a unique approach to effective manipulation of acoustic interfacial transport at will.

We design a structure to realize Rabi splitting and Rabi oscillation in acoustics. We develop rigorous analytical models to analyze the splitting effect from the aspect of phase matching, and from the aspect of mode coupling using a coupled mode model. In this model, we discover that the splitting effect is caused by the coupling of the Fabry–Perot fundamental mode with the resonant mode of an artificial acoustic ‘atom’. We then extract the coupling strength and analyze the impact of structural parameters on it. In addition, we demonstrate Rabi oscillation in the time domain. Such quantum phenomena in the classical regime may have potential applications in the design of novel ultrasonic devices.

The three large irrigation schemes, namely Bojili, Xiaokaihe and Handun irrigation scheme, in Binzhou City of Shandong Province include in the pilot list of digital twin irrigation schemes by the Ministry of Water Resoucres. This paper systemically introduced the overall design structure of digital twin irrigation scheme for the three large irrigation schemes, as well as the construction components and technical approaches for the digital twin irrigation development in the three irrigation schemes, including, data base, vertical monitoring system, canal automation, models, support system and management platform, etc. The construction of the digital twin irrigation schemes in the three large irrigation schemes in Binzhou City is based on the existing information system. The total investment has reach more than 42.8 million RMB Yuan, and the major part of the pilot project has completed and put into use successfully and received good application results. The application of water schedule model could reduce planning time by 60% and saving water by 6%, and canal automation could save labor by 40%. With the further development, updating and application of the digital twin irrigation technology in the three large irrigation schemes, irrigation water management can be further improved by increasing digital, intelligent and precise management, which will contribute to high quality and sustainable development of irrigation schemes.

【Objective】 Optimizing water distribution in canal-irrigation districts is a prerequisite to improve irrigation water use efficiency. This paper proposes an optimization method to distribute water in two-level canal-irrigation systems. 【Method】 The method was based on water supply to irrigation districts; it optimizes volume of water distribution, water distribution flow rate and time for each water use unit. We considered two scenarios. The first one was insufficient irrigation where water supply cannot meet water demand during the growing season of crops, in which the model calculated the allocated water for each water user first using water resource allocation coefficient, and then determined the water distribution using the optimal distribution model. The second was sufficient irrigation where water supply meets water demand; we first ranked the priority of the water distribution to each user, and then determined the volume of optimal water flow and timing. The objective of the optimization in both scenarios was to maximize water flow rate and expedite water distribution. The model was applied to the Bojili Irrigation District. 【Result】 The model can optimally allocate and distribute water across the canal system. When water supply is ample, the model can optimally determine water distribution sequence based on the allocation coefficient. When water is scarce, the model can optimally allocate water to each user based on the distribution coefficient. In both scenarios, water distribution flow rate in the main and branched canals exceed 80% and 75% of the maximum flow limits in the first and second scenarios, respectively. The water distribution period for the first and second scenarios is 10.90 and 17.84 days, respectively. 【Conclusion】 The model we developed is effective and provides an improved water allocation method for water management in irrigation districts.

Abstract Background Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a progressive age‐related disorder characterized by the reduction in the number of nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) and degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM), thereby leading to chronic pain and disability. The pathogenesis of IDD is multifaceted, and current therapeutic strategies remain limited. The nucleus pulposus (NP), primarily composed of NPCs, proteoglycans, and type II collagen, constitutes essential components for maintaining intervertebral disc (IVD) function and spinal motion. The disturbed homeostasis of NPCs is closely associated with IDD. Accumulating evidence increasingly suggests the crucial role of programmed cell death (PCD) in regulating the homeostasis of NPCs. Aims This review aimed to elucidate various forms of PCD and their respective roles in IDD, and investigate diverse strategies targeting the cell death of NPCs for IDD treatment. Materials & Methods We collected the relevant literature regarding PCD and their roles in the development of IDD. Subsequently, we comprehensively summarized the intricate association between PCD and IDD, and also explored the potential and application of cell therapy and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the prevention and treatment of IDD. Results Current literature indicated that the PCD of NPCs was closely associated with the pathogenesis of IDD. Additionally, the development of targeted pharmaceuticals based on the mechanisms of PCD could effectively impede the loss of NPCs. Conclusion This review demonstrated that targeting the PCD of NPCs may be a promising strategy for the treatment of IDD.

We developed a contemporary cardioprotective medication using silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) loaded with Spinacia oleracea to treat isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial infarction in mice, focusing on the PPAR-γ/NF-κB pathway. The physicochemical techniques, such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray analysis, were employed to characterize the AgNPs. In the in vivo experiment, myocardial infarction was induced in mice by administering ISO subcutaneously at a dose of 40 mg/kg every 12 h for a total of three times. The mice were divided into five groups in a random manner: (1 and 2) ISO + AgNPs at varying doses (10 and 20 μg/mL) and time points; (3) ISO; and (4) control. Following the treatment, cardiac function was assessed through electrocardiogram, as well as biochemical and histochemical analyses. In the study, we examined the inflammatory reactions and cell death in human coronary artery endothelial cells exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The PPAR-γ/NF-κB activation by LPS and the resulting cytokine production were checked using real-time PCR and western blot techniques. The typical ST segment depression in myocardial infarction mice is significantly inhibited by the administration of AgNPs. Additionally, the treatment with AgNPs leads to a significant improvement in ventricular wall infarction, a decrease in mortality rate, and inhibition of myocardial injury marker levels. Furthermore, the application of AgNPs resulted in a decrease in the inflammatory environment within the hearts of mice with myocardial infarction. This effectively prevented the increase in TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. The gene expression normalization of PPAR-γ/NF-κB/IκB-α/IKKα/β and PPAR-γ phosphorylation could potentially be linked to the advantageous impacts of AgNPs. In the context of an in vitro experiment, the administration of AgNPs demonstrated a notable decrease in cell death and inflammation cytokines expression inhibition. The myocardial infarction mice in the pre + post-ISO group appear to experience more noticeable cardioprotective effects from the treatment with AgNPs than those in the post-ISO group. Our research findings demonstrate that AgNPs possess cardioprotective efficacies in ISO-induced myocardial infarction. This beneficial effect may be attributed to the PPAR-γ activation and the NF-κB signaling inhibition. Consequently, our study presents a novel remedial approach for myocardial infarction treatment in clinical settings.

