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Characterizing the nature of hydrodynamical transport properties in quantum dynamics provides valuable insights into the fundamental understanding of exotic non-equilibrium phases of matter. Experimentally simulating infinite-temperature transport on large-scale complex quantum systems is of considerable interest. Here, using a controllable and coherent superconducting quantum simulator, we experimentally realize the analog quantum circuit, which can efficiently prepare the Haar-random states, and probe spin transport at infinite temperature. We observe diffusive spin transport during the unitary evolution of the ladder-type quantum simulator with ergodic dynamics. Moreover, we explore the transport properties of the systems subjected to strong disorder or a tilted potential, revealing signatures of anomalous subdiffusion in accompany with the breakdown of thermalization. Our work demonstrates a scalable method of probing infinite-temperature spin transport on analog quantum simulators, which paves the way to study other intriguing out-of-equilibrium phenomena from the perspective of transport. Quantum devices offer the potential to simulate quantum phenomena, which are otherwise computationally intractable. Here, Shi, Sun, Wang and coauthors use a superconducting quantum simulator to study spin-transport at infinite temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A variety of electromagnetic wave absorption materials (EMWAs) have been reported, but the integration of powder materials and multifunctional devices should be investigated in-depth to adapt to practical demands. Herein, carbon-coated cobalt composites were prepared by adsorbing magnetic metal cations into an anionic crystalline framework through an electrostatic encapsulate process. Excellent reflection loss (RLmin) of −40.49 dB and effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 5.36 GHz (RL<−10 dB, 10.4–15.76 GHz) was achieved with an optimal radar cross section (RCS) reduction of 34.9 dB·m2 for the sample tested. For commercial applications, Co@CN-4 was integrated into sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) aerogel to create an ultra-lightweight composite aerogel that is compressive resistant and heat-holding while also having photothermal conversion capabilities.The hydrophobic modification makes it more widely useful. This study provides a new strategy for EWAMs to integrate versatility and improve their application prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon monoxide (CO) is one of the signaling molecules that are ubiquitous in humans, which involves in the regulation of human physiology and pathology. In this work, the probe PEC was designed and synthesized based on BODIPY fluorophore that can selectively detect CO through reducing the nitro group to amino group, resulting in a "turn-on" fluorescence response with a simultaneous increase in the concentration of CO. The response is selective over a variety of relevant reactive free radicals, ions, and amino acid species. PEC has the advantages of good stability, good water solubility, and obvious changes in fluorescence signals. In addition, PEC can be used to detect and track endogenous CO in living cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coal-based direct reduction process has been coupled with the magnetic field-enhanced reduction technique. The effects of the magnetic field intensity on reduction efficiency, phase changes of the iron-bearing minerals, and reduction kinetic behavior have been investigated. The results showed that the reduction efficiency of Bayan Obo iron ore increased with the increase of the magnetic field intensity and extending the reduction time. Under the conditions of magnetic field intensity, B = 1.0 T, reduction time t = 60 min, and reduction temperature T = 950°C, the metallization rate of Bayan Obo iron ore was 93.42%. The relationship between reduction efficiency and magnetic field intensity and reduction time was revealed by a response surface method. In all stages of reduction, the effect of magnetic field intensity on the reduction efficiency of Bayan Obo iron ore was greater than that of reduction time. The relationship between the three was: M 0 ∼ 60 B , t = - 17.31 + 2.35 t + 28.72 B + 0.6 t B - 0.02 t 2 - 14.76 B 2 . The magnetic field made the reaction material looser, which not only reduced the diffusion resistance of the reducing gas CO but also increased the adsorption potential of CO at the reaction interface. Compared with B = 0.0 T, for B = 1.0 T, the internal diffusion resistance and the interfacial chemical reaction rate were 5.08 times and 0.79 times higher, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mg-Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) films were fabricated on LA103Z Mg-Li alloy substrates by an in situ hydrothermal method that involved various Al(NO3)3 concentrations. The microstructure, composition, and morphology of the Mg-Al LDH films were investigated via x-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. The corrosion behaviors of the LDH films were characterized using electrochemical measurements and a hydrogen evolution rate test. The results revealed that the concentration of Al(NO3)3 was a key factor in the formation of the LDH that affected the nucleation and growth process of the LDH. An appropriate increase in the Al(NO3)3 concentration promoted the growth of the LDH and thus improved the anticorrosion properties of the film. At an Al(NO3)3 concentration of 0.05 M, the LDH film was uniform and dense with optimal thickness. The results of electrochemical and corrosion tests showed that the anticorrosion properties of the bare substrate were markedly improved. The enhancement effect of the film prepared using 0.05 M Al(NO3)3 was the best. Its hydrogen evolution rate was 0.01082 mL cm−2 h−1, and its corrosion current density was 7.369 × 10−5 A/cm2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary exposure to aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is harmful to the health and performance of domestic animals. The hepatic cytochrome P450s (CYPs), CYP1A1 and CYP2A6, are the primary enzymes responsible for the bioactivation of AFB1 to the highly toxic