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Abstract Background Renal fibrosis is a key process in the progression from acute kidney injury (AKI) to chronic kidney disease (CKD), while the intricate mechanisms of renal fibrosis remain obscure. While the signal-transducing adaptor protein 2 (STAP2) was well-studied for its notable function in inflammation and immune-related disorders, its specific implication in renal fibrosis remains unclear. This study assessed the mechanism by which STAP2 could promote the progression of renal fibrosis. Methods The expression level of STAP2 in fibrotic human samples, murine fibrosis models, and cellular fibrosis models was measured, respectively. Subsequently, immunoprecipitation (IP), mass spectrometry, and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) were employed to identify HSP27 as an interacting protein and the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. STAP2 was thereafter knocked down or overexpressed in both in vivo and in vitro models to assess the expression levels of pathway-related and fibrosis-related proteins. Finally, the important role of STAP2 in the fibrosis process in animal models induced by ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) and cisplatin was validated. Results Functionally, in vivo assays demonstrated that the genetic knockout of STAP2 could remarkably mitigate epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), diminish inflammatory cell infiltration, and reduce collagen deposition in mice with renal fibrosis. Conversely, in vitro assays employing STAP2-overexpressing cell models exacerbated the expression levels of fibrosis markers. The outcomes uncovered a potential mechanism by which STAP2 could modulate renal fibrosis through its impact on the expression level of phosphorylated HSP27, as well as modulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Conclusions This comprehensive investigation delineated the noticeable function of STAP2 in the advancement of renal fibrosis, and the outcomes might contribute to the development of targeted therapies concentrated on STAP2 to mitigate renal fibrosis.

Abstract Background In recent years, radiomics has been shown to be an effective tool for the diagnosis and prediction of diseases. Existing evidence suggests that imaging features play a key role in predicting the recurrence of lumbar disk herniation (rLDH). Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the risk of rLDH in patients undergoing percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) using radiomics to facilitate the development of more rational surgical and perioperative management strategies. Method This was a retrospective case-control study involving 487 patients who underwent PELD at the L4/5 level. The rLDH and negative groups were matched using propensity score matching (PSM). A total of 1409 radiomic features were extracted from preoperative lumbar MRI images using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) analysis, t-test, and LASSO analysis. Afterward, 6 predictive models were constructed and evaluated using ROC curve analysis, AUC, specificity, sensitivity, confusion matrix, and 2 repeated 3-fold cross-validations. Lastly, the Shapley Additive Explanation (SHAP) analysis provided visual explanations for the models. Results Following screening and matching, 128 patients were included in both the recurrence and control groups. Moreover, 18 of the extracted radiomic features were selected for generating six models, which achieved an AUC of 0.551–0.859 for predicting rLDH. Among these models, SVM, RF, and XG Boost exhibited superior performances. Finally, cross-validation revealed that their accuracy was 0.674–0.791, 0.647–0.729, and 0.674–0.718. Conclusion Radiomics based on MRI can be used to predict the risk of rLDH, offering more comprehensive guidance for perioperative treatment by extracting imaging information that cannot be visualized with the naked eye. Meanwhile, the accuracy and generalizability of the model can be improved in the future by incorporating more data and conducting multicenter studies.

Abstract Climate warming disproportionately impacts countries in the Global South by increasing extreme heat exposure. However, geographic disparities in adaptation capacity are unclear. Here, we assess global inequality in green spaces, which urban residents critically rely on to mitigate outdoor heat stress. We use remote sensing data to quantify daytime cooling by urban greenery in the warm seasons across the ~500 largest cities globally. We show a striking contrast, with Global South cities having ~70% of the cooling capacity of cities in the Global North (2.5 ± 1.0 °C vs. 3.6 ± 1.7 °C). A similar gap occurs for the cooling adaptation benefits received by an average resident in these cities (2.2 ± 0.9 °C vs. 3.4 ± 1.7 °C). This cooling adaptation inequality is due to discrepancies in green space quantity and quality between cities in the Global North and South, shaped by socioeconomic and natural factors. Our analyses further suggest a vast potential for enhancing cooling adaptation while reducing global inequality.

Abstract Background Posterolateral decompression and fusion with internal fixation is a commonly used surgical approach for treating degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis (DLSS). This study aims to evaluate the impact of preserving a portion of the unilateral facet joint during decompression on surgical outcomes and long-term recovery in patients. Methods This study analyzed 73 patients with DLSS accompanied by bilateral lower limb neurological symptoms who underwent single-level L4/5 posterolateral decompression and fusion surgery from January 2022 to March 2023. Patients were categorized into two groups based on the type of surgery received: Group A comprised 31 patients who underwent neural decompression without facet joint preservation, while Group B consisted of 42 patients who underwent neural decompression with preservation of partial facet joints on one side. Regular follow-up evaluations were conducted, including clinical and radiological assessments immediately postoperatively, and at 3 and 12 months thereafter. Key patient information was documented through retrospective chart reviews. Results Most patients in both groups experienced favorable surgical outcomes. However, four cases encountered complications. Notably, during follow-up, Group B demonstrated superior 1-year postoperative interbody fusion outcomes (P

Super oil and gas basins provide the energy foundation for social progress and human development. In the context of climate change and carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals, constructing an integrated energy and carbon neutrality system that balances energy production and carbon reduction becomes crucial for the transformation of such basins. Under the framework of a green and intelligent energy system primarily based on “four news”, new energy, new electricity, new energy storage, and new intelligence, integrating a “super energy system” composed of a huge amount of underground resources of coal, oil, gas and heat highly overlapping with abundant wind and solar energy resources above ground, and a regional intelligent energy consumption system with coordinated development and utilization of fossil energy and new energy, with a carbon neutrality system centered around carbon cycling is essential. This paper aims to select the traditional oil and gas basins as “super energy basins” with the conditions to build world-class energy production and demonstration bases for carbon neutrality. The Ordos Basin has unique regional advantages, including abundant fossil fuel and new energy resources, as well as matching CO2 sources and sinks, position it as a carbon neutrality “super energy basin” which explores the path of transformation of traditional oil and gas basins. Under the integrated development concept and mode of “coal + oil + gas + new energy + carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS)/carbon capture and storage (CCS)”, the carbon neutrality in super energy basin is basically achieved, which enhance energy supply and contribute to the carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals, establish a modern energy industry and promote regional green and sustainable development. The pioneering construction of the world-class carbon neutrality “super energy system” demonstration basin in China represented by the Ordos Basin will reshape the new concept and new mode of exploration and development of super energy basins, which is of great significance to the global energy revolution under carbon neutrality.

Abstract Background Tumor heterogeneity presents a formidable challenge in understanding the mechanisms driving tumor progression and metastasis. The heterogeneity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in cellular level is not clear. Methods Integration analysis of single-cell RNA sequencing data and spatial transcriptomics data was performed. Multiple methods were applied to investigate the subtype of HCC tumor cells. The functional characteristics, translation factors, clinical implications and microenvironment associations of different subtypes of tumor cells were analyzed. The interaction of subtype and fibroblasts were analyzed. Results We established a heterogeneity landscape of HCC malignant cells by integrated 52 single-cell RNA sequencing data and 5 spatial transcriptomics data. We identified three subtypes in tumor cells, including ARG1+ metabolism subtype (Metab-subtype), TOP2A+ proliferation phenotype (Prol-phenotype), and S100A6+ pro-metastatic subtype (EMT-subtype). Enrichment analysis found that the three subtypes harbored different features, that is metabolism, proliferating, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Trajectory analysis revealed that both Metab-subtype and EMT-subtype originated from the Prol-phenotype. Translation factor analysis found that EMT-subtype showed exclusive activation of SMAD3 and TGF-β signaling pathway. HCC dominated by EMT-subtype cells harbored an unfavorable prognosis and a deserted microenvironment. We uncovered a positive loop between tumor cells and fibroblasts mediated by SPP1-CD44 and CCN2/TGF-β-TGFBR1 interaction pairs. Inhibiting CCN2 disrupted the loop, mitigated the transformation to EMT-subtype, and suppressed metastasis. Conclusion By establishing a heterogeneity landscape of malignant cells, we identified a three-subtype classification in HCC. Among them, S100A6+ tumor cells play a crucial role in metastasis. Targeting the feedback loop between tumor cells and fibroblasts is a promising anti-metastatic strategy.

