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Postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) is a prevalent condition among elderly women. After menopause, women exhibit decreased iron excretion, which is prone to osteoporosis. To design a specific titanium implant for PMOP, we first analyze miRNAs and DNA characteristics of postmenopausal patients with and without osteoporosis. The results indicate that iron overload disrupts iron homeostasis in the pathogenesis of PMOP. Further experiments confirm that iron overload can cause lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis of MSCs, thus breaking bone homeostasis. Based on the findings above, we have designed a novel Ti implant coated with nanospheres of caffeic acid (CA) and deferoxamine (DFO). CA can bind on the Ti surface through the two adjacent phenolic hydroxyls and polymerize into polycaffeic acid (PCA) dimer, as well as the PCA nanospheres with the repetitive 1,4-benzodioxan units. DFO was grafted with PCA through borate ester bonds. The experimental results showed that modified Ti can inhibit the ferroptosis of MSCs in the pathological environment of PMOP and promote osseointegration in two main ways. Firstly, DFO was released under high oxidative stress, chelating with excess iron and decreasing the labile iron pool in MSCs. Meanwhile, CA and DFO activated the KEAP1/NRF2/HMOX1 pathway in MSCs and reduced the level of intracellular lipid peroxidation. So, the ferroptosis of MSCs is inhibited by promoting the SLC7A11/GSH/GPX4 pathway. Furthermore, the remained CA coating on the Ti surface could reduce the extracellular oxidative stress and glutathione level. This study offers a novel inspiration for the specific design of Ti implants in the treatment of PMOP.

Abstract Introduction In December 2019, COVID-19 emerged in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, and rapidly spread worldwide. On December 2022, the Chinese government ended the zero-COVID policy, leading to a surge in cases and significantly impacting daily life. IBD patients face heightened infection risks and substantial effects on their quality of life during the pandemic. Methods This cross-sectional study collected demographic, COVID-19-related, and HRQoL data from 224 IBD patients who had previously received treatment at Nanjing BenQ Medical Center. Participants completed an online survey between January 9, 2023, and January 23, 2023. The SIBDQ was used to assess HRQoL. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 26. Results The study found that UC patients reported higher HRQoL compared to CD patients (p = 0.037). Patients who perceived themselves as less susceptible to COVID-19 had higher scores (p = 0.006 and p = 0.009). Those whose work or study was unaffected also had higher scores (p < 0.001 and p = 0.002). Additionally, irregular medication adherence was associated with lower HRQoL scores (p = 0.014 and p = 0.007). Multivariate linear regression results showed that IBD patients whose work or study was affected during the COVID-19 pandemic scored lower than those who were not affected (p = 0.038; 95% CI, -7.96 to -0.25). Patients who discontinued IBD medication scored higher than those with irregular medication use (p = 0.020; 95% CI, 1.00 to 10.90). Conclusions This study highlights the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the HRQoL of IBD patients. The findings emphasize the need for integrated care addressing both the physical and psychological aspects of IBD.

Abstract Background It remains unclear which early gestational biomarkers can be used in predicting later development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). We sought to identify the optimal combination of early gestational biomarkers in predicting GDM in machine learning (ML) models. Methods This was a nested case-control study including 100 pairs of GDM and euglycemic (control) pregnancies in the Early Life Plan cohort in Shanghai, China. High sensitivity C reactive protein, sex hormone binding globulin, insulin-like growth factor I, IGF binding protein 2 (IGFBP-2), total and high molecular weight adiponectin and glycosylated fibronectin concentrations were measured in serum samples at 11–14 weeks of gestation. Routine first-trimester blood test biomarkers included fasting plasma glucose (FPG), serum lipids and thyroid hormones. Five ML models [stepwise logistic regression, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), random forest, support vector machine and k-nearest neighbor] were employed to predict GDM. The study subjects were randomly split into two sets for model development (training set, n = 70 GDM/control pairs) and validation (testing set: n = 30 GDM/control pairs). Model performance was evaluated by the area under the curve (AUC) in receiver operating characteristics. Results FPG and IGFBP-2 were consistently selected as predictors of GDM in all ML models. The random forest model including FPG and IGFBP-2 performed the best (AUC 0.80, accuracy 0.72, sensitivity 0.87, specificity 0.57). Adding more predictors did not improve the discriminant power. Conclusion The combination of FPG and IGFBP-2 at early gestation (11–14 weeks) could predict later development of GDM with moderate discriminant power. Further validation studies are warranted to assess the utility of this simple combination model in other independent cohorts.

Abstract Background The indication and extent of selective lateral neck dissection (LND) for cN1a papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) remain uncertain. The present study aimed to identify potential predictors and distribution pattern of lateral lymph node recurrence (LLNR) after central neck dissection in cN1a PTC patients. Methods The cN1a PTC patients who underwent initial central neck dissection at our centre were retrospectively reviewed, and the median follow-up period was 6.8 years. Reoperation with LND was performed when LLNR was confirmed. Risk factors for LLNR were identified, and the metastatic status of each lateral level was recorded. Results Of the 310 patients enrolled in the present study, fifty-eight patients (18.7%) presented with LLNR. Six independent factors, including tumour diameter, pathological T4 stage, number of involved central lymph nodes, pTNM stage, extrathyroidal extension, and I131 treatment (P values

Abstract Background The non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (NHHR) serves as a novel composite lipid indicator for atherosclerosis. However, the association between NHHR and mortality in patients with diabetes or prediabetes remains unclear. Consequently, the objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between NHHR and both all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in US adults with diabetes or prediabetes. Methods This study included 12,578 adult participants with diabetes or prediabetes from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999–2018). Mortality outcomes were ascertained by linking to the National Death Index (NDI) record up to December 31, 2019. We employed a weighted multivariate Cox proportional hazards model and restricted cubic splines to assess the associations between NHHR and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. A segmented Cox proportional hazards model was used for evaluating threshold effects. Furthermore, a competing risks analysis was performed to explore the relationship between NHHR and cardiovascular mortality. Results During a median follow-up period of 8.08 years, 2403 participants encountered all-cause mortality, with 662 of them specifically succumbing to cardiovascular mortality. The restricted cubic splines revealed a U-shaped association between NHHR and all-cause mortality, while an L-shaped association was observed for cardiovascular mortality. The analysis of threshold effects revealed that the inflection points for NHHR and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality were 2.72 and 2.83, respectively. Specifically, when the baseline NHHR was below the inflection points, a negative correlation was observed between NHHR and both all-cause mortality (HR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.68–0.85) and cardiovascular mortality (HR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.57–0.85). Conversely, when the baseline NHHR exceeded the inflection points, a positive correlation was observed between NHHR and both all-cause mortality (HR: 1.11, 95% CI: 1.06–1.16) and cardiovascular mortality (HR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.00–1.16). Conclusions Among US adults with diabetes or prediabetes, a U-shaped association was observed between NHHR and all-cause mortality, whereas an L-shaped association was identified with cardiovascular mortality. The inflection points for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality were 2.72 and 2.83, respectively.

