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Abstract This paper proposes a novel approach for absolute velocity estimation of unmanned aerial vehicles in unknown and unmapped GNSS‐denied environments. The proposed method leverages the advantages of Fourier‐based image phase correlation and utilizes off‐the‐shelf onboard sensors, including a downward‐facing monocular camera, an inertial sensor, and a sonar. The non‐matching tracking approach is particularly appealing, offering accurate estimation while remaining robust against frequency‐dependent noise, significant intensity variations, and time‐varying illumination disturbances. In the proposed method, the first step involves computing global pixel motion from consecutive images using phase correlation, which utilizes the shift property of the Fourier transform. This pixel motion estimation serves as the basis for creating a closed‐loop solution for absolute velocity estimation. To further enhance accuracy, a Kalman filter is implemented to fuse all available data and provide a reliable velocity estimate. Validation of the proposed visual‐inertial technique is conducted through simulation experiments using AirSim and real‐world flight tests. The results demonstrate the practicality and effectiveness of the approach across a range of challenging scenarios.

Abstract Although advances in long-read sequencing technology and genome assembly techniques have facilitated the study of genomes, little is known about the genomes of unique Chinese indigenous breeds, including the Huai pig. Huai pig is an ancient domestic pig breed and is well-documented for its redder meat color and high forage tolerance compared to European domestic pigs. In the present study, we sequenced and assembled the Huai pig genome using PacBio, Hi-C, and Illumina sequencing technologies. The final highly contiguous chromosome-level Huai pig genome spans 2.53 Gb with a scaffold N50 of 138.92 Mb. The Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs (BUSCO) completeness score for the assembled genome was 95.33%. Remarkably, 23,389 protein-coding genes were annotated in the Huai-pig genome, along with 45.87% repetitive sequences. Overall, this study provided new foundational resources for future genetic research on Chinese domestic pigs.

Objective Sensitivity analysis is an crucial tool in groundwater modelling for measuring the importance of various model inputs, enabling better allocation of limited funds and resources to reduce predictive uncertainty. Methods In this paper, we propose an enhanced hierarchical global sensitivity analysis method to quantify contribution of different types of input uncertainty to model outputs, and to assess the impact of each uncertain process on groundwater model predictions. To test and demonstrate the new method, a hypothetical case study of groundwater flow and contaminant transport is used to validate. Results The results indicate that model uncertainty is the main source of prediction uncertainty in this case, and uncertainty from the geological model is more important than that of other models. Conclusion The proposed method offers a more comprehensive sensitivity analysis for groundwater models. Compared with traditional parameter sensitivity analysis, the new method can consider more uncertain input factors, significantly improve computational efficiency, and provide more useful sensitivity information for model users and managers.

Abstract Background Hysteroscopic surgery is a safe procedure used for diagnosing and treating intrauterine lesions, with a low rate of intraoperative complications. However, it is important to be cautious as fluid overload can still occur when performing any hysteroscopic surgical technique. Case Presentation In this case report, we present a unique instance where lung ultrasound was utilized to diagnose pulmonary edema in a patient following a hysteroscopic myomectomy procedure. The development of pulmonary edema was attributed to the excessive absorption of fluid during the surgical intervention. By employing lung ultrasound as a diagnostic tool, we were able to promptly identify and address the pulmonary edema. As a result, the patient received timely treatment with no complications. This case highlights the importance of utilizing advanced imaging techniques, such as lung ultrasound, in the perioperative management of patients undergoing hysteroscopic procedures. Conclusions This case report underscores the significance of early detection and intervention in preventing complications associated with fluid overload during hysteroscopic myomectomy procedures.

