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The prediction of total ionospheric electron content (TEC) is of great significance for space weather monitoring and wireless communication. Recently, deep learning models have become increasingly popular in TEC prediction. However, these deep learning models usually contain a large number of hyperparameters. Finding the optimal hyperparameters (also known as hyperparameter optimization) is currently a great challenge, directly affecting the predictive performance of the deep learning models. The Beluga Whale Optimization (BWO) algorithm is a swarm intelligence optimization algorithm that can be used to optimize hyperparameters of deep learning models. However, it is easy to fall into local minima. This paper analyzed the drawbacks of BWO and proposed an improved BWO algorithm, named FAMBWO (Firefly Assisted Multi-strategy Beluga Whale Optimization). Our proposed FAMBWO was compared with 11 state-of-the-art swarm intelligence optimization algorithms on 30 benchmark functions, and the results showed that our improved algorithm had faster convergence speed and better solutions on almost all benchmark functions. Then we proposed an automated machine learning framework FAMBWO-MA-BiLSTM for TEC prediction, where MA-BiLSTM is for TEC prediction and FAMBWO for hyperparameters optimization. We compared it with grid search, random search, Bayesian optimization algorithm and beluga whale optimization algorithm. Results showed that the MA-BiLSTM model optimized by FAMBWO is significantly better than the MA-BiLSTM model optimized by grid search, random search, Bayesian optimization algorithm, and BWO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The build-up of lactate in solid tumors stands as a crucial and early occurrence in malignancy development, and the concentration of lactate in the tumor microenvironment may be a more sensitive indicator for analyzing primary tumors. In this study, we designed a self-powered lactate sensor for the rapid analysis of tumor samples, utilizing the coupling between the piezoelectric effect and enzymatic reaction. This lactate sensor is fabricated using a ZnO nanowire array modified with lactate oxidase (LOx). The sensing process does not require an external power source or batteries. The device can directly output electric signals containing lactate concentration information when subjected to external forces. The lactate concentration detection upper limit of the sensor is at least 27 mM, with a limit of detection (LOD) of approximately 1.3 mM and a response time of around 10 s. This study innovatively applied self-powered technology to the in situ detection of the tumor microenvironment and used the results to estimate the growth period of the primary tumor. The availability of this application has been confirmed through biological experiments. Furthermore, the sensor data generated by the device offer valuable insights for evaluating the likelihood of remote tumor metastasis. This study may expand the research scope of self-powered technology in the field of medical diagnosis and offer a novel perspective on cancer diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Previous studies have compared research into ski jumping in different motor processes, but there is a lack of comparative analysis of the biomechanical research methods used to investigate different ski jumping sports. (2) Content: Our study compared the advantages and disadvantages of six research methods and proposes future research directions. Motion video collection and analysis show that controlling angular momentum and achieving stable flight attitude in the take-off process are the most critical factors in ski jumping performance. Most research on force platforms focuses on dynamic performance at the time of take-off, but there are few training sites with an embedded force platform, and so, more empirical research is required. Wearable inertial measurement units, including gyroscopes and accelerometers, can be used to determine a series of forces, calculate the joint angle, and speculate the position of the centroid during motion. Surface EMG studies are primarily used to compare the activity characteristics of the lower limb muscles in the actual field of the jump, the exercise simulation, and the lack of complete training process data. Wind tunnel measurement can satisfy fluid mechanics simulation experiments and provide theoretical support for optimizing special ski jumping technology. Based on the theory of computational fluid dynamics, the optimal drag reduction posture data of ski jumpers can be derived using computer simulations. (3) Conclusions: Due to the wide range of ski jumping sports, the present research focused on the kinematics and dynamics of different movement stages, lacking the study of the complete exercise training process. The range of wearable inertial measurement and sensor equipment can cover the whole process of ski jumping, including kinematics and dynamics data, and is a feasible and reliable test method for monitoring ski jump training in natural environments. The simultaneous testing of surface electromyography, kinematics, and dynamics requires further exploration. (4) Future direction of development: Under computational fluid dynamics, wearable inertial measurement units and global navigation satellite systems (GNSSs), intelligent wind tunnel experimental training areas will become essential tools for ski jumping research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, two randomized block Kaczmarz methods to compute inner inverses of any rectangular matrix A are presented. These are iterative methods without matrix multiplications and their convergence is proved. The numerical results show that the proposed methods are more efficient than iterative methods involving matrix multiplications for the high-dimensional matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing