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Abstract Nanosizing confers unique functions in materials such as graphene and quantum dots. Here, we present two nanoscale-covalent organic frameworks (nano-COFs) that exhibit exceptionally high activity for photocatalytic hydrogen production that results from their size and morphology. Compared to bulk analogues, the downsizing of COFs crystals using surfactants provides greatly improved water dispersibility and light-harvesting properties. One of these nano-COFs shows a hydrogen evolution rate of 392.0 mmol g−1 h−1 (33.3 μmol h−1), which is one of the highest mass-normalized rates reported for a COF or any other organic photocatalysts. A reverse concentration-dependent photocatalytic phenomenon is observed, whereby a higher photocatalytic activity is found at a lower catalyst concentration. These materials also show a molecule-like excitonic nature, as studied by photoluminescence and transient absorption spectroscopy, which is again a function of their nanoscale dimensions. This charts a new path to highly efficient organic photocatalysts for solar fuel production.

Abstract Hair follicle (HF) regeneration during wound healing continues to present a significant clinical challenge. Dermal papilla cell-derived exosomes (DPC-Exos) hold immense potential for inducing HF neogenesis. However, the accurate role and underlying mechanisms of DPC-Exos in HF regeneration in wound healing remain to be fully explained. This study, represents the first analysis into the effects of DPC-Exos on fibroblasts during wound healing. Our findings demonstrated that DPC-Exos could stimulate the proliferation and migration of fibroblasts, more importantly, enhance the hair-inducing capacity of fibroblasts. Fibroblasts treated with DPC-Exos were capable of inducing HF neogenesis in nude mice when combined with neonatal mice epidermal cells. In addition, DPC-Exos accelerated wound re-epithelialization and promoted HF regeneration during the healing process. Treatment with DPC-Exos led to increased expression levels of the Wnt pathway transcription factors β-catenin and Lef1 in both fibroblasts and the dermis of skin wounds. Specifically, the application of a Wnt pathway inhibitor reduced the effects of DPC-Exos on fibroblasts and wound healing. Accordingly, these results offer evidence that DPC-Exos promote HF regeneration during wound healing by enhancing the hair-inducing capacity of fibroblasts and activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. This suggests that DPC-Exos may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for achieving regenerative wound healing.

Abstract Antimicrobial proteins contribute to host-microbiota interactions and are associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but our understanding on antimicrobial protein diversity and functions remains incomplete. Ribonuclease 4 (Rnase4) is a potential antimicrobial protein with no known function in the intestines. Here we find that RNASE4 is expressed in intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) including Paneth and goblet cells, and is detectable in human and mouse stool. Results from Rnase4-deficient mice and recombinant protein suggest that Rnase4 kills Parasutterella to modulate intestinal microbiome, thereby enhancing indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) expression and subsequently kynurenic and xanthurenic acid production in IECs to reduce colitis susceptibility. Furthermore, deceased RNASE4 levels are observed in the intestinal tissues and stool from patients with IBD, correlating with increased stool Parasutterella. Our results thus implicate Rnase4 as an intestinal antimicrobial protein regulating gut microbiota and metabolite homeostasis, and as a potential diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for IBD.

Abstract Natural killer (NK) cells play a crucial role in immune response against viral infections and tumors. However, further investigation is needed to better understand the key molecules responsible for determining the fate and function of NK cells. In this study, we made an important discovery regarding the involvement of the Hippo kinases Mst1 and Mst2 as novel regulators in maintaining mouse NK cell homeostasis. The presence of high Mst1 and Mst2 (Mst1/2) activity in NK cells is essential for their proper development, survival and function in a canonical Hippo signaling independent mode. Mechanistically, Mst1/2 induce cellular quiescence by regulating the processes of proliferation and mitochondrial metabolism, thereby ensuring the development and survival of NK cells. Furthermore, Mst1/2 effectively sense IL-15 signaling and facilitate the activation of pSTAT3-TCF1, which contributes to NK cell homeostasis. Overall, our investigation highlights the crucial role of Mst1/2 as key regulators in metabolic reprogramming and transcriptional regulation for mouse NK cell survival and function, emphasizing the significance of cellular quiescence during NK cell development and functional maturation.

Abstract To improving ship image generation and classification tasks, a deep convolution generative adversarial network based on attention mechanism (ADCGAN) model was constructed. The rectified linear unit (ReLU) activation function was adopted, and three Deconv layers and Conv layers were added to both the generator and discriminator. Subsequently, an attention mechanism was added to the generator, while spectral normalization (SN) was added to the discriminator. Mean squared error (MSE) was used as loss function to stabilize the training process. Furthermore, ship classification tasks were performed using the generated ship images by end-to-end training of the classification network, enabling ship data augmentation and co-learning with other tasks. Experimental results on the Ship700 and Seaship7000 datasets demonstrate that the ADCGAN model can generate clear and robust ship images, with PSNR, LIPIPS, MS-SSIM values of 20.279 and 27.523, 0.596 and 0.096, 0.781 and 0.947, respectively. The effectiveness of the proposed method in ship image classification tasks was also verified, providing a data foundation for other collaborative tasks.

ABSTRACT Antibiotic resistance poses a significant public health threat worldwide. The rise in antibiotic resistance and the sharp decline in effective antibiotics necessitate the development of innovative antibacterial agents. Based on the central symmetric structure of glycine–serine–glycine, combined with tryptophan and arginine, we designed a range of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. Notably, AMP W5 demonstrated a rapid and effective sterilization against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), displaying both a minimum inhibitory concentration and a minimum bactericidal concentration of 8 µM. Mechanistic studies revealed that AMP W5 killed bacterial cells by disrupting the cytoplasmic membrane integrity, triggering leakage of cell contents. AMP W5 also exhibited excellent biocompatibility in both in vitro and in vivo safety evaluations. AMP W5 treatment significantly reduced skin bacterial load in our murine skin infection model. In conclusion, we designed a novel centrosymmetric AMP representing a promising medical alternative to conventional antibiotics for treating MRSA infections.IMPORTANCEIncreasing antibiotic resistance and the paucity of effective antibiotics necessitate innovative antibacterial agents. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major pathogen causing bacterial infections with high incidence and mortality rates, showing increasing resistance to clinical drugs. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) exhibit significant potential as alternatives to traditional antibiotics. This study designed a novel series of AMPs, characterized by a glycine–serine–glycine-centered symmetrical structure, and our results indicated that AMP W5 exhibited a rapid and effective bactericidal effect against MRSA. AMP W5 also demonstrated excellent biocompatibility and a bactericidal mechanism that disrupted membrane integrity, leading to leakage of cellular contents. The notable reduction in skin bacterial load observed in mouse models reinforced the clinical applicability of AMP W5. This study provides a promising solution for addressing the increasing threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and heralds new prospects for clinical applications.