High purity and ultrafine DAAF (u-DAAF) is an emerging insensitive charge in initiators. Although there are many ways to obtain u-DAAF, developing a preparation method with stable operation, accurate control, good quality consistency, equipment miniaturization, and minimum manpower is an inevitable requirement to adapt to the current social technology development trend. Here reported is the microfluidic preparation of u-DAAF with tunable particle size by a passive swirling microreactor. Under the guidance of recrystallization growth kinetics and mixing behavior of fluids in the swirling microreactor, the key parameters (liquid flow rate, explosive concentration and crystallization temperature) were screened and optimized through screening experiments. Under the condition that no surfactant is added and only experimental parameters are controlled, the particle size of recrystallized DAAF can be adjusted from 98 nm to 785 nm, and the corresponding specific surface area is 8.45 m2·g−1 to 1.33 m2·g−1. In addition, the preparation method has good batch stability, high yield (90.8%–92.6%) and high purity (99.0%–99.4%), indicating a high practical application potential. Electric explosion derived flyer initiation tests demonstrate that the u-DAAF shows an initiation sensitivity much lower than that of the raw DAAF, and comparable to that of the refined DAAF by conventional spraying crystallization method. This study provides an efficient method to fabricate u-DAAF with narrow particle size distribution and high reproducibility as well as a theoretical reference for fabrication of other ultrafine explosives.

Abstract The kidney is vulnerable to ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury that can be fatal after major surgery. Currently, there are no effective treatments for I/R-induced kidney injury. Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is a gut-derived metabolite linked to many diseases, but its role in I/R-induced kidney injury remains unclear. Here, our clinical data reveals an association between preoperative systemic TMAO levels and postoperative kidney injury in patients after post-cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. By genetic deletion of TMAO-producing enzyme flavin-containing monooxygenase 3 (FMO3) and dietary supplementation of choline to modulate TMAO levels, we found that TMAO aggravated acute kidney injury through the triggering of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and worsened subsequent renal fibrosis through TGFβ/Smad signaling activation. Together, our study underscores the negative role of TMAO in I/R-induced kidney injury and highlights the therapeutic potential through the modulation of TMAO levels by targeting FMO3, thereby mitigating acute kidney injury and preventing subsequent renal fibrosis.

Abstract The etiopathogenesis of late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is increasingly recognized as the result of the combination of the aging process, toxic proteins, brain dysmetabolism, and genetic risks. Although the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in the pathogenesis of AD has been well-appreciated, the interaction between mitochondrial function and genetic variability in promoting dementia is still poorly understood. In this study, by tissue-specific transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) and further meta-analysis, we examined the genetic association between mitochondrial solute carrier family (SLC25) genes and AD in three independent cohorts and identified three AD-susceptibility genes, including SLC25A10, SLC25A17, and SLC25A22. Integrative analysis using neuroimaging data and hippocampal TWAS-predicted gene expression of the three susceptibility genes showed an inverse correlation of SLC25A22 with hippocampal atrophy rate in AD patients, which outweighed the impacts of sex, age, and apolipoprotein E4 (ApoE4). Furthermore, SLC25A22 downregulation demonstrated an association with AD onset, as compared with the other two transcriptome-wide significant genes. Pathway and network analysis related hippocampal SLC25A22 downregulation to defects in neuronal function and development, echoing the enrichment of SLC25A22 expression in human glutamatergic neurons. The most parsimonious interpretation of the results is that we have identified AD-susceptibility genes in the SLC25 family through the prediction of hippocampal gene expression. Moreover, our findings mechanistically yield insight into the mitochondrial cascade hypothesis of AD and pave the way for the future development of diagnostic tools for the early prevention of AD from a perspective of precision medicine by targeting the mitochondria-related genes.

Introduction The prevalence of chronic conditions is increasing. Given that the majority of chronic patients are managed by primary healthcare providers, there is a need to integrate primary care with public health to address the prevailing situation and enhance patient outcomes. The purpose of this study is to establish, implement and evaluate an integrated primary care and public health model in China for patients with chronic conditions.Methods This prospective, multicentre and observational study will be conducted at 12 township hospitals on patients (n=7200) diagnosed with chronic conditions (hypertensive, diabetic or stroke). Participants were divided into two groups: pilot areas and mainstream areas follow-up groups. The primary outcome will be the difference in the proportion of controlled chronic conditions among the two groups. Secondary outcomes will be the differences in mean change in diastolic and systolic blood pressures, fasting glucose, total cholesterol and triglyceride, death from any cause and participant-reported physical and psychological health status.Ethics and dissemination Ethics approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. We plan to publish the results of this study in a peer-reviewed journal article.

