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Primary ovarian mesothelioma (POM) is a rare malignant tumor with poor prognosis. Although anaplastic lymphoma kinase gene (ALK) double-fusion partners have been found in various tumors, it is rarely reported in mesothelioma. In this article, we describe the coexistence of a novel STRN-ALK, neurobeachin (NBEA)-ALK double-fusion in a patient with primary ovarian mesothelioma. A 30-year-old woman was found to have pelvic masses for more than a year. Color Doppler ultrasound showed mixed mass in the left ovary and multiple solid masses in the right ovary. the patient underwent laparoscopic surgery, including total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oopherectomy, pelvic lymph node and abdominal aortic lymph node resection, omentum resection and abdominal focus resection. Pathologic examination revealed bilateral ovarian malignant mesothelioma and no evidence of malignancy in the resected bilateral round/broad ligaments, bilateral parametrial tissues, vaginal stump, bilateral fallopian tubes, pelvic and paraaortic lymph nodes. Immunohistochemistry showed that it was positive for Calretinin, VIM, WT1, PAX8, mesothelin, CK5/6, PCK, CK7, MLH1, PMS2, MSH2, MSH6, weakly positive for BAP1, while being negative for Napsin A, P504S, CEA, D2-40, GATA3. The sequencing analysis identified STRN-ALK (intron3:intron19) and NBEA-ALK (intron1:intron16) double-ALK fusion. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that a novel NBEA-ALK and EML4-ALK coexist in one patient with POM. The patient has completed 6 cycles of continuous chemotherapy and is in stable condition. Whether ALK inhibitors can bring promising benefits to POM patients in the future deserves further study.

BackgroundSiewert type II adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (Siewert II AEG) can be resected by the right thoracoabdominal surgical approach (RTA) or abdominal-transhiatal surgical approach (TH) under minimally invasive conditions. Although both surgical methods achieve complete tumor resection, there is a debate as to whether the former method is superior to or at least noninferior to the latter in terms of surgical safety. Currently, a small number of retrospective studies have compared the two surgical approaches, with inconclusive results. As such, a prospective multicenter randomized controlled trial is necessary to validate the value of RTA (Ivor-Lewis) compared to TH.MethodsThe planned study is a prospective, multicenter, randomized clinical trial. Patients (n=212) with Siewert II AEG that could be resected by either of the above two surgical approaches will be included in this trial and randomized to the RTA group (n=106) or the TH group (n=106). The primary outcome will be 3-year disease-free survival (DFS). The secondary outcomes will include 5-year overall survival (OS), incidence of postoperative complications, postoperative mortality, local recurrence rate, number and location of removed lymph nodes, quality of life (QOL), surgical Apgar score, and duration of the operation. Follow-ups are scheduled every three months for the first 3 years after the surgery and every six months for the next 2 years.DiscussionAmong Siewert II AEG patients with resectable tumors, this is the first prospective, randomized clinical trial comparing the surgical safety of minimally invasive RTA and TH. RTA is hypothesized to provide better digestive tract reconstruction and dissection of mediastinal lymph nodes while maintaining a high quality of life and good postoperative outcome. Moreover, this trial will provide a high level of evidence for the choice of surgical procedures for Siewert II AEG.Clinical trial registrationChinese Ethics Committee of Registering Clinical Trials, identifier (ChiECRCT20210635); Clinical Trial.gov, identifier (NCT05356520).

BackgroundAcute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is associated with high mortality rates. Viral and bacterial coinfection is the primary cause of AECOPD. How coinfection with these microbes influences host inflammatory response and the gut microbiota composition is not entirely understood.MethodsWe developed a mouse model of AECOPD by cigarette smoke exposure and sequential infection with influenza H1N1 virus and non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi). Viral and bacterial titer was determined using MDCK cells and chocolate agar plates, respectively. The levels of cytokines, adhesion molecules, and inflammatory cells in the lungs were measured using Bio-Plex and flow cytometry assays. Gut microbiota was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Correlations between cytokines and gut microbiota were determined using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient test.ResultsCoinfection with H1N1 and NTHi resulted in more severe lung injury, higher mortality, declined lung function in COPD mice. H1N1 enhanced NTHi growth in the lungs, but NTHi had no effect on H1N1. In addition, coinfection increased the levels of cytokines and adhesion molecules, as well as immune cells including total and M1 macrophages, neutrophils, monocytes, NK cells, and CD4 + T cells. In contrast, alveolar macrophages were depleted. Furthermore, coinfection caused a decline in the diversity of gut bacteria. Muribaculaceae, Lactobacillus, Akkermansia, Lachnospiraceae, and Rikenella were further found to be negatively correlated with cytokine levels, whereas Bacteroides was positively correlated.ConclusionCoinfection with H1N1 and NTHi causes a deterioration in COPD mice due to increased lung inflammation, which is correlated with dysbiosis of the gut microbiota.

