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Abstract Background Family-based selective breeding programs typically employ both between-family and within-family selection in aquaculture. However, these programs may exhibit a reduced genetic gain in the presence of a genotype by environment interactions (G × E) when employing biosecurity-based breeding schemes (BS), compared to non-biosecurity-based breeding schemes (NBS). Fortunately, genomic selection shows promise in improving genetic gain by taking within-family variance into account. Stochastic simulation was employed to evaluate genetic gain and G × E trends in BS for improving the body weight of L. vannamei, considering selective genotyping strategies for test group (TG) at a commercial farm environment (CE), the number individuals of the selection group (SG) genotyped at nucleus breeding center (NE), and varying levels of G × E. Results The loss of genetic gain in BS ranged from 9.4 to 38.9% in pedigree-based selection and was more pronounced when G × E was stronger, as quantified by a lower genetic correlation for body weight between NE and CE. Genomic selection, particularly with selective genotyping of TG individuals with extreme performance, effectively offset the loss of genetic gain. With a genetic correlation of 0.8, genotyping 20 SG individuals in each candidate family achieved 93.2% of the genetic gain observed for NBS. However, when the genetic correlation fell below 0.5, the number of genotyped SG individuals per family had to be increased to 50 or more. Genetic gain improved by on average 9.4% when the number of genotyped SG individuals rose from 20 to 50, but the increase in genetic gain averaged only 2.4% when expanding from 50 to 80 individuals genotyped. In addition, the genetic correlation decreased by on average 0.13 over 30 generations of selection when performing BS and the genetic correlation fluctuated across generations. Conclusions Genomic selection can effectively compensate for the loss of genetic gain in BS due to G × E. However, the number of genotyped SG individuals and the level of G × E significantly affected the extra genetic gain from genomic selection. A family-based BS selective breeding program should monitor the level of G × E and genotyping 50 SG individuals per candidate family to minimize the loss of genetic gain due to G × E, unless the level of G × E is confirmed to be low.

Background: In endoscopic nasobiliary drainage (ENBD), it is complicated to reposition the catheter from the mouth to nostril. We developed a new technique using an 1-mL syringe tube combined with guide-wire when repositioning an ENBD tube from mouth to nose. The aim of this study was to verify its utility. Methods: A single-center, prospective, randomized, controlled study was conducted between January 2021 and December 2022. Compared to traditional guide-wire technique, the new technique added a 1-mL syringe tube readily available in clinical work. The primary outcome was the ENBD repositioning time.The secondary outcomes included number of ENBD repositioning operations and technical success rate. Results: A total of 253 patients who underwent ENBD during the study period. Among them, 241 patients were enrolled in this study. The procedure time was significantly shorter in the new technique group than in the conventional group (60.7 vs. 98.7, p

The organic green tea sourced from Weng'an County in Guizhou Province, which meets EU standards, was utilized as the raw material for producing fermented tea through the solid-state fermentation of Eurotium cristatum. The optimization process for the fermented tea was also conducted. Concurrently, volatile compounds in both the raw material and the final product were detected using headspace solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS), followed by an analysis of the characteristic volatile compounds. The sensory quality and functional indicators, including water extracts, tea polyphenols and free amino acids of the fermented tea, were combined to form comprehensive evaluation indices. The optimal preparation conditions for fermented tea were determined through single factor tests and response surface analysis, with the identified processing conditions being temperature at 28 ℃, water content at 40%, inoculation amount at 1‰, and fermentation time at 8 days. The final fermented tea exhibited a mellow taste, bright orange and yellow color, pure aroma, and achieved a comprehensive score of 83.75±2.52. Furthermore, 18 characteristic volatile compounds with OAV>1 were identified in both green tea and the final fermented tea, revealing a strong "golden flower" aroma in the fermented tea, attributed to eight volatile compounds like linalool and methyl salicylate. Physicochemical analysis of the final fermented tea indicated moisture content of 3.9%±0.47%, ash content of 5.92%±0.21%, and water extract content of 43.92%±0.07%, all surpassing the Chinese national standard for Fu Brick Tea (GB/T 32719.5-2018 Dark tea-Part5: Fu tea). This research serves as a theoretical reference for the preparation of fermented tea using the "loose tea blooming" method.

Network intrusion detection is a vital component in contemporary cybersecurity defense frameworks. As network traffic data experiences exponential growth, deep learning-based intrusion detection algorithms have become a hot research topic. However, existing intrusion detection methods commonly exhibit low accuracy, high false positive rates, and poor performance in detecting minority class attacks. To address these challenges, this paper presents an efficient two-stage intrusion detection model, MARNet. MARNet consists of two stages: the first stage is multi-scale feature-classification extraction, where numerical and categorical features in the dataset are processed separately and then fused. The second stage is the classification phase, which employs residual networks and channel attention to automatically and effectively extract features from network traffic, while identifying crucial features. Furthermore, we implemented EQL v2 loss to tackle the problem of class imbalance within the dataset. Experiments were conducted using the UNSW-NB15 and NSL-KDD datasets, After a thorough and comprehensive evaluation on two widely used datasets, the model achieved a multi-class accuracy of 90.55% and a detection rate of 99.51% with a false positive rate of 0.61% on the UNSW-NB15 dataset. On the NSL-KDD dataset, the model’s multi-class accuracy was 99.96%, detection rate was 99.96%, and the false positive rate was 0.01%. The experimental results show that the model surpasses existing ones in accuracy, detection rate, false alarm rate, and detection of minority class attacks, effectively meeting the requirements of modern large-scale intrusion detection systems.

Abstract Postpartum depression (PPD) profoundly impacts the mental and physical health of women globally and is an incurable psychological disorder. Traditional pharmacological treatments often have strong side effects and may adversely affect infant health through breastfeeding, underscoring the critical need for natural and gentle treatment strategies. Sugemule-7, a traditional Chinese medicine comprising multiple natural plant ingredients, represents a potentially safer and more effective alternative. To investigate its preventive effects on PPD, we established an animal model and administered the drug Sugemule-7. Our study demonstrated that varying doses of Sugemule-7 effectively alleviated depressive and anxiety-like behaviors in PPD mice, as assessed through a battery of tests, including the open field test, tail suspension test, sucrose preference test, forced swim test, novelty-suppressed feeding test, and elevated plus maze test. Furthermore, Sugemule-7 significantly improved oxidative stress levels in the serum, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus of PPD-induced mice while also suppressing inflammatory responses and abnormal neuronal death in these brain regions. Transcriptomic sequencing of hippocampal and prefrontal cortex tissues supported our findings, revealing that differential gene expression is primarily involved in regulating synaptic plasticity. Overall, our study confirms the efficacy of Sugemule-7 in treating PPD at different concentrations, potentially alleviating depressive behaviors by enhancing synaptic plasticity, mitigating oxidative stress, reducing inflammation, and protecting neurons.

Abstract The realization of room-temperature-operated, high-performance, miniaturized, low-power-consumption and Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS)-compatible mid-infrared photodetectors is highly desirable for next-generation optoelectronic applications, but has thus far remained an outstanding challenge using conventional materials. Two-dimensional (2D) heterostructures provide an alternative path toward this goal, yet despite continued efforts, their performance has not matched that of low-temperature HgCdTe photodetectors. Here, we push the detectivity and response speed of a 2D heterostructure-based mid-infrared photodetector to be comparable to, and even superior to, commercial cooled HgCdTe photodetectors by utilizing a vertical transport channel (graphene/black phosphorus/molybdenum disulfide/graphene). The minimized carrier transit path of tens of nanometers facilitates efficient and fast carrier transport, leading to significantly improved performance, with a mid-infrared detectivity reaching 2.38 × 1011 cmHz1/2W−1 (approaching the theoretical limit), a fast response time of 10.4 ns at 1550 nm, and an ultrabroadband detection range spanning from the ultraviolet to mid-infrared wavelengths. Our study provides design guidelines for next-generation high-performance room-temperature-operated mid-infrared photodetectors.