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to develop and validate a new feature fusion algorithm to improve the classification performance of benign and malignant ground-glass nodules (GGNs) based on deep learning.MethodsWe retrospectively collected 385 cases of GGNs confirmed by surgical pathology from three hospitals. We utilized 239 GGNs from Hospital 1 as the training and internal validation set, and 115 and 31 GGNs from Hospital 2 and Hospital 3, respectively, as external test sets 1 and 2. Among these GGNs, 172 were benign and 203 were malignant. First, we evaluated clinical and morphological features of GGNs at baseline chest CT and simultaneously extracted whole-lung radiomics features. Then, deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and backpropagation neural networks (BPNNs) were applied to extract deep features from whole-lung CT images, clinical, morphological features, and whole-lung radiomics features separately. Finally, we integrated these four types of deep features using an attention mechanism. Multiple metrics were employed to evaluate the predictive performance of the model.ResultsThe deep learning model integrating clinical, morphological, radiomics and whole lung CT image features with attention mechanism (CMRI-AM) achieved the best performance, with area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.941 (95% CI: 0.898-0.972), 0.861 (95% CI: 0.823-0.882), and 0.906 (95% CI: 0.878-0.932) on the internal validation set, external test set 1, and external test set 2, respectively. The AUC differences between the CMRI-AM model and other feature combination models were statistically significant in all three groups (all p

Globally, water scarcity threatens food security, especially in arid and semi-arid food-producing regions, such as the Hetao Irrigation District (HID), where the water consumption during the non-growth season (spring irrigation, autumn irrigation) accounts for more than 30 % of the total irrigation volume. Meanwhile, mapping the characteristics of spatial and temporal evolution of the area of cropland irrigated in the spring and autumn and the pattern of water consumption is crucial for strengthening the management of agricultural water use. Evaporation and infiltration of irrigation water are difficult to capture in time due to insufficient timeliness or accuracy of single remote sensing data. This study integrates seven remote sensing datasets (Landsat5, Landsat7, Landsat8, HJ-1A/B, GF-1, Sentinel-2 and MODIS) for the first time to build a high spatial-temporal resolution dataset, and combines the water index NDWI and MNDWI to extract the maximum water range formed after irrigation by manually adjusting the threshold method. In addition to the global land use/cover dataset (GLC FCS30–1985_2020), the cropland layer was superimposed to accurately identify the cropland spring irrigation and autumn irrigation range from 2000 to 2021 in the HID. In the past 20 years, spring-irrigated (SI) areas increased by 1012.60 km2 (+49.96 %), and the autumn-irrigated (AI) areas decreased by 512.63 km2 (-11.02 %). Combined with the quantity of water diversion and displacement, the characteristics of irrigation water consumption in the non-growth season were further analysed. The results showed that the water consumption of spring irrigation increased by 0.67×108 m3 (+22.26 %), and that of autumn irrigation increased by 4.34×108 m3 (+38.82 %). The decrease of autumn- irrigated area and the increase of water consumption were mainly related to the stability of autumn irrigation water, imperfect irrigation and drainage conditions and insufficient field water management. In 2020­2021, the area of non-growth “autumn irrigation - spring irrigation” repeated irrigation is about 1271.52 km2, which can be used as a key control area. This study provides a theoretical basis and direction for rational water use in non-growth seasons of irrigation districts.

Abstract RNA splicing is a dynamic molecular process in response to environmental stimuli and is strictly regulated by the spliceosome. Sm proteins, constituents of the spliceosome, are key components that mediate splicing reactions; however, their potential role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is poorly understood. In the study, SNRPD2 (PD2) is found to be the most highly upregulated Sm protein in HCC and to act as an oncogene. PD2 modulates DDX39A intron retention together with HNRNPL to sustain the DDX39A short variant (39A_S) expression. Mechanistically, 39A_S can mediate MYC mRNA nuclear export to maintain high MYC protein expression, while MYC in turn potentiates PD2 transcription. Importantly, digitoxin can directly interact with PD2 and has a notable cancer‐suppressive effect on HCC. The study reveals a novel mechanism by which DDX39A senses oncogenic MYC signaling and undergoes splicing via PD2 to form a positive feedback loop in HCC, which can be targeted by digitoxin.