Abstract Background Malassezia restricta, a lipophilic and lipodependent yeast belonging to the basidiomycetes group, is an opportunistic fungal pathogen associated with various skin diseases, including seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff. Typically, Malassezia infection in neonates manifests as fungemia or hematogenous dissemination to the bone or lungs. However, vertebral osteomyelitis caused by these fungi is rarely reported owing to non-specific clinical presentations and laboratory/imaging findings. The Pathogen Metagenomics Sequencing (PMseq) technique enables direct high-throughput sequencing of infected specimens, facilitating the rapid and accurate detection of all microorganisms in clinical samples through comprehensive reports. Case presentation A 52-year-old male was admitted to our hospital on July 20, 2022 with a 3-month history of ambulatory difficulties and localized low back pain. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) examination of the spinal column revealed irregular bone destruction affecting the L2, L3, and L5 vertebral bodies. Additionally, low T1 and high T2 intensity lesions were observed at the intervertebral discs between L3 and L5. The presumptive diagnosis of tuberculous spondylitis was made based on the imaging findings, despite negative results in all mycobacterium tests. However, the patient exhibited no improvement after receiving regular anti-tuberculosis treatment for 3 months. Subsequent MRI revealed an expansive abnormal signal within the vertebral body, leading to progressive bone destruction. The absence of spinal tuberculosis or other infective microorganisms was confirmed through culture from blood and pathological tissue from the L4 vertebral body. Subsequently, PMseq was performed on the specimens, revealing M. restricta as the predominant pathogen with the highest relative abundance value. The pathological examination revealed the presence of fungal mycelium in the L4 vertebral body, with positive findings on periodic Schiff-methenamine and periodic acid-Schiff staining. The anti-tuberculosis treatment was discontinued, and an antifungal combination of fluconazole and voriconazole was administered. All symptoms were resolved after 7 consecutive months of treatment, and the patient was able to ambulate autonomously. Vertebral lesions were reduced on MRI during the 13-month follow-up. Conclusions M. restricta is not a commonly recognized pathogen associated with infectious vertebral osteomyelitis. However, PMseq can aid in diagnosis, timely treatment, and decision making for some non-specific infectious diseases.

ObjectiveTo investigate the trends and significant determinants of delayed HIV diagnosis （DHD） among newly reported HIV/AIDS cases in Xuhui District， Shanghai between 2018 and 2022.MethodsIn the newly reported HIV/AIDS cases， patients died within one year without accident， HIV/AIDS cases with CD4 cell count

Maintaining stable temperatures is crucial for civilization, but it typically requires substantial energy consumption, contributing to significant carbon footprints. Despite advancements in passive heating/cooling technologies, achieving purely passive temperature regulation in volatile environments remains a challenge due to the temporal mismatch between heating/cooling demand and passive power supply. Here, we demonstrate a passive temperature regulator that balances the power demand and supply through a tailored sandwich structure, integrating the functionalities of harvesting, storage, and release of passive solar heat and space coldness. Outdoor experiments demonstrate that the regulator maintains a target temperature for 96% (71%) of the testing period in winter (summer). Compared to conventional solar absorbers (radiative coolers), the regulator saves 56% (30%) of energy across 31 cities worldwide in achieving stable temperatures. The regulator represents an important advancement in passive temperature regulation with minimized carbon footprint and shows attractive prospects both on Earth and in outer space.

ObjectiveTo investigate the interventional effect of acupuncture at Baihui (GV 20) and Qubin (GB 7) acupoints on the expression of recombinant cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in rats with acute cerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and to explore the mechanism of acupuncture treatment for ICH.MethodsA total of 144 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham operation group, model group, acupuncture group and inhibitor group, with 36 cases in each group, and then each group was divided into three subgroups at the 1st, 3rd and 7th day, with 12 cases in each subgroup. The stereotaxic autologous blood injection method was used to establish a rat model of ICH. The model group only received ICH model preparation without any treatment. The sham operation group received various operations similar to the model group, but without blood injection. The inhibitor group received an intraperitoneal injection of the TLR4 inhibitor TAK242 at 6 hours after modeling, and the dose was 3 mg/kg, once daily for 5 days. At 12 hours after model establishment, all subgroups of the acupuncture group received penetrative needling at Baihui (GV 20) and Qubin (GV 25) acupoints. The needle was retained at a depth of 20 mm and twisted at a frequency of 100 r/min for three sessions of 2 min each at an interval of 5 min during the 30-min needle retention period. Acupuncture was given once a day and lasted for 1, 3, and 7 days in the three acupuncture subgroups, respectively. At the 1st, 3rd and 7th day after treatment, modified neurological severity score (mNSS) was used to assess neurological function. The volume of hematoma in brain tissue was detected. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression level of CD36 and TLR4 in brain tissue. Immunofluorescence method was used to detect the expression of CD36 and TLR4 in astrocytes.Results(1) mNSS score: compared with the sham operation group at the same time, mNSS score of the model group, the acupuncture group and the inhibitor group at 1, 3, 7 days after treatment increased significantly (PPPPPPPPPPP

