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The coupling model of temperature-phase transformation-mechanics is constructed in this paper. The effect of solid state phase transformation and different hardening models on the residual stress distribution of S355J2W welded joints have been studied with finite element method (FEM) simulation. The microstructure, micro hardness and residual stress of welded joints are also studied. It has been shown that the microstructure of weld seam is composed of bainite structure with little martensite, while the base metal is ferrites and pearlites. The simulation results by FEM were in good accordance with the X-ray results. The maximum tensile residual stress is 463 MPa in the weld. The tensile residual stress was decreased with the larger distance to the weld. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the droplet transition behavior of narrow gap laser wire filling welding under the condition of changing welding speed and wire feeding speed, and it was observed by high-speed photography. It was found that with the increase of welding speed, the frequency of droplet transfer was reduced and the transition period was prolonged. With the increase of wire feeding speed, the wire was not fully melted and finally inserted into the molten pool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study has analyzed the welding joint of carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) and aluminum alloys. The surface of CFRP and 5083 Al alloy was modified by electroplating with nickel at first. Then the effect of electroplating parameters on coating was explored. SEM images revealed that the coating gradually became well but then began to fall off with the current density and the plating time increased. CFRP and aluminum alloys were brazed at 285 ∘ C and held for 20 s. Shear test was used to evaluate the strength of the joint and the strength was probably 7.56 MPa. SEM and EDS tests showed that there existed diffusion of the elements in the welding process and the joint reached the bonding of atomic or molecular sizes. Thus, this experiment achieved the tight brazing joining between thermoset CFRP and aluminum alloys providing the joining method of the application for CFRP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrogen-induced stress corrosion cracking (HISCC) behavior of SUS301L-MT stainless steel laser-arc hybrid welding (LAHW) joints was investigated using slow strain rate tensile (SSRT) method in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution under different cathodic potentials. With the negative shift of applied potentials from open circle potential (OCP) to −1400 mV SCE , the HISCC susceptibility index ( I SSRT ) decreased from 0.15 (OCP) to 0.06 (−400 mV SCE ), then increased to 0.28 (−1400 mV SCE ). The specimens tested in air and under OCP to −800 mV ruptured in weld metal zone with ductile features of dimples. While with the potential turned more negative, the specimens ruptured in base metal zone with brittle features of transgranular cleave in martensite, intergranular failure and secondary cracks [Chen et al., Int. J. Adv. Manuf. Technol.73, 1695 (2014)]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A 9‐week feeding experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary bile acids (BAs) on juvenile genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT) (Oreochromis niloticus) based on the evaluations of growth performance and parameters relevant to lipid metabolism. Each of five vegetable protein‐based diets containing BAs at a level of 0, 0.05, 0.15, 0.45 or 1.35 g/kg diet was fed to three replicates with 40 fish (8.2 g per fish). The results showed that weight gain (WG) increased significantly with the increase in BAs from 0 to 0.15 g/kg diet and then decreased significantly at a higher BA supplementation. Dietary BAs significantly reduced the crude lipid content in the whole body, muscle and liver tissue of GIFT. Fish fed diet with 1.35 g BAs/kg diet developed serious nuclear migration and vacuolization in hepatocytes. Gall bladder appeared to contain white solid and has fragile capsules. Dietary BA supplementation had significant effects on serum biochemical indices and activities of lipid metabolism enzymes in liver and intestine. In conclusion, dietary bile acid supplementation (0.15 g/kg) can facilitate the lipid metabolism and therefore promote the growth of tilapia. However, overdosed dietary BAs induced gallstone development, disrupted lipid metabolism and depressed the growth performances of GIFT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stress corrosion cracking (SCC) behaviors at slow strain rate tensile (SSRT) test of AISI301L stainless steel laser-MIG welded joints in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution at 20C, 40C and 60C were investigated. The results showed that the weld metal composed of as-cast with -Fe and austenite. The base metal (BM) and heat affected zone (HAZ) contained strain-induced M phase. The stress and strain decreased with the increasing temperature. The SCC cracks are initiated by anodic dissolution at 20C. Besides the anodic dissolution mechanism, hydrogen-induced SCC mechanism had appeared in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution at 40C and 60C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through investigating the corrosion fatigue crack initiation behavior of A7N01P-T4 aluminum alloy welded joints in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution, corrosion fatigue crack initiation life is formulated as and the mechanism of corrosion fatigue crack initiation is proposed. SEM and TEM tests revealed that several corrosion fatigue cracks formed asynchronously and the first crack does not necessarily develop into the leading crack. The uneven reticular dislocations produced by fatigue loading are prone to piling up and tangling near the grain boundaries or the second phases and form the 'high dislocation-density region' (HDDR), which acts as an anode in microbatteries and dissolved to form small crack. Thus the etching pits, HDDR near the grain boundaries and second phases are confirmed as the main causes inducing the initiation of fatigue crack. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stress corrosion cracking is one of the major issues for welded joints of 6005A-T6 aluminum alloy in high-speed trains. High residual stress in the welded joints under corrosion results in stress corrosion cracking. Ultrasonic impact treatment was used to control the residual stress of the welded joints of 6005A-T6 aluminum alloy. Experimental tests show that ultrasonic impact treatment can induce compressive longitudinal and transverse residual stress in the welded joint, harden the surface, and increase the tensile strength of welded joints. Salt-fog corrosion tests were conducted for both an as-welded sample and an ultrasonic impact-treated sample. The surface of the treated sample had far fewer corrosion pits than that of the untreated sample. The treated sample has higher strength and lower tensile residual stress than the untreated sample during corrosion. Therefore, ultrasonic impact treatment is an effective technique to improve the stress corrosion cracking resistance of the welded joints of 6005A-T6 aluminum alloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Al-Zn-Mg aluminum alloy A7N01S-T5 used in high speed trains was designed by orthogonal method. The effect of elemental composition on the tensile properties and fracture toughness has been investigated. The alloys with different compositions were tested by tensile and three point bending tests: the range analysis results showed that the compositions of Zn and Mg were the main factors that affect the strength and plasticity of the alloys. The tensile testing results showed that the #1 alloy Al-4.34Zn-1.43 Mg-0.27Mn-0.13Cr-0.12Zr-0.07Ti had the best combination of tensile strength, yield strength and elongation, which were 415 MPa, 378 MPa and 13.5%, respectively. Furthermore, this alloy showed the excellent ability to hinder the crack propagation with a value of J0.2BL(12) = 23.37 kJ·m-2. The microstructure, grain size, compositions and fracture characteristics of the alloy were investigated by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), backscattered electron diffraction (EBSD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results indicated that the strength is mainly determined by the volume fraction, size and distribution of precipitated n(MgZn2) phase. The discontinuous distribution of n(MgZn2) phase, narrow precipitated-free zones (PFZs) and fine grain size played important roles to obtain high fracture toughness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humidity is a key factor affecting the quality of welded joints for high-speed trains. Welded joints made of A7N01S-T5 aluminum alloy were fabricated under five relative environmental humidity conditions: 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, and 90%. The microstructures of the welded jointswere examined using an optical microscope and porosity quantities were calculated from macrographs using image analysis software. The fatigue strength of the welded joints was measured with high-cycle fatigue testing. It was determined that the microstructures and grain sizes in the weld zone and heat-affected zone (HAZ) were similar under different humidity conditions; however, porosity distribution varied significantly. Porosity quantity increased as humidity increased. The weld joint made under the 90% humidity condition had the highest quantity of porosity, while the weld joint made under the 70% humidity condition had the maximum diameter and area of porosity. The weld joint made under the 70% humidity condition also had the lowest fatigue strength. Fracture morphology of fatigue samples showed that the weld joint made under the 70% humidity condition had brittle fracture, while others showed ductile fracture. Therefore, 70% humidity was determined to be the critical humidity level for welding joints in high humidity environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use a combination of conventional density functional theory (DFT) and post-DFT methods, which include the local density approximation plus Hubbard U (LDA+U), PBE0, and self-consistent GW, to study the electronic properties of Ni-substituted PbTiO3 (Ni-PTO) solid solutions. We find that LDA calculations yield unreasonable band structures, especially for Ni-PTO solid solutions that contain an uninterrupted NiO2 layer. Accurate treatment of localized states in transition-metal oxides such as Ni-PTO requires post-DFT methods. B-site Ni/Ti cation ordering is also investigated. The B-site cation arrangement alters the bonding between Ni and O, and therefore strongly affects the band gap (Eg) of Ni-PTO. We predict that Ni-PTO solid solutions should have a direct band gap in the visible light energy range, with polarization similar to the parent PbTiO3. This combination of properties makes Ni-PTO solid solutions promising candidate materials for solar energy conversion devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanostructured and ultrafine WC–17Co coatings have been prepared by means of the high velocity oxyfuel (HVOF) technique. The structures of the two feedstock powders were analysed. The wear resistances at the elevated temperature (600°C) of the two coatings were compared using GCr15 steel as a counterpart in sliding wear tests. The results show that the WC particles are of nanosize, ranging from 50 to 500 nm. Finer subparticles of 2–5 nm are also found, composed of the nanosized WC particles. These subparticles can act as crystallising nuclei and make the grains much finer during the HVOF spraying process, which is beneficial to the formation of nanostructure in the coating. The wear resistance and fracture toughness of the nanostructured coatings at elevated temperatures are better than that of ultrafine coatings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of digital technology and virtual reality technology, virtual reality technology has been paid more and more attention by more and more people. To investigate the application of virtual assembly simulation and improve ergonomics, the study on the interactive assembly operation has been performed. A Comprehensive Evaluation Method for ergonomics based on simulation of virtual assembly operations is proposed, aiming at avoid inadequate working postures, effectively improve assembly quality and shorten the production cycle. In this paper, the virtual assembly technology is introduced to the assembly process of an industrial manipulator. Details of the virtual assembly simulation process of an industrial manipulator design and its implementation are presented. This proposed method provides great support to the design of assembly process and brings about good change in the ergonomics of machine and system visualization. The analysis of this instance plays a guiding role in the optimization of human factors engineering.

