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Abstract Numerous risk factors for oesophageal cancer are linked to lifestyle habits, but the role of early-life factors in its incidence and mortality is unclear. Using UK Biobank data, we explore the association among breastfeeding, maternal smoking, smoking in offspring, and oesophageal cancer risk in adult offspring via multivariable Cox regression. Here, we show that being breastfed, compared with not being breastfed, is associated with a lower risk of oesophageal cancer incidence (HR: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.70–0.98) and mortality (HR: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.61–0.89) in adult offspring. Additionally, it is associated with a reduced impact of smoking in offspring on oesophageal cancer incidence (HR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.64-0.96) and mortality (HR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.59-0.91). We subsequently construct a polygenic risk score for oesophageal cancer to explore the influence of genetic factors. Our findings emphasize the importance of breastfeeding, and smoking cessation to prevent oesophageal cancer.

Abstract To create green, low-energy self-compacting backfill materials, this study utilizes aeolian sand, slag, red mud, and calcium carbide slag to prepare diverse solid waste backfill materials in synergy. Additionally, a suitable amount of polypropylene fibers is added to enhance its toughness. During the experimental process, unconfined compressive strength tests were conducted using digital speckle technique. Computerized tomography scanning technology was employed for internal 3D visualization of the samples. Material strength difference mechanisms were characterized using SEM–EDS and XRD microscopic techniques. Finally, discrete element numerical simulation was utilized for analyzing the evolution of sample failure. The results show that with the increase in calcium carbide slag doping, the specimen UCS increases and then decreases, and when the doping of calcium carbide slag is 14%, the specimen UCS reaches a local maximum of 3.552 MPa; with the increase in the water–solid ratio, the specimen UCS gradually decreases, and when the water–solid ratio is 0.3, the specimen UCS reaches a local minimum of 3.26 MPa. With the increase in calcium slag doping, the mass percentage of calcium element and calcium-silicon ratio in the multi-solid waste matrix first increased and then decreased, and the micro-morphology of the multi-solid waste matrix included lamellar, block, and rod structures; With the increase in the water–solid ratio, the micro-morphology of the multi-solid waste matrix was gradually transformed, and the pore defects between the cementitious materials gradually increased. With the increase in calcium carbide slag doping, the porosity within the unit decreases, and when the doping of calcium carbide slag exceeds 14%, the porosity increases and the compressive strength decreases; with the gradual increase in the water–solid ratio, the porosity within the unit gradually increases, and the number of holes in the specimen reaches a minimum of 208 within the range of the study when the water–solid ratio is 0.24. Digital speckle technique and PFC numerical simulation together elucidate the sample’s failure process and crack evolution mechanism. Initially, the internal voids of the sample are gradually compacted, and crack propagation is slow. As the load increases to the peak, localized deformation and macroscopic crack formation occur in the sample. After the peak load, the sample exhibits significant displacement deformation, and the number of cracks increases significantly. The research findings can provide reference for the design and construction of solid waste backfill pipelines and trenches.

Abstract Machine learning methods are widely used to evaluate the risk of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in supply chain finance (SCF). However, there may be problems with data scarcity, feature redundancy, and poor predictive performance. Additionally, data collected over a long time span may cause differences in the data distribution, and classic supervised learning methods may exhibit poor predictive abilities under such conditions. To address these issues, a domain-adaptation-based multistage ensemble learning paradigm (DAMEL) is proposed in this study to evaluate the credit risk of SMEs in SCF. In this methodology, a bagging resampling algorithm is first used to generate a dataset to address data scarcity. Subsequently, a random subspace is applied to integrate various features and reduce feature redundancy. Additionally, a domain adaptation approach is utilized to reduce the data distribution discrepancy in the cross-domain. Finally, dynamic model selection is developed to improve the generalization ability of the model in the fourth stage. A real-world credit dataset from the Chinese securities market was used to validate the effectiveness and feasibility of the multistage ensemble learning paradigm. The experimental results demonstrated that the proposed domain-adaptation-based multistage ensemble learning paradigm is superior to principal component analysis, joint distribution adaptation, random forest, and other ensemble and transfer learning methods. Moreover, dynamic model selection can improve the model generalization performance and prediction precision of minority samples. This can be considered a promising solution for evaluating the credit risk of SMEs in SCF for financial institutions.

Abstract Sparse large-scale multiobjective optimization problems (sparse LSMOPs) are characterized by an enormous number of decision variables, and their Pareto optimal solutions consist of a majority of decision variables with zero values. This property of sparse LSMOPs presents a great challenge in terms of how to rapidly and precisely search for Pareto optimal solutions. To deal with this issue, this paper proposes an adjoint feature-selection-based evolutionary algorithm tailored for tackling sparse LSMOPs. The proposed optimization strategy combines two distinct feature selection approaches. Specifically, the paper introduces the sequential forward selection approach to investigate independent sparse distribution, denoting it as the best sequence of decision variables for generating a high-quality initial population. Furthermore, it introduces the Relief approach to determine the relative sparse distribution, identifying crucial decisive variables with dynamic updates to guide the population in a promising evolutionary direction. Experiments are conducted on eight benchmark problems and two real-world problems, and experimental results verify that the proposed algorithm outperforms the existing state-of-the-art evolutionary algorithms for solving sparse LSMOPs.

Abstract Glioma is a common primary nervous system malignant tumor with poor overall cure rate and low survival rate, yet successful treatment still remains a challenge. Here, we demonstrated that amantadine (AMT) exhibits the powerful anti-glioma effect by promoting apoptosis and autophagy in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, amantadine induces a large amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation in glioma cells, and then triggers apoptosis by destroying mitochondria. In addition, amantadine induces the initiation of autophagy and inhibits the fusion of autophagosome and lysosome, consequently performing an anti-glioma role. Taken together, our findings suggest that amantadine could be a promising anti-glioma drug that inhibits glioma cells by inducing apoptosis and autophagy, which may provide a novel potential treatment option for patients.

Over the past 50 years, extensive airborne and oceanic magnetic survey data collection efforts have resulted in the almost complete coverage of near-surface magnetic survey data worldwide. National and intercontinental magnetic anomaly maps have also been generated. Advancements in satellite magnetic field measurements, such as those from CHAllenging Minisatellite Payload (CHAMP), provided longwave magnetic anomaly backgrounds on a global scale. This has led to the realization of global magnetic anomaly grids with arcminute resolutions, such as the World Digital Magnetic Anomaly Map (WDMAM). Utilizing these datasets, spherical harmonic coefficient models such as the NGDC-720 model have been established for lithospheric magnetic fields. The global lithospheric magnetic anomaly model has progressed considerably; for example, the shortest wavelengths reflected in the spatial resolution have improved from hundreds of kilometers to tens of kilometers. However, modeling still faces major challenges; for example, the accuracy of the model remains low, amounting to a few hundred nanotesla. In this study, we provide a comprehensive review of the techniques for compiling magnetic anomalies at various scales and discuss the key methodologies for processing and compiling them. Furthermore, we address the complexities involved in modeling the global lithospheric magnetic field. Our objective was to address the shortcomings of lithospheric magnetic anomaly modeling and develop a high-precision, independent, and controllable lithospheric magnetic field model for China.

