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Abstract Background Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe traumatic spinal condition with a poor prognosis. In this study, a scaffold called linearly ordered collagen aggregates (LOCAS) was created and loaded with induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)-derived neural stem cells (NSCs) from human umbilical cord blood derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUCB-MSCs) to treat SCI in a rat model. Methods The rats underwent a complete transection SCI resulting in a 3-mm break at either the T9 or T10 level of the spinal cord. Results Scanning electron microscope analysis revealed a uniform pore structure on the coronal plane of the scaffold. The LOCAS had a porosity of 88.52% and a water absorption of 1161.67%. Its compressive modulus and stress were measured at 4.1 MPa and 205 kPa, respectively, with a degradation time of 10 weeks. After 12 weeks, rats in the LOCAS-iPSCs-NSCs group exhibited significantly higher BBB scores (8.6) compared to the LOCAS-iPSCs-NSCs group (5.6) and the Model group (4.2). The CatWalk analysis showed improved motion trajectory, regularity index (RI), and swing speed in the LOCAS-iPSCs-NSCs group compared to the other groups. Motor evoked potentials latency was lower and amplitude was higher in the LOCAS-iPSCs-NSCs group, indicating better neural function recovery. Histological analysis demonstrated enhanced neuronal differentiation of NSCs and nerve fiber regeneration promoted by LOCAS-iPSCs-NSCs, leading to improved motor function recovery in rats. The LOCAS scaffold facilitated ordered neurofilament extension and guided nerve regeneration. Conclusions The combination of LOCAS and iPSCs-NSCs demonstrated a positive therapeutic impact on motor function recovery and tissue repair in rats with SCI. This development offers a more resilient bionic microenvironment and presents novel possibilities for clinical SCI repair.

Abstract Spatial inequality erodes social cohesion and political stability, impacting global sustainable development and human well-being. This study examines spatial inequality in China across economic, social, environmental, infrastructural, and innovation dimensions, exploring how these inequalities evolve with economic development. Drawing on the Sustainable Development Goals and Chinese planning goals, we selected 13 indicators pertinent to human well-being. We employed the population-weighted coefficient of variation, Gini coefficient, and Moran’s I to assess spatial inequalities and analyzed their relationship with economic growth. The findings reveal that China currently exhibits the highest spatial inequality in innovation and the lowest in the social dimension. Since 1990, most indicators have trended towards decreasing spatial inequality, except for unemployment rates and carbon emissions, which have increased. The economic and innovation gap between the eastern coastal regions and the central and western regions has widened, whereas disparities in housing, healthcare, roads, and digitalization have narrowed. China’s experience demonstrates that Williamson’s inverted U-shaped hypothesis extends beyond the economic domain to encompass education, healthcare, infrastructure, and digitalization, providing policy insights for addressing regional inequalities in China in the post-pandemic era.

Abstract Spatial barcoding-based transcriptomic (ST) data require deconvolution for cellular-level downstream analysis. Here we present SDePER, a hybrid machine learning and regression method to deconvolve ST data using reference single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data. SDePER tackles platform effects between ST and scRNA-seq data, ensuring a linear relationship between them while addressing sparsity and spatial correlations in cell types across capture spots. SDePER estimates cell-type proportions, enabling enhanced resolution tissue mapping by imputing cell-type compositions and gene expressions at unmeasured locations. Applications to simulated data and four real datasets showed SDePER’s superior accuracy and robustness over existing methods.

Abstract Water is essential to the formation of intracontinental granites, but its origin remains elusive. Here we address this scientific problem by analyzing D/H isotopes of apatites, hydrous minerals in Jurassic and Early Cretaceous granites and basalts from eastern North China Craton, where water was previously interpreted as derived from subducting slab. Results reveal extremely low δD values in pristine Early Cretaceous granitic (−203‰ to −127‰) and basaltic (−197‰ to −107‰) apatites, contrasting with relatively high δD values (−137‰ to −47‰) in Jurassic granites. Given the depth-dependent D/H isotopic fractionation during slab dehydration and high-water contents in coeval primitive mafic magmas, the Early Cretaceous magma water is attributed to the stagnant slab within the mantle transition zone. Secular change in the depth of water aligns with steepening of subducting Paleo-Pacific plate from Jurassic to Early Cretaceous, demonstrating the potential of apatite H isotopes in tracing water origin in granites and basalts.

Abstract The intraplate magmatic systems of the Wudalianchi potassic volcanic region in northeast China have historically exhibited eruption activity, and there is evidence that they retain the potential for future eruptions. However, the characteristics of this complex volcanic region remain debated and poorly understood due to the relatively low resolution of existing crustal tomography. Here we present a high-resolution shear-wave velocity model of the crust and uppermost mantle obtained by applying full-waveform ambient noise tomography to data recorded at 106 recently deployed broadband seismic stations. Our results reveal two vertical low-velocity anomalies discovered beneath the Nuominhe and Keluo volcanoes, which appear to be magma ascending pathways connecting a mantle source and crustal reservoirs. A horizontally interconnected low-velocity zone in the middle-lower crust indicates a magmatic migration pathway transporting potassium-rich melts directly among the potassic volcanic units. In addition, the Wudalianchi volcano is likely recharged by deeper and larger crustal magma reservoirs under the Keluo volcano. The unique geometries of the magmatic plumbing systems provide valuable seismic evidence for the volcanic eruption dynamics and potential volcanic hazards.

