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Abstract This study aims to evaluate the prognostic utility of Activity-dependent neuroprotective protein (ADNP) expression in Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) inpatients with Non-muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC) undergoing Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumor (TURBT). A prospective cohort of 74 bladder cancer patients and 22 non-cancer controls were enrolled. The expression of ADNP mRNA was detected by immunomagnetic beads-droplet digital PCR. The ADNP mRNA expression was evaluated in patients with high-risk NMIBC and those with indeterminate invasion depth post 2nd TURBT. Primary cultured bladder cancer cells and PBMCs from healthy donors were immunofluorescence stained. Our findings suggest that baseline ADNP mRNA level in CTCs shows potential as a prognostic marker for NMIBC with a sensitivity of 83.33% and a specificity of 73.58%. In comparison to baseline, ADNP mRNA expression increased post 2nd TURBT in 5 patients, where 2 experienced recurrence. Meanwhile, among the 12 patients with decreased levels, only one patient relapsed. A considerable limitation of this study entails the small sample size. The Immuno-magnetic beads-ddPCR technique provided a viable method for ADNP mRNA detection in CTCs from bladder cancer patients. The preoperative ADNP mRNA level in CTCs was identified as a prognostic indicator for NMIBC. Longitudinal monitoring of ADNP mRNA in CTCs of bladder cancer patients shows promise in evaluating treatment responses and predicting prognosis.

Abstract Background In patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty (TJA), the administration of dexamethasone may contribute to perioperative blood glucose (BG) disturbances, potentially resulting in complications, even in patients without diabetes. This study aimed to demonstrate the impact of different administration regimens of dexamethasone in postoperative BG levels. Methods In this randomized, controlled, double-blind trial, 136 patients without diabetes scheduled for TJA were randomly assigned to three groups: two perioperative saline injections (Group A, placebo); a single preoperative injection of 20 mg dexamethasone and a postoperative saline injection (Group B), and two perioperative injections of 10 mg dexamethasone (Group C). Primary outcomes were the postoperative fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels. Secondary outcome parameters were the postoperative postprandial blood glucose (PBG) levels. Postoperative complications within 90 days were also recorded. Risk factors for FBG ≥ 140 mg/dl and PBG ≥ 180 mg/dl were investigated. Results Compared to Group A, there were transient increases in FBG and PBG on postoperative days (PODs) 0 and 1 in Groups B and C. Statistical differences in FBG and PBG among the three groups were nearly absent from POD 1 onward. Both dexamethasone regimens did not increase the risk for postoperative FBG ≥ 140 mg/dl or PBG ≥ 180 mg/dl. Elevated preoperative HbA1c levels may increase the risk of postoperative FBG ≥ 140 mg/dl or PBG ≥ 180 mg/dl, respectively. Conclusion Perioperative intravenous high-dose dexamethasone to patients without diabetes has transient effects on increasing BG levels after TJA. However, no differences were found between the split-dose and single high-dose regimens. The elevated preoperative HbA1c, but not the dexamethasone regimens were the risk factor for FBG ≥ 140 mg/dl and PBG ≥ 180 mg/dl. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trail Registry, ChiCTR2300069473. Registered 17 March 2023, https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=186760 .

Background:. With the accumulation of experience and evidence, guidelines for invasive intervention for acute pancreatitis (AP) have continuously evolved, followed in Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH). We aimed to review AP case series to help understand the impact of guideline evolution on the management and prognosis of AP in real-world practice. Methods:. This was a single-center study of AP patients who had received invasive interventions from 1988 to 2022. Patient demographics, baseline severity, imaging findings, and the indication, timing, and specific modalities of invasive interventions were collected. The composite primary endpoint was death during hospitalization or major complications after intervention. Other endpoints included pancreatic fistula, incision infection, number of interventions, length of intensive care stay, length of hospitalization, and total medical cost. Results:. A total of 195 patients were included. The most common indication for invasive intervention was suspected infection, followed by persistent symptoms. The step-up and delayed strategies reduced the incidence of major complications or death. Over 35 years, the number of patients requiring surgery has gradually declined, and more patients need only minimally invasive procedures for remission. The incidence of the primary outcome decreased as well as the duration of hospitalization. Conclusions:. The management of AP patients at PUMCH in the last 35 years has undergone therapeutic guideline changes that support the efficacy and safety of the deferred step-up strategy in real-world practice.

This study introduces a brazing technique for joining Al0·3CoCrFeNi high-entropy alloy (HEA) utilizing a FeCoCrNiCu/Ti composite interlayer. The primary objectives of this investigation encompass an examination of the microstructure of the Al0·3CoCrFeNi joint, as well as an evaluation of the shear strength of the brazed joints under diverse brazing parameters. The characteristic microstructure of the Al0·3CoCrFeNi brazing seam is comprised of Ti (s, s), Cu (s, s) from the FeCoCrNiCu interlayer, and face-centered cubic (FCC) phases containing more than five elements. When the brazing temperature increases from 1100 °C to 1180 °C, there is a gradual augmentation in the diffusion of Ti element and subsequent reactions involving Cu, Ti, and Ni. Furthermore, the impact of holding time on the brazing seam is investigated. The findings suggest that prolonging the holding time has a relatively negligible effect on the reaction layer formed by the Ti foil. However, it does lead to a reduction of the Cu (s, s) content within the FeCoCrNiCu interlayer. Notably, the highest shear strength reaches up to 280 MPa when the joint brazed at 1160 °C for 10 min. In addition, the shear strength did not decrease below 800 °C. During the shear test, ductile fractures are observed in the joint, indicating favorable mechanical properties. Overall, this study successfully demonstrates the potential of the proposed brazing technique employing a FeCoCrNiCu/Ti composite interlayer for the effective joining of Al0·3CoCrFeNi HEA. By optimizing the brazing parameters, it is possible to achieve robust joints with exceptional mechanical characteristics.