Abstract Oxygen is necessary for life and plays a key pivotal in maintaining normal physiological functions and treat of diseases. Hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers (HBOCs) have been studied and developed as a replacement for red blood cells (RBCs) in oxygen transport due to their similar oxygen-carrying capacities. However, applications of HBOCs are hindered by vasoactivity, oxidative toxicity, and a relatively short circulatory half-life. With advancements in nanotechnology, Hb encapsulation, absorption, bioconjugation, entrapment, and attachment to nanomaterials have been used to prepare nanomaterial-related HBOCs to address these challenges and pend their application in several biomedical and therapeutic contexts. This review focuses on the progress of this class of nanomaterial-related HBOCs in the fields of hemorrhagic shock, ischemic stroke, cancer, and wound healing, and speculates on future research directions. The advancements in nanomaterial-related HBOCs are expected to lead significant breakthroughs in blood substitutes, enabling their widespread use in the treatment of clinical diseases. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Objective The objective of this study is to evaluate and compare the surgical outcomes and complications of Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Decompression (PELD) and traditional revision surgery in treating symptomatic Adjacent Segment Degeneration (ASD). This comparison aims to delineate the advantages and disadvantages of these methods, assisting spine surgeons in making informed surgical decisions. Methods 66 patients with symptomatic ASD who failed conservative treatment for more than 1 month and received repeated lumbar surgery were retrospectively collected in the study from January 2015 to November 2018, with the average age of 65.86 ± 11.04 years old. According to the type of surgery they received, all the patients were divided in 2 groups, including 32 patients replaced the prior rod in Group A and 34 patients received PELD at the adjacent level in Group B. Patients were followed up routinely and received clinical and radiological evaluation at 3, 6, 12 months and yearly postoperatively. Complications and hospital costs were recorded through chart reviews. Results The majority of patients experienced positive surgical outcomes. However, three cases encountered complications. Notably, Group B patients demonstrated superior pain relief and improved postoperative functional scores throughout the follow-up period, alongside reduced hospital costs (P

The application of traditional Al-Mg-Zn alloy in aerospace field is limited due to poor corrosion resistance for β-phase at grain boundaries and low strength for the lack of T phase. Here we propose a novel high Mg-containing Al-Mg-Zn-Si alloy with a novel alloying strategy of high Mg content combining with a suitable microalloying Si, obtaining small and densely precipitated nanoscale T’ phase in the matrix, co-existing T’ and η’ phases adjacent to grain boundary and T phase at grain boundary. The formation of GPT’ zone in the matrix is dramatically enhanced due to energetically favorable substitution of Al by Si and furtherly facilitates homogeneous growth of T’ phase by solute redistribution. η’ phase is transformed from T’ phase or evolved from GPIIη’ zone along grain boundary due to feasible thermodynamic condition of Mg-poor and Zn-rich domain by distinct Mg and Zn exsolution on grain boundary. The present alloying design makes it possible that differential precipitation behavior of T’ phase and T’ + η’ phases can simultaneously occur in the matrix and adjacent to grain boundary, the alloy has obviously advantaged overall performance over traditional Al-Zn-Mg-(Cu) alloys, which raises a new perspective for developing new high-performance lightweight aluminum alloys.

Natural polyphenols, abundant in the human diet, are derived from a wide variety of sources. Numerous preclinical studies have demonstrated their significant anticancer properties against various malignancies, making them valuable resources for drug development. However, traditional experimental methods for developing anticancer therapies from natural polyphenols are time-consuming and labor-intensive. Recently, artificial intelligence has shown promising advancements in drug discovery. Integrating AI technologies into the development process for natural polyphenols can substantially reduce development time and enhance efficiency. In this study, we review the crucial roles of natural polyphenols in anticancer treatment and explore the potential of AI technologies to aid in drug development. Specifically, we discuss the application of AI in key stages such as drug structure prediction, virtual drug screening, prediction of biological activity, and drug-target protein interaction, highlighting the potential to revolutionize the development of natural polyphenol-based anticancer therapies.

Abstract Because it can lead to retaliatory killing, livestock depredation by large carnivores is among the foremost threats to carnivore conservation, and it severely impacts human well‐being worldwide. Ongoing climate change can amplify these human–wildlife conflicts, but such issues are largely unexplored, though are becoming increasingly recognized. Here, we assessed how the availability of primary resources and wild prey interact to shape large carnivore selection for livestock rather than wild prey (i.e., via prey switching or apparent competition). Specifically, we combined remotely sensed estimates of primary resources (i.e., water availability and primary productivity), wild prey movement, and 7 years (2015–2021) of reports for livestock depredation by African lions (Panthera leo) in the Makgadikgadi Pans ecosystem, Botswana. Although livestock depredation did not vary between wet versus dry seasons, analyses at finer temporal scales revealed higher incidences of livestock depredation when primary production, water availability, and wild prey availability were lower, though the effects of wild prey availability were mediated by water availability. Increased precipitation also amplified livestock depredation events despite having no influence on wild prey availability. Our results suggest that livestock depredation is influenced by the diverse responses of livestock, wild prey, and lions to primary resource availability, a driver that is largely overlooked or oversimplified in studies of human–carnivore conflict. Our findings provide insight into tailoring potential conflict mitigation strategies to fine‐scale changes in resource conditions to efficiently reduce conflict and support human livelihoods.

Abstract In this study, the evolutional features and underlying driving mechanisms of the postmidnight‐to‐dawn equatorial plasma bubble (EPB) irregularities during the weak geomagnetic activity period on 13 November 2015 were investigated based on the multiple satellite and ground‐based observations. By using the coherent scatter radar operating at very high frequency at Fuke (19.5°N, 109.1°E, dip latitude 14.4°N), China, it was found that the freshly developed field‐aligned irregularities (FAIs) occurred within the radar's field of view around ∼04:37 LT and sustained for more than 40 min. The remarkable EPB‐related density and total electron content (TEC) depletions measured by the satellite and GNSS receivers were also observed, which indicates the persistence of EPB irregularities until ∼06 LT. The significant elevation of bottomside F‐layer's virtual height obtained by the Digisonde at Fuke as well as the upward vertical F‐layer plasma drifts derived from a nearby Digisonde at Sanya (18.4°N, 109.6°E, dip latitude 13.1°N) both imply the existence of strong eastward perturbation electric fields after local midnight. These findings suggest that the collective effects of eastward overshielding penetration electric field (PEF) resulted from the substorm onset and rapid northward turning of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) Bz, surpassed the role of westward undershielding prompt penetration electric field (PPEF) induced by the southward turning of IMF Bz. Thus, the former predominated in modulating the equatorial/low‐latitude zonal electric fields and raised the F‐layer considerably, which consequently boosted the growth of R‐T instability and created the favorable conditions for the postmidnight‐to‐dawn EPBs development.