Abstract Background It remains uncertain whether the utilization of methylprednisolone during surgery effectively mitigates the occurrence of adverse outcomes. To examine the association between perioperative methylprednisolone administration and postoperative pleural effusion and pneumonia in older patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Methods A retrospective cohort study included non-small cell lung cancer patients aged 65 years or older undergoing thoracic surgery between January 2012 and December 2019 in China. Primary outcome was pleural effusion. Secondary outcome was postoperative pneumonia. Multivariate logistic regression models assessed the independent effects of various factors on pleural effusion and pneumonia. Propensity score matching (PSM) method reduced selection bias enhancing causal inference validity. Subgroup analyses identified potential effect heterogeneity in specific sub-populations. Results A total of 1951 older patients with non-small cell lung cancer were included. The incidence of postoperative pleural effusion in the methylprednisolone group before and after PSM matching was significantly lower than that in the control group (before PSM: 9.4% vs. 19.2, P

Abstract Immuno-oncology has witnessed remarkable advancements in the past decade, revolutionizing the landscape of cancer therapeutics in an encouraging manner. Among the diverse immunotherapy strategies, mRNA vaccines have ushered in a new era for the therapeutic management of malignant diseases, primarily due to their impressive impact on the COVID-19 pandemic. In this comprehensive review, we offer a systematic overview of mRNA vaccines, focusing on the optimization of structural design, the crucial role of delivery materials, and the administration route. Additionally, we summarize preclinical studies and clinical trials to provide valuable insights into the current status of mRNA vaccines in cancer treatment. Furthermore, we delve into a systematic discussion on the significant challenges facing the current development of mRNA tumor vaccines. These challenges encompass both intrinsic and external factors that are closely intertwined with the successful application of this innovative approach. To pave the way for a more promising future in cancer treatments, a deeper understanding of immunological mechanisms, an increasing number of high-quality clinical trials, and a well-established manufacturing platform are crucial. Collaborative efforts between scientists, clinicians, and industry engineers are essential to achieving these goals.

Abstract Background Lung ultrasound-guided alveolar recruitment manoeuvres (RMs) may reduce the lung ultrasound score. However, whether the use of this strategy can reduce the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) in the adult obese population has not yet been tested. Methods/design This is a single-centre, two-arm, prospective, randomised controlled trial. A total number of 476 obese patients scheduled for bariatric surgeries will be enrolled. They will be randomly assigned to receive either lung ultrasound-guided RMs (intervention group) or conventional RMs (control group) intraoperatively. The occurrence of PPCs will be recorded as the primary outcome. Discussion To the best of our knowledge, this is the first trial to test the effect of lung ultrasound-guided RMs on PPCs. The results of this trial will support the anaesthesiologists in choosing a potentially more efficient method to perform RMs for bariatric surgery patients. Trial registration www.chictr.org.cn ChiCTR2400080203. Registered on 23 January 2024.

Accurate building semantic segmentation in remote sensing imagery is essential for urban planning, environmental monitoring, and map creation. While deep learning has achieved significant advancements in this field, precisely segmenting building edges and shadows in complex scenarios remains challenging. Shadows often introduce boundary ambiguities, affecting the local shape and texture information of buildings. Current methods do not fully perceive or utilize shadows. To address these challenges, we propose an advanced high-resolution image segmentation network, high-resolution network, integrated with a shadow-inclusive edge perception module. Our approach involves introducing a shadow-inclusive contour transition module (SCTM) during the feature extraction stage to enhance the features of blurry boundaries. The proposed SCTM and shadow-aware attention module significantly enhance attention maps, improve responses in blurry boundary regions, and increase consistency between predictions and ground truth, setting a new benchmark for building semantic segmentation in remote sensing imagery. This enriched information is then fed into an attention module that concurrently focuses on boundary and channel features, surpassing traditional semantic segmentation methods. We validated our method on three datasets: Massachusetts, WHU, and Inria. Our approach outperformed state-of-the-art methods on the WHU Building Dataset across all metrics, including mIoU, Accuracy, Kappa, and Dice coefficient.

The recently published species, Didymocarpus pingyuanensis, is transferred here to the recently re-circumscribed genus, Palmatiboea. Two varieties, recently assigned to Palmatiboea, have been raised to the rank of species. Their Chinese vernacular names are also revised and provided here.

Abstract Background Unsaturated fatty acids targeting quorum sensing (QS) system have shown potential application in reducing bacterial virulence. We aim to investigate the effect of palmitoleic acid (PMA) on P. aeruginosa QS activation, and its impact on infection-induced lung injury. Methods The influence of PMA on QS signaling molecule (3OC12-HSL and C4-HSL) concentrations, pyocyanin production, and QS gene transcription levels were examined in wildtype PAO1 culture. The roles of PMA in reducing infection-induced injury were assessed in human bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells and mouse lung infection models, respectively. PMA levels and QS signaling molecule concentrations were tested in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of bronchiectasis patients with first-time detection of P. aeruginosa infection. Results PMA administration dose-dependently suppressed the expression of QS signaling molecules, pyocyanin, and QS genes during the logarithmic stage of bacterial growth. In BEAS-2B cells, PMA-treated PAO1 filtrates significantly reduced cell apoptosis and expression of IL-8 and IL-6. In mouse lung infection models, prophylactically oral administration of PMA significantly downregulated the expression of P. aeruginosa QS signals and QS genes (lasR, rhlR, rhlI, lasB, rhlA, phzA1, phnA) in lungs, and relieved neutrophilic airway inflammation. Finally, PMA levels were negatively correlated with the concentrations of both 3OC12-HSL and C4-HSL in BALF of bronchiectasis patients, and positively correlated with their forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1.0). Conclusion Our findings show that PMA inhibits P. aeruginosa QS activation and protects lungs from injury caused by bacterial virulence. Hence, PMA may serve as a potential anti-QS agent against P. aeruginosa infection and would help to alleviate lung injury in bronchiectasis patients.

