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The best available technology (BAT) for waste plastics relies on their components and the right technology employed, while the quality of waste plastics depends on the original plastics and the source separation processes simultaneously. In this study, the quality of waste plastics and the potential recycling processes, including recycling granulation, pyrolysis to oil, Green-RDF and incineration technology, were co-related from the economic and technical perspective. A database was established for waste plastic components, considering factors such as plastic fraction, waste composition, moisture content, and impurity rate. The corresponding environmental impacts for the typical resource processes were assessed by life cycle analysis (LCA) and cost–benefit analysis combined. It was found that around 23% ± 1% of waste plastics in residual waste had the resource potential if the stricter classification criteria of plastic wastes were adopted, such as the components, moisture content less than 5% or 8% and impurity rate less than 8%. Pyrolysis to oil had the best environmental benefits in GWP100, reaching -1,683.51 kg CO2 equivalent (CO2-eq), determined as the best method for high-value plastics, and incineration depicted poor environmental benefits for low-value plastics. The net income of recycling granulation for middle-value waste plastics would achieve 1383 ± 35 yuan/ton through cost–benefit analysis, which represented the optimal economic benefits. CO2 emissions for waste plastics could be mitigated around 29.74% by matching BATs compared to the current management system, which would provide policymakers with proper recommendations in terms of the adaptability of waste plastic sources and technologies. Highlights: Best available technology was assessed based on the characteristics of waste plastics. 23%±1% of waste plastics in residual waste could be extracted for resource utilization. Pyrolysis and granulation performed well in both environmental and economic impacts. The employment of BATs in residual waste contributed to 29.74% CO2 reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ginsenoside Rb1 exhibits a wide range of biological activities, and gut microbiota is considered the main metabolic site for Rb1. However, the impact of gut microbiota on the pharmacokinetics of Rb1 are still uncertain. In this study, we investigated the gut microbiome changes and the pharmacokinetics after a 30 d Rb1 intervention. Results reveal that the systemic exposure and metabolic clearance rate of Rb1 and Rd were substantially affected after orally supplementing Rb1 (60 mg/kg) to rats. Significant increase in the relative abundance of Bacteroides cellulosilyticus in gut microbiota and specific glycoside hydrolase (GH) families, such as GH2, GH92, and GH20 were observed based on microbiome and metagenomic analysis. Moreover, a robust association was identified between the pharmacokinetic parameters of Rb1 and the relative abundance of specific Bacteroides species, and glycoside hydrolase families. Our study demonstrates that Rb1 administration significantly affects the gut microbiome, revealing a complex relationship between B. cellulosilyticus, key GH families, and Rb1 pharmacokinetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Wearable devices, interactive human-machine interface equipment, wireless sensors, and small-scale cleaning devices play crucial roles in biomedical implantation, disease treatment, health monitoring, environmental purification, etc. These devices require a sustainable energy source to work effectively. With the consideration of the global energy crisis and environmental pollution, researchers are exploring new, stable, and environmentally friendly methods to power these low-powered devices. Mechanical energy is one of the most abundant natural energy sources. Converting mechanical energy from the ambient environment or host structures into electrical energy via the direct piezoelectric effect is an efficient energy harvesting technique. This paper reviews the application of advanced piezoelectric materials, and small-scale self-powered and self-sensing piezoelectric devices at the cubic centimeter scale in energy harvesting and health monitoring of human, animal, machinery, roads, bridges, as well as the pollutant degradation of the environment. Some of these devices have the capability to not only harvest mechanical energy but also enable real-time monitoring and analysis of the electrical signals generated by the direct piezoelectric effect, facilitating prompt decision-making and appropriate responses. In addition, potential challenges and future prospects of small-scale self-powered and self-sensing piezoelectric devices are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a common component in the manufacture of daily plastic consumer goods. Recent studies have suggested that prenatal exposure to BPA can increase the susceptibility of offspring to mental illness, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we performed transcriptomic and epigenomic profiling in the adult mouse brain following prenatal exposure to low-dose BPA. We observed a sex-specific transcriptional dysregulation in the cortex, with more significant differentially expressed genes was observed in adult cortex from male offspring. Moreover, the upregulated genes primarily influenced neuronal functions, while the downregulated genes were significantly associated with energy metabolism pathways. More evidence supporting impaired mitochondrial function included a decreased ATP level and a reduced number of mitochondria in the cortical neuron of the BPA group. We further investigated the higher-order chromatin regulatory patterns of DEGs by incorporating published Hi-C data. Interestingly, we found that upregulated genes exhibited more distal interactions with multiple enhancers, while downregulated genes displayed relatively short-range interactions among adjacent genes. Our data further revealed decreased H3K9me3 signal on the distal enhancers of upregulated genes, whereas increased DNA methylation and H3K27me3 signals on the promoters of downregulated genes. In summary, our study provides compelling evidence for the potential health risks associated with prenatal exposure to BPA, and uncovers sex-specific transcriptional changes with a complex interplay of multiple epigenetic mechanisms. 1. Distinct chromatin interaction pattern of DEGs in the cortex of adult male offspring in response to prenatal BPA exposure. 2. Upregulated genes exhibited intensive and long-range chromatin interactions, with decreased H3K9me3 modification on the distal enhancers. 3. Downregulated genes were featured by promoter-promoter interactions among adjacent genes and increased DNA methylation and H3K27me3 modification at the promoter regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNAs play an important role in the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of malignancy. In previous studies (detailed in our previous paper), the expression of miR-6839-5p was significantly increased in SW1353 cells after 125I seed 6 Gy irradiation, which indicated miR-6839-5p may play a tumor suppression function in chondrosarcoma cells. This study aimed to identify the effects of miR-6839-5p on the human chondrosarcoma cells, and investigate the potential target genes of miR-6839-5p. Firstly, chondrosarcoma cells (SW1353 and CAL78) were transfected with hsa-miR-6839-5p specific mimic. Secondly, Cell viability assay (MTT assay), Colony formation assay, Wound healing assay, Transwell assay, TUNEL staining and Western blotting experiments were performed, and the results proved miR-6839-5p can inhibit chondrosarcoma cells proliferation, migration and invasion. Meanwhile, miR-6839-5p significantly down-regulated apoptosis facilitator Bcl-2 expression, and promoted apoptosis of chondrosarcoma cells. It is reasonable to speculate miR-6839-5p might downregulate Bcl-2 expression to induce apoptosis in SW1353 human chondrosarcoma cells. Lastly, RNA extraction and bioinformatic analysis was performed on SW1353 cells transfected with hsa-miR-6839-5p specific mimic to investigate the potential target genes of miR-6839-5p. A total of 253 differentially expressed mRNA genes (105 up-regulated genes and 148 down-regulated genes) were found, and 23 differentially expressed downregulated genes were identified. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was conducted to validate the results, which demonstrated the expression of BST2, VEGFA, FPR3 and PPARA was significantly downregulated by miR-6839-5p mimic. Furthermore, miR-6839-5p inhibitor can restore or partially restore the expression value of the above four genes. The analysis results of miRNA target gene prediction database indicated VEGFA was the most likely direct target gene of miR-6839-5p. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium‐ion batteries with fast-charging/discharging properties are urgently needed for the mass adoption of electric vehicles. Here, we show that fast charging/discharging, long-term stable and high energy charge-storage properties can be realized in an artificial electrode made from a mixed electronic/ionic conductor material (Fe/LixM, where M = O, F, S, N) enabled by a space charge principle. Particularly, the Fe/Li2O electrode is able to be charged/discharged to 126 mAh g−1 in 6 s at a high current density of up to 50 A g−1, and it also shows stable cycling performance for 30,000 cycles at a current density of 10 A g−1, with a mass-loading of ~2.5 mg cm−2 of the electrode materials. This study demonstrates the critical role of the space charge storage mechanism in advancing electrochemical energy storage and provides an unconventional perspective for designing high-performance anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion batteries with fast-charging properties are urgently needed for wide adoption of electric vehicles. Here, the authors show a fast charging/discharging and long-term stable electrode made from a mixed electronic/ionic conductor material enabled by a space charge mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lately, interest surrounding the utilization of plant-derived compounds as a viable beneficial approach for treating Alzheimer's disease (AD) has significantly increased. This study aimed to assess the defensive properties of rosavin against Alzheimer's disease induced by amyloid-β, utilizing experimental models. We found that rosavin exhibited anti-aggregation and disaggregation properties, suggesting its potential to prevent the gathering of Aβ-aggregates. In vitro experiments revealed that rosavin effectively mitigated the neurotoxicity induced by Aβ in Neuro-2a cells, showcasing its protective potential. Rosavin significantly improved the Aβ-induced cognitive deficits in Wistar rats, particularly in spatial memory. Which the pathophysiology of AD includes oxidative damage, which negatively impacts biological macromolecules. Triggers the apoptotic process, causing macromolecular destruction. Interestingly, rosavin attenuated Aβ-induced macromolecular damages, thereby preserving neuronal integrity. Furthermore, the activation of antioxidative defense enzymes by rosavin inhibited oxidative damage. The positive outcomes associated with rosavin were primarily attributed to its capacity to enhance acetylcholine-mediated effects. Finally, rosavin has the potential to alleviate Aβ-induced neurotoxicity and macromolecular damages, ultimately resulting in enhanced memorial and reasoning function in Wistar rats, offering promising prospects for the treatment of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amid China's rapid economic expansion, the country's industrial solid waste (ISW) problem is escalating. As each sector generates distinct types of ISW, a multi-indicator assessment of each sector is essential to address China's New Solid Waste Policy. To investigate the ISW situation of each sector and perform a comprehensive assessment, we formulate an industrial solid waste ecological analysis framework based on ISW generation and ISW flow in the sector. Various indicators (i.e., solid waste utilization coefficient, solid waste threat coefficient, and solid waste threat intensity) are employed to assess the utilization of solid waste generated for each sector, as well as the threat of solid waste originating in each sector to society. Ecological network analysis probes the interrelationships between diverse sectors. Taking Shanghai in 2017 as an example, the study indicates that some sectors (e.g., production and supply of electric power and heat power (EH) and metal smelting and rolling processing sector (MS)) exhibit higher direct ISW generation and the direct industrial solid waste value-added coefficient (SVAC) for common industrial solid waste (CISW). Specifically, the direct CISW generation of EH and MS is 539.21Mt and 277.00Mt respectively. The direct SVAC of EH and MS is 157.06kg/103RMB and 126.27kg/103RMB respectively. These sectors should prioritize reducing emissions at the source. Additionally, the threats to society from various sectors are relatively insignificant for the CISW, while for the hazardous waste (HW), all sectors pose a considerable threat to Shanghai's society. Moreover, some sectors (e.g., mining industry) exhibit the highest mutualism relationships in the CISW and the HW. Enhancing mining sector technologies is a vital strategy for mitigating ISW sources. Specifically, MI has 9 pairs of mutualism relationships in the CISW and 8 pairs in the HW. These insights will provide empirical evidence for tackling the ISW problem in Shanghai. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increasing number of studies have documented atypical protein kinase C isoform ι (PKCι) as an oncoprotein playing multifaceted roles in pancreatic carcinogenesis, including sustaining the transformed growth, prohibiting apoptosis, strengthening invasiveness, facilitating autophagy, as well as promoting the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment of pancreatic tumors. In this study, we present novel evidence that PKCι overexpression increases STAT3 phosphorylation at the Y705 residue while decreasing STAT3 phosphorylation at the S727 residue in pancreatic cancer cells. We further demonstrate that STAT3 phosphorylation at Y705 and S727 residues is mutually antagonistic, and that STAT3 Y705 phosphorylation is positively related to the transcriptional activity of STAT3 in pancreatic cancer cells. Furthermore, we discover that PKCι inhibition attenuates STAT3 transcriptional activity via Y705 dephosphorylation, which appears to be resulted from enhanced phosphorylation of S727 in pancreatic cancer cells. Finally, we investigate and prove that by modulating the STAT3 activity, the PKCι inhibitor can synergistically enhance the antitumor effects of pharmacological STAT3 inhibitors or reverse the anti-apoptotic side effects incited by the MEK inhibitor, thereby posing as a prospective sensitizer in the treatment of pancreatic cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Paget's disease of the breast (PDB) is a rare breast neoplasm that presents as eczematous changes near the nipple that is often associated with underlying malignancy. Recent Findings: The pathogenesis of Paget's disease of the breast is debated to either originate from malignant ductal epithelial cells, transformation in situ, or both. Tissue biopsy is the hallmark for diagnosis in order to avoid misdiagnosis and ensure prompt treatment. Imaging modalities such as mammogram, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging are used to ascertain if there is a concurrent underlying carcinoma. Treatment options resemble that of an invasive breast cancer and consist of mastectomy or breast conservation therapy including central segmentectomy with radiation therapy. Purpose of Review: This review will discuss the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and the various available treatment modalities. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of this rare entity in order to better recognize and clinically manage it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the dynamic position accuracy of bottom dead point (BDP) for multilink high-speed precision presses (MHSPPs), it's essential to develop a dynamic model of planar multilink mechanism. Traditional dynamic error models (DEMs) always neglect the thermal effect of angular contact ball bearing (ACBB), which reduces the prediction accuracy of DEM for multilink transmission mechanisms. To overcome the shortcomings of the previous models, a new contact model of revolute clearance joint considering thermal expansion effect is proposed in this paper. Then, a thermal network model (TNM) of ACBB lubricated by grease is built and the stiffness of ACBB considering the thermal expansion effect is derived. On this basis, an improved DEM of planar flexible multilink mechanism with clearance considering the thermal expansion effect of ACBB is developed. And the influence of crankshaft speed, contact angle of ACBB and clearance size on the position error of slider's BDP based on the improved DEM is analyzed. Compared to the simulation from traditional models, the simulated slider's BDP position error from the improved DEM agrees better with experimental data, which verifies the correctness of the proposed model. It's demonstrated that the punching force and thermally induced variable stiffness of bearing lead to a significant increase in the slider's BDP position error, which reduces the machining precision of MHSPP. Moreover, a novel compensation algorithm based on the improved DEM with online modification is proposed. Test results show that the root mean square (RMS) and maximum absolute values of the slider's BDP position error after compensation under no load condition are reduced by 98.06% and 96.20%, respectively, and can be reduced by 98.11% and 96.36%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous contaminants in the atmosphere that have drawn intense attention due to their carcinogenicity and mutagenicity. In this work, 1424 air samples were collected between January 2016 and December 2021 in three areas of Shenzhen, China to determine the concentrations of PM2.5 and PAHs and their spatiotemporal variation. Human health risks due to the daily intake and uptake of PAHs and the resulting incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) were also evaluated. PAHs were detected frequently in the samples at concentrations between 0.28 and 32.7 ng/m3 (median: 1.04 ng/m3). PM2.5 and PAH concentrations decreased from 2016 to 2021, and the Yantian area had lower median concentrations of PM2.5 (23.0 μg/m3) and PAHs (0.02 ng/m3) than the Longgang and Nanshan areas. The concentrations of PM2.5 and PAHs were significantly higher in winter than in summer. Analysis of diagnostic ratios indicated that petroleum combustion was the dominant source of airborne PAHs in Shenzhen. The estimated daily intake (EDI) and uptake (EDU) of PAHs by local residents decreased gradually with increasing age, indicating that infants are at particular risk of PAH exposure. However, the incremental lifetime cancer risks (ILCRs) were below the threshold value of 10–6, indicating that inhalation exposure to PAHs posed a negligible carcinogenic risk to Shenzhen residents. While promising, these results may underestimate actual PAH exposure levels, so further analysis of health risks due to PAHs in Shenzhen is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a broad class of chemicals, and previous studies showed that VOCs could increase the risk of central nervous system disorders. However, few studies have comprehensively explored their association with depression among general adults. Objective: We aimed to explore the association between blood VOCs and depression risk based on a large cross-sectional study of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Methods: We analyzed data from 3449 American adults in the NHANES 2013–2016. Survey-weighted logistic regression model was used to explore the association of ten blood VOCs with depression. Subsequently, the relative importance of the selected VOCs was determined using the XGBoost model. The weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression model was used to explore the overall association of 10 blood VOCs with depression. Subgroup analyses were performed to identify high-risk populations. Finally, restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis was utilized to explore the dose–response relationship between blood VOCs and the risk of depression. Results: XGBoost Algorithm model identified blood 2,5-dimethylfuran was the most critical variable in depression. The logistic regression model showed that blood benzene, blood 2,5-dimethylfuran, and blood furan showed a positive correlation with depression. In subgroup analysis, we found that the effects of the above VOCs on depression existed among the female, young middle-aged, and overweight-obese population. Mixture VOCs exposure was positively associated with depression risk (OR = 2.089, 95% CI: 1.299–3.361), and 2,5-dimethylfuran had the largest weights in WQS regression. RCS displayed that blood benzene, blood 2,5-dimethylfuran, and blood furan were positively associated with depression. Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that VOCs exposure was associated with an increased prevalence of depression in U.S. adults. Women, young and middle-aged, and overweight-obese populations are more vulnerable to VOCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a major neurological disease affecting elderly individuals worldwide. Existing drugs only reduce the symptoms of the disease without addressing the underlying causes. Commonly, Aβ25–35 peptide aggregation is the main reason for AD development. Recently, the discovery of multiple protein-targeting molecules has provided a new strategy for treating AD. This study demonstrates the neuroprotective potential of oxymatrine against multiple mechanisms, such as acetylcholinesterase, mitochondrial damage, and β-amyloid-induced cell toxicity. The in vitro cell culture studies showed that oxymatrine possesses significant potential to inhibit acetylcholine esterase and promotes antioxidant, antiapoptotic effects while preventing Aβ25–35 peptide aggregation in PC12 cells. Furthermore, oxymatrine protects PC12 cells against Aβ25–35-induced cytotoxicity and down-regulates the reactive oxygen species generation. The in vivo acute toxicological studies confirm the safety of oxymatrine without causing organ damage or death in animals. Overall, this study provided evidence that oxymatrine is an efficient neuroprotective agent, with a potential to be a multifunctional drug for Alzheimer's disease treatment. These findings present a reliable and synergistic approach for treating AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main conclusion: Eight promoters were cloned, from which AC and G-box cis-elements were identified. PAP1 enhanced the promoter activity. 2,4-D reduced the anthocyanin biosynthesis via downregulating the expression of the PAP1 transgene. Artemisia annua is an effective antimalarial medicinal crop. We have established anthocyanin-producing red cell cultures from this plant with the overexpression of Production of Anthocyanin Pigment 1 (PAP1) encoding a R2R3MYB transcription factor. To understand the molecular mechanism by which PAP1 activated the entire anthocyanin pathway, we mined the genomic sequences of A. annua and obtained eight promoters of the anthocyanin pathway genes. Sequence analysis identified four types of AC cis-elements from six promoters, the MYB response elements (MRE) bound by PAP1. In addition, six promoters were determined to have at least one G-box cis-element. Eight promoters were cloned for activity analysis. Dual luciferase assays showed that PAP1 significantly enhanced the promoting activity of seven promoters, indicating that PAP1 turned on the biosynthesis of anthocyanins via the activation of these pathway gene expression. To understand how 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), an auxin, regulates the PAP1-activated anthocyanin biosynthesis, five different concentrations (0, 0.05, 0.5, 2.5, and 5 µM) were tested to characterize anthocyanin production and profiles. The resulting data showed that the concentrations tested decreased the fresh weight of callus growth, anthocyanin levels, and the production of anthocyanins per Petri dish. HPLC-qTOF-MS/MS-based profiling showed that these concentrations did not alter anthocyanin profiles. Real-time RT-PCR was completed to characterize the expression PAP1 and four representative pathway genes. The results showed that the five concentrations reduced the expression levels of the constitutive PAP1 transgene and three pathway genes significantly and eliminated the expression of the chalcone synthase gene either significantly or slightly. These data indicate that the constitutive PAP1 expression depends on gradients added in the medium. Based on these findings, the regulation of 2,4-D is discussed for anthocyanin engineering in red cells of A. annua. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immunotherapy based on immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has provided revolutionary results in treating various cancers. However, its efficacy in colorectal cancer (CRC), especially in microsatellite stability-CRC, is limited. This study aimed to observe the efficacy of personalized neoantigen vaccine in treating MSS–CRC patients with recurrence or metastasis after surgery and chemotherapy. Candidate neoantigens were analyzed from whole-exome and RNA sequencing of tumor tissues. The safety and immune response were assessed through adverse events and ELISpot. The clinical response was evaluated by progression-free survival (PFS), imaging examination, clinical tumor marker detection, circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) sequencing. Changes in health-related quality of life were measured by the FACT-C scale. A total of six MSS–CRC patients with recurrence or metastasis after surgery and chemotherapy were administered with personalized neoantigen vaccines. Neoantigen-specific immune response was observed in 66.67% of the vaccinated patients. Four patients remained progression-free up to the completion of clinical trial. They also had a significantly longer progression-free survival time than the other two patients without neoantigen-specific immune response (19 vs. 11 months). Changes in health-related quality of life improved for almost all patients after the vaccine treatment. Our results shown that personalized neoantigen vaccine therapy is likely to be a safe, feasible and effective strategy for MSS–CRC patients with postoperative recurrence or metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attachment style is essential in guiding individuals' social interactions, especially in adversities. Based on social defence theory, we develop a moderated-mediation model to explore how employees' attachment style guides employees' reactions to threatening authoritarian leadership. Through a time-lagged design with 258 employees and their 142 direct leaders, we find that insecure attachment exhibits a positive role in alleviating authoritarian leaders' negative indirect influence on employee voice via employees' perceived status. However, secure attachment strengthens authoritarian leaders' negative influence on employee status perception and voice behaviour. These findings expand the perspective of leadership drawn upon attachment theory and provide practical implications for management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the number of countries concerned about environmental protection continues to increase. With a continuous expansion of economic scale, many emerging markets are also sustainably enhancing their management for industrial carbon emissions in foreign direct investment (FDI). Therefore, the impact of FDI on the host country's industrial carbon emissions has been a hot topic of researches. This study selects panel data of 30 medium and large cities in China from 2006 to 2019. Combined with dynamic panel GMM estimation and panel threshold model, this study empirically analyzes the impact factors of FDI on the host country's industrial carbon emissions. This study is based on the perspective of dual environmental management systems. This study draws the following conclusions: When taking the dual environmental management system factors as threshold variables into the empirical research process, only the FDI in Beijing, Tianjin, and Shanghai shows a certain inhibitory effect on Chinese industrial carbon emissions. The FDI in other cities increases the scale of industrial carbon emissions. At the same time, in the formal environmental management system, FDI has no significant impact on China's industrial carbon emissions. It indicates that the formal environmental management system of each city is not effective in policy formulation or implementation. In addition, the corresponding role of environmental management systems, such as innovation compensation and mandatory emission reduction, is not played. With the exception of Beijing and Shanghai, informal environmental management systems in other cities help curb the scale of industrial carbon emissions brought by FDI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many researchers investigated university students' behavioural intention to undertake online courses during COVID. However, few examined how students' intention might change throughout COVID by incorporating their learning capability and approaches. The universities in China went through a process from lockdown in February to reopening in September 2020. It provided a unique context for university students in China to experience emergent online learning for approximately six months before returning to normal face-to-face or blended learning on campus. The researchers conducted a questionnaire survey among 193 Chinese university students to investigate the changes in their behavioral intention to learn online throughout COVID. Additionally, the researchers explored the relationships between the participants' behavioral intention and the factors of learning capability in general, application of specific online learning strategies, online course engagement levels, and academic performance. It was found that the participants' intention to study online significantly increased during COVID and then slightly decreased after the university reopened. The participants' intention of online learning after COVID was predicted by their prior intention, learning capability, application of online learning strategies, and online course engagement. The participants' perceptions about online learning revealed that, when choosing future course delivery modes, they would a) reflect on their own disposition, capability, and needs, b) compare different learning modes, and c) examine course quality and teachers' competency. The participants also shared advice regarding their expectation of future online courses which may help shape university educators' pedagogical practices and provide insights for university online and blended course delivery from learners' perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ThE present work focused on exploring Girdin expression within gastric cancer (GC), examining the effect of Girdin on the cell phenotype of GC, and clarifying the underlying mechanisms. Girdin expression in GC samples was identified by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) assays. Girdin-targeting siRNAs were transfected into GC cells; later, we examined GC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis, respectively. Additionally, the protein expression was examined through Western blotting assay. Moreover, the tumor implantation experiment was conducted for examining Girdin knockdown in vivo. The results showed that Girdin expression elevated within GC samples, which was associated with the dismal prognostic outcome. Girdin knockdown suppressed GC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, and enhanced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Girdin promoted the phosphorylation of AKT, GSK3β, and β-catenin. Moreover, Girdin inhibited the phosphorylation of β-catenin. Girdin suppressed cell apoptosis and stimulated cell migration and invasion, while AKT inhibitor (MK2206) treatment reversed the effect of Girdin overexpression, and GSK3β inhibitor (CHIR99021) treatment enhanced the effect of Girdin overexpression on GC cells. Besides, Girdin delayed tumor growth in vivo. In conclusion, Girdin was abnormally expressed in GC samples, which promoted the development of GC by regulating AKT/GSK3β/β-catenin signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of existing physical model-based dehazing algorithms have problems, including color distortion and halo effects, when restoring hazy outdoor scenes that often contain large areas of the sky. This paper proposes a single image dehazing algorithm based on sky segmentation and an optimal transmission map to improve the quality of dehazed images containing sky regions. The proposed algorithm acquires the sky region of a hazy image by using the mean shift technique and prior information of sky color rules and estimates the atmospheric light by introducing adaptive threshold constraints based on the sky region. Next, a hazy image feature-based objective function is designed, and a transmission map is accurately estimated by introducing gradient domain-guided filtering. On this basis, images are restored with the atmospheric scattering model, and the final dehazed images are obtained through tone adjustment. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm is robust and can effectively eliminate haze and enrich the edge details of images. Compared to other algorithms, the saturated pixel ratio of the present algorithm is approximately zero, indicating the preferable color saturation of the restored images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main conclusion: Four types of cells were engineered from Artemisia annua to produce approximately 17 anthocyanins, four of which were elucidated structurally. All of them expressed the artemisinin pathway. Artemisia annua is the only medicinal crop to produce artemisinin for the treatment of malignant malaria. Unfortunately, hundreds of thousands of people still lose their life every year due to the lack of sufficient artemisinin. Artemisinin is considered to result from the spontaneous autoxidation of dihydroartemisinic acid in the presence of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in an oxidative condition of glandular trichomes (GTs); however, whether increasing antioxidative compounds can inhibit artemisinin biosynthesis in plant cells is unknown. Anthocyanins are potent antioxidants that can remove ROS in plant cells. To date, no anthocyanins have been structurally elucidated from A. annua. In this study, we had two goals: (1) to engineer anthocyanins in A. annua cells and (2) to understand the artemisinin biosynthesis in anthocyanin-producing cells. Arabidopsis Production of Anthocyanin Pigment 1 was used to engineer four types of transgenic anthocyanin-producing A. annua (TAPA1–4) cells. Three wild-type cell types were developed as controls. TAPA1 cells produced the highest contents of total anthocyanins. LC–MS analysis detected 17 anthocyanin or anthocyanidin compounds. Crystallization, LC/MS/MS, and NMR analyses identified cyanidin, pelargonidin, one cyanin, and one pelargonin. An integrative analysis characterized that four types of TAPA cells expressed the artemisinin pathway and TAPA1 cells produced the highest artemisinin and artemisinic acid. The contents of arteannuin B were similar in seven cell types. These data showed that the engineering of anthocyanins does not eliminate the biosynthesis of artemisinin in cells. These data allow us to propose a new hypothesis that enzymes catalyze the formation of artemisinin from dihydroartemisinic acid in non-GT cells. These findings show a new platform to increase artemisinin production via non-GT cells of A. annua. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By means of low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR), the transverse relaxation time (T2) signals of physically bound water in cement paste were monitored to indicate water content change and characterize the early-age hydration process. With the curves of the T2 signals and hydration time obtained, the hydration process could be divided into four typical periods using the null points of the second derivative curve, and the influences of water-cement ratio (w/c) and hydration heat regulating materials (HHRM) on hydration process were analyzed. The experimental results showed that the hydration rate of pure cement paste in accelerated period presented a positive correlation with w/c. Compared to pure cement paste, the addition of HHRM extended all four periods, and led to a much faster hydration rate in initial period as well as a slower rate in accelerated period. Finally, according to the LF-NMR test results, the early-age hydration model of cementitious materials was proposed considering w/c and HHRM content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We aimed to assess the impact of aerobic exercise (AE) on parameters related to cardiotoxicity in breast cancer (BC) patients receiving anthracycline or trastuzumab. Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of comparative studies on AE via the screening of standard databases from their inception to January 18, 2022. The risk of bias was assessed qualitatively using the domains outlined in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Data were analyzed quantitatively using fixed effects meta-analysis and subgroup analysis in RevMan software. Notable outcomes included imaging outcomes of cardiotoxicity, cardiorespiratory fitness, and cardiac biomarkers. Results: A meta-analysis of the pooled evidence obtained from seven studies revealed that AE significantly increased peak oxygen consumption (VO2 peak) and E/A values, compared to the values observed during usual care. Moreover, AE was safe and feasible, and was associated with a lower risk of adverse effects, a higher participation rate, and better results, when combined with resistance exercise. Conclusion: In BC patients receiving anthracyclines or trastuzumab, the effects of AE on the levels of cardiotoxicity were mixed; the diastolic functions and VO2 peak values were improved, biomarkers were not affected, and the overall improvements in the levels of cardiotoxicity were promising, despite the use of different exercise parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intelligent traffic lights in smart cities can optimally reduce traffic congestion. In this study, we employ reinforcement learning to train the control agent of a traffic light on a simulator of urban mobility. As a difference from existing works, a policy-based deep reinforcement learning method, Proximal Policy Optimization (PPO), is utilized rather than value-based methods such as Deep Q Network (DQN) and Double DQN (DDQN). First, the obtained optimal policy from PPO is compared to those from DQN and DDQN. It is found that the policy from PPO performs better than the others. Next, instead of fixed-interval traffic light phases, we adopt light phases with variable time intervals, which result in a better policy to pass the traffic flow. Then, the effects of environment and action disturbances are studied to demonstrate that the learning-based controller is robust. Finally, we consider unbalanced traffic flows and find that an intelligent traffic light can perform moderately well for the unbalanced traffic scenarios, although it learns the optimal policy from the balanced traffic scenarios only. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problems of data leakage and unreliable information transfer in the management process make sustainability management an inevitable need for future development. Globally, there is increasing attention paid to blockchain technology and particularly its application in addressing sustainable management issues, both from academia and industry. Aiming to deepen the understanding of how blockchain technology could deal with sustainable management issues across different disciplines, this paper investigates the latest research on the application of blockchain technology in sustainable management published from 2017 to 2021. It is found that there is a drastic surge of publications in the recent 2 years. The analysis focuses on authors' origins, the collaboration network of the keywords, countries, and research topics covered. The application of blockchain technology in five key sectors of sustainable management, encompassing energy management, construction management, supply chain management, environmental management, and e-government management, is selected for further analysis detail. Also, a general framework for applying blockchain technology is proposed for broadening its use and dealing with sustainable management issues. The findings show that the identified 108 publications are distributed in 75 different journals, and scholars from China, the UK, and the USA have been working closely in BT-based sustainable management research. Blockchain technology is just emerging in sustainable management, and there is a great potential for applying blockchain technology to improve sustainable management performance and, more importantly, to provide solutions to quite a few long-lasting problems in these sectors. Opportunities for future research are