To better understand the relationship between molecular structure of the mono-/bis-BF 2 -core compounds and mechanofluoroboron behaviors, two pyridine-based difluoroboron compounds with triphenylamine group (TPA-ts-BF 2 and TPA-ts-2BF 2 ) were designed and successfully synthesized, which TPA-ts-BF 2 including a BF 2 fluorophore and TPA-ts-2BF 2 containing the bisBF 2 fluorophores. Based on the photophysical properties measurements results, it was found that TPA-ts-2BF 2 had more excellent intramolecular charge transfer characteristics than that of TPA-ts-BF 2 , and exhibited significant aggregation-induced emission activity, however, TPA-ts-BF 2 displayed typical aggregation-caused quenching phenomenon. Meanwhile, the emission spectrum of the solid powders of TPA-ts-2BF 2 was red-shifted 52 nm after grinding, that of TPA-ts-BF 2 was red-shifted 46 nm, which was resulted from crystalline state switching to amorphous state. According to the theoretical calculations, we conjectured that TPA-ts-BF 2 with uncoordinated amide linkage moiety had a tendency to forming a more twisted conformance and higher molecular polarity, which made that mechanofluorochromic behavior was worse than that of TPA-ts-2BF 2 . Additionally, TPA-ts-2BF 2 was applied to latent fingerprint detection due to its prime aggregation-induced emission property., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The conversion of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to 2,5-diformylfuran (DFF) is a promising approach for enhancing biomass utilization. Nevertheless, traditional methods using noble metal catalysts face challenges due to high costs and poor selectivity towards DFF. Herein, we developed a novel catalytic electrode integrating N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI) into a metal-organic framework on a hydrophilic carbon cloth. This design significantly enhances the selective adsorption of HMF due to stronger hydrogen-bond interaction between the electrode's hydrophilic surface and the C(sp3)-OH group in HMF compared to the C(sp2)=O in DFF. Additionally, the electro-driven dissociation of the NHPI-linker generates stabilized N-Oxyl radicals that promote selective semi-oxidation of HMF under neutral conditions. As a result, this approach achieves a high yield rate of 138.2 mol molcat-1 h-1 with a selectivity of 96.7% for the HMF-to-DFF conversion. This work introduces a novel strategy for designing catalytic electrodes with stabilized N-Oxyl radicals, and offers a promising method for electrocatalytic DFF synthesis, leveraging hydrogen-bond interaction between electrode surface and HMF., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