Abstract Background Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is a highly aggressive malignancy, with limited survival profiles after curative surgeries. This study aimed to develop a practical model for predicting the postoperative overall survival (OS) in GBC patients. Methods Patients from three hospitals were included. Two centers (N = 102 and 100) were adopted for model development and internal validation, and the third center (N = 85) was used for external testing. Univariate and stepwise multivariate Cox regression were used for feature selection. A nomogram for 1-, 3-, and 5-year postoperative survival rates was constructed accordingly. Performance assessment included Harrell's concordance index (C-index), receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and calibration curves. Kaplan-Meier curves were utilized to evaluate the risk stratification results of the nomogram. Decision curves were used to reflect the net benefit. Results Eight factors, TNM stage, age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index (aCCI), body mass index (BMI), R0 resection, blood platelet count, and serum levels of albumin, CA125, CA199 were incorporated in the nomogram. The time-dependent C-index consistently exceeded 0.70 from 6 months to 5 years, and time-dependent ROC revealed an area under the curve (AUC) of over 75% for 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival. The calibration curves, Kaplan-Meier curves and decision curves also indicated good prognostic performance and clinical benefit, surpassing traditional indicators TNM staging and CA199 levels. The reliability of results was further proved in the independent external testing set. Conclusions The novel nomogram exhibited good prognostic efficacy and robust generalizability in GBC patients, which might be a promising tool for aiding clinical decision-making.

Abstract Chronic hypobaric hypoxia at high altitudes can impair cognitive functions, especially causing deficits in learning and memory, which require therapeutic intervention. Here, we showed that mice subjected to hypobaric hypoxia (simulating an altitude of 5000 m) for one month experienced significant cognitive impairment, accompanied by increased biomarker levels of oxidative stress in the brain and blood. Oral administration of a novel formulation of edaravone, a free radical scavenger approved for the treatment of ischaemic stroke and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, significantly alleviated oxidative stress and cognitive impairments caused by chronic hypobaric hypoxia. Furthermore, oral edaravone treatment also mitigated neuroinflammation and restored hippocampal neural stem cell exhaustion. Additionally, periostin (Postn) is vital in the cognitive deficits caused by chronic hypobaric hypoxia and may be a molecular target of edaravone. In conclusion, our results suggest that oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the cognitive deficits caused by chronic hypobaric hypoxia and that oral edaravone is a potential medicine for protecting against cognitive deficits caused by chronic hypobaric hypoxia in high-altitude areas.

The research focused on addressing various challenges in intelligent top caving theory, intelligent perception and recognition key technology, intelligent caving comprehensive decision-making technology, and remote caving intelligent control technology of fully mechanized top coal caving face. This is being done under the “13th Five-Year” national key research and development plan, specifically designed for the key technology and demonstration of intelligent fully mechanized top coal caving mining method with annual production of 10 million of tons in extra-thick coal seam. The research has resulted in the following outcomes: ① Comprehensive experiments were conducted to understand the interaction process of crushing and migrating of roof and top coal combination (RTCC) and the fragmentation distribution of RTCC under different roof conditions. A three-dimensional laser goaf space detection technology has been developed, and the arching phenomenon of top coal blocks on contact, at coal discharge process with multiple coal discharge ports, has been validated. In addition, the numerical simulation of multi-port intelligent coal caving in extra-thick coal seam is carried out with the constraints of mining and caving coordination, high recovery rate, and low gangue ratio, and the number of coal caving ports is determined. those provide a reliable theoretical basis for optimizing intelligent coal-caving processes. ②The research has explored the geological information and physical characteristics of coal and gangue in the working face, along with full-cycle sensing elements of the top coal caving process. This has led to the development of a comprehensive sensing technology system, including real time detection of top coal thickness, accurate identification of coal and gangue, and dynamic measurement of coal flow, providing crucial data information support for decision making of intelligent coal top caving technology. ③A multi-source information database has been established for the man-machine-environment interface, and a decision-making model has been developed for fully mechanized top caving in extra-thick coal seams. An intelligent coal top caving decision-making software based on the Q-learning algorithm has been created, utilizing artificial intelligence for coal and gangue identification, top coal thickness detection, and coal quantity monitoring. ④A high-precision inertial navigation monitoring and control technology for intelligent fully mechanized caving faces has been developed, enabling real-time positioning, attitude monitoring, and action control for the shearer, hydraulic support, and scraper conveyor. An intelligent mine-integrated communication scheduling system and a remote-integrated control platform for fully mechanized caving have also been established. Those allow for the successful implementation of intelligent coal caving in remote one-button start mode. ⑤Advanced technologies such as ground-penetrating radar for top coal thickness detection, vibration-audio-hyperspectral for coal-gangue identification, and laser three-dimensional scanning for real-time coal caving monitoring are utilized in the 8222 Working Face of Tashan Mine. Intelligent coal caving decision software is applied in fully mechanized caving operations, leading to a control of errors within 10.71% for top coal thickness detection, 9.32% for mixed gangue rate, and 7.8% for coal caving amount. On average, each coal caving cycle now saves about 30 minutes, leading to intelligent and efficient coal caving operations with an annual output of 15 million tons.

