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The composition and structure of microorganisms, which are affected by management practices, play a crucial role in controlling the function of forest ecosystems. Although the response of microbial communities to thinning has been well studied, the effect of thinning on the cooccurrence patterns of soil bacteria and fungi, especially in rhizosphere soil, remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the bacterial and fungal communities in rhizosphere and bulk soil of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata [Lamb.] Hook) plantations under different thinning intensities, including control (CK, 0 %), light-intensity thinning (LIT, 30 %), moderate-intensity thinning (MIT, 50 %), and high-intensity thinning (HIT, 70 %). Fungi were more sensitive to thinning than bacteria, with their diversity in bulk soil being decreased after thinning. Thinning-sensitive operational taxonomic units (tsOTUs) were taxonomically diverse, with each thinning intensity harboring a specific tsOTU subset. The top 3 modules in the meta-cooccurrence network were dominated by the phyla Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Chloroflexi, Ascomycota, and Basidiomycota, which showed little overlap and were affected by thinning. In addition, we identified 16 and 3 thinning-sensitive keystone taxa in the rhizosphere and bulk soil, respectively. The highest abundance of these 16 keystone taxa was detected in the rhizosphere soil after HIT. Overall, we demonstrated that thinning altered the composition, cooccurrence network, and keystone taxa of soil bacteria and fungi. These findings indicated detectable thinning-induced changes of largely unknown consequences in the composition of the rhizosphere soil communities, suggesting that rhizosphere soils should be considered in future studies. [Display omitted] • Thinning shaped rhizosphere and bulk soil microbial diversity and composition • Thinning caused specific responses from modules of microbial co-occurrence network. • Majority of keystone taxa were enriched in high intensity thinning. • Rhizosphere soil microorganisms were more responsive to thinning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prunella vulgaris L. (P. vulgaris) has long been considered to have antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, lowering blood lipids and pressure. Many studies show that in addition to the traditional telomere attrition, DNA damage and epigenetic changes, immunosenescence is also a new possibility to explore the mechanism of ageing. Therefore, this herb may have potential anti-ageing effects. Typically, there are a series of markers that identify senescent cells, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD)2, an inhibitor of CDK4 (p16INK4A), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, immune cells number, proliferation, and nuclear abnormalities. These changes rarely present in young tissues, while greatly increasing in response to ageing. Firstly, the ageing model of the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mouse was established by d-galactose subcutaneous injection. Then, SOD2, p16INK4A and TNF-α were detected by quantitative Real-time PCR (qPCR), Western Blot (WB) and Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Simultaneously, senescent cells in livers were stained by hematoxylin and eosin (HE). The viability of splenocytes was detected by Cell Counting Kit-8(CCK-8). The difference in specific immune cells (NK cells, B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes) was detected by flow cytometry. Both low (100 mg/kg) and high (300 mg/kg) concentrations of P. vulgaris treated ageing ICR mice show anti-ageing alterations, such as p16INK4A decreased approximately 1/2 and SOD2 tripled in livers, TNF-α decreased from 1 to 0.6 in plasma, and T cells increased from 0.09 to 0.19%. Compared with the ageing group, the spleen cells in the Prunella-treated group had stronger proliferation ability. Thus, P. vulgaris could have an anti-ageing effect. This is the first study to demonstrate the anti-ageing effect of P. vulgaris. It may also be capable of preventing a variety of age-related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer is a major cause of high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Several environmental, genetic and lifestyle factors are associated with the development of cancer in humans and result in suboptimal treatment. The human microbiota has been implicated in the pathophysiological process of cancer and has been used as a diagnostic, prognostic and risk assessment tool in cancer management. Notably, both extratumoural and intratumoural microbiota are important components of the tumor microenvironment, subtly influencing tumorigenesis, progression, treatment and prognosis. The potential oncogenic mechanisms of action of the intratumoural microbiota include induction of DNA damage, influence on cell signaling pathways and impairment of immune responses. Some naturally occurring or genetically engineered microorganisms can specifically accumulate and replicate in tumors and then initiate various anti-tumor programs, ultimately promoting the therapeutic effect of tumor microbiota and reducing the toxic and side effects of conventional tumor treatments, which may be conducive to the pursuit of accurate cancer treatment. In this review, we summarise evidence revealing the impact of the intratumoural microbiota on cancer occurrence and progress and potential therapeutic and diagnostic applications, which may be a promising novel strategy to inhibit tumor development and enhance therapeutic efficacy. -_S9VDnSXDc4mZPdW-8xEX Video Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coupling with supercritical power cycle can improve the thermal efficiency of the concentrated solar system. Design the suitable thermal storage medium is critical to the new coupling system. A new ternary eutectic salt with low cost was developed composed of NaCl, Na 2 CO 3 , and Na 2 SO 4 based on the calculation method of phase diagram, meeting the requirements of solar energy storage over 873 K. The eutectic point and composition of the designed salt were predicted to be 900 K and 50 mol% NaCl-35 mol% Na 2 CO 3 -15 mol% Na 2 SO 4. The designed salt shows high specific heat capacity and phase-change enthalpy, and low cost, which indicates it has good thermal storage capacity. Composite phase change materials with multi-walled carbon nanotubes and graphene nanosheets which can enhance the thermal conductivity and heat capacity of designed salt were prepared. The effects of preparation methods on the thermophysical properties of the composite phase change materials were analyzed. • An innovation molten salt is successfully designed via computational thermodynamic approach. • The base salt is low cost and high heat storage capacity, perfect for CSP system. • The thermophysical properties of CPCM prepared by two methods compared first time. • The thermal conductivity is highly increased with addition of GNPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presenting with a poor prognosis, gastric cancer (GC) remains one of the leading causes of disease and death worldwide. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate tumor formation and have been long used to predict tumor prognosis. N7-methylguanosine (m7G) is the most prevalent RNA modification. m7G-lncRNAs regulate GC onset and progression, but their precise mechanism in GC is unclear. The objective of this research was the development of a new m7G-related lncRNA signature as a biomarker for predicting GC survival rate and guiding treatment. The Cancer Genome Atlas database helped extract gene expression data and clinical information for GC. Pearson correlation analysis helped point out m7G-related lncRNAs. Univariate Cox analysis helped in identifying m7G-related lncRNA with predictive capability. The Lasso-Cox method helped point out seven lncRNAs for the purpose of establishing an m7G-related lncRNA prognostic signature (m7G-LPS), followed by the construction of a nomogram. Kaplan–Meier analysis, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis, calibration plot of the nomogram model, receiver operating characteristic curve and principal component analysis were utilized for the verification of the risk model's reliability. Furthermore, q-PCR helped verify the lncRNAs expression of m7G-LPS in-vitro. The study subjects were classified into high and low-risk groups based on the median value of the risk score. Gene enrichment analysis confirmed the constructed m7G-LPS' correlation with RNA transcription and translation and multiple immune-related pathways. Analysis of the clinicopathological features revealed more progressive features in the high-risk group. CIBERSORT analysis showed the involvement of m7G-LPS in immune cell infiltration. The risk score was correlated with immune checkpoint gene expression, immune cell and immune function score, immune cell infiltration, and chemotherapy drug sensitivity. Therefore, our study shows that m7G-LPS constructed using seven m7G-related lncRNAs can predict the survival time of GC patients and guide chemotherapy and immunotherapy regimens as biomarker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The MFL signals of subsea steel pipe-in-pipe are studied. There is a magnetic compression effect on the MFL signals of the outer pipe to the inner pipe. • The gap between pipes is the main factor affecting the magnetic compression effect. • The compression signal ratio (S y) displays an approximate negative exponential function with gap between pipes. Pipe-in-pipe system is crucial for subsea oil and natural gas transportation. The accurate identification and characterization of defects in pipe-in-pipe is of great significance for energy transmission security and environmental protection. Although magnetic flux leakage (MFL) testing methods are commonly used to detect and assess pipeline defects, the outer metal pipe inevitably affects the detection signal of the inner pipe during the testing process, which results in the MFL signal inaccurately reflecting the size of the defect. Here, we mainly discussed the relationship between the outer pipe and the MFL defect signals. The magnetic compression effect (MCE) of the outer pipe in current MFL testing and its relevant theory were analyzed, which manifested in the compression of the MFL signal in its peak value. The influence of different gaps between pipes (S) and inner and outer wall thickness ratios (N) on the MFL signal was examined via finite element simulation. The compression signal ratios (S y) and peak signals of the defects were compared, indicating that S was the main factor affecting MFL signal variation in pipe-in-pipe, while N had a relatively minor impact on the signal. S y displayed roughly the same negative exponential function variation with an S increase for defects at various depths. The efficacy of the simulation results was verified via MFL pipe-in-pipe defect experiments. These findings are useful for quantitatively evaluating MFL detection in subsea pipe-in-pipe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A matrix structure driven strategy for sparse matrix problems under the heterogeneous computing framework. • A novel parallel algorithm designed for sparse matrix–matrix multiplication problem based on exploit of shared memory. • A GPU-accelerated parallel state estimation algorithm for large-scale power system. The rapid development of the power grid brings more computational burden to the online state monitoring of the power system. State estimation (SE), the key fundamental part as well as the cornerstone of other applications, requires urgent improvement in its computing efficiency. Recently, the graphics processing unit (GPU) provides potentials for computationally intensive tasks. This paper proposes a GPU-based matrix structure driven (MSD) strategy for the Weighted Least Squares (WLS) state estimator. In this scheme, structures of all the sparse matrices are determined on CPU in advance and numerical calculations are completed during each iteration, with carefully-tuned kernels on GPU. Besides, a novel parallel algorithm is designed to tackle the sparse matrix–matrix multiplication (SPMM) problem, where shared memory is exploited to a great extent for performance improvement. Case studies verify the superiority of the framework and results show that the proposed MSD-SE solution is 4.97 times faster than the CPU-based SE solution on a 27723-bus system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Carbon Emission Trading (CET) system has been independently implemented in dozens of countries to protect the environment. Meanwhile, there are efforts underway to establish a Unified Global CET (UG-CET) system, which aims to