Environmental heavy metals pollution have seriously threatened the health of human beings. An increasing number of researches have demonstrated that environmental heavy metals can influence the telomere length of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs), which implicate biological aging as well as predicts diseases. Our previous study has shown that methylmercury (MeHg)-induced telomere shortening in rat brain tissue was associated with urinary melatonin metabolite 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (aMT6s) levels. Here, we aimed to further elucidate the impact of 4 typical heavy metals (As, Hg, Cd and Pb) on telomere length of PBMCs and their association with urinary aMT6s in rats. In this study, eighty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized grouped into eleven groups. Among them, forty 3-month-old (young) and forty 12-month-old (middle-aged) rats were divided into young or middle-aged control groups as well as typical heavy metals exposed groups, respectively. Eight 24-month-old rats (old) was divided into aging control group. The results showed that MeHg exposure in young rats while sodium arsenite (iAs), MeHg, cadmium chloride (CdCl2), lead acetate (PbAc) exposure in middle-aged rats for 3 months significantly reduced the levels of and urinary aMT6s, as well as telomere length of PBMCs. In addition, they also induced abnormalities in serum oxidative stress (SOD, MDA and GPx) and inflammatory (IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α) indicators. Notably, there was a significant positive correlation between declined level of urinary aMT6s and the shortening of telomere length in PBMCs in rats exposed to 4 typical heavy metals. These results suggested that 4 typical heavy metals exposure could accelerate the reduction of telomere length of PBMCs partially by inducing oxidative stress and inflammatory in rats, while ageing may be an important synergistic factor. Urinary aMT6s detection may be a alternative method to reflect telomere toxic effects induced by heavy metal exposure.

ABSTRACT Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ultrasound-guided balloon dilation compared to non-balloon dilation for percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). Materials and methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted by searching PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library. Results were filtered using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria as described and meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.4 software. Results: A total of six studies involving 1189 patients who underwent PCNL were included. The meta-analysis results demonstrated that compared to non-balloon dilation, balloon dilation was associated with reduced haemoglobin drop [mean difference (MD) = -0.26, 95% CI = -0.40 ~ -0.12, P = 0.0002], decreased transfusion rate [odds ratio (OR) = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.24 ~ 0.92, P = 0.03], shorter tract establishment time (MD = -1.30, 95% CI = -1.87 ~ -0.72, P < 0.0001) and shorter operation time (MD = -5.23, 95% CI = -10.19 ~ -0.27, P = 0.04). Conclusions: Overall, ultrasound-guided balloon dilatation offered several advantages in PCNL procedures. It facilitated faster access establishment, as evidenced by shorter access creation time. Additionally, it reduced the risk of kidney injury by minimizing postoperative haemoglobin drop and decreasing the need for transfusions. Moreover, it enhanced the efficiency of surgery by reducing the operation time. However, it is important to note that the quality of some included studies was subpar, as they did not adequately control for confounding factors that may affect the outcomes. Therefore, further research is necessary to validate and strengthen these findings.

There are several large karst caves at haunch part of the Lidong Tunnel during construction, together with inrush water due to high pressure within these caves. In light of it, this paper takes YK342+113 section as an example and adopts finite difference software FLAC 3D, so as to analyze tunnel deformation when crossing karst caves under six different working conditions, including with or without karst cave, before and after karst treatment, along with support locations. According to analysis results: First, the wall rock mainly had deformation at tunnel vault when evacuating at the third bench, which is a critical monitoring focus for tunnel construction; Second, karst cave treatment contributed to better conduct forces on both sides of wall rock, thus reducing vault settlement, while not affecting horizontal convergence and upturn of vaults; Third, treatment measures were proved to be effective in minimizing wall rock deformation by comparing deformation curves under different conditions; Fourth, after treatment measures, the angular points within the cave’s chamber had stress concentration, which might cause secondary collapse. Field monitoring data revealed that the final settlement of the tunnel vault was relatively consistent with the numerical analysis results, with a distinct change in daily settlement after initial support construction. By integrating numerical analysis and field monitoring, the rationality of the karst treatment plan was fully verified, providing a valuable reference for similar projects.

With the development of autonomous vehicles and intelligent transportation, more accurate detection of pedestrians. However, pedestrian detection suffers from occlusion and small target. First, the HorNet to improve the higher-order spatial interaction capability of the model, expand the effective sensory field, and enhance the feature extraction of pedestrians. Then, ODConv to gain the variability of each dimension and capture rich information. Finally, a layer to increase the accuracy of detecting pedestrians at small scales. We optimize the regression prediction of the anchor using the Efficient IOU Loss (EIOU) function. Experimental data show that the mean average precision (mAP) of the HOD-YOLOv5 model achieves 83.5%, compared to YOLOv5, which is 4.4% higher than original YOLOv5, and the recognition speed of the HOD-YOLOV5 reaches 106.7 frames per second (FPS). This demonstrates that the proposed model could realize real-time pedestrian detection at a relatively small cost, which satisfies the requirements of uncrewed and intelligent transportation.

Summary: Background: Social determinants of health (SDHs) are the primary drivers of preventable health inequities, and the associations between SDHs and health outcomes among individuals with type 2 diabetes remain unclear. This study aimed to estimate the associations of combined SDHs with life expectancy and future health risks among adults with type 2 diabetes from the UK and USA. Methods: In an analysis of two nationwide cohort studies, adults with type 2 diabetes were identified from the UK Biobank from March 13, 2006, to Oct 1, 2010 (adults aged 37–73 years) and the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2018 (adults aged ≥20 years). Participants with type 2 diabetes at baseline were included in our analysis. Participants without information on SDHs or follow-up were excluded. The UK Biobank assessed 17 SDHs and the US NHANES assessed ten SDHs, with each SDH dichotomised into advantaged and disadvantaged levels. The combined score of SDHs were calculated as the sum of the weighted scores for each SDH. Participants were then categorised into tertiles (favourable, medium, and unfavourable SDH groups). Primary outcomes were life expectancy and mortality in both cohorts, and incidences of cardiovascular disease, diabetes-related microvascular disease, dementia, and cancer in the UK Biobank. Outcomes were obtained from disease registries up until Dec 31, 2021, in the UK Biobank and Dec 31, 2019, in the US NHANES cohorts. Findings: We included 17 321 participants from the UK Biobank cohort (median age 61·0 years [IQR 56·0–65·0]; 6028 [34·8%] women and 11 293 [65·2%] men) and 7885 participants from the NHANES cohort (mean age 59·2 years [95% CI 58·7–59·6]; 3835 [49·1%, weighted] women and 4050 [50·9%, weighted] men) in our analysis. In the UK Biobank, 3235 deaths (median follow-up 12·3 years [IQR 11·5–13·2]), 3010 incident cardiovascular disease (12·1 years [10·8–13·0]), 1997 diabetes-related microvascular disease (8·0 years [7·1–8·9]), 773 dementia (12·6 years [11·8–13·5]), and 2259 cancer cases (11·3 years [10·4–12·2]) were documented; and the US NHANES documented 2278 deaths during a median follow-up of 7·0 years (3·7–11·2). After multivariable adjustment, compared with the favourable SDH group, the hazard ratio was 1·33 (95% CI 1·21–1·46) in the medium SDH group and 1·89 (1·72–2·07) in the unfavourable SDH group in the UK Biobank cohort; 1·51 (1·34–1·70) in the medium SDH group and 2·02 (1·75–2·33) in the unfavourable SDH group in the US NHANES cohort for all-cause mortality; 1·13 (1·04–1·24) in the medium SDH group and 1·40 (1·27–1·53) in the unfavourable SDH group for incident cardiovascular disease; 1·13 (1·01–1·27) in the medium SDH group and 1·41 (1·26–1·59) in the unfavourable SDH group for incident diabetes-related microvascular disease; 1·35 (1·11–1·64) in the medium SDH group and 1·76 (1·46–2·13) in the unfavourable SDH group for incident dementia; and 1·02 (0·92–1·13) in the medium SDH group and 1·17 (1·05–1·30) in the unfavourable SDH group for incident cancer in the UK Biobank cohort (ptrend