Abstract Neutrophils, the most abundant type of granulocyte, are widely recognized as one of the pivotal contributors to the acute inflammatory response. Initially, neutrophils were considered the mobile infantry of the innate immune system, tasked with the immediate response to invading pathogens. However, recent studies have demonstrated that neutrophils are versatile cells, capable of regulating various biological processes and impacting both human health and disease. Cytokines and other active mediators regulate the functional activity of neutrophils by activating multiple receptors on these cells, thereby initiating downstream signal transduction pathways. Dysfunctions in neutrophils and disruptions in neutrophil homeostasis have been implicated in the pathogenesis of numerous diseases, including cancer and inflammatory disorders, often due to aberrant intracellular signaling. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of neutrophil biological functions, integrating recent advancements in this field. Moreover, it examines the biological roles of receptors on neutrophils and downstream signaling pathways involved in the regulation of neutrophil activity. The pathophysiology of neutrophils in numerous human diseases and emerging therapeutic approaches targeting them are also elaborated. This review also addresses the current limitations within the field of neutrophil research, highlighting critical gaps in knowledge that warrant further investigation. In summary, this review seeks to establish a comprehensive and multidimensional model of neutrophil regulation, providing new perspectives for potential clinical applications and further research.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of physical mutagenesis on the development and adaptive traits of early-stage shrimp larvae and to explore the feasibility of increasing genetic diversity and utilizing genetic variation in breeding populations through mutation technology. Atmospheric and room-temperature plasma (ARTP) mutagenesis technology was used to perform batch mutagenesis on fertilized eggs (gastrula stage) of four different families (A, B, C, and D) of Penaeus vannamei at the same power (360 W) and different times (2, 4, 8, and 12 min). Hatching rates, limb bud stage hatching deformity rates, survival rates, metamorphosis rates, and indicators of juvenile shrimp hypoxia tolerance and ammonia nitrogen stress were analyzed.The experimental results showed that all groups except for the 2 min mutation group showed hatching deformity rates significantly higher than those of the control group for the A and D families (P < 0.05). The deformity rate of each treatment group showed no significant differences from that of the control group in Family B. The malformation rate for Family C in the 8 min mutation treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group. However, there was no significant difference between the 2 and 4 min treatment groups. In all four families, the hatching rate of fertilized eggs decreased with an increase in mutation time, and when the mutation time was greater than or equal to 4 min, the hatching rates of all four families were less than 15%. Compared with that of the control group, all treatment groups of the families except for the 2 min mutation group from Family A showed a significant decrease in hatching rate (P < 0.05). The hatching rate of the 2 min group for families A, B, C, and D was significantly higher than that of the 4, 8, and 12 min mutation groups, and the hatching rate of the 4 min mutation group from Family B was significantly higher than that of the 8 min mutation group (P < 0.05). The hatching and limb bud stage hatching deformity rates were moderately and highly correlated with mutagenic time, respectively.Compared with the control group, the survival rates of families A, B, C, and D in the same treatment group at the same stage showed no significant differences. The survival rate of the 8 min mutation group from Family A was significantly reduced (P < 0.05), that of the 4 and 8 min mutation groups from Family C was significantly increased, and that of the 2 and 4 min mutation groups from Family D was significantly reduced relative to the control value, whereas that of the 8 min group from Family D was significantly increased. Considering Family A as an example, metamorphosis rates in each stage were analyzed. The metamorphosis rates of the control group and the 2 min mutation group showed a significant decreasing trend during the three stages of larval development (P < 0.05); however, the metamorphosis rate in the M–P stage was significantly lower than that in the N–Z and Z–M stages. The metamorphosis rate in the Z–M stage of the 4 min and 12 min groups was significantly lower than that during the N–Z and M–P stages, whereas the metamorphosis rate during the N–Z stage of the 8 min group was significantly lower than that of the Z–M stage. After low-dose (0 and 2 min) mutagenesis of fertilized eggs of P. vannamei, the peak period of death mainly occurred in the late stage of larval development. The peak period of larval death after relatively high doses of mutagenesis (4, 8, and 12 min) mainly occurred in the middle or early stages of larval development. The peak period of death varied among different treatment groups. The results caused by radiation treatment showed directionality, and this trend of peak mortality was similar between all families.Hypoxia tolerance and ammonia-nitrogen stress testing in Family A of juvenile shrimp revealed that almost all shrimp in the 4, 8, and 12 min groups died after 5.5 h of hypoxia stress. In contrast, the control group died after 9 h of stress, and the 2 min group died after 10 h of stress. The results indicate that low doses of radiation (2 min) may improve hypoxia tolerance to some extent. The survival rates of the 2 min and 8 min groups were highest on the fourth and seventh days of the ammonia nitrogen stress experiment, respectively. Mutation had a certain impact on the ability of larvae in Family A to resist ammonia-nitrogen stress.The experimental results suggest that ARTP induced the mutation of fertilized P. vannamei eggs with non-directional changes in adaptive traits. These findings suggest the feasibility of novel methods for creating new germplasms and preparing functional research materials for P. vannamei and provide basic data and a scientific basis for the mutagenic breeding of P. vannamei.

The sluggish reaction kinetics of CO2 electroreduction in perovskite-based cathodes severely limits the efficiency of solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs). The construction of the high-density active sites on the perovskite surface is crucial for promoting CO2 electrolysis in SOEC. In this study, we explore a redox-induced redispersion strategy to produce RhOx nanoclusters uniformly anchored on a Sr2Fe1.45Rh0.05Mo0.5O6–δ (SFRhM) perovskite surface with a high density of 36,000 µm−2. Compared with non-uniformly distributed RhOx nanoparticles on Sr2Fe1.5Mo0.5O6–δ (RhOx/SFM) prepared by a conventional impregnation process, the successive reduction and oxidation treatment first exsolves the highly dispersed RhFe alloy nanoparticles on SFRhM and then selectively dissolves the iron species in the RhFe alloy nanoparticles into the bulk of SFRhM, resulting in fully exposed RhOx nanoclusters uniformly anchored on the SFRhM surface (RhOx@SFRhM). Electrochemical measurements and density functional theory calculations indicate that the high-density RhOx@SFRhM interfaces promote CO2 adsorption and activation during CO2 electrolysis, thus leading to improved electrocatalytic activity and stability compared to that of its SFRhM and RhOx/SFM counterparts.

Abstract The development and implementation of microbial chassis cells have profound impacts on circular economy. Non-model bacterium Zymomonas mobilis is an excellent chassis owing to its extraordinary industrial characteristics. Here, the genome-scale metabolic model iZM516 is improved and updated by integrating enzyme constraints to simulate the dynamics of flux distribution and guide pathway design. We show that the innate dominant ethanol pathway of Z. mobilis restricts the titer and rate of these biochemicals. A dominant-metabolism compromised intermediate-chassis (DMCI) strategy is then developed through introducing low toxicity but cofactor imbalanced 2,3-butanediol pathway, and a recombinant D-lactate producer is constructed to produce more than 140.92 g/L and 104.6 g/L D-lactate (yield > 0.97 g/g) from glucose and corncob residue hydrolysate, respectively. Additionally, techno-economic analysis (TEA) and life cycle assessment (LCA) demonstrate the commercialization feasibility and greenhouse gas reduction capability of lignocellulosic D-lactate. This work thus establishes a paradigm for engineering recalcitrant microorganisms as biorefinery chassis.

Abstract Background Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is a rare but the most aggressive type of thyroid carcinoma. Nevertheless, limited advances were made to reduce mortality and improve survival over the last decades. Therefore, identifying novel diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for ATC patients is still needed. Materials and methods RNA sequencing data and corresponding clinical features were available from GEO and TCGA databases. We integrated WGCNA and PPI network analysis to identify hub genes associated with ATC development, and RT-qPCR was employed for data verification. Univariate and LASSO Cox regression analyses were used to generate prognostic signatures. Results Based on PPI and WGCNA, 6 hub genes were identified, namely KIF2C, PBK, TOP2A, CDK1, KIF20A, and ASPM, which play vital roles in ATC development. Subsequently, RT-qPCR experiments showed that most of these genes were significantly upregulated in CAL-62 cells compared to Nthy-ori 3–1 cells. Moreover, a prognostic signature featuring GPSM2, FGF5, ASXL3, CYP4B1, CLMP, and DUXAP9 was generated, which was also verified by RT-qPCR results and proved as an independent predictor of poorer prognosis of ATC. Additionally, a nomogram incorporating the risk score and clinicopathological parameters was further constructed for accurate prediction of 1-, 3- and 5-year survival probabilities of ATC. Conclusions Our study identified 6 key genes critical to ATC development and constructed a prognostic signature. These findings provide reliable biomarkers and a relatively comprehensive tumorigenesis profile of ATC, which may inform future strategies for clinical diagnosis and pharmaceutical design.

Abstract Nonaromatic and nonconjugated fluorescent materials have garnered increasing attention in recent years. However, most non-classical chromophores are derived from electro-rich nitrogen and oxygen atoms, which suffer from short emission wavelengths, low efficiency, limited responsiveness, and obscure luminescence mechanisms. Here we present an emission mechanism in bioactive polycysteine, an aliphatic polymer that displays polymerization- and aggregation-induced emission, high quantum yield, and multicolor emission properties. We show that the hydrogen atoms bonded to the sulfur atoms play a crucial role in luminescence. This enables reversible modulation of polymer fluorescence under reducing and oxidizing conditions, facilitating specific imaging and quantitative detection of redox species in cells and in vivo. Furthermore, the polymer exhibits better anti-inflammatory and antioxidative activities compared to first-line clinical antioxidants, offering a promising platform for in vivo theragnosis of diseases such as osteoarthritis.

