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Due to the semi-transparent and irregular nature of gases, it is still a highly challenging task to effectively detect and quantify gas leaks especially those with small flow rates by only utilizing economical equipments. In this paper, we present a strategy for automating real-time identification and quantification of gases in the mid-infrared band by combining an infrared camera combined with a series optimized algorithms. A basic network DeepLabV3+ is first modified by replacing its Xception backbone with MobileNetv2 for real-time gas detection and segmentation. Then special attention mechanisms tailored to the characteristics of the gas are added into the network to enhance the perception and recognition of the gas edges. The optimized Kmeans clustering algorithm is integrated to identify the Region of Interest (ROI) in the image containing the target gas. The quantification of the volume flow rate within the ROI is realized by integrating the radiation transfer model with the optical flow method. The experimental results indicate that the quantification limit of the gas flow rate can reach 0.01 L/min, which is comparable to that obtained by the methods with complicated instruments. Our detection and quantification strategy can find vast applications in hazardous gas monitoring field.

Abstract In the initial design phase, decisions about building programs significantly influence the energy, physical, and space performance of a building. However, as the design process advanced, the potential to optimize building physical properties, space, and related performance gradually diminished, and the costs to achieve the same benefits were progressively increased. In this study, an enclosed atrium-style office space was chosen as a case study, and an intelligent optimization method for the atrium prototype space was proposed. This method, which integrated multi-dimensional performance data such as light environment, thermal environment, energy consumption, space, and cost, was used to investigate morphological optimization strategies for the atrium prototype space under the influence of multiple environmental factors during the architectural design phase. Furthermore, the ranges for optimal solutions when pursuing different design objectives were analyzed, series of global optimal solutions were identified, and the optimization process was accelerated using machine learning technology. Ultimately, architects were provided with prototype forms of the atrium space in an "Informed" manner, which expedited the architectural design process. The case study is based on a light industrial building at Hubei University of Technology, which was evaluated through 377 building form prototypes generated by this "Informed" design platform. Compared to the existing building, the optimized building form showed significant improvements in cost, lighting, energy consumption, spatial performance, and sunlight and solar radiation quality, with an overall assessment score of 15.15 to 73.35, a performance improvement of 380%. The effectiveness of the method in improving building performance and accelerating the design decision-making process is demonstrated, providing an innovative optimization tool for the field of building design.

Abstract Background Early diagnosis of cleft lip and palate (CLP) requires a multiplane examination, demanding high technical proficiency from radiologists. Therefore, this study aims to develop and validate the first artificial intelligence (AI)-based model (CLP-Net) for fully automated multi-plane localization in three-dimensional(3D) ultrasound during the first trimester. Methods This retrospective study included 418 (394 normal, 24 CLP) 3D ultrasound from 288 pregnant woman between July 2022 to October 2024 from Shenzhen Guangming District People’s Hospital during the 11–13+ 6 weeks of pregnancy. 320 normal volumes were used for training and validation, while 74 normal and 24 CLP volumes were used for testing. Two experienced radiologists reviewed three standard lip and palate planes (mid sagittal, retronasal triangle, and maxillary axial planes) as ground truth (GT) and the CLP-Net was developed to locate these planes. Results In normal test set, mean angle(± SD)° and distance(± SD)mm differences were 6.24 ± 4.83, 9.81 ± 5.48, 15.36 ± 18.14 and 0.86 ± 0.72, 1.36 ± 1.15, 1.96 ± 2.35 for MSP ± SD, RTP ± SD and MAP ± SD, NCC and SSIM were 0.931 ± 0.079, 0.819 ± 0.122, 0.781 ± 0.157 and 0.896 ± 0.058, 0.785 ± 0.076, 0.726 ± 0.088 respectively. In the CLP cases, there were 8.61 ± 5.52, 10.67 ± 5.08, 16.91 ± 17.42 and 1.03 ± 1.20, 1.17 ± 1.08, 1.34 ± 0.95 for mean angle and distance in MSP, RTP, and MAP, respectively. NCC and SSIM were 0.876 ± 0.104, 0.803 ± 0.084, 0.793 ± 0.089 and 0.841 ± 0.105, 0.812 ± 0.085, 0.764 ± 0.100, respectively. CLP-Net predictions had a highly visual acceptance rate among radiologists (MSP: 95%, RTP: 70%, MAP: 70%), with improved localization speed 15s(31.3%) for senior radiologists and 63s(38.9%) for junior radiologists. Conclusions CLP-Net accurately locates three planes for CLP screening, aiding radiologists and enhancing the efficiency of ultrasound examinations.

Tungsten wire with high strength and toughness for silicon wafer cutting in photovoltaic industry is a new hot research content. In order to improve the strength and processing performance of tungsten wire, tungsten alloy containing 0.5 wt%La2O3 was prepared by powder metallurgy method. The hot deformation behavior and microstructure evolution of tungsten lanthanum alloy were studied. Studies have shown that the alloy is extruded to grow fine grains, and its texture structure mainly presents two directions. The grain size of the instability zone is too large, and there are obvious cracks. With the decrease of strain rate and the increase of temperature, the recrystallization ratio of the alloy increases gradually, showing a partial equiaxed grain structure. The recrystallization ratio reaches the maximum at 1600 °C/0.01s−1, but it is still not completely recrystallized. Lanthanum oxide gradually aggregates to the grain boundary during the hot deformation process, which improves the thermal deformation activation energy of tungsten. The Q value is about 410.018 kJ/mol, which improves the high temperature strength of tungsten alloy. The compressive strength of tungsten alloy at high temperature is about 10% higher than that of pure tungsten. Combined with the hot processing map, the optimum process parameters of tungsten alloy were determined to be 1400 °C–1600 °C, 0.01–0.05s−1. The φ35.5 μm ultra-fine tungsten wire was prepared according to this parameter. The microstructure of tungsten wire is uniform and dense, and there are no cracks and defects. The tensile strength of tungsten wire is extremely high, reaching 5723 MPa.

Recently, there have been several scientific breakthroughs in the fields of micro- and nanoscience [...]

Abstract Background With metabolic disorders on the rise globally, the cardiometabolic index (CMI) has emerged as a crucial predictor of mortality risks linked to cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. This novel index, which combines lipid metabolism and body composition, is the focus of this study, aimed at exploring its association with all-cause and specific mortality in an all-age adult population. Methods A longitudinal cohort study including 5,728 participants aged over 18 from nine cycles between 2001 and 2018 was enrolled and assessed. CMI served as the exposure variable, while outcomes included all-cause mortality and mortality due to cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes. The Cox frailty model and average marginal effects were employed to evaluate the contribution of CMI to all-cause and specific mortality collectively. Restricted cubic spline analyses and stratified analyses were conducted to investigate potential nonlinear effects and interactions. Results The decreased participants exhibited considerably higher CMI than the alive’s. A positive association was found between CMI and all-cause mortality (HR=1.05, 95% CI=1.01-1.10). Notably, CMI was linked to an increased risk of cancer mortality (HR=1.02) and a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease mortality (HR=0.85). Furthermore, the average marginal effect of CMI on diabetes mortality was the largest (AME=0.499). The RCS curves revealed that participants had the lowest risk of all-cause mortality at a CMI of 0.618. Sensitivity analyses further supported these findings. Conclusion This study represents the first comprehensive assessment on the contribution of CMI to mortality across an all-age adult population, providing some insights for the comprehensive assessment of health and disease states.