Abstract Bladder cancer (BC) is a prevalent type of tumor in the urinary system, and it has been discovered that long non‐coding RNA (lncRNA) plays a significant role in its occurrence and development. However, thus far, no reports have been published on the involvement of LINC00461 in BC. Here, we found that LINC00461 levels were upregulated in BC tissues and cell lines. Besides, knockdown of LINC00461 inhibited BC cell proliferation, migration, invasion through epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and slowed down tumor growth in vivo. Moreover, we found that LINC00461 regulated HNRNPUL1 expression through miR-518b sponge activity, and the miR-518 inhibitor could reverse the inhibitory effects of LINC00461 knockdown on BC cell proliferation, migration, and EMT. Our results suggest that LINC00461 may serve as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for BC.

Abstract Lighting up the magma plumbing system beneath a large igneous province (LIP) is challenging because the complex magma migration paths are often covered by flood basalts and sediments. Here, we present a three-dimensional seismic image of the Permian Emeishan LIP in Southwest China, constructed by joint inversion of Rayleigh wave dispersions and receiver functions. The results outline a cylindrical, high-velocity anomaly extending to ~135 km depth below the inner zone of this continental LIP. The geometry and magnitude of the high-velocity anomaly suggest that it represents culminated crystallized materials of primary magmas, thereby mirroring a magma plumbing system fossilized in the lithosphere. Furthermore, our geodynamic models illustrate that the nearly vertical plumbing system was controlled by slow plate motion during the magma emplacement. The plume head beneath a nearly static plate has higher thermal buoyancy and thus promotes more intensive magma emplacement. This phenomenon may apply to other LIPs throughout Earth’s history

Abstract The interplay of topology, magnetism, and correlations gives rise to intriguing phases of matter. In this study, through state-of-the-art angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, density functional theory, and dynamical mean-field theory calculations, we visualize a fourfold degenerate Dirac nodal line at the boundary of the bulk Brillouin zone in the antiferromagnet YMn2Ge2. We further demonstrate that this gapless, antiferromagnetic Dirac nodal line is enforced by the combination of magnetism, space-time inversion symmetry, and nonsymmorphic lattice symmetry. The corresponding drumhead surface states traverse the whole surface Brillouin zone. YMn2Ge2 thus serves as a platform to exhibit the interplay of multiple degenerate nodal physics and antiferromagnetism. Interestingly, the magnetic nodal line displays a d-orbital dependent renormalization along its trajectory in momentum space, thereby manifesting Hund’s coupling. Our findings offer insights into the effect of electronic correlations on magnetic Dirac nodal lines, leading to an antiferromagnetic Hund nodal line.

Abstract Background Giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) is a locally aggressive neoplasm with a high propensity for recurrence following intralesional curettage. The introduction of denosumab, a RANKL inhibitor, has shown potential in facilitating joint-sparing surgery. However, concerns exist regarding its impact on local recurrence rates. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of combined preoperative denosumab with adjuvant microwave ablation (MWA) for the treatment of high-risk GCTB. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of 19 patients with high-risk GCTB who underwent preoperative denosumab treatment followed by curettage and adjuvant MWA. The primary outcome measure was the local recurrence rate, with secondary outcomes including functional status assessed by the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score and safety profile of the treatment. Results In this retrospective analysis, we evaluated the outcomes of 19 patients with high-risk GCTB treated with preoperative denosumab and adjuvant MWA. The median follow-up duration was 33.1 months, 3 patients (15.8%) experienced local recurrence at a median of 21.6 months postoperatively and the local recurrence-free survival was 81.2% at two years. Notably, no patient developed lung metastasis, and all recurrences were successfully managed with repeat curettage and MWA, with a mean MSTS score of 27.3. No patient required joint replacement due to tumor recurrence, resulting in a 100% joint preservation rate. Conclusion The combination of preoperative denosumab and adjuvant MWA is a feasible and effective strategy for the management of high-risk GCTB, providing effective local control with preserved joint function. This approach may offer a surgical alternative for young patients where joint preservation is paramount.