Abstract Cognitive decline is a critical hallmark of brain aging. Although aging is a natural process, there is significant heterogeneity in cognition levels among individuals; however, the underlying mechanisms remain uncertain. In our study, we classified aged male Sprague‒Dawley rats into aged cognition-unimpaired (AU) group and aged cognition-impaired (AI) group by using an attentional set-shifting task. The transcriptome sequencing results of medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) demonstrated significant differences in microglial activation and inflammatory response pathways between the two groups. Specifically, compared to AU rats, AI rats exhibited a greater presence of CD86-positive microglia and major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II)-positive microglia, along with elevated inflammatory molecules, in mPFC. Conversely, AI rats exhibited a reduction in the percentage of microglia expressing CD200R and the anti-inflammatory molecules Arg-1 and TGF-β. Additionally, peripheral blood analysis of AI rats demonstrated elevated levels of Th17 and Th1 cells, along with proinflammatory molecules; however, decreased levels of Treg cells, along with anti-inflammatory molecules, were observed in AI rats. Our research suggested that peripheral Th17/Treg cells and central microglial activation were associated with cognitive heterogeneity in aged rats. These findings may provide a new target for healthy aging.

Abstract Under the condition of weak grid, the phase‐locked loop (PLL) is one of the main reasons for the sub‐synchronous oscillation of the grid‐connected inverter. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the PLL parameters of the grid‐connected inverter for the analysis of the inverter operating performance. This paper uses the sequence impedance model and measured impedance data of grid‐connected inverter to construct the identification function for parameter identification of PLL, and the function is calculated by particle swarm optimization algorithm to overcome the nonlinear problem of sequence impedance model. In addition, the identification frequency band is selected based on PLL parameter sensitivity to improve the parameter identification accuracy under the same impedance measurement error. At different frequencies, the positive correlation between the sensitivity of the PLL parameters and the identification accuracy is proven to determine the definite frequency band for PLL parameter identification of grid‐connected inverter. Finally, the feasibility and effectiveness of the above research are verified by simulation and semi‐physical experiments.

Abstract Ceria (CeO2) is a widely used oxide catalyst, yet the nature of its active sites remains elusive. This study combines model and powder catalyst studies to elucidate the structure-activity relationships in ceria-catalyzed CO activation and hydrogenation. Well-defined ceria clusters are synthesized on planar CeO2(111) and exhibit dynamic and tunable ranges of Ce coordination numbers, which enhance their interaction with CO. Reduced ceria clusters (e.g., Ce3O3) bind CO strongly and facilitate its dissociation, while near-stoichiometric clusters (e.g., Ce3O7) adsorb CO weakly and promote oxidation via carbonate formation. Unlike planar ceria surfaces, supported ceria clusters exhibit dynamic properties and enhanced catalytic activity, that mimic those of powder ceria catalysts. Insight from model studies provide a method to quantify active sites on powder ceria and guide further optimization of ceria catalysts for syngas conversion. This work marks a leap toward model-guided catalyst design and highlights the importance of site-specific catalysis.

Abstract Touch displays are ubiquitous in modern technologies. However, current protective methods for emerging flexible displays against static, scratches, bending, and smudge rely on multilayer materials that impede progress towards flexible, lightweight, and multifunctional designs. Developing a single coating layer integrating all these functions remains challenging yet highly anticipated. Herein, we introduce an organic–inorganic covalent–ionic hybrid network that leverages the reorganizing interaction between siloxanes (i.e., trifluoropropyl–funtionalized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane and cyclotrisiloxane) and fluoride ions. This nanoscale organic–inorganic covalent–ionic hybridized crosslinked network, combined with a low surface energy trifluoropropyl group, offers a monolithic layer coating with excellent optical, antistatic, anti–smudge properties, flexibility, scratch resistance, and recyclability. Compared with existing protective materials, this all–in–one coating demonstrates comprehensive multifunctionality and closed–loop recyclability, making it ideal for future flexible displays and contributing to ecological sustainability in consumer electronics.

The high externalized and still partly unknown costs of fossil fuels through air pollution from combustion, and their limited resources have caused mankind to (re)turn to renewable sources such as wind, solar, and biomass to meet its energy needs. Converting biomass to synthesis gas is advantageous since it can utilize a wide variety of (waste) feedstocks to obtain an energetic and versatile product at low cost in large quantities. Gasification is no new technology; yet in recent years, biomass gasification has attracted significant attention. Due to the non-depletable nature of agricultural waste and similar biomass side streams, which have little value and can bring environmental problems when mismanaged such as methane emissions, it is possible to obtain cheap electrical or thermal energy through the gas produced with high efficiencies. Combined heat and power (CHP) is the preferred use case, and recently the focus has moved to polygeneration, e.g., to make value-added products from the synthesis gas. Fischer–Tropsch synthesis from coal-derived syngas is now being complemented by the gas fermentation of biobased synthesis gas, where microorganisms yield materials from CO/H2 (and CO2) in an anaerobic process and from CH4/O2 in an aerobic process. Syngas methanation offers an alternative route to produce synthetic natural gas (SNG, or bio-SNG) as additional feedstock for gas fermentation. Materials made from syngas are decoupled from primary agricultural operations and do not compete with feed and food production. Due to the ample raw material base for gasification, which can basically be all kinds of mostly dry biomass, including waste such as municipal solid waste (MSW), syngas-derived products are highly scalable. Amongst them are bioplastics, biofuels, biobased building blocks, and single-cell protein (SCP) for feed and food. This article reviews the state-of-the-art in biomass gasification with a spotlight on gas fermentation for the sustainable production of high-volume materials.

The Pacific white shrimp Penaeus vannamei is one of the most productive shrimp species in China and the world. Domestic demand for P. vannamei has increased annually because of its fast growth, easy breeding, strong resistance to stress and disease, and high meat yield. The primary challenge in the development of the shrimp industry is seed rearing. The demand for broodstocks of P. vannamei in China is as high as 1, 000, 000 pairs per year, and the total weight of shrimp seedlings exceeds 1.3 trillion. China needs to import 300, 000 pairs of P. vannamei every year. The cost of each pair of P. vannamei is approximately 200 US＄, thus equating to hundreds of millions of US＄ in total. During the production of P. vannamei, the spawning frequency varies greatly among female shrimp. Cultivating high-fecundity P. vannamei through genetic improvement is an effective way to reduce the cost of seedling farms and improve economic benefits.To further study the molecular mechanisms of fecundity differences in female P. vannamei, the ovarian histology and expression of four candidate genes in populations with high- and low-fecundity were analyzed in this study. Before the experiment, the 7-month-old parent shrimp of P. vannamei were fed a commercial parent shrimp fortified diet, a maturation promoting diet, and squid for nutritional enhancement. After one month of promoting maturity, the unilateral eyestalk of female shrimp was cut using forceps, and next-generation family construction began after 15–20 days of recovery. The spawning frequency of 439 female shrimp in the 30-day production cycle was calculated and used to indicate fecundity. Those with a spawning frequency of 0 were included in the low-fecundity group, while those with a spawning frequency of > 3 were included in the high-fecundity group. The ovarian development of P. vannamei was divided into four stages (proliferation, small growth, large growth, and maturation) according to the color, size, and shape of the ovaries. In the high-fecundity group, the ovaries exhibited development up to stageⅣ, indicating their attainment of maturity. In the low-fecundity group, ovarian development was limited to stageⅢ, with progression to stageⅣ proving difficult. Ovarian tissues from the same part of female shrimp of stageⅠ–Ⅳ in the high-fecundity group and stageⅠ–Ⅲ in the low-fecundity group were taken and immediately immersed in tissue fixative for paraffin sectioning. The research team previously identified candidate genes related to fecundity in genomic regions undergoing selective sweep in isolated populations. These included thioredoxin 2 (TRX2), partitioning-defective 3 (PARD3), phospholipase Cβ4 (PLCβ4), and arginine-glutamate acid dipeptide repeats (RERE), which play important roles in oocyte maturation, cell proliferation, and early development in other species. qRT-PCR was used to analyze and compare their expression in the ovary and eyestalk tissues of high- and low-fecundity females at different stages of ovarian development.The results of paraffin section showed that the ovarian development of the low-fecundity group was slower than that of the high-fecundity group. In the high-fecundity group, stageⅠ ovaries primarily consisted of oogonia and oocytes during the early phase of yolk formation, with the emergence of small spherical yolk granules. StageⅠ ovaries in the low-fecundity group primarily consisted of oogonia, with no observable yolk granule formation. StageⅡ ovaries in the high-fecundity group were mainly composed of oocytes with vitelline formation, accompanied by a notable augmentation in both the size and number of yolk granules. StageⅡ ovaries in the low-fecundity group primarily comprised oocytes in the early phase of vitelline formation with yolk granules beginning to form. StageⅢ ovaries in the high-fecundity group consisted mainly of oocytes during the late phase of yolk formation. Many spherical yolk granules were formed in the cytoplasm, and cortical rods began to appear, although the lengths of the cortical rods were short. StageⅢ ovaries in the low-fecundity group were composed of oocytes during yolk formation. The cytoplasm was full of spherical yolk granules in the absence of cortical rods. In the high-fecundity group, stage Ⅳ ovaries were filled with mature oocytes, large yolk granules filled the entire cytoplasm, and thick cortical rods were formed in the oocytes. qRT-PCR showed that the four genes maintained high expression levels in the mature ovaries of the high-fecundity group. Their expression levels in the ovaries of the high-fecundity group were higher than those in the ovaries of the low-fecundity group in the small and large growth stages. TRX2, PLCβ4, and RERE expression levels were significantly different between the groups (P < 0.05). In eyestalk tissues at different stages, TRX2, PARD3, PLCβ4, and RERE expression levels in the low-fecundity group were higher than those in the high-fecundity group. The results suggest that these four genes may play important roles in the ovarian development of P. vannamei. The expression levels of all four genes in the high-fecundity group were lower than those in the low-fecundity group in eyestalk tissues. However, in ovarian tissues, except for the PARD3 gene in stageⅠ, which was expressed at lower levels in the high-fecundity group than in the low-fecundity group, the expression levels of all four genes in the other stages were higher in the high-fecundity group than those in the low-fecundity group, which is opposite to the expression trend in eyestalk tissues. Therefore, we speculate that these genes also promote cell proliferation, development, and target gene expression in the eyestalks of the low-fecundity group. Their high expression in the eyestalks of the low-fecundity group may enhance the secretion of ovarian inhibitory factors, thereby inhibiting ovarian development. Further research is needed to reveal their functional mechanisms. The above results provide an important reference for the in-depth study of the molecular mechanisms of differences in the fecundity of female P. vannamei.