Abstract Structural electromagnetic shielding materials are required to withstand high stress and electromagnetic interference in extreme environments. In this paper, a nano-magnetic Heusler phase with desired structure parameters was successfully obtained in a copper matrix by employing a multi-objective driving design strategy. The resulting copper alloy exhibits a yield strength of up to 1.5 GPa, and the attenuation degree of electromagnetic wave reaches 99.999999999% (110 dB) within the frequency range of 10 kHz to 3 GHz. The research suggests that the Ni2MnSn precipitates with optimized structure parameters (including high number density: 5 × 1023 m−3, small size: 23 nm, large aspect ratio: 4, low mismatch: 2.3%, strong bonding: -0.316 eV/atom, magnetic order: 4.05 μB/f.u.) both reinforce the matrix by strong pinning and enhance electromagnetic shielding properties through magnetic-electric coupling. This design method tailored for multiple performance requirements provides a valuable tool for the development of structure-function integrated materials.

Cu-0.45Cr-0.1Zr-(0.3Ag) were produced and subjected to multistage thermo-mechanical treatment. The microstructure evolution and properties of the alloys during aging were investigated in detail and the effect of trace Ag on comprehensive properties of Cu–Cr–Zr alloy was discussed by kinetic and strength calculations. The results showed that Cu-0.45Cr-0.1Zr-0.3Ag alloy had a higher strength than Cu-0.45Cr-0.1Zr alloy while maintaining a high electrical conductivity. After multistage thermo-mechanical treatment, the tensile strength, yield strength and electrical conductivity of Cu-0.45Cr-0.1Zr-0.3Ag alloy reached 611 MPa, 601 MPa and 78.7 %IACS, respectively. The addition of Ag had little influence on the precipitation process of Cu–Cr–Zr alloy during aging: Cr particles transitioned from GP zones to face-centered cubic (fcc) structure and finally stabilized in body-centered cubic (bcc) structure, however, the composition of Zr precipitates changed after Ag doping. Most of Zr atoms segregated at grain boundaries in the form of Cu4AgZr in Cu-0.45Cr-0.1Zr-0.3Ag alloy instead of Cu5Zr in Cu-0.45Cr-0.1Zr alloy. The calculation results showed that the addition of Ag refined the size of Cr particle, increased the density of dislocations, enhanced the effect of dislocation strengthening.

Gradient triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) structures are renowned for lightweight design and enhanced performance, but their complex and nonlinear configurations pose challenges in achieving targeted design goals. A new design methodology for the nonlinear gradient structure was proposed in this study, with the aim of achieving efficient and accurate modeling of complex and gradient sheet-based TPMS structures under specific performance objectives. This method utilized automated finite element (FE) simulations to obtain structure topology element densities under various boundary conditions. An artificial neural network (ANN) was then employed to efficiently predict the correspondence between these boundary conditions and topology element densities. A mapping was established between topology element densities and TPMS structural parameters, and the gradient structure was accurately constructed by using the voxel modeling technique. Taking a typical cantilever beam TPMS structure as an example of nonlinear gradient design, the results indicate that the error between the ANN-predicted and FE-simulated structure topology element densities is only 2.73 %, with prediction time being only 0.15 % of the simulation time. The thin regions of the gradient structure align with those geometrically removed in regular topology optimization scheme, achieving up to 65.45 % weight reduction, a 28.72 % improvement over the regular scheme, along with uniform structural stress transition and maximum stress reduction. TC4 alloy nonlinear gradient TPMS structures, printed by metal selective laser melting (SLM) technique, confirm the practical application value of this design method.

Copper-based alloys have garnered significant attention for their potential in antimicrobial applications aimed at mitigating medical-related infections. Nonetheless, the alloying elements in conventional copper alloys frequently exhibit biotoxicity. This study explored the corrosion behavior, antimicrobial activity, and ion release of Cu–Fe alloys with varying iron contents and aging treatment. The results indicate that increasing the iron content in Cu–Fe alloys and applying appropriate aging treatment can enhance both the antibacterial efficiency and corrosion rate. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations revealed a corrosion mechanism in which dispersed iron phases act as nucleation sites. These nanoscale precipitates increase the Cu/Fe interfacial area, thereby promoting ion release at the interface. Furthermore, in-situ scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that corrosion products are more likely to detach in iron-rich segregated areas, which effectively promotes the sustained release of copper ions.

The copper (Cu)-beryllium (Be) alloy is a critical material for high-performance photomultiplier cathodes. The microstructure evolution of the β phase in the Cu-2.8Be alloy subjected to cooling rate ranging from 0.5 to 80 °C/s after heat treatment. The non-isothermal phase transformation kinetics equation of the alloy was derived. At a cooling rate of 0.5 °C/s, the β phase completely transformed into the α phase and γ phase through a eutectoid reaction (β → α + γ). The γ phase preferentially precipitates at locations with higher free energy, such as grain boundaries and defects in the parent phase. The orientation relationship between the α phase and the γ phase follows the Kurdjumov-Sachs (K–S) relationship ([110]α∥[111]γ; (11‾1‾)α∥(01‾1)γ), and the α phase nucleates and grows with a twin relationship to the Cu matrix. As the cooling rate increases, the transformation fraction of the β phase decreases. The critical cooling rate at which the β phase eutectoid reaction is completely suppressed is 80 °C/s. A non-isothermal phase transformation kinetics equation for the β phase eutectoid transformation was established: f(r)=1−exp{−{34.703r−1.062[exp(−0.9107r)−0.3575]}2.2}, elucidating the relationship between the phase transformation fraction and the cooling rate, which provides a theoretical basis for controlling the microstructure of Cu–Be alloy through heat treatment. Validated by the Cu-3.3Be alloy, this equation demonstrates excellent universality.

Abstract Wearable sensors provide a good solution for real-time monitoring of human health, and great progress has been made in miniaturization, flexibility, low power consumption and intelligence in recent years. Here, we introduce the principles of wearable sensors and their applications in disease surveillance. Physiological signals mainly include physical signals and biochemical signals. Among various sensors used to monitor physiological signals, we have introduced the basic working principles of mechanical sensors and electrochemical sensors. We summarize the examples of the clever integration of sensors with daily wearable products, and introduce cases of disease monitoring applied to the respiratory system, cardiovascular system, nervous system, musculoskeletal system and metabolic system. In view of the current situation of wearable sensors in terms of materials, structure, technology and energy, we discuss challenges and solutions of wearable mechanical and electrochemical sensors, and look forward to the application prospects of wearable sensors.