Abstract Secure multi-party computation of Chebyshev distance represents a crucial method for confidential distance measurement, holding significant theoretical and practical implications. Especially within electronic archival management systems, secure computation of Chebyshev distance is employed for similarity measurement, classification, and clustering of sensitive archival information, thereby enhancing the security of sensitive archival queries and sharing. This paper proposes a secure protocol for computing Chebyshev distance under a semi-honest model, leveraging the additive homomorphic properties of the NTRU cryptosystem and a vector encoding method. This protocol transforms the confidential computation of Chebyshev distance into the inner product of confidential computation vectors, as demonstrated through the model paradigm validating its security under the semi-honest model. Addressing potential malicious participant scenarios, a secure protocol for computing Chebyshev distance under a malicious model is introduced, utilizing cryptographic tools such as digital commitments and mutual decryption methods. The security of this protocol under the malicious model is affirmed using the real/ideal model paradigm. Theoretical analysis and experimental simulations demonstrate the efficiency and practical applicability of the proposed schemes.

Abstract Purpose Oncostatin M (OSM) is involved in the regulation of osteogenic differentiation and has a major role in the development of heterotopic ossification. The role of OSM in osteogenic differentiation of tendon-derived stem cells (TDSCs) and its mechanism have not been reported. This study aim to investigate the role of OSM in osteogenic differentiation of TDSCs and study the mechanism. Methods TDSCs were differentiated in osteogenic differentiation medium for 7 days. Recombinant OSM was added to the osteogenic differentiation medium for 7 and 14 days. The effect of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) inhibitor AZD1480 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) inhibitor stattic in the presence of recombinant OSM on osteogenic differentiation of TDSCs was examined after differentiation for 7 and 14 days. Alkaline phosphatase and alizarin red staining were used to assess the effects on early and mid-stage osteogenic differentiation, respectively. Western blotting and qPCR were used to assess the expression of receptor and signalling pathway-related proteins and osteogenic marker genes, respectively. Results TDSCs were successfully induced to differentiate into osteoblasts. Recombinant OSM promoted osteogenic differentiation of TDSCs to early and mid-stages. After addition of AZD1480 or stattic, decreased alkaline phosphatase and alizarin red staining were observed in the early and mid-stages of osteogenic differentiation. Additionally, decreased expression of receptor and pathway-related proteins, and osteogenic genes was found by western blotting and qPCR, respectively. Conclusion OSM promotes osteogenic differentiation of TDSCs and the JAK2/STAT3 signalling pathway plays an important role.

Abstract Neuropilin-1 (NRP1), a co-receptor for various cytokines, including TGF-β, has been identified as a potential therapeutic target for fibrosis. However, its role and mechanism in renal fibrosis remains elusive. Here, we show that NRP1 is upregulated in distal tubular (DT) cells of patients with transplant renal insufficiency and mice with renal ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) injury. Knockout of Nrp1 reduces multiple endpoints of renal injury and fibrosis. We find that Nrp1 facilitates the binding of TNF-α to its receptor in DT cells after renal injury. This signaling results in a downregulation of lysine crotonylation of the metabolic enzyme Cox4i1, decreases cellular energetics and exacerbation of renal injury. Furthermore, by single-cell RNA-sequencing we find that Nrp1-positive DT cells secrete collagen and communicate with myofibroblasts, exacerbating acute kidney injury (AKI)-induced renal fibrosis by activating Smad3. Dual genetic deletion of Nrp1 and Tgfbr1 in DT cells better improves renal injury and fibrosis than either single knockout. Together, these results reveal that targeting of NRP1 represents a promising strategy for the treatment of AKI and subsequent chronic kidney disease.

With the country vigorously promoting structural reform on the supply side of energy, the installed capacity of new energy sources has been rising and competition in the power market has become increasingly fierce. On the other hand, the complexity and volatility of the global coal market has led to a rise in the cost of power generation enterprises using coal as their energy source. Coal heat value is one of the most important evaluation criteria for coal quality and is also the most important basis for coal procurement. Accurate prediction of coal heat value can effectively control power plant operation and procurement costs. In order to achieve efficient prediction of the heat value of coal, the Pearson coefficients were used to select the characteristics of the variables of interest, the DBSCAN algorithm was used to de-noise 1733 assay data of a power plant's own coal plant in the past two years, and spectral clustering (SC) analysis was performed on the de-noised data. The classified subsample sets were then used to build prediction models using the extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) algorithm and compared with Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and support vector machines (SVM) models. The performance of the models was compared with that of OLS and SVM. The results show that the accuracy of the XGBoost-based coal-fired heat value prediction model for power stations is significantly better than that of the other algorithms, and the generalization ability is stronger. The prediction model can further improve the refinement level of the model and provide a reliable and efficient method for coal-fired power station heat value prediction.

