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Abstract Cancer is a disease with molecular heterogeneity that is closely related to gene mutations and epigenetic changes. The principal histological subtype of lung cancer is non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) is a kind of RNA that is without protein coding function, playing a critical role in the progression of cancer. In this research, the regulatory mechanisms of lncRNA phosphorylase kinase regulatory subunit alpha 1 antisense RNA 1 (PHKA1‐AS1) in the progression of NSCLC were explored. The increased level of N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) modification in NSCLC caused the high expression of PHKA1‐AS1. Subsequently, high‐expressed PHKA1‐AS1 significantly facilitated the proliferation and metastasis of NSCLC cells, and these effects could be reversed upon the inhibition of PHKA1‐AS1 expression, both in vivo and in vitro. Additionally, the target protein of PHKA1‐AS1 was actinin alpha 4 (ACTN4), which is known as an oncogene. Herein, PHKA1‐AS1 could enhance the protein stability of ACTN4 by inhibiting its ubiquitination degradation process, thus exerting the function of ACTN4 in promoting the progress of NSCLC. In conclusion, this research provided a theoretical basis for further exploring the potential mechanism of NSCLC metastasis and searching novel biomarkers related to the pathogenesis and progression of NSCLC.

Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is an autosomal dominant genetic condition of the skeletal muscle triggered by inhaled general anesthetic agents or succinylcholine and associated with a hypermetabolic state and skeletal muscle rigidity. Tachycardia, increased carbon dioxide production, hypercarbia, hyperthermia, acidosis, hyperkalemia, cardiac arrhythmias, muscle rigidity, and rhabdomyolysis are common symptoms of MH. As the progression of the syndrome could be rapid or less evident, even experienced physicians have difficulty in diagnosing MH, which can lead to delays in treatment and increased mortality. We report a rare case of a 36-year-old man, who underwent open reduction and internal fixation of the left clavicle after inhaled anesthetics. The patient developed dyspnea, hypotension, unremitting hyperthermia, tachycardia, and elevated serum myoglobin, and finally died of pyemia and disseminated intravascular coagulation. We reviewed the process of disease development, summarized the steps of diagnosis, and improved genetic testing. Exome sequencing revealed a new mutation c.8519G>A (p.arg2840 GLN) in the RYR1 gene that could be associated with MH. The gene mutation was also found in his daughter’s genetic test. This case emphasized the importance of the awareness of MH and its atypical clinical symptoms. The presence of dyspnea, hypotension, unremitting hyperthermia, tachycardia, and raised myoglobin in serum might further strengthen the clinical diagnosis of suspected MH.

During the installation of a cable oil terminal, it is easy to leave scratches on the main insulation owing to uneven forces when removing the semi-conductive layer. Scratch defects cause field intensity distortion, which leads to partial discharge and insulation failure. This study attempts to establish a simulation model of a 220 kV cable terminal to determine the effect of the length, depth, and position of the scratch on the maximum field strength at the defect. The simulation and experiment demonstrate that the maximum field strength at the defect increases with greater length and decreases as the depth increases. Therefore, a prediction method for the terminal defect field strength based on a multivariate nonlinear regression model was proposed in this study. When the defect is located at 20mmfromthe root of the stress cone, the maximum field strength is 14.5 MV/ m when the length and depth are 2mmand 1mm, respectively. The maximum field strength at the defect was predicted based on the length, depth, and position of the scratch defect to evaluate the severity of the defect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent studies have established a correlation between folate levels and the incidence of cervical cancer. Given that Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a primary etiological factor in the development of cervical cancer, the nature of the relationship between dietary folate intake and HPV infection remains an area of ongoing investigation. Methods: To investigate the association between dietary folate intake and HPV infection, this study utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning from 2005 to 2016. