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Objective: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is a common malignancy whose incidence is three times greater in females than in males. The prognosis of ageing patients is poor. This research was designed to construct models to predict the overall survival of elderly female patients with PTC. Methods: We developed prediction models based on the random survival forest (RSF) algorithm and traditional Cox regression. The data of 4539 patients were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Twelve variables were analysed to establish the models. The C-index and the Brier score were selected to evaluate the discriminatory ability of the models. Time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were also drawn to evaluate the accuracy of the models. The clinical benefits of the two models were compared on the basis of the DCA curve. In addition, the Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) plot was used to visualize the contribution of the variables in the RSF model. Results: The C-index of the RSF model was 0.811, which was greater than that of the Cox model (0.781). According to the Brier score and the area under the ROC curve (AUC), the RSF model performed better than the Cox model. On the basis of the DCA curve, the RSF model demonstrated fair clinical benefit. The SHAP plot showed that age was the most important variable contributing to the outcome of PTC in elderly female patients. Conclusions: The RSF model we developed performed better than the Cox model and might be valuable for clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the influence of variable thickness on the mechanical properties of thin-walled twelve right-angle section tubes (TTRSTs) through numerical characterization. This paper introduced the TTRSTs with different thicknesses for sides and webs. The three-point bending finite element model correlated with the physical test was built up and modified to find the lowest initial peak force (IPF), maximum specific energy absorption (SEA), and highest mean crushing force (MCF). Effects of variable thickness as well as impact location on the energy absorption performance of TTRSTs were investigated, suggesting that the energy absorption performance was more sensitive to side plate thickness changes than web plate thickness changes in web plate impacts. In addition, the TTRSTs with about 2.5 mm thickness demonstrated the highest SEA. Optimal Latin hypercube design (Opt LHD), response surface method (RSM), and NSGA-II were employed to optimize the TTRST multiobjectively under different impact loadings. The optimized results highlight that the TTRSTs can reach a 46.92% lower initial peak force or 2.61% higher MCF with minor SEA by selecting the appropriate thickness for impacts at different locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine has revealed the potential of ChatGPT as a pivotal tool in medical diagnosis and treatment. This study assesses the efficacy of ChatGPT versions 3.5 and 4.0 in addressing renal cell carcinoma (RCC) clinical inquiries. Notably, fine-tuning and iterative optimization of the model corrected ChatGPT's limitations in this area. Methods: In our study, 80 RCC-related clinical questions from urology experts were posed three times to both ChatGPT 3.5 and ChatGPT 4.0, seeking binary (yes/no) responses. We then statistically analyzed the answers. Finally, we fine-tuned the GPT-3.5 Turbo model using these questions, and assessed its training outcomes. Results: We found that the average accuracy rates of answers provided by ChatGPT versions 3.5 and 4.0 were 67.08% and 77.50%, respectively. ChatGPT 4.0 outperformed ChatGPT 3.5, with a higher accuracy rate in responses (p < 0.05). By counting the number of correct responses to the 80 questions, we then found that although ChatGPT 4.0 performed better (p < 0.05), both versions were subject to instability in answering. Finally, by fine-tuning the GPT-3.5 Turbo model, we found that the correct rate of responses to these questions could be stabilized at 93.75%. Iterative optimization of the model can result in 100% response accuracy. Conclusion: We compared ChatGPT versions 3.5 and 4.0 in addressing clinical RCC questions, identifying their limitations. By applying the GPT-3.5 Turbo fine-tuned model iterative training method, we enhanced AI strategies in renal oncology. This approach is set to enhance ChatGPT's database and clinical guidance capabilities, optimizing AI in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pleckstrin homeolike domain, family A, member 1 (PHLDA1) is a multifunctional protein that plays diverse roles in A variety of biological processes, including cell death, and hence its altered expression has been found in different types of cancer. Although studies have shown a regulatory relationship between p53 and PHLDA1, the molecular mechanism is still unclear. Especially, the role of PHLDA1 in the process of apoptosis is still controversial. In this study, we found that the expression of PHLDA1 in human cervical cancer cell lines was correlated with the up-expression of p53 after treatment with apoptosis-inducing factors. Subsequently, the binding site and the binding effect of p53 on the promoter region of PHLDA1 were verified by our bioinformatics data analysis and luciferase reporter assay. Indeed, we used CRISPR-Cas9 to knockout the p53 gene in HeLa cells and further confirmed that p53 can bind to the promoter region of PHLDA1 gene, and then directly regulate the expression of PHLDA1 by recruiting P300 and CBP to change the acetylation and methylation levels in the promoter region. Finally, a series of gain–of–function experiments further confirmed that p53 re-expression in HeLap53-/- cell can up-regulate the reduction of PHLDA1 caused by p53 knockout, and affect cell apoptosis and proliferation. Our study is the first to explore the regulatory mechanism of p53 on PHLDA1 by using the p53 gene knockout cell model, which further proves that PHLDA1 is a target-gene in p53-mediated apoptosis, and reveals the important role of PHLDA1 in cell fate determination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mutations in a Plasmodium de-ubiquitinase UBP1 have been linked to antimalarial drug resistance. However, the UBP1-mediated drug-resistant mechanism remains unknown. Through drug selection, genetic mapping, allelic exchange, and functional characterization, here we show that simultaneous mutations of two amino acids (I1560N and P2874T) in the Plasmodium yoelii UBP1 can mediate high-level resistance to mefloquine, lumefantrine, and piperaquine. Mechanistically, the double mutations are shown to impair UBP1 cytoplasmic aggregation and de-ubiquitinating activity, leading to increased ubiquitination levels and altered protein localization, from the parasite digestive vacuole to the plasma membrane, of the P. yoelii multidrug resistance transporter 1 (MDR1). The MDR1 on the plasma membrane enhances the efflux of substrates/drugs out of the parasite cytoplasm to confer multidrug resistance, which