Abstract PA1895-1897 is a quorum sensing (QS) operon regulated by the anti-activator LuxR homologue QscR in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We aimed to investigate its impact on bacterial metabolism, and whether it contributes to the delayed QS activation. We performed liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer-based metabolomics using wildtype PAO1, PA1895-1897-knockout mutant, and mutant with pJN105.PA1895-1897 overexpression vector. The impact of metabolites on QS signaling molecule (3OC12-HSL and C4-HSL) concentrations, pyocyanin production, and QS gene (lasR, lasI, rhlR, and rhlI) expression was examined. Metabolomics analysis found that fatty acid biosynthesis had the highest fold enrichment among all metabolic pathways in PA1895-1897-overexpressed mutants. Among these enriched fatty acids, palmitoleic acid and acetic acid were the predominantly abundant ones that significantly affected by PA1895-1897 operon. When different doses of exogenous palmitoleic acid or acetic acid were added to the cultures of PA1895-1897 knockout mutants, their levels of 3OC12-HSL, C4-HSL, and pyocyanin were decreased in a dose-dependent manner. High doses of palmitoleic acid and acetic acid suppressed the mRNA expression of lasR, rhlR, and rhlI. Inhibition of fatty acid biosynthesis increased the production of 3OC12-HSL, C4-HSL, and pyocyanin in PA1895-1897-overexpressed cultures. Our data suggest that fatty acid synthesis is promoted by PA1895-1897 operon, and contributes the delayed expression of QS phenotypes, furthering the understanding about the regulation of bacterial QS activation.

Abstract Detecting chemical reaction dynamics at solid-liquid interfaces is important for understanding heterogeneous reactions. However, there is a lack of exploration of interface reaction dynamics from the single-molecule perspective, which can reveal the intrinsic reaction mechanism underlying ensemble experiments. Here, single-event protonation reaction dynamics at a solid-liquid interface are studied in-situ using single-molecule junctions. Molecules with amino terminal groups are used to construct single-molecule junctions. An interfacial cationic state present after protonation is discovered. Real-time electrical measurements are used to monitor the reversible reaction between protonated and deprotonated states, thereby revealing the interfacial reaction mechanism through dynamic analysis. The protonation reaction rate constant has a linear positive correlation with proton concentration, whereas the deprotonation reaction rate constant has a linear negative correlation. In addition, external mechanical forces can effectively regulate the protonation reaction process. This work provides a single-molecule perspective for exploring interface science, which will contribute to the development of heterogeneous catalysis and electrochemistry.

The creep mechanism of a Co-based single-crystal (SX) superalloy at 760°C/800 MPa (∼90% yield strength) was revealed and differed from those of Re-containing Ni-based SX superalloys. Experimental alloy displays superior creep resistance in the early creep stage, likely due to the accumulation of matrix dislocations and W segregation-assisted shearing of γ′ phase by leading Shockley partial dislocations instead of Co and Cr segregation a SF ribbons in Re-containing Ni-based SX superalloys during the accelerating creep stage. Segregation-assisted local χ/η phase transformations at SFs stabilize and enhance SF interactions, contributing to the subsequent slow accelerating creep stage.

Abstract Dielectric polymer composites for film capacitors have advanced significantly in recent decades, yet their practical implementation in industrial-scale, thin-film processing faces challenges, particularly due to limited biaxial stretchability. Here, we introduce a mechanochemical solution that applies liquid metal onto rigid dielectric fillers (e.g. boron nitride), dramatically transforming polymer-filler interface characteristics. This approach significantly reduces modulus mismatch and stress concentration at the interface region, enabling polypropylene composites to achieve biaxial stretching ratio up to 450 × 450%. Furthermore, liquid metal integration enhances boron nitride’s dielectric polarization while maintaining inherent insulation, producing high-dielectric-constant, low-loss films. These films, only microns thick yet quasi square meters in area, achieve a 55% increase in energy density over commercial biaxially-oriented polypropylene (from 2.9 to 4.5 J cm−3 at 550 MV/m), keeping 90% discharge efficiency. Coupled with improved thermal conductivity, durability, and device capacitance, this distinctive interface engineering approach makes these composites promising for high-performance film capacitors.

Abstract The development of the Internet of Things has led to a significant increase in the number of devices, consequently generating a vast amount of data and resulting in an influx of unlabeled data. Collecting these data enables the training of robust models to support a broader range of applications. However, labeling these data can be costly, and the models dependent on labeled data are often unsuitable for rapidly evolving fields like vehicular networks and mobile Internet of Things, where new data continuously emerge. To address this challenge, Self-Supervised Learning (SSL) offers a way to train models without the need for labels. Nevertheless, the data stored locally in vehicles are considered private, and vehicles are reluctant to share data with others. Federated Learning (FL) is an advanced distributed machine learning approach that protects each vehicle’s privacy by allowing models to be trained locally and the model parameters to be exchanged across multiple devices simultaneously. Additionally, vehicles capture images while driving through cameras mounted on their rooftops. If a vehicle’s velocity is too high, the captured images, donated as local data, may be blurred. Simple aggregation of such data can negatively impact the accuracy of the aggregated model and slow down the convergence speed of FL. This paper proposes a FL algorithm for aggregation based on image blur levels, which is called FLSimCo. This algorithm does not require labels and serves as a pre-training stage for SSL in vehicular networks. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm achieves fast and stable convergence.

Abstract This article delves into Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a prevalent neurodegenerative condition primarily affecting the elderly. It is characterized by progressive memory and cognitive impairments, severely disrupting daily life. Recent research highlights the potential involvement of microRNAs in the pathogenesis of AD. MicroRNAs (MiRNAs), short non-coding RNAs comprising 20–24 nucleotides, significantly influence gene regulation by hindering translation or promoting degradation of target genes. This review explores the role of specific miRNAs in AD progression, focusing on their impact on β-amyloid (Aβ) peptide accumulation, intracellular aggregation of hyperphosphorylated tau proteins, mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and the expression of the APOE4 gene. Our insights contribute to understanding AD’s pathology, offering new avenues for identifying diagnostic markers and developing novel therapeutic targets.