Abstract The energy dissipation pathways of a photosensitizer for phototherapies, including photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT), compete directly with that of its fluorescence (FL) emission. Enriching heavy atoms on the π‐conjugated systems and aggregation‐caused quenching are two effective methods to turn off the FL emission of photosensitizers, which is expected to boost the intersystem crossing (for PDT) and nonradiative transition (for PTT) of photosensitizers for maximized phototherapeutic efficacy. Following this approach, an all‐iodine‐substituted polydiacetylene aggregate poly(diiododiacetylene) (PIDA) has been developed, which shows a superior near infrared absorption (ε808nm = 26.1 g−1 cm−1 L) with completely blocked FL, as well as high efficiency of reactive oxygen species generation (nearly 45 folds of indocyanine green) and photothermal conversion (33.4%). To make the insoluble fibrillar PIDA aggregates favorable for systemic administration, they are converted into nanospheres through a pre‐polymerization morphology transformation strategy. The in vivo study on a 4T1 tumor‐bearing mouse model demonstrates that PIDA nanospheres can almost eliminate the tumor entirely in 16 days and prolong the survival time of mice to over 60 days, validating their effective phototherapeutic response through the strategy of inhibiting FL for boosted intersystem crossing and nonradiative transition.

Background: Acute heart failure necessitates intensive care, and arterial catheterization is a commonly performed invasive procedure in the intensive care unit (ICU). We aimed to investigate the association between arterial catheterization and outcomes in acute heart failure patients without shock. Methods: We utilized MIMIC-IV database records for acute heart failure patients at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center from 2008 to 2019. Employing doubly robust estimation, we examined the relationship between arterial catheterization and outcomes, including 28-day, 90-day, in-hospital mortality, and ICU-free days within 28 days. Results: Of 6936 patients identified, 2078 met inclusion criteria; 347 underwent arterial catheterization during their ICU stay. We observed no significant difference in 28-day mortality (odds ratio [OR]: 0.61, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 0.31–1.21, P = 0.155), though catheterization was associated with reduced in-hospital mortality (OR: 0.41, 95 % CI: 0.14–0.65, P = 0.02). No significant effects were observed on 90-day mortality or ICU-free days within 28 days. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that arterial catheterization is not associated with 28- and 90-day mortality rates in acute heart failure patients without shock but is linked to lower in-hospital mortality. Additional research and consensus are required to determine the appropriate utilization of arterial catheterization in patients.

Abstract In response to the low matching accuracy of stereo matching algorithms in image regions with specular reflection, this paper proposes a multidimensional fusion stereo matching algorithm named MFANet. The algorithm embeds a multispectral attention module into the residual feature extraction network, utilizing two‐dimensional discrete cosine transforms to extract frequency features. In the pyramid pooling module, a coordinated attention mechanism is introduced to capture relevant positional information. In the cost aggregation part, the MFANet algorithm incorporates a three‐dimensional attention mechanism, focusing on the more important semantic information in high‐level features. By combining detailed information from low‐level features, semantic information from high‐level features, and contextual information, the algorithm generates features that are more conducive to disparity prediction. The MFANet algorithm is evaluated on three standard datasets (SceneFlow, KITTI2015, and KITTI2012). Experimental results demonstrate its robustness against specular reflection interference, accurate prediction of disparities in specular reflection pathological regions, and promising application prospects.

Kiwifruit bacterial canker, caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (PSA), poses a grave threat to the global kiwifruit industry. In this study, we examined the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in kiwifruit’s response to PSA. Kiwifruit seedlings subjected to PSA treatment showed significant changes in both miRNA and gene expression compared to the control group. We identified 364 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) and 7170 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Further analysis revealed 180 miRNAs negatively regulating 641 mRNAs. Notably, two miRNAs from the miRNA482 family, miRNA-215-3p and miRNA-29-3p, were found to increase kiwifruit’s sensitivity to PSA when overexpressed. These miRNAs were linked to the regulation of NBS-LRR target genes, shedding light on their role in kiwifruit’s defence against PSA. This study offers insights into the miRNA482-NBS-LRR network as a crucial component in enhancing kiwifruit bioresistance to PSA infestation and provides promising candidate genes for further research.

Windows are commonly the primary way for noise to enter the building environment. Most windows achieve higher sound insulation targets by simply increasing glass thickness or laminate. However, the glass thickness cannot be increased freely due to the window frame’s limitation. This research selects eleven kinds of asymmetric insulating laminated glass (glass + polyvinyl butyral + glass + air + glass) within 27 mm, which are the typical thicknesses of window frames. The three pieces of glass have equal thicknesses. The half-space acoustics method investigated the acoustic properties and modal behavior of the glass with finite thickness. The results show that when PVB or three glass increases simultaneously, and the sound insulation of each glass can be improved by 0.9∼3.4 dB or 3.7∼21.8 dB at first resonant frequencies, respectively. The glass with the best sound insulation is 7 mm glass + 0.76 mm polyvinyl butyral + 7 mm glass + 5 mm air + 7 mm glass (7 + 0.76 + 7 + 5A + 7 for short). Its sound transmission loss (TL) is 38.5 dB from 125 to 4000 Hz and 16.8 dB in the first resonant frequency (200 Hz). In addition, its first resonant frequency is the highest among eleven kinds of glass, and the number of natural frequencies in the low frequency range is only 9. These findings can provide a basis for designing asymmetric insulating laminated glass to improve the low frequency noise reduction effect effectively.

The structure of fibrous assemblies is highly complex, being both random and regular at the same time, which leads to the complexity of its mechanical behaviour. Using algorithms such as machine learning to process complex mechanical property data requires consideration and understanding of its information principles. There are many different methods and instruments for measuring flexible material mechanics, and many different mechanics models exist. There is a need for an evaluation method to determine how close the results they obtain are to the real material mechanical behaviours. This paper considers and investigates measurements, data, models and simulations of fabric’s low-stress mechanics from an information perspective. The simplification of measurements and models will lead to a loss of information and, ultimately, a loss of authenticity in the results. Kolmogorov complexity is used as a tool to analyse and evaluate the algorithmic information content of multivariate nonlinear relationships of fabric stress and strain. The loss of algorithmic information content resulting from simplified approaches to various material measurements, models and simulations is also evaluated. For example, ignoring the friction hysteresis component in the material mechanical data can cause the model and simulation to lose more than 50% of the algorithm information, whilst the average loss of information using uniaxial measurement data can be as high as 75%. The results of this evaluation can be used to determine the authenticity of measurements and models and to identify the direction for new measurement instrument development and material mechanics modelling. It has been shown that a vast number of models, which use unary relationships to describe fabric behaviour and ignore the presence of frictional hysteresis, are inaccurate because they hold less than 12% of real fabric mechanics data. The paper also explores the possibility of compressing the measurement data of fabric mechanical properties.

Abstract Light engineering of correlated states in topological materials provides a new avenue of achieving exotic topological phases inaccessible by conventional tuning methods. Here we demonstrate a light control of correlation gaps in a model charge-density-wave (CDW) and polaron insulator (TaSe4)2I recently predicted to be an axion insulator. Our ultrafast terahertz photocurrent spectroscopy reveals a two-step, non-thermal melting of polarons and electronic CDW gap via the fluence dependence of a longitudinal circular photogalvanic current. This helicity-dependent photocurrent reveals continuous ultrafast phase switches from the polaronic state to the CDW (axion) phase, and finally to a hidden Weyl phase as the pump fluence increases. Additional distinctive attributes aligning with the light-induced switches include: the mode-selective coupling of coherent phonons to the polaron and CDW modulation, and the emergence of a non-thermal chiral photocurrent above the pump threshold of CDW-related phonons. The demonstrated ultrafast chirality control of correlated topological states here holds large potentials for realizing axion electrodynamics and advancing quantum-computing applications.