The Turkestan region in the southern part of Kazakhstan is currently facing a water scarcity issue due to various factors. These factors include the declining transboundary flow of the Syr Darya River, the effects of climate change, the increasing population, and the economic growth of neighboring countries in Central Asia. The water availability of the operating irrigation systems in the region fluctuates between 75 % and 95 %, dropping to 50–60 % in dry years, leading to a significant shortage of water resources. In particular, the agro-industrial complex, the largest water consumer, is heavily affected, with over 80 % of available water resources needed for irrigation. Therefore, this research aimed to investigate the potential use of groundwater and collector-drainage water to enhance water availability in the Maktaaral district of this region. The research methodology consisted of analytical and experimental studies to examine the formation and contribution of groundwater to total water consumption based on its depth and to determine the qualitative composition of collector-drainage water for reuse in irrigation. The study results indicate substantial losses of irrigation water due to filtration in the region, leading to a significant rise in the groundwater table. Consequently, the area of irrigated lands with groundwater depths up to 1 m (hydromorphic regime) in the Maktaaral district increased from 105 ha in 1994–378 ha in 2002 and to 2562 ha in 2021, representing an 18-fold increase. Under these conditions, the contribution of groundwater to total water consumption was 74 %, with irrigation water accounting for 26 %. In areas with a semihydromorphic soil regime where the groundwater table varies within 2–3 m, the volume of groundwater consumption decreased, amounting to 51 % of the total water consumption. Moreover, under the automorphous soil regime, where the groundwater table is greater than 3 m, the total water consumption was fully supported by irrigation water. Research on the qualitative composition of collector-drainage water in the Maktaaral district revealed a predominance of toxic salts (74.3–76.6 %), indicating that their use for irrigation would lead to soil salinization and alkalinization. The reuse of these waters is feasible only through mixing them with irrigation water to reduce salinity and increase the volume of suitable water resources for irrigation. However, regular monitoring of the chemical composition of such waters is essential.

Asphalt could suffer hydrothermal ageing in underwater tunnels, which varies its combustion characteristics significantly. The hydrothermally aged asphalt (HA) was comparatively studied with base asphalt (BA) and thermal-oxidatively aged asphalt (TA). Major findings are achieved: (1) The C＝O and S＝O bonds are more abundant in TA/HA than BA. HA contains more prominent –OH and H2O but less substantial aliphatics. And it has lower SO than TA by about 20 %, attributing to the oxygen isolation of aqueous immersion during hydrothermal ageing. (2) Remarkably bimodal heat release rate (HRR) peaks are found for HA, while only unimodal HRR peak is observed for TA/BA. Importantly, the primarily main HRR peak of HA occurs at around 110 s, which exhibits to be earlier than those of TA/BA by over 120 s. Meanwhile, the fire growth rate index (FGRA) of HA is higher than those of TA/BA by more than 15 %, implying that hydrothermal ageing dramatically increases the asphalt's fire risk. (3) Herein, the combustion mechanism of bimodal HRR peaks found for HA is analyzed, attributing to thin-layer boilover effect. This could be supported by plentiful pores observed on the combusted HA via scanning electron microscopy technique.

Olaparib, the first-in-class poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor, is approved for first line maintenance treatment in platinum-sensitive FIGO stage 3 and 4 high grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) associated with a deleterious BRCA mutation. We report a case involving a 70-year-old female who experienced significant CTCAE Grade 4 hepatocellular injury after initiating first line maintenance Olaparib for Stage 3C HGSOC. Her liver injury resolved upon discontinuation of Olaparib but promptly recurred upon rechallenge. Extensive investigations, including abdominal ultrasound, computed tomography, and assessments for infectious, metabolic, and autoimmune aetiologies of liver injury, were unremarkable. Her liver enzymes returned to baseline after discontinuing Olaparib once again. Subsequently, the patient was started on Niraparib for maintenance therapy, which she tolerated well. This case represents the first instance of positive rechallenge following Olaparib-induced liver injury and highlights the absence of cross-reactive hepatotoxicity between PARP inhibitors.

IntroductionPelagic cephalopods play a key role in the Chinese food supply. The market value of seafood frequently fluctuates based on its geographical origin and species, making it imperative to trace the origin and distinguish forms to guarantee food quality and accurate information.MethodsIn this study, we used biochemical tracers, including stable isotope analysis and fatty acid composition profiling, to trace the origin of purpleback flying squid (Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis) from the Indian Ocean and South China Sea. We measured the δ13C and δ15N values and fatty acid (FA) contents in samples from different forms of S. oualaniensis obtained from these two oceanic regions. We analyzed the feeding and nutritional differences among these populations and conducted discriminant analysis.Results and discussionSignificant regional and form differences were observed in both isotopic values and FA profiles in the muscle tissues of S. oualaniensis. Forms with larger sizes exhibited higher δ13C and δ15N values, potentially resulting from different feeding preferences and geographical environments. The discriminant analysis revealed that isotopic composition could effectively distinguish individuals from different oceanic regions, whereas FA composition was more effective in distinguishing different forms within the same oceanic region. The combination of isotopes and FAs could accurately discriminate S. oualaniensis of different forms and from different oceanic regions, achieving a discrimination accuracy of 100%. This study provides a reference for tracing the origin of pelagic cephalopods with complex form structures.

Introduction: Thromboembolic disease is a complication of many vasculitides. A common observation is that thromboembolic events coincide with the period of vasculitic disease, but the mechanism by which this occurs remains unclear. Inflammatory thrombosis is now recognized as a symptom of arteritis rheumatic, and vasculitides such as Behçet's syndrome (BS), and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) or giant cell arteritis (GCA). This systematic review aimed to explain recent findings related to etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment methods for BS, AAV, and medium/large-vessel vasculitis. Methods: A comprehensive literature search on English sources from PubMed, Scopus, MEDLINE, Science Direct, ProQuest, AIM, CINAHIL, and ELDIS databases was used to find the relevant articles and reports. The relevant papers (having full text) were obtained until June 2023. Two independent reviewers screened the titles and abstracts of the obtained articles, and a third arbitrator resolved disputes between the reviewers. Results and conclusion: It is becoming increasingly clear that certain systemic inflammatory diseases, like vasculitis, are linked to a higher risk of both venous and arterial thrombosis. An increased incidence of thromboembolic disease in AAV has been noted, particularly during times of active disease. Growing evidence supports the use of immunosuppression in the management of venous thrombosis in vasculitis. These patients also have a higher risk of developing ischemic disease.

