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The openness and interconnectedness of industrial control systems (ICSs) is increasing, leading to a heightened risk of network-based attacks. Although research on industrial intrusion detection is ongoing, current methods often overlook the unique characteristics of industrial control flows. This study introduced an industrial network intrusion detection algorithm based on the improved gray wolf optimizer (IGWO) gated recurrent unit (GRU) model. Starting with the temporal aspects of industrial control network traffic, a simple GRU was chosen as the network model. By integrating the gray wolf optimizer (GWO) with autonomous learning methods, the algorithm could address the slow convergence caused by large volumes of industrial control network traffic. In response to the slow convergence of the GWO and its low optimization accuracy, this study developed the improved gray wolf optimizer (IGWO). By simulating an intrusion detection system (IDS) using datasets from the Natural Gas Pipeline Control System and Secure Water Treatment (SWaT) datasets, the experimental results demonstrated that the IGWO-GRU algorithm exhibited considerable advantages in terms of accuracy, false alarm rate, and false report rate, thereby enhancing the security capabilities of ICSs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We aimed to gain insight into the response mechanism of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) to drought stress by recognizing and analyzing drought-responsive genes in the roots of different root types of alfalfa. The rhizomatous-rooted M. sativa cv.'Qingshui' (QS), tap-rooted M. sativa cv.'Longdong' (LD), and creeping-rooted M. varia cv. 'Gongnong No. 4' (GN) were used to analyze the transcriptome information and physiological characteristics of the root systems of the cultivars under simulated drought stress using PEG-6000. Results: It was found that aridity caused a significant increase in the content of osmotic stress substances and antioxidant enzyme activity. The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in QS was lower than that in LD and GN under moisture stress, indicating a stronger accumulation capacity of osmotic regulatory substances. Based on sequencing results, 14,475, 9336, and 9243 upregulated DEGs from QS, LD, and GN were annotated into 26, 29, and 28 transcription factor families, respectively. QS showed more DEGs than LD and GN. KEGG enrichment analysis identified that DEGs were significantly enriched in metabolic pathways such as amino acid biosynthesis, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, plant hormone signaling transduction, and MAPK pathways. This suggests a strong correlation between these pathways and drought stress. The results also show that genes associated with ABA hormone signaling (MS. gene93372, MS. gene072046, and MS. gene012975) are crucial for plant's adaptation to drought stress. Conclusions: These genes, such as serine/threonine protein kinases and abscisic acid receptors, play a crucial role in plant hormone signaling and MAPK pathways. They could serve as potential candidate genes for drought resistance research in alfalfa, providing a molecular foundation for studying drought resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two novel Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, and non-motile strains, designated FZY0004T and YYF002T, were isolated from an agar-degrading co-culture, which was obtained from seawater of the intertidal zone of Yancheng City, the Yellow Sea of China. Strain FZY0004T optimally grew at 28 °C, pH 7.0, and 2–6% NaCl, while strain YYF002T optimally grew at 28 °C, pH 7.5, and 2–4% NaCl. Strain FZY0004T possessed Q-9 as the major respiratory quinone, and its major fatty acids (> 10%) were summed feature 8 (C18:1ω7c), C16:0, and summed feature 3 (C16:1ω7c/C16:1ω6c). The polar lipids identified in strain FZY0004T were phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), and several unidentified phospholipids (PL) and lipids (L). On the other hand, strain YYF002T had MK-6 as the predominant respiratory quinone and its major fatty acids consisted of iso-C15:0, iso-C15:1 G, and iso-C15:0 3-OH. The polar lipids identified in strain YYF002T were aminolipid (AL), PE, and several unidentified lipids. Strain FZY0004T shared 99.5% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity and 90.1% average nucleotide identity (ANI) with T. povalilytica Zumi 95T, and strain YYF002T shared 99.2% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity and 88.2% ANI with W. poriferorum JCM 12885T. The genomic DNA G + C contents of strains FZY0004T and YYF002T were 54.5% and 33.5%, respectively. The phylogenetic, phenotypic, and physiological characteristics permitted the distinction of the two strains from their neighbors, and we thus propose the names Thalassospira aquimaris sp. nov. (type strain FZY0004T = JCM 35895T = MCCC 1K08380T) and Winogradskyella marincola sp. nov. (type strain YYF002T = JCM 35950T = MCCC 1K08382T). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the problem of cooperative localization (CL) for a multi-robot system (MRS) under dynamic measurement topology, which involves a group of robots collectively estimating their poses with respect to a common reference frame using ego-motion measurements and robot-to-robot relative measurements. The authors provide a theoretical analysis of the time-varying unobservable subspace and propose a consistent cooperative localization algorithm. First, the authors introduce the relative measurement graph (RMG) to represent the relative pose measurements obtained by the MRS at each instant. Then, the authors derive the local observability matrix over a time interval. An equivalent relationship is established between the local observability matrix and the spectral matrices of the RMG. Moreover, the authors present a method for constructing the unobservable subspace based on the RMG under different topology conditions. Based on this analysis, the authors design a consistent cooperative localization algorithm that satisfies the constraints of the time-varying unobservable subspace. An analytical optimal solution is derived for the constrained optimization problem. Monte Carlo numerical simulations are conducted to demonstrate the consistency and accuracy of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of electric vehicles (EVs) exhibits rapid and remarkable progress nowadays, serving as a crucial route to accomplish the target of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. As an integral part of the thermal management system oriented toward electric vehicles, the heat pump air conditioning system for electric vehicles is the result of a comprehensive choice that trades off the cooling and heating performance, environmental performance and economic cost. Particularly, different regions around the world suffer varying cooling and heating challenges due to the complicated climatic characteristics. Thus the most suitable refrigerant and system cycle structure may differ. This paper focuses on evaluating both the refrigerants and cycle structures to screen the most suitable choice. According to the climate conditions of different cities, the annual energy consumption, life cycle climate performance, and economic cost of the basic system (Base), two-stage compression system (TSC,IC), and vapor injection (VI) system with CO2, R134a, and R1234yf refrigerants respectively, are quantitatively analyzed and evaluated. Subsequently, through comparative analysis, a comprehensive selection map for heat pump systems in electric vehicles worldwide is developed and the most suitable heat pump air conditioning system for each cites is determined. The results can provide a selection reference and decision-making for the air conditioning system of electric vehicles from regional considerations. It was found that the CO2 HPACVI was recommended for cold regions to meet both environmental and economic requirements. In warm region, the R1234yf HPACBase system was recommended to be used. For regions transitioning from cold to warm climates, the R1234yf HPACVI system was suggested. In hot region, the R1234yf AC system was recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing free-standing and mechanical robust membrane materials capable of superior enrichment of phosphopeptides for analyzing and identifying the specific phosphoproteome of cancer cells is significant in understanding the molecular mechanisms of cancer development and exploring new therapeutic approaches, but still a significant challenge in materials design. To this end, we firstly constructed highly flexible ZrTiO4 nanofibrous membranes (NFMs) with excellent mechanical stability through a cost-effective and scalable electrospinning and subsequent calcination technique. Then, to