[Objective] Ammonia is acknowledged as an efficient hydrogen storage medium, having the potential of being a substitute for fossil fuels in achieving the vision of a “carbon-free future”. Due to its stable liquid-state attributes in storage and transport, establishing a transmission system integrating green ammonia and product oil using in-service product oil pipelines is of important significance for fostering a green ammonia industry chain. [Methods] This paper began with a comprehensive introduction to background information,including the production capacity distribution of green ammonia in China, the pros and cons of different transportation modes, and the potentiality of integrating liquid ammonia transmission into in-service product oil pipelines. Then the adaptability of the system in integrating liquid ammonia transmission was analyzed from six dimensions: properties of transmission mediums, long-distance pipeline structure, pipes and equipment, pipeline transmission technology, hydraulic calculation method, and safety considerations related to operational pressure and fow rates. Considering the coupling characteristics of green ammonia and product oil during transportation, a conceptual plan was outlined for establishing green ammonia and product oil integrated transmission systems based on the supply and demand patterns of “westeast ammonia transmission” and “north-south ammonia transmission”. [Results] As the production capacity of green ammonia continuously expands, pipelines have emerged as the preferred mode for long-distance transportation. Moreover, given the underutilized transmission capacity of existing product oil pipelines, notable potential exists in integrating liquid ammonia transmission into these pipelines to enhance economic benefits. Theoretically, current product oil pipelines bear striking resemblance to existing long-distance liquid ammonia pipeline systems, so they are capable of meeting specific requirements for liquid ammonia transport when offered with technological or equipment upgrades. Therefore, under the premise of implementing rational pressure and flow rate control strategies, the system integrating liquid ammonia transmission into operational product oil pipelines exhibits robust adaptability, necessitating further experimental validation of their feasibility. This paper envisioned the potential of these integrated systems across four key aspects: planning for green ammonia and product oil integrated transmission systems, optimization through collaboration of multiple transportation modes, defining operational boundaries for liquid ammonia pipeline transmission, and optimization of pipeline transmission batches. [Conclusion] The study outcomes can serve as a valuable reference for promoting the healthy development of the green ammonia industry and enhancing the safety and economic efficiency of green ammonia and product oil integrated transmission systems.

AIM: To explore the relationship of miR-126 and miR-325 in serum and vitreous with the severity of proliferative vitreoretinopathy(PVR).METHODS: A total of 100 cases(100 eyes)with PVR who were treated in our hospital from October 2019 to October 2022 were selected and retrospectively studied. They were divided into a mild group(42 eyes)and a severe group(58 eyes)according to the degree of retinopathy, and another 30 cases(30 eyes)that underwent vitrectomy without retinopathy due to eye trauma in our hospital during the same period were selected as the control group. Fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to detect the expression levels of miR-126 and miR-325 in serum and vitreous; ELISA was used to detect the levels of transforming growth factor β(TGF-β), platelet-derived growth factor(PDGF), vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), and tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α)in serum and vitreous; and Pearson's method was used to analyze the correlation between the serum and vitreous levels of miR-126 and miR-325 correlated with the levels of TGF-β, PDGF, VEGF, and TNF-α; Logistic multifactorial analysis was used to analyze the influencing factors for the occurrence of severe PVR.RESULTS: Compared with the control group, miR-126 levels in serum and vitreous of PVR patients were decreased and lower in the severe PVR group than in the mild PVR group(both P

Coherent scattering is the theoretical basis of X-ray diffraction, which is widely used in the field of materials. A functional module to calculate the nondestructive testing of photon-atomic and photon-molecular coherent scattering cross sections is developed in the nuclear data processing code NECP-Atlas. The photon-atomic coherent scattering cross section is processed in NECP-Atlas with the same method as that of NJOY2016. In practice, photon interacts with materials which usually consist of numerous polyatomic molecules. Therefore, the photon-molecular coherent scattering cross sections should be calculated instead of photon-atomic coherent scattering cross sections to acquire more accurate simulated results. First, the independent atom model (IAM) was implemented to calculate the photon-molecular coherent scattering cross sections with the assumption that the atom was isolated. This approximation works well when the momentum transfer of incident photons is large. At small momentum transfer, the interference effects of various atoms cannot be ignored. Then, the molecular interference model was introduced to consider the influence on angular distribution of secondary photons due to the interference effects. The molecular interference functions of water and ethanol were simulated using molecular dynamics simulation, and then applied in the ACE library. The atomic form factors of the atoms in water and ethanol molecules were modified by the molecular interference function. To quantify the influence of molecular interference effects on angular distribution of secondary photons, an imaging system was simulated. Numerical results show that the molecular interference effects have a significantly influence on the angular distribution of photons at small momentum transfer, while at large momentum transfer, the molecular interference effects can be ignored.

Improving both the magnetic properties and strength of non-oriented electrical steel used in driving motors of new energy vehicles is a great challenge. In this study, a 4.5 wt% Si non-oriented electrical steel that had a strong {114} texture and exhibited excellent magnetic and high strength, was produced via hot rolling, cold rolling and annealing. The texture evolution of hot-rolled plate with strong Goss and medium strength λ-fiber ({100}) was investigated in detail during rolling and annealing. The VPSC model was used to simulate the texture evolution during the rolling process, of which the neff model could satisfactorily explain the classical rotation route of Goss and Cube. At the initial stage of recrystallization, the orientation of the recrystallized grains, characterized by electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), was closely related to the orientation of the hot-rolled plate and rotation path during the rolling process. This clear evidence indicated that the initial recrystallized grains were oriented nucleation. During the recrystallization process, the characterization of specific orientations by quasi-in-situ EBSD revealed that the unusual {114} was formed by an oriented growth mechanism. Texture evolution during the recrystallization indicated oriented nucleation as an inherent property responsible for the initial recrystallization texture, while oriented growth was influenced by deformed grain size and grain boundary characteristics.

Efficient methods for optimizing and coordinating the primary distribution of petroleum products are crucial for enhancing transportation efficiency and reducing operational costs. This paper provides an analysis and summary of current domestic and international research and methodologies, focusing on the distribution system for refined oil in China, from two perspectives: optimization and coordination. Regarding strategic optimization of the primary distribution of refined oil, problems exist such as uneven resource distribution and unbalanced supply and demand, necessitating further research. Current optimization methods primarily rely on mathematical programming, with some studies incorporating heuristic methods or machine learning algorithms to address problems that come in large-scale. Approaches such as linear weighted sum and ε-constraint methods have demonstrated success in addressing multiobjective programming problems and facilitating enhanced collaboration among multiple operating entities along the primary distribution.Additionally, incorporating stochastic planning and robust optimization techniques can mitigate the impact of uncertainty. In terms of coordinating the primary distribution of refined oil, China is in a qualitative analysis phase. Research on coordination methods has transitioned from single contracts to multiple contracts, encompassing operations within and between enterprises. The findings of this study serve as a reference for further exploration of optimization and coordination methods in the primary distribution of refined oil. They can also facilitate the practical application of theoretical models, the development of multi-agent centralized decision-making mechanisms, and the establishment of profit-sharing coordination mechanisms.