Narrow gap oscillating laser welding with filler wire is a promising technique for joining high-strength steels in construction machinery. In order to investigate the influence of beam oscillation on the surface morphology and microstructure of weld joints of two types of commonly-used high-strength steels, a comparative study between oscillation welding and non-oscillation welding was conducted. High-speed photography technique was employed to reveal the microstructure and mechanical properties of the dissimilar joints. The results showed that laser beam oscillation produces two effects: one was to enlarge the heated surface of molten pool, while the other was to stir the liquid metal in molten pool periodically. Under the first effect, the fusion between sidewall and weld bead layers was promoted, while under the latter, coarse columnar grains ceased to appear, but finer grains were formed. The weld joints between Q355 and 35 steels exhibited excellent tensile impact bending performance, which was attributed to the grain refinement effect. The results also demonstrated that the oscillation welding with a contact angle less than 50° could avoid lack of fusion in multi-pass wire-filling laser welding. The influence of the oscillation welding process on the quality of welding was further discussed.

As the third‐generation network succeeding artificial neural networks (ANNs), spiking neural networks (SNNs) offer high robustness and low energy consumption. Inspired by biological systems, the limitations of low robustness and high‐power consumption in deep reinforcement learning (DRL) are addressed by introducing SNNs. The Brain Q‐network (BrainQN) is proposed, which replaces the neurons in the classic Deep Q‐learning (DQN) algorithm with SNN neurons. BrainQN is trained using surrogate gradient learning (SGL) and ANN‐to‐SNN conversion methods. Robustness tests with input noise reveal BrainQN's superior performance, achieving an 82.14% increase in rewards under low noise and 71.74% under high noise compared to DQN. These findings highlight BrainQN's robustness and superior performance in noisy environments, supporting its application in complex scenarios. SGL‐trained BrainQN is more robust than ANN‐to‐SNN conversion under high noise. The differences in network output correlations between noisy and original inputs, along with training algorithm distinctions, explain this phenomenon. BrainQN successfully transitioned from a simulated Pong environment to a ball‐catching robot with dynamic vision sensors (DVS). On the neuromorphic chip PAICORE, it shows significant advantages in latency and power consumption compared to Jetson Xavier NX.

ABSTRACT Two different sarbecoviruses, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and SARS-CoV-2, have caused serious challenges to public health. Certain sarbecoviruses utilize angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as their cellular receptor, whereas some do not, speculatively due to the two deletions in their receptor-binding domain (RBD). However, it remains unclear whether sarbecoviruses with one deletion in the RBD can still bind to ACE2. Here, we showed that two phylogenetically related sarbecoviruses with one deletion, BtKY72 and BM48-31, displayed a different ACE2-usage range. The cryo-electron microscopy structure of BtKY72 RBD bound to bat ACE2 identified a key residue important for the interaction between RBD and ACE2. In addition, we demonstrated that the mutations involving four types of core residues enabled the sarbecoviruses with deletion(s) to bind to human ACE2 (hACE2) and broadened the ACE2 usage of SARS-CoV-2. Our findings help predict the potential hACE2-binding ability to emerge sarbecoviruses and develop pan-sarbecovirus therapeutic agents.IMPORTANCEMany sarbecoviruses, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), possess the ability to bind to receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) through their receptor-binding domain (RBD). However, certain sarbecoviruses with deletion(s) in the RBD lack this capability. In this study, we investigated two closely related short-deletion sarbecoviruses, BtKY72 and BM48-31, and revealed that BtKY72 exhibited a broader ACE2-binding spectrum compared to BM48-31. Structural analysis of the BtKY72 RBD-bat ACE2 complex identifies a critical residue at position 493 contributing to these differences. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the mutations involving four core residues in the RBD enabled the sarbecoviruses with deletion(s) to bind to human ACE2 and expanded the ACE2 usage spectra of SARS-CoV-2. These findings offer crucial insights for accurately predicting the potential threat of newly emerging sarbecoviruses to human health.