This paper proposes a spatiotemporal coordinated control method for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) swarms based on predefined time convergence in response to the coordinated ground attack problem of UAV swarms in a three-dimensional battlefield environment. First, we analyze the UAV swarm’s ground attack task scenario and its relevant elements and establish models for the UAV swarm, ground-moving targets, and attack problems. Building upon problem modeling, this paper considers the spatiotemporal coordinated strategy for a UAV swarm and designs a spatiotemporal coordinated control law for a three-dimensional spatial UAV swarm ground attack. The proposed spatiotemporal coordinated control law can guide the UAV swarm to reach the desired attack position within a specified time, achieving a spatiotemporal coordinated attack on ground-moving targets. A theoretical analysis based on the Lyapunov function demonstrates that the proposed control law can asymptotically stabilize the attack position error variable under a predefined time condition. Simulation results show that the proposed coordinated control law can achieve spatiotemporal coordination of the UAV swarm in a ground-moving target turning motion, enabling the completion of the multiangle coordinated attack on ground-moving targets within a specified time. Currently, research on the coordinated ground attack of UAV swarms mostly focuses on stationary targets, making it difficult to apply to coordinated attack tasks on moving targets. Although the coordinated tracking of moving targets by UAV swarms has been reported in the literature, spatiotemporal coordination among UAVs has not been considered. Therefore, this paper focuses on the spatiotemporal coordinated control strategy of UAV swarms, with a background of coordinated ground attacks by UAV swarms. First, this paper conducts a detailed analysis of the UAV swarm’s coordinated ground attack task in terms of time and multiple elements to establish a comprehensive task profile. Subsequently, by focusing on the core elements of coordinated ground attack by UAV swarms, this paper models both UAV swarms and ground-moving targets. Based on the established models and coordinated control strategy, this paper considers spatiotemporal coordination constraints and designs acceleration commands for each UAV to guide them to reach the specified attack positions at predefined time points, enabling coordinated attacks on the ground targets simultaneously. The designed acceleration control commands serve as inputs to the UAV’s autopilot, further generating lower-level control commands, such as speed, flight path angle, and heading angle, thereby achieving stable flight control of the UAVs. The proposed coordinated control strategy endows the UAV swarm with the capability to achieve spatiotemporal synchronized coordinated attacks, thereby enhancing the operational effectiveness of UAV-coordinated ground attacks.

Introduction: Colorectal cancer is increasingly diagnosed in people aged

Foliage plants have strict requirements for their growing environment, and timely and accurate soil temperature forecasts are crucial for their growth and health. Soil temperature exhibits by its non-linear variations, time lags, and coupling with multiple variables, making precise short-term multi-step forecasts challenging. To address this issue, this study proposes a multivariate forecasting method suitable for soil temperature forecasting. Initially, the influence of various environmental factors on soil temperature is analyzed using the gradient boosting tree model, and key environmental factors are selected for multivariate forecasting. Concurrently, a point and interval forecasting model combining the Neural Hierarchical Interpolation for Time Series Forecasting (N-HiTS) and Gaussian likelihood function is proposed, providing stable soil temperature forecasting for the next 20 to 120 minutes. Finally, a multi-objective optimization algorithm is employed to search for optimal initial parameters to ensure the best performance of the forecasting model. Experiments have demonstrated that the proposed model outperforms common models in predictive performance. Compared to Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) model, the proposed model reduces the Mean Absolute Error (MAE) for forecasting soil temperatures over the next 20, 60, and 120 minutes by 0.065, 0.138, and 0.125, respectively. Moreover, the model can output stable forecasting intervals, effectively mitigating the instability associated with multi-step point forecasts. This research provides a scientific method for precise regulation and disaster early warning in facility cultivation environments.

ABSTRACT With the rapid progression of biotechnology, the significance translational research on glycolysis in molecular pharmacology has become increasingly evident. To deepen students' understanding of glycolytic processes and facilitate their comprehension of drug action mechanisms, we have developed a visual virtual simulation platform dedicated glycolysis. The educational approach commenced with theoretical lectures on glycolysis, followed by practical laboratory sessions where students measured glycolysis‐related parameters such as hexokinase, pyruvate kinase, and lactate. Students then engaged with the virtual simulation training platform to explore glycolytic stress tests and positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging, with their progress tracked through an assessment mode. The study involved 67 s‐year undergraduate students majoring in biomedical sciences, all of whom had received instruction in glucose metabolism theories and completed the associated questionnaires. The results showed that the students gained a deeper understanding of glycolysis and the clinical application of PET/CT imaging in the context of glycolysis. The majority also agreed that the integration of scientific and clinical cases in teaching is beneficial and that the project sparked their interest in scientific research. These findings align with existing literature that emphasizes the importance of innovative educational tools in enhancing student engagement and understanding of the underlying theories of the curriculum. This project designed an innovative glycolytic metabolism teaching system encompassing the monitoring of traditional glycolytic indicators, glycolytic stress tests, and PET/CT imaging based on glycolysis. The visual virtual simulation platform for glycolysis can serve as an innovative educational tool in the molecular pharmacology curriculum or other courses involving glycolysis, assisting students in deeply understanding the molecular mechanisms of glycolysis and its significance in disease and drug action.

Summary: 4-Octyl itaconate (4-OI), a derivative of itaconate, inhibits inflammation by alkylating its target proteins. Here, we present a click-chemistry-based protocol for detecting 4-OI-alkylated proteins in mouse primary bone-marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) by using an itaconate-alkyne (ITalk) probe. We describe steps for culturing and treating BMDMs and details on using click chemistry in the cell lysate. We also detail procedures for detecting alkylated proteins by western blot.For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Su et al.1 : Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics.

Abstract Objective Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a form of malignancy that exhibits a comparatively elevated occurrence and fatality rate. Given the relatively slower progress in diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for CRC, there is a need to investigate more accurate and efficient biomarkers. Methods Core regulatory genes were screened using the TCGA database, and the expression of neurexophilin 4 (NXPH4) and its prognostic implications were validated using tissue microarray staining. The assessment of NXPH4 functions involved a range of experiments, including cellular, organoid, and murine models. Furthermore, a regulatory network between m5C, NXPH4, and HIF1A was established through several in vitro experiments. Results The overexpression of NXPH4 is associated with unfavorable prognoses in patients with CRC and hepatocellular carcinoma. Additionally, it facilitates the progression of malignant tumors both in laboratory settings and in living organisms of colorectal carcinoma. Our research also reveals that NXPH4 mRNA can avoid degradation through RNautophagy, relying on an m5C-dependent mechanism. Moreover, NXPH4 amplifies the HIF signaling pathway and stabilizes HIF1A by competitively binding to PHD4. Conclusions NXPH4, regulated by m5C, promotes malignant tumor progression and regulates the HIF pathway. Consequently, targeting NXPH4 through molecular therapies could potentially serve as an efficacious therapeutic strategy for the management of CRC exhibiting elevated NXPH4 expression. Graphical abstract

Abstract Inherited non-hemolytic anemia is a group of rare bone marrow disorders characterized by erythroid defects. Although concerted efforts have been made to explore the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms of these diseases, the understanding of the causative mutations are still incomplete. Here we identify in a diseased pedigree that a gain-of-function mutation in toll-like receptor 8 (TLR8) is implicated in inherited non-hemolytic anemia. TLR8 is expressed in erythroid lineage and erythropoiesis is impaired by TLR8 activation whereas enhanced by TLR8 inhibition from erythroid progenitor stage. Mechanistically, TLR8 activation blocks annexin A2 (ANXA2)-mediated plasma membrane localization of STAT5 and disrupts EPO signaling in HuDEP2 cells. TLR8 inhibition improves erythropoiesis in RPS19 +/− HuDEP2 cells and CD34+ cells from healthy donors and inherited non-hemolytic anemic patients. Collectively, we identify a gene implicated in inherited anemia and a previously undescribed role for TLR8 in erythropoiesis, which could potentially be explored for therapeutic benefit in inherited anemia.