Abstract Visual adaptive devices have potential to simplify circuits and algorithms in machine vision systems to adapt and perceive images with varying brightness levels, which is however limited by sluggish adaptation process. Here, the avalanche tuning as feedforward inhibition in bionic two-dimensional (2D) transistor is proposed for fast and high-frequency visual adaptation behavior with microsecond-level accurate perception, the adaptation speed is over 104 times faster than that of human retina and reported bionic sensors. As light intensity changes, the bionic transistor spontaneously switches between avalanche and photoconductive effect, varying responsivity in both magnitude and sign (from 7.6 × 104 to −1 × 103 A/W), thereby achieving ultra-fast scotopic and photopic adaptation process of 108 and 268 μs, respectively. By further combining convolutional neural networks with avalanche-tuned bionic transistor, an adaptative machine vision is achieved with remarkable microsecond-level rapid adaptation capabilities and robust image recognition with over 98% precision in both dim and bright conditions.

Two new schizomid species belonging to Bamazomus Harvey, 1992 are described from China: B. shanghang sp. nov. (♂♀) from Fujian Province and B. songi sp. nov. (♂♀) from Guangdong Province. In addition to their descriptions, illustrations and diagnoses, a distribution map is provided. These are first Bamazomus species from the mainland China and the northernmost in continental Asia.

Purpose Our study aimed to investigate the potential of radiomics with DCE-MRI for predicting Ki-67 expression in invasive ductal breast cancer. Method We conducted a retrospective study including 223 patients diagnosed with invasive ductal breast cancer. Radiomics features were extracted from DCE-MRI using 3D-Slicer software. Two Ki-67 expression cutoff values (20% and 29%) were examined. Patients were divided into training (70%) and test (30%) sets. The Elastic Net method selected relevant features, and five machine-learning models were established. Radiomics models were created from intratumoral, peritumoral, and combined regions. Performance was assessed using ROC curves, accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. Result For a Ki-67 cutoff value of 20%, the combined model exhibited the highest performance, with area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.838 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.774–0.897) for the training set and 0.863 (95% CI: 0.764–0.949) for the test set. The AUC values for the tumor model were 0.816 (95% CI: 0.745–0.880) and 0.830 (95% CI: 0.724–0.916), and for the peritumor model were 0.790 (95% CI: 0.711–0.857) and 0.808 (95% CI: 0.682–0.910). When the Ki-67 cutoff value was set at 29%, the combined model also demonstrated superior predictive ability in both training set (AUC: 0.796; 95% CI: 0.724–0.862) and the test set (AUC: 0.823; 95% CI: 0.723–0.911). The AUC values for the tumor model were 0.785 (95% CI: 0.708–0.861) and 0.784 (95% CI: 0.663–0.882), and for the peritumor model were 0.773 (95% CI: 0.690–0.844) and 0.729 (95% CI: 0.603–0.847). Conclusion Radiomics with DCE-MRI can predict Ki-67 expression in invasive ductal breast cancer. Integrating radiomics features from intratumoral and peritumoral regions yields a dependable prognostic model, facilitating pre-surgical detection and treatment decisions. This holds potential for commercial diagnostic tools.

Background and purposePrevious studies have shown that human herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection may be associated with the onset of headache or migraine. We aimed to investigate the association between HSV infection and severe headache or migraine.Materials and methodsThe cross-sectional data on 5,730 participants aged 20–49 years were obtained from the 1999–2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). We used weighted logistic regression analysis to assess the association between HSV infection (HSV-1 gG-1 and HSV-2 gG-2) and severe headache or migraine, and performed subgroup analyses.ResultsOur study found that women, higher education, higher body mass index, better family conditions, smoking and alcohol consumption were all associated with severe headaches or migraines. After adjusting for confounding factors such as sex, age, race, and education, HSV-2 (+) was still significantly associated with severe headache or migraine (OR = 1.22, 95%CI:1.03–1.46, p = 0.0443). In subgroup analyses, we found that participants with HSV-1 (−) and HSV-2 (+) were also significantly associated with severe headache or migraine (OR = 1.41, 95%CI:1.04–1.91, p = 0.0281).ConclusionHSV-2 gG-2(+) was significantly associated with severe headache or migraine.

The lipids accumulation characteristics in 23Camellia oleifera lines from northern margin distribution area were investigated through quantitative lipidomics. Combined lipids content-function analysis indicated that NQ1, HT1, HT2, ZA2, ZB1, ZB2, and SN2 lines had potential to develop functional foods due to abundant glycerolipids (GLs), glycerophospholipids (GPs), fatty acids (FAs), and prenol lipids (PRs). 673 lipids components were detected, and 293 differential components were identified in NQ1, ZA2, HB1, and HT1. 4 kinds free fatty acids (FFAs) were higher in NQ1, 5 triglycerides (TGs) were higher in HT1, and 2 phosphatidyl serines (PSs) and 1 phosphatidyl glycerol (PG) were higher in ZA2. GLs, GPs, and FFAs had strong relation at intra- and inter-category level. Glycerolipid metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and fatty acid biosynthesis were the significantly differential lipids pathways. Our study elucidated lipids differences of 23 C. oleifera lines, and offered valuable references for lipids biosynthesis, directional breeding, and lipids utilization.

Abstract The spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) ensures chromosome segregation fidelity by manipulating unattached kinetochore‐dependent assembly of the mitotic checkpoint complex (MCC). The MCC binds to and inhibits the anaphase promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) to postpone mitotic exit. However, the mechanism by which unattached kinetochores mediate MCC formation is not yet fully understood. Here, it is shown that CCDC68 is an outer kinetochore protein that preferentially localizes to unattached kinetochores. Furthermore, CCDC68 interacts with the SAC factor CDC20 to inhibit its autoubiquitination and MCC disassembly. Therefore, CCDC68 restrains APC/C activation to ensure a robust SAC and allow sufficient time for chromosome alignment, thus ensuring chromosomal stability. Hence, the study reveals that CCDC68 is required for CDC20‐dependent MCC stabilization to maintain mitotic checkpoint activation.

Abstract Background Surgical staplers have been widely used to facilitate surgeries, and this study aimed to examine the real-world effectiveness of a new powered stapling system with Gripping Surface Technology (GST) on intraoperative outcomes of gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Method The data were extracted from the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University’s (FHHMU) medical records system. Participants (N = 121 patients) were classified into the GST (n = 59) or non-GST group (n = 62), based on the use of the GST system. The intraoperative outcomes such as bleeding were assessed by reviewing video records. T-tests, Chi-square tests, and Mann–Whitney-U tests were used to compare the baseline characteristics between groups. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted for adjusting outcomes to study the effect of variables. Results Compared with the non-GST group, the GST group had significantly lower risks for intraoperative bleeding, intraoperative anastomosis intervention rate, intraoperative suture, and intraoperative pression (aORs: 0.0853 (p

Microstructure and mechanical responses of A357 aluminum alloy welding wires after different degrees of strain were studied. It is found that the grains are elongated and refined along the drawing direction, accompanying with cell structures and sub-grains with strain increasing. Meanwhile, the main contributions to the fibrous texture are Cube, Goss and Copper, i.e., and textures. With the increase of drawing strain, the volume fraction of the Copper texture first increases and then decreases, while that of the Goss texture increases monotonously. The yield strength sharply increases at low drawing strain, after reaching the maximum value of 144.7 MPa at the strain of 0.32 and it decreases slightly due to dynamic recrystallization. Interestingly, the elongation of the cold-drawn wires decreases steadily from 24.4% to 2.3% throughout the entire drawing process. In addition to the grain boundary strengthening and dislocation strengthening, the yield strength of the cold-drawn A357 wires is also impacted by the texture.