Abstract Background Multiple myeloma (MM) is a common hematological malignancy. Drug resistance remains to be a major clinical challenge in MM therapy. In this study, we aim to investigate the functional roles of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC)-derived exosomal miR-182 on the carfilzomib resistance of MM and its underlying mechanism. Methods qRT-PCR and Western blot methods were utilized to confirm the gene or protein expressions. CCK-8 and transwell assays were performed to measure the capabilities of proliferation, migration, and invasion. The molecular interactions were validated through ChIP and Dual luciferase assay. Results Our findings indicated that miR-182 expression was upregulated in serum, BMSCs and BMSC-derived exosomes from MM patients. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), a key transcriptional factor in tumor microenvironment, could boost miR-182 expression by directly binding to its promoter, thus favoring exosomal secretion. Moreover, exosomal miR-182 from BMSCs could be transferred to MM cells and was able to promote malignant proliferation, metastasis, and invasion, as well as decrease the sensitivity of MM cells against carfilzomib. Additionally, SOX6 was identified as a downstream target of miR-182 in MM cells, and its expression was negatively regulated by miR-182. Rescue experiments proved that loss of SOX6 in MM cells dramatically reversed the promoting roles of BMSC-secreted exosomal miR-182 on proliferation, metastasis, and carfilzomib resistance in MM cells. Conclusion Collectively, our findings indicated that exosomal miR-182 derived from BMSCs contributed to the metastasis and carfilzomib resistance of MM cells by targeting SOX6. This study sheds light on the pathogenesis of the BMSC-derived exosome containing miR-182 in the malignant behaviors of MM cells and carfzomib resistance.

It is very important to enhance the risk resistance of the agricultural sector to realize the modernization transformation of the agricultural industry and strengthen the competitiveness of national agriculture. Based on the relevant spatial data of 30 provincial administrative regions in China from 2013 to 2022, this study constructs a multi-dimensional index framework to comprehensively evaluate the resilience of China’s agricultural economy by comprehensively considering the three key aspects of adaptability, management strategy, and innovation drive. This study adopts several quantitative analysis tools including the Theil index, global and local analysis of the Moran I index, and kernel density estimation (KDE), and further combines with the spatial Durbin model (SDM) to conduct an in-depth spatiotemporal analysis of the resilience of China’s agricultural economy. This study not only reveals the evolution trend of agricultural economic resilience in different times and spaces but also analyzes the differences in resilience among regions and its spread in space. Through these refined analytical tools, we aim to reveal how agricultural economic resilience changes over time, the differences in resilience levels among regions, and the geospatial interactions and diffusion. This study reveals a series of key findings: (1) The resilience of China’s agricultural economy shows a trend of steady improvement. (2) Differences within the three regions are the main factors generating differences in the development of resilience in China’s agricultural economy. (3) The resilience of the agricultural economy in different regions shows obvious spatial correlations. (4) Further analysis shows that the efficiency of agricultural production and the urbanization process have a positive direct impact on the resilience of the agricultural economy, and this impact has a significant positive spatial diffusion effect. Meanwhile, although the level of agricultural mechanization is not significant in its direct impact, it has a positive spatial impact on the enhancement of agricultural economic resilience in other regions. In addition, the restructuring of agricultural cropping has both direct negative impacts and positive spatial spillover effects on the resilience of the agricultural economy. Based on these findings, this paper suggests that agricultural policies should consider regional development differences, implement differentiated agricultural support policies, fully account for the spatial spillover effects of agricultural ecological efficiency, and strengthen the exchange and cooperation of resources between regions. This study deepens the understanding of the spatial and temporal characteristics of the resilience of China’s agricultural economy, reveals its inherent dynamic processes and spatial interactions, and provides valuable references for policymakers and practitioners to better cope with the various challenges encountered in agricultural production, and to jointly promote the sound development of China’s agricultural economy.

The reactivity effect of metacognitive judgments on first-order task performance has received increased research attention. Previous studies showed that soliciting retrospective confidence ratings (CRs) reactively enhances task performance itself, such as performance in decision making and reasoning tasks, especially for those with high self-confidence. It remains unknown whether CRs can improve students’ academic assessment performance in real educational settings. The current study recruited 795 fourth-grade elementary school children to explore if making CRs reactively affects students’ academic assessment performance in two main subjects (i.e., Chinese Language and Mathematics). The data were collected across six waves with half-year intervals. From Wave 2, children either provided (CR group) or did not provide CRs (no-CR group) when completing standardized academic assessments. The results showed Bayesian evidence supporting the claim that making CRs does not influence children’s academic assessment performance (both the average performance across waves 2–6 and the performance in each wave) in both subjects. Furthermore, children’s self-confidence did not moderate the reactive influence of CRs. The results from multilevel regression analyses re-confirmed the above conclusions. Possible explanations for the absence of the reactivity effect of CRs on children’s academic assessment performance are discussed.

Objective There is limited evidence on long-term thrombosis risk in patients with obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome (OAPS). This study aimed to investigate the clinical features and risk factors associated with the first thrombosis in patients with isolated OAPS.Methods Data from patients with isolated OAPS were collected. All patients were followed up until the first thrombotic event during or after delivery or until the end of the study. Logistic regression analysis identified independent risk factors associated with the first thrombosis in patients with isolated OAPS.Results The study enrolled 186 patients with OAPS. During a mean 5.4-year follow-up, 11 (5.9%) patients experienced thrombotic events. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis revealed that triple-positive antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs, OR=11.662, 95% CI=2.117 to 64.243, p=0.005) and hypocomplementemia (OR=9.047, 95% CI=1.530 to 53.495, p=0.015) were identified as independent risk factors for the first thrombosis in OAPS, after adjustment for low-dose aspirin and hydroxychloroquine.Conclusions Triple-positive aPLs and hypocomplementemia are risk factors for the first thrombosis in patients with OAPS.

BackgroundCurrently, there is limited and inconsistent evidence regarding the risk association between daily dietary intake, antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins with Childhood Asthma (CA). Therefore, this study employs Mendelian Randomization (MR) methodology to systematically investigate the causal relationships between daily dietary intake, serum antioxidants, serum minerals, and the circulating levels of serum vitamins with CA.MethodsThis study selected factors related to daily dietary intake, including carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and sugars, as well as serum antioxidant levels (lycopene, uric acid, and β-carotene), minerals (calcium, copper, selenium, zinc, iron, phosphorus, and magnesium), and vitamins (vitamin A, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin D, and vitamin E), using them as Instrumental Variables (IVs). Genetic data related to CA were obtained from the FinnGen and GWAS Catalog databases, with the primary analytical methods being Inverse Variance Weighting (IVW) and sensitivity analysis.ResultsFollowing MR analysis, it is observed that sugar intake (OR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.55–0.91, P: 0.01) is inversely correlated with the risk of CA, while the intake of serum circulating magnesium levels (OR: 1.63, 95% CI: 1.06–2.53, P: 0.03), fats (OR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.06–1.95, P: 0.02), and serum vitamin D levels (OR: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.04–1.25, P: 0.02) are positively associated with an increased risk of CA.ConclusionThis study identified a causal relationship between the daily dietary intake of sugars and fats, as well as the magnesium and vitamin D levels in serum, and the occurrence of CA. However, further in-depth research is warranted to elucidate the specific mechanisms underlying these associations.