The accessory parotid gland (APG) is a distinct salivary tissue in the cheek that is located on the masseter muscle and is separate from the main parotid gland. APG tumors (APGTs) are rare. Due to aesthetic reasons and the risk of both malignancy and recurrence, APGTs are best treated with surgical resection. The resection should be conducted carefully due to potential complications such as Stensen duct and facial nerve injuries. Notably, plastic surgeons rarely see APGT cases because they are classified as parotid gland tumors and are thus mostly treated by otorhinolaryngologists. Nonetheless, because they are subcutaneous tumors in the cheek, patients with APGTs do occasionally visit the plastic surgery outpatient clinic. We report a case of APGT in a 59-year-old woman. She presented in our hospital with a rigid mass in the right cheek that was difficult to diagnose on the basis of clinical findings. After magnetic resonance imaging, APGT was considered along with several other possibilities. However, it was only diagnosed after histopathology on the resected tissues. Thus, plastic surgeons treating subcutaneous tumors of the cheek should consider APGT in their differential diagnosis and seek an accurate preoperative diagnosis, because this will help avoid postoperative complications., Competing Interests: The authors have no financial interest to declare in relation to the content of this article., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)

The realization of spontaneous ferroelectricity down to the one-dimensional (1D) limit is both fundamentally intriguing and practically appealing for high-density ferroelectric and nonlinear photonics. However, the 1D vdW ferroelectric materials are not discovered experimentally yet. Here, the first 1D vdW ferroelectric compound NbOI 3 with a high Curie temperature T C  > 450 K and giant second harmonic generation (SHG) is reported. The 1D crystalline chain structure of the NbOI 3 is revealed by cryo-electron microscopy, whereas the 1D ferroelectric order originated from the Nb displacement along the Nb-O chain (b-axis) is confirmed via obvious electrical and ferroelectric hysteresis loops. Impressively, NbOI 3 exhibits a giant SHG susceptibility up to 1572 pm V -1 at a fundamental wavelength of 810 nm, and a further enhanced SHG susceptibility of 5582 pm V -1 under the applied hydrostatic pressure of 2.06 GPa. Combing in situ pressure-dependent X-ray diffraction, Raman spectra measurements, and first-principles calculations, it is demonstrated that the O atoms shift along the Nb─O atomic chain under compression, which can lead to the increased Baur distortion of [NbO 2 I 4 ] octahedra, and hence induces the enhancement of SHG. This work provides a 1D vdW ferroelectric system for developing novel ferroelectronic and photonic devices., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

We previously showed that several polymorphisms in genes encoding pattern recognition receptors that cause amino acid substitutions alter pathogen recognition ability and disease susceptibility in pigs. In this study, we expanded our analysis to a wide range of immune-related genes and investigated polymorphism distribution and its influence on pneumonia in multiple commercial pig populations. Among the polymorphisms in 42 genes causing 634 amino acid substitutions extracted from the swine genome database, 80 in 24 genes were found to have a minor allele frequency of at least 10% in Japanese breeding stock pigs via targeted resequencing. Of these, 62 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 23 genes were successfully genotyped in 862 pigs belonging to four populations with data on pneumonia severity. Association analysis using a generalized linear mixed model revealed that 12 SNPs in nine genes were associated with pneumonia severity. In particular, SNPs in the cellular receptor for immunoglobulin G FCGR2B and the intracellular nucleic acid sensors IFI16 and LRRFIP1 were found to be associated with mycoplasmal pneumonia of swine or porcine pleuropneumonia in multiple populations and may therefore have wide applications in the improvement of disease resistance in pigs. Functional analyses at the cellular and animal levels are required to clarify the mechanisms underlying the effects of these SNPs on disease susceptibility.