Abstract Background Hyalomma ticks are widely distributed in semi-arid zones in Northwest China. They have been reported to harbor a large number of zoonotic pathogens. Methods In this study, a total of 334 Hyalomma asiaticum ticks infesting domestic animals were collected from four locations in Xinjiang, Northwest China, and the bacterial agents in them were investigated. Results A putative novel Borrelia species was identified in ticks from all four locations, with an overall positive rate of 6.59%. Rickettsia sibirica subsp. mongolitimonae, a human pathogen frequently reported in Europe, was detected for the second time in China. Two Ehrlichia species (Ehrlichia minasensis and Ehrlichia sp.) were identified. Furthermore, two Anaplasma species were characterized in this study: Candidatus Anaplasma camelii and Anaplasma sp. closely related to Candidatus Anaplasma boleense. It is the first report of Candidatus Anaplasma camelii in China. Conclusions Six bacterial agents were reported in this study, many of which are possible or validated pathogens for humans and animals. The presence of these bacterial agents may suggest a potential risk for One Health in this area. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Four common Patrinia species, including P. heterophylla, P. monandra, P. scabiosifolia and P. villosa, have been documented as herbal medicines with various clinical applications, such as anti-cancer, anti-diarrhea and sedative. However, the authentication of medicinal Patrinia species poses a problem, particularly with the processed herbal materials. This study aimed to systematically authenticate the four medicinal Patrinia species in the market using morphological and chemical characterization, as well as DNA markers. We found the species identity authenticated by traditional morphologies were in good agreement with both chemical and molecular results. The four species showed species-specific patterns in chromatographic profiles with distinct chemical markers. We also revealed the power of complete chloroplast genomes in species authentication. The sequences of targeted loci, namely atpB, petA, rpl2-rpl23 and psaI-ycf4, contained informative nucleotides for the species differentiation. Our results also facilitate authentication of medicinal Patrinia species using new DNA barcoding markers. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the application of morphology, chemical fingerprinting, complete chloroplast genomes and species-specific Insertion-Deletions (InDels) in differentiating Patrinia species. This study reported on the power of a systematic, multidisciplinary approach in authenticating medicinal Patrinia species.

Abstract Background While observational studies and experimental data suggest a link between oral lichen planus (OLP) and oral cavity cancer (OCC), the causal relationship and the role of inflammatory cytokines remain unclear. Methods This study employed a univariable and multivariable Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis to investigate the causal relationship between OLP and the risk of OCC. Additionally, the potential role of inflammatory cytokines in modulating this association was explored. Instrumental variables were derived from genetic variants associated with OLP (n = 377,277) identified in Finngen R9 datasets, with 41 inflammatory cytokines as potential mediators, and OCC (n = 4,151) as the outcome variable. Analytical methods including Inverse Variance Weighted (IVW), Weighted Median, MR-Egger, and MR-PRESSO were utilized to assess the causal links among OLP, inflammatory cytokines, and OCC risk. Multivariable MR (MVMR) was then applied to quantify the mediating effects of these cytokines in the relationship between OLP and increased OCC risk. Results MR analysis provided strong evidence of a causal relationship between OLP (OR = 1.417, 95% CI = 1.167–1.721, p

Abstract Background The relaxation of the “zero-COVID” policy on Dec. 7, 2022, in China posed a major public health threat recently. Complete blood count test was discovered to have complicated relationships with COVID-19 after the infection, while very few studies could track long-term monitoring of the health status and identify the characterization of hematological parameters prior to COVID-19. Methods Based on a 13-year longitudinal prospective health checkup cohort of ~ 480,000 participants in West China Hospital, the largest medical center in western China, we documented 998 participants with a laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 during the 1 month after the policy. We performed a time-to-event analysis to explore the associations of severe COVID-19 patients diagnosed, with 34 different hematological parameters at the baseline level prior to COVID-19, including the whole and the subtypes of white and red blood cells. Results A total of 998 participants with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test were documented in the cohort, 42 of which were severe cases. For white blood cell-related parameters, a higher level of basophil percentage (HR = 6.164, 95% CI = 2.066–18.393, P = 0.001) and monocyte percentage (HR = 1.283, 95% CI = 1.046–1.573, P = 0.017) were found associated with the severe COVID-19. For lymphocyte-related parameters, a lower level of lymphocyte count (HR = 0.571, 95% CI = 0.341–0.955, P = 0.033), and a higher CD4/CD8 ratio (HR = 2.473, 95% CI = 1.009–6.059, P = 0.048) were found related to the risk of severe COVID-19. We also observed that abnormality of red cell distribution width (RDW), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and hemoglobin might also be involved in the development of severe COVID-19. The different trajectory patterns of RDW-SD and white blood cell count, including lymphocyte and neutrophil, prior to the infection were also discovered to have significant associations with the risk of severe COVID-19 (all P

Abstract Reliability is a fundamental requirement of wide‐area backup protection (WABP) systems, and it is one of the most crucial performance indicators for such a WABP system. Two definitions are introduced: the reliability of WABP systems and the undetectable probability of a power line. They are determined by the specific placement of communication links (CLs) and phasor measurement units (PMUs). A simultaneous optimization model was developed to minimize the construction cost of WABP systems by optimizing the partitioning and placement of PMUs, protection centers, and CLs. The model considers several constraints, including latency, regional balance, and system reliability. To reduce the computational complexity, a cluster‐based genetic algorithm was developed to determine the optimal solution. Finally, numerical simulations were conducted using IEEE test cases. The results demonstrate that the proposed method can minimize the construction costs of WABP systems while increasing their reliability.

The fault current of the photovoltaic (PV)/battery energy storage (BES) hybrid power generation system contains harmonic components, which might cause the maloperation of the distance relay. The time-domain distance protection has attracted more attention recently. However, the distributed capacitance of long transmission lines negatively affects the performance of time-domain distance protection, which hinders its application. To solve this problem, this paper proposes an improved time-domain distance protection based on fault active control. By leveraging the fault active control capability of the BES inverter, a specific low-frequency characteristic voltage is modulated through the phase-locked loop (PLL). By injecting the low-frequency characteristic voltage, the influence of line distributed capacitance can be ignored. Thus, the accuracy of time-domain distance protection based on the equivalent R-L model of transmission lines is guaranteed, which is the first advantage of injecting the low-frequency characteristic voltage. The other advantage is the low-frequency components only exist between the BES and the fault point, and will not flow to the grid on the opposite side of the line. The accuracy of time-domain distance protection has been further improved. In Addition, the faulty line’s derivative equations for different fault types are deduced based on fault active control. Finally, the least square algorithm is used to calculate fault distance. The proposed scheme’s feasibility and effectiveness are verified through simulations in PSCAD/EMTDC.

