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Abstract Leveraging the Chinese capital market, we investigate the relationship between a CEO’s scientific research background and the level of digitalization within enterprises. Our results demonstrate robust findings indicating that a CEO’s scientific research background significantly enhances the level of enterprise digitalization. Moreover, we observe that this correlation is more pronounced in companies controlled by non-state-owned enterprises, those operating within a more advanced digital economy, and those engaged in high levels of regional integration. Furthermore, we establish that the positive impact of a CEO’s research background on a company’s digitalization level is primarily driven by fostering the organization’s innovation drive. Overall, our research suggests that CEOs with scientific research backgrounds are instrumental in encouraging a culture of innovation within their firms, thereby enhancing enterprise digitalization performance. This study contributes to the literature by exploring the factors influencing enterprise digitalization levels through the lens of managerial experience and analyzing the economic implications of management experience on enterprise digital transformation. Methodologically, we have refined and enhanced the measurement approach for assessing enterprise digitalization levels. Practically, our findings underscore the importance of promoting cross-industry and cross-regional exchanges of high-caliber talent for executives, enterprises, and governmental entities alike.

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.)

In this study, a novel preconditioner based on the absolute-value block α -circulant matrix approximation is developed, specifically designed for nonsymmetric dense block lower triangular Toeplitz (BLTT) systems that emerge from the numerical discretization of evolutionary equations. Our preconditioner is constructed by taking an absolute-value of a block α -circulant matrix approximation to the BLTT matrix. To apply our preconditioner, the original BLTT linear system is converted into a symmetric form by applying a time-reversing permutation transformation. Then, with our preconditioner, the preconditioned minimal residual method (MINRES) solver is employed to solve the symmetrized linear system. With properly chosen α , the eigenvalues of the preconditioned matrix are proven to be clustered around ± 1 without any significant outliers. With the clustered spectrum, we show that the preconditioned MINRES solver for the preconditioned system has a convergence rate independent of system size. The efficacy of the proposed preconditioner is corroborated by our numerical experiments, which reveal that it attains optimal convergence. [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.)

The CRISPR system is an adaptive immune system found in prokaryotes that defends host cells against the invasion of foreign DNA1. As part of the ongoing struggle between phages and the bacterial immune system, the CRISPR system has evolved into various types, each with distinct functionalities2. Type II Cas9 is the most extensively studied of these systems and has diverse subtypes. It remains uncertain whether members of this family can evolve additional mechanisms to counter viral invasions3,4. Here we identify 2,062 complete Cas9 loci, predict the structures of their associated proteins and reveal three structural growth trajectories for type II-C Cas9. We found that novel associated genes (NAGs) tended to be present within the loci of larger II-C Cas9s. Further investigation revealed that CbCas9 from Chryseobacterium species contains a novel β-REC2 domain, and forms a heterotetrameric complex with an NAG-encoded CRISPR–Cas-system-promoting (pro-CRISPR) protein of II-C Cas9 (PcrIIC1). The CbCas9–PcrIIC1 complex exhibits enhanced DNA binding and cleavage activity, broader compatibility for protospacer adjacent motif sequences, increased tolerance for mismatches and improved anti-phage immunity, compared with stand-alone CbCas9. Overall, our work sheds light on the diversity and ‘growth evolutionary’ trajectories of II-C Cas9 proteins at the structural level, and identifies many NAGs—such as PcrIIC1, which serves as a pro-CRISPR factor to enhance CRISPR-mediated immunity.Comprehensive analyses of Cas9 proteins shed light on the evolution of the CRISPR–Cas9 system, and identify a pro-CRISPR accessory protein in bacteria that boosts CRISPR-mediated immunity by enhancing the DNA binding and cleavage activity of Cas9. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationships between cognitive reappraisal and problem gambling have been widely studied in different contexts. However, previous research findings remain inconsistent. This discrepancy might be attributed to the effects of interactions between cognitive reappraisal and other risk factors for problem gambling. Using moderation models, this study examined the association between impulsivity, gambling-related cognitive distortions, cognitive reappraisal and problem gambling in a sample of Malaysian gamblers. A total of 149 community gamblers (103 males, 46 females; mean age = 32.18) completed an online questionnaire. Problem gambling was measured with the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS); cognitive reappraisal was measured using the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire-Cognitive Reappraisal Subscale (ERQ-CR); impulsivity was measured with the Short-UPPS-P Impulsive Behaviour Scale (SUPPS-P); and gambling-related cognitive distortions were measured using the Gambling Related Cognitions Scale (GRCS). The results revealed impulsivity and gambling-related cognitive distortions as significant predictors of problem gambling. At high levels, impulsivity and cognitive distortions are significant moderator variables that strengthen the association between cognitive reappraisal and problem gambling. These findings demonstrate that reappraisal skills could exacerbate problem gambling severity amongst impulsive or self-deceptive gamblers. Future research with larger and more representative samples is needed to validate and generalise these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a ceramic material, AlN has very good thermophysical and mechanical properties. In addition, AlN is an effective refining agent for Mg alloys because it has a lattice constant similar to that of Mg. Therefore, AlN is an ideal reinforcement for magnesium matrix composites (MMCs), and is attracting increasing attention. This review addresses the development of preparation technologies for AlN-reinforced Mg matrix composites. The mainstream preparation techniques include stir casting, melt infiltration, powder metallurgy, and in-situ methods. In addition, the advantages and disadvantages