In order to predict rib spalling depth in fully-mechanized mining faces, taking the coal wall as the research object, the coal wall is regarded as a tri-linear strain softening material. Then the direct roof and main roof are taken as macro roof, and the bearing mechanical model for the interaction between macro roof, coal seam, and support is established. Combined with the boundary conditions, the analytical solution of rib spalling depth in fully mechanized mining faces is derived in this paper. The analytical solution was used to investigate the situation of coal wall spalling in the 12401 working face of Shangwan Coal Mine, and the factors and laws influencing coal wall spalling were researched. The results show that: ① The analytical solution of rib spalling depth in the fully mechanized working face in this paper is reliable and reasonable, and can quantitatively investigate the effects of roof characteristics and support parameters. ② Increasing the initial support force can reduce rib spalling depth. Increasing the stiffness of the support can reduce rib spalling depth, however the effect is poor. The supporting strength of the support protective plate, and the rib spalling depth decreases approximately linearly. ③ With the thickness and tensile strength of the roof macroscopic increasing, the rib spalling depth increases. However its growth rate gradually slows down. The main reasons are that the periodic fracture length increases with increment of the thickness and tensile strength of the roof, which leads to increment of the angle of rotation and sinking towards the goaf. ④ The mining height has a significant effect on the rib spalling depth. The rib spalling depth linearly increases with the mining height. ⑤ With uniaxial compressive strength of coal increasing, the rib spalling depth decreases. With the interface friction coefficient between the roof and the coal increasing, the rib spalling depth decreases. ⑥ With the dynamic loading coefficient of the roof increasing, the rib spalling depth increases linearly.

Interconnection of all things challenges the traditional communication methods, and Semantic Communication and Computing (SCC) will become new solutions. It is a challenging task to accurately detect, extract, and represent semantic information in the research of SCC-based networks. In previous research, researchers usually use convolution to extract the feature information of a graph and perform the corresponding task of node classification. However, the content of semantic information is quite complex. Although graph convolutional neural networks provide an effective solution for node classification tasks, due to their limitations in representing multiple relational patterns and not recognizing and analyzing higher-order local structures, the extracted feature information is subject to varying degrees of loss. Therefore, this paper extends from a single-layer topology network to a multi-layer heterogeneous topology network. The Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT) training word vector is introduced to extract the semantic features in the network, and the existing graph neural network is improved by combining the higher-order local feature module of the network model representation network. A multi-layer network embedding algorithm on SCC-based networks with motifs is proposed to complete the task of end-to-end node classification. We verify the effectiveness of the algorithm on a real multi-layer heterogeneous network.

Abstract The ORF9b protein, derived from the nucleocapsid’s open-reading frame in both SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, serves as an accessory protein crucial for viral immune evasion by inhibiting the innate immune response. Despite its significance, the precise regulatory mechanisms underlying its function remain elusive. In the present study, we unveil that the ORF9b protein of SARS-CoV-2, including emerging mutant strains like Delta and Omicron, can undergo ubiquitination at the K67 site and subsequent degradation via the proteasome pathway, despite certain mutations present among these strains. Moreover, our investigation further uncovers the pivotal role of the translocase of the outer mitochondrial membrane 70 (TOM70) as a substrate receptor, bridging ORF9b with heat shock protein 90 alpha (HSP90α) and Cullin 5 (CUL5) to form a complex. Within this complex, CUL5 triggers the ubiquitination and degradation of ORF9b, acting as a host antiviral factor, while HSP90α functions to stabilize it. Notably, treatment with HSP90 inhibitors such as GA or 17-AAG accelerates the degradation of ORF9b, leading to a pronounced inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 replication. Single-cell sequencing data revealed an up-regulation of HSP90α in lung epithelial cells from COVID-19 patients, suggesting a potential mechanism by which SARS-CoV-2 may exploit HSP90α to evade the host immunity. Our study identifies the CUL5-TOM70-HSP90α complex as a critical regulator of ORF9b protein stability, shedding light on the intricate host–virus immune response dynamics and offering promising avenues for drug development against SARS-CoV-2 in clinical settings.

Abstract Background Mutations in the SLC5A7 gene cause congenital myasthenia, a rare genetic disorder. Mutation points in the SLC5A7 gene differ among individuals and encompass various genetic variations; however, exon deletion variants have yet to be reported in related cases. This study aims to explore the clinical phenotype and genetic traits of a patient with congenital myasthenic syndrome due to SLC5A7 gene variation and those of their family members. Case presentation We describe a case of a Chinese male with congenital myasthenic syndrome presenting fluctuating limb weakness. Genetic testing revealed a heterozygous deletion mutation spanning exons 1–9 in the SLC5A7 gene. QPCR confirmed a deletion in exon 9 of the SLC5A7 gene in the patient’s mother and brother. Clinical symptoms of myasthenia improved following treatment with pyridostigmine. Conclusion Exons 1, 5, and 9 of the SLC5A7 gene encode the choline transporter’s transmembrane region. Mutations in these exons can impact the stability and plasma membrane levels of the choline transporter. Thus, a heterozygous deletion in exons 1–9 of the SLC5A7 gene could be the pathogenic cause for this patient. In patients exhibiting fluctuating weakness, positive RNS, and seronegativity for myasthenia gravis antibodies, a detailed family history should be considered, and enhanced genetic testing is recommended to determine the cause.