Abstract Background Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) is a highly lethal malignancy characterized by massive fibrosis and has ineffective adjuvant therapies. Here, we demonstrate the potential of angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) in targeting iCCA. Methods Masson's trichrome staining was used to assess the effect of ARBs in iCCA specimens, CCK8 and gel contraction assays in vitro and in xenograft models in vivo. RNA‐seq and ATAC‐seq were used for mechanistic investigations. Results Patients with iCCA who were administered ARBs had a better prognosis and a lower proportion of tumour stroma, indicating alleviated fibrosis. The presence of AGTR1, the ARBs receptor, is associated with a poor prognosis of iCCA and is highly expressed in tumour tissues and cancer‐associated fibroblasts (CAFs). The ARBs strongly attenuated the viability of AGTR1+CAFs in vitro and retarded tumour progression and fibrosis in xenograft models of co‐cultured CAFs and iCCA cells. Still, they did not have a significant effect on AGTR1−CAFs. Moreover, ARBs decreased the secretion of AGTR1+CAF‐derived MFAP5 via the Hippo pathway, weakened the interaction between CAFs and iCCA cells, and impaired the aggressiveness of iCCA cells by attenuating the activation of the Notch1 pathway in iCCA cells. Conclusions ARBs exhibit anti‐fibrotic function by inhibiting the viability of AGTR1+CAFs. These findings support using ARBs as a novel therapeutic option for targeting iCCA.

IntroductionStudies investigating surgery for second primary non-small cell lung cancer (SP) patients are rare. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of surgical methods and regional lymph node (LN) dissection on lung cancer-specific mortality (LCSM) in stage I SP patients following surgery for stage I first primary non-small cell lung cancer (FP).MethodsData on patients diagnosed with stage I SP after surgery for stage I FP were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Cumulative incidence function (CIF) curves, a competing risk model and propensity score matching (PSM) were adopted to compare the LCSM among different subgroups (including surgery and regional LN dissection).ResultsA total of 238 stage I SP patients were extracted from the SEER database. Overall, the 5-year LCSM rate was 29.8% (CI: 23.1%-36.5%) for the whole cohort. Both before and after PSM, lobectomy had a similar LCSM incidence as sublobectomy, and ≥4 regional LN dissections had a significantly lower LCSM incidence than 1~3 regional LN dissections.In addition, patients who underwent 1~3 regional LN dissections had a comparable incidence of LCSM to those without LN dissections.DiscussionStage I SP patients tended to gain more survival benefits when surgeons dissect ≥4 regional LNs. Allowing for the comparable LCSM incidence of sublobectomy to lobectomy, sublobectomy may be a reasonable choice for thoracic surgeons when performing surgery for these patients.

Purpose: The present retrospective study aimed to explore the relationship between pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer in the population cohort of the UK Biobank (UKB) ( https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk ). Methods: From the 500 thousand population cohort of UKB, according to the age and gender of patients with pancreatic cancer 1:10, matching the control without pancreatic cancer, the binary Logistic regression model was used to analyze the relationship between pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, and subgroup analyses were used to identify potential effect modifiers. Results: A total of 1538 patients with pancreatic cancer were compared with 15 380 controls. In the fully adjusted model, patients with pancreatitis had a significantly increased risk of pancreatic cancer compared with no pancreatitis. The risk of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer increased with the age of pancreatitis, and the risk of pancreatic cancer was highest in the 61 to 70 age group. In addition, in the first 3 years of acute pancreatitis, the risk of pancreatic cancer increased significantly with the increase in the duration of the disease (odds ratio [OR] 29.13, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 16.34-51.93), after 3 years, the trend of increase decreased. After more than 10 years, there was no significant correlation between the risk of acute pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. However, patients with chronic pancreatitis were significantly associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer only in the first 3 years (OR 28.14, 95% CI: 14.86-53.31). Conclusion: Pancreatitis may associate with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer. The older the age of pancreatitis, the higher the risk of pancreatic cancer. The risk of pancreatic cancer increases significantly in the first 3 years of the course of pancreatitis. This may provide an alternative strategy for the early identification of individuals at high risk of pancreatic cancer.