can be reversed by inhibition of MDR1 transport. This study reveals a previously unknown drug-resistant mechanism mediated by UBP1 through altered MDR1 localization and substrate transport direction in a mouse model, providing a new malaria treatment strategy. Here, the authors show that two mutations in the Plasmodium de-ubiquitinase UBP1 alter the ubiquitination level, membrane localization, and ligand transport direction of multidrug resistance transporter 1 (MDR1), leading to multiple drug resistances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermally conductive polymer nanocomposites integrated with lightweight, excellent flexural strength, and high fracture toughness (KIc) would be of great use in many fields. However, achieving all of these properties simultaneously remains a great challenge. Inspired by natural nacre, here we demonstrate a lightweight, strong, tough, and thermally conductive boron nitride nanosheet/epoxy layered (BNNEL) nanocomposite. Because of the layered structure and enhancing the interfacial interactions through hydrogen bonding and Si–O–B covalent bonding, the resulting nacre-inspired BNNEL nanocomposites show high fracture toughness of ∼ 4.22 MPa·m1/2, which is 7 folds as high as pure epoxy. Moreover, the BNNEL nanocomposites demonstrate sufficient flexural strength (∼ 168.90 MPa, comparable to epoxy resin), while also being lightweight (∼ 1.23 g/cm3). Additionally, the BNNEL nanocomposites display a thermal conductivity (κ) of ∼ 0.47 W/(m·K) at low boron nitride nanosheet loading of 2.08 vol.%, which is 2.7 times higher than that of pure epoxy resin. The developed nacre-inspired strategy of layered structure design and interfacial enhancement provides an avenue for fabricating high mechanical properties and thermally conductive polymer nanocomposites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous studies investigating the association between the geriatric nutrition risk index (GNRI) and sarcopenia either lacked longitudinal evidence or narrowly focused on specific populations. Aims: We aimed to reveal longitudinal associations of GNRI with sarcopenia risk in community-dwelling Chinese. We also investigated interaction effects of potential factors on such associations. Methods: We included participants aged ≥ 50 years with sufficient data from the WCHAT study who did not have sarcopenia at baseline and completed sarcopenia assessment during follow-up. GNRI was calculated according to the formula based on serum albumin, height and weight. Sarcopenia was diagnosed according to the 2019 AWGS consensus. Longitudinal associations between GNRI and sarcopenia were estimated by logistic regression with GNRI as either a continuous or categorical variable by tertiles, using generalized estimating equations (GEE) as sensitivity analyses. Subgroup analyses by potential covariates were conducted to detect interaction effects. Results: A total of 1907 participants without baseline sarcopenia were finally included, of whom 327 (17.1%) developed incident sarcopenia during 5-year follow-up. After controlling for confounders, sarcopenia risk decreased with each one standard deviation increase in GNRI (ORadjusted=0.36, 95% CI 0.31–0.43), and it also decreased successively from the lowest (< 111.2) through middle (111.2-117.7) to the highest (≥ 117.8) tertile of the GNRI level (P for trend < 0.001). Similar results were yielded by GEE. Such associations generally remained robust across subgroups with distinct characteristics, while significant differences were observed between different age groups (≥ 65 vs. <65 years) (interaction P-value < 0.05). Conclusion: GNRI is longitudinally associated with sarcopenia risk with possibly age-specific differences in association magnitude, which holds implications for policymakers to conduct population-based risk assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of HNK, I5, and I6 on the expression of protein in hippocampus of depressed mice were studied by isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) to explore the mechanism of their antidepressant action. HNK, I5, and I6 were administered intragastric administration once a day in the morning for 7 days. The drug was subsequently discontinued for 7 days (without any treatment). On the 15th day, mice in each group were given the drug (1.0, 10.0, 30.0 mg/kg) intragastric stimulation and mouse hippocampal tissues were taken to perform iTRAQ to identify differentially expressed proteins, and bioinformatics was used to analyze the functional enrichment of the differentially expressed proteins. Compared with Ctr group, the number of differentially expressed proteins in HNK, I5, and I6 treatment groups was 158, 88, and 105, respectively. The three groups shared 29 differentially expressed proteins. In addition, compared with HNK group, the number of differentially expressed proteins in I5 and I6 groups was 201 and 203, respectively. A total of 47 and 56 differentially expressed proteins were co-expressed in I5 and I6 groups. Bioinformatics analysis showed that these differentially expressed proteins mainly had the functions of binding, biocatalysis, and transport, and mainly participated in cellular process, biological regulation process, biological metabolism process, and stress reaction process. GO and KEGG pathway analysis found that these differentially expressed proteins were involved long-term potentiation, G13 pathway, platelet activation pathway, and MAPK signaling pathway. HNK, I5, and I6 antidepressants are closely related to sudden stress sensitivity, stress resistance, neurotransmitter, and metabolic pathways. This study provides a scientific basis to further elucidate the mechanism and clinical application of HNK, I5, and I6 antidepressants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To test the hypothesis that dysregulated wound healing is associated with Urogynecologic mesh complications, we collected vaginal cell secretions using vaginal swabs after polypropylene mesh implantation in patients with (N = 39) and without (N = 40) complication. A customized multiplex immunoassay measured markers of inflammation (MCP-1, IGFBP-1, IL-2, IL-10, IL-17, PDGF-BB, bFGF, IL-1b, IL-6, IL-12p70, TNF-α), neuroinflammation (IL-1RA, TGF-β, IL-15, IL-18, IL-3, M-CSF), angiogenesis (VEGF), and matrix proteins (fibronectin, tenasin c, thrombospondin-2, lumican) between groups. Patients with complications were younger, heavier, implanted with mesh longer, and more likely to be ever smokers. A 5 kg/m2 BMI increase and ever-smoking were associated with a 2.4-fold and sixfold increased risk of complication, respectively. Patients with the highest tertile of bFGF, fibronectin, thrombospondin-2, TNF-β, or VEGF had an odds ratio (OR) of 11.8 for having a mesh complication while ≥ 3 elevated had an OR of 237 while controlling for age, BMI, and smoking. The highest tertile of bFGF, thrombospondin-2, and fibronectin together perfectly indicated a complication (P < 0.0001). A receiver-operator curve for high bFGF, thrombospondin-2, and fibronectin showed excellent discrimination