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to examine the potential associations. Furthermore, the use of restricted cubic splines (RCS) facilitated the exploration of any non-linear correlations. Additionally, subgroup analyses were used to explore this correlation in different populations. Results: The study encompassed a total of 6747 women aged between 18 and 59 years. For every one mcg increase in folate intake, the incidence of HPV infection is reduced by 1% (OR = 0.99, p<0.05). Besides, folate intake was categorized into quartiles as follows: Q1 (<211 mcg/day), Q2 (211–311 mcg/day), Q3 (311–448 mcg/day), and Q4 (>448 mcg/day). The adjusted odds ratios (OR) for the different folate levels were as follows: Q2: 0.94 (95% CI: 0.76–1.16), Q3: 0.84 (95% CI: 0.67–1.04), and Q4: 0.63 (95% CI: 0.49–0.81). The RCS analysis confirmed a nonlinear relationship between dietary folate intake and HPV infection risk. Notably, a significant inverse association was observed when dietary folate intake exceeded 193.847 mcg/day. Conclusions: In conclusion, the findings of this study indicate a negative association between dietary folate intake and the risk of HPV infection. This association demonstrates a nonlinear pattern, particularly evident at higher levels of folate consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer‐derived ceramics (PDCs) have become promising candidates for electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption due to their high thermal stability, design flexibility, and versatile functionality. However, the inevitable porous structure formed during pyrolysis greatly limits its mechanical performance. In this work, Ni–Fe–C/HfO2/SiCN ceramic was prepared by simultaneously doping nickel and iron‐containing metal‐organic framework (Ni–Fe–MOF) nanoparticles and hafnium dioxide (HfO2) nanoparticles into the ceramic precursor, thereby improving its intrinsic brittle structure while granting it extraordinary EMW absorption performance. The flexural strength, flexural modulus, and Vickers hardness of Ni–Fe–C/HfO2/SiCN ceramic were 101.06 MPa, 40.19 GPa, and 13.31 GPa, respectively. These values were 1 132%, 749%, and 191% higher than those of the initial SiCN ceramics. In addition, by optimizing the content of Ni–Fe–MOF, the Ni–Fe–C/HfO2/SiCN ceramic demonstrated satisfying EMW absorption performance from 25°C to 500°C. At 25°C, the minimum reflection loss (RLmin) and effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) were −54.07 dB and 3.95 GHz, covering 94% of the X‐band at a thickness of 2.27 mm. At 500°C, the RLmin and EAB were −33.72 dB and 1.82 GHz, still covering 43% of the X‐band at a thickness of only 1.65 mm. This work provides valuable insight into the integration of mechanical and EMW absorbing functions of PDC materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inter-turn short circuit fault (ISCF) is the main fault type of dry-type air-core reactors (DARs), and the reactor burnout event caused by winding ISCF seriously threatens the safe and stable operation of the electric power system. In order to effectively curb the further worsening of ISCF in DARs, a fault detection method based on frequency response analysis was proposed. First, the effect of ISCF on the frequency response curve of the windings was investigated based on the distributed parameter model of DARs. Then, four sets of eigenvalues were proposed for ISCF diagnosis based on the influence law and curve data analysis theory. Finally, based on the eigenvalues, the support vector machine model optimized by the sparrow search algorithm was used to effectively classify the degree of ISCF of the reactor, and the accuracy reached 96%. Furthermore, a test platform was built based on the theoretical analysis for experimental verification, and the test results are consistent with the simulation results. Hence, the method proposed in this paper could effectively classify the ISCF and its severity in DARs. The research in this paper could provide effective guidance for the diagnosis of ISCF in DARs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer is a disease with molecular heterogeneity that is closely related to gene mutations and epigenetic changes. The principal histological subtype of lung cancer is non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) is a kind of RNA that is without protein coding function, playing a critical role in the progression of cancer. In this research, the regulatory mechanisms of lncRNA phosphorylase kinase regulatory subunit alpha 1 antisense RNA 1 (PHKA1‐AS1) in the progression of NSCLC were explored. The increased level of N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) modification in NSCLC caused the high expression of PHKA1‐AS1. Subsequently, high‐expressed PHKA1‐AS1 significantly facilitated the proliferation and metastasis of NSCLC cells, and these effects could be reversed upon the inhibition of PHKA1‐AS1 expression, both in vivo and in vitro. Additionally, the target protein of PHKA1‐AS1 was actinin alpha 4 (ACTN4), which is known as an oncogene. Herein, PHKA1‐AS1 could enhance the protein stability of ACTN4 by inhibiting its ubiquitination degradation process, thus exerting the function of ACTN4 in promoting the progress of NSCLC. In conclusion, this research provided a theoretical basis for further exploring the potential mechanism of NSCLC metastasis and searching novel biomarkers related to the pathogenesis and progression of NSCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We employed a novel technique combining wire and powder co-delivery to fabricate a functionally gradient material (FGM) structure consisting of Al-based composites reinforced with alternating TiC and B4C particles. The TiC content increases from the bottom up and then decreases, while the B4C content gradually increases, resulting in a continuous gradient structure. Correspondingly, the grain size of the Al matrix also changes with the variation of ceramic particles, forming a dual-gradient change trend. This