of these techniques are analyzed in depth, and it is pointed out that the next direction for the preparation of high-performance AlN-reinforced MMCs is less aluminization and multiple technologies integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blood-based biomarkers of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) response in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) are lacking, so it is necessary to identify biomarkers to select NPC patients who will benefit most or least from ICIs. The absolute values of lymphocyte subpopulations, biochemical indexes, and blood routine tests were determined before ICIs-based treatments in the training cohort (n = 130). Then, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) Cox regression analysis was developed to construct a prediction model. The performances of the prediction model were compared to TNM stage, treatment, and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) DNA using the concordance index (C-index). Progression-free survival (PFS) was estimated by Kaplan–Meier (K–M) survival curve. Other 63 patients were used for validation cohort. The novel model composed of histologic subtypes, CD19+ B cells, natural killer (NK) cells, regulatory T cells, red blood cells (RBC), AST/ALT ratio (SLR), apolipoprotein B (Apo B), and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH). The C-index of this model was 0.784 in the training cohort and 0.735 in the validation cohort. K–M survival curve showed patients with high-risk scores had shorter PFS compared to the low-risk groups. For predicting immune therapy responses, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC), decision curve analysis (DCA), net reclassifcation improvement index (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement index (IDI) of this model showed better predictive ability compared to EBV DNA. In this study, we constructed a novel model for prognostic prediction and immunotherapeutic response prediction in NPC patients, which may provide clinical assistance in selecting those patients who are likely to gain long-lasting clinical benefits to anti-PD-1 therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic bottles are in high demand, as they are cheap to make, easy to fill and can carry most liquids. However, if the thickness of the body of the bottle is inconsistent, it cannot be used to package items containing dissolved gas. If the texture of the bottom of the bottle is incomplete, it also will be unable to be used to package these items. In this paper, we propose a concentric circle method of detecting the bottom of a bottle based on the Hough circle. This approach can be used to detect defects in the thickness of the bottle body based on the fact that the circular groove at the bottom of a plastic bottle and the gate feature have the same central position when the thickness of the body is consistent. Our defect detection method for the texture at the bottom of the bottle is based on the special wing flaps at the bottom of plastic bottles, which have left/right and up/down symmetry features when the texture is correct. The proposed method uses a deep learning image recognition framework for recognition of autonomous features and to detect defects in the texture at the bottom of plastic bottles. The proposed defect detection method for the bottle body has an accuracy of 92.9%, whereas the defect detection method for the bottom of the bottle has an accuracy of 96.5%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This multicenter retrospective study was conducted to explore the effects of different courses and durations of invasive mechanical ventilation (MV) on the respiratory outcomes of very low birth weight infants (VLBWI) in China. The population for this study consisted of infants with birth weight less than 1500 g needing at least 1 course of invasive MV and admitted to the neonatal intensive care units affiliated with the Chinese Neonatal Network within 6 h of life from January 1st, 2019 to December 31st, 2020. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate associations between invasive MV and respiratory outcomes. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were computed with the effects of potential confounders. (1) Among the 3183 VLBWs with a history of at least one course of invasive MV, 3155 (99.1%) met inclusion criteria and were assessed for the primary outcome. Most infants received one course (76.8%) and a shorter duration of invasive MV (62.16% with ventilation for 7 days or less). (2) In terms of the incidence of all bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) (mild, moderate, and severe BPD), there were no significant differences between different invasive MV courses [For 2 courses, adjusted OR = 1.11 (0.88, 1.39); For 3 courses or more, adjusted OR = 1.07 (0.72, 1.60)]. But, with the duration of invasive MV prolonging, the OR of BPD increased [8–21 days, adjusted OR = 1.98 (1.59, 2.45); 22–35 days, adjusted OR = 4.37 (3.17, 6.03); ≥ 36 days, adjusted OR = 18.44 (10.98, 30.99)]. Concerning severe BPD, the OR increased not only with the course of invasive MV but also with the duration of invasive MV [For 2 courses, adjusted OR = 2.17 (1.07, 4.40); For 3 courses or more, adjusted OR = 2.59 (1.02, 6.61). 8–21 days, adjusted OR = 8.42 (3.22, 22.01); 22–35 days, adjusted OR = 27.82 (9.08, 85.22); ≥ 36 days, adjusted OR = 616.45 (195.79, > 999.999)]. (3) When the interaction effect between invasive MV duration and invasive MV course was considered, it was found that there were no interactive effects in BPD and severe BPD. Greater than or equal to three courses would increase the chance of severe BPD, death, and the requirement of home oxygen therapy. Compared with distinct courses of invasive MV, a longer duration of invasive MV (> 7 days) has a greater effect on the risk of BPD, severe BPD, death, and the requirement of home oxygen therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), major components maintaining the immune suppressive microenvironment in lung cancer, are relevant to the invasion, metastasis, and poor prognosis of lung cancer, through the regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition, remodeling of the immune microenvironment, and regulation of angiogenesis. MDSCs regulate T-cell immune functions by maintaining a strong immunosuppressive microenvironment and promoting tumor invasion. This raises the question of whether reversing the immunosuppressive effect of MDSCs on T cells can improve lung cancer treatment. To understand this further, this review explores the interactions and specific mechanisms of different MDSCs subsets, including regulatory T cells, T helper cells, CD8 + T cells, natural killer T cells, and exhausted T cells, as part of the lung cancer immune microenvironment. Second, it