between complications and controls (AUC 0.87). These data provide evidence of dysregulated wound healing in mesh complications. Modifiable factors provide potential targets for patient counseling and interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In most full-scale fatigue tests of wind turbine blades, only longitudinal strains are considered in the calculation of damage, while the effects of transverse and tangential strains are ignored, which will lead to varied damage inflicted on different parts of the blade. To analyze this problem, this paper conducted uniaxial and biaxial fatigue tests on a 52.5-meter wind turbine blade and recorded the strain response at each cross section. The test results show that transverse and tangential strains are greater than longitudinal strains in some cross sections of the blade. Then, a cross section of the blade was modeled and simulated using ABAQUS to analyze the strain relationships at other locations on the blade. The strain response at different locations on the blade was also examined, and the simulation results showed that both the transverse and longitudinal strain values for this cross section varied significantly. In addition, the multiaxial strain varies greatly with different loading methods. The strain pattern in the trailing edge panel region is very complex. Therefore, the damage calculation and life prediction of the blade should consider the effect of multiaxial strain, which provides a powerful reference for the subsequent improvement of the multiaxial fatigue damage calculation method and the design of the fatigue test program for large wind turbine blades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We performed a meta-analysis to compare the safety and effectiveness of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) and retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) in treating nephrolithiasis ≥ 2 cm in patients with solitary kidneys. This systematic review was registered on PROSPERO (registration ID: CRD42021270519). The search time was set from the establishment of the databases until April 30, 2021. A systematic search was performed in the PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Cochrane Library, and Embase databases. Stata 16 was used to perform the statistical analysis of the extracted data. After screening using strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, five studies with a total of 474 patients were included in the final meta-analysis. According to the literature quality assessment scale statistics, the five studies included were of high quality. The results of the meta-analysis showed that RIRS had lesser hemoglobin loss (HL), shorter length of hospital stay (LOS), lower initial (OR = 3.39, 95% CI [1.97, 5.83], P = 0.02) and final stone-free rates (OR = 2.24, 95% CI [1.24, 4.06], P = 0.03), but a higher incidence of grade III-IV complications (OR = 0.29, 95% CI [0.08, 0.97], P = 0.04) than PCNL. The difference between the two surgical methods was not statistically significant in terms of operation time (OT), grade I–II complication rate, and total complication rate. For nephrolithiasis ≥ 2 cm in patients with a solitary kidney, RIRS has the advantage of less HL and shorter LOS, while PCNL benefits from its higher SFR (both initial and final). Both RIRS and PCNL are effective treatments for nephrolithiasis in patients with a solitary kidney, and clinicians should choose the most appropriate option to achieve the best treatment outcome, taking into account the patient's underlying conditions and medical conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aortic dissection (AD) is a life-threatening condition in which the inner layer of the aorta tears. It has been reported that metabolic syndrome (MS) has a close linkage with aortic dissection. However, the inter-relational mechanisms between them were still unclear. This article explored the hub gene signatures and potential molecular mechanisms in AD and MS. We obtained five bulk RNA-seq datasets of AD, one single cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) dataset of ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm (ATAA), and one bulk RNA-seq dataset of MS from the gene expression omnibus (GEO) database. Identification of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and key modules via weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), functional enrichment analysis, and machine learning algorithms (Random Forest and LASSO regression) were used to identify hub genes for diagnosing AD with MS. XGBoost further improved the diagnostic performance of the model. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and precision-recall (PR) curves were developed to assess the diagnostic value. Then, immune cell infiltration and metabolism-associated pathways analyses were created to investigate immune cell and metabolism-associated pathway dysregulation in AD and MS. Finally, the scRNA-seq dataset was performed to confirm the expression levels of identified hub genes. 406 common DEGs were identified between the merged AD and MS datasets. Functional enrichment analysis revealed these DEGs were enriched for applicable terms of metabolism, cellular processes, organismal systems, and human diseases. Besides, the positively related key modules of AD and MS were mainly enriched in transcription factor binding and inflammatory response. In contrast, the negatively related modules were significantly associated with adaptive immune response and regulation of nuclease activity. Through machine learning, nine genes with common diagnostic effects were found in AD and MS, including MAD2L2, IMP4, PRPF4, CHSY1, SLC20A1, SLC9A1, TIPRL, DPYD, and MAPKAPK2. In the training set, the AUC of the hub gene on RP and RR curves was 1. In the AD verification set, the AUC of the Hub gene on RP and RR curves were 0.946 and 0.955, respectively. In the MS set, the AUC of the Hub gene on RP and RR curves were 0.978 and 0.98, respectively. scRNA-seq analysis revealed that the SLC20A1 was found to be relevant in fatty acid metabolic pathways and expressed in endothelial cells. Our study revealed the common pathogenesis of AD and MS. These common pathways and hub genes might provide new ideas for further mechanism research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic factors play an important role in susceptibility to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Alternative splicing (AS) is an essential mechanism affecting gene expression associated with disease pathogenesis at the post-transcriptional level, but has rarely been studied in NIHL. To explore the role of AS in the development of NIHL, we performed a comprehensive analysis of RNA splicing alterations by comparing the RNA-seq data from blood samples from NIHL patients and subjects with normal hearing who were exposed to the same noise environment. A total of 356 differentially expressed genes, including 23 transcription factors, were identified between the two groups. Of particular note was the identification of 56 aberrant alternative splicing