Epoxy resin is widely used in electrical equipment and electronic devices fields due to its excellent electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties. However, its internal three-dimensional covalent interconnection structure brings barriers to its degradability and recycling because covalent bonds cannot be broken easily. With the replacements of power equipment and electronic devices, there will be more and more epoxy resins and their composites in them to be treated and effective recycling is of great significance for resource conservation and environmental protection. In this review article, recent progress in degradation and recycling of epoxy resin is introduced and the effect of three traditional degradation methods is discussed. The drawbacks of these methods are thought to come from the intrinsic properties of these epoxy resins. So the urgency of developing new kinds of degradable epoxy resins is proposed. Then different types of new degradable epoxy resins are reviewed. Degradation mechanisms of the opened-loop recycling and recycling methods of the closed-loop recycling are summarized in detail. Finally, the challenges and perspectives are discussed based on their current developments. This review comprehensively considers both traditional degradation methods and new methods for developing degradable epoxy resins. It covers not only an overview of the state-of-the-art advances of degradation and recycling of epoxy resin but also the prospects that provide reference for the synthesis of degradable epoxy resin materials.

The fatigue crack initiation process accounts for the main portion of the high-cycle fatigue (HCF) life. Although coated superalloys are well-known to be prone to surface microcracks, the influence of the coating-substrate microstructure on the damage mechanism during HCF of the coated single crystal (SX) superalloys remains unclear. In the current study, HCF failure and interrupted tests were conducted at 900 °C under a low applied maximum stress on a PtAl-coated third-generation SX superalloy using sheet specimens. The HCF crack initiation was investigated by analyzing the evolution of surface microcracks and coating-substrate microstructure. The results show that the surface microcracks nucleation and growth are controlled by the initial microstructure of the coating-substrate region and the oxidation process during the HCF crack initiation stage. The rapid nucleation and growth of the surface microcracks are promoted by grain boundaries (GBs) in the coating and the interdiffusion zone (IDZ). Comparatively, the surface microcracks are blunted by oxidation in the SX substrate due to the loss of GBs, leading to a slower microcrack growth. However, the surface microcracks can gradually grow further into the substrate by repeating the processes as follows: oxidation at the crack tip, formation of γ′-depleted region due to oxidation, recrystallization at the γ′-depleted region and cracking along the GBs in the recrystallized γ′-depleted region. Subsequently, the surface microcracks, which reach the critical size, propagate along the slip bands during the progressive propagation stage. This study will contribute to improve the HCF durability of the PtAl-coated SX superalloy.

Abstract Background Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown a positive effect on Osteoarthritis (OA), but the efficacy is still not significant in clinical. Conventional two-dimensional (2D) monolayer culture method is prone to cause MSCs undergoing replication senescence, which may affect the functions of MSCs. Three-dimensional (3D) culture strategy can sustain cell proliferative capacity and multi-differentiation potential. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) cultured by 3D hanging drop method on OA. Methods hUC-MSCs were isolated from umbilical cord and cultured by 3D hanging drop method for 48 h. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe gross morphology 2D and 3D hUC-MSCs. Transcriptome comparison of gene expression differences between 2D and 3D hUC-MSCs. GO enrichment analysis, KEGG pathway enrichment analysis and GSEA enrichment analysis were used to analyze the impact of 3D hanging drop culture on the biological functions of hUC-MSCs. Female New Zealand rabbits (n = 12) were divided into 4 groups: Normal group, Model group, 2D hUC-MSCs treatment group and 3D hUC-MSCs treatment group. After 8 weeks, the gross and histological appearance of the cartilage was evaluated by safranin O-fast green staining and Mankin scoring system. The expression of type I collagen and type II collagen was detected by immunohistochemistry. The levels of IL-6, IL-7, TNFα, TGFβ1 and IL-10 in the knee joint fluid were tested by ELISA. Results 3D hanging drop culture changed cell morphology but did not affect phenotype. The MSCs transcriptome profiles showed that 3D hanging drop culture method enhanced cell-cell contact, improved cell responsiveness to external stimuli and immunomodulatory function. The animal experiment results showed that hUC-MSCs could promote cartilage regeneration compared with Model group. 3D hUC-MSCs treatment group had a higher histological score and significantly increased type II collagen secretion. In addition, 3D hUC-MSCs treatment group increased the expression of anti-inflammatory factors TGFβ1 and IL-10. Conclusion The above experimental results illustrated that 3D hanging drop culture method could enhance the therapeutic effect of hUC-MSCs, and showed a good clinical application prospect in the treatment of OA.

Abstract The reverse water gas shift reaction can be considered as a promising route to mitigate global warming by converting CO2 into syngas in a large scale, while it is still challenging for non-Cu-based catalysts to break the trade-off between activity and selectivity. Here, the relatively high loading of Ni species is highly dispersed on hydroxylated TiO2 through the strong Ni and −OH interactions, thereby inducing the formation of rich and stable Ni clusters (~1 nm) on anatase TiO2 during the reverse water gas shift reaction. This Ni cluster/TiO2 catalyst shows a simultaneous high CO2 conversion and high CO selectivity. Comprehensive characterizations and theoretical calculations demonstrate Ni cluster/TiO2 interfacial sites with strong CO2 activation capacity and weak CO adsorption are responsible for its unique catalytic performances. This work disentangles the activity-selectivity trade-off of the reverse water gas shift reaction, and emphasizes the importance of metal−OH interactions on surface.

Abstract Background Neuroinflammation is a vital pathogenic mechanism for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia, and age-related cognitive decline. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) exhibit potent anti-inflammatory properties and can modulate neurodegenerative diseases arising from central nervous system inflammatory responses. However, the role of Tregs in neuroinflammation-related cognitive dysfunction remains unclear. It is highly plausible that Htr7+ Tregs expressing unique genes associated with the nervous system, including the Htr7 gene encoding the serotonin receptor 5-HT7, play a pivotal role. Methods Mice were given a tryptophan-rich diet (with a tryptophan content of 0.6%) or a normal diet (with a tryptophan content of 0.16%). The neuroinflammation-mediated cognitive dysfunction model was established by intracerebroventricular injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in 8-week-old C57BL/6J mice. The activation and infiltration of Tregs were measured using flow cytometry. Primary Tregs were cocultured separately with primary CD8+ T cells and primary microglia for in vitro validation of the impact of 5-HT and 5-HT7 receptor on Tregs. Prior to their transfer into recombination activating gene 1 (Rag1−/−) mice, Tregs were ex vivo transfected with lentivirus to knock down the expression of Htr7. Results In this study, the tryptophan-rich diet was found to reverse LPS-induced cognitive impairment and reduce the levels of 5-HT in peripheral blood. The tryptophan-rich diet led to increased levels of 5-HT in peripheral blood, which in turn promoted the proliferation and activation of Htr7+ Tregs. Additionally, the tryptophan-rich diet was also shown to attenuate LPS-mediated neuroinflammation by activating Htr7+ Tregs. Furthermore, 5-HT and 5-HT7 receptor were found to enhance the immunosuppressive effect of Tregs on CD8+ T cells and microglia. In Rag1−/− mice, Htr7+ Tregs were shown to alleviate LPS-induced neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment. Conclusions Our research revealed the ability of Htr7+ Tregs to mitigate neuroinflammation and prevent neuronal damage by suppressing the infiltration of CD8+ T cells into the brain and excessive activation of microglia, thereby ameliorating LPS-induced cognitive impairment. These insights may offer novel therapeutic targets involving Tregs for neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment.