Polyurethane elastomers (PUEs) will experience different strain rates in different application scenarios. Therefore, it is of great significance to study the mechanical properties of PUE under a wide range of strain rates and establish a constitutive model that considers strain rates with high accuracy and few parameters. In this study, the quasi-static and dynamic compression tests of two types of PUEs (PUE55 and PUE85) were carried out, and investigated the strain rate effect of the materials. Based on the Mooney-Rivlin hyperelastic model and the Prony series, a compressible visco-hyperelastic constitutive model for PUE was established. Different from the conventional constant relaxation time in Prony series, two relaxation times that vary exponentially with principal stretch were proposed based on the relaxation test to describe the strain rate effect of the material at low and high strain rate respectively. In addition, using the visco-hyperelastic constitutive model to obtain the model inputs of the Simplified rubber/foam model in LS-DYNA, the impact process of the Metal/PUE composite projectile was reproduced under different impact conditions through the finite element simulation. Simulation results verified the visco-hyperelastic model in generating numerical model material parameters and the rationality of the Simplified rubber/foam model in describing PUEs.

The classical nonlinear fatigue cumulative damage model Manson-Halford is widely used in fatigue life analysis and prediction, but this model lacks consideration for the effects of load interaction. At present, some studies have proposed new correction models to overcome the shortcomings of classical models. However, the problem with these models is that the parameters are difficult to determine, resulting in a cumbersome application process or the correction process is based only on a single parameter. Insufficient correction leads to large fluctuations in life prediction errors. To overcome the above problems, this article proposes a new correction method and establishes a new improved model. Unlike existing models, the newly improved model is based solely on S-N curve parameters and does not require additional material parameters. It fully considers the relationship between adjacent loads and the difference in fatigue life under different stress states, and dynamically modifies the classical model based on larger influence weights. By conducting multi-level fatigue tests on 300M steel, a new improved model was used to accurately predict its remaining fatigue life. Compared with the classical model, the prediction error was reduced by 11.75 %. Utilized fatigue test data from various other materials to predict the fatigue life of the improved model under different levels of stress loading. The results indicate that in the vast majority of cases, the improved model has the highest prediction accuracy among all compared models, with a minimum relative prediction error of only 3.79 % and small fluctuations in prediction error. Compared with the classical model, the maximum reduction in relative prediction error after model improvement reached 28.73 %, indicating the effectiveness and accuracy of the new improved model.

As major forming elements of γ′ strengthening phase, Al and Ti are critical for achieving superior properties of Ni-based superalloy. However, Al + Ti over 6 wt% leads to poor printability and cracking during additive manufacturing. In this work, the printability and properties of a nickel-based superalloy with Al + Ti reaching 7 wt% is synchronously improved via alloying minor Sc, the mechanism behind that is revealed by investigating the effects of Sc on the grain size, precipitation, and tensile fracture behavior of that nickel-based superalloy. This work provides a promising alternative method for optimizing the performance of superalloys prepared by additive manufacturing.

Abstract Background The pig (Sus Scrofa) is one of the oldest domesticated livestock species that has undergone extensive improvement through modern breeding. European breeds have advantages in lean meat development and highly-productive body type, whereas Asian breeds possess extraordinary fat deposition and reproductive performance. Consequently, Eurasian breeds have been extensively used to develop modern commercial breeds for fast-growing and high prolificacy. However, limited by the sequencing technology, the genome architecture of some nascent developed breeds and the human-mediated impact on their genomes are still unknown. Results Through whole-genome analysis of 178 individuals from an Asian locally developed pig breed, Beijing Black pig, and its two ancestors from two different continents, we found the pervasive inconsistent gene trees and species trees across the genome of Beijing Black pig, which suggests its introgressive hybrid origin. Interestingly, we discovered that this developed breed has more genetic relationships with European pigs and an unexpected introgression from Asian pigs to this breed, which indicated that human-mediated introgression could form the porcine genome architecture in a completely different type compared to native introgression. We identified 554 genomic regions occupied 63.30 Mb with signals of introgression from the Asian ancestry to Beijing Black pig, and the genes in these regions enriched in pathways associated with meat quality, fertility, and disease-resistant. Additionally, a proportion of 7.77% of genomic regions were recognized as regions that have been under selection. Moreover, combined with the results of a genome-wide association study for meat quality traits in the 1537 Beijing Black pig population, two important candidate genes related to meat quality traits were identified. DNAJC6 is related to intramuscular fat content and fat deposition, and RUFY4 is related to meat pH and tenderness. Conclusions Our research provides insight for analyzing the origins of nascent developed breeds and genome-wide selection remaining in the developed breeds mediated by humans during modern breeding.