Abstract Cloud Computing plays a pivotal role in facilitating the Internet of Things (IoT) and its diverse applications. Users frequently access and store data on remote servers in Cloud Computing environments through web browsers. Consequently, attackers may exploit vulnerabilities in web browsing to embed malicious code into web pages, enabling them to launch attacks on remote servers in Cloud Computing environments. Due to its complexity, prevalence, and significant impact, XSS has consistently been recognized as one of the top ten web security vulnerabilities by OWASP. The existing XSS detection technology requires optimization: manual feature extraction is time-consuming and heavily reliant on domain knowledge, while the current confusion technology and complex code logic contribute to a decline in the identification of XSS attacks. This paper proposes a character-level bidirectional long-term and short-term memory network model based on a multi-attention mechanism. The bidirectional long-term and short-term memory network ensures the association of current features with preceding and subsequent text, while the multi-attention mechanism extracts additional features from different feature subspaces to enhance the understanding of text semantics. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed model for XSS detection, with an F1 score of 98.71%.

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a malignant tumor originating from mesenchymal tissue. Pulmonary metastasis is usually present upon initial diagnosis, and metastasis is the primary factor affecting the poor prognosis of patients with OS. Current research shows that the ability to regulate the cellular microenvironment is essential for preventing the distant metastasis of OS, and anoxic microenvironments are important features of solid tumors. During hypoxia, hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) expression levels and stability increase. Increased HIF-1α promotes tumor vascular remodeling, epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT), and OS cells invasiveness; this leads to distant metastasis of OS cells. HIF-1α plays an essential role in the mechanisms of OS metastasis. In order to develop precise prognostic indicators and potential therapeutic targets for OS treatment, this review examines the molecular mechanisms of HIF-1α in the distant metastasis of OS cells; the signal transduction pathways mediated by HIF-1α are also discussed.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a highly prevalent age-related musculoskeletal disorder that typically results in chronic pain and disability. OA is a multifactorial disease, with increased oxidative stress, dysregulated inflammatory response, and impaired matrix metabolism contributing to its onset and progression. The neurohormone melatonin, primarily synthesized by the pineal gland, has emerged as a promising therapeutic agent for OA due to its potential to alleviate inflammation, oxidative stress, and chondrocyte death with minimal adverse effects. The present review provides a comprehensive summary of the current understanding regarding melatonin as a promising pharmaceutical agent for the treatment of OA, along with an exploration of various delivery systems that can be utilized for melatonin administration. These findings may provide novel therapeutic strategies and targets for inhibiting the advancement of OA.

【Objective】 Optimization of water distribution in irrigation districts is a way to improve water use efficiency and water resource management. This paper proposes a method to optimize water distribution in irrigation canals. 【Method】 The flow rate in the canals at the lower end and the number of rotational groups are taken as the decision variables. The objectives of the optimization are to minimize the total water distribution duration, the distance between the upstream and downstream canals in the same group, and the difference in water distribution duration in each canal in the same rotational group. The optimization considers the constraints of time, outlet state, canal overflow capacity, and water balance. The model is applied to the Shipi East branch canal in Bojili irrigation regions, and the optimization is solved using the NSGA-II algorithm by dividing the lower-end canals into nine rotation irrigation groups. 【Result】 Dividing the adjacent canals into one round grouting group as possible as it could, and opening and closing them simultaneously to facilitate the management, the water distribution flow rate and total water distribution time calculated by the model meet the operational requirements. 【Conclusion】 The optimization model proposed in this paper can distribute water between canals to achieve high flow rate, short duration and less workload. It can be used to help improve water management in irrigation districts.

Objective: This study aimed to control the degree of crosslinking and etherification in the preparation process of crosslinked hydroxypropyl starch and improve the product performance. Methods: Waxy corn starch was used as a raw material to prepare the composite modified starch （hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate, HDP） under alkaline conditions, during which process sodium trimetaphosphate （STMP） and propylene oxide （PO） was used as the cross-linker and etherifying agent, respectively. The effects of the addition level of STMP and PO on the properties of the Brabender viscosity behavior, transparency and freeze-thaw stability of waxy corn starch were investigated. Results: Combined with the preliminary laboratory exploration and the optimization of this study, a HDP with improved thermal stability, transparency and freeze-thaw stability and lowered gelatinization temperature was obtained. The preparation conditions of HDP were as follows: in the case that the amount of sodium trimetaphosphate was 0.30 g/100 g and cross-linking reaction time was 45 minutes, and the amount of propylene oxide added was 6 mL/100 g and the etherification time was 90 minutes. Conclusion: Compared to raw waxy corn starch, the cross-linked and etherified starches with decreased gelatinization temperature and improved freeze-thaw stability, thermal stability and gelling properties are observed.

Objective: The mechanisms of chondrocytes ferroptosis in osteoarthritis (OA) have not yet been fully elucidated. This study aimed to identify key ferroptosis related genes (FRGs) involved in chondrocytes ferroptosis. Methods: LASSO, SVM-RFE, and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) were performed to screen key differentially expressed FRGs (DEFRGs). Functional analyses were conducted using GO, and KEGG analyses. Unsupervised clustering analysis was used to identify ferroptosis related patterns. The CeRNA network was constructed to predict the upstream miRNAs and lncRNAs. Finally, we validated the role of EGFR in chondrocytes ferroptosis using in vivo and in vitro experiments. Results: A total of 42 DEFRGs were identified between OA and normal cartilages. GO and KEGG analyses indicated that these DEFRGs were significantly engaged in ferroptosis related biological processes and pathways, such as cellular response to oxidative stress, positive regulation of programmed cell death, MAPK and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways. Moreover, four key DEFRGs, including ACSF2, AURKA, EGFR, and KLHL24, were considered as potential biomarkers of OA. Moreover, two distinct ferroptosis related patterns were determined, and a total of 882 differentially expressed genes were identified which might participate in extracellular matrix degradation and inflammatory response. In addition, the CeRNA network showed that EGFR could be competitively regulated by 3 lncRNAs and 4 miRNAs. Significantly, the expression of EGFR was downregulated in human OA cartilages, OA mouse model, and erastin induced chondrocytes. EGFR inhibition could induce the occurrence of chondrocytes ferroptosis and ECM degradation which could be reversed by the addition of Ferrostatin-1. Conclusion: Our study has identified ACSF2, AURKA, EGFR, and KLHL24 as ferroptosis-related biomarkers in OA. Furthermore, we have conducted a preliminary investigation into the role of EGFR in regulating chondrocytes ferroptosis. These findings offer novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying OA.