events generated by 41 differentially expressed genes between the two groups, with exon skipping events accounting for 54% of all the differentially alternative splicing (DAS) events. The results of functional enrichment analysis showed that these intersecting DAS genes and differentially expressed genes were significantly enriched in autophagy and mitochondria-related pathways. Together, our findings provide insights into the role of AS events in susceptibility and pathogenesis of NIHL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research introduced the design, analysis and optimization of bionic shrimp chela multi-cell tubes (BSCMTs) in bending by embedding an arthropod's microstructure inside a thin-walled square structure. A three-point impact bending finite element model was, in the first instance, correlated with physical tests and then modified to assess the energy absorption performance of bionic multi-cell tubes considering initial peak force, specific energy absorption and mean crushing force. Following a complex proportional assessment (COPRAS) approach and optimization phases, results demonstrated that the BSCMT with a W-shape section had the best energy absorption characteristics and should be considered in future as a possible contender for vehicle B-pillar structures that are subjected to bending and require excellent energy absorption properties to protect the occupants in high-speed impact collisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A family of new triphenylmethane (TPM)-based polyimides (PIs) containing bulky tert-butyldimethylsiloxy (TBS) side-groups (PI-TPMOSis) has been prepared by a post-polymerization modification via a simple silyl ether reaction of TPM-based PIs containing hydroxyl (OH) groups (PI-TPMOHs). The attachment of TBS side-groups in PI-TPMOSis can be achieved up to 100%, as confirmed by the 1H-NMR and IR spectra. Due to the presence of the TPM structure, PI-TPMOSi films still display the excellent thermal stability with high glass transition temperature (Tg) of 314–351 °C and high degradation temperature (Td5%) of 480–501 °C. It is quite remarkable that the introduction of TBS side-groups into PI-TPMOSi chains results in more superior optical, dielectric and solubility properties in comparison with the precursor PI-TPMOH films, probably due to the reductions of the packing density and charge-transfer complexes (CTCs) formation. The optical transmittance at 400 nm (T400) of PI-TPMOSi films is significantly increased from 45.3%–68.8% to 75.4%–81.6% of the precursor PI-TPMOH films. The dielectric constant (Dk) and dissipation factor (Df) at 1 MHz of PI-TPMOSi films are reduced from 4.11–4.40 and 0.00159–0.00235 to 2.61–2.92 and 0.00125–0.00171 of the precursor PI-TPMOH films, respectively. Combining the molecular design and simple preparation method, this study provides an effective approach for enhancement of various properties of PI films for microelectronic and photoelectric engineering applications. [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.)

Early detection of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) in patients with long-term noise exposure is vital for improving public health and reducing social burden. However, at present, the diagnosis of NIHL mainly depends on audiometric testing, and the primary test is pure-tone audiometry. Moreover, testing requires professional operators and complex equipment; thus, NIHL is often diagnosed at a later disease stage. Using a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS)-based proteomic approach, we identified 9 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), namely, 6 upregulated serum proteins and 3 downregulated serum proteins, in samples from 50 ground crew personnel working at an air force station. Then, according to the results, we predicted that caldesmon (CALD1), myocilin (MYOC), zyxin (ZYX), creatine kinase M-type (CKM), insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 2 (IGFBP2), complement factor H-related protein 4 (CFHR4), prenylcysteine oxidase 1 (PCYOX1), heat shock cognate 71 kDa protein (HSPA8), and immunoglobulin lambda variable 3-21 (IGLV3-21) were associated with NIHL. We selected these DEPs as variables to perform logistic regression. Finally, a logistic regression model was constructed based on IGFBP2, ZYX, CKM, and CFHR4. The area under the curve was 0.894 (95% CI = 0.812 to 0.977). These findings suggested that IGFBP2, ZYX, CKM, and CFHR4 in serum are differentially expressed in NIHL patients and have the potential to be biomarkers for predicting the risk for NIHL. Further experiments in mice showed that ZYX and IGFBP2 in the cochlear were increased after noise exposure. ZYX and IGFBP2 may be involved in the occurrence and development of NIHL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the superiority of machine learning (ML) data processing, it is widely used in research of solid waste (SW). This study analyzed the research and developmental progress of the applications of ML in the life cycle of SW. Statistical analyses were undertaken on the literature published between 1985 and 2021 in the Science Citation Index Expanded and Social Sciences Citation Index to provide an overview of the progress. Based on the articles considered, a rapid upward trend from 1985 to 2021 was found and international cooperatives were found to have strengthened. The three topics of ML, namely, SW categories, ML algorithms, and specific applications, as applied to the life cycle of SW were discussed. ML has been applied during the entire SW process, thereby affecting its life cycle. ML was used to predict the generation and characteristics of SW, optimize its collection and transportation, and model the processing of its energy utilization. Finally, the current challenges of applying ML to SW and future perspectives were discussed. The goal is to achieve high economic and environmental benefits and carbon reduction during the life cycle of SW. ML plays an important role in the modernization and intellectualization of SW management. It is hoped that this work would be helpful to provide a constructive overview towards the state-of-the-art development of SW disposal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital aerial photograph (DAP) data is processed based on Structure from Motion (SfM) algorithm and regional net adjustment method to generate digital surface discrete point clouds similar to Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and digital orthophoto mosaic (DOM) similar to optical remote sensing image. In this study, we obtained high-resolution images of mature forests of Chinese fir by unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flying through cross-route flight, and then reconstructed the three-dimensional point clouds in the UAV aerial area by SfM technique. The point cloud segmentation (PCS) algorithm was used for the individual tree segmentation, and the F-score of the three sample plots were 0.91, 0.94, and 0.94, respectively. Individual tree biomass modeling was conducted using 155 mature Chinese fir forests which were correctly segmented. The relative root mean squared error (rRMSE) values of random forest (RF), bagged tree (BT) and support vector regression (SVR) were 34.48%, 35.74% and 40.93%, respectively. Our study demonstrated that DAP point clouds had great potential to extract forest vertical parameters and could be applied successfully in individual tree segmentation and individual tree biomass modeling. [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.)