better coordinate emission reduction efforts worldwide and protect the global environment. However, these efforts overlook the issue of data security, which may raise concerns for countries considering participation in such a system. In this paper, we propose a UG-CET system that addresses data security concerns. Firstly, it safeguards cross-border data by not requiring countries to share detailed data, but only providing generalized data. Secondly, it is capable of auditing data, ensuring data consistency even in the absence of shared original data. Therefore, it respects the interests of participating countries by not only protecting their own data but also ensuring the authenticity of data shared by other countries. Finally, the proposed scheme is validated using authentic CET data, and the results demonstrated that it can maintain a high efficiency while achieving a verification accuracy of 99.6%, effectively ensuring the security and consistency of the data flow in carbon emission trading. [Display omitted] • A unified global carbon emissions trading framework is established. • The framework focuses on addressing the data security issues, aiming to enhance the data quality. • It avoids the cross-border transfer of detailed carbon emission data. • It not only results in efficient audits but also protects the data security on Country Chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The CNV region was identified in Qinchuan cattle, Xiannan cattle, Yunling cattle, Ji'an cattle, Jiaxian Red cattle, Qaidam cattle, and Guyuan yellow cattle of STAT5A gene. • The STAT5A gene has important influence on the growth traits of JX, GY, QD and QC cattle. • Distribution of the Copy Number Variation in seven different Cattle Breeds. CNVs, which are a type of structural variation, make a substantial impact on diverse characteristics in multiple species. Q-PCR and data association analysis were used for STAT5A gene copy in this study. This study aimed to investigate the copy number variation (CNV) of the STAT5A gene in seven Chinese cattle breeds, namely Qinchuan cattle, Xianan cattle, Yunling cattle, Ji'an cattle, Jiaxian Red cattle, Qaidam cattle, and Guyuan yellow cattle. Blood samples were collected for CNV typing, and the correlation between CNV type and growth traits was analyzed using SPSS 23.0 software and ANOVA. The findings revealed variations in the distribution of different copy number types among the different cattle breeds. Furthermore, association analysis demonstrated a positive impact of CNV in the STAT5A gene on cattle growth: in the JX, individuals with duplication types exhibited superior performance in terms of rump length (P < 0.05). Conversely, normal GY cattle demonstrated better body height and abdomen circumference (P < 0.05), while QD cattle exhibited a significant correlation between weight and body length with normal individuals (P < 0.05). Moreover, QC bovine duplication individuals outperformed other types, with copy number variation significantly associated with chest depth, chest width, and body length (P < 0.05). The results validate the correlation between copy number variation (CNV) of the STAT5A gene and growth characteristics in five different cattle breeds, providing a reliable benchmark for the purpose of cattle breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Two motion-decoupling methods based on cable length compensation are proposed. • A 7-DOF cable-driven spray-painting robotic system is developed. • An improved non-singular inverse kinematics approach is introduced. • Experiments are conducted to verify the decoupling performance of the robot. This paper presents the design and implementation of a 7-DOF cable-driven serial spray-painting robot (CDSSR) featuring motion-decoupling mechanisms and introduces an improved non-singular inverse kinematics method for redundant serial robots. In the study, first, the motion-coupling characteristics of cable-driven joints and motion-decoupling methods based on translational and rotational compensation were examined. Next, the mechanical structure of the CDSSR was designed, including motion-decoupling mechanisms, cable-driven differential wrists, and tension-amplification mechanisms. In addition, an improved non-singular inverse kinematics approach incorporating dual-arm angles and configuration control parameters was developed. Finally, an experimentally scaled prototype of the proposed robot was constructed, and motion decoupling and spray trajectory planning experiments were conducted. The experimental and simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the non-singular inverse kinematics method in achieving efficient inverse kinematics solutions under global configuration control. Furthermore, the motion decoupling mechanisms designed for the serial robot successfully accomplished motion decoupling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the global acceleration of the carbon-neutral process and the widespread adoption of electric buses in various countries, the placement of charging stations plays a crucial role in promoting low-carbon development in public transportation systems. This paper proposes a two-stage approach for siting electric bus charging stations considering future-present needs. Initially, perspectives on future and current needs, a community discovery model is constructed using bus space-time swipe card data to identify the municipal bus travel link network. This model considers the OD distribution of bus passenger flow, which is essential for determining the line network and capacity layout. Additionally, a bus first and last station hotspot identification-Voronoi diagram model is established based on the service area partition of bus charging stations, incorporating the weight of charging demand. The model assesses the aggregation of charging demand in each service area using demand aggregation and spatial aggregation indicators. It utilizes the current bus charging requirements aggregation pattern to determine the siting of bus charging stations in the sub-regions, resulting in a data-driven two-stage method for siting electric bus charging stations considering future and current demand. The city is divided into 11 bus charging station subzones using the community discovery model, and sites are selected within each subzone. The results indicate that the demand aggregation degree has increased to some extent in 10 service