Objectives: The lymphotactin receptor X–C motif chemokine receptor 1 (XCR1) is an essential member of the chemokine receptor family and is related to tumor development and progression. Nevertheless, further investigation is required to explore its expression patterns, prognostic values, and functions related to target or immune therapies in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Materials and methods: The differential expression patterns of XCR1 and its prognostic influences were performed through The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) databases. Subsequently, immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining and univariate and multivariate Cox regressions were performed to validate the prognostic values in different subgroups. Furthermore, the potential roles of XCR1 in predicting target and immune therapeutic responses were also investigated. Results: Increased expression level of XCR1 was associated with favorable overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Subgroup analysis revealed that a high expression level of XCR1 or positive immune cell proportion score (iCPS) were associated with favorable OS in the HCC patients with favorable tumor characteristics. In addition, the enhanced XCR1 expression was associated with the tumor environment scores, immune cell infiltration levels, and the expression levels of immune checkpoint genes. Further analysis revealed that improved expression of XCR1 was linked to better OS and RFS in HCC patients who received sorafenib. Conclusion: This study identified that XCR1 is a valuable prognostic biomarker in the HCC population, especially in those with favorable tumor characteristics. The combination of iCPS status and BCLC status has a synergistic effect on stratifying patients' OS and RFS. Further analyses showed that XCR1 has the potential ability to predict treatment responses to sorafenib and immune-based therapies.

As an important part of proliferation and discharge, crustaceans can effectively conserve and supplement fishery resources in natural waters. Based on the data of crustacean proliferation and release in Zhejiang Province from 2017 to 2021 and related literature, this paper systematically reviewed the annual variation trend of crustacean release type and quantity, release capital, and the spatial and quantitative distribution of release area and release specifications. The results show that: from 2017 to 2021, six species of crustacean proliferate in Zhejiang Province, including Penaeus japonicus, Portunus trituberculatus and Penaeus chinensis, etc.. A total of 5220, 455, 000 were released, and the investment was 33, 202, 000 yuan. Among them, the largest amount of release and investment was Japanese prawnaeus, the least amount of release was green crab, and the least amount of investment was Prawnaeus puerarii. The release area involved Wenzhou, Ningbo, Taizhou, Zhoushan and other cities, and the distribution of release was unbalanced between regions, and mainly concentrated in small and medium sizes. In this paper, some specific suggestions will be put forward on problems such as insufficient assessment of the effect of crustacean release species, poor release effect of some proliferating species, and few reserve species of crustacean release in the coastal waters of Zhejiang Province, so as to provide a basis for improving the scientific management of crustacean release species in the future.

The traditional active suspension system controlled by fuzzy PID fails to consider external road information adaptively, lending to low control precision. To solve this problem, this novel variable universe fuzzy PID control strategy, which combines road recognition and chaotic particle swarm optimization (CPSO), is proposed. Firstly, a dynamic model of four degree of freedom vehicle suspension is established based on the half-vehicle model. Secondly, the Back Propagation (BP) neural network is optimized by Tent Sparrow Search Algorithm (Tent-SSA) to construct a road recognition model. When the road recognition module is constructed, the suspension control system can convert the suspension vibration signal into road information, and dynamically adjust the scaling factors of the variable universe fuzzy controller based on the road information. Thirdly, a modified coefficient is added to adjust the parameters obtained from the road recognition model, and the CPSO algorithm is used to optimize it to enhance control precision. Passive suspension, FPID control, and this novel control are constructed and simulated in MATLAB. The results indicate that this novel control strategy has improved in comprehensive performance by 28.47% compared to fuzzy PID control strategies.

AbstractArtabotrys hexapetalus (L.f.) Bhandari, 1965, an evergreen climbing shrub of significant value, is prominent in Chinese history and culture. The whole-gene sequencing of its chloroplast genome using Illumina pair-end sequencing data is conducted during this research. The complete chloroplast genome was determined to be 178,457 bp in size, separated by a large single copy (LSC) and a small single copy (SSC) region of 90,803 and 3,066 bp, respectively. A total of 134 genes were identified, including 90 protein-coding genes, 36 tRNA, and eight rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a close relationship between A. hexapetalus and Artabotrys pilosus, forming a sister branch with 100% support. The study suggests that the chloroplast genome of A. hexapetalus provides valuable insights into its evolutionary history and will contribute to the conservation efforts of this species.

TA15 titanium alloy is widely used in aerospace industry in terms of its high specific strength, good thermal stability, and excellent corrosion resistance. To further improve its mechanical properties, thermal deformation combined with heat treatment is always used, during which the microstructure evolution and mechanical response are absolutely complex leading to the difficulty in control of final mechanical properties. Therefore, in-depth research on the relationship between microstructure and mechanical response of TA15 titanium alloy during these processes is of great significance. At present, less relevant review has been reported. In this article, the effects of process parameters such as heating temperature, strain rate, deformation amount, deformation mode, deformation path, cooling method and soaking time on the microstructure and mechanical properties of TA15 alloy, namely tensile performance and damage tolerance properties have been discussed. In addition, some strengthening models suitable for TA15 titanium alloy have been analyzed. In conclusion, different microstructure morphologies formed in various processing processes will display diverse mechanical performances in which the direct relationship between the yield strength and microstructure morphology can be established through distinct calculation models but with some limitations. So, in future works, microstructure and mechanical properties should be optimized further through adjusting processing parameters. Moreover, strengthening models remains to be modified by adopting more accurate statistical methods and considering more factors. Finally, establishing the relationship between damage tolerance properties such as fracture toughness, creep performance and LCF property and microstructure features should be considered more for TA15 alloy.

BackgroundArsenic exposure can lead to liver dysfunction, liver steatosis, hepatitis, liver fibrosis, and other liver injuries, but its mechanism is still unclear and effective treatment methods are lacking.ObjectiveTo investigate the potential intervention effect and associated mechanism of Rosa roxburghii Tratt juice on arsenic-induced liver injury in rats from the perspective of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) metabolism.MethodsThirty-six Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups, six rats in each group, half male and half female. The low, medium, and high dose groups of sodium arsenite (NaAsO2) were given 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 NaAsO2 mg·kg−1 (body weight, thereafter), respectively; the control group was given 10 mL·kg−1 deionized water; the Rosa roxburghii Tratt juice intervention group was given 10 mg·kg−1 NaAsO2 for 4 h and then 10 mL·kg−1 Rosa roxburghii Tratt juice; the Rosa roxburghii Tratt juice control group was given 10 mL·kg−1 Rosa roxburghii Tratt juice by gavage. All rats were gavaged once a day, 6 d per week for 4 months. Histopathological changes of rat liver were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Total bile acids (TBA) and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GT) were detected by enzyme cycle method and rate method, respectively. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) was used to evaluate SAM and S-adenosylhomo cysteine (SAH) in rat liver. Real-time fluorescence quantitative reverse transcriptional PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of the genes of glycine-N-methyltransferase (Gnmt), nicotinamide-N-methyltransferase (Nnmt), and phosphatidylethano-lamine N-mathyltransferase (Pemt).ResultsIn the control group, the liver nuclei were stained clearly, the cytoplasm was stained uniformly, and the liver cords were arranged radially without inflammatory infiltration. In the low, medium, and high dose groups of NaAsO2, hepatic sinusoidal dilation, congestion, and inflammatory infiltration were observed to different degrees. Compared with the control group, TBA in the medium and high dose groups of NaAsO2, and γ-GT in the high dose group of NaAsO2 were significantly increased (P

Salt stress severely inhibits crop growth and production. The native turfgrass species Carex rigescens in northern China, exhibits extraordinary tolerance to multiple abiotic stresses. However, little is known about its specific metabolites and pathways under salt stress. To explore the molecular metabolic mechanisms under salt stress, we conducted metabolome analysis combined with transcriptome analysis of two varieties of Carex rigescens with differing salt tolerances: salt-sensitive Lvping NO.1 and salt-tolerant Lvping NO.2. After 5 days of salt treatment, 114 and 131 differentially abundant metabolites (DAMs) were found in Lvping NO.1 and Lvping NO.2, respectively. Among them, six amino acids involved in the amino acid biosynthesis pathway, namely, valine, phenylalanine, isoleucine, tryptophan, threonine, and serine, were accumulated after treatment. Furthermore, most DAMs related to phenylalanine biosynthesis, metabolism, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis increased under salt stress in both varieties. The expression profiles of metabolism-associated genes were consistent with the metabolic profiles. However, genes including HCT, β-glucosidases, and F5H, and metabolite 4-hydroxycinnamic acid, of the two varieties may account for the differences in salt tolerance. Our study provides new insights into the mechanisms underlying salt tolerance in Carex rigescens and reveals potential metabolites and genes to improve crop resilience to saline environments.