REBa2Cu3Ox (REBCO) tapes with high critical temperature, high critical current density, and preferably mechanical properties have been put into use in various industries. Nonetheless, its complex anisotropy and "error field" caused by the screening currents are still challenges for commercial applications. In this paper, the influence of with or without ferromagnetic substrate on the AC loss of superconducting composite tapes is first explored. It is discovered that the above and below superconducting tapes #1 and #3 have the screening effect on the middle superconducting tape #2. Then, the REBCO high-field coils were equated based on the anisotropic homogenization technique, and the distribution characteristics of the electromagnetic field, AC loss, and Lorentz force of the equivalent REBCO high-field coils are calculated. By investigating the performance characteristics of the central magnetic field, it is found that the screening current has an effect on the central magnetic field and critical current density of the coils. Moreover, the magnetic field induced by the screening current can reach a maximum of 0.8 T, which results in a 7.8% "error field" at the center of the REBCO high-field coils. Simultaneously, the screening current also reduces the critical current density at the top and bottom of the coils. Finally, the distribution law of current density and radial Lorentz force in different engineering turns in the fully charged state is investigated. The results prove that the Lorentz force generated by screening current is approximately 2.7 times greater than that of non-screening current (copper coils). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) affects many populations. This study aims to develop a predictive model and create a nomogram for assessing the risk of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in patients diagnosed with SLE. Data from electronic health records of SLE patients treated at the Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College between 2013 and 2023 were collected. The dataset underwent thorough cleaning and variable assignment procedures. Subsequently, variables were selected using one-way logistic regression and lasso logistic regression methods, followed by multifactorial logistic regression to construct nomograms. The model’s performance was assessed using calibration, receiver operating characteristic (ROC), and decision curve analysis (DCA) curves. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. The predictive variables for ESRD development in SLE patients included anti-GP210 antibody presence, urinary occult blood, proteinuria, white blood cell count, complement 4 levels, uric acid, creatinine, total protein, globulin, glomerular filtration rate, pH, specific gravity, very low-density lipoprotein, homocysteine, apolipoprotein B, and absolute counts of cytotoxic T cells. The nomogram exhibited a broad predictive range. The ROC area under the curve (AUC) was 0.886 (0.858–0.913) for the training set and 0.840 (0.783–0.897) for the testing set, indicating good model performance. The model demonstrated both applicability and significant clinical benefits. The developed model presents strong predictive capabilities and considerable clinical utility in estimating the risk of ESRD in patients with SLE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extreme learning machine (ELM) has fast learning speed and perfect performance, at the same time, ELM provides a unified learning framework with a widespread type of feature mappings which can be applied in multiclass classification applications directly. These advantages make ELM become one of the best classification algorithms, and ELM has attracted great attention in supervised learning and semi-supervised learning. However, noise and outliers of data are usually existed in the real world, which will affect the performance of ELM. To improve the robustness and classification performance of ELM, we propose the Kernel Risk-Sensitive Mean p-power Loss Based Hyper-graph Regularized Robust Extreme Learning Machine (KRP-HRELM) method. On the one side, as a nonlinear similarity measure defined in the reproducing kernel space, the kernel risk-sensitive mean p-power loss (KRP) can effectively weaken the negative effects caused by noise and outliers. Therefore, the KRP is introduced into ELM to enhance its robustness. Then, the application of hyper-graph can help the ELM to explore higher-order geometric structures among more sampling points, thereby obtaining more comprehensive data information. In addition, to obtain a more sparsity network model, the L2,1-norm is used to constrain the output weight. On the other side, improving the practical application ability of KRP-HRELM is also the focus of our research, so KRP-HRELM is extended to semi-supervised learning, which is called the semi-supervised KRP-HRELM (SS-KRP-HRELM). Notably, the results of the robustness experiment have proved that our method has extraordinary robustness. At the same time, by using four evaluation measures such as accuracy, recall, precision, and F1-measure, to evaluate the classification results, we can find that our method has obtained better classification performance than other advanced methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Gram-stain-negative, cocci-to-oval-shaped bacterial strain, designated XZZS9T, was isolated from the rhizosphere soil of Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica and characterized taxonomically using a polyphasic approach. Growth occurred at 20–35 °C (optimum, 28 °C), pH 6.0–11.0 (optimum, pH 7.0), and in 0–1% NaCl (optimum, 0%). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing indicated that strain XZZS9T was related to members of the genus Roseococcus, with the highest sequence identity to Roseococcus microcysteis NIBR12T (96.9%). The major cellular fatty acids (> 5% of the total) were C18:1ω7c and C19:0 cyclo ω8c. The major isoprenoid quinone was Q-9 and the polar lipid profile contained diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified glycophospholipid, and an unidentified phospholipid. Genome sequencing revealed that had a genome size of 4.79 Mbp with a G + C content of 69.5%. Comparative genomic analyses clearly separated strain XZZS9T from the known species of the genus Roseococcus based on average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) values below the thresholds for species delineation. Genome annotations did not find pufL and pufM genes in strain XZZS9T, suggesting a possible lack of photosynthetic reaction. Based on genotypic and phenotypic characteristics, strain XZZS9T represents a novel species of the genus Roseococcus, for which we propose the name Roseococcus pinisoli sp. nov. The type strain is XZZS9T (= KCTC 82435T = JCM 34402T = GDMCC 1.2158T). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improvement of the treatment for Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) especially the development of in situ controllable drug release is still a major concern. In this study, we developed waterborne biodegradable polyurethane (WBPU) scaffolds incorporated with redox-sensitive and RGD-decorated paclitaxel (PTX) polymer-drug conjugates (PDCs) for targeted GBM therapy in situ. The drug scaffolds could be implanted at residual GBM site post-operation. Dual-targeting PTX-PDCs were obtained through step-by-step conjugation of disulfide linked PTX, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), and arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD). The RGD-modified PTX-PDCs were spherical nanoparticles (NPs) that would be released from scaffolds and identified GBM cells actively. Internalized redox-sensitive PTX-PDCs would be decomposed and release PTX inside GBM cells under the circumstances of glutathione (GSH). The release profiles of PTX from the scaffolds with/without GSH were investigated. In vitro cytotoxicity assay revealed that the dual-targeting PTX-PDCs from scaffolds could specifically kill GBM cells and protect normal cells, suggesting that dual-targeting PTX-PDC-loaded scaffolds may have the potential to repair tumor-induced brain injury. In vivo anti-recurrence assay indicated that the PTX-PDC-scaffolds could deliver PTX-PDCs to the GBM cells followed by inhibiting tumor growth and inducing apoptosis. In general, the PTX prodrug-loaded devices exhibited significant anti-GBM effects and normal tissue protection simultaneously, indicating that the WBPU scaffolds incorporated with dual-targeting PTX-PDCs may be a promising strategy for local therapy of GBM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cross-reactivity (CR) of monoclonal antibody (mAb) is mainly determined by chemical structure of hapten which is used to synthesize immunogen. Hapten structures are commonly designed based on experience and then verified via experiments. To save cost, a theoretical model is extremely necessary to guide hapten structure design. In this study, the relationship between sulfonamides (SAs) structures and CR of previously obtained broad-specific mAb 2G3 was analyzed to construct stable comparative molecular field assay (CoMFA) and precise machine learning models. A new hapten corresponded to mAb 3D1 with better properties was designed based on the prior knowledge from model analysis of mAb 2G3. The further models for mAb 3D1 were also built and analyzed. Finally, a complementary analysis approach was established to clarify the structural factors and physicochemical factors that affected the CR of mAb by analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of the respective models of mAb 2G3 and mAb 3D1. The proposed approach can provide valuable reference for further precise modification of hapten structure in other similar projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, research of cable fault diagnosis based on artificial intelligence mainly takes statistical characteristics as inputs, which means the appropriateness of statistical characteristic selection is directly related to the diagnosis accuracy and the identification results may have certain contingency. Further, most of these methods do not consider the correlation of signals in time. Therefore, this paper proposes a novel diagnosis method for 10 kV single-core cable based on Double-Layer Long Short Term Memory (D-LSTM) network considering timing relationship of multiple observable electrical quantities. Firstly, analysis object is expanded from single electrical quantity to multiple observable electrical quantities, and the relationships among these quantities are analyzed. Secondly, characteristic matrix of combined time series is constructed by time series pairs extracted from multiple observable electrical quantities. Thirdly, the D-LSTM network for processing sequenced input is established according to the features of characteristic matrix. Then, adaptive moment estimation (Adam) method is applied to model training under supervised learning and the model of fault diagnosis is obtained. Finally, recognition experiments are carried out by the proposed method with sample data obtained by simulation of three cable faults and load disturbance. Results show the diagnosis accuracy of proposed method can achieve 99.06%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the mechanism of anti-washout performance of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and polyacrylamide (PAM) in seawater-mixed cement paste. Using seawater as concrete mixing water can reduce the consumption of freshwater resources. The ionic environment of seawater can promote hydrogen bonds formation of HPMC, and PAM. The viscosity of the solution increased with the numbers of hydrogen bonds, thus, the viscosity of seawater-mixed cement paste increased by incorporating HPMC and PAM. The viscosity of admixtures (AWA) solution is a major determinant of the viscosity and washout resistance of cement paste. Incorporating HPMC can significantly reduce underwater seawater-mixed cement paste washout loss from 59.8 to 0%, while incorporating PAM can reduce it from 59.8 to 2.8%. Compared with PAM, HPMC has better anti-washout effect because of its high viscosity in seawater-mixed solution. This research reports an effective method to improve the washout resistance performance of seawater-mixed cement paste through polymer doping and illustrates the feasibility of using seawater instead of freshwater applied in the underwater anti-washout cement paste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-temperature superconductors are anisotropic materials and are often subjected to variable external magnetic and temperature fields. The non-uniformity of excitation environment and material will lead to the increase of AC loss and change of magnetostriction effect of superconducting material, which will result in unstable operation and even fracture damage of the equipment. In this paper, cylindrical high-temperature superconductors with material anisotropy are placed in a periodic alternating magnetic field. By controlling the amplitude of external magnetic field, excitation frequency, and non-uniform coefficient of material elastic modulus and ambient temperature, the distribution of electromagnetic field, temperature field, and magnetization intensity during the magnetization of superconductors has been investigated in depth. The AC loss and magnetostriction with the external field loading and unloading process are also discussed in detail based on the electro-magnetic-thermal coupling effect. The results demonstrate that variations in the amplitude and excitation frequency of the external magnetic field will have a remarkable effect on the trapped field, AC