areas compared to the initial sub-district and an overall increase of 22.79% for the entire city, from 0.487 to 0.598. Among them, 8 service areas have a demand aggregation degree greater than 0.5, indicating that charging demand in most sub-districts is concentrated in high-value aggregation areas. The spatial aggregation degree of all service areas is less than 1, with a decrease in the spatial aggregation degree of 7 service areas and an overall decrease of 11.47% for the entire city, from 0.680 to 0.602. Most service areas experience a decrease in spatial aggregation degree while the demand aggregation degree increases, optimizing the structure of the service areas and reducing the time cost of charging the buses. The model demonstrates good applicability to charging stations and offers an effective approach to siting them. • Use of residents' travel data to delineate initial service areas for charging stations. • Consider the longevity of charging station use in terms of the stability of the spatial distribution feature of travel OD. • Introducing demand aggregation and spatial aggregation to measure the aggregation structure of charging demand. • Site selection based on the distribution of charging demand hotspots at bus route terminals. • Considered the implementability of bus charging station deployment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cation-dependent mannose-6-phosphate receptor (CD-M6PR) is a P-type lectin that plays a crucial role in lysosomal enzyme transport, bacterial resistance, and viral entry. In this study, we cloned and analyzed the ORF of the CD-M6PR gene from Crassostrea hongkongensis and named it Ch CD-M6PR. We analyzed the nucleotide and amino acid sequence of Ch CD-M6PR, its tissue expression pattern and immune response to Vibrio alginolyticus. Our results showed that the ORF of Ch CD-M6PR was 801 bp long and encoded a protein of 266 amino acids with a signal peptide at the N-terminus, as well as Man-6-P_recep, ATG27 and transmembrane structural domains. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that C rassostrea hongkongensis shared the highest similarity with Crassostrea gigas in the terms of CD-M6PR. The Ch CD-M6PR gene was found to be expressed in various tissues, with the highest expression observed in the hepatopancreas and the lowest in the hemocytes by the fluorescence quantitative PCR. Furthermore, the expression of Ch CD-M6PR gene was significantly up-regulated for a short time in response to Vibrio alginolyticus infection in the gill and hemocytes, while it was down-regulated in the gonads. The expression patterns of Ch CD-M6PR also varied in the other tissues. The 96 h cumulative mortality rate of Crassostrea hongkongensis infected with Vibrio alginolyticus after knockdown the Ch CD-M6PR gene was significantly higher. Overall, our findings suggests that Ch CD-M6PR plays a crucial role in the immune response of Crassostrea hongkongensis to Vibrio alginolyticus infection, and its tissue-specific expression patterns may be indicatitive of varied immune responses across tissues. • First cloned the cation-dependent mannose-6-phosphate receptor gene in bivalve. • The Ch CD-M6PR gene significantly up-regulated in response to Vibrio alginolyticus infection. • Ch CD-M6PR involved the innate immune of Crassostrea hongkongensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green extension and red truncation strategies were examined to study the influence of bus priority control strategies on traffic carbon emissions under non-bus lane conditions. Considering the main influencing factors, such as the delay and parking times, a bus speed probability density function based on the fluctuation characteristics of the vehicle speed in the intersection control area was introduced. A bus priority control optimization model was developed for non-bus lane conditions to optimize the carbon emission reductions of buses and social vehicles with different fuel types under different working conditions, and the Frank–Wolfe algorithm was used to solve the model. According to the model, when bus signal priority control was adopted under a green extension strategy, the carbon emission reductions were optimal (24.38%) when the green extension was 6 s. Under a red truncation strategy, the carbon emission reductions were optimal (26.01%) when the red truncation was 5 s. These results suggest ways in which carbon emissions in the intersection control area can be reduced to achieve the optimal overall traffic benefit for the intersection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Fabricated the extremely fine nanocrystalline HEA with phase thickness of 10 nm; • Identified the ultrastrong nanocrystalline HEA with yield strength of 2.49 GPa; • Analyzed the microstructure evolution of the dual-phase HEA during USP process; • Revealed the strengthening mechanisms of the gradient nanostructured HEA. The ultrastrong gradient nanostructured dual-phase high entropy alloy (DP-HEA) Fe 50 Mn 30 Co 10 Cr 10 has been fabricated by an efficient surface nanocrystallization method, e.g. ultrasonic shot peeing (USP) at room temperature. We investigated the effect of the USP duration on the microstructure of the DP-HEA Fe 50 Mn 30 Co 10 Cr 10 by the advanced materials characterization methods, e.g. Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). We found that the microstructure of the USPed DP-HEA Fe 50 Mn 30 Co 10 Cr 10 can be refined into several nanometers. Additionally, the FCC γ phase is transferred into the HCP ε phase during the USP process of the DP-HEA Fe 50 Mn 30 Co 10 Cr 10 and the portion of the HCP ε phase increases gradually with the increase of the USP duration. Nanoindentation tests indicate that the nanohardness of the nanostructured DP-HEA Fe 50 Mn 30 Co 10 Cr 10 can reach as high as 7.49 GPa, suggesting a yield strength of 2.49 GPa, which is 10 times higher than that of the coarse-grained materials. Additionally, nanocrystallization of the DP-HEA Fe 50 Mn 30 Co 10 Cr 10 can be triggered with a short peening duration and the transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) effect can benefit the formation of a thick gradient nano-grained layer during USP. Micro-tensile tests revealed that the gradient nano-grained layer can significantly improve the yield strength of the DP-HEA Fe 50 Mn 30 Co 10 Cr 10 with sacrificing ductility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate descriptions of the structure, electronic properties and thermoelectric (TE) properties of transition-metal nitride halides MNBr (M = Zr, Hf) monolayers are calculated using the full-potential linearized augmented plane-wave (FP-LAPW) method within both generalized gradient approximation (GGA) and Tran–Blaha modified Becke–Johnson (TB-mBJ) approximation. The band structure shows that all MNBr monolayers are semiconductors with indirect band gaps. The band gap, calculated by TB-mBJ, is larger than that of GGA for both considered compounds. The charge-carrier effective mass increases when going from ZrNBr to HfNBr because of the extra peak of the density of states profile of monolayer HfNBr in the valence band around −0.5 eV, suggesting that ZrNBr should have higher electrical conductivity and HfNBr should have higher Seebeck coefficient. Meanwhile, the monolayered structure of MNBr has intrinsic low lattice thermal conductivity. The results demonstrate that monolayer MNBr has interesting TE properties with n-type doping. • The band structure shows that MNBr monolayer is semiconductor with indirectband gaps. • The phonon spectrums of monolayersMNBr have no negative frequencies. • The monolayered MNBr materials facilitates to introduce intrinsic low thermal conductivity. • Highest ZT of 0.72/0.84 (0.77/0.83) for p/n-type monolayer ZrNBr/HfNBr are achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid energy storage systems composed of batteries and supercapacitors (SCs) can provide a stable and sustainable power source for wireless sensor network (WSN) nodes, where the energy management strategy (EMS) plays a significant role. However, the design of a traditional EMS is based on empirical rules and cannot fully utilize the SC. In this study, we propose the concept of a sponge SC and design a strategy based on it to prolong the lifetime of solar-powered WSN nodes. This sponge SC EMS is realized by using dynamic programming (DP), which is a global optimization algorithm. Thus, the proposed EMS is significantly improved over other traditional empirical-based strategies. The difference between the lifetime simulated by the proposed strategy and the optimal upper bound given by DP is within 40%, and the novel strategy extends the battery lifetime by 32%–77% compared with the best existing strategies investigated. The robustness of the proposed method is also validated. It can be confirmed that the strategy performs well under different workloads and sunlight conditions. The sponge SC rule-based hybrid EMS provides a theoretical near-optimal solution for the extension of the life of the WSN node, contributing to wider application prospects of the WSN node. • A novel concept of "Sponge Supercapacitor" is proposed. • A sponge SC rule-based EMS for WSN that can be used online is designed accordingly. • The DP algorithm is introduced to optimize EMS. • The WSN model simulation platform is constructed using MATLAB. • The effectiveness and robustness of the proposed EMS are verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to identify potential efficacy-related biomarkers and investigate the mechanism of Youjing granule (YG) in improving spermatogenic function in rats based on metabolomics combined with network pharmacology. We obtained YG-containing serum from Sprague-Dawley rats, compared it with control group serum and analyzed it using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy to identify potential biomarkers and investigate the mechanism of YG in improving spermatogenic function in rats. Six important differential biomarkers, comprising putrescine, amidine, arginine, d-fructose-6-phosphate, l-proline and galactose, were identified in the YG-containing serum and then used to explore the potential mechanisms. The ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry technology was adopted for the rapid separation, identification and analysis of chemical components of YG in blood. A total of 69 detected chromatographic peaks were revealed. The binding energy between core compounds and key proteins is low, among which dipsacoside B is the best. The outcomes suggest that YG may improve spermatogenic function in rats by facilitating the development of spermatogonial stem cells, counteracting oxidative stress and controlling cellular apoptosis. Youjing granule may also affect the energy required for sperm production or influence sperm growth and maturation., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Enhancing the endurance and efficiency of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) requires efficient thermal management. This comprehensive review examines the primary cooling techniques employed in PEMFC systems, concentrating on techniques for air and liquid cooling. Liquid cooling, which circulates a coolant through channels adjacent to the ability of the fuel cell stack to maintain ideal operating temperatures, is highlighted and significantly reduces temperature variations, thereby improving overall efficiency and lifespan. In contrast, air cooling, while simpler and more cost-effective, is less effective in high-power applications due to its reliance on ambient air for heat dissipation. The review also discusses advancements in thermal management strategies, including innovative designs for heat exchangers and the integration of thermal resistance networks, which enhance heat dissipation efficiency. Furthermore, the paper underscores the importance of developing durable materials to address catalyst and membrane degradation, and it explores the potential for integrating PEMFCs using renewable energy sources to encourage environmentally friendly transportation solutions. By identifying current challenges and proposing future research directions, this review aims to support the continuous creation of effective and reliable PEMFC technologies., Competing Interests: We declare that we have no financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that can inappropriately influence our work and that there is no professional or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service, or company that could be construed as influencing the position presented in the review of the manuscript entitled “A comprehensive review of primary cooling techniques and thermal management strategies for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells PEMFCs”, (© 2024 College of Energy Engineering, Zhejiang University China.)

