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As data and protocols are increasingly generated, accessed, and manipulated electronically, many labs are shifting to storing data in electronic laboratory notebooks (ELNs). ELNs provide clear advantages in readability, shareability, searchability, accessibility, and data security over their paper counterparts. Our interdisciplinary program implemented ELNs across several sections of our gateway molecular biology laboratory course and analyzed the impact on 384 students (13 sections total from Fall 2016 to Spring 2018) using surveys, focus groups, and grade data. We found that students prefer the electronic format, citing the ease of transitioning to lab reports and the longevity of their data. Course grades overall were not affected by the change. Based on our experience, we offer suggestions for smoothing the transition to an ELN system in undergraduate and graduate laboratory courses, including use during remote teaching.

Low test-taking effort of examinees has been considered a source of construct-irrelevant variance in item response modeling, leading to serious consequences on parameter estimation. This study aims to investigate how non-effortful response (NER) influences the estimation of item and person parameters in item-pool scale linking (IPSL) and whether differential NER for two groups has a different effect on parameter estimation under the equivalent and non-equivalent group designs. Three simulation studies and an empirical study were conducted to answer these research questions. Results show that NER on items in a certain item set (e.g. common new items, exclusive new items) have a dominant negative effect on parameter estimation of items from the same item set, while NER on items from the item pool would seriously impact the accuracy of ability parameters. Discussions and recommendations for item set orders are provided.

Compacted clay liners are extensively used as barriers to control the upward diffusion of vapors of volatile or semi-volatile organic contaminants released from unsaturated contaminated soils at industry-contaminated sites. This study aimed to investigate the gas diffusion barrier performance of compacted clayey soils amended with three agents including attapulgite and diatomite individually, and attapulgite/diatomite mixture. The properties including water retention, volumetric shrinkage, gas diffusion, and unconfined compressive strength were evaluated through a series of laboratory tests of amended compacted clayey soils. The results demonstrate that the decrease in volume proportions of inter-aggregate pores leads to an increase in unconfined compressive strength (qu). Both hydrophilic groups and microstructures of attapulgite and diatomite result in an increase in water retention percent (Wt) of compacted clayey soil specimens after amendment regardless of the type of agent or initial water content (w0). Furthermore, the ratio of the gas diffusion coefficient (De) to the gas diffusion coefficient in the air (Da) was significantly reduced owing to a decrease in volume proportions of inter-aggregate pores, hydrophilic group, and microstructures of attapulgite and diatomite. Scanning electron microscope analyses revealed that rod-shaped attapulgite filled the inter-aggregate pores formed by clay particles, whereas the disc-shaped diatomite particles, characterized by micropores, failed to obstruct the inter-aggregate pores due to their larger particle size. Mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) analyses showed a reduction in pore volume in the inter-aggregate pores, leading to a reduction in the total pore volume for both the attapulgite and attapulgite/diatomite mixture amended clays, which is in accordance with the scanning electron microscope (SEM) results. The findings are pertinent to the practical application of compacted clay liners as gas barriers against the upward migration of volatile or semi-volatile organic contaminants at contaminated sites.

Abstract Metastasis has been one of the primary reasons for the high mortality rates associated with tumours in recent years, rendering the treatment of current malignancies challenging and representing a significant cause of recurrence in patients who have undergone surgical tumour resection. Halting tumour metastasis has become an essential goal for achieving favourable prognoses following cancer treatment. In recent years, increasing clarity in understanding the mechanisms underlying metastasis has been achieved. The concept of premetastatic niches has gained widespread acceptance, which posits that tumour cells establish a unique microenvironment at distant sites prior to their migration, facilitating their settlement and growth at those locations. Neutrophils serve as crucial constituents of the premetastatic niche, actively shaping its microenvironmental characteristics, which include immunosuppression, inflammation, angiogenesis and extracellular matrix remodelling. These characteristics are intimately associated with the successful engraftment and subsequent progression of tumour cells. As our understanding of the role and significance of neutrophils in the premetastatic niche deepens, leveraging the presence of neutrophils within the premetastatic niche has gradually attracted the interest of researchers as a potential therapeutic target. The focal point of this review revolves around elucidating the involvement of neutrophils in the formation and shaping of the premetastatic niche (PMN), alongside the introduction of emerging therapeutic approaches aimed at impeding cancer metastasis.

Abstract Electrosynthesis of adipic acid (a precursor for nylon-66) from KA oil (a mixture of cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol) represents a sustainable strategy to replace conventional method that requires harsh conditions. However, its industrial possibility is greatly restricted by the low current density and competitive oxygen evolution reaction. Herein, we modify nickel layered double hydroxide with vanadium to promote current density and maintain high faradaic efficiency (>80%) within a wide potential window (1.5 ~ 1.9 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode). Experimental and theoretical studies reveal two key roles of V modification, including accelerating catalyst reconstruction and strengthening cyclohexanone adsorption. As a proof-of-the-concept, we construct a membrane electrode assembly, producing adipic acid with high faradaic efficiency (82%) and productivity (1536 μmol cm−2 h−1) at industrially relevant current density (300 mA cm−2), while achieving >50 hours stability. This work demonstrates an efficient catalyst for adipic acid electrosynthesis with high productivity that shows industrial potential.

Abstract Lattice oxygen in metal oxides plays an important role in the reaction of diesel oxidation catalysts, but the atomic-level understanding of structural evolution during the catalytic process remains elusive. Here, we develop a Mn2O3/SmMn2O5 catalyst using a non-stoichiometric exsolution method to explore the roles of lattice oxygen in NO oxidation. The enhanced covalency of Mn–O bond and increased electron density at Mn3+ sites, induced by the interface between exsolved Mn2O3 and mullite, lead to the formation of highly active lattice oxygen adjacent to Mn3+ sites. Near-ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron and absorption spectroscopies show that the activated lattice oxygen enables reversible changes in Mn valence states and Mn-O bond covalency during redox cycles, reducing energy barriers for NO oxidation and promoting NO2 desorption via the cooperative Mars-van Krevelen mechanism. Therefore, the Mn2O3/SmMn2O5 exhibits higher NO oxidation activity and better resistance to hydrothermal aging compared to a commercial Pt/Al2O3 catalyst.

