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Vocal production learning (vocal learning) is a convergently evolved trait in vertebrates. To identify brain genomic elements associated with mammalian vocal learning, we integrated genomic, anatomical, and neurophysiological data from the Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) with analyses of the genomes of 215 placental mammals. First, we identified a set of proteins evolving more slowly in vocal learners. Then, we discovered a vocal motor cortical region in the Egyptian fruit bat, an emergent vocal learner, and leveraged that knowledge to identify active cis-regulatory elements in the motor cortex of vocal learners. Machine learning methods applied to motor cortex open chromatin revealed 50 enhancers robustly associated with vocal learning whose activity tended to be lower in vocal learners. Our research implicates convergent losses of motor cortex regulatory elements in mammalian vocal learning evolution.

Objective: This study aims to explore the clinical application of an AI-3D reconstruction system in measuring lung volume and analyze its practical value in donor-recipient size matching in lung transplantation.Methods: The study retrospectively collected data from 75 subjects who underwent a plethysmography examination and lung CT at the First Hospital of Jilin University. General data and information related to lung function, and imaging results were collected. The correlation between actual total lung volume (aTLV), predicted total lung volume (pTLV), and artificial intelligence three-dimensional reconstruction CT lung volume (AI-3DCTVol) was analyzed for the overall, male, and female groups. The correlation coefficient and the absolute error percentage with pTLV and AI-3DCTVol were obtained.Results: In the overall, male, and female groups, there were statistical differences (p

Lung cancer is a widely occurring and deadly malignancy, with high prevalence rates in China and across the globe. Specifically, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) represents about 85% of all lung cancer cases. The 5-year disease-free survival rate after surgery for stage IB-IIIB NSCLC patients (disease-free survival, DFS) has notably declined from 73% to 13%. Early detection of abnormal cancer molecules and subsequent personalized treatment plans are the most effective ways to address this problem. Liquid biopsy, surprisingly, enables safe, accurate, non-invasive, and dynamic tracking of disease progression. Among the various modalities, circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is the most commonly used liquid biopsy modality. ctDNA serves as a credible “liquid biopsy” diagnostic tool that, to a certain extent, overcomes tumor heterogeneity and harbors genetic mutations in malignancies, thereby providing early information on tumor genetic alterations. Despite considerable academic interest in the clinical significance of ctDNA, consensus on its utility remains lacking. In this review, we assess the role of ctDNA testing in the diagnosis and management of NSCLC as a reference for clinical intervention in this disease. Lastly, we examine future directions to optimize ctDNA for personalized therapy.

To improve the out-of-plane stability of partially encased composite (PEC) beam webs and enhance the synergy between concrete and section steel, a new type of wavy web PEC beam was designed and fabricated. In this study, the flange thickness and shear–span ratio were varied as key parameters. Low-cycle reversed loading tests were conducted to investigate the effects of these variables on the load-bearing capacity, failure patterns, deformation capacity, hysteretic energy dissipation capacity, and stiffness degradation of the wavy web PEC beams. Numerical simulations were performed using ABAQUS CAE2023, a finite element analysis (FEA) software, under low-cycle reversed loading conditions. The applicability of the ABAQUS software CAE2023 for the corrugated web PEC beam model was validated by comparing test results with finite element analysis results. A detailed parametric analysis was then carried out using the finite element model to further investigate the mechanical properties of the wavy web PEC beams. The research findings are as follows: the wavy web PEC beams exhibited good ductility; a larger shear–span ratio led to a transition in the failure pattern from shear failure to flexural failure; varying the flange thickness significantly affected the failure location and characteristics; and reducing the flange thickness could limit the propagation of concrete cracks, thereby improving toughness and energy dissipation capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microstructure and properties of powder metallurgy high-speed steel prepared by hot isostatic pressing with different heat treatments have been studied. The microstructure, phase composition, effect of quenching and tempering parameters, fracture morphology, and mechanical properties of the sample are discussed in detail. The H-HSS sample presents the characteristics of the powder prior to the particle boundary and consists of carbide and ferrite, in which the carbides are fine and evenly dispersed without segregation. The bending