focuses on the guiding significance confirmed via clinical liquid biopsy and tissue biopsy that different MDSC subsets improve the prognosis of lung cancer. Finally, we conclude that targeting MDSCs through action targets or signaling pathways can help regulate T-cell immune functions and suppress T-cell exhaustion. In addition, immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting MDSCs may serve as a new approach for enhancing the efficiency of immunotherapy and targeted therapy for lung cancer in the future, providing better comprehensive options for lung cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease characterized by joint swelling, pain, and deformation. RA patients have an increased risk of thyroid dysfunction, and drugs of RA treatment may have potential effects on thyroid function. Methods: This is a single-center cross-sectional study including 281 inpatients with RA in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine. The purpose of this study is to explore the correlation between RA therapeutic drugs and thyroid function. The medical records of 281 inpatients with RA were collected, including general data, laboratory examination, complications, and RA treatment. Spearman correlation analysis was used to explore the association of independent variables with thyroid function and antibodies in RA patients. Multinomial logistics and binary logistic regression were used for multivariate analysis. The statistically significance level was set as P < 0.05. SPSS 22.0 was used for statistical analysis. Results: Patients taking methotrexate (OR = 0.067, 95%CI: 0.008–0.588, P = 0.015) had lower levels of total thyroxine (TT4) (TT4 < 78.38 nmol/L). There was a negative correlation between glucocorticoids (r = − 0.153, P = 0.010) and total triiodothyronine (TT3) level (TT3 ≥ 1.34 nmol/L), but it was not significant in the multivariate regression model of TT3, although the regression model was statistically significant (P = 0.001). Conclusion: Methotrexate is associated with decreased TT4 levels in RA patients, and glucocorticoids is associated with decreased TT3 levels. Drugs of RA treatment may affect the thyroid function of patients while treating RA, which may be one of the causes of secondary thyroid diseases in RA patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Color vision is mediated by the expression of different major visual pigment proteins (opsins) on retinal photoreceptors. Vertebrates have four classes of cone opsins that are most sensitive to different wavelengths of light: short wavelength sensitive 1 (SWS1), short wavelength sensitive 2 (SWS2), medium wavelength sensitive (RH2), and long wavelength sensitive (LWS). UV wavelengths play important roles in foraging and communication. However, direct evidence provide links between sws1 and first feeding is lacking. Here, CRISPR/Cas9 technology was performed to generate mutant zebrafish lines with sws1 deletion. sws1 mutant zebrafish larvae exhibited decreased sws1, rh2-2, and lws1 expression, and increased rod gene (rho and gnat1) expression. Furthermore, the sws1-deficient larvae exhibited significantly reduced food intake, and the orexigenic genes npy and agrp signaling were upregulated at 6 days postfertilization (dpf). The transcription expression of sws1 and rh2-3 genes decreased in sws1−/− adults compared to wild type. Surprisingly, the results of feeding at the adult stage were not the same with larvae. sws1 deficiency did not affect food intake and appetite gene expression at adult stages. These results reveal a role for sws1 in normal cone development and first feeding in larval zebrafish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ultrasonic melt treatment (UMT) is widely used in the fields of casting and metallurgy. However, there are certain drawbacks associated with the conventional process of single-source ultrasonic (SSU) treatment, such as the fast attenuation of energy and limited range of effectiveness. In this study, the propagation models of SSU and four-source ultrasonic (FSU) in Al melt were respectively established, and the distribution patterns of acoustic and streaming field during the ultrasonic treatment process were investigated by numerical simulation and physical experiments. The simulated results show that the effective cavitation zone is mainly located in a small spherical region surrounding the end of ultrasonic horn during the SSU treatment process. When the FSU is applied, the effective cavitation zone is obviously expanded in the melt. It increases at first and then decreases with increasing the vibration-source spacing (Lv) from 30 mm to 100 mm. Especially, when the Lv is 80 mm, the area of effective cavitation zone reaches the largest, indicating the best effect of cavitation. Moreover, the acoustic streaming level and flow pattern in the melt also change with the increase of Lv. When the Lv is 80 mm, both the average flow rate and maximum flow rate of the melt reach the highest, and the flow structure is more stable and uniform, with the typical morphological characteristics of angular vortex, thus significantly expanding the range of acoustic streaming. The accuracy of the simulation results was verified by physical experiments of glycerol aqueous solution and tracer particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of integrated Chinese and Western medicine extending the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of limited-stage small cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC) patients after the first-line chemoradiotherapy. Methods: The data of 67 LS-SCLC patients who received combined treatment of CM and Western medicine (WM) between January 2013 and May 2020 at the outpatient clinic of Guang'anmen Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Thirty-six LS-SCLC patients who received only WM treatment was used as the WM control group. The medical data of the two groups were statistically analyzed. Survival analysis was performed using the product-limit method (Kaplan—Meier analysis). The median OS and PFS were calculated, and survival curves were compared by the Log rank test. The cumulative survival rates at 1, 2, and 5 years were estimated by the life table analysis. Stratified survival analysis was performed between patients with different CM administration time. Results: The median PFS in the CM and WM combination treatment group and the WM group were 19 months (95% CI: 12.357–25.643) vs. 9 months (95% CI: 5.957–12.043), HR=0.43 (95% CI: 0.27–0.69, P<0.001), respectively. The median OS in the CM and WM combination group and the WM group were 34 months (95% CI could not be calculated) vs. 18.63 months (95% CI: 16.425–20.835), HR=0.40 (95% CI: 0.24–0.66, P<0.001), respectively. Similar results were obtained in the further stratified analysis of whether the duration of CM administration exceeded 18 and 24 months (P<0.001). Conclusion: The combination treatment of CM and WM with continuing oral administration of CM treatment after the first-line chemoradiotherapy for LS-SCLC patients produced better prognosis, lower risks of progression, and longer survival than the WM treatment alone. (Registration No. ChiCTR2200056616) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microstructure, mechanical properties and phase transformation of a heat-resistant rare-earth (RE) Mg-16.1Gd-3.5Nd-0.38Zn-0.26Zr-0.15Y (wt.