The cylinder linear induction motor (CLIM) is a variation of the rotary induction motor. Its structure is simple, it has a low manufacturing cost, and it can generate linear thrust without the need for a conversion mechanism. It is particularly suitable for electromagnetic catapults, magnetic levitation transport, and industrial production fields, due to its strong environmental adaptability. Designing a high-thrust and high-efficiency CLIM is a great challenge due to its inherent drawbacks, such as the low thrust density and power density of induction motors. In this article, two CLIMs with different topologies are proposed to meet the demand for control-rod drives in high-temperature and high-pressure environments. The article elucidates the topologies of the two CLIMs and proposes an analytical computational approach for the CLIM. Modern optimization algorithms were utilized to optimize the design of the structural parameters of both CLIMs. A 3D-FEA simulation was used to compare and analyze the air-gap magnetism and thrust characteristics of two CLIMs. The results indicate that the copper-ring secondary CLIM has a higher thrust density and is more suitable for use in control-rod drive mechanism (CRDM) systems.

The synergistic effects on the 0.18 µm PPD CISs induced by neutron displacement damage and gamma ionization damage are investigated. The typical characterizations of the CISs induced by the neutron displacement damage and gamma ionization damage are presented separately. The CISs are irradiated by reactor neutron beams up to 1 × 1011 n/cm2 (1 MeV neutron equivalent fluence) and 60Co γ-rays up to the total ionizing dose level of 200 krad(Si) with different sequential order. The experimental results show that the mean dark signal increase in the CISs induced by reactor neutron radiation has not been influenced by previous 60Co γ-ray radiation. However, the mean dark signal increase in the CISs induced by 60Co γ-ray radiation has been remarkably influenced by previous reactor neutron radiation. The synergistic effects on the PPD CISs are discussed by combining the experimental results and the TCAD simulation results of radiation damage.

Colorectal cancer stem cells are undifferentiated tumorigenic cells with malignant phenotypic characteristics in colorectal cancer and considered as the main cause of tumor recurrence, drug resistance, and metastasis through self-renewal and differentiated cloning. Colorectal cancer stem cells and various components in the tumor microenvironment are interdependent and influence one another. The relationship between tumor stem cells and other components in the tumor microenvironment may play an important role in the treatment of colorectal cancer. This review summarizes this relationship.

ObjectiveTo explore the changing trend of negative predictive value and number of false negatives in screening tests under the condition of low infection rate of infectious diseases.MethodsAssuming that the population is 20 million， to calculate the negative predictive value， numbers of true negatives and false negatives of the combination of different sensitivity （75.0%， 80.0%， 85.0%， 90.0%， 95.0%， 99.0%） and specificity （90.0%， 95.0%， 99.0%， 99.9%） when the disease infection rate of the population is 0.10%， 1.0% and 5.0% respectively.ResultsWhen the population infection rate is 0.1%， with the screening test sensitivity ≥75.0% and specificity ≥90.0%， the number of true negatives in 20 million people is about 17.98‒19.96 million. When the sensitivity is 75.0%， the negative predictive value is 99.972%‒99.975%， and the number of false negatives is 5 000； When the sensitivity increases to 99.0%， the negative predictive value is 99.999%， and the number of false negatives decreases to 200. When the population infection rate is 1.0%， a screening test with sensitivity ≥75.0% and specificity ≥90.0% can detect about 17.82‒19.78 million true negatives in 20 million population. When the sensitivity is 75.0%， the negative predictive value is 99.720%‒99.748%， and the number of false negatives is 50 000； When the sensitivity increases to 99.0%， the negative predictive value increases to 99.990%， and the number of false negatives decreases to 2 000. When the population infection rate is 5.0%， with sensitivity ≥75.0% and specificity ≥90.0%， the number of true negatives in 20 million people is about 17.10‒18.98 million； when the sensitivity is 75.0%， the negative predictive value is 98.559%‒98.700%， and the number of false negatives can reach 250 000； When the sensitivity is 99.0%， the negative predictive value increases to 99.942%‒99.947%， and the number of false negatives decreases to 10 000. The lower the infection rate of the population， the fewer false negatives will appear in the screening.ConclusionThe number of false negatives in large-scale screenings increases exponentially with the increase of infection rate. Screenings should be carried out as early as possible in a pandemic of infectious diseases， so as to control the spread of the pandemic as soon as possible.

ObjectiveTo explore the positive predictive value （PPV） and false positive （FP） number of screening test in mass testing when the prevalence of infection is low.MethodsAssuming a population of 20 million with the prevalence of disease infection ranging from 0.1% to 5.0%， PPV， true positive （TP） and FP numbers were calculated under different scenarios of combination of sensitivity （99.0%， 99.5%， and 100.0%） with specificity （97.0%， 97.5%， 98.0%， 98.5%， 99.0%， 99.5%， and 99.9%）.ResultsFor low infection prevalence （≤5.0%）， specificity has a greater impact on PPV than sensitivity； with the decrease of infection prevalence， the increase in PPV elevates when the specificity increases. When the infection prevalence is >1.0%， the closer the specificity is to 99.9%， the closer the PPV is to 100.0%. However， when the infection prevalence is

Achieving a pre-designed scattering pattern from an ultra-compact platform is highly desired for on-chip integration optics, but conventional techniques suffer from the limitations of bulky size, wavelength-scale modulation and low efficiency. Here, we propose a new strategy to efficiently generate arbitrary spin-polarized scattering far-field patterns from surface-wave (SW) excitations on a designer Pancharatnam–Berry (PB) metasurface. We find that a PB meta-atom serves as a subwavelength scatter to decouple impinging SW to a spin-polarized propagating wave (PW) with tailored amplitude and phase, and thus interference among PWs generated by scatterings at different PB meta-atoms can generate a tailored far-field pattern. As a proof of concept, we design and fabricate a series of PB metasurfaces in the microwave regime and experimentally demonstrate that they can generate desired radiation patterns within a broad frequency band, including unidirectional radiation, line/point focusing, vortex beam and hologram. These findings may stimulate important applications in on-chip integrated photonics.