IntroductionAnimal waste proteins have been increasing in the past decade, along with consumer demands. Their huge volume and the environmental issues caused by improper treatment probably pose a massive threat to human health. These animal waste proteins contain many valuable bioactive peptides and can be used not only as nutrient substances but also as primary functional ingredients in many industries, including agriculture, food, and pharmaceuticals. However, the advancement of the value-added application of animal waste proteins within the past 10 years has not been elucidated yet. In this regard, this paper scrutinized the studies on the applications of hydrolysates and peptides from animal waste proteins throughout the last decade, hoping to display a whole picture of their value-adding applications.MethodsThe Web of Science and Google Scholar were searched from January 1, 2013, to December 12, 2023. This review included field trials, in vitro and in vivo assays, and in silico analysis based on literature surveys or proteolysis simulation. The quality of the included studies was evaluated by Journal Citation Reports, and the rationality of the discussion of studies included.ResultsNumerous studies were performed on the application potential of hydrolysates and peptides of animal waste proteins in agricultural, food, and medicinal industries. Particularly, due to the nutritional value, safety, and especially competitive effects, the peptide with antioxidant, antimicrobial, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, or antithrombotic activities can be used as a primary functional ingredient in food and pharmaceuticals.DiscussionThese value-added applications of animal waste proteins could be a step towards sustainable animal by-products management, and simultaneously, open new avenues in the rapid development of nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals. However, further studies on the bioavailability and structure-activity relationship are required to verify their therapeutic effects.

BackgroundBenign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common disease occurring in elderly and middle-aged men, and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are one of the major causes of death worldwide. Many observational studies examined have found a strong association between BPH and CVDs, but the causal relationship between them is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the causal relationship between BPH and CVDs, specifically five diseases: stroke, coronary heart disease (CHD), heart failure, myocardial infarction (MI), and atrial fibrillation (AF).MethodsIn this study, we obtained single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of patients with BPH from the UK Biobank database and patients with CVDs from the UK Biobank, the HERMES Consortium, and the FinnGen Genome Database, each used as a genetic tool for a Mendelian randomization (MR) study. We used conventional MR analysis to assess potential causal direction between BPH and CVDs, as well as MR-Egger, MR-PRESSO, model-based estimation (MBE) and weighted median methods for sensitivity analysis.ResultsUsing a bidirectional two-sample MR study, we found that BPH patients had an increased risk of developing CHD (ConMix OR = 1.152, 95% CI: 1.011–1.235, p = 0.035) and MI (ConMix OR = 1.107.95% CI: 1.022–1.164, p = 0.013), but a decreased risk of stroke (ConMix OR = 0.872, 95% CI: 0.797–0.926, p = 0.002). The reverse study was not statistically significant and further research may be needed.ConclusionOur study suggests a potential causal relationship between BPH and CVDs. BPH appears to be a risk factor for CHD and MI, but it may be protective against stroke. There was no evidence of a causal association in the reverse study, and a larger sample size was needed in follow-up to further explore the potential association.

Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsl. (SN) is an herbal medicine used as a functional food in China. SN has traditionally been used to treat diabetes mellitus (DM), but its mechanism of action is not well understood. Our previous study indicated that the aqueous extract of SN can reduce hepatic insulin resistance and correct the irregular shape of pancreatic islets in diabetic mice. This study aims to investigate whether the aqueous extract of SN can regulate pyroptosis in pancreatic β-cells and explore its underlying mechanisms. Db/db mice were orally given an aqueous extract of SN for eight weeks. Subsequently, their pancreatic tissues were collected for histopathological analysis and immunoblotting. Rat insulinoma (INS-1) cells were cultured either alone or with the aqueous extract of SN and evaluated for cell viability, pyroptotic body formation, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity, the NACHT, LRR, and PYD domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and gasdermin D (GSDMD) activation, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production under high glucose (HG) exposure conditions. The aqueous extract of SN reduced insulitis and pancreatic β-cell death in db/db mice. Increased AMPK phosphorylation and decreased NLRP3 inflammasome and GSDMD activation were observed in pancreatic tissues after administration of the aqueous extract of SN. In vitro, the aqueous extract of SN increased cell viability and AMPK phosphorylation in a concentration-dependent manner. Additionally, the aqueous extract of SN corrected excessive ROS generation, NLRP3 inflammasome and GSDMD activation, and pyroptotic body formation. Inhibition of AMPK negated these beneficial effects of the aqueous extract of SN on INS-1 cells. The study concluded that the aqueous extract of SN alleviates β-cell pyroptosis by inhibiting NLRP3/GSDMD activation in an AMPK-dependent manner.

The goal of this study was to evaluate the trace element pollution in a marine ranching area in China based on molecular responses (expression of metallothionein and antioxidant enzyme genes), and biochemical biomarkers (metallothionein content, antioxidant enzyme activities, and malonaldehyde level) in four indicator species. We collected samples of two fish (Lateolabrax maculatus and Sebastes schlegelii), one crustacean (Charybdis japonica), and one gastropod (Rapana venosa) from the western Furong Island marine ranching area and from an adjacent area in March 2022 and measured the trace element content in these indicator species as well as in the seawater and sediment. We found that the bioaccumulation characteristics of trace elements and the response patterns of biomarkers were species specific. Moreover, not every biomarker was significantly correlated with environmental trace element content. We then established two biomarker combinations indicative of trace element pollution in seawater and sediment, respectively, based on the correlation between biomarkers and trace element contents. The selected biomarkers were integrated using integrated biomarker response version 2 (IBRv2). IBRv2 values in the studied marine ranching area were lower than those in the adjacent area. Additionally, these values were consistent with the bioaccumulation of trace elements in the indicator species, the integrated trace element pollution index for seawater, and the potential risk index for sediment. These results show that this multi-biomarker and multi-species IBRv2 approach provided a comprehensive diagnosis of trace element pollution in the marine ranching area. Therefore, its application may be beneficial for marine environmental monitoring and management in view of the ecotoxicological impact of pollutants on organisms.

Aiming at the complexity of the mill transmission system structure, the uncertainty of the constraint conditions among the components and the nonlinearity, a finite element model correction method based on the PSO-BP neural network is proposed in this study. This method approximates the nonlinear mapping relationship between the two by improving the back propagation (BP) neural network, combines with the actual structural response, and uses the generalization property of the neural network to obtain the numerical value of the model design parameters. After the correction, the frequency error is reduced from a maximum of 18% to about 4%, and the error range of the correction coefficient is all within 0.5%, while obviously improving the accuracy of the finite element model. Meanwhile, it does not need a large number of iterative solving steps, avoids the complex nonlinear optimization process of the traditional inverse problem model modification method, improves the efficiency, verifies the feasibility of the PSO-BP neural network method applied to the transmission system of large mill, and lays a foundation for the overall analysis of the subsequent transmission system.

Abstract Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide, and destruction of the cerebrovascular system is a major factor in the cascade of secondary injuries caused by TBI. Laser speckle imaging (LSCI)has high sensitivity in detecting cerebral blood flow. LSCI can visually show that transcranial focused ultrasound stimulation (tFUS) treatment stimulates angiogenesis and increases blood flow. To study the effect of tFUS on promoting angiogenesis in Controlled Cortical impact (CCI) model. tFUS was administered daily for 10 min and for 14 consecutive days after TBI. Cerebral blood flow was measured by LSCI at 1, 3, 7 and 14 days after trauma. Functional outcomes were assessed using LSCI and neurological severity score (NSS). After the last test, Nissl staining and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were used to assess neuropathology. TBI can cause the destruction of cerebrovascular system. Blood flow was significantly increased in TBI treated with tFUS. LSCI, behavioral and histological findings suggest that tFUS treatment can promote angiogenesis after TBI.