also presented and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is related to a dysregulation of mitophagy, a process that is not fully understood. Parkin-related mitophagy can sustain mitochondrial homeostasis and hepatocyte viability. Herein, we report that selenoprotein M (SELENOM) plays a central role in maintaining mitophagy in high-fat diet (HFD)-mediated NAFLD. We show that SELENOM was significantly downregulated in the liver of HFD-fed mice. SELENOM deletion aggravated HFD-mediated hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis; accompanied by enhanced fatty acid oxidation and oxidative stress in the liver. Molecular analyses show that lipotoxicity was related to increased mitochondrial apoptosis as evidenced by enhanced mitochondrial ROS production, and attenuation of mitochondrial potential in the liver of HFD-fed SELENOM−/− mice. Additionally, SELENOM deletion reduced mitophagy and aggravated hepatic injury in NAFLD. Mechanistically, SELENOM overexpression activated Parkin-mediated mitophagy to reduce mitochondrial apoptosis and remove HFD-damaged mitochondria. We further found that SELENOM regulates Parkin expression via the AMPKα1–MFN2 pathway; blockade of AMPKα1 prevented SELENOM activation of Parkin-mediated mitophagy. Our work identified SELENOM downregulation as a possible explanation for the defective mitophagy in NAFLD. Thus, targeting SELENOM may be potential new therapeutic modalities for NAFLD treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Metastatic breast cancer (MBC) and the circulating tumor cells (CTCs) leading to macrometastases are inherently different than primary breast cancer. We evaluated whether whole transcriptome RNA-Seq of CTCs isolated via an epitope-independent approach may serve as a surrogate for biopsies of macrometastases. Methods: We performed RNA-Seq on fresh metastatic tumor biopsies, CTCs, and peripheral blood (PB) from 19 newly diagnosed MBC patients. CTCs were harvested using the ANGLE Parsortix microfluidics system to isolate cells based on size and deformability, independent of a priori knowledge of cell surface marker expression. Results: Gene expression separated CTCs, metastatic biopsies, and PB into distinct groups despite heterogeneity between patients and sample types. CTCs showed higher expression of immune oncology targets compared with corresponding metastases and PB. Predictive biomarker (n = 64) expression was highly concordant for CTCs and metastases. Repeat observation data post-treatment demonstrated changes in the activation of different biological pathways. Somatic single nucleotide variant analysis showed increasing mutational complexity over time. Conclusion: We demonstrate that RNA-Seq of CTCs could serve as a surrogate biomarker for breast cancer macrometastasis and yield clinically relevant insights into disease biology and clinically actionable targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A kinematics analysis model for the beam pumping unit (BPU) based on deep learning is proposed in this study. It takes the real-time BPU video stream as the input, and outputs the sequence of kinematic parameters. The model is composed of two parts. The first is the motion detection model based on modified Yolov4, which can output the components classes and positions of the targeted BPU in the input video. Experimental results on the test dataset reveal that the average precision of the modified model is superior to original Yolov4 and other methods. The second part is the BPU kinematics analysis model based on motion detection, which can analyze and output the kinematics parameters of BPU in real time according to the input motion detection results. Finally, we deployed this model on mobile inspection robot and run in oilfield. The experiment results show that the approach proposed in this study can help achieve accurate kinematics analysis on targeted BPU in real time. In general, this research provides a novel approach for BPU kinematics analysis, which is a very important part of the intelligent oilfield construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the rapid time-decay phenomenon of the 3D incompressible Navier—Stokes flow in exterior domains. By using the representation of the flow in exterior domains, together with the estimates of the Gaussian kernel, the tensor kernel, and the Stokes semigroup, we prove that under the assumption ∫ 0 ∞ ∫ ∂ Ω T [ u , p ] (y , t) ⋅ ν d S y d t = 0 for the body pressure tensor T[u,p], if u 0 ∈ L 1 (Ω) ∩ L σ 3 (Ω) ∩ W 2 5 , 5 4 (Ω) with ∥u0∥ ≤ η for some sufficiently small number η > 0, then rapid time-decay phenomenon of the Navier—Stokes flow appears. If additionally ∣x∣αu0 ∈ Lr0 (Ω) for some 0 < α < 1 and 1 < r 0 < (1 − α 3) − 1 or α = 1 and r0 = 1, then the flow exhibits higher decay rates as t → ∞. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the long-term challenges faced by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) has become increasingly complicated with the rapid development of intelligent ships and autonomous navigation ships. GNSS vulnerability is an important factor affecting navigation safety. Therefore, we propose a multisource position, navigation and time (PNT) data fusion algorithm based on the study of multisource shipborne PNT system model. This algorithm uses the variance genetic model to estimate the measurement variance of a PNT source at the subsequent time step to obtain an estimated value that is close to the real value, thus producing an optimal fusion factor for each PNT source and obtaining highly reliable and high-precision PNT fusion data. The simulation and measurement results show that the multisource PNT fusion algorithm based on the variance genetic model can provide superior reliability and precision when the PNT source is disturbed by abnormal interference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To summarize the evolution of Ilizarov technology in China, highlight important milestones, introduce the atmosphere of the era concerning the first uses and development of this technology, and share Chinese modification and experience in this field.Method: A thorough interview with senior ASAMI members of China and literature search and physical books in libraries was undertaken to summarize the history of Ilizarov technology in China.Results: The formal development of Ilizarov technology began when professor Ilizarov himself came to Beijing (1991) and gave a speech. In the following 31 years, his technology was rapidly developed through China, with many symposiums held and associations established including ASAMI China (2003) and ILLRS China (2015). Today, Ilizarov technology has become the main treatment of complex fractures, defects, nonunion, infections, deformities, and chronic ischemic ulcers of the limbs. In those years, Chinese scholars also developed some special treatment methods and made many modifications to Ilizarov external fixators.Conclusion: Ilizarov technology has developed in China for 31 years. It revolutionized the treatment of complex limb traumas, deformities, and diseases. In the treatment of millions of patients, Chinese scholars had many unique experiences and made modifications to this technology which is worthy to share with the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mahu oilfield is currently the largest tight conglomerate reservoir in the world, where Ma-131 and Ma-18 plays are the first two commercially developed reservoirs. In order to reduce the cost and explore the best fracturing parameters, field experiments have been conducted in these two plays since 2017. Types of proppant and fracturing fluid, the slickwater ratio, and the fracture spacing are mainly changed for comparison, and fracturing effects are evaluated to establish a reference for developing neighboring plays in the Mahu oilfield. This paper summarizes the fracturing parameters and production histories of 74 wells in Ma-131 and Ma-18 plays during four years of field operations. Firstly, results indicate that silica sands perform similar to ceramics in the Ma-131 play where the reservoir depth is smaller than 3300 m; however, in the Ma-18 play where the reservoir is deeper than 3500 m, increasing the sand volume by 1.1–1.2 times still cannot reach the production in wells using ceramics. Secondly, when the fracture spacing is reduced, both oil production and