Abstract Background Lumbar spondylolysis is a bone defect in the pars interarticularis of the lumbar vertebral, which is a common cause of low back pain in youth. Although non-surgical treatment is a mainstream option, surgery is necessary for patients with persistent symptoms. Buck technique is widely used as a classical direct repair technique, but it cannot achieve reduction of low-grade spondylolisthesis and reconstruction of lumbosacral sagittal balance. We have described a novel surgical procedure based on Buck technique with temporary intersegmental pedicle screw fixation, and report a series of clinical outcomes in 5 patients to provide a reference for the clinical treatment of young lumbar spondylolysis. Methods Five young patients with symptomatic lumbar spondylolysis with a mean age of 19.20 ± 5.41 years underwent surgical treatment after an average of 7.60 ± 1.52 months of failure to respond to conservative treatment, using a new surgical procedure based on Buck technique combined with temporary intersegmental pedicle screw fixation. Results Five patients were successfully operated without serious complications such as nerve and vascular injury. The average operation time was 109.00 ± 7.42 min, the interpretative average blood loss was 148.00 ± 31.14 ml, and the average fusion time was 11.20 ± 1.64 months. All patients were followed up for 2 years after surgery, and the visual analogue score (VAS) of low back pain and Oswestry disability index (ODI) scores were significantly improved compared with those before surgery, and the Henderson’s evaluation were rated excellent or good. After the removal of the internal fixation, it was observed that temporary intersegmental fixation could repair the isthmus, reduce lumbar spondylolisthesis, and reconstruct the sagittal balance of the lumbosacral vertebrae while preserving lumbar motion and preventing intervertebral disc degeneration. Postoperative MRI indicated the Pfirrmann classification of the affected discs: 1 case from grade III to grade II, 3 cases from grade II to grade I, and 1 case remained grade II. Conclusions Buck technique supplemented by temporary intersegmental pedicle screw fixation is a highly applicable and effective method for the treatment of adolescent lumbar spondylolysis. The isthmic fusion is accurate, and temporary intersegmental fixation can effectively prevent disc degeneration and reconstruct the sagittal balance of lumbosacral vertebra.

Abstract Early insulin therapy is capable to achieve glycemic control and restore β-cell function in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2D), but its effect on cardiovascular outcomes in these patients remains unclear. In this nationwide real-world study, we analyzed electronic health record data from 19 medical centers across China between 1 January 2000, and 26 May 2022. We included 5424 eligible patients (mean age 56 years, 2176 women/3248 men) who were diagnosed T2D within six months and did not have prior cardiovascular disease. Multivariable Cox regression models were used to estimate the associations of early insulin therapy (defined as the first-line therapy for at least two weeks in newly diagnosed T2D patients) with the incidence of major cardiovascular events including coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, and hospitalization for heart failure (HF). During 17,158 persons years of observation, we documented 834 incident CHD cases, 719 stroke cases, and 230 hospitalized cases for HF. Newly diagnosed T2D patients who received early insulin therapy, compared with those who did not receive such treatment, had 31% lower risk of incident stroke, and 28% lower risk of hospitalization for HF. No significant difference in the risk of CHD was observed. We found similar results when repeating the aforesaid analysis in a propensity-score matched population of 4578 patients and with inverse probability of treatment weighting models. These findings suggest that early insulin therapy in newly diagnosed T2D may have cardiovascular benefits by reducing the risk of incident stroke and hospitalization for HF.

Infectious diseases depend on intensified social intercourse within large cities, resulting in a super-linear allometric scaling law with city size. But how this scaling relationship changes throughout an evolving pandemic is seldom studied and remains unclear. Here, we investigate allometric scaling laws between cases/deaths and city size and their temporal evolution using daily COVID-19 cases/deaths of cities in the United Kingdom from March 2020 to May 2022. Results indicate that cases exhibit a super-linear scaling pattern with city size, revealing higher morbidity in large cities. Temporally, scaling exponents stabilized at around 1.25 after a rapid increase from less than one and then decreased to one. Scaling exponents of COVID-19 deaths exhibited a comparable trend to cases but with a lag in time and a weaker super-linear relationship. Scaling exponents increased first, then stabilized, and then decreased during each wave. Temporal variations of scaling exponents reveal the spatial diffusion of infectious diseases from large to small cities, whose mechanism needs further exploration.