further increase the enrichment capacity of the phosphopeptide, the biomimetic TiO2@ZrTiO4 NFMs with root hair or leaf like branch microstructure are developed by the hydrothermal post-synthetic modification of ZrTiO4 NFMs through growing unfurling TiO2 nanosheets onto the ZrTiO4 nanofibers. Importantly, remarkable flexibility and mechanical stability enable the resulting TiO2@ZrTiO4 NFMs excellent practicability, while the biomimetic microstructure allows it outstanding enrichment ability of the phosphopeptide and identification ability of the specific phosphoproteins in the digest of cervical cancer cells. Specifically, 6770 phosphopeptides can be enriched by TiO2@ZrTiO4 NFMs (2205 corresponding phosphoproteins can be identified), and the value is much higher than that of ZrTiO4 NFMs (6399 phosphopeptides and 2132 identified phosphoproteins) and commercial high-performance TiO2 particles (4525 phosphopeptides and 1811 identified phosphoproteins). These results demonstrate the super ability of TiO2@ZrTiO4 NFMs in phosphopeptide enrichment and great potential for exploring the pathogenesis of cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More demand-side flexible resources (DFRs) are participating in the frequency regulation of renewable power systems, whose heterogeneous characteristics have a significant impact on the system frequency response. Consequently, selecting suitable DFRs poses a formidable challenge for independent system operators (ISO). In this paper, a reserve allocation methodology for heterogeneous DFRs is proposed to manage the risk of power system frequency. Firstly, a performance curve is developed to describe the cost, capacity, and response speed of DFRs. Moreover, a clustering method for multiple distributed DFRs is conducted to calculate the aggregated performance curves and uncertainty coefficients. Then, the frequency security criterion considering DFRs' performance is constructed, whose linearity makes it can be easily coupled into the system scheduling model and solved. Furthermore, a risk management model for DFRs considering frequency-chance-constraint is proposed to make a trade-off between cost and frequency security. Finally, the model is transformed into mixed integer second-order cone programming (MISOCP) and solved by the commercial solver. The proposed model is validated by the IEEE 30 and IEEE 118 bus systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glioma, with its heterogeneous microenvironments and genetic subtypes, presents substantial challenges for treatment prediction and development. We integrated 3D bioprinting and multi-algorithm machine learning as a novel approach to enhance the assessment and understanding of glioma treatment responses and microenvironment characteristics. The bioprinted patient-derived glioma tissues successfully recapitulated molecular properties and drug responses of native tumors. We then developed GlioML, a machine learning workflow incorporating nine distinct algorithms and a weighted ensemble model that generated robust gene expression-based predictors, each reflecting the diverse action mechanisms of various compounds and drugs. The ensemble model superseded the performance of all individual algorithms across diverse in vitro systems, including sphere cultures, complex 3D bioprinted multicellular models, and 3D patient-derived tissues. By integrating bioprinting, the evaluative scope of the treatment expanded to T cell-related therapy and anti-angiogenesis targeted therapy. We identified promising compounds and drugs for glioma treatment and revealed distinct immunosuppressive or angiogenic myeloid-infiltrated tumor microenvironments. These insights pave the way for enhanced therapeutic development for glioma and potentially for other cancers, highlighting the broad application potential of this integrative and translational approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the tremendous applications and purification requirement of acetylene (C2H2), seeking appropriate adsorbents with high capacity and selectivity is a vital task and remains an enduring challenge. Herein, we designed and synthesized a robust three-dimensional (3D) indium-organic framework ([(Me)2NH2][In(L6)0.5(IPA)0.5] dimethylammonium (DMA)2H2O (In-L6-IPA)) featuring two types of one-dimensional (1D) tubular channels. The activated In-L6-IPA displayed high loading for C2H2 (104.4 cm3·g−1, the second highest value among all reported indium-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)) and simultaneously selective adsorption for C2H2 over CO2, C2H6, and ethylene (C2H4) at 298 K under 100 kPa. Molecular modelling revealed that the porous wall of In-L6-IPA provides more and stronger multiple interactions for C2H2 than CO2, C2H6, and C2H4 containing C–H⋯π, C–H⋯O, and O⋯π interactions. Breakthrough experiments validated the actual separation ability for various ratios of binary C2H2/C2H4 and C2H2/CO2 mixtures as well as equimolar ternary C2H2/C2H4/CO2 and C2H2/C2H4/C2H6 mixtures with excellent reusability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep models trained by using clean data have achieved tremendous success in fine-grained image classification. Yet, they generally suffer from significant performance degradation when encountering noisy labels. Existing approaches to handle label noise, though proved to be effective for generic object recognition, usually fail on fine-grained data. The reason is that, on fine-grained data, the category difference is subtle and the training sample size is small. Then deep models could easily overfit the noisy labels. To improve the robustness of deep models on noisy data for fine-grained visual categorization, in this paper, we propose a novel learning framework named ProtoSimi. Our method employs an adaptive label correction strategy, ensuring effective learning on limited data. Specifically, our approach considers the criteria of exploring the effectiveness of both global class-prototype and part class-prototype similarities in identifying and correcting labels of samples. We evaluate our method on three standard benchmarks of fine-grained recognition. Experimental results show that our method outperforms the existing label noisy methods by a large margin. In ablation studies, we also verify that our method is non-sensitive to hyper-parameters selection and can be integrated with other FGVC methods to increase the generalization performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Estimating the demand for HCV care cascade plays an important role in planning, monitoring, and assessing the performance of introducing a new community-based hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination program but such an analytic and systematic approach has been barley addressed. Methods: A new collaborative care program for HCV elimination in the Changhua Community of Taiwan has been offered to a total of 895,353 residents since 2018. To grasp the variation of demand for HCV care cascade across demographic and geographic features in the planning stage, we applied the age–period–cohort spatial model to the antecedent anti-HCV survey enrolling 123,617 participants aged 30 years or older between 2005 and 2018. Based on this precise denominator, we then employed a "before-and-after" study design to routinely evaluate whether the WHO criteria of 90% RNA positive diagnosis and 80% successful treatments could be reached. Results: The overall demand for HCV care cascade was 4.28% (HCV infection) of the underlying population but a declining trend was noted. The early cohort had a higher demand, whereas the demand of the young cohort decreased with each passing year. The demand also differed by township. The demand, allowing for these variations, for antiviral treatment was 22,362, yielding the WHO target of 12,880 for achieving HCV elimination. With 11,844 successful treatments, the effectiveness of elimination has already reached 92% (11,844/12,880) by the end of 2022. Conclusions: The demand for HCV care cascade allows health care decision-makers to timely and properly assess the performance of a novel community-based collaborative care program in achieving HCV elimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal oxide ion-gated transistors (MOIGTs) have garnered significant attention within the sensing domain due to their potential for achieving heightened sensitivity while consuming minimal energy across diverse scenarios. By harnessing the advantageous combination of metal oxides' high carrier mobility and facile surface customization, coupled with the potent signal amplification capabilities of ion-gated transistors, MOIGTs offer a promising avenue for discerning biomolecules, overseeing chemical reactions, pH levels, as well as facilitating gas or light determination. Over the past few decades, the MOIGT field has made