Abstract Boron-doped polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exhibit excellent optical properties, and regulating their photophysical processes is a powerful strategy to understand the luminescence mechanism and develop new materials and applications. Herein, an electrochemically responsive B–O dynamic coordination bond is proposed, and used to regulate the photophysical processes of boron-nitrogen-doped polyaromatic hydrocarbons. The formation of the B–O coordination bond under a suitable voltage is confirmed by experiments and theoretical calculations, and B–O coordination bond can be broken back to the initial state under opposite voltage. The whole process is accompanied by reversible changes in photophysical properties. Further, electrofluorochromic devices are successfully prepared based on the above electrochemically responsive coordination bond. The success and harvest of this exploration are beneficial to understand the luminescence mechanism of boron-nitrogen-doped polyaromatic hydrocarbons, and provide ideas for design of dynamic covalent bonds and broaden material types and applications.

Abstract The implementation of strategies aimed at curtailing energy consumption and carbon emissions in buildings is of paramount importance. Priority should be accorded to the reduction of embodied carbon emissions from construction materials and operational carbon emissions during the usage phase. A public building situated in an extremely cold region is chosen as the subject of this study. An initial investigation is conducted into the impact of various enclosure structure materials on embodied carbon. The impact of different heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems on the total carbon emissions of public buildings are studied as well. The findings indicate that the amalgamation of W3 + R + G4 + H4 culminates in the least total carbon emissions. Upon establishing the foundational scheme for the public building, an optimization (nondominated sorting genetic algorithm II [NSGA II] and Criteria Importance Through Intercrieria Correlation [CRITIC]) of the enclosure structure parameters is initiated to examine the optimal parameters of the public building's enclosure structure. The findings reveal that a decrease in the heat transfer coefficient could trigger an increase in total carbon emissions. This is attributed to the fact that the carbon emissions embodied in the production process of these materials could potentially outweigh the reduction observed in operational carbon emissions. Further adjustments were also made to the parameters of the HVAC system in the buildings. The findings indicate that within the context of public buildings, given the presence of optimal parameters and an HVAC system that utilizes solar energy for both heating and cooling in the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air‐Conditioning Engineers, Inc. 6 A climatic zone, the efficiency of the cooling system can exert a significant influence on the operations carbon emissions reduction.

Abstract SKLB1028 is a novel multi‐target protein kinase inhibitor under investigation for the treatment of FLT3‐ITD mutated acute myeloid leukemia. Based on the preclinical characterization of SKLB1028 metabolism, three drug–drug interaction clinical studies were performed to investigate the effects of itraconazole, rifampin (CYP3A4 inhibitor and inducer, respectively), and gemfibrozil (CYP2C8 inhibitor) on the metabolism of SKLB1028. Fourteen healthy Chinese male subjects were enrolled in each study. In Study 1, subjects were administered a single dose of SKLB1028 (100 mg on days 1 and 11) and multiple doses of itraconazole (200 mg twice daily on day 8 and 200 mg once daily from days 9 to 18). Itraconazole was given with a loading dose on Day 8 and the total administration of itraconazole was 11 days. In Study 2, subjects were administered a single dose of SKLB1028 (100 mg on days 1 and 12) and multiple doses of gemfibrozil (600 mg twice daily from days 8 to 19). In Study 3, subjects were administered a single dose of SKLB1028 (150 mg on days 1 and 15) and multiple doses of rifampin (600 mg once daily from day 8 to 22). Itraconazole increased the AUC and Cmax of SKLB1028 by approximately 28% and 41%, respectively. Compared to the single drug, co‐administration with gemfibrozil increased the AUC of SKLB1028 by ~26% and the Cmax by ~21%. Co‐administration with rifampin reduced the AUC of SKLB1028 by ~30%, while the Cmax did not change significantly. All treatments were well tolerated in all three studies.

Gas adsorption and separation/desorption are two pivotal stages in gas capture, demanding additional energy for liberating gas molecules from the adsorbent. Hence, it’s essential to engineer an adsorbent with minimal energy consumption yet effective gas adsorption–desorption characteristics. Accordingly, this research introduces a carbon nano-network (CNN) material capable of inhaling and exhaling gases via self-deformation. Molecular dynamics simulations demonstrate that the gas adsorption–desorption capabilities of CNN can be efficiently regulated by its deformation. While the size of CNN minimally affects the gas sorption rate, a larger CNN necessitates a prolonged duration to achieve saturation under identical gas conditions. Incorporating elongated appendages in CNN enhances both its stability during contraction and its efficiencies in gas adsorption and desorption. We discerned that attaining a critical gas density within a confined space is imperative to initiate self-desorption of CNN. Specifically, if the gas density dips below this critical threshold–set at 5.2 times that of CO2 at room temperature (300 K) and atmospheric pressure (1 Bar)–CNN exhibits no self-desorption capability. Nevertheless, even a marginal elevation in gas density triggers and maintains self-desorption with a consistently surpassing desorption ratio of 98 %. This discovery offers valuable insights for designing automatic self-desorption materials or apparatuses.

Abstract Reconstructing the visible spectra of real objects is critical to the spectral camouflage from emerging spectral imaging. Electrochromic materials exhibit unique superiority for this goal due to their subtractive color‐mixing model and structural diversity. Herein, a simulation model is proposed and a method is developed to fabricate electrochromic devices for dynamically reproducing the visible spectrum of the natural leaf. Over 20 kinds of pH‐dependent leuco dyes have been synthesized/prepared through molecular engineering and offered available spectra/bands to reconstruct the spectrum of the natural leaf. More importantly, the spectral variance between the device and leaf is optimized from an initial 98.9 to an ideal 10.3 through the simulation model, which means, the similarity increased nearly nine‐fold. As a promising spectrum reconstruction approach, it will promote the development of smart photoelectric materials in adaptive camouflage, spectral display, high‐end encryption, and anti‐counterfeiting.