PurposeTo investigate the effect of acupuncture for improving the pregnancy rate of COH rats from the viewpoint of regulating the opening time of the implantation window and endometrial receptivity.MethodsExperimental rats were randomly divided into normal group (N), model group (M) and acupuncture group(A), and samples were collected on Day 4, 5 and 6 after mating. COH rats were treated with acupuncture at SP6, LR3, and ST36 once a day for 7 times. The pinopodes were observed under a scanning electron microscope. Serum estrogen and progesterone levels were measured via ELISA. The protein and mRNA levels of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), integrin β3, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) in the endometrium were evaluated via West-blot, immunohistochemistry, and PCR.ResultsCompared with group N, the pregnancy rate of group M was significantly decreased (P

Background: Recent studies have identified the association of environmental stressors with reduced kidney function and the development of kidney disease. While residential greenness has been linked to many health benefits, the association between residential greenness and the development of kidney disease is not clear. We aimed to investigate the association between residential greenness and the development of kidney disease. Methods: We performed a longitudinal population-based cohort study including all fee-for-service Medicare Part A beneficiaries (aged 65 years or older) in Massachusetts (2000–2016). We assessed greenness with the annual average Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) based on residential ZIP codes of beneficiaries. We applied Cox-equivalent Poisson models to estimate the association between EVI and first hospital admission for total kidney disease, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and acute kidney injury (AKI), separately. Results: Data for 1,462,949 beneficiaries who resided in a total of 644 ZIP codes were analyzed. The total person-years of follow-up for total kidney disease, CKD, and AKI were 9.8, 10.9, and 10.8 million person-years, respectively. For a 0.1 increase in annual EVI, the hazard ratios (HRs) were 0.95 (95% CI: 0.93 to 0.97) for the first hospital admission for total kidney disease, and the association was more prominent for AKI (HR: 0.94 with 95% CI: 0.92 to 0.97) than CKD (HR: 0.98 with 95% CI: 0.95–1.01]). The estimated effects of EVI on kidney disease were generally more evident in White beneficiaries and those residing in metropolitan areas compared to the overall population. Conclusions: This study found that higher levels of annual residential greenness were associated with a lower risk of the first hospital admission for kidney diseases. Results are consistent with the hypothesis that higher residential greenness benefits kidney patients.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic progressive interstitial lung disease of unknown etiology, characterized by diffuse alveolitis and alveolar structural damage. Due to the short median survival time and poor prognosis of IPF, it is particularly urgent to find new IPF biomarkers. Previous studies have shown that basement membranes (BMs) are associated with the development of IPF and tumor metastasis. However, there is still a lack of research on BMs-related genes in IPF. Therefore, we investigated the expression level of BMs genes in IPF and control groups, and explored their potential as biomarkers for IPF diagnosis. In this study, the GSE32537 and GSE53845 datasets were used as training sets, while the GSE24206, GSE10667 and GSE101286 datasets were used as validation sets. In the training set, seven immune biomarkers related to BMs were selected by differential expression analysis, machine learning algorithm (LASSO, SVM-RFE, Randomforest) and ssGSEA analysis. Further ROC analysis confirmed that seven BMs-related genes played an important role in IPF. Finally, four immune-related Hub genes (COL14A1, COL17A1, ITGA10, MMP7) were screened out. Then we created a logistic regression model of immune-related hub genes (IHGs) and used a nomogram to predict IPF risk. The nomogram model was evaluated to have good reliability and validity, and ROC analysis showed that the AUC value of IHGs was 0.941 in the training set and 0.917 in the validation set. Pan-cancer analysis showed that IHGs were associated with prognosis, immune cell infiltration, TME, and drug sensitivity in 33 cancers, suggesting that IHGs may be potential targets for intervention in human diseases including IPF and cancer.