FGM structure exhibits a multi-performance balance of strength, ductility, anti-wear and damping properties, making it a promising candidate for the cost-effective application in multi-performance heterostructured components. This article reports a novel technique to manufacture FGM structures using a wire-and-powder co-delivery method. The resulting dual-gradient TiC-B4C/Al composite structure exhibits a balance of strength, ductility, anti-wear and damping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundOsteoradionecrosis of the hip is a serious complication of radiotherapy that is easily overlooked by physicians and patients in the early stages. There are relatively few reports on this subject, so there is no clear scientific consensus for the pathogenesis, early diagnosis, and clinical treatment of hip osteoradionecrosis. In this paper, we report two cases of hip osteoradionecrosis and systematically review the related literature.Case PresentationWe report two cases of hip osteoradionecrosis. One patient successfully underwent total hip arthroplasty in our hospital and recovered well postoperatively. Another patient although we offered a variety of surgical options for this patient, the patient was worried that the bone loss would lead to poor prosthesis fixation, resulting in prosthesis loosening and infection, and therefore ultimately refused surgical treatment.ConclusionWith the development of radiological techniques, the incidence of hip osteoradionecrosis is decreasing year by year, but early diagnosis and rational treatment remain challenging. The effects of non-surgical treatment are limited. Early prevention, early detection, and early intervention are crucial to delay or prevent the emergence of more serious complications.

Background: The diseased bile duct in bilobar congenital biliary dilatation is extensive and often requires major hepatectomy or liver transplantation associated with a higher risk. We aimed to evaluate the safety and benefit of modified mesohepatectomy, in comparison with trisectionectomy, to treat bilobar congenital biliary dilatation. Methods: This study included 28 patients with type IV and V bilobar congenital biliary dilatation. An innovative mesohepatectomy comprising the hepatectomy technique beyond the P/U point and bile duct shaping was applied to 14 patients to address the extensively diseased bile duct and difficulty in hepaticojejunostomy. Another 14 patients received trisectionectomy. The perioperative and long‐term outcomes of these patients were compared. Results: The ratio of residual liver volume to standard liver volume in the mesohepatectomy group was higher (78.68% vs. 40.90%, p = 0.005), while the resection rate of the liver parenchyma was lower (28.25% vs. 63.97%, p = 0.000), than that in trisectionectomy group. The mesohepatectomy group had a lower severe complication (>Clavein III, 0% vs. 57.70%, p = 0.019) and incidence of posthepatectomy liver failure (7.14% vs. 42.86%, p = 0.038). No significant difference was observed in blood loss and bile leakage (p > 0.05). All the patients in the mesohepatectomy group achieved optimal results in the long‐term follow‐up. Conclusions: mesohepatectomy provides an efficient treatment option for bilobar congenital biliary dilatation and can achieve radical resection, retain more liver parenchyma, and reduce the difficulty of hepaticojejunostomy, especially for patients that are not eligible for major hepatectomy and liver transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surveying of forestry resources has recently shifted toward precision and real-time monitoring. This study utilized the BlendMask algorithm for accurately outlining tree crowns and introduced a Bayesian neural network to create a model linking individual tree crown size with diameter at breast height (DBH). BlendMask accurately outlines tree crown shapes and contours, outperforming traditional watershed algorithms in segmentation accuracy while preserving edge details across different scales. Subsequently, the Bayesian neural network constructs a model predicting DBH from the measured crown area, providing essential data for managing forest resources and conducting biodiversity research. Evaluation metrics like precision rate, recall rate, F1-score, and mAP index comprehensively assess the method's performance regarding tree density. BlendMask demonstrated higher accuracy at 0.893 compared to the traditional watershed algorithm's 0.721 accuracy based on experimental results. Importantly, BlendMask effectively handles over-segmentation problems while preserving edge details across different scales. Moreover, adjusting parameters during execution allows for flexibility in achieving diverse image segmentation effects. This study addresses image segmentation challenges and builds a model linking crown area to DBH using the BlendMask algorithm and a Bayesian neural network. The average discrepancies between calculated and measured DBH for Ginkgo biloba, Pinus tabuliformis, and Populus nigra varitalica were 0.15 cm, 0.29 cm, and 0.49cm, respectively, all within the acceptable forestry error margin of 1 cm. BlendMask, besides its effectiveness in crown segmentation, proves useful for various vegetation classification tasks like broad-leaved forests, coniferous forests, and grasslands. With