Abstract Background In the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (trem2) is widely considered to be a crucial molecule on tumor-associated macrophages(TAMs). Multiple studies have shown that trem2 may function as an immune checkpoint in various malignant tumors, mediating tumor immune evasion. However, its specific molecular mechanisms, especially in glioma, remain elusive. Methods Lentivirus was transfected to establish cells with stable knockdown of trem2. A Transwell system was used for segregated coculture of glioma cells and microglia. Western blotting, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‒PCR), and immunofluorescence (IF) were used to measure the expression levels of target proteins. The proliferation, invasion, and migration of cells were detected by colony formation, cell counting kit-8 (CCK8), 5-ethynyl-2’-deoxyuridine (EdU) and transwell assays. The cell cycle, apoptosis rate and reactive oxygen species (ROS) level of cells were assessed using flow cytometry assays. The comet assay and tube formation assay were used to detect DNA damage in glioma cells and angiogenesis activity, respectively. Gl261 cell lines and C57BL/6 mice were used to construct the glioma orthotopic transplantation tumor model. Results Trem2 was highly overexpressed in glioma TAMs. Knocking down trem2 in microglia suppressed the growth and angiogenesis activity of glioma cells in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, knockdown of trem2 in microglia promoted proinflammatory microglia and inhibited anti-inflammatory microglia by activating jak2/stat1 and inhibiting the NF-κB p50 signaling pathway. The proinflammatory microglia produced high concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) and high levels of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β, and caused further DNA damage and promoted the apoptosis rate of tumor cells. Conclusions Our findings revealed that trem2 in microglia plays a significant role in the TIME of gliomas. Knockdown of trem2 in microglia might help to improve the efficiency of inhibiting glioma growth and delaying tumor progression and provide new ideas for further treatment of glioma.

Abstract Background Chronic hypoxia and skeletal muscle atrophy commonly coexist in patients with COPD and CHF, yet the underlying physio‐pathological mechanisms remain elusive. Muscle regeneration, driven by muscle stem cells (MuSCs), holds therapeutic potential for mitigating muscle atrophy. This study endeavours to investigate the influence of chronic hypoxia on muscle regeneration, unravel key molecular mechanisms, and explore potential therapeutic interventions. Methods Experimental mice were exposed to prolonged normobaric hypoxic air (15% pO2, 1 atm, 2 weeks) to establish a chronic hypoxia model. The impact of chronic hypoxia on body composition, muscle mass, muscle strength, and the expression levels of hypoxia‐inducible factors HIF‐1α and HIF‐2α in MuSC was examined. The influence of chronic hypoxia on muscle regeneration, MuSC proliferation, and the recovery of muscle mass and strength following cardiotoxin‐induced injury were assessed. The muscle regeneration capacities under chronic hypoxia were compared between wildtype mice, MuSC‐specific HIF‐2α knockout mice, and mice treated with HIF‐2α inhibitor PT2385, and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor lisinopril. Transcriptomic analysis was performed to identify hypoxia‐ and HIF‐2α‐dependent molecular mechanisms. Statistical significance was determined using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Mann–Whitney U tests. Results Chronic hypoxia led to limb muscle atrophy (EDL: 17.7%, P

This is an article in the field of ceramics and composites. Montmorillonite organic gel is a thixotropic gel, which is usually produced by wet process. It needs to be spray drying to obtain gel products. However, the drying cost accounts for the major part of the production cost due to the low efficiency and high energy consumption of spray drying. Therefore, it is of great importance to reduce the energy consumption in the process of dehydration. A new type of pre dehydration process with low energy consumption is proposed in this paper. A non-metallic mineral material with high specific surface area and good water absorption is filled into the dehydrated tank. The montmorillonite organic gel is injected into the dehydrated tank and stirred well to achieve the purpose of pre dehydration. The high-quality organic gel product is then obtained by spray drying. The special process for the pre-dewatering process is designed and the energy consumption of the pre-drying process and the spray drying process without pre dehydration are compared by thermal calculation. The results show that the pre dehydration process can save about 58% energy compared with the existing process.

Dabaodao neighbourhood was a central gathering place of Chinese in the period of German colonial rule in Qingdao (north-eastern China), so the style and form of it express the integration of Chinese and Western cultures. With the help of the semantic network method, this paper proposes a gene analysis method suitable for historic neighbourhoods and analyses the genetic heritability of the Dabaodao neighbourhood. Regarding specific content, the spatial genes of the Dabaodao neighbourhood are identified as the primary research object, and two genetic research samples are proposed. Next, the spatial texture of the neighbourhoods is analysed to construct a semantic network model. Finally, with the help of the topological quantification method, a specific gene sequence analysis of the Dabaodao neighbourhood is conducted to discuss the degree of genetic influence expressed by it. On this basis, the effectiveness of gene analysis in neighbourhood renewal is discussed in the context of the renewal in the Dabaodao neighbourhood. Semantic network gene analysis not only provides an indicative strategy for the renewal of the Dabaodao neighbourhood but is also a formal analysis method different from the traditional quantitative analysis.

Abstract The Silent Information Regulator 2 (SIR2) protein is widely implicated in antiviral response by depleting the cellular metabolite NAD+. The defense-associated sirtuin 2 (DSR2) effector, a SIR2 domain-containing protein, protects bacteria from phage infection by depleting NAD+, while an anti-DSR2 protein (DSR anti-defense 1, DSAD1) is employed by some phages to evade this host defense. The NADase activity of DSR2 is unleashed by recognizing the phage tail tube protein (TTP). However, the activation and inhibition mechanisms of DSR2 are unclear. Here, we determine the cryo-EM structures of DSR2 in multiple states. DSR2 is arranged as a dimer of dimers, which is facilitated by the tetramerization of SIR2 domains. Moreover, the DSR2 assembly is essential for activating the NADase function. The activator TTP binding would trigger the opening of the catalytic pocket and the decoupling of the N-terminal SIR2 domain from the C-terminal domain (CTD) of DSR2. Importantly, we further show that the activation mechanism is conserved among other SIR2-dependent anti-phage systems. Interestingly, the inhibitor DSAD1 mimics TTP to trap DSR2, thus occupying the TTP-binding pocket and inhibiting the NADase function. Together, our results provide molecular insights into the regulatory mechanism of SIR2-dependent NAD+ depletion in antiviral immunity.

Wave breaking is a fundamental process in ocean energy dissipation and plays a crucial role in the exchange between ocean and nearshore sediments. Foam, the primary visible feature of wave breaking areas, serves as a direct indicator of wave breaking processes. Monitoring the distribution of foam via remote sensing can reveal the spatiotemporal patterns of nearshore wave breaking. Existing studies on wave breaking processes primarily focus on individual wave events or short timescales, limiting their effectiveness for nearshore regions where hydrodynamic processes are often represented at tidal cycles. In this study, video imagery from a typical low-tide terrace (LTT) beach was segmented into four categories, including the wave breaking foam, using the DeepLabv3+ architecture, a convolutional neural networks (CNNs)-based model suitable for semantic segmentation in complex visual scenes. After training and testing on a manually labelled dataset, which was divided into training, validation, and testing sets based on different time periods, the overall classification accuracy of the model was 96.4%, with an accuracy of 96.2% for detecting wave breaking foam. Subsequently, a heatmap of the wave breaking foam distribution over a tidal cycle on the LTT beach was generated. During the tidal cycle, the foam distribution density exhibited both alongshore variability, and a pronounced bimodal structure in the cross-shore direction. Analysis of morphodynamical data collected in the field indicated that the bimodal structure is primarily driven by tidal variations. The wave breaking process is a key factor in shaping the profile morphology of LTT beaches. High-frequency video monitoring further showed the wave breaking patterns vary significantly with tidal levels, leading to diverse geomorphological features at various cross-shore locations.