loss, and magnetostriction of the superconductor. The change in the non-uniformity coefficient of the material's elastic modulus only has a greater effect on magnetostriction, but has no significant changes on the trapped field, magnetic moment distribution, and AC loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, extreme learning machine (ELM) has attracted a lot of attention due to its high performance and extreme speed. However, how to improve the robustness of ELM has always been a problem. Considering the problems of noise and outliers in the experimental data, in this paper, we introduce the kernel risk-sensitive mean p-power error (KRP) into ELM and propose a robust ELM method named kernel risk-sensitive mean p-power error based robust extreme learning machine (KRPELM), on the basis of the high efficiency and robustness of KRP. In KRPELM, KRP function instead of square loss is integrated into ELM as the loss function, which can improve the robustness of ELM to noise and outliers. We also propose an efficient iterative adjustment strategy to optimize KRPELM. Nine benchmark datasets are utilized to verify the classification performance of the proposed KRPELM. In addition, we apply the proposed method to the classification of cancer samples. The experimental results on five cancer gene expression datasets show that KRPELM can identify different cancer types more accurately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed a set of SSR markers to investigate the genetic diversity and evolutionary history of Psammochloa villosa (Trin.) Bor, a dominant species of the Inner Mongolian Plateau and adjacent regions. We used sequenced transcriptomes of P. villosa to develop primer pairs for 97 SSR markers. Of these, we successfully amplified 46 (47%) SSRs and found that eleven were polymorphic among individuals. We tested these eleven SSRs in 122 accessions of P. villosa representing ten populations and determined that the number of alleles per locus ranged from one to seven, with an average of 2.727. The expected and observed heterozygosity per locus varied from 0 to 0.840 (mean: 0.471) and from 0 to 1.000 (mean: 0.679), respectively. The new SSR markers described in this study will be valuable for investigating the population genetic structure and history of P. villosa throughout its range and may help to develop hypotheses for understanding its evolutionary divergence from its closest relatives in the genus Stipa L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the cylindrical cavity expansion theory, the equation calculating the lateral displacement of soil along the pile shaft is obtained. Combined with the Herschel–Bulkley model with time-varying viscosity and the uniform flow equation, the analytical solution of the grouting fracturing height (GFH) for the post-grouted at the pile tip and considering the time-varying viscosity is derived under certain assumptions. For the problem of post grouting in the layered soil, the iterative calculation method of the GFH is given. The influence of the grouting pressure, pile length, pile radius, thickness of mud skin, rheological index, initial consistency coefficient, time-varying coefficient, and grouting time for grouting on the GFH is analyzed with examples. Finally, the problems of time-varying viscosity and grouting pressure loss are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frontal impacts are the most frequent crash types and may generate extreme body in white (BIW) deformations. Vehicles are subjected to impact evaluation rating protocols such as 100 % Front Rigid Barrier (FRB) impact, 40 % Offset Deformable Barrier (ODB) impact and 25 % overlap (small overlap) impact. This paper proposes a collaborative optimization process using optimal Latin hypercube design (Opt LHD) and response surface methodology (RSM), to improve the vehicle crashworthiness in the frontal impacts, by considering displacement oriented structure (DOS). Upper and lower engine bay structure were considered herein to increase the lateral vehicle displacement during small overlap impact and decrease the impact force that transferred to the passenger compartment in the frontal impacts. The optimal results indicated that the acceleration of the B-pillar was reduced 0.4g in the FRB impact, the intrusion of the firewall was reduced by 55.13 % in the ODB impact, and the intrusion of passenger compartment during small overlap impact was decreased by an average of 53.88 %, with a maximum percentage of 71.41 % around left toepan, leading to an IIHS rating to acceptable from poor. The proposed crashworthiness design approach is effective in vehicle structure optimization for better frontal impacts performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pine wood nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner & Buhrer) Nickle, is the pathogen of pine wilt disease (PWD) which can devastate forests. PWN can be of high or low severity and the mechanisms underlying the differences in virulence are unclear. Therefore, it is necessary to study the relationship between differentiation of PWN severity and its resistance to the main defensive substances of pine species (i.e., α-pinene and H2O2). The feeding rate and fecundity of PWN was examined at different levels of virulence under conditions of α-pinene and H2O2 stress. Moreover, the expression patterns of the main resistance genes of PWN with different virulence were determined under conditions of α-pinene and H2O2 stress. The feeding rate and fecundity of the high virulence strain AMA3 were higher than those of the low virulence strain YW4. The expression levels of the autophagy gene BxATG5, cytochrome P450 gene BxCYP33D3, and glutathione S-transferase genes BxGST1 and BxGST3 in AMA3 increased significantly upon exposure to α-pinene for 2 h, while these genes showed smaller degrees of upregulation in YW4. Under conditions of H2O2 stress, the expression levels of BxATG5, catalase genes Bxy-ctl-1and Bxy-ctl-2, and the 2-cysteine peroxiredoxin gene BxPrx in AMA3 were higher than those in YW4. These findings suggest that high virulence PWN has greater resistance to pine defensive substances α-pinene and H2O2 than low virulence PWN, and resistance genes mediate the differential resistance of PWN strains. This study will contribute to the clarification of the mechanism underlying virulence differentiation of PWN and will advance understanding of the pathogenic mechanism of PWD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite obesity being a predisposing factor for pancreatic β-cell dysfunction and loss, the mechanisms underlying its negative effect on insulin-secreting cells remain poorly understood. In this study, we identify an islet-enriched long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), which we name β-cell function and apoptosis regulator (βFaar). βFaar is dramatically downregulated in the islets of the obese mice, and a low level of βFaar is necessary for the development of obesity-associated β-cell dysfunction and apoptosis. Mechanistically, βFaar promote the synthesis and secretion