Abstract Objective To identify factors that influence the severity of tinnitus via a hierarchical multiple linear regression model. Methods The study was a retrospective cross‐sectional analysis. The study included 331 patients experiencing tinnitus as their primary concern, who visited Shanghai Changzheng Hospital of the Navy Medical University between 2019 and 2021. Data on general health status and disease characteristics were collected from all patients. With their consent, participants underwent audiological evaluatons and completed questionnaires to analyze the characteristics of their tinnitus and the factors influencing its severity. Results The correlation analysis showed a positive relationship between tinnitus frequency, tinnitus loudness, SAS scores, and PSQI scores with THI scores (P

Tebufenozide, an efficient insect growth regulator (IGR) against lepidopteran pests, presents a novel mode of action with minimal non-target impact. By competing with ecdysteroids for ecdysone receptor (EcR) binding, it regulates insect growth precisely. This study explores tebufenozide's potential as a multitarget IGR, targeting both EcR and Ostrinia furnacalis chitinase I (OfChtI). The inhibitory activity against OfChtI is comparable to that of substrates (GlcNAc)5, with an IC50 of 45.77 ​μM. Our computational findings indicate that tebufenozide binds at the subsite −1 to +1 of OfChtI through various interactions. Notably, tebufenozide establishes a pi-pi interaction with the flipped sidechain of Trp107, enabling tebufenozide to deeply penetrate into the S1 pocket, thereby obstructing substrate binding to OfChtI. These insights highlight the potency of multitarget strategies, laying the groundwork for innovative IGR designs that offer comprehensive pest management solutions.

Objectives: Diamond tools are crucial in stone processing, and their performance is directly related to processing quality and cost. With the rise of stone and labor costs, the performance requirements on diamond tools are also increasing, including sharpness, self sharpening, tool life, and cutting efficiency. To improve efficiency and reduce costs, users often increase the cutting machine power and speed, which further requires diamond tools to have higher sharpness and strength at the risk of breakage. A practical method method is to increase the content of tin (Sn) in the segment to enhance its brittleness without changing the diamond concentration and particle size. However, an increase in Sn content will reduce the strength of the segment and may lead to a decrease in the holding force between CuSn alloy and diamond. For example, the commonly used CuSn10 and CuSn15 pre alloy powders in industry have low strength and weak holding force on diamond. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the powder properties and processing technology. Methods: Adding Zn element to CuSn10 alloy powder can improve powder strength and holding force. CuSnZn-x alloy powder (mass fraction of Zn, x=10.00%, 15.00%, 20.00%, 25.00%, 30.00%) was prepared by atomization process. The hot pressing sintering temperatures were 610 ℃, 615 ℃, 630 ℃, 645 ℃, 655 ℃, and the sintering pressure was 21 MPa. The melting temperature of CuSnZn alloy powder was tested using a differential thermal analyzer. The density of the sintered segment was tested using Archimedes drainage method. The bending strength of the sintered segment was tested using mechanical performance testing equipment. The Rockwell hardness of the sintered segment was measured using a Rockwell hardness tester. The microstructure morphology of the sintered segment and its fracture were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. Other performances of samples with different Zn contents were analyzed and compared as well, namely theoretical density, Rockwell hardness, and flexural strength, to study the influence of Zn content on sample microstructure. Results: With the increase of Zn content, the rate of decrease in melting temperature of CuSnZn alloy powder first increases and then decreases. When the Zn mass fraction is 30%, the melting temperature decreases to 848 ℃, which is 164 ℃ lower than that of CuSn10. As the Zn content increases, the brass in the sintered segment gradually transforms from the α phase to the α+β phase and then the α+β+β´ phase, resulting in a significant increase in the Rockwell hardness of the segment. The bending strength of the sintered segment first increases and then decreases, reaching a maximum value of 542 MPa when the Zn mass fraction is 20.00%. When the mass fraction of Zn is 10.00% and 15.00%, obvious toughness dimples are observed on the fracture surface of the sintered segment, and particle peeling is observed on the fracture surface. The peeling surface is smooth and flat, indicating grain boundary peeling fracture of the phase structure. When the mass fraction of Zn is 20.00% and 25.00%, a large number of cleavage fracture surfaces are observed on the fracture surface of the sintered segment, and a small amount of smooth concave transgranular fracture is observed, which is partially intergranular fracture and partially transgranular fracture. When the mass fraction of Zn is 30.00%, the fracture surface of the sintered segment is flat and smooth, and the crack passes through the phase interface and grain along the hard and brittle structure, which is transgranular fracture. Conclusions: Adding Zn element can effectively reduce the melting point of alloy powder, and with the increase of Zn content, the hardness of sintered samples increases while the toughness decreases. When the Zn content is 30.00%, the melting temperature of CuSnZn alloy powder reaches its minimum value. When the Zn content exceeds 25.00%, the strength of the sintered samples will gradually decrease. Therefore, in actual production, the appropriate amount of Zn addition and sintering process should be selected based on comprehensive consideration of demand.

The rapid development of the global economy and population growth are accompanied by the production of numerous waste textiles. This leads to a waste of limited resources and serious environmental pollution problems caused by improper disposal. The rational recycling of wasted textiles and their transformation into high-value-added emerging products, such as smart wearable devices, is fascinating. Here, we propose a novel roadmap for turning waste cotton fabrics into three-dimensional elastic fiber-based thermoelectric aerogels by a one-step lyophilization process with decoupled self-powered temperature–compression strain dual-parameter sensing properties. The thermoelectric aerogel exhibits a fast compression response time of 0.2 s, a relatively high Seebeck coefficient of 43 μV·K−1, and an ultralow thermal conductivity of less than 0.04 W·m−1·K−1. The cross-linking of trimethoxy(methyl)silane (MTMS) and cellulose endowed the aerogel with excellent elasticity, allowing it to be used as a compressive strain sensor for guessing games and facial expression recognition. In addition, based on the thermoelectric effect, the aerogel can perform temperature detection and differentiation in self-powered mode with the output thermal voltage as the stimulus signal. Furthermore, the wearable system, prepared by connecting the aerogel-prepared array device with a wireless transmission module, allows for temperature alerts in a mobile phone application without signal interference due to the compressive strains generated during gripping. Hence, our strategy is significant for reducing global environmental pollution and provides a revelatory path for transforming waste textiles into high-value-added smart wearable devices.

Integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) have emerged as the first-line choice for treating human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection due to their superior efficacy and safety. However, the impact of INSTIs on the development of neuropsychiatric conditions in people living with HIV (PLWH) is not fully understood due to limited data. In this study, we conducted a cross-sectional examination of PLWH receiving antiretroviral therapy, with a specific focus on HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) on INSTI-based regimens (n = 61) and efavirenz (EFV)-based regimens (n = 28). Participants underwent comprehensive neuropsychiatric evaluations and multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, including T1-weighted images and resting-state functional MRI. Compared to the EFV group, the INSTI group exhibited primarily reduced gray matter volume (GMV) in the right superior parietal gyrus, higher regional homogeneity (ReHo) in the left postcentral gyrus, lower ReHo in the right orbital part of the inferior frontal gyrus, and increased voxel-wise functional connectivity for the seed region in the left inferior temporal gyrus with clusters in the right cuneus. Furthermore, the analysis revealed a main effect of antiretroviral drugs on GMV changes, but no main effect of neuropsychiatric disorders or their interaction. The repeated analysis of participants who did not switch regimens confirmed the GMV changes in the INSTI group, validating the initial findings. Our study demonstrated gray matter atrophy and functional brain changes in PLWH on INSTI-based regimens compared to those on EFV-based regimens. These neuroimaging results provide valuable insights into the characteristics of brain network modifications in PLWH receiving INSTI-based regimens.

Abstract Background Precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) is the most common cancers in children. Failure of induction chemotherapy is a major factor leading to relapse and death in children with B-ALL. Given the importance of altered metabolites in the carcinogenesis of pediatric B-ALL, studying the metabolic profile of children with B-ALL during induction chemotherapy and in different minimal residual disease (MRD) status may contribute to the management of pediatric B-ALL. Methods We collected paired peripheral blood plasma samples from children with B-ALL at pre- and post-induction chemotherapy and analyzed the metabolomic profiling of these samples by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS). Healthy children were included as controls. We selected metabolites that were depleted in pediatric B-ALL and analyzed the concentrations in pediatric B-ALL samples. In vitro, we study the effects of the selected metabolites on the viability of ALL cell lines and the sensitivity to conventional chemotherapeutic agents in ALL cell lines. Results Forty-four metabolites were identified with different levels between groups. KEGG pathway enrichment analyses revealed that dysregulated linoleic acid (LA) metabolism and arginine (Arg) biosynthesis were closely associated with pediatric B-ALL. We confirmed that LA and Arg were decreased in pediatric B-ALL samples. The treatment of LA and Arg inhibited the viability of NALM-6 and RS4;11 cells in a dose-dependent manner, respectively. Moreover, Arg increased the sensitivity of B-ALL cells to L-asparaginase and daunorubicin. Conclusion Arginine increases the sensitivity of B-ALL cells to the conventional chemotherapeutic drugs L-asparaginase and daunorubicin. This may represent a promising therapeutic approach.

Abstract Background: The rise of network pharmacology has led to the widespread use of network-based computational methods in predicting drug target interaction (DTI). However, existing DTI prediction models typically rely on a limited amount of data to extract drug and target features, potentially affecting the comprehensiveness and robustness of features. In addition, although multiple networks are used for DTI prediction, the integration of heterogeneous information often involves simplistic aggregation and attention mechanisms, which may impose certain limitations. Results: MSH-DTI, a deep learning model for predicting drug-target interactions, is proposed in this paper. The model uses self-supervised learning methods to obtain drug and target structure features. A Heterogeneous Interaction-enhanced Feature Fusion Module is designed for multi-graph construction, and the graph convolutional networks are used to extract node features. With the help of an attention mechanism, the model focuses on the important parts of different features for prediction. Experimental results show that the AUROC and AUPR of MSH-DTI are 0.9620 and 0.9605 respectively, outperforming other models on the DTINet dataset. Conclusion: The proposed MSH-DTI is a helpful tool to discover drug-target interactions, which is also validated through case studies in predicting new DTIs.

Abstract Dracaena cambodiana Pierre ex Gagn. (Asparagaceae) is the source plant of Dragon’s blood and has high ornamental values in gardening. Currently, this species is classified as the second-class state-protected species in the National Key Protected Wild Plants (NKPWP) of China. However, limited genomic data has hindered a more comprehensive scientific understanding of the processes involved in the production of Dragon’s blood and the related conservation genomics research. In this study, we assembled a haplotype-resolved genome of D. cambodiana. The haploid genomes, haplotype A and haplotype B, are 1,015.22 Mb and 1,003.13 Mb in size, respectively. The completeness of haplotype A and haplotype B genomes was 98.60% and 98.20%, respectively, using the “embryophyta_10” dataset. Haplotype A and haplotype B genomes contained 27,361 and 27,066 protein-coding genes, respectively, with nearly all being functionally annotated. These findings provide new insights into the genomic characteristics of D. cambodiana and will offer additional genomic resources for studying the biosynthesis mechanism of Dragon’s blood and the horticultural application of Dragon trees.

Abstract Objectives The purpose of this study is to assess the diagnostic efficacy of contrast-enhanced CT scans for small bowel bleeding. Methods This retrospective study evaluated patients diagnosed with non-neoplastic small intestinal bleeding (including duodenum) who underwent abdominal CT at our institution from December 2013 to March 2023. Patients were categorized into diverticulum and non-diverticulum groups based on the cause of bleeding. Active bleeding was defined on the CT images as extravasation of contrast material in the intestinal lumen during the arterial phase and/or progressive accumulation of contrast material during the venous phase. We have documented the original report (extracted from the medical record system and additional consultation opinions from senior radiologists), including the presence of active bleeding and its potential bleeding location. Furthermore, two radiologists reassessed the CT images, seeking consensus on the diagnosis between them. Results The study included 165 patients, predominantly male, with a median age of 30 years. Active bleeding was identified in 48.3% of patients. Notably, all identified bleeding diverticula in the diverticulum group exhibited cul-de-sac termination. Among the identified causes of bleeding, Crohn’s disease was most prevalent (46.7%, N of causes = 64). Significant differences were observed in the diagnostic methods between the diverticulum and non-diverticulum groups, with surgery predominantly applied in the diverticulum group, and endoscopy in the non-diverticulum group (n = 49 vs n = 15, p = 0.001). Contrast agent extravasation was significantly higher in the diverticulum group (n = 54 vs n = 16, p = 0.001), and Meckel’s diverticulum cases appearing tubular were significantly higher than in other diverticulum cases (n = 25 vs n = 3, p