Carbon isotopes have been used extensively in tracing the sources of oil. However, primary source facies and secondary alteration controls on oil isotopic compositions have not been well resolved, resulting in application uncertainties. A case study was undertaken for an alkaline lacustrine oil system in a lower Permian formation in the Junggar Basin, NW China. Results indicate that increasing maturity causes the carbon isotopic composition to become heavier for only short–middle-chain compounds, whereas source facies-related carbon assimilation controls the compositions of short-, middle-, and long-chain compounds. In particular, light-carbon assimilation during organic-matter degradation makes the isotopic composition lighter, whereas heavy carbon from the water mass makes it heavier. Accordingly, oils in this study area were divided into Type U and Type N oils based on individual compound carbon isotopic compositions, reflecting the difference in source facies in a highly saline and reducing stratified water environment. The results provide a better understanding of the controls on carbon isotopes in oil in sedimentary basins, reducing the uncertainty in oil–source correlation and addressing the origin of oil.

Abstract The recently‐observed poleward shift in western North Pacific tropical cyclone (TC) genesis has increased the TC threat to East Asia. We find that the poleward shift of TC genesis since 1979 is linked to mega‐ENSO. A downscaling analysis of TC genesis latitude given the constraint of mega‐ENSO using 30 models from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) show a continued increasing poleward shift with additional warming. We use the dynamic genesis potential index as a TC proxy in future CMIP6 simulations. These simulations show enhanced TC formation in the subtropics and decreased TC formation in the tropics. Modeled TCs in CMIP6 high‐resolution models that well represent mega‐ENSO project future poleward shifts in TC genesis. Both observations and simulations show that extra‐tropical North Pacific sea surface temperature warming associated with mega‐ENSO are the primary driver of the TC genesis poleward shift. Our study provides new insights into climate change‐driven TC migration.

Abstract Background Bladder cancer (BC) is one of the most common malignancies of the genitourinary system. Phosphofructokinase 1 (PFK-1) is one of member of PFK, which plays an important role in reprogramming cancer metabolism, such as lactylation modification. Zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) has been demonstrated to be a oncogene in many cancers. Therefore, this study was performed to explore the effects of PFK-1 on the lactylation of ZEB1 in BC development. Methods Cell viability was measured using the CCK-8 kit. The glucose assay kit and lactate assay kit were used to detect glucose utilization and lactate production. The DNA was purified and quantified by qRT-PCR. Results In the present study, we found that ZEB1 expression levels were significantly elevated in bladder cancer cells. Impaired PFK-1 expression inhibits proliferation, migration, and invasion of BC cells and suppresses tumour growth in vivo. We subsequently found that knockdown of PFK-1 decreases glycolysis, including reduced glucose consumption, lactate production and total extracellular acidification rate (ECAR). Mechanistically, PFK-1 inhibits histone lactylation of bladder cancer cells, and thus inhibits the transcription activity of ZEB1. Conclusion Our results suggest that PFK-1 can inhibit the malignant phenotype of bladder cancer cells by mediating the lactylation of ZEB1. These findings suggested PFK-1 to be a new potential target for bladder cancer therapy.

Abstract Chemotherapeutic drugs will affect the process of spermatogenesis. However, most current studies on the effects of chemotherapeutic drugs on spermatogenesis are based on mouse models, with a shortage of human body evidence. In addition, the mechanism of chemotherapeutic drugs causing spermatogenesis disorder is not clear. Therefore, we have collected the testicular tissues of an inguinal-lipoma patient whose testes were resected after chemotherapy and a patient who had normal spermatogenesis disorder and underwent single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-Seq). After quality control, we obtained a total of 27,957 high-quality cells, including 18,612 normal cells and 9,345 drug-treated cells, which were all used in analyzing the mechanism of chemotherapeutic drugs causing spermatogenesis disorder. This study has provided data resources and references for exploring the mechanism of chemotherapeutic drugs causing spermatogenesis disorder with the insight of protecting the spermatogenic abilities of male tumor patients receiving chemotherapy.

Abstract Implant-associated infections due to the formation of bacterial biofilms pose a serious threat in medical healthcare, which needs effective therapeutic methods. Here, we propose a multifunctional nanoreactor by spatiotemporal ultrasound-driven tandem catalysis to amplify the efficacy of sonodynamic and chemodynamic therapy. By combining piezoelectric barium titanate with polydopamine and copper, the ultrasound-activated piezo-hot carriers transfer easily to copper by polydopamine. It boosts reactive oxygen species production by piezoelectrics, and facilitates the interconversion between Cu2+ and Cu+ to promote hydroxyl radical generation via Cu+ -catalyzed chemodynamic reactions. Finally, the elevated reactive oxygen species cause bacterial membrane structure loosening and DNA damage. Transcriptomics and metabolomics analysis reveal that intracellular copper overload restricts the tricarboxylic acid cycle, promoting bacterial cuproptosis-like death. Therefore, the polyetherketoneketone scaffold engineered with the designed nanoreactor shows excellent antibacterial performance with ultrasound stimulation and promotes angiogenesis and osteogenesis on-demand in vivo.