Abstract Background Camellia olelfera petals are colorful, and have high ornamental value. However, the color formation mechanism of C. olelfera petals with different color is still unclear. In our study, WGCNA method was applied to integrate metabolites and transcriptomes to investigate the coloration mechanism of four C. olelfera cultivars with different petal colors. Results Here, a total of 372 flavonoids were identified (including 27 anthocyanins), and 13 anthocyanins were significantly differentially accumulated in C. olelfera petals. Among them, cyanidin-3-O-(6''-O-p-Coumaroyl) glucoside was the main color constituent in pink petals, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, cyanidin-3-O-galactoside, cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside, and cyanidin-3-O-(6''-O-malonyl) glucoside were the main contributors to candy pink petals, and peonidin-3-O-glucoside was the important color substance responsible for the red petals of C. oleifera. Furthermore, six structural genes (Co4CL1, CoF3H1, CoF3'H, CoANS, CoUGT75C1-4, and CoUGT75C1-5), three MYBs (CoMYB1, CoMYB4, and CoMYB44-3), three bHLHs (CobHLH30, CobHLH 77, and CobHLH 79–1), and two WRKYs (CoWRKY7 and CoWRKY22) could be identified candidate genes related to anthocyanins biosynthesis and accumulation, and lead to the pink and red phenotypes. The regulatory network of differentially accumulated anthocyanins and the anthocyanins related genes in C. olelfera petals were established. Conclusions These findings elucidate the molecular basis of the coloration mechanisms of pink and red color in C. olelfera petals, and provided valuable target genes for future improvement of petals color in C. olelfera.

Abstract The phase‐locked loop (PLL) is a critical control module applied in the control system of renewable energy sources (RESs) to synchronize with the grid voltage. When a fault occurs, the dynamic response process of the PLL will generate a phase locking error, resulting in a mass of harmonic components in the fault current of the PV inverter, which further poses challenges to transformer differential protection. To address the challenges posed by the phase locking error in practical engineering applications, this paper proposes an improved scheme that uses a digital computer algorithm to record and store the pre‐fault voltage and introduces the limiting coefficient. Firstly, the memory voltage is used to eliminate the phase locking error of the PLL, thereby mitigating harmonic distortion in the fault current of the RESs and ensuring the reliability of the transformer differential protection. In addition, the limiting coefficient is introduced to eliminate the effect of the increased amplitude of the fault current caused by the memory voltage. The voltage reference value of the inverter is multiplied by an appropriate limiting coefficient k and then output to the physical system. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed scheme is verified by MATLAB/Simulink simulation.

To explore the integrated security of water-energy-food system, 26 indicators were selected from six aspects: water security, energy security, food security, water-energy system security, water-energy system security, energy-food system security; the frequency analysis method was used to construct the integrated security evaluation index system for water-energy-food systems. Then, the matter-element expansion model was refined and used to assess the overall security of the water, energy and food system in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. The evaluation metrics used to assess the overall security of water, energy, and food system were examined and researched from two dimensions: time and space. This model adequately represents the overall security of the water-energy-food system, as demonstrated by empirical studies. Comparisons are made between the evaluation results of the modified model and those of the conventional matter-element inflationary model, confirming the feasibility and validity of the modified model. Finally, the main factors affecting the security of the water-energy-food system in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region are discussed using the index weight and obstacle degree model. Relevant suggestions are also provided to enhance the security of the water-energy-food system. HIGHLIGHTS This study provides a broad evaluation index system for water–energy–food (WEF) system security evaluation.; The matter-element extension model has been enhanced and applied to assess the WEF system in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region, thereby enhancing the accuracy of the evaluation outcomes.; The security of water resources system, energy system, and energy system is the key to the security of the whole system.;

Abstract Cascaded H‐bridge power electronic transformers (CHB‐PET) can efficiently connect AC/DC distribution networks, realizing power transmission and electric energy conversion. Once a pole‐to‐pole DC fault occurs on the low‐voltage direct current (LVDC) side of CHB‐PET, the fault current has a fast rise and high amplitude, which easily leads to the rapid blocking of power electronic devices and makes it difficult for DC line protection to obtain fault information. A stepwise blocking scheme of PET is proposed for LVDC network protection. When the fault on the LVDC side of PET is detected, cascaded H‐bridge and low‐voltage H‐bridge of dual‐active‐bridge are blocked first, and then high‐voltage H‐bridge of dual‐active‐bridge is blocked after a 5 ms delay. The stepwise blocking can provide fault information for DC line protection. On this basis, wavelet packet transform is employed to extract different frequency components of fault current. The energy of the specific frequency band corresponding to the switching frequency of DAB and the total energy of all frequency bands contained in the fault current is calculated; then their ratio can be utilized to construct the protection scheme. Finally, the PSCAD/EMTDC simulation results verify the feasibility and effectiveness of proposed protection scheme based on stepwise blocking of CHB‐PET.

Abstract Background The gene TIMELESS, which is involved in the circadian clock and the cell cycle, has recently been linked to various human cancers. Nevertheless, the association between TIMELESS expression and the prognosis of individuals afflicted with pan-cancer remains largely unknown. Objectives The present study aims to exhaustively scrutinize the expression patterns, functional attributes, prognostic implications, and immunological contributions of TIMELESS across diverse types of human cancer. Methods The expression of TIMELESS in normal and malignant tissues was examined, as well as their clinicopathologic and survival data. The characteristics of genetic alteration and molecular subtypes of cancers were also investigated. In addition, the relationship of TIMELESS with immune infiltration, tumor mutation burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), and drug sensitivity was illustrated. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to validate the expression of TIMELESS in clinical patients with several types of cancer. Results In contrast to the matching normal controls, most tumor types were found to often overexpress TIMELESS. Abnormal expression of TIMELESS was significantly related to more advanced tumor stage and poorer prognosis of breast cancer, as well as infiltrating immune cells such as cancer-associated fibroblast infiltration in various tumors. Multiple cancer types exhibited abnormal expression of TIMELESS, which was also highly correlated with MSI and TMB. More crucially, TIMELESS showed promise in predicting the effectiveness of immunotherapy and medication sensitivity in cancer therapy. Moreover, cell cycle, DNA replication, circadian rhythm, and mismatch repair were involved in the functional mechanisms of TIMELESS on carcinogenesis. Furthermore, immunohistochemical results manifested that the TIMELESS expression was abnormal in some cancers. Conclusions This study provides new insights into the link between the circadian gene TIMELESS and the development of various malignant tumors. The findings suggest that TIMELESS could be a prospective prognostic and immunological biomarker for pan-cancer.

We introduce the continuity equation of transverse Kähler metrics on Sasakian manifolds and establish its interval of maximal existence. When the first basic Chern class is null (resp. negative), we prove that the solution of the (resp. normalized) continuity equation converges smoothly to the unique η-Einstein metric in the basic Bott–Chern cohomological class of the initial transverse Kähler metric (resp. first basic Chern class). These results are the transverse version of the continuity equation of the Kähler metrics studied by La Nave and Tian, and also counterparts of the Sasaki–Ricci flow studied by Smoczyk, Wang, and Zhang.