Organic frameworks face a trade-off between the framework stability and the bond dynamics, which necessitates the development of innovative linkages that can generate stable frameworks without hindering efficient synthesis. Although iodine(I)-based halogen-bonded organic frameworks (XOFs) have been developed, constructing XOFs based on bromine(I) is desirable yet challenging due to the high sensitivity of bromine(I) species. In this work, we present the inaugural construction of stable bromine(I)-bridged two-dimensional (2D) halogen-bonded organic frameworks, XOF(Br)-TPy-BF 4 /OTf, based on sensitive [N⋅⋅⋅Br⋅⋅⋅N] + halogen bonds. The formation of XOF(Br)-TPy-BF 4 /OTf was monitored by 1 H NMR, XPS, IR, SEM, TEM, HR-TEM, SEAD. Their framework structures were established by the results from PXRD, theoretical simulations and SAXS. More importantly, XOF(Br) displayed excellent chemical and thermal stabilities. They exhibited stable two-dimensional framework structures in various organic solvents and aqueous media, even over a wide pH range (pH 3-12), while the corresponding model compounds BrPy 2 BF 4 /OTf decomposed quickly even in the presence of minimal water. Furthermore, the influence of the counterions were investigated by replacing BF 4 with OTf, which improved the stability of XOF(Br). This characteristic enabled XOF(Br) to serve as an efficient oxidizing reagent in aqueous environments, in contrast with the sensitivity of BrPy 2 BF 4 /OTf, which performed well only in organic media. This study not only deepens our fundamental understanding of organic frameworks but also opens new avenues for the development and application of multifunctional XOFs., (© 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Background: The unfolded protein response (UPR) is associated with immune cells that regulate the biological behavior of tumors. This article aims to combine UPR-associated genes with immune cells to find a prognostic marker and to verify its connection to the UPR., Methods: Univariate cox analysis was used to screen prognostically relevant UPRs and further screened for key UPRs among them by machine learning. ssGSEA was used to calculate immune cell abundance. Univariate cox analysis was used to screen for prognostically relevant immune cells. Multivariate cox analysis was used to calculate UPR&#95;score and Tumor Immune Microenvironment score (TIME&#95;score). WGCNA was used to screen UPR-Immune-related (UI-related) genes. Consensus clustering analysis was used to classify patients into molecular subtype. Based on the UI-related genes, we classified colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) samples by cluster analysis. Single-cell analysis was used to analyze the role of UI-related genes. We detected the function of TIMP1 by cell counting and transwell. Immunoblotting was used to detect whether TIMP1 was regulated by key UPR genes., Results: Combined UPR-related genes and immune cells can determine the prognosis of COAD patients. Cluster analysis showed that UI-related genes were associated with clinical features of COAD. Single-cell analysis revealed that UI-related genes may act through stromal cells. We defined three key UI-related genes by machine learning algorithms. Finally, we found that TIMP1, regulated by key genes of UPR, promoted colon cancer proliferation and metastasis., Conclusions: We found that TIMP1 was a prognostic marker and experimentally confirmed that TIMP1 was regulated by key genes of UPR., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This study aimed to explore the brain network characteristics in elderly patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) with depressive symptoms. Thirty elderly PD patients with depressive symptoms (PD-D) and 26 matched PD patients without depressive symptoms (PD-NOD) were recruited based on HAMD-24 with a cut-off of 7. The resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) was conducted by 53-channel functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). There were no statistically significant differences in MMSE scores, disease duration, Hoehn-Yahr stage, daily levodopa equivalent dose, and MDS-UPDRS III between the two groups. However, compared to the PD-NOD group, the PD-D group showed significantly higher MDS-UPDRS II, HAMA-14, and HAMD-24. The interhemispheric FC strength and the FC strength between the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC-L) and the left frontal polar area (FPA-L) was significantly lower in the PD-D group (FDR p < 0.05). As for graph theoretic metrics, the PD-D group had significantly lower degree centrality (aDc) and node efficiency (aNe) in the DLPFC-L and the FPA-L (FDR, p < 0.05), as well as decreased global efficiency (aEg). Pearson correlation analysis indicated moderate negative correlations between HAMD-24 scores and the interhemispheric FC strength, FC between DLPFC-L and FPA-L, aEg, aDc in FPA-L, aNe in DLPFC-L and FPA-L. In conclusion, PD-D patients show decreased integration and efficiency in their brain networks. Furthermore, RSFC between DLPFC-L and FPA-L regions is negatively correlated with depressive symptoms. These findings propose that targeting DLPFC-L and FPA-L regions via non-invasive brain stimulation may be a potential intervention for alleviating depressive symptoms in elderly PD patients., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (2024, National Center for Global Health and Medicine.)