Abstract Non-Hermitian physics has emerged as a new paradigm that profoundly changes our understanding of non-equilibrium systems, introducing novel concepts such as exceptional points, spectral topology, and non-Hermitian skin effects (NHSEs). Most existing studies focus on non-Hermitian eigenstates, whereas dynamic properties have been discussed only recently, and the dynamic NHSEs are not yet confirmed in experiments. Here, we report the experimental observation of non-Hermitian skin dynamics using tunable one-dimensional nonreciprocal double-chain mechanical systems with glide-time symmetry. Remarkably, dynamic NHSEs are observed with various behaviors in different dynamic phases, which can be understood via the generalized Brillouin zone and the related concepts. Moreover, the observed dynamic NHSEs, amplifications, bulk unidirectional wave propagation, and boundary wave trapping provide promising ways to manipulate waves in a controllable and robust way. Our findings open a new pathway toward non-Hermitian dynamics, which will fertilize the study of non-equilibrium phases of matter.

Elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus often face the problems of multimorbidity and multiple medications, and these conditions often lead to irrational or inappropriate medication use, significantly affecting patient outcomes and quality of life, making early and effective medication decisions particularly important. As an important supplement to medication support information, decision support tools, including electronic health record-based systems, mobile applications, online health platforms, etc., provide personalized, evidence-based medical information to help patients understand medication regimens, assist patients and healthcare professionals in making more rational medication decisions, enhance the appropriateness and safety of medication, and reduce the risk of drug interactions, thereby improving the overall treatment of patients and reducing the risk of drug interactions. The application of medication management in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus has made significant progress, thus improving the overall outcome and quality of life of patients. This article summarizes the current situation of medication use in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, the influencing factors, types, application methods and their roles of decision aids, aiming to provide reference for the development of medication decision aids for this population in China.

Abstract The beveling process is an important process in the manufacturing of resonators, which has a significant impact on the frequency stability of resonators. Without understanding the frequency characteristics of the resonator after beveling, it is impossible to accurately design the beveled resonators. Thus, in order to investigate the vibration characteristics of AT-cut beveled resonators, we investigated the high-frequency vibration in this work by using the subregional geometric fitting method (SGFM) based on Mindlin’s plate theory. Quartz crystal plates with nonuniform thicknesses are partitioned into three regions and each region is fitted by using the polynomial functions based on the measured geometric morphology data. The governing equations are obtained based on Mindlin’s two-dimensional theory and the coupled vibrations are further solved using the partial differential equation module of COMSOL. In the numerical calculation, we compare the results obtained by the SGFM with those obtained by the global fitting method and the measured data. The accuracy and effectiveness of the SGFM are also verified. It is found that the frequencies obtained by the SGFM are slightly higher than the frequencies obtained by the global fitting method, and the results of SGFM are closer to the measured results. Meanwhile, as the beveling time increases, the frequency increases and the energy trapping effect becomes more significant. The proposed method can significantly improve the computational efficiency of thickness-shear vibration while ensuring accuracy. It is expected to provide a new geometric fitting method for the analysis of beveled crystal resonators.

Abstract Stable vortex lattices are basic dynamical patterns which have been demonstrated in physical systems including superconductor physics, Bose-Einstein condensates, hydrodynamics and optics. Vortex-antivortex (VAV) ensembles can be produced, self-organizing into the respective polar lattices. However, these structures are in general highly unstable due to the strong VAV attraction. Here, we demonstrate that multiple optical VAV clusters nested in the propagating coherent field can crystallize into patterns which preserve their lattice structures over distance up to several Rayleigh lengths. To explain this phenomenon, we present a model for effective interactions between the vortices and antivortices at different lattice sites. The observed VAV crystallization is a consequence of the globally balanced VAV couplings. As the crystallization does not require the presence of nonlinearities and appears in free space, it may find applications to high-capacity optical communications and multiparticle manipulations. Our findings suggest possibilities for constructing VAV complexes through the orbit-orbit couplings, which differs from the extensively studied spin-orbit couplings.

Objectives: Heart failure is a stage of various cardiovascular diseases and constitutes a growing major public health problem worldwide. Nurse-led heart failure clinics play an important role in managing heart failure. All nurse-led heart failure clinic services are clinic-based. We conducted a systematic review to describe the contents and impact of nurse-led heart failure clinics. Methods: A review of nurse-led heart failure clinic research was undertaken in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. The search was initially conducted on October 23, 2022 and updated on November 21, 2023. Articles were appraised using the Joanna Briggs Institute Appraisal criteria by two independent reviewers. This review was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42022352209). Results: Twelve articles were included in this systematic review. The nurse-led heart failure clinic contents were: medication uptitration, educational counselling, evidence-based transitional care, psychosocial support, physical examination and mental well-being assessment, therapy monitoring and adjustment, follow-up, and phone consultations. Most studies reported largely positive clinical outcomes in nurse-led heart failure clinics. Four studies examined the quality of life and reported conflicting results; four studies examined medication titration efficacy, and the results were generally positive. Only two studies examined cost-effectiveness. Conclusions: Nurse-led heart failure clinics have shown a largely positive impact on patient outcomes, quality of life, and medication titration efficacy. More randomised controlled trials and other studies are needed to obtain more robust conclusions.

Abstract Background The management of locally recurrent gynecological carcinoma remains a challenge due to the limited availability of data. This study aims to share our institutional experience in using definitive radiotherapy (RT) for the treatment of locally recurrent cervical and endometrial carcinoma. Methods The study retrospectively reviewed 20 patients in our hospital completing salvage 3D image-based HDR brachytherapy, with or without EBRT, for locally recurrent cervical and endometrial carcinoma after surgery. The Kaplan–Meier method was applied to estimate the disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). The toxicities were assessed by CTCAEv5. Results During a median observation period of 21 months, the study reported a tumor objective response rate of 95%. The 3-year DFS and OS rates were 89.4% and 90.9%, respectively. The EBRT combined with brachytherapy achieved a median cumulative dose of 88 Gy to CTV D90. 14 patients received concurrent and/or systemic chemotherapy. Two patients suffered locoregional recurrence after salvage treatment, one of whom only received salvage brachytherapy for prior RT history. The analysis identified significant predictors for DFS, including tumor histology and FIGO stage. 5 patients observed acute grade 1–2 rectal (15%) or genitourinary (10%) toxicities. Late toxicities including grade 1–2 rectal bleeding (10%) and grade 2 pelvic fracture (5%) were seen in 3 patients. Conclusions 3D image-guided brachytherapy combined with EBRT shows effective tumor control and acceptable toxicity profile for women with locally recurrent gynecologic cancer. The success in managing vaginal recurrence is notably influenced by histologic subtype and FIGO staging.