Abstract Rapid and accurate diagnostic tests are fundamental for improving patient outcomes and combating infectious diseases. The Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) Cas12a‐based detection system has emerged as a promising solution for on‐site nucleic acid testing. Nonetheless, the effective design of CRISPR RNA (crRNA) for Cas12a‐based detection remains challenging and time‐consuming. In this study, we propose an enhanced crRNA design system with deep learning for Cas12a‐mediated diagnostics, referred to as EasyDesign. This system employs an optimized convolutional neural network (CNN) prediction model, trained on a comprehensive data set comprising 11,496 experimentally validated Cas12a‐based detection cases, encompassing a wide spectrum of prevalent pathogens, achieving Spearman's ρ = 0.812. We further assessed the model performance in crRNA design for four pathogens not included in the training data: Monkeypox Virus, Enterovirus 71, Coxsackievirus A16, and Listeria monocytogenes. The results demonstrated superior prediction performance compared to the traditional experiment screening. Furthermore, we have developed an interactive web server (https://crispr.zhejianglab.com/) that integrates EasyDesign with recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) primer design, enhancing user accessibility. Through this web‐based platform, we successfully designed optimal Cas12a crRNAs for six human papillomavirus (HPV) subtypes. Remarkably, all the top five predicted crRNAs for each HPV subtype exhibited robust fluorescent signals in CRISPR assays, thereby suggesting that the platform could effectively facilitate clinical sample testing. In conclusion, EasyDesign offers a rapid and reliable solution for crRNA design in Cas12a‐based detection, which could serve as a valuable tool for clinical diagnostics and research applications.

Vehicle exhaust is one of the major organic sources in urban areas. Old taxis equipped with failed three-way catalysts (TWCs) have been regarded as “super emitters”. Compressed natural gas (CNG) is a regular substitution fuel for gasoline in taxis. The relative effect of fuel substitution and TWC failure has not been thoroughly investigated. In this work, vehicle exhausts from gasoline and CNG taxis with optimally functioning and malfunctioning TWCs are sampled by Tenax TA tubes and then analyzed by a comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC×GC–MS). A total of 216 organics are quantified, including 80 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and 132 intermediate volatility organic compounds (IVOCs). Failure of TWC introduces super emitters with 30 – 70 times emission factors (EFs), 60 – 112 times ozone formation potentials (OFPs), and 34 – 92 times secondary organic aerosols (SOAs) more than normal vehicles. Specifically, for the taxi with failed TWC, the total organic EF of CNG is 16 times that of gasoline, indicating that the failure of TWC exceeds the emission reduction achieved by CNG-gasoline substitution. A significant but unbalanced reduction of ozone and SOA is observed after TWC, whereas a notable “enrichment” in IVOCs was observed. Naphthalene is a typical IVOC component strongly associated with CNG-gasoline substitution and TWC failure, which is lacking in current VOC measurement. We especially emphasize that there is an urgent need to scrap vehicles with failed TWCs in order to significantly reduce air pollution.

As the proportion of wind and photovoltaic power plants characterized by intermittency and volatility in the electric power system is increasing continuously, it restricts the development of renewable energy at a higher proportion and a larger scale. CSP has the dual functions of peak-regulating power supply and energy storage, which can provide important support for grid access and power regulation for renewable energy power. In this study, the capacity configuration and economy of integrated wind–solar–thermal–storage power generation system were analyzed by the net profit economic model based on the adaptive weight particle swarm algorithm. A case study was conducted on a 450 MW system in Xinjiang, China. The effects of heat storage capacity, capacity ratio of wind power and photovoltaic to molten salt parabolic trough power generation on the economy of the integrated power generation system were obtained under the condition that the system output should meet the power load. The results show that when the capacity ratio is fixed and the heat storage capacity increases, the net profit of the system increases first and then decreases. When the heat storage capacity is fixed, the net profit of the system increases with the increase of the capacity ratio, but when the capacity ratio exceeds 5:1, the upward trend is gradually slowed down. When there are different heat storage capacities and capacity ratios, the lowest peak-shaving electricity prices corresponding to the net profit break-even point of the integrated system are obtained.

Summary: X-ray detection is crucial across various sectors, but traditional techniques face challenges such as inefficient data transmission, redundant sensing, high power consumption, and complexity. The innovative idea of a retinomorphic X-ray detector shows great potential. However, its implementation has been hindered by the absence of active layers capable of both detecting X-rays and serving as memory storage. In response to this critical gap, our study integrates hybrid perovskite with hydrion-conductive organic cations to develop a groundbreaking retinomorphic X-ray detector. This novel device stands at the nexus of technological innovation, utilizing X-ray detection, memory, and preprocessing capabilities within a single hardware platform. The core mechanism underlying this innovation lies in the transport of electrons and holes within the metal halide octahedral frameworks, enabling precise X-ray detection. Concurrently, the hydrion movement through organic cations endows the device with short-term resistive memory, facilitating rapid data processing and retrieval. Notably, our retinomorphic X-ray detector boasts an array of formidable features, including reconfigurable short-term memory, a linear response curve, and an extended retention time. In practical terms, this translates into the efficient capture of motion projections with minimal redundant data, achieving a compression ratio of 18.06% and an impressive recognition accuracy of up to 98.6%. In essence, our prototype represents a paradigm shift in X-ray detection technology. With its transformative capabilities, this retinomorphic hardware is poised to revolutionize the existing X-ray detection landscape.

The addition of Sn into the raw materials is currently one of the most widely used methods to improve the purity and mechanical properties of Ti3AlC2. It follows in this work to investigate the oxidation behavior of the resulting Ti3Al0.8Sn0.2C2 at 1200 °C with the oxidation time up to 500 h. The oxidation kinetics shows that its oxidation resistance is much worse than that of common MAX phases including Ti3AlC2, Ti2AlC, and Cr2AlC. The oxide layer mainly consists of TiO2 and Al2O3, with only a small amount of SnO2 at the beginning of the oxidation stage. Cracks induced by the internal thermal stress penetrate through the entire oxide layer after only 1 h, which is an important reason for the rapid oxidation of the internal substrate layer. This work is expected to provide some inspiration and reference for Ti3Al0.8Sn0.2C2 used as the potential high-temperature structural material.

Abstract Obesity often leads to severe medical complications. However, existing FDA-approved medications to combat obesity have limited effectiveness in reducing adiposity and often cause side effects. These medications primarily act on the central nervous system or disrupt fat absorption through the gastrointestinal tract. Adipose tissue enlargement involves adipose hyperplasia and hypertrophy, both of which correlate with increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and hyperactivated X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1) in (pre)adipocytes. In this study, we demonstrate that KT-NE, a nanoemulsion loaded with the XBP1 inhibitor KIRA6 and α-Tocopherol, simultaneously alleviates aberrant endoplasmic reticulum stress and oxidative stress in (pre)adipocytes. As a result, KT-NE significantly inhibits abnormal adipogenic differentiation, reduces lipid droplet accumulation, restricts lipid droplet transfer, impedes obesity progression, and lowers the risk of obesity-associated non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in female mice with obesity. Furthermore, diverse administration routes of KT-NE impact its in vivo biodistribution and contribute to localized and/or systemic anti-obesity effectiveness.