remarkable strides in refining device physics, enhancing material properties, showcasing robust sensing capabilities, and broadening its application spectrum. These advancements have simultaneously unveiled new challenges and opportunities, necessitating interdisciplinary expertise to fully unlock the commercial potential of MOIGTs. In this comprehensive review, we offer a snapshot of this swiftly evolving technology, delve into its current applications, and provide insightful recommendations for future directions in the coming decade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implementation of sodium metal batteries (SMBs) is known for their low cost and high energy density. However, a major concern in SMBs is the formation of dendrites on the Na metal anode, which can potentially cause short circuits and compromise safety. Herein, to address this issue, we propose a novel approach to create a protective layer by decorating Na surface with NaI particles. This protective layer exhibits a high Young's modulus and excellent sodium ion transference ability. As a result, the lifespan of the Na/NaI||Na/NaI cell is significantly extended to 850 h at 0.5 mA cm−2/1 mAh cm−2. Furthermore, when the Na/NaI anode is combined with a Na3V2(PO4)3 (NVP) cathode, the full cell retains 83 mAh g−1 (approximately 94% of its initial capacity) even after 1500 cycles at 5 C. Overall, this work presents a simple and effective method for establishing a protective layer on the Na surface, thereby enabling the realization of long lifespan and stable SMBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Medulloblastoma is the most common childhood malignant brain tumor and is a leading cause of cancer-related death in children. Recent transcriptional studies have shown that medulloblastomas comprise at least four molecular subgroups, each with distinct demographics, genetics, and clinical outcomes. Medulloblastoma subtyping has become critical for subgroup-specific therapies. The use of gene expression assays to determine the molecular subgroup of clinical specimens is a long-awaited application of molecular biology for this pediatric cancer. Methods: In the current study, we established a medulloblastoma transcriptome database of 460 samples retrieved from three published datasets (GSE21140, GSE37382, and GSE37418). With this database, we identified a 23-gene signature that is significantly associated with the medulloblastoma subgroups and achieved a classification accuracy of 95.2%. Results: The 23-gene signature was further validated in a long-term cohort of 142 Chinese medulloblastoma patients. The 23-gene signature classified 21 patients as WNT (15%), 41 as SHH (29%), 16 as Group 3 (11%), and 64 as Group 4 (45%). For patients of WNT, SHH, Group 3, and Group 4, 5-year overall-survival rate reached 80%, 62%, 27%, and 47%, respectively (p < 0.0001), meanwhile 5-year progression-free survival reached 80%, 52%, 27%, and 45%, respectively (p < 0.0001). Besides, SHH/TP53-mutant tumors were associated with worse prognosis compared with SHH/TP53 wild-type tumors and other subgroups. We demonstrated that subgroup assignments by the 23-gene signature and Northcott's NanoString assay were highly comparable with a concordance rate of 96.4%. Conclusions: In conclusion, we present a novel gene signature that is capable of accurately and reliably assigning FFPE medulloblastoma samples to their molecular subgroup, which may serve as an auxiliary tool for medulloblastoma subtyping in the clinic. Future incorporation of this gene signature into prospective clinical trials is warranted to further evaluate its clinical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The circadian clock regulator Bmal1 modulates tumorigenesis, but its reported effects are inconsistent. Here, we show that Bmal1 has a context-dependent role in mouse melanoma tumor growth. Loss of Bmal1 in YUMM2.1 or B16-F10 melanoma cells eliminates clock function and diminishes hypoxic gene expression and tumorigenesis, which could be rescued by ectopic expression of HIF1α in YUMM2.1 cells. By contrast, over-expressed wild-type or a transcriptionally inactive mutant Bmal1 non-canonically sequester myosin heavy chain 9 (Myh9) to increase MRTF-SRF activity and AP-1 transcriptional signature, and shift YUMM2.1 cells from a Sox10high to a Sox9high immune resistant, mesenchymal cell state that is found in human melanomas. Our work describes a link between Bmal1, Myh9, mouse melanoma cell plasticity, and tumor immunity. This connection may underlie cancer therapeutic resistance and underpin the link between the circadian clock, MRTF-SRF and the cytoskeleton. It has been reported that the circadian clock regulator Bmal1 can modulate tumorigenesis. Here the authors show that ectopic expression of Bmal1 promotes an immune resistant mesenchymal melanoma cell state associated with increased AP-1 activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: The content of flavonoids could increase in A. canescens under saline conditions. Overexpression of AcCHI in transgenic A. thaliana promotes flavonoid biosynthesis, thereby functioning in the tolerance of transgenic plants to salt and osmotic stress by maintaining ROS homeostasis. Atriplex canescens is a halophytic forage shrub with excellent adaptation to saline environment. Our previous study showed that a large number of genes related to the biosynthesis of flavonoids in A. canescens were significantly up-regulated by NaCl treatments. However, it remains unclear whether flavonoids are involved in A. canescens response to salinity. In this study, we found that the accumulation of flavonoids significantly increased in either the leaves or roots of A. canescens seedling under 100 and 300 mM NaCl treatments. Correspondingly, AcCHS, AcCHI and AcF3H, which encode three key enzymes (chalcone synthases (CHS), chalcone isomerase (CHI), and flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H), respectively) of flavonoids biosynthesis, were significantly induced in the roots or leaves of A. canescens by 100 or 300 mM NaCl. Then, we generated the transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana overexpressing AcCHI and found that transgenic plants accumulated more flavonoids through enhancing the pathway of flavonoids biosynthesis. Furthermore, overexpression of AcCHI conferred salt and osmotic stress tolerance in transgenic A. thaliana. Contrasted with wild-type A. thaliana, transgenic lines grew better with greater biomass, less H2O2 content as well as lower relative plasma permeability in either salt or osmotic stress conditions. In conclusion, our results indicate that flavonoids play an important role in A. canescens response to salt stress through reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging and the key enzyme gene AcCHI in flavonoids biosynthesis pathway of A. canescens has the potential to improve the stress tolerance of forages and crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) interacts with various extracellular matrix proteins in tissues. Elevated COMP levels recently linked to worse overall survival in multiple cancer types. COMP's significance in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) remains uncertain. Here we report a retrospective study to explore COMP's impact on iCCA outcomes. We collected 182 patients' iCCA tumor tissues. COMP overexpression was associated with adverse factors like R1 resection (p = 0.008), advanced T stage (p < 0.001), large duct type (p = 0.004), and poorly differentiated histology (p = 0.002). COMP overexpression correlates with poorer DFS (HR, 3.651; p = 0.001), OS (HR, 1.827; p = 0.023), LRFS (HR, 4.077; p < 0.001), and MFS (HR, 3.718; p < 0.001). High COMP expression ties to worse overall survival (p = 0.0001), DSS (p < 0.0001), LRFS (p < 0.0001), and MFS (p < 0.0001). In conclusion, COMP overexpression links to poor prognosis and pathological features in iCCA, indicating its potential as a biomarker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complex metal nanoparticles distributed uniformly on supports demonstrate distinctive physicochemical properties and thus attract a wide attention for applications. The commonly used wet chemistry methods display limitations to achieve the nanoparticle structure design and uniform dispersion simultaneously. Solid-phase synthesis serves as an interesting strategy which can achieve the fabrication of complex metal nanoparticles on supports. Herein, the solid-phase synthesis strategy is developed to precisely synthesize uniformly distributed CoFe@FeOx core@shell nanoparticles. Fe atoms are preferentially exsolved from CoFe alloy bulk to the surface and then be carburized into a FexC shell under thermal syngas atmosphere, subsequently the formed FexC shell is passivated by air, obtaining CoFe@FeOx with a CoFe alloy core and a FeOx shell. This strategy