research concerning the effects of the sitting birth position during the second stage of labour on maternal and neonatal outcomes remains controversial, and there is a lack of studies to explore its effect on the childbirth experience. The objective of this study is to explore whether the sitting birth position would influence maternal and neonatal outcomes, as well as the childbirth experience. The prospective cohort design was conducted in the study from February to June 2023, a total of 222 women (including primiparous women and multiparous women) were enrolled in our study, and they were divided into the sitting position cohort (n = 106) or the lithotomy position cohort (n = 116). The pre-designed questionnaire and Childbirth Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) were used for data collection during hospitalisation. Chi-square, Fisher's exact test, t-tests, or the Mann–Whitney U test were utilised to assess differences between groups. Multivariate linear regression and logistic regression were employed to control possible confounders. The study found that primiparous women in the sitting position cohort had a shorter duration of the second stage of labour, higher spontaneous vaginal birth rates, lower episiotomy rates, and a better childbirth experience (p < 0.01). After adjusting for confounding factors through multiple linear and logistic regression analyses, the results remained consistent with those reported above. No neonate in each cohort had Apgar scores at 1 min and 5 min postpartum less than 7 or a Cord artery pH less than 7.00, regardless of parity. Based on the findings, we recommend that women could take the sitting birth position into account when giving birth for a positive childbirth experience, especially for primiparous women. The study could also serve as a reference for healthcare providers in the management of childbirth positions and the development of high-quality maternal care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A randomized block Kaczmarz method and a randomized extended block Kaczmarz method are proposed for solving the matrix equation A X B = C , where the matrices A and B may be full-rank or rank-deficient. These methods are iterative methods without matrix multiplication, and are especially suitable for solving large-scale matrix equations. It is theoretically proved that these methods converge to the solution or least-square solution of the matrix equation. The numerical results show that these methods are more efficient than the existing algorithms for high-dimensional matrix equations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus has important nutritional and medicinal value. Unfortunately, we know little of the source of active chemicals in this animal, but the plentiful pigments of these animals are thought to function in intriguing ways for translation into clinical and food chemistry usage. Here, we found key cell groups with the gene activity predicted for the color morphology of sea cucumber body using single-cell RNA-seq. We refer to these cell populations as melanocytes and quinocytes, which are responsible for the synthesis of melanin and quinone pigments, respectively. We integrated analysis of pigment biochemistry with the transcript profiles to illuminate the molecular mechanisms regulating distinct pigment formation in echinoderms. In concert with the correlated pigment analysis from each color morph, this study expands our understanding of medically important pigment production, as well as the genetic mechanisms for color morphs, and provides deep datasets for exploring advancements in the fields of bioactives and nutraceuticals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular sieve catalysts containing transition metals have been attracting attention for their potential applications in various fields, including environmental and industrial catalysis. A Cu-Ce-Zr/SAPO-34 series of molecular sieve catalysts were prepared by the impregnation method, and the effect of Zr introduction on the selective catalytic reduction of NO by Cu-Ce/SAPO-34 molecular sieve catalysts was explored. Through various characterization methods, the physical and chemical properties of the catalysts were analyzed, and the denitration mechanism of the molecular sieve catalyst was discussed. This study found that the total acid content of the acid sites on the catalyst surface decreased with the introduction of Zr, leading to a decrease in the denitration efficiency of the catalyst. At 350–400 °C, the denitration efficiency of the 4Cu-4Ce-4Zr/SAPO-34 catalyst was over 80%, and at 400–500 °C, it was over 99%. Moreover, excessive metal Zr could destroy its CHA structure and decrease the denitration efficiency of the catalyst. This study analyzed the reaction mechanism of NH3-SCR of Zr-modified polymetallic zeolites and the effect of Zr modification on the NH3-SCR reaction results. This study contributes to the understanding of the performance of molecular sieve catalysts containing transition metals. Reliable conclusions were obtained, which offer data support for future research in the field of NH3-SCR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sea urchins have become significant mariculture species globally, and also serve as invertebrate model organisms in developmental biology. Cis-regulatory elements (enhancers) control development and physiology by regulating gene expression. Mutations that affect the function of these sequences may contribute to phenotypic diversity. Cis-regulatory targets offer new breeding potential for the future. Here, we use the CRISPR/Cas9 system to disrupt an enhancer of Endo16 in developing Lytechinus variegatus embryos, in consideration of the thorough research on Endo16's regulatory region. We designed six gRNAs against Endo16 Module A (the most proximal region of regulatory sequences, which activates transcription