The world is experiencing unprecedented urbanization, particularly through the continuous growth of megacities, leading to significant urban land expansion. The spatial layout and growth patterns of urban areas play a critical role in determining cities' sustainable development. However, the optimal path for cities undergoing rapid urbanization remains uncertain. This study examines four megacities—Tokyo, Seoul, Beijing, and Shanghai—and, from the perspective of urban land density, compares their patterns and processes of land expansion in 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020. Findings reveal that the urban land area of China's megacities has expanded nearly fourfold over the past three decades. Meanwhile, Tokyo and Seoul have adopted a polycentric urban structure, becoming increasingly compact. In contrast, Beijing and Shanghai are only beginning to show signs of polycentric development. The study concludes that cities experiencing rapid growth should not impose excessive limitations on urban expansion. Polycentric and compact development has become a critical strategy for megacities. These insights offer valuable guidance for urban planning and sustainable development in both established and emerging megacities across East Asia.

IntroductionThe periacetabular bone defects caused by metastatic disease often necessitate acetabular reconstruction and various techniques have been employed with varying degrees of success. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acetabular reconstruction in conjunction with adjuvant microwave ablation as a surgical intervention for patients with periacetabular metastases.MethodsBetween January 2019 and September 2023, 17 consecutive patients with different tumor subtypes required surgical intervention for periacetabular metastases. The acetabular reconstruction was performed by utilizing an acetabular reconstructive cage and cement total hip arthroplasty with microwave ablation. A retrospective review was performed to assess pain relief, intraoperative details and postoperative complications. Functional status following procedures was determined by the 1993 Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score and the overall survival of patients was estimated by Kaplan-Meier analysisResultsIn total, 8 males and 9 females were included with an average age of 48.6 years (range 34-66). Patients reported a significant improvement in the level of pain and the mean VAS score declined from 7.7 preoperatively to 2.2 postoperatively. Of the 17 patients, 16 could ambulate either independently (6 patients) or using a walking aid (10 patients) with a mean MSTS score of 18.9. The median follow‐up was 9.0 months. Nine patients were alive at the most recent follow-up with overall survival of 40.9% at 12 months and 30.7% at 36 months, respectively.ConclusionIn selected patients with periacetabular metastasis, the utilization of an acetabular cage and cement total hip arthroplasty presents a less invasive reconstruction technique. The incorporation of adjuvant microwave ablation has shown promise in providing long-lasting pain relief, reducing intraoperative bleeding, and improving local tumor control. However, further research and extended follow-up are necessary to establish the effectiveness of this procedure.

LCL-type grid-connected inverters have been widely used in renewable power generation due to their size and cost advantages. However, the LCL filter has a problem of insufficient damping, which may lead to power system instability. Two common methods are used to address this problem: passive damping (PD) and active damping (AD). PD methods suppress resonance by adding resistors to the LCL filter, but this approach increases system losses. AD methods enhance damping through control to suppress resonance. Existing AD methods are often significantly affected by grid-side inductance perturbation, resulting in insufficient robustness. To address this issue, this article proposes a novel robust active damping (RAD) control strategy based on H∞ loop shaping. Simulation analysis and experimental research show that the RAD control method exhibits superior robustness compared with the traditional capacitor current active damping control.

Abstract An active area of MGI (Materials Genome Initiative)/MGE (Materials Genome Engineering) is to accelerate the development of new materials by means of active learning and “digital trial‐error” using a prediction model of material property. Machine learning methods have widely been employed for predicting crystalline materials properties with crystal graph neural networks (CGNN). The prediction accuracy of the state‐of‐the‐art (SOTA) CGNN models based on big models and big data is generally higher. However, for the development of some classes of materials, the datasets obtained by experiments are usually lacking due to costly experiments and measurement costs. The lack of datasets will impact the accuracy of CGNN models and may result in overfitting during training models. This paper proposes a simplified crystal graph convolutional neural network (S‐CGCNN) which possesses higher prediction accuracy while reducing the vast amount of train datasets and computation costs. The S‐CGCNN model has successfully predicted properties of crystalline materials, such as piezoelectric materials and dielectric materials, and increased the prediction accuracy up to 12%–20% than existing SOTA CGNN models. Furthermore, the distribution map between properties and compositions of materials has been built to screen the latent space of candidate materials efficiently by principal component analysis.