exo-AFB1-8,9-epoxide (AFBO) in chicks. However, the transcriptional regulation mechanism of these CYP genes in the liver of chicks in AFB1 metabolism remains unknown. Dual-luciferase reporter assay, bioinformatics and site-directed mutation results indicated that specificity protein 1 (SP1) and activator protein-1 (AP-1) motifs were located in the core region −1,063/−948, −606/−541 of the CYP1A1 promoter as well as −636/−595, −503/−462, −147/−1 of the CYP2A6 promoter. Furthermore, overexpression and decoy oligodeoxynucleotide technologies demonstrated that SP1 and AP-1 were pivotal transcriptional activators regulating the promoter activity of CYP1A1 and CYP2A6. Moreover, bioactivation of AFB1 to AFBO could be increased by upregulation of CYP1A1 and CYP2A6 expression, which was trans-activated owing to the upregulalion of AP-1, rather than SP1, stimulated by AFB1-induced reactive oxygen species. Additionally, nano-selenium could reduce ROS, downregulate AP-1 expression and then decrease the expression of CYP1A1 and CYP2A6, thus alleviating the toxicity of AFB1. In conclusion, AP-1 and SP1 played important roles in the transactivation of CYP1A1 and CYP2A6 expression and further bioactivated AFB1 to AFBO in chicken liver, which could provide novel targets for the remediation of aflatoxicosis in chicks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Central South University is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Rare Metals is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Nanocarrier delivery of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to silence cancer-associated genes is a promising method for cancer treatment. Here, we explored the role and mechanisms of PLAG NPs-delivered si-Notch1 in colorectal cancer (CRC). Results: High Notch1 expression was observed in both sensitive and resistant CRC tissues and cells. Notch1 silencing repressed proliferation and facilitates apoptosis of resistant CRC cells, and suppressed glycolysis and promoted pyroptosis in resistant CRC cells. Notch1 directly interacts with PCAF. Notch1 knockdown's suppressive effect on glycolysis was reversed by overexpression of PCAF. Moreover, a nanocarrier called PLAG NPs was built with a higher delivery efficiency compared with lipo2000. Si-Notch1 delivered by PLAG NPs efficiently overcame the CRC cells' 5-FU resistance and facilitated pyroptosis in a CRC mouse model. Conclusions: PLAG NPs carrying si-Notch1 had a great advantage in the extension of half-life circulation and targeting ability, providing a theoretical foundation for precise clinical treatment of CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thyroid nodules are a common occurrence, and although most are non-cancerous, some can be malignant. The American College of Radiology has developed the Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS) to standardize the interpretation and reporting of thyroid ultrasound results. Within TI-RADS, a category 4 designation signifies a thyroid nodule with an intermediate level of suspicion for malignancy. Accurate classification of these nodules is crucial for proper management, as it can potentially reduce unnecessary surgeries and improve patient outcomes. This study utilized deep learning techniques to effectively classify TI-RADS category 4 thyroid nodules as either benign or malignant. A total of 500 patients were included in the study and randomly divided into a training group (350 patients) and a test group (150 patients). The YOLOv3 model was constructed and evaluated using various metrics, achieving an 84% accuracy in the classification of TI-RADS category 4 thyroid nodules. Based on the predictions of the model, along with clinical and ultrasound data, a nomogram was developed. The performance of the nomogram was superior in both the training and testing groups. Furthermore, the calibration curve demonstrated good agreement between predicted probabilities and actual outcomes. Decision curve analysis further confirmed that the nomogram provided greater net benefits. Ultimately, the YOLOv3 model and nomogram successfully improved the accuracy of distinguishing between benign and malignant TI-RADS category 4 thyroid nodules, which is crucial for proper management and improved patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Empirical and probabilistic risk analysis methods can relatively accurately predict the seismic vulnerability of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. Using various intensity measures to estimate and forecast the seismic hazard of RC structures can contribute to the development of typical structural seismic resilience and vulnerability models. However, traditional empirical and analytical vulnerability studies rely more on field observation data and seismic risk algorithms and less on numerical simulation analysis for validation and optimization, resulting in limitations and fuzziness in the accuracy of the developed structural risk models. To explore the damage modes of RC frame structures under different intensities, this paper innovatively combines numerical model algorithms with empirical vulnerability methods to conduct empirical vulnerability and numerical simulation analyses on RC structures. Using probability statistics and nonlinear regression analysis methods, a prediction model for estimating the fragility of RC structures was proposed, and 858 RC structure damage samples from a typical city (Dujiangyan) during the Wenchuan earthquake in China on May 12, 2008, were used for model verification and comparative analysis. Using seismic response analysis theory, 901,530 acceleration records of the Wenchuan earthquake detected by eight actual seismic stations were selected, and nonlinear dynamic time history analysis was conducted. A four-story RC structural model was established using finite element software, and numerical simulation analysis was conducted on the model using 117,863 real earthquake acceleration data points obtained from actual monitoring stations during the Wenchuan earthquake. The acceleration time history curves and incremental dynamic analysis curves of the RC structure under different intensity measures were generated. By combining the moire algorithm and numerical simulation technology, damage stress clouds of steel bars