Both adsorption and oxidation occur and contribute to organics removal in carbonaceous materials based advanced oxidation processes, while the correction of adsorption and oxidation, and the role of adsorption in the veritable removal of organic are not clear. Herein, we investigated the performance of carbamazepine (CBZ) removal by peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activated by magnetic Fe-doped biochar through two models of pre-adsorption oxidation and synchronous adsorption oxidation processes. The adsorption process was better fitted by pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the adsorption mechanism was obtained by comprehensive analysis of equilibrium adsorption capacities, surface functional groups, specific surface area, pore volume, and I D /I G value. It is noted that pre-adsorption highly inhibited the further oxidation of CBZ in 0.5Fe@LSBC700/PMS system due to the occupied catalytic active sites. Total CBZ removal in pre-adsorption oxidation (45 %) was inferior to synchronous adsorption oxidation (∼100 %), as well as the veritable CBZ oxidation removal of 27 % for pre-adsorption oxidation vs ∼100 % in synchronous adsorption oxidation at 30 min. Oxidation degradation of CBZ based on radical oxidation was identified by quenching experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance measurements. This work is conducive to identifying the role of adsorption during the removal of organics in the adsorption-oxidation process, as well as veritable adsorption and oxidation removal of organics., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The titanium osteosynthesis system used for fixing bone segments after maxillary osteotomy provides reliable outcomes owing to its biocompatibility and adequate strength. In addition, several studies have evaluated the skeletal stability after maxillary osteotomy with fixation using a biodegradable system. However, the indications for applying a biodegradable system after maxillary osteotomy remain controversial. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the long-term skeletal stability of bone segments after maxillary osteotomy with bone fixation using biodegradable and titanium osteosynthesis systems and to assess the usefulness of a biodegradable osteosynthesis system. Patients who underwent Le Fort I osteotomy of the maxilla to correct jaw deformities between April 2008 and March 2021 were included in this study. A total of 45 patients were included, with 28 in the biodegradable osteosynthesis system group and 17 in the titanium group. Cephalometric and computed tomography analyses were performed to evaluate the skeletal stability of the bone segments after maxillary osteotomy with bone fixation using biodegradable or titanium osteosynthesis systems. The maxillary segment was repositioned anteriorly with a clockwise rotation. Skeletal stability was similar between the biodegradable and titanium osteosynthesis systems. Segmental changes occurred mainly in the first 6 months after surgery, and the segment was completely stable between 6 and 12 months after surgery. This study revealed no significant differences in skeletal stability after maxillary osteotomy between the biodegradable and titanium osteosynthesis systems. However, the findings in this study should be interpreted with caution owing to the small sample size and small amount of maxillary-segment movement., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 by Mutaz B. Habal, MD.)

Lymphoma positions as the fifth most common cancer, in the world, reporting remarkable deaths every year. Several promising strategies to counter this disease recently include utilizing small molecules that specifically target the lymphoma cellular proteins to overwhelm its progression. FGFBP1 is a soluble intracellular protein that progresses cancer cell proliferation and is upregulated in several cancers. Therefore, inhibiting FGFBP1 could significantly slow down lymphoma progression through triggering apoptosis. Thus, in this study, a flavonoid B4, isolated from Cajanus cajan , has been investigated for its effects of B4 on lymphoma, specifically as an FGFBP1 inhibitor. B4 could selectively hinder the growth of lymphoma cells by inducing caspase-dependent intrinsic apoptosis through G 1 /S transition phase cell cycle arrest. RNA sequencing analysis revealed that B4 regulates the genes involved in B-cell proliferation and DNA replication by inhibiting FGFBP1 in vitro . B4 increases the survival rate of lymphoma mice. B4 also represses the growth of patient-derived primary lymphoma cells through FGFBP1 inhibition. Drug affinity responsive target stability experimentations authorize that B4 powerfully binds to FGFBP1. The overexpression of FGFBP1 raises the pharmacological sensitivity of B4, supplementing its specific action on lymphoma cells. This study pioneers the estimation of B4 as a possible anticancer agent for lymphoma treatment. These outcomes highlight its selective inhibitory effects on lymphoma cell growth by downregulating FGFBP1 expression through intrinsic apoptosis, causing mitochondrial and DNA damage, ultimately leading to the inhibition of lymphoma progression. These suggest B4 may be a novel FGFBP1 inhibitor for the lymphoma treatment., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Varier, Dan, Li, Liu, Jiang, Linghu, Li, Ben-David, Zhang, Xiao, Gajendran and Shen.)

Integration of atomically thin nonlinear optical (NLO) devices demands an out-of-plane (OP) emission dipole of second harmonic generation (SHG) to enhance the spontaneous emission for nanophotonics. However, the research on van der Waals (vdWs) materials with an OP emission dipole of SHG is still in its infancy. Here, by coupling back focal plane (BFP) imaging with numerical simulations and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we demonstrate that vdWs Janus Nb 3 SeI 7 , ranging from bulk to the monolayer limit, exhibits a dominant OP emission dipole of SHG owing to the breaking of the OP symmetry. Explicitly, even-layered Nb 3 SeI 7 with C 6v symmetry is predicted to exhibit a pure OP emission dipole attributed to the only second-order susceptibility coefficient χ zxx . Meanwhile, although odd-layered Nb 3 SeI 7 with C 3v symmetry has both OP and IP dipole components (χ zxx and χ yyy ), the value of χ zxx is 1 order of magnitude greater than that of χ yyy , leading to an approximate OP emission dipole of SHG. Moreover, the crystal symmetry and OP emission dipole can be preserved under hydrostatic pressure, accompanied by the enhanced χ zxx and the resulting 3-fold increase in SHG intensity. The reported stable OP dipole in 2D vdWs Nb 3 SeI 7 can facilitate the rapid development of chip-integrated NLO devices.