Saponins are an important class of active components in Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs), which are present in large quantities in Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Polygonati Rhizoma, etc., and have immune regulation, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-cardiovascular disease, and hypoglycemic activities. Storage and processing are essential processes in the production process of CHMs which affect the stability of saponin components and then reduce the medicinal and economic value. Therefore, it is of great importance to investigate the effects of storage and processing conditions on the content of saponin components in CHMs. In this paper, the effects of various storage and processing factors, including temperature, pH, enzymes, meta lions, extraction methods, etc., on the saponin content of CHMs are investigated and the underlying mechanisms for the quantitative changes of saponin are summarized. These findings may provide technical guidance for the production and processing of saponin-rich CHMs.

Yellow tea (YT), a slightly fermented tea with a unique yellowing process and mellow taste, is becoming widely popular. Currently, the YT includes bud yellow tea (BYT), small-leaf yellow tea (SYT), and large-leaf yellow tea (LYT) based on maturity of raw materials. Previous studies have shown that YT has outstanding potential in preventing metabolic syndrome. However, the distinct effects and mechanisms of different types of YT on ulcerative colitis (UC) are still unclear. This study investigated the effects and mechanisms of continuous or intermittent intervention of three yellow tea water extracts (YTEs) on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis in CD-1 mice. The results showed that YTE intervention significantly improves the syndrome of DSS-induced UC in mice. Mechanistic studies reveal that YTEs increase the expression levels of tight junction (TJ) proteins and reduce the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the colon by inactivating TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3. YTE treatment protected intestinal barrier integrity and reduced serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels. Interestingly, our results indicate that large-leaf yellow tea (LYT) has a better alleviating effect than BYT and SYT. YTE intervention before DSS administration has a certain degree of preventive effect on ulcerative colitis, while continuous YTE intervention after DSS induction has a significant reversing effect on the damage caused by DSS. Our results indicated that drinking YT may have preventive and therapeutic effect on UC, especially drinking LYT.

BackgroundOral lichen planus (OLP) is a relatively common chronic T cell-mediated disease characterized by pain and inflammation. Clobetasol propionate (CLO) is the first-line drug in the treatment of OLP. The meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CLO for treating patients with OLP.MethodsPubMed, Embase and Web of Science were systematically searched from the database inception date up to August 2023. There were no restrictions on language or date of publication. The outcomes of our interest were as follows: improvement of clinical signs and/or symptoms, total lesion size, relapse and adverse events.ResultsA total of 17 RCTs evaluating the effects of CLO were included in this study. The results revealed no significant difference in the clinical score (WMD = 0.14, 95% CI: −0.39, 0.66; p = 0.609) and pain score (WMD = 0.17, 95% CI: −0.44, 0.79; p = 0.582) between CLO and other treatments. However, clinical resolution (RR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.17, 2.22; p = 0.003) and symptoms improvement (RR = 1.80, 95% CI: 1.17, 2.77; p = 0.008) were significantly different between CLO and other treatments. Moreover, there was a significant reduction in the total lesion size with CLO treatment (WMD = -0.58, 95% CI: −1.03, −0.13; p = 0.011). In addition, CLO showed no statistical incidence of adverse events (RR = 1.46, 95% CI: 0.86, 2.50; p = 0.161) and relapse (RR = 1.56, 95% CI: 0.66, 3.71; p = 0.314) than other therapies.ConclusionThis systematic review and meta-analysis of 17 randomized clinical trials supported the long-term application of CLO as an effective regimen in OLP patients.

BackgroundMigraine has an increased prevalence in several immune disorders, but genetic cause-effect relationships remain unclear. Mendelian randomization (MR) was used in this study to explore whether immune diseases are causally associated with migraine and its subtypes.MethodsWe conducted a two-sample bidirectional multivariate Mendelian randomization study. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) for six immune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D), allergic rhinitis (AR), asthma and psoriasis, were used as genetic instrumental variables. Summary statistics for migraine were obtained from 3 databases: the International Headache Genetics Consortium (IHGC), UK Biobank, and FinnGen study. MR analyses were performed per outcome database for each exposure and subsequently meta-analyzed. Reverse MR analysis was performed to determine whether migraine were risk factors for immune diseases. In addition, we conducted a genetic correlation to identify shared genetic variants for these two associations.ResultsNo significant causal relationship was found between immune diseases and migraine and its subtypes. These results were robust with a series of sensitivity analyses. Using the linkage disequilibrium score regression method (LDSC), we detected no genetic correlation between migraine and immune diseases.ConclusionThe evidence from our study does not support a causal relationship between immune diseases and migraine. The mechanisms underlying the frequent comorbidity of migraine and several immune diseases need to be further elucidated.

Abstract Background Migraine is a common disabling neurological disorder with severe physical and psychological damage, but there is a lack of convenient and effective non-invasive early prediction methods. This study aimed to develop a new series of non-invasive prediction models for migraine with external validation. Methods A total of 188 and 94 subjects were included in the training and validation sets, respectively. A standardized professional questionnaire was used to collect the subjects' 9-item traditional Chinese medicine constitution (TCMC) scores, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score, Zung's Self-rating Anxiety Scale and Self-rating Depression Scale scores. Logistic regression was used to analyze the risk predictors of migraine, and a series of prediction models for migraine were developed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and calibration curve were used to assess the discrimination and calibration of the models. The predictive performance of the models were further validated using external datasets and subgroup analyses were conducted. Results PSQI score and Qi-depression score were significantly and positively associated with the risk of migraine, with the area of the ROC curves (AUCs) predicting migraine of 0.83 (95% CI:0.77–0.89) and 0.76 (95% CI:0.68–0.84), respectively. Eight non-invasive predictive models for migraine containing one to eight variables were developed using logistic regression, with AUCs ranging from 0.83 (95% CI: 0.77–0.89) to 0.92 (95% CI: 0.89–0.96) for the training set and from 0.76 (95% CI: 0.66–0.85) to 0.83 (95% CI: 0.75–0.91) for the validation set. Subgroup analyses showed that the AUCs of the eight prediction models for predicting migraine in the training and validation sets of different gender and age subgroups ranged from 0.80 (95% CI: 0.63–0.97) to 0.95 (95% CI: 0.91–1.00) and 0.73 (95% CI: 0.64–0.84) to 0.93 (95% CI: 0.82–1.00), respectively. Conclusions This study developed and validated a series of convenient and novel non-invasive prediction models for migraine, which have good predictive ability for migraine in Chinese adults of different genders and ages. It is of great significance for the early prevention, screening, and diagnosis of migraine.