Objectives The objective of this study was to quantify the morphology, composition, and asymmetry of the paravertebral extensor muscles (PSEMs) in patients with cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) who had different modified K‐line (mK‐line) and the minimum interval between the mK‐line and OPLL (INTmin) values and to investigate the relationship between PSEMs and symptoms and outcomes following laminoplasty. These original findings elucidated that the atrophy of PSEMs could predict decompression outcomes and provided a theoretical basis for paraspinal muscle rehabilitation. Methods A total of 94 consecutive patients who underwent laminoplasty for OPLL between January 2020 and January 2022 were enrolled in this retrospective study. The relative cross‐sectional areas (rCSA), functional cross‐sectional areas (rFCSA), and FCSA/CSA ratio of the multifidus (MF), semispinalis cervicalis (SSCe), semispinalis capitis (SSCa), and splenius capitis (SpCa) were measured at the C3–C7 segments on cervical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This study compared the differences between the mK‐line (+) group and the mK‐line (−) group, as well as between the INTmin

BackgroundIncreasing evidence reveals the involvement of mitochondria and macrophage polarisation in tumourigenesis and progression. This study aimed to establish mitochondria and macrophage polarisation-associated molecular signatures to predict prognosis in gastric cancer (GC) by single-cell and transcriptional data.MethodsInitially, candidate genes associated with mitochondria and macrophage polarisation were identified by differential expression analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis. Subsequently, candidate genes were incorporated in univariateCox analysis and LASSO to acquire prognostic genes in GC, and risk model was created. Furthermore, independent prognostic indicators were screened by combining risk score with clinical characteristics, and a nomogram was created to forecast survival in GC patients. Further, in single-cell data analysis, cell clusters and cell subpopulations were yielded, followed by the completion of pseudo-time analysis. Furthermore, a more comprehensive immunological analysis was executed to uncover the relationship between GC and immunological characteristics. Ultimately, expression level of prognostic genes was validated through public datasets and qRT-PCR.ResultsA risk model including six prognostic genes (GPX3, GJA1, VCAN, RGS2, LOX, and CTHRC1) associated with mitochondria and macrophage polarisation was developed, which was efficient in forecasting the survival of GC patients. The GC patients were categorized into high-/low-risk subgroups in accordance with median risk score, with the high-risk subgroup having lower survival rates. Afterwards, a nomogram incorporating risk score and age was generated, and it had significant predictive value for predicting GC survival with higher predictive accuracy than risk model. Immunological analyses revealed showed higher levels of M2 macrophage infiltration in high-risk subgroup and the strongest positive correlation between risk score and M2 macrophages. Besides, further analyses demonstrated a better outcome for immunotherapy in low-risk patients. In single-cell and pseudo-time analyses, stromal cells were identified as key cells, and a relatively complete developmental trajectory existed for stromal C1 in three subclasses. Ultimately, expression analysis revealed that the expression trend of RGS2, GJA1, GPX3, and VCAN was consistent with the results of the TCGA-GC dataset.ConclusionOur findings demonstrated that a novel prognostic model constructed in accordance with six prognostic genes might facilitate the improvement of personalised prognosis and treatment of GC patients.

In recent years, new energy vehicles (NEVs) have taken the world by storm. A large number of NEV batteries have been scrapped, and research on NEV battery recycling is important for promoting the sustainable development of NEVs. Battery recycling is an important aspect of the sustainable development of NEVs. In this study, we conducted an in-depth analysis of the current status of research on NEV battery recycling from a new perspective using bibliometric methods and visualization software. This study shows that research targeting the recycling of NEV batteries is growing rapidly, and collaborative networks exist among researchers from different countries, institutions, and fields. The focus of research has shifted from lead-acid batteries to lithium batteries, and the supply chain and circular economy related to NEV battery recycling is an emerging research hotspot. Based on our analysis, we propose that the government should establish policies to improve the recycling networks at the collection stage and provide subsidies to attract consumers. Enterprises should develop low-cobalt and cobalt-free technologies, utilize green solvents, and develop new battery swap modes. The establishment of an information platform is conducive to the further development of collaborative networks.

Reactive air brazing (RAB) has been widely applied in fabricating solid oxide fuel cell stacks, gas separators, sensors, and other fields due to the joint good oxidation resistance. Nevertheless, a methodical analysis of fundamental principles, development process, and application scope has yet to be reported since RAB was proposed in 2000. Although various braze systems have been developed, a comprehensive comparison and classification are still absent, making it difficult to guide the selection of RAB braze. Besides, this technique faces several intractable issues, such as excessive interfacial reactions, large thermal mismatch, etc., seriously restricting the RAB application. Hence this review elucidates the basic information, braze systems, existing issues, and corresponding solutions of RAB. The joining mechanism, development history, and application fields are explicitly introduced. Reported braze systems are analyzed in-depth and divided into three categories according to reactivity. Further, we outline four issues of RAB: excessive interfacial reaction, excessive thermal expansion coefficient of braze, limited aging performance, and high-temperature softening of braze, and discuss the corresponding solutions. Finally, our review proposed several potential improvements and possible future research trends in the RAB technique, aiming to guide the future development of RAB and offer new insights to broaden its application range.