%) alloy were investigated. The as-cast alloy is composed of equiaxed α-Mg matrix, net-shaped Mg5RE and Zr-rich phases. According to aging hardening curves and tensile properties variation, the optimized condition of solution treatment at 520 °C for 8 h and subsequent aging at 204 °C for 12 h was selected. The continuous secondary Mg5RE phase predominantly formed at grain boundaries during solidification transforms to residual discontinuous β-Mg5RE phase and fine cuboid REH2 particles after heat treatment. The annealed alloy exhibits good comprehensive tensile property at 350 °C, with ultimate tensile strength of 153 MPa and elongation to fracture of 6.9%. Segregation of RE elements and eventually RE-rich precipitation at grain boundaries are responsible for the high strength at elevated temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large-area laser-clad coating was realized by overlapping laser tracks and thus presents overlap and non-overlap zones on the surface. The microstructure and corrosion behaviors of the overlap and non-overlap zones of the multi-track laser-clad nickel-based alloy coating at various flow rates and impact angles were investigated. Results indicated that overlap zone presented coarse columnar dendrites rather than cellular structures. The primary phases were mainly composed of γ-Ni, and the precipitation at the grain boundary was Ni6Mo6C. At the impact angle of 60° and flow rate of 6 m/s, overlap zone showed 2.0 × 10–7 A/cm2 higher stable potentiostatic polarization current density at passivation film destruction and furrow formation than non-overlap zone. The increase content of Mox+ (Mo) in non-overlap zone was 4.38% more than that in overlap zone after corrosion indicating the better Cl− corrosion resistance. The current densities increased with the enhanced flow rate. At the impact angle of 60°, the flow rate increased from 1 to 6 m/s, and the potentiostatic current density increased by 3.0 × 10–7–3.7 × 10–7 A/cm2. With the increase of the impact angle, the stable current densities increased first and then decreased. And the surface morphology changed from long and shallow ravines to short deep gully. [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.)

Biosorbents prepared by agricultural waste for eliminating heavy metal ions from sewage systems have gained widespread attention due to the high efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability. In this study, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) was grafted onto banana/pomegranate peels to generate two adsorbents, EDTA@BP and EDTA@PP. They were charactered with excellent adsorption capabilities of 46.30 mg/g, 31.85 mg/g, 27.25 mg/g, and 55.25 mg/g for EDTA@BP when removing Cd(II), Co(II), Mn(II), and Ni(II) from aqueous solution, and 86.96 mg/g, 53.19 mg/g, 40.98 mg/g, 68.49 mg/g for EDTA@PP, respectively. The adsorption process was completed within 5 min and could be well described by Langmuir isotherm model and pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Surface characterization of adsorbents using scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that EDTA improved metal ion binding performance by introducing more surface oxygen-containing groups, and the adsorption process was dominated by ion exchange and complexation. This study showed the feasibility of EDTA grafting for converting peel biomass into adsorbents with excellent performance to deal with aqueous heavy metal pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long-wavelength region of the near-infrared-IIb (NIR-IIb, 1,500–1,700 nm) imaging window has become an ideal window for in vivo imaging due to the suppressed photon scattering and near-zero autofluorescence of biological tissues. Therefore, it is necessary to develop fluorescent probes with excellent fluorescence performance and stability for NIR-IIb fluorescence imaging. In this work, zinc-doped silver telluride quantum dots (Zn:Ag2Te QDs) with bright fluorescence in the NIR-IIb window were synthesized. The introduction of Zn dopants inhibited crystal defects and reduced non-radiative transitions. Therefore, the quantum yield and fluorescence lifetime of Zn:Ag2Te QDs were significantly improved. In addition, Zn-doping increased the number of ligands on the surface of QDs, thus enhancing the colloidal stability of Zn:Ag2Te QDs. Moreover, the PEGylated Zn:Ag2Te QDs with high absolute quantum yield realized noninvasive imaging of cerebral vascular of mouse with high resolution able to distinguish blood capillary, which could be utilized to monitor the brain condition of mice after traumatic brain injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we present a necessary and sufficient condition to guarantee that the zero-extended function of the solution for the heat equation in a smaller cylinder is still the solution of the corresponding extension problem in a larger cylinder. We prove the results under the frameworks of classical solutions, strong solutions and weak solutions. Moreover, we generalize these results to uniformly parabolic equations of divergence form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Active faults are a common adverse geological phenomenon that can occur during tunnel excavation and has a very negative impact on the construction and operation of the tunnel. In this paper, the grade IV rock surrounding the cross-fault tunnel with poor geological conditions has been chosen for the study. The support capacity of 2nd Generation — Negative Poisson's Ratio (2G-NPR) bolt in an active fault tunnel has been carried out on the basis of relevant results obtained from the geomechanical model test and numerical investigations of failure model for existing unsupported fault tunnel. The investigation shows that surrounding rock of the tunnel is prone to shear deformation and crack formation along the fault, as a result, the rock mass on the upper part of the fault slips as a whole. Furthermore, small-scale deformation and loss of blocks are observed around the tunnel; however, the 2G-NPR bolt support is found to be helpful in keeping the overall tunnel intact without any damage and instability. Due to the blocking effect of fault, the stress of the surrounding rock on the upper and lower parts of the fault is significantly different, and