Abstract Background Soil salinization is a serious environmental hazard, limiting plant growth and production in different agro-ecological zones worldwide. Diethyl aminoethyl hexanoate (DA-6) as an essential plant growth regulator (PGR) exhibits a beneficial role in improving crop growth and stress tolerance. However, the DA-6-regulated effect and mechanism of salt tolerance in plants are still not fully understood. The objective of current study was to disclose salt tolerance induced by DA-6 in relation to changes in water and redox balance, photosynthetic function, ionic homeostasis, and organic metabolites reprogramming in white clover (Trifolium repens). Results A prolonged duration of salt stress caused water loss, impaired photosynthetic function, and oxidative injury to plants. However, foliar application of DA-6 significantly improved osmotic adjustment (OA), photochemical efficiency, and cell membrane stability under salt stress. In addition, high salinity induced massive accumulation of sodium (Na), but decreased accumulation of potassium (K) in leaves and roots of all plants. DA-6-treated plants demonstrated significantly higher transcript levels of genes involved in uptake and transport of Na and K such as VP1, HKT8, SOS1, NHX2, NHX6, and SKOR in leaves as well as VP1, HKT1, HKT8, H + -ATPase, TPK5, SOS1, NHX2, and SKOR in roots. Metabolomics analysis further illustrated that DA-6 primarily induced the accumulation of glucuronic acid, hexanoic acid, linolenic acid, arachidonic acid, inosose, erythrulose, galactopyranose, talopyranose, urea, 1-monopalmitin, glycerol monostearate, campesterol, stigmasterol, and alanine. Conclusions The DA-6 significantly up-regulated transcript levels of multiple genes associated with increased Na+ compartmentalization in vacuoles and Na+ sequestration in roots to reduce Na+ transport to photosynthetic organs, thereby maintaining Na+ homeostasis under salt stress. The accumulation of many organic metabolites induced by the DA-6 could be attributed to enhanced cell wall and membrane structural stability and functionality, OA, antioxidant defense, and downstream signal transduction in leaves under salt stress. The present study provides a deep insight about the synergistic role of DA-6 in salt tolerance of white clover.

Abstract Dental implant restoration shows an effective method for the rehabilitation of missing teeth. The failure rate of periodontal implants in patients with chronic periodontitis is associated with periodontal flora, inflammation, and long-term periodontal bone resorption caused by chronic periodontitis. However, the therapeutic effects of dental implant restoration on inflammation in patients with chronic periodontitis have not addressed. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the risk indicators for inflammation, bone loss and implant failure in patients with chronic periodontitis. A total of 284 patients with dental implant restoration were recruited and divided into periodontally healthy patients (n = 128) and chronic periodontitis patients (n = 156). Periodontal indices including probing depth (PD), sulcus bleeding index (SBI), plaque index (PLI), gingival bleeding (GIL) and bleeding on probing (BOP) were compared in two groups. Inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1 (IL-1), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) levels at baseline, 6 and 12 months after surgery, and the implant survival rate at 12 months after surgery, as well as the risk factors associated with failure of dental implant were also assessed. Outcomes demonstrated that patients in the chronic periodontitis group had higher values of periodontal indices than those in the periodontally healthy group. All inflammatory parameters in the chronic periodontitis group were higher than those in the periodontally healthy group and negatively associated with the chronic periodontal index (CPI) in chronic periodontitis patients. Chronic periodontitis patients had higher the prevalence of mucositis and peri-implantitis than patients with healthy periodontium. Implant diameter, length and design was associated with the risk of implant failure for chronic periodontitis patients receiving dental implant. The cumulative implant failure rate and incidence of implant fractures for chronic periodontitis patients at 12 months after surgery were 12.10% and 7.23% (p

Melatonin (MT) is a multifunctional hormone that enhances crop resilience against various abiotic stresses. However, its regulatory mechanism of osmotic tolerance in forage oats (Avena sativa) plants under water-limited scenarios is still unclear. This study aimed to delineate the impact of MT pretreatment on the morphological, physiological, and biochemical functions of oat seedlings under osmotic stress. Our findings demonstrated that exogenous treatment of MT noticeably elevated leaf area while decreasing the root/shoot ratio of oat seedlings subjected to osmotic stress. Osmotic-induced 38.22% or 48.37% decrease in relative water content could be significantly alleviated by MT pretreatment on day 7 or day 14, respectively. MT treatment also significantly mitigated osmotic-induced decreases in photosynthetic parameters including net photosynthetic rate, stomatic conductance, and intercellular CO2 concentration as well as various chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, which could contribute to enhanced accumulations of free proline and soluble sugars in seedlings after being subjected to a prolonged duration of osmotic stress. Furthermore, MT markedly improved antioxidant enzyme activities including superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, catalase, and peroxidase along with the accumulation of ascorbic acid contributing to a significant reduction in reactive oxygen species under osmotic stress. In addition, the MT application induced a 978.12%, 33.54%, or 30.59% increase in endogenous MT, indole acetic acid, or gibberellic acid content under osmotic stress but did not affect the accumulation of abscisic acid. These findings suggest that an optimal concentration of MT (100 μmol·L−1) could relieve osmotic stress via improvement in osmotic adjustment, the enzymatic antioxidant defense system, and endogenous hormonal balance, thereby contributing to enhanced photosynthetic functions and growth of oat seedlings under water-limited conditions.

To strengthen its energy sector and realize the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals, China needs to accelerate the construction of a modern energy system, transform its energy development mode, and improve its energy production support capabilities. The integration and complementarity of multiple energy sources is an effective concept and scheme to solve the separation of energy subsystems, optimize the energy pattern, and improve the efficiency of clean energy utilization. Based on the analysis of the existing modes of multi-energy integration, this study summarizes the development status and bottlenecks of multi-energy integration in China and the development trend of multi-energy integration in other countries. Considering existing models, a new multi-energy integration model that integrates energy conversion, complementarity, reuse, and zero-carbon production is proposed to achieve the clean and efficient utilization of energy. To promote the planning, construction, and practice of multi-energy integration in China, we further propose a basic development path and the following suggestions: (1) formulating a medium- and long-term plan to support multienergy integration based on resource endowment, (2) accelerating the breakthroughs in key core technologies for multi-energy

The construction of lunar bases is one of the core enabling technologies in current lunar exploration and development plans of various countries. However, to eliminate the constraints of high transportation costs and limited manned space technology, a new research plan is to employ multi robot teams to build lunar bases. The key to this solution is how to achieve path planning for complex tasks for multiple robots. Therefore, this article takes the exploration and collection area, lunar soil collection, and lunar soil transportation in the lunar base construction scene as complex task inputs, and studies a multi robot path planning modeling method based on Petri net model. Firstly, a Petri net model for multi robot motion was constructed. Meanwhile, linear temporal logic(LTL) language was used to describe the related tasks of lunar base construction. Finally, simulation validation was conducted in Matlab software and compared with the modeling method using switching systems. The results show that the total modeling time required for using the Petri net model is reduced by two orders of magnitude compared to the modeling time for a single task switching system model, indicating that the established Petri net multi robot model has advantages such as avoiding dimension explosion and computational efficiency.

During the in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer process, some expectant mothers may not have good embryos to choose from before the embryo transfer. Recommendations for this condition are currently unclear, and relevant clinical and neonatal outcomes are still lacking. This study analyzed the outcomes of poor-quality embryo transfers, including fetal outcomes, in the fresh cycle and frozen–thawed embryo transfer cycle. Embryos were also analyzed for abnormalities during the cleavage stage. The results indicate that in the absence of good embryos, clinicians and embryologists could advise expectant mothers to continue culturing the embryos to the blastocyst stage and undergo transfer if blastocysts are formed. This finding can also be used as a reference for many expectant mothers with frozen embryos that have not yet been thawed.