Abstract Vanadium nitride (VN) is a potential cathode material with high capacity and high energy density for aqueous zinc batteries (AZIBs). However, the slow kinetics resulting from the strong electrostatic interaction of the electrode materials with zinc ions is a major challenge for fast storage. Here, VN clusters with nitrogen‐vacancy embedded in carbon (C) (Nv‐VN/C‐SS‐2) are prepared for the first time to improve the slow reaction kinetics. The nitrogen vacancies can effectively accelerate the reaction kinetics, reduce the electrochemical polarization, and improve the performance. The density functional theory (DFT) calculations also prove that the rapid adsorption and desorption of zinc ions on Nv‐VN/C‐SS‐2 can release more electrons to the delocalized electron cloud of the material, thus adding more active sites. The Nv‐VN/C‐SS‐2 exhibits a specific capacity and outstanding cycle life. Meanwhile, the quasi‐solid‐state battery exhibits a high capacity of 186.5 mAh g−1, ultra‐high energy density of 278.9 Wh kg−1, and a high power density of 2375.1 W kg−1 at 2.5 A g−1, showing excellent electrochemical performance. This work provides a meaningful reference value for improving the comprehensive electrochemical performance of VN through interface engineering.

Experimental studies were conducted on four extended end-plate joints subjected to cyclic loading at the column top, investigating the evolving patterns of the joints' mechanical performance. The paper provides a detailed analysis and discussion of the test joints' failure modes, ductility, stiffness degradation, and energy dissipation capacity. The Mann-Kendall (M − K) trend analysis tool was applied to the mechanical response curves, identifying key performance evolution points (evolution initiation point P and overall yield point Q). The trends in bolt forces, deformations, and strains at critical joints were effectively validated, revealing the transition of the energy system from quantitative to qualitative changes and the component's failure process from stability to instability. Additionally, based on the experimental joints' hysteresis curves and energy dissipation capacity, a theoretical hysteresis model was established to predict the joint's hysteresis curve and cumulative dissipated energy accurately. According to EC3 requirements, joints were classified as partially rigid connections. The experimental results of the initial rotational stiffness and plastic moment were further used to evaluate the calculated values in existing standards EN 1993-1-8, ANSI/AISC 358-16, and GB 51017-2017. The results indicate that extended end-plate connections possess sufficient strength, joint rotational stiffness, ductility, and energy dissipation capacity, making them suitable for seismic moment frames.

Alkaline stress poses a significant challenge to the healthy growth of fish. Ginger polysaccharide (GP) is one of the main active substances in ginger and has pharmacological effects, such as anti-oxidation and immune regulation. However, the physiological regulatory mechanism of GP addition to diet on alkalinity stress in crucian carp remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the potential protective effects of dietary GP on antioxidant capacity, gene expression levels, intestinal microbiome, and metabolomics of crucian carp exposed to carbonate (NaHCO3). The CK group (no GP supplementation) and COG group (NaHCO3 stress and no GP supplementation) were set up. The GPCS group (NaHCO3 stress and 0.4% GP supplementation) was stressed for seven days. Based on these data, GP significantly increased the activities of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), acid phosphatase (ACP), and alkaline phosphatase (AKP) in carp under alkalinity stress (p < 0.05) and decreased the activity of malon dialdehyde (MDA) (p < 0.05). GP restored the activity of GSH-PX, ACP, and AKP to CK levels. The expression levels of tumor necrosis factor β (TGF-β), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), and interleukin 8 (IL-8) genes were decreased, and the expression levels of determination factor kappa-B (NF-κB) and interleukin 10 (IL-10) genes were increased (p < 0.05). Based on 16 S rRNA high-throughput sequencing, GP improved the changes in the intestinal microbial diversity and structural composition of crucian carp caused by NaHCO3 exposure. In particular, GP increased the relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes and decreased the relative abundance of Actinobacteria. The metabolic response of GP to NaHCO3 exposed crucian carp guts was studied using LC/MS. Compared to the COG group, the GPCS group had 64 different metabolites and enriched 10 metabolic pathways, including lipid metabolism, nucleotide metabolism, and carbohydrate metabolism. The addition of GP to feed can promote galactose metabolism and provide an energy supply to crucian carp, thus alleviating the damage induced by alkalinity stress. In conclusion, GP can mitigate the effects of NaHCO3 alkalinity stress by regulating immune function, intestinal flora, and intestinal metabolism in crucian carp. These findings provide a novel idea for studying the mechanism of salt-alkali tolerance in crucian carp by adding GP to feed.

Abstract Background Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET/CT is a highly regarded radionuclide imaging modality for prostate cancer (PCa). This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of 18F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT in detecting intraprostatic lesions of PCa using radical prostatectomy (RP) specimens as a reference standard and to establish an optimal maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) cutoff for distinguishing between PCa and non-PCa lesions. Methods We retrospectively collected 117 patients who underwent 18F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT before RP. The uptake of the index tumor and contralateral non-PCa lesion was assessed. Histopathology of RP specimens was used as the gold standard. Kappa test was used to evaluate the consistency of preoperative PSMA PET/CT staging and postoperative pathological staging. Finally, an SUVmax cutoff value was identified by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to distinguish PCa lesions from non-PCa lesions. A prospective cohort including 76 patients was used to validate the results. Results The detection rate of 18F-PSMA-1007 PET/CT for prostate cancer was 96.6% (113/117). 18F-PSMA-1007 had a sensitivity of 91.2% and a positive predictive value (PPV) of 89.8% for the identification of intraprostatic lesions. The consistency test (Kappa = 0.305) indicated poor agreement between the pathologic T-stage and PSMA PET/CT T-stage. Based on ROC curve analysis, the appropriate SUVmax to diagnose PCa lesions was 8.3 (sensitivity of 71.3% and specificity 96.8%) with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.93 (P

Abstract Laser-driven coherent phonons can act as modulated strain fields and modify the adiabatic ground state topology of quantum materials. Here we use time-dependent first-principles and effective model calculations to simulate the effect of the coherent phonon induced by strong terahertz electric field on electronic carriers in the topological insulator ZrTe5. We show that a coherent A 1g Raman mode modulation can effectively pump carriers across the band gap, even though the phonon energy is about an order of magnitude smaller than the equilibrium band gap. We reveal the microscopic mechanism of this effect which occurs via Landau–Zener-Stückelberg tunneling of Bloch electrons in a narrow region in the Brillouin zone center where the transient energy gap closes when the system switches from strong to weak topological insulator. The quantum dynamics simulation results are in excellent agreement with recent pump-probe experiments in ZrTe5 at low temperature.