In recent computer vision research, the pursuit of improved classification performance often leads to the adoption of complex, large-scale models. However, the actual deployment of such extensive models poses significant challenges in environments constrained by limited computing power and storage capacity. Consequently, this study is dedicated to addressing these challenges by focusing on innovative methods that enhance the classification performance of lightweight models. We propose a novel method to compress the knowledge learned by a large model into a lightweight one so that the latter can also achieve good performance in few-shot classification tasks. Specifically, we propose a dual-faceted knowledge distillation strategy that combines output-based and intermediate feature-based methods. The output-based method concentrates on distilling knowledge related to base class labels, while the intermediate feature-based approach, augmented by feature error distribution calibration, tackles the potential non-Gaussian nature of feature deviations, thereby boosting the effectiveness of knowledge transfer. Experiments conducted on MiniImageNet, CIFAR-FS, and CUB datasets demonstrate the superior performance of our method over state-of-the-art lightweight models, particularly in five-way one-shot and five-way five-shot tasks.

Triglyceride (TG) and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) have been acknowledged to be risk factors for vascular insults, but their impacts on the brain system remain elusive. To fill in some gaps, we investigated associations of TG and AIP with brain structure, leveraging the UK Biobank database. TG and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were examined at baseline and AIP was calculated as log (TG/HDL-C). We build several linear regression models to estimate associations of TG and AIP with volumes of brain grey matter phenotypes. Significant inverse associations of TG and AIP with volumes of specific subcortical traits were observed, among which TG and AIP were most significantly associated with caudate nucleus (TG: β [95% confidence interval CI] = -0.036 [-0.051, -0.022], AIP: -0.038 [-0.053, -0.023]), thalamus (-0.029 [-0.042, -0.017], -0.032 [-0.045, -0.019]). Higher TG and AIP were also considerably related with reduced cortical structure volumes, where two most significant associations of TG and AIP were with insula (TG: -0.035 [-0.048, -0.022], AIP: -0.038 [-0.052, -0.025]), superior temporal gyrus (-0.030 [-0.043, -0.017], -0.033 [-0.047, -0.020]). Modification effects of sex and regular physical activity on the associations were discovered as well. Our findings show adverse associations of TG and AIP with grey matter volumes, which has essential public health implications for early prevention in neurodegenerative diseases.

(1) Background: Copy number variation (CNV) is a critical component of genome structural variation and has garnered significant attention. High-throughput screening of the KCNJ15 gene has revealed a correlation between the CNV region and the growth traits of goats. We aimed to identify the CNV of the KCNJ15 gene in five goat breeds and analyze its association with growth characteristics. (2) Methods: We utilized 706 goats from five breeds: Guizhou black goat (GZB), Guizhou white goat (GZW), Bohuai goat (BH), Huai goat (HH), and Taihang goat (TH). To evaluate the number of copies of the KCNJ15 gene using qPCR, we analyzed the correlation between the CNV and growth characteristics and then used a universal linear model. The findings revealed variations in the distribution of different copy number types among the different goat breeds. (3) Results: Association analysis revealed a positive influence of the CNV in the KCNJ15 gene on goat growth. In GZB, individuals with duplication types exhibited superior performance in terms of cannon bone circumference ( p < 0.05). In HH, individuals with duplication types exhibited superior performance in terms of body slanting length ( p < 0.05). Conversely, normal TH demonstrated better body height and body weight ( p < 0.05), while in GZW, when CN = 3, it performed better than other types in terms of body weight and chest circumference ( p < 0.05). However, in BH, it had no significant effect on growth traits. (4) Conclusions: We confirmed that the CNV in the KCNJ15 gene significantly influences the growth characteristics of four distinct goat breeds. The correlation between KCNJ15 gene CNVs and goat growth traits offers valuable insights to breeders, enabling them to employ precise and efficient breeding methods that enhance livestock welfare, productivity, and overall economic benefits in the industry.

In response to the urgent need for highly precise and efficient stitching measurements of large-aperture-angle non-holonomic spherical surfaces, a differential confocal interference automatic stitching measurement system for large-aperture-angle non-holonomic spherical surfaces was developed. The system realizes precise positioning of the confocal position through differential confocal precise focusing technology. Through the stitching model, coordinate transformation and error compensation were performed on subaperture data, and the stitching measurement of the spherical surface shape was realized. The positions and postures of the tested samples were adjusted automatically using an automatic adjustment workbench. The stitching measurement accuracy of this measurement system can attain 0.0013 λ , relative error can attain 1.36%, and measurement time for eight subaperture stitching is 6 min. This system achieves automatic and rapid adjustment of large-aperture-angle spherical elements and high-precision, nondestructive, fast, and automatic measurement of surface stitching.