Introduction: Guilingji, a famous traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, has been used to combat aging and male sexual dysfunction in China for centuries. To date, there has been little evidence-based clinical research on the use of Guilingji to treat idiopathic oligo-asthenoteratozoospermia (OAT), and the therapeutic mechanism from a metabolic perspective needs to be investigated further. Methods: This was a multicenter, double-blind, randomized controlled clinical study of 240 patients with idiopathic OAT recruited from four hospitals between January 2020 and January 2022. Patients were randomly assigned in a 1꞉1 ratio to receive oral Guilingji capsules or placebo for 12 weeks. The total progressive motile sperm count (TPMSC) was considered the primary outcome, and the other sperm parameters, seminal plasma parameters and serum hormones were considered the secondary outcome. A nontargeted metabolomics analysis of serum from OAT patients before and after Guilingji administration was performed by HPLC–MS to identify key metabolites. Furthermore, we used a rat model to show spermatogenesis phenotypes to validate the effect of the key metabolites screened from the patients. Results: At weeks 4, 8 and 12, TPMSC and other sperm parameters were significantly improved in the Guilingji group compared with the placebo group (P

Abstract Background The occurrence of blastocyst collapse may become an indicator of preimplantation embryo quality assessment. It has been reported that collapsing blastocysts can lead to higher rates of aneuploidy and poorer clinical outcomes, but more large-scale studies are needed to explore this relationship. This study explored the characteristics of blastocyst collapse identified and quantified by artificial intelligence and explored the associations between blastocyst collapse and embryo ploidy, morphological quality, and clinical outcomes. Methods This observational study included data from 3288 biopsied blastocysts in 1071 time-lapse preimplantation genetic testing cycles performed between January 2019 and February 2023 at a single academic fertility center. All transferred blastocysts are euploid blastocysts. The artificial intelligence recognized blastocyst collapse in time-lapse microscopy videos and then registered the collapsing times, and the start time, the recovery duration, the shrinkage percentage of each collapse. The effects of blastocyst collapse and embryo ploidy, pregnancy, live birth, miscarriage, and embryo quality were studied using available data from 1196 euploid embryos and 1300 aneuploid embryos. Results 5.6% of blastocysts collapsed at least once only before the full blastocyst formation (tB), 19.4% collapsed at least once only after tB, and 3.1% collapsed both before and after tB. Multiple collapses of blastocysts after tB (times ≥ 2) are associated with higher aneuploid rates (54.6%, P > 0.05; 70.5%, P

Unique challenges have been elicited by climate change, demanding the utilisation of effective adaptation strategies that are both environmentally and economically sustainable. Regrettably, the agricultural sector has not been spared from the effects of climate change, but it is among the largest employers and the primary source of food security globally. The situation is worse in Pakistan, where poverty, hunger, and malnutrition are reported to be prevalent. The complexity of risks posed by climate change has called for climate-smart agriculture (CSA) technologies, which potentially could augment cost efficiency and yield in wheat production. Surprisingly, previous studies have largely overlooked this crucial aspect. Therefore, our research seeks to address two fundamental questions: What is the comparative cost efficiency between adopters and non-adopters of CSA practices in wheat production? And what are the yield effects associated with CSA adoption, particularly compared to non-adopters? To this end, a multi-stage sampling technique was employed to randomly select 400 farm households in a climate risk hotspot province in Pakistan, on which the stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) and endogenous switching regression (ESR) were applied. The results revealed that CSA adoption was associated with improved cost efficiency and yield. Interestingly, if non-adopters decided to adopt CSA, they would increase their wheat yield by about 20%. Given the importance of wheat for food security, this would contribute to poverty and hunger eradication. Therefore, our study conforms to the aspirations of the 2030 agenda by promoting rethinking food production through possible improvement in cost efficiency and yield in the face of a changing climate.

Complex mapping relationships between high-entropy alloy compositions and performances struggle to precisely elucidate by traditional machine learning models, hindering the accurate and efficient design of high-performance alloys. In this work, a novel alloy design strategy combined self-decision deep neural network, data reconstruction with network structure optimization was proposed, which effectively enhanced the model's ability to predict the mapping relationships between high-dimensional composition spaces and mechanical properties of alloy. Compared to other machine learning methods, significantly improves model prediction accuracy (hardness model: 97.98%; strength model: 94.40%). Through above model, the mechanical properties of 308 new (CuNiMn)-X high-entropy copper alloys was studied added other elements such as Al, Ti, Cr, and Fe, which designed and produced a novel (CuNiMn)60Al20Cr20 alloy with high hardness of 474 HV, high compressive strength of 2322 MPa, and high fracture strain of 25.20%. The primary factors influencing alloy performance and their respective thresholds were also quantitatively revealed (hardness: electronegativity deviation (0.02, 0.1) and nuclear charge deviation (0, 0.25); compressive strength: mean nuclear charge (25, 30) and mean atomic radius (134 p.m.)). These findings provide a new perspective and approach for the design and mechanism understanding of high-performance alloys with complex compositions.

Multistage thermomechanical treatment experiments were conducted on Cu–Ni–Co–Si–Mg alloy strip prepared by the Heating Cooling Combined Mold (HCCM) horizontal continuous casting-cold rolling process. Effects of various heat treatments on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and electrical conductivity of the alloy were studied. The strengthening mechanisms and factors influencing the performance of each process has been analyzed. The tensile strength, yield strength, and electrical conductivity of Cu–Ni–Co–Si–Mg alloy can reach 894 MPa, 855 MPa, and 47.1 %IACS after a third-stage of thermomechanical treatment (TTMT). The cold rolling in first-stage of thermomechanical treatment (FTMT) not only caused work hardening of the alloy but also promoted the precipitation of solute atoms and the growth of second phase particles, limiting the increase in strength. Second-stage of thermomechanical treatment (STMT) effectively hindered the excessive growth of second phase particles in FTMT but shortened recrystallization process. The superior performance of Cu–Ni–Co–Si–Mg alloy after TTMT was attributed to dispersive precipitation of Ni, Co, and Si elements as (Ni, Co) 2Si phases in the copper matrix, strengthening the interaction between the precipitates and dislocations. A short process of HCCM horizontal continuous casting-cold rolling-thermomechanical treatment was developed to produce a high strength and highly electrically conductive Cu–Ni–Co–Si alloy strip used in lead frames.

Piperazines are a class of new psychoactive substances with hallucinogenic effects that affect the central nervous system by affecting the level of monoamine neurotransmitters. Abuse of piperazines will produce stimulating and hallucinogenic effects, accompanied by headache, dizziness, anxiety, insomnia, vomiting, chest pain, tachycardia, hypertension and other adverse reactions, and may even cause cardiovascular diseases and multiple organ failure and lead to death, seriously affecting human physical and mental health and public safety. The abuse of new psychoactive substance piperazines has attracted extensive attention from the international community. The study of its pharmacological toxicology and analytical methods has become a research hotspot in the field of forensic medicine. This paper reviews the in vivo processes, sample treatment and analytical methods of existing piperazines, in order to provide reference for forensic identification.