BackgroundIschaemic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) caused by coronary artery disease accounts for the largest proportion of heart failure cases with the worst prognosis. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is the most effective treatment for ischaemic HFrEF. On-pump and off-pump are the two surgical methods used for CABG. Whether patients with HFrEF should undergo on- or off-pump CABG is controversial in coronary heart disease surgery. The left ventricular end-systolic volume index (LVSEVI) is the gold standard for evaluating the severity of left ventricular remodelling; however, its effect on the perioperative risk and long-term survival rate of patients with HFrEF undergoing CABG remains unclear.MethodsThis single centre prospective cohort analysis included 118 coronary heart disease patients with symptoms and signs of heart failure and a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of

In the paper, the authors simply review recent results of inequalities, monotonicity, signs of determinants, determinantal formulas, closed-form expressions, and identities of the Bernoulli numbers and polynomials, establish an identity involving the differences between the Bernoulli polynomials and the Bernoulli numbers, present two identities among the differences between the Bernoulli polynomials and the Bernoulli numbers in terms of a determinant and a partial Bell polynomial, and derive a determinantal formula of the differences between the Bernoulli polynomials and the Bernoulli numbers.

Vacuum brazing of TiAl alloy is achieved using TiZrNiCu fillers and BNi-2 fillers. The oxidation behavior of the two kinds of TiAl alloy joints is investigated in air at 800 °C. The influence of high-temperature oxidation on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the joints are characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and shear tests. It is found that long-term oxidation does not have a large effect on the microstructure of joints. However, the fillet of the brazed joint achieved via BNi-2 fillers forms longitudinal solidification cracks, which proved that the brazed joint using TiZrNiCu fillers shows more excellent oxidation resistance.

Glass/Glass-ceramic sealing is always accompanied by issues of high porosity and brittle joints. To migrate these problems, an Ag foam was innovatively induced as an interlayer in the process of glass sealing the yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) ceramic to Mn–Co spinel-coated Crofer 22 H stainless steel. Interlayer-added joints showed a significant reduction in porosity, and the shear strength was improved to 52.3 MPa, with an enhancement of 37.8 %. The influence of interlayer on the microstructure of the joint has been investigated and the formation process of the joint is illustrated. The Ag interlayer expels gases from the sealant material through expansion at high temperatures and promotes finer nucleation grains of crystallites integrating with the interlayer, reducing the porosity and alleviating the brittleness as well.

Cadmium (Cd) contamination in soil has emerged as a significant challenge for agricultural production. Phytoremediation and passivation are key techniques for remediating Cd-contaminated soil. However, few studies have focused on the synergistic effects of these two techniques. In this work, the effectiveness of synergetic remediation strategies, both synchronous and asynchronous, utilizing passivation and phytoremediation techniques, was explored. The results of pot experiments and field experiments indicated that optimal remediation effects were obtained by asynchronous synergetic remediation, removing over 80% of bioavailable Cd within 14 days. Mechanistic studies conducted using XPS analysis, soil property analysis, and microbial diversity analysis confirmed that the chelation effect of SDD and soil pH value are the primary factors contributing to the effectiveness of both remediation strategies. In contrast, the variations in microbial populations are identified as the crucial factors influencing the varying outcomes of the two sequential remediation approaches. This research demonstrates that asynchronous synergistic remediation is a promising strategy for mitigating Cd contamination in soil.

The prolonged duration of phytoremediation poses a risk of heavy metal dispersal to the surrounding environment. This study investigated a combined remediation approach for cadmium (Cd)- and arsenic (As)-contaminated soil by integrating phytoremediation with stabilization techniques. Bidens pilosa was utilized as the phytoremediator, and steel slag, pyrolusite, and FeSO4 were employed as stabilizing agents in the pot experiments. Key metrics such as soil moisture content, root length, plant height, and heavy metal concentrations in Bidens pilosa were measured to evaluate the remediation efficacy. Additionally, the bioavailability, leaching toxicity, and chemical forms of Cd and As, along with other soil properties, were analyzed. The results indicated that the optimal restoration effect was achieved by combining steel slag, pyrolusite, and FeSO4 with stabilizers in a ratio of 2:1:10. Additionally, the optimal dosage of these materials was found to be 9% by weight. Mechanistic studies, including heavy metal speciation analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and microbial community diversity analysis, revealed that the stabilization effects were primarily due to the interactions of anionic and cationic ions, chelation by organic acids secreted by plant roots, and enhanced microbial activity. A cost–benefit analysis demonstrated the technical, economic, and commercial viability of the combined remediation approach.

Pesticide residues in soil, especially multiple herbicide residues, cause a series of adverse effects on soil properties and microorganisms. In this work, the degradation of three herbicides and the effect on bacterial communities under combined pollution was investigated. The experimental results showed that the half-lives of acetochlor and prometryn significantly altered under combined exposure (5.02–11.17 d) as compared with those of individual exposure (4.70–6.87 d) in soil, suggesting that there was an antagonistic effect between the degradation of acetochlor and prometryn in soil. No remarkable variation in the degradation rate of atrazine with half-lives of 6.21–6.85 d was observed in different treatments, indicating that the degradation of atrazine was stable. 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing results showed that the antagonistic effect of acetochlor and prometryn on the degradation rate under combined pollution was related to variation of the Sphingomonas and Nocardioide. Furthermore, the potential metabolic pathways of the three herbicides in soil were proposed and a new metabolite of acetochlor was preliminarily identified. The results of this work provide a guideline for the risk evaluation of combined pollution of the three herbicides with respect to their ecological effects in soil.