During the flight of a flapping-wing flying robot, the unique flapping-wing propulsion mechanism causes periodic pitching and rolling motions of the body. In passing through different airspeeds and altitudes over different terrain, the wings cycle up-and-down through predefined stroke patterns to generate the aerodynamic force required for powered flight. However, this oscillatory flapping motion also causes the aircraft structure to pitch and roll periodically about its center of mass in an oscillatory manner. Consequently, substantial high-frequency jitter shakes aerial video footage captured by the onboard optical sensors. In particular, the rapid shaking that disrupts the image is synchronized with the characteristic wing beat rhythm. This jitter negatively affects the quality and usefulness of the acquired aerial video. Repeated up-and-down pitching and rolling displacements shake aerial footage, greatly reducing its clarity and stability. Without mitigation, the jitter severely affects imaging results, limiting the potential applications of such video. To solve this problem, this paper proposes an electronic image stabilization algorithm based on oriented fast and rotated brief (ORB) and sliding mean filtering for online debounce processing. First, because the jitter period of aerial images of a flapping-wing flying robot is consistent with the wing flapping period, we designed an estimation algorithm to estimate the wing flapping period based on image features. This algorithm enables us to more accurately capture the periodic characteristics of jitter and provides important parameters for subsequent image stabilization processing. Second, we proposed a motion filtering algorithm associated with the flapping period, which can adaptively and dynamically adjust filtering parameters adaptively according to different flight conditions. The algorithm proposed in this paper is advantageous because it can dynamically adjust parameters in real time based on the actual flight conditions of flapping-wing robots, thereby better adapting to different flight conditions and further improving the image stabilization effect. Third, to verify the feasibility and stability of the algorithm, this paper performed a flight experiment by mounting a visual imaging device on a flapping-wing flying robot. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm shows better image stabilization effects than commonly used electronic image stabilization algorithms in flapping-wing flying robots. Finally, we summarized the advantages of the proposed algorithm and provided an outlook on the future research directions.

Abstract Deep optical optimization has recently emerged as a new paradigm for designing computational imaging systems using only the output image as the objective. However, it has been limited to either simple optical systems consisting of a single element such as a diffractive optical element or metalens, or the fine-tuning of compound lenses from good initial designs. Here we present a DeepLens design method based on curriculum learning, which is able to learn optical designs of compound lenses ab initio from randomly initialized surfaces without human intervention, therefore overcoming the need for a good initial design. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach by fully automatically designing both classical imaging lenses and a large field-of-view extended depth-of-field computational lens in a cellphone-style form factor, with highly aspheric surfaces and a short back focal length.

Abstract Video Anomaly Detection (VAD) has been an active research field for several decades. However, most existing approaches merely extract a single type of feature from videos and define a single paradigm to indicate the extent of abnormalities. A coarse‐to‐fine three‐level prediction is built by integrating different levels of spatio‐temporal representations, better highlighting the difference between normal and abnormal behaviors. First, an object‐level trajectory prediction is proposed to model human historical position using a graph transformer network. Subsequently, skeleton‐level prediction is achieved by incorporating the positional information from the trajectory prediction. More importantly, based on the predicted skeleton, a skeleton‐guided pixel‐level region prediction is performed. A novel Skeleton Conditioned Generative Adversarial Network (SCGAN) is designed to explore the correlation between skeleton‐level and pixel‐level motion prediction. Benefiting from SCGAN, the prediction of human regions is contributed by both coarse‐grained and fine‐grained motion features. This three‐level prediction, namely Progressive Prediction Video Anomaly Detection (P3VAD), enlarges the prediction error on irregular motion patterns. Besides, a pixel‐level analysis method is proposed to achieve Background‐bias Elimination (BE) and denoise the predicted region. Experimental results validate the effectiveness of P3VAD on the four benchmark datasets (ShanghaiTech, CUHK Avenue, IITB‐Corridor, and ADOC).

Abstract Background Clinical events such as angina pectoris, acute coronary syndrome, and sudden death caused by myocardial bridge (MB) have attracted increasing attention. It is still a challenge to diagnose whether MB can cause the symptoms of patients with MB. For most MB patients, medication remains the primary treatment. Case presentation This article reports a case of chest pain in a patient with MB in the middle segment of the left anterior descending artery (LADm) with moderate stenosis in the proximal segment (LADp). Through functional assessment, we found that neither MB nor fixed stenosis had sufficient effect on coronary blood flow to cause myocardial ischemia, but their synergistic effect resulted in myocardial ischemia. Finally, a stent was implanted in LADp and good clinical results were achieved. Conclusions For symptomatic patients with MB combined with fixed stenosis, functional evaluation may be necessary, which has significant guiding significance for treatment strategy selection. For asymptomatic patients, early detection of myocardial ischemia may also improve the prognosis of patients.

Abstract With increases in life expectancy, the number of patients requiring joint replacement therapy and experiencing periprosthetic osteolysis, the most common complication leading to implant failure, is growing or underestimated. In this study, we found that osteolysis progression and osteoclast differentiation in the surface of the skull bone of adult mice were accompanied by significant expansion of lymphatic vessels within bones. Using recombinant VEGF-C protein to activate VEGFR3 and promote proliferation of lymphatic vessels in bone, we counteracted excessive differentiation of osteoclasts and osteolysis caused by titanium alloy particles or inflammatory cytokines LPS/TNF-α. However, this effect was not observed in aged mice because adipogenically differentiated mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) inhibited the response of lymphatic endothelial cells to agonist proteins. The addition of the JAK inhibitor ruxolitinib restored the response of lymphatic vessels to external stimuli in aged mice to protect against osteolysis progression. These findings suggest that inhibiting SASP secretion by adipogenically differentiated MSCs while activating lymphatic vessels in bone offers a new method to prevent periprosthetic osteolysis during joint replacement follow-up.

Abstract Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), a major cause of female infertility, is defined as follicular atresia and a rapid loss of germ cells in women of reproductive age due to ovarian failure. Recently, findings from several studies have indicated that human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUMSCs) can alleviate ovarian dysfunction resulting from POI. However, the mechanisms underlying this effect require further clarification. In this study, a mouse model of POI was established as achieved with an intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide (CTX) into female C57BL/6J mice in vivo. These POI mice received a 1-week intervention of hUMACs. In addition, an in vitro POI model was also included. The cultured supernatants of hUMSCs and glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3β) inhibitor (SB216763) were used to treat theca cells (TCs) exposed to CTX. Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining and Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to assess ovarian structure and morphology, as well as endocrine function in these POI mice. Based on results from the ELISA and JC-1 labeling, CTX exerted significant detrimental effects on testosterone levels and the mitochondrial membrane potential in TCs. Subsequently, Western Blot, Immunofluorescence staining (IF), and Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were used to evaluate various indicators of testosterone synthesis function and mitochondrial dynamics in ovaries and TCs of POI mice. In vivo, dysfunctions in ovarian structure and function in the POI mouse model were effectively restored following hUMSCs treatment, and abnormalities in hormone synthesis were significantly reduced. Furthermore, when the stem cell supernatants of hUMSCs were applied to TCs in vitro we found that GSK3β expression was reduced, the imbalance of mitochondrial dynamics was alleviated, and the ability of mitochondrial testosterone synthesis was increased. Taken together, our results indicate that hUMSCs treatment can restore the imbalance of mitochondrial dynamics and restart testosterone synthesis of TCs by suppressing GSK3β expression, ultimately alleviating POI damage.

Abstract Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is characterized by a high incidence and mortality rate. Despite advancements in therapeutic interventions, the prognosis for renal cancer patients remains suboptimal. Of late, methylation modifications have emerged as promising molecular targets for tumor assessment and treatment, yet their potential has not been fully investigated in the context of ccRCC. Transcriptomic and clinical data were extracted from The Cancer Genome Atlas, Gene Expression Omnibus, and ArrayExpress databases, leading to the identification of 57 methylation-related genes (MRGs). Utilizing DESeq2 analysis, Cox regression analysis, and the LASSO regression algorithm, a Methylation-Related Risk Score (MARS) was constructed. Cluster analysis, Gene Ontology (GO) analysis, clinical feature analysis, immune infiltration analysis, and mutation analysis were further employed to evaluate the model. Our investigation identified six pivotal prognostic MRGs and established a risk score predicated on m6A/m5C/m1A/m7G regulatory factors. This score was validated across two external cohorts and can be utilized to assess individual immune infiltration statuses and predict responses to immunotherapy. Moreover, cluster analysis delineated two distinct m6A/m5C/m1A/m7G gene clusters. We have developed and validated a robust prognostic signature based on genes associated with m6A, m5C, m1A, and m7G modifications. This gene signature demonstrates significant prognostic value in assessing survival outcomes, clinical characteristics, immune infiltration, and responses to immunotherapy in ccRCC patients. This finding provides valuable insights for refining precision treatment strategies.