ObjectiveTo establish a culture-dependent rapid detection method for gas-producing spoilage bacteria in vinegar.MethodsOne kind of medium was screened out from six candidate media and modified. Then its specificity， accuracy， and sensitivity were determined， on which a detection method was proposed. This method was subsequently applied to assess heat sterilization conditions and preservative concentrations for vinegar products and to verify the detection effectiveness of vinegar products.ResultsA modified MRS medium that could specifically detect gas-producing spoilage bacteria in vinegar samples was proposed， with which negative results were obtained targeting at other 12 spoilage bacteria isolated from vinegar. The established method was adopted to examine 75 unknown vinegar samples and plastic bottle incubation method was used as control. Consistent results were obtained using both methods， however the detection rate of established method was 3-5 times faster than control， with a detection limit （initial bacterial count） ranging from 1 CFU to 10 CFU. The larger bacterial load is， the shorter detection time would be. And it will take only 1-2 d for high-contamination vinegar samples. Results also showed that sterilization at 75-85 ℃ for 5-15 min could effectively kill the gas-producing spoilage bacteria that is recalcitrant to common preservatives within their maximum allowable concentrations. The verification was in agreement with the actual situation.ConclusionThe constructed method features fast， specific， accurate， and sensitive. This study sheds light on detection and comprehensive control of gas-producing spoilage bacteria for vinegar enterprises.

Abstract. Background:. Growth retardation is a common complication of chronic kidney disease in children, which can be partially relieved after renal transplantation. This study aimed to develop and validate a predictive model for growth patterns of children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) after kidney transplantation using machine learning algorithms based on genomic and clinical variables. Methods:. A retrospective cohort of 110 children who received kidney transplants between May 2013 and September 2021 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were recruited for whole-exome sequencing (WES), and another 39 children who underwent transplant from October 2021 to March 2022 were enrolled for external validation. Based on previous studies, we comprehensively collected 729 height-related single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in exon regions. Seven machine learning algorithms and 10-fold cross-validation analysis were employed for model construction. Results:. The 110 children were divided into two groups according to change in height-for-age Z-score. After univariate analysis, age and 19 SNPs were incorporated into the model and validated. The random forest model showed the best prediction efficacy with an accuracy of 0.8125 and an area under curve (AUC) of 0.924, and also performed well in the external validation cohort (accuracy, 0.7949; AUC, 0.796). Conclusions:. A model with good performance for predicting post-transplant growth patterns in children based on SNPs and clinical variables was constructed and validated using machine learning algorithms. The model is expected to guide clinicians in the management of children after renal transplantation, including the use of growth hormone, glucocorticoid withdrawal, and nutritional supplementation, to alleviate growth retardation in children with ESRD.

Abstract To improve the recognition effect of the folk dance image recognition model and put forward new suggestions for teachers’ teaching strategies, this study introduces a Deep Neural Network (DNN) to optimize the folk dance training image recognition model. Moreover, a corresponding teaching strategy optimization scheme is proposed according to the experimental results. Firstly, the image preprocessing and feature extraction of DNN are optimized. Secondly, classification and target detection models are established to analyze the folk dance training images, and the C-dance dataset is used for experiments. Finally, the results are compared with those of the Naive Bayes classifier, K-nearest neighbor, decision tree classifier, support vector machine, and logistic regression models. The results of this study provide new suggestions for teaching strategies. The research results indicate that the optimized classification model shows a significant improvement in classification accuracy across various aspects such as action complexity, dance types, movement speed, dance styles, body dynamics, and rhythm. The accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 scores have increased by approximately 14.7, 11.8, 13.2, and 17.4%, respectively. In the study of factors such as different training images, changes in perspective, lighting conditions, and noise interference, the optimized model demonstrates a substantial enhancement in recognition accuracy and robustness. These findings suggest that, compared to traditional models, the optimized model performs better in identifying various dances and movements, enhancing the accuracy and stability of classification. Based on the experimental results, strategies for optimizing the real-time feedback and assessment mechanism in folk dance teaching, as well as the design of personalized learning paths, are proposed. Therefore, this study holds the potential to be applied in the field of folk dance, promoting the development and innovation of folk dance education.

Examining the cryogenic-temperature characteristics of composites is imperative for ensuring the sustained functionality of their components in environments with cryogenic temperatures. The plastic deformation and fracture mechanisms of a novel Al/Mg bimetal composite (5052/AZ31B alloys bimetal composite) fabricated by the corrugated and flat rolling were investigated at cryogenic temperatures in this study. A mixture-law constitutive model was established to describe the flow behaviour of each constitute alloy of bimetal composite based on the stress-strain relationships obtained from cryogenic tensile tests, which were performed on a universal testing machine equipped with a liquid nitrogen in the temperatures of −180 °C, −80 °C and room temperature (RT) at the strain rate of 0.001 s−1. It is found that the elastic modulus of the 5052/AZ31B bimetal composite experiences minimal impact at lower temperatures, whereas the flow stress shows an increase with decreasing temperature. The AZ31B layer exhibits a quasi-disintegrated brittle fracture and reduced elongation to failure, leading to premature fracture, while the 5052 layer demonstrates a mixed tough-brittle fracture and increased plasticity, resulting in a two-stage fracture process with AZ31B fracturing earlier at the temperature of −180 °C. These findings align with finite element simulations, validating the intricate interplay between bimetal composite properties and cryogenic temperature in influencing fracture behaviour.

Twins play a crucial role in elucidating the structure and deformation characteristics of materials. However, in materials with low-symmetry crystal structures, solving the twin relationships remains a challenging task. In this study, we propose a general method for determining twin elements K1, η1, K2, and η2, which are essential for twin analysis. The proposed method involves three main steps: (1) representing misorientation data measured by electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in matrix form, (2) identifying additional 180° rotation elements related to twin elements K1 or η1 by traversing all symmetrically equivalent misorientations, and (3) using a minimum and crystal structure-dependent uniform shear as the constraint to determine the other twin elements (K2andη2). By combining the experimental data and the proposed method, we systematically analyze the complex twin relationships of Cu–Zn–Al shape memory alloys (SMAs) with monoclinic martensite (M18R). This methodology has been demonstrated to be effective and possesses broad applicability.

Wear is the key issue hindering the further application of titanium alloy. The aim of this work was to explore the strengthening mechanisms for the wear properties of Ti–15Mo alloys via laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) by the La2O3 addition. The results showed that the grain of LPBF-fabricated Ti–15Mo/La2O3 composites was obviously refined after La2O3 addition by heterogeneous nucleation and inhibited grain growth. The average grain size of Ti–15Mo/(0.2 wt%, 0.4 wt%, 0.6 wt% and 0.8 wt%) La2O3 composites is 11.75 μm, 10.85 μm, 10.39 μm, and 9.99 μm, respectively. The wear rate of Ti–15Mo/(0.2 wt% - 0.8 wt%) La2O3 composites is 1.5916 × 10−4mm3N−1m−1, 1.2885 × 10−4mm3N−1m−1, 0.6821 × 10−4mm3N−1m−1 and 0.6063 × 10−4mm3N−1m−1, respectively. Thanks to the combined effect of fine grain strengthening, grain boundary strengthening, precipitation strengthening, dispersion strengthening and dislocation strengthening, the wear resistance of the obtained sample exceeds that of the LPBF-fabricated Ti–15Mo sample more than five times and that of the LPBF-fabricated CP-Ti sample more than ten times.