is universal for the synthesis of MFe@FeOx (M = Co, Ni, Mn). The CoFe@FeOx exhibits bifunctional effect on regulating polysulfides as the separator coating layer for Li-S and Na-S batteries. This method could be developed into solid-phase synthetic systems to construct well distributed complex metal nanoparticles. Solid-phase synthesis strategy is promising for fabricating desired complex metal nanoparticles on supports. Here, the authors synthesize CoFe@FeOx core-shell nanoparticles as the separator coatings via precise solid-phase method which effectively regulates polysulfides for lithium/ sodium-sulfur batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal growth oxide (TGO) is produced when a thermal barrier coating (TBC) works, and the generated TGO is nonuniform at the peak and valley of the TBC interface. The aim of this paper is to clarify whether the nonuniform TGO thickness model is better than the uniform thickness model in TBC simulation. First, finite element models of TGO with nonuniform and uniform thickness are established based on the TBC tube experiments. Then, the vertical stress perpendicular to the TC interface morphology and the corresponding shear stress are analyzed based on the stress transformation equations. Finally, the fatigue life of the TBC is analyzed by nonuniform and uniform TGO thickness models. The results show that the area of the local maximum of the vertical stress and the shear stress for different TGO thicknesses is 4-10 µm from the TC interface morphology peak, which can be considered the risk area for fatigue failure of the TC interface. The risk area in the uniform TGO thickness model is consistent with that of the nonuniform thickness model. The fatigue life prediction error of the TBC using the nonuniform TGO thickness model is 29.53%, which is smaller than that of the uniform thickness model, proving the need to consider the nonuniform thickness of the TGO in TBC simulations. The fatigue life prediction result is verified by different TBC experiments. The conclusions of this study can provide guidance for TBC simulation analysis in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Autologous adipose tissue has become increasingly popular in cosmetic and plastic reconstructive surgery, especially breast augmentation surgery. However, the volume retention rate after transplantation significantly varies and may be unsatisfactory. Many patients need two or more autologous fat graft breast augmentations to achieve the expected effect. There are currently no studies on optimal timing between fat injections. Methods: We identified target patients with secondary or multiple autologous fat transplantations by inclusion and exclusion criteria and used three-dimensional scanning technology to calculate the volume retention. Patients were divided into two groups according to the dates of the first and second operations (group A: interoperative time < 120 days, group B: interoperative time ≥ 120 days). We used SPSS 26 for statistical calculations. Results: We included 161 patients in this retrospective study, with an average volume retention rate of 36.56% in group A (n = 85) and 27.45% in group B (n = 76). The independent sample t test showed that the volume retention rate in group A was higher than that in group B (P < 0.001). And the paired t test showed there is a significant improvement of volume retention rate after the second fat graft session (P < 0.001). Multivariate regression analysis showed that the interval time was an independent factor affecting the postoperative volume retention rate. Conclusion: The interval time between autologous fat transplantation for augmentation mammaplasty was an independent factor affecting the postoperative volume retention rate. The postoperative volume retention rate of the < 120 days group was higher than that of the ≥ 120 days group. Level of Evidence IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Purpose: Predicting lymph node metastasis (LNM) in patients with bladder urothelial carcinoma (BUC) before radical cystectomy aids clinical decision making. Here, we aimed to develop and validate a nomogram to preoperatively predict LNM in BUC patients. Methods: Patients with histologically confirmed BUC, who underwent radical cystectomy and bilateral lymphadenectomy, were retrospectively recruited from two institutions. Patients from one institution were enrolled in the primary cohort, while those from the other were enrolled in the external validation cohort. Patient demographic, pathological (using transurethral resection of the bladder tumor specimens), imaging, and laboratory data were recorded. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to explore the independent preoperative risk factors and develop the nomogram. Internal and external validation was conducted to assess nomogram performance. Results: 522 and 215 BUC patients were enrolled in the primary and external validation cohorts, respectively. We identified tumor grade, infiltration, extravesical invasion, LNM on imaging, tumor size, and serum creatinine levels as independent preoperative risk factors, which were subsequently used to develop the nomogram. The nomogram showed a good predictive accuracy, with area under the receiver operator characteristic curve values of 0.817 and 0.825 for the primary and external validation cohorts, respectively. The corrected C-indexes, calibration curves (after 1000 bootstrap resampling), decision curve analysis results, and clinical impact curves demonstrated that the nomogram performed well in both cohorts and was highly clinically applicable. Conclusion: We developed a nomogram to preoperatively predict LNM in BUC, which was highly accurate, reliable, and clinically applicable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate segmentation of rectal tumors is the most crucial task in determining the stage of rectal cancer and developing suitable therapies. However, complex image backgrounds, irregular edge, and poor contrast hinder the related research. This study presents an attention-based multi-modal fusion module to effectively integrate complementary information from different MRI images and suppress redundancy. In addition, a deep learning–based segmentation model (AF-UNet) is designed to achieve accurate segmentation of rectal tumors. This model takes multi-parametric MRI images as input and effectively integrates the features from different multi-parametric MRI images by embedding the attention fusion module. Finally, three types of MRI images (T2, ADC, DWI) of 250 patients with rectal cancer were collected, with the tumor regions delineated by two oncologists. The experimental results show that the proposed method is superior to the most advanced image segmentation method with a Dice coefficient of 0.821 ± 0.065 , which is also better than other multi-modal fusion methods. Framework of the AF-UNet. This model takes multi-modal MRI images as input, and integrates complementary information using attention mechanism and suppresses redundancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Glioma is the most malignant primary brain tumor with a poor survival time. The tumour microenvironment, especially glioma-associated microglia/macrophages (GAMs), plays an important role in the pathogenesis of glioma. Currently, microglia (CD11b+/CD45Low) and macrophages (CD11b+/CD45High) are distinguished as distinct cell types due to their different origins. Moreover, signal-transducing adaptor protein 1 (STAP1) plays a role in tumourigenesis and immune responses. However, to date, no studies have been reported on STAP1 in GAMs. Methods: The Cancer Genome Atlas and Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas databases were used to investigate the association between STAP1 mRNA levels and clinical parameters (grades, mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase, and overall survival). RNA-sequencing, qRT-PCR, Western blotting, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence analyses were performed to detect the expression level of STAP1 and related proteins. BV-2 cells were used to construct a STAP1-overexpressing cell line. Phagocytosis of BV-2 cells was assessed by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. C57BL/6 mice were used to establish orthotopic and subcutaneous glioma mouse models. Glioma growth was monitored by bioluminescence imaging. Results: STAP1 expression in glioma-associated microglia is positively correlated with the degree of malignancy and poor prognosis of glioma. Moreover, STAP1 may promote M2-like polarisation by increasing ARG1 expression and inhibiting microglial phagocytosis of microglia. Increased ARG1 may be associated with the IL-6/STAT3 pathway. Impaired phagocytosis may be associated with decreased cofilin and filopodia. Conclusion: STAP1 is positively associated with the degree of glioma malignancy and may represent a potential novel therapeutic target for glioma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several randomized controlled trials have reported the effects of vegetarian diets on blood lipids and glucose homeostasis in adults, but not in overweight or obese individuals. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of vegetarian diets on blood lipids and glucose homeostasis in overweight or obese adults by systematic review and meta-analysis. We searched Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library through October 2021. We chose to include overweight or obese patients in the studies of the vegetarian diet for metabolic control. Seven trials with a total of 783 overweight or obese adult were included in the meta-analysis. The analysis of the data revealed that the vegetarian diets significantly reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (WMD, −0.31; 95% CI, −0.46 to −0.16), total cholesterol (TC) (WMD, −0.37; 95% CI, −0.52 to −0.22), and HbA1c (WMD (%), −0.33; 95% CI, −0.55 to −0.11). The vegetarian diets had an elevated effect on blood triglycerides (WMD, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.11–0.47). However, there were no significant effects of vegetarian diets on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC), Fasting plasma glucose(FPG), and HOMA-IR in these individuals. The results of this study suggest that vegetarian diets effectively reduce LDL-C, TC, and HbA1c levels, thus functioning as a promising therapeutic strategy for improving the metabolic dysfunction in overweight or obese individuals. However, further large-scale clinical trials are required to confirm the validity of these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early, express, and reliable detection of cancer can provide a favorable prognosis and decrease mortality. Tumor biomarkers have been proven to be closely related to tumor occurrence and development. Conventional tumor biomarker detection based on genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic methods is time and equipment-consuming and always needs a specific target marker. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), as a non-invasive ultrasensitive and label-free vibrational spectroscopy technique, can detect cancer-related biomedical changes in biofluids. In this paper, 110 serum samples were collected from 30 healthy controls and 80 cancer patients (including 30 bladder cancer (BC), 30 adrenal cancer (AC), and 20 acute myeloid leukemia (AML)). One microliter of blood serum was mixed with 1 μl silver colloid and then was air-dried for SERS measurements. After spectral data augmentation, one-dimensional convolutional neural network (1D-CNN) was proposed for precise and rapid identification of healthy and three different cancers with high accuracy of 98.27%. After gradient-weighted class activation mapping (Grad-CAM) based spectral interpretation, the contributions of SERS peaks corresponding to biochemical substances indicated the most potential biomarkers, i.e., L-tyrosine in bladder cancer; acetoacetate and riboflavin in adrenal cancer and phospholipids, amide-I, and α-Helix in acute myeloid leukemia, which might provide an insight into the mechanism of intelligent diagnosis of different cancers based on label-free serum SERS. The integration of label-free SERS and deep learning has great potential for the rapid, reliable, and non-invasive detection of cancers, which may significantly improve the precise diagnosis in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The persistence and habitability of coral reef islands in future extreme oceanographic conditions has received increasing attention in the recent decade, concerning that the sea level rise (SLR) and more frequent and intense storms in the context of global climate change are expected to destabilize those islands. Here, we conduct a set of wave-flume laboratory experiments focusing on the morphodynamic change of reef islands to varying ocean forcing conditions (wave height and SLR). Subsequently, a phase-resolving XBeach numerical model is adopted to simulate the monochromatic wave process and its associated sediment dynamics. The adopted model is also firstly validated by laboratory experimental results as reported in this study. It is then used to examine the impacts of island morphological factors (island width, island height, island location and island side slope) on the island migration. The combined laboratory/physical and numerical experiment outputs suggest that reef islands can accrete vertically in response to the sea level rise and the increased storminess. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) is an indicator of renal function and catabolic status in human body. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a major microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus (DM) and a serious threat to the vision of diabetic patients. We included 426 type 2 diabetic patients who visited the endocrinology department of Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital and received an ophthalmology consultation from December 2017 to November 2018. The outcome was the probability of DR in participants. Multivariable logistics analysis was used to confirm the relationship between BUN and the probability of DR. And interaction tests were conducted to find the effects of DM duration on their association. A total of 167 of 426 patients with type 2 diabetes had DR, with a probability of 39.20%. After adjusting for potential confounders, a positive association between BUN and the probability of DR (OR = 1.12; 95% CI 1.03–1.21; P = 0.0107). And a test for interaction between DM duration and BUN on the probability of DR was significant (P = 0.0295). We suggested that in patients with type 2 diabetes, BUN was positively associated with the probability of DR and the association was influenced by DM duration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial keratitis, a nonviral corneal infection caused by bacteria, fungi, and protozoa, is an urgent condition in ophthalmology requiring prompt treatment in order to prevent severe complications of corneal perforation and vision loss. It is difficult to distinguish between bacterial and fungal keratitis from image unimodal alone, as the characteristics of the sample images themselves are very close. Therefore, this study aims to develop a new deep learning model called knowledge-enhanced transform-based multimodal classifier that exploited the potential of slit-lamp images along with treatment texts to identify bacterial keratitis (BK) and fungal keratitis (FK). The model performance was evaluated in terms of the accuracy, specificity, sensitivity and the area under the curve (AUC). 704 images from 352 patients were divided into training, validation and testing set. In the testing set, our model reached the best accuracy was 93%, sensitivity was 0.97(95% CI [0.84,1]), specificity was 0.92(95% CI [0.76,0.98]) and AUC was 0.94(95% CI [0.92,0.96]), exceeding the benchmark accuracy of 0.86. The diagnostic average accuracies of BK ranged from 81 to 92%, respectively and those for FK were 89–97%. It is the first study to focus on the influence of disease changes and medication interventions on infectious keratitis and our model outperformed the benchmark models and reaching the state-of-the-art performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Table-based fact verification aims to check whether a statement is entailed by the content of relevant table. Existing works mainly either parse a statement with logical form or design a table-aware neural network to represent the statement-table pair. However, they fail to directly exploit guidance signals to capture enough evidence from the table, which lead to performance degradation. Thus, to investigate how to select potential key words from the table for fact verification, we propose a Reinforced Evidence Reasoning framework with Graph neural network (RERG), which simulates human inference process of focusing on some words at each step. Specifically, we employ a Transformer-based graph neural network to represent multi-granularity features. Then, we design a monitor node and connect it with some potential key nodes by reinforcement learning on each graph layer, according to the feedback of the reward. In this way, the monitor node can be used to predict the label, which has aggregated various key information through multiple graph layers. Besides, we add secondary updating after the attention mechanism to enhance information aggregation of each graph layer. Experimental results on two benchmark datasets TABFACT and INFOTABS show performance improvements over state-of-the-art baselines and the feasibility of selecting some meaningful evidences during graph reasoning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) is