As an emerging direction of multi-agent collaborative control technology, multiple autonomous underwater vehicle (multi-AUV) cooperative area search technology has played an important role in civilian fields such as marine resource exploration and development, marine rescue, and marine scientific expeditions, as well as in military fields such as mine countermeasures and military underwater reconnaissance. At present, as we continue to explore the ocean, the environment in which AUVs perform search tasks is mostly unknown, with many uncertainties such as obstacles, which places high demands on the autonomous decision-making capabilities of AUVs. Moreover, considering the limited detection capability of a single AUV in underwater environments, while the area searched by the AUV is constantly expanding, a single AUV cannot obtain global state information in real time and can only make behavioral decisions based on local observation information, which adversely affects the coordination between AUVs and the search efficiency of multi-AUV systems. Therefore, in order to face increasingly challenging search tasks, we adopt multi-agent reinforcement learning (MARL) to study the problem of multi-AUV cooperative area search from the perspective of improving autonomous decision-making capabilities and collaboration between AUVs. First, we modeled the search task as a decentralized partial observation Markov decision process (Dec-POMDP) and established a search information map. Each AUV updates the information map based on sonar detection information and information fusion between AUVs, and makes real-time decisions based on this to better address the problem of insufficient observation information caused by the weak perception ability of AUVs in underwater environments. Secondly, we established a multi-AUV cooperative area search system (MACASS), which employs a search strategy based on multi-agent reinforcement learning. The system combines various AUVs into a unified entity using a distributed control approach. During the execution of search tasks, each AUV can make action decisions based on sonar detection information and information exchange among AUVs in the system, utilizing the MARL-based search strategy. As a result, AUVs possess enhanced autonomy in decision-making, enabling them to better handle challenges such as limited detection capabilities and insufficient observational information.

Despite the lengthy history of the research on destination image from various perspectives, how pro-environmental destination image promotes resident environmental citizenship behavior remains underexplored. Grounded in the cognition–affect–behavior (CAB) model, this research investigated the translation of pro-environmental destination image into resident environmental citizenship behavior via satisfaction and pride. Data were collected using an intercept survey approach from a tourism village recognized as one of the best in the world by UNWTO. The results indicated that a pro-environmental destination image has a positive impact on resident environmental citizenship behavior in the private and public domains. Furthermore, resident satisfaction and pride serve as mediators between pro-environmental destination image and resident environmental citizenship behavior. This research contributes to the literature on resident environmental citizenship behavior by considering the role of pro-environmental destination image. The findings provide practical implications for fostering environmental citizenship behavior through the presentation of pro-environmental images to residents and eliciting their positive emotions.

In recent years, cadmium (Cd) contamination in agricultural soil has emerged as a significant global environmental issue, posing irreversible harm to crops and human health. As a result, efficient soil remediation techniques are urgently needed. For this issue, synergistic remediation by material and plant is an effective approach. In this study, a natural and green adsorption material (starch/montmorillonite composite, SMC) of Cd was prepared, which was further employed in synergistic remediation toward soil Cd contamination with the cadmium hyperaccumulator plant Bidens bipinnata. The results of the pot experiment demonstrated that an available Cd removal rate of 77.92 could be obtained, and the results of the field experiments demonstrate that the concentrations of Cd in contaminated soil could be reduced below the risk-screening values for agricultural land. Further analyses, including a microbial community diversity study, changes in soil BCR fraction components, and a TCLP toxicity leaching experiment, unequivocally elucidated that the synergy of SMC and Bidens bipinnata enhanced the remediation efficiency of Cd in contaminated soil. This study confirmed the application potential of the synergy of SMC and Bidens bipinnata toward Cd-contaminated soil.

Evapotranspiration (ET) accounts for over half of the moisture source of Asian monsoon rainfall, which has been significantly altered by anthropogenic forcings. However, how individual anthropogenic forcing affects the ET over monsoonal Asia is still elusive. In this study, we found a significant decline in ET over the Asian monsoon region during the period of 1950–2014 in Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) models. The attribution analysis suggests that anthropogenic aerosol forcing is the primary cause of the weakening in ET in the historical simulation, while it is only partially compensated by the strengthening effect from GHGs, although GHGs are the dominant forcings for surface temperature increase. The physical mechanisms responsible for ET changes are different between aerosol and GHG forcings. The increase in aerosol emissions enhances the reflection and scattering of the downward solar radiation, which decreases the net surface irradiance for ET. GHGs, on the one hand, increase the moisture capability of the atmosphere and, thus, the ensuing rainfall; on the other hand, they increase the ascending motion over the Indian subcontinent, leading to an increase in rainfall. Both processes are beneficial for an ET increase. The results from this study suggest that future changes in the land–water cycle may mainly rely on the aerosol emission policy rather than the carbon reduction policy.