At present, 25 species are accepted in Haploporus and are distributed in Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Australia, and Africa. In this study, two new species, Haploporus ecuadorensis from Ecuador and H. monomitica from China, are described and illustrated based on morphological examination and phylogenetic analyses. H. ecuadorensis is characterized by annual, resupinate basidiomata with pinkish buff to honey yellow hymenophore when dry, round to angular pores of 2–4 per mm, a dimitic hyphal structure with generative hyphae bearing clamp connections, hyphae at dissepiment edge usually with one or two simple septa, the presence of dendrohyphidia and cystidioles, and oblong to ellipsoid basidiospores measuring 14.9–17.9 × 6.9–8.8 µm. Haploporus monomitica differs from other Haploporus species in that it has a monomitic hyphal system and strongly dextrinoid basidiospores. The differences between the new species and morphologically similar and phylogenetically related species are discussed. In addition, an updated key to 27 species of Haploporus is provided.

Based on the crowding distance algorithm of Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm-II (NSGA-II), three improved algorithms are proposed: side length optimization strategy, diagonal optimization strategy, center optimization strategy. Zero-Ductility Transition (ZDT) series functions and Diode-Transistor Logic with Zener diode (DTLZ) series functions are used to calculate and compare the convergence and diversity of three improved algorithms and NSGA-II. The center optimization strategy based NSGA-II is confirmed to be the optimal algorithm. The body-in-white (BIW) optimization functions are established and optimized by center optimization strategy based NSGA-II, and the most appropriate BIW structure is calculated and verified by mode tests. The result shows: after the optimization, the BIW total mass increment is less than 3%, the first torsional mode frequency increment is more than 15%, and the torsion stiffness increment is more than 10%.

IntroductionOcular abnormalities and the development of retinal vasculature may cause postnatal retinopathy. In the past decade, tremendous progress has been made in identifying the mechanisms that regulate retina vasculature. However, the means of regulating embryonic hyaloid vasculature development is largely unknown. This study aims to determine whether and how andrographolide regulates embryonic hyaloid vasculature development.MethodsMurine embryonic retinas were used in this study. Whole mount isolectin B4 (IB4) staining, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and immunofluorescence staining (IF) were performed to determine whether andrographolide is critical for embryonic hyaloid vasculature development. BrdU incorporation assay, Boyden chamber migration assay, spheroid sprouting assay, and Matrigel-based tube formation assay were performed to evaluate whether andrographolide regulates the proliferation and migration of vascular endothelial cells. Molecular docking simulation and Co-immunoprecipitation assay were used to observe protein interaction.ResultsHypoxia conditions exist in murine embryonic retinas. Hypoxia induces HIF-1a expression; high-expressed HIF-1a interacts with VEGFR2, resulting in the activation of the VEGF signaling pathway. Andrographolide suppresses hypoxia-induced HIF-1a expression and, at least in part, interrupts the interaction between HIF-1a and VEGFR2, causing inhibiting endothelial proliferation and migration, eventually inhibiting embryonic hyaloid vasculature development.ConclusionOur data demonstrated that andrographolide plays a critical role in regulating embryonic hyaloid vasculature development.