and concrete under different intensity measures were generated, and the accuracy of the developed empirical vulnerability model was verified via numerical simulation results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seismic risk estimation for urban building clusters is essential when developing regional seismic resilience models. A masonry structure is a type of building with a large stock, broad applicability, and simplified construction technology. The traditional seismic intensity measures and fuzzy quantification of structural vulnerability levels result in low accuracy in estimating and predicting seismic damage to masonry structure clusters. This paper proposes a method for evaluating bivariate seismic intensity measure. Nonlinear dynamic and spectral analyses were conducted on real acceleration records monitored by ten stations during the Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan, China, on May 12, 2008. The outdated seismic vulnerability level of masonry structures is updated, and an optimized structural seismic risk model based on the seismic damage database of 2407 masonry structures in Dujiangyan city under the influence of the Wenchuan earthquake is established. An innovative seismic risk membership index algorithm was developed, and a vulnerability curve was generated for masonry structures considering multiple risk membership indices. An improved seismic risk index calculation function is proposed using the proposed updated vulnerability level, and the seismic risk index curve and stripe model of typical urban masonry building clusters are established. According to the field investigation of the actual structures in Dujiangyan city affected by the Wenchuan earthquake, the typical failure features and disaster mechanism of masonry structures are reported and analysed, and measures and methods to improve and enhance the seismic capacity of such buildings are proposed. The developed seismic risk model for urban masonry structures can contribute positively to the development of relatively accurate seismic resilience models for urban buildings and can improve the accuracy of seismic risk estimation for masonry structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common types of malignant tumors, with a slow onset, rapid progression, and frequent recurrence. Previous research has implicated mitochondrial ribosomal genes in the development, metastasis, and prognosis of various cancers. However, further research is necessary to establish a link between mitochondrial ribosomal protein (MRP) family expression and HCC diagnosis, prognosis, ferroptosis-related gene (FRG) expression, m6A modification-related gene expression, tumor immunity, and drug sensitivity. Methods: Bioinformatics resources were used to analyze data from patients with HCC retrieved from the TCGA, ICGC, and GTEx databases (GEPIA, UALCAN, Xiantao tool, cBioPortal, STRING, Cytoscape, TISIDB, and GSCALite). Results: Among the 82 MRP family members, 14 MRP genes (MRPS21, MRPS23, MRPL9, DAP3, MRPL13, MRPL17, MRPL24, MRPL55, MRPL16, MRPL14, MRPS17, MRPL47, MRPL21, and MRPL15) were significantly upregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in HCC tumor samples in comparison to normal samples. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that all 14 DEGs show good diagnostic performance. Furthermore, TCGA analysis revealed that the mRNA expression of 39 MRPs was associated with overall survival (OS) in HCC. HCC was divided into two molecular subtypes (C1 and C2) with distinct prognoses using clustering analysis. The clusters showed different FRG expression and m6A methylation profiles and immune features, and prognostic models showed that the model integrating 5 MRP genes (MRPS15, MRPL3, MRPL9, MRPL36, and MRPL37) and 2 FRGs (SLC1A5 and SLC5A11) attained a greater clinical net benefit than three other prognostic models. Finally, analysis of the CTRP and GDSC databases revealed several potential drugs that could target prognostic MRP genes. Conclusion: We identified 14 MRP genes as HCC diagnostic markers. We investigated FRG and m6A modification-related gene expression profiles and immune features in patients with HCC, and developed and validated a model incorporating MRP and FRG expression that accurately and reliably predicts HCC prognosis and may predict disease progression and treatment response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intratumoral immune status influences tumor therapeutic response, but it remains largely unclear how the status determines therapies for patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Here, we examine the single-cell transcriptional and TCR profiles of 18 tumor tissues pre- and post- therapy of gemcitabine plus oxaliplatin, in combination with lenvatinib and anti-PD1 antibody for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. We find that high CD8 GZMB+ and CD8 proliferating proportions and a low Macro CD5L+ proportion predict good response to the therapy. In patients with a poor response, the CD8 GZMB+ and CD8 proliferating proportions are increased, but the CD8 GZMK+ proportion is decreased after the therapy. Transition of CD8 proliferating and CD8 GZMB+ to CD8 GZMK+ facilitates good response to the therapy, while Macro CD5L+–CD8 GZMB+ crosstalk impairs the response by increasing CTLA4 in CD8 GZMB+. Anti-CTLA4 antibody reverses resistance of the therapy in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Our data provide a resource for predicting response of the combination therapy and highlight the importance of CD8+T-cell status conversion and exhaustion induced by Macro CD5L+ in influencing the response, suggesting future avenues for cancer treatment optimization. The role of the tumor microenvironment in immunotherapy response in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma remains unclear. Here, single cell RNA and TCR sequencing of samples before and after immunotherapy highlights the role of CD8 T-cell status conversion and exhaustion induced by Macro CD5L+ in treatment response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It has been proved that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients have high incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF). Nevertheless, whether they