In this paper, the usage of core-spun compound yarns in ballistic fabric to improve ballistic performance is considered, as with the use of core-spun compound yarns, the yarn friction inside the fabric is enhanced, and, therefore, the energy absorption capability of the fabric is expected to increase. Three types of fabric were developed and compared. Fa refers to a woven type made with 100% Kevlar® filament yarns. Fb was woven with core-spun compound aramid yarns, which were made of Kevlar® filament yarns spun with staple aramid fiber. Fc was woven with core-spun compound polyester yarns, which were made of Kevlar® filament yarns spun with staple polyester fiber. There were two main purposes for comparing these types. The first was to confirm if the ballistic performance could be improved with the usage of core-spun compound yarns instead of pure filament yarns. The second was to investigate if different compositions of spun fiber would influence ballistic performance. The research results are positive and quite interesting. They show that the usage of core-spun compound yarn could indeed help to increase ballistic performance and that core-spun compound aramid yarns are better than core-spun compound polyester yarns in this function. The research was carried out using both ballistic tests and FEA models.

The samples from lunar farside have great significance for the study of the Moon, and even the solar system. Chang’e-6 landed successfully on the southern mare of the Apollo basin and returned ~2 kg of samples from lunar farside. To provide a better understanding for the background of the returned samples, we conducted detailed crater size-frequency distribution (CSFD) measurements in the Chang’e-6 landing region, the southern mare of the Apollo basin. The southern mare is divided into the western mare (W region) and the eastern mare (E region), and then subdivided into five subunits (W1, W2, W3, W4, W5) and three units (E1, E2, E3), respectively, according to the elevation, TiO2, and FeO abundances. Within the W2 and W5 region, more detailed subunits were separated out. The results show that the southern mare surface was active during two epochs, the Imbrian period and the Eratosthenian period. The basalt eruption lasted for ~1.7 Ga, from 3.28 Ga of the eastern mare to 1.54 Ga of the western mare. The W region is younger than the E region, while the three units of the E region have an age of ~3.2 Ga. The ages of the western mare basalts range from 2.98 Ga to 1.54 Ga, lasting for 1.4 Ga. It is worth noting that the age of the basalt at the Chang’e-6 sampling site is ~1.68 Ga, indicating the samples returned may include components with this very young age.

Lawns play a vital role in urban development, but the impact of sod production on soil properties has always been controversial. In this study, we examined the physical, chemical, and biological properties of sod production bases across different regions and years [including northern China (2.5, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12 years), referred to as N-2.5, N-3, etc., and southern China (3, 10, 11, 14, 17 years), referred to as S-3, S-10, etc.], with tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass planted in the north and bermudagrass or creeping bentgrass planted in the south. Sod production was found to increase soil bulk density while reducing porosity and field capacity, but these effects did not consistently intensify with longer production periods. Except for available phosphorus and available potassium, other soil nutrients (total carbon, total nitrogen, organic matter, alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen, etc.) were either unaffected or increased at certain time points (S-11, S-14). Prolonged sod production (S-10, S-17) also boosted microbial content. In northern regions, organic matter and total nitrogen were the key factors influencing microbial community structure, whereas in southern regions, alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen, electrical conductivity, available potassium, and organic matter were most influential. We also found that crop rotation, sand mulching, and deep plowing could enhance soil nutrient content and microbial activity in sod production.

The safety of lunar landing sites directly impacts the success of lunar exploration missions. This study develops a data-driven predictive model based on machine learning, focusing on engineering safety to assess the suitability of lunar landing sites and provide insights into key factors and feature representations. Six critical engineering factors were selected as constraints for evaluation: slope, elevation, roughness, hillshade, optical maturity, and rock abundance. The XGBoost model was employed to simulate and predict the characteristics of landing areas and Bayesian optimization was used to fine-tune the model’s key hyperparameters, enhancing its predictive performance. The results demonstrate that this method effectively extracts relevant features from multi-source remote sensing data and quantifies the suitability of landing zones, achieving an accuracy of 96% in identifying landing sites (at a resolution of 0.1° × 0.1°), with AUC values exceeding 95%. Notably, slope was recognized as the most critical factor affecting safety. Compared to assessment processes based on Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) and Random Forest (RF) models, XGBoost showed superior performance in handling missing values and evaluating feature importance accuracy. The findings suggest that the BO-XGBoost model shows notable classification performance in evaluating the suitability of lunar landing sites, which may provide valuable support for future landing missions and contribute to optimizing lunar exploration efforts.

The Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy plate is a structural material widely used in aerospace, and its rolling process plays a crucial role in determining its performance. This study investigated the effects of different pass combinations of forward and spread rolling on the grain characteristics, strength, and fracture toughness of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu aluminum alloy plates under industrial conditions. The results show that initially using a small pass reduction followed by a larger one can improve the grain width and thickness on the Long Transverse–Short Transverse surface. Additionally, increasing the spread rolling pass enhances the grain width-to-thickness ratio on the TS surface. Performance tests indicate that grain characteristics have minimal influence on room-temperature tensile properties. However, a higher grain width-to-thickness ratio significantly improves the alloy’s fracture toughness.

We have derived the tensor amplitudes for partial wave analysis of ψ→ΔΔ¯, Δ→pπ within the helicity frame, as well as the amplitudes for the other decay sequences with same final states. These formulae are practical for the experiments measuring ψ decaying into pp¯π+π− final states, such as BESIII with its recently collected huge J/ψ and ψ(2S) data samples.

Summary: Background: Anlotinib is a new type of tyrosine kinase inhibitor that targets vascular endothelial growth factor receptors 1/2/3, platelet-derived growth factor receptors α/β, and fibroblast growth factor receptors 1–4 and c-Kit, with a broad spectrum of inhibitory effects on tumor angiogenesis and growth. It has been proven effective in HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer, but its efficacy in early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is unknown. This phase 2 study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adding anlotinib to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with TNBC. Methods: Patients with clinical stage II/III TNBC were treated with 5 cycles of anlotinib (12 mg, d1-14, q3w) plus 6 cycles of taxanes (docetaxel 75 mg/m2 ,d1, q3w or nab-paclitaxel 125 mg/m2, d1 and d8, q3w) and lobaplatin (30 mg/m2, d1, q3w), followed by surgery. The primary endpoint was pathological complete response (pCR; ypT0/is ypN0) and the secondary endpoints include breast pCR (bpCR), axillary pCR (apCR), residual cancer burden (RCB), objective response rate (ORR), survival, and safety. Exploratory endpoints were efficacy biomarkers based on Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center Immunohistochemical (FUSCC IHC) classification for TNBC and next-generation sequencing (NGS) of DNA from tumor tissue and blood samples of patients with 425-gene panel. This trial is registered with www.chictr.org.cn (ChiCTR2100043027). Findings: From Jan 2021 to Aug 2022, 48 patients were assessed and 45 were enrolled. All patients received at least one dose of study treatment and underwent surgery. The median age was 48.5 years (SD: 8.7), 71% were nodal involved, and 20% had stage III. In the intention-to-treat population, 26 out of 45 patients achieved pCR (57.8%; 90% CI, 44.5%–70.3%), and 39 achieved residual cancer burden class 0-I (86.7%; 95% CI, 73.2%–94.9%). The bpCR and apCR rate were 64.4% (29/45) and 71.9% (23/32), respectively. No recurrence or metastasis occurred during the short-term follow-up. Based on the FUSCC IHC-based subtypes, the pCR rates were 68.8% (11/16) for immunomodulatory subtype, 58.3% (7/12) for basal-like immune-suppressed subtype and 33.3% (4/12) for luminal androgen receptor subtype, respectively. NGS revealed that the pCR were 77% (10/13) and 50% (14/28) in MYC-amplified and wild-type patients, respectively, and 78% (7/9) and 53% (17/32) in gBRCA1/2-mutated and wild-type patients, respectively. The median follow-up time of the study was 14.9 months (95% CI: 13.5–16.3 months). There was no disease progression or death during neoadjuvant therapy. No deaths occurred during postoperative follow-up. In the safety population (N = 45), Grade 3 or 4 treatment emergent adverse events occurred in 29 patients (64%), and the most common events were neutropenia (38%), leukopenia (27%), thrombocytopenia (25%), anemia (13%), and hypertension (13%), respectively. Interpretation: The addition of anlotinib to neoadjuvant chemotherapy showed manageable toxicity and encouraging antitumor activity for patients with clinical stage II/III TNBC. Funding: Chongqing Talents Project, Chongqing Key Project of Technology Innovation and Application Development and Chongqing Outstanding Youth Natural Science Foundation.