Abstract Objective To test the glycemic susceptibility in three urological cancers and eight urological/reproductive diseases using the Mendelian randomization (MR) method. Materials and methods Two-sample MR was applied to investigate the causal role of three glycemic traits (type II diabetes, fasting glucose and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c)) in eleven urological/reproductive diseases (kidney cancer, bladder cancer, prostate cancer, kidney/ureter stone, urinary incontinence, benign prostatic hyperplasia, erectile dysfunction, female infertility, male infertility, abnormal spermatozoa and polycystic ovary syndrome). Further multivariate MR (MVMR) and mediating analysis were performed to investigate the associations. Results Among all the 11 diseases, type II diabetes was positively associated with erectile dysfunction, which was stable across both cohorts [odds ratio (OR): 1.59, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.15–2.20, P = 0.005 for FinnGen Biobank and OR: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.08–1.21, P

To reduce the corrosion rate of biodegradable magnesium alloys, n-MgO/Mg–Zn–Ca composites (SR-3ZXM) were prepared using nano-MgO (n-MgO) reinforcement and screw rolling (SR). n-MgO addition and SR refined the grain size and improved the passivation ability and corrosion resistance of SR-3ZXM. After SR, adding n-MgO reduced the corrosion current density of SR-3ZXM to 20.99 μA/cm2. The corrosion rate calculated based on the material weight loss decreased to 0.88 mm/y, which is attributed to the grain size refinement and variation of secondary phase fraction. Thus, n-MgO addition and SR change the corrosion mechanism and improve the corrosion resistance of SR-3ZXM.

Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is closely related to insulin resistance, and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level is an independent factor for insulin resistance associated with subclinical hypothyroidism. This study aims to explore the effects of TSH levels on insulin signal transduction in adipocytes and to establish the role of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in this process. In this study, the SCH mouse model was established, and 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated with TSH or tunicamycin (TM), with or without 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA), an inhibitor of ER stress. Subclinical hypothyroidism mice exhibited impaired glucose tolerance, inactivation of the IRS-1/AKT pathway, and activation of the IRE1/JNK pathway in adipose tissue, which can all be alleviated by 4-PBA. Supplementation with levothyroxine restored the TSH to normal, alongside alleviated ER stress and insulin resistance in SCH mice, which is characterized by improved glucose tolerance, decreased mRNA expression of IRE1, and decreased phosphorylation of JNK in adipose tissue. In 3T3-L1 adipocytes, TSH induces insulin resistance, leading to a decrease in glucose uptake. This effect is mediated by the downregulation of IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation, reduced AKT phosphorylation, and inhibited GLUT4 protein expression. Notably, all these effects can be effectively reversed by 4-PBA. Moreover, TSH induced TNF-α and IL-6 production and upregulated the expression of ER stress markers. Similarly, these changes can be recovered by 4-PBA. These findings indicate that TSH has the capability to induce insulin resistance in adipocytes. The mechanism through which TSH disrupts insulin signal transduction appears to involve the ER stress–JNK pathway.

Abstract The present investigation examines the usage of rectangular multi-injectors for fuel injection in a supersonic combustion chamber. To evaluate the fuel jet penetration and distribution, a computational method is applied to model the supersonic compressible flow with cross multi-fuel jets released from annular rectangular nozzles with different nozzle configurations. The main effort of this work is to evaluate the jet interactions in the existence of cross-supersonic flow. Fuel jet penetration and distribution are evaluated for three proposed injector arrangements to attain the more efficient option for better fuel mixing. Our results show that reducing injector space improves fuel mixing inside the combustor via creation of strong vortices. Beside, injection of air from internal nozzle increase fuel interactions and fuel mixing inside combustion chamber.

Abstract Background The relationship between metformin use and prostate cancer (PCa) risk has yet to be clear despite more than a decade of debate on this topic. Hence, we aimed to investigate the causal role of metformin in reducing PCa risk through an up-to-date comprehensive genome-wide analysis. Methods We employed validated instrument variables of metformin use derived from a prior high-quality study, including five potential targets (AMPK, GCG, GDF15, MCI and MG3). Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed to harmonize genetically predicted metformin use and PCa phenotypes. PCa phenotypes were from two large genome-wide association studies (GWAS), the Prostate Cancer Association Group to Investigate Cancer-Associated Alterations in the Genome (PRACTICAL) and the FinnGen cohort. Seven methods were applied to generate MR results: the inverse variance weighted (IVW), IVW with multiplicative random effects, MR-Egger, MR-Egger (bootstrap), weighted median, simple mode and weighted mode. Strict sensitivity analysis was conducted to satisfy core assumptions of MR design. Results We enrolled 32 significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that involved with metformin use. Nearly all targets yielded insignificant primary results (IVW with multiplicative random effects), except that AMPK target posed a positive effect on PCa risk from FinnGen cohort [odds ratio (OR): 6.09, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.10-33.53, P value: 0.038]. The general effect of metformin use, comprising all 5 targets, also yielded negative results (random-effect meta-analysis with OR: 1.09, 95% CI: 0.76–1.58, P value: 0.637 for PRACTICAL; OR: 2.55, 95% CI: 0.58–11.16, P value: 0.215 for FinnGen). None of the sensitivity analyses provided support for a causal association between metformin use and PCa risk. Conclusion This up-to-date study did not support the protective role of metformin in reducing PCa risk, considering each target, overall effect, and sensitivity analysis. It is imperative to reflect on the presumed “almighty medicine” and ongoing phase III trials are anticipated to assess the anti-neoplasm effect of metformin.