have causal relevance is uncertain. This study aimed to explore and verify the authenticity of causal relationship between RA and AF using Mendelian randomization (MR). Methods: The genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary data from Biobank Japan Project (BBJ) (RA, 4199 cases and 208,254 controls) were regarded as exposure data and the GWAS data from European Bio-informatics Institute database (EBI) (AF, 15,979 cases and 102,776 controls) as outcome data. The causal effect was appraised by the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method, MR-Egger regression, and weighted median estimator. MR-robust adjusted profile score (MR-RAPS) method was delivered to examine the robustness of causal relationship and MR Pleiotropy Residual Sum and Outlier (MR-PRESSO) method to control horizontal (directional) pleiotropy. Results: The results indicated that RA increased the risk of AF (IVW, the odds ratio (OR) = 1.060; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.028 to 1.092; p = 1.411 × 10−4; weighted median, OR = 1.046, 95% CI, 1.002 to 1.093, p = 0.047). The MR analysis also showed this causal effect through all four IVW methods with various statistical algorithms. Both MR-RAPS and MR-PRESSO supported the causality of RA and AF. Also, the MR-PRESSO result indicated the absence of apparent pleiotropy. Conclusion: There is a causal association between RA and AF. RA patients are genetically more vulnerable to AF. This study may contribute to further exploring early clinical prevention and fundamental mechanism of AF in patients with RA. Key Points • We provided some genetic evidence for the causal link between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and atrial fibrillation (AF) with multiple Mendelian randomization (MR) methods. • RA patients were genetically more vulnerable to AF. • This study partly shed light on latent fundamental mechanisms underlying RA-induced AF and inspired future studies on RA-AF relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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We investigate the existence of invariant manifolds for a coupled problem of nonlinear hyperbolic–parabolic PDEs on a 3-D torus. The problem arises usually in the study of wave propagation phenomena with viscous damping which are heat generating. The spectral gap condition could fail for it. We prove that there exists a Lipschitz manifold which is locally invariant under the semiflow. The local asymptotic stability and regularity of the manifold are also considered. Moreover, under more assumptions on the nonlinearity, it is proved that the manifold is provided with the feature as that global manifold usually holds, i.e., it contains the global attractor. Through it all, no large damping and heat diffusivity are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-party quantum key agreement (MQKA) is a significant technique for generating shared keys among multiple participants in a secure and fair manner but dealing with imperfect quantum measurement devices presents practical challenges. In this paper, we propose a feasible measurement device independent multi-party quantum key agreement (MDI-MQKA) protocol with identity authentication, based on the BB84 polarization states and the GHZ entangled states. In our proposed MDI-MQKA protocol, participation is restricted to authenticated individuals, avoiding the possibility of impersonating participants. Following the execution of MDI-MQKA, each authenticated participant can acquire their respective private keys in a fair manner, with the assistance of the third party. We analyze and prove the correctness, feasibility of authentication, security, and fairness of the proposed MDI-MQKA protocol in detail. The proposed MDI-MQKA protocol represents a promising investigation into MQKA protocols and measurement device independent technologies, which can help advance the practical application of quantum information technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat stress induces multi-organ damage and serious physiological dysfunction in mammals, and gut bacteria may translocate to extra-intestinal tissues under heat stress pathology. However, whether gut bacteria translocate to the key metabolic organs and impair function as a result of heat stress remains unknown. Using a heat stress-induced mouse model, heat stress inhibited epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT) expansion and induced lipid metabolic disorder but did not damage other organs, such as the heart, liver, spleen, or muscle. Microbial profiling analysis revealed that heat stress shifted the bacterial community in the cecum and eWAT but not in the inguinal white adipose tissue, blood, heart, liver, spleen, or muscle. Notably, gut-vascular barrier function was impaired, and the levels of some bacteria, particularly Lactobacillus, were higher in the eWAT, as confirmed by catalyzed reporter deposition fluorescence in situ hybridization (CARD-FISH) staining when mice were under heat stress. Moreover, integrated multi-omics analysis showed that the eWAT microbiota was associated with host lipid metabolism, and the expression of genes involved in the lipid metabolism in eWAT was upregulated under heat stress. A follow-up microbial supplementation study after introducing Lactobacillus plantarum to heat-stressed mice revealed that the probiotic ameliorated heat stress-induced loss of eWAT and dyslipidemia and reduced gut bacterial translocation to the eWAT by improving gut barrier function. Overall, our findings suggest that gut bacteria, particularly Lactobacillus spp., play a crucial role in heat stress-induced lipid metabolism disorder and that there is therapeutic potential for using probiotics, such as Lactobacillus plantarum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With potent herbicidal activity, biocatalysis synthesis of l-glufosinate has drawn attention. In present research, NAP-Das2.3, a deacetylase capable of stereoselectively resolving N-acetyl-l-glufosinate to l-glufosinate mined from Arenimonas malthae, was heterologously expressed and characterized. In Escherichia coli, NAP-Das2.3 activity only reached 0.25 U/L due to the formation of inclusive bodies. Efficient soluble expression of NAP-Das2.3 was