Diethyl aminoethyl hexanoate (DA-6) serving as a non-toxic and low-cost plant growth regulator is used for improving plant growth and stress tolerance, but the DA-6-mediated organic metabolites remodeling in relation to drought tolerance is not well documented in crops. The aims of the present study were to evaluate impacts of DA-6 on physiological functions including osmotic adjustment, photochemical efficiency, oxidative damage, and cell membrane stability as well as organic metabolites remodeling in white clover (Trifolium repens) leaves based on the analysis of metabolomics. Plants were foliarly treated with or without DA-6 and subsequently exposed to drought stress for 8 days. Results demonstrated that foliar application of DA-6 (1.5 mM) could significantly ameliorate drought tolerance, which was linked with better leaf water status, photosynthetic performance, and cell membrane stability as well as lower oxidative injury in leaves. Metabolic profiling of organic metabolites identified a total of 59 metabolites including 17 organic acids, 20 sugars, 12 alcohols, and 10 other metabolites. In response to drought stress, the DA-6 induced accumulations of many sugars and sugar alcohols (erythrulose, arabinose, xylose, inosose, galactose, talopyranose, fucose, erythritol, and ribitol), organic acids (propanoic acid, 2,3-dihydroxybutanoic acid, palmitic acid, linolenic acid, and galacturonic acid), and other metabolites (2-oxazoline, silane, and glycine) in white clover. These altered metabolites induced by the DA-6 could perform critical functions in maintenances of osmo-protection, osmotic adjustment, redox homeostasis, cell wall structure and membrane stability when white clover suffered from water deficit. In addition, the campesterol and stigmasterol significantly accumulated in all plants in spite of the DA-6 pretreatment under drought stress, which could be an important adaptive response to water deficit due to beneficial roles of those two metabolites in regulating cell membrane stability and antioxidant defense. Present findings provide new evidence of DA-6-regulated metabolic homeostasis contributing to drought tolerance in leguminous plants.

Abstract Photonic crystals are a new class of optical microstructure materials characterized by a dielectric constant that varies periodically with space and features a photonic bandgap. Inspired by natural photonic crystals such as butterfly scales, a series of artificial photonic crystals are developed for use in integrated photonic platforms, biosensing, communication, and other fields. Among them, colloidal photonic crystals (CPCs) have gained widespread attention due to their excellent optical properties and advantages, such as ease of preparation and functionalization. This work reviews the classification and self‐assembly principles of CPCs, details some of the latest biomedical applications of large‐area, high‐quality CPCs prepared using advanced self‐assembly methods, summarizes the existing challenges in CPC construction and application, and anticipates future development directions and optimization strategy. With further advancements, CPCs are expected to play a more critical role in biosensors, drug delivery, cell research, and other fields, bringing significant benefits to biomedical research and clinical practice.

ObjectiveWhile infertility affects about 15% of women during their reproductive years, its long-term impact on stroke mortality after this period remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the association between infertility and stroke mortality in women using data from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) cancer screening trial.MethodsWe analyzed data from 75,778 female participants aged 55–74 years with a median follow-up of 16.84 years. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for stroke mortality, adjusting for potential confounders.ResultsAmong participants, 14.53% reported infertility. During follow-up, 1,159 women died from stroke. Compared to women without infertility, those with infertility had a higher risk of stroke mortality (HR 1.21, 95% CI 1.04–1.41, p = 0.016). This association remained statistically significant after adjusting for age, race, education level, marital status, smoking status, body mass index, history of hypertension, history of heart attack, history of diabetes mellitus, birth control pill use, hormone replacement therapy, endometriosis, first menstrual period and pregnancy history (HR 1.20, 95% CI 1.02–1.42, p = 0.029). Sensitivity and subgroup analyses yielded consistent results.ConclusionThe findings of this study indicate that infertility is associated with an increased risk of stroke mortality in women. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

Abstract The Xinjiang unearthed brocade as a significant cultural heritage records the historical and cultural information of diverse ethnic groups, and it also influences cultural product development. However, the existing knowledge concerning these brocades is disorganized, fragmented, and incomplete, hindering a comprehensive understanding of their intricate relationships. To address these issues, this study has developed an integrated ontological model for Xinjiang’s unearthed brocades (XJUBontology). By applying Conceptual Reference Model of International Committee for Documentation (CIDOC CRM) ontology and the Remanufactured Process Planning (RPP) approach, this XJUBontology comprises knowledge about both the brocades and their cultural derivatives, and knowledge in these two domains are able to be organized and refined. The implementation of XJUBontology in Protégé and validation via SPARQL queries not only centralize and manage Xinjiang unearthed brocade-related knowledge but also establish vital connections among this fragmented information. The contribution is to help in associating, managing, and sharing knowledge in the domain of Xinjiang unearthed brocades, providing a framework for establishing related data repository, and helping researchers, apparel and accessories designers, museums, and other cultural and tourism institutions to access a more systematic information to assist their works.

Agronomic measures are the key to promote the sustainable development of ratoon rice by reducing the damage from mechanical crushing to the residual stubble of the main crop, thereby mitigating the impact on axillary bud sprouting and yield formation in ratoon rice. This study used widely recommended conventional rice Jiafuzhan and hybrid rice Yongyou 2640 as the test materials to conduct a four-factor block design field experiment in a greenhouse of the experimental farm of Fujian Agricultural and Forestry University, China from 2018 to 2019. The treatments included fertilization and no fertilization, alternate wetting and drying irrigation and continuous water flooding irrigation, and plots with and without artificial crushing damage on the rice stubble. At the same time, a 13C stable isotope in-situ detection technology was used to fertilize the pot experiment. The results showed significant interactions among varieties, water management, nitrogen application and stubble status. Relative to the long-term water flooding treatment, the treatment with sequential application of nitrogen fertilizer coupled with moderate field drought for root-vigor and tiller promotion before and after harvesting of the main crop, significantly improved the effective tillers from low position nodes. This in turn increased the effective panicles per plant and grains per panicle by reducing the influence of artificial crushing damage on rice stubble and achieving a high yield of the regenerated rice. Furthermore, the partitioning of 13C assimilates to the residual stubble and its axillary buds were significantly improved at the mature stage of the main crop, while the translocation rate to roots and rhizosphere soil was reduced at the later growth stage of ratooning season rice. This was triggered by the metabolism of hormones and polyamines at the stem base regulated by the interaction of water and fertilizer at this time. We therefore suggest that to achieve a high yield of ratoon rice with low stubble height under mechanized harvesting, the timely application of nitrogen fertilizer is fundamental, coupled with moderate field drying for root-vigor preservation and tiller promotion before and after the mechanical harvesting of the main crop.

Postoperative pain seriously affects the recovery process of patients, resulting in prolonged hospital stay and increased care costs. Appropriate application of patient-controlled analgesia devices can effectively relieve perioperative acute pain. In 1994 patient-controlled analgesia began to be used in Peking Union Medical College Hospital, and the Acute Pain Service Working Group was established in 2004. With the cooperation of anesthesiologists and specialist nurses, the group jointly has implemented the whole process and standardized management based on patient-controlled analgesia, and constantly improved and innovated working methods, laying a solid foundation for the development of postoperative pain management. This paper systematically reviews and summarizes the work from the aspects of clinical focus, nursing management experience, promotion and dissemination of pain treatment concepts, and development of acute pain service model under the new situation, with the hope of providing valuable reference for comprehensively strengthening pain management in the process of diagnosis and treatment, and enhancing patients' satisfaction with perioperative analgesia services.