abundant training data and ongoing parameter adjustments, BlendMask attains improved classification accuracy. This new approach shows great potential for real-world use, offering crucial data for managing forest resources, biodiversity research, and related fields, aiding decision-making processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal–air batteries including Li–air, Na–air, Al–air, and Zn–air, have received significant scientific and technological interest for at least the last three decades. The interest stems primarily from the fact that the electrochemically active material (O2) in the cathode can in principle be harvested from the surroundings. In practice, however, parasitic reactions with reactive components other than oxygen in dry air passivate the anode, limit cycling stability of air-sensitive (e.g., Li, Na, Al) and electrolyte-sensitive (e.g., Zn) anodes, in most cases obviating the energy-density benefits of harvesting O2 from ambient air. As a compromise, so-called metal–oxygen batteries in which pure O2 is used as the active cathode material have been extensively studied but are understood to be of little practical relevance because of the large infrastructure required to produce the pure O2 stream. Here, we report on the design of solid-ion conductive chemically inert metal interphases that simultaneously protect a metal anode from parasitic reactions with electrolyte components and which facilitate rapid interfacial ion transport. Interphases composed of indium (In) are reported to be of particular interest for protecting Li and Na anodes from passivation in air whereas interphases composed of Sn are shown to prevent chemical and electrochemical corrosion of Zn anodes in alkaline electrolytes. We report further that these protections enable so-called self-sufficient metal–air batteries capable of extended cycling stability in ambient air environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the application of titanium dioxide (TiO2) in the context of the photoelectrochemical photocurrent switching (PEPS) effect has been extensively explored, offering significant potential for TiO2 materials in areas such as logic gates, biosensing, and communications. Ti ions exist in multiple oxidation states, with each state exhibiting different photoelectrochemical activities, playing a crucial role in regulating the PEPS effect. However, research in this area remains relatively scarce. In this study, we utilized a thermal annealing method to modulate the oxidation states of Ti ions in TiO2 nanofilms and investigated their respective PEPS effects. No bipolar behavior of the photocurrent was observed in untreated or low-temperature annealed amorphous TiO2 thin nanofilms, whereas clear bipolar behavior was evident in the high-temperature annealed rutile TiO2. This phenomenon was primarily attributed to the high activity of Ti3+ ions introduced by the phase transition, enabling photogenerated electrons to overcome the semiconductor–electrolyte potential barrier and participate in the reduction reaction within the solution. Furthermore, our research revealed a remarkable phenomenon where the potential barrier between high-temperature annealed rutile TiO2 nanofilms and the electrolyte is influenced by the wavelength of the incident light source, leading to a reversal in current polarity under 254 and 365 nm illumination. This effect was a result of the accumulation of photogenerated electrons at the semiconductor/electrolyte interface, creating an opposing built-in electric field that lowered the potential barrier between the semiconductor and electrolyte. Finally, we constructed externally biased tunable Boolean logic gates based on rutile TiO2 nanofilms, utilizing varying wavelengths of solar-blind ultraviolet light as input sources. This innovative approach offers a pathway toward achieving the multifunctional integration of optoelectronic devices in the post-Moore era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fouling is inevitable on the surfaces of industrial equipment, especially on heat-exchanging surfaces in contact with fluids, which causes water pollution and destroys the ecological environment. In this paper, a novel fouling-removal methodology for plate structure based on cavitation by multi-frequency ultrasonic guided waves is proposed, which can remove fouling on stainless steel plates. A numerical simulation method has been developed to study the acoustic pressure distribution on a steel plate. According to the simulation results, the distribution of sound pressure on the plate under triple-frequency excitation is denser and more prone to cavitation than in single-frequency cases and dual-frequency cases, which improves fouling removal rate. The stainless steel plate is immersed in water for the descaling experiment, and the results show that the fouling removal rates of three water-loaded stainless steel plates under different single-frequency excitation seem unsatisfactory. However, the multi-frequency excitation improves the descaling performance and the removal rate of fouling reaches 80%. This new method can be applied to the surface descaling of large equipment plates, which is of great significance for purifying water quality and protecting the ecological environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]