As a versatile genome editing tool, the CRISPR-Cas9 system induces DNA double-strand breaks at targeted sites to activate mainly two DNA repair pathways: HDR which allows precise editing via recombination with a homologous template DNA, and NHEJ which connects two ends of the broken DNA, which is often accompanied by random insertions and deletions. Therefore, how to enhance HDR while suppressing NHEJ is a key to successful applications that require precise genome editing. Histones are small proteins with a lot of basic amino acids that generate electrostatic affinity to DNA. Since H2A.X is involved in DNA repair processes, we fused H2A.X to Cas9 and found that this fusion protein could improve the HDR/NHEJ ratio by suppressing NHEJ. As various post-translational modifications of H2A.X play roles in the regulation of DNA repair, we also fused H2A.X mimicry variants to replicate these post-translational modifications including phosphorylation, methylation, and acetylation. However, none of them were effective to improve the HDR/NHEJ ratio. We further fused other histone variants to Cas9 and found that H2A.1 suppressed NHEJ better than H2A.X. Thus, the fusion of histone variants to Cas9 is a promising option to enhance precise genome editing., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Kato-Inui et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2) mediates the crosslinking of extracellular collagen, reflecting qualitative changes in liver fibrosis. This study aimed to validate the utility of serum LOXL2 levels as a predictive biomarker for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection who achieved a sustained virological response (SVR). This retrospective study included 137 patients with chronic HCV infection without history of HCC development and who achieved SVR via direct-acting antiviral therapy. Median LOXL2 levels decreased significantly after SVR achievement (pre-Tx, 2.33 ng/mL; post-Tx, 1.31 ng/mL, p < 0.001). Post-Tx LOXL2 levels, fibrosis-4 index, platelet counts, Wisteria floribunda agglutinin-positive human Mac-2 binding protein levels, and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels were identified as independent predictive factors for post-SVR HCC development in the univariate analysis. The incidence of post-SVR HCC development was significantly higher in patients with post-Tx LOXL2 levels ≥ 2.08 ng/mL and AFP levels ≥ 5.0 ng/mL than in patients with elevated levels of either marker or with lower marker levels. Serum LOXL2 levels can serve as a predictive biomarker for HCC development after achieving SVR. The combination of serum LOXL2 and AFP levels provides robust risk stratification for HCC development after SVR, suggesting an enhanced surveillance strategy., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: APC and MUTYH are both well-known colorectal polyposis causative genes. However, 30-50% of colorectal adenomatous polyposis cases are classified as colonic adenomatous polyposis of unknown etiology and lack identifiable pathogenic variants. Although guidelines recommend total proctocolectomy for colonic adenomatous polyposis of unknown etiology with over 100 adenomas, evidence is lacking. This study presents a unique case of localized colonic adenomatous polyposis of unknown etiology with multiple adenocarcinomas, treated with hemicolectomy and regional lymph node dissection., Case Presentation: The patient was a 72-year-old woman whose colonoscopy revealed numerous polyps and two adenocarcinomas localized in the right side of the colon, with no lesions in the left side. The patient had no family history of polyposis or colorectal cancer. No extracolonic lesions, enlarged lymph nodes, or distant metastases were found. Considering the patient's age and lesion localization, laparoscopic right hemicolectomy with regional lymph node dissection was performed. Histopathological diagnosis revealed three adenocarcinoma lesions with no lymph node metastasis. The most advanced pathological stage was T2N0M0 Stage I (UICC 8th edition). The patient was alive 5 years postoperatively, without recurrence of cancer or polyposis in the remaining colon and rectum. To diagnose hereditary colorectal cancer/polyposis, a germline multigene panel testing for APC, EPCAM, MBD4, MLH1, MLH3, MSH2, MSH3, MSH6, MUTYH, NTHL1, PMS2, POLD1, POLE, and TP53 was performed using DNA extracted from blood samples: however, no pathogenic variant was detected. Therefore, the patient was diagnosed with colonic adenomatous polyposis of unknown etiology., Conclusions: In this rare case, colonic adenomatous polyposis of unknown etiology, with numerous adenomatous polyps and multiple adenocarcinomas localized in the right side of the colon, was successfully treated with right hemicolectomy and regional lymph node dissection. Despite genetic analysis, no causative germline variants were identified. Segmental colectomy according to the distribution of polyps might be a curative approach., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Homologous recombination (HR) repairs DNA damage including DNA double-stranded breaks and alterations in HR-related genes results in HR deficiency. Germline alteration of HR-related genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, causes hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC). Cancer cells with HR deficiency are sensitive to poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors and DNA-damaging agents. Thus, accurately evaluating HR activity is useful for diagnosing HBOC and predicting the therapeutic effects of anti-cancer agents. Previously, we developed an assay for site-specific HR activity (ASHRA) that can quantitatively evaluate HR activity and detect moderate HR deficiency. HR activity in cells measured by ASHRA correlates with sensitivity to the PARP inhibitor, olaparib. In this study, we applied ASHRA to lymphoblastoid cells and xenograft tumor tissues, which simulate peripheral blood lymphocytes and tumor tissues, respectively, as clinically available samples. We showed that ASHRA could be used to detect HR deficiency in lymphoblastoid cells derived from a BRCA1 pathogenic variant carrier. Furthermore, ASHRA could quantitatively measure the HR activity in xenograft tumor tissues with HR activity that was gradually suppressed by inducible BRCA1 knockdown. The HR activity of xenograft tumor tissues quantitatively correlated with the effect of olaparib. Our data suggest that ASHRA could be a useful assay for diagnosing HBOC and predicting the efficacy of PARP inhibitors., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Exploration of two-dimensional (2D) sliding ferroelectric (FE) materials with experimentally detectable ferroelectricity and value-added novel functionalities is highly sought for the development of 2D "slidetronics". Herein, based on first-principles calculations, we identify the synthesizable van der Waals (vdW) layered crystals HgX 2 (X = Br and I) as a new class of 2D sliding ferroelectrics. Both HgBr 2 and HgI 2 in 2D multilayered forms adopt the preferential stacking sequence, leading to room temperature stable out-of-plane (vertical) ferroelectricity that can be reversed via the sliding of adjacent monolayers. Owing to strong interlayer coupling and interfacial charge rearrangement, 2D HgI 2 layers possess strong sliding ferroelectricity up to 0.16 μC/cm 2 , readily detectable in experiment. Moreover, robust sliding ferroelectricity and interlayer sliding controllable Rashba spin texture of FE-HgI 2 layers enable potential applications as 2D spintronic devices such that the electric control of electron spin detection can be realized at the 2D regime.