of insulin by upregulating islet-specific genes Ins2, NeuroD1, and Creb1 through sponging miR-138-5p. In addition, using quantitative mass spectrometry, we identify TRAF3IP2 and SMURF1 as interacting proteins that are specifically associated with βFaar. We demonstrate that SMURF1 ubiquitin ligase activity is essential for TRAF3IP2 ubiquitination and activation of NF-κB-mediate β-cell apoptosis. Our experiments provide direct evidence that dysregulated βFaar contributes to the development of obesity-induced β-cell injury and apoptosis. Beta-cell function is often impaired in obesity through incompletely understood mechanisms. Here the authors show that the long noncoding RNA βFaar is reduced by diet-induced obesity in mice, which leads to impaired beta-cell function via miR-138-5p and survival via TRAF3 Interacting Protein 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The low flexural strength and high brittleness of cementitious materials impair their service life in building structures. In this study, we developed a new polymer-modified mortar by in situ polymerization of acrylamide (AM) monomers during the cement setting, which enhanced the flexural and durable performances of mortars. The mechanical properties, micro-and-pore structures, hydrated products, interactions between cement hydrates and polyacrylamide (PAM), and durability-related properties of the mortars were investigated comprehensively. Mortars with 5% PAM exhibited the best performance in terms of flexural strength among all the mixtures. The mechanical strength of cement pastes modified by in situ polymerization of AM monomers was significantly superior to those modified by PAM. The chemical interactions between the polymer molecules and cement hydrates together with the formation of polymer films glued the cement hydrates and polymers and resulted in an interpenetrating network structure, which strengthened the flexural strength. Reductions in porosity and calcium hydroxide content and improvement in capillary water absorption were achieved with the addition of PAM. Finally, the chloride resistance was significantly enhanced with the incorporation of PAM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a fast-growing commercial wood species, poplar often produces tension wood because of the leaning stems of logs, which has a great impact on the production and utilization. The gelatinous layer (G-layer) was the unique component of tension wood, almost entirely composed of cellulose, which was the main reason for the special performance of the poplar tension wood. This study used the transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and nanoindentation to examine the ultrastructure and mechanical properties of every wall layer of the poplar cell wall in order to figure out the ultrastructure and properties of G-layer. In particular, the nanoindentation mapping was combined with manual screening to obtain the mechanical performance data of each layer. The fibers in the tension wood were gelatinous wood fibers with obvious G-layers, and the thickness was 2.53 μm, which was much larger than that of other wall layers. Compared with the wood fiber in the opposite wood, the S1 layer was thicker and the S2 layer was thinner, and the entire cell wall thickness was increased in tension wood. G-layer in tension wood had a very high cellulose content, and the Raman strength of lignin was weak. In general, the micromechanical properties of poplar tension wood were better, which was consistent with its macromechanical properties. The characteristics of G-layer, including high cellulose content, small microfibril angle and high crystallinity, made G-layer own better elastic modulus (14.08 GPa) and hardness (0.45 GPa) than other wall layers in the tension wood. Moreover, G-layer had a high proportion in the tension wood cell wall, so the average longitudinal elastic modulus and hardness of wood fiber cells in the tension wood were also higher than those in the opposite wood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, cocci-shaped actinobacterium, designated YIM 75000T, was isolated from a soil sample collected from a dry-hot river valley in Yunnan Province, P.R. China. Growth was observed at 10–45 °C (optimal 37 °C), 0–8% (w/v) NaCl (optimal at 0–3% NaCl) and pH 6.0–8.0 (optimal at pH 7.3). The peptidoglycan contained LL-diaminopimelic acid, glycine, glutamic acid as well as alanine and its type was A3γ with an LL-Dpm-Gly interpeptide bridge. The major cellular fatty acids (> 10%) were C16:0, Summed In Feature 3 (C16:1ω6c/C16:1ω7c) and C17:1ω8c. The predominant menaquinone was MK-9(H4). The major whole-cell sugars contained rhamnose, ribose, arabinose and mannose. The DNA G+C content was 77.0 mol%. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of strain YIM 75000T with other species were less than 94%. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences and genome data, revealed that strain YIM 75000T together with the genus Motilibacter formed a distinct phylogenetic lineage within the phylum Actinobacteria, separating them from members of all orders. Strain YIM 75000T showed 73.4–73.7% average nucleotide identity and 19.5–19.7% digital DNA–DNA hybridization identity with the closely related genus Motilibacter. Based on the phenotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic data, it is proposed that the new isolate represents the nomenclature type of the novel species Vallicoccus soli gen. nov., sp. nov. (YIM 75000T = DSM 45377T = KCTC 49228T = CGMCC 1.13844T) which is the nomenclature type of the novel genus Vallicoccus gen. nov. within Vallicoccaceae fam. nov and Motilibacterales ord. nov in the phylum Actinobacteria. The family Vallicoccaceae fam. nov. and the order Motilibacterales (contains Vallicoccaceae fam. nov. and Motilibacteraceae Lee 2013) ord. nov. are formally proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple one-step molten salt method was used to synthesize micron-sized single primary particle LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811) cathode material. XRD, SEM, cycle performance, rate capability, differential capacity curves, 0.1 C charge/discharge curves, and EIS were carried out to research the mechanism regarding the influence of Li/transition metal (Li/TM) ratio, sinter temperature, and sinter time on the morphology and electrochemical properties of micron-sized single primary particle LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 materials. Any one of these three factors increases exceeding certain limit and it will lead to the degradation of active structure evolution during the charge/discharge process, resulting in decreasing electrochemical performance of the cathode material. The micron-sized single primary particle NCM811 cathode material with little aggregation and primary particle size of ~ 1–2 μm was produced successfully under the condition of heating at 850 °C for 16 h with Li/TM = 1.15. This work will be helpful for the synthesis of micron-sized single primary particle NCM cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]