the stress at the left shoulder of the tunnel is greater than that at the right shoulder. The asymmetrical arrangement of 2G-NPR bolts can effectively control the asymmetric deformation and instability of the surrounding rock. The present numerical scheme is in good agreement with the model test results, and can reasonably reflect the stress and displacement characteristics of the surrounding rock of the tunnel. In comparison to unsupported and ordinary PR (Poisson's Ratio) bolt support, 2G-NPR bolt can effectively limit the fault slip and control the stability of the surrounding rock of the fault tunnel. The research findings may serve as a guideline for the use of 2G-NPR bolts in fault tunnel support engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Materials with a negative Poisson's ratio effect perform significantly better than traditional materials for rock mass impact resistance, shear resistance, and energy absorption. Based on these advantages, a negative Poisson's ratio anchor cable (NPR anchor cable) with high elongation and constant resistance was developed and successfully applied in the field of mine disaster control. However, theoretical and experimental research on the negative Poisson's ratio effect and peripheral strain characteristics of NPR anchor cables is currently incomplete. This study used several theories and methods, such as static tensile, peripheral strain measurement, and static negative Poisson's ratio measurement, to investigate the radial deformation law of an NPR anchor cable and the negative Poisson's ratio characteristics. Experimental results elucidated constant resistance changes in an NPR anchor cable during operation, the motion of the constant resistance body in the constant resistance sleeve, and the deformation law of the constant resistance sleeve. Negative Poisson's ratio characteristics of the NPR anchor cable and its superior energy absorption characteristics were verified and it provided a theoretical and experimental basis for energy absorption mechanisms of an NPR anchor cable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study a direct parallel-in-time (PinT) algorithm for first- and second-order time-dependent differential equations. We use a second-order boundary value method as the time integrator. Instead of solving the corresponding all-at-once system iteratively, we diagonalize the time discretization matrix B, which yields a direct parallel implementation across all time steps. A crucial issue of this methodology is how the condition number (denoted by Cond2(V)) of the eigenvector matrix V of B behaves as n grows, where n is the number of time steps. A large condition number leads to large roundoff error in the diagonalization procedure, which could seriously pollute the numerical accuracy. Based on a novel connection between the characteristic equation and the Chebyshev polynomials, we present explicit formulas for V and V− 1, by which we prove that Cond 2 (V) = O (n 2) . This implies that the diagonalization process is well-conditioned and the roundoff error only increases moderately as n grows, and thus, compared to other direct PinT algorithms, a much larger n can be used to yield satisfactory parallelism. A fast structure-exploiting algorithm is also designed for computing the spectral diagonalization of B. Numerical results on parallel machine are given to support our findings, where over 60 times speedup is achieved with 256 cores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial polyynes are highly active natural products with a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activities. However, their detailed mechanism of action remains unclear. By integrating comparative genomics, transcriptomics, functional genetics, and metabolomics analysis, we identified a unique polyyne resistance gene, masL (encoding acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase), in the biosynthesis gene cluster of antifungal polyynes (massilin A 1, massilin B 2, collimonin C 3, and collimonin D 4) of Massilia sp. YMA4. Crystallographic analysis indicated that bacterial polyynes serve as covalent inhibitors of acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase. Moreover, we confirmed that the bacterial polyynes disrupted cell membrane integrity and inhibited the cell viability of Candida albicans by targeting ERG10, the homolog of MasL. Thus, this study demonstrated that acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase is a potential target for developing antifungal agents. In a multi-omics analysis, bacterial polyynes are found to act as antifungal agents by inhibiting the Candida albicans polyyne resistance gene ERG10, the homolog of MasL encoding acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a 2,3-butanediol producing bacterium. Nevertheless, a design and construction of l-valine production strain was studied in this paper. The first step of 2,3-butanediol synthesis and branched-chain amino acid synthesis pathways share the same step of α-acetolactate synthesis from pyruvate. However, the two pathways are existing in parallel and do not interfere with each other in the wild-type strain. A knockout of budA blocked the 2,3-butanediol synthesis pathway and resulted in the l-valine production. The budA coded an α-acetolactate decarboxylase and catalyzed the acetoin formation from α-acetolactate. Furthermore, blocking the lactic acid synthesis by knocking out of ldhA, which is encoding a lactate dehydrogenase, improved the l-valine synthesis. 2-Ketoisovalerate is the precursor of l-valine, it is also an intermediate of the isobutanol synthesis pathway, while indole-3-pyruvate decarboxylase (ipdC) is responsible for isobutyraldehyde formation from 2-ketoisovalerate. Production of l-valine has been improved by knocking out of ipdC. On the other side, the ilvE, encoding a transaminase B, reversibly transfers one amino group from glutamate to α-ketoisovalerate. Overexpression of ilvE exhibited a distinct improvement of l-valine production. The brnQ encodes a branched-chain amino acid transporter, and l-valine production was further improved by disrupting brnQ. It is also revealed that weak acidic and aerobic conditions favor l-valine production. Based on these findings, l-valine production by metabolically engineered K. pneumonia was examined. In fed-batch fermentation, 22.4 g/L of l-valine was produced by the engineered K. pneumoniae ΔbudA-ΔldhA-ΔipdC-ΔbrnQ-ilvE after 55 h of cultivation, with a substrate conversion ratio of 0.27 mol/mol glucose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The treatment of heavy metal (HM) wastewater is a critical and considerable challenge. Fruit peel-based HM adsorption is a promising way for the water pollution control and the reuse of agricultural waste. In this study, a novel adsorbent based on orange