Seed priming with beneficial endophytic fungi is an emerging sustainable strategy for enhancing plant resistance against insect pests. This study examined the effects of Beauvaria bassiana Bb20091317 and Metarhizium rileyi MrCDTLJ1 fungal colonization on maize growth, defence signalling, benzoxazinoid levels and gene expression. The colonization did not adversely affect plant growth but reduced larval weights of Spodoptera frugiperda. Maize leaves treated with M. rileyi exhibited higher levels of jasmonic acid, jasmonoyl-Isoleucine, salicylic acid, and indole acetic acid compared to control. B. bassiana and M. rileyi accelerated phytohormone increase upon S. frugiperda herbivory. Gene expression analysis revealed modulation of benzoxazinoid biosynthesis genes. We further elucidated the immune regulatory role of the transcription factor zmWRKY36 using virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) in maize. zmWRKY36 positively regulates maize immunity against S. frugiperda, likely by interacting with defense-related proteins. Transient overexpression of zmWRKY36 in tobacco-induced cell death, while silencing in maize reduced chitin-triggered reactive oxygen species burst, confirming its immune function. Overall, B. bassiana and M. rileyi successfully colonized maize, impacting larval growth, defense signalling, and zmWRKY36-mediated resistance. This sheds light on maize-endophyte-insect interactions for sustainable plant protection., (© 2024 Scandinavian Plant Physiology Society.)

Deep learning (DL) has been used for electromyographic (EMG) signal recognition and achieved high accuracy for multiple classification tasks. However, implementation in resource-constrained prostheses and human-computer interaction devices remains challenging. To overcome these problems, this paper implemented a low-power system for EMG gesture and force level recognition using Zynq architecture. Firstly, a lightweight network model structure was proposed by Ultra-lightweight depth separable convolution (UL-DSC) and channel attention-global average pooling (CA-GAP) to reduce the computational complexity while maintaining accuracy. A wearable EMG acquisition device for real-time data acquisition was subsequently developed with size of 36mm×28mm×4mm. Finally, a highly parallelized dedicated hardware accelerator architecture was designed for inference computation. 18 gestures were tested, including force levels from 22 healthy subjects. The results indicate that the average accuracy rate was 94.92% for a model with 5.0k parameters and a size of 0.026MB. Specifically, the average recognition accuracy for static and force-level gestures was 98.47% and 89.92%, respectively. The proposed hardware accelerator architecture was deployed with 8-bit precision, a single-frame signal inference time of 41.9μs, a power consumption of 0.317W, and a data throughput of 78.6 GOP/s.

Metallopolymers as organic-inorganic hybrid materials formulated by metal embedding organic polymers show great potential for novel heterogeneous catalysis, in terms of the facile structural design and tunability. Herein, the disadvantage of nonporous stacking of one-dimensional (1D) structures has been suppressed by chain modulation of the 1D metallopolymers, allowing for the convenient construction of porous assemblies with single-atom dispersion and accessible active sites. By postmodification, the Fe/CM-1 catalyst readily synthesized by coordinating the Fe(II) to the twisted chain of 1D Schiff-base polymer possesses expedient flexibility, showing the highest porosity, remarkable heterogeneous recyclability, and thus prominent catalytic activity for the selective oxidation of benzylamine and alcohols. Moreover, control experiments supported by computational studies demonstrated that the unique pincer structure of Fe/CM-1 effectively maintains the valence state of the anchored single-atom iron, facilitating single-electron transfer and promoting efficient iron redox cycling during the catalytic process. Notably, these 1D metallopolymers have the advantage of cost-effectiveness, easy preparation in gram-scale, and utilization in continuous reaction, providing inspirations for facile synthesis of efficient heterogeneous catalysts from the well-developed 1D metallopolymers.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the gastrointestinal tract and is characterized by immune dysregulation. Oral administration of nanoformulations containing immunomodulators is a desirable approach to treating UC. However, low drug-loading (<10%, typically), premature drug release, and systemic absorption of these nanoformulations continue to be significant challenges restricting clinical applications. Herein, we developed colon-targeted piperine-glycyrrhizic acid nanocrystals (ES100-PIP/GA NCs) to treat UC through the regulation of macrophages. The ES100-PIP/GA NCs exhibited ultra-high drug loading and colon-specific drug release. In vitro studies demonstrated that the ES100-PIP/GA NCs could effectively be internalized by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 and Caco-2 cells. More importantly, the ES100-PIP/GA NCs could downregulate pro-inflammatory factors (IL-1β, IL-17A), upregulate anti-inflammatory factors (TGF-β1), and repair the intestinal mucosal barrier. In a murine model of acute colitis induced by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS), ES100-PIP/GA NCs could protect PIP and GA from gastric acid destruction, reach the colon, and significantly inhibit colitis. Surprisingly, ES100-PIP/GA NCs enhance M2 macrophages by increasing the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and inhibit M1 macrophages by reducing hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α). Overall, this study shows that ES100-PIP/GA NCs have synergistic immunotherapy capabilities with macrophage regulation, which offers a promising blueprint for the oral delivery of multicomponent drugs in UC therapy.