strength and hardness of the H-HSS sample are 3112 MPa and 56.3 HRC, respectively. The Q-HSS sample is mainly composed of martensite, residual austenite, and carbides. With the increase in quenching temperature, the grain size of the matrix gradually grows, and the small carbide particles dissolve into the matrix, causing an increase in carbide size and a decrease in quantity. The bending strength and hardness of the Q-HSS sample quenched at 1210 °C achieve the maximum values of 3114 MPa and 68.8 HRC, respectively. After tempering, the martensite is transformed from a quenched lath shape to a needle shape, the residual austenite content decreases, and secondary carbides precipitate from the matrix, resulting in a secondary hardening. The T-HSS sample that is quenched at 1120 °C followed by tempering at 550 °C for 20 min has the best bending strength of 4355 MPa. However, the T-HSS sample that is quenched at 1240 °C followed by tempering at 550 °C for 120 min has a maximum hardness value of 69.5 HRC. The fracture mode of Q-HSS sample is brittle fracture, and the fracture mechanism is cleavage fracture. After tempering, the fracture mechanism of the T-HSS sample presents a transitional fracture mode between the cleavage fracture and micropore aggregation fracture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, optical diffusion film materials with high transmittance and high haze have been widely reported, while there is relatively rare research on their functionalization and practical application especially in real scenario. In this work, optical diffusion films using polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)@TiO2@SiO2 (P@T@S) composite microspheres were fabricated, which exhibited sufficiently high light transmittance and haze. The binding mode of PMMA microspheres and nanoparticles suggested that PMMA microspheres with a positive surface potential combined with nanoparticles with a negative surface potential through electrostatic attraction to achieve mutual binding. The prepared P@T@S composite microspheres showed better heat and swelling resistance than those of PMMA microspheres. The P@T@S diffusion film, whose excellent light diffusion effect was clearly demonstrated, exhibited the best optical performance among all optical diffusion films prepared. After passing through the P@T@S diffusion film, the laser light was not only uniform but also bright. The findings from this work can provide some insight into further research on optical diffusion films applied in optoelectronic device areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The direct/aerodynamic force compound control can enhance the maneuverability and response characteristics of missiles, and the dynamic stabilization is the precondition of normal operation for rolling missiles. Aiming at the stability problem caused by the cross-coupling effect of rolling missiles employing direct/aerodynamic force compound control, proposing a typical topological control system structure described by the complex coefficient theory, and deducing the dynamic stability conditions. Firstly, the mathematic model is established based on the kinematics and dynamics theories of rotating airframes and the direct/aerodynamic force compound control mechanism. Then, a three-loop autopilot and the direct/aerodynamic force ratio distribution method are designed to establish the complex summation model of the compound control system by selecting suitable complex variables. Furthermore, deducing the dynamic stability conditions and verifying them by numerical simulations. Finally, the stable regions of the rolling missile in different cases are obtained and found to be influenced by many factors, such as parameters of the autopilot, hybrid force distribution proportion and rolling rate. The derived dynamic stability criterion is effective for evaluating the stability of rolling missiles employing direct/aerodynamic force compound control and the research method used in this paper can provide reference for the stability study of strongly coupled nonlinear systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composite colloidal structures with multi-functional properties have wide applications in targeted delivery of therapeutics and imaging contrast molecules and high-throughput molecular bio-sensing. We have constructed a multifunctional composite magnetic nanobowl using the bottom-up approach on an asymmetric silica/polystyrene Janus template consisting of a silica shell around a partially exposed polystyrene core. The nanobowl consists of a silica bowl and a gold exterior shell with iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles sandwiched between the silica and gold shells. The nanobowls were characterized by electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, magnetometry, vis-NIR and FTIR spectroscopy. Magnetically vectored transport of these nanobowls was ascertained by time-lapsed imaging of their flow in fluid through a porous hydrogel under a defined magnetic field. These magnetically-responsive nanobowls show distinct surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) imaging capability. The PEGylated magnetically-responsive nanobowls show size-dependent cellular uptake in vitro.