a malignant tumor responsible for a heavy disease burden. Previously, only one pan-cancer study of Transmembrane channel-like protein 5 (TMC5) showed that TMC5 was highly expressed in PAAD, but the results lacked comprehensive verification, and the mechanism of TMC5 in PAAD was still unclear. Methods: For exploring the expression and clinical value of TMC5 in PAAD better, we adopted a comprehensive evaluation method, using internal immunohistochemistry (IHC) data combined with microarray and RNA-sequencing data collected from public databases. The single cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) data were exploited to explore the TMC5 expression in cell populations and intercellular communication. The potential mechanism of TMC5 in PAAD was analyzed from the aspects of immune infiltration, transcriptional regulation, function and pathway enrichment. Results: Our IHC data includes 148 PAAD samples and 19 non-PAAD samples, along with the available microarray and RNA-sequencing data (1166 PAAD samples, 704 non-PAAD samples). The comprehensive evaluation results showed that TMC5 was evidently up-regulated in PAAD (SMD = 1.17). Further analysis showed that TMC5 was over-expressed in cancerous epithelial cells. Furthermore, TMC5 was up-regulated in more advanced tumor T and N stages. Interestingly, we found that STAT3 as an immune marker of Th17 cells was not only positively correlated with TMC5 and up-regulated in PAAD tissues, but also the major predicted TMC5 transcription regulator. Moreover, STAT3 was involved in cancer pathway of PAAD. Conclusion: Up-regulated TMC5 indicates advanced tumor stage in PAAD patients, and its role in promoting PAAD development may be regulated by STAT3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The retention rate in autologous fat grafting is an increasing concern for surgeons and patients. Our previous research verified that thymosin beta 4 (Tβ4) positively affected fat survival, while the mechanism was unknown. The endothelial cells (ECs) and exosomes derived from adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) were regarded to play a critical role in fat transplantation. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of exosomes derived from Tβ4-treated ADSCs on EC proliferation and to identify the exosomal microRNA (miRNA) profile compared with the Tβ4-untreated group. Additionally, this research intended to recognize the related molecules and signaling pathways in the Tβ4-treated group with potential roles in fat transplants. Methods: ADSCs were collected from patients who underwent liposuction surgery. Depending on whether the medium was supplemented with exogenous Tβ4 or not, exosomes derived from cultured ADSCs were divided into the Tβ4-Exos group and Con-Exos group. Exosome uptake and cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assays assessed the influence of Tβ4-Exos on EC proliferation. The exosomal miRNAs of the two groups were analyzed by next-generation sequencing. With the criteria at the |log2 (fold change)| ≥ 1 and p-value < 0.05, up-regulated and down-regulated differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) were obtained. Prediction databases were used to predict the downstream mRNAs for DEMs. And then, overlapping genes for the up-regulated DEMs and the down-regulated were screened out, followed by enrichment analysis, protein–protein interaction network construction, and the gene cluster and hub gene identification. Results: ADSCs were obtained from four female patients. The exosome uptake and CCK-8 assays showed that the Tβ4-Exos could increase cell growth rate compared with the control group (DMEM-H + PBS). In Tβ4-Exos and Con-Exos groups, 2651 exosomal miRNAs were recognized, with 80 up-regulated and 99 down-regulated DEMs according to the criteria. After the prediction, 621 overlapping genes for the up-regulated and 572 for the down-regulated DEMs were screened. The subsequent bioinformatics analysis found specific molecules and pathways related to the positive effect on fat survival. Conclusions: The exosomes derived from Tβ4-treated ADSCs probably positively affect EC proliferation. Compared with the Con-Exos group, several exosomal DEMs, genes, and pathways were distinguished. These findings of this exploratory study provide the potential direction for future in-depth research on fat grafting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The successful construction of highly stable and active platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs) within the confined cavity of a three-dimensional porphyrinic nanocage is presented in this study. The flexible porphyrinic nanocage containing eight N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) precursors was prepared using a metal-carbene-templated ring-closing metathesis (RCM) approach as new capping materials for the fabrication/stabilization of Pt NPs. Notably, the NHC-stabilized Pt NPs within the porphyrinic nanocage exhibited high catalytic activity for selective oxidation of 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide to nontoxic 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfoxide with excellent stability and recyclability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recently, PET/CT imaging with radiolabelled FAP inhibitors (FAPIs) has been widely evaluated in diverse diseases. However, rare report has been published using SPECT/CT, a more available imaging method, with [99mTc]Tc-labelled FAPI. In this study, we evaluated the potential effect of [99mTc]Tc-HFAPi in clinical analysis for digestive system tumours. Methods: This is a single-centre prospective diagnostic efficiency study (Ethic approved No.: XJTU1AF2021LSK-021 of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University and ChiCTR2100048093 of the Chinese Clinical Trial Register). Forty patients with suspected or confirmed digestive system tumours underwent [99mTc]Tc-HFAPi SPECT/CT between January and June 2021. For dynamic biodistribution and dosimetry estimation, whole-body planar scintigraphy was performed at 10, 30, 90, 150, and 240 min post-injection in four representative patients. Optimal acquisition time was considered in all the patients at 60–90 min post-injection, then quantified or semi-quantified using SUVmax and T/B ratio was done. The diagnostic performance of [99mTc]Tc-HFAPi was calculated and compared with those of contrast-enhanced CT (ceCT) using McNemar test, and the changes of tumour stage and oncologic management were recorded. Results: Physiological distribution of [99mTc]Tc-HFAPi was observed in the liver, pancreas, gallbladder, and to a lesser extent in the kidneys, spleen and thyroid. Totally, 40 patients with 115 lesions were analysed. The diagnostic sensitivity of [99mTc]Tc-HFAPi for non-operative primary lesions was similar to that of ceCT (94.29% [33/35] vs 100% [35/35], respectively; P = 0.5); in local relapse detection, [99mTc]Tc-HFAPi was successfully detected in 100% (n = 3) of patients. In the diagnosis of suspected metastatic lesions, [99mTc]Tc-HFAPi exhibited higher sensitivity (89.66% [26/29] vs 68.97% [20/29], respectively, P = 0.03) and specificity (97.9% [47/48] vs 85.4% [41/48], respectively, P = 0.03) than ceCT, especially with 100% (24/24) specificity in the diagnosis of liver metastases, resulting in 20.0% (8/40) changes in TNM stage and 15.0% (6/40) changes in oncologic management. Conclusion: [99mTc]Tc-HFAPi demonstrates a greater diagnostic efficiency than ceCT in the detection of distant metastasis, especially in identifying liver metastases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retrospective cohort study. To validate computed tomography (CT) radiodensity in Hounsfield units (HU) as a prognostic marker for pedicle screw loosening or cage subsidence in minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MI-TLIF). The retrospective study involved 198 patients treated with MI-TLIF. Screw loosening (SL), cage subsidence (CS), and fusion status were assessed by plain radiographs. The risk factors of SL and CS were identified using logistic regression. A total of 258 levels and 930 screws were analyzed. During a 2-year follow-up, 16.2% and 24.7% of patients had CS and SL respectively. The cut-off value of L1 HU for predicting SL or CS was 117. The L1 HU < 117 and BMI ≥ 25 were two independent risk factors. The risk of SL or CS was 4.1 fold in patients L1 HU < 117 and 2.6 fold in patients with BMI ≥ 25. For patients concurrently having BMI ≥ 25 and pre-op L1 HU < 117, the risk was 4.3 fold. Fusion rate and clinical outcome were comparable in patients with SL or CS. L1 HU < 117 and BMI > 25 were two independent risk factors that can be screened preoperatively for preventing SL or CS and lead to better management of patients undergoing MI-TLIF. [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.)