Purpose: The Hereditary Colorectal Cancer/Polyposis Variant Curation Expert Panel (VCEP) was established by the International Society for Gastrointestinal Hereditary Tumours and the Clinical Genome Resource, who set out to develop recommendations for the interpretation of germline APC variants underlying Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, the most frequent hereditary polyposis syndrome., Methods: Through a rigorous process of database analysis, literature review, and expert elicitation, the APC VCEP derived gene-specific modifications to the ACMG/AMP (American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics and Association for Molecular Pathology) variant classification guidelines and validated such criteria through the pilot classification of 58 variants., Results: The APC-specific criteria represented gene- and disease-informed specifications, including a quantitative approach to allele frequency thresholds, a stepwise decision tool for truncating variants, and semiquantitative evaluations of experimental and clinical data. Using the APC-specific criteria, 47% (27/58) of pilot variants were reclassified including 14 previous variants of uncertain significance (VUS)., Conclusion: The APC-specific ACMG/AMP criteria preserved the classification of well-characterized variants on ClinVar while substantially reducing the number of VUS by 56% (14/25). Moving forward, the APC VCEP will continue to interpret prioritized lists of VUS, the results of which will represent the most authoritative variant classification for widespread clinical use., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest SEP is a member of the scientific advisory panel of Baylor Genetics Laboratories. All other authors declare no conflicts of interest. Ethics Declaration This study was conducted in accordance with the guidelines of the Ethics Committee of the Medical Faculty of the University of Bonn and the 1975 Declaration of Helsinki. Participants of clinical genetic testing gave written informed consent for their data to be used for clinical research and genetic investigations according to local regulations., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

A new leafhopper species Sophonia furcata sp. nov., is described and illustrated from Sichuan Province, China. A key is given to distinguish all Chinese species of the genus. The type specimens of the new species are deposited in the Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China (GUGC).

Surface electromyogram (sEMG)-based gesture recognition has emerged as a promising avenue for developing intelligent prostheses for upper limb amputees. However, the temporal variations in sEMG have rendered recognition models less efficient than anticipated. By using cross-session calibration and increasing the amount of training data, it is possible to reduce these variations. The impact of varying the amount of calibration and training data on gesture recognition performance for amputees is still unknown. To assess these effects, we present four datasets for the evaluation of calibration data and examine the impact of the amount of training data on benchmark performance. Two amputees who had undergone amputations years prior were recruited, and seven sessions of data were collected for analysis from each of them. Ninapro DB6, a publicly available database containing data from ten healthy subjects across ten sessions, was also included in this study. The experimental results show that the calibration data improved the average accuracy by 3.03%, 6.16%, and 9.73% for the two subjects and Ninapro DB6, respectively, compared to the baseline results. Moreover, it was discovered that increasing the number of training sessions was more effective in improving accuracy than increasing the number of trials. Three potential strategies are proposed in light of these findings to enhance cross-session models further. We consider these findings to be of the utmost importance for the commercialization of intelligent prostheses, as they demonstrate the criticality of gathering calibration and cross-session training data, while also offering effective strategies to maximize the utilization of the entire dataset.

Dendrocalamus liboensis Hsueh & D. Z. Li 1985 is a unique member of the Bambusoideae subfamily found in Guizhou, China. The species has both economic importance and ornamental value. This study represents the first report of the sequencing and assembly of the complete chloroplast genome of D. liboensis . The total length of the genome was 139,483 bp, with a conventional quadripartite framework consisting of a large single-copy (LSC) region (83,001 bp in length), a small single-copy (SSC) region (12,896 bp in length), and two inverted repeats (IR) regions (both 21,793 bp in length). Overall, the D. liboensis chloroplast genome contained 128 functional genes, including 83 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNAs, and 8 rRNAs. Phylogenetic analysis showed that D. liboensis closely resembled D. sapidus, with both found on a strongly supported branch of the phylogenetic tree., Competing Interests: No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s)., (© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.)

A new evacanthine leafhopper species Riseveinus elongatus sp. nov., is described and illustrated from Yunnan Province, China. A key is given to distinguish all species of the genus. The type specimen of the new species is deposited in the Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China (GUGC).

Porosity is a crucial quality evaluation criterion in metal additive manufacturing. To investigate the propagation characteristics of ultrasonic longitudinal waves with different incident frequencies in AlSi10Mg prepared by selective laser melting, specimens with varying porosity were created using printing process adjustments. Ultrasonic longitudinal wave tests and COMSOL simulations based on 2.5 MHz, 3.5 MHz, 5 MHz, and 7.5 MHz incident frequencies were carried out to establish a linear relationship between average wave velocity, average attenuation coefficient, and porosity at different frequencies. Results indicate that sound velocity and porosity are inversely proportional for each frequency longitudinal wave, while the attenuation coefficient is proportional to the porosity. Linear fitting expressions suggest that the best fit for both sound velocity and attenuation coefficient occurs at 5 MHz. Simulation results demonstrate that using 5 MHz as the incident frequency can better balance detection sensitivity and linearity. These findings provide more data support for establishing the intrinsic connection between acoustic parameters and porosity of AlSi10Mg prepared by selective laser melting in the selected area and serve as a reference for selecting ultrasonic incident frequencies in practical inspection., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Microsatellite instability (MSI) testing, an established technique that has gained prominence in recent years for its predictive potential regarding the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors, is used to evaluate DNA mismatch repair (MMR) deficiency (dMMR). As with other methods, the immunohistochemistry (IHC) of MMR proteins is also widely adopted. Although both techniques have been validated, their concordance rate remains unknown, particularly regarding non-colorectal cancer. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to explore and elucidate their concordance in the context of gastric cancer (GC). A total of 489 surgically resected primary GC tissues were analyzed to compare the results yielded by the MSI test and those from IHC. Of 488 GC cases, 56 (11.5%) exhibited a loss of MMR proteins, whereas 52 (10.7%) were classified as high-frequency MSI (MSI-H). The concordance rate between these two categories was 99.2%. The microsatellite markers BAT26 and MONO27 demonstrated 100% sensitivity and 99.5% specificity in detecting dMMR GC. In addition, histopathological analysis revealed that MSI-H was more prevalent in GCs exhibiting coexisting Tub2 and Por1 subtypes. However, four discordant cases were observed. All four cases were microsatellite-stable cases but exhibited loss of MLH1 protein expression with hypermethylation of the MLH1 promoter. The results of the present study highlight that while there is a strong concordance between MSI and IHC testing results for determining dMMR status, IHC testing may offer superior efficacy in detecting dMMR., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright: © Yamamoto et al.)