White clover (Trifolium repens) is vulnerable to drought stress. In response to abiotic stress, plants are regulated by NAC transcription factors. The NAC in white clover has not been thoroughly documented until recently. We have identified one white clover NAC transcription factor called TrNAC002. TrNAC002’s coding sequence is localized to specific regions on the 3P and 5O chromosomes of white clover and is part of a single-copy nuclear gene. Subcellular localization demonstrates that TrNAC002 is located in the nucleus, while the transcriptional activity assay indicates its transcriptional activity. Arabidopsis plants overexpressing TrNAC002 (OE) exhibit enlarged leaves and increased lateral root growth compared to the wild type (WT). Additionally, the expression levels of the shoot apical meristem (SAM), WUSCHEL (WUS), DNA-binding protein (DBP), and auxin-induced in root cultures3 (AIR3) genes are significantly higher in OE as compared to WT. These findings imply that TrNAC002 could promote vegetative growth by increasing the expression of these genes. Under natural drought stress, OE can survive in dry soil for a longer period of time than WT. Furthermore, OE exhibits a lower level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) level and a higher content of flavonoids than WT. This is also positively correlated with an increased flavonoid content. In white clover, the expression of TrNAC002, chalcone synthase (CHS), and chalcone isomerase (CHI) in leaves demonstrates significant upregulation after drought stress and ABA treatment, as does the flavonoid content. However, the pTRV-VIGS experiment suggests that pTRV2-TrNAC002 white clover shrinks compared to the Mock and Water controls. Additionally, pTRV2-TrNAC002 white clover displays a statistically higher malondialdehyde (MDA) content than the Mock and Water controls, and a significantly lower level of total antioxidant activities, flavonoid content, CHS and CHI relative expression than that of the Mock and Water controls. These findings indicate that TrNAC002 responds to drought and modulates flavonoid biosynthesis in white clover. This study is the first to suggest that TrNAC002 likely responds to drought via ABA and enhances plant drought resistance by synthesizing flavonoids.

Combining high hardness carbide of high vanadium cast iron with nano pearlite, which has high strength and toughness, represents an innovative attempt to explore a new technology for preparing high vanadium alloy. In this study, a high-silicon high-vanadium wear-resistance alloy (HSHVWRA) was designed, incorporating a nano pearlite matrix and carbides composite structure. By increasing the vanadium content, numerous high hardness micrometer vanadium carbides were obtained The CCT curve was shifted to the left by increasing the silicon content in the alloy. Subsequently, the nano pearlite matrix was obtained by air cooling after austenite at 1100 °C. After heat treatment, the inter lamellar spacing of pearlite decreased from 500 to 1500 nm in the as-cast state to 50–200 nm. The heat treatment process significantly improved the wear resistance of HSHVWRA by obtaining a nano pearlite matrix. The weight loss due to abrasive wear in the nano pearlite matrix-based HSHVWRA was reduced by 26.9 % compared to the traditional micro-pearlite matrix-based alloy. In the impact wear test, the wear weight of the nano pearlite material was reduced by 63.7 % compared to the cast sample, resulting in a maximum relative wear resistance of 2.75. Nano pearlite has the ability to prevent crack initiation between the matrix and carbides and inhibit the propagation of fatigue cracks, thereby enhancing the fatigue resistance of the matrix. Additionally, with a higher number of layered sheets, nano pearlite can effectively withstand impact loads. Meanwhile, submicron carbides dispersed in the nano pearlite matrix contribute to a second phase strengthening role and cooperate with nano pearlite to enhance the wear resistance of the materials.

High entropy alloy (HEA) has high hardness, strength and excellent friction and wear properties, which also has broad application prospects in wear-resistant and high temperature coating, aerospace and military fields. However, one third of the world's total energy is consumed by various forms of friction or wear and tear, causing untold economic losses each year. The important way to reduce the wear is to increase the hardness of materials. The surface modification of high entropy alloy is an effective way to improve the friction and wear properties. In this paper, the research progress of high entropy alloys at home and abroad in recent years is reviewed, especially the surface treatment technology which can improve the friction and wear properties of high entropy alloys is introduced, and the influence of surface strengthening treatment on the friction and wear properties and mechanism of high entropy alloys is discussed. Surface treatment mainly includes surface mechanical strengthening, surface heat treatment strengthening, chemical heat treatment strengthening, surface laser cladding treatment, surface plasma treatment, surface electron beam treatment, vapor deposition technology. The purpose of this work is to provide a reference for the research on the friction and wear property of high entropy alloy, to provide corresponding ideas for the possible industrial demand in the future, and to provide the key research direction for future application.

Abstract Ionically conductive fibers have promising applications; however, complex processing techniques and poor stability limit their practicality. To overcome these challenges, we proposed a stress-induced adaptive phase transition strategy to conveniently fabricate self-encapsulated hydrogel-based ionically conductive fibers (se-HICFs). se-HICFs can be produced simply by directly stretching ionic hydrogels with ultra-stretchable networks (us-IHs) or by dip-drawing from molten us-IHs. During this process, stress facilitated the directional migration and evaporation of water molecules in us-IHs, causing a phase transition in the surface layer of ionic fibers to achieve self-encapsulation. The resulting sheath-core structure of se-HICFs enhanced mechanical strength and stability while endowing se-HICFs with powerful non-contact electrostatic induction capabilities. Mimicking nature, se-HICFs were woven into spider web structures and camouflaged in wild environments to achieve high spatiotemporal resolution 3D depth-of-field sensing for different moving media. This work opens up a convenient route to fabricate stable functionalized ionic fibers.

Abstract Harvesting biomechanical energy from cardiac motion is an attractive power source for implantable bioelectronic devices. Here, we report a battery-free, transcatheter, self-powered intracardiac pacemaker based on the coupled effect of triboelectrification and electrostatic induction for the treatment of arrhythmia in large animal models. We show that the capsule-shaped device (1.75 g, 1.52 cc) can be integrated with a delivery catheter for implanting in the right ventricle of a swine through the intravenous route, which effectively converts cardiac motion energy to electricity and maintains endocardial pacing function during the three-week follow-up period. We measure in vivo open circuit voltage and short circuit current of the self-powered intracardiac pacemaker of about 6.0 V and 0.2 μA, respectively. This approach exhibits up-to-date progress in self-powered medical devices and it may overcome the inherent energy shortcomings of implantable pacemakers and other bioelectronic devices for therapy and sensing.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the most common malignant tumor originating from interstitial cells in the gastrointestinal tract. Different grades require various surgical interventions and adjuvant treatments, which are closely linked to the patient’s prognosis. The current clinical risk stratification method relies heavily on the identification and counting of mitotic figures, which serve as important criteria. However, manual evaluation of pathological slides in clinical practice is often limited by the shortage of experienced clinicians and the subjectivity in interpreting results. Therefore, in this paper, we propose an enhanced YOLOv8 network framework for the automatic detection of mitotic cells in GIST. We substituted the backbone network with VanillaNet, known for its simplified model complexity in feature extraction. This change facilitated the identification of specific targets and improved network performance. Additionally, we introduced the Advanced Feature Pyramid Network (AFPN) to further enhance the model’s accuracy. Experimental results show that the proposed model achieved an accuracy of 0.816, a recall rate of 0.858, and an F1-score of 0.837 on the test dataset. It demonstrates superior efficacy in identifying mitotic cells, outperforming the original YOLOv8 model in overall performance. This augmented model has the potential to significantly reduce reading time while ensuring consistent diagnostic results, thereby greatly improving diagnostic efficiency. Future large-scale validation is necessary for the clinical adoption of this model.