Abstract Objectives Klotho, an anti-aging protein, has been identified to control tissue inflammatory responses. The objective of this research is to determine the linkage between soluble Klotho (S-Klotho) level and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII). Methods Eligible participants with complete information of S-Klotho level and SII were selected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES). Subsequently, weighted multivariate linear regression and subgroup analysis were carried out to evaluate the association. Results Totally, 11,108 adults with complete data on S-Klotho level, SII and other important covariates were included in final analysis. Multivariate liner regression revealed that high level of S-Klotho was associated with low level of SII after multivariate adjustments (β=-0.08, 95%CI:-0.10- -0.05, P

This study investigated the effects of partially replacing expensive Mo with cheaper Nb on the microstructure and properties of high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steel during reverse austenisation. The mechanical properties of the steel in the hot-rolled state were lower with a partial replacement of Mo by Nb. However, after pre-tempering and reheating and quenching, the strength increased greatly while the ductility and toughness did not decrease much. Thus, the negative effects of replacing Mo with Nb were mostly alleviated, and a good balance between strength, ductility and toughness was achieved. After heat treatment, the mass percentage of precipitates increased substantially, which helped to pin grain boundaries during austenisation. The percent of high-angle grain boundaries greatly increased while the average effective grain size decreased, which improved grain refinement. The results showed that combining a partial replacement of Mo by Nb with heat treatment allows the microstructure and mechanical properties of HSLA steel to be effectively controlled while improving the balance between cost and performance. These findings provide valuable insights into the preparation and design of steels with similar microstructures.

The structure of a fabric is a highly complex assembly of fibres, which have order and regularity as well as disorder and randomness. The complexity of the structure poses challenges in defining its mechanical behaviour, particularly at low stress, which is typical to end uses. The coexistence of multiple deformations and the high degree of nonlinearity of the fabric due to fibre friction make its stress–strain relationship complicated. This article reviews the literature on friction related to the low-stress mechanics of fabrics, and it establishes its range and regularity to help with finding a unified reference model, in which although the physical meanings of fabric tensile, shear, and bending vary, they follow consistent mathematical regularities. So, invariably, their disorder and randomness needed in defining them can be obtained from fabric measurement data. It defines the scope and patterns of friction to facilitate the development of a unified reference model. It argues that although the physical interpretations of fabric tensile, shear, and bending characteristics may differ, they adhere to consistent mathematical regularities within this model, and hence extracting disorder and randomness from fabric measurement data may be achievable. This paper concludes with a number of recommendations, postulating that hysteresis caused by friction between fibres in a fabric is an important component of mechanical information, and it coexists with its purely elastic component, but it cannot be obtained directly by measurement. Seeking means to effectively decompose the friction hysteresis and pure elastic components contained in fabric mechanics measurement data will provide an accurate characterization of fabric mechanical properties and hence an accurate modelling and simulation of its behaviour, and will impact many traditional and industrial textile end uses.

With the addition of microalloy elements to a high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steel, various fine particles of carbides and nitrides are formed, which increase the matrix strength. These precipitates play a crucial role in precipitation strengthening. However, the role of precipitates in microstructural refinement is frequently overlooked. In this study, a series of hot-rolled HSLA steel samples were reheated to different temperatures above the austenite transformation point for a specified period to refine austenite grains via precipitation, then cooled to a dual-phase (austenitic/ferritic) region, and finally air-cooled to room temperature. The influences of different austenitising conditions on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the HSLA steel were examined. When a hot-rolled sample was reheated to 15 °C above the austenitic transition temperature for 20 min and then cooled to 25 °C below the austenitic transition temperature for 25 min, the most low-angle boundaries were formed, and the smallest effective grain size was achieved. Meanwhile, compared with the hot-rolled sample, the tensile and yield strengths of the reheated sample increased by 12.3% and 3.4%, respectively, while the elongation increased by 162.5%, exhibiting a good strength–ductility balance. By adopting an appropriate austenitising process, precipitates can refine the crystalline grains during austenitisation, thereby enhancing the comprehensive mechanical properties of the steel. Meanwhile, excessively high austenitising temperatures lead to the coarsening of the steel microstructure, decreasing the microstructural refinement efficiency via precipitation and consequently degrading the comprehensive mechanical properties of the steel. The findings provide valuable insights into the preparation process design of such steels or other steels with similar microstructures.

Ventilation may lead to a deterioration in indoor air quality in urban environments located close to roads. Understanding the differences in the chemical compositions of size-resolved particulate matter (PM) in indoor air and outdoor air could aid in assessing the health impacts of air in these settings and establishing relevant regulation policies. In this study, indoor and outdoor size-resolved PM was collected from an office in Beijing in summer (between 5 and 25 July 2020) and winter (between 5 and 31 January 2021). Its chemical components, including sulfate, nitrate, ammonium, chlorine, organic matter (OM), elemental carbon (EC), crustal materials (CM), and heavy metals (HM), were analyzed. The mean levels of indoor and outdoor PM2.1 and PM9 were found to be much higher than those in the guidelines for PM2.5 and PM10 outlined by the National Ambient Air Quality Standard. Moreover, the levels of PM2.1 and PM2.1–9 mass were higher outdoors than they were indoors. The size distributions of mass concentrations were shown to be bimodal, peaking at 0.43–0.65 μm and 4.7–5.8 μm, respectively. The most abundant chemicals were OM, nitrate, and sulfate for PM2.1 and OM, CM, and nitrate for PM2.1–9. We found higher percentages of sulfate, nitrate, ammonium, EC, and HM in smaller-size fractions of PM. Additionally, positive matrix factorization showed that biomass burning, secondary inorganic aerosol, coal combustion, dust, traffic, and industrial pollution were the main sources of PM during the study period. The greatest non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic hazards were found at 0.43–0.65 μm in summer and 2.1–3.3 μm in winter. Our results indicate that size-resolved PM of ambient origin may infiltrate buildings near roads to varying degrees, resulting in negative health effects.

Introduction Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a prevalent inflammatory disease that can lead to severe abdominal pain and multiple organ failure, potentially resulting in pancreatic necrosis and persistent dysfunction. A nomogram prediction model was developed to accurately evaluate the prognosis and provide therapy guidance to AP patients. Material and methods Retrospective data extraction was performed using MIMIC-IV, an open-source clinical database, to obtain 1344 AP patient records, of which the primary dataset included 1030 patients after the removal of repeated hospitalizations. The prediction of in-hospital mortality (IHM) used the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression model to optimize feature selection. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to build a prediction model incorporating the selected features, and the C-index, calibration plot, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were utilized to evaluate the discrimination, calibration, and clinical applicability of the prediction model. Results The nomogram utilized a combination of indicators, including the SAPS II score, RDW, MBP, RR, PTT, and fluid-electrolyte disorders. Impressively, the model exhibited a satisfactory diagnostic performance, with area under the curve values of 0.892 and 0.856 for the training cohort and internal validation, respectively. Moreover, the calibration plots and the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit (HL) test revealed a strong correlation between the predicted and actual outcomes (p = 0.73), further confirming the reliability of our model. Notably, the results of the decision curve analysis (DCA) highlighted the superiority of our model over previously described scoring methods in terms of net clinical benefit, solidifying its value in clinical applications. Conclusions Our novel nomogram is a simple tool for accurately predicting IHM in ICU patients with AP. Treatment methods that enhance the factors involved in the model may contribute to increased in-hospital survival for these ICU patients.