Abstract Resin uptake plays a critical role in the stiffness‐to‐weight ratio of wind turbine blades in which sandwich composites are used extensively. This work examines the flexural properties of nominally half‐inch thick sandwich composites made with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) foam cores (H60 and H80; PSC and GPC) at several resin uptakes. We found that the specific flexural strength and modulus for the H80 GPC sandwich composites increase from 82.04 to 90.70 kN · m/kg and 6.03 to 7.13 MN · m/kg, respectively, with 11.0% resin uptake reduction, which stands out among the four core sandwich composites. Considering reaching a high stiffness‐to‐weight ratio while preventing resin starvation, 32% to 38% and 40% to 45% resin uptakes are adequate ranges for the H80 PSC and GPC sandwich composites, respectively. The H60 GPC sandwich composites have lower debonding toughness than H60 PSC due to stress concentration in the smooth side skin‐core interphase region. The ailure mode of the sandwich composites depends on the core stiffness and surface texture. The H60 GPC sandwich composites exhibit core shearing and bottom skin‐core debonding failure, while the H80 GPC and PSC sandwich composites show top skin cracking and core crushing failure. The findings indicate that an appropriate range of resin uptake exists for each type of core sandwich composite, and that within the range, a low‐resin uptake leads to lighter blades and thus lower cyclic gravitational loads, beneficial for long blades.

Milk production and body conformation traits are critical economic traits for dairy cows. To understand the basic genetic structure for those traits, a genome wide association study was performed on milk yield, milk fat yield, milk fat percentage, milk protein yield, milk protein percentage, somatic cell score, body form composite index, daily capacity composite index, feed, and leg conformation traits, based on the Illumina Bovine HD100k BeadChip. A total of 57, 12 and 26 SNPs were found to be related to the milk production, somatic cell score and body conformation traits in the Holstein cattle. Genes with pleiotropic effect were also found in this study. Seven significant SNPs were associated with multi-traits and were located on the PLEC, PLEKHA5, TONSL, PTGER4, and LCORL genes. In addition, some important candidate genes, like GPAT3, CEBPB, AGO2, SLC37A1, and FNDC3B, were found to participate in fat metabolism or mammary gland development. These results can be used as candidate genes for milk production, somatic cell score, and body conformation traits of Holstein cows, and are helpful for further gene function analysis to improve milk production and quality.

In the Pulse Position Modulation (PPM) space optical communication channel estimation based on photon detection, two schemes for the estimation of signal photon average and background photon average are proposed. Scheme 1 is based on the characteristic of M-order PPM, where only one of the M slots has a signal optical slot. The signal photon average and the background photon average are roughly estimated by comparing the number of photons in each slot in each symbol counted by the photon detector and by counting the total number of photons in each slot in the error correction frame. The proposed method in scheme 2 is based on that in scheme 1. The signal optical slot position is re-determined by decision feedback in the Serially Concatenated Pulse Position Modulation (SCPPM) system. Since the existence of SCPPM accumulator leads to error propagation, the soft information output by decoding is first interleaved, and then mapped from bit to PPM symbols after hard decision and accumulation. Finally, the position of signal optical slot is re-determined to obtain more accurate signal photon average and background photon average.

With the progress of analysis technology and nanotechnology, colorimetric detection has become one of the research hotspots in the field of analytical chemistry. Compared with traditional detection methods, the colorimetric method has many advantages, such as high sensitivity, good selectivity, convenience and fast, as well as low cost. In recent years, metal nanoparticles have been introduced into colorimetry, making the research and application of colorimetry develop rapidly. In this work, we summarize the usual colorimetric detection methods based on metal nanoparticles-based nanozymes and their applications in the last five years. We hope that this work will help readers understand the mechanism and practical application value of nanozyme-based colorimetric biosensors. Meanwhile, this work may give some hints and references for future colorimetric detection research to promote the application and development of nanozyme-based colorimetry in biomedical and environmental analysis.