Nanoscratching introduces detrimental surface and subsurface defects like amorphous regions, dislocations, and stacking faults in monocrystalline silicon, hindering its application in microelectronics and high-performance optics. This study leverages in-situ transmission electron microscopy to unveil the thermal evolution of these defects in atomic scale. A key finding is the amorphous phase recrystallization starting at ∼500 °C. Epitaxial growth from the crystalline-amorphous boundary, guided by adjacent crystal planes, restores the original diamond structure phase. By 700–800 °C, almost complete recrystallization occurs, maintaining similar interplanar spacing despite residual crystal distortions and dislocations. Notably, heating above 600 °C results in the gradual vanishing of stacking faults, suggesting a dynamic thermal evolution of the crystal defects induced by surface nanoscratching. This work demonstrates thermal annealing as a promising strategy to mitigate nanoscratch-induced defects, paving the way for defect-free-surface of silicon components in ultra-precision machining processes. It offers valuable insights into the interplay between nanoscratching, temperature, and defect evolution, laying the groundwork for surface and subsurface defects elimination in silicon under thermal fields.

The cardiotoxicity caused by Dox chemotherapy represents a significant limitation to its clinical application and is a major cause of late death in patients undergoing chemotherapy. Currently, there are no effective treatments available. Our analysis of 295 clinical samples from 132 chemotherapy patients and 163 individuals undergoing physical examination revealed a strong positive correlation between intestinal barrier injury and the development of cardiotoxicity in chemotherapy patients. We developed a novel orally available and intestinal targeting protein nanodrug by assembling membrane protein Amuc_1100 (obtained from intestinal bacteria Akkermansia muciniphila), fluorinated polyetherimide, and hyaluronic acid. The protein nanodrug demonstrated favorable stability against hydrolysis compared with free Amuc_1100. The in vivo results demonstrated that the protein nanodrug can alleviate Dox-induced cardiac toxicity by improving gut microbiota, increasing the proportion of short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria from the Lachnospiraceae family, and further enhancing the levels of butyrate and pentanoic acids, ultimately regulating the homeostasis repair of lymphocytes in the spleen and heart. Therefore, we believe that the integrity of the intestinal barrier plays an important role in the development of chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity. Protective interventions targeting the intestinal barrier may hold promise as a general clinical treatment regimen for reducing Dox-induced cardiotoxicity.

Effective separation of residual carbon and ash is the basis for the resource utilization of coal gasification fine slag (CGFS). The conventional flotation process of CGFS has the bottlenecks of low carbon recovery and high collector dosage. In order to address these issues, CGFS sample taken from Shaanxi, China was used as the study object in this paper. A new process of size classification − fine grain ultrasonic pretreatment flotation (SC-FGUF) was proposed and its separation effect was compared with that of whole-grain flotation (WGF) as well as size classification − fine grain flotation (SC-FGF). The mechanism of its enhanced separation effect was revealed through flotation kinetic fitting, flotation flow foam layer stability, particle size composition, surface morphology, pore structure, and surface chemical property analysis. The results showed that compared with WGF, pre-classification could reduce the collector dosage by 84.09% and the combination of pre-classification and ultrasonic pretreatment could increase the combustible recovery by 17.29% and up to 93.46%. The SC-FGUF process allows the ineffective adsorption of coarse residual carbon to collector during flotation stage to be reduced by pre-classification, and the tightly embedded state of fine CGFS particles is disrupted and surface oxidizing functional group occupancy was reduced by ultrasonic pretreatment, thus carbon and ash is easier to be separated in the flotation process. In addition, some of the residual carbon particles were broken down to smaller sizes in the ultrasonic pretreatment, which led to an increase in the stability of flotation flow foam layer and a decrease in the probability of detachment of residual carbon particles from the bubbles. Therefore, SC-FGUF could increase the residual carbon recovery and reduce the flotation collector dosage, which is an innovative method for carbon-ash separation of CGFS with good application prospect.

The study of the bedding plane effect has important implications for stability analysis of deep rock masses. However, the differences in shear mechanical behavior between natural layered rocks under reverse and normal dip conditions are still not well understood. For this , a full-angle shear test of shale with 0°≤ψ≤180° (ψ is the bedding plane inclination angle, defined as the angle of clockwise rotation from the shear surface to the laminar surface) was carried out. The shear mechanical properties and differences in failure modes of shale under different bedding plane inclination angles were extensively analyzed. Additionally, the analysis results were supplemented and verified with discrete element simulations. The results are as follows. Firstly, the minimum shear strength is achieved when shearing parallel to the bedding plane. The strength reaches a maximum at ψ=30° and local peaks at 90° and 135°. The shear strength is relatively higher when shearing in the reverse direction. For ψ>30°, the shear strength generally decreases with ψ. Secondly, according to the differences in the shear mechanical behavior under various ψ, the layered rocks are divided into three groups: bedding tension and matrix shear group (ψ=15°-60°), matrix shear group (ψ=75°-120°), matrix and bedding shear group (135°-180°). Thirdly, In the pre-peak stage, stress drop phenomenon only exists in the matrix shear group. In the post-peak stage, stress drops in a “step-like” manner for bedding tension and matrix shear group. Fourthly, tension and shear failures coexist, with shear failure being predominant. Lastly, the number of shear cracks of layer is dominant when shearing parallel to the bedding plane. The number of shear cracks in the matrix is the highest at 90°. At ψ= 30°, the maximum number of tensile cracks is observed in the bedding plane, followed by shear cracks in the matrix. The shear cracks are mainly observed in the bedding and matrix at ψ= 150°. The study reveals the anisotropic characteristics and differences in reverse and normal dip shear of layered rocks. The results provide a scientific basis for improving anisotropic mechanical models and analyzing disaster mechanisms and surrounding rock stability.

Abstract The unsatisfactory insulating properties of solid–gas interfaces seriously restrict the development of high‐voltage electrical equipment and threaten their power supply stability. Electron‐beam irradiation (EBI) can effectively improve the surface flashover voltage of dielectrics. However, the underlying mechanism of EBI in tailoring the surface trap and improving the flashover voltage remains unclear. In this study, the surface morphologies and chemical compositions of epoxy composites treated with EBI were investigated. In addition, the surface wetting properties, surface charge migration parameters, and surface flashover voltages were experimentally characterised. It was found that EBI aggravated the surface morphology, changed the surface chemical components, and repressed surface charge transportation. As a result, the contact angle was reduced from 103.7° to 78.43°, and the flashover voltage in SF6 was increased from 35.26 to 38.90 kV. DFT calculations showed that the newly generated C–O–H and C=O bonds on the surface molecules after EBI formed charge centres at the molecular electrostatic potential, which enhanced the trapping effect of the surface deep trap. As a result, surface charge migration was repressed, and the surface flashover voltage was improved. This study could promote the further development of EBI on materials modification.