in the vegetal plate and archenteron, specifically) and discovered that Endo16 Module A-disrupted embryos failed to undergo gastrulation at 20 h post fertilization. This result partly phenocopies morpholino knockdowns of Endo16. Moreover, we conducted qPCR and clone sequencing experiments to verify these results. Although mutations were not found regularly from sequencing affected individuals, we discuss some potential causes. In conclusion, our study provides a feasible and informative method for studying the function of cis-regulatory elements in sea urchins, and contributes to echinoderm precision breeding technology innovation and aquaculture industry development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus is an ecologically significant echinoderm with considerable nutritional and therapeutic value. Color variation of A. japonicus is one of its most important cultivation traits, as color affects its bioactive compounds, taste, and market price. Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) is one of the most critical genes in melanocyte development and melanin synthesis pathways. However, how MITF regulates body color and differentiation in sea cucumbers is poorly understood. Here, we analyzed the expression level and location of MITF in white, purple, and green sea cucumbers and identified the genes regulated by MITF using chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing. Our findings suggested that MITF contributed to the body color differentiation of green, purple, and white sea cucumbers A. japonicus through expression differences and regulation of downstream genes. These findings give researchers a foundation for further research into the processes that underlie the development of body color in sea cucumbers and provide light on how genes are regulated. The results will also provide support for sea cucumber breeding and a useful theoretical basis in order to contribute to the development of the sea cucumber industry. Melanin, which is a pigment produced in melanocytes, is an important contributor to sea cucumber body color. MITF is one of the most critical genes in melanocyte development and melanin synthesis pathways. However, how MITF regulates body color and differentiation in sea cucumbers is poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed the expression level and location of MITF in white, purple, and green sea cucumbers and identified the genes regulated by MITF using chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing. The mRNA and protein expression levels of MITF were all highest in purple morphs and lowest in white morphs. In situ hybridization indicated that MITF mRNA were mainly expressed in the epidermis. We also identified 984, 732, and 1191 peaks of MITF binding in green, purple, and white sea cucumbers, which were associated with 727, 557, and 887 genes, respectively. Our findings suggested that MITF contributed to the body color differentiation of green, purple, and white sea cucumbers through expression differences and regulation of downstream genes. These results provided a basis for future studies to determine the mechanisms underlying body color formation and provided insights into gene regulation in sea cucumbers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a superhydrophobic fabric was synthesized by modifying the fiber's surface with dopamine-containing hydroxyl functional groups. Furthermore, we introduced mercapto-based functional groups by the hydrolysis of mercaptopropylmethyldimethoxysilane (MPMDS) and finally grafted POSS and mercaptans using a thiol–ene click reaction. These processes generated a superhydrophobic fabric with a static contact and a sliding angle of 162° and 8°, respectively. The superhydrophobic fabric's compact and regular micro-nano rough structure based on POSS and mercaptans provides stable fastness and durability, as well as high resistance to organic solvents, acid–base environments, mechanical abrasion, UV rays, and washing. Moreover, it can be used for self-cleaning and oil–water separation, and it has a wide range of applications in the coating industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neonatal jaundice refers to the abnormality of bilirubin metabolism for newborns, and wearable transcutaneous bilirubin meters for real-time measuring the bilirubin concentration is an insistent demand for the babies' parents and doctors. In this paper, a self-powered wearable biosensor in a baby diaper for real-time monitoring neonatal jaundice has been realized by the hydrovoltaic-biosensing coupling effect of ZnO nanoarray. Without external power supply, the system can work independently, and the hydrovoltaic output can be treated as both the power source and biosensing signal. The working mechanism is that the hydrovoltaic output arises from the urine flowing on ZnO nanoarray and the enzymatic reaction on the surface can influence the output. The sensing information can be transmitted through a wireless transmitter, and thus the parents and doctors can treat the neonatal jaundice of babies in time. This work can potentially promote the development of next generation of biosensors and physiological monitoring system, and expand the scope of self-powered technique and smart healthcare area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel self-powered wearable motion sensor for monitoring the spiking gesture of volleyball athletes has been manufactured from piezoelectric PVDF film. The PVDF film can convert body mechanical energy into electricity through the piezoelectric effect, and the flexible device can be conformably attached on the hand or arm. The sensor can work independently without power supply and actively output piezoelectric signals as the sports information. The sensor can detect the tiny and fine motion of spiking movement in playing volleyball, reflecting the skill. Additionally, the sensor can also