Abstract Background Herein, the effect of pre-use of Dexmedetomidine(Dex) on the half-effective dose (ED50) and 95%-effective dose (ED95) of Remimazolam tosilate(RT) in inhibiting the positive cardiovascular response(CR) which means blood pressure or heart rate rises above a critical threshold induced by double-lumen bronchial intubation was evaluated. Methods Patients who underwent video-assisted thoracic surgery were divided into groups A (0), B (0.5 µg/kg), and C (1 µg/kg) based on different Dex doses. Group A included subgroups comprising young (A-Y) and elderly (A-O) patients. Neither groups B nor C included elderly patients due of the sedative effect of Dex. Based on the previous subject’s CR, the dose of RT was increased or decreased in the next patient using the sequential method. This trial would be terminated when the seventh crossover occurred, at which point the sample size met the stable estimate of the target dose. Heart rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were monitored throughout the trial, and sedation was assessed using the Modified Observer’s Assessment of Alertness/Sedation (MOAA/S) scale. HR and MAP were recorded at baseline (T1), the end of Dex (T2), and the end of RT (T3), the maximum HR and MAP were recorded within 3 min of intubation from beginning to end (T4). There was a positive CR when the T4 levels rose above 15% of the baseline. The ED50/ED95 and corresponding confidence interval were calculated using probability regression. Results In total, 114 patients completed the trial. Without the use of Dex, the ED50/ED95 of TR inhibiting the positive CR caused by double-lumen bronchial intubation was 0.198/0.227 and 0.155/0.181 mg/kg in groups A-Y and A-O, respectively. The changes in vital signs from T1 to T3 were similar in the subgroups, indicating that the elderly patients were more sensitive to the dose of RT. The ED50/ED95 of RT inhibiting the positive CR caused by double-lumen endobronchial intubation was 0.122/0.150 and 0.068/0.084 mg/kg in groups B and C, respectively. And, the fluctuation of blood pressure from T3 to T4 was reduced by using Dex. RT was 100% effective in sedation with no significant inhibition of circulation. Apart from one case of hypotension occurred in group A-Y, two cases of low HR in group B, and one case of low HR in group C, no other adverse events were noted. Conclusions The optimal dose of RT to inhibit positive CR induced by double-lumen bronchial intubation in elderly patients was 0.18 mg/kg and 0.23 mg/kg in younger patients. When the pre-use dose of Dex was 0.5 µg/kg, the optimal dose to inhibit positive CR of RT was 0.15 mg/kg. And, when the pre-use dose of Dex was 1 µg/kg, the optimal dose of RT was 0.9 mg/kg. Clinical trial registration NCT05631028.

Abstract Large earthquakes not only directly damage buildings but also trigger debris flows, which cause secondary damage to buildings, forming a more destructive earthquake-debris flow disaster chain. A quantitative assessment of building vulnerability is essential for damage assessment after a disaster and for pre-disaster prevention. Using mechanical analysis based on pushover, a physical vulnerability assessment model of buildings in the earthquake-debris flow disaster chain is proposed to assess the vulnerability of buildings in Beichuan County, China. Based on the specific sequence of events in the earthquake-debris flow disaster chain, the seismic vulnerability of buildings is 79%, the flow impact and burial vulnerabilities of damaged buildings to debris flow are 92% and 28% respectively, and the holistic vulnerability of buildings under the disaster chain is 57%. By comparing different vulnerability assessment methods, we observed that the physical vulnerability of buildings under the disaster chain process is not equal to the statistical summation of the vulnerabilities to independent hazards, which implies that the structural properties and vulnerability of buildings have changed during the disaster chain process. Our results provide an integrated explanation of building vulnerability, which is essential for understanding building vulnerability in earthquake-debris flow disaster chain and building vulnerability under other disaster chains.

Abstract Background Uncut Roux-en-Y (URY) effectively alleviates the prevalent complexities connected with RY, such as Roux-en-Y stasis syndrome (RSS). Nevertheless, for gastric cancer (GC) patients, it is still controversial whether URY has an impact on long-term prognosis and whether it has fewer afferent loop recanalization. Therefore, compare whether URY and RY have differences in prognosis and long-term complications of GC patients undergoing totally laparoscopic gastrectomy (TLG). Methods We analyzed the data of patients who underwent TLG combined with digestive tract reconstruction from dual-center between 2016 and 2022. Only patients undergoing URY and RY were selected for analysis. Relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated. Bias between the groups was reduced by propensity score matching (PSM). The Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to further analyze the influence of URY on prognosis. Results Two hundred forty two GC patients were enrolled. The URY had significantly shorter operation time, liquid food intake time, and in-hospital stays than the RY (P

The objective of this study was to examine the characteristics of a nanostructured Yb2SiO5 coating and a conventional Yb2SiO5 coating, both prepared using atmospheric plasma spraying (APS). The investigation focused on the phase composition, microstructure, thermal properties, and fracture toughness of the two types of Yb2SiO5 coatings. The findings revealed that both nanostructured and conventional coatings consisted of Yb2SiO5, Yb2O3, and amorphous phases. The nanostructured Yb2SiO5 coating exhibited lower residual tensile stress compared to the conventional Yb2SiO5 coating, resulting in fewer crack defects in the former. The thermal conductivity of the nanostructured Yb2SiO5 coating ranged from 0.71 to 1.22 W/(m·K) between 200 and 1200 °C, while the conventional Yb2SiO5 coating exhibited a thermal conductivity range of 0.81–1.32 W/(m·K) within the same temperature range. Consequently, the thermal conductivity of the nanostructured Yb2SiO5 coating was lower than that of the conventional counterpart. Furthermore, the presence of nanograins significantly enhanced the fracture toughness of the nanostructured Yb2SiO5 coating, which was found to be 1.7 times greater than that of the conventional Yb2SiO5 coating.

In order to investigate the deformation characteristics of interbedded weak expansive rocks in water immersion, the sandstone–mudstone interbedded structures were taken as the object of this study. A total of 27 sets of indoor immersion tests were designed with three influencing factors, namely, the layer thickness ratios of sandstone and mudstone (1:1, 2:1, 3:1), the occurrence of the rock layers (flat, oblique, and vertical), and the overburden loadings (0 kPa, 12.5 kPa, and 25 kPa). Tests were conducted to obtain the deformation time series data of the samples during the immersion loading process. Based on this, the influence pattern of each influencing factor on the sample deformation was analyzed individually. The results show that with the increase in overburden loading and rock inclination angle, the sample develops from expansion deformation to compression deformation. Changes in the layer thickness ratio will not change the deformation trend of the sample, and the decrease in the relative mudstone content will only reduce the absolute value of the sample’s expansion and compression deformation. The deformation stability rate of the sample under load is 5~7 times that under no load. The increase in layer thickness ratio and rock inclination angle will lead to different degrees of attenuation of sample expansion force in the range of 8.91~38.68% and 51.00~58.83%, respectively. The research results of this paper can provide a meaningful reference for the design and maintenance of a high-speed railway subgrade in a weak expansive rock area with an interbedded structure.

Although numerous advances have been made in information technology in the past decades, there is still a lack of progress in information systems dynamics (ISD), owing to the lack of a mathematical foundation needed to describe information and the lack of an analytical framework to evaluate information systems. The value of ISD lies in its ability to guide the design, development, application, and evaluation of large-scale information system-of-systems (SoSs), just as mechanical dynamics theories guide mechanical systems engineering. This paper reports on a breakthrough in these fundamental challenges by proposing a framework for information space, improving a mathematical theory for information measurement, and proposing a dynamic configuration model for information systems. In this way, it establishes a basic theoretical framework for ISD. The proposed theoretical methodologies have been successfully applied and verified in the Smart Court SoSs Engineering Project of China and have achieved significant improvements in the quality and efficiency of Chinese court informatization. The proposed ISD provides an innovative paradigm for the analysis, design, development, and evaluation of large-scale complex information systems, such as electronic government and smart cities.