Abstract Steroidal glycoalkaloids (SGAs) are major plant defense metabolites against pests, while they are considered poisonous in food. The genetic basis that guides negative selection of SGAs production during tomato domestication remains poorly understood. Here, we identify a distal enhancer, GAME Enhancer 1 (GE1), as the key regulator of SGAs metabolism in tomato. GE1 recruits MYC2-GAME9 transcriptional complex to regulate the expression of GAME cluster genes via the formation of chromatin loops located in the neighboring DNA region. A naturally occurring GE1 76 allelic variant is found to be more active in stimulating GAME expression. We show that the weaker GE1 allele has been the main driver for selecting reduced SGAs levels during tomato domestication. Unravelling the “TFs-Enhancer-Promoter” regulatory mechanism operating in SGAs metabolism opens unprecedented prospects for SGAs manipulation in Solanaceae via precision breeding strategies.

B-cell CLL/lymphoma 9 (BCL9) is considered a key developmental regulator and a well-established oncogenic driver in multiple cancer types, mainly through potentiating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling. However, increasing evidences indicate that BCL9 also plays multiple Wnt-independent roles. Herein, we summarized the updates of the canonical and non-canonical functions of BCL9 in cellular, physiological, or pathological processes. Moreover, we also concluded that the targeted inhibitors disrupt the interaction of β-catenin with BCL9 reported recently.

ABSTRACT Introduction Low body weight in patients with COPD is associated with a poor prognosis and more comorbidities. However, the impact of increased body weight in patients with COPD remains controversial. The aim of this study was to explore the clinical features of overweight patients with AECOPD. Methods In this multicenter cross‐sectional study, a total of 647 AECOPD patients were recruited. Finally, 269 normal weight and 162 overweight patients were included. Baseline characteristics and clinical and laboratory data were collected. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was performed to determine potential features, which were substituted into binary logistic regression to reveal overweight‐associated clinical features. The nomogram and its associated curves were established to visualize and verify the logistic regression model. Results Six potential overweight‐associated variables were selected by LASSO regression. Subsequently, a binary logistic regression model identified that the rates of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and hypertension and levels of lymphocytes (LYM)%, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were independent variables of overweight in AECOPD patients. The C‐index and AUC of the ROC curve of the nomogram were 0.671 and 0.666, respectively. The DCA curve revealed that the nomogram had more clinical benefits if the threshold was at a range of 0.22~0.78. Conclusions Collectively, we revealed that T2DM and hypertension were more common, and LYM% and ALT were higher in AECOPD patients with overweight than those with normal weight. The result suggests that AECOPD patients with overweight are at risk for additional comorbidities, potentially leading to worse outcomes.

BackgroundDistal radial artery (DRA) access is an infrequent alternative access for pediatric catheterization. The feasibility of using the DRA for arterial catheterization in children depends on the vessel's size.ObjectivesThis study aims to provide a reference for pediatric catheterization via DRA access by evaluating the diameter of the DRA in the anatomic snuffbox (AS).MethodsWe conducted a retrospective review of clinical and vascular ultrasound data of 412 children (ages 3–12) who were scheduled for arterial blood gas analysis via the DRA due to serious respiratory diseases between June 2023 and October 2023.ResultsThe corrected DRA diameter in the AS was 1.97 ± 0.37 mm overall, with no significant difference between males (1.98 ± 0.38 mm) and females (1.95 ± 0.35 mm) (p = 0.457). The anteroposterior, transverse, and corrected DRA diameters increased significantly with age (p 2.0 mm and >1.5 mm increased significantly with age (p