Abstract. Single-domain antibodies have the characteristics of small molecular weight, strong tissue penetration, and high affinity, and are widely used to construct molecular probes for disease diagnosis and treatment. This article reviews molecular imaging studies including positron emission tomography (PET), single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (CT), PET/CT, and fluorescent imaging of molecular probes composed of single-domain antibodies against eight esophageal squamous cell carcinoma biological targets. These 8 targets are highly expressed on the membrane of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells and include epidermal growth factor receptor, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, human epidermal growth factor receptor 3, hepatocyte growth factor receptor, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2, chemokine receptor 4, chemokine receptor 7, and carcinoembryonic antigen. The current problems and solutions are also discussed to provide a reference for future design of molecular imaging probes targeting esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Abstract. Objective:. In order to study the important role and molecular mechanism of Brevinin-2 family antimicrobial peptide Brevinin-2ISb in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection of Caenorhabditis (C.) elegans, and to find the optimal therapeutic concentration of Brevinin-2ISb. Methods:. By using a C. elegans model and MRSA infection modelto study the therapeutic effect of different concentrations of Brevinin-2ISb on C. elegans. Real-time PCR was used for investigating the effect of Brevinin-2ISb on the downstream gene expression of DAF-2/DAF-16 innate immune pathway and the major virulence factor gene expression of MRSA. With protein activity tests to study the inhibitory effect of Brevinin-2ISb on MRSA virulence factor protein activity. Finally, laser confocal imaging was carried out to observe real-time expression and distribution of downstream antimicrobial proteins to further prove the effect of Brevinin-2ISb on the activation of DAF-2/DAF-16 pathway by in vivo imaging. All animal study procedures were approved by the Academic Committee at Xidian University and Xi’an Jiaotong University Animal Care and Use Committee, China (approval No. JGC201207) on July 15, 2017. Results:. Host immunity was largely enhanced by Brevinin-2ISb, and the expression of staphylococcal enterotoxin genes, as well as virulence factors, was suppressed by Brevinin-2ISb. Indeed, the expression of many C. elegans innate immune genes, including lys-7, spp-1, K05D8.5 and C29F3.7, was induced by Brevinin-2ISb. In particular, robust, sustained expression of the antibacterial gene lys-7 was observed after Brevinin-2ISb treatment, resulting in increased protein levels. These effects correlated with a reduction in the MRSA-mediated death of the C. elegans host. Low concentrations of Brevinin-2ISb exhibited very low hemolytic activity, and may play a positive role in host innate immunity. Specifically, activation of the DAF-2/DAF-16 pathway appears to be essential for immune activation in C. elegans treated with Brevinin-2ISb. Based on the evolutionary conservation of innate immune pathways, our results suggest that Brevinin-2ISb not only has strong antibacterial activity, but may also enhance the innate immune response in humans. This study demonstrates that Brevinin-2ISb-related peptides are potential candidates for the development of novel anti-inflammatory or anti-microbial drugs. Conclusion:. Antimicrobial peptide Brevinin-2ISb effectively inhibits MRSA at low concentration. This antimicrobial peptide can prolong the life of MRSA-infected C. elegans, has very low hemolytic activity and inhibits the activity and expression of various MRSA virulence factors. More importantly, Brevinin-2ISb activated the expression of antimicrobial genes downstream of DAF-2/DAF-16, which enhanced the MRSA resistance of C. elegans. This peptide could be used as the basis for developing new drugs to replace antibiotics.

Interfacial solar vapor generation has revived the solar-thermal-based desalination due to its high conversion efficiency of solar energy. However, most solar evaporators reported so far suffer from severe salt-clogging problems during solar desalination, leading to performance degradation and structural instability. Here, we demonstrate a free-standing salt-rejecting reduced graphene oxide (rGO) membrane serving as an efficient, stable, and antisalt-fouling solar evaporator. The evaporation rate of the membrane reaches up to 1.27 kg m−2 h−1 (solar–thermal conversion efficiency ∼79%) under one sun, out of 3.5 wt% brine. More strikingly, due to the tailored narrow interlayer spacing, the rGO membrane can effectively reject ions, preventing salt accumulation even for high salinity brine (∼8 wt% concentration). With enabled salt-antifouling capability, flexibility, as well as stability, our rGO membrane serves as a promising solar evaporator for high salinity brine treatment.

In the flexible manufacturing system, a reasonable production scheduling is crucial in shortening the processing completion time and improving the equipment utilization. Traditional manual scheduling cannot effectively solve the complex workshop scheduling problems and cannot provide a scheduling solution that meets the requirements in a short period of time, which can lead to a decrease in processing efficiency. Aiming at the complex job shop scheduling problem, the genetic algorithm is used to find the optimal scheduling solution in this study, taking the number of overdue jobs, the total overdue time, the job completion time, the comprehensive load rate and the maximum load rate of the machine tool as the performance indicators of the scheduling algorithm. The chromosomes are designed as process gene chain and equipment gene chain to improve the diversity and the robustness to scheduling problems of chromosome through crossover, variation, selection and other processes. The impact of different parameter settings on the performance indicators of each scheduling algorithm is researched by adjusting the four algorithm-related parameters, and there has been a certain improvement in the results of the scheduling problems. This study provides a reference for the design and optimization of production scheduling algorithm based on genetic algorithm.

Two-dimensional tin sulfide (SnS), as a black phosphorus-analogue binary semiconductor, has received considerable attention in photonics and optoelectronics. Herein, the third-order nonlinearity susceptibility Im χ3 is enhanced from −(6.88 ± 0.10) × 10−14 esu to −(15.90 ± 0.27) × 10−14 esu by the size-related quantum confinement in layered SnS nanosheets. Due to the energy level alignment, a phonon-bottleneck effect is observed, which leads to a prolonged carrier lifetime. These results provide a platform for actively tuning the linear and nonlinear optics, and pave the way for designing SnS-based tunable and anisotropic optoelectronic devices.

The stator coreless axial flux permanent magnet (AFPM) motor with a compact structure, low torque ripple, and high efficiency is particularly suitable as a motor for electric propulsion systems. However, it still requires great effort to design an AFPM motor with higher torque density and lower torque ripple. In this paper, a stator coreless multidisc AFPM (SCM-AFPM) motor with a three-rotor and two-stator topology is proposed. To reduce rotor mass and increase torque density, the proposed SCM-AFPM motor adopts the hybrid permanent magnets (PMs) array with Halbach PMs in the two-terminal rotor and the conventional PMs array in the middle rotor. In addition, a multi-objective optimization model combining response surface method (RSM) and genetic algorithm (GA) is proposed and applied to the proposed SCM-AFPM motor. With the help of the three-dimensional finite-element analysis (3-D FEA), it is found that the torque ripple of the optimized SCM-AFPM motor is 4.73%, while it is 6.21% for the initial motor. Its torque ripple is reduced by 23.8%. Therefore, the proposed multi-objective optimization design method can quickly and reliably obtain the optimal design of the SCM-AFPM motor.

An improved pyramidal prefolded pattern was designed and applied to thin-walled tubes. This delicately designed pattern modularizes the tube to control the folding process and act as an inducer to trigger deformation modes with outstanding crushing performance. Dynamic crushing tests were conducted numerically; the simulation results reveal that the patterned square tube developed a deformation mode with shorter wavelength, better load consistencies, and higher energy-absorption efficiency (up to 29%) than that of the traditional counterpart. Moreover, geometric analysis was performed and structural improvements were conducted by applying the optimal geometric parameters onto an octagonal profile. The designed patterned octagonal tube collapsed into a highly efficient deformation mode known as diamond mode. Furthermore, the comparative results show that patterned octagonal tubes demonstrated an energy absorption up to 90.1% higher than that of a conventional square column while improving the geometric compliance. These findings enrich research on patterned tubes and provide new explorations for the development of high-performance energy-absorbing structures.