Using aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy, a new fully coherent precipitate platelet designated X′′, with a flexible atomic layer FCC structure, was identified in a low Cu/Mg ratio Al-Cu-Mg-Ag alloy. The emergence of the X′′ phase is primarily attributed to the preferential segregation behavior of Mg and Cu atoms towards the {111}α Ag layers. The strengthening mechanism of the X′′ phase is principally driven by the coherency strengthening, yielding efficient reinforcement (99.8 MPa increment per 1 % volume fraction). After dislocation cutting, the X′′ phase maintains coherence with the matrix, minimizing local strain accumulation at the interface. The mechanical tests show that the alloy with the precipitated X′′ phase, despite its lower strength compared to the alloy with the precipitated Ω phase, exhibits superior ductility and work hardening. The study holds promising implications for designing novel Al-Cu-Mg-Ag alloys with a desirable strength-ductility balance.

Arsenic is an environmentally ubiquitous toxic metalloid. Chronic exposure to arsenic may lead to arsenicosis, while no specific therapeutic strategies are available for the arsenism patients. And Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) exhibited protective effect in our previous study. However, the mechanisms by which GBE protects the arsenism patients remain poorly understood. A liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) based untargeted metabolomics analysis was used to study metabolic response in arsenism patients upon GBE intervention. In total, 39 coal-burning type of arsenism patients and 50 healthy residents were enrolled from Guizhou province of China. The intervention group (n = 39) were arsenism patients orally administered with GBE (three times per day) for continuous 90 days. Plasma samples from 50 healthy controls (HC) and 39 arsenism patients before and after GBE intervention were collected and analyzed by established LC-MS method. Statistical analysis was performed by MetaboAnalyst 5.0 to identify differential metabolites. Multivariate analysis revealed a separation in arsenism patients between before (BG) and after GBE intervention (AG) group. It was observed that 35 differential metabolites were identified between BG and AG group, and 30 of them were completely or partially reversed by GBE intervention, with 14 differential metabolites significantly up-regulated and 16 differential metabolites considerably down-regulated. These metabolites were involved in promoting immune response and anti-inflammatory functions, and alleviating oxidative stress. Taken together, these findings indicate that the GBE intervention could probably exert its protective effects by reversing disordered metabolites modulating these functions in arsenism patients, and provide insights into further exploration of mechanistic studies.

The tourism industry in China has undergone significant changes due to globalization, technology, and changing consumer preferences. This perspective article, based on a systematic literature review, examines examines trends, challenges, and opportunities in inbound and outbound tourism in China, focusing on the industry's dynamism. Both inbound and outbound tourism have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has prompted new strategies and environmental adaptations. China has changed its priorities within the country to encourage domestic travel and support local firms. The rise in internationalisation and the growing middle class in China have led to an unprecedented rise in outbound travel. Chinese travellers are affecting travel habits and spending all around the world in the tourism sector. Language barriers, cultural differences, and safety concerns are some of the challenges that come with travelling abroad. To reach its full potential, China needs to adapt to the shifting global environment and take into account the specifications and preferences of both inbound and outgoing tourists.

This study shows that a decline in investment efficiency due to information asymmetry may not necessarily devalue a firm but may enhance its value instead. Firms base their investment decisions on both public and private information. However, effectively transmitting private information to investors in a competitive market is quite challenging, as it leads to stock prices inadequately reflecting a firm’s true value. Simultaneously, firms must invest to achieve their business objectives, which results in a deviation between a firm’s actual investment level and the market’s expected investment level, thereby reducing investment-q sensitivity. However, this deviation does not imply a waste of societal resources; instead, it improves a firm’s core competitiveness in the product market. We consider the future launch of new products as a proxy for firm private information. We find that (1) private information is negatively associated with investment-q sensitivity, and that the greater the sales of the new product, the lower the investment-q sensitivity; (2) the negative effect is more pronounced for firms with higher revenue volatility and ownership concentration than for those with lower revenue volatility and ownership concentration. This study helps us to further understand how to evaluate firm investment efficiency from the perspective of private information and provides empirical evidence of the costs of the new product launch process.

Stomatal conductance (gs) is an indicator that allows for direct evaluation of plant water status, but it is challenging to achieve rapid monitoring in large-scale fields due to limitations in observation methods. Here this study was conducted to identify the thresholds of gs with different target yields and develop a gs-based water stress diagnostic model for buffalograss (Buchloe dactyloides (Nutt.) Engelm.) using UAV thermal infrared imagery for buffalograss in 2022 and 2023. The results of the field experiment demonstrated that the gs rapidly response to changes in the water stress status of buffalograss. The thresholds of gs were 403 and 385 mmol m−2 s−1 for the vegetative and reproductive growth stages, respectively, with the target seed yield of 1224 kg ha−1. The gs values were classified into three levels for the vegetative growth and four levels for the in reproductive growth stage of buffalograss, respectively. The canopy temperature depression response to water stress is consistent with the gs. Based on this relationship, this study developed a gs-based diagnostic model with a random forest algorithm for buffalograss. Furthermore, a spital map of gs was created using UAV thermal infrared imagery. The modification test results indicated that the model made a good estimation of gs were good with normalized root mean square errors of 15% in the vegetative stage and 11% in the reproductive stage, respectively. Therefore, it is feasible to use thermal infrared imagery for monitoring gs and evaluating the water stress of plants in buffalograss fields.

Abstract Ferroptosis is an iron‐dependent cell death process mainly triggered by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation. Thioredoxin domain protein 12 (TXNDC12) promotes the development of some tumors; however, its function in tumor ferroptosis remains unclear. In this study, we found that knockdown of TXNDC12 promoted erastin‐induced increase in ROS, lipid peroxidation, and Fe2+ levels, and decreased glutathione content. TXNDC12 is involved in ferroptosis by regulating SLC7A11. Further studies showed that TXNDC12 knockdown promoted an erastin‐induced decrease in glioma cell viability. Overall, TXNDC12 played a significant role in ferroptosis by modulating SLC7A11 expression. Thus, TXNDC12 and ferroptosis may provide new targets for the treatment of gliomas.