real-time monitor the pulse changes and language during a volleyball match. The self-powered sensors can link to a wireless transmitter for uploading the sports information and building big sports data. This work can provoke a new direction for real-time sports monitoring and promote the development of big sports data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Slow growth and germplasm degradation have restricted the sustainable commercial development of the sea cucumber industry. To analyze the genetic mechanism of growth traits of sea cucumbers, we constructed a high-density genetic linkage map based on single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) molecular markers and performed a quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping analysis. We annotated a critical candidate gene related to growth traits and explored mRNA expression levels. The results showed that the gene was significantly highly expressed during the larval developmental stages. These results can be used to genetically improve the growth traits of sea cucumbers. Genetic linkage maps have become an indispensable tool for genetics and genomics research. Sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus), which is an economically important mariculture species in Asia, is an edible echinoderm with medicinal properties. In this study, the first SNP-based high-density genetic linkage map was constructed by sequencing 132 A. japonicus individuals (2 parents and 130 offspring) according to a genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) method. The consensus map was 3181.54 cM long, with an average genetic distance of 0.52 cM. A total of 6144 SNPs were assigned to 22 linkage groups (LGs). A Pearson analysis and QTL mapping revealed the correlations among body weight, body length, and papillae number. An important growth-related candidate gene, protein still life, isoforms C/SIF type 2 (sif), was identified in LG18. The gene was significantly highly expressed during the larval developmental stages. Its encoded protein reportedly functions as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor. These results would facilitate the genetic analysis of growth traits and provide valuable genomic resources for the selection and breeding of new varieties of sea cucumbers with excellent production traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-powered piezoelectric-biosensing textiles for the physiological monitoring and time-motion analysis of individual sports have been developed. The material system is composed of tetrapod-shaped ZnO nanowires on common textiles. The mechanism is based on the coupling of enzymatic reaction (LOx and lactate) and piezoelectric effect. After conformably attaching the device to the athlete, the device can monitor in real-time the moving speed, frequency, joint angle, and sweat lactate concentration of the athlete. The whole monitoring/analysis process is battery-free. The motor skills and physiological state of two athletes are investigated using the textiles, and different lactate threshold times and maximum lactate release capacities have been obtained. This technique can help them develop distinct training programs. This research is a new direction for the scientific monitoring of kinematics and may also stimulate the development of self-powered wearable sports-related systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melanin, which is a pigment produced in melanocytes, is an important contributor to sea cucumber body color. MITF is one of the most critical genes in melanocyte development and melanin synthesis pathways. However, how MITF regulates body color and differentiation in sea cucumbers is poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed the expression level and location of MITF in white, purple, and green sea cucumbers and identified the genes regulated by MITF using chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing. The mRNA and protein expression levels of MITF were all highest in purple morphs and lowest in white morphs. In situ hybridization indicated that MITF mRNA were mainly expressed in the epidermis. We also identified 984, 732, and 1191 peaks of MITF binding in green, purple, and white sea cucumbers, which were associated with 727, 557, and 887 genes, respectively. Our findings suggested that MITF contributed to the body color differentiation of green, purple, and white sea cucumbers through expression differences and regulation of downstream genes. These results provided a basis for future studies to determine the mechanisms underlying body color formation and provided insights into gene regulation in sea cucumbers.

Genetic linkage maps have become an indispensable tool for genetics and genomics research. Sea cucumber ( Apostichopus japonicus ), which is an economically important mariculture species in Asia, is an edible echinoderm with medicinal properties. In this study, the first SNP-based high-density genetic linkage map was constructed by sequencing 132 A. japonicus individuals (2 parents and 130 offspring) according to a genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) method. The consensus map was 3181.54 cM long, with an average genetic distance of 0.52 cM. A total of 6144 SNPs were assigned to 22 linkage groups (LGs). A Pearson analysis and QTL mapping revealed the correlations among body weight, body length, and papillae number. An important growth-related candidate gene, protein still life, isoforms C/SIF type 2 ( sif ), was identified in LG18. The gene was significantly highly expressed during the larval developmental stages. Its encoded protein reportedly functions as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor. These results would facilitate the genetic analysis of growth traits and provide valuable genomic resources for the selection and breeding of new varieties of sea cucumbers with excellent production traits.