Terrestrial evapotranspiration (ET) is an important control factor for water cycling and energy transport, serving as a crucial link between ecological and hydrological processes. Accurate estimation of ET is essential for enhancing efficient utilization of water resources, improving agricultural productivity, preserving ecosystems, and advancing climate change research. Despite its significance, high spatiotemporal resolution continuous ET datasets remain scarce. In ET estimation, machine learning methods have been widely adopted, with tree-based machine learning models gaining increasing attention due to their computational efficiency and reliability accuracy. However, research comparing the performance of these models remains relatively limited. In this study, we use data from flux observation sites and various remote sensing sources to explore the performance of four tree-based machine learning models in ET estimation across the Contiguous United States (CONUS). Our findings demonstrate the proficient performance of all four models in estimating terrestrial ET across CONUS. Particularly noteworthy is the outstanding performance of the extremely randomized trees (ERT) model, showing a high correlation (R2 = 0.84), low bias (BIAS = −0.0003 mm/d), and low root mean square error (RMSE = 0.72 mm/d) with flux observation site data. Using this model, we successfully obtained a seamless terrestrial ET dataset (ERT_ET) with a spatial resolution of 1 km and multiple temporal resolutions (daily, 8-day, monthly, and seasonal) from 2008 to 2018 across the CONUS. Compared to the MOD16 ET product, the ERT_ET outperforms with a higher R2 by 0.40 and lower RMSE by 5.31 mm/8d, providing better performance in capturing detailed features. Moreover, our ERT_ET product is comparable to other widely used ET products (MOD16, PML-V2, and ETMonitor), further highlighting its reliability. These findings will contribute to studies in various fields, including global climate change, hydrological cycles, and drought monitoring.

Abstract Soft on‐skin electrodes play an important role in wearable technologies, requiring attributes such as wearing comfort, high conductivity, and gas permeability. However, conventional fabrication methods often compromise simplicity, cost‐effectiveness, or mechanical resilience. In this study, a mechanically robust and gas‐permeable on‐skin electrode is presented that incorporates Flash Graphene (FG) integrated with a bioinspired armor design. FG, synthesized through Flash Joule Heating process, offers a small‐sized and turbostratic arrangement that is ideal for the assembly of a conductive network with nanopore structures. Screen‐printing is used to embed the FG assembly into the framework of polypropylene melt‐blown nonwoven fabrics (PPMF), forming a soft on‐skin electrode with low sheet resistance (125.2 ± 4.7 Ω/□) and high gas permeability (≈10.08 mg cm⁻2 h⁻¹). The “armor” framework ensures enduring mechanical stability through adhesion, washability, and 10,000 cycles of mechanical contact friction tests. Demonstrating capabilities in electrocardiogram (ECG) and electromyogram (EMG) monitoring, along with serving as a self‐powered triboelectric sensor, the FG/PPMF electrode holds promise for scalable, high‐performance flexible sensing applications, thereby enriching the landscape of integrated wearable technologies.

Emerging evidence has illuminated the pivotal role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in orchestrating immunological functions and autoimmune responses. In the context of Crohn's disease (CD), an array of novel lncRNAs has been identified in the plasma and intestinal tissues of afflicted individuals, suggesting a dualistic influence on the disease progression, either exacerbating or mitigating its course. Current research has demonstrated the involvement of lncRNAs in competitive endogenous RNA, the inflammation process, epithelial barrier function, gut microbiota imbalance, and epigenetic regulation. This review aims to encapsulate the current knowledge on the lncRNA contribution to CD and underscore potential avenues for future research. LncRNAs are increasingly recognized as significant biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets, holding a key position in the pathogenesis of CD. Furthermore, the unique attributes of circulating lncRNAs, such as minimal side effects, combinational therapy potential, and personalized medicine, render them as promising therapeutic tools for individual health management in CD.