Salinity is an ecological factor affecting the physiology, survival, and distribution of crustaceans. Additionally, salinity fluctuation detrimentally affects the composition and biological process of crustaceans. As a significant commercial aquaculture species in China, Japan, and Southeast Asian countries, the oriental river prawn, Macrobrachium nipponense, can tolerate a wide range of salinity. The transcriptome, proteome, histology, and physiology analysis were utilized to explore the physiological responses and molecular mechanisms of salinity tolerance in M. nipponense. Through the three-month culture, the statistic of growth trait illustrated the relatively excellent performance of M. nipponense in low salinity, and the higher salinity exposure significantly affected the growth of M. nipponense. In terms of the histological analysis, the gills and hepatopancreas of M. nipponense suffered varying degrees of damage. Besides, the activities of the digestive, immune-related, and metabolic enzymes were calculated. These results indicated that salinity significantly influenced trypsin and amylase in hepatopancreas, especially in 14 ppt. The immune-related enzymes were activated in high salinity. Notably, the activity of metabolic enzymes was significantly low in 7 and 14 ppt, which testified that the 7 ppt to 14 ppt were near the isotonic point of M. nipponense. In gills, hepatopancreas, and muscle, high-throughput mRNA sequencing revealed 11356, 2227, and 1819 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) by comparing the 7, 14, and 21 ppt groups with the 0ppt group, respectively. The TMT-labeling proteome identified 439 and 230 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in gills and hepatopancreas through the comparison of the 7, 14, and 21 ppt groups to the 0 ppt group, respectively. Additionally, through the integration of transcriptome and proteome, several pathways related to salinity adaptation were enriched, including protein export, cGMP-PKG signaling pathway, Amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, and Glycine, serine and threonine metabolism. Besides, 16 up and down-regulated proteins and related DEGs were detected through KEGG enrichment analysis, including ETHE1, BIP, chitinase (E3.2.1.14), and SARDH. Notably, no significantly regulated proteins and related DEGs were recorded by the correlation of transcriptome and proteome of 0 ppt and 7 ppt in hepatopancreas. Thus, the optimum survival salinity of M. nipponense may range from 0 ppt to 7 ppt. Overall, these results may provide valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying the culture of M. nipponense in different salinity.

High-quality development of agricultural and rural areas is the foundation of national modernization and sustainable development in China. Therefore, the evaluation of the degree of development of modernization of China’s agricultural and rural areas and the summarization of its main characteristics are crucial. However, studies on rural modernization and coordinated development are limited. Here, we developed a statistical evaluation system to effectively identify and assess the levels of agricultural and rural modernization, urban–rural integration, and agricultural rural coordination. We found that agricultural and rural modernization in China has continued to improve, but low scores were attributed to the factors of coordinated development of urban–rural areas, livable ecological environment, farmer prosperity, industrial structure upgrade, and resource allocation efficiency, limiting high-quality agricultural and rural development. Agricultural and rural modernization is lower in the central and western regions, compared to that in the eastern regions, but it is picking up the pace, indicating convergence. Rural modernization is lower than agricultural modernization and the two subsystems are not sufficiently coordinated, especially in undeveloped areas. Furthermore, the regional differences in rural modernization are greater than those in agricultural modernization. The system developed here can provide valuable experience for developing countries to open new paths toward modernization.

The teaching–learning-based optimization (TLBO) algorithm, which has gained popularity among scholars for addressing practical issues, suffers from several drawbacks including slow convergence speed, susceptibility to local optima, and suboptimal performance. To overcome these limitations, this paper presents a novel algorithm called the teaching–learning optimization algorithm, based on the cadre–mass relationship with the tutor mechanism (TLOCTO). Building upon the original teaching foundation, this algorithm incorporates the characteristics of class cadre settings and extracurricular learning institutions. It proposes a new learner strategy, cadre–mass relationship strategy, and tutor mechanism. The experimental results on 23 test functions and CEC-2020 benchmark functions demonstrate that the enhanced algorithm exhibits strong competitiveness in terms of convergence speed, solution accuracy, and robustness. Additionally, the superiority of the proposed algorithm over other popular optimizers is confirmed through the Wilcoxon signed rank-sum test. Furthermore, the algorithm’s practical applicability is demonstrated by successfully applying it to three complex engineering design problems.

Vernacular dwellings carry both material and spiritual connotations, playing a significant role in preserving and developing regional culture. While current research on vernacular dwellings has primarily focused on the cultural center, there is a critical knowledge gap regarding the “differentiation” of dwellings in border areas. This knowledge gap poses risks to the sustainable development of vernacular dwellings. Therefore, this study employs a space syntax approach to analyze the spatial configuration of the Tibetan vernacular dwellings of the semi-agricultural and semi-pastoral areas in Gannan prefecture, China, which is situated in the Tibetan border area. The findings reveal the following key insights: (i) disparities exist in the spatial organization of “sacred–secular” node spaces and the structural characteristics of buildings, resulting in a misalignment between physical center spaces and psychological center spaces; (ii) variation in cultural intensity contributes to distinct characteristics, i.e., “prototype”, “transition”, and “mutant”, among dwellings in different counties; and (iii) the continuous development and adaptation of dwellings hinge on the homogeneity and differentiation of regional culture. The crux of achieving sustainable dwelling development lies in preserving the diversity of dwellings. This study offers a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between the spatial configuration of vernacular dwellings in the Tibetan border area and their sociocultural connotations. Consequently, it provides valuable guidance for promoting the sustainable development of these dwellings.