Real-time automatic displacement monitoring of metro tunnels is vital for ensuring operational safety and contributes to carbon reduction goals by improving system efficiency. This study focuses on key monitoring elements such as displacement, settlement, convergence, and cracking. Through the analysis of continuous monitoring data, a real-time displacement monitoring model for metro tunnels based on robotic total stations is proposed. This model can timely identify potential risks, thereby ensuring the safe operation of tunnels and reducing carbon emissions from unnecessary maintenance operations, thereby reducing the carbon footprint of metro operations. This article takes the Jinan Metro Tunnel Displacement Real-time Monitoring Project in China as a case study and constructs a comprehensive monitoring framework using robotic total stations, intelligent automated deformation monitoring data collectors, and cloud servers. The implementation details of the project, displacement monitoring principles, monitoring system construction, and data analysis processes are elaborated in detail. Taking the monitoring data of Jinan Metro Line 2 from April 1, 2022, to May 31, 2023, as an example, the results show that the tunnel displacement is within the safe range, verifying the practical application value of the method proposed in this paper. It can effectively ensure the safe operation of the metro and promote sustainable development and low-carbon metro construction.

Seaweed fertilizer, formulated primarily with seaweed extract as its main ingredient, has been extensively studied and found to significantly improve nutrient use efficiency, increase crop yield and quality, and enhance soil properties under field conditions. This growing body of evidence shows that seaweed fertilizer is a suitable option for sustainable agriculture in China. However, a comprehensive and quantitative analysis of the overall effects of seaweed fertilizer application in China is lacking. To address this gap, we conducted a meta-analysis of relevant studies on the effects of seaweed fertilizers under field conditions in China with MetaWin and SPSS software. Our analysis examined the effects of seaweed fertilizers on crop yield, quality, and growth under different preparation methods, application techniques, and regions. Our results showed that the application of seaweed fertilizer led to a significant average increase in crop yield of 15.17% compared with the control treatments. Root & tuber crops exhibited the most pronounced response, with a yield boost of 21.19%. Moreover, seaweed fertilizer application significantly improved crop quality, with elevations in the sugar-acid ratio (38.32%) vitamin C (18.07%), starch (19.65%), and protein (11.45%). In addition, plant growth parameters such as height, stem thickness, root weight, and leaf area showed significant enhancement with seaweed fertilizer use. The yield-increasing effect of seaweed fertilizers varied depending on their preparation and use method, climate, and soil of application location. Our study provides fundamental reference data for the efficient and scientific application of seaweed fertilizers in agricultural practices.

The role of focal packages in packaging ecosystems is crucial for the development of the entire ecosystem, as they are the packages on which other packages depend. However, the evolution of dependency groups in packaging ecosystems has not been systematically investigated. In this study, we examine the downstream dependency package groups (DDGs) in three typical packaging ecosystems—Cargo for Rust, Comprehensive Perl Archive Network for Perl, and RubyGems for Ruby—to identify their features and evolution. We also identify and analyze a special type of DDG, the collaborative downstream dependency package group (CDDG), which requires shared contributors. Our findings show that the overall development of DDGs, particularly CDDGs, is consistent with the status of the whole ecosystem, and the size of DDGs and CDDGs follows a power law distribution. Furthermore, the interaction mechanisms between focal packages and downstream packages differ between ecosystems, but focal packages always play a leading role in the development of DDGs and CDDGs. Finally, we investigate predictive models for the development of CDDGs in the next stage based on their features, and our results show that random forest and Gradient Boosting Regression Tree achieve acceptable prediction accuracy. We provide the raw data and scripts used for our analysis at https://github.com/onion616/DDG.

Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT) are the most common reproductive system malignancies in men aged 15–44 years, accounting for 95 % of all testicular tumors. Our previous studies have been shown that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), such as LINC00313, TTTY14 and RFPL3S, were associated with development of TGCT. Subgrouping TGCT according to differential expressed lncRNAs and immunological characteristics is helpful to comprehensively describe the characteristics of TGCT and implement precise treatment. In this study, the TGCT transcriptome data in The Cancer Genome Atlas Program (TCGA) database was used to perform consensus clustering analysis to construct a prognostic model for TGCT. TGCT was divided into 3 subtypes C1, C2, and C3 based on the differentially expressed lncRNAs. C1 subtype was sensitive to chemotherapy drugs, while the C2 subtype was not sensitive to chemotherapy drugs, and C3 subtype may benefit from immunotherapy. We defined the C1 subtype as epidermal progression subtype, the C2 subtype as mesenchymal progression subtype, and the C3 subtype as T cell activation subtype. Subgrouping based on differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and immunological characteristics is helpful for the precise treatment of TGCT.

Oil sources and accumulations in complex oil reservoirs of superimposed basins are difficult to identify and recover because of multiple kitchens and multistage charging processes. Constraining the oil sources and characterizing their accumulation patterns is a critical challenge. In this study, 46 crude oils from the Upper Wuerhe Formation, a widely distributed oil reservoir in the Mahu Sag of the Junggar Basin, NW China, are geochemically characterized to assess their sources and spatial distribution. These oils are divided into four groups: group I oils (characterized by high β-carotane and gammacerane concentrations, low C 21 /C 23 and (C 19 + C 20 )/C 23 tricyclic terpane ratios, and low Pr/Ph ratios); group II oils (characterized by low β-carotane and gammacerane concentrations, high C 21 /C 23 and (C 19 + C 20 )/C 23 tricyclic terpane ratios, and moderate Pr/Ph ratios); group III oils (very high Pr/Ph ratio (>3), the lowest β-carotane and gammacerane concentrations, and low tricyclic terpane concentration, but relatively high C 19 and C 20 tricyclic terpane abundance); and group IV oils (refered to here as geochemically hybrid, and inferred to be sourced from mixed P 1 f and C/P 1 j source rocks). The integration of oil-source correlation and geological framework indicates that oils generated from multiple kitchens are more likely to be near-sourced accumulations, providing a plausible example for oil accumulation in a complex oil reservoir of superimposed basin with several sets of kitchens and multistage oil charging history. The results show that multisource and multistage hydrocarbon accumulation is a common characteristic of prolific superimposed basins. The oil accumulation pattern must be established by carefully characterizing sources and charging processes to reduce the risk of exploration activities.