The deformation control of surrounding rock in gob−side roadway with thick and hard roof poses a significant challenge to the safety and efficiency of coal mining. To address this issue, a novel approach combining directional and non-directional blasting techniques, known as combined blasting, was proposed. This study focuses on the experimental investigation of the proposed method in the 122108 working face in Caojiatan Coal Mine as the engineering background. The initial phase of the study involves physical model experiments to reveal the underlying mechanisms of combined blasting for protecting gob-side roadway with thick and hard roof. The results demonstrate that this approach effectively accelerates the collapse of thick and hard roofs, enhances the fragmentation and expansion coefficient of gangue, facilitates the filling of the goaf with gangue, and provides support to the overlying strata, thus reducing the subsidence of the overlying strata above the goaf. Additionally, the method involves cutting the main roof into shorter beams to decrease the stress and disrupt stress transmission pathways. Subsequent numerical simulations were conducted to corroborate the findings of the physical model experiments, thus validating the accuracy of the experimental results. Furthermore, field engineering experiments were performed, affirming the efficacy of the combined blasting method in mitigating the deformation of surrounding rock and achieving the desired protection of the gob-side roadway.

ObjectiveTo analyze the predictive effect of miRNA-let-7 combined with serum markers on the chemotherapy effect and prognosis of glioma (GBM) patients. MethodsWe collected the data of 25 patients with GBM. Twenty healthy volunteers were included as the control group. Fasting serum samples were collected. The levels of let-7b, let-7d, and let-7e in serum samples were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR. ResultsCompared with the control group, the levels of let-7b (192.5±18.71 vs. 98.13±11.68, t=6.42, P

Endemic to Taiwan Province, China, Cotoneaster rosiflorus Kun-Cheng Chang & Fu-Yuan Lu 2011 (Rosaceae) holds significant ecological and ornamental importance. Despite its value, research on its molecular data and phylogenetic position has remained limited. In this study, we addressed this gap by sequencing the genome-skimming data, assembling its plastome, and investigating its phylogenetic position. The plastome, spanning 159,449 bp in length, consisted of a large single-copy (87,433 bp), a small single-copy (19,262 bp), and two inverted repeat regions (26,377 bp). We annotated a total of 128 functional genes, including 84 protein-coding genes, 36 transfer genes, and eight ribosomal RNA genes. The phylogenetic results indicated that C. rosiflorus is closely related to C. dammerii, suggesting that C. rosiflorus might have captured its chloroplast from C. dammerii through hybridization and introgression events. This study offered valuable insights for forthcoming phylogenetic and population genetic investigations of Cotoneaster.

Abstract Anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE) has seen rapid advancements over the past decade due to its promising role in green hydrogen production. Ensuring long-term functionality is as crucial as optimizing performance to achieve commercial viability and industrial integration. However, few studies have systematically discussed the degradation issues of this technology. Therefore, a thorough understanding of AEMWE degradation is needed to guide the design, assembly, operation, and maintenance of the device over its lifetime. To address this gap, this review systematically overviewed the heterogeneous degradation of AEMWE across different material and interface levels, focusing on several key components including catalysts, ionomers, membranes, and gas diffusion layers. The influences of these components and their interfaces on the catalytic efficiency, active site density, and mass and electron transfer capabilities were discussed. Moreover, the impacts of operation conditions, including temperature, electrolyte composition, and clamping pressure, on the stable operation of AEMWE were assessed. Accordingly, current mitigation strategies to resolve these degradation phenomena were rigorously evaluated. By offering insights into optimizing operations, designing materials, and improving assessment protocols for AEMWE, this work will contribute to enhancing its stability for large-scale hydrogen production.

Abstract The development of unstable carotid atherosclerotic plaques is associated with the induction of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) via the activation of diverse inflammatory mediators in the circulating bloodstream. However, the underlying mechanisms through which NETs influence the microenvironment of atherosclerotic plaques and contribute to the development of unstable carotid plaques remain largely elusive. The objective of this study was to elucidate the role of myeloid differentiation protein 1 (MD-1, LY86)-induced NETs underlying the crosstalk between unstable plaque formation and the plaque microenvironment. We employed bioinformatics analysis to identify key genes associated with carotid-unstable plaque, followed by comprehensive validation using various experimental approaches on tissue specimens and plasma samples classified based on pathological characteristics. Patients with carotid-unstable plaques exhibited elevated plasma concentrations of MD-1 (LY86), while patients with stable plaques demonstrated comparatively lower levels. Furthermore, soluble MD-1 was found to induce the formation of NETs through activation of Toll-like receptor signaling pathway. The proliferative and immature vascularization effects of NETs on endothelial cells, as well as their inhibitory impact on cell migration, are directly correlated with the concentration of NETs. Additionally, NETs were found to activate the NF-κB signaling pathway, thereby upregulating ICAM1, VCAM1, MMP14, VEGFA, and IL6 expression in both Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and HAECs. Subsequently, a significant increase in intraplaque neovascularization by NETs results in poor carotid plaque stability, and NETs in turn stimulate macrophages to produce more MD-1, generating a harmful positive feedback loop. Our findings suggest that soluble MD-1 in the bloodstream triggers the production of NETs through activation of the Toll-like receptor signaling pathway and further indicate NETs mediate a crosstalk between the microenvironment of the carotid plaque and the neovascularization of the intraplaque region. Inhibiting NETs formation or MD-1 secretion may represent a promising strategy to effectively suppress the development of unstable carotid plaques.

Avian Pasteurella multocida infection, can cause serious economic losses to the poultry industry every year. The inactivated vaccines of avian Pasteurella multocida are used to prevent infection. Increasing the cell density of avian Pasteurella multocida is the key to the application of these inactivated vaccines. This can be achieved by controlling the feeding strategy. This study aimed to achieve high-cell-density cultivation of avian Pasteurella multocida by applying an appropriate medium and a rational feeding strategy based on viable cell growth and dissolved oxygen level variation during a fermentation process. An optimized medium suited for the growth of avian P. multocida was used. Meanwhile, besides the online real-time determination of viable cell density, the concentration of glucose was maintained at 1.5 g/L using a glucose-stat feeding strategy after 2 h. The selected nutrient mixture, including yeast extract, tryptone, betaine, VB1, and VH, was fed using a dissolved oxygen feedback feeding strategy after 4 h. As a result, the viable cell density and cell count of avian P. multocida under optimized conditions were increased to OD600: 9.38 and 4.58×1010 CFU/mL, which were higher by 7.27 and 7.26 times than those under the original conditions, respectively.

Introduction The global prevalence of obesity and its associated comorbidities is rising, with bariatric surgery emerging as a highly efficacious intervention for obese patients. Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common complication following bariatric surgery, with a standardised protocol for its prevention and management yet to be established. This study aims to determine the incidence and the influencing factors of PONV following various types of bariatric surgeries, thereby facilitating the targeted prevention strategies.Methods and analysis This retrospective, single-centre observational study will be conducted at the Third People’s Hospital of Chengdu, with an expected enrolment of 2500 patients who have undergone laparoscopic bariatric surgery from December 2019 to April 2024. The study aims to collect data regarding the incidence of PONV and analyse the potential risk and protective factors associated with its development in this patient population.Ethics and dissemination The study has been approved by the ethics committees of the Third People’s Hospital of Chengdu. Given the retrospective nature of the study, informed consent was waived by the ethics committee, and all patient data were anonymised to safeguard privacy prior to the study authors’ visit. The results of this study will be presented at various academic and healthcare conferences, spanning local to international levels and will also be submitted for publication in reputable, peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration number This study has been registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Register (ChiCTR) under registration number ChiCTR2400088738.