water flowback become even smaller in wells using sands than those using ceramics; this is due to the increase of closure pressure and decrease of fluid volume per cluster respectively. Thirdly, when the crosslinked guar is replaced by the slickwater, no obvious change in oil production is noticed even though the volume of fracturing fluid is almost doubled; limited lengths of propped fractures due to the poor proppant-carrying ability of slickwater likely offset the production enhancement from the decrease of formation damage by slickwater. This paper summarizes learnings from the field experiments during the four-year development of the Mahu oilfield, and help guide the optimization of hydraulic fracturing parameters for future wells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study mainly focuses on the risk assessment of public–private partnership (PPP) projects. Evaluating the risks of PPP projects precisely is critical to their successful implementation. However, the traditional approaches often lack mechanisms in manipulating imprecise and vague information, and they need auxiliary information or pre-assumptions (e.g., preset fuzzy membership functions). To solve this problem, an integrated method for evaluating risks in public–private partnership projects is proposed. This method is based on the strength of the group analytic hierarchy process (GAHP), rough set theory, and cloud model theory. The proposed approach integrates the strength of rough set theory in coping with vagueness of the information from experts' assessments without much pre-assumptions, the advantage of cloud model theory in investigating the randomness of experts' judgments, and the merit of the AHP method in evaluation under multiple criteria and complex situation. Finally, an application in a PPP project in Wuhu, China, is provided to show the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method. The proposed approach is effective in modeling hierarchy assessment as well as dealing with vagueness and randomness, and it can help managers to make reasonable and effective decisions in risk management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Txnrd3 as selenoprotein plays key roles in antioxidant process and sperm maturation. Inflammatory bowel diseases, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, are becoming significantly increasing disease worldwide in recent years which are proved relative to diet, especially selenium intake. Methods: In the present study, 8-week-old C57BL/6N male Txnrd3-/-, Txnrd3-/ + , Txnrd3 + / + mice, weight 25–30 g, were randomly chosen and each group with 30 mice. Feed 3.5% DSS drinking water and normal water continuously for 7 days. Mouse colon cancer cells (CT26) were cultured in vitro to establish Txnrd3 overexpressed/knocked-down model by cell transfection technology. Morphology and ultrastructure, calcium levels, ROS level, cell death were observed and detected in vivo and vitro. Results: In Txnrd3-/-mice, ulcerative colitis was more severe, the morphological and ultrastructural lesions were also more prominent compared with wild-type mice, accompanied by the significantly increased expression of NLRP3, Caspase1, RIPK3, and MLKL. Overexpression of Txnrd3 could lead to increased oxidative stress through intracellular calcium outflow-induced oxidative stress increase followed by necrosis and pyroptosis pathway activation and further inhibit the growth and proliferation of colon cancer cells. Conclusion: Txnrd3 overexpression leads to intracellular calcium outflow and increased ROS, which eventually leads to necrosis and focal death of colon cancer cells, while causing Txnrd3-/- mice depth of the crypt deeper, weakened intestinal secretion and immune function and aggravate the occurrence of ulcerative colitis. The present study lays a foundation for the prevention and treatment of ulcerative colitis and colon carcinoma in clinic treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, the development of green economy and the improvement of environmental efficiency have been a hotspot in both academia and industry. Especially, the effect of the collaborative agglomeration of manufacturing and productive services industries on environmental efficiency has drawn attention from Chinese policymakers, during a critical period of industrial transformation and upgrading and ecological civilization construction in China. However, few studies have explored whether and how industrial collaborative agglomeration affects environmental efficiency based on population structure perspective. To bridge this gap, using the methods of the stochastic frontier approach (SFA), the moderating effect of population structure, and the spatial effect, and employing the panel data of 66 cities in eastern China during 2009-2018, this paper studies the effect of industrial collaborative agglomeration on environmental efficiency and measure the fluctuates of influence including population structure. The results show that industrial collaborative agglomeration has the effect of improving environmental efficiency, and both of them have strong spatial spillover effect. Direct effect of the industrial collaborative agglomeration is more significant positive than indirect effect. It indicates that the environmental efficiency is affected by the industrial collaborative agglomeration in both the local region and neighboring regions. In addition, population density, aging and quality play a positive moderate role by strengthening the spillover effect of industrial collaborative agglomeration, while the moderating effect of population urbanization is not significant. Then, the recommendations and policy implications to improve environmental efficiency are put forward based on the research results: optimizing the coordinated governance system of regional ecological environment, accelerating the innovation of industrial value chain, and promoting the sustainable development of industry and ecology with the advantage of population structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the process of Wavelet Analysis, only the low-frequency signals are re-decomposed, and the high-frequency signals are no longer decomposed, resulting in a decrease in frequency resolution with increasing frequency. Therefore, in this paper, firstly, Wavelet Packet Decomposition is used for feature extraction of vibration signals, which makes up for the shortcomings of Wavelet Analysis in extracting fault features of nonlinear vibration signals, and different energy values in different frequency bands are obtained by Wavelet Packet Decomposition. The features are visualized by the K-Means clustering method, and the results show that the extracted energy features can accurately distinguish the different states of the bearing. Then a fault diagnosis model based on BP Neural Network optimized by Beetle Algorithm is proposed to identify the bearing faults. Compared with the Particle Swarm Algorithm, Beetle Algorithm can quickly find the error extreme value, which greatly reduces the training time of the model. At last, two experiments are conducted, which show that the accuracy of the model can reach more than 95%, and the model has a certain anti-interference ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the trade-offs among ecosystem services (ESs) at multiple scales is a key challenge to effective environmental management. However, the scale effect of ESs trade-offs in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) has received little attention. This study investigated the scale effects of ESs trade-offs in Bailongjiang Watershed (BLJW), a typical transitional ecotone from the Loess Plateau to the Tibetan Plateau with multiple ESs, intensive human activities and frequent geological disasters in the Eastern Margin of the QTP, China. Four key ESs including food supply (FS), soil conservation (SC), water conservation (WC), and habitat quality (HQ) in BLJW in 1990, 2002, and 2016 were mapped to analyze the scale effects at the watershed, county, and township scales. The results indicated varying scale-related temporal and spatial relationships among FS, SC, WC, and HQ. The trade-offs between FS-SC and FS-WC initially increased and then decreased during 1990–2002 and 2002–2016, respectively, while the trade-offs between SC-WC, SC-HQ, HQ-WC, and HQ-FS first decreased and then increased