Abstract FAAP20 is a Fanconi anemia (FA) protein that associates with the FA core complex to promote FANCD2/FANCI monoubiquitination and activate the damage response to interstrand crosslink damage. Here, we report that FAAP20 has a marked role in homologous recombination at a DNA double-strand break not associated with an ICL and separable from its binding partner FANCA. While FAAP20’s role in homologous recombination is not dependent on FANCA, we found that FAAP20 stimulates FANCA’s biochemical activity in vitro and participates in the single-strand annealing pathway of double-strand break repair in a FANCA-dependent manner. This indicates that FAAP20 has roles in several homology-directed repair pathways. Like other homology-directed repair factors, FAAP20 loss causes a reduction in nuclear RAD51 Irradiation-induced foci; and sensitizes cancer cells to ionizing radiation and PARP inhibition. In summary, FAAP20 participates in DNA double strand break repair by supporting homologous recombination in a non-redundant manner to FANCA, and single-strand annealing repair via FANCA-mediated strand annealing activity.

Chronic diabetic wounds remain a globally recognized clinical challenge. They occur due to high concentrations of reactive oxygen species and vascular function disorders. A promising strategy for diabetic wound healing is the delivery of exosomes, comprising bioactive dressings. Metformin activates the vascular endothelial growth factor pathway, thereby improving angiogenesis in hyperglycemic states. However, multifunctional hydrogels loaded with drugs and bioactive substances synergistically promote wound repair has been rarely reported, and the mechanism of their combinatorial effect of exosome and metformin in wound healing remains unclear. Here, we engineered dual-loaded hydrogels possessing tissue adhesive, antioxidant, self-healing and electrical conductivity properties, wherein 4-armed SH-PEG cross-links with Ag+, which minimizes damage to the loaded goods and investigated their mechanism of promotion effect for wound repair. Multiwalled carbon nanotubes exhibiting good conductivity were also incorporated into the hydrogels to generate hydrogen bonds with the thiol group, creating a stable three-dimensional structure for exosome and metformin loading. The diabetic wound model of the present study suggests that the PEG/Ag/CNT-M + E hydrogel promotes wound healing by triggering cell proliferation and angiogenesis and relieving peritraumatic inflammation and vascular injury. The mechanism of the dual-loaded hydrogel involves reducing the level of reactive oxygen species by interfering with mitochondrial fission, thereby protecting F-actin homeostasis and alleviating microvascular dysfunction. Hence, we propose a drug–bioactive substance combination therapy and provide a potential mechanism for developing vascular function-associated strategies for treating chronic diabetic wounds.

Abstract The challenge underlying superconducting quantum computing is to remove materials bottleneck for highly coherent quantum devices. The nonuniformity and complex structural components in the underlying quantum circuits often lead to local electric field concentration, charge scattering, dissipation and ultimately decoherence. Here we visualize interface dipole heterogeneous distribution of individual Al/AlO x /Al junctions employed in transmon qubits by broadband terahertz scanning near-field microscopy that enables the non-destructive and contactless identification of defective boundaries in nano-junctions at an extremely precise nanoscale level. Our THz nano-imaging tool reveals an asymmetry across the junction in electromagnetic wave-junction coupling response that manifests as hot (high intensity) vs cold (low intensity) spots in the spatial electrical field structures and correlates with defected boundaries from the multi-angle deposition processes in Josephson junction fabrication inside qubit devices. The demonstrated local electromagnetic scattering method offers high sensitivity, allowing for reliable device defect detection in the pursuit of improved quantum circuit fabrication for ultimately optimizing coherence times.

Abstract Background Nearly 234 million patients undergo surgery each year, and 1.3 million among them develop complications. Patients undergoing major upper abdominal surgery (operation time > 2 h) have a really high incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs). The occurrence of PPCs seriously affects the outcomes of patients. High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) is as effective as noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in preventing postoperative hypoxaemia and respiratory failure. Respiratory training using positive expiratory pressure (PEP) Acapella (Choice) has been shown to help patients with rapid recovery from postoperative atelectasis. However, no relevant randomized controlled studies have been conducted to clarify the effect of HFNC combined with respiratory training in the prevention of PPCs. This study aims to investigate whether the use of HFNC combined with respiratory training could reduce the incidence of PPCs within 7 days after major upper abdominal surgery compared to that with conventional oxygen therapy (COT). Methods This is a randomized controlled single-centre trial. A total of 328 patients who undergo major abdominal surgery will be included. Subjects who fulfil the eligible criteria will be randomly assigned into the combination treatment group (Group A) or COT group (Group B) after extubation. The interventions will begin within 30 min of extubation. Patients in Group A will receive HFNC for at least 48 h and respiratory training three times a day for at least 72 h. Patients in Group B will receive oxygen therapy through a nasal catheter or mask for at least 48 h. Our primary endpoint is the incidence of PPCs within 7 days, and the secondary outcome measures include 28-day mortality, reintubation rate, length of hospital stay, and all-cause mortality within 1 year. Discussion This trial would help provide evidence on the effectivity of applying HFNC combined with respiratory training for the prevention of PPCs in patients undergoing major upper abdominal surgery. The objective of this study is to determine the optimal treatment approach to improve the prognosis of patients undergoing surgery. Trial registration ChiCTR2100047146. Registered on 8 June 2021. Retrospectively registered.

Patients with sepsis always have a high mortality rate, and acute kidney injury (AKI) is the main cause of death. It seems obvious that the immune response is involved in this process, but the specific mechanism is unknown, especially the pathogenic role of T cells and B cells needs to be further clarified. Acute kidney injury models induced by lipopolysaccharide were established using T-cell, B-cell, and T&B cell knockout mice to elucidate the role of immune cells in sepsis. Flow cytometry was used to validate the mouse models, and the pathology can confirm renal tubular injury. LPS-induced sepsis caused significant renal pathological damage, Second-generation gene sequencing showed T cells-associated pathway was enriched in sepsis. The renal tubular injury was significantly reduced in T cell and T&B cell knockout mice (BALB/c-nu, Rag1−/−), especially in BALB/c-nu mice, with a decrease in the secretion of inflammatory cytokines in the renal tissue after LPS injection. LPS injection did not produce the same effect after the knockout of B cells. We found that blocking T cells could alleviate inflammation and renal injury caused by sepsis, providing a promising strategy for controlling renal injury.