The microstructure of Al-Cu-Li alloys is influenced by the alloying contents, which in turn affect the ultimate performance. This study examined the microstructure characteristics of Al-Cu-Li alloys with varying Li contents (1.05, 1.30, and 1.66 wt%) in as-cast state, as well as microstructure evolution during homogenization treatments. The investigation employed a range of analytical techniques, including optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), focused ion beam (FIB), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and thermodynamic calculation software. The findings indicate that the eutectic phase exhibited significant variations with the Li content changing. Three distinct low-melting phases were identified in 1.05Li alloy, including Ag-containing Al2CuMg, Al7Cu4Li, and Al2Cu. As Li content was elevated to 1.30 wt%, there was a noticeable drop in the quantities of Ag-containing Al2CuMg and Al7Cu4Li phases. Conversely, the Al2Cu phase increased, and a few Al2CuLi phases emerged. When the Li raised to 1.66 wt%, an increased Al2CuLi phase was discovered, which existed along the dendritic edges. However, there were only little Ag-containing Al2CuMg phase, and no Al7Cu4Li phase detected. The initial melting temperatures for the four soluble eutectic phases were systematically arranged in the following order: Ag-containing Al2CuMg

Abstract Hydrogen is one of the most widely used essential chemicals worldwide, and it is also employed in the production of many other chemicals, especially carbon-free energy fuels produced via photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. At present, gallium arsenide represents the most efficient photoanode material for PEC water oxidation, but it is known to either be anodically photocorroded or photopassivated by native metal oxides in the competitive reaction, limiting efficiency and stability. Here, we report chemically etched GaAs that is decorated with thin titanium dioxide (~30 nm-thick, crystalline) surface passivation layer along with nickel-phosphate (Ni-Pi) cocatalyst as a surface hole-sink layer. The integration of Ni-Pi bifunctional co-catalyst results in a highly efficient GaAs electrode with a ~ 100 mV cathodic shift of the onset potential. In this work, the electrode also has enhanced photostability under 110 h testing for PEC water oxidation at a steady current density Jph > 25 mA·cm−2. The Et-GaAs/TiO2/Ni-Pi║Ni-Pi tandem configuration results in the best unassisted bias-free water splitting device with the highest Jph (~7.6 mA·cm−2) and a stable solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency of 9.5%.

Objectives Severe symptomatic epidural hematoma (SSEH) is one of the most severe complications following percutaneous endoscopic unilateral laminectomy for bilateral decompression (Endo‐ULBD). Considering that this technique has been performed for a short time, no detailed reports have been recently published. Thus, it is critical to gain a better understanding of SSEH occurring in its postoperative period with regard to its incidence, possible causes, outcome, etc., in order to identify relevant management strategies. Methods Patients with spinal stenosis who had undergone Endo‐ULBD in our department from May 2019 to May 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Of which, patients with postoperative epidural hematoma were followed‐up. The preoperative and postoperative physical conditions of each patient were recorded, and the information related to hematoma removal surgery was recorded in detail. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI), and the results were classified into “excellent,” “good,” “fair,” or “poor” based on the modified MacNab criteria. The incidence of hematoma with different factors was calculated, and a bar graph was used to compare the difference of the indexes related to hematoma removal between cases, and a line graph was used to reflect the trend of the outcome of each patient within 6 months to evaluate the effect of the treatment. Results A total of 461 patients with spinal stenosis who underwent Endo‐ULBD were enrolled in the study. SSEH occurred in four cases, with an incidence rate of 0.87% (4/461). All these four patients underwent decompression of multiple segments, and three of them had a history of hypertension comorbid with diabetes. Notably, one patient had a past history of hypertension and coronary artery disease and was on postoperative low molecular heparin due to lower extremity venous thrombosis. According to the conditions of the four patients, three types of treatment were used. And with timely treatment, all patients recovered well. Conclusion Despite being a minimally invasive technique, postoperative epidural hematoma remains a severe complication of Endo‐ULBD. Therefore, during percutaneous endoscopic surgery, it is essential to enhance the comprehensive perioperative management of patients with Endo‐ULBD. Signs related to postoperative hematoma must be recognized and promptly managed. If necessary, satisfactory results can be achieved by using percutaneous endoscopy along the original surgical channel to remove the hematoma.

Objective: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is characterized by a rich infiltration of macrophages in the intestines, which is derived from monocytes in the blood. The authors aimed to explore the changing trend of absolute monocyte counts (AMC) over time in NEC infants and to verify whether the reduction of AMC correlates with the severity of NEC and whether it can be used to identify infants who need surgery. Method: The authors collected the clinical data of 66 control and 222 NEC infants. The NEC infants were divided into medical NEC (M-NEC) and surgical NEC (S-NEC). The counting of monocyte and their percentage change were compared at the time of birth, before NEC (baseline), the onset of NEC and after NEC (recovery). In addition, the same comparison was made among stages 1, 2 and 3 of Bell's staging, respectively. Results: The authors found that the AMC in NEC infants decreased sharply at the onset. Further comparison was made between 172 cases of M-NEC and 50 cases of S-NEC. It was discovered that the AMC reduced more in S-NEC infants at onset, but it increased more at recovery. In addition, the authors found that among stage 1,2 and 3, stage 3 had the lowest AMC and the largest percentage decrease at the onset. Conclusion: The AMC decreases sharply in NEC infants at onset, and the degree of decline is associated with the severity of NEC. AMC is expected to be a marker of NEC and provide a reference for clinicians in the diagnosis and treatment of NEC.

In the face of accelerating land use changes, conflicts between land use patterns and the eco-environment are increasingly pronounced. By calculating the eco-environment quality index (EQI) adopting the ecological–production–living spaces (EPLS) framework, we evaluate the eco-environment quality of land use changes within Chongqing’s central urban area from 2000 to 2020. The study employs a random forest model to elucidate the mechanisms influencing the eco-environment quality. The findings reveal the following: (1) Living spaces have expanded by 361.53 km2, while production and the ecological spaces have been experiencing a significant reduction of 331.42 km2 and 30.11 km2 over two decades. (2) The eco-environment quality has steadily declined from 0.3665 in 2000 to 0.3501 in 2020, indicating a degradation in overall quality. There is notable spatial variation in eco-environment quality, typically displaying a “low center–high periphery” pattern. (3) Pesticide usage, grain production, and the added value of the primary industry are the primary factors affecting ecological quality. The findings of this study provide valuable insights for global urban planning and environmental management. Rapidly, land use change regions worldwide face similar conflicts between economic growth and ecological sustainability. This research underscores the need for integrated land use policies that balance development with environmental preservation. The methodologies and findings can inform international efforts to optimize land use patterns, improve ecological quality, and achieving sustainable development goals, offering adaptable strategies for policymakers and urban planners globally.

The development of electric vehicles has facilitated intelligent transportation, which requires the swift and effective detection and tracking of moving vehicles. To satisfy this demand, this paper presents an enhanced DeepSORT algorithm. By selecting YOLO-SSFS as the front-end detector and incorporating a lightweight and high-precision feature training network called FasterNet, the proposed method effectively extracts vehicle appearance attributes. Besides this, the noise scale adaptive Kalman filter is implemented and the conventional cascade matching process is substituted with global join matching, thereby enhancing overall performance and tracking accuracy. Validation conducted on the VisDrone dataset demonstrates the superiority of this method compared to the original DeepSORT algorithm, exhibiting a 4.76% increase in tracking accuracy and a 3.10% improvement in tracking precision. The findings reveal the advantages of the algorithms in the domain of vehicle detection and tracking, allowing significant technological advancements in intelligent transportation systems.