This study used a double machine learning model (based on the random forest algorithm) and spatial Durbin DIDs model to conduct quasi-natural experiments. The results are as follows: (1) innovation and reform policy regarding regional industrial chains as well as their resilience can significantly and positively address the development of China's impossible triangle coupling of energy; (2) implementing the innovation and reform policy for regional industrial chains in other regions can have a significant positive spatial transmission effect on the impossible triangle coupling coordinated development of energy in the region; (3) regional industrial chain resilience can produce a significant positive mediating effect between the innovation and reform policy of regional industrial chains and the safety, reliability, and economic feasibility of green and clean energy systems; (4) under the counterfactual framework, the mechanism path "innovation and reform policy of the regional industry chain→regional industry chain resilience→coordination degree of impossible triangle coupling of energy" has significantly positive direct and indirect effects in both the treatment group and the control group. However, "innovation and reform policy of the regional industrial chain→regional industrial chain resilience→the energy sector's impossible triangle coupling coordination degree" and "innovation and reform policy of the regional industrial chain→leading power of the regional industrial chain→the energy sector's impossible triangle coupling coordination degree" have significantly positive direct and indirect effects in the treatment group, but only the direct effect is significant in the control group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The main metastatic route for lung cancer is lymph node metastasis, and studies have shown that non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has a high risk of lymph node infiltration. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the performance of handcrafted radiomics (HR) features and deep transfer learning (DTL) features in Computed Tomography (CT) of intratumoral and peritumoral regions in predicting the metastatic status of NSCLC lymph nodes in different machine learning classifier models. METHODS: We retrospectively collected data of 199 patients with pathologically confirmed NSCLC. All patients were divided into training (n = 159) and validation (n = 40) cohorts, respectively. The best HR and DTL features in the intratumoral and peritumoral regions were extracted and selected, respectively. Support Vector Machine (SVM), k-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), Light Gradient Boosting Machine (Light GBM), Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), and Logistic Regression (LR) models were constructed, and the performance of the models was evaluated. RESULTS: Among the five models in the training and validation cohorts, the LR classifier model performed best in terms of HR and DTL features. The AUCs of the training cohort were 0.841 (95% CI: 0.776–0.907) and 0.955 (95% CI: 0.926–0.983), and the AUCs of the validation cohort were 0.812 (95% CI: 0.677–0.948) and 0.893 (95% CI: 0.795–0.991), respectively. The DTL signature was superior to the handcrafted radiomics signature. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the radiomics signature, the DTL signature constructed based on intratumoral and peritumoral areas in CT can better predict NSCLC lymph node metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multi-size group (MUSIG) model is employed in this paper to simulate the gas–liquid two-phase flow in pump as turbine (PAT) since the traditional Eulerian–Eulerian two-fluid model is unable to take into account the phenomena of breakup and coalescence of bubbles. First, the simulation of gas–liquid two-phase flow in a square column is compared with the experiment to verify the accuracy of the MUSIG model. Then, the results of gas–liquid two-phase flow in PAT simulated by the MUSIG model are compared with those by the conventional uniform bubble (UB) model and find that the MUSIG model is more favorable to capture the flow pattern at high gas content compared to the UB model. Based on the MUSIG model, the internal flow characteristics, pressure fluctuation, and bubble size distribution of the PAT are analyzed. The rotation of the blades breaks a part of big bubbles into small bubbles in the volute, resulting in a smaller diameter of the bubbles entering the impeller. As the gas content increases, the number and size of vortices in the impeller flow channel increase. The vortex is formed at locations where the gas phase distribution in the impeller flow channel is concentrated. The outlet of the impeller is more prone to bubble consolidation under high gas content conditions. In conclusion, the MUSIG model can well predict the complex flow characteristics of gas–liquid two-phase inside the PAT and identify the key influencing factors of energy acquisition, which can provide support for improving the performance of the PAT design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background To evaluate the effects of miR-99a on the migration and proliferation of glioma cells. Materials and Methods: Glioma cell line LN229 with stable up-regulation of miR-99a was constructed by transfection of hsa-miR-99a mimics, and cells with stable miR-99a knock-down were established by transfection of hsa-miR-99a inhibitor. The proliferation capacities of two groups were detected by the MTT assay, and their migration capacities were detected by the scratch assay. Results: LN229 cells with stable up-regulation and knock-down of miR-99a were successfully constructed. Up-regulating miR-99a inhibited the proliferation and migration of glioma cells, but knocking down this gene promoted their proliferation and migration. Conclusion: MiR-99a significantly affected the proliferation and migration of glioma cells, as a potentially eligible target for glioma therapy.