Water scarcity is a serious threat to the survival and development of mankind. Interfacial solar steam generation (ISSG) can alleviate the global freshwater shortage by converting sustainable solar power into thermal energy for desalination. ISSG possesses many advantages such as high photothermal efficiency, robust durability, and environmental friendliness. However, conventional evaporators suffered from huge heat losses in the evaporation process due to the lack of efficient thermal management. Herein, hydrophilic Tencel yarn is applied to fabricate a three-dimensional double-layer fabric evaporator (DLE) with efficient multi-stage thermal management. DLE enables multiple solar absorptions, promotes cold evaporation, and optimizes thermal management. The airflow was utilized after structure engineering for enhanced energy evaporation efficiency. The evaporation rate can reach 2.86 kg·m−2·h−1 under 1 sun (1 kW·m−2), and 6.26 kg·m−2·h−1 at a wind speed of 3 m·s−1. After a long duration of outdoor operation, the average daily evaporation rate remains stable at over 8.9 kg·m−2, and the removal rate of metal ions in seawater reaches 99%. Overall, DLE with efficient and durable three-dimensional multi-stage thermal management exhibits excellent practicality for solar desalination.

A light source project named very compact inverse Compton scattering gamma-ray source (VIGAS) is under development at Tsinghua University. VIGAS aims to generate monochromatic high-energy gamma rays by colliding 350-MeV electron beams with 400-nm laser photons within a 12-m beamline. To produce a high-energy electron beam in such a compact space, the system consists of an S-band high-brightness injector and six X-band high-gradient accelerating structures. The goal of the X-band structure is to operate at a high gradient of 80 MV/m. Therefore, we adopts the constant gradient traveling wave approach, where the iris from the first cell to the end cell is tapered. The structure has 72 cells, including 70 cells and 2 couplers, so we named it XT72. The frequency of XT72 is selected to 11.424 GHz, and the 2π/3 mode is adopted. In this paper, we present a comprehensive study covering the detailed design, fabrication, rf tuning, and high-power test results of the first XT72. Additionally, we compare the performance of this structure to that of the previous constant impedance structure. Our results demonstrate that the XT72 is capable of operating at an 80-MV/m gradient with a lower breakdown rate. This advancement paves the way for the development of VIGAS project and contributes to the wider application of X-band room-temperature high-gradient structures in compact accelerator facilities.

Abstract The gut microbiome has emerged as a potential target for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) after myocardial infarction is a serious complication and whether certain gut bacteria can serve as a treatment option remains unclear. Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri) is a well‐studied probiotic that can colonize mammals including humans with known cholesterol‐lowering properties and anti‐inflammatory effects. Here, the prophylactic cardioprotective effects of L. reuteri or its metabolite γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) against acute ischemic cardiac injury caused by I/R surgery are demonstrated. The prophylactic gavage of L. reuteri or GABA confers cardioprotection mainly by suppressing cardiac inflammation upon I/R. Mechanistically, GABA gavage results in a decreased number of proinflammatory macrophages in I/R hearts and GABA gavage no longer confers any cardioprotection in I/R hearts upon the clearance of macrophages. In vitro studies with LPS‐stimulated bone marrow‐derived macrophages (BMDM) further reveal that GABA inhibits the polarization of macrophages toward the proinflammatory M1 phenotype by inhibiting lysosomal leakage and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Together, this study demonstrates that the prophylactic oral administration of L. reuteri or its metabolite GABA attenuates macrophage‐mediated cardiac inflammation and therefore alleviates cardiac dysfunction after I/R, thus providing a new prophylactic strategy to mitigate acute ischemic cardiac injury.

BackgroundThere currently exists some controversy about the efficacy of oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) in the treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases.AimThis study compares the application effects of OLIF and TLIF in lumbar degenerative diseases by reviewing the literature and using meta-analysis.MethodsWe included randomized controlled trials and cohort studies comparing TLIF and OLIF in the treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases. We searched for words such as “intervertebral disc degeneration,” “spinal fusion,” and “lumbar vertebrae” in the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases. The search date was set from the establishment date of the database to October 2023. Two authors independently conducted document screening, data abstraction, and qualitative assessment. A meta-analysis was performed and adapted to RevMan5.3 software. The odds ratio (OR), weighted mean difference (WMD), and 95% CI were calculated by adopting a fixed-effect model (FEM) or a random-effect model (REM).ResultsA total of 18 cohort studies were included with 1,550 patients, of whom 806 patients underwent TLIF (TLIF group) and 744 patients underwent OLIF (OLIF group). There were no significant differences found in the fusion rate [OR = 1.58 (0.95, 2.64), P = 0.08], complication rate [OR = 1.25 (0.93, 1.68), P = 0.14], and visual analog scale for back pain (VAS-BP) [WMD = 0.00 (−0.13, 0.14), P = 0.96] between the two groups. Compared with the TLIF group, the OLIF group had a lower Oswestry disability index (ODI) [WMD = −0.62 (−1.03, −0.20), P = 0.003], a higher foramen height (FH) [WMD = 2.03 (1.42, 2.46), P