Terahertz (THz) wave manipulation, especially the beam deflection, plays an essential role in various applications, such as next-generation communication, space exploration, and high-resolution imaging. Current THz optical components and devices are hampered by their large bulk sizes and passive responses, limiting the development of high-performance, miniaturized THz microsystems. Tunable metasurfaces offer a powerful dynamic optical platform for controlling the propagation of electromagnetic waves. In this article, we presented a mechanically tunable metasurface (MTM), which can achieve terahertz beam deflection and vary the intensity of the anomalous reflected terahertz wave by changing the air gap between the metallic resonator (MR) array with phase discontinuities and Au ground plane. The absence of lossy spacer materials substantially enhances deflection efficiency. The device was fabricated by a combination of the surface and bulk-micromachining processes. The THz beam steering capability was characterized using terahertz time domain spectroscopy. When the air gap is 50 μm, the maximum deflection coefficient reaches 0.60 at 0.61 THz with a deflection angle of ~44.5°, consistent with theoretical predictions. We further established an electrically tunable miniaturized THz device for dynamic beam steering by introducing a micro voice coil motor to control the air gap continuously. It is shown that our designed MTM demonstrates a high modulation depth of deflection coefficient (~ 62.5%) in the target steered angle at the operating frequency. Our results showcase the potential of the proposed MTM as a platform for high-efficiency THz beam manipulation., Competing Interests: Competing interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2023 Zhenci Sun et al.)

Objectives: The study aimed to analyze the clinical features and gait characteristics of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) who also suffer from fatigue and to develop a model that can help identify fatigue states in the early stages of PD., Methodology: A total of 81 PD patients have been enrolled for the Parkinson's Fatigue Scale (PFS-16) assessment and divided into two groups: patients with or without fatigue. Neuropsychological assessments of the two groups, including motor and non-motor symptoms, were collected. The patient's gait characteristics were collected using a wearable inertial sensor device., Results: PD patients who experienced fatigue had a more significant impairment of motor symptoms than those who did not, and the experience of fatigue became more pronounced as the disease progressed. Patients with fatigue had more significant mood disorders and sleep disturbances, which can lead to a poorer quality of life. PD patients with fatigue had shorter step lengths, lower velocity, and stride length and increased stride length variability. As for kinematic parameters, PD patients with fatigue had lower shank-forward swing max, trunk-max sagittal angular velocity, and lumbar-max coronal angular velocity than PD patients without fatigue. The binary logistic analysis found that Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale-I (MDS-UPDRS-I) scores, Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) scores, and stride length variability independently predicted fatigue in PD patients. The area under the curve (AUC) of these selected factors in the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was 0.900. Moreover, HAMD might completely mediate the association between Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) scores and fatigue (indirect effect: β = 0.032, 95% confidence interval: 0.001-0.062), with a percentage of mediation of 55.46%., Conclusion: Combining clinical characteristics and gait cycle parameters, including MDS-UPDRS-I scores, HAMD scores, and stride length variability, can identify PD patients with a high fatigue risk., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Wang, Hu, Huang, Chen, Yuan, Tian, Shi, Zhao and Huang.)

The trade-off between the potentially detrimental effects of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) and the benefits of physical activity (PA) is unclear. We aimed to explore the independent and interaction effects between long-term PM 2.5 exposure and PA on blood pressure (BP) and hypertension. A total of 8704 adults (≥45 years) without hypertension at baseline in a nationwide cohort of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) were followed from 2011 to 2015. The participants were selected using a four-stage, stratified, and cluster sampling procedure. The annual PM 2.5 concentrations at the residential address were estimated from a two-stage machine learning model with a 10 km × 10 km resolution. A standard questionnaire collected information on PA and potential confounders, and metabolic equivalents (MET·h/wk), which combined frequency, intensity, and duration information, were used to assess PA levels. We adopted mixed-effects regression models to explore the independent and interaction effects between long-term PM 2.5 exposure and PA on BP and risk of hypertension. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) decreased by -0.84 mmHg (95% CI: -1.34, -0.34) per an IQR (interquartile range, 175.5 MET·h/wk) increase in PA, and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) decreased by -0.42 mmHg (95% CI: -0.76, -0.07). Each IQR (36.1 μg/m 3 ) increment in PM 2.5 was associated with 0.48 mmHg (95% CI: -0.24, 1.20) in SBP and -0.02 mmHg (95% CI: -0.44, 0.39) in DBP. PM 2.5 showed an elevated effect with risks of hypertension (odds ratio, OR = 1.01; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.03), while PA showed the inverse result (OR = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.97, 0.99). Interaction analyses indicated PA maintained the beneficial effects on BP, but the negative association was attenuated, accompanied by the increase of PM 2.5 . PA decreased the BP and hypertension risks, while PM 2.5 showed the opposite results. PM 2.5 attenuated the beneficial effects of PA on BP and modified the association between PA and the risk of hypertension., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)