peel was synthesized for the first time by introducing abundant -COO groups with ethylenediaminetetraacetic dianhydride (EDTAD) to eliminate Cd(II) and Co(II) of sewage solution. The synthesized adsorbent displayed excellent adsorption capacity of 51.020 and 40.486 mg/g for Cd(II) and Co(II), respectively, and the adsorption equilibrium was achieved within 5 min, following the Langmuir isotherm model and the pseudo-second-order model. Surface characterization of adsorbents by scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed that ion exchange, complexation, and physical adsorption could occur during the adsorption process. The rapid and highly efficient adsorption performance suggests EDTAD-modified synthesized orange peel possesses great potential for HM removal from sewage systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about genes that induce stem cells differentiation into astrocytes. We previously described that heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) downregulation is directly related to neural differentiation under chemical induction in placenta-derived multipotent stem cells (PDMCs). Using this neural differentiation cell model, we cross-compared transcriptomic and proteomic data and selected 26 candidate genes with the same expression trends in both omics analyses. Those genes were further compared with a transcriptomic database derived from Alzheimer's disease (AD). Eighteen out of 26 candidates showed opposite expression trends between our data and the AD database. The mRNA and protein expression levels of those candidates showed downregulation of HSP27, S100 calcium-binding protein A16 (S100A16) and two other genes in our neural differentiation cell model. Silencing these four genes with various combinations showed that co-silencing HSP27 and S100A16 has stronger effects than other combinations for astrocyte differentiation. The induced astrocyte showed typical astrocytic star-shape and developed with ramified, stringy and filamentous processes as well as differentiated endfoot structures. Also, some of them connected with each other and formed continuous network. Immunofluorescence quantification of various neural markers indicated that HSP27 and S100A16 downregulation mainly drive PDMCs differentiation into astrocytes. Immunofluorescence and confocal microscopic images showed the classical star-like shape morphology and co-expression of crucial astrocyte markers in induced astrocytes, while electrophysiology and Ca2+ influx examination further confirmed their functional characteristics. In conclusion, co-silencing of S100A16 and HSP27 without chemical induction leads to PDMCs differentiation into functional astrocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two novel absorbents were synthesized for the first time by banana and pomegranate peels using diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) modification to eliminate Cd(II) and Ni(II) of sewage. The DTPA-modified peels performed significantly higher adsorption capacity than unmodified materials. The maximum adsorption capacities of DTPA-modified banana/pomegranate peel were 46.729/46.296 mg/g for Cd(II), and 29.240/16.611 mg/g for Ni(II). Adsorption isotherm and kinetics models were simulated to determine their removal efficiency and potential for recovery of these two heavy metals. As the results, the adsorption reached equilibrium within 5 min and was well described by the pseudo-second order model and Langmuir isotherm. The surface morphology analysis of the synthetic materials by Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, implied that ion exchange, complexation, and physical adsorption may together contribute to Cd(II) and Ni(II) loading on DTPA-modified peels. This study demonstrates the feasibility of waste peels as cost-efficient bio-absorbents to remove Cd(II) and Ni(II) in sewage systems, and discovers potential adsorption mechanism of efficiency improvements after DTPA modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Object recognition is among the basic survival skills of human beings and other animals. To date, artificial intelligence (AI) assisted high-performance object recognition is primarily visual-based, empowered by the rapid development of sensing and computational capabilities. Here, we report a tactile-olfactory sensing array, which was inspired by the natural sense-fusion system of star-nose mole, and can permit real-time acquisition of the local topography, stiffness, and odor of a variety of objects without visual input. The tactile-olfactory information is processed by a bioinspired olfactory-tactile associated machine-learning algorithm, essentially mimicking the biological fusion procedures in the neural system of the star-nose mole. Aiming to achieve human identification during rescue missions in challenging environments such as dark or buried scenarios, our tactile-olfactory intelligent sensing system could classify 11 typical objects with an accuracy of 96.9% in a simulated rescue scenario at a fire department test site. The tactile-olfactory bionic sensing system required no visual input and showed superior tolerance to environmental interference, highlighting its great potential for robust object recognition in difficult environments where other methods fall short. For the object recognition in lightless environments, the authors propose the olfactory-tactile machine learning approach, inspired by the star-nose mole's neural system. They show how bionic flexible sensor arrays allow for real-time acquisition of object's form and odor when touching it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in women. Accumulating studies have been reported that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) SNHG5 is highly expressed in BC. However, the specific molecular mechanism of SNHG5 in BC is unclear. Methods: Gene and protein expressions in BC cell were detected by qRT-PCR and western blotting. The proliferation and cell cycle were measured using colony formation assay and flow cytometry analysis, separately. The glucose consumption and lactate production were determined by using the glucose assay kit and lactate assay kit. A dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed to measure the interaction between miR-299 and SNHG5 or BACH1. Results: SNHG5 and BACH1 expressions were increased in BC cell while miR-299 level was decreased. SNHG5 increased BACH1 expression by directly targeting miR-299. SNHG5 silencing or miR-299 overexpression suppressed the proliferation of BC cell, arrested the cell cycle in the G1 cell phase, and decreased the glucose consumption and lactate production of BC cell. However, inhibition of miR-299 or overexpression of BACH1 could reverse the inhibitory effects of sh-SNHG5 on cell proliferation and glycolysis in BC. Conclusion: SNHG5 promoted