Family socioeconomic status (SES) is widely believed to be associated with depressive symptoms in children and adolescents. The correlation between SES and depressive symptoms changes based on social culture and the economic development level. In China, which includes many children and adolescents, the magnitude of the relationship between SES and depressive symptoms and its potential moderators remains unclear. The current meta-analysis was conducted to determine the overall association between SES and depressive symptoms in children and adolescents in mainland China. We included 197 estimates in mainland China from 2000–2023. Among 147,613 children and adolescents aged 7–18 years, the results showed a weak but significant overall negative association between SES and depression (r = −0.076). Moderator testing showed that the composite SES indicator (r = −0.104) had a stronger association with depression than parental educational level (r = −0.065) and occupational status (r = −0.025) but not family income (r = −0.088). Additionally, the negative association between SES and depression became weaker over the past 20 years in China (β = 0.010). Furthermore, the magnitude of the relationship between SES and depression was stronger in West China (r = −0.094) than in Middle China (r = −0.065), but not East China (r = −0.075). These findings indicate that the relationship between SES and depression among children and adolescents in mainland China may vary based on social contexts. It is necessary to further explore the effect of these social factors and the underlying mechanisms.

Abstract Gas reactant transport plays a crucial role in various gas‐consumption reaction‐based electrochemical devices, but the pivotal performance limitation still centers on gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs). To this end, natural cross‐cut wood to prepare GDEs for aluminum–air batteries is introduced by utilizing the ordered structure with microchannels. With cobalt–nitrogen co‐doped carbon nanotubes as the oxygen reduction reaction catalysts grown inside the channels of carbonized wood slice and wettability gradient modification, cherry‐based GDE achieves higher power density (267 vs. 236 mW cm−2) than the commercial carbon fiber paper‐based electrode. By bridging the identified characteristics of pore structure via deep‐learning image recognition technology with the permeability of other three typical kinds of (ash, pine, and oak) wood‐based GDEs, it is revealed that the ratio of effective porosity to the average pore size is key to the performance. This work demonstrates the feasibility of bio‐derived wood‐based materials for fabricating high‐performance GDEs and provides insights into pore structure for the rational design of structured electrodes.

Topologically protected surface current is highly promising for next-generation low-dissipation and disorder-tolerant quantum electronics and computing. Yet, electric transport from the co-existing bulk state dominates the responses of the Dirac surface state, especially at elevated temperatures relevant to technological applications. Here, we present an approach that convincingly showcases the generation, disentanglement, and precise control of enduring surface charge carriers on a topological insulator, Bi2Se3, with high bulk conductivity, all achieved at room temperature. By using pump–probe modulation spectroscopy under ultrabroadband driving tunable from 4 meV to 1.55 eV, we show the terahertz (THz) field-induced surface carriers by discovering their initial temporal responses dominant over high density trivial bulk carriers. Strikingly, the response of the induced surface carrier responses persists for more than ∼5 ps and is enhanced by reducing pump photon energy. The dynamics and lifetime of the distinct surface response manifest themselves as the enhanced THz pump-induced THz transmission, which directly correlates with the transient negative THz conductivity. Increasing the THz driving field reduces the induced surface carrier lifetime and identifies, particularly, an optimal pump field of Es ∼ 224 kV cm−1 for generating the dominant surface response relative to the bulk. This surface carrier dominant regime is suppressed by a joint effect of enhanced surface-bulk scattering and a more rapid saturation of surface excitation compared to the bulk that sets in above Es. The controllability of room temperature topologically surface carriers through pump photon energy offer compelling possibilities for extending this approach to other topological complex materials.

BackgroundAcute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a serious lung ailment marked by significant inflammation and damage in the alveoli and capillaries of the lungs. Recent research suggests a strong correlation between the onset and advancement of ARDS and an imbalance in the gut microbiota (GM).MethodsIn this investigation, Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was utilized, drawing on data from publicly accessible genome-wide association studies. The primary focus was on examining the interplay between GM, inflammatory factors (IFs) and ARDS. Instrumental variables were established through genetic modifications of GM and IFs. Various statistical analysis methods including the inverse-variance weighted model, MR-Egger method and Wald ratio test were applied for comprehensive data analysis.ResultsEight bacterial taxa within the GM demonstrated a potential causal link with development of ARDS. Notably, the phylum Actinobacteria and the genus Intestinibacter exhibited a negative association with the risk of ARDS. However, Erysipelotrichales (id. 2,148), Victivallis (id. 2,256), Ruminococcaceae UCG014 (id. 11,371), Eubacterium ruminantium group (id. 11,340), Erysipelotrichaceae (id. 2,149) and Erysipelotrichia (id. 2,147) demonstrated a positive association with ARDS risk. Additionally, the study identified a potential causal relationship between the inflammatory factors interleukin-16 and C-C motif chemokine 3 with the occurrence of ARDS.ConclusionThis study strongly suggests that the interaction between gut microbiota (GM) and inflammatory factors (IFs) significantly contributes to the pathogenesis of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This underscores their crucial involvement in both the initiation and advancement of this severe lung disorder.

In recent years, drilling in Xinhe area on the southern slope of Kuqa Depression, Tarim Basin revealed that the Cretaceous Yageliemu Formation has active hydrocarbon display and high exploration potential in the field of stratigraphic-lithologic traps, which is an important direction for the next strategic breakthrough. Based on the core, well logs, drill cuttings and 3D seismic data, this paper integrated the analytical methods of core facies, electrofacies, wavelet transform, "impression method" paleogeomorphic restoring, seismic facies, seismic attributes, and coherence cube slicing to study the depositional system of the Cretaceous Yageliemu Formation in Xinhe area under the sequence stratigraphic and paleogeomorphic controls. The study shows that there are two types of paleogeomorphology developed in Xinhe area: (ⅰ) western multi-stage slope breaks, and (ⅱ) eastern thrust cliff paleogeomorphology. The Cretaceous Yageliemu Formation can be classified as a third-order sequence SQ1, which includes the lowstand systems tract (LST), transgressive systems tract (TST) and highstand systems tract (HST), corresponding to the three-phase seismic reflections of this formation overlying the western slope, respectively. The LST slope fans and HST fan deltas of the Yageliemu Formation were deposited above the western multi-stage slope breaks, and TST-HST subaqueous nearshore fans were deposited below the eastern thrust cliff, with erosional valleys on the cliff serving as the feeder channels and providing sources for the subaqueous fans. In situ mature hydrocarbon source rocks of the Triassic Karamay Formation are developed in Xinhe area, which is the migration direction of oil and gas far away from hydrocarbon source, indicating excellent source rocks and reservoir forming conditions. The stratigraphic-lithologic traps of the LST slope fan and TST-HST subaqueous nearshore fan located in the northern part of the thrust cliff are lying on the Triassic source rocks and have great exploration potential, which can serve as the main targets for the next subtle oil and gas exploration in this area.

Abstract Objectives Reconstruction plates (RPs) are commonly used in scapular neck fractures (SNFs): however, RPs have many defects. In this study, we evaluated a newly designed scapular neck anatomical locking compression plate (SNALCP). Methods An SNF finite element model (Miller-type IIB) was constructed. Plates were subsequently implanted into the scapula and fixed with screws that were grouped according to the plate used: SNALCP (A) and RP (B). Finally, loads were applied to record and analyze performance. Results Under lateral, anteroposterior, and vertical compression loads, the maximum von Mises stresses on the scapula and implants of group A were smaller than those of group B. There were some differences in stress distribution between the two groups. Conclusions SNALCP can effectively reduce the stress of the scapula and implant, making stress distribution more uniform and continuous, and has mechanical conduction advantages. Compared to RP, it provides improved stability and more reliable fixation.

Scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM) enables the non-invasive three-dimensional imaging of live cells and other structures in physiological environments. However, when imaging complex samples, SICM faces challenges such as having a low temporal resolution during slow scanning and a reduced signal-to-noise ratio during fast scanning, making it difficult to simultaneously improve both temporal and spatial resolution. To address these issues, this paper proposes an algorithm for enhancing image resolution under high-speed scanning. Firstly, scanning images are preprocessed using a median filtering algorithm to remove the salt-and-pepper noise generated during high-speed scanning. Next, the Canny edge detection algorithm is employed to extract the edges of the image targets. To avoid blurring the edges, the new edge-directed interpolation (NEDI) algorithm is then used to fill the edges, while non-edge areas are filled using bilinear interpolation, thereby enhancing the image resolution. Finally, the peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) and structural similarity index (SSIM) are used to analyze the imaging of articular chondrocytes. The results show that under a scanning speed of 480 nm/ms, the proposed algorithm improves the temporal resolution of imaging by 60% compared to traditional 2× resolution imaging, increases the peak signal-to-noise ratio of the scanning images by 7 dB, and achieves a structural similarity of 0.97. Therefore, the proposed algorithm effectively removes noise during high-speed scanning and improves the SICM scanning imaging resolution, thereby avoiding the reduction in temporal resolution when scanning larger resolution samples and effectively enhancing the performance of SICM scanning imaging.

Background: Pregnancy complications of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) are up to 20–30%. It is of great value to identify well-recognized predictors of adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) in APS. This study aims to explore the risk factors for APOs in patients with obstetric APS. Methods: This study included 142 women with APS delivered at Peking University People’s Hospital from February 2014 to August 2022. APOs included fetal death, neonatal death due to complications related to prematurity, preterm delivery

Impatiens uliginosa is a native and potential water body-restoring ornamental plant. In this study, RNA-Seq technology was used to analyze the transcriptome of its floral organs. Candidate genes related to flower color changes under copper stress were investigated through transcriptome screening, and the intrinsic mechanism of the effects of different concentrations of copper on I. uliginosa was revealed at the molecular level. The main findings were as follows: (1) Transcriptome sequencing analysis was performed on the flower organs of I. uliginosa treated with different concentrations of copper (0 mg·L−1, 10 mg·L−1, and 20 mg·L−1). A total of 70,319 transcripts and 39,949 unigenes were obtained. An analysis of differentially expressed genes revealed structural genes including GT, ANS, CHI, and PAL; transcription factors including MYB and WD40; and transport factors including GST and ABC. (2) The gene expression levels of flower color changed in the flowering period of I. uliginosa at different copper concentrations. The expression levels of IuGT and IuGST genes in I. uliginosa were significantly different under different concentrations of copper treatments. Their expression levels were the highest at a copper concentration of 0 mg·L−1 and the lowest at 20 mg·L−1. In summary, the low expression of IuGT and IuGST genes was more conducive to the formation of white flowers of I. uliginosa.

Making judgments of learning (JOLs) can reactively alter memory itself, a phenomenon termed the reactivity effect. The current study recorded electroencephalography (EEG) signals during the encoding phase of a word list learning task to explore the neurocognitive features associated with JOL reactivity. The behavioral results show that making JOLs reactively enhances recognition performance. The EEG results reveal that, compared with not making JOLs, making JOLs increases P200 and LPC amplitudes and decreases alpha and beta power. Additionally, the signals of event-related potentials (ERPs) and event-related desynchronizations (ERDs) partially mediate the reactivity effect. These findings support the enhanced learning engagement theory and the elaborative processing explanation to account for the JOL reactivity effect.

The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in size-resolved particles emitted from diverse sources are required for quantification to reduce the emissions in order to protect public health. Twenty-four PAHs in size-segregated particles in the roadside environment of Beijing were observed from 1 October 2021 to 30 September 2022. The size distributions of PAHs were bimodal, with peak concentrations ranging from size fractions of 0.43 to 0.65 μm and 4.7 to 5.8 μm in all four seasons, respectively. The highest concentration of PAHs in fine particles (PM2.1) was 35.3 ng m−3 in winter, followed by 16.0 ng m−3 in autumn, 15.3 ng m−3 in spring, and 6.5 ng m−3 in summer. Conversely, the concentration of PAHs in coarse particles (PM2.1–9) ranged from 6.8 ng m−3 (summer) to 20.5 ng m−3 (winter) from low to high. The size fractions of 0.43–2.1 μm PAHs increased most from clear to polluted days, which could be ascribed to the heterogeneous reactions. Source apportionment using positive matrix factorization showed that four sources, namely biomass combustion, coal combustion, diesel vehicles, and gasoline vehicles accounted for PAHs with the estimation of 17.4%, 22.1%, 26.4%, and 23.2% to PAHs in PM2.1; and 19.6%, 24.3%, 23.6%, and 20.1% in PM2.1–9, respectively. Furthermore, we used the human alveolar epithelial cell (BEAS-2B) to assess the toxicological effects of size-resolved atmospheric PAHs. The results showed that the cell survival rate caused by fine particles was lower than that of coarse particles with the same concentrations of PAHs, which is mainly related to the higher content of highly toxic PAHs in fine particles.

This study introduces an intelligent learning model for classification tasks, termed the voting-based Double Pseudo-inverse Extreme Learning Machine (V-DPELM) model. Because the traditional method is affected by the weight of input layer and the bias of hidden layer, the number of hidden layer neurons is too large and the model performance is unstable. The V-DPELM model proposed in this paper can greatly alleviate the limitations of traditional models because of its direct determination of weight structure and voting mechanism strategy. Through extensive simulations on various real-world classification datasets, we observe a marked improvement in classification accuracy when comparing the V-DPELM algorithm to traditional V-ELM methods. Notably, when used for machine recognition classification of breast tumors, the V-DPELM method demonstrates superior classification accuracy, positioning it as a valuable tool in machine-assisted breast tumor diagnosis models.

During the operation of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), the chemical reaction yields a large amount of heat. Long-term operation may cause local overheating problems which damage the proton exchange membrane structure, pull down the fuel cell performance drastically. Aiming at improving the temperature distribution and cooling capacity of PEMFC, a novel tree-shaped fractal fuel cell bipolar plate cooling flow field is proposed. The polarization curve, current density distribution, maximum temperature, temperature uniformity, cooling hydraulic pressure drop and the water content of proton exchange membrane are investigated for the fractal cooling flow field with different number of dimensions. The results show that the tree-shaped fractal cooling flow field can achieve better distributions of coolant and temperature uniformity than parallel cooling flow field. The maximum temperature reduces from 340.7 K to 337.8 K, and temperature uniformity index reduces from 1.47 to 0.45, respectively. Compared with the serpentine cooling flow field, the tree-shaped fractal cooling flow field effectively solves the problem of excessive cooling pressure drop and reduces the parasitic power loss while ensuring efficient cooling performance. This novel cooling flow field design offers an excellent solution to solve the local overheating of PEMFC.