Herein, we present the facial preparation of one-dimensional nanoscale square rod array Sn–Co–Cu alloy films through electrodeposition and subsequent annealing methods under the template-free condition, and their electrochemical performances of the assembled lithium cells as anode were tested in detail. The results indicated that the anodes displayed an excellent cyclic performance. The discharge capacities of the anodes were 1072 and 897 mA h g–1 at the corresponding current densities of 200 and 2000 mA g–1 after 500 cycles, with a high capacity retention of ∼92.3%. Moreover, the excellent capacity reversibility was confirmed when cycled at multiple C-rates of 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 5.0 and then 0.2, and 5.0 A g–1. This attractive electrochemical characteristic is likely due to the anode with morphology of the nanoscale square rod array. Such structure can accommodate the volume expansion of Sn–Co–Cu alloy film anodes and offer large surfaces and more active sites. The kinetic process of Li+ lithiation and delithiation was also characterized based on cyclic voltammetry experiments in a lithium cell whose anode was the Sn–Co–Cu nanoscale square rod array film. The results showed that the kinetics process was mainly dominated by semi-infinite linear diffusion and surface reaction and that the contribution of pseudocapacitance increased with the increase of scan rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A DBN promoted [4+2] cycloaddition of malononitrile with 2‐(3‐oxo‐3‐arylprop‐1‐en‐1‐yl)phenyl buta‐2,3‐dienoates has been developed. This protocol provides a simple strategy for the construction of 2‐amino‐4‐(2‐oxo‐2‐phenylethyl)‐4H‐chromene‐3‐carbonitriles in moderate to good yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to promote the consumption and application of cassava in the food industry, the cassava–acerola cherry juice beverage was developed using lactic acid bacteria fermentation, which improved the flavor attraction and nutritional value, increased the added value of cassava and acerola cherry. The study investigated the effects of both pure and mixed fermentation using Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) HNC7 on the chemical compounds and antioxidant activities in cassava–acerola cherry juice. Following 72 h of fermentation, the fruit juice showed increased acidity, a decrease in pH, and higher consumption of soluble solids, and a significant rise in volatile substance content and antioxidant activity (p < 0.05). Notably, the HNC7-YLC92 binary combination demonstrated the most effective fermentation, resulting in a product with uniform color, moderate sourness and sweetness, and a delicate and smooth taste. Overall, the HNC7-YLC92 binary combination, due to its beneficial biological properties, shows great potential as the optimal strain for fermenting this juice. This provides a reference for selecting industrial fermentation conditions and strains, aiming to develop new value-added cassava products and increase their consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1,4-dioxane is a potential carcinogen in water and is difficult to deal with due to its robust cycloether bond and complete miscibility with water. To remove 1,4-dioxane in an economically viable and environmentally friendly way, a series of carbon aerogels were synthesized as adsorbents for 1,4-dioxane. The experiment results showed that adsorption performances were closely related to the preparation conditions of carbon aerogels, such as the molar ratio, heating rate, pyrolysis temperature and residence time, which were carefully controlled. Scanning electron microscope analysis revealed the presence of a three-dimensional porous network structure in carbon aerogels. Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis results demonstrated an increase in specific surface area (673.89 m2/g) and total pore volume after carbonization, with an increase in mesoporous porosity and a decrease in microporosity. When considering each variable individually, the highest specific surface area of prepared carbon aerogels was achieved at a pyrolysis temperature of 800 °C, a holding time of 1 h, and a heating rate of 2 °C/min. Under optimal experimental conditions, the adsorption removal of 1,4-dioxane by carbon aerogels exceeded 95%, following quasi-second-order kinetics and Langmuir isothermal adsorption isotherms, indicating that monolayer adsorption on the surface of carbon aerogels occurred. The maximum adsorption capacity obtained was 67.28 mg/g at a temperature of 318 K, which was attributed to the presence of a large proportion of mesopores and abundant micropores simultaneously in carbon aerogels. Furthermore, with the interference of chlorinated solvents such as trichloroethylene (TCE), the removal efficiency of 1,4-dioxane had no obvious inhibition effect. Regeneration experiments showed that after five continuous cycles, the carbon aerogels still kept a comparable adsorption capacity, which illustrates its potential application in 1,4-dioxane-polluted water purification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]