The exceptional biocompatibility of emulsion systems that rely on stabilizing protein–polysaccharide particles presents extensive possibilities for the transportation of bioactive carriers, making them highly promising for various biological applications. The current work aimed to explore the phenomenon of complex coacervation between sesame protein isolate (SPI) and four distinct polysaccharides, namely, Arabic gum (GA), carrageenan (CAR), sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and sodium alginate (SA). The study objective was achieved by fabricating emulsions through the blending of these polymers with oil at their maximum turbidity level (φ = 0.6), followed by the measurement of their rheological properties. The turbidity, ζ-potential, and particle size were among the techno-parameters analyzed to assess the emulsion stability. The microstructural characterization of the emulsions was conducted using both transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, the functional properties were examined using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The SPI incorporated with SA, CMC, and CAR reached the maximum turbidity (0.2% w/v) at a ratio of 4:1, corresponding to the pH values of 4.5, 3, or 3.5, respectively. The SPI–GA mixture exhibited the maximum turbidity at a ratio of 10:1 and pH 4.5. Results from the FTIR and XRD analyses provided evidence of complex formation between SPI and the four polysaccharides, with the electrostatic and hydrogen bond interactions facilitating the binding of SPI to these polysaccharides. SPI was bound to the four polysaccharides through electrostatic and hydrogen bond interactions. The SPI–CMC and SPI–SA emulsions were more stable after two weeks of storage.

In order to analyze the axial compressive properties of ultra-high-toughness cementitious composite (UHTCC)-confined recycled aggregate concrete (RAC), a batch of UHTCC-confined RAC components was designed and manufactured according to the requirements of GB/T50081-2002 specifications. After analyzing the surface failure phenomenon, load-displacement curves, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and parameter analysis of the specimen, the result shows that UHTCC-confined RAC is an effective confinement method, which can effectively improve the mechanical properties and control the degree of surface failure of RAC structures. Compared with the unconfined specimen, the maximum peak load of the UHTCC confinement layer with a thickness of 10 mm and 20 mm increased by 44.61% and 79.27%, respectively, meeting the requirements of engineering practice. Different fiber mixing amounts have different effects on improving the mechanical performance of RAC structural. The specific rule was steel fiber (SF) > polyvinyl alcohol fiber (PVAF) > polyvinyl alcohol fiber (PEF) > no fiber mixture, and the SF improves the axial compression properties of UHTCC most significantly. When there are strict requirements for improving the mechanical properties of the structure, SF should be added to UHTCC. On the contrary, PVAF should be added to UHTCC.

In this work, to systematically investigate the evolution characteristics of electrical properties in polymorphic piezoceramics, the Ba(Ti0.92Zr0.08)O3 ceramics are selected as a paradigm that possesses all the general phase structures above room temperature. It is found that the evolution of electrical properties with temperature change can be divided into three stages based on phase structure transforming: high ferroelectric and stable strain properties at R and R-O, high ferroelectric and enhanced strain/converse piezoelectric properties at O, O-T, and T phase, and the rapidly decreased ferroelectric and strain properties in T-C and C phase. However, the ferroelectric and strain properties all increase with rising electric field and their evolution can be divided into two parts based on phase structures. The high property and slow increase rate are present at R, R-O, O, and O-T, while the poor property but a high increase rate is present around T-C. Similar results can be found in the evolution of electrostrictive property. Finally, the highest d33* of ~1240 pm/V and Q33 of ~0.053 m4/C2 are obtained at O-T due to the high ferroelectricity but easy domain switching. This work affords important guidance for the property optimization of polymorphic piezoceramics.