BackgroundBone metastasis from prostate cancer severely impacts patient outcomes and quality of life. Anoikis, a form of programmed cell death triggered by the loss of cell-matrix interactions, plays a critical role in cancer progression. However, its precise relationship with prostate cancer-induced bone metastasis remains unclear. This study aims to elucidate this relationship, focusing on anoikis-related gene signatures, molecular pathways, and therapeutic implications.MethodsWe used the TCGA-PRAD dataset for training, with MSKCC and GSE70769 as validation cohorts. To evaluate immunotherapy efficacy, we examined IMvigor 210 and GSE91016 datasets, and GSE137829 provided single-cell insights into prostate cancer. Specific anoikis-related genes (ARGs) were identified, and Random Survival Forest analysis and multivariate Cox regression were employed to develop anoikis-linked features. The ‘clustanoikisProfilanoikis’ and ‘GSEA’ packages were used to explore potential ARG-related pathways.ResultsAnalyzing 553 samples from TCGA, 231 from MSKCC, 94 from GSE70769, and single-cell data from 6 prostate cancer patients (GSE137829), we constructed a prognostic model based on 9 ARGs. GSVA revealed upregulation of carcinogenic pathways, including epithelial-mesenchymal transition, E2F targets, and angiogenesis, with downregulation of metabolic pathways. Significant differences in somatic mutations were observed between cohorts, with a positive correlation between anoikis scores and tumor mutational burden (TMB). Immune landscape analysis suggested high-risk patients might benefit more from chemotherapy than immunotherapy based on their risk score. Single-cell analysis indicated overactivation of carcinogenic pathways in the high anoikis score group.ConclusionThis study elucidates the complex interplay between anoikis and bone metastasis in prostate cancer. Our findings highlight the critical role of anoikis in metastatic progression, enhancing the understanding of key biomarkers and molecular dynamics. The identified anoikis-related gene signatures and disrupted pathways offer promising avenues for predictive and therapeutic strategies in prostate cancer management.

The minimally invasive surgery through transcranial endoscopic keyhole approach has become the main surgical method for treating cerebral hemorrhage. This method has the advantages of small trauma, short surgical time, low bleeding volume, and fast postoperative recovery. However, this method is not suitable for cases where cerebral hemorrhage occurs again after skull repair surgery. Our team used 3D Slicer reconstruction combined with virtual reality technology to find a suitable keyhole surgical approach and successfully completed a neuroendoscopic removal of basal ganglia hemorrhage through the eyebrow arch keyhole approach in a case of recurrent cerebral hemorrhage after cranioplasty.

Summary: Claudin18.2 has been recently recognized as a potential therapeutic target for gastric/gastroesophageal junction or pancreatic cancer. Here, we develop a Claudin18.2-directed antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), CMG901, with a potent microtubule-targeting agent MMAE (monomethyl auristatin E) and evaluate its preclinical profiles. In vitro studies show that CMG901 binds specifically to Claudin18.2 on the cell surface and kills tumor cells through direct cytotoxicity, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), and bystander killing activity. In vivo pharmacological studies show significant antitumor activity in patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. Toxicity studies show that the major adverse effects related to CMG901 are reversible hematopoietic changes attributed to MMAE. The highest non-severely toxic dose (HNSTD) is 6 mg/kg in cynomolgus monkeys and 10 mg/kg in rats once every 3 weeks. CMG901’s favorable preclinical profile supports its entry into the human clinical study. CMG901 is currently under phase 3 investigation in patients with advanced gastric/gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma expressing Claudin18.2 (NCT06346392).

Summary: Stapokibart (CM310) is a humanized IL-4Rα monoclonal antibody currently undergoing phase 3 trials for type 2 inflammatory diseases. In contrast to dupilumab, which bound exclusively to human IL-4Rα, stapokibart demonstrated cross-species reactivity to IL-4Rα from human, cynomolgus monkey, and rat. Stapokibart exhibited comparable blocking activity to dupilumab. Epitope mapping revealed that stapokibart bound to distinct sites on IL-4Rα compared to dupilumab. In vitro assays showed that stapokibart was comparable or numerically superior in blocking IL-4Rα-mediated signaling compared to dupilumab. In vivo studies further demonstrated that stapokibart effectively inhibited the progression of type 2 inflammation. Pharmacokinetic studies revealed a circulating half-life of approximately 298–351 h in cynomolgus monkeys and 55–142 h in rats for stapokibart. Toxicity studies indicated a favorable safety profile in cynomolgus monkeys and rats. The preclinical evaluation of stapokibart supports its clinical development.

With the wide application of the Internet of Things (IoT), storing large amounts of IoT data and protecting data privacy has become a meaningful issue. In general, the access control mechanism is used to prevent illegal users from accessing private data. However, traditional data access control schemes face some non-ignorable problems, such as only supporting coarse-grained access control, the risk of centralization, and high trust issues. In this paper, an attribute-based data access control scheme using blockchain technology is proposed. To address these problems, attribute-based encryption (ABE) has become a promising solution for encrypted data access control. Firstly, we utilize blockchain technology to construct a decentralized access control scheme, which can grant data access with transparency and traceability. Furthermore, our scheme also guarantees the privacy of policies and attributes on the blockchain network. Secondly, we optimize an ABE scheme, which makes the size of system parameters smaller and improves the efficiency of algorithms. These optimizations enable our proposed scheme supports large attribute universe requirements in IoT environments. Thirdly, to prohibit attribute impersonation and attribute replay attacks, we design a challenge-response mechanism to verify the ownership of attributes. Finally, we evaluate the security and performance of the scheme. And comparisons with other related schemes show the advantages of our proposed scheme. Compared to existing schemes, our scheme has more comprehensive advantages, such as supporting a large universe, full security, expressive policy, and policy hiding.