Experimental vaccines for the deadly zoonotic Nipah (NiV), Hendra (HeV), and Ebola (EBOV) viruses have focused on targeting individual viruses, although their geographical and bat reservoir host overlaps warrant creation of multivalent vaccines. Here we explored whether replication-incompetent pseudotyped vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) virions or NiV-based virus-like particles (VLPs) were suitable multivalent vaccine platforms by co-incorporating multiple surface glycoproteins from NiV, HeV, and EBOV onto these virions. We then enhanced the vaccines' thermotolerance using carbohydrates to enhance applicability in global regions that lack cold-chain infrastructure. Excitingly, in a Syrian hamster model of disease, the VSV multivalent vaccine elicited safe, strong, and protective neutralizing antibody responses against challenge with NiV, HeV, or EBOV. Our study provides proof-of-principle evidence that replication-incompetent multivalent viral particle vaccines are sufficient to provide protection against multiple zoonotic deadly viruses with high pandemic potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) are widely used on turbine guide vanes (TGVs) in aero engines. The construction of a reasonable TBC fatigue life prediction model is of great significance to the development of aero engines. A 2D axisymmetric finite element model (FEM) is established, based on experimental data from a tube with a TBC. Then, a reasonable TBC life fatigue prediction model is established by combining the Manson–Coffin equation, linear cumulative damage theory, and growth characteristics of the oxide layer. The fitting problem is transformed into an optimization problem in the process of establishing the TBC fatigue life prediction model, and the coefficients of the model are solved by a genetic algorithm (GA). Finally, a strain analysis FEM for TGVs with a TBC is established, based on the master–slave model method, and TGVs coating fatigue life is predicted by a fatigue life prediction model. The results show that the maximum fatigue life prediction error for tubes with a TBC is 104.7%, which is 114.4% lower than that obtained in previous studies, and most of the coating fatigue life prediction values are distributed within 50% confidence bounds. The coating fatigue life of the TGV on the trailing edge is 1948 cycles, which is a reasonable result. The efforts of this study provide a framework to predict the coating fatigue life of aero engine hot components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The superficial inferior epigastric artery (SIEA) diameter and the matching degree between the donor and the recipient arteries in terms of diameter are key factors affecting the outcome of the procedure in breast reconstructions with the SIEA flaps. A diameter of the SIEA ≥ 1.5 mm and a matching degree ≥ 1:2 (50%) of the diameters of the donor and the recipient arteries are recognized standards for the SIEA and the internal mammary artery (IMA) to achieve an end-to-end anastomosis. However, further refinements of the population characteristics and the ideal microscopic anastomosis intercostal planes are currently lacking for the criteria. Methods: In this study, based on 20 sides of hemiabdomen with computed tomography angiography (CTA) data suggesting the presence of the SIEA, we analysed the diameters of the donor and the recipient arteries as well as their matching degrees. The correlations between the parameters above and body mass index (BMI) were assessed. Based on the lower bounds of the 95% confidence intervals of the matching degrees and the two critical nodes of 50% and 67%, we theoretically evaluated the possibility of an end-to-end anastomosis of the SIEA and the IMA at different levels of BMIs and intercostal spaces, and predicted the possible intraoperative management measures for the SIEA. Results: The SIEA diameter, the thoracodorsal artery (TDA) diameter, and the diameters of the IMA at the 2nd to the 5th intercostal levels were positively correlated with the BMI (p < 0.05). A value of BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2 could indirectly reflect the application premise of the diameter of the SIEA ≥ 1.5 mm. The matching degrees of the SIEA with the TDA or the IMA at the 2nd to the 5th intercostal level were linearly and positively correlated with the BMI (p < 0.001). Based on the confidence interval analysis, we predicted different management techniques that might be needed intraoperatively for the SIEA at different BMI levels, when the SIEA and the IMA or the TDA were to be anastomosed in an end-to-end way. Conclusion: For patients with preoperative CTA data suggesting the presence of the SIEA in the second-stage breast reconstructions, when a value of BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2 is met, the SIEA and the IMA can theoretically achieve an end-to-end anastomosis at the 3rd to the 5th intercostal level, and when 24 kg/m2 ≤ BMI ≤ 25 kg/m2, due to the large difference in diameters, the SIEA and the IMA at the 2nd intercostal level might need to adopt an end-to-side anastomosis or switch to the TDA recipient site. Based on this study's findings and aesthetic effect considerations, we think that the 3rd and the 4th intercostal planes are ideal choices for the end-to-end anastomosis. As a salvage recipient option, the TDA can theoretically achieve an end-to-end anastomosis with the SIEA at a value of BMI ≥ 24 g/m2. Level of evidence IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wave-driven circulation in a reef-lagoon-channel system has significant ecological, geomorphological, and environmental implications. However, there is still research gap in fully understanding the responses of wave-driven circulation in the system to varying incident wave forcing and reef morphology. To better interpret the wave-current process inside an idealized reef-lagoon-channel configuration, a numerical model based on the horizontally two-dimensional (2DH) fully nonlinear Boussinesq equations is presented in this study. The adopted model is firstly validated by a published laboratory dataset for wave height, wave setup and mean current in the system. Subsequently, the impacts of wave forcing (incident wave height, incident wave period, reef-flat wave level) and reef morphological (fore-reef slope, cross-shore reef-flat width, channel width, reef roughness) factors that are not fully considered in the previous laboratory studies are reported through the numerical simulations in this study. Finally, the model is applied to analyze the wave pump efficiency parameter in the system, and an empirical equation to predict this parameter is also proposed. [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.)