This is an article in the field of mineral analysis and testing. A rapid method for the simultaneous determination of Nb, Ta, Li and Be in Nb Ta ore by alkali fusion inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was established. The mixed alkali of sodium peroxide and sodium hydroxide=1:1 is used to decompose the sample. During extraction, niobium, tantalum and other elements are completely precipitated and separated from the liquid. The content of niobium, tantalum, lithium and beryllium in the sample is determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer after conversion and precipitation with 25 mL of 10% sulfuric acid+10% hydrogen peroxide solution. This method is used to determine the national first-class reference materials GBW 07153, GBW 07155 and GBW 07185. The measured values of each element are basically consistent with the certified values, with a relative error of 0.50%～4.77% and a relative standard deviation (n=6) of -0.009%～0.008%. It is applicable to the determination of niobium and tantalum in niobium tantalum concentrates, refractory or complex samples, and has been applied in production practice.

Abstract Objective To investigate the association between meteorological data three days before admission and the status of sputum pathogens culture in hospitalized patients with Acute exacerbation of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) and respiratory infections. Methods Data from 1,370 AECOPD patients (80.66% males, approximately 80% age > 70) with respiratory infections hospitalized in Fujian Provincial Hospital between December 2013 and December 2019 were collected. This cohort comprised, along with concurrent meteorological data from Fuzhou. Group differences were analyzed to compare the meteorological data three days prior to admission between patients with positive sputum pathogen cultures and those without. Logistic regression models were employed to investigate the association between meteorological parameters and the status of sputum pathogen cultures in patients with AECOPD and respiratory infections. Sensitivity analyses was conducted among the hospitalized patients from 2013 to 2016 and 2017–2019. Stratified analysis was performed to explore the factors affecting the effect of temperature differences and their interactions. Results 578(42.19%) cases had a positive sputum culture report indicating pathogen growth. 323 cases were found with Gram-negative bacteria, 160 with Gram-positive bacteria, and 114 with fungi. Uni-variate analysis revealed statistical differences in DTD three days prior to admission (DTD-3d) between the positive and negative sputum culture groups (p = 0.019). Multivariate analysis indicated that an increase in the risk of positive sputum pathogen cultures was associated with greater DTD three days before admission (DTD-3d), with OR1.657 (95%CI [ 1.328–1.981]). The risk of positive sputum pathogen cultures was higher in groups with greater DTD-3d. The findings were consistent across different admission periods. Stratified analysis showed that patients without respiratory failure were more affected by DTD-3d, and an interaction effect was observed (p

Abstract Background Rhizoctonia solani is an important plant pathogen worldwide, and causes serious tobacco target spot in tobacco in the last five years. This research studied the biological characteristics of four different anastomosis groups strains (AG-3, AG-5, AG-6, AG-1-IB) of R. solani from tobacco. Using metabolic phenotype technology analyzed the metabolic phenotype differences of these strains. Results The results showed that the suitable temperature for mycelial growth of four anastomosis group strains were from 20 to 30oC, and for sclerotia formation were from 20 to 25oC. Under different lighting conditions, R. solani AG-6 strains produced the most sclerotium, followed by R. solani AG-3, R. solani AG-5 and R. solani AG-1-IB. All strains had strong oligotrophic survivability, and can grow on water agar medium without any nitrutions. They exhibited three types of sclerotia distribution form, including dispersed type (R. solani AG-5 and AG-6), peripheral type (R. solani AG-1-IB), and central type (R. solani AG-3). They all presented different pathogenicities in tobacco leaves, with the most virulent was noted by R. solani AG-6, followed by R. solani AG-5 and AG-1-IB, finally was R. solani AG-3. R. solani AG-1-IB strains firstly present symptom after inoculation. Metabolic fingerprints of four anastomosis groups were different to each other. R. solani AG-3, AG-6, AG-5 and AG-1-IB strains efficiently metabolized 88, 94, 71 and 92 carbon substrates, respectively. Nitrogen substrates of amino acids and peptides were the significant utilization patterns for R. solani AG-3. R. solani AG-3 and AG-6 showed a large range of adaptabilities and were still able to metabolize substrates in the presence of the osmolytes, including up to 8% sodium lactate. Four anastomosis groups all showed active metabolism in environments with pH values from 4 to 6 and exhibited decarboxylase activities. Conclusions The biological characteristics of different anastomosis group strains varies, and there were significant differences in the metabolic phenotype characteristics of different anastomosis group strains towards carbon source, nitrogen source, pH, and osmotic pressure.

Abstract Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling encompasses a multitude of functions, including regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, morphogenesis, and patterning. FGFs and their receptors (FGFR) are crucial for adult tissue repair processes. Aberrant FGF signal transduction is associated with various pathological conditions such as cartilage damage, bone loss, muscle reduction, and other core pathological changes observed in orthopedic degenerative diseases like osteoarthritis (OA), intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD), osteoporosis (OP), and sarcopenia. In OA and IVDD pathologies specifically, FGF1, FGF2, FGF8, FGF9, FGF18, FGF21, and FGF23 regulate the synthesis, catabolism, and ossification of cartilage tissue. Additionally, the dysregulation of FGFR expression (FGFR1 and FGFR3) promotes the pathological process of cartilage degradation. In OP and sarcopenia, endocrine-derived FGFs (FGF19, FGF21, and FGF23) modulate bone mineral synthesis and decomposition as well as muscle tissues. FGF2 and other FGFs also exert regulatory roles. A growing body of research has focused on understanding the implications of FGF signaling in orthopedic degeneration. Moreover, an increasing number of potential targets within the FGF signaling have been identified, such as FGF9, FGF18, and FGF23. However, it should be noted that most of these discoveries are still in the experimental stage, and further studies are needed before clinical application can be considered. Presently, this review aims to document the association between the FGF signaling pathway and the development and progression of orthopedic diseases. Besides, current therapeutic strategies targeting the FGF signaling pathway to prevent and treat orthopedic degeneration will be evaluated.