achieved in Pichia pastoris. In shake flask and 5 L bioreactor fermentation, NAP-Das2.3 activity by recombinant P. pastoris reached 107.39 U/L and 1287.52 U/L, respectively. The optimum temperature and pH for N-acetyl-glufosinate hydrolysis by NAP-Das2.3 were 45 °C and pH 8.0, respectively. The Km and Vmax of NAP-Das2.3 towards N-acetyl-glufosinate were 25.32 mM and 19.23 μmol mg−1 min−1, respectively. Within 90 min, 92.71% of L-enantiomer in 100 mM racemic N-acetyl-glufosinate was converted by NAP-Das2.3. l-glufosinate with high optical purity (e.e.P above 99.9%) was obtained. Therefore, the recombinant NAP-Das2.3 might be an alternative for l-glufosinate biosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Broiler chicks are fast-growing and susceptible to dietary selenium (Se) deficiency. This study sought to reveal the underlying mechanisms of how Se deficiency induces key organ dysfunctions in broilers. Day-old male chicks (n=6 cages/diet, 6 chicks/cage) were fed with a Se-deficient diet (Se-Def, 0.047 mg Se/kg) or the Se-Def+0.3 mg Se/kg (Control, 0.345 mg Se/kg) for 6 weeks. The serum, liver, pancreas, spleen, heart, and pectoral muscle of the broilers were collected at week 6 to assay for Se concentration, histopathology, serum metabolome, and tissue transcriptome. Compared with the Control group, Se deficiency induced growth retardation and histopathological lesions and reduced Se concentration in the five organs. Integrated transcriptomics and metabolomics analysis revealed that dysregulation of immune and redox homeostasis related biological processes and pathways contributed to Se deficiency-induced multiple tissue damage in the broilers. Meanwhile, four metabolites in the serum, daidzein, epinephrine, L-aspartic acid and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, interacted with differentially expressed genes with antioxidative effects and immunity among all the five organs, which contributed to the metabolic diseases induced by Se deficiency. Overall, this study systematically elucidated the underlying molecular mechanisms in the pathogenesis of Se deficiency-related diseases, which provides a better understanding of the significance of Se-mediated heath in animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tensors are a popular programming interface for developing artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms. Layout refers to the order of placing tensor data in the memory and will affect performance by affecting data locality; therefore the deep neural network library has a convention on the layout. Since AI applications can use arbitrary layouts, and existing AI systems do not provide programming abstractions to shield the layout conventions of libraries, operator developers need to write a lot of layout-related code, which reduces the efficiency of integrating new libraries or developing new operators. Furthermore, the developer assigns the layout conversion operation to the internal operator to deal with the uncertainty of the input layout, thus losing the opportunity for layout optimization. Based on the idea of polymorphism, we propose a layout-agnostic virtual tensor programming interface, namely the VTensor framework, which enables developers to write new operators without caring about the underlying physical layout of tensors. In addition, the VTensor framework performs global layout inference at runtime to transparently resolve the required layout of virtual tensors, and runtime layout-oriented optimizations to globally minimize the number of layout transformation operations. Experimental results demonstrate that with VTensor, developers can avoid writing layout-dependent code. Compared with TensorFlow, for the 16 operations used in 12 popular networks, VTensor can reduce the lines of code (LOC) of writing a new operation by 47.82% on average, and improve the overall performance by 18.65% on average. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Targeting angiogenesis is an attractive strategy for the effective treatment of cancer. This study aimed to investigate the anti-cancer activities of YAP inhibitor verteporfin (VP) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cells through its inhibitory effect on tumor angiogenesis. Methods: Cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion abilities were estimated by MTT, colony formation, DAPI staining, wound healing and transwell assays, respectively. Human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) tube formation assay and chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model were used to observe angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. The interactions between ESCC cells and HUVECs were assessed by cell chemotactic migration and adhesion assays. The expression levels of angiogenesis-related molecules were detected by Western blot. Results: We found that VP was potential to inhibit ESCC cell proliferation, migration, invasion and induce apoptosis in the dose-dependent fashion. VP also significantly suppressed proliferation, migration, and tube formation of HUVECs and promoted apoptosis of HUVECs, and reduced angiogenesis in CAM. Moreover, VP inhibited ESCC cell-induced angiogenesis in vitro by decreasing HUVEC chemotactic migration, adhesion and tube formation, and also reduced ESCC cell-induced neovascularization of the CAM in vivo. In addition, VP suppressed the expression of pro-angiogenic molecules such as VEGFA, MMP-2 and β-catenin in ESCC cells. Furtherly, VP increased the chemosensitivity of ESCC-resistant cells to paclitaxel (PTX). The combination of VP and PTX attenuated the resistant cell-mediated angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion: These results reveal for the first time that VP potently inhibits malignant progression and overcomes chemoresistance of ESCC cells via inhibition of tumor angiogenesis. It provides insight into a new strategy for the treatment of ESCC that VP could be a potential drug candidate for targeting tumor angiogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rare Metals is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Dry sliding friction and wear test of Nb containing low carbon microalloyed steel was carried out at room temperature, and the effect of Nb on the wear behavior of the steel, as welll as the mechanism was studied. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) were employed to analyze the morphology and composition of the worn surface, and the structure evolution of the plastic deformation layer. The carbide content and type in the steel were analyzed by the electrolytic extraction device and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The experimental results demonstrate that the addition of 0.2% Nb can refine the grain and generate NbC to improve the wear resistance of the steel. By enhancing the load and speed of wear experiment, the wear mechanism of the test steel with 0.2% Nb changes from slight oxidation wear to severe adhesion wear and oxidation wear. Compared with the load, the increase in the rotation speed exerts a greater influence on the wear of the test steel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Gram-staining-negative, non-motile, rod-shaped or curved rod-shaped, moderately halophilic bacterium, designated C176T, was isolated from Yuncheng Salt Lake in Shanxi Province, P.R. China. The optimal temperature, salinity and pH for growth of strain C176T was 37 °C, 6% (w/v) NaCl and 7.5. Phylogenetic analysis using 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated strain C176T has the highest similarity with Spiribacter salinus LMG 27464 T (97.7%), following by the S. halobius E85T (97.6%), S. curvatus DSM 28542 T (97.2%), S. roseus CECT 9117 T (97.0%) and S. vilamensis DSM 21056 T (96.9%). The ANI and dDDH values between strain C176T and S. salinus LMG 27464 T were 69.8 and 17.7%, respectively. The DNA G + C content of genome for strain C176T was 54.1%. Summed feature 8 (C18:1 ω7c and/or C18:1 ω6c) and C16:0 were detected as its major fatty acids, with content of 38.7 and 28.6% respectively, while Q-8 was the predominant ubiquinone. The major polar lipids of strain C176T contained phospholipid, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphoglycolipid. In accordance with results of polyphasic taxonomy, strain C176T is considered as a novel species of the genus Spiribacter, for which the name Spiribacter salilacus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is C176T (= MCCC 1H00417T = KCTC 72692 T). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An Mg-Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) coating was prepared directly on the surface of an LA43M Mg-Li alloy substrate by in situ hydrothermal treatment at 90 °C with different reaction times. The effects of the hydrothermal reaction time on the microstructure, corrosion resistance, and wear resistance of LDH coatings were systematically investigated. After the hydrothermal reaction, LDH nanoflake microstructures formed on the surface of the alloy. With an increase in the reaction time, the size and quantity of these microstructures increased, and their distribution became denser. Immersion tests and hydrogen evolution tests showed that the corrosion resistance of LDH coatings varied with the reaction time as follows: LDH-30 h > LDH-24 h > LDH-18 h > LDH-12 h > LA43M substrate. The film coated with a reaction time of 30 h exhibited excellent corrosion resistance in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution, and its corrosion current density was three orders of magnitude higher than that of the LA43M substrate. Friction and wear tests showed that the LDH coatings displayed markedly improved wear resistance in comparison with LA43M alloy, and wear marks were shallow and narrow. Anticorrosion and anti-wear mechanisms of the LDH coatings were also analyzed and are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the most promising paradigms of integrated circuit design, the approximate circuit has aroused widespread concern in the scientific community. It takes advantage of the inherent error tolerance of some applications and relaxes the accuracy for reductions in area and power consumption. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive survey of reliability issues related to approximate circuits, which covers three concerns: error characteristic analysis, reliability and test, and reliable design involving approximate circuits. The error characteristic analysis is used to compare the outputs of the approximate circuit with those of its precise counterpart, which can help to find the most appropriate approximate design for a specific application in the large design space. With the approximate design getting close to physical realization, manufacturing defects and operational faults are inevitable; therefore, the reliability prediction and vulnerability test become increasingly important. However, the research on approximate circuit reliability and test is insufficient and needs more attention. Furtherly, although there is some existing work combining the approximate design with fault tolerant techniques, the reliability-enhancement approaches for approximate circuits are lacking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electric-field modulation of magnetization switching is an energy-efficient method for the design of potential spintronic devices. In this study, a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ)/Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)0.7Ti0.3O3 (PMN-PT) magnetoelectric heterostructure with the memory configuration of the MTJ was constructed for electric-field control of magnetization switching through angular-dependent magnetotransport measurements. It was observed that the electric-field control of tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) depends on the direction of the applied magnetic field, and the corresponding tunability (T) of the TMR ratio will also change as the angle between the applied magnetic field and the x-axis changes. When a maximal electric field of 8.6 kV/cm is applied to the PMN-PT layer with a magnetic field (~50 Oe) along the major axis direction of the MTJ (i.e., PMN-PT [100]), the tunability Tmajor (the subscript refers to the major axis) is approximately +0.17‰. However, when a magnetic field (~50 Oe) is applied along the minor axis direction of the MTJ (i.e., PMN-PT [01-1]), the tunability Tminor is approximately −1.8‰. Furthermore, the tunability Tminor (the subscript refers to the minor axis) first increases with a positive