at the same period. The magnitudes of the trade-offs among the four ESs are in the order of watershed scale > township scale > county scale. Among the major land-use types in BLJW, the trade-offs between WC-FS and between HQ-FS in farmland and grassland were higher than those of other land uses. There is a strong trade-off between SC-HQ in forestland and a weak trade-off between SC-WC in farmland and grassland. The trade-offs between the six ESs pairs varied and were scale-dependent mainly due to spatial heterogeneity in the landscape and in human activities. Understanding the ESs trade-offs at the watershed, county, and township scales provides a scientific basis for the formulation of environmental management strategies at appropriate spatial scales. At the BLJW watershed scale, more attention should be paid on farmland and grassland planning and its management, also, forestland should be enlarged if possible. At the county and township scales, land consolidation and planning should be paid more attention to develop ecological agricultural tourism and multi-functional landscapes for strategic spatial planning and integrated watershed management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this case, the removal of foreign bodies in the lungs by fiberoptic bronchoscopy saved the patient's life. 1 A, B The lung CT scan at admission, red arrows mark showed the high-density shadows surrounding the inner side of the trachea wall. Lung computed tomography showed the inner side of the trachea wall was surrounded by high-density shadow with irregular surface and there were extensive lesions in the alveoli (Fig. [Extracted from the article]

In order to explore the feasibility of using deep learning in the Wise Information Technology of 120 (WIT120) material distribution system under deep learning, in the study, first, the Hopfield neural network and simulated annealing (SA) algorithm are used to study the path optimization in the WIT120 material distribution system. Aiming at the poor optimization and robustness of the traditional Hopfield neural network and the low optimization efficiency of SA algorithm, in this study, a memory device is added to the SA algorithm, the distribution starting points of the two algorithms are fixed, and an improved hybrid algorithm is designed by combining Hopfield neural network and SA algorithm. Then, the improved hybrid algorithm of the traditional Hopfield neural network and SA algorithm is used in the actual medical material distribution system, and comparative analysis of the distribution route, cost, and scheduling time before and after using the proposed algorithm is performed. Besides, the difference between the proposed algorithm and other algorithms in path optimization and path planning efficiency is compared and analyzed. The results show that the improved hybrid algorithm proposed in this research reduces the total mileage of distribution by 46.9%, costs by 33.9%, and the time required for scheduling by 99% after applied in the medical material distribution system. It is also better than traditional analog algorithms and neural networks in distribution path optimization. The path optimization results show that the shortest path produced by the improved hybrid algorithm in this study is 27.85, which is superior to the traditional SA algorithm, Hopfield neural network, and genetic algorithm (the shortest paths obtained are 41.21, 44.63 and 36.48, respectively). Compared with other optimization algorithms, the path planning efficiency of the hybrid algorithm is the highest (the amount of distribution tasks completed in unit time is 22). In conclusion, the improved hybrid algorithm proposed in this study can effectively reduce distribution costs, shorten transportation routes, and improve optimization efficiency, indicating that the hybrid algorithm proposed in this study is effective and practical when applied in the medical material distribution system, which can provide reference value for medical material distribution and provide data support for the management of medical material distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold plate is an important component for a liquid battery thermal management system. In order to study the transient thermal performance of the cold plate under conditions with sharply increasing heat loads, the numerical model of a battery cold plate is established. The validation experiment shows that the error between the simulation and experiment is around 2.5% to 5%. Effects of the coolant flow rate, the increase in heat flux, and the channel number are analyzed to study the transient thermal performance of the cold plate. Results show that the average temperature of the cold plate at 540 s is lowered from 28.3°C to 26.9°C when the coolant flow rate is raised from 0.065 kg/s to 0.165 kg/s. The temperature deviation is decreased when the coolant flow rate is increased from 0.065 kg/s to 0.115 kg/s; however, it is slightly increased if the coolant flow rate is further increased. Both average temperature and temperature deviation are raised if the final heat flux is increased from 11 000 W/m2 to 16 500 W/m2, which are 2 and 3 times of the initial, respectively. In addition, increasing the channel number has slightly positive effect on the average temperature of the cold plate, while the temperature deviation is increased when the channel number is increased from 3 to 11 due to the non-uniform velocity distribution between each channel. The results of this study will be helpful during the design of cold plate for battery thermal management, especially for transient conditions with sudden rising heat loads like thermal runaway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Esomeprazole delayed release tablets (ESO) are one of the most effective treatments for acid-related disorders. The purpose of this study is to compare the safety, pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of an immediate-release capsule formulation containing esomeprazole 20 mg and sodium bicarbonate 1100 mg (IR-ESO) compared to those of the esomeprazole delayed release tablet 20 mg (ESO). In addition, the impact of CYP2C19 gene polymorphisms on PK and PD was evaluated. Methods: A single-center, open-label, randomized, 2-treatment, 2-sequence, and 2-period crossover study was conducted in 40 healthy Chinese subjects. Subjects received either IR-ESO or ESO for 5 days. After single- and multiple-dosing administration, blood samples were collected for PK analysis, and intragastric pH was assessed by 24-h pH monitoring. The CYP2C19 gene polymorphisms were analyzed by Sanger sequencing. Results: The geometric mean ratios (90% confidence interval) [GMR (95%CI)] of IR-ESO/ESO for AUCinf [single dose: 103.60% (96.58%, 111.14%), multiple doses: 101.65% (97.88%, 105.57%)] were within the range of 80.00–125.00%. The AUCinf showed an increasing trend between CYP2C19 extensive metabolizer (EM), intermediate metabolizer (IM), and poor metabolizer (PM) after single-dose and multiple-dose administration (p < 0.05). The GMR (95%CI) of IR-ESO/ESO for 24-h integrated gastric acidity from baseline [single dose: 101.07% (96.56%, 105.78%), multiple doses: 101.24% (97.74%, 104.86%)] were within the range of 80.00–125.00%. The percentage changes in 24-h integrated gastric acidity from baseline was significant difference between EM, IM, and PM after single-dose IR-ESO and ESO (p < 0.05). Drugs were all well tolerated, and there were no significant differences in adverse events between IR-ESO and ESO. Conclusion: This study showed that IR-ESO can inhibit the secretion of gastric acid rapidly and continuously, and that the PK and PD of IR-ESO are affected by CYP2C19 genotypes. The GMR (95% CI) of IR-ESO/ESO for AUCinf and the percentage changes in 24-h integrated gastric acidity from baseline were all within the range of 80.00–125.00%. Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR1900024935. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of re-positive virus detection in patients who recovered from COVID-19 during quarantine was 6.2% in two designated locations, in Wuhan, indicating that suggestions for patients after discharge to be quarantined before leaving for home might be necessary. This experience might be referred to by other countries with epidemic outbreak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]