In shallow subduction zones, fluid behavior impacts various geodynamic processes capable of regulating slip behaviors and forming mud volcanoes. However, evidence of structures that control the fluid transfer within an overriding plate is limited and the physical properties at the source faults of slow earthquakes are poorly understood. Here we present high-resolution seismic velocity models and reflection images of the Hyuga-nada area, Japan, where the Kyushu-Palau ridge subducts. We image distinct kilometer-wide columns in the upper plate with reduced velocities that extend vertically from the seafloor down to 10-13 km depth. We interpret the low-velocity columns as damaged zones caused by seamount subduction and suggest that they serve as conduits, facilitating vertical fluid migration from the plate boundary. The lateral variation in upper-plate velocity and seismic reflectivity along the plate boundary correlates with the distribution of slow earthquakes, indicating that the upper-plate drainage system controls the complex pattern of seismic slip at subduction faults., (© 2023. Springer Nature Limited.)

Single-cell cloning is the simplest strategy to isolate genome-edited cell clones, although its scalability has been an issue. Here, we present a protocol to establish genome-edited human cultured cell clones using the On-chip SPiS, a single-cell auto-dispensing device with image recognition technology. Human cultured cells are transfected with plasmids of the CRISPR-Cas9 components, and Cas9-expressing cells are sorted and individually plated into multi-well plates by the On-chip SPiS. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Takahashi et al. (2022). 1 ., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background/aim: FOLFIRINOX (FFX) is a standard treatment for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. However, it often causes serious hematological adverse events. This study aimed to identify the risk factors for febrile neutropenia (FN) and grade 4 (G4) neutropenia during treatment with FFX in the real world., Patients and Methods: We analyzed data obtained from a nationwide multicenter observational study (JASPAC 06) that included 399 patients with unresectable or recurrent pancreatic cancer who received FFX at 27 institutions in Japan., Results: Nadir neutrophil counts occurred from day 8 to day 22 of cycle 1, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor was administered to over a quarter of the patients in the first cycle. Of 399 patients, FN and G4 neutropenia occurred in 51 (13%) and 108 (27%) patients, respectively. Most FN (83%) and G4 neutropenia (75%) occurred in the first or second cycles. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that total bilirubin (TB) > the upper limit of normal range (ULN) and no dose modification from the original regimen were significantly associated with FN, and that TB > ULN, no dose modification from the original regimen, low platelet count (<15×10 4 /μl), and recurrent disease after pancreatectomy were independent risk factors for G4 neutropenia., Conclusion: No dose modification from the original regimen and TB > ULN were risk factors for FN and G4 neutropenia., (Copyright © 2023 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

Preparation methods have been found to affect the physical and chemical properties of rice. This study prepared Guichao rice flour with wet, dry, semi-dry, and jet milling techniques. Differences in the particle size distribution of rice flour were investigated in order to assess their impact on pasting, thermal, gel, starch digestibility, and crystalline structure using an X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and a Rapid Visco Analyzer (RVA) across in vitro digestibility experiments. The results showed that semi-dry-milled rice flour (SRF) and wet-milled rice flour (WRF) were similar in damaged starch content, crystalline structure, and gelatinization temperature. However, compared with dry-milled rice flour (DRF) and jet-milled rice flour (JRF), SRF had less damaged starch, a higher absorption enthalpy value, and a higher gelatinization temperature. For starch digestibility, the extended glycemic index (eGI) values of WRF (85.30) and SRF (89.97) were significantly lower than those of DRF (94.47) and JRF (99.27). In general, the physicochemical properties and starch digestibility of WRF and SRF were better than those of DRF and JRF. SRF retained the advantages of WRF while avoiding the high energy consumption, high water consumption, and microbial contamination disadvantages of WRF and was able to produce better rice flour-associated products.

Hexanol is a volatile alcohol and a major component of plant essential oils (EOs). However, the antibacterial activity of hexanol vapor has not been well studied. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of hexanol. In this study, seven food-related bacteria were exposed to 1-, 2- or 3-hexanol vapor on agar media to evaluate their growth. Additionally, the total viable counts in three vegetables when exposed to 1-hexanol vapor were measured. The results showed that 1-hexanol exhibited antibacterial effects against Gram-negative bacteria but did not affect Gram-positive bacteria. However, compounds 2- and 3-hexanol did not show antimicrobial activity against any bacteria. For the vegetables, exposure to 1-hexanol vapor decreased the total viable bacterial counts in cabbage and carrot and inhibited bacterial growth in eggplants. In cabbage, 1-hexanol vapor at concentrations over 50 ppm decreased the total viable count within 72 h, and 25 ppm of vapor showed bacteriostatic activity for 168 h. However, 1-hexanol vapor also caused discoloration in cabbage. In summary, 1-hexanol has the potential to act as an antibacterial agent, but further studies are required for practical use. Moreover, the study results may help determine the antimicrobial activity of various EOs in the future.

To better understand the relationship between molecular structure and mechanofluorochromic characteristics, three carbazole-based N^O-chelated difluoroboron compounds (Cz-S-BF 2 , Cz-PhNp-S-BF 2 , and Cz-BNp-S-BF 2 ) with different aryl substituents moieties were designed and synthesized. The mechanofluorochromic behaviours of Cz-S-BF 2 (luminescence from bluish-green to yellowish-green, emission from 504 to 535 nm) without aryl substitution and Cz-PhNp-S-BF 2 (luminescence from green and yellow, emission from 521 to 557 nm) with a phenyl-naphthalene group underwent reversible conversion using the grinding-fuming process. For Cz-BNp-S-BF 2 this was not apparent due to the well coplanarity of the binaphthalene moiety. Mechanofluorochromic properties were demonstrated through XRD patterns measurement. We envisage that this study will provide a practicable reference to acquire organic molecules with mechanofluorochromic characteristics., (© 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)