The shitake mushroom (lentinula edodes) industry in the Gobi Desert region of southern Xinjiang has experienced rapid development and has reached a certain scale. To clarify the laws governing different cooling methods in greenhouses and identify suitable cooling methods for mushroom production in the Gobi Desert region, this study focused on monitoring the environmental changes in greenhouses using three different cooling methods: natural ventilation cooling, water-sprinkling roof cooling, and a fan and pad cooling system. The results showed that when combined with external shading (shade netting), natural ventilation cooling, fan and pad cooling, and water-sprinkling roof cooling, respectively, reduced the air temperature by 8.6 °C, 14.0 °C, and 15.2 °C. They also increased the relative humidity by 15.3%, 43.3%, and 51.2%, resulting in cooling efficiencies of 28.5%, 56.3%, and 68.1%, respectively. The water-sprinkling roof cooling system demonstrated the best cooling effect and temperature uniformity and had higher economic benefits. Therefore, the use of the external sprinkler cooling method in double-skeleton greenhouses is suitable for summer lentinula edodes production in the Gobi Desert region of southern Xinjiang.

Interferometry Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) provides unique capabilities to map regional/global topography and deformation of the Earth’s surface and has led to a broad spectrum of deformation monitoring applications. In order to adapt to various challenging monitoring environments, researchers have made tremendous innovations to deal with issues such as atmospheric and ionospheric effects, loss of coherence due to large displacements, geometric distortions and unwrapping errors. Owing to recent technical and methodological advances, the Earth’s surface deformation, ranging from earthquake ruptures, volcanic eruptions, landslides, glaciers, to groundwater storage variations, mining subsidence and infrastructure instability can now be mapped anywhere in the world at high spatial and temporal resolutions. This special issue received a set of contributions highlighting recent advances in methodologies and applications of InSAR to ground deformation monitoring. We aim to present overviews of both the state of the art of SAR/InSAR techniques and the next generation of applications across the broad range of deformation monitoring applications.

Abstract Background All-inside anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is a novel technique that has gained attention due to its minimally invasive and graft-saving properties. However, studies comparing MRI-based graft maturity between all-inside and standard ACLR are lacking. Purpose This study focused on the functional, knee laxity, and MRI-based graft maturity characteristics of all-inside and standard single-bundle ACLR. Study Design Randomized controlled trial (RCT). Methods Fifty-four patients were randomly assigned to an all-inside reconstruction group (n = 27) or standard reconstruction group (n = 27). Using the same rehabilitation strategy. The Tegner, International Knee Documentation Committee, and Lysholm scores were recorded at postoperative months 3, 6, and 12 to assess functional recovery. MRI was conducted to measure the signal/noise quotient (SNQ) of the intra-articular graft to assess the maturity. A higher SNQ indicates lower graft maturity. Knee laxity was assessed using GNRB arthrometer at the postoperative month 12. Results The graft SNQ of the all-inside group was significantly higher than that of the standard group at postoperative month 6 (p 0.05). Both groups exhibited the highest SNQ in the middle region of the graft, followed by the proximal region, and the distal region. Functional scores improved significantly for both groups and had no statistical difference (p > 0.05). The knee laxity was higher in the all-inside group (p 0.05). Conclusions All-inside and standard single-bundle ACLR show good functional outcomes; however, knee laxity was relatively higher in the all-inside ACLR group than in the standard ACLR group. Moreover, both techniques exhibited poor maturity in the middle graft region and the best in the distal region. Graft maturity with all-inside ACLR is inferior to that with standard ACLR in the early postoperative stages. There is no correlation between knee function and graft maturity. Trial registration Clinical trial registration numbers: ChiCTR1800018543 . Date of registration: 09/23/2018.

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to observe the effectiveness of botulinum toxin type A (BTA) in the treatment of intermittent exotropia (IXT) in children compared with strabismus surgery. Methods One hundred forty-four children with a clear diagnosis of IXT and an indication for surgery were eligible for inclusion. Subjects were divided into two groups based on parental decision: the BTA injection group (injection group) or the conventional surgery group (surgery group). All cases were followed up for 6 months. The primary outcome was a comparison of the success rate (deviation between − 10 and + 10 PD) between the two groups at 6 months after the initial treatment. Secondary outcomes included change in deviation, visual function, and post-surgical complications. Results Seventy-two patients were enrolled in each group. At 6-month follow-up, there was no significant difference in the success rate between the injection and surgery groups (52.8% vs 66.7%, P = 0.13; postoperative deviation − 12.22 ± 10.80 PD vs − 9.17 ± 10.30 PD, P = 0.09). The binocular Visual function, except for near stereoacuity, improved after treatment in both groups, while the fusion recovery rate was higher in the surgical group (68.1% vs 95.8%, P