sign and then decreases with a negative sign as the applied magnetic fields increase. It further increases negligibly as the magnitude of the applied magnetic field increases. The corresponding transitional region is in the range of approximately 15–40 Oe. It is conjectured that the competition among electric-field-induced magnetoelastic anisotropy, magnetic shape anisotropy, and Zeeman energy induced by the external magnetic field contributes to the magnetization switching of the free layer in the MTJ. This results in the aforementioned electric-field control of the TMR behavior. The findings from this study can help in understanding the mechanism of electric-field-induced magnetic switching in storage-mode MTJs through strain-mediated magnetoelectric coupling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Perineural invasion (PNI) is associated with metastasis in malignancies, including intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), and is correlated with poor prognosis. Methods: The study included three large cohorts: ZS-ICC and TMA cohorts from our team, MSK cohort from a public database, and a small cohort named cohort 4. Prognostic implications of PNI were investigated in MSK cohort and TMA cohort. PNI-related genomic and transcriptomic profiles were analyzed in MSK and ZS-ICC cohorts. GO, KEGG, and ssGSEA analyses were performed. Immunohistochemistry was used to investigate the relationship between PNI and markers of neurons, hydrolases, and immune cells. The efficacy of adjuvant therapy in ICC patients with PNI was also assessed. Results: A total of 30.6% and 20.7% ICC patients had PNI in MSK and TMA cohorts respectively. Patients with PNI presented with malignant phenotypes such as high CA19-9, the large bile duct type, lymph node invasion, and shortened overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS). Nerves involved in PNI positively express tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), a marker of sympathetic nerves. Patients with PNI showed high mutation frequency of KRAS and an immune suppressive metastasis prone niche of decreased NK cell, increased neutrophil, and elevated PD-L1, CD80, and CD86 expression. Patients with PNI had an extended OS after adjuvant therapy with TEGIO, GEMOX, or capecitabine. Conclusion: Our study deciphered the genomic features and the immune suppressive metastasis-prone niche in ICC with PNI. Patients with PNI showed a poor prognosis after surgery but a good response to adjuvant chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most sedimentary formations with fine layers can be characterized as transversely isotropic media. The evaluation of shear-wave anisotropy is critical in logging-while-drilling (LWD) applications. We developed a joint method to simultaneously invert formation shear-wave anisotropy and vertical shear velocity using LWD monopole and dipole dispersion data. Theoretical analysis demonstrates that formation shear-wave anisotropy significantly affects the dispersion characteristics of Stoneley and formation flexural waves. The inversion objective function was constructed based on the change in dispersion characteristics and was weighted by the spectra of multipole waves. Numerical results using synthetic examples demonstrate that the joint inversion method can not only alleviate the non-uniqueness problem but also help improve the accuracy of the inversion results. The comparison of different signal-to-noise ratio inversion results proved that the weighted inversion method is more accurate and stable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composite soil nailing wall is widely used in slope support because of its low cost and safety, but its global stability still needs more accurate calculation. Based on plastic limit upper limit analysis and vertical strip partition method, the calculation formula of stability coefficient was derived for prestressed anchor composite soil nailing wall. FLAC3D and GeoStudio were used to calculate and analyze an engineering project supported by composite soil nailing wall in Lanzhou City, and the feasibility and correctness of the derived formula were verified. Finally, the grey correlation analysis of the sensitivity of the derived formula was analyzed. The results show that for calculating the stability coefficient, the limit equilibrium method needs to consider the complex force analysis, while the energy method can well avoid the inter-slice force, making the physical meaning of the formula clearer. The formula introduced in this paper is more efficient and feasible. The stability coefficient is most sensitive to the internal friction angle, followed by slope angle, cohesion, and finally unit weight of soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate whether underdilated transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) could reduce the risk of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) and ameliorate impaired hepatic function in patients with a history of splenectomy. Methods: A retrospective case–control study was conducted with 96 patients who had prior splenectomy and TIPS placement from August 2016 to May 2022. All patients were divided into two groups based on the diameter of expansion balloon catheters, the underdilated group (6-mm balloon catheter, n = 60) and a control group (8-mm balloon catheter, n = 36). Following the 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM), 33 patients in the underdilated group and 33 patients in the control group were included. Results: During a median follow-up of 36 months, a quicker recovery in liver function after TIPS placement was showed in the underdilated group. The mean TBIL content (16.562 ± 6.549 μmol/L vs 23.871 ± 11.609 μmol/L, P = 0.019) and the mean CLIF-C AD score (41.108 ± 5.223 vs 45.100 ± 4.429, P = 0.033) in the underdilated group were significantly lower than those in the control group during 6 to 12 months after the procedure. In line with the control group, the ability to reduce portal pressure gradient (PPG) and achieve a significantly clinical remission of PVT and ascites severity was showed in the underdilated group 3 months after TIPS creation (P < 0.001). The Kaplan–Meier analysis demonstrated that no statistically significant differences