This paper proposes a fusion algorithm based on state-tracking collision detection and the simulated annealing potential field (SCD-SAPF) to address the challenges of obstacle avoidance for autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) in dynamic environments. Navigating AUVs in complex underwater environments requires robust autonomous obstacle avoidance capabilities. The SCD-SAPF algorithm aims to accurately assess collision risks and efficiently plan avoidance trajectories. The algorithm introduces an SCD model for proactive collision risk assessment, predicting collision risks between AUVs and dynamic obstacles. Additionally, it proposes a simulated annealing (SA) algorithm to optimize trajectory planning in a simulated annealing potential field (SAPF), integrating the SCD model with the SAPF algorithm to guide AUVs in obstacle avoidance by generating optimal heading and velocity outputs. Extensive simulation experiments demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of the algorithm in various dynamic scenarios, enabling the early avoidance of dynamic obstacles and outperforming traditional methods. This research provides an accurate collision risk assessment and efficient obstacle avoidance trajectory planning, offering an innovative approach to the field of underwater robotics and supporting the enhancement of AUV autonomy and reliability in practical applications.

Two coupled climate models that participated in the CMIP6 project (Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6), the Earth System Model of Chinese Academy of Sciences version 2 (CAS-ESM2-0), and the Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology Earth System Model version 3 (NESM3) were assessed in terms of the impact of four new sea ice parameterization schemes. These four new schemes are related to air–ice heat flux, radiation penetration and absorption, melt ponds, and ice–ocean flux, respectively. To evaluate the effectiveness of these schemes, key sea ice variables with and without these new schemes, such as sea ice concentration (SIC) and sea ice thickness (SIT), were compared against observation and reanalysis products from 1980 to 2014. The simulations followed the design of historical experiments within the CMIP6 framework. The results revealed that both models demonstrated improvements in simulating Arctic SIC and SIT when the new parameterization schemes were implemented. The model bias of SIC in some marginal sea ice zones of the Arctic was reduced, especially during March. The SIT was increased and the transpolar gradient of SIT was reproduced. The changes in spatial patterns of SIC and SIT after adding new schemes bear similarities between the two coupled models. This suggests that the new schemes have the potential for broad application in climate models for simulation and future climate scenario projection, especially for those with underestimated SIT.

This work investigates the inter-model diversity of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation’s (PDO) impact on tropical cyclone frequency (TCF) over the Western North Pacific (WNP) from the historical simulation of twenty-two Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) models. The impact of the PDO is expressed as the TCF difference between the positive and negative PDO phases. The comparison between the models with high PDO skill and low PDO skill shows that the PDO-related sea surface temperature (SST) gradient between the western and central tropical Pacific plays an important role in changing the large-scale atmospheric dynamic fields for TC genesis and, thus, the TCF over the WNP. This SST gradient also significantly contributes to the inter-model spread of PDO’s impact on TCF across the 22 CMIP6 models. We, therefore, stress that the PDO-related eastward SST gradient between the western and central tropical Pacific triggers the lower troposphere westerly and eastward extending of the monsoon trough over the WNP. The moistening of the atmosphere and enhancing ascending motion in the mid-troposphere promote convection, leading to the easterly wind anomaly over the upper troposphere, which reduces the vertical wind shear. Those favorable dynamic conditions consistently promote the TC formation over the southeastern part of the Western North Pacific. Our results highlight that PDO could impact the WNP TCF through its associated tropical SST gradient.

The Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and Pacific Meridional Mode (PMM) are prominent climate modes in the North Pacific with well-established impacts on tropical cyclone (TC) genesis in the western North Pacific (WNP) basin. While previous research has primarily focused on the roles of the PDO and PMM in regulating TC genesis through the modification of large-scale environmental factors, this study investigates the evolving influence of the PDO on WNP TC genesis since the 1950s. Remarkably, our analysis reveals a shift in the PDO-TC genesis relationship, transitioning from a significant negative correlation to a significant positive correlation since the 1990s. This shift is attributed to variations in the specific large-scale factors through which the PDO affects TC genesis. Furthermore, this study suggests that these changes appear to be linked to the PMM strengthening on the interdecadal timescale in recent decades. The linkage of the PMM strengthening to the PDO-related atmospheric circulation is further confirmed by the results of a 500 year pre-industrial numerical experiment, suggesting that the PMM strengthening may result from natural internal variability. The results underscore the non-stationary relationship between PDO and WNP TC genesis, with the PMM intensity probably influencing their relationship.