Abstract Immunotherapy based on immune checkpoint genes (ICGs) has recently made significant progress in the treatment of bladder cancer patients, but many patients still cannot benefit from it. In the present study, we aimed to perform a comprehensive analysis of ICGs in bladder cancer tissues with the aim of evaluating patient responsiveness to immunotherapy and prognosis. We scored ICGs in each BLCA patient from TCGA and GEO databases by using ssGSEA and selected genes that were significantly associated with ICGs scores by using the WCGNA algorithm. NMF clustering analysis was performed to identify different bladder cancer molecular subtypes based on the expression of ICGs-related genes. Based on the immune related genes differentially expressed among subgroups, we further constructed a novel stratified model containing nine genes by uni-COX regression, LASSO regression, SVM algorithm and multi-COX regression. The model and the nomogram constructed based on the model can accurately predict the prognosis of bladder cancer patients. Besides, the patients classified based on this model have large differences in sensitivity to immunotherapy and chemotherapy, which can provide a reference for individualized treatment of bladder cancer.

The matrix protein 2 (M2) is a preferred target for developing a universal vaccine against the influenza A virus (IAV). This study aimed to develop a method for assessing antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) associated with M2-based immunization in mice. We first established a stable cell line derived from mouse lymphoma cells (YAC-1) expressing M2 of H3N2. This cell line, designated as YAC-1-M2, was generated using a second-generation lentiviral tricistronic plasmid system to transduce the M2 gene into YAC-1 cells. The ADCC effect induced by polyclonal antibodies targeting matrix protein 2 ectodomain (M2e) was demonstrated by YAC-1-M2 cell lysis by natural killer cells (NK) derived from mice, in the presence of anti-M2 antibodies obtained from mice immunized with an mRNA vaccine based on M2e. This ADCC effect was found to be stronger compared to the effect induced by monoclonal antibodies (14C2) against M2. Moreover, the ADCC effect was enhanced as the effector-to-target ratio of NK to YAC-1-M2 cells increased. In conclusion, we established a novel method to detect ADCC of M2 of IAV, which paves the way for the development of an M2-based universal vaccine against IAV and an in-depth analysis of its mechanism of broad-spectrum immune protection in mice.

Abstract We theoretically investigate the model of a quadratically coupled optomechanical system with a Newtonian gravitational potential in the weak-driving regime, where the optical cavity is driven by an external laser. The steady state of the whole system is treated in the framework of a few-photon subspace. We find that the conventional single-photon blockade, nonstandard types of single-photon blockade, two-photon blockade, and photon-induced tunneling can be induced by gravity when the quadratic optomechanical coupling strength remains constant. Moreover, we find that gravitational potential energy can compensate for the lack of quadratic optomechanical coupling for observation photon blockade. In particular, the photon stream with super-Poissonian distribution can be converted into a sub-Poissonian, antibunching photon stream by changing the driving detuning when the gravitational potential energy is included. These results show that the gravity has potential for realizing the manipulation of photon blockade in a quadratically coupled optomechanical system.

Abstract As data and protocols are increasingly generated, accessed, and manipulated electronically, many labs are shifting to storing data in electronic laboratory notebooks (ELNs). ELNs provide clear advantages in readability, shareability, searchability, accessibility, and data security over their paper counterparts. Our interdisciplinary program implemented ELNs across several sections of our gateway molecular biology laboratory course and analyzed the impact on 384 students (13 sections total from Fall 2016 to Spring 2018) using surveys, focus groups, and grade data. We found that students prefer the electronic format, citing the ease of transitioning to lab reports and the longevity of their data. Course grades overall were not affected by the change. Based on our experience, we offer suggestions for smoothing the transition to an ELN system in undergraduate and graduate laboratory courses, including use during remote teaching.

Abstract Orogenic curvatures have been widely recognized along global convergent plate boundaries. Understanding the impact of such curvatures on the tectonic evolution of orogens and their three-dimensional architecture has been challenging. Here we address this issue by studying magmatism around the tightly curved Mongolian Orocline in Central Asia. Our results show that during the Permian–Triassic, arc magmatism around the inner hinge of the orocline became younger towards the core of the orocline. During the same period, the crust was thickened, as indicated by Lanthanum-Ytterbium ratio proxy. These findings, together with the observation that the present-day hinge zone of the Mongolian Orocline is wider, indicate that this zone was subjected to significant crustal-scale contraction. This contractional deformation accounts for the relatively thicker crust around the inner hinge of the Mongolian Orocline, and offers a novel perspective on the formation of elevated topography around the hinge of curved plate boundaries.

A low-calcium microenvironment is imperative for spermatozoa maturation within the epididymis. Our previous work has shown that γ-glutamyl carboxylase (GGCX), the carboxylation enzyme of the matrix Gla protein (MGP), plays an essential role in epididymal calcium homeostasis and sperm maturation in rats and that the GGCX SNP mutation rs699664 was associated with asthenozoospermia (AZS) in humans. Here, we investigated the expression patterns of GGCX and MGP in the mouse epididymis and generated GgcxK325Q knock-in (KI) mice. We also tested the effects of this mutation on epididymal calcium homeostasis, sperm function, and male fertility in GgcxK325Q−/− mice. The results showed that both GGCX and MGP were enriched in all regions of the mouse epididymis, especially in the initial segment of the epididymis. Double immunofluorescence staining revealed that GGCX colocalized with MGP in the epithelial cells of the initial segment and caput regions as well as in the lumen of the corpus and cauda regions of the mouse epididymis. However, the GgcxK325Q−/− mice were fertile with normal epididymal morphology, sperm functions, and epididymal calcium concentration. Overall, our findings revealed that the GgcxK325Q mutation does not exert any discernible effect on male fertility in mice.

Paper mulching films are affected by wind and rain in the field, which lead to the problems of water absorption, shrinkage, and friction with the soil surface. In order to achieve better hydrophobic durability and wear resistance of paper mulching films, a paper mulching film with ZnO/SiO2 composite coating was prepared by the brush coating method. Taking ceramic balls as friction pairs, reciprocating friction tests were carried out with two kinds of paper mulching films at different temperatures. The morphology of the raw paper mulch film and the ZnO/SiO2 composite-coated paper mulch film after rubbing at different temperatures and the reason of the hydrophobic durability of the coated paper mulch film were analyzed using a scanning electron microscope and a three-dimensional topography instrument. The results show that ZnO/SiO2 composite coating can improve the wear resistance and hydrophobic durability of the paper mulch film. Through surface morphology analysis, it can be found that the composite coating plays a role in modification and filling and improves the adhesion between the fibers by reducing the pores on the surface of the paper mulch film, finally improving the wear resistance and hydrophobic durability of the paper mulch film.