Nanowire structures with high-density interfaces are considered to have higher radiation damage resistance properties compared to conventional bulk structures. In the present work, molecular dynamics (MD) is conducted to investigate the irradiation effects and mechanical response changes of GaAs nanowires (NWs) under heavy-ion irradiation. For this simulation, single-ion damage and high-dose ion injection are used to reveal defect generation and accumulation mechanisms. The presence of surface effects gives an advantage to defects in rapid accumulation but is also the main cause of dynamic annihilation of the surface. Overall, the defects exhibit a particular mechanism of rapid accumulation to saturation. Moreover, for the structural transformation of irradiated GaAs NWs, amorphization is the main mode. The main damage mechanism of NWs is sputtering, which also leads to erosion refinement at high doses. The high flux ions lead to a softening of the mechanical properties, which can be reflected by a reduction in yield strength and Young’s modulus.

Background/Aims: Accumulating evidence has shown that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks play crucial roles in tumor survival and patient prognosis; however, studies investigating ceRNA networks in pheochromocytoma (PCC) are lacking. In this study, we investigated the pathogenesis of PCC and whether lncRNAs acting through ceRNAs networks were associated with prognosis. Methods: A total of 183 PCC samples and 3 control samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas database were analyzed. The Empirical Analysis of Digital Gene Expression Data package in R (edgeR) was used to analyze differentially expressed RNAs. Biological processes and pathways functional enrichment analysis were performed based on the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) database. LncRNA/mRNA/miRNA ceRNA network was constructed by Cytoscape v3.0 software based on the differentially expressed RNAs Survival package in R was used to perform survival analysis. Results: In total, 554 differentially expressed lncRNAs, 1775 mRNAs and 40 miRNAs were selected for further analysis. Subsequently, 23 lncRNAs, 22 mRNAs, and 6 miRNAs were included in the constructed ceRNA network. Meanwhile, two of the 23 lncRNAs (C9orf147 and BSN-AS2) were identified as independent predictors of overall survival in PCC patients (P< 0.05). Conclusion: This study improves the understanding of lncRNA-related ceRNA networks in PCC and suggests that the lncRNAs C9orf147 and BSN-AS2 could be independent prognostic biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for PCC.

Based on constant rate mercury injection experiment, casting thin section identification, scanning electron microscope observation, clay mineral X-ray and rock specific surface area analysis, the controlling factors of matrix acidizing potential of low-permeability sandstone reservoir in fault depression lacustrine basin were determined from three aspects: pore filling, throat filling and pore-throat combination characteristics. It is concluded that provenance controls the plane partition of reservoir pore fillings. Burial depth controls the longitudinal zoning of key filling material in reservoir throat. The difference of rock structure in sedimentary facies - microfacies controlling zone leads to the change of pore-throat assemblage pattern. The matrix acidizing scheme of low permeability sandstone reservoir in fault depression basin can be formulated according to the law of “provenance zoning, buried depth zoning and being controlled by microfacies in zone”, and the implementation scheme of pre-acid, main acid and post-acid can be put forward respectively. This method can effectively promote the integration process of exploration and development of low permeability clastic reservoir in mature exploration area.

Abstract Background Cetacean brain size expansion is an enigmatic event in mammalian evolution, yet its genetic basis remains poorly explored. Here, all exons of the seven primary microcephaly (MCPH) genes that play key roles in size regulation during brain development were investigated in representative cetacean lineages. Results Sequences of MCPH2–7 genes were intact in cetaceans but frameshift mutations and stop codons was identified in MCPH1. Extensive positive selection was identified in four of six intact MCPH genes: WDR62, CDK5RAP2, CEP152, and ASPM. Specially, positive selection at CDK5RAP2 and ASPM were examined along lineages of odontocetes with increased encephalization quotients (EQ) and mysticetes with reduced EQ but at WDR62 only found along odontocete lineages. Interestingly, a positive association between evolutionary rate (ω) and EQ was identified for CDK5RAP2 and ASPM. Furthermore, we tested the binding affinities between Calmodulin (CaM) and ASPM IQ motif in cetaceans because only CaM combined with IQ, can ASPM perform the function in determining brain size. Preliminary function assay showed binding affinities between CaM and IQ motif of the odontocetes with increased EQ was stronger than for the mysticetes with decreased EQ. In addition, evolution rate of ASPM and CDK5RAP2 were significantly related to mean group size (as one measure of social complexity). Conclusions Our study investigated the genetic basis of cetacean brain size evolution. Significant positive selection was examined along lineages with both increased and decreased EQ at CDK5RAP2 and ASPM, which is well matched with cetacean complex brain size evolution. Evolutionary rate of CDK5RAP2 and ASPM were significantly related to EQ, suggesting that these two genes may have contributed to EQ expansion in cetaceans. This suggestion was further indicated by our preliminary function test that ASPM might be mainly linked to evolutionary increases in EQ. Most strikingly, our results suggested that cetaceans evolved large brains to manage complex social systems, consisting with the ‘social brain hypothesis’, as evolutionary rate of ASPM and CDK5RAP2 were significantly related to mean group size.

To understand the population makeup and fauna distribution of fish stocks at YongdingRiver. Based on fish surveys in 2016 and relevant literature, this paper summarizes the species offish in Yongding River, concludes that Yongding River is belong to riverplain region afteranalysis,and obtains the loss index of fish according to existing species and historical data. Theresults show that there are 44 species of fish in Yongding River system, which are dominated bymiddle and low-layer, omnivorous, small fishes. The proportion of Cyprinidae is 50%, with thelargest number of species, and the other species are fewer. There are 31 species appeared inexisting species and historical data, but 13 existing species do not appear in the historical data.The historical investigation might be incomprehensive,so the 13 species should be included in thehistorical data. The bio-loss index of fish is 0.667 and the marks of fish index is 48.93, whichindicate that fishes are in the sub-health level. The ecological protection of the Yongding Rivershould be strengthened to restore the fish habitat.