Abstract Background There are few studies on cryptorchidism in adults, and its treatment is still controversial. Methods To summarize the surgical strategy and clinical efficacy of laparoscopic orchidopexy for the treatment of cryptorchidism in adults, 37 adult cryptorchidism patients were retrospectively analyzed between September 2017 and February 2022. All 37 patients underwent laparoscopic orchidopexy, of whom 33 underwent inguinal hernia repair without tension. The intraoperative procedures and surgical techniques were recorded in detail. Preoperative examination and regular postoperative review of color Doppler ultrasound, and reproductive hormone, alpha-fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotropin, and lactate dehydrogenase levels were performed. Results All testes descended successfully into the scrotum, including 25 through the inguinal route and 12 through Hesselbach’s triangle route. No intraoperative or postoperative complications were observed. The follow-up time was 38.6 (± 19.4) months, and no evidence of testicular malignancy was found during the follow-up period. After analyzing the reproductive hormone levels at 1 year postoperatively in 28 patients with more than 1 year of follow-up, it was found that the patients had a significant increase in testosterone levels and a decrease in follicle-stimulating hormone levels after surgery. None of the patients showed any significant improvement in semen quality after surgery. Conclusion Our study suggests that laparoscopic orchidopexy is a safe and feasible surgical procedure for the treatment of cryptorchidism in adults, especially high cryptorchidism, which is difficult to treat. After comprehensive consideration, preserving the testis should be preferred for treating cryptorchidism in adults to maximize the protection of the patient’s reproductive hormone secretion function.

Abstract The energy consumption and carbon footprint of buildings are significantly impacted by variations in building area and the number of households. Therefore, it is crucial to forecast the growth trend of building area and number of households. A validated time series model is used to predict the new building area in Jilin Province from 2023 to 2030. The new building area in Jilin Province is expected to exhibit two trends of growth in the future: rapid growth (S1) and slow growth (S2). By 2030, under the S1 growth trend, the residential construction area and public building construction area in Jilin Province are expected to be 30.26 Mm2 (million square meters) and 7.23 Mm2, respectively. If the future floor area grows slowly under the S2 trend, the new floor area of different types will be 8.26 Mm2 and 1.33 Mm2 by 2030, respectively. The population growth shows a downward trend. Therefore, the energy consumption and carbon footprint of new buildings with different growth trends of floor areas and the number of households can be predicted. The energy consumption of new buildings shows an increasing trend from 0.32 Mtce in 2023 to 0.55 Mtce in 2030 under the S1 trend and a slight downward trend under the S2 trend. The carbon footprint is expected to be reduced by 0.017–0.311 million tons of CO2 when using heat pumps to supply 10–50% of the heat and wind and solar to supply 10–50% of the electricity. For every 10% increase in the use of ultra-low energy buildings, the energy consumption of civil buildings decreases in the range of 0.0063–0.028 Mtce. If the use of heat pumps and renewable energy increases by 10%, the energy consumption of civil buildings decreases in the range of 0.0054–0.0249 Mtce.

In its duration of service, Bailey truss is commonly exposed to corrosion threats due to the failure of anti-corrosion coatings, resulting in corrosion damage to its steel members and degradation of its structural performance. There is a lack of research on the degradation of the material properties of Bailey truss due to natural corrosion. This paper investigated the degradation of a Bailey truss that had been in service for eight years, in northeast China. Tensile tests were carried out on corroded specimens from three truss members (the chords, diagonals, and verticals), to establish regression equations for the minimum residual cross-sectional rate and several material properties of four parts (chord flange, chord web, diagonal web, and vertical web). The equations were compared with the degradation of steel properties with different yield strengths, cross-sectional shapes, and corrosion types. Fitting formulas for the true constitutive models of the four parts of non-corroded and corroded specimens were developed. It was found that the diagonal truss member was the most severely affected by corrosion, while the chord web was the least impacted. The degradation trend of 80% in regard to natural corrosion specimens is lower than that of the Bailey truss diagonal web and the degradation trend in terms of the yield strength and ultimate strength in the same part is less than 5%. According to the Ramberg–Osgood model, the multi-curve constitutive model fitting formulas are suitable for four parts of naturally corroded Bailey truss.

This paper presents a novel driving torque control strategy for the front and rear independently driven electric vehicle (FRIDEV) to reduce energy consumption and enhance vehicle stability. The strategy is built on a comprehensive vehicle model that integrates vertical load transfer, tire slip dynamics, and an electric system model that accounts for losses in induction motors (IMs), permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs), inverters, and batteries. The torque control problem is framed with a nonlinear model predictive control (MPC) method, utilizing state-space equations as representations of vehicle dynamics. The optimization targets adjust in real-time based on road traction conditions, with the slip rate of front and rear wheels determining the torque control strategy. Active slip control is applied when slip rates exceed critical thresholds, while under normal conditions, torque distribution is optimized to minimize energy losses. To enable online real-time implementation, an improved sparrow search algorithm (SSA) is designed. Simulations in MATLAB/Simulink confirm that the proposed online strategy reduces energy consumption by 2.3% under the China light-duty vehicle test cycle-passenger cars (CLTC-P) compared to a rule-based strategy. Under low-adhesion conditions, the proposed online strategy effectively manages slip ratios, ensuring stability and performance. Improved SSA also enhances computational efficiency by approximately 44%–52%, making the online strategy viable for real-time applications.

Massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system can provide satisfying gain of spectrum efficiency for 5G and future wireless communication systems.In frequency-division duplex (FDD) mode, downlink channel state information (CSI) needs to be accurately fed back to the base station side to obtain this gain.To improve the feedback accuracy of downlink CSI eigenvector, a self-attention mechanism-based CSI feedback method named SA-CsiNet was proposed.SA-CsiNet respectively deployed self-attention modules at the encoder and the decoder to achieve feature extraction and reconstruction of CSI.Experimental results show that compared with codebook-based and conventional deep learning-based CSI feedback approaches, SA-CsiNet provides higher reconstruction accuracy of CSI.

To respond the recent experimental advances, the phase stability, mechanical properties, phonon as well as infrared- and Raman-active modes, thermal expansion and heat capacity were investigated by density functional theory for the S-containing MAX carbides and borides (M from III B to VIII B), of importance, well consistent with the available experimental results. After examining the thermodynamic competition with all the competing phases and intrinsic stability by their lattice dynamics, 18 MAX phases were screened out from 138 ones. Using the “bond stiffness” model as well as the associated criterion for damage tolerance and fracture toughness, the ratio of bond stiffness of weakest M−S to the strongest M-X bonds (kmin/kmax) over 1/2 indicates their intrinsic brittleness of all S-containing MAX phases except Nb4SC3. Including the contributions from phonon and electrons, their linear thermal expansion coefficients [(8.1–13.6)×10−6 K−1, 300–1,300 K] and heat capacities (Cp) as a function of temperature are predicted. Of much interest, a well-established relationship between molar Cp of the MAX and MX phases is theoretically deduced in the present work.