Abstract In this paper, we propose a scheme for autonomous exploration in unknown environments using a mobile robot. To reduce the storage consumption and speed up the search of frontiers, we propose a wave-features-based rapidly exploring random tree method, which can inhibit or promote the growth of sampling trees regionally. Then, we prune the frontiers with mean shift algorithm and use the pruned frontiers for decision-making. To avoid the repeated exploration, we develop a decision making method with consistency assessment, in which the status of the robot and frontiers are explicitly encoded and modeled as a fixed start open traveling salesman problem (FSOTSP). Furthermore, a re-decision mechanism is build to reduce the extra computing cost. Simulations and real-world experiments show the significant improvement of the proposed scheme.

Abstract Shunt reactor with auxiliary windings (SRAW) can compensate inductive reactive power for long‐distance transmission lines and supply steady power for low‐voltage devices on offshore platforms. The operation characteristics of SRAW can be commonly described by the air‐core transformer equivalent model. However, this model can only make an approximate simulation of the external characteristics of SRAW, and cannot reflect the actual electrical features inside the SRAW. To solve this problem, the authors propose a three‐segment magnetic circuit equivalent model (TMCEM) of SRAW based on the magnetic circuit decomposition method. This model can accurately describe the coupling relationship inside SRAW and can be used for the analysis of internal fault characteristics. Furthermore, through the fault analysis utilizing TMCEM, a novel protection scheme of SRAW based on virtual magnetizing differential current is proposed for the detection of the inner‐turn fault in SRAW. This protection scheme has high sensitivity and can effectively identify the inner‐turn faults without measuring voltages. By testing the physical model of SRAW, the effectiveness of the TMCEM and the proposed protection scheme against inner‐turn fault has been confirmed.

Abstract Background Environmental factors difference is the key factor for the difference in the production, transformation and accumulation of effective components in plants. UPLC-MS/MS and multivariate statistical methods were applied to describe the region difference of amides compounds in Chinese prickly ash peels from different regions and their correlation with climatic factors and soil factors. Results Amides compounds contents were significantly higher in high altitude areas, with obvious altitude change trend. Two ecotypes were classified based on the amides compounds contents, one was the high altitude-cool type from Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan and western Shaanxi province, and the other one was low altitude-warm type from eastern Shaanxi, Shanxi, Henan, Hebei and Shandong province. Amides compounds content were negatively correlated with annual mean temperature, max temperature of warmest month, mean temperature of wettest quarter and mean temperature of warmest quarter (P

Abstract Background Lymph node size is considered as a criterion for possible lymph node metastasis in imageology. Micro lymph nodes are easily overlooked by surgeons and pathologists. This study investigated the influencing factors and prognosis of micro lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer. Methods 191 eligible gastric cancer patients who underwent D2 lymphadenectomy from June 2016 to June 2017 in the Third Surgery Department at the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. Specimens were resected en bloc and the postoperative retrieval of micro lymph nodes was carried out by the operating surgeon for each lymph node station. Micro lymph nodes were submitted for pathological examination separately. According to the results of pathological results, patients were divided into the “micro-LNM (micro lymph node metastasis)” group (N = 85) and the “non micro-LNM” group (N = 106). Results The total number of lymph nodes retrieved was 10,954, of which 2998 (27.37%) were micro lymph nodes. A total of 85 (44.50%) gastric cancer patients had been proven to have micro lymph node metastasis. The mean number of micro lymph nodes retrieved was 15.7. The rate of micro lymph node metastasis was 8.1% (242/2998). Undifferentiated carcinoma (90.6% vs. 56.6%, P = 0.034) and more advanced Pathological N category (P

BackgroundPulsatile tinnitus (PT) is a rare form of tinnitus that aligns with the heartbeat. It is typically brought on by lesions with significant vascularity, which produce aberrant sound conduction and increase the risk of mental health issues and hearing loss. Venous PT is more prevalent than arterial PT. Open procedures or interventional procedures can be used to treat PT. We present here a case of PT caused by venous luminal stenosis combined with jugular bulb (JB) malformation, which was improved by stenting and JB embolization.Case presentationA 59-year-old woman presented with long-term tinnitus consistent with heart rhythm and hearing loss, accompanied by anxiety, insomnia, and depression. The results of brain MRV, CT, and DSA showed stenosis of the right sigmoid sinus and high jugular bulb (JB) with dehiscence of the JB wall. The patient saw a significant improvement in PT symptoms following sigmoid sinus stenting and spring coil embolization of the high JB, following the diagnosis of PT. The patient had no PT recurrence for the course of the 31-month follow-up period.ConclusionIn the present PT case, there was a simultaneous onset of the right sigmoid sinus stenosis and the high JB with the JB wall abnormalities. Sigmoid sinus stenting and spring coil embolization of high JB may be a treatment for the PT, but the prevention of post-stenting complications is still an issue that requires great attention and needs further study.

In recent years, adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) and derived exosomes (ADSC-Ex) have been investigated for their therapeutic potential in various diseases due to their satisfactory differentiation and regeneration ability. We aimed to explore the potential treatment of ADSCs and ADSC-Ex for testicular injury caused by cisplatin. ADSCs and ADSC-Ex s were identified and extracted to treat the rat model with testicular injury caused by cisplatin. Then the immunohistochemistry and Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to detect the potential treatment of ADSCs and ADSC-Ex. We found that ADSCs and ADSC-Ex significantly improved the testicular tissue damage, increased the number of germ cells, and improved the arrangement of the seminiferous tubules. The levels of malondialdehyde and testosterone were also improved. We speculated that ADSCs and ADSC-Ex may alleviate the testicular injury caused by cisplatin.

Este trabalho objetiva discutir a possibilidade de aplicar o Modelo de Avaliação da Qualidade da Tradução de Juliane House na tradução literária. Para tanto, a partir de uma apresentação sobre tal paradigma, mostraremos seus argumentos teóricos, parâmetros estabelecidos e procedimentos de aplicação. Em seguida, adotaremos os critérios propostos por House, campo, teor, modo e gênero, e os empregaremos em um ensaio anônimo do autor chinês, Shi Tiesheng. Feito isso, analisaremos, com exemplos levantados, os vantagens e desvantagens que o modelo de House pode trazer para a prática de tradução.

The current study presents advanced finite element (FE) models that combine the stress weighted damage model and the crack propagation using explicit dynamic approach of commercial FE software ABAQUS. The applicability of the subroutine for ductile fracture prediction and crack propagation modeling of structural steel is confirmed by comparing the results of fracture tests performed on circumferential notch specimens. FE analysis is performed on 17 circular hollow section (CHS) XK-joint models with various sized partial penetration welds to simulate the fracture process of the joint models, and the obtained results are used to analyze the fracture ultimate bearing capacity of the joint weld. The results indicate that the crack first appears on the inner side of the weld at the crown point of the intersecting line of the tensile web member. The findings also demonstrate that the joint weld does not lose the bearing capacity completely after the initial cracking. Instead, the joint weld's bearing capacity increased with the displacement at the early stages of fracture propagation to reach the maximum value prior to gradual decrease in bearing capacity. A design formula of weld bearing capacity suitable for partial penetration weld has been proposed herein to incorporate the effects of uneven distribution of joint weld stress in the considered XK-joints.