the BC cell growth and glycolysis through up-regulating BACH1 expression via targeting miR-299. These findings may improve the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to BC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Numerov method is a well-known 4th-order two-step numerical method for wave equations. It has optimal convergence order among the family of Störmer-Cowell methods and plays a key role in numerical wave propagation. In this paper, we aim to implement this method in a parallel-in-time (PinT) fashion via a diagonalization-based preconditioning technique. The idea lies in forming the difference equations at the N t time points into an all-at-once system K u = b and then solving it via a fixed point iteration preconditioned by a block α -circulant matrix P α , where α ∈ (0 , 1 2) is a parameter. For any input vector r , we can compute P α - 1 r in a PinT fashion by a diagonalization procedure. To match the accuracy of the Numerov method, we use a 4th-order compact finite difference for spatial discretization. In this case, we show that the spectral radius of the preconditioned iteration matrix can be bounded by α 1 - α provided that the spatial mesh size h and the time step size τ satisfy certain restriction. Interestingly, this restriction on h and τ coincides with the stability condition of the Numerov method. Furthermore, the convergence rate of the preconditioned fixed point iteration is mesh independent and depends only on α . We also find that even though the Numerov method itself is unstable, the preconditioned iteration of the corresponding all-at-once system still has a chance to converge, however, very slowly. We provide numerical results for both linear and nonlinear wave equations to illustrate our theoretical findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Klebsiella pneumoniae is an important microorganism and is used as a cell factory for many chemicals production. When glycerol was used as the carbon source, 1,3-propanediol was the main catabolite of this bacterium. K. pneumoniae ΔtpiA lost the activity of triosephosphate isomerase and prevented glycerol catabolism through the glycolysis pathway. But this strain still utilized glycerol, and 1,2-propanediol became the main catabolite. Key enzymes of 1,2-propanediol synthesis from glycerol were investigated in detail. dhaD and gldA encoded glycerol dehydrogenases were both responsible for the conversion of glycerol to dihydroxyacetone, but overexpression of the two enzymes resulted in a decrease of 1,2-propanediol production. There are two dihydroxyacetone kinases (I and II), but the dihydroxyacetone kinase I had no contribution to dihydroxyacetone phosphate formation. Dihydroxyacetone phosphate was converted to methylglyoxal, and methylglyoxal was then reduced to lactaldehyde or hydroxyacetone and further reduced to form 1,2-propanediol. Individual overexpression of mgsA, yqhD, and fucO resulted in increased production of 1,2-propanediol, but only the combined expression of mgsA and yqhD showed a positive effect on 1,2-propanediol production. The process parameters for 1,2-propanediol production by Kp ΔtpiA-mgsA-yqhD were optimized, with pH 7.0 and agitation rate of 350 rpm found to be optimal. In the fed-batch fermentation, 9.3 g/L of 1,2-propanediol was produced after 144 h of cultivation, and the substrate conversion ratio was 0.2 g/g. This study provides an efficient way of 1,2-propanediol production from glycerol via an endogenous pathway of K. pneumoniae. Key points • 1,2-Propanediol was synthesis from glycerol by a tpiA knocked out K. pneumoniae • Overexpression of mgsA, yqhD, or fucO promote 1,2-propanediol production • 9.3 g/L of 1,2-propanediol was produced in fed-batch fermentation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monascus yellow pigments (MYPs), as food colorants, are of great interest to the food industry, because of their beneficial biological activities. In this study, a comparative metabolomics strategy revealed the metabolic regulatory mechanism of MYP overproduction, comparing ammonium chloride with peptone as nitrogen sources. Metabolomics-based multivariate regression modeling showed that metabolic biomarkers/modules, such as glucose, lactate, and the pentose phosphate (PP) pathway, were closely associated with the biosynthesis of MYPs. Exogenous addition of glucose increased production of MYPs, whereas lactate reduced it. Inhibition of the PP pathway with dehydroepiandrosterone decreased MYP production, while increasing the shunting production of orange and red pigments. All these treatments significantly changed the expression profiles of the pigment biosynthetic gene cluster and the mycelial morphology. Overall, this study demonstrates the feasibility of elucidating the mechanism of MYP biosynthesis by comprehensive metabolomics analysis, as well as discovering potential engineering targets of efficiency improvements to commercial MYP production. Key points: • Comparative metabolomics revealed the biomarkers/modules of MYP production. • A rational exogenously adding strategy was implemented to regulate MYP synthesis. • Expression profiles of gene cluster and mycelial morphology were characterized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the association of anthropometric measurements [body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), percentage body fat (PBF), body roundness index (BRI) and A Body Shape Index (ABSI)] with pulmonary function using a United States national cohort. This cross-sectional study included 7346 participants. The association between anthropometric measurements and pulmonary function was assessed by multivariable linear regression. Where there was evidence of non-linearity, we applied a restricted cubic spline to explore the non-linear association. All analyses were weighted to represent the U.S. population and to account for the intricate survey design. After adjusting for age, race, education, smoking, and physical activity, both underweight and obesity were associated with reduced forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC). Furthermore, the associations between BMI and FEV1, as well as FVC, were reversed U-shape in both males and females. Similar non-linear association shape occurred in WC, PBF, BRI and ABSI. Conclusion: BMI, WC, PBF, BRI, ABSI are non-linearly associated with pulmonary function. Reduced pulmonary function is a risk factor for future all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events; thus, this nonlinearity may explain the U-shape or J-shape association of BMI with overall mortality and cardiovascular events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Muzhailing extra-long highway tunnel and corresponding inclined shafts in Lanzhou, Gansu Province, China passes through structurally complex carbonaceous slate that