A 314-type MAB phase V3PB4 with hexagonal crystal structure is synthesized by self-propagating high temperature combustion synthesis (SHS), with the help of the full first-principles predictions for the phase stability and adiabatic combustion temperature of SHS. Using XRD and TEM, V3PB4 crystallizes in the space group of P6¯m2, with the lattice parameters a = 3.030 Å and c = 9.148 Å, of much interest, well with the predicted one. Furthermore, the electronic structure, chemical bonding, and elastic properties of hex-V3PB4 are predicted by first-principles. No bandgap around Fermi energy indicates its electronic conductor. And the strong covalent bonding is present between the B and V atoms with, significantly, much weaker V-P bond. With the help of the theoretical model of bond stiffness, the significantly high ratio of bond stiffness of weakest bonds to the strongest ones (0.873) of hex-V3PB4 indicates its poor damage tolerance and fracture toughness. The high bond stiffness results in its high moduli in comparison with other MAB phases. As the number of inserted P atoms increases, the engineering elastic modulus decrease, without the price of an increase in density.

In this work, a new pyrylium derivatization-assisted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method was developed for metabolite profiling of the glutathione anabolic pathway (GAP) in cancer tissues and cells. The pyrylium salt of 6,7-dimethoxy-3-methyl isochromenylium tetrafluoroborate (DMMIC) was used to label the amino group of metabolites, and a reductant of dithiothreitol (DTT) was employed to stabilize the thiol group. By combining DMMIC derivatization with LC-MS, it was feasible to quantify the 13 main metabolites on the GAP in complex biological samples, which had good linearity (R2 = 0.9981−0.9999), precision (interday precision of 1.6%–19.0% and intraday precision of 1.4%–19.8%) and accuracy (83.4%–115.7%). Moreover, the recovery assessments in tissues (82.5%–107.3%) and in cells (98.1%–118.9%) with GSH-13C2, 15N, and Cys-15N demonstrated the reliability of the method in detecting tissues and cells. Following a methodological evaluation, the method was applied successfully to investigate difference in the GAP between the carcinoma and para-carcinoma tissues of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and the effect of p-hydroxycinnamaldehyde (CMSP) on the GAP in KYSE-150 esophageal cancer cells. The results demonstrate that the developed method provides a promising new tool to elucidate the roles of GAP in physiological and pathological processes, which can contribute to research on drugs and diseases.

Abstract Water quality parameters from 2000 to 2020 were used to identify the spatial and temporal sulfate variations in estuaries of the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. Sulfate enrichment relative to conservative mixing was found to be associated with a low river discharge period from 2012 to 2014 in all estuaries. Based on reaction stoichiometry, sedimentary sulfide oxidation holds significant potential for reducing the alkalinity in estuarine waters. However, during this extreme drought, alkalinity enrichment was also occasionally observed in some of the southern estuaries along with sulfate enrichment, and when alkalinity depletion occurred, the magnitude of depletion was usually much less than what would be expected based on sulfide oxidation alone. This discrepancy can be partially explained by carbonate dissolution and other proton removal pathways (e.g., Fe‐oxide dissolution), and by the uncertainties in the model used to estimate alkalinity enrichment/depletion. Under a changing climate, the close coupling between river discharge variation and estuarine sulfate dynamics will significantly impact estuarine carbonate chemistry.

Abstract Recently, noble gas has become a hot spot within the medical field like respiratory organ cerebral anemia, acute urinary organ injury and transplantation. However, the shield performance in cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury (CIRI) has not reached an accord. This study aims to evaluate existing evidence through meta-analysis to determine the effects of inert gases on the level of blood glucose, partial pressure of oxygen, and lactate levels in CIRI. We searched relevant articles within the following both Chinese and English databases: PubMed, Web of science, Embase, CNKI, Cochrane Library and Scopus. The search was conducted from the time of database establishment to the end of May 2023, and two researchers independently entered the data into Revman 5.3 and Stata 15.1. There were total 14 articles were enclosed within the search. The results showed that the amount of partial pressure of blood oxygen in the noble gas cluster was beyond that in the medicine gas cluster (P

In this paper, the Vickers indentation experiments were carried out under different loads on the polished surface of polycrystalline yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) ceramics to investigate the surface fracture behavior and subsurface damage under quasi-static conditions. The surface of polycrystalline YAG ceramic was corroded for intuitively observing the surface fracture behavior under quasi-static load, and the method of section polishing combined with chemical corrosion was used to examine the subsurface damage. The Johnson-Holmquist (JH-2) material model of polycrystalline YAG ceramics was established and imported into Abaqus software to simulate the process of Vickers indentation, so as to predict surface fracture behavior and subsurface damage depth under quasi-static load. The results show that the surface fracture behavior was divided into two stages with the increase of loads, that is, the fracture toughness value increased gradually and the fracture behavior was mainly transgranular fracture in the loading range of 0.05–0.3kgf. The fracture toughness value decreased obviously and fracture behavior was mainly intergranular fracture when the load range was 0.3-1kgf. The simulation values of surface fracture length and subsurface damage depth under different loads are highly consistent with the experimental results of Vickers indentation, the accuracy of the established simulation model was verified, which has an important guiding value for predicting the surface fracture behavior and subsurface damage in ultra-precision grinding of polycrystalline YAG ceramics.

Abstract Pasteurella multocida is a gram-negative bacterium that causes serious diseases in a wide range of animal species. Inflammasomes are intracellular multimolecular protein complexes that play a critical role in host defence against microbial infection. Our previous study showed that bovine P. multocida type A (PmCQ2) infection induces NLRP3 inflammasome activation. However, the exact mechanism underlying PmCQ2-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation is not clear. Here, we show that NLRP3 inflammasome activation is positively regulated by a scaffold protein called receptor for activated C kinase 1 (RACK1). This study shows that RACK1 expression was downregulated by PmCQ2 infection in primary mouse peritoneal macrophages and mouse tissues, and overexpression of RACK1 prevented PmCQ2-induced cell death and reduced the numbers of adherent and invasive PmCQ2, indicating a modulatory role of RACK1 in the cell death that is induced by P. multocida infection. Next, RACK1 knockdown by siRNA significantly attenuated PmCQ2-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation, which was accompanied by a reduction in the protein expression of interleukin (IL)-1β, pro-IL-1β, caspase-1 and NLRP3 as well as the formation of ASC specks, while RACK1 overexpression by pcDNA3.1-RACK1 plasmid transfection significantly promoted PmCQ2-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation; these results showed that RACK1 is essential for NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Furthermore, RACK1 knockdown decreased PmCQ2-induced NF-κB activation, but RACK1 overexpression had the opposite effect. In addition, the immunofluorescence staining and immunoprecipitation results showed that RACK1 colocalized with NLRP3 and that NEK7 and interacted with these proteins. However, inhibition of potassium efflux significantly attenuated the RACK1-NLRP3-NEK7 interaction. Our study demonstrated that RACK1 plays an important role in promoting NLRP3 inflammasome activation by regulating NF-κB and promoting NLRP3 inflammasome assembly.