Around birth, globin expression in human red blood cells (RBCs) shifts from γ-globin to β-globin, which results in fetal haemoglobin (HbF, α2γ2) being gradually replaced by adult haemoglobin (HbA, α2β2)1. This process has motivated the development of innovative approaches to treat sickle cell disease and β-thalassaemia by increasing HbF levels in postnatal RBCs2. Here we provide therapeutically relevant insights into globin gene switching obtained through a CRISPR–Cas9 screen for ubiquitin–proteasome components that regulate HbF expression. In RBC precursors, depletion of the von Hippel–Lindau (VHL) E3 ubiquitin ligase stabilized its ubiquitination target, hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF1α)3,4, to induce γ-globin gene transcription. Mechanistically, HIF1α–HIF1β heterodimers bound cognate DNA elements in BGLT3, a long noncoding RNA gene located 2.7 kb downstream of the tandem γ-globin genes HBG1 and HBG2. This was followed by the recruitment of transcriptional activators, chromatin opening and increased long-range interactions between the γ-globin genes and their upstream enhancer. Similar induction of HbF occurred with hypoxia or with inhibition of prolyl hydroxylase domain enzymes that target HIF1α for ubiquitination by the VHL E3 ubiquitin ligase. Our findings link globin gene regulation with canonical hypoxia adaptation, provide a mechanism for HbF induction during stress erythropoiesis and suggest a new therapeutic approach for β-haemoglobinopathies.Detailed mechanistic insight into fetal globin gene induction during hypoxia-associated stress erythropoiesis provides new therapeutic approaches to treat β-haemoglobinopathies, such as sickle cell disease and β-thalassaemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

White-backed planthopper (WBPH) is a devastating pest of rice, which significantly reduces production and causes millions of dollars in losses worldwide annually. Screening of germplasm resources with resistance to white-backed planthopper plays a crucial role in crop insect resistance breeding. In the present research, a total of 1080 accessions of Guangxi common wild rice (Oryza rufipogon Griff.) was screened for WBPH resistance through stem evaluation method (SEM). After preliminary screening, 49 resistance resources were identified, accounting for 4.54% of the total. After verified identification at the adult stage, 15 resistance resources with stable resistance to white-backed planthopper were finally obtained as resistant resources. The regional distribution analysis showed that the highest frequency of WBPH resistance resources appeared in Fusui county located in the upper reaches of Xijiang river (6.80%). Meanwhile, the highest frequency of the high resistance (HR and R) resources appeared in Pingnan located in lower reaches (2.79%). The 49 resistant accessions were genotyped for 43 SSR markers evenly distributed on the 12 chromosomes. The genetic diversity analysis showed a high polymorphism level of common wild rice populations. Fusui county possesses higher level of genetic diversity than the Yongning district and Pingnan county populations. The results from this study are essential to analyze resistance genes, cultivate insect-resistant varieties, and provide regional guidance for the exploration of resistance resources in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This correction notice is for an article titled "Targeting glutamine metabolism slows soft tissue sarcoma growth" published in Nature Communications. The correction addresses an error in Figure 6d of the original article, where an immunohistochemistry staining image was mistakenly duplicated from a different cell line. The error has been rectified in both the PDF and HTML versions of the article. The authors of the article are Pearl Lee, Dania Malik, Nicholas Perkons, Peiwei Huangyang, Sanika Khare, Seth Rhoades, Yao-Yu Gong, Michelle Burrows, Jennifer M. Finan, Itzhak Nissim, Terence P. F. Gade, Aalim M. Weljie, and M. Celeste Simon. [Extracted from the article]

Highlights: The two-dimensional nanoarray with excellent physical confinement is more promising to facilitate uniform Li+ flow and electric field. Li3N with superior chemical regulation provides nucleation sites, accelerates the replenishment of consumed Li+, and achieves dendrite-free morphology. The synergistic effect of physical confinement and chemical regulation achieves superior electrochemical performance at high current density and areal capacity. Lithium metal anode has been demonstrated as the most promising anode for lithium batteries because of its high theoretical capacity, but infinite volume change and dendritic growth during Li electrodeposition have prevented its practical applications. Both physical morphology confinement and chemical adsorption/diffusion regulation are two crucial approaches to designing lithiophilic materials to alleviate dendrite of Li metal anode. However, their roles in suppressing dendrite growth for long-life Li anode are not fully understood yet. Herein, three different Ni-based nanosheet arrays (NiO-NS, Ni3N-NS, and Ni5P4-NS) on carbon cloth as proof-of-concept lithiophilic frameworks are proposed for Li metal anodes. The two-dimensional nanoarray is more promising to facilitate uniform Li+ flow and electric field. Compared with the NiO-NS and the Ni5P4-NS, the Ni3N-NS on carbon cloth after reacting with molten Li (Li-Ni/Li3N-NS@CC) can afford the strongest adsorption to Li+ and the most rapid Li+ diffusion path. Therefore, the Li-Ni/Li3N-NS@CC electrode realizes the lowest overpotential and the most excellent electrochemical performance (60 mA cm−2 and 60 mAh cm−2 for 1000 h). Furthermore, a remarkable full battery (LiFePO4||Li-Ni/Li3N-NS@CC) reaches 300 cycles at 2C. This research provides valuable insight into designing dendrite-free alkali metal batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel bacterium, designated YYF0007T, was isolated from an agar-degrading co-culture. The strain was found harboring four CRISPR-Cas systems of two classes in the chromosome and subsequently subjected to a study on polyphasic taxonomy. Pairwise analyses of the 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain YYF0007T had highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (92.2%) to Jiulongibacter sediminis JN-14-9T. The phylogenomic trees based on the 16S rRNA gene and 269 single-copy orthologous gene clusters (OCs) indicated that strain YYF0007T should be recognized as a novel genus of the family Spirosomaceae. The cells were Gramstain-negative, nonmotile, strictly aerobic, and straight long rods with no flagellum. Optimum growth occurred at 28°C and pH 7.0 with the presence of NaCl concentration 1.0–3.0% (w/v). The strain showed oxidase and catalase activities. The major fatty acids were C16:1ω5c, iso-C15:0 and summed feature 3 (C16:1ω7c and/or C16:1ω6c). The predominant isoprenoid quinone was MK-7. The complete genome size was 4.64 Mb with a DNA G + C content of 44.4%. Further typing of CRISPR-Cas systems in the family Spirosomaceae and the phylum Bacteroidota indicated that it was remarkable for strain YYF0007T featured by such a set of CRISPR-Cas systems. This trait highlights the applications of strain YYF-0007T in studies on the evolutionary dynamics and bacterial autoimmunity of CRISPR-Cas system as a potential model. The name Marinilongibacter aquaticus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed, and the type strain is YYF0007T (= MCCC 1K06017T = GDMCC 1.2428T = JCM 34683T). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of 2D materials into future applications relies on advances in their quality and production. We here report a synthesis method that achieves ultrahigh optoelectronic performance at unprecedented fabrication scales. A mediator-assisted chemical vapor deposition process yields tungsten-disulfide (WS2) with near-unity photoluminescence quantum yield, superior photosensitivity and improved environmental stability. This enhancement is due to the decrease in the density of lattice defects and charge traps brought about by the self-regulating nature of the growth process. This robustness in the presence of precursor variability enables the high-throughput growth in atomically confined stacks and achieves uniform synthesis of single-layer WS2 on dozens of closely packed wafers. Our approach enhances the scientific and commercial potential of 2D materials as demonstrated in producing large-scale arrays of record-breaking optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]