is under high ground stress. Rationally-designed and effective support is of high importance for achieving safe and efficient tunnel construction. The No. 2 inclined shaft of Muzhailing Tunnel was taken as the engineering background prototype, for which, a similar model test was conducted to evaluate the effect of highly pre-tightened constant resistance (NPR, Negative Poisson's Ratio) anchor cable support provision to the geologically complex carbonaceous slate at different depths. Two schemes were proposed during testing: one scheme was without support and the second was with asymmetric support from highly pre-tightened constant resistance anchor cable. Digital speckle displacement analysis system and micro-ground-stress sensors were employed to measure the deformation and shear stress distribution of the tunnel. The results demonstrated that through the second support scheme, the deformation of the surrounding rock could be effectively ameliorated, while this support scheme was applied on the project site of the No.2 inclined shaft, to explore the rationality of the scheme through field engineering tests. On-site monitoring indicated that the deformation of the surrounding rock was within the reasonable design range and the problem of severe tunnel deformation was effectively controlled. The research methods and related conclusions can be used as a reference for the treatment of large deformation problems in deep-buried soft rock tunnels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The geological structure of the Changshanhao open-pit mine in Urad Middle Banner, Inner Mongolia, China is extremely complicated, and slope instability has frequently occurred in various forms, such as wedge sliding, bedding sliding, and toppling failure. In order to study the failure mechanisms of these slopes, the geological structure and mechanical rock properties were investigated based on field investigations and laboratory tests. Numerical models for the present mining area and final mining area of the original scheme were established to analyze slope stability. The results showed that the unique geomorphological characteristics of the mining area were generated by geological tectonism, and the north side of the stope is an anti-dip layered rock slope and the south side is a dip layered rock slope. Slope failure is the consequence of endogenic and exogenic integration, including physical and mechanical properties of the rock mass, geological structures such as faults and joints, and human-caused factors such as blasting and excavation disturbances. Then the original excavation scheme was redesigned mainly by optimizing the slope angle and decreasing the final mining depth to maintain slope stability. Finally, the Monte Carlo method was used to analyze the reliability of the slope angle optimization scheme. The open-pit mine excavation plan that meets the stability requirements was obtained eventually. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, but effective therapies remain the topic of many research activities. Many recent studies have thus focused on particular gut microbiota due to their important roles in treating cancers, but very few microbes of therapeutic value have been reported. In this study, we isolated four bacterial strains, BY38, BY40, BY43 and BY45, from the fecal specimens of healthy individuals and cancer patients. The treatment of cancer cells with the products of these cultured bacteria induced significant inhibitory effects on the proliferation of ovarian cancer cells and colorectal cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. A phylogenetic analysis showed that the four anticancer strains belong to the genus Bacillus, and flow cytometry assays indicated that the inhibitory effects might be achieved through the induction of cell apoptosis. These results suggest that these bacteria could be novel and promising anticancer agents against cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the high-temperature deformation resistance and creep resistance of TiAl-based alloys, cold crucible directional solidification (CCDS) technology was employed. A β-type TiAl-based alloy with the nominal composition of Ti44Al6Nb1Cr2V was prepared using the optimized CCDS parameters of 45 kW input power and 0.5 mm·min-1 solidification rate. Thermo-compression testing was utilized to evaluate the hightemperature deformation resistance and creep resistance of the CCDS Ti44Al6Nb1Cr2V alloy. Results show that the CCDS Ti44Al6Nb1Cr2V alloy billets contain aligned columnar grains and a high percentage of small-angle lamellae. Thermo-compression testing results in the radial direction of the CCDS alloy show a much higher peak stress than other reported results in similar conditions. The much higher hardening exponent and deformation activation energy are obtained, corresponding to the excellent high-temperature deformation resistance and creep resistance, which are because of the hard-oriented grains, weaker stress-strain coordination capability of lamella structure and relatively more hysteretic dynamic recrystallization. Thermo-compression testing results in the longitudinal direction of the CCDS Ti44Al6Nb1Cr2V alloy show the much higher peak stress than that in the radial direction, indicating the better high-temperature deformation resistance and creep resistance attributed to the hard-oriented lamellae in this condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mandarin fishes (Sinipercidae) are piscivores that feed solely on live fry. Unlike higher vertebrates, teleosts exhibit feeding behavior driven mainly by genetic responses, with no modification by learning from parents. Mandarin fishes could serve as excellent model organisms for studying feeding behavior. We report a long-read, chromosomal-scale genome assembly for Siniperca chuatsi and genome assemblies for Siniperca kneri, Siniperca scherzeri and Coreoperca whiteheadi. Positive selection analysis revealed rapid adaptive evolution of genes related to predatory feeding/aggression, growth, pyloric caeca and euryhalinity. Very few gill rakers are observed in mandarin fishes; analogously, we found that zebrafish deficient in edar had a gill raker loss phenotype and a more predatory habit, with reduced intake of zooplankton but increased intake of prey fish. Higher expression of bmp4, which could inhibit edar expression and gill raker development through binding of a Xvent-1 site upstream of edar, may cause predatory feeding in Siniperca. He, Li, and Lv et al. took a genomics approach to study innate feeding behavior in mandarin fish. They identify genes related to predatory feeding that underwent rapid adaptive evolution. They also functionally validate the role of bmp4-edar pathway in inducing predatory feeding in zebrafish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]