Objective Parry⁃Romberg syndrome is a rare disease characterized by unilateral facial progressive atrophy accompanied by ipsilateral intracranial lesions and/or cerebral atrophy, this article is aimed to analyze the clinical, radiological and pathological features of patients with Parry ⁃ Romberg syndrome and explore the microvascular mechanism in the pathogenesis of the disease, to provide reference for understanding the nature of disease. Methods and Results The age of onset was 27 and 17 years old of the 2 patients respectively. Case 1 initially presented with left⁃sided progressive hemifacial atrophy and developed paroxysmal pain, twitch and numbness on the left face. Case 2 presented with a band ⁃ like alopecia in the left fronto⁃parietal area with cutaneous atrophy, and sudden right limb mild hemiplegia. The MRI of Case 1 revealed a space⁃occupying lesion in the left frontal and insular lobes without enhancement. The MRI of Case 2 showed recent lacunar cerebral infarction in left posterior limb of internal capsule. The histopathological examination of Case 1 showed hemorrhage, microvascular thrombosis, fibrinoid necrosis of vascular walls and mild peri⁃microvascular chronic inflammatory cell infiltration, who was irresponsive to prednisone. Case 2 received aspirin and remained free from any cerebrovascular event at his one⁃year⁃ follow up. Conclusions The microvascular mechanism may be the pathogenesis of Parry ⁃ Romberg syndrome, and the antiplatelet therapy may be an optional schedule for stroke prevention and treatment in patients with Parry⁃Romberg syndrome.

Objective To analyze the effect of asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis on the progression of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) in Shunyi cohort community population. Methods A total of 658 residents aged ≥ 35 years old from Shunyi cohort population (from June 2013 to April 2016) were selected as study subjects. Carotid ultrasound was used to assess the presence of baseline carotid plaque, and CSVD progression was assessed by baseline and follow ⁃ up MRI, which included lacunes, cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) and white matter hyperintensity (WMH). Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the effect of carotid plaque on incident lacunes or CMBs, and linear regression was used to analyze the linear correlation between baseline carotid plaque and WMH progression. Results Among 658 people 250 people (37.99%) had carotid plaque at baseline. After (5.57 ± 0.49) years of follow⁃up, 70 people (10.64%) developed incident lacunes and 56 people (8.51%) had incident CMBs. The annual WMH progression was 0.28 (0.14, 0.55) cm3/year. Logistic regression analysis showed the presence of baseline carotid plaque significantly predicted incident CMBs (OR = 2.411, 95%CI: 1.240- 4.687; P = 0.009). Conclusions Prensence of carotid plaque increased CMBs progression during five⁃year follow⁃up, but the influence on lacunes and WMH progression requires a longer cumulative effect.

Objective To examine short-term outcomes and long-term survival of elderly patients (aged over 80 years) with colorectal cancer who received laparoscopic versus open surgery. Methods A total of 313 patients over 80 years old with colorectal cancer who underwent radical surgery were included.According to the surgical method, all patients were divided into open-surgery group (n=143) and laparoscopic surgery group (n=170).Baseline data were balanced between the two groups by using propensity score matching.Kaplan-Meier was used to draw the survival curve, and survival was compared by Log rank tests.Cox proportional risk model was used to analyze the effects of all factors on overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Results After matching, 93 patients were included in each group.The mean intraoperative blood loss, the incidence of overall postoperative complications and gradeⅠ-Ⅱ complications in the laparoscopic surgery group were significantly lower than those in the open surgery group (all P < 0.05).The time to first flatus, the time to oral feeding, and postoperative hospital stays in the laparoscopic surgery group were significantly shorter than those in the open surgery group (all P < 0.05).The mean number of lymph-node dissection was also significantly higher in the laparoscopic surgery group than in the open surgery group (P=0.030).Patients in both groups had similar 5-year OS (P=0.594) and DFS (P=0.295).Multivariate Cox prognostic analysis showed that CEA level > 5 ng/ml, pathological TNM stage Ⅲ, and perineural invasion were independent risk factors for poor OS and DFS. Conclusion Compared with open surgery, laparoscopic surgery can provide better short-term advantages and similar long-term outcomes for colorectal cancer patients over 80 years of age.

The development of high-energy continuous wave (CW) laser has enabled the generation of output powers ranging from 300 to 500 kW. Understanding the ablation mechanism of CW lasers at high laser fluence is crucial for the design of effective high-energy laser protection materials. We note that the particle-like impurities present in the protective coating material can induce defects on the ceramic-like target surface during high-energy CW laser ablation, which can alter the laser absorptivity and manifest a completely different ablation mechanism. Here, we systematically investigate the mechanism of high-energy CW laser ablation of alumina ceramic, with a specific focus on the roles of defect induction, energy transfer, and impact sputtering in the dynamic ablation of target. Specifically, the transient processes between high-energy CW laser and ceramic target will be investigated in terms of the evolution results of the ablation region, the microscopic characteristics of the ablated material, the high time-resolved on-line monitoring, and the multiphase hydrodynamics simulation. Finally, the transparent property of molten alumina ceramic to laser is proved to allow for penetrating damage to ceramic-metal composites.

The bionic-inspired Ti–15Mo gradient porous structures were fabricated by selective laser melting (SLM) for the first time in this work. The compression-compression fatigue behavior of functional gradient Ti–15Mo porous structures is investigated, with emphasis on understanding the relationship between fatigue performance and microstructure. The microstructure of the samples was analyzed both before and after fatigue, and correlated with the fatigue performance. During cyclic deformation, the pillars exhibited a non-uniform local stress distribution, primarily attributed to the disparity of gradient density distribution. Fatigue cracks typically initiate at the place with the defects and subsequently propagate until structural damage occurs. Fatigue ratcheting effect occurs throughout the entire fatigue process while the fatigue damage typically initiates at a later stage in the fatigue process. The results indicated that the fatigue performance of the lateral gradient (LG) structure was superior to that of the homogeneous structure, while the vertical gradient (VG) structure exhibited the poorest fatigue performance.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) grown in acidic soils is often affected by phosphorus (P) deficiency, which results in reduced mineral nutrient content and forage quality. In this context, the effects of phosphorus (P) fertiliser remain unclear. In this study, we analysed the effects of P application on mineral nutrient content and forage quality in aluminium (Al)-sensitive (Longzhong) and Al-tolerant (Trifecta) alfalfa cultivars cultivated in two acidic soil environments. Mineral nutrient content and quality were affected by genotype, soil type, and P treatment concentration (p < 0.001). In limestone soil, for Longzhong and Trifecta, the optimal potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) contents as well as crude protein content (CP) and ether extract (EE) values were observed at 20 mg P kg−1, that of the P content was observed at 40 mg P kg−1, and the minimum neutral detergent fibre (NDF) acid detergent lignin (ADL) values were observed at 40 mg P kg−1. In yellow soil, the maximum K, Ca, Mg, and P contents in Longzhong and Trifecta were observed at 40 mg P kg−1, whereas the maximum CP, EE, and ADL values were observed at 20 mg P kg−1. Our study provides an empirically based framework for optimising alfalfa fertilisation programmes in acidic soils.