Waxy maize (Zea mays L. sinensis Kulesh) is highly regarded for its high nutritional content and unique taste. Although the stalks and leaves contain high carbohydrate levels after ear harvesting, inadequate crude protein (CP) limits the utilization and promotion of waxy maize silage in animal husbandry. In this study, waxy maize and fodder soybeans were mixed for sowing in different proportions [1:0 (CK), 1:1 (A1), 1:2 (A2), 1:3 (A3), and 1:4 (A4)] to investigate the effects of different mixing ratios on the growth of the waxy maize, the chemical indices, fermentation quality, and the microbial community of the mixed silage after ear harvesting. The mixed planting of waxy maize and fodder soybeans in different proportions had no effect on the yield and quality of the waxy maize ears and increased the aboveground biomass after ear harvesting. After ear harvesting, the neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) contents significantly decreased, and the CP content and relative feeding value (RFV) gradually increased in the mixed silage. The pH of the treatments was lower than 4.2 except for A4, and the lowest ammonia nitrogen (AN) concentration was observed in A3. With increasing proportions of fodder soybeans, the abundance of beneficial bacteria increased and that of harmful bacteria decreased; Firmicutes and Lactobacillus were the dominant phylum and genus, respectively, and both increased gradually. Redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed that the fermentation indices affecting the microbial community composition in the silage were inconsistent among the different mixed sowing combinations. The Mantel test showed that the composition of the microbial communities in the treatments was significantly correlated with the ADF, water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC), and propionic acid (PA) contents. Comprehensive analysis revealed that the optimal mixed sowing ratio of waxy maize to fodder soybeans was 1:3, and waxy maize and fodder soybeans silage can increase the utilization of aboveground biomass and improve the fermentation quality and feeding quality of silage by changing the microbial community. These findings lay a certain theoretical foundation for improving the utilization of waxy maize.

Abstract Streptococcus suis serotype 2 (SS2) is an important zoonotic pathogen with the characteristics of high mortality and morbidity, which brings great challenges to prevent and control epidemic disease in the swine industry. Cathelicidins (CATH) are antimicrobial peptides with antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activities. In this study, bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effects of chicken cathelicidin-1 (CATH-1) were investigated in vitro and in vivo against SS2 infection. The results show that CATH-1 exhibited a better bactericidal effect compared to other species’ cathelicidins including chickens (CATH-2, -3, and -B1), mice (CRAMP) and pigs (PMAP-36 and PR-39), which rapidly killed bacteria in 20 min by a time-killing curve assay. Furthermore, CATH-1 destroyed the bacterial morphology and affected bacterial ultrastructure as observed under electron microscopy. Moreover, CATH-1 antibacterial activity in vivo shows that CATH-1 increased survival rate of SS2-infected mice by 60% and significantly reduced the bacterial load in the lungs, liver, spleen, blood, and peritoneal lavage as well as the release of SS2-induced inflammatory cytokines including IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-12, and IL-18. Importantly, CATH-1 did not show severe histopathological changes in mice. Further studies on the mechanism of anti-inflammatory activity show that CATH-1 not only reduced the inflammatory response through direct neutralization, but also by regulating the TLR2/4/NF-κB/ERK pathway. This study provides a scientific basis for the research and development of antimicrobial peptides as new antimicrobial agents.

Abstract Coal‐fired thermal power must be flexible to enable the grid absorption of inconsistent photovoltaic (PV) and wind power. Combined heat and power (CHP) coal‐fired plants are the primary source for district heating systems. This paper uses a 330 MW subcritical CHP unit as an example to carry out the study. With the promotion of building energy efficiency, when the thermal index is reduced to below 20 W/m2, the low‐load operation of CHP can meet the wind power and PV feed‐in demand and guarantee residential heating without the need for flexibility modification. Meanwhile, more renewable energy generation can reduce carbon emissions from the power supply, further contributing to reducing carbon emissions from buildings. The impacts of different envelope parameters and supplementary heat sources on building carbon emissions are also studied. The conclusion shows that the degree of their impact on carbon emissions ranks as ESMs (energy supply modes) > Factor D (infiltration N50) > Factor A (external wall heat transfer coefficient) > Factor C (window heat transfer coefficient) > Factor B (roof heat transfer coefficient). When the building's heating energy consumption gradually decreases, the distributed heat pump unit can replace the coal‐fired boiler to supply the peak heat load demand. In the future, China's district heating systems can be gradually changed from the current CHP and coal‐fired boilers to CHP and distributed heat pumps.

Abstract A lipidome comprises thousands of lipid species, many of which are isomers and isobars. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), although widely used for lipidomic profiling, faces challenges in differentiating lipid isomers. Herein, we address this issue by leveraging the orthogonal separation capabilities of hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) and trapped ion mobility spectrometry (TIMS). We further integrate isomer-resolved MS/MS methods onto HILIC-TIMS, which enable pinpointing double bond locations in phospholipids and sn-positions in phosphatidylcholine. This system profiles phospholipids at multiple structural levels with short analysis time (

The increasing concurrences of heatwaves and droughts in the context of global warming have attracted much attention from the scientific community given their devastating social and environmental impacts. In this study, the effects of heatwaves in each adjacent week of flash drought onset on the intensification rate of soil moisture were quantified through a meta-Gaussian-based conditional probability model. Results showed that both heatwaves and flash droughts have become more frequent since the middle of the 1990s. For the seasonal distributions, except for the southwestern region where flash droughts lagged behind heatwaves, there was a good synchronization between the two climate extremes. Strong correlations between heatwaves and flash droughts were found in the northeastern, northern, and southwestern regions. Heatwaves with varied timing of emergence behave differently on the formation of flash droughts, along with significant regional differences. Short-term impending hot conditions were crucial for the breakout of flash droughts, especially for the week when flash droughts were initiated, the emergence of heatwaves was likely to increase the intensification rate of soil moisture by 20% compared to those with no heatwaves in their development stage. HIGHLIGHTS The composite patterns of concurrent heatwaves and flash droughts are investigated.; Conditional probability is adopted to quantify the effect of heatwaves on drought.; Heatwaves increase the intensification rate of drought events by about 20%.;

Background: Nutcracker syndrome (NCS) is a rare cause of varicocele and its treatment is still controversial. Objective: To summarize the surgical strategy and outcomes of microvascular Doppler (MVD)-assisted microsurgical left spermatic-inferior epigastric vein anastomosis (MLSIEVA) with microsurgical varicocelectomy (MV) at the same incision for treating NCS-associated varicocele. Design, setting, and participants: A retrospective analysis of 13 cases of NCS-associated varicocele between July 2018 and January 2022 was performed. Surgical procedure: A small incision in the body projection corresponding to the deep inguinal ring was chosen as the surgical incision. All patients underwent MLSIEVA and MV with the assistance of MVD. Measurements: Patients received real-time Doppler ultrasound (DUS) before and after surgery; urine red blood cells and protein were tested, with a follow-up time of 12–53 mo. Results and limitations: All patients had no intraoperative complications, and all postoperative symptoms of hematuria or proteinuria, scrotal swelling, and low back pain disappeared. Comparing pre- and postoperative DUS, two patients did not show any improvement in their postoperative measurements. However, in the remaining patients, the internal diameter of the renal vein at the hilum portion and at the aortomesenteric angle portion, as well as their ratio, improved significantly compared with preoperative measurements. No complications or recurrence of varicocele was observed during postoperative follow-up. Conclusions: Our study suggests that MVD-assisted MLSIEVA with MV is feasible with no major short-term complication and effective regarding the treatment of varicocele and NCS. Patient summary: We investigated microsurgery mediated by microultrasound for the treatment of varicocele associated with nutcracker syndrome. We found this procedure to be safe and effective with good long-term results.