The metalloid arsenic, known for its toxic properties, is widespread presence in the environment. Our previous research has confirmed that prolonged exposure to arsenic can lead to liver fibrosis injury in rats, while the precise pathogenic mechanism still requires further investigation. In the past few years, the Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome has been found to play a pivotal role in the occurrence and development of liver injury. In this study, we administered varying doses of sodium arsenite (NaAsO2) and 10 mg/kg.bw MCC950 (a particular tiny molecular inhibitor targeting NLRP3) to Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats for 36 weeks to explore the involvement of NLRP3 inflammasome in NaAsO2-induced liver injury. The findings suggested that prolonged exposure to NaAsO2 resulted in pyroptosis in liver tissue of SD rats, accompanied by the fibrotic injury, extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and liver dysfunction. Moreover, long-term NaAsO2 exposure activated NLRP3 inflammasome, leading to the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines in liver tissue. After treatment with MCC950, the induction of NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines were significantly attenuated, leading to a decrease in the severity of liver fibrosis and an improvement in liver function. To summarize, those results clearly indicate that hepatic fibrosis and liver dysfunction induced by NaAsO2 occur through the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis, shedding new light on the potential mechanisms underlying arsenic-induced liver damage.

Abstract Host immune systems serving as crucial defense lines are vital resisting mechanisms against biofilm‐associated implant infections. Nevertheless, biofilms hinder the penetration of anti‐bacterial species, inhibit phagocytosis of immune cells, and frustrate host inflammatory responses, ultimately resulting in the weakness of the host immune system for biofilm elimination. Herein, a cell‐like construct is developed through encapsulation of erythrocyte membrane fragments on the surface of Fe3O4 nanoparticle‐fabricated microbubbles and then loaded with hydroxyurea (EMB‐Hu). Under ultrasound (US) stimulation, EMB‐Hu undergoes a stable oscillation manner to act in an “exocytosis” mechanism for disrupting biofilm, releasing agents, and enhancing penetration of catalytically generated anti‐bacterial species within biofilms. Additionally, the US‐stimulated “exocytosis” by EMB‐Hu can activate pro‐inflammatory macrophage polarization and enhance macrophage phagocytosis for clearance of disrupted biofilms. Collectively, this work has exhibited cell‐like microbubbles with US‐stimulated “exocytosis” mechanisms to overcome the biofilm barrier and signal macrophages for inflammatory activation, finally achieving favorable therapeutic effects against implant infections caused by methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) biofilms.

Bacterially infected wounds are a hidden danger to human health, and the elimination of invasive wound bacteria is critical for proper wound healing. Nanozymes with peroxidase (POD)-like and catalase (CAT)-like activities serve as promising antimicrobial agents since they avoid the damage caused by high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) while providing sufficient oxygen (O2). Herein, we report hybrid composites of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) assembled on two-dimensional or three-dimensional (2D/3D) Zn-based metal organic frameworks (Zn-MOFs) via free amino groups. Specifically, the formed 3D Zn-MOF@Au, which combines the advantages of AuNPs and stabilized 3D MOFs, exhibits more significant POD-like activity in terms of decomposing H2O2 into toxic hydroxyl radicals than 2D Zn-MOF@Au while being able to supply sufficient O2. We performed systematic antimicrobial tests against bacteria using this composite nanomaterial with different dimensions, and the results showed that the 3D Zn-MOF@Au composite had better antibacterial effects against gram-positive (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA) and gram-negative (Escherichia coli, E. coli) bacteria with the addition of a low dose of H2O2. Animal experiments showed that this hybrid composite effectively accelerated bacteria-infected wound healing with excellent biocompatibility. This study demonstrated the great promise of metal nanoparticles modified different dimensional MOFs for antimicrobial therapy applications.