were found in the cumulative incidence of no overt HE (OHE) (log-rank P = 0.383), cumulative incidence without shunt dysfunction (log-rank P = 0.283), cumulative incidence of no variceal rebleeding (log-rank P = 0.696), and survival (log-rank P = 0.341) (log-rank P = 0.341) between the two groups during the follow-up period. Conclusion: For patients with prior splenectomy, it is safe to employ underdilated TIPS, as the stents will eventually self-expand to 8 mm. The present study has shown some degree of liver function preservation in the underdilated group, which may be related to slower progressive changes in the portal hemodynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurons in the penumbra (the area surrounding ischemic tissue that consists of still viable tissue but with reduced blood flow and oxygen transport) may be rescued following stroke if adequate perfusion is restored in time. It has been speculated that post-stroke angiogenesis in the penumbra can reduce damage caused by ischemia. However, the mechanism for neovasculature formation in the brain remains unclear and vascular-targeted therapies for brain ischemia remain suboptimal. Here, we show that VEGFR1 was highly upregulated in pericytes after stroke. Knockdown of VEGFR1 in pericytes led to increased infarct area and compromised post-ischemia vessel formation. Furthermore, in vitro studies confirmed a critical role for pericyte-derived VEGFR1 in both endothelial tube formation and pericyte migration. Interestingly, our results show that pericyte-derived VEGFR1 has opposite effects on Akt activity in endothelial cells and pericytes. Collectively, these results indicate that pericyte-specific expression of VEGFR1 modulates ischemia-induced vessel formation and vascular integrity in the brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new self-assemblies based on double-deck dyes ZnTPP-Wi (i = 1–3) were synthesized and applied in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Anchoring molecules (Wi i = 1–3) consisting of phenyl carboxyl acid and cyanoacetic acid group. Capping layer dyes zinc meso-tetraphenylporphine (ZnTPP) with anchoring molecules Wi through axially coordination bonds of Zn-to-ligand self-assemblies solar cells devices. We herein report a consisting acylamide and cyanoacetic acid group W3 as an anchoring molecule for the axial coordination with upper zinc porphyrin ZnTPP. W3 was synthesized by introducing acylamide and cyanoacetic acid groups may inhibit adverse dye aggregation and improving electrons are effectively injected into the TiO2 semiconductor surface. Thus, W3 anchoring molecules can be used to fabricate efficient solar cells with ZnTPP porohyrin dye, achieving good photoelectric performance, indicative of their general applicability in fabricating good-performance DSSCs. The assembled modes were also verified by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The photoelectrochemical efficiencies for dye ZnTPP-W3 are best than those of self-assembly dyes prevailingly ascribed to larger Jsc and Voc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Owing to contradiction between increasing demand of spherical tungsten powder and limitation of traditional manufacturing technology, a novel preparation method was developed to sphericize the polygonal tungsten powder by means of modification of particle composite system. Tungsten powder particles were modified by particle composite system, and detailed characterization by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was studied. Particle size distribution and function mechanism were analyzed, and the internal relationship between average diameter and processing time was discussed. The results show that the spherical tungsten powder with an average diameter of 6.41 μm is obtained from polyhedral tungsten powder with an average diameter of 7.50 μm. The spherical effect could be achieved (sharp edge angles of particles are rounded off and reshaped) when the processing time is over 30 min. The relationship between average diameter (d) and processing time can be described by the exponential decay model, which provides a good interpretation for the process of modification. The relationship between them can be expressed by the equation d = 1.87406exp(−x/8.92718) + 6.4182. The proposed method could readily enable large-scale production of spherical tungsten powder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study investigated the effects of different bulking agents (i.e., sawdust, wheat straw, rice straw, and corncob) on bacterial structure and functions for organic degradation during food waste in-situ rapid biological reduction (IRBR) inoculated with microbial agent. Results showed that the highest organic degradation (409.5 g/kg total solid) and volatile solids removal efficiency (41.0%) were achieved when wheat straw was used, largely because the degradation of readily degradable substrates and cellulose was promoted by this bulking agent. Compared with other three bulking agents, the utilization of wheat straw was conducive to construct a more suitable environmental condition (moisture content of 18.0–28.2%, pH of 4.91–5.87) for organic degradation during IRBR process, by virtue of its excellent structural and physiochemical properties. Microbial community analysis suggested that the high-moisture environment in rice straw treatment promoted the growth of Staphylococcus and inhibited the activity of the inoculum. By contrast, lowest bacterial richness was observed in corncob treatment due to the faster water loss. Compared with these two bulking agents, sawdust and wheat straw treatment led to a more stable bacterial community structure, and the inoculated Bacillus gradually became the dominant genus (36.6–57.8%) in wheat straw treatment. Predicted metagenomics analysis showed that wheat straw treatment exhibited the highest carbohydrate metabolism activity which improved the pyruvate, amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, and thereby promoted the organic degradation and humic substrate production. These results indicated that wheat straw was a more desirable bulking agent, and revealed the potential microbial organics degradation mechanism in IRBR process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]